The Library and other adventures.

We joined the library this week! I am a big fan of the library, always have been and even more now with the rugrats. We are lucky enough to have a fantastic library/toy library within walking distance back in Sydney.  I can't quite believe it has taken us this long to join up here.  Anyhoo off we trotted during the week and signed up.  It was great but brief!  In Sydney they have made the rather clever decision to not bother to alphabetically file the books but not so in Swakop. The minute I released Sonny from the stroller he began to systematically liberate all the books from their alphabetical perfection!  We chose three books (including a Pamela Allen!), checked them out through the old stamp system, had a quick ride on the vintage rocking horse and escaped before I had to re-file the entire kids section.

The Children's Section

We decided not to borrow this one.

What's with the crazy poses?

Ace went on a excursion to the Snake Park yesterday.  Was great to get another little peak of him amongst his pre-school gang.  Still loves the girls but from what I can gather spends his play time with the boys "shooting things to get them dead".  I had always dreamt of avoiding the whole gun thing but am trying to now take a more zen approach and just hope he grows out of it... yeah right!

In the car with Clarry and Iyaloo

Oh how he loves Heidi!

Am thinking of using the finger on lips technique at home.

Steve is working 6 days these next two weeks (then every second week after that) so it was imperative that yesterday afternoon we indulged in a late arvo, early dinner with Noni, Gus & Tilly. The location varies but it must be outdoor & involve a kid distraction so as to best relax and enjoy our cheap wine. It really takes the edge off our week as film widows!

Sunset ice cream at the colourful, dangerous play-ground.

Now he can walk he wants to scoot!

This week the east wind has blown so while Steve is hammered somewhere in the desert we enjoy some glorious sunshine days in the middle of winter. There are loads of families here now, each week you seem to meet someone new.  It is kinda great, most mornings involve some kind of planned or spontaneous mother's meeting at Slow Town.  Since school finishes at lunchtime it means that usually once a week there is a mass gathering at the playground of mums, kids and babies.  Next Friday night we are having a "girl's night out", my second since arriving.  It would be safe to say life is more social here than at home which I think has a lot to do with everyone being car-less so keeping life local and a genuine understanding of life as a film widow!

And last but certainly not least Sarah had a baby girl a few weeks ago. Hooray, a baby sister for Clarry.  Currently nameless and stateless but sleeping, healthy, growing and adorable!

Dune 7

We finally managed to get out of Swakop this weekend and remind ourselves that we are in Africa and not just a misty European holiday destination.  It was incredible to drive halfa hour out of town and into an entirely different climatic experience.  Dune 7 was beautiful, sandy and fun.  We plan to return with a boogie board next time because all three boys had a ball rolling & sliding down the dune!

"Sonny, thank you for that smile upon your face."

Sonny has started walking ... hooray!! Only part time at the moment but finally the little devil will be up off the African dirt and one step away from chasing that big brother of his. He has also developed some of his own special African lingo, talking in clicks.  In fact his only word is a click, for food or more specifically sultanas. Otherwise his dialogue is lovely and lyrical, except for 5am when he is calling for me and then Steve seems to think he has the deepest voice in the baby world.

He is one happy little dude but can be quite stubborn and prone to losing his temper.  Probably like most one year olds (& his mummy!)  He is really making us laugh now & gives great kisses. He loves playing with Ace, they probably have the best time together in the bath, splashing translates across the ages!  Otherwise in the world of play, Ace & Sonny are happiest when they remove all the cushions from the couch or playing with water bottles or in the cupboard.  Ace continues to be super rough with him, a lot of head locks and blows to the body involved.... but Sonny keeps coming back for more and then throws in the occasional slap down.  No doubt will become the story of my life.

His hair is so blonde, most people ask me if his father is blonde, which he was as a baby. Sometimes it has that little ginger hue that Ace sported at this age but is really just super blonde. 

Daddy seems to get a lot more love this time round, perhaps cos Sonny has always had to share me unlike Ace.  I suspect he will be a daddy's boy, especially since he loves going sideways so much... and damn take the boy off road and he loves it! 

Eight teeth, four from our 2 months in Africa, still breastfed, wants to feed himself, sleeping through till the ungodly hour of 5am or 6am when I am lucky, is going through clingy, separation anxiety thing but not so bad that he won't be happy elsewhere, like Noni's hip for what felt like yonks to me, waves like the queen, knows how to skype, loves a good point and recently embraced clapping, not to mention cute as a button and adored by me.

That about catches you all up.

xx

Blog title courtesy of lyrics to "Sunny" by Bobby Hebb, covered by all and sundry including Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder & Ella Fitzgerald.

Colonel Sanders

Happy!

Feeding himself now!

Always calling Daddy.

Back in the cupboard

Rugged up for scooter ride.

Lately....

Steve has started shooting so he has been going to work with this....

Not to mention a Elvis' grand-daughter & a couple of models!  Meanwhile I have been spending my golden nap hour in the company of this man.

And at night we come together and get gritty with The Wire... "you feel me".

Things are cruising along here in Swakop, Steve is shooting mostly daylight hours so, so far he is getting home in time to see Ace but of course up and out well before the sun rises and just before Sonny rises.  One year on and I still seem to waking to my little trouble maker, with the endless round of sleeping situations and sickness I feel as though I have been "sleep training" for MONTHS!  I am tired and I bloody well look it  I know it will be over soon so I just hang in there.

We have been lucky enough to be offered a lift to pre-school each morning, which is incredible and generous and a huge relief to not be scooting through the damp mist each morning.  Sonny and I spend our mornings getting to know each other, walking the streets of Swakop and connecting via Skype.  We still scoot to pick Ace up at lunchtime and return in time for the wonderful hour + of sleep the boys enjoy come 1pm.  We are not so strict with Ace's nap but often times when I pick him up from pre-school Auntie Dot will tell me he is almost asleep during story time... so the little devil has been needing the extra zzz's.

Our view.

Some of the beautiful succulent gardens of Swakop.

Missing our home and life but much less now. There is something good about stripping things back and starting over. Am bummed to be missing The Shins & Radiohead and disappointed to be missing some very special 40ths. But very happy to be here with Steve, to see the sun set from our living room, hear the ocean day & night and make some memories that are a bit different to what we might have expected.

xx

Father's Day

My kids love playing in this drawer and that cupboard.

Happy Birthday to you

A Bugs & Beetles Life

Ace was lucky enough to get into Bugs & Beetles not long after we arrived in Swakopmund.  Many of you would know that Ace has until this point stayed at home with me and well, after three years it was time for us both to spread our wings.  Pre-school places for 3 yr olds are pretty hard to find in the eastern suburbs of Sydney so our hopes of starting pre-school (kindy) this year were nil but here in Africa its been a much more cheerful story. 

Bugs & Beetles is an English speaking pre-school run by Auntie Dot who is German! I did not hold much hope of getting a place there but the planets aligned and Ace was able to start there at the beginning of term with his buddy Clarence from Sydney.  He goes five mornings a week and aside from a few teary mornings in his first week he is having a great time.  I am so proud of him, not only has he moved country but he has started his "formal" education.  He is socialising well, doing painting & craft, playing with the boys and the girls and pretty much taking it all in his big, little stride.

Last Friday we went on his first excursion to the farm.. Namibia style. A ride in a Land Rover with no child seat, a tour through the battery hen farm & all the other farmyard friends including a tortoise!  I was able to watch my boy do his pre-school thing and I was impressed.  Holding Wilhmenia's hand, listening to Auntie Dot, washing his hands before lunch & hanging with his buddies!

On Monday he started swimming lessons with his lovely friend Tilly.  He hadn't been in the pool since March and he was a champion.  As for the scooter, he is a gun. No hill too steep and loves trying some moving acrobatics!

When we first arrived in Namibia he was so super naughty and I have always found whenever he is physically growing he can be quite a handful. I am sure he has grown since May (no surprise, I know but this time alot!).  His social life has exploded and finally he and Sonny are playing together.  He now talks of monsters and pretends to be scared but also loves a good game of puppy dog and loves telling Steve stories by torch light that start "one upon a time" and are about two boys called Ace & Sonny. He has also started using words like dead, emergency and had his first play date with guns, soon he will be talking in grunts and using fake ID. 

I was responding to an email from before we left for Namibia and I noticed I referred to the boys as "my toddler and baby".  But damn... things have changed, I now have a boy and an almost toddler!

BTW - you are able to click on all the photos to view them bigger.  And these were numbered to appear in a certain order but Blogger has its own ideas!

Walking to school when the scooter broke down.

This morning in full Swakop outfit.

Running with the girls

With Whilmenia

Ace & Clarry

Having a little brother is fun!

First ever pre-school painting - a keeper.

Swimming lessons with Tilly

After swimming lessons