Ashton's 1st Birthday

I can't believe I haven't posted an update about Ashton.  He will be 16 months old this month!  Bad mommy.  Anyway, I've been so busy at work, and at the same time I'm struggling to find a work-life balance.  It's difficult to admit, but some days I feel guilt ridden for leaving him home with the nanny, and other days I am happy to leave him with her.  She is great with him and I appreciate her so much.  Sometimes she packs a bag for them and they go for a picnic down at the river.  He loves being outside.

Ashton turned 1 on 28th June, and we had a little bee-day celebration for him.  He started walking a day before his birthday (huge achievement, we were so proud!).  He also said a few words, like dadda, dad, bird, out, and started pointing at things.  He didn't say mama too often, but the once or twice he did my heart fluttered in delight. 

Here are some pictures from his birthday, taken by Karin Meiring Photography - stunning pictures!

Update - nearly 7 months!

On Monday Ashton will be 7 months old already!  I keep saying I can't believe how quickly the time is going by.  He is developing and doing new things in leaps and bounds, and I couldn't be more proud. 

The most awesome thing, is that Ashton is sitting without support! 

He also leans in to give me kisses, and gives me hugs - my heart just melts at this!  He's been handing out hugs for a while now - or at least his version of a hug, but the kisses are new and he only does it with me!  Last week I held my hands out for him and he tried to lift his arms up to me. 

He has discovered his hands, and smacks down on absolutely everything and is shaking his toys and rattles like mad.  He's also started pointing! Another thing is that he has started rolling around - so this is how he moves around (flip - my baby is moving!), and he's quite fast at doing this as well.

Ashton loves food!  We started with solids in December and it has been going so well so far.  The only thing we found is that he seems to hate peas, to the point that he will vomit.  He still did this after we gave it to him a few times, so we are skipping the peas altogether.

Bath time is always fun, and he loves splashing with his arms and legs - some days I am drenched!

Ashton has lots of tickleish spots and laughs his head off when we tickle him.  We blow raspberries in his neck, and in the fat rolls on his thighs and he goes crazy!

Today at Moms and Babes he threw a tantrum when I took a bell rattle away from him.  I immediately gave it back to him, and he was instantly quiet.  He held on to the thing for most of the class.

We are trying to get him to wave hello and good bye - every morning and afternoon I wave to him. He sometimes lifts his hand but the motion is not there yet - you can see he wants to try.  We are also trying to practice crawling!  He can lift himself up with his arms, and get his bum in the air, but not both at the same time and when you prop him up on his knees he kind of pushes his face into the carpet.  Too funny for words.

What is really nice, is that he is starting to entertain himself.  He can keep himself busy for a good few minutes, which is great!  He's such a friendly, happy little thing - and of course I just love him to bits. 

Our First Holiday!

I literally haven't had a spare moment in the last few weeks but tonight I decided it's time for an update.  There is so much that I want to remember, so I'll do a few posts.

Our holiday was nice, but what a change taking a baby on holiday - I think we need a holiday to recover.  Ashton had the most wonderful time!  Us - on the other hand, felt like a bunch of slaves, no doubt his 'entourage'. 

In Oudtshoorn we experienced what felt like the worst heat wave ever - and my baby suffered from the heat.  He became a little niggly as a result of the heat.  We tried to keep him cool as much as possible.  We spent a week in there, and a week in Cape Town, and it was one hell of a road trip!  No matter how early we would leave to be on our way, after about 5 hours his little body was sore and he had had enough of his car seat - can't say I blame the little guy.  We slept over in Colesberg both ways - huge relief.  The trip is just too long for the little ones.  It was so good spending time with my family, but in hind sight, it didn't feel like that much of a holiday.  My gran just loved him, and my mom was in her element - he was the centre of attention everywhere we went, and of course he played his part all too well.

Ashton absolutely LOVED the sea! We went to Mossel Bay and to Blouberg. In Mosselbay we all got into the water but Blouberg was too cold. Seeing him experience it all for the first time was quite something.

We got to change a terrible nappy in the middle of nowhere on our way there, and on the way home we were surprised by 2 explosive nappies (the first serious ones ever) on route home from Cape Town.  The one was particularly bad - it was all over his blanket and because it was so hot when we left Colesberg he was in a short romper, and wrapped in a blanket - of course it was freezing where we stopped and we were out of warm clothes thanks to the last nappy.  I just took his blanket out from under him, wiped everything off on the pavement (cringe), wrapped him up in said blanket and off we went to change and wash him.  I can't say that was one of my best moments, but definitely one to remember.

All in all, we were glad to be home.  The drive was long, and it felt like it took forever but we finally made it home and all three of us got some much needed rest after being cramped up in the car for so many hours.  Hubby got MIL to come baby sit for us for two nights so that we could rest - of course she jumped at the opportunity.

All in all, I'd do the whole road trip all over again, just to see Ashton experiencing the sea!  It's true that you see things for the first time again through your child's eyes.  What a blessing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moms and Babes

We have finished the Tiny Babes class at Moms and Babes, and just when Ashton actually started enjoying it.  The first few classes were difficult, he couldn't do much at the start but has caught up so nicely.  He also spent a few classes moaning and groaning.  Ever since he found his voice he has made it crystal clear to everyone around that he is there.  Quite adorable actually!  Such a big personality for such a little guy. 

Kev took him to a Dads and Babes class as well, and he ended up making a really cool toy for tactil development.  One of the Nannies who was with us on trial got to take him to a Nannies and Babes class, so I have really made sure that he gets the benefit of going to all these classes!  I feel like such a 'parent'.  Already paying for 'school fees'.

Anyway, I'll upload a picture of the toy at some stage, daddy was very proud of his achievement.  The next class starts in January, and there will be a Dads and Babes and Nannies and Babes class every month.  Really looking forward to this.

Update at Almost Six Months.

I can't believe we've nearly reached 6 months.  About high time for an update.

As we sit here today, Ashton is 5 and a half months old.  Life is busy.  I've started working again and between that and baby, dinner and life in general, I have almost no time for myself.  I need a date with my razor.  I planned to shave my legs over 3 weeks ago and I still haven't found the time to do it.  Disgusting isn't it?  I'm still expressing (read:  trying to express), still battling all the way and I can quite confidently say that while I have persevered with this from the start but it just isn't working.  I still have a whole lot of eglonyl left over so I'll just finish it all and then give it up.  I'm done with struggling with this.

We had to let the Nanny go.  What a drama.  She was all of a sudden slacking drastically in her work, so much so that we had to do our own washing and ironing.  Huh?  Add that to my list of things to do.  To add insult to injury, my baby started fussing excessively, nappies weren't changed often enough, bottles were made too hot - when we would try feed him it was a huge fight until he realised the bottle was cold and then it was an absolute pleasure to feed him.  I have been so stressed over the last couple of weeks.   

Also, her father passed away and apparently on his 'death bed' told her she is pregnant iwith a girl.  I laughed and ask her if she was and she said no.  The weekend came and went and the Monday monring she rushed up stairs to spill the beans, she IS pregnant, but only by about 3 months.  We gave her time off to attend the family meeting to prepare for the funeral, another day off to visit the doctor to confirm how far along she is, and another for her to renew her asylum papers.  I almost fell off my chair when she said she was in fact 6 months pregnant, and she never knew.  Well I must be bloody stupid but I can't figure out how / where she hid it.  Oh and the funniest bit, she needed to leave on maternity leave in December. Funny, now that I think of it when I asked if I can buy her a uniform she point blank declined the offer.  Anyway, I contacted the Nanny agency 2 days shy of when my guarantee was meant to be up, explained the situation and that we couldn't afford another placement fee they offered to replace her at no cost to us.  We paid for her training and helped her get a bank account, even agreed if she were to leave she would repay the training costs, but in the end we told her she didn't have to repay anything and we would give her a star reference. 

We have done interview after interview to try and find someone, even contacted Nursery Schools as a last resort.  4 weekends of interviews, about 6 or 7 nannies a time - that's a hell of a lot of Nannies.  I have been over eating due to stress and hubby commented the other day that I have gained so much I look pregnant.  Pfft.

We finally asked one of the candiates to come for a trial, but it didn't really work out, she couldn't even figure out how to make bottles.  And then, on the last day I think we found someone good, at least I hope.  She's with us now until we go away next week, and then she'll start officially on 6 January.  Some of the previous ones were so bad I had to cut the interviews short.  I started feeling desperate, but I wasn't going to settle on just anyone.

Ashton changing rapidly.  He is the most awesome little guy!  The light of my life.  Just a week ago he rolled over for the very first time and I was there to see it.  Two nights ago I taught him how to turn the pages in one of his little board books.  He has discovered his feet and goes crazy in his jolly jumper.  He is changing so quickly it amazes me.  I feel  really guilty for missing out on so much while I'm at work.  I guess that's the predicament us working moms land up in.  He is really such a happy baby, most of the time it's smiles and giggles but believe me he has his bad days too. 

My mom in law has been here for about 3 weeks, helping out by being here when the nannies were on trial.  Thank goodness for her.  I would be a nervous wreck. 

It was Ashton's 6 month check up at the Paed today and we also officially started solids today.  We gave him his first tastof rice cereal last weekend for the first time, and then also during the week.  He is now 7.1kgs and about 68cm tall.  While he is an ok weight, he needs to gain more to be in line with his height.  His legs have litreally shot out over the last 2-3 weeks.  He is such a long baby! 

We are going on holiday next week, a road trip down to my mom and family in Oudsthoorn - hope that goes well.  We will be staying over in Colesberg, so this will be a slow drive.  I can't wait for my Granny to meet him for the very first time!  From there we will spend a few days in Cape Town, and then start making our way home.  Apparently it is so hot down there at my mom and them, they are experiencing what feels like a permanent heat wave.  I'm stressing a bit about having Ashton there.

Life has never been more hectic that it is right now, but somehow we make it work.  I love every minute of being Ashton's mom.

Here's a sneak peak of my little monster, but I'll put up some more pictures later.