I really struggled at first to breastfeed. I was supplementing with formula from a cup at first so that Rooster wouldn’t get used to the bottle and would take to the breast eventually. It was so rewarding when we both got it right eventually. I never thought he would latch on for another seventeen months and beyond. My theory was, give him until a year and then we’ll see. Up until that time he was having four or five feeds a day. Realising that he was enjoying these feeds more than needing them I started tailoring down.

I first started skipping the midday feed, then I lost the second morning one, then the mid afternoon and now I’m left with the two most difficult ones to abandon. I realised distraction from it wasn’t such a big deal and never to deny it when I knew he really wanted it.  My next task is to tackle the morning feed which he wakes me at about 5am for. It was wonderful losing the day time feeds. I felt liberated wearing non-feeding bras again. I was surprised the milk stayed. It’s amazing how my body creates the stuff. It’s the best long life milk ever: sitting just warmer than room temperature for hours at a time without fermenting. Marvellous!

Even though we’re weaning, it truly does amaze me how obscure it is to people, even to those who have breastfed, that there’s no hurry to get him off breast milk. Sure, I don’t want to still be breastfeeding in six months time. I just don’t see the point at this stage to get him attached to a bottle rather than the breast when he’s still so happy and I’m still ok with it. I don’t want to have to wean him twice. My husband also feels that it’s actually what the “mammers” have been made for and it’s keeping Rooster healthy so why not.  High five to that buddy.

More then weaning him, I’m going to have to wean myself from that close time together. On the upside, we can paint dad into winding down picture and not to forget sleepovers at the Grandparents. This is sounding promising!

Why do we wait so long to sort things out before they get out of hand?

This patient had waited too long to go to the hospital and now was in a bad way and I mean really REALLY bad. I too was in a situation were I was concerned that I had something wrong with me. I sat and waited for months, picturing my death, marrying my husband off to a suitable mother figure for Rooster- there were even tears as I thought of this. Unlike the poor patient, had waited in vane and after going to get things sorted realised I’m fine. But why did I have to sit worrying for so long without doing something about it?

What does all of this have to do with a haircut? Well, my Rooster is now 17months and had not had a haircut since he was born. He had started looking a little like Einstein but to me that was o.k.- smart kid looks like a smart guy and his curls were cute! Then we had Einstein mixed with a bit of Bob Marley with some dreads  from the way he sleeps. Love Bob’s music but not the do. Seriously, it’s just hair, it grows back. But I found I had some attachment to this hair. As if cutting  was cutting away my little baba and now he’s a big boy that needs haircuts from his dad (who did a superb job by the way). I filmed the whole thing, wanted to catch every lock and cringed with every scissor snip.

Now that it’s cut he looks cuter than ever!

It’s clear: time to “go and do and not sit and stew!” (John Bytheway)

You see, Rainbow ice-cream is a mix of vanilla, chocolate, strawberry (all yum) and then lime (not so yum) ice-cream. Dish up a bowl, it’s ice-cream so you’re naturally excited but then you hit the green lime parts and your whole ice-cream experience just seems tainted. You notice the green even more as it starts to melt and mix with the other flavours. As this begins to happen, it seems that all you can taste is the green and suddenly the other flavours don’t taste the same anymore.

This was similar to my first year. It didn’t take long to get used to the three flavours and I already loved chocolate ice-cream. I would try and scrape around the lime so that I wouldn’t get it but that wouldn’t work because then I’d just get upset as I tried so hard to remove the green.Eventually I realised, it’s best just to try another ice-cream flavour. One that you both like! That’s when year two rolled around and it was cookies and cream from then on!

Much like the pre-marriage and the first year were the first six weeks with my little one. The pre-baby stage is all about the birth. How is this bundle going to get out of the oven. We read, search, speak to professionals about the birth. Caesar, natural, natural, epidural? Another pre-birth topic is the baby room. What colour, what fabric? Do I go blue, pink or neutral? The birth is sometimes not how you planned or expected but the bundle arrives.  There’s so much to love about this little bundle- but there’s also a lot of lime!

Even for those to whom motherhood comes terribly naturally, your breasts are tender, you have to worry about whether they are producing enough. Bottle or breast, BOTTLE OR BREAST?  But the antenatal woman says breast and the pediatrician says bottle. AHHHHHH! There’s sleep deprivation which is a blog post on its own: one day feels like several days because you can’t remember when you last changed out of your pj’s. The crying, the pooping, the spewing! But…then the bundle smiles after six long weeks and “ding” I’d like a bowl of cookies and cream please?!

What’s fun to think back on now, is the superwoman complex I seemed to have at the beginning of both marriage and motherhood. I had to try and cook and clean, save the world too just show the world I CAN be a wife/mom. I really hope that “PJ power” doesn’t come back the second baby round.

As I read and hear about those who are nearing the altar or the birth bed, I’m reminded of those times. They really made me stretch myself but I got through it and for those who are nearing or in it, so will you!

Forest Gump was wrong- Life is like a bowl of Rainbow ice-cream.

My sister passed this recipe on to me after receiving it from some American guy. This is almost as easy as buying and making the snowflake ready mix stuff and seriously gooood!

Very Yummy Brownies

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups flour

½ tsp salt

1 cup soft margarine

2 cups sugar

4 beaten eggs

2 tsp vanilla

½ cup cocoa

1 crushed milk choc (optional)

Method:

Mix together with an electric beater.

Bake at 180°c for 20-25 min in a baking tray. (Not a cookie sheet)

I usually cut them when they are cool so that you get straight edges but I understand if you can’t wait that long because they’re just too delicious!

“The exercises below have been adapted from a ProBlogger post. Most of the names have been modeled after popular social media services such as Twitter, RSS, Blogger, etc,

1. Cyber Squats. Set your chair aside for a few minutes and instead move to a semi-squat position with thighs parallel to the floor. Hold for 1 minute.

2. RSS Raises. As you’re sitting at your desk, straighten your knees and lift your legs out in front of you.

3. Ten Minute “Move it!” Break. Alternate jogging in place with jumping jacks – do a minute of each and repeat 5 times.

4. Twitter Tummy Tone. Tighten your abdominal muscles for 30 seconds and then release.

5. Social Squeezes. Tighten your gluteal muscles for 30 seconds and then release.

6. Ten Minute “Move it!” Break. Grab a step stool and climb up and down.

7. Inbox Incline. While you’re sitting with your feet on the floor, raise your heels so you are on the balls of your feet and lower them.

8. Ten Minute “Move it!” Break. Do walking lunges around the house. You can add some weights and do bicep curls at the same time.

9. Blogger Breather. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Count to 10 as you slowly inhale through your nose, thinking positive thoughts. Exhale through your mouth, again counting to 10. Release all the tension and stress out of your body.

10. Sign Off Stretches. Shoulder shrugs – with your head at your chest, shrug your shoulders up and down. Neck Rolls – relax your shoulders and let your head roll forward. Slowly rotate your head in a circle. Repeat five times.

P ushups
S itups
L unges
S quats

Exercises that can be done with just body weight: PLSS.”

Available at: http://casesblog.blogspot.com/

Starting with those a little further down the food chain:  my husband has become an avid gardener especially in the large veggie garden at church and my son and I have become avid tag-alongs. We had noticed the bird life in the area, especially so ever since my son makes a hadida sound every time he hears a bird. We noticed these two love-birds, plovers. You could tell these two just adored each other the way they would follow each other around and protect one another from the mini human that kept on wanting to catch up with them, making rather strange noises. The next visit we noticed spring had sprung and they had their own “mini-me” to protect and scurry around. Unfortunately with life and nature as it were, we find the things we want to protect the most are more vulnerable. This mother plover stood vigilantly  next to her deceased baby and wouldn’t move.  When we came near, it would try distract us away. My heart was so sad for this little thing. I couldn’t help imagining my own response in the loss of my little one.

Then there’s a guy I used to know who lost his daughter in a freak accident. She was four. How do you cope with having a little body running around one day and the next day they’re not there. They’ve left a black hole. How does a mother wake up in the morning and continue on after something like that happens. Surprisingly they have. They seem to be working  on this bringing them closer together as a family instead of tearing them apart. Still it must be hard.

I then bumped into a mother who has a cancer suffering son. He’s in hospital in critical condition after being the most active and bright young man. How does a mother deal with that? This women then had the audacity to ask how I was. Who cares about anyone else when you’re going through something so HUGE!?!

These are just a few examples of the “it’s just nature” that I don’t like and wish there was a refresh button where all the hurt and pain could disappear. However, these creatures make me look at my life with my little Rooster and the Husband with a greater perspective of how the world should be, how I should act and how I must care!

The Helderberg Farm

This lovely picnic, petting zoo is just outside of Somerset West on the R44 going towards Stellenbosch (directions to Helderberg Farm). There is lovely green grass to sit and picnic or if you don’t want to get that close with nature, there are chairs and tables. They serve a small “coffee shop” menue and often have produce on sale from the farm at reasonable prices. Around strawberry season they sell boxes of  “canning strawberries” for R30. I made jam for a small colony.It’s simple but very sweet place and unlike many places, it’s free.

I have been there when they have had a slip slide up for a children’s party and there are old tractors and harvesters for the children to climb on. It’s a great venue for those summer babies birthdays. The little petting zoo is most exciting for the little ones where they can pay R5 to get a bag of food to feed the animals. They can climb into the rabbit hatch and cuddle with the rabbits too.

I like it there and visit often!

The Helderberg Nature Reserve

This little reserve is no Kirstenbosch but it is one of my favourite places to take Rooster. It includes the Helderberg Mountain so that can be your land mark in getting there. (Directions to Helderberg Nature Reserve)There are two large grassed fields with plenty of tree cover. There are little streams that we play in and they have recently built a jungle gymn at the reserve. There are very pram friendly wooden walkways around the duck pond as well as a little mainly shaded trail around the base of the mountain. There are obviously more adventurous walks and even running routes in the forest.

I can say that this place taught my Rooster what a tortoise is. They have a few very large tortoises which are very entertaining for the little ones. The birdlife is incredible. There are turtles in the pond and if you’re lucky the bontebok will pay you a visit too. They are beautiful. There is an educational center there too for those teachers looking for a lovely, educational outing and for the eternal munchers, a little coffee chop.

To enter the reserve it is R10 an adult, R5 per child over two years and R5 per car. However, I have just bought a year pass for R85. Seeing as Rooster is under two he doesn’t pay. The family pass is R170 no matter how large your family is. Not bad, I say! You can buy this year membership from the first of March till the end of April. You can’t just buy it any time of the year.

Love this place. Love it! Love it!

Wiggle Worms

Music and movement for your little one that is fun and very relaxed. It’s run by a lady called Lynette Calver who also runs her business Music and Movement in the nearby pre-schools. It is 30-45 minutes where moms and tots (ages 0-3) get to get working on some cool dance moves, play with instruments and learn basic theory of music from “Crocodile Crotchet”, “Semi-breve Seal”, “Minum Monkey and “Quacky Quaver. I’ve been taking Rooster there since he was about 3 months and his love for music can definitely be attributed to Wiggle Worms. Lynette is such a warm and caring person that she makes the kids feel relaxed and comfortable almost immediately!We’re a small group of moms with children of varied ages but we all enjoy the time together.

Lynette (or Netty as she is affectionately called) runs Wiggle Worms from her home in Heldervue, Somerset West on a Wednesday morning starting at 9am. The programme does not run in the holidays. Her contact details: 082 792 000. Her daughter also runs a music academy for older children called Dolce Music Academy so if you’re looking to get your family into music, this is the family to contact!

Indoor Play Gymns

These indoor play gymns as I call them is a large jungle gymn and play area for kids. In the Helderberg Area we have Kids at the Mall(in Somerset Mall outer complexes) and Kids Zoo (In Gants center off the N2, near Virgin Active and BMW dealership). They both have two sections one for the little guys up to the age of three and then there’s the rest of the place for older children. These places are designed with a coffee shop where you sit and keep and eye on your kids while they are assisted by the gymn’s staff. You are charged hourly for the time your children have played and you can purchase food items while you sit and pay as you leave. They also cater for kids parties.

The only real difference between these two places was the price. Kids Zoo was slightly cheaper at R25 and hour whereas Kids at the Mall was R30 an hour. It may seem quite pricey but I found one hour sufficient and can be a lifesaver on a rainy day.

Child Friendly Coffee Shops

Baby Inc- This is also in the Somerset Mall Outer complex next to Treehouse. They sell designer baby items, cots and rockers as well as there is a breastfeeding clinic there. The coffee shop is simple but has a lovely enclosed little are for little ones. There prices are good and so are there portion sizes.

Mondeor- Come fetch your gardening supplies and then relax with a cuppa tea while the kids play on the jungle gymn or in the kiddies pool. Very near to Monkey Town just off the N2 heading towards Sir Lowry’s Pass.

We were lucky to get a lunch box at the beginning of the year in my younger days. Being a family with four kids and with limited budget at the time, once that lunch box was misplaced, misused or mangled, that was it. No more lunch box. Sandwich wrap was it. This meant my sarmies were vulnerable to being squashed somewhere between my history book and my homework diary.

At my primary school, those “responsible” learners could help out in the tuckshop. Oh, how grateful I was that my friend’s mom worked in the tuckshop and I would have a run at this tuckshop responsibility thing. The draw-card was those who worked, got a free hotdog and a packet of monster munch. (I think I’ve just realised where my love for hotdogs comes from.)  On the free hotdog days, mom’s homemade sandwiches were less appealing and therefore found themselves at the bottom of the suitcase and who remembers to take out those sandwiches every time they land up there? Let’s just say that when on the odd (sometimes not to odd) occasion when lunch was forgotten, it was not pretty! There were times when I didn’t want to take the leftover lunch out because I knew my mom was a busy lady and I felt bad for abusing her kindness of making my sandwiches which I never ate. Other times I just didn’t want to get into trouble.  So in the suitcase they stayed. 1 day, two day, three day, green day!

Husband doesn’t do the same but as I opened his breakfast box today to clean it, yet again, after a long day in his hospital bag, I was reminded of green day…

I had gotten to this play park quite early in the morning seeing as my little rooster had to be up crowing at dawn so we were ready for the day quite early. I was the first  to arrive. Later, two mothers arrived who had clearly made a prior arrangement to meet. They were followed by another two with their kids who had done the same. What I was amazed with was the fact that both of these pairs were able to sit and have their beverages and snacks with little fuss from their kids. The kids played while Mummy had a cuppa! Here I was, majorly involved in play with my kiddo thinking, there’s little chance I would be able to chill while sipping back on something yummy. I realised I wouldn’t be able to do it because my boy wouldn’t be used to it. This is where the questioning and comparisons began.

This was my delema: where is the line between being a good mom and being too involved?

Both the husbando and I had made sacrifices to provide for the little rooster when we found out he was on his way and so I take being a mom seriously seriously. Usually my day and activities in the day are centered around interacting and working with my little one and the little routine we try to work with. I know this is the same with many moms. I usually do anything that I need to get done at a convenient time for him because it is less disruptive for us all. I generally don’t do the things that interest me while he’s awake or when dad’s not around. Rooster helps when I have to do things around the house or else generally keeps himself busy. There are moments when he plays by himself during the day but mainly we do things together. I used to think this was normal. Is it?

So my cloud is where I’m at now- involved, love playing with my bubsey, I’m basically his friend. The soft place is where I remain involved yet let him learn to become independent.

The verdict is in- I’ve made my decision: My heart says, he’s going to become independent anyway- enjoy the play time together, you’ll have tea later and then you’ll wish you were busy with your boy again.

As he approaches three though, I cannot help but feel a sense of “is it really all over?” He is out of nappies, hasn’t had a bottle or dummy for ages but until now when people ask me how old he is, I still love to say he is two. Two means a baby, a little toddler, still in need of all the comforts that a baby has but with more freedom. Three is a WHOLE new ball game, I have no more reasons to be part of “baby clubs” or talk about teething woes, he is passed that and I cannot help but wonder where did the past 7 years of babies go? I am sure you have also found parents of teens and young adults saying, “Enjoy your children when they are young because they grow so quickly”. When you are in the thick of sleepless nights, potty training and tantrum analyzing, it’s hard to believe that life will ever be different, and yet here I am saying the same thing- where did the time go?

I am reading an inspiring book on training and teaching children and all I can advise for those in the thick of things is this: do your best, laugh more with your children because it really is true, before you know it your last child will be turning 3 and you will be lying in bed asking yourself, “how is this all over so quickly?”.