Happy New Year!

(posted by Elizma)

We just wanted to wish everyone a fantastic start to 2009...

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown. And he replied: Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way.

Minnie L. Haskins

Seven months old

(posted by Elizma)

Today is the first day of the New Year and Liam is 7 months old.

He's growing up at the speed of light and reached a few big milestones this past month:

He has moved from sitting supported to sitting on his own in just a few days. Leon and I are still amazed at the speed he did that, seeing that no-one teaches babies how to do it. They just figure it out themselves. This has also coincided with him starting to sit in a high chair in restaurants. He loves being able to see over the edge of the table and I always give him some snacks so that he can 'eat' with Mommy and Daddy.


For Christmas he got his first 2 teeth at the same time. The first sharp edge appeared overnight during his usual restful sleep.

He has also started to master the art of waving goodbye. He practices it mostly at mealtimes - staring at his hands in total wonderment that he can control the funny thing at the end of his arm. Actually doing it at the right time is a bit hit and miss, but he's definitely getting there.

Yesterday he was really on the move for the first time - be it shuffling backwards. He eagerly reaches for things that I put just out of his reach. I do sometimes ask myself: Why am I encouraging him to get going? Don't I realise what that means for getting things done?!

Other highlights this past month includes:

His first birthday party - which he could wear at hat to

Really starting to enjoy his jolly jumper - he's like a little rocket!
His first Christmas


His first cold (he still has it - one of the perils of the cold winter coinciding with teething)
Eating his first piece of finger food in the form of wholewheat toast

Playing in the ball pool at the soft play area


His first shower with Daddy


All in all a very exciting month - don't you think? To see some pictures of him taken in December, click here.

Merry Christmas to all

(posted by Elizma)

We wish you the most wonderful Christmas this year - celebrating with family and friends. And may you be blessed beyond your understanding...

How much?!

(posted by Leon)

I was recently given this Zimbabwean Dollar note. 50 billion! It's simply crazy, isn't it? It took a bit of digging before I could figure out how much it was worth. That's because on the 1st of April this year, Zimbabwe 'dropped' 3 zeros off their currency, so overnight a Z$5000 became a Z$5. And then in August they did the same, this time dropping a whopping TEN zeros off, so this note above is actually now a Z$5 note. Which is worth 0.008 UK pennies - yes, eight one thousands of one penny.

Old Bob Mugabe must be proud of himself, eh? :-)

Boxed up and ready to go...

(posted by Elizma)

I'm sure there are a few people who would like him as a present, but we're very thankful this Christmas that he's ours...

Ek sal self!

(posted by Elizma)

(Translation: I will do it myself!)

The men in my life... How lucky am I?!

(posted by Elizma)

Liam at 6 months

(posted by Elizma)

Our gorgeous boy is 6 months today. What an amaizing 6 months it has been. It has gone so quickly and we loved every minute - really!

During the last month he reached a few milestones...

On of them is rolling over. He's pretty much mastered rolling onto his front from his back, but not the other way around. Now this wouldn't usually be a problem, but he seems to love doing it at 5am in the morning. He then can't get back on his back and cries for help. Not the funniest of antic for that time of the morning! Especially if he does it a few times before settling again.

He's also showing the first signs of what would later become talking. He does not just make 'throat' sounds any more either, but he has started to use his tongue to make the cutest da-da-da sounds. Non-stop, until I switch on the camcorder - of course!

We've bought him a door bouncer yesterday. He does not have the hang of it yet, but seems to enjoy the freedom of movement it gives him. And his grandparents and Tania has bought him a high chair. An early Christmas present as he's not happy in his Bumbo anymore. He looked really chuffed this evening when we put him in it - as if he felt really grown-up.