Thanks ...

Thanks Uncle Pete, Auntie Estelle, Tayla and Josh for my great Earth Child
outfit ... I think I look stunning in it. Thanks Tayla for making me such a
stunning birthday cake (or birthday cookies) ... Hope you are going to make
my cake every year!

Birthday presents

My birthday present from BJ ... And one of my Dad's fav pics of me ...

Playdate with Finnbug ...

After swimming today, and then to spend Bobba Bella's birthday money at the
toyshop, and then my one year check-up to the Paed ... We met Finn and his
mom for lunch at the Health Shop. Finn and I LOVED sharing the spicy lentil
soup. Then we went back to his house and played .... When we left there I
was so tired I literally flopped to sleep (check out the baby biltong I was
chewing on) ... Then home, shul, RH dinner ... Good Yom Tov All!

Very early ...

Sunday morning breakfast at Newport ... The sun came out, so mom put on my
gown and we all went for a walk on the promenade (at 7:30am), then breakfast
and my first baby cino at Newport ...

Birthday Lunch ...

At Miss K with Mom and BJ ...

My birthday party ...

Here are links to a slide show and two short movies of my first birthday party …

This was the adults birthday celebration (except for two special friends, Daniella and Jamie) …

It was a great day. BJ catered amazingly, mom baked (for the first time in 12 years) an awesome cheesecake, Dad was a great host … and me, I just loved all the attention (although, at times it was a bit overwhelming).

I got GREAT presents, thank you ALL!

Thanks EVERYBODY for all your good wishes and love.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEVWYWbE5Us

 

Watch in this order:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDh2lWQDJ9A

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS2V5f3KR3g

 

The kids birthday celebration is going to be at the end of October.

 

 

Signs of a good birthday party ...

Absolutly NO cake left ... Not a crumb ... And a very very full kitchen,
full of dirty dishes ...
Phil is a champion of cleaning-up, and by Sunday morning the kitchen was
spotless again!

Birthday celebrations

My birthday celebrations started with Lunch with Mom and BJ at Miss K's. Then, we went to my Auntie Estelle and Uncle Peter's house for a very special Shabbat dinner (I wore my SuperWomen PJ's). My cousin Tayla surprised made me an awesome birthday cake. Thanks Cuz!

Birthday Girl

The day before my birthday, hanging out with Bobba Bella and Aunty Estelle

An hour before my 1st birthday, snoozing with Dad












Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear Zaza, happy birthday to me...












Dad spoiling me with kisses and gifts...

Tomorrow I will be ONE!

Tomorrow I will be turning 1 year old.

 

I was born at 8:58am on the 26 September 2007.

 

I weighed 3,875g. Length: 52.5cm, and 36cm head circumference. My Apgar was 8 at 1 minute and 9 at five minutes.

 

Presently, I am crawling all over, I have 8 teeth (with another one popping out soon, I hope … that’s why I have a temperature tonight), I love pointing at everything, I love passing things to other people (especially food) and saying Da Da. I also say by by, and wave. I smile a lot, generally at everyone. I love being out. I love my baths with dad, swimming lessons, mommy and me lessons, kindermusik and clamber club. I like dogs from far, and I love cuddling in bed in the morning with mom and dad.

 

Mom is feeling very reflective tonight (seeing though this time last year she was lying in a hospital bed at the Kingsbury, trying to read books about babies, while she was being monitored and having very mild contractions).

 

So, I have decided to give her some blog space to be a bit mushy. Hit it Mom:

 

Hi All.

I can’t believe my little pumpkin will be one tomorrow. I know I will probably be saying the same thing when she turns 21 and then 30 etc etc.

Looking back, this year has been AMAZING. (Yes, there definitely has been the low days), but generally I have LOVED every moment of being ZaZa’s mom. Saying that, ZaZa is a baby that makes life very easy for you. Her magnetic, happy, inquisitive and content nature is incredible. P-G, we will share many more birthdays in health and happiness.

This is a post I should have written ages ago … so now is as good a time as ever.

This year has been a HUGE learning curve. No books tell you the tiny little things that you are ‘just supposed’ to know. So here are some of the things I (with a capital I) learnt this year, I am sure there are more. Hope this helps other new moms. Again- this was MY experience (In no particular order)LHope I read this before I have number two, P-G)

1. ‘They’ give you loads of drugs when you have a Caesar and loads after … which results on you being totally out of it for at least two weeks
2. The baby hormones you release in the first few weeks are incredible … I was totally hyperactive and on a high
3. Life as a new mom can be lonely, arrange a new mommy group … to hear all about others births, sleeping patterns, feeding and pooing patterns … it is very comforting.
4. The first few weeks, it feels like only you and your baby are in the world … it is amazing …
5. Breastfeeding is Great, if you get it right and ask for LOADS of help from the lactation consultants and nurses.
6. A baby sleeping on your chest, is the best thing in the entire world.
7. You will forget how small your baba was … so (and I say this with regret), use measurements e.g. shoes, wine bottles
8. Apparently when the mouth goes blue, and the tongue goes up, the baby needs a burp.
9. Babies need to alternate which ear they sleep on
10. You only need to wind a baby for about 2 minutes, if nothing comes out the mouth, it has gone in the other direction (I was winding as a form of exercise until Heather told me this)
11. A dummy is a great invention (Thanks Estelle for popping it into ZaZa’s mouth on day 2)
12. A dummy chain is a great invention
13. Never microwave sterilise a honey dummy
14. Nuk dummy’s rock!
15. Invest in cotton granny panties after a Caesar.
16. Surround yourself with telephone numbers of supportive people – THANKS to all my supportive people, you know who you are J
17. Set boundaries before the birth … decide when and how many visitors you want
18. Until about a month old, a baby does not need a bath every night.
19. If breastfeeding, you need to be on call every two hours!
20. Unless you are Heidi Klum, you don’t lose your baby weight when you leave the hospital – yes, you still need to wear maternity pants.
21. Babies don’t need all the fancy things – only buy essentials on your first shop.
22. First three months – babygrows, not fancy outfits
23. A mom actually feels horrible when the baby is sick – sympathy pains.
24. My love for ZaZa has grown more and more every day – if that is possible.
25. Don’t listen to everyone
26. Never say ‘I will NEVER do that’ – because, you probably will (hence, ZaZa is still sleeping in our bed).
27. Babies start eating food at 6 months …
28. Baby stimulation is important
29. Moms groups are interesting and good to see that others are in the same boat …
30. Babies do socialise with other babies
31. Suppositories are the BEST!
32. Sterimar is great
33. Teething causes a high temperature and tons of other things … (runny poos)
34. The texture of your hair changes after birth … mine is straighter
35. Baby Bjorn and ErgoBaby are essential …
36. Babies are great travel companions
37. Babies can fit in with your life
38. Stopping OT was the best decision
39. Night time feeds are great snuggling and bonding time
40. Motherhood come with a dose of guilt … especially being a Jewish Mom
41. Braun Ear Thermometre is essential
42. A baby changes your world and you … for the better J

 

Thanks you my gorgeous little Pumpkin, I have loved my year with you. Thank you Phil for giving me the opportunity to treasure and appreciate each moment with ZaZa.

To many more years, L’Chaim!

Mom can't believe it ...

This is Naphtali and I when we were three months old ... 9 months ago, my
how we have grown!

Wednesday ... Public Holiday

Today was a public holiday in SA (Heritage Day)... So I spent the morning
with Dad while mom went to Yoga ... Then Mom and I went to the waterfront to
do some errands ... Check out my Reeboks, all the way from OZ! Thanks Granny
Rona (Mom was determined that I wear them ... So she squashed my feet into
them :)...

Naphtali's party

Last year this time, Mom and Liat (Naphtali's mom) were sitting in Shul on
Yom Kippur pregnant ... Today I went to Naphtali's first birthday party ...
Great Fun! Delicious cake ... BUT, I was not myself ... I had a few cries
... And then, tonight I have a high temperature :(

Clamber Clubbed out!

Today I did THREE lessons of Clamber Club … it was great fun … all the movement, singing, dancing, lots of babies, in the sandpit, making friends with other mommies … I also went to visit Zeida in the shop and he gave me a perogan … Then I went to the park and had dinner with a friend … and by 6 o’clock I was FAST asleep!

Busy, busy Sunday ...

We all woke up at 8:30 ... Mom jumped out of bed and started rushing around
the house getting ready for Dani's surprise Pamper party ... When some of
the people arrived, Dad and I went out for a few hours. In the afternoon we
drove to Spier for Josh'es birthday party. I had great fun playing with all
the kids and eating a blue cookie!

Saturday

On Saturday we had a full day out ... We went on a gorgeous drive to Pringle
Bay, for Fish and Chips on newspaper 9in this toolshed). We met Joe, Mandie
and Jan-Paul there. I enjoyed the meat and veg soup, and crawling all over
Jan-Paul, and the floor and playing under the table. We then went to see the
whales in Harmanus. Then back to Joe & Mandie for coffee, and finally home
for bath and bed!