Sent from my BlackBerry®

With two weeks to go until D-day (taking a month off work before Aidan's birth has been such a lesson in patience! but better safe than sorry) I'm finally finding myself thinking of the superficial things…wondering who he will resemble who he will act like and so forth…

I hope he is the best of both of us; like my love of laughter with his dad's love of learning, or my love of creativity with his dad's passion for honesty, he can skip his dad's "grumpy when tired-ness" and my "need to over analyse every little thing-ness" But honestly whoever he ends up being like, he is already loved…

Up to this point I just wondered "would he make it through another week"

I'm not saying it's a done deal,life is unpredictable to say the least BUT I'm finally truly excited, I look at his room with expectancy and that is a great feeling, even though I feel like a kid asked to close her eyes and hold her unwrapped Christmas gift for "just another few weeks" without peeking (the wait is driving me bonkers!) I'm happy because I'm finally at a place where Rob and I can look at Aidan's scans and say things like "that is definitely his dad's nose" , "those lips come from his mom" and so on… We don't care who is right or wrong, it's just such a relief to "live with 100% faith" so much so that I've cut the tags off most of his things (a big milestone if you have ever found yourself surrounded by baby stuff – without a baby)

So now here we are 2 weeks to go wondering about the silly things like who will he looks like and THAT makes me happy…

Sent from my BlackBerry®

Inspired by one of my favourite South African bloggers, Catriona, over at http://catsimpressions.blogspot.com/ I'm going to join in on the "5 things movement" by sharing 5 things about myself; as if you guys don't already know more than you need to about me,lol…

1. I'M A MAJOR (BORDERING ON OCD) LISTER: Often when I feel overwhelmed by something in my life I need to write a list, whether it's a pro-and-con list, a to-do list or a budget, lists make me feel comfortable and in control.

2. GROWING UP I THOUGHT MY NAME WAS TOO GROWN-UP: I like my name now, but growing up I felt like my name was more suited a 85-year-old librarian than an artsy teen…I wanted to be something cuter like Angel or Candy (must say I prefer Eleanor or Ella now, it suites me)

3. I DON'T LIKE TAKING BATHS: Baths kinda freak me out, feels like I'm making Eleanor soup…bleugh…I shower because I don't like idea of laying in my own dirt and when I do bath I tend to shower before…weird I know

4. I'M PRETTY FRUGAL: I can't stand paying for things I could do/make myself. Don't get me wrong I LOVE shopping, but the DIY option is always my first option…

5. I TALK TO MYSELF ALLLLL THE TIME: Not out loud,but I speak to myself in my head a lot, full on conversations/monologues. In a way this is probably a paper less version of listing,but hey my insanity keeps me sane 😉

*****

Those are my five things, fellow blogger please join in 🙂

Sent from my BlackBerry®

If you are looking for a cute,quick treat, like for a kiddies party or something these marshmallow cups are just the thing!
And they are SUPER EASY to make…well they are now (my first attempt had the chocolate seize and NO1 wants to waste chocolate-I searched the net for sure fire ways to avoid that in the future and included it right at the bottom)

WHAT YOU NEED:
– Marshmallows (extra big bag so you can scoff the rest)
– chocolate of your choice
– sprinkles
– mini cupcake cups (can also use lollipop sticks and turn it into marshmallow pops instead)

WHAT YOU DO:
1. Collect ingredients
2. Melt chocolate (using one of the methods below
3. Dip marshmallows in chocolate
4. Sprinkle with uhm sprinkles
5. Place in cups….TA DA!

*************
WAYS TO MELT CHOCOLATE:
Water bath:
Fill a large pot with water, and heat to just below simmering. Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl, such as stainless steel, and place the bowl in the water. Gently and constantly stir the chocolate while keeping the water below simmering.
Double boiler:
Fill the bottom half of a double boiler with water, making certain the bottom of the top half doesn't touch the water. Bring the water to a simmer. Place the chocolate in the top half, and place over the simmering water. Be careful that the water doesn't boil or splash into the chocolate, because any moisture will cause it to seize.
Microwave oven:
Place room temperature chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at medium power. The chocolate won't completely melt, but it will turn glossy and soft to the touch. Remove from the microwave and stir to finish melting. Microwave 1 ounce of chocolate for about 90 seconds; 6 ounces for about 31/2 minutes, stopping halfway through to stir the chocolate. Since times are approximate, always start with the suggested melting time and repeat in 30-second intervals.

Which ever method you use, remember these points:
Make sure all equipment is completely dry. Any moisture on the utensils or in the container may cause the chocolate to seize, or stiffen. If this happens, stir in 1/2 to 1 teaspoon shortening (not butter) for every ounce of chocolate.
Be careful to keep water from splashing into the chocolate. A single drop will cause the chocolate to seize.
Keep heat low to avoid scorching.
Always stir chocolate during melting, because most chocolate retains its shape as it melts.

Sent from my BlackBerry®

This blog is pretty candid, its a place I weigh up my (wayyy too many) thoughts and am honest with myself and all the people who read my posts, friend or foe…
Keeping that in mind I thought I'd share my latest dilemma…I find myself at a familiar yet overwhelming place in my life; I find myself (yet again) a control freak with NO,NADA,ZERO control.
Here I stand watching my life unfold, knowing oh to well the impact of pending situations, but with no way to control anything…
On one side of this painful ying yanging symbolism I call my life; I have "the good" I have LIFE quite literally growing inside me… Despite this, fear and uncertainty still haunt me, every ache and pain makes me wonder, "is this it?" Am I going into early labour? Will he survive? Do I get to bring a baby home this time?(Even though the doctor says everything is fine and he could be safely born right now) There is this contrasting side to all this GOOD… This BAD that haunts me and regardless of my feelings relating to the situation I HAVE NO CONTROL! Its not up to me what/when/how! Its just not up to me!
Then on the other side I have death looming, one of the people closest to me, my "other mother" is facing one of the toughest things anyone can imagine…Stage 4 cancer has her staring down her own mortality, but as a true testament to the human spirit she continues to fight…Drs say no but she says yes, we say someday, she says NOW… This is another stark contrast, here BAD stares at us with all it's fury while GOOD still manages to shine through….and yet again regardless of how I feel or what I want I still have NO CONTROL,No one has, it's not up to any of us…
Here are these major things happening that have such a big impact on life as I have know it and guess what, I HAVE NO CONTROL.
It's disheartening and exhausting, but not uncommon. I guess we never really have control, it's just one of those things we need to live with…
Take life one day at a time…one lesson at a time and TRULY (as hard as it may be) let God take the wheel.

Sent from my BlackBerry®

We have been very blessed with gifts and help from family and friends, blown away by the generosity really…
Apart from a shower hosted by my friends at work, I had two others one in PE where we work and most of our friends live and one in UTH where we live along with “my side of the family” and friends from school days 🙂
The party in PE hosted by good friend/fellow blogger and blog contributor, Sal…had a travel theme (that girl is a walking pinterest board) the party was made even more special by fact that Sal really went out of her way despite it being a difficult time for her (nothing like a friend being selfless to make u feel soooo lucky) all the guests at the party really warmed my heart too by braving one of the worst storms in ages to celebrate with me! Seriously we practically had to swim there!
Then 2 weeks ago my family hosted a rainbow themed baby shower for me, in my own garden actually, talk about subtle,hehe…Rob and I rocked up in the middle of them setting up, but it still ended up being great…

THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who are already playing a part in Aidan’s life, I feel soooooooooooo blessed to know you all *hugs*

Added pics, don’t have official ones from Transport party yet, but you get general idea . . .
Sent from my BlackBerry®