Embracing the gees

Gees, an Afrikaans word pronounced... ag, forget it, if i can't explain how you say it, you're not going to be able to say it. It means spirit at any rate, and there was lots of it around as Soth Africa got ready to host the World Cup.

Ireland may not have been here, but it was chilly one day and I was taking Emma for a walk. She needed a hat and I found one... she seemed happy enough in it.

This is Cape Town station. I include the following photos for Capetonians away from home more than for anyone else. This place has changed a lot... what was a bit of a shit-hole is now a world-standard station, not out of place in France, England or Germany. And that's quite cool.

Again, for those who used to commute to town, this is the area just outside the station... it used to be covered in stalls selling cheap knock-offs. Now it's a plain, a square, whatever you want to call it. It looks quite modern. Alas, the lack of grass, but you caný have everything.

And this is St George's Mall. Note the flags, the men wearing Bafana scarves, the girl carrying a vuvuzela. Everyone wanted in on the gees.

Even the Argus was getting in on it... this is our foyer downstairs and the other two pics are upstairs in the office. It may be too small to see, but there are SA flags everywhere up here!
A poster hanging from the rood says "One more sleep to go" (one day before the World Cup was due to start).

Three naked chicks in the bath and a cute pair of dungarees

Cath bought Emma a basketball hoop for the bath with three plastic balls. She needed it explained once, then lots of applause the first few times we put the ball through, and then she had it waxed. Now she's VERY proud of herself when she scores. She'll do anything for applause!

Speaking of bath time, Cath went round to watch the rugga at a friend's place the other day (I had to work) and after the rugga, the boys got down to drinking beer and the moms got down to cleaning babies.

Cute bums man!

Budha, sorry I mean Emma, checks out the hair washing process with interest.

(Singing...) "There were three in the bath and the little one says..."

Emma makes me laugh here - her friends and her are all arms and hands at this stage - everything must be touched and groped - so Emz tries to get a handful of hair.

Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.

Look me in the eyes and tell me that this isn't a cute smile!

Emma has begun a fascination with her shoes.

Or her feet.

We dress her wamly, we put her in the car seat,

we arrive at destination, her shoes and socks are or the car floor.

We change her, we bath her, we dry her amd dress her warmly.

One minute later, shoes and socks lying in the passage.

It is like the setting sun - you just can't stop it from happening.

Walking around in granny's present - dungarees.

First steps to success...

The day begins like any other, baby cries, bottle is fetched,

handed over, Cath tries to go back to sleep.

But she keeps an arm around Emz just to let her know she's around if needed.

That's the nice thing about Emma now... she virtually feeds herself the bottle. Well, she does feed herself the bottle. If we could just get her to get up, boil the kettle and make herself the bottle...

Can't talk now, drinking.

After that, she crawls around the top of the bed a bit before climbing down. Cath has taught her to go down legs first and she gets that right most of the time. Then, on the floor, she plays with toys and explores.

Into the en-suite...



Look ma, one hand!

A little wobble, an attempt to stand. Boom, plop, onto the ass.

Then up again to try again. yay. Success.




Getting more confident...

What was that noise?

Think I'll crawl to investigate. Much safer. Much faster.

Using the bed for support.

YAY!!!! Look ma, NO HANDS!

As far as i know, this was her first 'stand up unsupported' moment.

She was up for ages. Well balanced that child - just like her pa.

Big brave girl! Letting go of the bed to trying a step.

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This was a visit to Julie and Marks place. Oh, and Tomas.

all kids are cute together.

Emma, of course, steals all toys and snacks, so that does make it a bit difficult to make friends, but when she isn't being a thief, she tries.

Oy, bugger off, I'm playing with these cool toys of yours!

The first steps on the road to walking

This is Emma trying to give walking a go...

She pulls herself up, wobbles, then plonks down onto her ass.

Thank heavens for nappies, they soften the blow.

Then this is her using the cat to push herself up. She crawled up to it, gave it a stroke and a hair pull or two (cat lay contentedly) , and then used the cat as a step to push herself up, putting all her weight on it. The cat just took it all in her stride, Good kitty.

Toddling around.

We borrowed this from Marianne and Malcolm... a kiddie walker (Dad may be borrowing it after her). She is so cute on it... loves it to bits. Check the smile in the photo below.

She needs a bit of help when she bashes into the couch, etc, but she loves walking with it and even gets quite cocky sometimes, holding it with one hand and looking to the left to check out other things as she walks past them!

But it can be tiring work, and often she sleeps REALLY well at night.

This is her using the fridge to pull herself up, checking out the Winnie the Poohfridge magnets and dogs outside.




Magnets are seriously business here...

And once again, zzzzzzz.