Merry Christmas Everyone

Well, can you believe that Christmas has come and gone already? And after all the preparation and work? We had a lovely day, and I'm proud to say that I cooked a turkey for the first time (it wasn't such a big ordeal! thank goodness) with the onion and sage stuffing, made my own cranberry sauce (I'll never buy store made again) AND made Brussel sprouts edible! Which I think was my biggest achievement - I used a Delia recipe for Caramelised Brussel Sprouts with Shallots and Pancetta. They were lovely. Now that you've had a run down of the menu I can get onto the more important stuff - Ben LOVED Christmas... He had a ball opening his presents, and we had such a lovely morning playing around. It was one of my best Christmases... We got him a Smartville Train set which has lots of different animal characters that fit into different parts of the set and talk and teach - he's really spending quite a lot of time with it which is great. He got a plane that you can put things into from Riaan and Cathy and that was another favourite of the day - he spent ages putting things in and taking them out again. I also got him is own mobile phone, which I hope would take some of the attraction away from mine, but it is definitely only a stop gap until he gets the real thing.

The pregnancy is going well too now, after a bit of a rocky start... I'm starting to get my energy back now thank goodness, but for those of you in any doubt, pregnancy forgetfulness is a very real condition - I think this child will be a genius, as it is sapping all of my intelligence... I won't even launch into the litany of stupid things I've done over the past couple of weeks! ...

We hope that you have had a really good holiday, and that you've enjoyed spending time with friends and family, and for those of you we were far away from know that you were never that far as you are always in our thoughts...

Merry Christmas Everyone :)

Long Awaited Pictures

Hi Everyone,

I can't even begin to explain how hectic things have been here on our side... And while I have every intention of updating Ben's blog regularly, finding the time is becoming a challenge. We are all really well, Ben is just getting bigger and bigger.... and it is wonderful watching him develop into his own little person...

So here we are facing the last week before Christmas 2006 - and thankfully I have most all the shopping done... Admittedly, I only started and finished on Saturday, but it's done! The Kents are coming over for Christmas this year and I am looking forward to the day. I've put a lot into the planning to make sure that I'm not running around on the day... I really want to enjoy the day with Ben and Bob and not be a slave to the kitchen...

I hope that you all have a wonderful, merry and stress free run up to Christmas... Enjoy the holidays :) We send love to you all...

24 Days to Christmas and Counting

I haven't been neglecting my blog lately, but between computer problems, single parenting and full time work I've been a little busy. Robin was away in SA for a week on business and I took on morning, noon and evening duty ... It would have been okay except for the fact that Ben got conjunctivitus again which basically put us in quarrentine for the weekend and we nearly drove each other bananas. He was really bored and I didn't have the energy to entertain him 24 hours a day... It wasn't the best weekend I've had... Thank goodness Bob is back and we're back to a two parent family.

We've been looking forward to our trip to London for about 3 months now and finally on Friday the day came for us to fly out... Except that Robin left his passport and drivers licence in the office and Ryanair wouldn't let him on the plane... So our trip to London was suddenly cut short!

We are looking very forward to Bob's aunt, Linda coming to visit next weekend. We had such a lovely stay with them when we went to LA and I'm looking forward to returning the hospitality...

I hope you are all keeping well, and there is only a few more weeks until we come down to visit you...

Here are a few shots of the boy...

Empty Nest

Well, everyone's come and gone... Bob's mom flew back to JHB on Friday and Euan left this morning... It's very quiet around the house now... I've had the last week off work to spend with the two of them before they left... It was lovely, but I caught a cold towards the end of the week and so the last few days haven't been to pleasant.

Ben had his third hearing test on Tuesday... He's failed the last two, and this one went much better or so I thought... He was turning for everything except the really quiet sounds ... Once it was over I was convinced all was okay until the tester turned around and said `My Dear, he has fluid on his ears` She then proceeded to test his ears with a thermometer thingy and was shocked to find that he physically didn't have fluid in his ears... I could see she was stumped. She then questioned me a little on how we interact with him - and the verdict that followed had me laughing out loud... She decided that we overstimulate him! and that we are doing to much with him... What followed then was a lecture in how to talk to my son, as apparently I have taught him to tune me out - but only when I speak softly :)...

Anyway, here are a few more pics - we had a lovely walk on the beach yesterday and I've included some of Ben's Halloween Party at the creche... Don't know the legalities of publishing pics of other people's children, but then, what are the chances of them finding and logging on to my blog??...

Finally We're back

Where do I start!... our hard drive crashed and all of a sudden we found ourself in a world without internet... Felt like our hands had been tied... And some of you have been fairly impatient to get an update on our boy :)... So much has happened in the few weeks that we've been off line... Ben turned 1, Bob's mom is visiting, our attic was converted into a study and extra bed room,my brother is with us now... and as most of you know by now... We're expecting again... Another little one to add to our growing family due in June next year and we are delighted...

Ben is now walking like a pro - although a pro who's had a few :) and is really enjoying his new found freedom that upright mobility brings... And I'm really enjoying it too. He is able to get to things on his own steam and not shout when I leave the room because he can't follow...

I'm having a few technical difficulties in posting photo's at the moment, so unfortunately will have to try again later....

Party Plans in full swing…


With only two weeks left to go before my little man is 1!!! the party plans are in full swing. I have very ambitious plans in my head, but already fear that I may be running out of time. Also, I want to try and keep it small because to many kids in my lounge if the weather is bad will not be a good thing. And judging from the storm we had last night [remnants of hurricane Gordon] it could be very bad…
As most of you know, Bob’s mom is coming out for a visit and arrives on Wednesday. I think she’s really looking forward to coming out and spending time with Ben and we are looking forward to having her stay. The fun bit is that we’ve booked a “photo-shoot” for the actual day of Ben’s birthday and so we’ll have a family portrait and a memory to keep.
Ben has us in stitches these days, he is just so funny. Last night it was great fun to splash all of the bath water at mom and dad - he was hiccupping he was laughing so much…He is such a joy to Bob and me,- and waking up to that little smiling face in the morning is something I treasure. And every day he is more sturdy on his feet… not long now til he takes his first steps I think.

Also, he is getting more independent now and wanting to feed himself... This is the mess we are having to deal with now :)...

Almost 1

The schools are back, the days are getting shorter and colder and the harsh reality is that summer is over and winter is looming… But as ominous as that sounds things couldn’t be better! Ben has settled into crèche nicely now, and seemingly effortlessly he has cut four new teeth, bringing the total to 12… These new four have sprung up within days of each other and while being big and painful looking haven’t seemed to bother him in the slightest.


I have been really busy at work the last two weeks, and spent my first days away from Ben. It was so strange not seeing him for two days even though I didn’t leave home except for late nights and early mornings… It made the weekend all the more special though…

Ben, Sandra and their little boy Dylan came over for the last weekend in August and it was wonderful catching up with them… It was a busy weekend as we went to Sean’s first birthday party on the Saturday and caught the train to Dun Laoighaire on the Sunday to take in the Festival of World Cultures…

On the way back stopped to feed the swans… The weekend went by really quickly as good weekends always do, but the Toogood’s didn’t leave before making sure that we booked a flight over to see them, so we’re off to London in December and I’m looking forward to it already.

Ben is one next month and I honestly don’t know where the year’s gone… It has been the fastest 12 months… Not only that, but October is going to be particularly busy for us. Bob’s mom is coming out to visit for a month, and we are really looking forward to her visit… and we are getting our attic converted at the same time, AND my brother is coming out at the end of October too… Busy, Busy, Busy…

Alien Walking

It has just been so busy around here since I went back to work that I have had to put updating the blog on the long finger! I am really starting to feel that there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done. And worse, Bob and I are both starting to feel the guilt of working parents I think, I know I am anyway... I feel that I have so little time with Ben that I'm starting to get annoyed with the creche because they get to see him all day and don't seem to appreciate it!!! Thanks feminism movement in the 70's, now women aren't allowed to stay home with their children ... Okay, sorry for the rant - I'll get on to the real reason why you are reading this Ben...

He is just changing every day. Yesterday when he got home he decided that crawling is no longer for him and "walking" on his hands and feet is the way to do it, an added bonus is that he goes faster now. It is so funny to see, he looks like a little monkey - we've taking a little movie clip of it, but I have no idea of how to post it somewhere for you all to see. Also, breaking news is that we are now breaking liguistic [sp?] boundaries and starting to say "da da", really it's "ga ga" but you know Bob - he said da da first! Ma ma doesn't even get a look in!

Our angel child is also treating us so well and for the last week has slept through!! And this when we finally reached the end of our tether and decided that we were going to let him cry it out and put himself back to sleep... AND in the same week he decided to cut two more teeth - a molar on each side! I must be honest too, he has taken teething in his stride, honestly apart from a little nappy rash you wouldn't know that they were sprouting...

Here I am three paragraphs later... thinking I would just write a quick note and bang up some photo's... but there is just so much to say...

Birthday Parties

We had a wonderful day yesterday in the park for the twins 2nd Birthday. It was a great venue because the kids could run around and play without getting into anything... The weather was really hot, even though it was overcast for most of the day - very muggy!

It is great getting out the house over the weekends and we are so aware of making the most of what's left of the summer, as the days are already getting shorter. We have another party this afternoon - Rosalind is 3, and it's going to be great fun as there will be a bouncy castle and entertainers!... Here are a few more pics of the day yesterday...

Sorry the are not the right way round, don't have time to correct them today... Also, I'm not in any cause I was the photographer...

War Wounds

It's been another rollercoaster of a week! As you can see on the photo, the hospital cauterised the little blood vessel on his face to stop the bleeding... Which only worked temporarily I might add as we had A LOT of bleeding from... But on Tuesday the majority of it fell off and now he just has a small little spot on his face, and thank goodness, it's much better now.

It's a Bank Holiday weekend here, which means I have Monday off... and Bob is taking Tuesday to be with Ben so it's going to be a good week next week.

Will post again soon with pics from the weekend - two kiddies parties to go too... busy busy....

New Shots

Enjoying Tigger - thanks Lisa

Ben's lighting up cause he saw the frozen yogurt

Fun with Dad!
Love you Dad!

Gotta get in the pool on those good summer days

Working 9 to 5

It is fair to say that the last few weeks have been a period of chaotic distraction adjusting back to work – and getting to update Ben’s diary was a luxury that I wasn’t able to fit in!… I can’t believe that it’s been so long since I wrote an entry…

As most of you know, I’m back to work now… And while the first week was excruciating I think Ben and I are both settling in to our new routine. I hate being away from him, but I have to admit that there have been some positives to the move to crèche. Ben seems to be a lot happier with his own company, and while he is still quite clingy he’ll play with his toys on his own for a lot longer than he used to. Robin drop him there every morning, and I get to pick him up in the afternoon – and I must be honest it’s the highlight of my day…

I find I’m very busy now… there are always bottles to wash, food to make, clothes to fold, and it is very rare that I’m able to relax before 9 or half 9 at night… I’m not complaining mind… The up side is that I feel very productive these days … Isn’t it a case of the glass being half full…

The big news is that Ben is now crawling properly!! Classic textbook – and he is pulling himself up to stand against anything he can find. Anyone want to take bets that he’ll be walking before his first birthday??? We are in the midst of a heatwave here (temperatures in and around the high 20’s) and so we took him swimming on Sunday at the National Aquatic Centre and he had a great time – both Robin and I want to encourage his love of water… The only little down side is that he now has a very chesty cough… He’s not sick and doesn’t have a temperature, but he does sound like he’s been on a pack a day since birth…

I have been quite surprised, and pleased, that my little scribblings are actually being read… Who knew… ? Robin has come home a few times and said that people are complaining because I haven’t blogged for a while… So thank you, it’s nice to know that my Ben has an audience of people who care about him… With that said, I’ll promise to write more frequently…

Summer Holidays...

We’ve had such a wonderful week away… I can’t believe that it’s taken me four years to get back to visiting Clare and the Burren. Mom, Ben and I stayed in a wonderful B&B in Doolin – from there we traveled all over visiting the sights. We went to the Cliffs of Moher and spent a day on Inisheer, the smallest of the Aran Islands, we visited Bunratty Castle in Limerick and picnicked in Ardgillian Castle with gardens that slope to the sea… And the weather played ball too – I actually have a tan would you believe! Just from the few days away!!!!


Ben is back to his bright sunny self and is really making us laugh at the moment… He is trying so hard to crawl and I can proudly announce that today he leopard crawled for the first time. I bought him a new tape of childrens’ songs (I was about to do a Michael Douglass in “Falling Down”if I had to listen to his compilation of Wheels on the Bus one more time! ) and it has a version of the Chicken Song on it – well, it’s his best. He can’t stop chuckling each time it comes on… he’s very funny with it. I was doing the dance with him in the kitchen and he was beside himself, laughing hysterically with the actions.

I had a bit of a panic attack this week though because I realized that I’ve only three weeks left before I go back to work – for some reason I thought I still had a month. It is going to break my heart to send him off to crèche, but at least I would have had nine wonderful months with him… And it won’t be all bad, he needs to have more interactions than just me… I know that he’ll be fine, it’s me that I’m worried about …

Hope you enjoy the pics… xx

Our Ben isn't to Well

Unfortunately, this is going to be a quick one because my dear son is not well at the moment and is a bit demanding of my time - he has tonsilitus and is VERY clingy at the moment... But here are a few recent shots. We've been out and about - today we went to Howth for lunch... you have to enjoy the weather we've been having... Even Ben had a good time and a long sleep in the stroller... Which was exactly what he needed. Will write more soon...

Finally - A bit of Sunshine

I haven't posted in a while because we haven't really been out and about much because of the rain. May has been the wettest on record - EVER! But come the first of June the weather seems to have turned thank goodness and we spent the whole day out yesterday ... Ben even got a bit of colour at the beach. He is so funny now flapping his arms has become his language. Let me translate:

Fast flapping with "mmmmmm" sound directed at toy = I want that!

Very fast flapping, accompanied by kicking feet in cot = Ha Ha, no WAY am I sleeping now

Arms straight out and stiff with low growl = seeing something/someone different for the first time



So, now you are all fluent in "Ben" :)... Mom is arriving in two days and Bob is off to SA next Friday for a week and while he is looking forward to catching up with everyone and seeing his family I know that he's going to miss Ben (and me)...

With summer finally here I'll have lots to write about, so check back soon...