1 Day at a Time...And some photos!!!

Taking a stroll through Groenkloof Nature Reserve on our last day of holiday


Happy New Year Noah


Happy New Year Caden!


Quality time on the swing - Kai and Caden with their dads at Megan and Conrad's house


Keaton letting Caden drive his car. It was so cute, Caden couldn't touch the pedals, so Keaton put his feet there to drive and Caden was steering


Keaton teaching Caden to drive his car


Kai getting a turn to drive


Faster Darryl Faster!!!


All the dads and their boys - Enjoying a swim


Pruning the plants with my new garden set


A tiny bit crazy - I love this babygrow!


Helping dad in the garden


My garden set from granny and grampy


Making mud



My Christmas ball from Megan, Conrad and Keaton


Opening my present from Lisa and Dale


More presents!


Faster Faster Faster!!!


Chatting with Kelly


Wes and Kelly celebrating


Opening my present from Justin and Kelly for Christmas


It's a tractor!


Riding my bike from uncle Brendon for Christmas



Watering the garden


More presents!!!


Playing with my garden set from granny!


On my swing from ouma!


Singing twinkle twinkle little star - our favourite!! I even know the words (Up above and star!)


Justin and Caden


Elmo in the "wild"


Caden and Dad in the swimming pool


Mopping the swimming pool


????


Kelly shying away from the camera


The Weasel


Yum Yum, Ginger bread house cookie from Megan


True Love?



Chilling with mom and dad


Tim and Chrisma


Sleeping at the drive-in


Dancing for the people at the drive-in


Playing at Upper Deck


On the Merry-go-Round



At the botanical gardens. Rocks don't taste that nice!


Sitting on the step eating my food


Pushing my bike


Playing in the fish pond at the botanical gardens


Taking a walk with dad


Playing with Kai in ouma's pool




At Papacinos for lunch!


High Five Dad!!!


At he Sterkfontein caves



Hello my angel,

Firstly let me wish you a very happy new year my boy. Hope you continue to grow so beautifully in 2010 as you have in 2009. You continue to amaze me and dad every day with the things you learn. Lately we only need to say a word once for you to repeat it, it's so amazing. You can definitely see where your preferences are because you put more energy into talking than into trying to do physical stuff (not that you don't try a lot of that too), but you definitely have your eyes set on speaking sentences.

Dad and I really enjoyed the time we have had this holiday to spend with you. We haven't gone anywhere, just incase your little brother would get upset about that and throw a "tantrum" in my tummy, he-he, but we got to spend each and every day with you. Lots of swimming, lots of friends and lots of Christmas presents! Thank you to everyone for all Caden's stunning presents! He enjoys them so much and each and everyone had it's moment of glory!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our friends and family as well. I don't think we always understand just how blessed we are to have you in our lives. But to each and every single person who has played a part in our lives, thank you, just for being you, because by just being you, you are making us who we are.

On another note, as far as pregnancy progress is concerned, New year's day would've marked the day in the pregnancy timeline when I went into labour with you mr. Monkey. And, you would've been born on Tuesday 5 Jan 10, according to the timeline you decided to follow. So, one day at a time, we are slowly but surely approaching a new timeline with your brother. One we've never known before. One we are so grateful for, because if there is anything I could change in your life my angel, it would've been that. I know you had your own path to walk, a path I might not understand and probably never will. But if I have to think back about the time that I was unable to hold you, when me and dad had to stand back and watch all those needles in you, when all we wanted was to comfort you but couldn't. I know that the experience made you stronger and more independent, but I wouldn't be able to stand not being able to be there for you again. So dad and I are so grateful for your fiery personality, your determination and independence, even though it gets tiring, ha-ha, we hope you develop that more and more in the future, because that is clearly who you are meant to be.

Anyway, enough talk, here's some photos of the holiday.

Love you lots!
Mom

Home Sweet Home

Hello my angel,

Well, thank you so much for talking to your brother. He listened and dr Burger discharged me today. At first he was going to keep me there until Friday, and then, to my surprise, he turned around and said I could actually go today, if I take it easy.

It is so wonderful to be back where I belong, with my boys at home. Every night we have to thank the Big Man upstairs for answering our prayers. This could've ended...well...very badly my angel, and thank goodness God decided to grant our prayers and now we have even more time before your little brother arrives.

Thank you everyone who said a prayer, offered support or even just silently sent a positive thought our way. We really appreciate it, and are very blessed to have so many caring people in our lives.

Well, that's all from me for now. I'm so glad and overwhelmed to be home, that I might just take a nap, ha-ha.

God Bless!!!

De ja vu?

Hello my angel,

Well, let's start off with why you haven't been seeing me so much lately. The reason is that I had to go to the hospital for a while. You see, like you, your little brother is also very anxious to see the world, except, about 3 weeks earlier than you wanted to. As you may know, 3 weeks make a BIG difference, so we have to make sure that he stays put for now. Please talk to your little brother when you say your prayers at night my angel. Tell him that it's not so much fun when you come early, because you don't get to go out and play immediately, and that it's much safer for him to stay inside. As for you my only. Please look after your dad at home, he needs you very much you know, as he lives for everyday with you. Please make sure he doesn't cry too much, cause he's actually a big softy (don't tell him though). And then I'll promise I'll do everything in my power to get myself and your little brother back home as soon as possible! Doctor Burger (you remember him, the guy whose face you probably saw first when you came out) is positive that we'll be able to stop these contractions this time, and, so am I. So I'll behave myself and try to get back to you as soon as possible, if you look after daddy, talk to your little brother and behave yourself when ouma looks after you!

I will give you more details about our little visit today later. For now, just know that I am missing you and dad extremely, and I cannot wait to back at home, where I belong.

Love you plenty!

Just too cute for words

Hello my only,

You are becoming the cutest little man on the planet. The past couple of days you have gone through a transformation, where all you seem to be interested in is running around and screaming, but happy screams, more like squeeling. It's so adorable. I don't know what brought this on, but dad and I are really enjoying it.

So, you've learnt some new words like belt, brood (for bread), plane, nemo, stout, apple, dude (dad's handy work), kieper (for perdjie, horse in afrikaans, not quite sure why you say kieper, it's a bit backwords, but at least we understand you), and you are now saying two words together, like "Hello Mama" and "Bye Bye Dada" or "Elmo Stout". It's very cute. I love the way you dance, as soon as we say "Boom Boom Boom" you start strutting your stuff! And if you hurt yourself and I say "Soen die eina", you kiss it better yourself, even if it is your foot. You like feeding yourself (a very messy expedition), as well as washing your hair and brushing your teeth. And I won't even get into your love of the water, especially when you go swimming with dada or ouma. When you are in your little swim tube thingy it's very entertaining for you to jump off the first step into the pool, then the squeels of delight follow shortly.

You had a couple of weekends away, the last of which we went to dada's cousin Tanya's 21st Birthday in Harrismith. It was so beautiful there and you loved the open spaces and new faces. You even tried to pick up some chicks on the dance floor!

Another plus was your report card that we got from school. You were evaluated in either "yes" or "no". You scored "yes" for everything but one...and all I can say is I feel the teachers pain. Your only "no" was "Does he help tidy up?"....hmmmm....but she did say that you loved dancing and singing. You are still al ittle bit weary of the other children, but getting the hang of the socialising thing. So well done my angel, I'm very very proud of all the things you are learning.

I have to admit, bed times are a lot easier. When you are tired, you get really whiny and keep saying "dudu". Then I tell you to go and kiss dada and wait for me in the room while I get your bottle. Off you go, kiss dada, say bye bye dada, take your blankie (which you also call dudu) to the room and wait next to the bed for me. You hold your own bottle, and when you are done you hand it to me, ask for your dummy, roll over and sleep. So easy. Oh, and before I forget, if we ask you to kiss boetie, you kiss my tummy. I can always feel your brother move after that, as if to say thank you for the love. I know the two of you are going to be great friends. We went to the doctor on Saturday and he said your brother is growing very nicely, heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, spine, all in tact. So now we are just patiently waiting for him to stay put, as he already tried to beat your record time of 27 weeks by trying to come at 19 weeks. Luckily we were already so aware of the danger signs that we quickly had it sorted out. I can't believe how your little birth "stunt" affected us my angel. I'm just waiting for every week to pass so that your brother can grow bigger. I mean, how many moms do you know who will say "If I can only get past 32 weeks". And every time I see where his development is, I can't believe how early you came. Really makes me so grateful that you were such a strong little fighter.

Anyway my love, I'll post some photos for you soon so that you can see what you've been up to! Oh, and before I go, I just have to tell you about your monkeynastix lately. An example: Yesterday I was setting the table and put the salad out. I turned around to get the condiments for the table, and upon my return I laid my eyes upon a little monkey who climbed up on the chair, lazily walked accross the dining room table and was now sitting with the bowl of salad between his legs, helping himself to some carrots....hmmm...yup, heart failure for mom!

Love you my fatty!