Nellie

New school

2011-10-31T11:39:00.000-07:00

This evening Mommy and Daddy and I went to my new school to meet my teacher for next year and to see my new classroom. I was VERY excited about it, but also a little bit nervous. I wanted to take Leo with me, but Daddy said that some of the other children might think that was a funny thing to do, so I left him in the car instead.

My classroom is the same one that Mommy had when she was at this school! I can't believe Mommy was ever that little! Mommy said that if there was time tonight she would show me a photo of herself on her first day at school, but when we got home there wasn't time for that - I had to shower and then go to bed. Maybe she'll show me tomorrow.

I have a lovely teacher. Her husband works with Mommy, so I'd met her before. There are lots of my friends from pre-primary school who are in my class, including my best friend! That means that I will have friends to play with when I come to school.

Tonight we got to draw a picture, eat a picnic supper, and then we went to play. (While we did that, Mommy and Daddy had a meeting where my teacher told them all the things they need to know for next year.) The school has kept our picture - I don't know why they want it, but maybe it's because they want to put them up at the start of next year like my Bumblebees class did this year. I had SUCH a fun time.

Tadpoles

2011-10-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

Over the past few months I've been growing tadpoles. We caught them on Rondebosch Common and since then they've been living in my bedroom. I feed them pondweed and fish food. First they grow back legs, then front legs, and then their tail disappears.

Once they grow front legs, Mommy and I put them in another container and then we release them. Some we've released in Mommy's pond at her school. Others we've given to Oupa to put in his pond. Oupa has a HUGE frog in his pond, and some fish, so I don't know if my frogs will be eaten by them or not, but Oupa loves frogs, so I want him to have lots.

Here are some photos of some of my tadpoles.

Photoshoot - Nellie

2011-08-06T13:12:00.001-07:00

Susie Harris-Leblond did a photo shoot for us in our home. This is my favourite collage of Nellie.

Music lessons

2011-07-10T09:56:00.000-07:00

I've started having piano lessons with Mommy. She's teaching me how to play and to read music. It's a lot of fun, but there are LOTS of new words to learn, and it's very hard. But Mom says I'm doing very well!

At my cousin's party today

2011-07-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

My little cousin had her 3rd birthday today, and it was a Peter Rabbit party. We got to wear these cute rabbit ears and eat a yummy Peter Rabbit cake. We also got to play at Playshed for AGES. It was the best party EVER! (just like my brother's party, which was also a good party...)

Mmmmm....

2011-06-18T08:09:00.001-07:00

Medicine time

2011-06-12T13:47:00.001-07:00

Sometimes Nathan and I play nicely together...

I love chocolate!

2011-06-12T13:41:00.000-07:00

Aquarium

2011-05-03T10:36:00.000-07:00

I love going to the Aquarium - Daddy takes me on my own for "daddy-daughter-time" and every time we go, I get Daddy to take photos of me, and usually in the same places every time :-)
Penguin Posing
With the Nemo fishies
Penguin pose again!!
Diver with the sharks
And again!!!
In front of the sharks
Nemo returns!
The Lindt Easter Bunny!!

I love swimming

2011-03-06T12:05:00.001-08:00

Mommy and Daddy say I'm getting really good at swimming now. I'm learning to dive from the edge of the pool, but I can also do forward and backwards somersaults!! Even Oupa says I'm very clever.

School

2011-02-27T09:12:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I like my new school, and sometimes I don't. We don't get to play as much as we used to last year, and I don't like that. But my teacher is very nice, and very clever. She knows all sorts of things!

I've made a new friend at school - Mia. I went to her house for a playdate last week. Then, the next day, my aftercare teacher got the days mixed up and told me I was going home with Mia again. Mia's granny took me home with her, and Mommy had to come and fetch me. Mommy wasn't cross with me, but she was very surprised. Until she had spoken to my aftercare teacher, she thought that maybe I had just organised to go home with Mia!

I've also started going to gym with Mommy. I like the gym - I get to play on the climbing wall, or on the Jimmy Jungles frame, or watch TV, or draw, or paint, or do all kinds of things. Mommy goes twice a week, which is a lot of fun!

I've also started having swimming lessons again - but this time I'm with my aftercare teacher. I like swimming, but she makes me swim hard. Still, I'm learning all sorts of fun things - like how to dive. I can now pick up the divers on the bottom of the pool ALL BY MYSELF - no-one has to push me down anymore. The pool is very cold, so afterwards I always have to dress warmly. Daddy comes too - he swims lengths while I have my lesson. It's nice to do something special with Daddy and with Mommy, something that doesn't involve Nathan.

I do love my baby brother, but sometimes he's very annoying - like when he stands in front of the TV, or when he breaks up my puzzle, or when he tries to take my toys. Then I get very cross with him. But he can be very sweet too - like this afternoon when we were jumping on the trampoline and he was copying me. We were jumping, then jumping onto Mommy for a hug, and then falling down on the trampoline again. It was lots of fun!

It's a cousin thing

2011-01-10T11:01:00.000-08:00

Last year I got my first haircut when we were on holiday. This year, I got another haircut. This time I also got to have my hair washed. It was nice - it felt like little spiders - very tickly. The hairdresser had a special chair so that I didn't get water in my eyes or my ears!

Mom and Dad say I look like a pixie with my new haircut - that I look very cute.

My cousin and my brother came with me. He was a bit miserable cos he was so tired. Before:

During:

and after:

Before:

And during:

We didn't get an end shot of my cousin's hair, but because her hair is so curly, you couldn't really see too much difference.

Then, for being such good girls, we went to get icecreams while Nathan had a sleep and Mommy got her hair cut.

Tulips from Hamsterdam

2010-12-04T09:16:00.001-08:00

Today was my school concert. This is my last concert at this school, cos next year I'm going to pre-primary school!

I had to dress like a cook - see my pretty apron? - and I got to sing 'Tulips from Hamsterdam'.

It's my party!

2010-11-28T02:34:00.000-08:00

Now I'm five! I had a wonderful party with my friends. We had my party at SuperChurch, and I had a Beauty and the Beast theme. I dressed up as a Beauty and my cake also had a picture of Beauty and the Beast on it.

These are my friends and some of my cousins.

Here's me with a part of my cake. See my special crown? It is a tiara with feathers and flashing lights on it and it has a big 5 on it. Mommy says that now I'm five I can wear it as much as I like.

End of term fun

2010-10-10T11:07:00.001-07:00

At the end of the term we always have a dress-up day. This term, Mom helped me to make a special costume. I painted this one myself and Mom painted my face. Can you guess what I am?

Monkeybars (video post)

2010-08-21T14:54:00.001-07:00

Mommy took this video in April, but has only got it downloaded now. I'm much better at Monkeybars now, but this was just after I learnt how to do the Big Monkeybars properly. Mommy says I'm turning into a real little gymnast. My Oupa was nearly selected as a gymnast for the SA team - I think for the Olympics or something - so maybe I take after him.

Holiday skills (video post)

2010-08-21T14:44:00.001-07:00

This is me learning to balance my bike as I ride downhill. It took a few go's before I got the hang of it.

Jimmy Jungles party

2010-07-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends had her party at Jimmy Jungles at Tygervalley. I had SUCH fun. Here are some photos from the party.

This is the birthday girl.

This is one of my other best friends.
And this is my third best friend.
Here's Nathan enjoying the toddler den. He's too little to come on the other things with me.

My World Cup holiday

2010-06-27T12:37:00.001-07:00

It's the World Cup Soccer. That's why we're going away. Mommy and Daddy say the city is too busy and noisy. Because I'm both South African and British, I asked Mommy to draw their flags on my cheeks almost every day of the holiday!On our way to PE we stopped at Monkeyland. Next time we're going to go to the bird place again cos I don't remember going there before even though Mommy says we went there last year. When we had lunch in the parking lot this peacock came to share it. We fed him lots of bread.
These are the monkeys we saw - we saw lots of these ones.
This is a lemur - not the ringed lemurs like King (whatshisnameagain?) who says "I like to move it move it" - Mommy took photos of those ones, but they didn't come out too nicely. Did you know that monkeys have tails and apes don't? And lemurs came before monkeys OR apes. They must be very old.
At the Oceanium in PE, there were no dolphins. They had been sent away. But there were dinosaurs. This big, scary one TERRIFIED me. It moved it's head, eyes, and breathed, and made horrible loud noises. Daddy tried to pick me up to let me touch it and I started crying. I didn't like this dinosaur statue at all. Later Mommy took me back and then it wasn't as scary - because I knew that it was just a statue. But it was still scary.These statues also moved, but their tape got stuck when Mommy wanted to take a video, so she just took the photos instead.
This is the baby seal called Nellie!! She's still learning all her tricks.
This is my friend Zoe. Well, ACTUALLY, her mommy is friends with my my mommy. We stayed at Zoe's house for 2 sleeps. Here we are watching the penguins doing their 'March of the Penguins'.They also had a jumping castle at the Oceanarium.

We stayed in Oudsthoorn for two sleeps. We went to the Crocodile Farm. These are the crocodiles.
They also have lots of other animals there - like this Wallaby.
And porcupines,
And white lions. He's eating a donkey.
This is an orange tiger (Bengal) - like Shere Khan is in Jungle Book. This is a white tiger. He's just a baby - younger than Nathan. The guide said that when he's big his paws will be as large as dinner plates. His paws are already big, even though he's a baby.
This is a baby cheetah.
These are some smelly River Hogs. They can swim.
These are flamingos. They were just swimming around and around their island.
We went to the Cango Caves while we were in Oudtshoorn. The caves were very dark and a bit smelly, but some of the rocks were pretty. We only went half way because Nathan is too big for Mommy to carry through the small holes, but he was sleeping the whole trip anyway so I don't think he enjoyed any of it.

I'm glad to be back home. I liked Zoe's house because I could see Mommy and Daddy's room while lying in my bed, but I like my house because it's got all my things in it. Willow Point was freezing, so Daddy made us fires every night. But Nathan had to share my room and he kept waking me up, so I didn't like it there this time. Then Mommy and Daddy moved him to sleep in front of the fire, and that wasn't fair either cos I also wanted to sleep in front of the fire.

But now we're home again and Nathan is getting better so he doesn't wake me up anymore AND I got to go to one of my best friend's parties over the weekend and have special party food that Nathan isn't allowed.

I wish we could go on holiday ALL the time.

More photos of me

2010-06-07T12:56:00.000-07:00

Mommy has had some time to upload photos and video of me from her phone. Yay!!

This is one of my best friends. She was going to stay over, but later decided that she missed her mommy and daddy, so she went home. Nathan's learning to feed himself. What a messy boy!!
This is one that Daddy took of me when we went to the museum. It was fun standing in the middle of the teeth. They were very sharp!
This is another one that Daddy took of me when we went to the Two Oceans' Aquarium. I'm in the middle of the tank where they have a crawl space for little children like me.
And this is my NEW party dress. Uncle Rob bought it for me, all the way from China.

Some cute photos of me from March

2010-05-18T11:52:00.001-07:00

My holiday

2010-04-10T01:39:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely holiday. We went to Grandma and Tata's house in Sedgefield. It was a LOOOOOOONG way, hey!When we got there, we saw this funny slug thing in the lake. We also found hundreds of them when we went down to the beach. They were all in the river. Mommy let me touch one. It was slimy. Daddy thought we were mad for touching it and ran away from us when we tried to touch him! It was very funny.
We couldn't find the hammock, but Mommy did put up the swing chair for us, and Nathan and I sat and swung together for a while.Here's a photo of me and Daddy playing catch. I'm getting very good at catching now!Morning times are special too. It was dark and cold when we woke up, so we'd usually snuggle with Grandma and Tata in their bed for a bit, while Mommy and Daddy snoozed a bit more. Then we'd get dressed and play. This is me with my Leo and Nathan with his Leo. Nathan likes his Leo because he sees me with my Leo. I don't like Nathan to play with my Leo, that's why he has his own Leo. I used to have two Leos, but I gave one of them to him.
Before we left Grandma insisted that we take a photo on the jetty. This is a tradition.Nathan is getting more fun to play with all the time. I love my Nathan as wide as my arms can stretch!

Outings

2010-02-28T10:30:00.000-08:00

Last month my best friend had her birthday party. At her party there was a climbing wall. I'm getting really good at climbing now! We also got to have our faces painted, and have blue hair! (You can't see my hair is blue in this photo, but it is at the back. I had a lot of fun at her party.Today my friends from nursery all went to the beach together on the train. When we got to the beach, there were some fisherman pulling in their nets. We got to see the fish, and the crabs. I didn't like the crabs, and the flopping fish made me nervous. But I loved jumping in the waves and digging in the sand.

School concert

2009-12-23T06:19:00.000-08:00

This is me, singing my solo. I had to sing "I see the moon".

After that, I was a sun in the planets song...

"The sun is the centre of us all. Without gravity we would fall. With a nick-knack paddywhack, take a rocket ship - we are going on a trip..."

Oviaas!

2009-12-23T05:16:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Mommy and me had some 'Special Mommy-daughter' time. We went to see the 'Elves and the Shoemaker at the Baxter. Today I was going to have 'Special Daddy-daughter' time. I decided that I wanted to go to see the fishies at the Aquarium, but I wanted to take Nathan with us. I also wanted to take the dogs.

Me: Daddy, can we take the dogs with us?
Dad: No, my love.
Me: Why?
Dad: Because the dogs will eat the fishies.
Me: But there's glass - they can't get to the fish behind the glass!

Then Daddy fell about laughing. I got very cross with him for laughing at me. He does that a lot!

Who needs Van der Graaf?

2009-12-17T12:18:00.000-08:00

Today we went to play at Sumo's at SuperPlants in Bothasig. By the time I'd finished playing, this is what my hair was doing!!

Nellie sings Jingle Bells

2009-12-14T07:55:00.000-08:00

I've been singing Christmas songs. Mommy thinks this one is really cute...

My birthday!

2009-12-09T12:44:00.000-08:00

For my birthday, Mommy and Daddy took us to the Waterfront. We got to play in the stones (Scratch Patch), have a picnic and go on a boat ride. I even got to see seals and dolphins on my birthday. The boat was a bit scary cos there were big waves, and I was worried the waves would come into the boat, but they didn't. Every time we went over them we all shouted "WHOA", which was fun, but Nathan didn't like it as our shouting made him scared.

My best present... Mommy and Daddy bought me a 2nd Leo a long time ago, just in case I lost my Leo. So Ouma and Oupa bought me a baby Leo for my birthday. Now I have a Daddy Leo, a Mommy Leo and a Baby Leo - a whole FAMILY of Leo's!!

My best friend. She came to spend the afternoon with me, before the party, and then came home with me again after the party. It was such fun having her to play with me!

Water photos

2009-11-02T11:07:00.000-08:00

This is me, floating, with Batasha [Natasha].

And this is me with the toys I'm learning to fetch from the bottom of the pool. Batasha lifts them up with her foot a bit so I can reach them. She's trying to get me to put my face in the water. I'll blow bubbles on the water, but I really don't like getting my face wet.

And this is the turtle we saw at the Kwarium [Aquarium]. When we went I took all my fishes along so I could show them to the fish. I showed my shark to the shark, my lobster to the lobsters, my Nemo fish to the Nemo fish, and my turtle to the turtle.

A Conversational item

2009-11-02T11:00:00.000-08:00

Sometimes Mommy and Daddy can be SO ANNOYING. The other day I was trying to talk to Mommy and she walked away, into the kitchen. I was trying to tell her how to sing Concert Songs [the kids at nursery have been learning the songs they're going to sing for the end of year concert, Ed] and she wasn't listening. "MO-OM," I called as I followed her to the kitchen, "Honestly!"

I still don't understand why Mommy was crying. Why did she cry if she thought I was funny? And why did she think I was funny?

Swimming

2009-10-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

Daddy took me to a swimming lesson the other day. I had a lot of fun! There was a small doggy who sat on the steps while I was swimming and watched me. Natasha [the swim instructor, Ed] was nice.

Afterwards, Daddy told Mommy how proud he was of me because I swam all on my own without needing him to be in the water with me.

I hope I go again soon.

[She will be going twice a week from now on. I hope to take photos this coming week. Ed]

At the 'farm house'

2009-10-17T06:12:00.000-07:00

[All buildings are 'houses' to Nellie. The 'farm house' refers to the From the Earth Expo at the CTICC, held this weekend.]

This morning we went to see the animals at the farm house. Mommy was very excited to see the Emu chicks. I was scared cos I thought they would peck me.

Then Daddy and I went for a bit of a walk around while Mommy stayed to play with the chicks. When we went back to find Mommy we found this man instead.

He didn't do a very good job because he cut the scissors too close and made the sheep bleed. After watching him, we all walked around a bit again and Mommy took me to go and practice how to milk a cow. It felt very weird. I didn't like getting my hands all wet with the milk.

There were lots of animals. I'd never seen these ones before. They're called Alpacas. They're cousins of the camel and the llama. The farmers in South Africa use them to protect the sheep from jackals. This is what they look like with all their wool on them.

And this is what they look like when it's all cut off.

Then Mommy saw a friend so she stopped to chat while we went to see the pigs. That's why there are no photos of the pigs. They were very cute. When Mommy came and found us we went to see all the other animals. There were lots of different types of goats, sheep and cows. There was also a very big horse feeding her baby. The daddy cows - what are they called again, Mommy? Bulls, my love. Oh yes, bulls! - the bulls were very big and I was scared of them. This one is called the Afrikaner and is one of the - what's that word again, Mommy? Indigenous. Oh yes, indigenous - cows. That means they have always lived here. Not like the other cows. The other cows didn't used to live here. They used to live far away and they had to come here by ship.

These ones had big horns that could hurt you, so I didn't touch them.

We also saw lots of baby animals - baby chicks, cows, sheep and a baby horse. Here are the baby sheep with their mommy. The daddy sheep wasn't there because he decided to stay on the farm.

There were also lots of little shops selling food like cheese and biltong. Mommy and Daddy had a lot of fun trying the food, but I wasn't hungry.

What a great day we had! I really like this farm house!

Writing

2009-10-16T09:01:00.001-07:00

I have started to write numbers [letters, Ed]. I can write a Janel, Ethan, Hannah, Leo, Ariana, Oliver, Timothy and Imtiyaaz. [At nursery the kids are learning their letters by learning what each of the children's names start with, so Nellie thinks each letter's name is the name of the child. Ed] Mommy is very proud of me and gets very excited when I start drawing them.

Fun walk

2009-10-10T08:11:00.000-07:00

Today we had a fun walk for nursery. We had to bring our wheels, and decorate them and ourselves as 'Flower Power'. There were prizes for the best dressed and I won a prize! We had a lot of fun going around the canal in Pinelands.

Photos of my trips

2009-09-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

At the aquarium. (If I didn't know better, I'd say it was a younger version of myself there. I have a photo at the same age in a very similar pose, but dressed up to the nines as a flower girl. Ed.)

Nursery class trip to the Planetarium. We got to see a story about Davey the Dragon. He gets lost in space while he's learning to fly. There's an angry Mars in the story. Why is Mars angry, I wonder?

What a fun day!

2009-09-13T12:46:00.000-07:00

Today we had such fun! We went to see 'The Fishes' (this is what Nellie calls the Aquarium, Ed). I love the 'Dory' fish! Today Mommy was teaching me all about how the fishies have to swallow water through their gills to get the air out so they can breathe. I'm not sure I believe her....

We saw the big crabs (Spider crabs, Ed), and the nasty sharks with big teeth. Mommy says they can't bite you if they're behind the glass, but I'm not sure about that either. I had a bad dream about them a little while ago and they tried to eat me. I don't like them very much. They scare me.

I also got to see the little rays. There was one that kept trying to come out of the water. I thought he was trying to eat me, but Mommy said he was just coming to have a look at me and say hello because he thought I looked like a rather funny fish! Silly ray! I'm not a fishie! I'm Janel!

Daddy took me to see the penguins. They're smelly and they live in little holes in the rocks.

I got to touch some seaweed too - UGH! I don't like seaweed.

I spent ages climbing on the jungle gym. I also played in the playroom where I had a tea party with the characters painted on the wall. THEY HAD TV THERE TOO! So, I got to watch Peter Pan.

I love days where Mommy and Daddy spend time with me and play with me, and when I also get to watch TV. I had a lot of fun today. I don't think I want to go to nursery tomorrow cos I'd like to do today all over again!

Blue basket monster strikes again

2009-08-18T14:03:00.000-07:00

At the hairdresser

2009-08-14T16:02:00.000-07:00

I was a very brave girl today. I didn't like having my hair cut, but I was brave. I didn't even cry once.

Statue park

2009-08-09T11:09:00.000-07:00

We went to the statue park (Kirstenbosch, Ed.) again today. We had a picnic in the car first, because it was so cold, and then walked around the statue park. I jumped off rocks ALL BY MYSELF and then we saw these geese and goslings. Mommy even let me take a photo with her phone (not this one). We had a lot of fun!

Ethan's party

2009-07-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

See the squirrel on my head???

Adult dancing

2009-07-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

When you get married, you dance. (Ed - what she means is that the essence of being married is dancing together. She gets this idea from all the movies she watches. When the bride and groom get married - the happily ever after - they always dance and then the movie ends.) Today Daddy showed me how adults dance. Here's me and Daddy getting married and doing adult dancing.

Bike

2009-07-19T10:57:00.000-07:00

Granny and Nathan bought me a bike. It's called an Easi-Rider. It doesn't have pedals. This is my first try on the bike. I really love my new bike - it makes me feel so growed (sic, Ed.) up!

I like to move it!

2009-07-19T10:53:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite movies is Madagascar. I really like the scene with all the Lemurs dancing. Here's my version of it.

Morning medusa hair

2009-07-19T05:56:00.000-07:00

See - I can do it!

2009-07-04T05:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Mommy and Daddy took me (and Nathan) to the biggest jungle gym IN THE WORLD. (Ed - not really, but apparently, that's what Grandma, Aunt Cath and Ariana call it.) It was the first time I went on a climbing wall all by myself. Mommy told me which foot and hand to put in which hole, but I did it ALL BY MYSELF. That's cos I'm the big sister and I'm getting big. Not as big as Mommy, but if I eat all my food then I'll grow as big as her, hey?

Me & my brother

2009-06-15T11:02:00.000-07:00

Oupa

2009-06-13T06:42:00.000-07:00

We went to have supper with Oupa, Ouma and cousin Gabi so they could meet Nathan. Mommy & Daddy let me stay up a bit late. When it was time to go to sleep, I didn't want to. Oupa let me sit with him while we watched a bit of TV, and instead of me falling asleep - Oupa did!

I have a brother

2009-06-12T18:21:00.000-07:00

Mommy went to the hospital this week to have my brother. His name is Nathan. He is very small. Mommy had a big tummy that was very sore. Now that Nathan isn't in her tummy anymore, her tummy isn't sore anymore. I hope this means she can play with me more.

This afternoon I decided to play Mommy. I put Leo under my shirt, to pretend he was in my tummy. Then I walked around saying "Ooooh, my back is sore; my tummy is sore. I have to go to hospital." I lay down on the carpet, pulled Leo from under my shirt and said to Mommy, "Look, Leo's been born!" Mommy thought I was very funny. She thought I was so funny that at supper she told Daddy, Oupa and Ouma all about it. They also laughed - Daddy nearly fell off his chair. Daddy said I made a good joke. I don't think I was funny. I was just PRETENDING.

At Builder's Warehouse

2009-05-09T03:31:00.000-07:00

Quoth she...

2009-05-08T12:42:00.000-07:00

I love TV and videos and movies. I am a complete addict. It's what I want to do first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and as often as possible during the day.

At the moment, my favourite movie is 'The Princess Bride'. There's a scary part, which I don't like, but Mommy or Daddy always sit with me through that part, so I don't feel so scared.

Tonight we had supper on Mommy and Daddy's bed. While we were eating I was playing with Mommy's giraffe and was pretending to boss Mommy around.

"Right, first things first," I said. "To the death! No, to the pain!"

For those who don't know 'The Princess Bride', those lines come at the climax of the film. The hero has been killed and revived, but is still powerless when the villain arrives on the scene. Ed.

Mommy nearly choked on her supper she was so surprised. Apparently, quoting movie lines is something of a tradition in our family. Apparently, this movie is also an important one for her and Daddy, but I don't know why. So, Mommy was very impressed and proud that I can already quote one of the most important family movies. I'll be four on my next birthday, you know, hey?!

A visit from a sort-of cousin

2009-05-01T06:03:00.001-07:00

Jessica is my sort-of cousin who lives in Spain. I don't know where that is, but Mommy says it's very far away. (Her mommy and my mommy are sort-of cousins.) Jess is 6 months younger than me, so I get to boss her around, which is nice. Usually I'm the one who gets bossed around.

Here we are throwing our toys to see who can throw the furthest.

Portrait drawing

2009-04-26T07:59:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I spent some time drawing family and friend portraits. Here are a few of those I did. (Daddy spelt Alyssa's name wrong, but that's okay. I don't think she will notice.) George is my baby brother. (Please note: George is Janel's name for the baby, not necessarily the name the baby will have once he is born... just before anyone gets any funny ideas! Ed)

Imhoff Farm, Kommetjie

2009-04-13T08:21:00.000-07:00

Daddy caught me a rabbit to hold. While I was happy to stroke it, I didn't want to hold it - it was too wriggly.
We went to the snake park there too, but Mom couldn't take photos because the flash would upset the snakes. We also saw tortoises and turtles, crocodiles and alligators, monitors and a Komodo Dragon. Dad also bought us chocolate from the chocolate shop - YUM YUM!

Some more artwork

2009-04-10T03:18:00.000-07:00

Singing about life

2009-04-10T02:46:00.000-07:00

I like singing. I like to sing about the things I see around me. This morning Mommy took down all my old artwork off the walls and put up some new artwork. I decided to sing about this poster I made of myself:Mommy videoed me singing...

Party time

2009-03-14T13:13:00.000-07:00

My cousin had her party this weekend. It was at the Blue Train! I got to go around FOUR times because the driver forgot to stop. Wheee!!

Then I got to play on the best jungle gym ever. Even Mommy & Daddy were impressed by it. I hope they build me one like it in our new home.

My other cousins were there too, and poor Emmy had a plaster with no pictures on it on her chin. She was jumping on a bed this morning and fell off and hit her chin and even with the plaster on you can still see lots of blood. I told Mommy I would be a good girl and not jump on my bed. I don't want to get an owwie like that.

Last night I got to sleep at Grandma and Tata's house. It was fun! Then Daddy came and we all had lunch together. Last weekend I slept at Ouma and Oupa's house, and my other cousins all came for supper. That was fun! Mommy said we can go away on holiday with my cousins again to the farm. It's all I've been talking about for days now. I really want to go, but Mommy says it's a lot of sleeps before then... I want to go now. I love the farm. Next Friday I get to sleep at Granny and Grandpa's house. Then Mommy and Daddy will fetch me and we'll go to visit my cousins again for a braai. I like playing with my cousins, even if they boss me around a bit because they're older than me.

When my "brother baby" is born I'll be older than him, so I can boss him around. Mommy lets me talk to my "brother baby" in her tummy through her belly button. I say good night to him every night, so when he's born he'll know who I am. I hope he won't be long. I want him to be born now. Mommy said that when he's born she will have to go to the hospital and spend a few nights there with him to make sure he's not sick, but that I can come and visit with Daddy, and Grandma and Tata, and Ouma and Oupa, and Granny and Grandpa, but not the dogs. Dogs aren't allowed in hospitals, only people.

At Kirstenbosch (the statue park)

2009-03-08T08:03:00.000-07:00

My favourite place at the statue park is with the gorillas. Every time we go I have to go and give them each a cuddle. They look so sad, and they don't have a mommy to make them better. Daddy always says he's sure they feel much better after I give them a cuddle, but I'm not so sure, cos they never smile.

I'm learning...

2009-03-05T09:21:00.000-08:00

... to poo on the toilet! 3 days in a row now I've made a poo in the loo. Mommy and Daddy are very excited because I'm learning to be a big girl! No more pooey panties to clean up. Yay!

Drawing people

2009-02-19T07:43:00.001-08:00

I can draw people now, with a little help from someone telling me which bits to draw. Today, while Granny was here, I drew Mommy. Mommy has a BIIIIIIIIG tummy, because of the baby in it. I also drew the baby's eyes.

Cat burglar in the making

2009-02-15T07:56:00.000-08:00

Ed: No idea why Blogger insists on rotating this video. Sorry. But at least you get the idea!

Photos

2009-02-02T09:05:00.000-08:00

Mommy has posted some photos of my bandages on her blog. Tonight I cried so much when my bandage had to be changed that Daddy had to hold me still so that Mommy could do it. My blister has popped and so my burn is very, very, very sore. Mommy put a different bandage on it tonight, to try and let the air get to it a bit more, so it help it heal. It hurt a lot, but Mommy put a Pooh plaster and a whale plaster on to hold the new bandage in place.

Owwie!

2009-01-31T10:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we went to Daddy's school for a braai with his friends. I was riding my scooter, very fast, when I fell over and into a table. The table was hot, and so I burned myself on my arm. [Ed: we were having a spit braai, and the metal table was heated by water pipes to keep the spit warm after being removed from the fire.]

Mommy & Daddy didn't know the table was hot. I wanted a plaster, but Mommy said I couldn't have one cos there was no blood. I had to tell Mommy that even though there was no blood, I wanted a plaster, because my sore was hot. Then everyone started running around to get ice and a towel and a special spray and a bandage to put on my arm. Everyone said how brave I was, because I sat with the cold, wet towel on my arm without crying.

Now my burn is starting to blister. Mommy says I'm not allowed to touch it because that will make me sick and make my burn more sore. I have a very special spray and bandages to put on it. Mommy said it would take a while to get better. I hope it gets better soon!

No no no no no

2009-01-27T11:05:00.000-08:00

You know, sometimes parents can be very silly. Or maybe I'm just getting big enough now that I notice. Today, driving home in the car, I was asking Mommy what this thing on my neck was. She thought I was asking about some house I'd seen out the window.

'No, no, no, no, no!' I told her. She gets very cross with me if I shout at her, so I was trying very hard not to, but it was soooo difficult, because she was being so silly.

'No, no, no, no, NO!' I said again. 'What's THIS? It sticks out when I turn my head.'

'I can't see what you're looking at because you're not pointing to it,' said Mommy. But I was sticking my neck out for her to look at. Eventually, she turned around in her seat and looked at me, and then she saw what I was talking about. 'Oh that,' she said. 'That's a tendon'.

A tendon. Hmm... I still don't know what that is.

'Why?' I asked her....

At Belinda's

2009-01-18T07:32:00.000-08:00

Mommy and Daddy went to visit their friend Belinda this afternoon. I had great fun cos I got to play in the coolest little house ever! Mommy has put a photo on her blog. I then got to swim in their pool and put leaves into the sucky thing. I also got to play with some puzzles and eat biscuits. It was a fun afternoon!

Big girls don't cry

2009-01-17T09:29:00.000-08:00

Our holiday is finished now. I'm going to nursery again, but this year I'm in Teacher Debbie's class, because I'm a big girl now. And I'm a very big girl because I haven't cried once when Mommy has dropped me off in the morning. Mommy said so.

(But I still make poopy pants.)

Some photos

2009-01-11T11:26:00.000-08:00

Mommy has uploaded some of her photos onto Picassa. You can see them by clicking on the photo below.

Christmas Holidays 2008

Holidays

2009-01-11T05:46:00.000-08:00

We had a fun holiday. First we went to stay with my cousins on Uncle Thane's farm. There were lots of dogs, so Baggins and Alyssa had lots of friends to play with too.

I saw cows, and War. War is my cousin's horse. He's very big, and black. I got to see the cows being milked. We also went to another farm to see piggies. They had just been born.

We swam lots. I didn't like swimming in the dam because it was too cold, but I did like swimming in the pool. Mommy and Daddy gave me a yibo (lilo, Ed.) just like Mommy's, and a hippo (inflatable hippo, Ed). I fall off the yibo, but I love my hippo. Daddy and my cousins had a lot of water fights. At first I was very scared, but then Mommy told me they were just playing.

We camped, and I got to sleep on my new air bed in the tent. Mommy found a scorpion in my bed one evening. She didn't show it to me, but she did show me the tok-tokkie (Dung beetle) that was outside our tent.

Father Christmas came and left lots of presents in my stocking - but he got confused and put all my presents in Daddy's stocking and all Daddy's presents in my stocking, so Mommy had to fix it for us.

My big cousin Jemma let me have some of her blue juice (Energade, Ed) and I liked it so much Mommy bought me my own bottle of it.

While we were at the farm, we drove home to visit Grannie to surprise her for her Happy Birthday. It was a long drive, but Grannie was very surprised and loved her presents.

Then we went to Willow Point with my cousin Ariana. She's still a baby and can't really play with me, but I like it when she smiles at me. We were going to camp there too, but then we didn't. We stayed in the bunkhouse instead. That was nice cos Mommy slept right next to me. Every morning I got to swim with Grandma and Tata in the lake. The lake was very salty. I got to jump off the raft when I said 'one, two, three, BLAST OFF'. That was a lot of fun.

We went to the river and the beach a few times, and ate supper on the beach one night. I made lots of sand castles and swam in the waves. I got to see jelly fish and blue bottles. Alyssa and Baggins had never seen a jelly fish before and didn't know what they were.

There was a big rain spider in one room, but Daddy put it in the garden so it couldn't hurt us.

We went for a very long drive one day, to go and see the birds and monkeys (at Birds of Eden, near Plett, Ed). I enjoyed that. The monkeys kept trying to grab my lunch!

The mozzies also tried to eat me up. Mommy said she counted nearly 40 bites on me! They were so itchy they would wake me up at night and Mommy would have to put itchy cream on me. Daddy got bitten by a tick and now is very sick. (He has tick bite fever, Ed.)

Mommy and I had our hair cut. Now I have short hair. Grandma says I look very grown up.

I found a new drink that I really like - Tizer (Grapetiser, Ed.). Mommy let me have some of hers and I liked it so much that now I ask for it all the time.

It was Grandma's happy birthday too. She got magic candles that wouldn't go out, so Daddy and Uncle Phil had to keep blowing them out till they stopped being magic.

Now our holiday is finished. When I go back to nursery, I'm going to Debbie's class because I'm a big girl now. Mommy says so, hey Mommy?

New haircuts

2009-01-11T05:22:00.000-08:00

Jesus in my Tummy

2008-12-12T06:29:00.000-08:00

This morning, when we were leaving for nursery school, I asked if I could take Baggins with me, but Daddy said "No". So I asked who could come with me to nursery and Daddy said that God is always with me - "Yes," I said, "Jesus is in my tummy".

Daddy laughed.

"Who is in your tummy Daddy?" I asked. Daddy said that no-one was in his tummy. "That's OK," I said, "I will buy you a Jesus at the shops."

Daddy laughed again...

Sports Day 25 Oct

2008-11-24T23:06:00.000-08:00

It's taken Mommy ages to get this video clip done, but better late than never.

She's busy doing the one of the concert from this weekend, but because she's very sick, I don't know when she will finish it. I've told her she has to go to the doctor, and I help her take her medicine, so that she will get all better, but I think it's the baby in her tummy that is making her so sick. Last night she couldn't even bath me she was so sick!

School photos

2008-10-21T12:59:00.001-07:00

Who's a cutie??

2008-10-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

Mommy hates her phone. She says it takes horrible pictures. I still love looking at them though - I especially love looking at the photos of me!!

Bee Rhyme

2008-10-05T05:56:00.000-07:00

Just like Mommy

2008-09-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

Last night I was eating my supper in front of the TV... or rather, I wasn't eating. I was watching 'Lady and the Tramp', which is my current favourite movie. It was the scary bit where the nasty rat is trying to bite Tramp, while he tries to protect the baby. I was too entranced to eat.

Mommy and Daddy tried nagging me to eat, then switching the TV off, but nothing worked. So Mommy decided to stand between me and the TV, so I could hear it, but not see it. I tried to peer around her, but she kept moving. I got very annoyed. But I suppose it worked, because unless I ate, Mommy would stand between me and the TV.

A few minutes later, it was Mommy's turn to eat. She joined me in the lounge, and ate while we both watched TV. When I noticed she was eating, I immediately jumped up and went and stood in front of the TV with my arms stretched out. "No, Mommy. No TV unless you eat ALL your supper up." I don't understand why Mommy and Daddy found that so funny...

Drawings

2008-09-22T08:54:00.000-07:00

Yes - it has finally happened! I have managed to co-ordinate my hands and fingers and draw circles - sort of. I'm so proud of myself! LOOK...

Weather reports

2008-09-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, when we went to nursery, it was drizzling. "Oh no! It's such a rainy day!"

This afternoon, I was sitting with Mom in the garden. "It's too hot. You must sit here, Mom, in the cool, and you must put your hat on."

This evening, on the news, I was watching the people playing in the snow along the coastal mountains. "Look, Mom! SNOW! That man is walking in the SNOW!" I was so excited I was bouncing.

There's such a lot of weather! I wonder what the weather will do tomorrow?

Naughty girl

2008-09-16T12:10:00.000-07:00

I'm learning to draw. It's great fun! On Saturday I played in Mommy's car, and I found a pen. It was lots of fun drawing on myself - I had snails and all sorts of things all over my face, arms and legs. When Mommy came to find me, she thought it was very funny. Then she saw that when I'd run out of space on my arms, I'd started drawing on the door. She didn't think that was very funny. She was very annoyed. Daddy gave me a smack on my hand. I cried. I refused to say sorry to either Mommy or Daddy, because I had drawn them such a pretty picture and they didn't even say how wonderful it was!

This evening I was playing in Mommy's car again. I found the pen again.... hee hee! This time it was Daddy who was cross with me and he smacked me very hard on my hand. I cried a lot!

Mommy hasn't washed the drawing off the door yet. She says it's a priceless work of art that she wants to treasure for a while. Silly Mommy!

My Report

2008-09-01T09:43:00.000-07:00

1 = good; 2 = age appropriate; 3 = needs assistance Isn't that a nice report? I like it!

Yummy

2008-08-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

Baking done.... baking here... baking gone.... the only evidence for its existence is...

Dare Devil

2008-08-22T10:21:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago Daddy, Mommy and I went for a walk on the mountain again - to see the waterfalls and play in the puddles again. As we walked I saw this really nice cliff and asked Mommy to help me climb it. I think one day I'm going to be a mountain climber...

Out the mouth...

2008-08-16T10:46:00.000-07:00

Last night I got to have 2 baths. It wasn't fun. I had my normal bath and went to bed, but then woke up a bit later and vomited all over everything. By the time that Daddy got into the room, I was sitting in a puddle of vomit and it had messed over the edge of the bed onto the carpet too. It was even in my hair! So Mommy made me take another bath. I wasn't too happy about it, but afterwards I got to cuddle with Mommy, Daddy and Leo in Mommy and Daddy's bed. That was nice.

Today I felt much better, although I was very tired all day.

In fact, I felt so much better I sang songs all day. "Winnie-a-poo, Winnie-a-poo, tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff he's Winnie-a-poo, Winnie-a-poo, la la la la silly old bear!

Terrors and teenagers

2008-08-10T08:14:00.000-07:00

This morning I woke up from a nightmare screaming. There was this horrible DINOSAUR and he GOT me and he started to EAT me!!!!! I cried for ages after Daddy and Mommmy came to save me.

Yesterday we went to visit Granny, and I had a lovely time lazing around the garden on Granny's lounger. The weather was lovely and sunny so I took my book outside and was lying reading it on the lounger. [She's nearly three going on 13! Ed] Then Mommy brought me some chips and juice. After I had eaten my snack, I turned the lounger over and made it a little house, and played in the house for ages..... nearly the entire rugby match!

Army up my sleevey

2008-08-03T10:08:00.000-07:00

When I cough, Mommy used to tell me to cough into my hand. Then my teacher told her not to. Instead, Mommy now tells me to cough into my sleeve. Usually, I put my elbow up to my mouth and cough into my sleeve. Today, just to be funny, when Mommy told me to cough into my sleeve, I poked my mouth down inside my sleeve... like my arm! Mommy and Daddy nearly had an accident (in the car as we were driving) they laughed so hard! I like making them laugh!

All growing up

2008-07-13T11:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at supper time, Mommy made me pizza. When she put it on the table, she had already cut it into smaller pieces for me. I was so thrilled, I said: 'Thanks Mom. You're so clever!' Mommy was as pleased as punch. I know, because she got this big grin on her face and her eyes got all squidgy.

Snow!

2008-07-09T12:54:00.000-07:00

[Ed - I'm really sorry... It kept loading photos sideways, although they'd never been taken sideways, and now I see it's loaded the video sideways too... I really don't know why it's being so difficult today. Anyway, at least one photo has come out correctly, and at least you can see the video if you turn your head!]

Today Mommy took me and my cousins to see the snow at Ceres! It was great! We had a lot of fun - although it was very cold, and my nose got wet. I don't like getting wet. I really don't like getting wet. After about 45 minutes I'd had enough of having a cold, wet nose, so I told Mommy I wanted to go home.
I didn't like anyone throwing snowballs at me - I don't like getting wet! But it was fun to throw them at other people!

Fishies at the Kwarium

2008-07-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

Today Mommy took me and my cousins Jemma, Gabi and Julia to the Kwarium to see the Fishies! It's been raining ALL weekend, and it was raining AGAIN today, so it was nice to be able to go out cos I was getting very bored at home. Daddy stayed at home cos he was vomiting. Poor Daddy!

I got to see the Nemo and Dory fishies, and the big eel, and the penguins! This one was having a bath, and he came very close to us, and then SPLASHED ME!
There was also a puppet show, with an eel who ate an octopus, and a shark who ate a fishie. It was fun! We also saw divers in the shark tank. They didn't wave at me because they were too busy watching the sharks and making sure the sharks didn't eat them.

After the Kwarium, we went shopping and Mommy bought me some proper puzzles. Yesterday I managed to do my first proper puzzle all by myself. Well, actually, I've been doing them at nursery, but Mommy and Daddy only saw me do one for the first time yesterday. The ones we have at home have only got 2 pieces to them, so Mommy decided to get me some 4 piece puzzles. I haven't done them yet - I'll try tomorrow.

After buying puzzles we went out for lunch. I got to have a pizza all to myself [only a large slice, actually, but she ate very well and polished off about 2/3 of the slice!, Ed] AND THEN we got to have icecream afterwards [Frozen yoghurt, actually] with chocolate in it. Mommy kept trying to steal my chocolate! [I did not. I was trying to help her find it, cos it was in between two layers of frozen yoghurt, Ed.]

Here I am with Julia. It's raining, again. I was very tired here, so Julia was holding my hood on because I was too tired to do it myself, and the wind was blowing it off so I was getting wet. I don't like getting wet from the rain.
[Note from Ed: She was such an angel today! Even though she missed her morning nap, she didn't whine, or cry, or have a tantrum. I was so proud of her! Back in the car, it took her all of 3 mins to fall asleep - if I hadn't been driving I would have taken a photo of her she was so cute!]

Daddy's cold

2008-07-04T10:14:00.000-07:00

Daddy was lying on the couch tonight, feeling very sick. He was shivering, so I asked if he was OK, and he said he was cold. So I went to ask Mommy to help me get a blanket. She thought I was cold, so she brought me one of my little blankets. I asked her to put it on Daddy instead.

Daddy was still cold, so I asked Mommy for another blanket for him, so then she went to get a big blanket. I asked her to put it on Daddy, which she did. But Daddy was still cold, so then I went and got all our coats that were hanging on the backs of the dining room chairs and I put them on Daddy. But he was still cold, so then I took everything I could find to put on Daddy - our shoes, DVDs, books, the TV remotes, everything off the coffee table.... Mommy came into the room again, and when she saw what I was doing she just wanted to hug me, but she didn't understand that I couldn't stop because I was BUSY HELPING DADDY cos he was cold.

So then Mommy went to get ANOTHER big blanket [actually, a double duvet this time, Ed]. Before she could put that on Daddy, she had to take off all the other things I'd put on. Because I'd gone out of the room to find more stuff to put on Daddy to help him feel warm, I wasn't there when she started taking things off. When I came back into the room, she was taking all these things off Daddy, and I got cross because - didn't she realise? - Daddy was getting COLDER!! But she wasn't listening to me, so I got even more frustrated, and so I sat down and cried.

But then Mommy gave me a cuddle and explained why she had taken everything off Daddy, and once she'd put the duvet on, I got to help her put the jackets back on Daddy's feet. And then I felt better. Poor Daddy. He's very cold tonight!

Party fun

2008-07-04T00:38:00.000-07:00

Naming

2008-07-04T00:07:00.000-07:00

About a week ago, Mommy and I were driving in the car, on the way home from Grandma and Tata's house. We often talk in the car, about nursery, about things we see. Mommy started to tell me that everyone has at least 2 names, and that I have another name. I got a bit upset about that - I'm Janel. I don't want another name!

My name is Janel, I told Mommy. Yes, Mommy said, but your real name is Janel B-M. NO! I said. It's just Janel. Ok, said Mommy. I don't WANT another name... I just want to be Janel. I got quite upset with Mommy telling me that I had another name.

Then Mommy asked me who 'My Munchkin' was. Me, I replied. And who is Nellie Noepie? Me. And who is Baby Girl? Me. You have lots of names, Mommy said. Hmm.... I had to think about that one.

A few days ago, on the way to nursery, Mommy asked me again about my other names. I'd been thinking about what she said, that I already have a lot of names. I wasn't so upset anymore about having another name. But I can't really say my other name - it's long. Mommy says it's a mouthful.

Then, yesterday, on the way to nursery I turned to Mommy and said my other name out loud, to check that I had got it right - and Mommy didn't understand what I was saying! But after a few tries and questions, she figured it out. She was so proud of me! Sometimes Mommy is weird.

More photos

2008-06-27T11:02:00.001-07:00

Two weekends ago Mommy and Daddy took me to the beach. It was a very cold day, but we had such fun chasing the waves and building castles. I even fell in the water! Good thing Mommy had put my waterproof dungarees and my coat on - I got a big wet patch on my jersey, but at least I was mostly dry. Today was the last day of term, which doesn't mean much since nursery doesn't close for the school holidays. But because it was the last day, my class got to dress up as an insect. I went as a stripey butterfly. You can just see my wings in this photo. It was great dressing up - I was very proud of my wings and all day long I kept telling people I was a butterfly!

Photos

2008-06-27T10:49:00.001-07:00

It's been ages since Mommy put some photos of me up.

This was taken at Place of Play while my cousin Jessica was visiting us from Spain at the beginning of May. (Notice Leo in the back, Ed.)These are all taken at Butterfly World. This is a Duiker (smallest buck in SA, I think Mommy said).
Here I am trying to smile. And this is a little monkey that nearly came to sit on my shoulder until a nasty man who worked there stopped it.
During May it was also another of my cousin's birthday. I spent ages blowing this whistle toy.

Broken

2008-06-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

This morning I broke my first glass... I was playing with the candles while I was standing on the toilet brushing my teeth. I stand on the toilet so I can see myself in the mirror. The candles were on a shelf next to the toilet. They are all in glasses. I was moving them into the right order, and one fell off the shelf.

Mommy was very cross at first, then she got even more mad when I tried to finish putting the others into the right order. I don't like it when Mommy gets mad, so I cried. I didn't mean to break it! Then Mommy stopped being cross and gave me a big cuddle.

After the cuddle I tried to help Mommy clean up, but she wouldn't let me help her. I don't understand why, so I cried again.

Mommy said the reason I was crying so much was cos I didn't sleep well last night. I'm sick, you see, and I keep waking up crying. I've been sick for AGES now. Last night, though, when I woke up coughing, I did a poo in my nappy, so I got up to tell Mommy. When I came out of my room there were all these people in our house! Mommy said once my nappy was changed I could stay up with them a little bit cos they were going to sing & she didn't think I'd go back to sleep with all the noise. So this morning I was very tired and didn't want to get up.

Daddy took me to the doctor this afternoon, to see what he thought about my coughing. The doctor listened to my chest and my back with a big, cold thing. Then he looked in my ears and took my temperature with a 'beep-beep' like we have at home [digital thermometer, Ed]. He also looked in my mouth. Daddy said I was very brave cos I didn't cry.

The doctor said that it looked like I had had an infection, but it was getting better all by itself. Mommy was pleased that I wouldn't have to take antibiotics. I don't know why - I like taking medicine! Not like Mommy. Mommy HATES taking medicine. I know: she won't take her medicine and Daddy gets very cross with her all the time!

Rainy days

2008-06-15T06:44:00.000-07:00

The other weekend it had been raining, so Mommy and I went out in the rain (being very British). Then, when it stopped raining we went and jumped in the puddles. I got SOAKED and my boots were so full of water they were sloshing as I walked home. I had a lot of fun though!!

Because YouTube has decided that the video of me is either pornographic/ racist/ profane/ illegal, they have disabled it. So you'll have to click on this link to take you to 'Electronic Files', where Mommy has uploaded the video again. I hope it works, cos I think I'm very cute in this one. Watch out for when I tell Mommy to give me the camera so I can film her jumping in the puddle!

http://www.electronicfiles.net/files/1791/07-06-08_Puddle_jumping.mov

Insects

2008-06-06T09:32:00.000-07:00

Today I fell while running and hit my lip, and now it is all swollen and sore. It's sore to eat and talk. Although it's sore, I think it's quite funny, so I keep laughing and then saying 'Sorry!' Mom and Dad think I'm too cute for words, so I keep doing it - got to keep them entertained.

The best part of my day today was having a family cuddle. Mom was sitting on the ball [Exercise ball, Ed], I was on her lap and Dad cuddled us both. It was so much fun I couldn't help but call out - 'Hip, hip, hooray!'

I also have a new favourite movie. For the last two months or so 'A Bug's Life' has been my favourite, but I'm moving onto 'Antz' now (we have both on video), except I call it 'Insects'. We're learning all about insects at nursery. Today, for our baking, we made Spiders using Marie Biscuits. All the way home I kept singing 'Incy, Wincy Spider'. On the last day of term, we get to dress up as an insect. I'm not sure what I want to go as... but I need to decide soon because Mom has to make me a costume.

Maybe I'll go as a Butterfly. We went to Butterfly World a few weekends ago. Although the butterflies were nice, the best part was seeing the Blue Duiker and the monkeys because they stood still and let me look at them. The butterflies wouldn't sit still, and I wasn't allowed to touch them either.

Art work

2008-06-01T07:21:00.000-07:00

Here is some of my recent art work - Leo the yellow lion as strong as iron, and some flowers and a bee. We're doing insects at nursery this term.

Look who's talking

2008-05-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

Everyone has been saying how much I've been talking recently. I don't think it's that I'm talking more, but maybe it's that suddenly I am able to express what's going on in my head. Sometimes I really struggle with that. There's so much I want to say, but I just can't seem to find the right words, or get it out of my mouth, and then I get very frustrated. Mommy is very good at asking me questions to help me express what I want to say, but even she has trouble understanding me sometimes.

Like today. We drove in the car to go and help some people who were in trouble [victims of the xenophobic attacks. Ed]. As we were leaving again, I saw something on the ground. I asked Mommy what it was, and she said it was a type of leaf, and that it had died.

Last weekend I had watched 'The Princess Bride' with Mommy and Daddy, and there's a scene where the Man in Black is lying 'mostly dead' on a table. I kept asking Mommy and Daddy why he was lying on the table, and they kept saying he was 'mostly dead'. I didn't understand, so I kept asking why he was dead.

So when I saw the dead leaf today, it reminded me of the Man in Black on the table. Since I still don't understand what 'dead' or 'mostly dead' mean, I'm still confused by that scene, so I started asking Mommy about it again.

She got very confused, because she didn't know what table, or man, I meant, and I couldn't explain to her that I meant the man from The Princess Bride, because I didn't know what the movie was called. After quite a long time though, Mommy did figure it out, but by then I was bored of that topic, so I'd moved on to talk about the trucks going past us and traffic lights letting us all take turns at crossing the road.

It's very frustrating being little!

Two milestones in one day

2008-05-12T10:57:00.000-07:00

This afternoon Mommy came to fetch me from nursery. When she arrived I was riding a motorbike (just a toy one you push with your feet) around the playground. I was happy to see her, but while she wanted to leave I still wanted to play. I told Mommy, "I'm not going home!" She was very surprised by this, because usually I can't wait to go home, but I was having such a lot of fun!

Then, on the way home, I was asking Mommy about the people we were walking past. I kept asking Mommy, "What is that?" until she eventually told me that when we ask questions about people we say 'who' not 'what'. I think that's very odd. When we were in the shop, I asked, 'Who is that?" and Mommy got so excited that I think it must be a very big deal to say 'who' instead of 'what'. I'm not sure I understand why, but if it makes Mommy happy I'll try it again.

Eat, play, sleep...

2008-05-06T11:01:00.001-07:00

Playing with Daddy on the train at our nearest park. I like driving the train!

Playing at Grandma's house, with the dolls' house. There's a Mommy dolly with yellow hair and a pony tail just like my Mommy's hair. I spent the WHOLE night there on Saturday cos Mommy and Daddy went to a party.

Me, Leo and Riley-Puppy - we're sleeping. Riley-Puppy is Oupa and Ouma's dog. He likes to jump up on me. Then I tell him, "NO, Riley! DOWN!". Sometimes he likes to chase me, and I like to chase him, but I don't like his claws cos he scratches me when he jumps up on me.

Kids say the cutest things....

2008-05-02T11:47:00.000-07:00

Today, I had just done a wee on the toilet, and then Daddy did a wee. I've just started noticing that boys and girls look different.

"Daddy, you have a penis," I said.
"That's right," said Daddy.
"And I have a fanny."
"That's right."

Then I ran through to the bedroom where Mommy was still having an afternoon nap.

"MOMMY! Daddy has a penis, I have a fanny and you have a big bottom!"

I don't understand why Mommy and Daddy found that so funny, but they laughed for ages and ages.

Crocodiles at La Bonheur, Franschhoek

2008-04-28T07:51:00.001-07:00

Mommy and Daddy took me to see the crocodiles. I called them dinosaurs cos they look like it. Here's Daddy with me walking with the babies. These ones are under 2 years old. They were more scared of us than we were of them. Mommy didn't want Daddy to take me in. I think she was scared that I would want to walk and that the crocodiles might think I was food, but I was very good. These are the big ones, and they're only 3-4 years old. Did you know that crocodiles don't eat at all in winter because they don't have a high enough body temperature to digest food, and that they can go for 2 YEARS between meals?? The man who told us all about them said that when you see them catching a buck, that will be the only meal they eat in several months, if not for the entire year. Imagine - no snacks at all for an entire year!
These funny crocodiles are Stumpy and Lumpy. They were born without tails. Since crocodiles only use their tails for swimming (and not their legs) they would drown if they went into the water too deeply. In nature, when their mother released them into the water they would drown.
While I enjoyed visiting the crocodiles, I enjoyed seeing the other animals at the farm more. There were goats and a big black pig, as well as a tortoise that was nearly as big as me!