Karen's Journey

Firstly - I do hope you all had a very merry Christmas with your family and friends. And that Santa bought you what you had wished/asked for :)

We had a lovely first Christmas as parents with Rachel being very spoilt indeed! My only regret from Christmas Day is that we didn't manage to get an "Offical" photo of the three of us celebrating christmas or even an "offical" photo of Rachel in her beautiful dress! And then when we had the offical family photos later in the day (all 29 of us), Rachel was fast asleep and having spent almost 2hrs to calm and settle one very over tired little girl there was no way I was going to wake her so she missed out on being in those photos too! :(

But apart from the photo situation - we had an awesome time spending two great days with my crazy family! It was a very noisey, overwhelming day for the kids but so much fun was had by all. We hit the road to mums about 8am and had a bbq bubbly breakfast there before heading to the house where one of my brothers was staying (as it was bigger than mums) for the present opening and lunch etc... Present opening was diablocial but so much fun and laughter was had by all! I loved opening all of Rachels presents and she sure got some great books and clothes and toys! I also enjoyed the bubbly, the bourbon and the baileys that I drunk throughout the day and night (not altogether)! :)

We had a very unsettled night with Rachel though depsite having her basinett with us etc she was waking every 2/3 hrs for a small feed and cuddles! And the house we were staying in was a 3 story house so I did keep fit going up and down to the kitchen etc...

Boxing Day started off as a very laid back, relaxed quiet day before we all met at Waikanae (at another brothers house that he was staying in) as the house there was only 100 meters from the beach. So a family game of cricket was held while I went for a lovely but very refreshing walk along the beach with Rachel in the pram. We were initially going to spend aother night up there but decided that it would be better for us all if Rachel had a good night in her own surroundings. She had a good sleep which of course meant we had a good sleep as well.

Today has been a very quiet one here with Rachel doing lots of sleeping and feeding (perhaps another growth spurt) which is great. Just a pity the weather isn't the best. We had our visit from Plunket and in the 12 days since the last visit Rachel has gained approx 1 1/2 pounds so is now weighing in at 11lb 5ozs! But just as I had undressed Rachel for the nurse to weigh her and had picked her up to put her on the scales she pee'd everywhere - all over me, her playmat, her clothes and the floor!!! LOL

Tomorrow, we are heading up to Mums to spend the day up there... Friday we are having another day at home with some friends visiting us. Then on Saturday we have Rachels christening so have a bit of baking/cooking to do for that and a house to tidy and fingers crossed it will be fine for the afternoon tea afterwards otherwise we will be all squashed in here like sardines! LOL Might spend New Years Eve up at Mums depending on other invites etc...

Anyway, best I stop rambling and get moving... hope you are all enjoying the break. Catch ya all later