SNOW IN NORTH CAROLINA

There is snow outside. It's the first snow fall of the season... and the season is more than half over. I think I can live with that. It's actually kinda pretty right now (which is something I don't usually say about snow). Having lived in Michigan, where snow is just a nuisance, and gets dirty, and slushy, I am not a big fan...but here in Elm City, it is looking kinda beautiful today. It is undisturbed and clean.

We took Luke out into it this morning... poor guy looked like a marshmallow, because the only snow suit we have is for a 2 year old, BUT it worked for the few minutes we were out. I can't say he was particularly interested, because we took him out at breakfast time, and he was just letting us know that he hadn't had his cereal yet. LOL.

Funny thing about snow in North Carolina is that the state pretty much shuts down when it snows. Because of how uncommon the snow is here, they are just not equipped to handle it. For instance, we live on a 55mph highway, and when we woke up this morning it was covered in snow...it's now 5:40pm and it still has not been plowed, so the few cars that have dared to venture out today are crawling up our street.
As a result of this 'HUGE' storm that has come by (It really is nothing more than a typical winter day in Michigan) church for tomorrow has been canceled. Jake and I had a good laugh about that. Someone on Facebook commented on my profile, saying that things have probably shut down here because the state only has one snow plow and it's probably parked in Raleigh. LOL
Anyway, enough joking.

Well, we have had a nice family day at home, and will be enjoying another tomorrow.
Every now and then you need a weekend that keeps you indoors together.

(That said, I am still completely itching to take my new car - a separate post will follow soon-  for a test drive)

SOME LUKE UPDATES

Our little boy is not so little anymore. His last weigh in (at 8.5 months) he weighed a whopping 22lbs.
But aside from his physical growth, he is just developing so fast, and learning new things every day. It's very exciting to watch him figure out something new all the time.
I am still not sure that Luke is going to crawl... he gets on his hand and knees, and can kinda shimmy a few feet, but he does it very unwillingly, and usually whining and crying the whole way... he HATES tummy time. Now walking on the other hand... that is his ultimate goal. He will walk with you holding his hands ALL day if you allow him. He recently (first time was in the baby care lounge at Amsterdam airport) figured out how to pull himself to a standing position in his crib. Since then he has done it more and more regularly. It's kinda funny going into his room and seeing my little man standing in his crib.
Today, he reached a new 'mobility milestone'... he pulled himself up on the coffee table. Now you probably don't think that is a big deal seeing how he does it in his crib, but it actually is. Luke for some reason has been very skeptical of holding onto anything aside from his crib and your hands. I had tried a few times to get him to stand at our furniture, but he would just sit back down and cry for you to give him your hands.

Anyway, so our little baby, is very quickly turning into an active little boy. He is a handful, but he brings us a lot of joy, and we love having him in our home.

Here are some recent pictures of my little monkey:

Wearing his jammies and robe that he got from his great Ouma

Looking spiffy in his sweater from aunty Lisa

A baby boy and a box... what more do you need?

 

Look at me... I can stand!

BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP...

Baa Baa black sheep, have you any wool? Yes sir, yes sir, 2 lambs full!

Ok, enough nursery rhymes.
Our neighbours have a couple lambs from January until April sometime... it's part of a 4-H project! Anyway, they walked the lambs over the other day, to show them to Luke.
My little boy is definitely an animal lover, because so far, no matter what type of animal it is, he gets giddy with excitement and he just loved every minute of this woolie encounter.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME...

As many of you know, I spent 6 weeks in South Africa with Luke over the Christmas period. Well actually, after a nasty bout of stomach flu and a postponed flight home, it turned into more like 6 and a half weeks.
It was wonderful to see my family, and more importantly for them to have that time with Luke...though I am sure they had their fill by the time we left. LOL

The first week back home was a nightmare. I was so far beyond exhaustion after the 6 weeks in SA, the stomach flu and then the 30 hour journey back with Luke... all I could think about was a warm shower, and a LOONNG few nights in bed, catching up on some much needed sleep, but that wasn't on the cards.
Luke was sick within a few hours of getting home. He had a burning fever of 102.4'F and was just feeling awful.
As it turned out, he had a cold, and ear infection #4 in less than 3 months. So we were on to round 4 of antibiotics for the same silly ear. It seems with each infection, he gets sicker. This time was by far the worst. He didn't sleep for more than a few minutes at a time day and night for a week...and he only had those little cat naps while we were holding him. It was a LONG week, of round the clock parenting. Jake and I slept in shifts. I would get a few hours in the evening, and then be on night duty when Jake went to bed. I was so happy when Luke finally got over this terrible sleep disruption and illness and started sleeping again. The last 3 or so nights have been a great improvement, and we are all feeling much better.

Aside from the rough start coming home, I must just say that I was absolutely thrilled to be back home.
Yes, I just referred to the USA as 'HOME'
It may not be my country of birth, or the land that my family live in, but I can definitely say that I have made my home here. Obviously having my own house, and little family here play the biggest part in making it home, but whatever the reason, I love being home.

A great winter picture of our home taken by Jake

I loved seeing my family, and I loved watching them interact with Luke, and I really do wish we could all live closer together, but that said, I think this trip to South Africa has made me realise how great my life in the USA is, how blessed I am here and that I really don't wish to live in South Africa again. Life there is hard, living is expensive, crime is high and I have found a comfort in living where I live. I feel safe, I have everything that I need, and life is good. (on most days. Lol)

The trip also made me realise how much marriage changes you. I didn't quite realise until I was alone in SA with Luke, just how much I depend on my wonderful husband. A few years ago, when I would get sick, my mom was the one who made me feel better, and I always wanted her to be around. When I had my nasty bout of stomach flu in SA, I just so badly wanted Jake to be there. (Mom of course filled in for Jake, but I still just really wanted him by my side, because I knew he would take care of me and make me feel better).
I have also realised just how much I trust Jake as a father. While in South Africa, although my family was wonderful at helping out with Luke and giving me a break once in a while, It wasn't the same as Jake watching him. Even though I know that my family is 100% capable of caring for Luke and I trust them completely, I could just never rest easy without still keeping an ear open for him. When Jake cares for Luke and lets me sleep or whatever, I am able to completely switch off and forget about my responsibilities as 'mommy' for those couple hours.

I suppose things have happened the way nature intended. You grow up, leave your family and make a family of your own.
I really am very grateful for my husband, my son, and my home. I am truly blessed in everything that I have.

Just a P.S

I LOVE MY WASHING MACHINE. Lol

Here are some more pictures from South Africa 

Us on Jubilee Square in Simons Town

Luke, enjoying a swing near Cape Point

Jake caught in the act... (courtesy of my dad) LOL

Playing with Gogga at our picnic at Spier

Splashing in the river with Daddy

AN AFRICAN ANNIVERSARY

Jake and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary on 21 December.  Jake however was in the USA, while I was in South Africa, so we didn't get to celebrate it in any way. When Jake arrived in SA, things were crazy with Christmas plans and family get-togethers etc, so there just never seemed to be a time where we could go out together and have our own little celebration. I then decided to make reservations at 'Boesmanland Plaas Kombuis' in Langebaan. Langebaan is about 1 hour 20 minutes up the west coast, and Boesmanland Plaas Kombuis (Bushman Land Farm Kitchen - is about the direct English translation) is a restaurant right on the beach, that does things in a very simplistic, African way, with very traditional South African food. I have never been, and Jake hasn't eaten a lot of traditional South African 'boerekos' as we call it, so I thought it would be an experience for both of us to enjoy.

BOESMANLAND PLAAS KOMBUIS

 THE RESTAURANT DINING AREA

THE WOOD FIRE KITCHEN AND SELF SERVE BUFFET

JAKE ENJOYING SOME TRADITIONAL SOUTH AFRICAN FOOD ON TIN PLATES

A FIRST FOR EVERYTHING

The past month has been a crazy one… hence my lack of blogging. Luke and I have been in South Africa for a little over 3 weeks, and Jake joined us last week just in time for Christmas. It’s been so great to see my family, and to see my mom and dad enjoying this time with Luke. The trip however has not been easy. It took most of the first week for Luke to settle in to SA time… so sleep was very minimal for me. Just as we were both beginning to settle in nicely, Luke got sick, so sleep was even less in my favour. My sweet boy had a burning fever, a red, swollen epiglottis (in his throat) and his stubborn ear infection flared up again. So, we had round 3 of antibiotics for the same ear infection we have been fighting for over a month, and he had a dose of cortisone. Fortunately, it seems we have now finally beaten the infection, and Luke is well. 

This trip has been filled with ‘firsts’ for our little boy.
It’s the first time he has visited with his Gogga and Pops (my parents) and the rest of my family.

MEETING HIS GREAT GRANNY AND GRANDPA

PLAYING WITH GREAT OUMA

We have had some entertaining moments on our vacation too. 

One example is when I asked my brother, 'Uncle Jarryd' to watch Luke for a few minutes while I finished getting ready.
This was the result.

Christmas was a lot of fun. We had a great family dinner on Christmas eve, followed by our gift opening.
Christmas morning was all about Luke. We all gathered around nice and early for Luke to open his presents.
What a spoiled little boy. For the first couple of gifts, he was pretty interested in the paper, but he soon got bored with that, and was only interested in taking the baubles off the Christmas tree. 

 

Yesterday, we decided to take Luke to the beach. Luke doesn't like the feeling of grass under his feet, so we weren't sure how he would react to the feeling of the sand. To our surprise, Luke LOVED every minute of it. He walked with his Gogga down the beach, toward the big, splashing 'bath' he could see at the end. We decided to let him stand in the wet sand and wait for the water to come in and touch his toes... Luke however doesn't appreciate the cold Atlantic any more than we do, and burst into tears when the freezing water reached his feet.
He did love playing in the sand though, and proceeded to swallow a mouthful.

 So, our adventures in South Africa will continue for 3 more weeks. I am EXHAUSTED, and looking forward to sleeping in my own bed again when I get home, but we are loving all the family time we are having here, and we are enjoying watching Luke enjoy all of these 'firsts'. I am so grateful that my family has been able to share in some of his growing up adventures.