Tuesday, August 23, 2011

A change is as good as a holiday....

I have done a lot of thinking over the last couple of weeks, maybe it is due to the fact that I will be turning 30 in a few months, or maybe due to the fact that I am pregnant for the 3rd time, or maybe it is just the hormonal imbalance mixed with “adulthood” that is causing all this craziness, but what ever this is causing, I am kind of enjoying all of this.

I am considering editing and reconstructing my blogs, maybe merging them, not only because I am limited by time these days, but also because my children are just a part of me than I am, therefore I don’t see the use of keeping them, the most precious part of me, separated. 

I find myself lost in blogs WAAAAYYYY to much these days, reading them over and over again, discovering new ones, getting inspired by them, creating new dreams and ideas because of what I see and what I read. I colored my hair, (sort of) manicured my nails, I’m collecting baking recipes like mad (not that I can bake by the way, but I need to try them all), I surfing the internet for DIY ideas for the new house, and I am going bonkers-mad to get my hands back on my camera again and going snapshot-crazy.
I’m trying to take a new approach regarding my kids as well, the interaction between us, inspiring them, broadening their horizons, stimulating their senses, and just trying in general to do things from a different perspective. Using the words “No” and “don’t” less and less, instead of saying “You’re not doing it right, come let me show you” rather say “you can do it, try again”, changing the negative into more positive.  Instead of fighting with Zhané trying to get her fed, rather give her the spoon and the freedom of trying it herself, and in the process of creating a mess, also give her the opportunity to learn and discover at the same time.


Our time at home gets filled with “side-walk” art, chalkboard dust floating in the air, toys decorating the hallway, bath-time bubbles, sibling chuckles and giggles. When things go hectic, when I’m wishing that I was able to transform into an eight-armed bionic woman, I’ll take a moment to watch Hanco’s little face fill with concentration as he creates yet another master piece out of his lego blocks and I’ll swoop Zhané into my arms and place her next to me on the kitchen-top counter to watch and play as mommy prepares dinner.
Maybe, just maybe, with 30 creeping up to me, I’m realizing that maybe there is more to life than having a clean kitchen with all the dishes done before you go to bed, maybe there is more to life than having everything in the house perfect and in its place. Life is what you make of it, and I want to make every minute count, fill every moment with laughter, joy, special moments, loving times, and doing all of this with a smile on my face. Yes, there will be difficult days, days filled with thunder and rain, but with the thunder and rain comes a rainbow-promise that the sun will shine again….

Happy 5th Birthday my Biekie-Baba!!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Verjaarsdagwense vir my liewe, lawwe Biekie-bouter

Mamma se boodskap op Facebook :
Today one year ago we entered a new chapter in life, we were blessed with a precious, littlest Biekie-bouter, the joys, love and blessings we received from her is endless! Very merry first birthday Zhané, we love you more than words can EVER describe!!


Happy FIRST birthday my sweet, littlest Biekie-bouter!
June 28 at 7:30am via BlackBerry ·

Melanie Coetsee Baie geluk met Zhane se eerste verjaardaggie!!! xx

Melinda Botha Veels geluk Zhanetjie. Ons is baie lief vir jou. xxxx

Elisca Coetsee Baie Baie geluk mt haar verjaarsdag, ons hoop pappa en mamma bederf haar verskriklik!!! Lovies Elisca en Johan

Kandis Durant happy happy big girl

Melissa Jordaan Oberholster Jacobs HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Deon Schaap Veels geluk Zhane, hoop dis n dag vol pret en prezzies. en baie liefde!

Melinda Botha baie geluk Zhanetjie. ons is baie lief vir jou.

Tertia Coetsee Baie geluk met Zhane met jou eerste verjaarsdag, geniet dit, hou hulle besig!

Deune Schutte Geluk mt klein biki-bouter se bday, hoop sy bring jul nog baie liefde enn geluk ini toekoms! Kani glo sy word so groot ni, tyd vlieg! X

Eileen Shaw Happy birthday precious girl x x

Siviwe Mxakaza Mbatha happy birthday twinnie from O

Erdna Kruger Happy birthday Z!!!!!

Nicky Meintjes happy birthday

Anita Schaap Happy biekie-birthday!

Yolande Carter Haasbroek Happy birthday xxx

Lea-Anne Clayton Happeeee birfday Zhane

Irene Mileham Broome Happy Happy Birthday beautiful girl may your toddler years be full of new discoveries and adventures

Marina Blignaut Baie geluk met gesiggie se verjaardsag vandag. Ek hoop sy bring julle al die vreugde en geluk in die lewe. Sy raak net te oulik...

Megan Moller Geluk met Zhane se verjaarsdag. Ek weet sommer dat sy julle nog baie jare van vreugde gan gee. Xx

Sheena Smolak Nee Brown Happy birthday precious little girl and congratulations mommy for doing such a brilliant job!

Michelle Claire Booysen happy birthday xx

Mel Honiball

Happy birthday vir daardie pragtige qutie pie van jou! My wens vir haar: Dat sy op die regte ouderdom eendag n wonderlike persoon sal ontmoet en die wonderlike ervaring van ware liefde vir die res van haar lewe sal ondervind!

Chantelle Ceronie

Baie geluk met sussie se 1ste verjaarsdag! Gee haar 'n soentjie van my af! XXX

Sheena Smolak Nee Brown

Happy Birthday to Zhané. I hope you all have a wonderful day and that the year ahead is truely blessed. xxxx

Mandri Wessels Olivier

Baie geluk met julle biekie bouter se eerste verjaarsdag! Mag sy vir julle nog baie vreugde bring!

Christine Wolmarans Hay

Veels geluk met jou bb se heel eerste verjaarsdag, Beniet. Ek glo sy is en sal vir altyd 'n vreugde en seen vir julle wees. Xx

Monzelle de Villiers

Baie geluk met Zhané se 1ste verjaarsdag! Mag dit 'n wonderlike dag wees. Ek glo sy word sommer hope bederf!

Lilian January

Happy birthday Zhane'. God's richest blessings to you and your parents and brother! Have a blessed day!

Elmarie Ceronie

Aan di mooiste kleindogter in di wereld, baie geluk Zhane met jou bday. Mag di jaar wat voorle net so mooi wees soos di jaar wat verby is. Mag Jesus jou styf toevou in Sy arms en oorvloedig seen. Lief jou baie xxx

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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Zhané : Jou HEEL EERSTE Biekie-birthday!


Jy is 'n volle een jaar oud vandag!! Jy het vanoggend al dansend en wiegend op die bed gesit terwyl "Veels geluk liewe maatjie, omdat jy verjaar" se skewe note deur die kamer baljaar het.  Jip, jy is 'n drama-queen van formaat en het defnitief die aandag geniet, jy het ook ewe kordaat "ja" met jou koppie geknik toe jy gevra word of dit jou verjaarsdag vandag is, so asof jy presies verstaan waaroor als gaan, wat my eintlik nie sal verbaas nie.
Jy het al soveel mylpale behaal, en jy doen dit moet soveel entoesiasme en ywer, dat ek soms stilstaan en met verbasing jou aanstaar, want jy is eenvoudig net amazing!
Jy kan al op jou eie staan, en het al so een of twee treetjies aangedurf, maar nog nie veel meer as dit nie.  Jy begin ook al hoe meer en meer woordtjies kaf draf, soos : da-da, ma-ma, ba-ba, dans-dans, seun
Ons het vir jou laat oorbelle inskiet op jou 11-maande herdenking, en dit lyk te skattig, en gelukkig pas skattig by skattig, want ja, jy is skattig!
Hoop jy het jou daggie geniet, en mag jy net nog meer ons lewens met lag, plesier, vreugde en vrede vul, want om jou en boetie as my Biekies te hê is voorwaar my trotste oomblikke in die lewe!
Liefies jou my liewe, lawwe Biekie-bouter!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Being B, being a mom....



Although my blog is mainly Afrikaans, cause there is no better language to describe certain things than Afrikaans, I decided to do this post in English...

Ok, so it is 23h15, both kids finally asleep, after we struggled for about 2 hours to get H into bed, who complaint of ear-ache and sore legs, and I realized that as a mother, this is basically the only me-time I have. The only time to Facebook, bbm, bb-blog, read my Living & Loving mag, what ever.

I am one of those people who devote my whole being to being a mother and wife, there are few things in life just as, or more important to me than this. I thrive in placing my family above everything else and maintaining it that way.

Motherhood took me quite by surprise, as I was still fairly young (24) when I fell pregnant with H. None of our friends had kids, we were still basically newly-weds and have not even properly planned life ahead, never mind thinking of children...

But from the moment we met at birth, when he was placed on my chest, I knew this is where I was suppose to be.

And I enjoy every moment I have as a mother, and that is why we waited for almost 4 years before Z was born. I wanted to make sure that I was there for H in his first crucial years of development, he needed my undivided attention just as much as he needed our love.

And now, with him almost turning 5, he has developed into a smart, handsome, playful and loving little boy, with an imagination that is hard to put in words. He does not rely on us that much anymore, so I can shift my focus over to Z, who I might add, reached that very demanding stage of not being a baby anymore, but not yet a toddler...enough said

So with the blissful mid-night sounds of the tumble drier rumbling in the back ground, I lie in bed, bb in hand, and smile, cause the joys of motherhood does not only include the proud and happy moments, but also the difficult and daunting moments, the laughs and the tears. And I once again realize that I am truly blessed, that my quest in life is that of motherhood, and that I accept that quest with every loving fiber in my body, and that Being B, being me...is being a mother

Monday, May 23, 2011

Bugs en butterflies in die Biekie-bos

Daar is 'n geskarrel, daar is 'n geroer, mondtjies fluister...oortjies luister
In die Biekie-bos word daar beplan, gesoek en gedink, want daar gebeur een van die dae baie spasiale dinge in die Biekie-bos....
 
Jip, dit is amper Biekie-bouter se HEEL EERSTE verjaarsdag, en Biekie-Baba word amper 'n volle-handtjie VYF jaar oud!!
Mamma-Biekie skarrel verboureerd rond, bekommerd dat sy nie betyds als gereël gaan kry nie, sy wil seker maak dat als presies reg is vir Biekie-bouter se verjaarsdag, al gaan sy nie veel onthou nie, bly dit steeds haar HEEL EERSTE verjaarsdag. 

Mamma-Biekie het besluit om die hulp in te roep van goggas en bottervliegies, net om die spesiale dag so tikkie ekstra meer spesiaal te maak.

En na Biekie-bouter se vejaarsdag is dit amper Biekie-baba s'n.  Mamma-Biekie kan hom seker nie meer Biekie-baba noem nie, aangesien hy amper 'n hele handtjie-vol vyf gaan word.  Maar vir Biekie-Mamma sal hy altyd haar Biekie-baba bly.  Hy was tog mos immers haar heel eerste Biekie!

En so deur al die geskarrel deur, kan Mamma-Biekie dit nie help om tog so bietjie stil te sit en verlore te raak in al die wonderlike gedagtes van haar Biekie's nie, want al bly hul haar Biekie's is sy sommer net biekie-baie lief vir hulle!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Wanneer is net nog een te veel?

Hoe kan als in 'n oogwink van 'n great aand saam met vriende en familie in 'n aand van choas verander?? Wanneer net nog een, een te veel word...
Wanneer "net nog een" die lewe van 'n onskuldige persoon in 'n oogwink verander, hul hele bestaan deurmekaar ruk, en verwoesting, hartseer, trane en verwyt agter gelaat word...
Wanneer die bande van jarelange vriendskappe beproef word en op die prys gestel word vir "net nog een"...
Wanneer onskuldige kinders aan die wrede monsters van die lewe moet blootgestel word en met onskuldige, maar tog vreesaanjaende ogies, na dit wat besig is om te ontvou, moet kyk...
Wanneer geld nie meer 'n prys het nie, net solank daai persoon wat seer het, gehelp kan word
Wanneer 'n mens so hulpeloos voel, maar tog als in jou vermoe doen om dinge net beter te maak, en net erens 'n beginpunt soek om al die skerwe bymekaar te maak en weer aanmekaar te sit...

Dit wat ek die naweek beleef het en moes deurmaak, wens ek niemand toe nie, dit is traumaties om die minste te se. Dit laat jou besef wie en wat in die lewe vir jou belangrik is en wat mens nie als sal doen om dit te beskerm nie.
Ek het nog nooit my ma so weerloos gesien soos wat ek die naweek gedoen het nie. Haar krete van hulp en pyn gaan by my vir die res van my lewe spook, dit gaan my nooit alleen los nie, dit gaan my nooit laat vergeet nie.
Die feit dat ek as ouer toegelaat het dat my kind aan sulke omstandighede blootgestel was, gaan my vir altyd laat wonder of ek as ouer nie my kind gevaal het nie...
Sy was en is onskuldig, sy het dit nie verdien nie, maar tog is sy vandag die een wat met die nagevolge daarvan sit, tog is sy die een wat in die koue hospitaalbed le en wag vir verdere nuus.
Ek wens ek kon dit als verhoed of vermy op een of ander stadium, wens ek was daar op daai presiese oomblik om haar te beskerm teen die seer. Maar ek kon nie...

Dit wat gebeur het, bly in my kop maal en maal, as ek stil word hoor ek dit, as ek my oe toemaak, sien ek dit. Ek kry nie ontsnap daarvan nie, die kloue van wreedheid klem my nog te styf vas.

Wanner is "net nog een" een te veel...