I'M BACK!!!!

I have been a bad blogger lately – and let me assure you it was not because I was having any fun. I have had a bad case of ‘morning sickness’ (which lasts all day) and without too much information, this has been my main focus for the past three weeks.



But life goes on and things have still been busy. Mom left (before my morning sickness set in) so we took her to Williamsburg. It was a great trip, there was so much to see, I wish we could have stayed longer.





Of course Granny spoiled Kailey…… lots of head bands which Kai had to wear all at once. And since Kai always helps around the house Granny also got her some of her own cleaning tools……..


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Deric has been amazing – he is doing everything! I get motion sickness, so any movement just sent me over the edge, he has cooked, cleaned, taken Kai …….. just everything.
He is getting ready to start clearing Fort Bragg so this is now the down hill to our move. We are planning to take three weeks and go see Deric’s mom and dad in Miami before we follow that yellow brick road to Kansas. For those who don’t know we will be there for one year! Between you and me we are looking at going back to Germany after that …. But who knows what will eventually come through. (Holding thumbs/crossing fingers)


Kai is a dream, she is just my joy! Seeing her change is magic. Her imagination is coming into play now and she is starting to feed her babies (or as she says ‘bey bees’) she loves wrapping them up (thanks granny) and pushes them all day in her pram/stroller. She has even started waving and kissing us bye bye before taking her babies for a walk around the house. Then comes back and tells us all about her adventure.
I have really enjoyed no teeth coming in for the past four months. I hope the last four take their time, doing all 16 in 9 months was no joke, so we are just sitting back and enjoying a long deserved sense of peace.


Last weekend Mark and Trisha came to see us for the weekend. It was wonderful as normal, I really wish we had more time to see them. Kai loved Uncle Mark and Aunty Trisha. Deric and I were almost ignored most of the weekend! We had a BBQ/Braai, and sat at the fire pit all night. For those of you who were at our farewell party in Germany (you know who you are!!!!) We watched the video – yes people it’s out there!



Now we are enjoying a four day weekend and plan to go to the beach, see friends and just chill out together…..

'Normal' Update

Hiya!
As you have seen we are quite into our videos lately… we got a new program and Deric spends hours playing. So while I have a chance and Kai is asleep I thought I would do a ‘normal’ update.

Things here are good – my Mom came from SA to visit (mainly to see Kailey) for three weeks but has gone to Pennsylvania to judge a dog show – while she is there she is stalking the Amish (one of her life goals is to see the Amish). She will be back tomorrow. She will want to do lots of shopping since she came with two suitcases and filled one and a half with things for Kailey and Easter eggs for me (SA Easter eggs are to die for!!!!) So she has so much space to go home with.

Next week we are off to Williamsburg for a few days before coming home and then sending mom home a few days after that. I think the visit is going quicker for all of us than we thought it would.

I am fine, tired – really tired….. but still here. I cannot look at raw food lately and the thought of cooking just makes my stomach turn. I want loads of sour things and I consume so much club soda that I actually empty the shelves in the store every 2-3 days.
It’s funny to compare pregnancies, with Kai I ate so much more. I was constantly hungry and always wanting meats, chocolates, cookies. Now I want salad, vegetable soups, so, my beloved SA Easter eggs have to wait till I feel like sugar again!

We are getting ready to move now – our house rented in one day (phew) and the planning of our 30 days of displacement has been sorted and we are now just working on the last few things before we can totally relax.

Not much else to report – except that I am really really tired – but I think I said that already!

Singin' In The Rain

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

That "Thing" Parents Always Do

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Take 2!

Hannah's Birthday and an Easter Egg hunt all on the same day!!!

Happy Easter

I know we are going a little nuts lately with video blogs but bear with us – it’s our new toy!

Pushing Daddy

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Kai's First Slide

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

The Kai Boogie

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Kai and the Mickey Mouse Club

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Cool Toy

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Last Weekend.......

We have had a busy week, with the car issues (someone backed into us)


and Kai’s face getting bashed up, as well as starting the process of getting the house ready for rent, so we are getting estimates on a whole lot of things!

I did not tell you about last weekend. I had an immigration appointment in Charlotte, and we thought we would go see two friends of ours from Germany (Mark and Trisha) in their beautiful new home!


We had such a great weekend with them, and Kai loved being there (she loved the Paris room! Those who know TW and MW will understand) and the dogs were great babysitters.


We played rummy in the evening – the fun of having guests with a baby means not much going out after 7pm. Anyway, I am sure they took my luck, cause ever since I was there I have not won or even come close to getting any respectable score (thanks guys!!!!!)



Mark reminded me of a funny situation which Rachel and Kelly were involved in ….. do you remember this picture of Kai eating Biltong? Rachel and Kelly were sure Kai was eating a turd!


Here is Marks version of the ‘turd eating’
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and with compliments of Rachel and Kelly they sent a picture of their (American) version too!!!!!

It's not easy being one!

This is what happens when you are learning to walk and you are obsessed with balls….
We were outside playing with the other kids in the neighborhood, when Kai saw a ball on the driveway. She went to get it, turned around, got her feet all tangled up and instead of letting the ball go – she fell on her face and continued to slide on her nose………

Jo and Kai same age...

Kailey's Day Today

I thought I would give a quick break down of Kai's day....

We started out with milk and The Mickey Mouse Club House - she loves this show and can't belive she knows Micky Mouse. She freaks out whenever she sees Mickey. Today she noticed he was on her nappy (dipers) and walked around with it for hours.



We then had music class today. This is Kindermusik, it's quite sweet and she enjoys it. This is the church where it is held... very southern!




When we came home she found the bunny ears I got her for easter... she put them on and wore them for a while.




The rest of the day she played with her new drum (and shakers), slept, and waited for Daddy to come home. Since Deric is the breakfast master, he used his 'eggspertise' and taught her how to make scrambled eggs!





Last but not least Daddy took her off to bath (aka play time) to have some quality dad and daughter time (and to let me be babyless for 30 minutes).

What Kai has been up to lately!

She is changing so much lately, before my eyes and there is nothing I can do about it!!! Seeing her become her own little person is just the best thing ever. I ask her if she wants milk, if she needs a nappy change, if she wants to go to sleep, where here toys are etc… she will answer ‘ye’ for yes and not at all for no!


But she is miss independant and has to walk EVERYWHERE! It's too cute!

She will start holding your hand and then pull away with her arms at her ears and usually squealing as she speeds up on a bit of a speed wobble!

She goes down stairs on her belly and slides all the way down, something like this...









We started her on swimming lessons this past weekend, since I did the ones from 6 months Deric has taken on these - of course I am right there taking a million pictures!


Other than that we have all been sick lately and have spent a bit more time at home than normal. She plays all day long and 'destroys' the house. Her bike is a top toy and she will get on and off it all day long (thanks Rachel and Kelly)

Just a few of my NEVERISMS

Things I said I would never do……and have done or totally went above and beyond

• I would never marry a policeman since they did not come home every night. (if only)
• I would never let my child eat sugar till they were two
• I would never go through a drive through – I would get out my car and get it myself. (Now with a child in the car they rock – ATM, Starbux, Drycleaners….)
• I would never use a dishwasher – ha!
• I would never eat sushi - stable diet now!
• I would never leave my trolley (shopping cart) in the middle of the parking lot – well now I am not leaving my child alone in the car to take it back …. And I am also not parking next to the trolley drop off incase someone hits my car (it’s a complex one)
• I would never live far from my family
• I would never get a speeding fine (it was a personal goal – now in SA I got 7 in 5 months…… coming home from school and wanting to get home to Kai)
• In 1994 I said I would never get a cell phone they are for showoffs!!!!
• In 1997 I said I would never invest in the internet – it would never take off (I guess you see why I do so badly with roulette and that’s just black and red)
• I would never drink beer – in London its sooooo much cheaper than anything else!
• When I had kids I would make sure all their toys stay in their bedrooms so the adult areas in the house would stay clear and neat – the funniest one of all!


Things I said I would never do...and still have not done – watch this space things could change

• Wear my husbands T-shirts even when pregnant
• Go to Wal-Mart at midnight … in my pajamas… with slippers on….. with curlers in my hair….. Oh the list could go on.
• I will never cut my hair short
• I will never eat fruit


That’s all I can think of now – I guess I have done most of what I said I wouldn’t! Just goes to show - never say never!

She is WALKING!!!!!

On Tuesday night Kai started walking - she waited for Deric to get home from work and to add to the good timing Hannah came over and I could get some pictures of her.






She has been very busy. She started with a group in Kindermusik, we go to a reading session at the Library for 12 month old's and she is enrolled in swimming class, not to mention the playdates, which are more for me than her.

She is tring to speak much more lately, she says 'juice', 'shoes', 'deka' (thandeka), and 'where' usually refering to her dummy (pasifier)I am trying to get a picture of her saying 'where' as she lifts her shoulders and raises her hands - too cute!!! She has started to copy me too - if I put a hair band on she takes it off my head and puts it on her's, if I put chapstick (lipice) on she wants some too!

We are at a stage now where she is more fun than work, she is sleeping well, eating well and playing well.

As you see she is also helping around the house. Here she was very interested in how Daddy was fixing the door.


We are enjoying the house so much lately and the calm before the storm. We move to Kansas in June, and then again a year after that! So now not rushing around is exaclty what we all need.

Kailey's Birthday Party