#anettingnewzealandadventure: The Nettings Do NZ

This week is the continuation of our two-week road trip, as well as our return home. On Monday we continued to enjoy Titahi Bay, both running the Peninsula. We then went into town to stock up on some groceries, get a latte, and enjoy “the best fish and chips”. We have been completely disappointed by coffee once in NZ (at Sumner after our Godley Head run) and Caleb refuses to have another bad coffee so he now reads reviews and rates EVERY place we go; he proudly told me that Google recognizes him as “a local guide”. He found us an excellent coffee shop and we made our way to the fish and chips spot to find out that it was closed (paper, hand written sign on the door saying they were on holidays). We’ve actually run into this a few times over the past few weeks. Apparently, a lot of the country shuts down during the two weeks following Christmas. We enjoyed the beach and a costal walk during the day. Tuesday was a big and exhausting day for us. We were up early to catch our ferry back to the north island (you have to be there an hour before boarding so in total it’s close to 4.5-5 hour affair). Then we hopped in the car to drive a little under 2 hours west of Picton to Nelson, our last stop. We were all pretty zonked and done with traveling by the time we arrived. On Wednesday, Caleb was up early to tackle part of The Abel Tasman, another of the NZ Great Walks. Kenz and I had a great day hanging out in Nelson. We went to an amazing vegan restaurant for lunch and both devoured the meal and I enjoyed the BEST coconut latte. On the walk home I had to get a muffin because I was still hungry…haha but I only had half and saved the other half for Caleb. Caleb was back in the afternoon so we hit a patio for a beer and burger. Caleb completely 15 km out and back which was ¼ of the walk. He said the trail was well made with beautiful beaches and that young kids would be able to do it (for our future). Thursday, we made the decision to head straight home, which meant our longest day of driving, 5.5hrs. It actually went pretty smoothly with only two stops.

After a very successful 2-week road trip, we were all happy to be home! Overall, this trip went far smoother than I had expected. Kensley was adaptable and slept through the night about half of the nights (otherwise only up once for a quick feed between 3 and 4). The toughest part for me was feeding Kensley (real food) on the road. She basically refuses to be fed and so it means we have to find space and food that is easy for her to eat, and healthy, on the go. I am happy to be back to my kitchen and freezer to have her fed. On adventures like this, it becomes even more clear to me how much life changes with a baby (as if it hasn’t been clear enough :P). Sure, Kensley and I could’ve went along on the hikes with Caleb, but the reality is, that isn’t fun for me. I love her to death but there are things that I much rather do without her, and heading out on a hike is definitely one of those. I’m just not one of those moms who can throw away our routine completely and have to worry about her needs when I’m trying to do something fun. So we are doing what works well for us now! And although I’d rather be hiking, and Caleb would prefer not to be hiking solo, this is life for only a short period. If only I could find a babysitter at every destination! Don’t get me wrong, life is good, excellent actually, just different and I’d be a fool to say otherwise. There was so much more of the north island that we had hoped to do and see, but it will always be there, and we will return, with a little more freedom! It was Caleb’s hope that we would camp along the way, but the loving husband that he is, allowed me to book places for us to stay the entire time (always with a separate space for Kensley to sleep).

Caleb had to pop into work on Friday for a bit and Kensley and I grabbed groceries and got settled/unpacked. We were also surprised by the most thoughtful gift from Kensley’s Nonna on Friday. Chris always gives the most thoughtful gifts (wedding videographer!) so I shouldn’t have been so surprised but it definitely caused some tears. She made us an amazing photo/memory book with Kensley’s first months of life as well as our first months in New Zealand! So I had a little facetime catch up with her and Nikki on Friday, which always makes my heart a little fuller! We slide back into Friday night pizza night and red wine very easily. We enjoyed a Villa Maria red blend but from their basic label at $11.99 (Note you can buy this label in Canada). For it’s price point it was pretty damn good….not the level of the $70 label but still easy drinking and enjoyable.

On Saturday, we had Sarah babysit Kensley in the morning and enjoyed some time to ourselves. The crunch is really on for this Coast to Coast race. Caleb is feeling pressure to get more experience on the river in the kayak but it’s not simple because it’s not something you want to do on your own. On Sunday, he met up with a group for a kayak on part of the river course but when they arrived, the group decided it was too windy so they just did a road cycle instead. We also think we have sorted out a support team for Caleb which alleviates a lot of stress for me – the logistics around this race are insane (support are to camp over night and leave by 5am the latest to drop kayaks etc and then there is picking up the bike and dropping it off again and picking up the kayak etc….and this is all on the west coast because they start west coast and finish east coast/Christchurch). Sunday afternoon we all met up with Mary and her friend Andrew who is visiting from Ireland (but was sporting a Jays hat!).

Kensley is motoring around and so proud to be crawling. It’s nice because a large amount of frustration has been eliminated. We definitely have some baby- proofing to do because within a short period of being home she pulled our Christmas tree down on herself. She has also started to swat at us when she doesn’t want things and throw them. She LOVES to Facetime with Poppa – she dances, laughs and screams at him. She is starting to tell us what she wants (will point to her water cup) and is “roughly” signing “all-done” and “more”. She hates lying down now – in the tub, for diaper changes, it’s like we are offending her (the big girl) by even suggesting it. I asked her if she wanted to lie down in the tub yesterday and she screamed at me with anger. She loves to give her stuffed Kiwi bird kisses and laughs her head off about it. Caleb has started speaking to Kensley in mandarin, which she also likes to laugh about but is super cute.