Wrapping up the first year of Grand-Daddyhood

Well - the posts to date have shown not only how the two young cousins, Dimitri and Darius have developed in their first twelve months. They also show how their young parents Elena and Steve, Megan and Neil have survived, and how we have been able to slip into the roles of Nannie and Grankie.

I will expect to close this particular blog now, and when I am ready to start a new one, I'll link to it from here!

Who said we could expect a quiet and peaceful "second half" ??????

Darius' first birthday...

Darius had his first birthday the other day but we celebrated it today (Saturday) with a BBQ lunch and family party at our place. Here are a few pix...

Darius checks out his new truck

Megan with Darius

Darius (l), Dimitri (r)

Darius having 'happy birthday' sung, before blowing out his candle, with his Mum and Dad

Both Darius and Dimitri have taken a fancy to the piano. (arghhhh)

Dimitri's first birthday

Last Monday, 19 January 2009 Elena and Steve put on a birthday party for Dimitri. Here are a few pictures of him enjoying the day. It was a good party, lots of kids, and family and friends. Dimitri was showing off his first steps, and otherwise generally enjoying the occasion and the food fight.

Here's Dimitri in his tent.

Dimitri with his Dad, Steve

Dimitri surrounded by new toys. Birthdays are fun!

Playing with his block truck

Dimitri (l) and Darius (r).

First Christmas!

Dimitri and Elena went to Auckland this December, so Dimitri could have his first Christmas with his бабушка, Tania. Steve flew up to join them just before Christmas. Here is a picture of Dimitri visiting St Nick and saying "Lemme outa here!".

We had Neil, Megan and Darius join us at home on Christmas morning, and then we all went to Clive and Bev's at Feilding. Here is Darius by the tree at his first Christmas, here at Ruahine Street.

Catching up with Dimitri...

I have had these pictures for a week or two - a bit slow getting them uploaded. But anyway - here are some pictures of Dimitri at 10 - 11 months. As you can see he is very active, and not far off walking. Blair will recognise the ALlBlack outfit he is wearing in a couple of these pictures. Dimitri keeps his Mum and Dad very busy!

Yum! Beats milk any day?

Milestone 10 months

Dimitri and Darius turned 10 months a week or two back. They are both at a really delightful age and stage - with heaps of personality, and doing similar things differently...

Here are a few pix of Darius. As you can see he is also very mobile, and he enjoys getting into anything in reach!

Again - the captions are below the picture - you can click on the picture for a full size look, and use your back arrow to return to the blog.



Ticklish!

Upwardly mobile, enjoys the Nokia lollypop.

Licensed driver of a laundry basket. Matches the car and the peg container!

Dimitri is into everything and beginning to climb to high places just like his Dad did. I don't have many recent pictures right now as Steve and Elena have been tinkering with a new movie camera instead to build a disc to send home. Should have something more to post soon.

and Dimitri at 9 months

Not to be out-done - here are some photos of Dimitri last weekend -

Hmmmm the new portacot tastes great!

Visiting the esplanade. Can't wait for summer and warm sunshine!

The two swingers

9 months....

Darius, at 9 months. a solid happy lad. Chuckles and chortles. Loves his Marmite, getting mobile.

8 months of fun - new mobility!

The lads are now just over 8 months old, and getting pretty mobile with a combination of press-ups, shake, rattle and roll! Here is a snap of Dimitri a week or so back. Sophie the cat will be keeping her distance now, as Dimitri seems to regard "No!" as a bit of a game!

Now is the time to plug the outlets, secure the cupboards, and the cleansers, and the CD collections and....

Today Neil, Megan and Darius came for lunch. It was a fine spring day, and Darius enjoyed playing out on the lawn. Here, he is, exploring "grass".

Darius playing with toys that have come down the generation from his Dad and uncles..

A picture of Neil holding Darius -

And later in the afternoon Elena, Steve and Dimitri arrived and stayed for dinner. Here they are, playing with the toys.

Fathers' Day in NZ

Today marked the first day that Steve and Neil could receive the bounties of joining that exclusive club - to which less than half the world's population is eligible to join - their first Fathers' Day!

We had a family lunch at home, unfortunately missing Blair who is home in Invercargill. Megan's Dad Murray, and her brother Stu joined us - so all the fathers were present. After lunch we went out for a walk on the river bank. It was a beautiful spring day.

Today also marked the announcement by Neil and Megan of their engagement. Some Grankie pix are included with this posting:

Darius

Darius in his jolly jumper.

Dimitri cruising in his rocking car

Check out the teeth! (They both have teeth now!)

Elena and Dimitri who loves bread rolls!
At the bridle track by the river - (L to R) Steve Elena and Dimitri, Megan Darius and Rosemary, Stu (Megan's brother), and Murray - Megan's Dad.

Setting off on the walk over the stop-bank - Neil is pushing Darius now. Steve is getting psyched up for some football passing and kicking.

Murray and Stu Daun, by the Manawatu River

Boys will be boys and both Neil and Steve will sleep well tonight!

There was a jet boat event on the river today as well - we caught part of the time trial as 7 or 8 boats went by.

A pretty good Fathers' Day!

Darius eating with the grown-ups...

And today Darius got a new highchair. He has already christened it.


He is also rolling round on the floor chasing toys, teething, and sitting up reasonably well unsupported.

His "Dad-Dad-Dad" is very clearly directed at Neil and he is also making Mm-Mm-Mm noises which are probably the start of "Mum-Mum-Mum!"

















Megan sharing a banana with Darius in his new highchair.

Coming on to 7 months old - teeth and getting mobile...

Dimitri a week or so back.

Teeth coming through now, and he is also quite vocal.

I think his 'Da da da" is not Dad-Dad-Dad, but Yes! Yes! Yes!

Whenever I pick him up he beats me up, and tries to remove my eyeballs, ears, nose...




















Here is Dimnitri in his walking playground!

A happy chappie! He is becoming quite mobile - won't be long and Lena and Steve will be finding ways to secure cupboards and the china cabinet.

Yesterday Dimitri got a handful of Sophie the cat. Good thing Sophie is tolerant, even if she is now missing a tuft of fur!

Approaching 6 months old...

Neil and Darius, Steve and Dimitri - domestic Dads and the two cuzzies!

5 months old this week...

I hope to get some pix of the Mums and Dads in the next month or so as well.

Dimitri been there - got the tee shirt...

and Darius has discovered the joy of swinging! (not that I would know anything about that!)