A mixed blessing

The midday sleeps are abating in our house. Rupi is sleeping a lot less at lunchtime and Blossom, well her midday nap has never been a long one.

I use this time to work so it means I need to make up the time at night. That's a bit hard at times. But! Having a longer afternoon with my little ones is just lovely. We get to go for walks and see diggers and go on slides and swings.

Each new season with these amazing little people is wonderful!

A bit of this and that

Randomness to my week:

1.   I have a design blog now *squeal*!!!! I have big plans for this little baby and so am praying lots for many many readers. So different to this space, where I don't care about who reads it (as long as all of you do!)

2.  This little sweetie's body is slowly starting to react to food less. I have pulled out a whole lot of stuff from her diet and she's better. Yay.

3. This is Rupi giving me a performance and singing his heart out. It's hysterical. I am not allowed to sing along, clap or move my body. I have to sit still and watch. And then applaud wildly at the end.

4. And! I am going to serve in the parents room at church! WOOHOO! Its been a long dry spell but now with both kiddies in childrens church, I am free to serve. Can't wait. Gonna bake up a storm and love those sleep deprived new mums.

Have a wonderful week!

Dairy downer

So my bunny is one. Yeehaa! And as she approached her first birthday we decided it was time to see if she could handle....d.a.i.r.y.

When we saw the paediatrician at 5 months old, his advice was to give her dairy on and off to "see if she was getting over it". We ignored that piece of idiocy wisdom and gave her system a good rest. And slowly introduced bits here and there as she got nearer to her year mark. And mind you, I am not talking about pure dairy like butter, milk & yoghurt, but milk in stuff like a bit of gingerbread man.

Let me just say she is NOT OVER IT.

We have had weeks of huge vomits, darth-vadar breathing, diarrhoea and the same old lovely symptoms. Puffy eyes and an endlessly running nose made themselves known too. I blew my top (gently) at the doctor at the lack of anything helpful and we are seeing the paediatrician again this week. I will try not to tell him he is an idiot and ask for her to be properly tested. For everything. Blossom is has never tried eggs, nuts, honey or gluten as we have no idea if those are allergens too.

The doctor remarked that her intolerance seems to be quite severe. Really? No way. And that she's probably intolerant of soy and MSG too. Thanks for that additional info this far in. We have removed any type of preservative from her diet and she seems to be better.

I realise that I am frustrated and really sarcastic (apologies) but changing bedclothes and bathing my bunny a couple of times a night as she vomits her heart out, is just awful.

On a happier note, I went to the Gluten Free Food and Allergy show this weekend. It was pure awesomeness! I got a whole lot of food that Blossom can eat and she got to eat her first biscuit. It was yummy too and gluten, egg and dairy free. It was incredible to see her enjoying such a simple pleasure- a vanilla tea biscuit.

This intolerance is pretty minor when you consider what else could have happened and there are far worse cases out there. I know this and am grateful. And I also know that doctors can't be everything and know all that there is. This is MY little girl, that's all, and she's pretty precious to me.

Blue eyes

Happy birthday my darling little girl!

Today you are one year old! A whole 12 months old!

You are the "pure unmerited favour of God" in every single way. You bring light and joy into our family. I have loved you utterly & completely from the moment I laid eyes on you (even though the first thing you did was poo on me... and things have not changed since then!)

I am smitten by you, little girl.

You are optimistic and always upbeat. Despite what life is throwing at you, you remain cheerful. How you do it, I do not know. But through it all, you smile and giggle. I love that about you.

You are my pearl and your Daddy's princess. He already tells you how pretty you are and I think you understand. You are simply beautiful. One day we'll teach you about beauty on the inside but for now all you need to know is that you are gorgeous.

When you are not in the room life seems flatter somehow. You bring colour into our world and life is brighter and clearer when you are near. You are so cuddly and affectionate and I love to hold you. I love how you grab hold of me and live up to the nickname of "Claws".

Even though you are a toddler now, I would still like to rock you before you go to sleep. I will do it for as long as you'll let me. Please may it be until I can't hold you up any longer!

Little C G (today I can't call you Blossom) I love you from the tips of my toes to the top of my head. With all that I am, I love you.

Happy Birthday darling, love your Mama

Happy happy

My little bunny is one this week. One! And Saturday was her first birthday party ever. It was sweet and colourful and filled with joy. This week has been tough for her health-wise and we needed a time to just celebrate.

And we did! We celebrated a little girl who is always smiling. Who is very (very) loud and extremely cuddly. She got to eat her first ever cupcake made for her by her Nana. Diary free chocolate goodness!

We had family and close friends. Spot Simoney, Miss Fab, Penny, Smiley and Mr Samoa! We loved it and are so grateful for our little princess.

Delight

Parenting Rupi has been a roller coaster. Given his start in life we have been super careful about a lot of things that relate to attaching and bonding. We have been reluctant to push him out of the nest in any way, preferring to let him experience life when he feels ready. This has been hard for those around us and us at times.

He's not an "open arms wide" kind of person. He's reserved and his love is hard won. But once won, it's there to stay. You are invited into this special world where love is given by the bucketful. You are preferred and chosen.

We have talked endlessly about this seemingly spirited little man. Who contradicts the meaning of spirited at the same time as matching it's description. We have puzzled and prayed. Tested and adapted and tried again. There has been a lot of confusion and frustration and time spent on our knees.

Then suddenly it all made sense.

I was at my parents church rocking Blossom in their big cafe area. There was a wall of books for sale. I wondered over and started reading the backs of them. This book leapt out at me... Is your child moody, sensitive, compassionate, imaginative and stubborn? YES! All the words describe Rupi exactly. It was like a light shone from heaven and I saw hope. Dramatic but true.

Rupi can be described as a Dreamer child. Highly sensitive and imaginative. Moody and very compassionate. Seemingly spirited as he can be very focused but only in some things. He's big picture. He doesn't follow rules which makes discipline frustrating and interesting.

This book has been amazing. Mostly so encouraging as we have (with His help) done things the way Rupi needs them done. It has helped me understand my little boy and explained a lot of his behaviour. It has also been incredibly encouraging in the area of adoption. Rupi does not behave the way he does because of his adoption at birth, it's just the way he was made.

Dreamers are amazing. So creative. And we see that already. And incredibly imaginative. We have to call him Simba as he loves the Lion King and re-enacts all sorts of scenes. I have to call Blossom "Nala" and I am "Mama Lion". Rupi physically acts parts of the movie while watching it and will only respond to us if we call him Simba.

He's stubborn and often will not obey. We have to vary the different types of discipline with him as one type does not work all the time. He's very compassionate and loving. He's a Dreamer child! It's fantastic to get a glimmer of understanding about our precious first born.

**Disclaimer: no child fits into a box. No child can be defined exactly. We are made in His Image and each is different and unique. But we need help parenting! And sometimes definitions, if applied loosely, can help immeasurably. The end.**

P.S. We got a mention on BlueLily's blog- *shriek*! I die.

Victory!

Last Sunday was Mother Day. My third one. This one was different. The first one was utter relief and emotion, the second was about celebrating pregnancy. This one was pure victory. The barren girl stood there with two children. I wanted to shout with praise!

I love this passage of Scripture. I have experienced childbirth but naturally I should not have. I am barren. Yet I have a lineage established. I have children, the wonderful amazing blessing of children! I also love how this passage talks about the humiliations of my youth being forgotten. I found infertility so humiliating and that pain has been redeemed. God is so good!


"Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby. 
   Fill the air with song, you who've never experienced childbirth!
You're ending up with far more children 
   than all those childbearing women." God says so!
"Clear lots of ground for your tents! 
   Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big!
Use plenty of rope, 
   drive the tent pegs deep.
You're going to need lots of elbow room 
   for your growing family.
You're going to take over whole nations; 
   you're going to resettle abandoned cities.
Don't be afraid—you're not going to be embarrassed. 
   Don't hold back—you're not going to come up short.
You'll forget all about the humiliations of your youth.... Isaiah 54: 1-6 (part of)

His promises are Yes and Amen!

P.S. And Dida gets 100% for "helping" Rupi and Cate with their Mothers Days gift- a spa treatment!!!! The best ever!!!!! Woohoo!

They've arrived!

After days of compulsively checking my email about 400 times a day, the photo link arrived! And I downloaded 35 beautiful images of our little family. They are GORGEOUS! As I hoped she would, Wendy captured the essence of our family. Somehow these images burst with light and joy. Sheer genius!

Tagged!

Penny at Spirited Baby tagged me. She's pretty fabulous and I love her so much it hurts. She's an awesome BFF and my sister (double blessing!)


Which living person do you admire most and why?
My husband, for putting up with me loving me. He rocks.

When were you happiest?
I am the happiest I have ever been right now. Life is still super hard but we were never promised an easy life. I am living my dream and am overjoyed.

My most embarrassing moment:
Presenting to a client and we looked down and there was a big hair just sitting on the table. A "you know from where" hair. And let's just say it wasn't mine.... We both just ignored it; I turned the page and quietly died on the inside.

Aside from property the most expensive thing you've bought:
A car- no surprises there.

What is your most treasured possesion:
My watch. The story is that my ex-boyfriend gave me a gucci watch for my 21st. My husband hated that I wore it but it was a good watch and I liked it. So for our 10th wedding anniversary Dida got me a surprise gift- a gucci watch. A nicer and prettier one. And I ♥ it a lot. So much so I have to "lay it down" when I get too attached. It is only a watch afterall!

Where would you like to live:
A suburb near to us. I love it. Old and established with old houses and streets. Near the sea.... what's not to love?

What's your favourite smell:
I have two: Rupi and Blossom. When I got to bed I open their bedroom doors and inhale. They smell so different but I love each one. Am I wierd? This sounded wierd....

Who would play you in a film of your life?
No idea...

What is your favourite book:
Crumbs. This is hard. I love so many books. I may take the holy route and say the bible, especially the book of Psalms.

What is your most unappealing habit:
I don't have one. Nor will I admit to one in the face of overwhelming evidence (presented by Dida)

What is your earliest memory:
I was about two and snuck off to have a swim by myself in the swimming pool. I remember clinging to the edge and working my way around the pool. I got my backside tanned for that one. As as a mother I can understand the horror my mother felt at finding me! She must have nearly died.

What is your guiltiest pleasure:
Reading gossip rags at the dentist or hairdresser....

What do you owe your parents:
Emotionally? A lot. Financially? Nothing.

To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why?
My ex-boyfriend's sister who tried to witness to me for years. And I would not listen. At all. I would like to say thank you.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life:
Jesus.(and yes the greatest human love is Dida- of course!)

What does love feel like?
 A teensy bit personal??!!???

What was the best kiss of your life?
As above

What words or phrases do you over use?
"in all honesty" I even find myself tiresome for saying it so much!

What is the worst job you have done?
Worked for a nutter designer for 5 months who drove me to the brink of a breakdown.

If you could edit your past what would you change?
I would have worked harder in school and actually listened in class. However, I like what I do now and wouldn't change that so would better marks have helped? Probably not.
Ooo! I know! I would have learned to sew a lot earlier. And saved more!

What is the closest you've come to death?
Playing that girl in the titanic off the front of a giant fast moving boat. I shudder when I think about it. Stoopid!!!!

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Being a Mama, hands down and nothing close. I love it.

When did you last cry and why?
On Saturday. Just over tired and over emotional. A little rain shower that passed with no ill effect.

How do you relax?
Reading, blogging, sewing and baking. Hanging out with friends.

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Getting a house cleaner. Seriously. Anyone know of any good ones?

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
God's Timing is perfect. He has this deal under control and I can trust Him.

I tag:
Joye at Joyeful journey
Mountain Mama
Abigail at Shine On Child
Tea at Homemakers Heart
Gail at Delightfully Diva-ish

But don't feel pressured to do this. It takes a bit of time and activating the old noodle which can be hard when all you want to do is switch off. Just know you are loved and chosen!

The Winner!

We have a winner! Mountain Mama! Drop me your details at samantha(at)khaya(dot)co(dot)nx

Woohoo!

Close call

A tornado came calling through my neck of the woods yesterday. Yup, you heard right...a tornado...in AUCKLAND. I mean, hello...

I was sitting at the dining room table and I noticed the torrential downpour of rain had suddenly stopped. Odd. Then I heard what sounded like a "low flying plane" fly over. Except it got louder and louder and this horrific wind started up. The trees were bending nearly horizontal. I ran to the living room window and I saw it. A huge brown swirling pulsing funnel of wind came over the brow of the hill. And passed right by- it was about a couple of houses away.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing and just stood there. Right next to the gaint pane of glass. My thoughts were (not in sequence) "Is this real?/ is that a tornado?/ can't be/ must just be wind/ surely not/ I am standing next to a gaint pane of  glass/ maybe I should move/ would be silly to run from wind/ is that a tornado?/ hope the kids don't wake up/ surely not..."

And then it disappread over the other end of the valley. I texted Dida and said "I think I just saw a tornado" and felt like an egg even writing the word tornado. I mean, tornado???? He freaked out rang me back and said it was all over the news and yes darling, it was real. He came home in a flash and went out to help the neighbours.

The street right next to ours got the brunt of the damage as it was in the direct path of the she-devil cloud. The fire trucks and ambulances were there within minutes. Dida saw whole trees on peoples roofs and houses with roofs missing- lucky he's in roofing and was saving the day.  That's my man! 

We were SO lucky (thank you God) It blew our garden chairs over. That's it. A radio host was saying that he couldn't understand how people could just stand and film the tornado. I do. Your brain does not compute that this is actually real. We are not trained in what to do in a tornado like we are in the event of an aerthquake or tsunami. So you stand and think "is this real" while a part of you is screaming internally.

It gave me a good insight (albeit ever so small) into what those folks in the USA went through. And my heart just goes out to them. Not nice.

A Giveaway

Well hello. It's been a while- sorry. I have been super busy with work and really found it hard to do anything with my sparce spare time other than fold laundry/wash laundry/ignore mess/stack dishwasher/unload dishwasher/bake/tidy/avert eyes from state of house/cook occasionally and then sleep.

I have spent a bit of time with her as Dida went away with Rupi. My gosh, I love her to pieces!

And...I have a giveaway!

It's no secret that I love blogging...mainly because I have met so many awesome women! Love it! I have strengthened my IRL frienships, found kindred spirits and been inspired by so many of you.

In good old Sammy tradition my giveaway is a necklace. Can't help it, I have about a million necklaces and love them. Necklaces and shoes are very similar- you can wear el cheapo old clothes and be instantly transformed with a jazzy necklance and a cute pair of shoes. The end.

So.

Leave me a comment and you're in the draw. Will ship to anywhere. Even the south island (HA!....teehee!)