July Update

Hi everyone,
As I'm finding it difficult to update every week so have decided to start doing monthly updates. This month has been a very busy one for the Smith family. We arrived back safely from our HUGE trip from Adelaide to Sydney and to the North island of New Zealand. We adored catching up with Freya, Stephane, William and meeting Theodore (TJ). Visited the wineries and the German village with a name I simply can't recall...and played a new game called Phase 10 - heaps of fun. Freya and I had a nice night of chatting and a few bevies..which was lovely and I must say one of my highlights to our trip.
We then headed to Sydney where we stayed with Aunty Elizabeth and Uncle David. Headed out to dinner at a lovely chinese restraunt for tea on Grandads' birthday (combined for Grandmas), then headed up to see Nanna for a night which was lovely. From there we headed to the Blue Mountains for a night - did all the touristy things...three sisters, Katoomba etc. And boy was it freezing there - luckily the place I'd booked had heating and electric blankes - that weren't plugged in (we discovered at 3am when we were still freezing)....we had payed for a cot here and luckily had visited Yvonne Windon the day before who lent us a porta cot...as there wasn't one in the room, and no refund for it not being there which we thought a bit rude but decided not to let it ruin our time together as a family... From there we headed back to Sydney to catch up with my school friend Jo and a quick look around Sydney. As Zachary didnt take to well to the different cots and time zone differences we didnt really get much sleep in either Adelaide or Sydney but were hopeful for NZ. I must say however that he was wonderful on the plane rides to Adelaide, Sydney and NZ. On arrival in NZ we stayed in Auckland for the night - when we arrived at our hotel at 2300 local time, we were greeted by the new owners who had no record of our booking (we had already paid for the room!) and according to the sign were fully booked. Apparently this wasnt the case as they found a room for us, which was great. Very modern and so lovely to have a nice hot shower after such a long day of travelling. Did some sightseeing in Auckland before picking up our camper van and heading off to see Aunty Kirtsin in Hamilton. Ended up staying in Hamilton for a few days, and doing some day trips from there whilst Kirstin and Alex worked during the day. Weather wasn't too bad for the first couple of days but very cold at night. Zachary adored his Aunty/Godmother and possible future Uncle and I'd say rather confidently that the feelings were reciprocated. Was very spoilt on my birthday by being taken to a very fancy restaurant for dinner with my Dave, K and A... K organised for Zachary to be babysat, which was a little nerve racking at first but okay once we recieved a message saying he was asleep!! K and D continued to spoil me by taking me to a Polynesian spa and K bbsat Zachary on the 20th so Dave and I could go to a Hungi together. Lovely. We dont get to much time with just us anymore so was fabulous to have some quality. After leaving K in Rotorua Dave, Zachary and I headed from there on our way to Wellington in our huge campervan. It was a truck more like. Five speed manual with a bus steering wheel - fun fun fun!!! Heaps of memorable moments that I might just keep to myself for now - maybe you'll hear my stories next time we have a few drinks..maybe...hehehe Lets just say I love my husband and son very much and absolutely adored having them both to myself for 4 days.... Very much looking forward to spending more time as a family in years to come...which brings me to our most exciting news. Dave and I have bought a house. We signed the papers on Friday and will hopefully be moving in in 6 weeks...so about the 1st September ish....the address I'll send each of you by email just remind me, as tis is a public site dont fancy odd people knowing where we live...sorry. Anyways, Zachary is now 65cm and about 8kg as he had a growth spurt whilst we were on holidays... he also gives us kisses now which is gorgeous... very sloppy and open mouthed but gorgeous. Okay I think that's it for now, hope all is well with everyone, until next month
All our love, Shell, David and Zachary xo

Quick note

Hi folks,

Just a quck note to let you all know we have returned safely from our trip. Zachary is slowly getting over his cold - and conjunctvitis seems to have cleared with thehelp of some anti-biotics..but alas his teeth are still not though so hes' gnawing on EVERYTHING!!!

Will write a longer posts whe sqwirmy wom isnt sitting on my lap....he said his first word this week...and woulnt you know it itwas "Dad-dad" :)

Really nice for David I'll continue to wait in eager anticipation for Mum :)Heres some updaes photos for you, will upload some video when I can....love to all xo

Im getting really big!!!

Look at me I'm sitting in a Bumbo!

Yo Whassup!

Cheeky smile anyone?

All grown up and ready to visit my friends :)

Nightie Night everyone....

Hi everyone,

Heres some new photos' of our little man for you to adore....Zacharys' teeth have been giving him a little bit of trouble lately, which has been the biggest concern at the moment. The night before last he decided to sleep form 7pm till 7am which was a wonderful surprise for both of us...he didnt repeat it last night but heres hoping for tonight!

We are heading off on a family holiday next week. Heading to Adelaide first to see Freya, Stephane, William and Theodore..then onto Sydney to catch up with my grandparents, friends and to show David where I grew up..then our final destination is New Zealand to see Aunty Kirstin and Alex and travel around in a campervan. Should be quite the trip, we are very much looking forward to spending some quality time with family, friends and ourselves (as a family). Will be wonderful. David and I celebrated our first anniversary on Monday, we headed to the Burswood for a night of relaxation and gambling. For those who don't know this is where we went for our first night as husband and wife - so was lovely to have some time there again. Mum and Dad (N) looked after Zachary for the night, which was scary at first but a great break for both of us.

Anyways, not much else to report. Looking forward to catching up with some of you in the next couple of weeks. All our love, Shell, Dave and Zachary xo

12 weeks

Ok so it seems like only yesterday we were bringing our new baby home and now here we are at 12 weeks and nearly 3 days....and hes sleeping soundly in the room next door to mine. Lately Zachary has become rather clingy. I leave the room and he screams..or out comes the bottom lip and I get given what I call the "guilty cry". That is the cry that makes me crumble and he knows it. In all seriousness Zachary is more that we could have ever hoped for. Although I still struggle with the 4am feed, and groan when he wakes at 6.30...in truth he really is the best thing (other than each other of course) that has ever happened to us...both individually and collectively. One cute thing that Zachary has started doing (although may need to teach him about timing) is that at the 4am feed when Im absolutely trying to wedge my eyelids open and not drop his bottle he has taken to trying to talk to me while drinking....following my reminders that its not time for talking its time for eating and sleeping...he lies in my arms and grins...cheshire cat grins...melt your heart grins....Zachary grins. Okay so Im in a mooshy mood. Daves at work tonight and Im home with Zachary and Roxy. Who by the way has a serious case of jelousy..Ive been swiped at and attacked 4 times this evening alone and poor Daves coffee table is taking a bit of a beating - she has also taken to meowing at our door from about 5am onwards - nice...may be one reason I groan when getting up at 6.30 haha

Anyways, Zachary is now 6.5kg and still growing. Im starting to find that his clothes fit him in bredth but not length....poor fellow has ankle freezies already! Hes gonna be tall people!!! I dont know whether I have any new photos on this computer or whether there on Daves but will upload if I have them (the above photo is from the end of March..hes' much bigger now!)

Hope all is well with everyone, all our love, Shell, Dave and Zachary xox

7 weeks already!

Wow its' quite hard to believe but yes Zachary is already 7 weeks old. This week he will be having his 2 month old injections which should be fun and also has an appointment with a Chiropractor to pop his neck back in.
In the past couple of weeks he has been having some tummy problems. We have been to see a paediatrician to figure out whether the projectile vomiting and constipation are a result of reflux and an immature tummy or whether he is allergic to lactose.
So far we have have blood tests, ultra sounds (to see if was something more serious) and lots of poking and prodding. As a result of all these tests and in consultation with the Paediatrician, some medication was prescribed. As anyone who knows us will know, Dave and I aren't really big fans of medication - let alone giving meds to such a wee tacker as Zachary. So I went and chatted to our pharmacist Geraldine - who is keen on alternate medicines. She suggested we go see a chiropractor friend of hers', apparently sometimes during the birthing process the spine can be 'put out'. I wasn't real keen on the idea of a chiro to start with - mainly because when I think chiro I think cracking of bones and I didn't really want to put Zachary through that. In fact, there was no cracking of bones - in infants the chiro just very slowly moves a head or body part and usually the part that's 'out' puts itself back in.
So since having this done Zachary has slept much better than previously. We are getting 4 - 5 hours between night time feeds which is wonderful! Still doing 3 hourly feed during the day, which I don't mind at all.
So tomorrow we have another follow up appointment with the chiro (incidentally Zachary's neck and two places in his back were out) just to check whether everything is as it should be. We have still had a few big chucks but nothing nearly as bad.
Otherwise, Zachary is packing on the pounds! He is now 60cm and 5.11kg (11 pound 3 oz) or there abouts which is wonderful to see. I think he may end up being a good 6 ' 6!! Which will make for an excellent ruck man or perhaps a fullback / winger hahaha
Hmm lets see what else has the little man been up to...ahh a few weeks ago he was Baptised with his cousin Kai, photos below. Was a very proud day for Dave :) We had the service in the Munja chapel followed by afternoon tea at Jo and Noels' house, which was lovely. Zachary has Uncle Anton and Aunty Kirstin as his Godparents.
Zachary is also now talking alot more - really loves 'chatting' to Elmo on his activity gym, and gets quite annoyed when Elmo doesn't talk back to him - this usually results in a punch to the head (Elmo's) and some rather loud squeals. Lots of smiles as well...catching them on camera is difficult but beautiful Chester the cat smiles :)
I think that's about it for now, we cant believe how quickly our little man is growing...or that its' been 2 months already..Dave was walking unassisted by the time he was 8 months old..I'm hoping we have a little longer than that as our house is anything but childproof! Anyways folks hope all is well with everyone.
All our love Shell, Dave and Zachary

Zachary - 4 weeks old today!!!!

Zachary at 3 weeks old...

Aunty Kirstin giving me a cuddle...


Nanna, Aunty Kirstin, Mum and Me...

Hello Poppa...

Here are some more pictures as promised.. We went down south to Peppermint Grove Beach this week with Aunty Kirstin who has come over for a visit from New Zealand.. It was nice to get away and try to relax.. Zachary is doing well and at 2 weeks had put on nearly .8kg which our community nurse says is very good to see as he should have been back to birth weight..

Will keep adding more photo's whenever we can...

Two weeks and counting

Good lord parenting is hard work. Zachary is trying so very hard to be a good boy, but unfortunately the little man is having tummy troubles...we have the health nurse coming out tommorow morning to chat with us, weigh him and check out our abode, which should be interesting as I have quite a few questions to ask. Mum has been a bevy of information and generally recieves a daily call asking for advice. I tells ya being a new parent makes you realise just how much your own parents did. I dont think I'll be doing this 5 times I can give you the tip. Twice maybe but definately not five times...Mum is just plain crazy...thankyou for doing what you did I love my siblings...but you're crazy woman!
So other news of my little man...well he has already figured out how to roll over..yes thats right folks we have a very advanced gent here. Babies arent meant to figure this out until they are about three months old but Zachary has figured it out in just two weeks...very clever me thinks! He has also figured out how to lift his head up for about 10 seconds...strong tacker is he! Generally he is a good sleeper...in the day...he wakes at about 1145pm and doesnt settle until 530am....eats alot as well. I think he must get this either from his Dad or his Uncle Lukey....endless pit...So I think once we get his sleeping sorted we should be okay. I just keep saying that hes a little party animal, but in truth Ill be rather pleased when he figures out that night time is for sleeping as Im a bit of a zombie at the moment.
Zachary is to be baptised on Sunday 30th March with his cousin Kai, who is 7 weeks older that he. We are having the service in the Munja chapel (Davids work) with the local Father...I believe his name is Father Gavin, Im yet to meet him, but am sure everthing wil go fine.
I could continue to write about how I could gaze at him forever, and how absolutely perfect he is, and how I still can't quite understand how this little person grew inside me...and why Ive been blessed with his presence...but I wont bore you with that...he just gets cuter every time I look at him. We are taking more photos tommorow so will post them then. Until then, Im off to get a little shut eye while hes quiet. All our love, Shell and Dave