That time again...

Another year gone by and surprise surprise it's marking time! Here I sit beside a pile of almost 200 tests and with procrastination in full swing I went on a merry 'research' dance after Fairy Party inspirations online (Thandi turns 4 in a few weeks :). Which lead me to http://www.kellehampton.com/2010/01/nella-cordelia-birth-story.html ... wow, what a blog! It reminded me that I too once blogged. So I came to pay this dusty old digital journal a nostalgic visit. Clicking on my Photos link took me on a whirlwind tour of India, Afghanistan, Copenhagen, Paris, Japan, the Transkei...I barely know myself in those exotic places looking so fresh-faced, so child-free! And now, for the first time in (can it only be?!) 4 years, I look forward to an international jaunt. J and I married 10 years this year and off to Venice, Istanbul, the Greek Isles...sans the monkeys. Excitement. Yes! And for the first time ever I find myself hesitant when on the verge of leaving. Because those very monkeys that made my blood boil this evening as they ran amok and refused all enticements to bath, are my very breath, my every heartbeat.

15 to go

That's how many papers I have left to mark and then I'm done. Yay. Oh how I loathe marking -- Love teaching. Loathe marking. It's still stormy as all hell and the house is leaking everywhere, so in between mopping up and eating chocolate I'm not sure I'll be able to finish this stack before 12 when the little people take over. Bless their lovely teacher for keeping them entertained for 3 hours every morning. Not sure how I managed before!

I'm Back

Thanks to my Yummy Mummy Bookclub (we cook and we write, yes, we ROCK) I feel inspired to write again. Unfortunately it's already 9:24pm. That means 30 minutes till lights out or I'll surely turn into the nastiest mother ever come morning. Why are my Terrible Two (there are two of them and they are both two...it's worse than your wildest imaginings) waking at a horrible predawn hour while the storm rages outside? Surely any mammal would cling to sleep and the warmth of its nest for as long as possible? We're on Day Three of vicious winds, rain and cold. It would be fun if it didn't mean snot noses and ripping the house and their sibling to shreds. The light at the end of my dark tunnel -- spa day! I can't tell you the thrill that runs through me at the thought of it. Come Saturday I will be child-free and blissssssssssssssed out. I'm hoping this sufficiently restores me from the horrors of moving, renovating, family and playschool drama to see me through another few months of my young children's lives. Watch this space....

Motherhood

Oh my word! Can I believe my eyes...I am actually typing. Have not been able to write a thing on this blog for ages.
Well, seize the day!
Thandi has been with us for 2 and a half months.
She is getting cuter by the second at this point and already it all seems worthwhile.
I'm almost 5 months pregnant (baby due early February 2008). I look and feel very pregnant. Sometimes I love it, but sometimes the aches and pains get in the way.
It's spring!
Honestly we didn't have much of a winter, but still, I love the coming of summer and here we are on the beach for crying out loud. So lucky! Thandi and I walked on the boardwalk and up over the dunes yesterday spotting fabulous birds in the bush. Amazing.
My life has changed BIG time. I'm getting into the groove though. I've accepted that I will never ever again have a shower without hearing the baby cry. It's this bizarre psychic thing that babies have -- if mom has finally found a moment to bathe/lie down/eat...uh-uh, forget about it. At first I really struggled with being 'on duty' 24/7. When J got home in the evenings I handed Thandi over and retreated into the bedroom for some me-time. I felt angry. Impatient. Tired. I think that being in the throes of first trimester pregnancy didn't help at all!
By 2 months Thandi became more a delight than hard work. The smiles...oh those precious smiles. They really do make it all worth while. It's doesn't hurt that she is the sweetest thing and has been sleeping through the night every night from 2 months. We've had a bit of a battle with her skin and think it's an allergy to formula (I spit the word!). We're trying a frightfully expensive imported German goat's milk one now in combination with homeopathy and gemotherapy. We shall see....
Looking forward to our trip to Pretoria next week. It was so wonderful when we went up for Thandi's Naming Ceremony. Everyone really took her into their hearts and we were deeply moved. It's also incredibly wonderful to have a few extra helping hands. At this point it's just me and her and J after hours.
Last night she was snuggling on my big baby bump, ear to belly, when suddenly she smiled a secret smile. I think she and her sibling are colluding already!

I have not forgotten about my blog, I just can't manage to do anything...except this title?! Visit me on Facebook!

Babymoon

Not unlike a honeymoon really --- the world drops away to the exclusion of one other. And it's not all wine and roses as you come to the deep realisation that this other is forever. Oh my word, you know how people are always saying 'children are hard work.' It's true! Every 2 to 3 hours she needs to be fed, burped and changed. Easy to say, not so easy to do. She has a great appetite but is really gassy, so burping is essential and very time consuming. I already feel like I'm changed more nappies than is humanly possible. There's one other thing: babies cry. Duh. They REALLY cry. And it can make you feel desperate. I always thought people overreacted to their crying babies. That's because their babies weren't mine. It's a fact that blood pressure rises in the presence of a crying baby. It's also true that you'll do anything to make it stop. Which may include throwing all your carefully considered principles to the wind. Eg. I am now the world's foremost lover of the dummy. Sometimes it's the only thing to help you get through the night.
So, basically I'm more grateful for J than I've ever been, I call on all angels and powers that be frequently and I feel like a solid 8 hour sleep will never ever come my way again.
All advice and prayers gratefully accepted.

Newborn Parents

Yesterday was amazing. After meeting our social worker at the court and rustling someone up to place the baby with us (she's not legally adopted...yet), which was no mean feat since the woman who was supposed to do the deed was outside toi-toing, we whizzed off to the hospital, dressed her up and brought her home.
It was wonderful!!!! She slept snugly in her car seat the whole way and settled right in to life by the sea. I think the massive white noise generator outside (aka the ocean) lulled her into a solid and lengthy afternoon nap. We are pleased as punch having her home. She's really good and sweet. She went to sleep at 9:30 last night and only woke up twice before 7 this morning. Nevertheless, I'm so tired. The emotional taking its toll on the physical no doubt.
J and her are napping now.
My turn next.
Thank goodness J has taken a week off and can help me get into the groove of babycare.
Sjoe. It's a big job people.
But absolutely wonderful :)

PS> Photos posted on Facebook