Finally, Pigtails!

Oumie and the two grand-girlies

Jesse and I are in Durban this week, visiting Oumie and Oupie. Today cousin Jorja also popped by for a visit and of course, then the fun and games begin! Haha! Jesse doesn't like having to share her Oumie with her cousin. So every time Oumie picks up Jorja, Jesse insists on being picked up too. Poor Oumie!

Cancer Schmancer and the Travelling Hillbillies

We were in Durban this past weekend, visiting Robin's folks. We were fortunate, in that Robin was invited to preach down in Margate (Uvongo) on the KwaZulu Natal South Coast, about five hours drive from Dunhillbillydee and the church paid our fuel to get there and back home... so we made a weekend of it and visited Robin's family in Durban.

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As always, the trip was sheer torture challenging for Jesse, who finds the longs rides sooooo very boring that she becomes a monster slightly annoying about an hour into the trip. Think scratching fingernails on a chalkboard. Or digging on concrete. Now multiply irritation-factor by roughly fifty two, and you might be somewhere in the region of understanding how easy it is travelling with this particular sugar booger.

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Not that I'm complaining or anything. No sirree.

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I'd rather travel around the world with her screeching into my ear the entire way AND STILL HAVE HER, than be a regular globe-trotter WITHOUT HER. (Good enough disclaimer?)
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Okie dokie then.

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Needless to say, we think long and hard before accepting any invitation that might involve an extended sit in her car chair. But when it comes to time with my inlaws, we don't miss a beat in accepting invitations. LOVE LOVE LOVE visiting my inlaws. They are so cool! We love doing all the same things. And Jesse just adores them.

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Speaking of which - my mom-in-law is battling cancer at the moment. The last time I mentioned it, she hadn't yet shared the information with anyone beyond her nearest and dearest, so I couldn't tell you WHO it was... Now, it's no longer a "secret" I can share with you that she has had her first round of chemo and is a total champion! She is one of the bravest people I know. She faced the chemo with her usual gutsy gumption and though we felt nauseous for a few days afterwards, she still went ahead and unpacked the numerous boxes from their move (YES - in the middle of it all, they moved houses, after being in their previous home for 35 plus years!!! - how brave is that? answer: VERY FRIGGIN brave!) AND kept the smile on her face and the skip in her step. I am so proud of her. On Friday she drove herself to the hairdresser and had her head shaved, preceding that awful time when her hair would fall out. She now sports an oh-so-hello sexy wig and she looks GORGEOUS! We are all twisting her arm to keep the style when her hair grows back. She looks HOT! (I will only share pics if she gives permission. I haven't asked, but everything is still very new and though I don't mind sharing absolutely EVERYTHING about my life with y'all, I know others are slightly more private than I am.)

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When we arrived at their home on Friday Jesse went running up to her. My mom-in-law picked her up and Jesse gave her a puzzled look as if to say - you look different, Oumie! And then she pointed at my mom-in-law's snazzy new metallic pink spectacles and smiled! Haha! She didn't even notice the new hairdo, just the new specs.

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Today we're back home on the farm, and enjoying the awesome February weather. It's warm with a slight breeze. Gorgeous! Jesse's napping right now, but when she awakes we'll be running around in the garden together again. Such a tough life. Haha! Have a great week, lurkers. I'm sure we will also.

Too much cancer!

A few members of my family have had cancer. Aunts, uncles, and other. Some have won their ongoing battle against it, others didn't. And then, there is someone very dear to us who just recently found out that she has cancer. And the type of cancer that you really don't want to have to get, ever. The kind that grows very fast and is just looking for trouble.
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I would tell you who it is, except, she hasn't really told people in general about it, and I don't want to be the one blabbing. For a change. So, until she makes it common knowledge, I won't be.
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The doctors have told her (after she just had surgery last week to remove the malignant tumor) that she will need to have chemo as well as radium threatments. And this particular chemo coctail will definitely cause her to lose all her hair. She will need treatment for a few months. But, what's really really bothering me, is that we can't find a decent wig for her, in anticipation of the hair loss. Right now she has lots of full, grey curls and soon they will be gone. I hate to think that she will be shy to walk around balding! I'm certain it will bother her, even though she's not talking about it. As if fighting cancer isn't enough - you still have to go and lose all of your hair!
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But surely, with all of the people battling cancer out there, there must be some good wigs to be had? There is a shop somewhere here in Durban that apparently makes good wigs - it's our last stop locally, before we start looking overseas for a good hairdo. Sometimes, living in Africa can be rather challenging.
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What do the "Locks for Love" Foundation do with all of the hair that gets donated annually? Does anyone know where I can find out? I tried the Cansa Foundation, but apparently their wigs are a bit worse for wear...
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*Sigh* This search for some good hair is becoming a really big challenge!

Merry Christmas!

We would have been in Port Elizabeth this December holiday. Plans changed somewhat when my sister and her hubby decided to buy my parents tickets to spend Christmas with them down under. And leave us behind.
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Not that I'm bitter or anthing.
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So, this year we're with Dear Hubsband's family again. And the funny thing is - I don't know where I prefer to be... with my family or with his! Let's face it. Very few people can say they LOVE their inlaws. I, on the other hand, LURVE mine.
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You might be tempted to think that I'm laying this on a bit thick, because yes, they read my blog. (Hello Mom! Hello Nonks!) And you might be right wrong right...
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But even our friends LOVE my inlaws. And you can ask them if you don't believe me. Our friend Dewald (who absconded South Africa to go and live in North Carolina! Deserter!) even writes my mom-in-law letters. But not us.
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Not that I'm bitter or anything.
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Anyhoo.
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What I was supposed to be blogging about today was that I'm missing my Down Under'ers terribly today. They are eleven hours ahead of us, which makes it almost nine o' clock on Christmas Eve. My family don't do the open-prezzies-on-Christmas-Eve thing. They do the go-to-bed-early-so-that-the-night-passes-quickly-and-we-can-wake-up-to-christmas-morning-sooner thing. So at least I'm not ALREADY missing out on special family time... they're simply too far away for my liking.
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Merry trissmiss to my Down Under'ers. I miss you all terribly.
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And a WONDERFUL Christmas to all my blogging buddies out there!
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Thank you, Jesus, for laying aside Your divinity and coming to our little planet to be born as a little guy in a feeding trough in a stable on the outskirts of Bethlehem, to a little girl who was scoffed at for being knocked up when she wasn't even married and a faithful young man who was ridiculed for standing by her. You are so much more than we deserve and we are so indebted to You!

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P.S. Ms J, I promise I'll post some pics soon ok?

My Christmases are so different now!

We're in Durban again, holidaying with the outlaws inlaws. Which means that I have
(a) Internet access for the next three(ish) weeks! Yeeee haaaaaaa! So happy I am!
(b) Very willing suckers for punishment grandparents itching to look after Jesse so that I can have three minutes to myself! Yeeee haaaaaaa! So happy I am!
(c) Malls, malls and more malls nearby! Yeeee haaaaaaa! So happy I am!
(d) Unlimited coffee on tap! Yeeee haaaaaaa! So happy I am!
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Hasn't this year just flown by sooooo fast? Remembering a year ago, my little girl's very first Christmas - she was still so tiny - not even crawling yet. And now, barely a year later, she is an inquisitive marauding monster! A lovable inquisitive marauding monster. But STILL an inquisitive marauding monster. Very little is beyond her reach now. Especially since she's figured out how to move the furniture and create steps to climb up to where she wants to be. Can somebody say "Lord have mercy"?
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Gone are my days of sitting quietly beside her while she plays.
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No siree.
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Now, I barely get to take a few deep unfit breaths before running to catch up with her before she plunders the next "untouchable". Leave alone inspect the state of my grey rooted hair!
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Fun fun fun.
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I cannot comprehend how vastly empty my life would be right now, if it weren't for this little girl. How I just totally adore her! (And yes, you can remind me of that when she's throwing a a very loud, very violent tantrum in the aisles of the Pavillion in the middle of a bunch of impatient last-minute-Christmas-shopping grinches. Please. Not for the feint-hearted, these tantrums!)
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Somebody told me a few years ago that my life would never be the same when Jesus would give me children. How right they were! I wouldn't trade my NOW for my THEN, for anything on this planet! Even when I take stock of my empty wallet, grey hairs and aching bones. It's worth every second.
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How blessed am I?

Walky Talky

I don't know what all the fuss is about - this walking thing's a breeze! I just PRETEND not to be able to walk properly by myself, so that I get to hold hands with daddy and mommy when I want to explore a bit. And also, my mommy and daddy squeak and squeal when I go walkabout! Very entertaining. If I keep it up, at this rate, they'll still be holding my hands when I walk at 47 years. :o) Hehe. Me thinks that's a plan!

How far we've come!

I sometimes forget just how far we have come, from even just a year and a half ago, to this day. I might get frustrated at Jess and seriously consider growling at her, or I get annoyed when I need to climb out of bed four or five times at night to see to her... and then I was reminded of how badly my heart ached to be able to do these things... to feel a little hand pulling at my jeans, or see those little lips puckered up for a smooch just from me! And I can kick myself for even getting slightly annoyed! Allow me to share an excerpt (or fifty) with you, from my prayer journal.

25 October 2006

Dear Father in Heaven, Lord Jesus and Holy Spirit,

I don't know what to say, but please forgive me. I have been (indirectly) SO angry at You again, that You didn't intervene and allow me to have Jodi-Lee. But at the same time I've been asking You to help me to trust You. I've been struggling, Lord. But You haven't left my side. I've been trying to trust You through it all, but on my own steam, when I really needed to be crouching at Your feet in submission and begging Your intervention and grace. My heart has been in rebellion to You. but You are SO gracious and kind - selfless - that You laid down EVERYTHING to redeem me at great cost - Your own blood! - How can I then rebel against You for not intervening in this one aspect for me? O God, thank You for teaching me that "the glory that shines from Jesus' face is the glory of selfless love. [Your] sacrifice on Calvary shows that the law of selfless love is the law of life for earth and heaven. This selfless love comes straight from the heart of God." {from the book called 'Messiah' chapter 1} So, when I am selfish it is because I am not activated by YOUR heart and spirit. If you live in me, selflessness will be my natural tendency. Oh God, please come and live in me again! Please may I be led of Your Spirit and be living in Your presence and freely give my rebellious heart's desires and trust You selflessless with that which I desire more than anything in this world: a baby. Please God, I am so tired of hurting with this. I just want to give it to You once and for all and experience peace in the certainty that You know what You're doing. After all, You are GOD! There is no higher authority! Oh God, pleeeeeeeeez: make me Yours. Please help me to surrender daily and so to love and trust You more every day. Please God, because this is what You desire for me. And because this is exactly what Jesus died to accomplish. A renewed trusting relationship with me. And please, Lord, let it begin NOW.

In Jesus name,

amen.

December 2006

Dear Father in Heaven

What an amazing God You are, and for so long I have lost sight of it. I just want to praise You for helping me through this week. I have FINALLY given up on trying to be pregnant and what a relief it has been for me. You are teaching me what it means to trust You again. Please Lord, don't stop now. You know what You're doing. You know what's best and help me to keep remembering that. Thank You so much!

Amen

26 June 2007

Lord God,

It's astounded me that it has been more than six months since I last wrote in my prayer journal! It is also six months since we stopped trying to get pregnant. Has it also been six months since I last trusted You with my heart's desire??? Has it been six months since I lost myself in You, or has it been even longer?

This has been the hardest time of our lives and I wonder if maybe that's because I didn't really have You in it? You must be so sick and tired of hearing me rededicate my life to You. But I honestly don't know what else to do! I don't know the right way anymore and I can't trust myself to stick by it. Instead, I simply need You in my life, Lord Jesus. I need to know You, so that I will remember how to love You and trust You again. It has been years of this now... I look back in my prayer journal and I am ashamed. I am embarrassed at the monotony of it and that I haven't allowed You the space to work in me. O God, please forgive me! Help me to start anew with You. I really need You leading me. All my efforts have been futile and yet You have remained faithful. You have lifted me up on my weakest days and carried me. And more importantly, You have sustained my life up until now, so that I would have this opportunity to repent. What an awesome God You are!!! You are amazing. Thank You Father in heaven. Thank You for this opportunity to start again. I am so grateful. Please take this gratitude and allow it to grow into Love for You and trust. I want to be saved by You. You have promised that You began a good work in me and that You will be faithful to complete it. Please Lord, would you restart the "factory" again in me, reproducing Your likeness in me. I want my heart of stone replaced with a heart of flesh.

For Your glory, Lord!

amen

25 Jan 2008

Lord Jesus,

Perhaps the solution to my see-saw devotions is to stop looking back and to just focus on what You have done for me, today, and to not put pressure on myself for the future? What do You think? Because I seriously don't trust myself to stay devoted to You! On the contrary - YOU never change! Your feelings toward me haven't changed. You died for me already 2000 years before I was even born! How incredible of You! You know the awful path I am bent on and You know where it's leading me. I am so inconsistent! It's always either fervor or failure with me, isn't it? Where is the happy medium? Although, now, when I think of it, that would be lukewarm, wouldn't it? And You've already told us that conclusion. So Lord, all I can do is fall on You, the Rock, and be broken. I am already broken, Lord. This body of mine don't work too good! :o) It's only You who can piece me back together again.

So, help!

Please Lord!

amen

17 March 2008

Father in Heaven

Sometimes I wonder what Your plan is for me. I am trying to trust You. My head tells me that You are God and that You know what You are doing. So I should trust You. But my heart is still breaking! Every baby I see is a fresh reminder. I feel a bit shattered, Jesus. I am REALLY struggling with this again. Where is the baby for us??? What is Your plan??? Whta must we do? It feels as if everything we do gets a green light, but then it just falls through as we move forward. What must we do? Is it just to trust You? I must admit, that is one of the hardest things! Please God, help me to trust You then. If that is all You require, I am going to need Your help with that. Because I am failing dismally. Lord Jesus, please intercede for us and for me in God's throne room! Holy Spirit - I so need You! Without You, this is all hopeless!

Otherwise there's nothing left in this life for me!

amen

27 March 2008

Dear Father in Heaven

The way You are opening doors for us to become adoptive parents just astounds and excites me!!! Oh God, how awesome You are!!! You ask - will I still be faithful to You if You didn't do this for me... I want to answer 'yes' because that's what I have tried to do in these last six or seven years, when we made no progress in the babymaking department. You know how my very heart cried out to You in anguish. You saw me. You still do. And, o God, will this time be You answering 'Yes' ? I pray it is. Oh God, grant Robin and I a family to love. Please Jesus! You created us and told us to have children. Why would You then withold the very thing You have commanded? Especially when miracles are Your specialty? Lord God in heaven, please will You open the doors for us? I already have my heart set on this little baby! But Father, You know the future. Please Lord, if THIS is the baby for US, please let the birthmom sign the consent forms. We have hurt so much in this journey! Lord Jesus, You heart Rachel's prayer and opened her womb. You heard Hannah's prayer too. You heard Abraham and Sarah. Hear me now, Lord. Please. This is my prayer. I know You CAN! But will You? Please Lord, do! And God, I really want to mean this: Your will, not mine.

Help me to mean it?

Amen

28 March 2008

Dear Lord God

I am so excited about the possibilities for us and for the meeting on Tuesday. O Lord I am like a stuck record! But Lord, can I hide anything from You? No. You see my need. You know that we would teach our child(ren) about You. And so, God, please grant us children to love. Fill our home with them so that we can lead them to YOu and so that we will also finally understand the kind of Fatherly love You have for us. How else could we realize the magnificent power of unconditional love?

Amen

9 April 2008

Lord God

Thank You so much for leading and guiding. I want to praise Your holy name. You are eternal, everlasting, all-knowing, all-powerful. You are love. You invented happiness and peace. Without You, that is impossible.
I have read of Your character this morning in Psalm 102. It tells of Your Godness. And then it says in verse 17: "I know that You will respond to the pleas of Your people and that You will not let their prayers go unanswered." Father in Heaven, I know You have heard the pleas of Your people crying out on our behalf. You hear them. You see the birthmom and her unborn child. You know that baby's character. You knit her together in her birthmom's womb. You are the Creator and Giver of Life. Is this the baby for us? Would Y ou give us this little life to love and nurture?

I promise (not as a bargaining tactic) that if You do, o Lord, "What You do will be written down (by me on my blog) for coming generations, and people...will read it and praise You for it." Psalms 102 v 18 with my words in brackets.

For Your glory, Lord Jesus, Father and Holy
Spirit!

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10 April 2008

Father in Heaven

I am growing to love our time together every morning. Thank You for giving me another day, Lord Jesus. You give me the ability to get out of bed every morning and You fill me with peace. It is Your peace, Lord, which has made me calm as we wait on the birthmom's decision. Please Lord, will You lead us? And especially the birthmom's family. Warm their hearts toward us if this is Your will, so that this decision will be an easy one for them. Thank You Lord for everyone who is praying with us, and thank You Lord, that it is a little girl!!!

Thank You!

Thank You!

Thank You!

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17 April 2008

Lord Jesus,

You have opened SO many doors for us to get to this point... You pulled strings to get the other couple out of the picture, who the birthmom had originally chosen as the family for her unborn child. You arranged for our profile to get into her hands. You arranged it months ago that the birthmom's crisis counselor became our friend and then You orchestrated that she also became the birthmom's crisis counselor! You made the birthgranny frustrated enough that she wanted to set up a meeting with us, even though in the social worker's eyes that's not done. And then You made it possible for us to meet with the birthmom and the birthdad too! How many doors You have already opened for us!!! It is so exciting!!! You are answering our prayers. Oh Lord, but now, oh how HARD it is becoming to just sit back and wait while they make a decision! The longer they take, the more I am inclined to think that they aren't choosing us as the family for their baby. Oh God, I am trusting You in all of this, but I am going to be honest when I tell You that this waiting is working on me now. It is grinding on my emotions and I am feeling heartbroken, even though we haven't had an answer yet and they might even still say yes. But at this stage we don't know. And that's the hard part. Waiting. And not knowing. And Lord, You know. You are in control. You know already what they are going to decide. O God, please do this for Robin and I so that I can tell everyone what You have done for us! O Lord, please stretch out Your mighty arm and open their hearts and minds to us, and SOON! Please Lord, TODAY! O Lord, please take this burden of waiting from us. Thank You Lord that You will make Your decision on how to answer this prayer with YOUR will in mind, because You know what's best and because You are teaching me how to trust You again. So God in Heaven, be merciful to me and Robin, please. Look on us with pity, Lord, so that we can be parents, so that we can give this baby a name that will honor You and so that we can teach her to love You and she can be saved by Your grace. O God, please open the doors! Please Lord, look upon us with mercy and favour. May our lives be a testimony to Your grace and power and love.

Please Lord, also be with the birthmom especially today.

Bless her and watch over the little baby.

Please, pick us!!!

Please Jesus.

Please.

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18 April 2008

O Lord!!! Thank You!!! My heart soars in praise to You! You have given us this baby!!! I am so excited and amazed and blessed! So much more than I deserve. This is all only blessing! And so, Father we are going to name her somthing that praises You for the rest of her life:

Jesse-Lee

Jesse meaning "Gift from God" and Lee being Robin's family name, passed down from every firstborn to every firstborn. So, every time we say her name we will be praising You for the gift of her. Praising You! For ever!

Oh, thank You Lord!

Thank You!

Thank You!

And that is how we came to have little Jesse-Lee in our life. The biggest blessing ever! I stand in awe of God when I read back in my prayer journal. What a long journey we walked with God until He blessed us with little Jesse-Lee. How humbling it is to consider that God - the CREATOR of the entire universe - chose us to be the family for little Jesse-Lee. He knit her together in her mother's womb with US in mind. How very humbling and awe-inspiring. I pray daily that God will make Robin and I the kind of parents who will honour His decision to have us parent her. Our gift from God.

Things that make my heart pump lumpy custard

Just quickly checking in from my cellphone to let you know that we had a massive storm here at the Hillbilly Dump, and my office leaked and killed my internet. Fun fun fun.

Want to wish you all a wonderful Easter weekend! May it be filled with all things chocolate Easterish. Remember our Saviour this weekend ok! After all, that's what Easter is all about, isn't it? And if chocolate aids you in contemplating Him, then lawaai marai! My mom arrives tomorrow for three weeks! Ok, could anything possibly be better that that??? Chocolate AND my Marmeeeee!!! Didn't think so. Love all you loonies out there. Happy Easter! Chat again soon, hopefully.

She gets that from me

People are constantly telling us that Jess looks like Robin.
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What. Ever.
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See Exhibit A below.

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OK, so there is a bit of a resemblance, I'll admit it. I'm not jealous.
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Really.
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OK, so I am a wee bit jealous. Dang, make that a LOT jealous.
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Then again, she does have a super dooper cute character! She gets that from me.
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Happy happy

Yay! A new year, a new time to spend chasing chickens out the house marvelling at God's creation and especially at my banana-pudding and her delicious dimpled cheeks! Here's wishing you all a WONDERFUL year, filled with all of those naughty things that will make you fat. If this year marks another year that you've been ttc, I pray this year holds the fruition of your dreams! Hold on. Keep trying. Don't give up yet!

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As for me, this is going to be my "Happy Year". Last year, at the start of the year I decided that I would be happy even if it totally killed me. And just look how happy 2008 turned out for me. Not that deciding to be happy landed me sugar booger, but at least I was semi-happy along the way. And seriously, how bad can being happy really be?

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So, a marvelously HAPPY 2009 to all of my loony lurkers out there!
Yours in Hillbilliness
Char and her brood
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P.S. I've been trying to post this since the 31st of December. Error schmerror.

Game On!

I can't even begin telling you how smug excited I'm feeling today... Well, I was even MORE excited yesterday, because that's when it happened for the very first time. Jess bawled her little eyes out and wailed when I passed her onto someone else! (SO exciting that she knows ME and recognizes when she's not with me anymore!) And then, (even better!) this someone else passed her onto Mr Someone Else who Jess should've been quite happy to go to. Said Mr Person who Jess should've been comfortable with shall remain anonymous. But hypothetically speaking he could well be recognized as one of the Hillbilly Household. If you know what I mean. When Jess saw that I was still in the room, she stretched out her arms and reached for me!! And when I took her from her least favoured Hillbilly ahem! her current captor from Said Person Who Shall Remain Anonymous, she stopped wailing, snuggled into my neck, sighed and smiled! VICTORY! Score one, Mommy. Zero to Mr Person Who Shall Henceforth Assume The Title of Loser Challenger. Not that I'm competitive or anything.

You know you're loved when...

...you ask to speak to your nephew (who has just moved to Mars New Zealand and therefore doesn't get smooches from his favourite aunty very often...) and he says "Hello Aunty Char! I am busy catching a spider, a live one, so please just leave me alone for a little bit ok? Love you!" (CLEARLY!) "Bye!"

Yup, I think it's safe to assume I've dropped a bit down his Favourite People List. When someone would rather chase a spider than chat to you, there's your sign.

My christmas present budget just got a bit bigger. Nothing says "I LOVE YOU AUNTY CHAR!" quite like a newly bribed nephew who just got the gift of his dreams. Yeah. I'm scaly that way.

No internet, no happy

Yeah, I'm still waiting for the internet to be installed at home. Thus the ever-decreasing blog posts of late. Sorry. This blog is becoming b-o-r-r-r-i-n-g... Either NO posts or hasty ones while gatecrashing a friend's computer. Let's hope I can get online from home again soon...

It's my dad's 60th Birthday Bash this weekend, so we are traipsing down to East London for the weekend. Actually to a resort just outside of East London, called Cefani. It's going to be SUPER GROOVY! and I mean GROOVY as in hip-hugging, bell-bottoming, dance-till-you-drop partying in a nifty sixties' theme! ALLLL the family and old family friends will be at the resort for the whole weekend - bound to be lots of funny stories afterwards. And of course, it's the first time they will all be meeting our noonoo-pie... so, I'm priming Jess now already for lots of cheek-pinching, smooching and "Ahhhh, moeder!"'s. Tomorrow morning early we hit the road from Durbs (we're already in Durbs) and do the mind-bending long drive all the way back home to the Hillybilly Dump again on Monday. Over a thousand kilometres in ONE DAY! Eish! And then I'll be posting pics of the 60's Bash on Tuesday. Woohooo!

So, have a fab weekend guys. Chat again next week!

And... MORE pics!

More weekend pics

We took Jess to our favourite coffee shop in Durban. To, you know, initiate her have coffee. In these pics are Robin's uncle Juri and his aunty Di with lil Jess. And then one of my mom with her favourite granddaughter.

Let the little children come unto Me.

OK, y'all. I'm back. For all of two minutes, but back nonetheless. Wow! I can't believe I get to go online again... how long has it been? Over a week! My shattered nerves. That accounts for the nervous tic I developed a few days ago. And for the, oh, six hundred or so new photo's I have waiting to upload.

When I get snap-happy, I get snap-happy.

In my next life I'm going to be a paparazzo. Hmmm, I wonder... Does Heaven stock paparazzo's?

Aaaannnnnyhoo...

So, this past weekend, Robin, Jess, half the household goods and I trooped down to Durban for Jesse-Lee's special Dedication Service. Dang! Kids needs lots of things for a weekend! It's just as well we bought the double cab then. Next time we go anywhere, I'm thinking of calling a removal company to help with the preparations. And (uggghhh!!!) the unpacking. And that's all I have to say about that.

But the service was AWESOME! We had our groovy friend, Pastor Gideon and his wife, Rhona, drive down from Johannesburg especially to do the service for us. And the church was super duper packed! Friends and family from all over came to share in the joy with us! It was AWESOME! Of course, a few tears were shed... (You know you're getting old, when happiness makes you cry, hey?) And later, a few pounds gained. (My mom-in-law knows her way around a kitchen!)

Here are a few pics of my favourite moments at the service.

ABOVE: Haha! Note the expression! Jess wasn't too impressed about being held up like a trophy... So she told us all about it. (BELOW)

ABOVE: Little Ethan joined the party.

Pics, pics and more pics

A few pics before I return the modem to my hubby at the office... (You've got to take advantage while the going is good, you know...)

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I couldn't resist this one of little Jesse-Lee (and her super hot dad) in her spiffy boots for church this past weekend! Those boots were made for walking. And that's just what they'll do. Sorry, apparently I get corny when I haven't had enough sleep.

And last night Robin's parents visited with us for the night. It was SO nice having them here with us. And I couldn't resist a photo op with them and Jesse-Lee at the breakfast table this morning...

As for these two pics, well, just some more proof that my baby schnooki pooki is really smiling every day. Winds schminds, I say. And like I said before, if it is winds that are making her happy, I'm going to have my hands full in future. Let's just say she already fits right into her hillbilly family.

Parenting aint for sissies

Warning: This post contains details of poop. May offend sensitive readers. (haha!)

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My heart is breaking for my lil sugar-booger... she has gone from jippo-guts to constipation of note. Poor little bunny. And my poor blog readers too - this blog is turning into a bit of a POOP CHRONICLES. Thank goodness one of my friends is a pediatric surgeon, and another of my friends is a homeopath specialising in childcare... They talk sense into my panicked brain all hours of the day and night when I phone them asking a gazillion-and-one questions. Were it not for them, I might have gone around the bend already. Well, more around the bend than I already am, that is. Is parenting supposed to be this hard? Or am I just a little more paranoid than most parents? Hmmm... OK, don't answer that.

Anyhoo... It turns out that I'm quite a good poop-scooper after all. When it comes to changing nappies (that's diapers in Americanese) I can do it with my eyes closed by now. Not really closed. But you know what I mean. And now, as an added dimension to the Poop Scooping Posse, I have added bum massage and bicycle-legging to the nappy-changing schedule. They say it helps to get the, um, er, bowels moving. At this stage, I'm willing to try anything, y'all.

In one of our nappy-changing sessions, my mom and I were doing the Poop Brigade, i.e. one of us holds sugar-booger, the other gets the changing table ready with all the goodies we're going to need. Then we do the whole nappy change together. One holds the legs, the other wipes the derier. Quick!, remove nappy, place new one under the buttocks, wipe, tuck, fold and attach. Simple really. Until the, um, poop, is still traversing the dungshoot and the new nappy is not yet in place under the exhaust pipe. If you know what I'm saying. Then both granny and mommy jump around the room going 'Ew! Ew! Where's another Bum Wipe? Quick! You get it! No, I'll get it! OK, one of us better get it, and SOON!' by which stage the poop is already landing on the nifty easily-cleanable changing table's surface. Thank Heavens for plastic changing mats!

So, this one time (and yes, this has happened more than once and yes, you'd think we'd have learned our lesson by now...) neither of us were quick enough in grabbing another Bum Wipe. And so my mom, Poop Scooper of Note, caught the protruding offender in her hand. I kid you not. I was laughing so hard I couldn't offer any assistance.

For about one whole hour.

And then, (yes, it gets better!) my mom walked to the rubbish bin with the log in her hand, and just as she lifted the lid on the bin, the parcel in her hand landed on the floor and she had to pick it up off of the floor to throw it away! Too funny! My sides are still hurting for laughing so hard.

Anyhoo. I told you it was gross. Don't blame me. You kept reading after I posted an OFFICIAL WARNING at the top of this post. Haha!

Here is a pic of my fave sis (Aurette) with my punkin. This one was taken last Saturday already.

And this is little Ethan (Aurette's son) with his new cuzzy.

(The puppy had to be in the pic. It goes everywhere with him! Too cute!)