Archive for February, 2009

Special day for a special girl

Not that this doesn’t remind me of the school-time folly of measuring relationship age by the months they lasted, but today marks the halfway-mark towards Erin’s first birthday. Terribly hard to imagine this, but 6 months ago today I was holding a newborn (and if I remember correctly, licking the tastiest pizza off my lips!)

It’s been a different experience so far, largely a result of Jamie’s prominence in the familial order, but she’s been a very graceful recipient of reduced attention, and is without doubt an absolute delight. She’s cheerful, engaging and laughs at the slightest excuse. In addition, she’s got all three of us wrapped around her fingers, and repays us for our troubles with beaming smiles. And ohhhh… does she give us troubles! She started rolling at 11 weeks, was sitting at 20 weeks, and is now quite capable of navigating herself across a bed/room/safe-zone! She’s been caught chewing CDs, sucking shoes under the coffee table and trying her best to fall out of her cot. Quite an action-figure to be sure… never ever stops moving. Ever. Even when she’s sleeping. (And in truth this forgotten fact was added as an edit, but Erin is stronger than a freakin’ ox – it is completely unbelieveable how much strength she has. A really small part of me wonders whether she might be bionic?)

Anyway. I’m just a gushy dad… I suppose there’s a chance I’m smitten and slightly biased. Definitely grateful for our little girl. Definitely not taking her for granted!

Like weeks through the hourglass…

Oh well. You know the drill. My blog is laughable. I thought I’d do something different this time, and give you, my er trusty readers, the chance to complete this paragraph. Here goes: I haven’t updated this blog in nearly 6 weeks because (a) I haven’t cared (b) My PC became terminally ill (c) I’ve been watching the cricket (d) Life is FAR too crazy to worry about lamenting the point online (e) Blah Blah (f) my progress is what it is. Slow! (g) Most of those minus the cricket.

I’m getting flak from my brother in Scotland that he hasn’t seen his niece in ages, so mostly this is just a pic update. Truth is, I’m also working on a new blog layout (yes haha… I also think this is funny!), so have been spending time elsewhere.

Basic news: Christmas came and went, family came and went, holidays came and went. Jan and I are both back at work, her break having been maternity-sized, so it’s been an adjustment I’m sure. We’re both screwed with sleep-deprivation, with our (adorable, beautiful, very loved) little banshee daughter choosing the early hours to moan about indigestion. Chain reactions-and-all see Jamie pottering around requesting breakfast about 2 hours early, all of which generally tones down “the morning vibe” a little.

Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…
Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…
Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…
Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…
Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…

If we had to summarise the last month or so, it would probably focus largely on the swimming pool. We’ve enjoyed fabulous weather, and Jamie has completely dominated swimming. No floats, no special effects, just a confident little dude who’s swimming the length of the pool over and over and over and over and (the calendar flips to a new day) over…! It’s been great fun. Slightly less fun was throwing my back out for 3 days over Christmas, which meant I had to enlist Jamie to paint the garage, mow the lawn, braai the New Years dinner etc, tasks which he did with aplomb! (Yes. Rules of Collateral Damage saw Jan’s share of duties increase 10-fold – a burden which she copes with very graceously! Much appreciated!). Can’t say I don’t start thinking “Yeah… tsk tsk… you’re not young anymore”. Sucks!

I took a little leave mid-Jan to coincide with Jan’s last week, and we managed to get away to the Aquarium, World of Birds, Kirstenbosch and a variety of other ‘out’ activities, so all in all the (extra) holiday was a great break. My cycling continued to keep me out of the house, with another race in January. Nothing spectacular, but I completed the 6-hill Cape Cobra without incident in 3h55, which I was fairly pleased with. Everything cycle-related was just awesome until last weekend when I officially joined the League of Broken (mountain biking) Gentlemen by smashing my upper body up on a ill-concentrated descent. In practice, a crash-landing on my right shoulder and back after an extended flight over the handlebars. In medical terms a Type 3 AC-Joint Shoulder Separation. No riding for 6-8 weeks. Argus in 6 weeks. Busy pushing the joint into use again, and so far so good – seems to be getting stronger again (although it will be a long-term thing. I know!)

Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…
Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…
Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…
Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…
Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…
Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…
Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…Like weeks through the hourglass…
Like weeks through the hourglass…

Erin is sitting, almost crawling already. She’s quite far ahead of “The Curve” in terms of her development, and is really a little gem. She’s very good natured (albeit short-tempered!) and is always beaming smiles in our direction. Jamie is completely smitten with “Jamie’s sister Erin”, and is obviously unaware that she’ll likely become his nemesis! He’s started school this year – a playgroup nearby – and seems to be fitting in nicely.

In closing: Folks are well. Friends are well. We’re well. There’s LOTS to be thankful for. I hope to get the other site up soon (in other words during 2009!). Thanks for popping by!

PS: I’m now a bonsai-ninja. Vere’s 30th gift to me. R20 says I do something bad to it in the first 2 weeks!