Cape Town 22-25 September

We left Joburg last Wednesday for a couple days and flew down to Cape Town. This was Natalia's first flight. For the first half hour she was not happy and wanted to climb all over everyone. She was pulling the lady's hair in front of us and poking the guy next to her. Oh my, I thought that 2 hours couldn't pass quickly enough. We tried everything to calm her down and make her sit still - yeah right, making a toddler sit still !?! We ended up giving her a rusk and biltong and that kept her still(ish) for the next hour and a half.

Having fun before boarding the plane

Dinner at the airport - Mac & Cheese

We went to the Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront on the Thursday. Natalia loved loved loved it. She enjoyed looking at the fish, lobsters, crabs, sharks, penguins, frogs etc. There was also a puppet show which made her shriek with laughter. Pity I forgot the camera!

We went to Tania's house for breakfast on the Friday morning. It was nice to see where they live now in Noordhoek. They only bought their house recently and moved in at the beginning of the month. Sadly we didn't get to see Brett. He was off on the Orange River doing a tour.

Nice pic with Dada

Playing with Tannie Tania and Sebastian the dog

Oh just loving water. She got hold of an empty cigarette box and was having a ball.....

Hey, I'm learning to walk. Natalia is almost almost there. She is pushing her pram around and walking if you hold her one hand.

After breakfast we popped over to my uncle Paul's place in Simon's Town. The two towns are closer than I thought. He has a lovely house up against the mountain with a stunning view of the ocean. Paul cooked us a yummy light lunch; we chatted and laughed. Wentzel was very energetic and played with Natalia most of the time and it was nice to see Lesley again. We spent a couple of hours there before heading home.

What a view.....pity it was very windy with a chilly wind so we didn't sit on that side of the house for long.

In the back garden. Wentzel is great with kids. Natalia had so much fun and crashed not long after

A beautiful back yard. Me, Paloma the dog, Natalia, Wentzel and Lesley. Pity Paul was inside cooking and we didn't get a pic of him.

Cool chick !!!

After leaving Simon's Town, Natalia passed out in a matter of minutes. We decided to go the Chapman's Peak route. The pass has been closed forever and this was my first opportunity to go. It's really beautiful and well worth the drive.

We left Cape Town on Saturday morning back to Joburg. Our flight home was much much easier. We boarded at 10ish and just after take-off Natalia passed out much to our amazement. She woke up only 15 minutes before landing. We had a fantastic holiday and the best thing is no one got sick!

We are home sweet home.....

Love Px3

The Stow Family

Family Sunday

Our small family all got together yesterday for a bit of Sunday fun and a roast. My mother was up from Durban for Loren's birthday which was great to have her. The weather was fantastic and we all spent time playing with the kids.

Loren's Big 30

So my baby sister turned 30 on the 18 September. We are all getting old now........
Loren had a birthday breakfast at the Cornish Kettle in Cornwall Hill. All her friends were there and we had a lovely morning spending time together.

Love you my sis!

Moms & Tots and Hospital Again......

Today was our last day at Moms & Tots for this semester. Its been 12 weeks already, I cant believe it. The next semester starts on the 4 October. 2 weeks ago we had a photographer come and take impromptu pics of our kiddies. And here are some fabulous ones, the 1st is a favourite!

Last Saturday we spent some more time in hospital with Natalia, but this time we were not admitted, thank goodness. Natalia woke up at 1am in the wee hours of Saturday morning vomiting. I heard her coughing, then gagging and then nothing. I shot our of bed and ran to her room. I thought she was choking and couldn't get her breath. She was vomiting and had vomited all over her cot and it was everywhere. Okay, so I called Kim to help as I cant hold, calm her and change her cot. So I calmed her down because she was upset and Kim gave her some milk, changed her bedding, turned the mattress around. Well 20min later it was all up again and we had to do the same thing again. But this time I was holding her and she vomited all over me! It was all down my front, in Natalia's hair, all over the floor and everywhere. I wasn't going to run a bath at this ungodly hour so we both jumped in the shower. Natalia hated it and I just got to rinse her and not wash her. Kim changed the bedding for the third time and dressed her again while I showered properly. She finally went back to sleep at 4am. She was finished and so were we. At 7.30 we gave her her normal cereal as we thought we were through the worst of it. I phoned my sister and we were chatting and I was telling her about the nights happenings. Loren asked if we were still going to see them later that morning at Deqlan's party, to which I replied that Natalia seemed fine and that we'd definitely be there. No sooner had I said that and she once again projectile vomited all over me, herself and the carpet in her playroom..........

So we were off to Wilgeheuwel Hospital where we met a fantastic casualty doctor. He explained what we had to do with Natalia. Give her 5ml of Rehydrate every 5mins and then later on 10ml every 10min and so on. She was not to eat for 24hours, only drink this stuff. Shame poor baby... And then I got sick on Saturday afternoon, so Kim had to look after both of us. Natalia only had milk and food again for the 1st time on Sunday night. She is all good now, thank goodness. But I found out today that some of there other kiddies had the exact same thing as her, so she must have picked it up there. Who knows?

Natalia is also walking now assisted. This past week she has been walking next to me if I hold her one hand which is some progress. She is also 'talking' ten to the dozen. She evens reprimands us if we don't give her something, which is funny. She loves playing outside and getting dirty. She understands plenty that we say but so far she says the following: Hi (along with a wave), tata (along with a wave), dada, what dat (what's that), dhere (there), ohoh (from Tellietubbies), woof woof (dog), kaka (duck), cawcaw (bird), mmmm (when she eats). No mama in there :(

That's all for now folks.......

Love Px3 xxx

Messy Play

Dolly set up a Messy Play station for Natalia today. She made red jelly yesterday and for Natalia to play with. She put the jelly on the one side and water on the other. She even put her cute Moms & Babes apron on. Natalia had a ball - funny she didnt even think to eat the jelly.

Papachinos

We all met up today for breakfast at Papachinos in Crowthorne, Midrand. It's a kiddie venue with child minders, play areas, even a kiddie pizza making area where they can make their own pizzas. Its fabulous for older kids from about the age of 4 as this place keeps them busy and us parents can relax. But since our kiddies are still a little young, we still needed to keep an eye on them! Natalia had a ball and just loves to slide! Malakai also had a ball. But poor little Harlan, he was just not in a good mood and was not interested in sleeping! We will definitely be visiting Papachinos again..... A good time was had by all.

Yum, French toast and chips

All of us, except Kim

Check out my hair !

Darryl and Malakai

She just loved this slide.

Passed out after a good mornings energy spent !!!