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“A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.” nixon: alongside all of the other things you do that your brother never did, you are a climber, especially fond of using your dump trucks as step ladders – you are a most determined baby.  you pulled your blankets out of your bottom drawer, then settled in for …

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“A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.” nixon: happy birthday my darling baby!  and you are still a baby, so much more so than your big brother at one and that’s just fine with me.  you had an amazing birthday, having your operation postponed meant we were all happy, relaxed and you felt great.  it …

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“A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.” nixon: your last days of babyhood are upon us!  you walk when you feel like it, you talk all day long, you are stroppy and know what you want and you are the most delicious, happy baby we have ever known.  i am so looking forward to celebrating your first …

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“A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.” ethan: you were so inspired by ben smith’s amazing tackle in the 2nd all blacks test against england that one of your favourite new pastimes is watching youtube videos of try-saving tackles.  i guess there is worse things you could be watching right?  nix just wants to watch big …

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“A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.” nixon: such a horrible week for you, more biopsies which really knocked you around resulting in four days in starship.  your hirschprungs journey has just begun but we will be there with you every step of the way x ethan: i love the way you look at your …

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“A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.” nixon: i was about to dress you when i realised that i really needed to enjoy your baby chub more often. so we turned the heat pump on and you had a lovely play in your nappy and i went a bit snap-happy.  you are such a very …

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“A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.” ethan: you are having a seriously good year at rugby.  you have settled into your position in the front row, finally, and are using your huge strength and power they way we knew you always could.  your school team won all three games in the first round of this …

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“A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.” ethan:  oh boy, hectic week!  this term you have become a ‘joiner’ at school, signing up for whatever sports team is in season as well as two choirs.  son you are one busy guy.  nix and i were stoked to watch your school soccer tournament last week, your …

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“A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.”   nixon: your dad and i realised that our second-child-slacker affliction extended so far that you had never been on a swing! quelle horreur!  so, you and i hit the park and you swung and you slid and all you really wanted to do was to eat bark {which …

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“A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.” ethan:  i realised this week that sometimes two 9 year old boys are better than one, especially when daddy is away.  i love seeing you play with your mates like this; dirty, independent, loud, rough, but also fun, kind, sharing and relishing the camaraderie a like-minded friend brings.  don’t grow up …