Today I'm already 2 days past my due date (not surprising for a first baby). I've already spent two weeks on maternity leave, finishing off Jellybaby's solid teak cot (with the help of my brother, sister-in-law, her father and my husband). I still have to load some pictures, but today I first have to sand one railing and varnish it with its final coat.
SOOOOOO much has happened in the past few months. We've moved into our new house (really a groundfloor apartment with a nice sized garden) and tried to sort out Jellybaby's nursery. ALMOST THERE!!!! We're also now patiently awaiting this little one's arrival, juggling it with picking up my father-in-law at the airport arriving from Cape Town tonight. He's hoping that he'll be a granddad by then :-) And then there's our holiday to Kwa-Zulu Natal to look forward to!!!! Oh, but before then Thinus is also celebrating his birthday on Saturday - SCORE! My mom reckons that Jellybaby will come either tomorrow or Saturday - we would prefer today.
Today also marks 2 years since my brother's sudden death. This morning I cried when I realised that I'm now exactly 10 days older than he was when he died. I think I also was half expecting that I would go into labour during the night and have the celebration of new life on hand as opposed to just thinking about my brother. My sadness did not prevail, and I'm now calm. I miss my brother, and I'm sad that he can't share this time with me. But I'm SOOOO grateful that he's with Jesus and can enjoy all the riches of Heaven! What a blessing that is! When I mourn, it's over my loss. But thank GOD that he was not lost, that he served Jesus Christ as his Saviour! Because of that I can now rejoice even on a day like today!
It's FREEZING cold in Johannesburg, and we even got SNOW yesterday! I played in the snow alongside my nephew like a small kid! Later in the day we built a snow man (my sister-in-law made sure we didn't pass up on this opportunity). Thinus and I even went for a walk last night (albeit to try and see whether or not we could induce this child!) and had such lovely broccolli and bacon soup for dinner!
Today I am planning on making roly-poly apricot pudding to beat this cold weather. NOTHING like warm pudding on a cold night! And then also maybe try and catch up on my lost sleep.
Hoping that today is the day that we get to meet Jellybaby!!!!
Blessings to you all!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
We are moving!!!
We have been looking for a house since August 2011, and what a mission it turned out to be! But finally, on March 3rd this year, we found a home :-)
I had a LOOOOOONG list to be fulfilled, including that it should not be a sectional title, must have at least TWO doors going outside, a garden, a double kitchen sink, a window over that kitchen sink, a shower for my husband, at least 3 bedrooms, a garage....the list goes on. Most important was that it would be the most affordable house in the best area.
What we found was: a sectional title, 2 bedroom flat with a garden. It was affordable and in the best area. I've made peace that we need to get our foot in the market. And the flat was really the way to do it.
SOOOOOO, today after church we picked up the keys to our new flat! After nearly 5 years of marriage, we now can call a place our home. GOD has been ever-faithful in providing the funds for the 5% deposit that we had to put down, as well as all the lawyers' fees that went along with buying a house.
Soon we'll be able to start renovating Jellybaby's solid teak cot (BIG SMILE!), and to make up the nursery. Pictures to follow soon, promise! Tonight we're spending our first night in our home - on a blow-up mattress. We are just too impatient to start our new life there to wait for our bed to come next week Saturday. Oh, and we're taking our kettle and microwave oven with to make supper. I should probably also start to pack a bag so that we'll have clothes for tomorrow!
The excitement is very tangible in our household right now. I'm just quickly resting whilst Thinus carries out some of the essentials that must go with tonight. WHOOPEE!!!!
Praise be to GOD for providing in our needs!
PS: I even have a convection oven now! Truly a blessing from above!
I had a LOOOOOONG list to be fulfilled, including that it should not be a sectional title, must have at least TWO doors going outside, a garden, a double kitchen sink, a window over that kitchen sink, a shower for my husband, at least 3 bedrooms, a garage....the list goes on. Most important was that it would be the most affordable house in the best area.
What we found was: a sectional title, 2 bedroom flat with a garden. It was affordable and in the best area. I've made peace that we need to get our foot in the market. And the flat was really the way to do it.
SOOOOOO, today after church we picked up the keys to our new flat! After nearly 5 years of marriage, we now can call a place our home. GOD has been ever-faithful in providing the funds for the 5% deposit that we had to put down, as well as all the lawyers' fees that went along with buying a house.
Soon we'll be able to start renovating Jellybaby's solid teak cot (BIG SMILE!), and to make up the nursery. Pictures to follow soon, promise! Tonight we're spending our first night in our home - on a blow-up mattress. We are just too impatient to start our new life there to wait for our bed to come next week Saturday. Oh, and we're taking our kettle and microwave oven with to make supper. I should probably also start to pack a bag so that we'll have clothes for tomorrow!
The excitement is very tangible in our household right now. I'm just quickly resting whilst Thinus carries out some of the essentials that must go with tonight. WHOOPEE!!!!
Praise be to GOD for providing in our needs!
PS: I even have a convection oven now! Truly a blessing from above!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Why we chose cloth diapers
A few years ago I would not have thought twice about using disposable nappies. A few years ago I was rather ignorant regarding the cost of disposables.... A few years ago we did not decide to have a baby AND buy a house all at the same time (my husband says we're hardcore like that!)
Okay, so we've been trying to fall pregnant for a long time, and in that very loooooooong time, somewhere along the line I realised that cloth diapering sounded like a very valid option to me. I mostly attributed it to first reading about it here where Ashley spoke about her reasons for cloth diapering. Also, it turns out I'm a closet-greenie, and in order to save the planet for our child, and living frugally as well as living by the philosophy of recycle-reuse-reduce, the decision was easy.
As for my husband? It took him some getting used to...he was not so keen on the laundry-aspect, nor travelling long distances or going on holiday with cloth diapers. Agreed, it would be rather difficult to travel and then be on vacation at a place where there are no laundry facilities, so I still have to consider that aspect, but eh, we can overcome that problem! I recently showed my husband a youtube video on folding flat nappies. He actually joined in on the fun, and tried out some of the folds!
Here is our current stash:
Now, at first I only wanted all-in-one (AIO) cloth diapers! That was just convenience talking...but with convenience comes a hefty price tag which I was not willing to pay. Thus I did some further research into this vast universe of cloth diapering, and discovered something called prefolds. But finding prefolds in South Africa at local baby stores? Nearly impossible or ridiculously expensive when you DO find them! We're talking R1300.00 for 3 covers and 6 prefolds when looking at BambinoMio which you can buy at Baby City! For only R250.00 more I can buy 10 Bam+Boo Nappies (hybrid cloth diapers, if I am not mistaken?)! That destroyed the idea of prefolds *sad face* and forced me to start considering the cheapest option of them all - flat cloth diapers. Yes, those that our mothers used before they had disposable nappies, the predecessor of all cloth diapers out there. So, it calls for some extra effort (folding them, putting on a Snappi, and covering it all with a waterproof cover), but that I can handle.
When I was only 10 years old, I used to change my nephew's diapers - yes, we're once again talking about flat cloth diapers). I was a real pro at folding them, putting on a liner, and getting him to lie still whilst putting on the Snappi. I can't remember it ever being gross or weird. To me it was just another normal part of raising a baby. (My brother and his wife changed over to disposables after a year following them doing some calculations and finding that they paid the same per disposable as per wash+detergent+electricity+liner for the cloth diapers. Here is the thing that they did not consider, though, they had filled quite a few landfills by now! They are 5 children down the line - can you imagine the amount of waste?
I know a lot of people will use the above argument for NOT using cloth diapers, but in reality I always have water and electricity and detergent, but I don't have to go out and buy cloth diapers each month, I get to use them over and over again. To me that is a bonus! PLUS I get to use them with Jellybaby, then with our next baby, and if we're so lucky, even with our third baby! When I run out of money at the end of a month (or rather, when there's too much month left at the end of money), I can still switch on my washing machine and do the diaper drill without immediately spending money from my purse. That provides me with a huge sense of relief, since we'll soon be moving into our own house and will have to cover other costs (our water usage is worked into our monthly levy - HEAVEN!). Thus, our expense for the diapers are really covered beforehand, and not so much for the duration of the diaper-drill, except for the liners. Oh, and I also sewed some reusable wet wipes from toweling fabric and with a cute bias binding border. I find it rather awesome that I can use a lukewarm cloth rather than an ice cold wet wipe to clean my baby's bottom with!
I am excited about this new adventure in our lives, and since my husband has come on board (he is not at all grossed-out by the fact that he'll have to change cloth diapers, and has even offered to do the diaper laundry) I cannot contain my enthusiasm over the direction or lives have taken. He did buy some disposables at the beginning of this pregnancy - according to him it was to make the pregnancy more real for himself. I can handle that - it's one packet. But last weekend he was quite willing to fork out the money for buying some Econobum prefold and cover stash (R520) at our Baby Show, as well as one all-in-one Fancypants cloth diaper (R165), and 6 Miosquares Muslin cloths (R200). We have come a loooong way!
Today I finally got around to washing all of my diapers (you have to prewash them to improve their absorbency), and I just LOVED the sight of the prefolds and muslin squares hanging on the line outside to dry:
Isn't this just such a beautiful sight to behold? (The cloth diapers, not the surroundings.)
Our decision is based on a lot of reasons, but mostly for frugal, ecological and emotional reasons.
PS: Have I mentioned that babies on cloth diapers appears to potty train earlier than babies on disposable nappies from numerous websites that I've read? BONUS!
Okay, so we've been trying to fall pregnant for a long time, and in that very loooooooong time, somewhere along the line I realised that cloth diapering sounded like a very valid option to me. I mostly attributed it to first reading about it here where Ashley spoke about her reasons for cloth diapering. Also, it turns out I'm a closet-greenie, and in order to save the planet for our child, and living frugally as well as living by the philosophy of recycle-reuse-reduce, the decision was easy.
As for my husband? It took him some getting used to...he was not so keen on the laundry-aspect, nor travelling long distances or going on holiday with cloth diapers. Agreed, it would be rather difficult to travel and then be on vacation at a place where there are no laundry facilities, so I still have to consider that aspect, but eh, we can overcome that problem! I recently showed my husband a youtube video on folding flat nappies. He actually joined in on the fun, and tried out some of the folds!
Here is our current stash:
Now, at first I only wanted all-in-one (AIO) cloth diapers! That was just convenience talking...but with convenience comes a hefty price tag which I was not willing to pay. Thus I did some further research into this vast universe of cloth diapering, and discovered something called prefolds. But finding prefolds in South Africa at local baby stores? Nearly impossible or ridiculously expensive when you DO find them! We're talking R1300.00 for 3 covers and 6 prefolds when looking at BambinoMio which you can buy at Baby City! For only R250.00 more I can buy 10 Bam+Boo Nappies (hybrid cloth diapers, if I am not mistaken?)! That destroyed the idea of prefolds *sad face* and forced me to start considering the cheapest option of them all - flat cloth diapers. Yes, those that our mothers used before they had disposable nappies, the predecessor of all cloth diapers out there. So, it calls for some extra effort (folding them, putting on a Snappi, and covering it all with a waterproof cover), but that I can handle.
When I was only 10 years old, I used to change my nephew's diapers - yes, we're once again talking about flat cloth diapers). I was a real pro at folding them, putting on a liner, and getting him to lie still whilst putting on the Snappi. I can't remember it ever being gross or weird. To me it was just another normal part of raising a baby. (My brother and his wife changed over to disposables after a year following them doing some calculations and finding that they paid the same per disposable as per wash+detergent+electricity+liner for the cloth diapers. Here is the thing that they did not consider, though, they had filled quite a few landfills by now! They are 5 children down the line - can you imagine the amount of waste?
I know a lot of people will use the above argument for NOT using cloth diapers, but in reality I always have water and electricity and detergent, but I don't have to go out and buy cloth diapers each month, I get to use them over and over again. To me that is a bonus! PLUS I get to use them with Jellybaby, then with our next baby, and if we're so lucky, even with our third baby! When I run out of money at the end of a month (or rather, when there's too much month left at the end of money), I can still switch on my washing machine and do the diaper drill without immediately spending money from my purse. That provides me with a huge sense of relief, since we'll soon be moving into our own house and will have to cover other costs (our water usage is worked into our monthly levy - HEAVEN!). Thus, our expense for the diapers are really covered beforehand, and not so much for the duration of the diaper-drill, except for the liners. Oh, and I also sewed some reusable wet wipes from toweling fabric and with a cute bias binding border. I find it rather awesome that I can use a lukewarm cloth rather than an ice cold wet wipe to clean my baby's bottom with!
I am excited about this new adventure in our lives, and since my husband has come on board (he is not at all grossed-out by the fact that he'll have to change cloth diapers, and has even offered to do the diaper laundry) I cannot contain my enthusiasm over the direction or lives have taken. He did buy some disposables at the beginning of this pregnancy - according to him it was to make the pregnancy more real for himself. I can handle that - it's one packet. But last weekend he was quite willing to fork out the money for buying some Econobum prefold and cover stash (R520) at our Baby Show, as well as one all-in-one Fancypants cloth diaper (R165), and 6 Miosquares Muslin cloths (R200). We have come a loooong way!
Today I finally got around to washing all of my diapers (you have to prewash them to improve their absorbency), and I just LOVED the sight of the prefolds and muslin squares hanging on the line outside to dry:
Our decision is based on a lot of reasons, but mostly for frugal, ecological and emotional reasons.
PS: Have I mentioned that babies on cloth diapers appears to potty train earlier than babies on disposable nappies from numerous websites that I've read? BONUS!
Monday, April 9, 2012
23 weeks pregnant and in serious discomfort!
My word, can it be that I'm already 23 weeks along? It is wonderful to be able to report that so far my pregnancy has been uncomplicated. I can only thank GOD, my Saviour, for being so gracious to me!
As for my level of discomfort - it has reached an all-time high! Here are a few things I seem to find difficult doing:
A few fun facts about my pregnancy:;
May GOD bless you in this Easter-time, and may you realise, anew, that HE gave us HIS everything through Jesus Christ! And through Jesus' blood, we can have Eternal Life - AMEN!
Keep well and be blessed!
As for my level of discomfort - it has reached an all-time high! Here are a few things I seem to find difficult doing:
- Bend over to tie my shoelaces
- Pull up my pants without grunting (I seriously sound like an old woman!)
- Turn over in bed (I blame my ever-stretching ligaments for that one)
- Sitting up in bed after lying down on my back
- Getting in and out of my parents' very low car...
- My BELLY!!!!
- Seeing Jellybaby move about - this afternoon we put my cellphone on my tummy and Jellybaby kicked it. We (my husband and I) thought it to be very cute - and then my husband joked about cellphone radiation and I abruptly removed the cellphone from my tummy.
- FEELING my baby move around - it's been 6 1/2 weeks of feeling movement now, and I STILL can't get enough of it! It is SO precious! (Thank You, LORD!)
- Seeing people's reactions to the news that I am pregnant (quite a few people in my parents' congregation did not know)
- My husband admiring my belly =D ... And my hubby rubbing my belly... And falling asleep next to my husband with his hand firmly on my belly... I love my husband!
- Sharing the prospect of a new baby with my Mom! She's the absolute BEST!
- Seeing how my dad reacts to my pregnancy - he is suddenly very protective of my (it's never been otherwise, but never quite as overt as now).
- Making little odds and ends for when Jellybaby finally arrives - I will post my newest creation shortly, or at least as soon as it's done (still have to finish off the edges).
- Dreaming about the day when we'll finally meet this sweet child.
- Jellybaby being VERY stubborn about sharing some kicks - when I check out my belly, sure enough, Jellybaby jumps around like a circus clown. As SOON as I tell someone else to watch, or even hold their hand on my tummy, well, what would you know? Jellybaby IMMEDIATELY stops with any shinnanigans. And as soon as that person turns away / remove their hand, I get a tummy-show again. It's hilarious! How does this child in anycase know when it's MY hand touching my belly, or someone else's hand?
- Knowing that this child was specifically chosen for US by GOD - how awesome is that?!?!?!
A few fun facts about my pregnancy:;
- The first time I really could see my 'bump' was at about 15 weeks - and that was only because suddenly my pants, which was perfectly comfortable at week 14, was suddenly VERY tight!
- I felt Jellybaby move for the first time at 16 weeks 2 days.
- My tummy has grown SIGNIFICANTLY - I can no longer button-up my jeans (YAY for Yummy Mummy Tummy), so alternative methods have to be sufficient for now. I have found that wearing skirts are extremely comfortably - yippee!!!!
- I have no stretch marks (I'm applying BioOil and Happy Event Cream once a day, and drinking loads of water when I remember).
- My memory is something of the past! I cannot remember, and I go into very depressed states when I realise that I've lost something / misplaced something / forgotten something.
- My hands and feet are still the same size - yay for no selling (yet - hopefully NEVER)!
- The first time someone (my mom) could see and feel my baby move was at 20 weeks 5 days - how awesome is that?!?!?!?!
May GOD bless you in this Easter-time, and may you realise, anew, that HE gave us HIS everything through Jesus Christ! And through Jesus' blood, we can have Eternal Life - AMEN!
Keep well and be blessed!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Learning about the Fishbowl Project
Last week I spent my days in a lecture room with two AMAZING remedial therapists (previously educators) learning about Autism Spectrum Disorder. WOW! That's about the shortest summary I can give! I went on the Fishbowl Project Training. Please do yourself a favour, and click on this link! If you are a teacher / parent of a child with ANY special needs, not just on the Autism Spectrum, seriously, go and read what they have to say about this training. I HIGHLY recommend it!
The one thing that keeps resounding in my head is: VISUAL OVER VERBAL! Use visual cues, visual instructions, visual schedules - it all makes life SO much easier for children with autism. But not only for these children, but also neuro-typical ('normal', as we know it) children. I've had to rethink how I do therapy, and how I instruct children. It makes sooooo much sense to use visual before verbal! Verbal instructions are abstract and fleeting, visual instructions are concrete and makes a lasting impression.
A few cool ideas I got from the course last week:
This past week has been SUCH a blessing in my career - I was forced to really rethink how I do things. To be able to really get down to a child's level (my word, I was really reminded a LOT about creative ability and activity analysis) and present activities / tasks in such a way that they will be able to comprehend, as well as not become frustrated. It took me back to my pre-grad days!
And, in the process of find all these amazing links for this post, I stumbled upon this amazing website. This mommy is really making it easy for all the mommies out there to not only entertain their children, but simultaneously turning it into a learning opportunity! Really awesome!
On a slightly more personal note - I am now 18 weeks 1 day along in my pregnancy, and about 2 weeks ago I started feeling my baby move! Very exciting, and always unsuspected. As I was sitting here, writing this post, Jellybaby has been seriously active. I think one of the seams of my pants running across my tummy is REALLY irritating Jellybaby! Can't wait until the movement becomes more pronounced :-) YEAH!
God Bless and hope that this information was helpful.
The one thing that keeps resounding in my head is: VISUAL OVER VERBAL! Use visual cues, visual instructions, visual schedules - it all makes life SO much easier for children with autism. But not only for these children, but also neuro-typical ('normal', as we know it) children. I've had to rethink how I do therapy, and how I instruct children. It makes sooooo much sense to use visual before verbal! Verbal instructions are abstract and fleeting, visual instructions are concrete and makes a lasting impression.
A few cool ideas I got from the course last week:
- Have a picture of two feet / two shoes stuck on the floor in your therapy area. This is to avoid having to repeat the instruction "take of your shoes" every time the dear child comes for therapy. They'll see the sign, and KNOW what to do, without you having to TELL them each time. BEAUTIFUL!
- Make sure that the activities which you do with younger children / children on the autism spectrum, has a visual way of telling the child when they are done with the activity. This includes basic things like starting left, working towards the right, and when all the pieces have been moved from left to right, you're done.
- Or having lots of big beads or cotton thread spools in two different colours in a round container (that is stuck to a 2L ice-cream container's lid on the left) and then two colours of shoelaces (on the right side of the lid, held in place by making a hole in the lid and then tying a knot at the end of the shoelace inside the lid) matching the two colours of beads / spools. The child will instinctively know to thread what is on the left onto the matching shoelace. And he'll know that the activity is done once there's nothing left in the left side's container. Uhm...and now I don't have the visual to explain my verbal diarrhea to you - OOPS! (Thank you, Reinette and Bernadette, for showing us these inexpensive but durable activities / games!)
This past week has been SUCH a blessing in my career - I was forced to really rethink how I do things. To be able to really get down to a child's level (my word, I was really reminded a LOT about creative ability and activity analysis) and present activities / tasks in such a way that they will be able to comprehend, as well as not become frustrated. It took me back to my pre-grad days!
And, in the process of find all these amazing links for this post, I stumbled upon this amazing website. This mommy is really making it easy for all the mommies out there to not only entertain their children, but simultaneously turning it into a learning opportunity! Really awesome!
On a slightly more personal note - I am now 18 weeks 1 day along in my pregnancy, and about 2 weeks ago I started feeling my baby move! Very exciting, and always unsuspected. As I was sitting here, writing this post, Jellybaby has been seriously active. I think one of the seams of my pants running across my tummy is REALLY irritating Jellybaby! Can't wait until the movement becomes more pronounced :-) YEAH!
God Bless and hope that this information was helpful.
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