Dedicating Bayley

For some or other reason, unlike with the boys, we went through nearly a whole year of Bayley's life before thinking about the fact that we hadn't yet officially dedicated Bayley (in church). It's both a big deal, and not. I mean, we feel dedicating our children to God is both a beautiful and faithful thing. We also, though, feel free to do things not in a religious, methodical way, because we have living relationships with Christ, and in that sense, we dedicated Bayley the moment we found out about her.

Anyway, we were trying to find the right time, and eventually came to the conclusion that there was none, but that it would be special to do it around her birthday. It just also happened that there was a long weekend round then, and what's better than a celebration on a Sunday? A public holiday on the Monday to recover, that's what!

So on Sunday 23 September, we had our Bayley Bug dedicated to the Lord. It was great to have our friends and family witness it with us, especially those who for many years have not been around to be able to share in it. But we also really missed Bayley's one godmother, Tarrin, and her family in Ireland, and the duPs in America.

Truthfully, what was meant to be a really low-key event grew into something so much more significant, we decided, last minute, to also just celebrate her upcoming first birthday three days early too. And I'm glad we did. We had our family and a few close friends meet up with us after lunch, and enjoyed a warm and sunny afternoon in the playground - chatting, playing rugby, eating and just enjoying each other's company. It was a good day!

By the way: the beautiful party pics were captured by our friend Jolene Voges. Please check out her website www.jolenev.co.za or look her up on Facebook on @jolenevphoto.

Bayley Turns 1!

There is still something about first birthdays in particular that take you right back to where you were the year before. It's amazing the clarity with which I remember everything (except for the pain). I'm full of nostalgia thinking about missing a high school class reunion to meet my beautiful girl...


Dear Bayley, my almost one-year-old girl...

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that you - or anyone, really - could change my world the way you do.

Not many people know this: practically all my grown up life, I have been terrified of having a daughter. There are many reasons, but I suppose the dominant one was being afraid of and overwhelmed by the immense (self-inflicted) pressure of raising a young woman who fits somewhere between Proverbs 31 and the feminist movement.

In many ways, you weren't in my plans. But you were always God's plan for me. And I'm so very grateful for you. The journey of waiting that you took me on, from the moment I found out about you, to the moment - a week after your due date - when you were born, has left an indelible mark on my life that continues to impact me even now.

You are the most precious, loveliest little thing. You are full of joy; always smiling. You make everyone's day, every day, and your eyes dance as you unobstructively laugh from your belly. You are contented and secure; like you know who you are and don't waste your time needing anyone's approval for anything. You do things your own way in your own time (you always have), and you have enough chill for the both of us. And yet you're also strong, fearless and bold. Full of adventure and fun. You are both warrior and princess.

It is my prayer that you'll never lose this beautiful balance. You have been created in the image of the Father, for a time such as this, and you will know love, loyalty and life like no other in simple surrender and service to Christ. With Him you can change the world, Bug, and I have a feeling you will.

My darling girl, you will be doted on forever, and protected all your life. Your brothers will see to that. And you will never be without a friend in them. I look forward to all the adventures you'll embark on together.

Bayley Cate. My daughter. My constant reminder of God's faithfulness, His presence and His sovereignty. I never knew how much I missed you until you arrived. You are so, so loved.

Six Going on Sixteen

It's two days past Zac's birthday, so this post is already late - but then we did have a minor hospital visit we had to contend with. Ordinarily this lack of birthday blog preparedness and consistency would bend me out of shape, so it's pleasantly surprising that this delay has allowed me to do a retrospective post this year.

Zac, you are complex. That's putting it mildly. And your sixth year that's just passed has been both interesting and challenging, because you are no longer a pre-schooler stuck in the in-between of baby and big. You are now a grown boy. Of course, navigating this cross over is a learning curve, and we've knocked heads a number of times (two strong wills, one on either side of an argument, is going to do that plenty still).  It's easy to get caught up in the difficulties - mostly because they are few and far between when compared to the good times, and so we remember them better - but I want to celebrate and remember the good things; the stuff that is the essence of who you are. Because I realise that's what everyone sees in you, all the time, even through tantrum-tinted glasses.

You are so bright. Oh my word. You have an understanding of the world and people, and things you shouldn't even be thinking about yet, that is, well, intimidating, if I'm honest. But it's a pleasure to hear you read to your siblings, and have you programme things on my phone, or set the laptop up for movies; and what would I do without you being able to turn the oven on and off? What's the best though is that you have a heart full of desire to learn, and in that you lovingly encourage others to as well.

"A blessed 6th birthday to our little 'professor' Zac Klaasen... Jesus loves you so much and we love you too!"

All of a sudden, you are sport crazy! First it was swimming. Then cricket. Then rugby. Then formula one. Now football and cycling. And it's not that you jump from one interest to the other; you simply add to a growing list of disciplines, activities and events that you are actually obsessed with.

"Happy birthday to our cricket-crazy Zac-iii! You are so much brain is a small-y body... and the cutest mouthful of perfect square teeth. We love you so much..."

You are loving. You are committed and put time and effort into relationships. You enjoy fellowship with others; to engage. Of course, there are times this comes in the form of conflict, but you are sensitive and pure in heart, so you apologise and reconcile willingly. And you love Jesus. You are an authentic worshipper, and love serving in His house.

"Happy birthday gorgeous boy. What a blessing you are in our lives... a true gentleman with a heart for the Lord."

Zac James, you can drive me mad, but you sure do make me proud. I'm learning that all your qualities are purposeful, and that if I can do my bit to hone them without stifling them, you'll one day be able to use them to do great things. I love you, my boy. You made me a mom, and it has been the most wonderful privilege to watch you grow. You make me so much better than I could be without you, and I'm excited by the many more adventures I know you'll take me on. Love you forever, x

Family Bucket List: Term 2

It's report time again! Here is how we are fairing on our family bucket list for the first half of the year. I'm pleased to say there are a good couple we achieved in Term 1 already, so this is an update on what we have left.

Goal: Try camping alone as a family, in a tent
Progress: Slow
Comment: We wanted to do this late April, but the had a family engagement happen on the same weekend. We'll have to try Spring, if possible!

Goal: Play more family games
Progress: On track
Comment: Winter has helped us to make more of the time we have together indoors. UNO and other games have made a re-appearance in our living room!

Goal: Eat less bread
Progress: On track
Comment: I have decided to lower my carb intake and reduce the amount of bread I eat. I'd like to get back to eating no bread, but while I'm still nursing Bayley I'm willing to sacrifice the bod for the baby.

Goal: Explore a different part of South Africa
Progress:Far behind
Comment: I'm not sure we're going to get this one done with all the other travel related things we're meant to do. Maybe we can make the most of being in the Garden Route in July and make that count?

Goal: Make Bayley's baby book
Progress: On track
Comment: I've been making notes of milestones and keeping all the special pics as she develops. The book making process itself is going to take a while though; it always does. I'm going to target September holidays for this.

Goal: Send Isla and Luke a postcard each month
Progress: Failed
Comment: We have not sent a single postcard. I could blame the price of postcards or the unreliability of the SA postal service, but truthfully, I think even if these elements were in our favour, I'd still struggle to get it done.

Goals: Cook Christmas lunch + travel overseas + visit the Weber and Graham families
Progress: On track
Comment: Yes, we are set to do all of this, in December, in the UK. Woohoo!

Goals: Create a wall garden + grow herbs
Progress: Slow
Comment: I really want to do this, but not even Checkers' Little Garden is helping here. I need someone who is better with DIY than Andel and I are.

Goal: Do more promenade or trail walks together
Progress: Slow
Comment: We didn't do enough of this while we could, and now it's raining (thankfully!) so we are attempting a variation on this, and are going to start doing a family swim session each weekend. Assuming I can get into my costume...

Goal: Learn more about nature and animals
Progress: Slow
Comment: I'm not deliberate enough about this - but I have a plan! This holiday, we're going to try spend more time focusing on achieving this by doing things like visiting the museum or the aquarium etc. My kids are super keen, and so am I!

Goal: Practise not raising our voices when we speak to each other
Progress: Steady
Comment: We don't have this down yet, but we are a lot more mindful about it, and are reminding each other that added volume is not always necessary or effective.


All in all, I'm actually quite pleasantly surprised by how we're faring. Apart from one or two irrecoverable fails, we're actually progressing quite nicely. And now that I've done this exercise of checking up, I'm actually super keen to start ticking some more things off the list!

A Surprise Sadness

I have to admit, I wasn't so keen when we initially got her. She was unexpected, she was expensive, and she came at the cost of my other baby. I didn't really think that I'd become attached, or that I would be so sad to say goodbye.

But thinking back over the years, as we have built a life together, we have banked many memories, and our black 2006 Avant Garde Mercedes C200 Sportswagon was part of many of them.

She first greeted me as a student teacher. I had literally been dropped at school with one car (my beloved Opel Corsa, made redundant by its two doors and our growing family), and was collected by another. She seemed a little too fancy for my liking, but Andel loved the German engineering and sixth gear, and the luxury and comfort of traveling in her grew on me. She allowed me to change baby Zac's nappy in the roomy boot, and safely raced us to the hospital later that year (and a couple more times thereafter) when Zac needed oxygen (or Sam took one of his many tumbles).

She reminded us that we were now a family. She took us to too many house viewings than we could care to admit, and carted carloads of boxes in many trips when we bought our new home. She faithfully transported Sam home after he was born, and miraculously made space for a third person on the back seat once Bayley arrived. She loaded sports balls, push-bikes, twin-prams, baby bags, and Andel's beloved Scott with ease - and we never had to keep our groceries at our feet!

Her greatest feat, however, was when she kept us safe on Sunday 13 May 2018 at 20h30 when we were hit by a wreckless drunk driver on our way home. We were all in the car, and - minus the whiplash - not seriously harmed. If you were to look at her, the damage looks minimal. But, the car has legitimately been written off, and all the experts agree, had we been in a different car, we may have been telling a different story.

To be honest, she has grown to feel as much a part of our family as the humans who for the last five years have been riding in her, and seeing her being towed away on the flatbed last night left us all feeling a little sad.

Perhaps (in an attempt to find some silver lining) it is better that while we can't keep her; neither can anyone else. This way she will always stay our Beaute Noire.

The Baby or The Bod?

Disclaimer: Even though I know this conundrum is shared by many, I'm going to speak only for myself here. 

Bayley is now 8 months old. She is a bubbly and boisterous, and rather reluctant baby. After all, when you can be big like your brothers, there's no fun in being bound to cots, chairs and crawling on the floor. She wants to stand and walk, throw things around, and shriek with excitement, just like they do.

I am 8 months postpartum and still 8kg short of reaching my pre-pregnancy weight. A whole 8kg! Now, I know better than to put absolute values here; I know that people come in different shapes and sizes. So to help you understand this is in the context of my life: all this basically means is that since giving birth last September, I have lost less than half my pregnancy weight. Usually I advocate taking it easy and taking at least the time it took to put the weight on, to lose it. But I'm sure you can understand my angst now that that time is approaching, and I don't foresee any miraculous shrinking this month.

The trouble is: I know what to do (spoiler alert: the answer is low-carb-high-fat with intermittent fasting) and I know that it will work, relatively fast too. I have done it before, at this same stage after Sam's birth. But, apart from the discipline that I'm not sure I have right now, I know it will have a negative effect on my nursing journey - in particular, being able to express for Bayley during the day.

You see, my boys mix fed (breast-milk and formula) between 6 and 12 months meaning that I didn't really have to express. Bayley, however, has only ever had expressed milk while we're apart, and I feel a bit like we're on such a good wicket, I want to keep it going.

So is it the baby or the body?

Please don't misunderstand: of course my baby is far more important than my body! Even at my very best, I'm no supermodel! Still, I don't quite recognise the body I find myself in. I'm used to at least feeling relatively fit and healthy. And not fitting into my clothes, or having a few extra rolls here, or having less space there - that all makes me feel not fit and healthy!

And this time around, I have the extra perspective and responsibility (courtesy of now being a mom of a daughter) of not wanting to body shame myself or model to my children that one can only be fit/healthy/happy when you're skinnier.

There's no answer to this story. Sorry! I guess I'm trying to learn as I go along.
Are there things that can be cut out of my current diet (baked goods, refined carbs and junk food) - absolutely!
Are there things that are not low carb that are not the worst things (think fruits, veg etc.) - probably.
Will Bayley need me to express forever - no.

Here's to life. And to trying to achieve some sort of balance.

Catch Up

A lot has happened since I last posted. Here are some of the highlights:

We got the kids' passports!
Following our Pyjama Day at Home Affairs we went back and managed to get the passports done - in less than half an hour! I don't even know what to say about that: that we could be there 9 hours and get nothing done, and then be there 30 minutes and get everything done. And then to open them and find that Sam looked like a character in Blades of Glory, thanks to a hair and photo crop that would have been neater had he done it himself. I have no words.

We were in an accident
It was Mother's Day evening, and we were heading some from my folks when we were hit by a drunk driver. We are incredibly thankful that we did not get hit the intersection before when he was coming out of a side road. We are still very annoyed, however, that we got hit at all! The kids and I had to have whiplash treatment, and the subsequent expenses and inconveniences are a continuous headache! While we were saved by the tow-bar and the fact that we were driving a station-wagon, sadly, we have to get a new car.

We got a new niece/cousin!
On Tuesday 22nd May, Andel's brother and sister-in-law welcomed their third daughter, McKenzie Quin into the Klaasen family. She's a bit of a medical celebrity following the fact that when she was born it was discovered that she had a knot in her umbilical cord! She's perfect though, and such a sweet and compliant baby. She is not the least bit concerned about the fact that her older sister wants to move out because of her.

We are going on a holiday!
Yep, in this season of not planning, God has given us something to look forward to at the end of the year when we go to visit the Weber and Graham families in the UK.

And how's this for favour: we had originally found incredibly priced tickets going via Dubai. We probably would have booked them earlier if not for the fact that we needed passport numbers to do the booking, and the kids' passports were not ready yet. I checked every day. I kid you not. Finally, when the passports arrived, we were super excited to book - only to find that the ticket price had gone up by 30%. We were devastated, and ready to call it a day on our dreams of a white Christmas. Then, while looking for dates around our original dates, hoping to get something similar there, we found direct flights only a little more expensive than our original detour one.

It's nearly holidays so I'm hopeful I'll be better at sticking to our blogging goals. Check out Family Bucket List: Term 2 to see how we're doing with that and everything else.

Pyjama Day

Today we had a pyjama day - although not the kind you would expect on Day 4 of a five-day-long weekend.

Truth be told, when we decided to keep our kids in their sleepwear as we roused them out of bed at 05h30 this morning, we didn't think they'd be in them all day. We simply thought it was easiest and most comfortable for them to be kept warm and undisturbed when we bundled them into the car and head to Home Affairs to get their biometrics for their passports.

Thank goodness I packed toys and something to eat.

I stood in the queue outside the building for two hours before it started moving. It was 06h00 when I jumped out of the car at the traffic light, and joined the line snaking around the first block (it would be around another full block before the office would even open). It was dark and pretty cold, so Andel stayed in the car in the parking lot with the kids. Someone nearby me counted that we were around #175 in the queue. Apparently the guy at the front was wrapped in a blanket as though he had spent the night waiting for golden circle concert tickets. Except, of course, he wasn't. By the time I made it to the mall entrance around 08h00, Andel was waiting with the kids, who had already watched Captain Underpants on his phone, and were characteristically starving. I took pre-made sarmies from my bag and watched them devour that along with an apple each. Had I known how much longer we'd still be there, I'd have rationed their portions.

The already 110m-long queue at 06h00 this morning

It didn't take long for us to make it to the passage outside the DHA offices, and at that stage I was both optimistic that we'd be out before it was totally uncool for my kids still to be in pyjamas, and pretty chuffed that despite waiting three hours already, I had not yet lost the plot or my testimony. Little did I know, we'd be there four painstakingly long hours more before we were even allowed inside.

The physically shorter but other wise as long queue inside

I feel it's necessary to mention here that today was a South African school holiday. The powers that be (correctly) decided that one day of school between two public holidays and weekend was definitely not going to be productive, and allowed everyone the day off. It was not, however, a holiday for Andel, who was confident he'd make it to work more or less on time. This was not to be. It was around 14h30, when the system went offline for the third time, that Andel decided he had to get to work (meaning that he would have to work a closing shift), and although I stayed - with the help of my aunt who came to my aid (bless her soul) - I already knew our mission was over and unsuccessful.

Already feeling over the wait - only half way through

When we arrived home around 15h30 without nothing but three exhausted kids to show for our nine-hour long experience, we were almost more relieved to be back home than we were disappointed to have still not sorted out the passports. Almost. The sad reality is that we have to do this again sometime. All five of us. Again.

I now have feeding, changing and sleeping on the floor down

I could write about the lack of logic in the processes, the challenge of having and controlling three children between five years and seven months for nine hours, or the injustices we witnessed in the wait. Maybe I will still. For tonight though, it's enough that, even today, was unforgettable holiday experience. Never may it be repeated. Please. Ever.

Rugby Firsts

Not long ago, Andel bravely took the boys and two of their cousins (that's four kids between 8 and 3 years old) to watch some test cricket at Newlands. To say that it was a hit with them would be a major understatement, as they basically still haven't stopped talking about it. It was at the end of the season though, and so we weren't able to take them again, despite many requests.

This weekend, Andel was given some rugby tickets for the Super Rugby match between the Stormers and the Rebels, so we decided to take the boys.

The weather wasn't great. Just before we left home it started drizzling steadily, and I was not certain that walking the kids in the rain from the parking to the stadium was a good idea. I was even more concerned about where we were going to sit, and whether or not it would be in a steady stream of rain for the entire match. (I'm telling you: being a Captonian at present is hard! We are so excited about and grateful for every drop of rain that falls, and feel terribly guilty about any thoughts of it being an inconvenience).

Thankfully the drizzle was light and intermittent, so we were able to get the boys to the stadium without really getting wet. As we walked towards our gate, they shrieked with delight at being able to see the field, and for a moment, I took in their joy and excitement for something I have for a long time already taken for granted. We ended up sitting behind the try line - a great spot for Zac who wanted to see the kicks go through the posts. Sam, a little less interested in the rugby, still enjoyed being able to see the players scrum, and hardly missed a beat as we entered when he said, "hey, what's that I smell? I smell donuts!".

I think Andel's waited a long time for this

Full of excitement walking to the stadium

Sam getting in on the action as well

Before the game: wondering what we'd let ourselves in for

Zac giving his analysis - obviously

Sammy taking in the atmosphere

It was a good afternoon; everything you imagine when you think of watching rugby on a wintery afternoon. The boys were bundled up in their beanies, munching on hot chips, and treated to chocolate. Their team won, and they had to race each other to the car to avoid getting caught in the rain. When they collapsed into bed later that night, they were still smiling about what they'd experienced.

I suspect there will be many more such days in my future. I can't wait!

Pause

In an attempt to stay abreast of my blogging goals - and because I haven't one a post like this in a while - here's what's going on in my space currently:

I'm thinking about... the changes that are going to take place over the next few months. For one, I recently resigned from my job, and am taking up a new post elsewhere. It's been one of the toughest professional decisions I've ever had to make. I really have loved the environment, staff and team I work in/with, and I'm going to miss it terribly. I do think though, that the time is right for a move. Of course, this inevitably leads to a number of other subsequent changes - but I'm trying not to dwell on that yet; tomorrow has enough worries of its own, right?

I'm watching... The Good Doctor. It's just finished its first season both locally and abroad, and is based on a South Korean programme, I believe. It follows the personal and professional journey of a first year surgical resident who happens to have Austism and Savant Syndrome. I'm a bit of a sucker for medical drama anyway, however, it's really Freddie Highmore's exceptional performance as Dr Shaun Murphy that has me eagerly awaiting each episode.

I'm listening to... mash ups, mostly. Zac has this new thing where he combines - mid singing - different songs, with pretty impressive skill (and melodic process), I might add. I also have two ear-worms at the moment: So Will I (off Hillsong's There is More album) and Reckless Love (by Cory Asbury).

I'm loving... the relief from the unrelenting heat that we have been experiencing of late. It rained a bit last week, and then today all day. Cape Town desperately needs so much rain, I'm thankful even though it's a logistical nightmare at work. I much prefer Winter anyway, and it's a real treat being able to lay in bed at night with my tea, chocolate and babies.

I'm busy... among other things, I'm trying to get my kids' passports renewed. At this point I've completed the online applications (and paid for them), but I have yet to make that painful trip to the government facility to submit their bio-metric data. I fear it's going to take all day. There may be a separate blog post on that experience.

I'm going to... Mothers Day Connect again this year. It's a wonderful initiative by Embrace to serve and support moms in hospital on Mother's Day. In groups we spend an hour with these moms sharing experiences, giving encouragement, and just letting them know that they are part of a wider village of women looking out for the welfare of moms and children. For more information on this in your area, please visit www.embrace.org.za and sign up.

I'm battling with... what I think is a tummy bug. I know there's been a terrible one doing the rounds, I'm just not sure that it's that. I basically woke up feeling pretty lousy - belly aches, lack of appetite, toilet runs. Great for weight-loss! Not so great for everything else. I really hope it's one of those 24hour jobs.

I'm resolving to... enjoy the weekend. Thursday evening marks the start of a 5-day-long weekend for us, and instead of using it to catch up on work or clean the house (as I feel I need to do), I'm going to enjoy it with Andel and the kids. It would be nice to go away, but even if we don't (can't), I'm going to be deliberate with my time and choices, and focus on making good memories together.

Mother Luck!

Did I ever write about the time in my life that I thought I would never have children?

Basically, growing up, I was not the obviously girly and maternal type. Despite having many younger siblings, cousins and friends that I was left to supervise or babysit, mothering didn't seem to come easily or naturally to me. As a result, it was a well known joke in our extended family that I would likely send my kids - assuming I would be having any - to boarding school. Even though I knew it was that - a joke - there were many years it bothered me, and for a good couple years I figured I therefore probably wouldn't have any children.

Look at me now.

Granted, compared to the rest of the family, I began a bit late, giving birth to Zac just before I turned 29, I certainly haven't wasted any time since then, popping out two more in the subsequent five years. And perhaps in a parallel world, there would be room for one more. I think it's safe to say: this once disinclined-mother has become determined-mother #1.

I don't know if it's just having had three kids now, if it was the context around Bayley's conception, development and birth, but it's (only) now that I realise how much of being a mom is not just what I do, but who I am. And I wouldn't change it for the world. I was saying just the other day: if it were not for the fact that I need to work, I would gladly build a life around caring for and spending time with my kids.

My dear Peanut, Cooks and Bug, 

You will never know just how much I love you; how your mere existence has changed my life in ways I will never really understand or have any desire to ever undo. You are all beautifully imperfect and immeasurably precious, and you each have individual qualities purposed exactly for my teaching and development and refining. I am blown away by your unique designs, and how even though you are so different to each other, you are all the ideal fit for me. How amazing it is that when God created each one of you, He was thinking about me...

We won't always be as in sync and in love as we (mostly) feel right now. You will grow up, I will get old; and believe it or not, you will not fight each other for space next to me in the bed forever! We will disagree and clash heads many times along this path. But this you can hold onto, regardless of whatever storm we are weathering against or alongside each other: 

being entrusted with the immense privilege of raising you three is the greatest gift and blessing, 

and for all time you will have my whole heart!

Love Mom x 

Three Year Old Sam

In keeping with the pattern of birthday posts, this year I'm going to use the alphabet to tell you about your current self:


A is for Adrienne
I'm not sure there is anyone in the world you like more than Adrienne. It must be all the days you spent together at Papu's house; she's your favourite person. I was sad at us separating you into different schools this year, but am filled with such joy when I see your little reunions. I love how you run open-armed to each other shouting, "Adi!" "Sammy!", and smother one another in big, bear hugs.

B is for Bee-Bee
This is a very exciting time for us in this regard. When Bayley was born, I figured you would tandem feed; after all, Zac did too. Unlike him, though, you took tandem feeding to a level I could probably liken to having newborn twins! But - you have also maintained that you are going to stop nursing at three. And if you are anything like Zac (who said he'd stop on his birthday, and did, on that very day), the end may well be here.

C is for Chuckle
You have the most contagious giggle. When you find something funny - or are doing something you aren't supposed to - your laughter is both completely engaging and contagious. Your eyes narrow into little slits you can barely see through, and your dimples are displayed for all to admire. Hearing you express your happiness is one of my favourite sounds in the world.

D is for Dirty
I have never met a child more dirty child than you. I don't mean you have bad hygiene habits (that would be a poor reflection on me); I simply mean that you attract dirt. Regardless of what we do or where we go, at the end of each day, you are absolutely filthy.

E is for Eddie
Considering that you have never met Uncle Eddie in person, you have a unique and surprisingly great affinity for him. We can probably thank the wonders of modern technology for that. Whenever we Skype or Facetime to the Webers overseas, Eddie is the one you want to talk to, and he is the one you are most looking forward to meeting - over freshly baked cinnamon donuts, I'm sure!

F is for Fashion
I don't know who taught you this, but you know clothing brands and styles, and have a thing for accessories - always sporting caps and sunglasses! You are a fan of "adi-di-das", as you call it, and since inheriting some from Zac now have a pretty impressive selection of shoes.

G is for Griewelik
I looked for an English word for griewelik, but none seem to do it justice. You are 100% pure boy - mischief, adventure and fun!

H is for Hair
There has always been a fair amount of fascination with you hair. It started when you were born with a head of ginger hair. Not long after that it lightened to almost white before settling on a darker blonde. At the moment, your hair is also very long, and you have no plans to cut it. In fact, you would far rather tie your hair up in a ponytail (and you do) - like Adrienne.

I is for Intercessor
There is something about the way you pray that is both pure and powerful. It's clear that you know Who you are talking to, and that you are totally comfortable doing so. I particularly love how your prayers are mostly for others, and how your faith is evident in what you say and how you confidently end with, "A-men".

J is for Joy
There aren't many children I know who always have a smile on their face, but you, my boy, are one of them. You don't just smile; your whole face shines! Even when you wake up, you gleefully shout, "surprise", flash me your pearly whites, and embrace me in a warm hug. You make every morning easier just for being in it.

K is for Kit-Kat
This is your favourite chocolate. You regularly manipulate us by asking for one of these to get you to do something. Most recently, this has become your reward for a week of no potty-related incidents. The best thing about you and Kit-Kats though, is that you always share them with the rest of us.

L is for Lisp
I don't know how it is that people who lisp are usually people whose names have an 's' in them. It seems like a cruel form of punishment. Anyway, this seems to be the case with you too. It's quite cute right now, actually, but I won't lie: I do hope that you'll outgrow it.

M is for Mimic
Boy, you know just how to wind your brother up. Your favourite thing to do to annoy him is to copy everything he does or says (and you do it so well). You think it's hilarious! Another wonderful thing you do is pretend to be Dad. At least once a week I find you sweeping and scolding Zac, saying, "I'm Daddy".

N is for (No) Nappy
As with many of your other milestones, you have defied the boundaries of 'normal' and done things in your own sweet time - be that early or late. Toilet training is no different. Before the start of this year you regularly old me were never going to wear an underpants. I'm pleased to say that you now do - consistently during the day, at least.

O is for Orchestra
You have a love for music that extends to all instruments. You are equally happy banging on the drum (you have exceptionally good rhythm for this) as you are tinkling on the piano, whistling through the recorder or strumming on the guitar (that you play left-handed). You're a real little one-man band!

P is for Polite
You are wonderfully considerate of others, and display very good manners (the majority of the time, anyway). You remember your please and thank you, and live by the old adage that sharing is caring.

Q is for Quirky
There is something about you that is just a little off-beat. And it shows in your sense of humour. I love how you are able to draw smiles from any and every situation and person - even yourself - with witty words and clever comedic timing.

R is for Romantic
Ok, so romantic is a little grown up and strong; nevertheless, you are a real little love-bunny. You love to pick me flowers, and often randomly come up to tell me, very matter-of-factly, how much you love me. You thrive on physical touch, be it warm hugs, hair playing,  soft tickles or just being entwined with another warm-blooded human.

S is for School
This was probably our best idea - sending you to school. You were so excited to start at the beginning of this year, and it has made me confident that when you embark on formal schooling next year, you will be well prepared. You love the school and your teachers, and you have grown and matured so much since starting there.

T is for Threenager
I bet so far you think you've been the model child. Well, this will change your mind. As much as you are sweet and kind and pleasant to be around, you have a serious temper that, when exposed, usually is accompanied by a growl and a tantrum. I brace myself for this year of the Threenager with you!

U is for U2
The band U2 is not really music of your time, but thanks to iTunes automatically loading their 2014 album Songs of Innocence onto all devices, you are a fan. We are basically subject to their music at least three times a week. Coldplay too; you genuinely think that Chris Martin is a real friend of yours...

V is for Vehicles
You are car-crazy! At one point, you didn't know your colours, but you could look at the emblem of any car make and tell me who you know who has a car of that same make. You are the first to hop into the car with Papu, especially if it's the kombi or the bus, and we regularly find you in the garage pretend-driving the car.

W is for Water Baby
You started swimming lessons this year, and you absolutely love it! You are so comfortable, you confidently speedboat from one side of the pool to the other, on your own, blowing bubbles and kicking like crazy. It may or may not also have something to do with your swimming teacher, Alison, whom you think you own.

X is for eXpletives
While this is not something I am particularly proud of, it would be remiss of me not to include the fact that we have heard some rather colourful words and phrases escape your mouth in your time. For the sake of this being a family blog, I'll spare everyone the record of the specifics.

Y is for YOLO
There is no doubt that you have an energy, positivity and enthusiasm for life that is refreshing and inspiring. You have already grasped the fact that we only have one life to live, and should make the most of it. This usually comes with risk and accidents of which you have had a fair share. Still, it doesn't hold you back. You have a confidence in who you are, and what you want, and you seem to choose to life as an adventure of opportunity and celebration. I hope you never lose that.

Z is for Zzz
As you have done pretty much since birth, you still sleep sucking your thumb and cuddling your blankey. Sometimes seeing this newer, more grown up you can be quite overwhelming. Some of my favourite and most cherished moments now are of you curled up asleep against me.

You are so excited about turning three today (I'm still catching up on how we got here so fast). May it be all you hope for and more. You are loved so much!

Happy birthday x

Family Bucket List: Term 1

As we approach the end of the first quarter, here is how we are doing on our Family Bucket List for 2018:

Meeting Criteria:

Go - so far we are meeting bed times most days of the week (the kids more so than us though)
Ride - early in March the kids completed their first Junior CT Cycle Tour and are hooked, so Knysna may be next
Give Back - I have done a good emptying of all the cupboards at least once already, and made a couple baby packs for some teenage moms
Travel - we have set in motion our plans to travel this year, starting with applying for passports for Sam and Bayley
Visit - we are looking forward to a special Christmas visiting these precious people
Watch - we recently watched our first sunrise together, and it was a total hit
Be - if nothing else, we are aware of the need to be respectful (and are regularly reminded by the boys)
Limit - this is working well because Zac is finally able to understand the restrictions and make wise choices, and Sam just copies whatever he does
Start - we have made a point of praying together each morning before we leave the house, and it really is the highlight of my day


Room for Improvement:

Play - while we have been spending more time together, we have not really gotten the game playing part down yet
Read - bedtime is a bit of a rush (to get to bed by 20h00) so stories are not always happening then, but Zac is reading to us every afternoon if that counts
Eat - we have such good intentions here, but the boys love bread so it definitely needs better enforcement
Make - traditionally, I make the books for the children's first birthday, so I have time here, although I have already started getting content together
Cook - the plan is to do this while on holiday (I'm super excited for a white Christmas)
See - this is the first holiday coming up, so I have a date with the boys
Enjoy - the treats are probably happening more often than I would like, but at least the boys are being made to earn them
Share - we're good at saying warm goodbyes, but I reckon we can get better at giving purposeful, no reason hugs, just because
Practise - while I can't say we're at the point of not raising out voices quite yet, I am happy that at least we see (hear) this less often


Intervention and Remediation Required:

Try - we have not even thought of this, which is problematic as we are going into Winter, and I'm certainly not camping then
Explore - I am so desperate to do this, but how to do it while saving money and leave for an overseas trip is proving to be more difficult than I thought
Send - shamefully we have not sent a single postcard, despite Zac writing love notes all over the place, all the time
Create - I honestly don't know this will even happen unless I do it myself, and that is not likely
Do - procrastination is the thief of time, and despite regular planning to do prom walks and park runs we are yet to do one
Grow - in the midst of this drought, I'm not sure why I put this down when I can hardly keep any plant alive right now
Learn - we need to be more deliberate about this as so far the only things we've learnt about anything is when Zac teaches us what he's learnt at school

Comment:
All in all, I'd like to think that we're making good progress. I'm even on track with my blogging goal!
Still, I realise that we need to maintain this momentum in order to tick everything of our list in time. Let's see how well we do next term.

The Time We Went To Watch The Sunrise

Earlier this year, we published our family bucket list for 2018. On it we put a number of activities, habits and experiences we'd like to accomplish between January and December - only some of which we have managed so far, despite already being nearly 25% through the year.

One of the more simple things we had committed to do was to watch a sunrise. In theory, anyway, it is something that is relatively easy to do. Unless you live with my family: I have a husband who hates waking early on any day of the week, and two sons who have their own rather verbal ideas of what fun is. So, admittedly, in order to get this done, I had to ambush them.

I knew this past Saturday would be quiet as it was the day before Andel's Cycle Tour race, so when I woke at my usual weekday wake up time of 05h15, following an exhausting day that had me asleep at 20h00, I took my chance. As soon as the kids stirred around 06h00, I suggested we take the opportunity to watch the sunrise.

Sometimes the best plans are the ones that aren't planned. We literally put trackies over our pyjamas and piled into the car, and at 06h40 were sitting on Muizenberg beach watching the world wake. It was magical.

Sunrise at Muizenberg Beach 06h42

Even Zac, who was in no mood to go, and spent the entire ride asking, "did we vote on this? I didn't vote to do this" had to admit that catching what was the only sun on Saturday was pretty cool.

My sun-kissed Sammy

Family Fun - even with graumpy Zac

Learning that we are better together

Bundled up and bonding

We're going through a bit of a challenging season right now, still, it's been so encouraging being reminded of God's great faithfulness, finding out how much joy and life we can experience in the small things, and confirming that as long as we're together, we're doing ok.