RAISING CHILDREN

Gosh, isn’t it tiring raising kids? I wonder if we gave our parents such a hard time when we were little. My daughter who is now 4-years old is an amazing child; she is smart, she speaks very well for her age, her vocabulary shocks me by the day and I just love her to bits. She really tickles me inside. On any given day my daughter does something really sweet and thoughtful, quite impressive for a 4-year old. Oh how I love thee. But at times this little angel does shock me. Like how this weekend, out of nowhere she asks me why she has dark skin.

Me: errr, why not? God made you that way because he wanted your beauty to be striking (didn’t even know what I was saying…. Just stringing words together to try and make sense)
She: I don’t like to have dark skin mama, I want to be light like you and Tsepuna (baby brother—who is a true “Golden Boy”
Me: Well, Tsepuna looks like mummy and he is beautiful and you look like daddy and both of you are beautiful. Isn’t God amazing?
She: I HATE having dark skin (note the vocab, such a strong word!)
Me: Who told you that you had dark skin?
She: I can see it.

I rest my case. The “why’s”, “who's”, “which's”, “when's”, “how come's”—all these questions make this generation of kids to be very challenging to raise. They know way too much for their time, they are exposed to too much information and resources, they demand answers and they demand them now. A lot of times I am at a loss for words. I don’t think I had so much to say when I was that age.

When all is said and done, my dark angel is awesome and I love her to bits!

THE BOY ARRIVES (part I)

I checked into hospital at around eleven in the morning on August 3rd, 2011. It was quite strange but a special day nonetheless because it was also my younger brother’s birthday. Although I had gone to the hospital to have my baby, it felt like I was checking into a hotel; being shown my room, completing a whole host of forms, just lying on the hospital bed and waiting. Nurses, nursing assistants, matrons introducing themselves to me as if I’m some important guest at a luxury resort. All very strange happenings. Then…… waiting.

A transporter bed is brought in; the nurses transfer me to this bed as if I’m sick. But I was’nt sick I was just having a baby, but I was also going into surgery you see. I was just in awe of all that was happening in front of my eyes. Soon we arrive in theater, beds being carted in and out, women either anxious like myself or just zoned out. I, quietly observing. Then my turn comes, quickly I’m transferred from the mobile bed to the operating table. Lots of gadgets around me, lots of attendants (anesthetist, gynaecologist, his partner, my midwife, nurses, nursing assistants), everyone busy with one thing or the other, just getting ready to perform routine procedure. My midwife was amazing, she helped me calm down, took lots of pictures, held me, and talked to me. My husband standing by throughout the process, holding my hand, recording, smiling, mouthing “I love you”. Me; just looking around, feeling extremely calm though.

The process begins, lots of things done. Baby comes out and is placed on my chest….I hold him in my arms, kiss his forehead and he starts screaming. Oh, what a feeling. I hold him, I kiss him, I smell him. My husband does the same while recording still. They take him perform more procedures. Whew, it was a success!

I’m feeling extremely good, euphoric actually, too good to be true. I’m at peace, the medical team was amazing, God has prevailed. I’m in love with him. I shed a tear. I put him on my breast. He stays there. He is calm. I am calm. I’m ….. tired. I’m hungry. It is well. He is healthy.

2-DAY DETOX

Just before I came back to work about two months ago I decided to embark on a two-day liquid detox. I wasn’t copying anyone, but I felt that I had to somehow cleanse my body after all the indulgence over the holiday period. I mean, we had just come back from a nice holiday in the Free State but had also eaten quite a lot. We ate heavy breakfast daily and heavy meals throughout the day composing of carbs and meat, read meat to be precise. It was quite distractive for me especially because I was and still am trying to lose all the post-baby weight. I always say gaining weight is very easy but losing it is a major challenge. The liquid died went well but I have to confess to having had veggies and chicken for dinner, only coz I love food and can’t really go without it. I juiced, juiced and juiced; blended, blended and blended. I also had herbal teas and plain water in between. Enjoyed it and planning on making my Mondays “liquid Mondays” because Sundays are my “free days”.

MIXED EMOTIONS

This was my first week back at work since I left six months ago for maternity leave. I was okay leaving my little baby, who is now five months old, at home this morning since we really have bonded since he was born. I was really okay. Am I trying to convince myself? No, I was okay but a little sad knowing that this is the beginning of true hardships of a working mom. Within no time he will be a big boy, crawling, walking, talking and I won’t really be there to witness those milestones. I am grateful though to have been home to witness the milestones of the first five months of his life. I am going to miss the time I spent with my three year old, who challenged me daily with her enquiring mind. Oh the joys of being a “stay at home mom”!

I am grateful though and truly thankful for the year that was, 2011.

The top TEN things I am grateful for:

1. A healthy pregnancy which resulted in the birth of my healthy and handsome baby boy
2. My husband who planted the seed
3. A flexible manager at work who allowed me to take six months of maternity leave; trust me with my previous manager it would not have happened
4. Our new home which we all absolutely love
5. Improved relations with my in-laws
6. My older brother finding a wife- finally
7. My younger brother getting a good scholarship to study abroad
8. My parents who are in perfect health, they don’t look their age
9. The blessing of friendships, one is getting married next month
10. My housekeeper who does an amazing job of l ooking after our home and two kids

Cheers to 2012… I’m back blog followers and’t wait to share my thoughts with you.

Men's Shoes

For me, if shoes are not made of real leather, I'll be happy to just enjoy a sighting of them. I love shoes. That's what most women will tell you, but it's amazing how our styles all differ and how our preference for quality differs. For me, they must be leather, buttery and just mold to my feet. It's even a plus if the sole is also made of leather. I take after my dad, if it's just leather-like, I'll pass. Recently I've got a thing for men's style shoes. I've loved them for a while now....but only got a real flat lace-up pair recently and I've never been happier. They have already embraced my feet and molded to the shape of my foot. When I'm wearing them I feel my whole body melting into the earth that I'm walking on. Have a look at these...
Dear shoe lovers, arent they to die for?

Orange flower

I've been working on my garden now that the Summer rains have simmered down. I almost gave up on it a few months ago because it was just always flooded and most of the plants were dyring due to the amount of rain that was falling. Some of the plants have'nt even flowered this summer and it was a little disheartening. This past weekend I added fertilizer throughout the garden and watered it everyday since Sunday. One of the plants bloomed, wow, what a feeling! Needless to say this was the highlight of my week.

LUCKY FIVE IN FEBRUARY

{Tea- I got these boxed tea bags as part of a Christmas gift last year, needless to say, being the hoarder that I am, I still have'nt used them}

{My new dresser mirror-tray which houses a few crystal ornaments and some perfumes. I just love the femininity it brings to our bedroom}

{My daughter is currently interested in 'all things kitchen', particularly baking cookies. So I found this book with easy recipes to try with her in the kitchen. She is ready--she has an apron and a chef's cap as well as cookie cutters. We just have to start with the job}

{I love shoes. They just add "va-va-voom" to my life. This pair of crocs was my best shoe buy of 2010. I've been wearing them a lot since I got them in December and I felt that it's finally time I gave them the credit that's due to them}

{Yummy, what a great alternative to peanut butter! Love this butter. It's even healthier than peanut butter, tastes better and goes with anything; honey, jam, you name it}

Anything special you'd like to share this month?