Thursday, December 31, 2009
Yum Yum
Food is very important to this munchkin. Tasting, spreading, throwing, eating. Painting. Mushing. Rolling. What have I missed? Strawberries are in.
Christmas angel
Well, Isaiah does describe the cherubim covered with eyes. This is Jessica's version!
Irene and Nicole come for the weekend
Irene and her 8 year old daughter came to stay for 4 days - what fun! We were teenage friends and have lots of fun memories of going away, youth group, food fights and growing up together. We met when we were 16 and she is still one of my favourite people! Jessica loved her Auntie Reen, and Nicole (Coley) was followed and watched closely at all times by a little curly top who would LOVE to have a big sister.
We did lots over the few days they were here, and I hope that I have convinced her that CT is a great place to live. The weather was magnificent which also added a sparkle!
It's strange but nice to be mommies together, when we used to giggle over boys and life and all that there was in our worlds so long ago. New things. We don't feel much older now that we did then!
Up TM
It was up the cable car with Irene and Nicole, much to Jessica's delight. She could talk of nothing else for the rest of the weekend! Much to Nicole's despair! Hee hee.
Vic Bay
I had a teambuild that required a night away - the first ever from Adam, Jessica and Luke. The plan was to drive up to George on Thursday (leaving CT at 6pm), spend the night at Vic Bay, do the teambuild and then drive back to CT, leaving George around 6pm again.
Well, the team that I worked with were marvellous, and we left CT around 7pm after a minor combi mishap when the local petrol attendant put petrol into the diesel fuel tanks of our first vehicle. A quick find of a second vehicle, and we were on our way. Lots of driving later (it's a 5 hour drive at minimum), we arrived in Vic Bay at 1.30am, unpacked and fell into bed. My alarm went off at 6am and only the thought of a walk on the beach lifted me bodily! With gritty eyes I made it out of the door to be greeted with a gorgeous beach, the glimmers of sunrise on the waters, surfers' heads shining darkly like wet seals in the waves and the cleanliness of fresh early morning sea air. Deep breath! The picture almost does it justice.
Then it was up and off, picking up towels at the local hotel, off to the airport to get cars ready and prep for the day. The client was an IT company from Jhb. Their staff were told to pack enough clothes for 2 days, and to be at their offices at a certain time. They knew nothing more. They were picked up, taken to a local airport, put on a plane to George and then sent on an Amazing Race (spanning George, Oudtshoorn and Mossel Bay). Checking in at a hotel at the end, they were going to party all night, go to the Sevens Rugby tournament the next day, party some more and get bodily carried to the airport on Sunday morning to make their flights back (by then they would need to be carried I am guessing).
We checked out the 4 new Nissan Xtrails that the clients were going to be using, and got ready. We were taken by surprise a bit when the flight got in early, but made a grand entrance by driving up in convoy with our lights on. The guys were blown away, and after a quick briefing, hopped in their vehicles and were driven to the first location. During the day they got to ride ostriches, swim across a shark tank, do a labyrinth, taste chocolate, taste wit blits, make cheese, do a 4x4 challenge and a few other activities. They had a blast!
And so did we! By the time we were done we were toast, to say the least. Thank goodness for the tour guide experience of my drivers (I was the facilitator) as they were used to long distance driving and little sleep. With my mommy brain I was exhausted even though I routinely get up twice a night for Luke to feed.
I must say that I enjoyed my quiet 45 minutes sitting on a farm outside Oudtshoorn waiting for the teams to come in at lunch time, looking at the distant blue mountains, listening to the ostriches, breathing Karoo air. I felt suddenly single, unattached., no responsibilities. It was the strangest feeling.
And it was so good to get back home at 1am on Saturday morning. To see Lukey asleep with his little bum in the air. Hear Jessica snoring away. And to snuggle down into bed with Adam's arm thrown over me, reliving the memories of a crazy 24-hour excursion into a different part of our country with great people and experiences.
Beach time is great!
We took an early trip to the beach this morning. As you can see, Luke is still in his pajamas! With a quick stop at The Olympia Cafe to grab a croissant, we headed down to Boulders Beach for an early morning wander among the penguins and toddlers - this is a favourite beach for mommies as the water is so calm and the penguins so oblivious of the visitors.
Adam looked a little bemused as Jessica tore off across the beach. He and Luke settled down to enjoy the croissant and sand respectively while the girls paddled (darn, that water is soooo cold!) By 10am we were ready to head home and finish off the Christmas gifts in the workshop, and, truth be told, have a nap!
Gotta love public holidays!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Monday, November 02, 2009
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Mud mud glorious mud
It's official. He prefers grass and top dressing to my lovingly constructed and cunningly disguised meals. Ho hum. My eight month old sat on a picnic blanket this afternoon while we were gardening and raked up handfuls of grass once he discovered he could pull the blanket toward himself. It was a blackened gummy smile with grit between the teeth.
Jessica has hit the twos. I actually thought they were a myth, but the rumours are true. With lots of "NO" and some whining (Jessica, please use your big girl voice) and the inability to go to bed and stay there without at least 3 smacks (this after shortening her afternoon naps), we are kind of reeling. Some quiet consultation with friends seems to indicate that this is a widespread phenomenon.
However, the cute kisses hello and goodbyeyyyyyyyyyyyes, the vocab increase daily, a thrill in identifying the colours of cars all more than make up for it.
Oops, meant to be working. Better get back to my very dull document (zzzzzz). Have a great week!
Jessica has hit the twos. I actually thought they were a myth, but the rumours are true. With lots of "NO" and some whining (Jessica, please use your big girl voice) and the inability to go to bed and stay there without at least 3 smacks (this after shortening her afternoon naps), we are kind of reeling. Some quiet consultation with friends seems to indicate that this is a widespread phenomenon.
However, the cute kisses hello and goodbyeyyyyyyyyyyyes, the vocab increase daily, a thrill in identifying the colours of cars all more than make up for it.
Oops, meant to be working. Better get back to my very dull document (zzzzzz). Have a great week!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Just felt like some pics
Above: Me and my cool kiddies in the Cederberg
Above: A crrrazzzy family portrait moment on a cold winter afternoon a few months back
Sunday, October 25, 2009
And it's a pile of toys
Er, we lost Luke again. After putting him into bed, nogal. Yip, Jessica specialises in sneaking out of bed as soon as the light is off, quietly removing all the soft and fluffies at the foot of Lukey's cot and then piling them onto his head. This is normally about 20 minutes after he has literally passed out after the excitement of bath time. Poor boy. We usually find him buried under one sheep (thanks Irene and Nicole), one lion (from the Ghignones), Spencer Bear (all the way from Aberdeen and much loved/chewed and cuddled by Luke), Hospital Bear (from Discovery Health) and a large green tortoise. Plus whatever else Jessica has added to his cot in the interim.
We generally manage to find him when he starts complaining out loud. Then Mr Spanky visits Jessica and I have to try to console an 8 month old. Oh dear.
We generally manage to find him when he starts complaining out loud. Then Mr Spanky visits Jessica and I have to try to console an 8 month old. Oh dear.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Manic Momdays
It's been a manic few weeks. Since Dad landed in hospital. He went in on Sunday, got ICU'd immediately, had a stent put in on Wednesday (little device that holds the arteries round the heart open), was out 3 days later, drove himself home (sorry Dad, but I still think that you should have got someone to drive you back - a week in ICU does mean that it was serious enough medically). I'm just glad that he's feeling better, if not totally 100%. I had friends on standby to take kids for me but in the end did not fly up. On the other hand, the ICU sisters got to know my voice quite well and I even got the receptionist at the hospital to pick up a fax and get it to Dad for me one day.
Add to that a long weekend in a remote part of the Karoo near Touwsrivier (fab!), Jessica's flu (not so fab), Lukey flu (at emergency at 11pm the night before our 8th wedding anniversary - definitely not fab), wedding anniversary (great!), my flu (a minor incident with all else happening), two teambuilds (brilliant fun!), a resuscitation of a client website (with resulting payment imminent after 2 months of no income, hooray)... what else? Let's see, fridge packed up last Friday, new fridge on Saturday (the old one was at least 10 years old so a new one felt a little more prudent even if shocking to the bank balance), HOWEVER, a great weekend away with just us to Franschoek which we spent walking, playing with kids, eating, sleeping (not that much actually since we were up working late and then Luke wanted two feeds), a first meal out at a restaurant as a family with Jessica swiping olives off the pizza, Luke gnawing the crust and Adam and I unwinding even more - bliss!
Er, I think that that is about it for the past few weeks in a nutshell. Or several paragraphs.
The Lukester update: Luke is more interested in what we are eating every day. His little eyes light up every time I have a snack in hand (pleeeeeeeeese mummy, can I try some? - cough splutter, er, yum). His sitting is much stronger though Jessica pushed him over yesterday while he was sitting on the carpet in his room (Lukey go boom, mummy - no, you're not meant to push him over, look, he's crying, it's sore). He is still a smiley little person with a cute way of meeting someone: smiles at them, hides his head in my shoulder then peeks out two seconds later. He has a thing for balls. Throwing, chewing, batting at etc. Oh, and favourite food right now is crackerbreads. A facefull at a time, if you can picture it. I had no idea how faaaar crackerbreads could spread :)
Anyway, supper time is at hand. I know, 9.20pm, but that's just how today happened. Byeyeyeye!
Add to that a long weekend in a remote part of the Karoo near Touwsrivier (fab!), Jessica's flu (not so fab), Lukey flu (at emergency at 11pm the night before our 8th wedding anniversary - definitely not fab), wedding anniversary (great!), my flu (a minor incident with all else happening), two teambuilds (brilliant fun!), a resuscitation of a client website (with resulting payment imminent after 2 months of no income, hooray)... what else? Let's see, fridge packed up last Friday, new fridge on Saturday (the old one was at least 10 years old so a new one felt a little more prudent even if shocking to the bank balance), HOWEVER, a great weekend away with just us to Franschoek which we spent walking, playing with kids, eating, sleeping (not that much actually since we were up working late and then Luke wanted two feeds), a first meal out at a restaurant as a family with Jessica swiping olives off the pizza, Luke gnawing the crust and Adam and I unwinding even more - bliss!
Er, I think that that is about it for the past few weeks in a nutshell. Or several paragraphs.
The Lukester update: Luke is more interested in what we are eating every day. His little eyes light up every time I have a snack in hand (pleeeeeeeeese mummy, can I try some? - cough splutter, er, yum). His sitting is much stronger though Jessica pushed him over yesterday while he was sitting on the carpet in his room (Lukey go boom, mummy - no, you're not meant to push him over, look, he's crying, it's sore). He is still a smiley little person with a cute way of meeting someone: smiles at them, hides his head in my shoulder then peeks out two seconds later. He has a thing for balls. Throwing, chewing, batting at etc. Oh, and favourite food right now is crackerbreads. A facefull at a time, if you can picture it. I had no idea how faaaar crackerbreads could spread :)
Anyway, supper time is at hand. I know, 9.20pm, but that's just how today happened. Byeyeyeye!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
And in a heartbeat...
Life can change. A heart beat. Or not.
Dad is in hospital with severe chest pains. He woke early this morning with pain in his left shoulder, then it moved to his chest, and he drove himself in to Casualty at 6.30am. Thank goodness!
Mum and Anton only called at about 1pm to let me know what was going on. I spoke to Dad at about 2pm (he's taken his cell phone into ICU with him and put it on silent so that he can communicate) but he was sounding very drugged. From morphine this morning to some other superdrug this afternoon. When we got the sister in charge (what a sweetheart - she gave me her cell no so the kids could say goodnight to Grandad) I learnt only that test results should come back tomorrow. I've contacted Dad's brother to let him know, and a few other people Dad is close to. They've all been so supportive in prayer and encouragement. It's brought me close to tears. The tears that I have been holding back.
Dear God, please watch over my precious Dad tonight. May we have him for many more years. For my children to play with. My grandfather was such a precious gift to me. And, yes, I want my dad around for me! For coffee, chats, laughter, remembering, making new memories. More family holidays. More rugby matches. More stories of what God has done and is doing.
Life. Beat by minute by second. It's all about the heart. About loving. Being loved.
Dad is in hospital with severe chest pains. He woke early this morning with pain in his left shoulder, then it moved to his chest, and he drove himself in to Casualty at 6.30am. Thank goodness!
Mum and Anton only called at about 1pm to let me know what was going on. I spoke to Dad at about 2pm (he's taken his cell phone into ICU with him and put it on silent so that he can communicate) but he was sounding very drugged. From morphine this morning to some other superdrug this afternoon. When we got the sister in charge (what a sweetheart - she gave me her cell no so the kids could say goodnight to Grandad) I learnt only that test results should come back tomorrow. I've contacted Dad's brother to let him know, and a few other people Dad is close to. They've all been so supportive in prayer and encouragement. It's brought me close to tears. The tears that I have been holding back.
Dear God, please watch over my precious Dad tonight. May we have him for many more years. For my children to play with. My grandfather was such a precious gift to me. And, yes, I want my dad around for me! For coffee, chats, laughter, remembering, making new memories. More family holidays. More rugby matches. More stories of what God has done and is doing.
Life. Beat by minute by second. It's all about the heart. About loving. Being loved.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
A pictorial catch up
A quick summary of the past 1.5 months since Jessica's birthday:
Luke is now sitting, has TWO teeth and loves balls. Jessica has a new friend named Mr Spanky who visits her when she gets out of bed at naptime, loves dancing to music on the mat in the lounge ("DANCE daddy, DANCE") and turns up the volume when we turn it down. Jam tarts are a hit ("jam hearts, mommy, more jam hearts"). Luke is known as "Lukey" or, as Jessica said today: "Hello Lukesta". Adam heroically wired up our wellpoint which involved lots of crawling in the ceiling, getting down, walking to the back of the house, climbing the ladder and pulling wire (repeat x10). And when Adam dug out the trench for the cable we had a trench-surfer in the form of a sand-covered two-year old who filled it in as fast as we dug it out! Here are some of the pics... enjoy!
Early mornings in bed...
And the quintessential afternoon nap requires a book...
Er, Mum, I'm upside down!
Jessica and some of her friends. From left to right: Hannah, Emma, Anna, Jessica, Isabella, Michaela, Gemma.
Lukey and Dad hanging out at a birthday party.
Jessica and Isabella exploring the fishpond at the same birthday party!
Luke is now sitting, has TWO teeth and loves balls. Jessica has a new friend named Mr Spanky who visits her when she gets out of bed at naptime, loves dancing to music on the mat in the lounge ("DANCE daddy, DANCE") and turns up the volume when we turn it down. Jam tarts are a hit ("jam hearts, mommy, more jam hearts"). Luke is known as "Lukey" or, as Jessica said today: "Hello Lukesta". Adam heroically wired up our wellpoint which involved lots of crawling in the ceiling, getting down, walking to the back of the house, climbing the ladder and pulling wire (repeat x10). And when Adam dug out the trench for the cable we had a trench-surfer in the form of a sand-covered two-year old who filled it in as fast as we dug it out! Here are some of the pics... enjoy!
Early mornings in bed...
And the quintessential afternoon nap requires a book...
Er, Mum, I'm upside down!
Jessica and some of her friends. From left to right: Hannah, Emma, Anna, Jessica, Isabella, Michaela, Gemma.
Lukey and Dad hanging out at a birthday party.
Jessica and Isabella exploring the fishpond at the same birthday party!
One of Lukey's first meals... yum, yum, yum. He loves apple and pear, cereal and banana. But not veg. Er-hmmm!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Friends
Hey, it's so hard when people you love are struggling with illness, or issues. My dear friend Catherine has cancer, and had her op today (I've been praying all day for you), and little Kate has not been eating and is losing weight (been praying for you too, little one). Then Gus is in for an op tomorrow to re-attach his Achilles tendon which popped last week (ow). And Eva lost her mom last week. The list goes on. My cousin and his wife who lost a baby (I weep).
I find myself on my knees this week. In silent and sometimes emotional prayer for some of these people who have enriched my life for a moment, a week, maybe months or even years. Not just because they are "my" people. But because they are His people, even if they don't know Him yet. Loved. Sore. Needing His touch. My willingness to be His hands seems to be such a small thing, my words of encouragement to be faint squeaks in the loudness of the storms (and boy have we had a storm today). Oh Lord, you hear and see, you hold and comfort. Reach out through the wet and damp of day and hearts. Bring miracles and love and healing and hope. You offer safety.
I'm on my knees again.
Softness of heart - I allow myself to feel, to pray, to cry out again. "You are my God - there is no other."
I find myself on my knees this week. In silent and sometimes emotional prayer for some of these people who have enriched my life for a moment, a week, maybe months or even years. Not just because they are "my" people. But because they are His people, even if they don't know Him yet. Loved. Sore. Needing His touch. My willingness to be His hands seems to be such a small thing, my words of encouragement to be faint squeaks in the loudness of the storms (and boy have we had a storm today). Oh Lord, you hear and see, you hold and comfort. Reach out through the wet and damp of day and hearts. Bring miracles and love and healing and hope. You offer safety.
I'm on my knees again.
Softness of heart - I allow myself to feel, to pray, to cry out again. "You are my God - there is no other."
Rainy Tuesday in CT...
And the rain came down... down-down, and down. So I got inspired to "pome" a bit...
Actually - sideways too
And then from the other side, you know who
It's quite something to see
To feel
To aquaplane the puddles on the M5
To duck around and to dive
(Pardon the pun - this is rather fun)
You see, I was out on the road
In the latest download
Of torrents from the sky
Oh me... Oh my
The city was wet, the roads were all flooded
The roadworks soggy and mudded
The mountain was shining in front of the cloud
With silver rivers all plunging and loud
So here's my "pome" in great personal delight
'cos the roof is snug and totally watertight
On that note, I'll bid you good night
It's time to jump into bed and turn out the light.
Actually - sideways too
And then from the other side, you know who
It's quite something to see
To feel
To aquaplane the puddles on the M5
To duck around and to dive
(Pardon the pun - this is rather fun)
You see, I was out on the road
In the latest download
Of torrents from the sky
Oh me... Oh my
The city was wet, the roads were all flooded
The roadworks soggy and mudded
The mountain was shining in front of the cloud
With silver rivers all plunging and loud
So here's my "pome" in great personal delight
'cos the roof is snug and totally watertight
On that note, I'll bid you good night
It's time to jump into bed and turn out the light.
Monday, August 17, 2009
And your many messings...
Hmm, saying grace at mealtimes is rather humourous at the moment! Try this new version...
Thank you Father, thank you Father
For hour foo, for hour foo
And your many messings, and your many messings
Ah-ha-men! Ah-ha-men!
How cool is that? Sung at the top of her voice, of course!
Thank you Father, thank you Father
For hour foo, for hour foo
And your many messings, and your many messings
Ah-ha-men! Ah-ha-men!
How cool is that? Sung at the top of her voice, of course!
Toof!
It's official! Luke has his first tooth (bottom right) and I have been bitten! We were out for our first climbing "expotition" (as Winnie the Pooh would say) and Mr Luke was a bit miz in the hiking pack. So when we made it to the large lookout rock at Lower Silvermine crags, we hauled him out for some comfort, and discovered the cause of the wail.
Jessica went with Dad earlier, so I arrived to find her happily trying to belay and simultaneously explore the lookout rock (hmm, my shattered nerves!) A firm grip on her foot worked wonders though, and kept Miss Adventure "Climbing Mountain" from a plunge.
I did my first climb since before Luke was conceived, and it was great. Jessica was a bit perturbed to see mommy climbing up the rock, and kept saying "climbing mountain!" as I ascended. I did pay for my outing two days later when standing up and bending down became a bit fraught :). Well worth it!
Jessica went with Dad earlier, so I arrived to find her happily trying to belay and simultaneously explore the lookout rock (hmm, my shattered nerves!) A firm grip on her foot worked wonders though, and kept Miss Adventure "Climbing Mountain" from a plunge.
I did my first climb since before Luke was conceived, and it was great. Jessica was a bit perturbed to see mommy climbing up the rock, and kept saying "climbing mountain!" as I ascended. I did pay for my outing two days later when standing up and bending down became a bit fraught :). Well worth it!
Sunday, August 02, 2009
And the big T-W-O arrives
It's official. Jessica has made it through two years of our parenting, or should I say that we have made it through two years of Jessica's growing!
We had a couple of days of practicing the Happy Happy song, and it all boded well. On the morning of the B-day, Jessica woke happily and was relocated to our bed for her morning bottle as per usual, and something that was of immense excitement... Ooh, presents! The first of what proved to be MANY! And lots of lovely wrapping paper too! Our 2-year-old loved tearing the paper, waving the gifts around and then tearing more paper. Mum's card was wrapped in multiple layers and was a real hit to open! Anton and Oksana gave Jessica a lovely book of nursery rhymes and stories, with Disney characters. Jessica has not stopped asking for it either day or night, and with all the different stories, it is really great for parents too :)
Adam took the day off, so he was there when some of Jessica's friends came over for a play date. Emily arrived bearing an umbrella (a big "wow", but we had to use major distraction to get it away), Isabella brought a lovely backpack (immediately put on and not removed until time for an afternoon sleep) and Emma brought a tea set. The little girls enjoyed some songs, some crafts, some drawing and opening up all Jessica's toy boxes to check out what was there. Luke distinguished himself by falling asleep on his bouncy seat, and slumbering through the entire event on the dining room table safely out of reach.
That afternoon, after a big girl sleep, we all headed to Silvermine for a walk. The weather was clear and not too cold, so we headed up to the Hout Bay lookout and almost made it. Jessica wanted to walk a lot of the way, which did slow us down as she kept collecting rocks, inspecting handfuls of sand, and then practicing her jumping. But we had a little picnic at the top of the pass, and then headed home for supper and big-girl bed which is working out well to date - especially as she is in her sleeping bag which does limit her manoeverability (sneaky move by parents).
I kept thinking back to the day of her birth, the cramps, the pacing up and down the hospital, the lovely epidural four hours later, the almost birth and then the C-section. So much, and I was so clueless as to what to do with this tiny person. And now she is two, and I still feel a bit clueless. Somehow I have the power to kiss an owie away, by my presence to make the world all right, the charm to read a story, the ability to dance to the radio ("wiggle wiggle wiggle") and resources of a hundred songs with actions.
And Jessica? She catches my heart when she grabs my pants and says "Come mommy, come!" or laughs, or shouts "squeeze" as she wraps her arms around me. She can drive me to distraction with her "no's" and refusing to eat veggies that I have tried EVERYTHING I know of to make them taste delicious. She brings a smile to my face when I listen to her splashing in the bath and talking to Adam and Lukey. She makes me giggle when I walk into her room and find her asleep with her book ON her face. I don't mind washing countless outfits which she has muddied, play-doughed or dropped food on. I pray daily for more patience and more ability to educate, entertain and experience life through her eyes and help her to expand her horizons. I have to hide my amusement when she tries to get her way and be strict.
Jessica is my daughter, my small person. My piece of Adam... well, she's "mine" in trust only. But what a trust to give me a Jessica to hold, love, cuddle and swing. May I be found worthy, Lord. And may I have many many years of having a Jessica. Please.
We had a couple of days of practicing the Happy Happy song, and it all boded well. On the morning of the B-day, Jessica woke happily and was relocated to our bed for her morning bottle as per usual, and something that was of immense excitement... Ooh, presents! The first of what proved to be MANY! And lots of lovely wrapping paper too! Our 2-year-old loved tearing the paper, waving the gifts around and then tearing more paper. Mum's card was wrapped in multiple layers and was a real hit to open! Anton and Oksana gave Jessica a lovely book of nursery rhymes and stories, with Disney characters. Jessica has not stopped asking for it either day or night, and with all the different stories, it is really great for parents too :)
Adam took the day off, so he was there when some of Jessica's friends came over for a play date. Emily arrived bearing an umbrella (a big "wow", but we had to use major distraction to get it away), Isabella brought a lovely backpack (immediately put on and not removed until time for an afternoon sleep) and Emma brought a tea set. The little girls enjoyed some songs, some crafts, some drawing and opening up all Jessica's toy boxes to check out what was there. Luke distinguished himself by falling asleep on his bouncy seat, and slumbering through the entire event on the dining room table safely out of reach.
That afternoon, after a big girl sleep, we all headed to Silvermine for a walk. The weather was clear and not too cold, so we headed up to the Hout Bay lookout and almost made it. Jessica wanted to walk a lot of the way, which did slow us down as she kept collecting rocks, inspecting handfuls of sand, and then practicing her jumping. But we had a little picnic at the top of the pass, and then headed home for supper and big-girl bed which is working out well to date - especially as she is in her sleeping bag which does limit her manoeverability (sneaky move by parents).
I kept thinking back to the day of her birth, the cramps, the pacing up and down the hospital, the lovely epidural four hours later, the almost birth and then the C-section. So much, and I was so clueless as to what to do with this tiny person. And now she is two, and I still feel a bit clueless. Somehow I have the power to kiss an owie away, by my presence to make the world all right, the charm to read a story, the ability to dance to the radio ("wiggle wiggle wiggle") and resources of a hundred songs with actions.
And Jessica? She catches my heart when she grabs my pants and says "Come mommy, come!" or laughs, or shouts "squeeze" as she wraps her arms around me. She can drive me to distraction with her "no's" and refusing to eat veggies that I have tried EVERYTHING I know of to make them taste delicious. She brings a smile to my face when I listen to her splashing in the bath and talking to Adam and Lukey. She makes me giggle when I walk into her room and find her asleep with her book ON her face. I don't mind washing countless outfits which she has muddied, play-doughed or dropped food on. I pray daily for more patience and more ability to educate, entertain and experience life through her eyes and help her to expand her horizons. I have to hide my amusement when she tries to get her way and be strict.
Jessica is my daughter, my small person. My piece of Adam... well, she's "mine" in trust only. But what a trust to give me a Jessica to hold, love, cuddle and swing. May I be found worthy, Lord. And may I have many many years of having a Jessica. Please.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
In my big-girl bed, mum!
Yip, it's official. Tonight Jessica helped Adam to screw the railing for her big-girl bed onto her big-girl bed, and at bedtime, happily climbed into her sleeping bag and lay down to read her book. She said goodnight to the book about 10 minutes later, and I tucked Teddy and Donkey in with her (Teddy on the left and Donkey on the right), kissed her goodnight, and walked out and turned off the light. We waited with trepidation in the kitchen. There was some singing and chatting, and then, by the time we had finished supper, just deep breathing. And that was that! Our baby girl is in her big-girl bed. It seems remarkably easy.
I wonder what is going to happen tomorrow morning when she wakes up in her big-girl bed? Mmm.
I wonder what is going to happen tomorrow morning when she wakes up in her big-girl bed? Mmm.
Did I say RollOvers?
Not jam - but Lukey! Wow, on the phone to someone when he rolled from front to back! He was very pleased with his little self, especially when I clapped my hands and told him how clever he was. Big gummy cute grins back at me. And he also moved into Jessica's old cot too, so it's been quite a day or two. At first all the extra space was a little scary, so I tucked him in tight and put his toys around him again. A tiny little person in that huge cot... wow. Yikes, etc. They really are growing up fast. Sigh.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Roll over Beethoven!
It's official - we have a rollover. At first it was a pushover, but now it's definitely (did it thrice) a rollover boy! Tummy to back actually, so not quite the higher grade deal, but quite something. Lukey also has found out that he can swing his toes into the air, so I find him squiggling around on his back with his toes up high. He hasn't quite figured out what to do with them, so just stares while sucking furiously on his hand.
As usual, I am typing quickly while Adam and the kids are doing bathtime. Echoes from the bathroom: "No, no, don't drink the water, it's disgustipating!" "Hand, Hand! Daddy boat" "Splutter!" (that was Luke getting splashed)
There are so many precious and memorable moments all the time. It's hard to capture them all, even in my memory:
- Dancing to "One Life" by U2 in the lounge this evening - somehow it became "Ring a ring a rosies ALL FALL DOWNNNNN!"
- Jessica walking up to me after I had bathed, touching the scar on my side from a mole removal and saying "Owie" then kissing it better for me
- Jessica's shrieks of "Apple, Apple!" every time she sees the local mosque which has a green ball on top of the minaret.
- "Mountain hiding" when there is lots of cloud on a rainy day.
- And of course, all mountains are "Table MounTAIN!!"
- "Auntie Clares" - Clare is quite chuffed that she is not a singular, but a plural Clares!
- "Mommy sit!" when she wants to read a book, or play with her cars, or teddies, or dollies. This morning we had two dollies and two teddies all put to sleep under a blanket, and she carefully fed them milk from a dolly bottle. Then, at lunchtime I left Jessica with her bottle in the cot which I normally don't do, but Luke was starving... I came back to find her feeding Donkey milk from her almost empty bottle :)
Great news today: Jessica has been accepted into Noah's Ark, a nursery school which is just up the road. I am thrilled! And, after a call to the local primary school, it looks like we might fall into the catchment. Whew! It's a really great school and I am so keen to get Jessica in, but have been worrying about whether we make it. It looks like we do - thank you God!
That's most of our news. Adam's working on rails for Jessica's bed as we need to move Luke out of his bassinet into a real cot. He can touch both ends now, and the whole thing rocks madly when he starts kicking his legs. Jessica almost pulled it over last week, with Luke in it, as she was going through a "CLIMBINGGGG!!!" phase. Argh! I just saved the bassinet at the point of almost-no-return-toppling-onto-heater. Life is never dull.
The next big thing is going to be a second birthday party. They do say that you should invite one child more than the number of years your poppet will be, but that's impossible! I've got such a precious circle of friends here and I couldn't exclude one or another. I mean, how on earth do you choose who to invite? There are about 6 little girls that Jessica loves spending time with, and two little boys. These moms have walked a road with me, all at different times and seasons. I really value them. So, I guess it's going to be a bit bigger. Jessica is practicing the birthday song:
Happy ... to you
Happy ... to you
Whew - whew (blowing candles out)
Still working on a few words - like "birthday" and "dear Jessica". She has learnt to answer the question "How old are you?" by saying two and holding up 5 fingers!
As usual, I am typing quickly while Adam and the kids are doing bathtime. Echoes from the bathroom: "No, no, don't drink the water, it's disgustipating!" "Hand, Hand! Daddy boat" "Splutter!" (that was Luke getting splashed)
There are so many precious and memorable moments all the time. It's hard to capture them all, even in my memory:
- Dancing to "One Life" by U2 in the lounge this evening - somehow it became "Ring a ring a rosies ALL FALL DOWNNNNN!"
- Jessica walking up to me after I had bathed, touching the scar on my side from a mole removal and saying "Owie" then kissing it better for me
- Jessica's shrieks of "Apple, Apple!" every time she sees the local mosque which has a green ball on top of the minaret.
- "Mountain hiding" when there is lots of cloud on a rainy day.
- And of course, all mountains are "Table MounTAIN!!"
- "Auntie Clares" - Clare is quite chuffed that she is not a singular, but a plural Clares!
- "Mommy sit!" when she wants to read a book, or play with her cars, or teddies, or dollies. This morning we had two dollies and two teddies all put to sleep under a blanket, and she carefully fed them milk from a dolly bottle. Then, at lunchtime I left Jessica with her bottle in the cot which I normally don't do, but Luke was starving... I came back to find her feeding Donkey milk from her almost empty bottle :)
Great news today: Jessica has been accepted into Noah's Ark, a nursery school which is just up the road. I am thrilled! And, after a call to the local primary school, it looks like we might fall into the catchment. Whew! It's a really great school and I am so keen to get Jessica in, but have been worrying about whether we make it. It looks like we do - thank you God!
That's most of our news. Adam's working on rails for Jessica's bed as we need to move Luke out of his bassinet into a real cot. He can touch both ends now, and the whole thing rocks madly when he starts kicking his legs. Jessica almost pulled it over last week, with Luke in it, as she was going through a "CLIMBINGGGG!!!" phase. Argh! I just saved the bassinet at the point of almost-no-return-toppling-onto-heater. Life is never dull.
The next big thing is going to be a second birthday party. They do say that you should invite one child more than the number of years your poppet will be, but that's impossible! I've got such a precious circle of friends here and I couldn't exclude one or another. I mean, how on earth do you choose who to invite? There are about 6 little girls that Jessica loves spending time with, and two little boys. These moms have walked a road with me, all at different times and seasons. I really value them. So, I guess it's going to be a bit bigger. Jessica is practicing the birthday song:
Happy ... to you
Happy ... to you
Whew - whew (blowing candles out)
Still working on a few words - like "birthday" and "dear Jessica". She has learnt to answer the question "How old are you?" by saying two and holding up 5 fingers!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Miss Potter
On a cold rainy Cape Town winter's afternoon, after a bowl of steamy Jamie Oliver pasta at the kitchent table, we snuggled into bed with Luke to watch Miss Potter. I laughed, (surreptitiously) cried and was swept along in this marvellous real-life drama. I had no inkling of Beatrix Potter's life - just a somewhat vague familiarity with her stories. We have a few for Jessica, but she has not "found" them yet. Neither, really, have I. Until now.
I have a yearning to write again. Not just a blog, but to put that book together finally. Should it be the Snickerdoodle people again? A real-life story, or collection of stories? Perhaps a poetry explosion? Sigh.
My real-life self doth not know. Mummy-brain, could it be?
Anyway, I'll write of our every-day stories today. Jessica has again bashed herself. This time thankfully NOT her nose again, but her chin as she ran across the courtyard outside the Kirstenbosch shop and took a flying tumble. Ouch! It seems that our cute "Jessica-Boo" is just a tad prone to diving off things. A week before that she managed to plummet off a ledge in the lounge and connect with her rocking horse on the way down. Witness: one very bruised nose and a gashed puffy lip. And the week before that, it was a tumble at the Aquarium that split the said lip and made me wonder if we were going to have to go and find a doctor for stitches.
Aside from facial woes, the little girl has started to sing to herself in the car when we go on trips and forget the radio face. It's so sweet to hear a mix of "Twinkle Winnie Pooh, Winnie Pooh, lala la, up and down, beep beep BEEP" and other melodies from the back seat. Along with comments like "Daddy coming NOW-now". The verbal and mental connections are all happening and so we're constantly surprised at how much she can communicate. Today she got quite cross with us when she said something and we couldn't work out what it was. She firmly said again, loudly (!), "Sun OUT!" and pointed at the window to show her silly parents that the sun was out finally after a morning of showers! Ok, we did get it finally!
And of course, she copies everything you say. Including, one day this week, my comment when something went wrong while I was making supper: "Bugger!". A little voice on the other side of the kitchen sweetly said in return "bugger" and I knew I was in trouble! Thankfully she has not said it again. Though she does say "OOF" whenever she bends down. I think she gets it from me :)
She's just woken from a nap, so bye for now. We're going to go explore the workshop where Adam is working on our coffee table. Have a great week!
I have a yearning to write again. Not just a blog, but to put that book together finally. Should it be the Snickerdoodle people again? A real-life story, or collection of stories? Perhaps a poetry explosion? Sigh.
My real-life self doth not know. Mummy-brain, could it be?
Anyway, I'll write of our every-day stories today. Jessica has again bashed herself. This time thankfully NOT her nose again, but her chin as she ran across the courtyard outside the Kirstenbosch shop and took a flying tumble. Ouch! It seems that our cute "Jessica-Boo" is just a tad prone to diving off things. A week before that she managed to plummet off a ledge in the lounge and connect with her rocking horse on the way down. Witness: one very bruised nose and a gashed puffy lip. And the week before that, it was a tumble at the Aquarium that split the said lip and made me wonder if we were going to have to go and find a doctor for stitches.
Aside from facial woes, the little girl has started to sing to herself in the car when we go on trips and forget the radio face. It's so sweet to hear a mix of "Twinkle Winnie Pooh, Winnie Pooh, lala la, up and down, beep beep BEEP" and other melodies from the back seat. Along with comments like "Daddy coming NOW-now". The verbal and mental connections are all happening and so we're constantly surprised at how much she can communicate. Today she got quite cross with us when she said something and we couldn't work out what it was. She firmly said again, loudly (!), "Sun OUT!" and pointed at the window to show her silly parents that the sun was out finally after a morning of showers! Ok, we did get it finally!
And of course, she copies everything you say. Including, one day this week, my comment when something went wrong while I was making supper: "Bugger!". A little voice on the other side of the kitchen sweetly said in return "bugger" and I knew I was in trouble! Thankfully she has not said it again. Though she does say "OOF" whenever she bends down. I think she gets it from me :)
She's just woken from a nap, so bye for now. We're going to go explore the workshop where Adam is working on our coffee table. Have a great week!
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Friends are a gift...
Seems like I am posting once a month on average. Sigh, it should be more but getting to the laptop to blog seems to take quite an effort with work to do and of course, Miss Puter avidly begging for Pingu or whatever else we find on YouTube (Bear Necessities was a real hit!)
Life is in much the same routine (Luke, Jessica, house, some work, seeing friends, vaccinations) with some heavy downpours in the past week. Winter has truly arrived, but the Constantia Valley keeps peeking back at me between the mist falls and squalls. In true South African fashion, we are expecting hot and sunny days from tomorrow.This afternoon I was trying to get some washing out when it rained out of an "almost" clear sky... however, an hour later Jessica was shrieking in her swing and I was harvesting snails. They are moving in on the veggie patch, but have not found our new peas yet (we munched the first two off the plants today - YUM).
Luke made it into the Bumbo this week: here's the green bottom clutching Jessica's BeeBah car.
I've had some friend moments: my dear dear friend Catherine left for the UK two and a bit weeks ago, and I sorely miss her. Little Amelie and Jessica love playing together, and one of our favourite hook up spots was the Aquarium. Catherine and I met the day she arrived here from the UK, not knowing anyone, and the past year has been greatly enriched by her humour, calmness and company. I'm blessed!
Here are some pics of our last outing the day before they left. The girls played hide and seek at a big game exhibition at the Waterfront, and there's a pic of Amelie holding "Baby Luke".
But, after the departure of one friend, it was lovely to have Eloise (with Sofia, Judah and Tim) came down from Zim for a surprise visit, and so Jessica and 'Fia had some great play time while we caught up on the news and mom-stuff of day-to-day life. From Elle's developing Bible studies for women (which were stolen while they were down - I hope that the thief reads them!) to toddler-taming, our visit was whirlwind of beaches, fishies and time to catch up. Elle - you rock!
And there have been some hard moments too.
On Monday, after a really really hectic morning getting Luke's vaccinations (warning, it cost R1260 for the 6-in-1, Prevenar and a Rotavirus one), I ended up staying on a bit too long at a friend's, and as I was trying to head us out the door, her little one pushed Jessica who fell over, and I ran to discipline them both and smacked the other little person on her leg. I NEVER thought I would do that. I mean, it wasn't a whack or hard, but you simply DON'T just do things like that. I headed home with such shame burning in me. Too much in one day. I called my dear friend the next day to tell her and we talked things through; thank God for her graceful way of dealing with things.
I have learnt/felt so much this week that my head is simply spinning and I am rather "plat" and overwhelmed. And, to top it all off, we had a session on how to discipline your kid at our small group the other night. So darn timely and topical!
So now Adam and I are working out how to discipline our precious little people with love and consistency. There's lots to learn, and I thank God for my mommy and daddy friends who stick with us and encourage us in this journey that we are on.
Well, this tired Mum, after a hectic week which was filled with so much (and thankfully, helped by precious friends), feels much like Pooh Bear right now, namely a "bear of Very Little Brain". Night night all. I'm hoping that a Hum comes in the morning, along with the forecast sunshine.
Life is in much the same routine (Luke, Jessica, house, some work, seeing friends, vaccinations) with some heavy downpours in the past week. Winter has truly arrived, but the Constantia Valley keeps peeking back at me between the mist falls and squalls. In true South African fashion, we are expecting hot and sunny days from tomorrow.This afternoon I was trying to get some washing out when it rained out of an "almost" clear sky... however, an hour later Jessica was shrieking in her swing and I was harvesting snails. They are moving in on the veggie patch, but have not found our new peas yet (we munched the first two off the plants today - YUM).
Luke made it into the Bumbo this week: here's the green bottom clutching Jessica's BeeBah car.
I've had some friend moments: my dear dear friend Catherine left for the UK two and a bit weeks ago, and I sorely miss her. Little Amelie and Jessica love playing together, and one of our favourite hook up spots was the Aquarium. Catherine and I met the day she arrived here from the UK, not knowing anyone, and the past year has been greatly enriched by her humour, calmness and company. I'm blessed!
Here are some pics of our last outing the day before they left. The girls played hide and seek at a big game exhibition at the Waterfront, and there's a pic of Amelie holding "Baby Luke".
But, after the departure of one friend, it was lovely to have Eloise (with Sofia, Judah and Tim) came down from Zim for a surprise visit, and so Jessica and 'Fia had some great play time while we caught up on the news and mom-stuff of day-to-day life. From Elle's developing Bible studies for women (which were stolen while they were down - I hope that the thief reads them!) to toddler-taming, our visit was whirlwind of beaches, fishies and time to catch up. Elle - you rock!
And there have been some hard moments too.
On Monday, after a really really hectic morning getting Luke's vaccinations (warning, it cost R1260 for the 6-in-1, Prevenar and a Rotavirus one), I ended up staying on a bit too long at a friend's, and as I was trying to head us out the door, her little one pushed Jessica who fell over, and I ran to discipline them both and smacked the other little person on her leg. I NEVER thought I would do that. I mean, it wasn't a whack or hard, but you simply DON'T just do things like that. I headed home with such shame burning in me. Too much in one day. I called my dear friend the next day to tell her and we talked things through; thank God for her graceful way of dealing with things.
I have learnt/felt so much this week that my head is simply spinning and I am rather "plat" and overwhelmed. And, to top it all off, we had a session on how to discipline your kid at our small group the other night. So darn timely and topical!
So now Adam and I are working out how to discipline our precious little people with love and consistency. There's lots to learn, and I thank God for my mommy and daddy friends who stick with us and encourage us in this journey that we are on.
Well, this tired Mum, after a hectic week which was filled with so much (and thankfully, helped by precious friends), feels much like Pooh Bear right now, namely a "bear of Very Little Brain". Night night all. I'm hoping that a Hum comes in the morning, along with the forecast sunshine.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Family reunions!
So, I finally got around to some pics and updating this blog! Wow!
We headed north to Jhb for my parents 60th birthdays (Mum on the 10th of May and Dad on the 28th). The flight up was interesting to say the least with Jessica NOT interested in sitting still for the take off. Too much to explore, you know. She screamed for the first 15 minutes of the flight at HIGH volume. I sat behind Adam with Luke feeding, and felt so sorry for him trying to keep her quiet!
Wednesday and Thursday were wonderful - lots of time with Adam's mom who was thrilled to finally meet Luke and play with Jessica. Stephen and Maria, along with Thomas and Helen, popped in for a visit and there were lots of recollections, laughter and of course, good food and wine! Thomas was to graduate the day after, which was a real highlight (and the reason that the Durbs family were up north).
On Friday morning Anton, Oksana, Sasha, Anastia, Adam, Jessica, Luke and I piled into the rental van that Dad hired for us, and set off for the furthest north, namely Hoedspruit, to Daan's game farm. To celebrate the 60ths. I'm not quite sure just how many of Mum and Dad's friends were there, but there were a bunch. Aside from a minor 90 minute detour (!!) after missing the turnoff to Hoespruit, we finally made it to the camp and de-bussed with relief. Dad grabbed Luke for cuddles, Jessica ran around like a kiddie who had been in a car seat for a LONG time and we met several friends that we had heard of, but not been in touch with before. The bush was lush after good rains, the camp was coloured with the soft colours of sunset in the bush, and a delicious potjie of stew was simmering in the kitchen!
Adam (my hero and dearest love) volunteered to take kiddies, so I got up early on Saturday morning to join the game drive at a nearby game farm that had the big five. Freezing cold at 6am, by 8am we had all stripped off the extra layers, and were round-eyed with wonder after spending 20 minutes parked in the middle of a herd of elephants, then meeting a cheetah and her three teenage naughty cubs close up, visiting with some rhino, and just being in the bush. The huge spiderwebs that had been spun across every clearing and between every bush bore witness to Tosha's comment that this year was a record year for seeing spiders!
Back to the camp for brunch, then a nice afternoon nap, some time with Lukey on a blanket in the sun, Jessica in the pool, kiddies laughter in the background, a walk to the nearby dam hoping to spot giraffe or the even more shy zebra that we heard were in the farm, and then, in the evening, supper round the fire, and some praise and worship in the boma. Mmm.
We left with great reluctance on Sunday morning after family pics (the two little girls loved the old tractor!), and did the great trek back... and it was a real trek!
We lost the borrowed pram at Graskop (finally found it after phoning about 8 people and a lot of prayer, Mum and Dad collected it on their way home - whew!), hit hectic traffic, then had a small bumper bashing on the van. A long day, but a really lovely time away.
And that's really that - just add an overactive Jessica on a thankfully empty plane on the way home, and a great friend who picked us up on Tuesday morning when we got home to our beautiful Cape Town.
We headed north to Jhb for my parents 60th birthdays (Mum on the 10th of May and Dad on the 28th). The flight up was interesting to say the least with Jessica NOT interested in sitting still for the take off. Too much to explore, you know. She screamed for the first 15 minutes of the flight at HIGH volume. I sat behind Adam with Luke feeding, and felt so sorry for him trying to keep her quiet!
Wednesday and Thursday were wonderful - lots of time with Adam's mom who was thrilled to finally meet Luke and play with Jessica. Stephen and Maria, along with Thomas and Helen, popped in for a visit and there were lots of recollections, laughter and of course, good food and wine! Thomas was to graduate the day after, which was a real highlight (and the reason that the Durbs family were up north).
On Friday morning Anton, Oksana, Sasha, Anastia, Adam, Jessica, Luke and I piled into the rental van that Dad hired for us, and set off for the furthest north, namely Hoedspruit, to Daan's game farm. To celebrate the 60ths. I'm not quite sure just how many of Mum and Dad's friends were there, but there were a bunch. Aside from a minor 90 minute detour (!!) after missing the turnoff to Hoespruit, we finally made it to the camp and de-bussed with relief. Dad grabbed Luke for cuddles, Jessica ran around like a kiddie who had been in a car seat for a LONG time and we met several friends that we had heard of, but not been in touch with before. The bush was lush after good rains, the camp was coloured with the soft colours of sunset in the bush, and a delicious potjie of stew was simmering in the kitchen!
Adam (my hero and dearest love) volunteered to take kiddies, so I got up early on Saturday morning to join the game drive at a nearby game farm that had the big five. Freezing cold at 6am, by 8am we had all stripped off the extra layers, and were round-eyed with wonder after spending 20 minutes parked in the middle of a herd of elephants, then meeting a cheetah and her three teenage naughty cubs close up, visiting with some rhino, and just being in the bush. The huge spiderwebs that had been spun across every clearing and between every bush bore witness to Tosha's comment that this year was a record year for seeing spiders!
Back to the camp for brunch, then a nice afternoon nap, some time with Lukey on a blanket in the sun, Jessica in the pool, kiddies laughter in the background, a walk to the nearby dam hoping to spot giraffe or the even more shy zebra that we heard were in the farm, and then, in the evening, supper round the fire, and some praise and worship in the boma. Mmm.
We left with great reluctance on Sunday morning after family pics (the two little girls loved the old tractor!), and did the great trek back... and it was a real trek!
We lost the borrowed pram at Graskop (finally found it after phoning about 8 people and a lot of prayer, Mum and Dad collected it on their way home - whew!), hit hectic traffic, then had a small bumper bashing on the van. A long day, but a really lovely time away.And that's really that - just add an overactive Jessica on a thankfully empty plane on the way home, and a great friend who picked us up on Tuesday morning when we got home to our beautiful Cape Town.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Lukey! Lukey!
That's what I hear every now and then from Jessica. I've only once found her leaning on his chest peering down at him and saying "Lukey" (sorry Luke, but it happens to be true - I did remove her fast and your chest does not look like it caved in??)
Jessica just woke up as I was about to start blogging, so now she is sitting on my lap yelling out "MORE" and "MORE PINGO" while I attempt to capture the mushy thoughts I had with Luke on my lap smiling at me this afternoon. Pingu being a BBC penguin feature that we watch on YouTube when I need a break. Oh dear, tears now because I won't let her play the mouse pointer... Adam is in now to find out what the squawk was and just asked me which mouse I was talking about. Er, that's because we have a little grey creature sliding soundlessly behind the cupboard, making reckless runs across the kitchen and skidding across the bedroom carpet. I think it's also doing pitter-patter noises at night in the roof.
Am I ever going to get this blog down and add some photos after about 2 months of promising to do it?
Er, I give up for now!
Jessica just woke up as I was about to start blogging, so now she is sitting on my lap yelling out "MORE" and "MORE PINGO" while I attempt to capture the mushy thoughts I had with Luke on my lap smiling at me this afternoon. Pingu being a BBC penguin feature that we watch on YouTube when I need a break.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Some thoughts from a parenting course we are doing
Very few of us will be remembered in the annals of history when we die, although we'll be remembered by friends and family. So, remember that God is the God of the mundane, and the small things. Each small moment is important.
Influence is the by-product of relationship. Relationship is spelt T-I-M-E. And kids are into quantity time, not quality time. Drop what you need to in order to have time with your kids. At the end of the day, building a fortune to buy a Ferrari is not as important as what you build into your child's life.
Five questions that will help you and your kids understand their own/your heart and thus their/your reactions. Ask them/yourself these questions wherever and whenever possible:
1. What was going on?
2. What were you thinking and feeling?
3. What did you do in response?
4. Why did you do it?
5. What was the result?
Influence is the by-product of relationship. Relationship is spelt T-I-M-E. And kids are into quantity time, not quality time. Drop what you need to in order to have time with your kids. At the end of the day, building a fortune to buy a Ferrari is not as important as what you build into your child's life.
Five questions that will help you and your kids understand their own/your heart and thus their/your reactions. Ask them/yourself these questions wherever and whenever possible:
1. What was going on?
2. What were you thinking and feeling?
3. What did you do in response?
4. Why did you do it?
5. What was the result?
"Back" on his feet again (sortof)
Hellos one and all. The deep deep hole in communications has been due to various illnesses. After my last post we had a quiet few days of enjoyment and getting used to life, and then it hit.
Well, my parents came to visit (that's NOT the hit) and on the Saturday afternoon they arrived, Jessica started a little temperature. Which, by the next morning, became a hectic temperature. Very hectic. And so began a week of 40'C, cold baths, limp non-eating little girl, visits to the GP, a visit to the Paed, visits to the Pharmacy, snotty nose, crying at night, tag-teaming with bedside visits in the wee-wee hours. It finally came to a happier Jessica end the afternoon that my folks flew home - what heroes they were with pizza take-out, driving me around, watching over Jessica and giving Luke lots of cuddles. And how crazy that it all had to happen the week that they were here. No visits to the beach or World of Birds. Sigh.
Then it sneaked up on us again. Jessica had 3 days of feeling great when Adam went down hard. Literally. After gardening with Jessica late on Sunday afternoon after we dropped the folks at the airport, he pulled a muscle in his back. It was sore, but survivable. Not by Thursday though - which is when he couldn't move. And he picked up some kind of flu virus. And let's not forget the conjunctivitus (pink eye) that has had him looking like a bit of a cyclops as he peered up at me from the bed. Five days down - that could make a movie title??!!
But yay, today he was up, and there is the sound of splashing, aeroplanes, "beep beep" and "squeak-squish-squa-plash" from the bathroom again. YAY! Flippin' HOO-ray! And lots of "thank yous" to the Lord for health! I've really come to realise how wonderful a healthy body is, and what an impact on our lives it has when we are sick. And what a large part in the parenting team thing that Adam plays. Jessica really missed him and is so happy right now to have her daddy back - "giggle giggle WHERE? bang bang splaaaaashshshshsh giggle".
In the middle of all this, young Luke passed his 6-week medical with flying colours, has started smiling (no, it's not wind! all you cynical people) and is trying out his tongue and making cute noises at us. What a boy! Now if he could go back to that nice long sleep that was having between 8pm and 2am I would be thrilled. He seems to be having a growth spurt (or something) 'cos he is hungry (like the huuungry caterpillar) all the time. Like clockwork, every 2.5 hours I hear a "squeak-ungh-mmm-ya-hmmm-ya-YA-wa-squeak-ungh-don't they realise I'm hungry-WAAAAH" from his cot or wherever he is sleeping. And nothing but food will console him. Though, sneaky mummy does pop him in bed if he starts up at 5am. A dummy and the combo of body heat and soporific pats does quieten him down 'til after 6am most cold, early, dark mornings. (OK - the Bertas in northwestern Canada are rolling their eyes at me as cold in Cape Town right now is about 18'C. Shiver!)
A fun highlight last week (before Adam went down) was a visit from Ian from the UK who we have not seen for at least 5 years. Jessica, Luke and I took him to Boulders Beach where Jessica chased penguins and Ian was introduced to the little person clan and goings on. It was a lovely interlude in our week, and topped off with ice creams from the gelateria in Kalk Bay on the way home. MMM!
And that's really all the news for now. xx
Well, my parents came to visit (that's NOT the hit) and on the Saturday afternoon they arrived, Jessica started a little temperature. Which, by the next morning, became a hectic temperature. Very hectic. And so began a week of 40'C, cold baths, limp non-eating little girl, visits to the GP, a visit to the Paed, visits to the Pharmacy, snotty nose, crying at night, tag-teaming with bedside visits in the wee-wee hours. It finally came to a happier Jessica end the afternoon that my folks flew home - what heroes they were with pizza take-out, driving me around, watching over Jessica and giving Luke lots of cuddles. And how crazy that it all had to happen the week that they were here. No visits to the beach or World of Birds. Sigh.
Then it sneaked up on us again. Jessica had 3 days of feeling great when Adam went down hard. Literally. After gardening with Jessica late on Sunday afternoon after we dropped the folks at the airport, he pulled a muscle in his back. It was sore, but survivable. Not by Thursday though - which is when he couldn't move. And he picked up some kind of flu virus. And let's not forget the conjunctivitus (pink eye) that has had him looking like a bit of a cyclops as he peered up at me from the bed. Five days down - that could make a movie title??!!
But yay, today he was up, and there is the sound of splashing, aeroplanes, "beep beep" and "squeak-squish-squa-plash" from the bathroom again. YAY! Flippin' HOO-ray! And lots of "thank yous" to the Lord for health! I've really come to realise how wonderful a healthy body is, and what an impact on our lives it has when we are sick. And what a large part in the parenting team thing that Adam plays. Jessica really missed him and is so happy right now to have her daddy back - "giggle giggle WHERE? bang bang splaaaaashshshshsh giggle".
In the middle of all this, young Luke passed his 6-week medical with flying colours, has started smiling (no, it's not wind! all you cynical people) and is trying out his tongue and making cute noises at us. What a boy! Now if he could go back to that nice long sleep that was having between 8pm and 2am I would be thrilled. He seems to be having a growth spurt (or something) 'cos he is hungry (like the huuungry caterpillar) all the time. Like clockwork, every 2.5 hours I hear a "squeak-ungh-mmm-ya-hmmm-ya-YA-wa-squeak-ungh-don't they realise I'm hungry-WAAAAH" from his cot or wherever he is sleeping. And nothing but food will console him. Though, sneaky mummy does pop him in bed if he starts up at 5am. A dummy and the combo of body heat and soporific pats does quieten him down 'til after 6am most cold, early, dark mornings. (OK - the Bertas in northwestern Canada are rolling their eyes at me as cold in Cape Town right now is about 18'C. Shiver!)
A fun highlight last week (before Adam went down) was a visit from Ian from the UK who we have not seen for at least 5 years. Jessica, Luke and I took him to Boulders Beach where Jessica chased penguins and Ian was introduced to the little person clan and goings on. It was a lovely interlude in our week, and topped off with ice creams from the gelateria in Kalk Bay on the way home. MMM!
And that's really all the news for now. xx
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Just over 3 weeks old now, young Luke is happily eating, checking out the world with big dark blue eyes and little interested noises, pooing, and sleeping with the most serene look on his face. All good baby stuff :) He's dropped into the same sort of routine that we used for Jessica and so life is (mostly) fairly predictable about what happens next, with some timing variations. I must say that I am so much more relaxed this time around and even though there are now two little people, it's definitely not as hectic as the first time. Especially the first 6 weeks, which, looking back, still are a blur.
Friends have asked me if I was worried about having enough love for a second child. Now that we have one, I can truly say that, firstly, my love for our first child grew much deeper and I long for and miss the times when she was small, yearning to have more time with her and have some time back. And then secondly, my love for Luke was "automatically" there. It's not something I worked on, or an emotion that gushed out when I saw him for the first time. It was more like a completion, or a quiet presence. It's as though he has always been part of me, and of our family. Which in a way, he and Jessica both have, as I have prayed for them since I was 13 years old (so that's about 23 years already - yikes, I'm getting older!)
Poignant and humorous memories of our first week:
- Jessica with ear infection and temps in the 40s, crying and being dunked in the bath on a heat wave Tuesday (the day after I got home)
- Jessica taking meds morning, midday and night for a week oh so very bravely
- Mosquitos humming madly round the bed the first few nights I was home
- Luke peeing on Adam
- Luke sprinkling the doc's waiting room when I went in to weigh him last week (a perfect hit on the toy bin
- Luke nailing Adam's foot with a poo (I nearly tore my stitches laughing when it happened, and ended up in tears on the bed)
- Luke smiling
- Jessica and Luke in the bath together for the first time
- Jessica eating again after a week of refusing all food 'cos she was feeling so sick
- Meals every night dropped off by fabulous friends (yum, yum! YUM!)
- trying to leave the house with two kiddies in tow (I forgot all the Kerry-things, though I did remember all their paraphernalia)
Jessica learnt to say "Loooook" today for the first time (so cute) and is now giving Luke "loves" which means bumping her head against his. She's practicing her kisses on him too with some encouragement. Of course, there are some moments when she gets a bit enthusiastic. Picture her rocking the car seat vigorously with Luke head-banging inside :)
I'm managing to get some sleep when Jessica goes down for her day sleep, which really makes quite a difference. I did fall asleep in the middle of an "AM" feed yesterday and woke up an hour later with the light still on and Luke passed out on the bed next to me. Then he woke up when I tried to move him to his bed, so I broke my intentions and fed him to get him down again after changing him (3 times in one change... he has a tendency to fill his nappy several times over 10 minutes or so and always seems to do it when I change him after the midnight feed). Crawled back into bed at 2am and snuggled down next to Adam. Yawn. It's not hard to fall asleep after a feed nowadays!
I'll post pics tomorrow. Need to head to bed now. Just had to get some musings out. Night night!
Friends have asked me if I was worried about having enough love for a second child. Now that we have one, I can truly say that, firstly, my love for our first child grew much deeper and I long for and miss the times when she was small, yearning to have more time with her and have some time back. And then secondly, my love for Luke was "automatically" there. It's not something I worked on, or an emotion that gushed out when I saw him for the first time. It was more like a completion, or a quiet presence. It's as though he has always been part of me, and of our family. Which in a way, he and Jessica both have, as I have prayed for them since I was 13 years old (so that's about 23 years already - yikes, I'm getting older!)
Poignant and humorous memories of our first week:
- Jessica with ear infection and temps in the 40s, crying and being dunked in the bath on a heat wave Tuesday (the day after I got home)
- Jessica taking meds morning, midday and night for a week oh so very bravely
- Mosquitos humming madly round the bed the first few nights I was home
- Luke peeing on Adam
- Luke sprinkling the doc's waiting room when I went in to weigh him last week (a perfect hit on the toy bin
- Luke nailing Adam's foot with a poo (I nearly tore my stitches laughing when it happened, and ended up in tears on the bed)
- Luke smiling
- Jessica and Luke in the bath together for the first time
- Jessica eating again after a week of refusing all food 'cos she was feeling so sick
- Meals every night dropped off by fabulous friends (yum, yum! YUM!)
- trying to leave the house with two kiddies in tow (I forgot all the Kerry-things, though I did remember all their paraphernalia)
Jessica learnt to say "Loooook" today for the first time (so cute) and is now giving Luke "loves" which means bumping her head against his. She's practicing her kisses on him too with some encouragement. Of course, there are some moments when she gets a bit enthusiastic. Picture her rocking the car seat vigorously with Luke head-banging inside :)
I'm managing to get some sleep when Jessica goes down for her day sleep, which really makes quite a difference. I did fall asleep in the middle of an "AM" feed yesterday and woke up an hour later with the light still on and Luke passed out on the bed next to me. Then he woke up when I tried to move him to his bed, so I broke my intentions and fed him to get him down again after changing him (3 times in one change... he has a tendency to fill his nappy several times over 10 minutes or so and always seems to do it when I change him after the midnight feed). Crawled back into bed at 2am and snuggled down next to Adam. Yawn. It's not hard to fall asleep after a feed nowadays!
I'll post pics tomorrow. Need to head to bed now. Just had to get some musings out. Night night!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Meet Luke
Luke David was born at 9.43am on Friday 20th Feb… it was quite a surreal experience actually, as we knew the date in advance, almost knew the time and so the build up was very “organised” in a way. Of course, as organized as having a baby really can be, really!
On Thursday I went to work as usual, much to the concern of various members of my team who were wondering if I would walk (er, waddle actually) in that morning. In fact, there were lots of worried looks whenever I got up, or leant over. I’m sure they were expecting me to pop there and then, and had secret back-up plans for getting in touch with Adam or the nearest emergency unit if I so much as grimaced!
I made it home safe and sound, and had some time playing with Jessica. Thoughts of “it’s the last time that it will be just us” did flash through my head, even when there was pasta all over her face and fruit in her hair. Dad arrived just after 6 and so my snotty little person (poor baby, she had mild flu) was happily distracted and oh so very thrilled to have Grandad visiting. She followed him all over the house and loved it when he picked her up and tickled her. Adam came home shortly afterwards and our house was full. It was lovely to chat, listen to Jessica laughing and smell a yummy supper roasting in the oven.
Jessica down, we sat around the table and talked by candlelight until eyes grew heavy. With phone calls to Mum in Jhb and coffee-surfeited, we retired to bed and thoughts of what was coming. Despite that, it didn’t take too long to fall asleep.
Up at 6, we left at 7 leaving Dad and Jessica on the couch doing bottle and stories. The roads were clear and signing in at the hospital took a little longer than I thought. No rush, or hurry, and we ambled upstairs to maternity to be greeted by an empty ward and friendly nursing staff. We had a tour of the recent revamp (most notable the zooty coffee machine which Adam made a bee-line for as soon as possible), unpacked, and waited.
Dr Cook turned out to be a great anesthetist, in every way. Friendly, excellent at the anaesthetic side of things (all working 100% first try) and humourous in theatre. Plus good with a camera. My one “moment” was being wheeled down the passage into theatre – Caro was so welcoming and the staff very friendly which all left me very emotional. Wiping tears away, I was wheeled into theatre. Adam followed shortly after in green suit and capped. Monty, the assisting gynae (in white wellies) read the newspaper while I was having the spinal put in - a matter of poke to the left, to the right and "you should find your bum feeling hot now?". I held Adam’s hand when they laid me flat and put up the screen, and it all started quite fast. All I could see was his face, and it was a mixture of expressions which made me realize how very hard it is to watch someone you love go through something so very hectic. My toes were numb and although I could feel pressure and touch, there was no pain.
Some suction-type noises, pulling sensations and with lots of jumping up and down on my upper tum by Monty, Caro pulling hard on the other end, I heard a wail and then another one. Tears choking my voice, I asked “What is it?” and Caro showed Adam and left him to answer me in a voice as choked as my own: “It’s a boy!” Then Caro said “Here’s your little Luke” holding him up. I caught a glimpse as Chris took him to check him out and do all the tests. Adam followed after kissing me, keeping on turning round to tell me Luke was ok, with indignant wails filling the room.
My diaphragm burned like crazy, but when Luke was laid on my chest I found myself staring at a little Chinese face all scrunched up. Dark hair, fuzzy ears, so very different from Jessica. I didn’t recognize him (should I have?).
On Thursday I went to work as usual, much to the concern of various members of my team who were wondering if I would walk (er, waddle actually) in that morning. In fact, there were lots of worried looks whenever I got up, or leant over. I’m sure they were expecting me to pop there and then, and had secret back-up plans for getting in touch with Adam or the nearest emergency unit if I so much as grimaced!
I made it home safe and sound, and had some time playing with Jessica. Thoughts of “it’s the last time that it will be just us” did flash through my head, even when there was pasta all over her face and fruit in her hair. Dad arrived just after 6 and so my snotty little person (poor baby, she had mild flu) was happily distracted and oh so very thrilled to have Grandad visiting. She followed him all over the house and loved it when he picked her up and tickled her. Adam came home shortly afterwards and our house was full. It was lovely to chat, listen to Jessica laughing and smell a yummy supper roasting in the oven.
Jessica down, we sat around the table and talked by candlelight until eyes grew heavy. With phone calls to Mum in Jhb and coffee-surfeited, we retired to bed and thoughts of what was coming. Despite that, it didn’t take too long to fall asleep.
Up at 6, we left at 7 leaving Dad and Jessica on the couch doing bottle and stories. The roads were clear and signing in at the hospital took a little longer than I thought. No rush, or hurry, and we ambled upstairs to maternity to be greeted by an empty ward and friendly nursing staff. We had a tour of the recent revamp (most notable the zooty coffee machine which Adam made a bee-line for as soon as possible), unpacked, and waited.
Dr Cook turned out to be a great anesthetist, in every way. Friendly, excellent at the anaesthetic side of things (all working 100% first try) and humourous in theatre. Plus good with a camera. My one “moment” was being wheeled down the passage into theatre – Caro was so welcoming and the staff very friendly which all left me very emotional. Wiping tears away, I was wheeled into theatre. Adam followed shortly after in green suit and capped. Monty, the assisting gynae (in white wellies) read the newspaper while I was having the spinal put in - a matter of poke to the left, to the right and "you should find your bum feeling hot now?". I held Adam’s hand when they laid me flat and put up the screen, and it all started quite fast. All I could see was his face, and it was a mixture of expressions which made me realize how very hard it is to watch someone you love go through something so very hectic. My toes were numb and although I could feel pressure and touch, there was no pain.
Some suction-type noises, pulling sensations and with lots of jumping up and down on my upper tum by Monty, Caro pulling hard on the other end, I heard a wail and then another one. Tears choking my voice, I asked “What is it?” and Caro showed Adam and left him to answer me in a voice as choked as my own: “It’s a boy!” Then Caro said “Here’s your little Luke” holding him up. I caught a glimpse as Chris took him to check him out and do all the tests. Adam followed after kissing me, keeping on turning round to tell me Luke was ok, with indignant wails filling the room.
My diaphragm burned like crazy, but when Luke was laid on my chest I found myself staring at a little Chinese face all scrunched up. Dark hair, fuzzy ears, so very different from Jessica. I didn’t recognize him (should I have?).
Caro showed me the placenta which was amazing, and then finished the cleaning up and putting my uterus back. That was agonizing! Thankfully the severe burning sensation eased after a few minutes, but it left me so nauseous and sore that it was hard to even hold onto Luke. 
I was wheeled into recovery ten minutes later. Luke was stripped of his towel and laid on my chest to snuggle. He started to root immediately, so I latched him and we had a quiet 15 minutes with just the three of us behind a screen. So precious.
We kept the family on hold for a few more minutes and then it was back to the ward, congratulations from the staff, and hellos to the world - the continuation of a Friday, well, not quite!
Lots of pain meds (yay, they really help even if you do slur a lot), sms’s, phone calls to grandparents, dad in for a visit, seeing Adam holding a precious bundle, laughing at a first nappy change that left the bassinet wet (good aim!), a blur really, but a wonderful day.
I slurred my way through my visitors who specially came over on Friday night: Candace, Clare, Adrienne, Doy - it was so so good to see you and share my day with you.
I’m now three days in, home tomorrow. I’ve been blessed to have the whole general ward to myself for the entire weekend, and have savoured the quiet moments and cuddles.
Jessica has been able to visit as we like, her comment was "Baby” and patting him on the head… 
Friends have popped in and spoilt us with “boy-stuff”, and I am writing this waiting for the last feed for the day before flopping down for the night with the staff to watch Luke for me. A privilege.
Hello little boy, I can hardly believe that you are here. All those grimaces, sucks, and all 3kg and 53cm of you. Life started on Friday, but our family will be together tomorrow afternoon. Dad, Mum, Jessica and Luke. Quite a wow thought.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Emily turns 2!
It was Emmy's 2nd birthday on Saturday: a fun morning with about 8 kiddies, 25 adults and of course, Julie's amazing spread of eats. The birthday girl decided that it was all a bit overwhelming and headed straight for her granny's lap where she spent the entire party, apart from being enticed off to come and blow out candles on her cake.
Here are Jessica and Emily during the cake ceremony...
Jessica had to be encouraged to watch, not touch...
... but once candles were out, the cake was fair game and you'll notice that our child rather enjoyed poking, prodding and decimating it...
...that is, until she discovered the great paddling pool outside...
... watched by mom, dad and the Bump...
Here are Jessica and Emily during the cake ceremony...
Jessica had to be encouraged to watch, not touch...
... but once candles were out, the cake was fair game and you'll notice that our child rather enjoyed poking, prodding and decimating it......that is, until she discovered the great paddling pool outside...... watched by mom, dad and the Bump...Saturday, February 14, 2009
Valentine's Day cheffing
For our first Valentine's day, we made Daddy some heart shaped cookies. This was a very serious but enjoyable affair, as you can see by the facial expressions. It did all degenerate a bit later though when Jessica managed to scoop a handful of cookie dough into her mouth... after that we had problems cutting out cookies as compared to just eating dough!
Dad loved the cookies :)
Dad loved the cookies :)
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