I remember standard five being one of my favourite school years. Activities leading up to leaving primary school generally included making promises to keep friendships, finding out that the boy you liked the whole year liked you too and getting teachers to write in your “keep-sake” book. I clearly remember standing in my favourite teacher’s class, Mrs Pullen. (She was also the boys favourite...

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we were just pregnant for 3 months, had no morning sickness and absolute no pain during labour? That is how my birth story unfolded when we adopted a beautiful baby boy last October. After 2 years of struggling to fall pregnant (and all the infertility testing required) and an early miscarriage, my husband and I decided to start the adoption process. It was something we had always...

My mother is the queen of “notable quotables”. I fear that my seven month old has heard the phrase “cutting the apron strings” too frequently in his flash of life and has sadly decided that this is not a bad idea. Once upon a time, two months ago, he would look at me with love and adoration. My movements were closely monitored under his watchful eye. He would want me near all the time...

My little guy just loves to bath. He hears the bath water going and he thinks he’s Rocky moving to the song “The Eye of the Tiger”. (I like the song- never seen the movie.) I think this excitement stems from the fact that mom is removed from the picture for a time so there’s no cuddles and kisses. It’s male bonding time with Dad! YEAH! I happily get other chores done while I hear...

Unpleasant duties by Adriaen Brouwer, depicting changing diapers Lately I’ve had little time to sit and type between chores but time to think and the journey of my thoughts led me to ponder the wonders of what I like to call “convenient caring”: We have formula if the breast doesn’t work out. Purity in a bottle. Nappies we don’t have to fold or (for the most part) wash....

Today was a big day for me. I put away my “Big Mamma” clothes (also known as post pregnancy clothes) and removed all the maternity clothes that crowded my cupboard. Frankly, these items of clothing were still part of my wearing wardrobe until about a month ago when while taking a walk with my babe- I almost lost my pants. It was hard knowing I would have to give up the comforts of the elasticated...

I can’t exactly remember when I was first diagnosed with the waddle. I think I was possibly about eight months pregnant. I couldn’t understand why one of my male colleagues was making strange penguin movents as he approached me. I thought that maybe we were playing charades, I had to guess what he was and I was just didn’t know. Then it clicked- he was imitating me. I was insulted. I definitely...