A Happy Family

Hi blog, well you were meant to be a documentation of our beginnings of our married life....hmmm....that's not going that well. So an update:

23 December 2008 our beautiful baby Ella was born. She's 6 months old now, and is such a joy in our lives. She's starting to sit up, to suck her thumb, and she's learning new things everyday. Tonight I taught her to grab my hand, and when she did, I would dance around the room with her. Then I would stop and when she would take my hand again, I would do it again. It was adorable as she learned, and would start giggling in anticipation of what was to come when she reached for my hand.

I know it's cliche, but I never knew I could love someone so much.

In other news, we just found out that we are pregnant with our second baby! It's still early, I'm only 7 weeks along, but we're so excited!!!! It is due 20 Feb 2010. I'm hoping it's a boy, but if it's a girl I'll still be so happy (plus it will be cheaper as we can recycle Ella's things lol).

In the meantime, we're having Brenda, Stuart, and Sue visit in August, all separate trips! lol. And then we've booked tickets to go see them in Nelson in Sept! Then we are to go to see them for Christmas as well! So lots to look forward to!

Speaking of family trips, we just got back from visiting the family in the states. That was so awesome, and not just because we got to excape winter to see them! We spent the first few days with Bob and Charity and their fam, they really looked after us and we had a blast!! Then we went up to Visalia and stayed with grandma as mom's living there at the moment. It was Steven's high school graduation, so everyone came except Johnny, and it was so crazy yet wonderful! That week went by so quickly, but we got some great pics of Ella with her cousins Sydnee and Juju, who are just a few months different in age either way. (Sydnee is 3 months younger while Juju is 4 months older).

Another great thing that happened that first week was that Ella was given her baby blessing/naming in church by her Great Uncle Mike (yes, the same Uncle Mike that married me and Ali), and with her Great Uncles Grant and Dave supporting. Her Uncle Steven joined in by holding the mic, and it was a very beautiful blessing. After, my uncles said how special she was, saying she sang all the way to the stand (she has this high pitched sing song voice that she just vocalises with and it sounds like singing, it's so beautiful. Then she wouldn't lay down in their hands so my Uncle had to prop her up so she could see him, and he got to say the blessing straight into her eyes. Uncle Dave said that she had a very intense look on her face the entire time, like she was listening and understanding.

The next couple weeks were mostly a blur of hanging out with the family, swimming, and wishing I didnt' have to go home! We did see Steven play his High School AllStars game, and he rocked of course! But the trip ended all too quickly and I was very sad to be driving back to the airport.

Mom did something very nice for Alister though, and stopped at an In & Out Burgers place that is right next to LAX. The planes land very loud and close, so we ordered and ate our dinner in the grass across the street. Alister loved it so much and I was so glad (once again) what a loving and wonderful person my mommy is!

Anyway, Ella is waking up in my arms, and as it's 9:30pm, it's definitely time to get her back to sleep!! Until next time....

Exercise and Being Healthy

My Doctor has ordered me onto a healthy diet and a basic exercise program to get me back in shape. I've been doing fairly well with it, and have been walking at lunchtime with a workmate, and really trying to eat the right things.
Today Ali and I decided to have a bit of a stroll in the park, but we didn't want to deal with the inevitable tourist traffic in the parking lots in the middle of Hagley, so we parked on the street just out of the Central City, and walked through the golf course, and into the park itself.
It was such a lovely day for a walk, not overly hot, with a few clouds to give us some respite from the sun. As expected, the park was filled with people, but it is so large we soon lost ourselves in it, only pausing for a few minutes on an inviting park bench next to a lily-pad filled pond.
It felt like we walked every inch of the park, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We then made our way out of the park, which turned into a tiring final push to make it to our distant car! Very good for the fitness, but my decidedly unfit body was now protesting loudly!! We got back to the car, and stopped by a handy Shell station and grabbed some drinks, and headed home.
Whew! Good exercise! I will have to bring my camera next time as the park this time of year is gorgeous, and the rose garden in full bloom.
Maybe I can convince my loving husband to make this a weekly event? :)
Stephanie Marie Curnow

Date Night Episode 1

Alister and I used to have date nights every monday, it was a time to spend together doing something together. I think sometimes living together, one forgets to actually spend quality time. It gets lost in all the normal tasks and daily life.
So anyway, for the first time since we were married, we've started our date nights back up. :) Friday works better than monday now, so yesterday was it. Alister volunteered to plan the first one, so he told me he had a surprise planned and he would take me to dinner.
I had to work until 6:30, so he said to take a change of clothes with me, and he would pick me up and we'd go straight there. So at 6:45 I was standing outside waiting when a big truck pulled up to the curb with a smiling Alister at the wheel. He had borrowed a Ford Ranger from work for me :) (just like my brother's truck back home!)
So he took me out to dinner and we shared meals and a dessert (yummmy banana split) . Then we went out for a drive. Ali planned on taking me to the horse races....simply because it has horses and I love them! But it was rather chilly and I was in a dress, so we had a long drive out to the airport, then we sat and waited for a plane to land....which at that time of night was only 1 little beech. But it was still nice. Someone kept driving by and had the horn blare like they do in Dukes of Hazard. Annoying but cool at the same time, lol.
So I had a lovely date, and the best part of all? That I got to go home and cuddle with my darling husband at the end of it. Thanks my love.

Alister's dream truck

Currently on the yard at work, only asking $109,990 New Zealand dollars!

What a beast! 22 inch chromed wheels, massive stereo system, and all the usual Harley Davidson special edition extras.

Maybe one day, when it's rusted out on someone's lawn haha

Valentines Day

Our first Valentines Day as a married couple! We had a very quiet, and personal evening together, made all the more lovely by good company, wonderful food, and a beautiful bunch of roses..
Happy Valentines day my wonderful wife *kisssss



Dinner for the 14th of Feb, 2007:
Steak, Salad, Bacon-Cheddar potato skins, garlic bread, Chocolate milk, lemonade and apple pie for dessert.

Test run

Well another week at work is underway. I’ve checked the box in blogger so now I should be able to email here to the “Starting Out” blog that Stephanie and I are using.

 

We’ve been busy lately, but not that our poor blog would show it. But that’s how it is, you get busy, and time to write gets cut off. I do enjoy writing, and am a fast typist, it’s just getting started that is the hard part.

 

The New Year is well underway isn’t it! I’ve been really busy at work, covering other positions as well as my own from Christmas day until the 12^th of Feb. As such, January kind of disappeared without me noticing it! Now, tomorrow is suddenly Valentines Day! My darling bride deserves some flowers, I’ve just got to find a moment to go out and get some!

 

Anyway, before I get too posted away with myself, I’ll send this and check the email system is working.

 

Love to all

Alister

 

 

Honeymoon at Home

Well, Alister and I have decided it's time for a honeymoon. We've requested the leave and it's all approved and stuff.

Yup, like the title says, we're having a honeymoon at home.

The week before easter we're both taking off, and we'll be either relaxing at home or going out into good old Christchurch to do touristy stuff, or go on long drives to the mountains or the the beach. We'll go out to dinner every night and all in all, have a great relaxing time.

I suggested it actually, and Alister thought it was a great idea. We might end up having a flatmate during that time, but he'll have to go to work during the day, and we can go out at night so we'll not worry about it.

So it's something to look forward to, 11 days all up (with the holiday days) paid and relaxed.

On another note, I have an interview tomorrow with a lady who I maybe vaguely remember for a job that I have no clue about....

I got a call on Weds from a lady who said she had spoken with me at length when I was working (thus I think I vaguely remember her), and that she was really impressed with me, and that I had that "sparkle". She said she had been in business for 14 years, and was currently looking for someone (where or why I don't know). She asked if she could buy me a coffee and sit down so we could chat. I agreed out of pure curiousity.

If it's the lady I think it was, I don't think she'd be the mistress of a brothel or anything, but who knows, lol. We're meeting here at work and going out into the food court to talk. I think it's so funny, and I'm very flattered....but I just can't wait to find out what sort of job she has going. Could be anything in the world!