We've Been Married 1 Year Today

Hello my gorgeous husband.

Wow. How fast 1 year has flown by....... a year ago today we were stressed out, having planned our wedding for 11 months it was all happening today. Wow. And just 2 days before on the 26th we found out that Natalia was there; just a tiny olive pip and only existing for 7 weeks. Wow exciting. What a whirlwind year it's been. We became an instant family overnight; just the way we wanted it. We are blessed!

Now bring on the year no.2.

Love you stax

Leigh

OMG

You will never believe it -

Natalia slept through 3 nights in a row; not a peep from her. And I had the best sleep in it feels like forever. It happened on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights. I was too scared to tell anyone in case it broke the spell. But anyway, she didn't sleep through last night (Thursday). I had to get up 3 times between 2.15 and 3.15.......but nevertheless!!! This could be the start of it, I'm being positive. I also bought her a 'teething necklace' which people swear by, but I can not see how it works. Its supposed to calm babies down during the teething process. I don't know if this is what has helped her sleep through so successfully.

What's changed lately you may ask? Well, Natalia has been eating cereal every evening at 18.30 for the last month or so. She now gets 2tsp of cereal mixed with formula and shortly after eating she passes out until her 20.30 bottle and then she's hopefully a goner until the next morning when she wakes up around 4.30 for her next bottle. She also, since this week, gets 2tsp of cereal in the morning around 10.30. My little girl is growing so fast.........

Anyway, hold thumbs that my baby girl sleeps through more and more.

Love P x 3

Happy Birthday Granny Bugs!!!

Look at me sitting on my own

mmm, i like Piglet

Mom and me

Cutie Pie

Happy Birthday Mom. Hope you have a nice day and we will see you in 2 sleeps time.

Natalia is giggling more and more these days. Dolly was blowing bubbles yesterday and she thought this was the funniest thing. Dolly also spends afternoons sitting outside in the garden with Natalia (when it's warm) and let's her lie there without her nappy on. It's good to air her bum out and she just loves it.

P X 3 xxx

Some Photos

Look at me stand

A nice family photo

Passed out on Dad's chest

Passed out again

And again.......this has been a tough day

With Granny

Aunty Dom came to visit - about time!

mmm

With Dad in the jacuzzi

See me fly, weeeee

Look how strong I am

Giggling

Here's a video of Natalia giggling this morning. She thinks it hilarious when I drop a pillow next to her on the bed. I think the wind it makes stimulates her.

Solids !

This is interesting......

mmm yummy, can I have another bite please!

Tummy time

Ay, what you looking at?

That's hard work!

Relaxing in my Bumbo

Ooh, what's this?

Natalia went for her vaccinations on Wednesday at the clinic, the last until she's 9 months old. I'm sure she's happy about that - I know I am. I think I need to take a Valium before we go, cause I'm more nervous than she is, but this one went well. She didn't scream as much and she only had a temperature for 1 day. We also weighed her while we were there. She weighs a whopping 7.5kg and is 65cm in length. Our little girl is growing very fast.

Natalia also started eating solids on Wednesday night. Just 1tsp of rice cereal at night so far. At first she pushed it out, but she quite enjoys it now. So this is the start of solids....

I also start work tomorrow, which I have mixed feelings about. Let's see how it goes.

Love

Leigh

To The Jhb Zoo

Yes Mom, I'm ready to rock 'n roll, and dolly is coming too........ let's get outta here

All comfy with my sun-hat on. What a lot of fun we had. No time to sleep.

The other moms and babies from the Moms & Babes Class

Natalia and I joined 3 other moms and babies this morning for an outing to the Johannesburg Zoo. The zoo is very well kept and I was surprised how clean and spacious the enclosures are; its a 5 star zoo. Natalia had a ball and didn't even fall asleep. She enjoyed herself too much and didn't want to miss out on anything. We spent a good 3 hours there. Walking around the zoo beats walking around the block by far!

Happy 16 Weeks Big Girl

My new favourite thing to do

Passed out

Watching the Curry Cup Final with Dad

My new stroller

Natalia is almost 4 months old and she slept in her big cot last night for the first time in her own bedroom. She has been sleeping in our bedroom since she was born. I was a little nervous as to how it would go, but happily all went well. She cried once at 2.30, I turned her over, put the dummy in her mouth and she slept till 4.45. I have been putting her in her cot in her bedroom during the day for her day naps for the last 2 weeks to get her used to it. I just hope it goes well tonight and every other night to come - hey, wishful thinking..... until teething starts!!!

Natalia also got a new stroller this week, lucky girl. She loves sitting up and hates it when I lie her down. It's like she a little ahead of herself..... it's too early to be sitting, but she loves it. Her neck control is almost there and who knows, maybe she'll be sitting before 6 months.

She has also been sick the last week or two so I have not taken her for her vaccinations which were supposed to be done 2 Wednesdays ago, so she'll be going this Wednesday coming. At the same time I'll also find out what she weighs - would be nice to know. The little munchkin is getting heavy to carry around........

Love and Hugs

P x 3

Down to Durban - and all

Pretty girl

Granny Bugs and Me

That looks like a lot of water

Ah, its not too bad

Shark attack

Family Pic

So, we all went to Durban on Wednesday last week to visit Granny Bugs. Natalia slept most of the way. It took her an hour to fall asleep and then it was lights out all the way there. We didn't even stop for a wee in case she woke up and we had to start all over again.

Granny lives in a really nice townhouse in Kloof and it was great to spend time with my Mom for a couple of days. Durban was really cold for the 4 days and I wish I had taken warmer clothes; luckily Natalia had clothes for all seasons just in case. We did a bit of shopping on Thursday and Friday and went to the Essenwood flea market on Saturday. We met with Kim's uncle Mike on Saturday morning for breakfast and later in the afternoon went to the beach to dip Natalia's feet in for the first time. And sadly Sunday morning we were off early for our long journey home again. Natalia slept most of the way home again, this time only taking half an hour to fall asleep, but we stopped for lunch (for her and us) and a nappy change.

Natalia has been really ratty since about Thursday and we think she is in the early stages of teething with a temperature every other afternoon and evening of about 37.3 to 37.5. Also she has got this rash that started on her tummy and neck and now covers her whole back and buttocks and today has spread to her arms and legs. This is of course worrying because the first thing that comes to mind is Measles. So off we went to the GP today and she's not sure what it is either, so we have some cream for her skin and antibiotics for her one ear that's also infected. We have to go back on Thursday for a follow-up visit. And on top of it all, Kim has also been ill since Thursday, so he went to the GP today as well and found out he has Pneumonia!

Other than that, I have decided to go back to work in 3 weeks time. I am not looking forward to the sleepless nights and still having to function at work. But luckily they've agreed to me working half-day so I can still be with Natalia a lot still.

Regards

Leigh

Mr Cow And Other Pics

This is Mr Cow

Mr Cow if fun to play with

Kissing Mr Cow

Mr Cow whispering Natalia's ear

What does Mr Cow taste like?

The girls watching TV in bed together on Sunday morning

Cute bunny outfit

Together bathing with Mom

I love to bath


Natalia just loves her new Mr Cow that Granny Bugs gave her. It is a cow head on a very soft comfort blankie. This last week she has started grabbing things and bringing them up to her mouth so that she can taste and feel them. Also, Natalia loves bathing (swimming as we call it) which is excellent. I am really happy that she enjoys water and when she's old enough I will take her for swimming lessons. She also enjoys going to Moms & Babes classes, although today she was a little grumpy and fell asleep for most of the time. We are driving down to Durban on Wednesday to visit Granny Bugs and we cant wait. I just hope Natalia takes the long trip well and does not cry too much. Sitting in her car seat for that long is going to be trying!

Love P x 3