I read an article in one of our parenting magazines.  It got me thinking.  What do the little people think of our world.  (some of this is taken directly from the article - ok! most of it!)

The only way they have to communicate is by crying.  That must be so frustrating.  Especially since it's not very effective.  So when they cry, we will pick them up, we hug them, we turn them upside down, sniff their nappy, put a jersey on, or take it off, give a dummy, offer a bottle/breast.  All this while the child only wants to tell us how he feels about social injustice, or something.

It also can't be much fun to have someone else decide everything for you.  When you eat, when you sleep, what you have to wear.  Basically they are treated as though their views are irrelevant.

Learning how to talk must be darn difficult.  Especially if they think all animals are called "gently",  any electronic equipment "don't touch" and mostly everything else is called "no".

You have got to wonder what they really think of you.  I'm pretty sure "Mama" translated into baby language is something like 'Food Source'.  "Dada" would be something like 'Hairy No-Milk Breasts Who Fetches Things'.

They must also think that adults are really stupid.  Every time we read a story to them, we are asking the same questions.  - where's the doggy?  What's this?  - yes it's a tomaaaaato.  Sometimes they must think:  If I have to show her one more time where the doggie is, I'm going to throw up!  Why doesn't she just write it down if she can't remember?

Oh how I wish I knew what they were thinking.

I have this "thing" about waking a baby.  If you really want to upset me you must wake up one of my babies.  I don't just mean the normal angry or upset feeling.  No I go beyond.  I see black.  I get extremely upset.

I thought that it was a first time mom thing but even now with my third boy I still feel  the same.  I clearly remember with Quintus.  The phone rang.  I answered it quickly enough before it woke Quintus up.   However, soon after, the phone rang again.   I got so upset that I threw the phone.  Yip, I threw the phone.  It broke into pieces (I could fix it though)  Still.  I broke the phone?

Then once my parents went to fetch my grandfather.  They arrived at our home just after I got Quintus to sleep.  They were talking loudly (obviously) and I tried to get them to talk softer.  They didn't get it soon enough and I got rude.  With my grandfather!?  Who drove 5 hours to see us!

I have been known not to visit my in-laws because I know they won't keep quiet when I bring a sleeping baby into their home. 

I could share many a story.  I have calmed down somewhat over the years though.  However I still freak out when the boys wake up their brother. 

I wonder where this comes from.  Weird I am.  I don't easily get angry.  It's just not in my personality.  I wonder why this angers me so.

Three things that scare me:

1. When my brothers shout
2. When someone creeps up on me
3. When I don't see Mommy in the morning when I wake up

Three people that make me laugh:

1. My brother Quintus.  He is so funny
2. My mom
3. My granny

Three things I love:

1. Taking a bath
2. Playing "where's he, where's he"
3. Sleeping in my Mommy or Granny's arms

Three things I dislike:

1. Having my nose wiped
2. When my brothers are in my face
3. Getting dressed

Three things I like to play with:

1. Paper
2. My dummy 
3. My feet

Three things I don't' understand:

1. Why babies have to get colds and flu 
2. Why I have to wear clothes
3. Why I can't be in Mommy's arms all day long

Three things on my dresser:

1. Cream
2. Wipes
3. Cream for my eczema

Three things I'm doing right now:

1. Sleeping in my Granny's arms
2. Dreaming of my mom
3. Putting my hand in my Granny's mouth (don't ask)

Three things I can do:

1. Sit by myself
2. Eat (I love to eat)
3. Hold out my arms for Mommy to pick me up.

Three ways to describe my personality:

1. Friendly
2. Calm
3. Cuddly

Three things I can't do:

1. Roll
2. Crawl
3. Undress myself

Three things I think you should listen to:

1. My laugh
2. My scream
3. My giggles

Three things I think you should never listen to:

1. Your brothers
2. My brothers screaming
3. My mom when she is upset

Three absolute favourite foods:

1. Banana
2. Banana cereal
3. Pear and apple mix

Three things I'd like to learn:

1. How to crawl
2. How to roll
3. How to talk

Three beverages I drink regularly:

1. Breastmilk times three

Three shows I watch:

1. Barney
2. Powers Rangers (with my brothers)
3. Noddy

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

• I got a letter from my Grandfather today.  My first ever letter from him.  It was mostly addressed to Tommie and my boys lol  Very nice of him to write a letter to us.  I loved that he addressed it to Lord and Lady de Bruyn.
• It is cold.  All of a sudden cold.  It is also raining.  In the winter.   Who knew.
•     This is Quintus and his little friend who rides with us every afternoon.
• My husband ticked me off yesterday on our way home (maybe the fact that he got caught in a speed trap just as we left the resort had something to do with it) and it's not getting better.
• I hate that.  I don't like it when we are upset with each other.
• I couldn't go jogging this afternoon due to the rain.  I used that as an excuse to eat cookies and chips.  Now where's the logic in that?
• Tommie just asked what's for dinner and I said whatever he is making hahha
• No I'm not normally like this.  But the combination of enough cookies and chips plus me not being impressed with him, equals him making dinner.

I took these pics just as we left the resort yesterday.  Thought they were cute.  You can see more of the weekend photos here.

Yes, my "baby" is four.  It feels like just yesterday, when I held him in my arms for the first time. I so clearly remember holding your little warm, soft foot in my hand as they took our first photo together.  At that moment I thought I would never forget how that little foot felt and four years on I still remember.

I love this little boy with all my heart.  I love how he thinks I'm the most gorgeous mom ever.  That I'm as pretty as a dwarf?  Yes, so he says.  I love that he has such a way with girls.  A charmer most definitely.  I love how strong willed he is.  Okay, not always but I know that this will help him fight his battles as he gets older.  That it will help him not to succumb to peer pressure so easily.  I love his humor.  How he can get me to laugh when I should not.  Happy birthday to my middle son.  The one who binds his older brother to his younger brother.

Little Jay wanted a Cars picnic.  This guy loves a picnic.  So we went to his favourite vacation resort and had a picnic.  My folks and my eldest brother with his family joined us.  Jason was super excited about his cake.  He wanted a Cars cake and couldn't wait to see it.  He loved it.  The kids all had a lovely time, with their picnic under the trees.  I thought it was so sweet that Jason wanted fruit at the picnic too lol  Didn't think he would ask for that!  (it was of course left untouched)

When everyone left on Sunday, he got so upset.  He had thought that everyone would stay there for his birthday.  I felt so sad for him. 

This morning when he woke up, we brought him a cupcake with four candles in (we always do this for the birthday guy).  We opened gifts and went to Wimpy for breakfast.  On the way I picked some white flowers and put them around his plate (continuing my mom's tradition)  After going back and having our last swim, we headed back home.

Happy birthday Jay - you are a baby no more - you are now four.

More common in children.  You wake up screaming, terrified.  Even when your eyes are open you will most likely still scream and feel terrified for a long time afterwards.  Not to be mistaken as nightmares... this is worse.  It is associated with high levels of stress.

I used to suffer from this quite a bit when I was younger.  Then for about 10 years I haven't had it at all.  Now I have had two in the last two months.  Last night was particularly bad.  I screamed so loudly and so much that Quintus came running into our room, wanting to know whats wrong.  Even I couldn't wake up and stop screaming.  Tommie calmly tried to wake me and after a while I did.  I was petrified.  Scared.  Unable to fall asleep again.  About an hour later I did manage to...hoping I would have another.

While night terrors are absolutely frightening, it also made me realize that should something happen, should someone break into our house, Quintus would come running.  I wouldn't want him ti.  I would want him and his brothers to hide.

My cousin and her husband was attacked in their home a while back.  While they were being terrorized....stabbed....hit, their boys were hiding in their room.  They didn't come out and this protected, kept them safe from the idiots.  I would want my children to do that.

So now I have the unpleasant task of explaining that sometimes our home...their safe haven is not as safe.  That should I scream, they should hide.  Or do I say nothing and hope that nothing ever happens to our family.  I'll take this weekend to think about it.

Yes, we are going away for the weekend.  Today.  Coming back Monday.  I have so been looking forward to this weekend away.  It is also Jason's' birthday on Monday.  He is having a Cars picnic at Klein-Kariba.  That's what he wants, that's what he'll get.

Have a great weekend everyone.  I might update from there, as the resort has an internet cafe, but I'm not promising anything!