March has been another busy month, but thankfully I’m on holiday for the next two weeks!
The photos…:
Lola and Cam often wait at the front door when ‘Daddy’s coming home now now…’ They are equally excited when they hear the gate and garage doors opening. Cam starts chanting, ‘Hello little man!’ because that’s what Murray always calls to him as he comes up to the front door.
Communal cousin bathing is a regular thing…!
We went to Dullstroom this weekend with a bunch of Cam’s aunts and uncles (Duncan, Heather, Samantha, Reynard and Scott). He was the only little person in the house so he got lots of attention, and the big people were very gracious and patient when it came to his very early, very talkative, very excited, awakenings each morning… And his anxious enquiries as to Lola’s whereabouts… Sleeping late was not an option!
Cam absolutely loved the little streams and dams, and the grass, wind, birds… It was lovely.
News…:
Cam’s little brother/sister is doing well! I had a scan on Thursday and all looks good – as far as we can tell, that is. By now the lenses of the eyes have formed, so what’s done is done and there’s no point worrying if there are cataracts present. My gynae wants to send us for a special scan at 22 weeks which will apparently tell us more. I’m going on 14 weeks this week and feeling great – the nausea has just about ceased completely! Today Cam was stroking my tummy and saying that we mustn’t hurt the baby (this is from me constantly reminding him to be careful when he’s sitting, climbing, kicking, rolling, laughing all over me…).
A few weeks ago I handed in my resignation as Head of English at St Alban’s, as of December 2010. I’ll retain a full teaching timetable next year, but will officially be part-time, and we’ll be moving off campus. This was a huge decision for us – financially, and in terms of my career – but we felt that with two little ones, things will be that much harder to manage, with my boarding house duties, weekend and evening commitments, afternoon meetings, etc. Even though I will miss being in the thick of things at school, I haven’t a shred of doubt that this is the right choice. It’s a ‘backwards’ step in my career, and yet I know that with our God the best is yet to be. He always leads us into more, not less – of Himself and His purposes. I’m very excited for the change in pace and lifestyle, and for the opportunity to have that much more emotional energy left at the end of a day.
As for Cam, he continues to thrive and amaze. However, it must be said that he also continues to wake up several times a night, some nights, and parental sleep deprivation is our reality… On occasion he also throws remarkable, smack-deserving tantrums, usually when one is taking him away from one of his two great loves: water and cars. Nevertheless, he is laughter and spunk and fun and love in a gorgeous little body. He is very vocal about absolutely everything, and talks about everything with its colour attached (orange bus, grey shirt, green juice, etc). He also talks much more about his eyes now. If I peer into his face and ask to check his lenses because it looks to me as if one might be missing, he says nonchalantly, ‘Lenses still fine.’ On Friday he looked out of the lounge window and told me he couldn’t see something that he was obviously looking for or expecting to see. I felt an initial pang of fear and pity, thinking, ‘He’s beginning to realise…’ but then it struck me that already he has such a strong sense of self-awareness and self-acceptance. While I know that a day will come when he will realise fully that he is ‘different’, we can be so grateful that he is a grounded little chap, so confident and so happy.
The photos…:
Lola and Cam often wait at the front door when ‘Daddy’s coming home now now…’ They are equally excited when they hear the gate and garage doors opening. Cam starts chanting, ‘Hello little man!’ because that’s what Murray always calls to him as he comes up to the front door.
Communal cousin bathing is a regular thing…!
We went to Dullstroom this weekend with a bunch of Cam’s aunts and uncles (Duncan, Heather, Samantha, Reynard and Scott). He was the only little person in the house so he got lots of attention, and the big people were very gracious and patient when it came to his very early, very talkative, very excited, awakenings each morning… And his anxious enquiries as to Lola’s whereabouts… Sleeping late was not an option!
Cam absolutely loved the little streams and dams, and the grass, wind, birds… It was lovely.
News…:
Cam’s little brother/sister is doing well! I had a scan on Thursday and all looks good – as far as we can tell, that is. By now the lenses of the eyes have formed, so what’s done is done and there’s no point worrying if there are cataracts present. My gynae wants to send us for a special scan at 22 weeks which will apparently tell us more. I’m going on 14 weeks this week and feeling great – the nausea has just about ceased completely! Today Cam was stroking my tummy and saying that we mustn’t hurt the baby (this is from me constantly reminding him to be careful when he’s sitting, climbing, kicking, rolling, laughing all over me…).
A few weeks ago I handed in my resignation as Head of English at St Alban’s, as of December 2010. I’ll retain a full teaching timetable next year, but will officially be part-time, and we’ll be moving off campus. This was a huge decision for us – financially, and in terms of my career – but we felt that with two little ones, things will be that much harder to manage, with my boarding house duties, weekend and evening commitments, afternoon meetings, etc. Even though I will miss being in the thick of things at school, I haven’t a shred of doubt that this is the right choice. It’s a ‘backwards’ step in my career, and yet I know that with our God the best is yet to be. He always leads us into more, not less – of Himself and His purposes. I’m very excited for the change in pace and lifestyle, and for the opportunity to have that much more emotional energy left at the end of a day.
As for Cam, he continues to thrive and amaze. However, it must be said that he also continues to wake up several times a night, some nights, and parental sleep deprivation is our reality… On occasion he also throws remarkable, smack-deserving tantrums, usually when one is taking him away from one of his two great loves: water and cars. Nevertheless, he is laughter and spunk and fun and love in a gorgeous little body. He is very vocal about absolutely everything, and talks about everything with its colour attached (orange bus, grey shirt, green juice, etc). He also talks much more about his eyes now. If I peer into his face and ask to check his lenses because it looks to me as if one might be missing, he says nonchalantly, ‘Lenses still fine.’ On Friday he looked out of the lounge window and told me he couldn’t see something that he was obviously looking for or expecting to see. I felt an initial pang of fear and pity, thinking, ‘He’s beginning to realise…’ but then it struck me that already he has such a strong sense of self-awareness and self-acceptance. While I know that a day will come when he will realise fully that he is ‘different’, we can be so grateful that he is a grounded little chap, so confident and so happy.
He is also amazingly aware of God, which is proof to me of Romans 1 – He has made Himself evident within us. When he climbs on his bed at bedtime he starts, ‘Dear Lord Jesus…’ and waits for one of us to pray with him. I still have to ‘sing about Jesus’ every night, and he always wants me to start with ‘Jesus lover of my soul’ – he starts it off for me. He also told me this weekend that ‘Jesus made the birds’. Again, before anyone thinks he’s just too spiritual for an almost-two-year-old: he might talk about Jesus and then in the same breath say something profoundly arbitrary, like ‘Mommy’s got a armpit under Mommy’s arm...’ :)
Psalm 34 has really spoken to me over this past week:
I will praise the LORD at all times.
Psalm 34 has really spoken to me over this past week:
I will praise the LORD at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.
I will boast only in the LORD;
Let all who are helpless take heart.
Come, let us tell of the LORD's greatness;
let us exalt his name together.
I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.
Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened;
he saved me from all my troubles.
For the angel of the LORD is a guard;
he surrounds and defends all who fear him.
Taste and see that the LORD is good.
Taste and see that the LORD is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Fear the LORD, you his godly people,
for those who fear him will have all they need.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.
Come, my children, and listen to me,
and I will teach you to fear the LORD.
Does anyone want to live a lifethat is long and prosperous?
Then keep your tongue from speaking eviland your lips from telling lies!
Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right;
his ears are open to their cries for help.
But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil;
he will erase their memory from the earth.
The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
The righteous person faces many troubles,
but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.
For the LORD protects the bones of the righteous;
not one of them is broken!
Calamity will surely overtake the wicked,
Calamity will surely overtake the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
But the LORD will redeem those who serve him.
No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
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