Weigh-in time

Just a quick update on our growing little (or should I say "big") boy... At 7.5 months Zac now weighs just 10g short of a whopping 8kg!  He has also gained almost 5cm in just a month and a half!  He has literally grown overnight and is such a big "little" guy :)  He is the cutest little munchkin ever - love him to absolute bits! xxx

I can't help but ask why?

I know some would say that one shouldn't question "why" things happen in this world and to just accept that things in life happen, but I cannot help but question why a helpless, tiny little innocent soul was taken from this world yesterday.  Friends of my husband lost their little boy to a cancerous brain tumour.  He was just little over a year old.  I heard the news last night and have been full of emotions ever since - it has really hit home for me having 2 small little precious angels myself.

I don't know the family very well, but, like us, they too have an older daughter and then of course Lucas, their baby boy.  I'm not 100% sure of his age, but from what I can gather, he was about 14 months old.  Upon hearing the news I happen to have a sleeping Zac in my arms and after reading the Facebook messages and photographs of a once happy, healthy baby boy, it was just too much for me.  As I type this I am crying yet again.  Why did such an innocent little angel have to suffer and endure the pain he most certainly was exposed to?  What was the purpose of his short little life?  I wish I had the answers - I know his parents most certainly wish for that too.  I cannot begin to imagine the heartache and pain they must be going through.  Truly devastating.

This blog is usually upbeat, sometimes comedic and often nostalgic, but never sad, but I had to put down my feelings as this has truly affected me in the last 24 hours.  I have been giving Lily and Zac extra added attention and additional squeezes and hugs today.  I want to protect them from this sometimes cruel and sad world, I never want them to know pain, hurt or heartache.  I wish I could wrap them in bubble wrap and always hide them from the horrors out there.  If only life were so simple...

7 months today

Another month has literally flown by and my baby is 7 months old.  This morning I had Zac on his little changing mat on my makeshift changing station on the dining room table and I just cuddled, giggled and watched him in awe.  I can't take in enough of my little boy - I want to take memory snap shots so as not to forget that precise moment staring into each other's eyes.  I know with Lily that it is easy to forget how small they were, when they conquered new milestones... life just gets so busy that it's easy to forget.  That's why I really just enjoyed those few precious moments of looking into each other's eyes, taking in the beautiful giggle sounds, gorgeous smiles, heartmelting stares.  I wish our minds had a rewind and replay button that we could switch whenever we wanted... I suppose that's what video cameras and cameras are for - best keep them at the ready!

Zac, sometimes I still can't believe that I've been blessed with a gorgeous, happy little boy.  As I've said before, I am such a girly girl and only figured I'd be blessed with baby girls, but along you came and boy have you changed my world.  I'm meant to be your mom and am just loving being a mommy to you my precious angel!  I'm totally and utterly addicted to your snuggles, your smell and your contagious smile.  You're still such a happy little guy, content to play on your own on your mat or in your cot.  You're finding things intriguing now and will stretch to get your hands on what you're after.  Once you have your desired item, you immediately put it into your mouth to taste and explore, often stopping for a moment to stare at it in absolute wonderment.

You're so much more mobile these days, rolling all over the place!  I put you on your mat on the floor and often find you way under the coffee table or on the other side of the lounge.  You aren't crawling yet, but you're definitely mobile from sliding backwards (yes, you can crawl backwards on your stomach I suppose you could say!) or literally rolling over and over to the other side of the room.  You're definitely not like your sister when it comes to rolling - she didn't roll over much at all, but you're a huge fan, continuously rolling your way around.

You are a fantastic eater, eating everything I give to you.  You eat quite significant portions too!  You're growing beautifully and are on par with your clothing size for your age - slowly moving into your 6-12 months items.  You are still in a size 3 nappy but I don't think you'll be a size 3 for too much longer.  I have the size 4's ready for you after this last size 3 pack finishes... Hope they fit!

All in all you absolutely light up our lives and are a true blessing who we love more than words could describe.  I'm so complete with my 2 precious angels and continue to love watching you both grow and become the cute little people you are.  Love you forever my angel xxx

Shedding the post-pregnancy weight

This is proving to be an exceptionally slow, frustrating and disappointing task.  I do realise that it took 9 months to gain the weight and it will take some time to come off, but trying to squeeze myself into my pre-pregnancy clothes is a constant reminder that I'm carrying extra weight and am a few kg's off being back to "me".  Don't get me wrong - my pre-pregnancy clothes are fitting me, they are just a little snug in the upper thigh and waist where they used to be loose fitting.  I am guestimating that I have about a minimum of 5kg to lose before I'm more comfortable and boy are these a stubborn few kilograms!

So as of Monday, 5th November, I decided I needed to be a little more strict with what I put into my mouth.  This body of mine doesn't shed weight easily and it gains 10kg just by looking at a slice of cake so I have to be rather careful!

I have done really well with only a little slip of a few wine gums on Wednesday evening.  I've had the following menu for the last 4 days:

Breakfast:  Woolworths 150g yoghurt or 2 x eggs
Lunch:  4 x corn thins with cream cheese and jam (jam is my small indulgence - perhaps a move to bovril is a better option...)
Snack:  Nuts or biltong
Dinner:  A mixture of fish / chicken / lamb chops with salad or roast vegetables
Snack:  Milk coffee

I'm also making a concerted effort to increase my water intake.  I find in winter that my water consumption takes a huge dive, but now with the weather warming up, I have no excuse!  So as a result, I'm running to the toilet far more often too which is a little frustrating.

I haven't had the guts to weigh myself as of yet but I'm guestimating my weight.  As soon as I start to feel that my clothes are a little looser, I will definitely take the plunge and look at the number!  I've been looking through my honeymoon photographs and my aim is to get back to that - obviously getting to the gym with 2 babies with me constantly isn't easy so I'm putting off going to the gym until the new year when Lily starts school and I can leave Zac with Ritah while I get an hour's workout session in.  I'm actually seriously considering getting a personal trainer again just like before our wedding - added pressure and motivation.  No excuses when you're paying for a service and someone's watching your every move!

So... now that I've written down in black and white my intentions I suppose there's no going back!  To looking like this again in 2013:

Just one thing though... Having my 2 kids and the resulting body changes is SO worth it! I wouldn't change it for the world!!!

Sitting!

Just like his sister, Zac started to sit (with a little support) as he turned 6 months old.  Every day since then he has been mastering the art of sitting unaided and is getting rather strong, even though he does experience the odd face-plant action every now and then.  He looks like such a big little boy sitting there on his own with his little podgy legs bent in front of him - too cute for words!

Zac is also an active little guy rolling about all over the floor!  Lily wasn't a fan of rolling and didn't do very much of it at all.  Zac on the other hand rolls about everywhere - from one end of his mat to the other and then off the mat either onto the tiles or under the coffee table.  He is never anywhere near the spot where I left him.  It is so cute watching him stretching for an object or trying to get somewhere.  He is truly well on his way to being more mobile and I must get used to the idea that soon I won't be able to spend as much time in a sedentary position while looking after him!  Bring on the busy-ness!

Barney time!

My mom came across some free admission tickets to the Mama Magic Expo's Barney show this year which included an appearance by Cbeebies' Nina and the Neurons and she decided that it would be a fantastic idea to take our little Lily Pie.  And true to form, my mother as per usual, was right!

On Friday my mom, some friends and I went to the Cape Town Convention Centre for the much awaited for show.  We got there with half an hour to spare in order to secure some fantastic seats.  My mom worked her charm with the security staff and managed to get us prime seats in the 4th row (we didn't want seats in the front in case the kids got frightened - which wasn't the case in the end)!

Nina and the Neurons came on first and although Lily and her little friends were excited to see her, I think it was a little too advanced for them so it didn't maintain their concentration for the entire 30 minutes she was on stage.  It was lovely to see them watching her in absolute awe when she first came onto the stage.  Totally and utterly worth the effort to get to the show.

And then of course it was time for Barney's grand appearance and the main reason for us being there!  Lily and her friends were so excited to see him and their faces were worth a thousand words when he eventually appeared.  It was actually so emotional watching them that my mom, Nicole, Kim and I just got so teary!  Ridiculous that we were teary eyed over a large purple disosaur but I suppose that's what having kids does to you!  Lily was in awe and just wanted to get closer to the stage so we eventually crept to the front and sat on the floor.  Shame, she couldn't understand why she couldn't hold Barney's hand and was quite disappointed when the show finished and she didn't get to say a personal goodbye to him.  Bless, so cute!

Here are some pictures of our time at the fun Barney show:

Trick or treat

Every Halloween our estate has an organised evening where the children get dressed up and knock on the doors of our neighbours to collect some treats.  My friend Nicole, her hubby and son, Matthew, came across from their estate to join us for some trick or treating as well as an early evening braai.

Matthew was dressed up as a precious little pirate and Lily as a fairy - she donned the cutest pink fairy wings, a tiara in her hair, a fairy skirt and a matching wand in hand.  See picture below:

It was too precious!  Lily is quite the shy little child and is very quiet when meeting new people so it was with the sweetest, shy little voice that she would say "trick or treat" when being met by some new people at yet another new door.  She would confidently help herself to sweets when offered and happily place them into her little collection bag.  Needless to say by the end of the evening she had a bag filled with chips, suckers, chocolates, toffees and fizzers.  Thankfully she was content to only eat one marshmellow and didn't insist on over indulging! 

Next year we plan on doing much more for the occassion - dressing the exterior of the house with Halloween paraphernalia, inviting a few friends around so a bigger group can go trick or treating together, organising a braai, etc.  It was such a lovely evening out that it deserves to be celebrated, particularly with the kids being a year older and understanding the concept that much more.  Can't wait!

Update on sleep

So even though my nights have thankfully been better than the weekend's hourly wake up calls, I'm still rather exhausted, dreaming of my bed and wishing 8pm to come sooner!  Zac's sniffles have now turned into a cough so of course this disrupts his sleep (and mine too).  He doesn't necessarily wake up from the coughing spells, but I am disturbed by them so go to his room to check up on him and to readjust his sleep position.  He has now been sleeping on his side and his mattress lifted to elevate his head.  It definitely helps the majority of the time.

I hate it when my children are sick or battling and to hear him breathing through a snotty nose and coughing hard really breaks my heart.  I hope whatever's causing this awful virus clears up soon so both Zac and I can get back to being healthy, getting more sleep and being overall happier chappies!