I didn't think I had mother's intuition.  With Louie I followed Plunket's guidelines pretty closely, finding most of it made sense.  But Louie was a text-book baby and the 'norm' fitted him well.  With Arlo, we have been on a bit of a different journey, a tough one but one that has ultimately led me to find and trust my intuition. From our...

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Poor Arlo Joe, your blog posts are a wee bit less regular than Louie's but it is much harder to find a time when you are both asleep and I'm awake enough to write a coherent paragraph.  In any case, right now I am living the dream and you are both asleep.  Here goes.... You are 10 weeks old.  The sweetest little thing...

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First words, six weeks First words, six weeks ...

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It's impossible not to compare newborn you to newborn Louie.  The similarities between you and Louie are remarkable.  As newborns you both have that strong, meerkat neck, the concerned look that can break into a sparkly little grin already, a beautiful little pointy chin and the same lovely big eyes.  I think you are very similar in behaviour also, a lot of the...

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Our baby boy is here, 18 days old today.  He's making Louie look enormous, his nappies are ridiculous in comparison.  We named him Arlo, but Louie insists on Arlo Joe.  He's a sweet little thing with that concerned, bewildered look of newborns.  I've been cuddling him to sleep and reassuring him that the world is a great place to be but he's still...

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Louie on Whangamata beach with his Grandparents.  Something about this photo kills me.  A childhood playing out right in front of my eyes, something I seldom actually realise.  An era flashing by, a joyful, innocent, glorious time.  People who adore you, all around you.  The most beautiful boy in the world.   That's a photo you look back on and feel a gripping...

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So how weird is this pic of mini-Andy compete with moustache and steely gaze?! He looks determined. *Gulp* What a dude. After a wee concern re: my tummy measuring a bit small (not really possible, I'm ENORMOUS) we got to have a growth scan.  You're no longer a bean my boy!  Actually you are measuring 10 days bigger, look like a 30year old...

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  When you were born, just hours old, your dad said something I'll not forget.  He said "When I look at him I expect to recognise him as someone I know, I feel like I should recognise my son.  But I don't.  I've never seen him before now".  And it was so true and strange.  A wrinkly little concerned human who made our...

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I knew it would be you, even though I thought about girls names and flirted with racks of floral prints, I knew it would be you to complete our family, I've always known.  We've had a name for you from the beginning.  It's your name and I can't wait for you to come out here and get it.  I think you are incredibly...

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  Creeping up on two years old.  Actually, make that stomping, galloping, dancing, leaping up on two years old!  You are:  Busy, busy, busy, bossy, charming, chattering, sweet, demanding, keen, social, lovely, bright and drop dead gorgeous. You like:  Those boy obsessions of tractors, trucks, diggers, trains.  Peppa Pig.  Dancing time with mum and dad in the lounge.  Driving in the car.  Food (pretty...

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