Taranaki 2

View from Coastal Walkway, 'The Links', Taranaki

After our week in Auckland we have come down to Taranaki in order to celebrate my 35th birthday with the family. Elsie has become quite unsettled and Joel and I think that need to just stay in one place for a while. So we are going to be here until we headed back to Auckland to move into our new flat in Huia. It's been great to spend some more time in Taranaki after our initial flying visit. We made the most of the coastal walkway where we took these pictures

During the rainy days (and there are a few!) we've been hanging out at the Kawaroa Baths. Costing a grand total of $5.50 for all three of us it's the perfect way to pass a miserable day. Lovely and warm inside with a nice big spa pool.

Big Eyes in the Pool

We took Elsie for her first ever swim. It was a bit exciting for me - also because I got to finally dress her in the pink swimming nappy that I bought for her when she was, oh, 5 days old or something! She seemed to really enjoyit! I think it was the entire experience as much as the water itself - the other children, the noise, the bright colours everywhere. There was a ceiling mounted bubble blowing machine above the infant pool which the lifeguard kindly switched on for us. Elsie had never seen bubbles before and there were some very BIG EYES going on. No smiles initially - she was just taking it all in. When we went to leave the receptionists stopped us to say that Elsie's eyes were so big that had noticed her all the way out in reception. The second time we headed to the pool it was all smiles and giggles. Especially for the bubble machine!

Lynn Gilbert-Smith, Elsie and I - Piccolo Morso Cafe, New Plymouth

I was lucky enough to catch up with Lynn Gilbert-Smith who taught me Ballet from when I was 4 years old until I was 17. Lynn looked great and I was so happy to hear that she was still teaching and the Ballet School was busier than ever. We had a little inspection of Elsie's feet - perhaps she will have dancers feet....

Lots more interaction and eye contact from our precious girl

There have been lots of big milestones for Elsie while we we've been in New Plymouth. She's started sleeping a proper big girl's cot (kindly made for us by, Dave, the Woodwork teacher at my Father's school). She has also started responding when we read her stories, properly listening, smiling and chuckling with delight. I am loving reading to her - it makes me so happy. Her favourite story is 'Schnitzel Von Krumm' followed closely by 'The Snail and the Whale'.  Otherwise these were the weeks of grabbing and batting things. She also rolled over once (from her front to her back) - well she sort of tipped over - but we're counting it!