Are you getting excited yet?

I am.... Christmas is coming soon.....need to get out that tree dust off those ornaments and get some new ones and a new stocking for Josh..... Cant wait to go on leave as well .... although that will only be on the 23rd? Sigh I wonder if Santa needs an elf? What do the elves do all round the year by the way? Wendy any ideas?

And to end the post off with something to remember:

xxxxxx

Look at what I have been given......

TOOFIES

This title is two fold...Joshua has got two official toofies and one more coming at the top. He has suddenly realised he can crawl properly and there is no stopping him, I cannot leave him alone for a second else hes gone! Then this morning he promptly pulled himself up in his cot and stood grinning at me 'aha look what I can do mommy'. I tell you nothing in my life has made me feel like having this little boy has made me feel, rejuvenated, exhausted, liquid yet strong. What a gift God has given us. Ok end the soppiness, after reading and watching Tia's post on Clever Girl Goes Blog - (thanks Ron I have learnt how to do it now!)a little girl on the Ellen Show that composed a piano piece for Ellen as she got her wish - made me all sentimental and gooey this morning. Children are really amazing.

Ok enough mush as we may just drown in all the porridge. So what is Josh up to these days, besides from above crawling now standing in cot, having tried fish, lamb, chicken with veggies and an array of fruit, I must say I think he has picked up my eating preferences, he absolutely HATES broccoli and proceeds to turn his nose away and clamp his mouth shut when I come near with the stuff, though he likes peas - which I HATE so maybe he has a bit of both of us. Josh is almost 8 months and cant believe I am going to have to start thinking about 1st Birthday parties!!!!

This past weekend, we had a child dedication of Luke - special friends of our - it was held at AOG in Tableview and afterward we went for lovely cake and tea in Panorama, and Josh had his first swim of summer in a clam with Luke and Jayden - Jayden was born just after Joshua and Luke is 2 months older than Josh. At first he cried as I thought the water was a bit cold - they put some more warm water in and then he started to enjoy himself, thank goodness my mom had bought him a cozzie ages ago and he had that to wear though Jayden went starkers :-)

So Josh has been given toofies - legs that know what they are doing now and I have been given a bundle of energy, joy and gorgeousness (I know that is not a word but I have now patented it so there!)

Have a great Tuesday all.
Love Nicci

Luke's Dedication

In my cozzie - hmm should I dive in?

Not quite sure of this swimming thing....

All snug in my towel afterward

Bloggers Out There

I am really enjoying reading all the blogs so much so that I myself am not posting as much as I should - anyhoo what I want to post on today is that I am so enjoying all your blogs and also the new blogs I have discovered, mostly one that Susan introduced me to 'Clever Girl Goes Blog' you will find her link to her blog on mine and one that I found via her blog to Ben - now also on my list of bloggers, I throughly enjoy Tia's posts and her style of writing - she has so many followers and has some days 199 or more comments, how on earth she goes through them all and blog and find time for life I dont know - but nevertheless am really enjoying the blogger cyberspace. While on a site voting for her blog as 'the blog of all time' I came across another blog it is quite funny I think and I think some ladies might enjoy it... http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/ - as I go through some of the blogs over time that are on the list for several blog awards - I will post their links just for fun - there is a whole stack of them out there, now I dont want to have a zillion blog links so will not add to my blog following roll - this one I thought would be interesting to check out once off. So if you have the time go and check it out.
xxxx Nicci

p.s. how do you add those links - html links to another website address??? I have tried but havent got the time to delve into it further if someone can let me know how I would really appreciate it.
xxxx

I have Wheels....

"Well kind of... you see my mom wont let me really ride around a lot as she says I still have to learn how to crawl properly first... crawl - man I am so close I can just feel it, I can do amazing push ups that my mom says is a perfect plank in yoga... whatever that is. I stretch my legs and push my knees up but for some reason my hands dont go anywhere, hmm are they supposed to go forward? Im not quite sure yet so I will just carry on with this plank thing, because its fun.

My car is blue and has a steering wheel, a hooter, gears and winnie the poo side mirrors if you like they also serve as something to munch on when I am pretending to drive. Yesterday was exciting my car moved a little, after my mom undid the brakes and I actually moved people, whoohoo. the whole 10 minutes was great fun, then for some reason I no longer moved...oh well you just wait until I master my hands moving on the floor together with my leg action then I'll show her !!! "


From Josh's Mom: My little boy was spoilt by his Gronty and Gruncle - dont ask too complicated: aka Heather and Ford and got his first wheels last week, here is a picture or two of him in it - I am strict and dont let him in there for long and not every day as want him to crawl before 'walking' as such - it is handy though that the control panel full of toys comes off and I can feed him in it when the brakes are put on.

This past Saturday we went to a family day at Edgemead Primary arranged by our church and it was great fun, Josh played with the Killian twins on the blanket, threw up all over the blanket, tried to eat grass and all things that boys like to do. So there are a couple of pics of that too. Mom and Tannie Ronel had 'spookasem' Ghost Breath.... I mean Candy Floss in afrikaans, HILARIOUS! Havent had candy floss in years. On Sunday we didnt have a showhouse and it was fantastic to just be at home on a Sunday afternoon, my mom and sister came round to play with Josh and we had a great time.
Unfortunately today is Monday and work is here for the whole week, countdown to next weekend begins but I CANT WAIT for Christmas this year - having a baby / toddler to share this with now brings back all the excitement, I know some of us are always excited about christmas (and by this I am meaning Wendy she always describes and does things for Christmas beautifully.) But the past couple of Christmas have well been a bit of a let down for me and always a mad rush and now I feel like I used to about Christmas and the month now leading up to it. I bought a lovely handmade advent calendar where you can put your own goodies in each days 'pocket' if you like, and cant wait to fill it for Josh - hmmm what shall I put in it as he is still small, pureed chicken and peas? HeeHee - Here are some pics from the weekend.

On the way to the fun day...I am tired

I fell asleep as we arrived
Me and My mom at the family fun day

Me and one of my 'girl' friends

Playing at the fun day


Tannie Ronel and Bianca and Nicola Killian


Eating my lunch on Sunday - i dont like to drink from my tommy tippee cup.....i just bite it

Yummy Carrot and Sweet Potatoe

xxxx

7 Months Old

Joshua was 7 months officially this Friday past the 24th October 2008 and I cant believe the difference in his daily development. He is moments away from crawling has two bottom teeth and his personality is coming out daily in leaps and bounds. Seperation Anxiety is starting to set in I think - he now moans like anything when he cant see me or Merriam his nanny. But each day there is something I notice about his personality or traits setting in, like when he laughs he crinkles his nose, when I pick him up he gets excited and gives me a little squeeze whilst stiffening his legs.
At church on sunday part of the speakers message was a clip from an interview done with Oprah and Toni Morrison and it was such an accurate statement that Toni Morrison said, I cant quote it word for word but it basically was this:

When you walk in the door - what does your child see in your face? Does he / she see your face light up with love or a smile or enjoyment at seeing him or her, or does he / she see irritation / disappointment from the day or the fact that he / she has dirtied her clothes / messed up their room.

Oprah went on to say that after this interview she realised that there was one defining characteristic that was applicable to every single person in every single interview she had ever done and that whether it be from the woman that was battered or the man who shot his wife - and that was: "Did you hear ME ... do you see ME ... do I MATTER". Everyone wants to matter to someone.

It made me think a lot and certainly made me aware of what mood I walk in the door with both with my child and my husband...yes maybe I had a terrible day, yes maybe I am annoyed that the said husband hasnt done the thing he said he would do 2 months ago, but does your face tell a story when they see you? At the moment my face lights up when I see Joshua when I get home, but I will need to keep the above in mind when he is a teenager and leaves his dirty socks / wet towel and messes the kitchen up, he must first see that I love him and then I will deal with the rest.

Something to think about...

Work

I don't mind coming to work,
But that eight hour wait, to go home, is the "killer!!!! "

Number One Hit on 10 April 1978 when I was Born......

NIGHT FEVER by the Bee Gees, guess that must be why I have always loved this song from small actually:

here are the words for those that are interested:

Listen to the ground:

There is movement all around

There is something goin' down

And I can feel itOn the waves of the air

There is dancin' out there

If it's somethin' we can share

We can steal it

And that sweet city woman

She moves through the lightControlling my mind and my soul

When you reach out for meGirl, and the feelin' is right

Then I get night fever, night fever

We know how to do it

Gimme that night fever, night fever

We know how to show it

Here I amPrayin' for this moment to lastLivin' on the music so fine

Borne on the windMakin' it mine

Night fever, night fever

We know how to do itGimme that night fever, night feverWe know how to show it

New Look and Changes

So I have joined and also made a change to my blog....it is difficult finding nice skins and then loading them without complications but I liked one of the sites that Caroline gave as it was nice and easy. Although you have to start over by adding gadgets again, as they say a change is as good as a holiday, I would love to make many changes in my life and so started wondering why I am procrastinating on these changes - I think it comes down to actually facing what you want to change and taking a step to change it. So what are the things I want to change?

1. My Job ......
2. My weight (yes I know I had a baby - but that baby is 6 and half months old - and I have started to put weight on after stopping breastfeeding so need to stop eating chocolates and start exercising and drinking water)
3. My home - we are in the process of selling to move to bigger house and it is the pits trying to sell in this market - so whatever is meant to be will be.
4. My non-existent 'Me Time' - need to make time for me - myself and I (hard to do with a 6 and half month old and a husband who is working so hard)
5. Time for my friends with and without babies on board - girls going to movies / picnics with children etc.
6. Did I mention my job?
7. Spending Habits - got to shop smarter in these tough economical times with the added pressure of baby goods
8. Did I mention my job?
9. My car - although that is in direct conflict with item 7
10. My hair - I am bored but dont know what on earth to do with it

Well my blog layout is of dandelions and according to wikipedia - dandelions are a symbol of happiness and faithfulness - two of the most important things I consider to be of value to me - I also love the way the float in the wind........ all in different directions, we have but 1 life to live why do we stay stuck in a rut for so long before we realise we need to lift ourselves out of it ... we waste time and offer excuses ..... I am going to paste my change list on my fridge and am going to start crossing the things off so that I can see change in my life that there is no rut that there can be change and it is only up to me to make it happen!

Have a great Wednesday - make a change !

Poops (not for the fainthearted)

(I repeat not for the fainthearted may contain descriptions that make you want to puke)

Never before has someones poop been of interest to me WHATSOEVER however since having a baby now it has started to creep into my thoughts and warrants attention every now and then. When Joshua was breastfeeding it was the colour of mustard with seed like thingy majigies in the nappy. Some nappies were bubbly some were exploding some were just in the nappy some up the back and neck, which I then had to take the vest over his poor head to get off, why do they not make the side button vests for all babies sizes? I mean the poor child has to get bits of poop on his head if it is all over the vest....!!!

Then as he got bigger and went onto formula it turned a green colour...oh my word what is going on with this child was my first thought then after googling "colour of baby's stools" found out that it is quite normal due to the iron in the formula, and further googling "what consistency should my baby's stool be?" .... toothpaste consistency ... check - yes ok all is in order.

Now since starting on solids of course we have had our bout of constipation, it was the most horrendous thing I have experienced so far being a mom, I wanted to cry for him, he was red in the face, crying, pushing (very descriptive I know...if this was about an adult I would say "please keep this to yourself" - but it is a baby and I know the moms out there will read this with understanding. Eventually it has eased but flares up every now and then. Bananas and Apples on their own seem to be a problem... so we carry on learning.

I was at a braai recently where a friend of mine told me a hilarious story about her little boy, struggling with her to change his nappy so she left it off (after he had had a wee) put him on the floor and popped out the room .... luckily they have laminated flooring ... she wondered why he was so quiet. She went to check up on him and there was poo on the floor, on his hands, on his face, in his fluffy toys....I laughed and laughed... except I am sure I would not have laughed if it was me..... But you see now that I know her story ..... I will be very very careful heheee.

How my life has changed and the stories we tell at braais ..... :-)

Hilarious - Google has made my day

Following on from Pia and Veronica's posts on google being the new tarot, now I am not one that reads tarot cards, however had such a giggle at Pia and Veronica's posts I couldnt resist and Google has made my otherwise glum day at the office a little brighter, and had to share this with you....I laughed at advice numbered 2!! As expained you type in the google search bar your name and needs and hit search...and out comes googles advice on what you need.

Nicola needs: (according to Google people..not according to me!)

1. to embrace the natural qualities of her hair (ok ......... I am going a bit grey here and there and have never yet dyed my hair...is this a hint not too?....heheee)
2. Nicola needs a Poooooo: (what? no i dont)Nicola has the dilemma that she cant poo in her
room because....... - will have to delve further into this because that is hilarious! who wants to
poo in their room!? - there is even a youtube video of this topic...haha
3. Nicola needs Help! (to an extent this is true)
4. Nicola needs cash to increase her wardrobe to look suitably f@!*ble (would like to increase my
wardrobe but not for those reasons - simply because I am out of maternity and not quite into
old clothes - somewhere inbetween)
5. Nicola needs to embrace the natural quality of her hair ... repeated again from a different site -
hmmmm interesting - definitely a hint.
6. Nicola needs seducing..... (ok if you say so google)

Thats just a couple off the first page made me laugh today so that is one thing that has brightened up my day.

xxxx

I'm Not Complaining.....just Curious

This is to all my fellow lady bloggers that have had babies, hello when am I going to get the dreaded ladies 'curse' ? My boy is 6 months now and no sign of it yet??? Nothing no cramps no moods besides just being moody as I am tired.... so whassup? As I said Im not complaining just curious............... (no I am not pregnant I did a test just to be sure) - any answers?

I have lived on this earth for 6 months

My life changed irrevocably on the 24th March 2008, and it will never be the same. After posting my last post on Child controversy and looking at the comments, I still dont agree with many of the points that she raised, but do understand some of them. Some are tounge in cheek I feel as many commented and some are just bitter. Anyway that post has been written and discussed and this post is about my bundle of Joy - Joshua turning 6 months.

I took Joshua to the paed the day before Hertitage Day on the 23rd September for his 6 month check up. All was and is well with him, and Dr Zieff says he is a little character. His reflexes and milestones are well established and the only spot on his record is that he is suffering from eczema - mostly on his tummy and in creases and is aggravated by heat, which we see at its worse after a bath. So a R200 prescription later for a bath salve and a moisturising cream that has nothing in it really and is manufactured in some overseas European country we will have to see if it disappears. I also have to change washing powder and if by 9 months he is still suffering with it we may have to do tests to see if he is allergic to something. Other than that he is a healthy 8.3kg and 70.5cm and is just a little above his percentile but perfectly in proportion.
Doc also says that it looks like he may have size 12 feet.... of course you know what dad had to say about that! He once again christened the doctor with some pee pee, he really likes him though and think that this is more a "I like you" than I need to pee. I mean I get it all the time on me. Hee hee.
Joshua has also now started solids properly, I had started to introduce rice cereal to him at about 4 and a half months but although he was a good weight for his age, I dont think he was ready, it constipated him (sorry for the t.m.i.) and he spat it out repeatedly so I left it until 2 weeks before he turned 6 months and started the rice cereal again where it was met with more interest. Then on this past weekend on the Friday introduced butternut, well it was a picture, he ate the first two spoons and then obviously realised hang on this is not cereal - and pulled a face. Well now he loves it and has had sweet potatoe and tomorrow he will start carrot for the first time. I will then probably start to give him a fruit in the morning and have already prepared some pureed apple and then pear, I believe you need to start single first and then can mix. This is a whole new chapter compared to bottle feeding, which I suppose was a whole new chapter compared to breast feeding so we move forward step by step and pretty soon I am sure I will be finding information out for him on how to do projects. Oh my!
A friend of mine from school just mailed me today and pointed out that her oldest is now turning 10, I mean 10! I remember when she was born. Crazy..... my aunt tells me that I am lucky to have a boy as girls go through the whole make up phase, with inappropriate clothing when going out, etc. I say bring it on... I would love a little girl - but for now it is Joshua's time.... which by the way am still struggling to get to sleep in his own cot, he is such a clever little boy and has his dad wrapped around his finger....I struggled last night for an hour to get him to sleep in his own cot letting him moan and cry and just going in every now and again to reassure andpat him, he eventually fell asleep at 7:45 and then was up again at 9:45 and Clive tried for 5 minutes and he started to cry heartbrokenly of course... and Clive brought him through to our bed and with 2 seconds I kid you not fell asleep.....HELP, there has to be consistency..... I can see who is going to be the discplinarian.
Here are some updated pics:

Trying out Butternut

Hmmm I am not sure about this but am eating it anyway

Playing with my granny
Playing with my great-granny that visited this past week

Child Controversy

This is the lady Corinne Maier who wrote the book "40 reasons not to have children" and has caused quite a stir in the hearts of all mothers. However funnily enough she has 2 children of her own.

Here are just 20 of them and then I will continue with my post:

— Childbirth is torture
— You will become a mobile feeding bottle
— You will struggle to continue having fun yourself
— You will lose touch with your friends
— You will have to learn a language of idiots to communicate with your children
— Your children will kill your desire
— Children sound the death knell of the couple
— Having children is conformist
— Children are expensive
— You will be duped into thinking that there is such a thing as a perfect child
— You will inevitably be disappointed by your own child
— You will be expected to be a mother before you are a professional and a woman
— Families are a nightmare
— Children will put the seal on your childhood dreams
— You can’t stop yourself wanting complete happiness for your progeny
— Staying at home to look after children is breathtakingly dull
— You have to choose between motherhood and professional success
— When a child appears, the father disappears
— There are already too many children on the planet Children are dangerous. They will take you to court without a second thought

How I got to hear about this was an article in the latest Your Baby and must say I was quite shocked by it. It's all very well that each person has their own individual choice whether to become a mother or not and thats what it is a personal choice.... but why put others off when you already have children...

I know one or two friends that may read this and say "Aha you see that is exactly why I dont want children" and the truth of the matter is that motherhood is scary and daunting as well as exhilirating and exciting. When I first fell pregnant as much as I wanted Joshua I was filled with trepidation and a feeling that I was too lose something of myself and in truth I have. I have changed and I feel it is for the better and I would not want to change his arrival for anything in this world. In fact it is more of "what on earth was i doing before I had him....?"life has a real meaning for me now. And yes I suppose it is "for me" and may not be "for others" but allow those that have not have children make an unbiased decision....lets hope they choose not to read this book.

p.s. doing a google search on this book filled thousands of posts from indignant moms and outrage together with 40 reasons "to have children" But as all the bloggers that are on my list are moms I think we already know why.....

Tiredness....

Have you ever been so tired that it is an effort to lift your arms or that your eyes feel like sandpaper...well that is how I feel today. Too tired for anything especially thinking at work...but we must so I shall,..... just now..... We had a lovely weekend. Saturday was just a divine peak at what I am presuming will (hoping will) come shortly to our Cape Town shores. Although last night (Sunday) you would swear we are in the middle of winter what will all the rain, the howling wind, the thunder... Which brings me to my point as to why I am so tired. Most mornings I am up at 5 and am woken normally once during the night by Joshua who cleverly wants to be put into the bed between Clive and I on his own pillow and immediately closes his eyes.

Now there is a huge parenting debate on co-sleeping yes or no, right or wrong. Well I was and I reiterate was, one of those "parent to be's" that said 'no way is the baby / child to sleep in the bed' it forms bad habits, no never me. Well let me just take my foot out of my mouth right now, as I had/have started it. It started about a month ago or maybe bit longer where Joshua goes down beautifully by 7pm and then when he woke me being very tired on whichever night it was as it is a haze to me which one, I put him in the bed so that I could get some sort of semblance of a nights sleep. We actually both slept well and it from then became a bit of selfish habit on my side to get a 'decent' nights sleep I knew he would go down if I put him in the bed with me. Well now I think he expects it when he wakes, and why shouldnt he? What better place to be than next to your mommy or daddy so that when you wake you can box them on the nose and slap them awake? And talk animatedly and chew your toes in the snuggness of the two people you love most.

Well this morning I think my hand has just now come back to life after being in one position the whole night, I have a crick in my neck and am really tired as it stormed so last night Joshua did not sleep snuggly between us in fact he is a wriggly wriggly worm and likes to sleep with his arms wide open which leaves me with about 5cm to sleep on my side.....But what was I to do he woke with the rain / hail making a noise on the window and was crying he doesnt know what on earth is going on, so instead of starting to watch the 8'oclock movie I got into the bed with him and we both fell asleep...though not too soundly. So now who wins the debate...as I am now considering some sleep training that we will have to enforce to get him to sleep the ENTIRE night in his own bed which will inevitably mean 'more sleepless nights' grrrrr.

A very happy Birthday to Kristian for yesterday and my primary school friend Denise van der Merwe (Plough) hope you both had a fantastic day.

I also realised that I had not posted any pictures from the wonderful lunch we had at Wendy's to say goodbye to Kristian so here are some, together with some new ones of Josh.

Mummies

Daddies

Kristian and Sarah

Gavin and Joshua

Max and Josh having a silent conversation

Sarah with Max and Josh, holding hands...

Sarah sleeping waiting for the othter kiddies to join the photoshoot

Proud daddy

Josh on way to Kai's first birthday party

Josh eating his toes

Playing on the grass at home

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