Wheres my baby baby? - 5 months 2 days old

Yee haa having fun with my favourite toy

Hi All, Well Joshua was 5 months this past Sunday, and my title explains how I feel. Where is my baby baby?? Well he is still a baby but not a baby baby anymore. How sad, how fast has time flown? Hearing one of the sisters at Panorama Breastfeeding Clinic talk to another sister, I will never forget what she said 'that she just remembers the whole first year of her childs life as a blur, a sleep deprived blur'. Well at the time I thought how insensitive and how terrible that those are your memories, however now as a mom that is now a little more experienced, I can say that perhaps I understand. I am determined not to let that be me and have a little thing that I do when Joshua is really cute or does something out of the ordinary, I hold him tight and say the following: "Hold on tight, hold on tight...to this moment" and then give him lots of kisses.

You see I want to hold on to the memories and I suppose that is why I am so camera happy and why I invested in a dvd camcorder, because I know that I want to be able in someway to recapture and relive the feelings I had when I held him for the first time, when he first smiled and now as he starts to put his toes into his mouth, that little giggle when I kiss his tummy.. such precious times that slide by like sand in your hand. What a blessing to have children, I know they grow up to be stubborn teenagers and are perhaps mischievous toddlers, but really it is such a gift to be a parent. Thank you Lord for all my blessings and my healthy little boy who is almost half way to his first birthday.
xxx

I'm growing up....

Me with my dad

Me with my mom

At Melkbos Beach

Having fun in moms arms

More photos dad???

You funny dad

I'm such a poser for the camera

Sweet Dreams my Angel

Faux Pas

Oops... Just reading my blog of Mr and Mrs Humble I realised in error that the first picture is of Kristian and his 'bestman' Steven...haha I had a good giggle. Luckily most of the readers were guests but those that arent - Kristian got married to WENDY and if you scroll down you will see her walking to meet her groom. Silly me... but it put a smile on my face this morning. Have a good day all.

Mr and Mrs Humble

As most of the people that are on my blog list in fact pretty much everyone apart from cheeky monkey were at the wedding it is not much point writing about it, so thought I would let the pictures speak for themselves. It was a beautiful day and an even more beautiful venue and an even more even more beautiful bride and groom.
Here are some pics:

In the swing of things

Well I have been back at work for just on 2 weeks now and it is an adjustment working and trying to juggle time to play with Joshua when I get home, bath him, feed him and start supper all by 7pm.! Needless to say it is a challenge, but know that millions of women out there do it so... so must I. Last weekend was hectic for me as my nanny that looks after Joshua had a family emergency her son was admitted to hospital therefore she wasnt at work on Friday and I was in a predicament as our back up granny and grandpa were away in Oudtshoorn, so Clive and I looked at each other in the morning at 6:30am and said 'now what?'. Yes I have heard the 'if your child was in creche you wouldnt have had this problem' but that was not the choice I made, yes I know family emergencies happen - still damn Murphey and his Law that it was the first week I was back at work!

So pack up Joshua and his campcot (thank goodness I invested in one of these 3 weeks prior) his pram, his bottles, his overflowing nappybag and off to work we go. Luckily I have quite a large office and it is my own so he stayed in with me not disturbing anyone else. BUT what a nightmare, never again, he was out of sorts and too much to look at, I was out of sorts as how do I work while he is moaning and wants to be played with, how does he sleep while the phones are ringing and I am tip toeing around my office in case I wake him working in the dark so the downlighters dont keep him awake...! NEVER NEVER NEVER again. I would rather put in a days leave. Speaking of which I am yet again stunned over this country's policy with Family Responsibility Leave, now I know that there are people out there that take advantage but really when I heard Kristian (Wendy's hubby to be) say that they had 15 days Family Responsibility leave I almost choked on my cappuccino! We have 3 in this country 3 days out of 365!!! and some companies will only grant it for sick children or dying 'immediate' family relatives. Gavin Davis if you are reading this can you please raise this issue in parliament!!! haha only kidding!

Well from there we had Wendy's Kitchen Tea on the Saturday I had booked a pedicure at SKIN with a about to expire voucher I had received as a baby shower gift and thought how nice I can relax and Clive can look after Joshua and I can stroll around after.. not to be! Steven was fetching my hubby for paintballing (Kristians bachelors) at 11:30 so I had to race from SKIN to the parkade home to have Joshua handed over to me and sort him out pack the numerous bags and accessories you have for a baby to take him to Wendy's Kitchen Tea (which as Susan put it was outnumbered by little ones) It was a great Kitchen Tea and really well put together by Caroline but I was exhausted still from the Friday debacle and rushing on Saturday that when we eventually got home on Saturday at 6ish Joshua was ready to play and not sleep, he was all out of sorts so I threw my proverbial toys out of the cot as they say and told Clive he was to take over. I mean enough was enough, I needed a break, I was in bed on Saturday night at about 8:30 and felt much better on Sunday.

I am soo excited for Wendy and Kristians wedding on Saturday a night out whoo hoo!!!
Am disappointed that Catherine Davis will be missing it as she is stuck in the UK but that is another whole story - shame poor Gav thinking of you - know you must be missing them.
Well I am off now
Have a great week all
xxx

It's Official

Hi all it is official.... I am now a Working Mother. Damn! Being back at work is not great, but have found that it is (so far - we are only 3 days in) not as bad as I thought it would be. I pictured myself sobbing at the front door and mascara streaming down my cheeks by the time I got to work, and surprised myself that it didnt happen. Yes I felt emotional in the car on the way to work yes I miss him terribly in the day, and yes I probably overcompensate when I get home and do absolutely nothing but play and cuddle him till bath time and sleep time.

A large part of being able to do this is that I had Meriam with me for a month and a half and she knows how I do things and Joshua has gotten used to her so I feel comfortable leaving him with her. Of course huge doses of prayer that all will be well goes into the equation as well. And I have to let go and trust that he will be fine, however I am watchful and aware of his moods / patterns etc. so will still be keeping tabs on that.

Joshua is growing so fast, I loved Pia's post which was in Your Baby last month too, on wishing someone had told her about last moments. So mindful of this every moment I am with him I am trying to suck it all up into my being so that I will never forget it. He is already only down to 2/3 breastfeeds a day compared to sole breastfeeding. I had to put him onto formula 3 weeks before I came back to work as I just could not express enough to store up and would not be able to express 3 feeds a day at work. Let me tell you I dont miss that breast pump as good as it was! But he loves his bottle and knows it when he sees it and the hands already go out with moaning of course. It is amazing to see how has evolved from that tiny little baby who just slept and drank. I am sure it is only going to get better as he gets older just please Father Time not too fast. He is now on some rice cereal and is loving it though I am only giving him very little just to let his tummy get used to it.

So this mom has to get back to work now ...... I leave you with some pics of the cereal eating..