Wisley and Wyevale

(posted by Elizma)

Today I did something crazy: I took Liam to not one, but TWO wide open spaces and let him run around - Wisley Gardens (morning) and Wyevale Garden Center (afternoon).

Why was I crazy? Because I had to run after him all the time! I'm so tired tonight and can only imagine how he is feeling. He did however have a brilliant time at both - and at least if might increase my level of fitness slightly.

The first four photos were taken at Wisley and the last three at Wyevale. He climbed up that slide by himself so many times, I lost count...

Off to bed now I think!

Mesmerised by Tannie Carike

(posted by Elizma)

Friends of mine gave Liam a DVD by Carike Keuzenkamp, a famous children's television presenter in South Africa who now records CDs and DVDs for children.

I showed it to Liam for the first time last week as previously he wasn't much interested in television.

He was mesmerised, though a bit tired - as you can see in the video.

Thanks Tannie Renate, Tannie Annelise, Tannie Karien en Tannie Lise!

Kitchen Diaries - Part 4

(posted by Elizma)

A busy weekend for us this was. Leon and his Dad started to fit the kitchen units. It took them a day and a half to fit four units as it's quite tricky to get them level. They worked VERY hard, but it's slowly but surely taking shape.

Every day now we are getting a bit closer to the end, but the estimation is that we will probably only be able to move in in about 3 or 4 weeks' time. Here are some pictures of the cupboards going in - and of course a few of their little helper, Liam.

For more photos, click here. (And click on each photo below for a better view.)


Sweeping the floor - with his trousers!
On top of the world
The first row of fitted units

Ice cream in Woking Park

(posted by Elizma)

Leon and his Dad worked really hard this weekend with the first of the kitchen cupboards. (Thanks Dad!)

As that meant that we could not spend much family time together, we took Liam swimming late this afternoon and had an ice cream in Woking Park afterwards. He loved it soooo much!

(Click on the image for a bigger view)

Babbling away

(posted by Elizma)

(Before I start, I've posted this on Facebook before, but Leon's insisted I add it here as well as some people aren't following us on Facebook. Apologies if you've seen this before, but we ARE proud parents after all ;-))

Liam's now really starting to exercise his vocal cords and says quite a few words. This includes:
Mamma (mommy)
Pappa (daddy)
Doe-doe (sleep) - which he says and then marches himself over to his bed, waiting for me to come and put him in!
Bal (ball)
Tatta (bye)
Kar (car)
Baba (baby)
Bus (bus)
WOW! (WOW!)
Uh-uh (no)
Hallo (hello)
Klaar (finished)
Daar (there)
Kat (cat)
Ta (give/please)
Bib (bib)

He also practise saying other words after us, but have not used them on his own such as Ouma (grandma) and skoen (shoe).

Animal noises are increasing as well with the most common being:
Dog (woo-woo)
Cow (woooooo)
Lion (how)
Fish (pouts and smacks his lips together)
Rhino (snorts through his nose)
Owl (woo-hoo)

He is just so cute at the moment.

Liam loves his slide!

(posted by Leon)

Liam absolutely LOVES the slide that Tannas gave him!

At last...the folding doors!

(posted by Elizma)

We reached another big milestone yesterday - the folding doors were fitted, giving us the first opportunity to really see what the space will look like. Up to now it's been boarded up and quite dark.

Not long now before we can start decorating (probably next week!)

Camping

(posted by Elizma)

Last weekend we went camping in Dorset with our friends Louis, Liani and their 2 children, Alika and Daniel.

Though the weather wasn't great, we enjoyed it immensely. Especially Liam. He ran around outside like a headless chicken on steroids! We couldn't keep him inside the tent. As soon as the tent's zip went up about 5 cm, he was on his knees trying to crawl through. He loved the big expanse of grass and kept trying to visit our neighbours. I had my hands full trying to keep him out of other people's tents - especially if they had a dog.

We spent one morning at Abbotsbury Children's Farm and another in Sherborne - a picturesque town with loads of quaint little shops.

We enjoyed the experience so much, Leon bought us a new tent the day after we got back and we're already planning our next trip.

For some more photo's click here.

Our new kitchen !

(posted by LeonOnTheGo)

It has arrived. All 225 boxes of it. Whose bright idea was this?! A flat pack assembly nightmare awaits. Oh the joy! :-)