We recently had a lovely 4 days at Mount Maunganui celebrating the 'end of the golden weather' with Liz. The place we stayed in was a tidy apartment with a view of the Mount and it was close enough for us to walk down to the beach every day. Golden sand, sparkling clear water, and warm sunshine - we were very pleased to be there.
What to report? We've been settling in to our new home, enjoying the mod-cons that come with a newish townhouse. The botanic gardens are a short 10 minute walk away, so we have been walking down for the occasional Lazy Sunday concert and have taken David to the playground there a lot. He wades around fearlessly in the pool there (with water just about up to his chest) having a great time with Reuben. David is starting to look like a real little boy (and, I think, more and more like Reuben) and has a LOT of energy! He's loving his bike and the push car we have hired from the toy library (although he can only push himself backwards at this stage!) and is into everything. We try to get out and about on the mornings I don't work so that he can expend a little energy, and have joined Mainly Music on Thursdays.
We spent a night, over Waitangi weekend, camping at Port Levy on the front lawn of a place Mike and Carley had hired. The camping went surprisingly well, although it helped having a house (with kitchen etc) handy. We went out in the morning on the boat with Wim and Trudi to explore the surrounding area. David wasn't quite sure what to make of being on the boat, although quite fancied the idea of being in control of the wheel with Opa!
We've had a very busy last few months (along with everyone else!). 
Along with Katie's birthday recently, we also celebrated Lizzy's graduation. Katie's (and Lizzy's!) brother Steve came down from Auckland for a surprise visit and we had a great family meal at Tutto Bene - their calzones are highly recommended! 
David is now motoring around at high speed on his chubby legs, and is getting more proficient at manoeuvering himself in tricky situations - he can climb surprisingly well! We had another visit to Willowbank (for Reuben's end of year work family function) and it was cool to see David walking around, since last time we went he was not walking unaided. This time he got up close and personal with a mummy wallaby (until he spotted the baby in her pouch and thought that was a better target for stroking) - all very cute.
David has also had a few new experiences this summer - he has been for his first 'swim' at the pools in the Botanic Gardens, had his first magnum icecream (yum, thanks Opa!!) and has discovered a fondness for frozen berries. He has also been boating, and spent several days at the beach. He has just started pointing at everything and saying the baby version of 'look', so the seagulls and ducks have had plenty of attention.
We also recently spent a great weekend in Akaroa, complete with gorgeous weather (much appreciated after a long bout of miserable rainy weather). Going on holiday seems to be getting easier with David getting older, and we had some lovely family time together. 
David is beginning to enjoy the playground - particularly the swings, and is loving some of the cool toys we've been getting from the toy library, including the 'mouse-mobile'! With the spring weather beginning to arrive, we've been able to get him out and crawling around on the grass etc and are looking forward to time spent outside over summer.
Not much to report apart from the littlest one's latest developments, but thought I had better post a few photos for the aunties in london!
He's getting more experimental with making sounds, and even said 'mama' the other day, although I think it was accidental. I claim it still shows that I'm super important to him in his subconscious or something somewhere in there!!! He's also learnt to wave bye-bye which is supercute.
