E - Vida

I still clearly remember the bus trip on my first youth camp up in Gauteng. We travelled in almost complete silence for the entire day and night journey. Ridiculous, in hindsight. On the return trip just 7 days later, with the excitement of camp and friends and more, we couldn't believe how we'd wasted the 20+ hours in the week before by not engaging! It came to mind today when I realised that nursing in the wingback for at least 30 minutes a go, many times a day, was the perfect time and place to get stuck into a book! I mean, what a great opportunity for a mom to escape for a bit? And to think that I almost wasted my entire bus trip of maternity leave before discovering it. [So when I walked over to the chair for the next feed, I caught myself breaking out a smug smile, just to reiterate!] And that's really how I'm starting to feel about a few more things... For instance, this blog posting, and forgetting that the reason I started it in the first place was to

It was brrrrrrrr cold today - at one point, I stopped talking altogether because it seemed to use up too much body heat! Here are a few pros and cons of being              at home , with a baby , during Winter : PROS Late morning tea and cuddles in a warm bed when everyone else heads to school CONS Night time nursing and nappy changing in single digit temperature when everyone else is sleeping Creating sweet smelling pint sized clean laundry bundles at leisure Desperately trying to wash and dry several loads of laundry in the rain  Playing peek-a-boo in pajamas Playing peek-a-boo and watching in horror at the icy air escaping from your lips  No real pressure to primp and polish  It's your coveted shower time - all 5 minutes - and the water won't get hot Leftover dinner for lunch Not able to pass the kitchen without grabbing a snack .

It just felt like a Ethan-day. Those are few and far between these days and need to be 'opportuned' in our party of five. Morning cuddles. Hugs. High fives. Word searches. Plaster projects. Joking. Dancing. Singing. Afternoon cuddles. Helping hands. Nappy duty. Quiet conversations. Evening cuddles. Hand holding. Back rubbing. Blanket buddying. Soft smiles. My boy child with the beastly appetite - tears and tantrums to match - has a unique way of warming my heart. And it is warm!

Baby lays in my arms, cocooned in coral fleece with a peep hole only to let the food in. This is winter. Back in the day, the Geduld girls (aka the von Trapps of Fairways) sang a cheerful song called "Our House Runs on Sunshine, Peace and Love." It was a hit... ...Well, I'm writing from that very plot this morning and we can only hope for Peace and Love to show up because the Sunshine sure won't today! Our lazy, hazy, crazy days of Summer seem long gone. Leathered caramel skin, slip slops and salads are a distant memory and I have a headache from clenching my jaw to fight off that frosty feeling. But what is weather like this good for? A mass stay awake with brothers, sisters and cousins, Baked puddings, hearty soups and mallowed- hot chocolate And a getaway up the Garden Route to a cabin with a awesome fireplace! I.can't.wait.