Our little Malachi

Usually I have a journel that I write in for Malachi every week or so, so that in 10 years I can look back and remember just how he was at 16 months, or 8 weeks.  I love it, and I'm really glad I started it when he was a baby (thanks for the idea Mum).  However, his journel is in a box, along with the rest of our stuff, still waiting to depart the US of A, but I don't want to miss out on recording his little life so for now, I'll do it on our blog, so you get to read too :).

In the past month, lots has happened for this little boy.  First, Grandma Mele and Uncle Sione came from Tonga, and Aunty Nana and Kingston came from Washington for Daddy's graduation.  Malachi had so much fun with his cousin, "kintin".  He marked out his territory early on, picking on Kingston as if Malachi was the one a year older.  He loved waking up his Aunty nice and early, and getting treats from Grandma.  It was lots of fun.  Then, Daddy graduated.  Malachi slept through the lei part of it, which Mummy was secretly grateful for.  Then we checked out of TVA, and Malachi got to sleep at Annika's house for our last couple of nights in Hawaii, which he LOVED!  He really does love that little girl.  Every night when I put him to bed and I ask him what song he wants me to sing, he always picks first "Mummy, Daddy, Ma'akai, Annika" ("I love.....she loves me, we love......yes siree...").  So it was nice for him to spend some time with her too before we left.  Then it was off to the airport, saying goodbye to our family, and on to the plane.  Malachi thought it was FANTASTIC, watching all the planes coming and going, and then finally getting on one himself.  He did so well, slept 30min into the flight and then woke up probably an hour before landing.  He kept pointing all around him and saying "whoa mummy look! Big airplane!".  Then, sadly, he had to say goodbye to Daddy, who took another flight off to Tonga to get a visa, and Malachi came with Mummy on a "baby airplane" down to wellington.  He was lucky that the seat next to me was empty and he got his own seat (Mummy lied and said he was 2 so he could sit there).  He was asleep before the plane left and Mummy had to wake him up once we landed. 

And then it was off to see Grandma and Grandad Brunton.  We've been staying here at their house for the last 3 weeks and you'd think Malachi had lived here all his life.  He just blended right in.  He looooooves being with his grandparents, runs to meet them when they come home from work, always calling up and down the stairs "dama, dadad, where are you?"  He wasted no time locating all the trucks, diggers, airplanes, tanks etc (he is still OBSESSED with vehicles) and claiming them for his own.  He still lines them up in long lines, then drives  He's done really well sleeping in his new room, although he's usually in waking Mummy up by about 7am saying "Oh, hi Mummy, I miss you."  Last week Uncle Jessie came to visit and Uncle Richard came back from his mission, so there have been lots of people to show off to.  Nana and Pop have been down too, as well as Uncle Mike and Johanah, and he's been so good with them, giving everyone kisses and hug and high fives. 

Malachi's favourite thing to say at the moment is, "Um, I know! A different song/book/movie/snack!" (when asked, what does he want).  He likes standing in the middle of a crowded room and yelling "Hi guys!".  He's a great little helper for Mummy, cleans up his toys no problem, puts his dirty clothes in the laundry, passes me the pegs when I'm hanging out the laundry, puts his plates and cups in the sink when he's done.  He just loves to help.  He has really good manners, always saying please, thank you, bless you, excuse me.  He's figured out that if he uses manners, Grandad will give him anything he wants, and he uses it to his best ability.  He loves to play soccer with Grandma.  This kid has AMAZING coordination, better then most 3 or 4 year olds, and he's not even 2 yet.  He can catch a ball, drop kick, dribble, hit a tennis ball with a raquet.  It's crazy to watch.  He's super determined.  He'll sit there forever trying to get it right.  His vocab is booming, which I'm sure is helped by having so many people to talk to all the time.  He loves to pray and has to make sure that everyone else has their arms folded before he starts.  He's discovered that he has muscles, and loves to show them to you.  He's very much into routines.  He likes knowing what's coming, and being able to anticpate it.  He does things in order, almost a little OCD.  There are certain songs that Mummy sings him while he's brushing his teeth, getting him dressed etc, and if the songs aren't sung, he stops and says "No mummy, song!" and won't let us get started until the song is sung.  If I try to brush his hair before I brush his teeth, he tells me no and makes me do it in order.  He definately likes things a certain way.

But this kid just continues to be a  little ball of sunshine, no matter where he is.  He makes me happy everyday, makes me smile, fills me with love.  I'm so blessed to be his mother.  I'm excited for him to become a big brother in the next couple of weeks, I know he's going to make a great brother.  He loves to talk to my stomach, if he accidently bumps it, he says "oh, sorry brudah".  It's exciting.  But until then, I'm totally content to have just Malachi, he's a great little kid.