9 days before Nico turned 14 months old, we went to New Caledonia to spend Christmas and New Year with Ong Ngoai and Ba Ngoai.
For an entire 2 1/2 weeks, Nico's bum barely touched the ground. He got carried, cuddled, hugged, kissed, played with, sung to, talked to, and generally spoilt like he never had before. I never realised that the women in my family were so child-oriented until Bas pointed it out. Nico also got dissected like a frog during a biology class ("Oh look he's got his Dad's curls" "Oh and he's got Cecile's eyes" "Ah yes, and Bas' mouth" "I wonder whose temper he'll inherit?").
In Ba Ngoai's arms
In Ong Ngoai's arms
In Chloe's arms
In Sabine's arms
In Ba Co's arms
Since we were on a tropical island, there was only one thing to do: get Nico acquainted with real beaches made of fine sand, warm clear waters and colourful fish. Couldn't keep him away; as soon as we put him on the mat he was crawling back to the water. Felt like we were playing yoyo.
Sand play involving baby handfuls of sand, lots of sand, everywhere, anywhere. Including mat, nappy, own lunch and Kindercot.
Giggles all round.
Swimming is hard work. The Kindercot was a great thing to bring along.
Swimming with the fishies. Them being French fishies, it was only right to feed them baguette.
On Mana and Lola's boat. The ride was bumpy enough for my bum to sometimes lift off the seat as if I was levitating, but it didn't even wake Kulani, Taaroa and Nico. It barely got a snort out of Nico.
Fun with Daddy on Anne's daughters' swing.
We borrowed some of Alex's toys.
Plastic bucket, water and plastic bugs. Ingredients to keep a baby occupied for 15 minutes. Warm weather essential, swim nappy optional. Floaties may happen as a side-effect (Thankfully we didn't get any).
Well this is a French territory, so we had to introduce Nico to fine foods.
Like baguette and boursin.
Wearing the crown for the traditional Galette des Rois, on Epiphany day.
He introduced himself to my box of chocolate Orangettes.
