Round and round we go

Well Joshua still hasn't got the whole crawling thing... I honestly think he might end up being a bum-shuffler like I was... But yesterday I had him sitting on the kitchen floor while I was cooking, and each time I looked at him he was facing a different way. He managed to turn a full 360 degrees a few times while I was busy...

And he's now throwing his body to where he wants to go (and he has very determined ideas about where that is). So he'll be sitting on your and then next thing you know he's lying on the couch next to you reaching for a toy or something. So he's definitely decided that it's time to be mobile. He's just got to figure out how to make that happen... He's managed a few times to move slightly, whether sitting or lying down, but still nothing to get majorly excited about... It'll come all too soon! But it looks like I should at least be at home with him when it happens, which I'm very grateful for!

The internet is coming!

We are finally going to have internet at home! I went yesterday and applied for it, but because we don't have a landline or anything it's going to take a while. But I'm hoping that by Christmas it will be in.

Today is also my last day of work for the year! So I don't think I'll be doing much posting for the rest of the month, well, until our DSL is installed.

So I now only have 2 months left of work effectively. And then I can start doing what I really want to do, working fantastic hours, and still earning pretty competitively. Sounds like the life, doesn't it? ;o)

The beginning of this week was really hectic - one of our biggest audit clients was a bit of a mess this year because they were bought by an Australian company and a whole restructure was done. And then they dumped on us that they wanted consolidated financial statements within a few days, signed by the audit partner... So between Monday morning and midnight on Wednesday I worked 38 hours, which would be fantastic for me in an average week... And Wednesday evening I didn't even get to see Joshua. But he was very happy to see me the next morning, so it was all okay in the end.

But none of my clients that I have lined up for next year should have much overtime to be worked, so I'm hopefully finished with the long hours forever. I REALLY hope so!

But all that said, and now I'm very ready for my holiday!

Rock a-bye baby

This was quite a while ago, but Joshua really loves music! He often starts a little dance if there's something playing or being sung...

We're hoping that he's musical, and if you actually can tell at this age, then I'd say he will be, but he is a bit young to really say.

One by One

I've been storing this experience up inside me for a while now, waiting for a good opportunity to really do it justice. I hope I can now...

In stake choir we sang a song called "One by One" for our stake conference in November. It's based on 3 Nephi 17 when Christ visited the Nephites, and blessed them in numerous ways.

One. One by one, every one
One by one we came to look upon our Lord
And feast upon His word
One by one

One. One by one, every one
One by one we came the halt, the blind, the lame,
He healed us in His name
One by one

He spoke what no tongue can speak
What ear hath not heard before
We saw what no eye has seen
The joys of eternity
Ah____

Then He blessed our little ones
And we were overcome
Every one
Aleluia. Aleluia. Oh gloria

One. One by one, every one
One by one we came to look upon our Lord.

The words almost don't do justice to the spirit of the song, because of the way that the music all works together, so do yourselves a favour and go and listen to it. (It's number 6 in the top section)

It really is a beautiful song. But even more than that. In our first practice, where we learnt the parts, and heard it for the first time I had the most amazing experience. Joshua comes with us to all our practices, and sits with either Andrew or I, depending on which of us can give me the most attention...

When we got to the part about when Christ blessed the little children Andrew was holding Joshua, and I looked over at them, and I caught the vision of what it must have been like to have been there when Christ came, to have Him bless my little one, and to know how much He loves all the little ones. The spirit was so strong as it bore witness to me of these things, and I was overwhelmed, as the song says. Cindy saw me crying, and thought something was wrong, but couldn't have been more wrong.

I am so grateful to know that Andrew and Joshua will be with me for eternity, that nothing can take them away from me, because of our eternal marriage. I am so grateful to know how much the Saviour loves me, and my family. I am coming to understand in very small ways that love now that I'm a parent, but I know that I won't even come close in this life.

We really are loved. I've felt that love, and I'm very grateful for the experience.

Joshua photos

These are some photos that I've been meaning to publish for a while, but not having internet at home really limits me. We're working on it though!

These first few were when I was playing a game with him suggested by Practica (love the program - if you're in SA, and have young kids, and you're interested in hearing about it, let me know). So this is to help develop problem solving skills. So you put the balance beam between Joshua and a toy that he likes, and the idea is that he reaches over or under the beam to get it. So check it out...

First considering the situation
What's with going over or under? Let's just get it out of the way!
And of course we have to taste it along the way...

And then triumphant!

We were also given a huge Barney by a friend who works with Andrew, who's emigrating. It's actually one of the few things bigger than Joshua, but he definitely likes it ;o)

I must just apologise for the poor quality photos, but my phone was the closest thing on hand each time...

5 years

I just realised, during an interesting conversation that Andrew and I are having via email right now, that today is exactly 5 years since that first time we played squash...

For those who've heard the story you'll know how it goes - but for those who haven't, it was that day that we counted as our first official date. Andrew did also take me to breakfast and a walk down Fish Hoek beach - so it wasn't all just playing squash that I'd never done before.

5 years... Wow!

5 very good years!

The teeth cutting stage...

Well Joshua has now begun the next stage... Last week he cut his first tooth, with very little pain leading up to it, but now this week he seems to be struggling a whole lot more. I'm hoping that means that we're going to get a few teeth coming out in quick succession so that at least it's all in a concentrated time period. And for those mom's who were still breastfeeding at this stage you'll know what I'm going through right now... But he is quite good if I tell him to stop biting and pulling, and I firmly hold his head in place, so I think it will be okay.

Last week I had my annual sports day at work. I only went for a short time, and took Joshua with me, and otherwise got to spend the day with him. He has now acquired a number of new fans ;o) But he is definitely not so sure about strangers at the moment, and there were a lot of people, and lots of noise. But he still did me proud.

And our little boy is 8 months old today! A very quick 8 months.