my year of firsts

First holiday without Ms Maya

2010-07-09T22:07:00.002+02:00

Yes, it's been a while I know - I've been so busy at work and have even been taking work home - and truthfully, if I have any free time over the weekend or in the evening, I spend it with Maya or chill with Hein or watch TV. I seriously need some girl time!

In a week's time we'll b going on our first holiday - international holiday that is - sans Maya. Two weeks without my little girl. The only reason why I think I'll be fine is knowing that she'll be with my parents. I'm flying to Durban to drop her off and then when we get back, Hein will fly to Durban to pick her up. My parents are so excited and I'm excited for them!

These pics are some of my favourites of Maya and her dad. Love.

Determined to walk

2010-05-14T15:55:00.003+02:00

You would never guess from this video that Maya can't even crawl yet. She refuses.

The walking ring

2010-05-07T09:31:00.003+02:00

It's such fun seeing Maya so mobile - and the way she gets so excited when she discovers that this contraption can take her to places she's never been able to reach. It was a gift from her grandparents when we went to visit them in Durban. Her favourite however is the dustbin. So whenever she's on the go, we have to swiftly move that out of her reach.

Maya's cousins

2010-05-07T09:22:00.002+02:00

The poser

2010-03-28T20:18:00.003+02:00

Maya loves the camera - she literally stops what she's doing and smiles for the camera. Makes me laugh every time.

Daddy's girl

2010-03-17T10:53:00.005+02:00

It was hard when Hein was away - a whole week! I'm not talking about looking after Maya on my own. I missed him. And I missed him for Maya too. So many little things were happening while he was away - like she unclipped the seat belt of her swing chair all on her own and other little things that I didn't record but gave me such joy. It's that feeling of sharing the responsibility and joy of raising a child together. And I felt such pressure at work knowing it was up to me solely to make sure I got home in time for the nanny to be able to fetch her 4-year-old son from school. My heart raced and I would break into a sweat every time I had to pack up my things at the office and get on the road home praying that nothing would happen to prevent me from reaching home in time. I don't know how single parents manage.

So what a wonderful Saturday night I had excited for him return and getting up the next morning to pick him up from the airport. Maya, had been yelling by the time I parked the car. It was hot and she was bothered. But as soon as she saw her father, she gurgled and smiled and her misery was forgotten. She's in love with her father. And he's in love with her.

Two little teeth

2010-03-10T15:06:00.005+02:00

I hadn't realised until Nanny Noma pointed out one morning last week that Maya had two teeth. I was gutted! Why hadn't I seen them? And the thing is, she had been suffering from a mild case of diarrhoea and her cheeks were all flushed... still I didn't put two and two together.

My little sausage has not gone through that terrible teething phase like they warn you in all the books so I should count myself lucky. Shame, I can see her gums are itchy though and I've given her Purity teething biscuits which she loves but oh boy do they make a soggy mess; and of course teething toys. But her favourite is chewing on your finger! She succeeded in scraping my pinky finger nail quite considerably!

Today she's seven months! Hooray Maya! And I've also decided to stop breastfeeding her as of this morning. Sorry my darling. But you love the Nan and mommy needs to work getting her figure back. It's time.

The many faces of Ms Maya

2010-02-26T13:33:00.004+02:00

Learning to crawl

2010-02-18T09:49:00.003+02:00

Ms Maya does not like being on her stomach for too long. Hence the fact that she hasn't learnt to crawl yet. So every morning I put her on her tummy on the bed and wait until she starts to get too upset and then I turn her over. One morning she worked herself up into such a state she rolled over on her own. She was so proud of herself but has not done it since. Those screams are too much for me when I'm going to have to kiss her goodbye with soggy cheeks, pink flushed cheeks and wet eyes. It hurts too much.

So this morning, while making breakfast, I put her on the floor and placed an orange just beyond her reach - she LOVES bright colours! She tried to reach and push but just couldn't manage it. I'll keep on trying though.

She looks just like my sister Nomzi when she was little in this photo. Miss you Nomz!

Radio play

2010-02-15T13:34:00.004+02:00

Hein bought this little radio for himself when he went to watch cricket at Wanderers - so he could listen to the cricket commentary at the stadium *rolls eyes*

I switched it on Saturday morning. It was tuned to ClassicFM and I gave it to Maya to entertain herself with it - wondering how she'd react to this little gadget emitting music. Her first reaction (which I of course didn't capture on camera) was epic. She started kicking her feet and laughing and turning the radio over and over in her hands and looking at me as if waiting for me to explain, which I did. 'This is a radio nana,' I said to her. What more could I say. This is what I did manage to record. It's a bit dark sorry - it was pretty early in the morning and curtains were still closed.

Bathing

2010-02-08T09:48:00.003+02:00

Miss Maya refuses to sit in her Shantala bath. She insists on standing and dangling her hands over the sides for balance. Soon she'll be bathing in the big bath. And then I'm going to start having back issues eish!

Isn't she so cute though!

Clever little girl

2010-02-08T09:08:00.004+02:00

This is Maya's 1st picture book and she loves the thick pages and colourful pictures - and of course, the fact that she can hold the book and turn the pages herself.

I've started reading Cinderella to her at night after her bath. It's a book Sarah bought for her. I know she doesn't understand yet but her face just lights up when I make all the different voices and exaggerate the sounds and pronunciation of words.

Already she's starting her own little library. I want to fill her room with lots of great books like The BFG, The Folk of the Faraway Tree, The Twits, Alice in Wonderful, Oh the Places We Go... so many books that will make her fall in love with reading, just the way her parents fell in love with it.

More than 12 hours

2010-02-01T09:46:00.003+02:00

Tomorrow I leave little Maya for more than 12 hours. You see, I'm going to Cape Town for work for two days. My little sausage I love you very much and I will miss you and will be thinking about you every minute I'm away.

Maya playing happily

2010-01-26T17:27:00.002+02:00

It seems Maya is happiest playing with toys that aren't meant to be toys. Came home with some baby groceries and among them was a packet of two-pack baby wipes. She couldn't take her eyes off it so I eventually let her play with it. Speaking of groceries, was so excited to see such wonderful concoctions in Purity baby food! Will share with you some of the wonderful flavours and Maya's reactions in my next post...

Country Road Baby

2010-01-25T10:17:00.003+02:00

Maya is going to be the best dressed little girl in town. Her auntie Zanele spoiled her with some kiff new outfits (and her first cozzie) from the newly-launched Country Road Baby line at Woolworths in Cape Town. http://www.countryroad.com.au/ Aren't the clothes gorgeous? And the fabrics! Exactly how little girls should dress I think. Maybe it's a good thing they haven't rolled out the range in Johannesburg yet otherwise I would have done some serious damage to my account already!

Being back at work

2010-01-19T12:07:00.004+02:00

Throughout my maternity leave (in fact even before Maya was born) all I heard from other moms was how difficult it would be to leave her at home after being with her 24/7. And so I started to dread the day from the very start. January 5, 2010 would loom closer and closer and hang over our happy times together like a bad smell. And then the day finally arrived. I woke up, played a little with Maya, had a shower and got dressed and packed my lunch with a feeling of excitement mixed with a deep sadness I'd never felt.

After giving Maya huge fat kisses (she's not at that reciprocal stage yet so I took that kiss by force, grabbing her cheeks in my hands and kissing her all over her face), I handed her over to Nomathemba and made to leave. And then nanny tells me she dropped the cell phone we gave her in water and it's no longer working.

Why is she only telling me now? I scrambled around the house looking for a spare phone - so many had recently passed from my hands to friends and family - and now staring into the drawer they were usually kept, I felt despair. There sat a lone decrepit Samsung from 19-voetsek, that I was sure didn't work. As it turned out, it could receive incoming calls but not make outgoing ones. So the plan was to charge it, and then to send me an sms once it was charged. Fine. Another round of fat kisses and I was away heading towards the office like it was just another day.

Trying to get my office life back to normal - sorting out defunct email, restoring my contacts (the server had crashed in my absence) I did my best not to keep checking my phone.

By 12pm, I decided to drive back home - at Jean, my office manager's insistence. 'Get out the way get out the way!' I wanted to yell as the driver negotiated lunchtime traffic. When we finally got there in 11 and a half minutes flat, my hands were shaking as I turned the key and found my little one sitting in her Bumbo, playing with her teething ring, minding her own business while Nomathemba got on with the ironing.

Maya looked up as I called her name, flashed a brief obligatory smile and carried on fiddling with her toy as if I had only been gone two minutes. Kanti, what had I been expecting? Well, giggles and squeals and throwing open of arms is what!

I realised I hadn't been rushing home because I was worried something had happened... I had rushed home because I was missing Maya - and I didn't want her to forget me. My biggest fear: that she'll prefer her nanny over me. And instead of rushing into my arms - when she's able to - she'll cower behind nanny and smile shyly at me, like I'm a friendly looking stranger.

So it's the third week back at work and I'm doing absolutely fine. I'm enjoying being Zodwa for a few hours a day and then coming home and being Maya's mom and Hein's wife. Sometimes I can go for a few hours without thinking about her and then I look up at the photo of her on my desk or someone phones me and asks after her and my heart literally sings thinking about her. Mommy loves you more than you'll ever know Ms Maya.

Sitting up

2010-01-14T09:08:00.005+02:00

Our little sausage is growing up so fast. She's already sitting up unsupported! See video attached. I told her nanny that she must not tell me if she says her first word, walks or reaches any of her other milestones - while I'm away becasue that will just finish me. I want to discover all these things on my own. Which reminds me, I still need to write the 'going back to work' post. Love to you all!

5 months old

2010-01-11T16:28:00.002+02:00

Maya turned five months yesterday. Took a few snaps of her at bath time and they've turned out to be some of my favourites.

Eco nappies work

2010-01-06T20:45:00.004+02:00

Maya is finally fitting in those eco nappies that cost me a packet before she was born. They're coming in real handy now and cost effective so for any mums thinking of going the cloth nappy route, visit www.mothernatureproducts.co.za. I would recommend the part time pack because when you're travelling, you don't want to be lugging a bucket with dirty nappies around. I also did try them earlier on when Maya was about two months old but truthfully they were a bit bulky and those snug little onesies wouldn't button around them. And of course, it was still cold so she couldn't coast around topless like she's doing now.

P.S. I won't lie. I only use them when nanny is around. *winks and grins*

Maya's first taste

2010-01-06T15:27:00.003+02:00

Without doubt one of the most exciting events in a child's development is introducing them to the wonderful world of flavours and food. I'd been vowing to wait until the six month mark but after the egging on of parents and others... and after giving her a taste of banana on Christmas eve and being attacked for the spoon, Hein and I bought her small containers of organic baby food and Purity (what child doesn't taste Purity sometime in their life), and gave her a taste of butternut which she loved!

I can't wait for her to try apples, pears, avocado...

Festive season

2010-01-06T12:24:00.004+02:00

Going on a long road trip with multiple destinations with Maya was quite challenging. The easiest part was Maya. Her luggage was another story. In fact, it was the number one reason Hein had to trade in his car for a bigger model. Maya's luggage was more than twice ours combined. There's just no way you can leave anything behind - pram, travel cot, jumper, swing chair, bumbo, clothes for all weather, nappies, formula, bottles, steriliser... the works! My one regret: not taking the Shantala bath. Not all homes we discovered have basins big enough or shaped ergonomically enough to fit a four-month old comfortably.
The trip was filled with so many highlights, like introducing My sister Kholeka to Maya (now only Nomzi left to introduce), taking her to the beach for the first time, hearing her humming to herself trying to put her to sleep on the journey, watching our parents fall more and more in love with her...

What I really need to do this year though is step up my search for a second hand SLR camera. The moments pass so quickly and it makes me so sad to miss out or mess up moments when all I get is a blur of hands and face! Nxa!

The Races

2009-11-30T09:42:00.002+02:00

Just as we had a picture perfect moment, Maya chunders! We took her to the races - The Summer Cup - at Turffontein on Saturday but she was not really happy. And truthfully I wasn't really comfortable either. I had misjudged the amount of breast my dress would show... and spent most of the time adjusting and feeling self conscious. Cleavage is not really my favourite thing. A hint, a suggestion yes, but not half the breast exposed for all to see. But besides my levels of discomfort, the music was too loud for my poor sausage and after gobbling down half my meal, Hein and I made tracks.

Thanks Ivan and Milly for the invite!

Trendy girl

2009-11-24T21:33:00.002+02:00

Maya is going to be big on popular culture! Her auntie bought her the Zam-Buk t-shirt and her dad her first pair of sneakers. They're Puma - my favoured brand! You should see them! They look like Cabbage Patch sneakers, so soft and comfy. Still, she has to double in size before she fits into either. And I'm sure that's going to happen very soon at the rate she's growing.

Daddy's girl

2009-11-22T10:14:00.003+02:00

Later that night

2009-11-15T08:32:00.002+02:00

Yep, she's holding her own bottle now - when she feels like it that is. Or when I'm too busy talking or watching TV and forgotten to tip the bottle so she can get the last little bit out.

She whimpers/cries/protests when the bottle is done - I wonder if that's a sign that I should up it to 150ml now? I shall speak to her paed...

Bumbo

2009-11-15T08:14:00.002+02:00

Our little sausage is just about ready for Bumbo. Hein pulled it out last week - we've been dying to use it - put Maya in it and she loved it! Her neck is still a little wobbly but stable so she's good to go. Can't wait to attach the tray for when she starts to eat solids.

Thanks granny and grandpa for the wonderful gift!

Maya's first weekend away

2009-11-09T13:11:00.003+02:00

We went to Dullstroom this weekend. It is not as easy to prepare from a trip away from home now that we have Maya. Not only do we have to get ourselves packed but we have to pack for every eventuality for her. What a mission! Clothes, nappies, toiletries, prams, swings, toys... the car was full to the brim. I shudder to think what our luggage is going to look like when we go away over the festive season. Hein is seriously considering trading in the golf and getting the Subaru as we had planned to do earlier this year.

Anyway, wish it had been for longer but we had a great time with Ivan and Milly and Ann and Jeremy in Millstream!

Maya's first concert

2009-11-09T12:48:00.001+02:00

We took Maya to her first concert last week Sunday - Live Under the Sun at Emmarentia Dam. She was so well behaved. And particularly loved 340ML and Goldfish!

Here she is with her cousins Nina and Noah.

She's growing

2009-11-05T13:24:00.002+02:00

Our little one is growing so quickly...

finally she's fitting into her 0-3months clothes quite comfortably.

I can't wait for her to wear her summer dresses, cool tees and other ensembles our friends and family have bought for her.

Sacred Sundays

2009-10-20T10:13:00.006+02:00

Sundays are for family I always believe. Quiet time to reconcile and prepare for the week ahead. But every now an again, it's nice to have friends over for a Sunday braai and remind

Monday that it

doesn't always have a threatening hold on you. Look at the fear in the face and say: 'I'm not scared of you!'

The braai was followed by

the much-anticipated John Legend concert

which we both thoroughly enjoyed but wished it had gone on for longer. We left Maya with Zan and Karin and she didn't wake up once so baby-sitting was easy for them.

When we got home I wished she was awake. How I missed her those hours we were apart.

The formula feed

2009-10-13T11:49:00.005+02:00

Took Maya to the paediatrician for her two month check up...

Dr Slowatek told me that Maya needs to gain more weight as she was a bit behind on the growth curve. Gosh! And I thought she was eating well but I'd always wondered why she was constantly hungry. My breasts were even starting to take strain but I thought that was normal. Anyway, it's because she sleeps so well he says - which is unusual for a two month old. Maya sometimes sleeps through the night and mostly only wakes up round 3am and then again at about 6am after having fallen asleep at about 8.30pm. So when she wakes up, she makes up for it. Hence the fact that I'm not able to produce enough milk at the rate she needs it.

So he recommended some natural remedies which weren't available at two chemists I went to. Travelling with a baby is not easy -- you can't just hop out of the car and run in to a store... oh no! You have to make sure you park near shop, unclip baby, lock car, cross the street, calm baby as she starts to get a little fussy, wait your turn at the store...

So I took option B which is to feed formula - doctor suggested alternating between breast milk and formula throughout the day to give my body a chance to produce and store more milk for the next feed.

So it was quite a sad occasion to break my exclusive breastfeeding trend. And I'm not even one of those purists moms who believe in natural natural natural, but I do admit that I shed a tear as Maya guzzled that bottle down - every last bit of the 100ml of formula and promptly feel asleep after a big loud burp at 8pm. The next time she woke up was 5.45am!

Bath time

2009-09-28T11:34:00.002+02:00

Maya absolutely loves bath time now that her whole body can be submerged in water. When we were topping and tailing, she used to scream her head off - and understandably so. It was bloody cold! She takes after her mom in that way - we hate being cold!

So thank you to auntie Penny for gifting Maya with the brilliant Shantala bath which has made bath time a joy for the whole family!

Growing like a bean

2009-09-23T10:23:00.005+02:00

Hein bought Maya a swing on Sunday. She is transfixed by the colours (yes - I wasn't there to add my 2c worth) and of course the little hangy things. Works like a bomb when she's bored and mom is tired!

I'm sure all moms think so but Maya looks and acts so mature for a one month one week old. Look how long she is!

Methinks she's going to be super clever. And super beautiful! Zan thinks she's going to be a model!

Maya one month one week

2009-09-22T14:43:00.003+02:00

She's growing so quickly!

Image Milly Moabi

Pumping that milk

2009-09-22T14:34:00.006+02:00

It's been a while since my last post - not because I haven't had the time to post; but that I haven't had the inclination. I keep on thinking I have more important things to do like fill in Maya's baby book, finish putting together our wedding album, put the finishing touches to her room... and then I check in on my blog and think, I'll get back to it.

Well, today is a momentous occasion. It's the first time I'm expressing milk with my little manual Pigeon pump - managed to get it right first time and fill the bottle up to 4oz. Apparently that's quite good but I'm hoping with more practise I'll express more at a faster rate. So I've put it in the fridge and when Hein gets home, he'll get a chance to feed her for the first time. This is all so Hein can take over some of those early morning shifts - and also in preparation for when I go back to work next year and her nanny takes over.

Holding thumbs Maya is a Pigeon baby!

AND IT LOOKS LIKE SHE IS!

Image http://www.pigeonbabyproducts.co.za

Maya's first photo shoot

2009-09-04T15:58:00.003+02:00

One of our closest friends Jurie took these when Maya was just over a week old.

Thanks for bringing us lunch too Jurie!

Image Jurie Potgieter

Could it be colic?

2009-08-30T12:55:00.005+02:00

My little precious Maya is rather restless these days. Shame, she cries and fusses and behaves as if her tummy is sore... I can see it in her face when she's pooing - squeezing and straining and screaming. It pains us to watch her. She's up at 6am to her feed and then doesn't go back to sleep until about 11am. Dead tired by then she'll collapse in my arms after a small cough which seems to wrestle the last bit of strength out of her or after I've coerced her to suck on the dummy. Which she hates by the way. But doctor has told us to encourage it because it's soothing otherwise she'll be begging for breast. Which she does.

So anyway, I've received tons of useful advice from friends who are mommies as I'm starting to think she has colic. How does one know exactly? Here are some of the responses... maybe it might also help some of you when you have babies...

Lori Cohen

Telement drops before a feed works! Crying could also be from overstimulation - try keep things calm and quiet at home and avoid letting everyone hold her. Stick her in a pouch on you and just hang out together. Try not to let it freak you out - just because she cries doesn't mean she has colic.

Dileseng Koetle

awww. she is adapting to all the newness of her surroundings and all the space she is not yet accustomed to. the calmer u are, the calmer she will b, try, even if its 02h10... give her a few more weeks,she'll cry less and less. and yep, they strain and push and cry a little when they fart or poop... just go with your instinct, hug, cuddle, kiss, chat and stare into her eyes a lot and it'll all be cool.

Margie Orford

They do grow out of it. and it is so distressing for the mum. they strain and struggle - their poor little systems are so immature. swaddle her tight and get someone to hold her for a few hours while you get a sleep. I would come and help if I were in Joburg. I love tiny babies. so good luck. Your mum? is she around? the sreaming is much better when you dont feel so tired

Tshepo Mathabathe

if you're breast feeding might be unlikely,maybe just a trapped wind...good strong girl!work those lungs!

Joanne McLaren I know that you're getting heaps of advice, but thought I'd tell you about what worked for me. Bennets Colic Mixture (you have to ask the pharmacist for it) was definitely the best and certainly eased Sienna's cramps the most. Sienna, the poor poppet, also had a tiny fissure on her bum which made it very painful when she pooed. We used anethaine which definitely helped. I always felt that Sienna was a bit of a guinea pig because I had no confidence in my abilities and got so much conflicting advice from everyone. All that I can say is follow-you heart and decide to listen to the advice of one person...maybe it's your doctor/clinic sister/sister etc. that way you don't second guess every decision you make. Everyone always has the best intentions, but sometimes it can be a bit of information overload!!

Hope you have a peaceful night with your little princess x x x

John Arthur Liebenberg August 29 at 12:58pm

Zod Zod Zod has it happened you beaut...!!
well well done....lotsa regards to paps and u...she look so sweet.. u would know if she has colic..they cry lotsa and lots..its not a normal cry..
J

ThatoyaOna Modisakeng Lerefolo
Zods kids cry.A lot ,that her only way of comunicating.Remember her belly button is not healed yet so she pushes it will be a little painful.
Old grannies recipes:Groenhamara on a cotton wool ,put on her belly button and then wrap her around with a cloth band aid.My granny used to do that to my son.I was made to believe it soothens the bb.
she can't talk there for she will cry for attention ,help,food,Wet nappy anything.
and also balance her heard and neck with one arm on a sitting position and rub her back with the other hand,That for winds,when u c her smile a lot especialy when she is sleeping.
she will stop crying when she gets older .

An ode to a great husband and father

2009-08-28T11:35:00.003+02:00

I couldn't have asked for a better husband and father for Maya... Hein cooks for us, gets up to change Maya, put her to sleep, burps her, does the shopping, makes me tea, hosts our guests... I don't know what I'd do without him.

Last night I saw him in Maya for the first time and thought to myself - It's been nine years since we met August 25, 2000 - and I'm still in love with this man. Our one-year wedding anniversary is September 27... what to do what to do...

Isn't she lovely?

2009-08-24T14:07:00.006+02:00

She's two weeks old today and we're falling more and more in love with her everyday. Her face changes every day too!

A lot of our friends and family say she looks like Zan... what do you think? She's got hair like her paternal grandfather! *wink wink*

THE END AND THE BEGINNING

2009-08-24T13:48:00.003+02:00

As Xoli pulled Maya out of me, her umbilical cord still attached, she paced her on my chest. Hein was spouting tears, taking photos and kissing me and I was shaking with emotion. This long pink baby had been living inside of me? How? Yes she looked like Benjamin Button but I loved her the moment I laid eyes on her.

The entire labour had been seven hours long. And Maya was born just before 7 in the morning. After a visit from uncle Howard and auntie Zan, the three of us checked out of the hospital four hours later. The wonder of normal delivery! Still, next time, I'm seriously considering caesarean birth. What an excruciatingly painful miracle!

PART THREE

2009-08-24T13:36:00.004+02:00

By the time Xoli and another assisting nurse told me it was time to push, things get a little foggy. An attempt to get me into the bath was made but I didn't last very long in it. Ad when I asked to go back into the water, Hein had already drained it (shame, for lack of something to do) and the water birth idea went out the window. You see, it had already taken 15 minutes to fill that bath.

Delivering Maya was exhausting! And shocking! I didn't know that I was required to push on a contraction. How the hell was I supposed to do that! And I remember telling Xoli to get the forceps or the epidural - whichever came faster. But alas it was too late to have epidural... and obviously forceps were a no no. I demanded to know what would happen if I just couldn't do it. And Xoli said, 'You're the only one who can.'

Hein was whispering words of encouragement in my ear, telling me to push our daughter out because we just wanted to meet her, telling me how well I was doing and saying 'one more one more Zods... you can do it'. And all I kept thinking was how the hell am I going to make it through this? It felt like someone had lit a burning match to my vagina as I finally pushed Maya out in between consciousness and semi-consciousness. My eyes were closed most of the time.

Xoli says in all of her years she'd never seen anything like what happened: apparently Maya who was peeking out of me her eyes and nose out; her mouth still inside, was already screaming within the womb. How amazing is that! So as it turns out, Hein saved the day by draining that water because had we opted for a water birth Maya would have landed up in critical care.

PART TWO

2009-08-24T13:04:00.003+02:00

Following Xoli to Linkwood hospital felt so surreal. Hein and I both understood that there was a sense of urgency but for some reason, I felt like everything was going to be okay. My main concern - was it going to hurt like hell when they broke my waters? My sister Nomzi had gone through the same thing and she said it didn't but still, everyone has a different pain threshold.

When we got to the hospital I was checked into the last room available - not the sunny room we had initially been shown. In this one, there was no bassinet, awful floral print curtains which didn't meet and two hospital regulation single beds. The bathroom was large but there was barely enough room to swing a cat in the room where the three of us were going to spend the next few hours. I silently cursed those caesarean moms

Hein went to go sort out the admin while I got comfortable. Before breaking my water, Xoli said, 'This is the last time you are going to be dry.' It's only afterwards I got her meaning. Ick! The breaking of the water felt like a light internal examination - much less painful than a pap smear. And thank goodness, there was no blood. Still my blood pressure was up so Xoli decided to induce me. We expected contractions to start quite soon afterwards but when nothing was happening...she put me on a drip and told me that contractions were going to start in about an hour or so. Hein put on a movie on my laptop but I can't even remember what movie he put on was. I felt like I was in an altered state as soon as the contractions started - they felt like a deep, aching period pain that would have me in its grip for moments at a time.

Hein and Xoli both took turns walking me around the quiet labour ward - was I the only one going through this? All I wanted to do was lie on my back and catch a few z's.

PART ONE

2009-08-21T10:58:00.003+02:00

Sunday, August 9

It started out like an ordinary easy Sunday morning. And I was still basking in the glory of having made it to my maternity leave without my waters breaking at the office.

And then later that morning I had a show (which all mothers know is the sign that baby's coming). After calling my midwife and letting her know what was happening, I settled in for a day of watching 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians'. Apparently baby could arrive that day, or in two days or even two weeks. Hein had a mutual friend's 30th birthday party to help organise later that evening...

I felt oddly content and wasn't anything out of the ordinary until 6pm that evening, when I started bleeding. I had been watching 'Here Come the Newlyweds' on MNet which I was rather enjoying... I called Xoli who told me I should get to the clinic and then called Hein. Still, I wasn't panicking - I wasn't in pain or experiencing any discomfort. When Hein arrived, we packed my hospital bags just in case and drove to Genesis Clinic. I hated the fact that this could possibly be one of those false alarms I'd read so much about.

The sweet midwife on standby there monitored baby's heart rate which wasn't fluctuating, took my blood pressure, which was high and told us, teamed up with the fact that I was bleeding painted a worrying picture. I hadn't eaten having left home round dinner time, so the midwife suggested I drink a cup of sweet tea and see if baby's heart rate picked up - and it did. He also nipped out to to Woolies to get some supper - even though I wasn't hungry. I could barely swallow that chicken caesar salad even though it's my favourite. A few hours later we decided to settle in - unload my bags and slip on my birth CD.

And just to err on the side of caution, it was decided to call Xoli, who arrived and called my back-up gynae Dr Mia.

After consulting it was decided to move me to Linkwood Hospital where they would break my waters. If there was blood in the water, I would have to give birth via caesarian; if not, they would induce me because my blood pressure was still up. Why wait until it got critical? I was disappointed we had to leave Genesis but Linkwood had been my second choice...

Image http://www.propeller.com

Maya Nandi Valentine

2009-08-13T11:31:00.004+02:00

Here she is... one day old.

Birthday Monday, August 10 at 6.54am

The three of us

2009-08-06T12:55:00.004+02:00

It amazes me how LG has stayed in my belly so far... Whenever I sit or get up or change my sleeping position I can feel her - as if she's wedged in between my legs and threatening to pop out if I push. It's a strange feeling and I try to imagine how she must be positioned - her head locked there, her arms suspended along with her legs which have now gone back to kicking. And there I thought she didn't have much more space for that. The past few days she's been really active, pushing and kicking most especially when I'm in the bath. Yes baby, I'm also uncomfortable, I try to tell her. So you're free to come out whenever. Mommy just has two more features to edit and then she's home free! With you! And then with you, me and dad.

Hein will be taking a month off work - of course he'll be attending the odd meetings etc and checking mails but it'll be the three of us getting to know each other better.

Everyone keeps asking me if I'm getting nervous and I usually respond by saying I'm kakking myself but truthfully, I haven't given it serious thought. I probably will after my mind is off work and handing over. The woman who's taking over from me, Donna, is wonderful! So I'm at ease leaving everything in her hands.

Phew!

Image http://babyphoto360.com/2008/01/baby-feet-photos-make-priceless.html

Lady and the bump

2009-08-05T09:04:00.004+02:00

I am so pleased with the way these turned out! These are some of my favourites from the morning session...

Thank you Ursula for a great experience and for doing such a sterling job. I would highly recommend doing a maternity shoot! For me it was a toss-up between the 4D scan and this. And my thought was: you'll get to see baby but when will you see yourself looking like you've swallowed a watermelon again?

Visit Ursula's website on www.ursulatocikphotography.co.za

Last week at work

2009-08-03T09:22:00.004+02:00

Well, the weekend passed without incident. Although on Saturday afternoon, I did feel an odd compulsion to repack my hospital and baby bag. I don't want to arrive unprepared. Even when I go on holiday it depresses me to no end if I leave my toothbrush or my favourite face cream or socks at home. I love my creature comforts.

When I woke up this morning I felt lighter than usual. I didn't have to swing my legs over the bed at a snail's pace so as to avoid pain. Usually it takes at least 30 seconds to get out of bed... but this morning, I felt no pain as I swung one leg over and then the next. And walking - yes I still waddle but not out of pain but rather from lack of balance. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to fall over any minute like when I was making dinner (for a change) last night... shame Hein has been doing that consistently... I thought I might just topple forwards. While making spaghetti bolognaise I had to steady myself on a chair. It's not easy carrying these big bazookas AND the belly! So I guess LG has dropped even further and I need to watch myself.

Finally, it's my last week and I'm outta here on Friday! Whoop whoop!

Image http://www.bbc.co.uk

To wash or not to wash

2009-07-31T08:07:00.004+02:00

This picture gets me! I imagine my LG is sitting in my tummy like this - except head down. That nose and fist and bunched up knees...

She hasn't been kicking as much as she used to - she's at her most active at about 10ish in the morning - round the time I'm having morning tea and then quiet for the rest of the day. Early evening when I get home and have a bath, she starts to push - as if she's stretching - and you can see my belly protruding in odd shapes. No, I've never been able to decipher a foot or an elbow but I have felt her bum. She likes it when I squeeze her bum with both my hands - that's when she wiggles, slips away and pushes her bum out again.

Oh, this little girl of mine is so sweet.

* And now for my mini dilemma: I've read a few articles recently advising mums to pre-wash all their babies' clothes, blankets... before the big day, sans Sta Soft though. Is it really necessary? Mom, did you do that? I just can't be asked having already folded and packed away all her things. Mxim! Do I have to?

Image http://www.boots.com

Watermelon-size baby

2009-07-30T12:27:00.004+02:00

Well - at least it's not the South African size watermelon but it sure as hell is huge!

I just wanted to share with you what happened when we were channel surfing the day before yesterday and stumbled upon a programme called Birth Stories. At first I was intrigued and thought, this might be educational for us to watch and bookmarked it. When the channel flicked itself to the show, Hein and I started panicking. He said, 'Change it, change it! Do you want to watch it?' To which I quickly replied, 'Yes, I mean no. Change it.'

We both reached for the remote just as a woman on the screen who looked like she was about to pass out was leaning on her husband, in obviously intense pain panting and breathing like an animal.

We think we'll just wait to experience it ourselves. Why terrify ourselves now? It's not going to make us any less afraid nor the pain less intense. We'll just have to wait and see...

Absa baby shower

2009-07-30T08:49:00.005+02:00

My husband's team at Absa threw him a surprise baby shower this week and gave him a Chelino car seat! Wow! So generous - and we needed one cos we've only managed to buy one. Now hubby has one for his car too. Could a couple be this blessed?

Image: http://www.babylane.co.za Our one is the orange one though. Matches with Hein's gold Golf. Our other car seat is a Graco - it's blue and it matches my sliver-blue Micra. Stupid I know.

Couch potatoes

2009-07-29T16:08:00.006+02:00

PVR is great people! We just got hooked up yesterday. Our friend of ours got arrested and Hein got him off without a criminal record! It was his gift of thanks to us. So now, as long as we've been fighting buying it, we had no choice but to get connected when we were presented with HD PVR DStv! You can pause rewind and fast forward live TV - isn't that swell! I remember we used to wonder why you couldn't do that a couple years back and now it's a reality!

Last night we recorded Damages. You see, instead of watching a tidbit every week, we're going to watch a whack of episodes at once. It's going to be sooo nice. And even though we'll be paying R559 a month for the luxury, I think it will be a huge saving on all the DVDs we hire a month. And of course we're going to have to cut down on eating and going out what with baby coming.

Eish! I hope we don't become couch potatoes. And that our reading (among other activities) doesn't suffer.

Getting our home ready

2009-07-27T13:16:00.004+02:00

What a hectic weekend it turned out to be!

* We got a new domestic - her name is Nomathemba. She's younger than I wanted (28) but she's South African, irons like a demon and takes initiative when cleaning. Even though she overdoes it on the Mr Min and Handy Andy, I don't have to tell her to clean around the bathroom taps for instance. She has a sweet little three-year-old son and a husband who are keen to move into the servants quarters at the back... we'll have to wait and see... if it all works out she the family can live there and hey presto I'll also have a full-time nanny.

* Saturday was spent buying some furniture (chest of drawers and a desk) in Yeoville and then we had a small shindig at our place - it was supposed to be a few friends noshing on cheese, crackers, wine and beers and then people saw fit to bring uninvited plus ones... and then of course it was the rugby at five... which all the boys HAD to watch at the local pub up the road and then all come back to eat. That's when I lost interest. All I wanted to do was sit in the afternoon sun for a while, chat a little with friends and then lock our doors just after sunset. By the time everyone left after I escaped to have a bath to soothe my aching muscles, I thought I might never be able to walk again. Luckily, we were in bed by 8.30pm. Hein had to do the 15km 702 Walk the Talk. Had it not been for that the night may well have dragged on.

* The handymen are finally out from under our feet - having put up shelves in the bathroom and cleaned a bit of the grouting (not sure if that's the terminology), painted the nursery and servants quarters, fixed the porch steps and painted it among other smaller things.

* So that gave me Sunday to put away baby things - and there's not enough space for everything. It looks a little qaba-ish but I've had to display baby powders, oils, bum creme.... on the white fold-out table. I hate having products displayed out in the open like that but it can't be helped. The room looks very cosy - just need to put up the rest of the pictures on the wall.

* One more room to tackle - the spare room - but that's Hein's baby - most of his law journals, files, books and clothes are in there which he needs to sort out. Me, I'm done!

Little one - you can come out now - we're ready for you.

Image http://www.sostss.com/

On baby watch

2009-07-24T13:27:00.003+02:00

Today was without doubt the coldest morning I have experienced in a long while. And I had to be up early to get to my morning appointment with Xoli. The night before was quite unpleasant - getting up four times in a night in minus degree temperatures, with a house reeking of paint and dust hanging around on the floors is not fun. And then once again, in the wee hours, I ran out of sleep, blinking into the darkness, reluctant to do anything or think of anything expect will myself back to sleep. This has been happening on and off for the past three weeks. I wonder if it's the body's way of preparing me for those three-hourly feeds.

So apparently baby is not going to be big at all *phew* according to Xoli's skilled searching hands and after a urine check, it looks like baby might be arriving sooner than later. Xoli thinks it might happen by the end of next week (at least the paint in the nursery and bathroom will have dried and aired) so I've been advised to have mine and baby's hospital bags packed. Baby's bag is good to go; mine is missing a crop tops of sorts and a change of clothing for when I leave the hospital. Oh! And a maternity bra that actually fits! Why they sell them in S, M, L and XL is beyond me!

My baby bump

2009-07-22T11:37:00.002+02:00

It's always a shock to see yourself in photos. You notice that your smile is lopsided, or your eyes are redder than you thought, your arms are flabby or you look way fatter than in real life...

Now I have come to accept that I'm larger than life pregnant, my nose has swollen to embarrassing proportions (you should see me first thing in the morning), my face is rounder, my cheek bones non-existent... the list is endless.

But that's okay. I am carrying a beautiful new life inside of me. Hein and I made it together. Yes I feel like I've been pregnant forever but time is little to sacrifice given what you get in return. So vanity aside I have posted a pic of myself not looking my best but as best as can be expected given that I'm due to pop in 3 weeks.

And my photographer Ursula has done a great job! I can't wait to see the rest and will post them as soon as I have them in hand...

Eating is overrated

2009-07-20T08:51:00.004+02:00

Baby's weight is increasing by 500g every week. Isn't that scary! and there I thought I was almost home free! This morning I woke up with sore hips and shoulders - from the extra weight no doubt. and getting out of bed was a challenge. We slept with the heater on in our room and the last thing I wanted to do was take my clothes off, shower and get ready for the new day.

These days I've been finding eating normal food such a bore. If I could eat fruit, yoghurt, ice cream, sweeties and buns alone I would be such a happy camper. But of course it's not just about me. I have to get the nutrients in for baby in the form of veggies, meat, fish, chicken and all that other healthy stuff. My sister came to visit yesterday with a McFlurry! How overrated is that ice cream. It's packaged in this giant plastic container with an equally giant spoon promising wonderful contents but all it contains is soft serve ice cream and choc chips which tasted much like cooking chocolate. I'm not sure what Thonga was raving about but I'll never eat another McFlurry again. Give me a flat-bottomed soft served cone for R2.95 any day!

Something else I won't recommend: Australia! It's dead boring that movie.

Image http://www.wackypackages.org/realproductsscans/3rd_2005/mcflurry.jpg

Friday nights in

2009-07-17T16:12:00.003+02:00

This weekend I'll be nine months pregnant. Hard to believe right... and I never thought of this until Ingrid pointed it out... most people only find out they're pregnant (especially when they're not trying to) round three months. Me, I found out from the get go! My body just would not let me live in blissful ignorance - or should I say, this little girl was determined to make her presence felt from the start. Can you imagine I've been pregnant since December last year people!

I went to get my nails done for the shoot tomorrow - it was a dire situation - I even destroyed a new pair of tights I just bought with the jagged edges, courtesy of all the packing, moving and unpacking.

Danica - thanks for the spa voucher - it's about to be used... I might add on a back massage as it's been killing me lately, and the cold hasn't been helping either.

It's Friday, and my hubby always calls to find out what my plans are for international party night. I think I can count on one hand the number of Friday nights out he's missed - in his life! Seriously. Absolutely bloody nothing, I always reply. Nothing and nobody will make me stray from my route home past the video store, into a long bath for a soak and making some home cooking or ordering in... It's been like that for a month and I'm sticking to it. This weekend is going to be filled with 'nesting' activities, interviewing prospective domestics and nannies, unpacking boxes and of course taking photos!

Happy weekend all!

Image http://www.neversaydiet.com/files/woman_couch_250.jpg

Pigeon

2009-07-16T11:25:00.007+02:00

It looks like I'm a Pigeon mom. Much like I'm a Johnson's mom. Pigeon wasn't even on my radar if you remember. I was still deciding between NUK and Avent and every time I'd pause by the bottles, I just wasn't excited about buying them. None of them spoke to me and so I kept putting it off.

It's all about branding you see - and how much you identify with a particular brand... it's tough to explain why but I guess it's about use of colour, design, graphics, shape, logos... as you silently digest all of these factors, subconsciously I'd say, you ask yourself, 'what does this brand say about me as a mother?' When I did some Internet research on the brand, I discovered it was Australian. Interesting.

No, I didn't buy the feeding set yet - although I will be doing so as soon as baby starts to eat solids... how sweet is that bowl and spoon set! Instead I had to buy the less glamorous must-haves: breast pump, teats, microwave steriliser, bottles, bottle brush, and thermometer. Took me abut an hour to make up my mind and prioritise what was important and what was not... like what I could buy later and what I needed now. Like one mom said to me on www.pampers.co.za - 'Sana, the shops don't close after you've given birth.'

I laughed at that one. It's not so much that, but rather that I'm sure the last place I'm going to want to be in is a mall in the first month!

Image http://www.pigeonbaby.com.au

Sexy flannels

2009-07-15T09:23:00.005+02:00

Everyday it amazes me how the body just learns, painfully, to adapt to this 2.5kg baby it's carrying... I never thought my pelvis could accommodate such a load and when I'm turning over in bed or changing positions, I sometimes forget that I have to go easy and slowly as I hear my bones clicking in places they've never clicked before. I got such a fright the first time it happened (it was rather loud and sent chills down my spine) I thought I had perhaps accidentally dislocated something. But the body remains resilient!

I bought myself a pair of blue flannel pyjama drawstring bottoms and a button up cotton shirt for the hospital... it had to be done! Sexy or not! Comfort comes first

So, if all goes according to plan...

Image http://www.gap.com/Asset_Archive/GPWeb/Assets/Product/603/603646/big/gp603646-00vliv01.jpg

Maternity photographer

2009-07-14T08:56:00.009+02:00

I'm starting to get a little apprehensive about my shoot on Saturday. And it's not only because I have to drive to Edenvale - and have no clue how to get there despite everyone saying, 'it's so eeeasy...' Nxa! Will you drive me there then. And then pick me up afterwards?

My apprehension comes from the nudity aspect. My friends and family know me. I don't reveal flesh unnecessarily - and especially not to strangers with cameras... let alone pee in front of my sisters in a shared cubicle. I never understood girls who did that? Peeing is so personal. And somethings should remain private. So stretchmarks, blemishes, lumps, bumps and all I have to be photographed with my protruding belly. It's funny, not even in my best body condition would I be photographed so revealingly...

But my photographer Ursula Tocik www.ursulatocikphotography.co.za whom it took me ages to unearth, thanks to an Andrea Carlyle www.andreacarlylephotography.co.za connection, has made me feel as much at ease as possible on the phone and via e-mail.

It took me a while because I'm not after those cutesy wutsey pics of booties on belly or colour treated efforts. I want something with a more reportage feel... something real (but photoshopped of course hehehehe)... less emphasis on me and more on belly. So I've attached a couple examples of work that captured me -- I hope Andrea and Jules Morgan www.julesmorgan.com don't mind.

The countdown

2009-07-11T16:39:00.003+02:00

35 weeks today; 35 days to go...

Image http://www.paternityangel.com/PicsAndPhotos/FoetalDevelop/35week.jpg

Nesting

2009-07-10T10:01:00.003+02:00

I didn't want to get out of bed this morning. Everything was swollen - from my nose, to my cheeks, right down to my feet. I think it's because I slept with the heater on - a 400w wall heater that really does not have much effect... But what's a girl to do - freeze to death? And boy is our house cold! And Hein was out til late so I had to make a plan. And now I'm paying for it.

Wow! Being pregnant is humbling. I've never considered myself vain. But I guess if you've never had problem skin or crooked teeth or an overbite... you kind of take your looks for granted. It's one thing if you've let yourself go and have slowly witnessed the downward spiral without any alarm bells going off... but it's another if you've had nothing to do with it and are rendered hostage to your body. Were it not for that fact, I would be horribly depressed. For now, I stay mildly upset and am keeping to myself. I'm focusing on house and home or as they say nesting. I hate that word and the fact that there's this 'scientific' explanation for pregnant women who are about to give birth who suddenly want to make their house and nursery look nice and ready for baby. Puhleeze! It's normal -- like what you would do if your inlaws or parents or friends were coming to stay for a spell... it's not some chemical trigger that goes off when you get close to delivering... nxa!

Image: I used to love that book! I remember Mrs Davies at Maris Stella reading it out to us often at aftercare. And all this time I thought it was a Dr Seuss book!

Last sighting

2009-07-09T09:03:00.007+02:00

We saw our LG again yesterday afternoon. It's been months since we saw her last and it was magical seeing her lips and nose (side profile) on the sonogram. Her hands were making fists, opening and closing every now and again. Hein was standing at the foot of the bed -- he could only look at me, and then at the screen and squeeze my foot with excitement. I just wanted to reach into the screen and pull her out! Our emergency doctor, Dr Mia, who will be on standby should anything go wrong with the delivery says he thinks it will be a routine birth and I should expect to go into labour around 38 weeks. That's in four week's time and the baby's room isn't even ready yet! Eeek!

That was the last time we're going to see her until she makes her big debut.

Today I received the Mother Nature nappies - they are absolutely gorgeous! quite pricey to order but will stand me us in good stead for the future - and we won't be contributing to those landfills!

The nappy covers come in boy and girl colours - I got pink, green, beige and white; and the actual nappies come in beige and white. If you had to feel how soft they are you would understand!

Image www.mothernatureproducts.co.za

Best baby shower ever

2009-07-08T16:51:00.004+02:00

I've been putting off posting because I wanted to chat about my baby shower and the sterling job my sister and Karin did. My rule is usually no picture no post but I couldn't wait any longer.

What a fabulous day it was, gorgeous cheeses, wine and breads, quiches... Then phase 2 was a viewing of some of my most loved cheesiest but classic songs and photos of my friends as little girls and a video message from my mom all played on a big screen in a private theatre - red seats and everything.

Phase 3 was coffee and desserts, and releasing of the these butter yellow balloons - each person had written a message to LG and the parents which were attached to the balloon. I went around reading out the messages and then the balloons were released... (that's the picture I will insert when I find the camera adaptor somewhere in the mess that is our home right now) Phase 4 was the opening of presents. Mom and LG got spoiled.

So I just wanted to thank everyone who made the day really special: Thonga, Sarah, Danica, Aspasia, Alexandra, Tsholo, Mariette, Kholeka and most especially my big sister Zan, Karin and Mrs Coetzee for the best baby shower ever.

We're homeowners

2009-07-03T09:49:00.003+02:00

We're officially homeowners! Yep, we got the keys to our place yesterday and wondered around the house, dreaming of all the possibilities and of course, seeing all the cracks for the first time.

My heart leapt into my throat a couple times talking about all the things we wanted to do to the place post haste and both agreed, painting main bedroom, nursery bathroom and kitchen is top priority - before baby comes; then putting up shelves in bathroom, tiling; and then fixing domestic quarters. And then we started talking about putting in a pool, braai area, gazebo, extra bathroom (which is a must as there's only one)...

For us, a happy home equals nice bathroom, main bedroom and kitchen. The rest of the stuff can wait. that's a pic of the main bedroom over there...

Bed booked

2009-07-01T09:43:00.004+02:00

My bed is finally booked at Genesis Clinic. Yes, after all the uhming and aahing, going on a tour of the facilities after my now bi-weekly midwife visits, we booked on the spot. The people are nice and it feels like you're in a very basic, airy B&B. And the rooms are big, fridge stocked with juice and water (MUST NOT FORGET CHAMPERS), hifi system for music, huge sunken bath. Mom gets a bag with the following:

* basic toiletries - shampoo, body wash and soap

* bath salts - probably not the scented kind!

* linen savers

* maternity pads

* 12 breast pads

* 3 stretch panties

* vaseline

* wet wipes

* wecesin powder

* baby wash

* bum cream

* cotton wool balls

All I need to bring is clothes

for me, clothes, three blankets and a towel for baby plus snacks, camera, liquid beverages, candles and music.

Photos www.genesisclinic.co.za

Melon-size baby

2009-06-30T09:13:00.003+02:00

My LG is the size of a melon. No wonder I'm in such pain and can never find a comfortable position for long enough without grunting in pain when I have to get up or change positions.

Xoli, my midwife says it's because LG has already locked in position and is lodged in my pelvic area, never to move again until birth while her head grows larger and larger in an area which is not meant to expand. Typically this happens just before birth so this is quite early, Xoli says and by week 36, I'm going to experience even more discomfort. She says this is a good thing though. *Zodwa and Hein widen their eyes in horror* What can possibly be good about it? And it's probably not going to be 'discomfort' as she so sweetly puts it rather than intense pain, more so than now.

Xoli says that the more pain you experience before labour, the easier and less painful your actual labour will be. I bloody well hope so LG!

Why was she in such a hurry to get down there in the first place? Well, at least there's no chance of a breach baby - that's when she comes out legs first. Ouch!

Don't worry LG, mommy still loves you...

Baby registry

2009-06-29T09:14:00.004+02:00

It's funny how the wheels have turned. About a year ago I dedicated an entire opinion piece moaning about how cheeky baby registries are. Well, actually, it was about baby showers in general - how people are telling guests what to wear, what to bring and most audaciously, what to buy! Via gift registry nogal! I cringed when I received my first invitation telling me to wear all white and the various items I could purchase from the various expensive boutique stores. She wasn't even a friend of mine - not someone I'd meet for coffee let alone invite over to my house for a bite either.

I remember (with embarrassment) how I would buy acquaintances and office colleagues and friends newborn baby grows or blankets as gifts. I would wander round a kiddies' store and select the cutest thing I could find. something I would buy for my child, without considering the mothers' needs. What a waste. And so here I sit, mother-to-be with cap in hand, having spent two hours with hubby at Baby City on Sunday, making my baby registry official. I know I'm going to be a particular mom. Like I don't like Avent stuff but love Nuk. and the fact that I prefer the smell of Johnson's to Elizabeth Anne is a preference I can't explain... My baby is not going to wear just anything - I've already told you how much I hate polar fleece, the pink and blue combo and anything to do with Winnie the Pooh when it comes to baby stuff! We've already bought a lot of newborn clothes (which they quickly outgrow I've been told) and newborn nappies, so we thought it would be best to include stuff for six months and up - from toys to functional equipment to dummies on the list:

* basic white vest body suits

* bumbo seat

* Nuk bottles

* Sleep sheep (makes a comforting snoring sound to help baby sleep)

* bath towels

* rattle

and more...

I hate to admit it but they were right when they said, 'You'll understand when you become a mother'.

Having said that, my sister Zanele and good friend Karin have organised a secret baby shower for this weekend. I have no idea what it's all about save that it's a destination baby shower. Yay! If my hen party was anythign to go by, it's a going to be another killer day! Plus I get one day off all the packing and moving house which is officially happening on Monday, July 6th. But that's what Hein gets for going to play squash for three hours AND going to watch the rugby on Saturday afternoon when it should have been a dedicated packing day! Nxa!

The hospital bag

2009-06-25T09:11:00.005+02:00

There are so many lists on the internet, hospital information pamphlets and from baby stores all saying this is the ultimate list on what to pack in your hospital bag for you and baby.

Hein even laughed at me when I declared I would need two bags - one for me - and one for baby (there are so many cool options out there!). But after reviewing the list, agreed with me. Take that!

So I compiled a list of the things I would be including, most of which I've already purchased or have, save the the Zinc and Castor oil (not sure what that's for...). I also need to buy the nursing bra -- who knows how big my boobs are going to between now and then. I'm now a 36E! 36 I ask with tears in my eyes! I've never been a 36! All I need to do is gather all of it together and pack. This will need to be done before we move house though - you know how things disappear forever in boxes!

MOMMY

1 x night dress

1 x big T-shirt

1 x pair of socks (damn straight!)

1 x pair of slippers

flannel and towels

toiletry bag

hot water bottle

lip balm (never leave home without it)

water spray bottle (I have a calming spritzer Penny bought me)

massage stuff

music (sorted!)

hand mirror (didn't think of it)

nursing bra and breast pads

disposable briefs (where does one get those?)

maxi sanitary pads (!)

snacks, food and drink

BABY

2 x stretch vests and suits

1 x scratch mittens and booties (don't think booties are necessary is she's going to be wearing body suit

1 x baby blanket (bought the softest white one with yellow duckies)

1 x cream - zinc and castor oil or petroleum jelly (I think I'll just go for Elizabeth Anne's moisturising cream)

disposable nappies

cotton wool

1 x cardigan (already knitted by mom)

1 x hat

1 x car seat and carry cot or pram (just have to figure out how to fit the car seat in Hein's car)

Images

http://www.koolroomz.net/argyle_baby-bag.jpg

http://www.safetots.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/baby-bag-for-a-plane.jpg

From Victory Park to Victoria

2009-06-23T11:45:00.005+02:00

LG was moving all night last night. Kicking and doing flip flops and somersaults no doubt. I wonder if it had anything to do with the delicious curry I ate from Spiceburg in Greenside? Was so tasty and not too hot - still I had to suffer the consequences. Rising, heart burning sensation whenever I burped. For my sins of course because I know I'm supposed to lay of the spicy stuff. Was worth it though!

So the good news is that we'll be moving house from July 2nd! Whoop whoop! Let the painting begin! Though, hehehe, I've never painted a wall in my life before, hehehe... how many pots do you need for an average size room? And paint is not cheap I've heard. No point in getting clever with colours if you're not going to be able to maintain neh? Hayi, we'll see but one thing's for sure - that nondescript orange has gots to go!

Lemme know if anyone's looking for a second-floor, two-bedroom flat, separate toilet and shower/bath, balcony to rent. Damage: R4150.

Eight months

2009-06-22T09:11:00.006+02:00

I don't know why they say you're pregnant for nine months when it's actually 10. When I reached the eight-month mark yesterday, I really thought yesssss! I'm one month away from expelling this heavy load and then I remembered - no, it's actually two months more. Full term = 40 weeks = 10 months!

And all the symptoms of first trimester are slowly reappearing it seems. Headaches and frequent visits to the toilet. This is not pleasant, especially in the middle of the night, in the middle of winter. How I wish we had underfloor heating - and a bum warmer! But let me not complain too much. At least I haven't had to deal with pigmentation on my face, or thrush or piles or any of those other horror stories I've read about.

I have't decided if I'm going to have a 4D scan or not. I've spoken to a number of women who have either said it's disappointing or; the baby didn't want to turn around or; wow it was amazing! And the thing is, if things don't work out, you don't get your money back or get to reschedule so you can get some decent pictures. Plus all the foetal pics I've seen look the same.

If I told you that was our LG in the image attached, you would believe me right? And some of you might even say she looks like Hein right? Eish mara we'll see how things go... I don't want to have any regrets.

Image http://www.fetal.com/3D4DScreening/Images/face-27-to-32-wks.jpg

Big weekend

2009-06-19T09:43:00.003+02:00

There's lots to celebrate this weekend! Sunday, the 21st marks my 31st birthday, Father's Day and I'll officially be 8 months. In the past I would have planned a night of dinner followed by dancing the night before but now I'm more inclined to invite a few friends over for a Sunday roast. They say nesting tends to start big time round this time. But whether I'll be in the mood to do that, I can't really say.

My hubby is out of town and back on Sunday afternoon. He's off to Grahamstown for his aunt's funeral. Shame, so many of my mother-in-law's siblings have passed away recently. My heart goes out to her because I don't know what I'd do if I lost any of my sisters.

Anyway, our Sundays are usually sacred. Unless there's something else that Hein simply can't say no to - a big game, a family braai, a friend's birthday, a meeting... it's usually DVDs, a late Sunday lunch or take-away and nesting under the blankets on the couch. It has become my favourite day of the week - before it used to be my worst!

So we'll see how everything goes... maybe an intimate dinner out on Saturday evening with just the ladies? The guys are irritating me at the moment.

Image www.bbc.co.uk

Fashion Week

2009-06-18T08:36:00.004+02:00

It is with much dread that I'm heading out to Arise Africa Fashion Week this evening... especially after I had such a lovely night learning how to cook Greek food at Aspasia's house last night night. What fun us girls had - me, Aspasia, Zan, Karin, Samantha, Sharon and Mariette had a great time chopping and grating and watching as Aspasia showed us to make some unpronounceable but really 'scrumptious' Greek dishes involving cheese, Phyllo pastry, prawns, Greek yoghurt, honey, Pecan nuts, tomatoes... not all in the same dish of course.

So with nothing new and fresh to wear I'm just going in a black dress (always the safest) and leggings and heels, having a networking dinner with some highflyers invited by Absa Capital at Anica's Deli and then catching the Malcolm Kluk show. It will be my first fashion show this year having missed the summer collection earlier this year. Eish! We'll see how it goes. I keep on having this idea of dropping the organiser a mail and declaring that I'm either too sick or too busy to attend an sending my humblest apologies but know I'll regret not going... so go I must. I've heard it's inspiring!

Image www.africanfashioninternational.com

60 days

2009-06-17T09:08:00.008+02:00

I didn't think it would happen this soon but it seems I'm waddling. At first it was only happening when I was getting out of bed or off the couch after watching a movie because my limbs get damn sore. But now it's all the time! If you've ever played The Sims you'll now what I'm talking about - Roselle - you'll know! when The Sim gets pregnant, and her belly sticks out and she slowly waddles to the kitchen to make something to eat...

By the way, eat your heart out Ros! I bought The Sims 3 - and it's fantastic apart from the fact that you can't fast forward through the boring actions like sleeping and eating. You literally have to watch your Sim sleeping for 10 minutes while he or she slowly regains her energy... big mistake on the creators' part. I'm hoping they're going to release a free patch to rectify the problem. So anyone who wants to buy it - wait until they release the second version... www.thesms3.com

In the meantime, I have exactly 60 days until my due date; and 52 days until my maternity leave starts. I'm taking four months' leave - one month unpaid. So I need to stay at work as long as possible so I don't have to come back to work in December... hope baby is patient til then!

I must have it!

2009-06-12T13:49:00.003+02:00

I can feel my little girl more intensely these days. As the space inside gets smaller and smaller for her to manoeuvre (and I get more uncomfortable), when I look down at my belly, I can bits of her protruding out. I can't make out body parts yet but my belly is jumping all the time. It's the weirdest and most wonderful feeling/thing to experience/watch.

Every time I call Hein to come see and feel, he runs to put his hand on my belly and then LG (little girl) suddenly stops moving. I wonder if she knows it's daddy - maybe he has a calming effect on her.

As I mentioned yesterday, I don't care what the 'what not to buy' list says, I'm going to get me, ahem, I mean her this bath. Isn't it great? Course it'll only last for 0-6 months but I must have it. It's so safe and easy to use. Damage: 15 pounds. It's called a Shantala bath and only available overseas... figures.

What not to buy

2009-06-11T09:00:00.004+02:00

Every parent I think wants to buy their LO (little one) everything of the best and latest and I've often wondered whether we're completely wasting money - as Hein pointed out about the wooden cot - or it's about personal preferences. So I rounded up all the advice from moms about what not to buy according to their experiences. I'm still getting the moses basket for R950 from www.weavingdreams.co.za though... see image. I like the actual basket but the linen wasn't my style so going to look around for some soft linen.

WHAT NOT TO BUY

* baby-perfumed products

* newborn clothes - buy from 3 months up

* two-piece newborn suits

* powder

* bottle warmer

* more than six bottles

* baby monitor

* compactum - normal chest of drawers will do

* breastfeeding cushion

* baby bath - I still want one

* rocking chair

Camp cot -tick

2009-06-10T10:42:00.004+02:00

I had to give up on my dream of the wooden cot. 'It's not really practical is it babe? It's purely aesthetic,' said my husband, gently. This was after I had managed to find a cot for R700 through gumtree - and the woman emailed to let me know two days before we were supposed to pick it up that her husband had sold it to a colleague. Rude!

Oh how I wanted one to paint in a buttercup yellow and decoupage those pretty animal prints on them. But Hein was right. It's an unnecessary expense and baby girl will grow out of it in under a year - that's even if she likes it. Yesterday afternoon, Hein came home with a camp cot. He came in looking so proud of himself, boasting about the fact that he got a really good deal as the cot had vibration mode, musical mobile, detachable play pen, changing table... many more extras that the Jeep cot had that he initially wanted to buy for a grand less. I just stood there nodding proudly while he pointed all the thingies out, smiling at him and oh so happy that he'd chosen the right colour - yellow. It looks exactly like the picture only the green parts are yellow.

I so wanted to unpack it and set it up but that would have been stupid as we're moving house soon and can't afford to lose any boxes or unwrap already well-wrapped things. Much like some of our belated wedding gifts, which are still sitting in boxes.

So now I'm on the lookout for a Moses basket. Baby girl will be sleeping in our room for the first three months and then by December holidays, we'll move her into her own room. Mom and dad have to get some decent sleep albeit brief at some point - and preferably before I have to go back to work...

Growing larger... and larger...

2009-06-08T13:15:00.005+02:00

My belly is getting heavier. When I get up out of my chair and start walking, I can feel the strain under my belly. This morning when I got into the office I was bursting for the loo, and attempted to run. Ouch! It's just not possible! It feels like my belly will explode and my pelvis will rip in two pieces. Plus my legs felt like lead. What an unpleasant feeling to be so unfit. Now, I've never been a gym bunny but still, I've never felt so unfit that I've panted walking up a flight of stairs and literally had to roll out of bed. I know it's all about 'saving' the pelvis from damage but it really feels like even if that danger wasn't present, I couldn't if I tried.

I just can't believe she only weighs just over a 1kg. I met a family relative on Hein's side who is three weeks shy of her due date. She was looking ready to pop, and waddling. But still gorgeous and looking happy. I think the thought of her little girl arriving so soon keeps her positive. Anyway, she told me her little weighed 3.4kg! Jassus! All this time I thought anything over 3kg was a large baby! But that's average apparently - I went back to my pregnancy books.

I picked up a copy of Your Baby over the weekend, partly because an acquaintance's baby is on the cover and also because I need to stop focusing on the pregnancy and now start to think about what I need to do when she arrives. She's so cute - little Isobel. that little ensemble she's wearing though is bloody expensive - yes I made some enquiries! My mom could knit that I thought to myself... Anyway, finally I've found a representative magazine featuring black, indian, coloured mommies and babies... I'm considering taking out a subscription - I've never had one before and it's definitely a money saver. If there's a nice subscription drive then I'll definitely do it! How nice would it be to receive the next issue at our brand new home!

Belly full of baby

2009-06-05T08:52:00.005+02:00

I had a surge of emotion last night - no it didn't manifest in tears. The 'weapy' stage seems to have come and gone - whether it will come again, I'm not sure. In fact, this morning, all I wanted to do was chase down this woman, sneak up on her unexpectedly and give her a murderous stare and the middle finger and all because she wouldn't give me a break in traffic.

But back to my moment last night when my little girl started kicking me while I was cooking and I all of a sudden pictured having her in our home. I imagined myself peering into her cot and gazing at her wriggling, eyes closed, having just put her down for the night after a bath and feed...

I felt so much love for her my heart started leaping and I felt my face grow hot. Then she kicked me even harder and I set down the wooden spoon I had in my hand and held onto that image, rubbing my belly. She knew I was thinking of her too.

Doesn't look like much but that was our little girl at 13 weeks. I wonder what she looks like now.

Mince curry

2009-06-04T09:00:00.003+02:00

Last night I made a delicious mince curry - was trying to replicate one that my mom would make - you know, with carrots and peas and potatoes. And it was tasty. Only problem - I spent the entire night fighting heart burn. Yho! Spicy food is now a no-no.

What a pity. A slug of plain yoghurt helped a bit though. Still can't get the curry smell off my fingers this morning - highly distracting.

Image http://www.channel4.com/food/images/mb/Channel4/4Food/recipes/delicious/354_3.jpg

She's perfect!

2009-06-03T11:31:00.003+02:00

Hein and I went to our first appointment with our midwife, Xoli. And she was late. Anyone who knows us know that is our bete noir! If you're going to be late - phone! So Hein had to leave to attend to an urgent application and I sat fuming... but then as soon as she appeared, my anger dissipated. I knew we were going to get on famously! And we did. She's from the Eastern Cape and has an open face and a lovely smile. she had been up all night delivering a baby and had overslept - rather be honest than lie. I like that.

I was there for an hour chatting about all my concerns and fears - stuff that had always been dismissed by my previous gynaes with a 'we'll get to that when the time comes...'

Anyway, after feeling my tummy (first time any medic has touched my belly except with cold gel and a scanner, she told me baby girl has flipped completely. Her head is about to lock. Now this got me panicked! Is she coming sooner than August 15 I asked? Yes, most likely. I think you should be prepared for at least August 5. Yikes!

And then we heard baby's heartbeat - loud and clear, and she estimated that she's about 1kg! Yho! When she weighed me, she clapped her hands, saying you're lucky you haven't gained that much. Oh how I wanted to hug her while trying to digest that I have now put on 15kg since falling pregnant. But let me not dwell as there's absolutely nothing I can do about it now. Apparently some women put on 30-40kg at this stage.

Talking about delivery date, she told me that I should put off booking my bed at Linkwood as Genesis Clinic was opening up this weekend and she's been facilitating there. You see, if you book your bed, pay R1300 and get there only to find out all the beds are full, they transfer you to Parklane - with no refund. Parklane only charges R350 to book a bed! What the hell? Why can't they give you your money back. Also, she says it's best to wait until just after midnight to check in to deliver - a few minutes before that, you get charged for a full day! What's wrong with these greedy people?

So in three weeks we'll be seeing her at Genesis Clinic which will be down the road from us as soon as we move in the following weekend, and see if we like it. Booking a bed is cheaper - about R880 I think and they offer the same conveniences, and facilities...

Needless to say, I learnt more from one session with her than from all the OBGyn visits put together! I wish I had gone with her from the very beginning. Would have saved us loads of money and headache.

Image www.historyforkids.org

Join the queue

2009-06-02T10:43:00.006+02:00

I just printed out a 32-page I'm required to fill in after paying www.momsuifassist.co.za R600 to help me claim my maternity leave benefits. My question is... what the hell are they doing?

It would be fine if they wanted my personal details, names and numbers... but I have to contact my previous employers since 2004 requesting them to fill in forms on my behalf. And if the company has changed its name since I was there I have to request a formal letter stating the name change...

And that's not even half of what I have to do. Why is it that you only have to have been working for two years out of four in order to qualify for UIF yet they still want you to dredge up five years or work experience. What a bloody drag!

Now three friends of mine have sworn by them but I'm wondering if it's actually not better to stand in a queue -'with leaking breasts and a crying child' as Lori so aptly put it and save myself R600 because right now it feels like that's all I'm paying for.

What exactly are they doing?

But before I judge, let me wait and see what happens. All I know is that I'm going to have to take a day off just to fill out and follow up!

Actually I'm just really frustrated! Why should I have to claim at all? Every single company, especially a female-owned business, where the majority of staff is female should be entitled to a full four months' maternity leave. In other countries, women get a full two years... and men get six months off!

Image www.timesonline.co.uk

Cot search

2009-06-01T11:53:00.004+02:00

Spending over R2 000 for a brand-new raw wooden cot is ridiculous! I'm on the hunt for a second-hand one under R1 000. So far, there's a listing on gumtree - though I'm not too sure about private sales. Always makes me nervous. A friend of mine suggested a place called The Firs, next to Sevens in Fourways and Hein and I drove around looking for the shop with no luck...

So I'm going to try the secondhand furniture stores in Randburg and perhaps Ontdekkers this weekend... maybe something will come up - because even Mistry's and Lotters Pine is over R2 000. Baby stuff is just as expensive as wedding stuff - these people take advantage because they know mommy wants best for baby. Nxa!

Image www.bambino.co.uk

Bleeding gums

2009-05-28T09:40:00.003+02:00

There's this ad that only appears in the international glossies that has a photograph of an attractive woman with blood running down her eye. And the caption underneath reads something like, You wouldn't ignore a bleeding eye so why gums?

This is true. And so every time I brush my teeth - morning and evening, I think of that ad. But apparently bleeding gums is all part of pregnancy. Still, I can't help but gasp out loud every time I see blood on my toothbrush and spit out pink foam. At least it doesn't hurt though.

Image http://www.readersdigest.ca/health/cms/xcms/healthy-healthy-teeth-for-healthy-hearts_237_a.html

The nursery

2009-05-27T10:14:00.003+02:00

Time's a ticking and we have just over a month before we move into our new home...

So I've been thinking nursery ideas and think the best way (and most affordable) forward is getting pine furniture, painting them in whites, off whites and creams and then employing my never-been-used-before decoupage skills.

I was inspired by Martha Stewart Living online and absolutely fell in love with the idea. So over the weekend I went to an art shop in Rosebank and bought some decoupage paper, Mod Podge (the glue) and a paint brush. So I'm on the hunt for stores with interesting pine furniture shapes. Love that chair!

Zanele has already made me this beautiful painting to hang up on the wall. Baby's first artwork from her aunt! What a lucky girl!

So those are the colours for the nursery. What do you think? The birds are my favourite!

Male pregnancy

2009-05-26T09:10:00.005+02:00

Hein made me laugh out loud when he sent me an email yesterday entitled 'that explains it' and this article attached. You see, he's been worried about the fact that he's gained weight and has been blaming me for it because it couldn't possibly be from lack of exercise, drinking, age or any of those other factors...

Men gain weight during partner's pregnancy, survey shows

Chicago, May 25: It is natural for women to gain weight during pregnancy. Now, a new poll has suggested that not only expecting mothers, but even fathers-to-be pile on some extra pounds during their partner’s pregnancy.

The poll findings

It has been found in a fresh poll, conducted by OnePoll, on 5,000 men that women are not alone in piling on the baby fat as Britain's expectant dads, too, put on extra pounds during their wife or girlfriend's pregnancy.

The poll revealed that men gain up to one stone (over 6kg) during their partner’s pregnancy, because they find it harder to resist the temptation of larger portions of food and treats around the house.

“The average woman puts on about two and a half stone during her pregnancy, and it’s not at all uncommon for her to crave more fatty foods and need more regular snacks. So if the kitchen cupboards are suddenly brimming with snacks and food, it’s no wonder blokes are tempted to tuck in as well,” said a spokesperson for OnePoll.

“Male pregnancy”
The survey further revealed that only a fifth of expectant dads realize they have gained weight when they try older clothes and find they don’t fit anymore. That leads them to join their pregnant partners in shopping for new clothes, labeled as “paternity” items, to accommodate their growing bellies.

As the trend is no longer an isolated phenomenon, the men’s weight gain during their partner’s pregnancy is now referred to as “male pregnancy”.

It’s not only the snacks that contribute to the piling pounds, even larger portions of meals add inches to men’s waistlines, the survey showed. Some of the men also admitted that they are also showered with more attention during the “male pregnancy” period.
One more explanation for the weight gain during “male pregnancy” is that many couples spend more time visiting restaurants and pubs for dinner, in a bid to enjoy each other’s company most of their time before the baby arrives.

But, the survey concludes that women are not to be blamed for men’s weight gain. “The only problem seems to be that men are choosing to snack on unhealthier options such as sweets and cakes – and I don’t think women can be blamed for their partners drinking more beer!” said the OnePoll spokesperson.

However, men equally join their partners on a post-pregnancy diet. In the survey, 31 percent men were found to have joined their partners on a post-pregnancy diet.

http://www.themedguru.com/articles/men-gain-weight-during-partners-pregnancy-survey-shows-86122223.html

Image www.mommytoomag.com

Final stretch

2009-05-25T09:05:00.004+02:00

I'm officially seven months pregnant; and in my third trimester. And this is the size of baby girl now! Squash-size!

No wonder I can't sleep - I've tried various ways of sleeping but nothing seems to give me the desired six hours of uninterrupted sleep. Either I wake up groaning (back ache) or moaning (hip ache). Someone suggested sleeping on my continental pillow which I tried last night and it seems to be working... except it's not as easy to get cuddles when I'm sleeping inches above Hein.

I wonder what new sleeping measures I'll have to resort to next? And I wonder what else is in store for me this trimester...

Image www.thebump.com

Love it or hate it

2009-05-22T10:50:00.005+02:00

A friend asked me on facebook whether I was enjoying the pregnancy - and I had to think about it for a moment...

It is undoubtedly the most surreal thing I've ever experienced... I thought my wedding day was that moment but it has quickly been replaced by this experience.

So I drew up a list of pros and cons:

I'M NOT ENJOYING

* weighing the heaviest I've ever been in my entire life

* not fitting into my clothes

* waking up four/five times a night to pee

* not being able to sleep on my tummy

* feeling guilty when I eat sushi

* being stared at when I have a glass of wine dammit!

* having to see the doctor every month

* having to deal with an already exhausted medical aid

* the bad dreams

* always feeling tired and listless

* feeling nauseous and vomiting if I've eaten something even slightly off

I LOVE

* not having to pull my stomach in

* it when she kicks - I feel like she's reaching out and trying to talk to me

* not having to buy tampons although having my period now seems like a distant memory

* spending time on my own

* having clear skin

* having a legitimate excuse to leave a party if I'm bored

* meeting other new mothers

* being fussed over and being given special treatment

* discovering new products for baby and me

* buying clothes for her

* thinking about how we're going to decorate her nursery

* planning what she's going to wear

* looking forward to meeting her

* the way she's brought her daddy and I even closer together

The good outweighs the bad - I'm definitely enjoying it!

Image http://www.clker.com/clipart-16483.html

Pink and blue

2009-05-21T09:04:00.002+02:00

I was cruising through the baby and tiny tots department in Woolies the other day and couldn't find a single item of clothing that got me all excited. The reason: everything for little girls seems to be pink and blue. Individually, I don't mind the colours, but together the combination makes me think of polar fleece, bubblegum ice cream and feeling car sick... my worst things ever!

I love yellows, browns, greens, reds, whites, wheat and all the other nice colours that aren't the obvious choice for girls...

What's the bet she's going to love pink and blue!

Image: www.jeongmeeyoon.com

Supergran!

2009-05-20T14:35:00.004+02:00

My mom is the best! She's a blogger, a facebooker, and the two of us like to sms and/or conversate on blackberry messenger. I don't know any mom who's as tech-savvy as she is.

She has raised four girls (all now in our 20s and 30s) and still manages to be both the most trendy and traditional mom out!

Last night she mms'd me three pics of jerseys she has already knitted for our little girl. Granny's got some skills!

Mom is already a gran to a grandson so this little one will be her first grand daughter. For the Valentine contingent, she'll be the first grandchild.

Soon to be homeowners

2009-05-19T12:36:00.003+02:00

It has been the longest month we've endured... but finally we're going to become homeowners. I won't even go into the messy details about Standard Bank's inadequacy, our banker's stupidity and all the other unnecessary players who have been involved in making our loan application the most painful process THE most frustrating experience ever! Jassus!

But finally, our home loan has been granted, the ball is rolling and we're on our way to becoming homeowners! Yay! See the house... my mom calls it quaint! Yep! It's definitely old-fashioned with its red stoep, pressed ceilings, wooden floors and huge garden in the suburb of Victoria. This suburb is made up of only two streets, and is right next to Norwood - on this side of Louis Botha.

Can't wait to move in!

Eureka!

2009-05-18T10:12:00.003+02:00

We finally found a hospital and are extremely satisfied with it. A few mothers had told me about Linkwood Clinic and there I was imagining it was on the way to the airport - on that boring, slow highway...

Instead, it's tucked away just on the other side of Orange Grove and shares a large parking lot with Linksfield Hopsital. You just go down 11th, which becomes Ivy and then Louis, turn left on Louis Botha and then right on the very next road. Drive all the way and at the end of that road is the hospital. Now if we get the house we want, we'll be even closer...

The nurses and even the security were super friendly and the atmosphere there is so peaceful - not like the mad rush at Parklane! Each mom gets her own room (there are only 8) and a bed for her partner, and a basket in between mom and dad for the little one. You give birth in your room and each room has a bath if you want to go the water birth option. That idea has piqued again now that I've seen the facilities. The bath looks like a jacuzzi bath in your own home essentially. If I don't go this route, I'll definitely be making use of it!

Also, we've decided on a midwife - finding a new OBGyn at this point is going to be an expensive and frustrating so we have our first appointment with Xoli in two weeks' time. I'll tell you all about it when it happens!

What a relief! And I'm actually looking forward to the birth now...

Water

2009-05-14T08:48:00.004+02:00

It's so difficult to remember to drink water these days - it's just so damn cold! I always have a 1.5l bottle on my desk which I spend the day drinking but lately have been avoiding it and opting for Vitamin Water (which Kilimanjaro has so kindly stocked our fridge with at the office) or a cup of comforting tea instead...

Last night I was at the new Tasha's at Melrose Arch with a group of gorgeous ladies - Dikatso, Thandi and Nkenge. I must say I was very disappointed by the food there - it's not half as good as the one in Atholl Square - and because I had suggested the place, I was peeved. Ntl! The decor is lovely though. This is the second time this has happened. When were in Cape Town I suggested Geisha which used to be in Mouille Point but has now moved to The Cape Royal Hotel in Green Point. The food is absolutely awful now and prices far too inflated for the flavourless measly portions you get! It is now no longer one of my favourite restaurants in CT.

Anyway, I finally remembered to order a glass of water towards the end of the evening after having indulged in a mug of white hot chocolate and half a glass of awful Graham Beck rose (which we had to buy from wine Sense because Tasha's is not yet licensed...). Well, thanks to the cold weather the water went straight through and I spent the car ride home exercising my sphincter muscle and then the rest of the night emptying my bladder. This is a rude awakening in winter. I wonder if the first trimester symptoms are going to come flooding back in the third.

Image http://www.cgartworld.com/albums/miscellaneous/Glass_of_Water.jpg

Superficial mom

2009-05-11T08:42:00.003+02:00

The night before last I dreamt our baby came out super large, over developed (i.e. with a mane of long wet red hair and could talk already) and ugly!

As much as I tried, the love for her wouldn't come. And I could see Hein struggling too. Funny, I didn't even remember giving birth to her although for some reason I knew she was premature. The only thing I was thankful for was having skipped the whole hospital saga...

I know many women say that a mother never thinks her own child is ugly... I beg to differ. What does this dream mean? Am I just plain superficial? Are all the negative comments I've made about other people's babies going to be revisited on mine? I investigated a site www.makemebabies.com where you use your partner's photo and yours and the computer regenerates an image of what your baby is going to look like. With the best facing forward photos I could find, I uploaded and waited. Yes - I tried a few times.... You also have the choice of choosing Black, White, Indian or mixed race. I went for black and mixed race. Aarrrrgggghhh!!! Who are these girls?

I told Hein about the results and he still refuses to look at them - I guess we both have the same fears then...

Getting my sleep on

2009-05-08T09:30:00.003+02:00

A few weeks ago, I bought a preggie pillow from Baby city for R213 because my back and hips were aching. And I could just never get a decent night's sleep. You see, you're not supposed to sleep on your back and you certainly cannot sleep on your tummy. It's damn sore - I've tried! I used for a few weeks after but I've realised that it's been a while since I've used it.

It can only mean one thing. My waist has finally caught up to the dimensions of my hips! I'm officially and up and down figure - gone is the hourglass shape! But at least I'm sleeping better now because as much as that pillow helped, turning around was a bit of a bitch! And anyway, all you really need is a few extra fluffy pillows - one for your tummy and a couple more for your head. Especially, if you, like me, have only ever slept on one flat pillow most of their lives.

Image http://bubblebaby.ie/images/products/dreamgenii.png

100 days

2009-05-07T16:40:00.002+02:00

Just like Barack Obama, I'm also on 100-days. Except, I'm counting down my last 100 days and he's only just begun his term...

Nothing significant to say - just thought it was a mini milestone - probably soon to be forgotten no doubt.

How do I feel today: was very nibbly today and had a red lollipop (which ended too quickly), ate a bowl of oats for breakfast, a thin slice of leftover apple pie (which I had skipped at yesterday's office tea), drank 1l of water, didn't feel like talking to anyone so waited until everyone in the office had finished preparing their lunch and surreptitiously snuck in to kitchen reheat my slice of chicken and mushroom quiche (also leftover from tea)... otherwise... all in a day's work!

Image http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gawker/2009/04/100days.jpg

Downward descent

2009-05-07T08:50:00.004+02:00

The books say this is the week baby starts to turn upside... No wonder I've been having dizzy spells! so much movement! When we saw her on the scan, the doctor said she already had her head bent forward. Nature is amazing isn't it! Like the baby knows she needs to start moving her body towards the exit. Bloody scary too!

If she had to come out now, doctor says she would survive but obviously it's not ideal! Plus her room isn't even ready yet! I should start thinking about finding a place where they do 3D or 4D scans. Can't wait to see what she looks like!

Image http://www.nrlc.org/abortion/facts/fig17baby5mos.jpg

Hospital wars

2009-05-05T15:29:00.005+02:00

We broke the news to our ObGyn today that we (read I) weren't happy with Parklane - the hospital he delivers at. And seeing as our only other option is Garden City Hospital in Mayfair West (err...no), I asked him how he felt about being on standby in case of an emergency and using a midwife... surprise surprise he wasn't keen at all. Besides the relationship begin already tenuous between doctors and midwives, of course he's going to say no because he's losing out on the guaranteed R6 000 he'll make from the delivery.

I suggested the Genesis Clinic which I need to make time to see what kind of facilities it has - especially in case of emergency. (Dr Blaauwhof mentioned that he lives down the road from there and has recently heard about the place).

I just want to feel comfortable with the hospital I'm going to give birth at and of course facilities are a huge consideration but if push comes to shove (pardon the pun) Dr Blaauwhoof will have to go! There are plenty more OBGyns where he came from...

Image http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/825/20012106.JPG

Childhood

2009-05-04T11:56:00.003+02:00

I'm not sure this is going to make any sense to people who aren't visual thinkers but for me this picture sums up exactly the kind of childhood I want my little one to have.

Zan and Penny - I know you'll understand what I'm talking about...

The things people say...

2009-04-30T17:13:00.003+02:00

My LO is the size of a large aubergine.

Bit on another more pressing topic: When I was recounting to my sister and a few colleagues about the insensitive things people have been saying to me, they laughed - incredulous. Lori, who had a baby about a year ago shook her head knowingly. I guess you get over it, but it's a really sensitive time. When I had to cancel a dinner arrangement two hours before it was due to take place with our friends Karin and Karl, I almost burst into tears. Karin was just too sweet and understanding. People who know me know it takes a lot to move me to tears. Lately, I have to bite them back at times...

So when I came across this site after someone said to me, 'Shame, you seem to be growing sideways rather than this way,' she said motioning with her hands and smiling all the while, I smiled to myself with arched eyebrows. I honestly don't think people are that aware how much it hurts at the time... but it's really like saying to someone who's not pregnant: 'Wow! you've out on sooo much weight since the last time I saw you'. for the record, no pregnant mother wants to be told their baby is going to be big by the looks of things or how big their nose has grown or how chubby and round their face looks or being told they're glowing only after you've revealed to them that you're pregnant. It's plain insincere!

I'll try not to take such insensitive comments too seriously in future and think of this when next I feel teary.

Here are a few of my favourites from http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/pemotions/0,,toptenlist_b107mgb6,00.html

* A woman at the pool said, 'You must be having a girl — they say that girl babies steal their mother's beauty.'

* A week before I gave birth to my first baby, these two snooty women walked up to me and asked me to my face, 'Why aren't you wearing maternity clothes? Do you not believe in them?' And then they walked off laughing at me. I was wearing maternity clothes! They had just stopped fitting at that point!

Ideas

2009-04-30T08:25:00.004+02:00

My dear friend Penny sent me this great link called www.pregnancyfashion.com It has a great photo gallery of some pregnant celebrities and what they wore, some useful and inspiring tips and ideas for what to wear for your shape and ideas for nurseries...

Now I know I did mention that we really liked the Doctor Seuss theme but have decided against murals on walls but rather framed photos and paraphernalia around the room so that LO (little one) can change when she gets older...

I thought this one was quite sweet - not too cluttered... but instead of the bear I'd definitely put a sheep. I've always loved cartoon sheep!