Sleepy eyes

On June 14, 2011 - Uncategorized

Grace has started closing her eyes sometimes while being put to sleep (on the days she does not go to sleep on her own). It looks a bit like her "smile" – eyes squished up and a kind of grimace. It is more relaxed than her smile, but quite funny and cute. As she falls asleep her eyes slowly unsquish and her face relaxes until there is just peaceful breathing. A bit tricky to take a photo while putting her to sleep though….

Today was a beautiful Cape Town summer-in-the-middle-of-winter day, so lunch was out in the garden – jumping off of the wash basket (while holding mom's hand) and doing somersaults.

Going..

Going…

Gone!

Fire!

On June 13, 2011 - Uncategorized

So I was happily relaxing in front of the TV when I heard two loud bangs (it sounded like glass breaking). I jumped up and was expecting to see a cracked casserole dish but was in for quite the surprise when I saw my dish towel on fire. I grabbed the dish towel thinking ahh not to bad just a little flame, but by the time that thought had gone through my head it was a BEEG flame and I'm yelling "Duncan Duncan" (who is busy saying goodnight to Grace). I throw the dish towel into the sink, Duncan arrives saying "what's burning?" and I'm just standing there – clearly having a fright not a flight response :). Anyway Duncan put the fire out and besides two little marks on our counter top and a dish towel that is no longer, no real harm was done. I have been meaning to buy new dish towels for way too long – I suppose burning them is one sure way to ensure I go and get some 🙂

Hmm, I think this goes on like this…but something is not quite right…..

Hiding with the bears

On June 12, 2011 - Uncategorized

Having fun at Toys r Us

Miss K-eren

On June 11, 2011 - Uncategorized

Breakfast at Miss K in Seapoint and a walk through Green Point Park with Keren and Justin…

The pirate cat coffee (the coffee at Miss K is really amazing – both taste and presentation)

Watching the seagulls take a bath

Keren & Grace

"Smile Grace," – well if you can't beat them, join them

Resting on dad

On June 10, 2011 - Uncategorized

After breakfast this morning Spice decided that my legs looked like a good place to put his head down. Grace was inspired by Spice and joined him to read a story while lying there.

Seasons of friendships

On June 9, 2011 - Uncategorized

This year a friend and I have been having dinner with each other once a month – a time to catch up, to chat and enjoy each other's company. I have really enjoyed the time to connect and now it is coming to a close, as he is about to embark on a stint in the USA. It has been a pleasure to grow the relationship.

When we were in Pretoria there were a few of us who had Tuesday pizza & beer night – a consistent, same place event which gave everyone an opportunity to be open and lay it all out there. It was a group that fostered great honesty and openness, mainly due to the level of trust between us all. In that case we were the ones who left to move to Cape Town, and then that time was no more.

Things come to an end, seasons change, people move on, we move on. I like the flow of things. Yes, there can be a sense of loss, but the change gives us an opportunity to create something new, build a new relationship, or just to savour another. I miss my friends in Pretoria, and I will miss this friend when he leaves, but I look forward to the new relationships I can forge with others.

Go well Stéfan – enjoy changing the world.

Swimming and bears

On June 8, 2011 - Uncategorized

So I went with Duncan and Grace to a swimming lesson today. It was lovely to watch Grace enjoying the water and really engaging in the various swimming exercises. She is very comfortable in the water and is basically ready to start individual swimming lessons, where she will learn to swim versus the groups where the focus is more on water safety.

On another note Grace has become rather attached to all her bears and soft toys again and currently sleeps with Monkey, Teddee and the new addition to the family Gog (dog). I think we may have to limit the number of soft toys to a maximum of 3 at a time since I can see Grace adding more to the bed but not evicting any 🙂

Here is a photo of Grace in the basket with her soft and cuddle friends

Egg Hunting take 2

On June 7, 2011 - Uncategorized

After much waiting, and may I add rather patiently, Grace got to have her second Easter Egg hunt today. As is custom all the usual spots were checked out, some proving fruitful while others not so much

After a good hunt, it is always good to sit down and enjoy your hard work

A sign of a good feast is always evident by how dirty ones face and hands are. I think all in all it was a successful second egg hunt and I'm sure to be asked tomorrow if we can do it all over again.

The chocolate monster

On June 6, 2011 - Uncategorized

Grace has been waiting for Keren to arrive and hide the easter eggs/chocolate bunnies away for her to find and today was the big day we had been building up to….except, she did not arrive, at least not until it was too late. So I decided that we could have a mini-hunt as a consolation prize. Grace and I closed the bedroom door and counted to 20 while Donné hid a box of smarties away. Once found the smarties were devoured and we went on waiting for Keren to arrive.

A short while later Grace starts asking for more chocolates to be hidden away, and we explain to her that the chocolates are finished and there will be no more today. She keeps asking and then marches off to the bedroom saying “Door, door, door,” – she wants to close herself in the bedroom so that more chocolates will magically appear 🙂

Going for a walk with dad in his slippers

The genius within

On June 5, 2011 - Uncategorized

We were walking past a toy shop today and noticed some nice wooden puzzles in the window, and seen as Grace is having a puzzle phase at the moment we decided to get one for her. We walked in and I asked a shop assistant where the puzzles were and she took me to them. I picked up a 50 piece puzzle box.

The shop assistant said, "She will need a 9 piece puzzle," to which I responded, "She is actually building 50 piece puzzles." Her jaw dropped, "Really? 50 piece puzzles? But that is only supposed to be for [she scratches around in the boxes to see what the age ratings are]…4 year olds. That is amazing, she's going to go to some special school!" One of us responded, "She is a great puzzle builder, but she still needs to learn how to jump." When we were paying for the puzzle the lady said we must send her tickets to Grace's concerts, or whatever she goes on to do. She was very kind in what she said.

We are proud parents – we are proud of who Grace is, and of the things she does. We are also acutely aware of her shortcomings, like running and jumping and speaking. We also try to be modest, and mostly attribute her successes to her personality.

I think that responding to compliments by raising a shortcoming is problematic. Grace has good comprehension and I am pretty sure she is aware of and understands what we are saying, so she gets a message which says, "You are amazing, but…." It is also an issue that we are focussing on shortcomings rather than celebrating strengths. I guess we do that to ourselves too.

We all have a creative genius inside of us and I want to be encouraging Grace to develop that as much as possible, and express it however she feels is best. There are things we need to work on with her – and we do – but there is no need to cut down compliments by raising her shortcomings. We are going to endeavour to embrace praises (without making any moderating comments), and to do that in a humble way.

We are grateful for the amazing daughter we have.

drennan a day

a daily dose of the Cape Town Drennan's