Clap Hands for those Teeth!

Well, Malakai has not been the best sleeper for a while now - and after 8 months of a full night's rest, every single night, I must say I don't know what to do with myself! Getting up once, twice or sometimes 4 or 5 times a night is a real killer (of already pregnant brain cells)!

At first I thought it was teeth, but no. It was a cold, flu, runny noses, coughs, some more runny noses and the list went on and on, week after tiresome week!

So after three trips to the GP, antibiotics, nebulizers and the works I was still dumbstruck as to why Malakai wasn't eating or sleeping... Back to my original idea? Maybe? Teeth?

And yes - his top eye teeth are coming through! At last, another reason for sleepless nights! We now know why he hasn't been sleeping this last week - and that does help! It really does! It makes all the tiredness seem ok, because at least we know why!

So, yesterday, after many months of trying to teach Mr. Malakai how to clap hands he just did it! Yay! It's the cutest clap as well (believe it or not) because he keeps his right hand still and claps with his left, like those posh people you see at operas or fashion shows - except cuter than them of course!

I just say, "Malakai, clap your hands for mommy" and he does it! Which is also great news because it means he understands me and can follow instruction. Not that I think he'll follow all instructions because 'no' is still a bit of joke to him - resulting in a smile and the determination to do whatever I'm saying no to!

Anyway - I close with some pictures taken while we were on holiday recently - ful of Mr. Cuteness!

Updates!

So, it's been a while since I've had the time to sit down and write a post - so much has happened... is happening...

Winter is almost behind us - Oh how I long for summer days! I am dreaming about being outside, lounging on the patio after the sun sets, relaxing with friends around a braai, and the end to (hopefully) the coughs and runny noses!

Malakai has never really been a sick baby, until now that is. Since his birthday and his first fever, he has hit about 10 serious fevers, developed a cough (shame, poor monkey) and yet another runny nose! I didn't know just how horrible winter can be for the little ones! I have visited the doctor more often in the past two weeks than I used to in 6 months!

Despite coughing like a smoker, Malakai is crawling all over the place and has started to scout out every available surface to pull himself up on. He's getting better at it every day, and this is one milestone that I haven't had to 'work hard' to motivate him to do - he wants to stand at every oportunity. Also, Malakai has started to babble and will go 'ba ba ba' in the cutest way! And then tonight, my dear husband was convinced that Malakai signed 'eat'. I watched and I think he may be right. Malakai clearly put his hand to his mouth while we were eating dinner (on the floor in his play-area... long story). Malakai did it over and over again until we gave him a little of what we were eating! Our imagination? Is he actively communicating? I'll keep everyone posted.

Other stuff that Malakai is doing:
He loves to read his picture books and insists on kissing all the pictures of babies (too cute).
He will come and find us if we hide and call him.
He will laugh when I play peek-a-boo.
He will have a 'conversation' with us, giggling when we repeat his sounds back to him.
He loves other babies and will make a bee-line for them and give them a kiss (off course)!

What Malakai isn't doing:
Pooing in the bath! Yay!

On the new-baby front! I am now about 16 weeks pregnant and it's a boy! I am very excited that Malakai will have a little 'partner in crime'! We will probably keep the nursery the same and just move Malakai into a big-boy room when the baby comes. Although, not like my first pregnancy, we are not 100% focussed on the new baby, because we just don't have the time! I am starting to look pregnant, which is great because then I don't have to continuously explain my very pregnant behaviour! I have done everything from going to the shops without my purse, leaving my cell phone on the roof of my car, forgetting to brush my teeth before leaving for work, thinking it was Valentines Day on the 14th of August (yes. I know.) and much much more! My brain is just not functioning on a level that is at all productive or even logical, and I am trying really to get it to, but no avail!

Life is good. That is feeling I have most of the time (when I'm not completely overemotional because of my hormones). I am so grateful for my life, for my son, for my pregnancy, for everything. We really have been blessed and I am acutely aware of how this is not the reality for many families out there.

Well - it's getting a bit late (past my bedtime for sure)! So off I go to bed and get my rest!

Red Hot Birthday Party

Where do I even begin?

I was so excited about Malakai's birthday party - I had planned, done invitations, made decorations, created party packs and generally drove my husband insane... And! I am NOT like this... I am not a party planner type person. Frankly I find it really daunting and quite stressful... But for my boy? Anything of course!

So bring on Friday night - I am finally 'almost' prepared for Saturday's party. All I need is my beauty sleep. Malakai had different ideas, as he spent the night awake, crying and feeling very hot. And (confession), I had misplaced his thermometer, which I blame completely on the porridge brain I have since becoming pregnant again. I looked and looked in the middle of night, and couldn't find it.

At last Malakai went to sleep and Darryl and I managed 3 or 4 hours before getting going on Saturday morning.

At last we were ready and guests started arriving, but my jovial, happy, easy-going son had morphed into a crying, screaming, red-in-the-face, get-out-of-my-face baby... After taking his temperature (with the thermometer that I had managed to find in daylight), I wasn't too concerned.

After a few more hours of constant crying, which is so contrary to Malakai's usual nature, I decided to use a friend's thermometer and it read 37.8 degrees Celsius. Not an emergency, but definitely the start of a fever.

To cut a really long (it felt like an epic in the day) story short - Malakai came down with a horrible fever that peaked, twice, at 38.9 and 39. This was our first experience of fever (in a whole year!), and all on his birthday! We managed to break the fever for long enough for him to enjoy his cake and open his presents - for the rest of the day either Darryl and or I were consoling him in his state of complete despair.

My poor monkey is better now - the fever is gone, but he is still a bit under the weather with a runny nose. I hope that he's all better soon!

As for everyone who shared Malakai's birthday with us - thank you! He was truly spoilt rotten and your generosity left us speechless! We are so happy that you could spend the day with us (even though we weren't around much of the time, and Malakai was literally in and out!).

As my baby gets ready to turn one...

So, we find ourselves on the eve of the day you were born my baby boy.

I am filled with so much – Love, Thoughts, Memories, Hopes, Pride, Excitement...

I have loved every minute of every day since your arrival, you continue to amaze and inspire me with your joy, smiles, love and determination.

What I wish I had known, the day you were born, the day we ‘found out’, the day that was filled with so many tears and heavy-heavy sadness... what I wish I had known then was that I had no reason to cry, no reason to be sad or fearful, because you would be ok. No. More than ok! You would fill our lives with wonder and joy and love and smiles.

Malakai you have taught me so much already – I now know that Perfection comes in many shapes and forms. I now know that Acceptance has nothing to do with ‘settling’ and everything to do with celebration of our lives together. I now know that no book, doctor, diagnosis or blood test can tell me who you are – only you can... in your time... in your way. I now know that little boys with naughty smiles can renew my soul... and fill my heart! I now know that I’ll be ok, not in the least because you’ve shown me that it’s all going to be ok.

This year has been an amazing journey. Your dad loves you so much, you brighten his days and make him so proud. He, like everyone else, thinks you’re just a superstar in every way. Your grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins adore you too. You have a special place in their hearts and the hearts of all our friends. I don’t think we could’ve imagined, the day you were born, what an impact you would make on everyone you meet.

My angel, as we draw your first year to a close, sealed with starry-eyed love, I want to think of your next year. I want to wish, imagine and project my ideas of what’s going to happen. But I am quickly reminded of the single biggest lesson you have ever taught me – stay here. Right here. This moment is our only promise, our only gift, the only place where we can truly make a difference.

So, bring on 366 days my baby... and then 367... One day at a time. Celebrating. Loving. Being. Becoming. One beautiful moment at a time.

Our Year in Pictures

*In my tummy*

*First Breath*

*1 day old*

*2 weeks old*

*1 month old*

*2 months old*

*3 months old*

*4 months old*

*5 months old*


*6 months old*

*7 months old*

*8 months old*

*9 months old*

*10 months old*

*11 months old*

*Almost 1!*

Pix Fix

For my mom... :)