image source
Great reminder for the weekend… and I needed it, especially since I was awoken at 6am by a little man who had removed his PJs and nappy somewhere in the night and had wet his bed (thank the Lord for waterproof sheeting). I think I will print these words and put them somewhere I can see often to remind myself that one day they won’t need me… but now they do I need to cherish every single cuddle and “mama?”-cry.
“Oh that God would give every mother a vision of the glory and splendor of the work that is given to her when a babe is placed in her bosom to be nursed and trained! Could she have but one glimpse into the future of that life as it reaches on into eternity; could she look into it’s soul to see its possibilities; could she be made to understand her own personal responsibility for the training of this child, for the development of its life, and for its destiny,–she would see that in all God’s world there is no other work so noble and so worthy of her best powers, and she would commit to no others hands the sacred and holy trust given to her.”
-JR Miller
I really wish I could see what my kids will turn out like one day, maybe as a way of shocking me into action or as a consolation. I need to know that just because Elijah refuses to eat real food, other than bread, he will still grow up strong and healthy, and that my flaws as a mother have not scarred him. It would be of comfort to see that my beautiful daughter does not inherit her mother’s weight issues and issues with her self image, that she can be a strong woman, who relies on God to be her standard of beauty. I would be so comforted to know that despite my failures daily, my kids will know Him who picks me up every day after each motherhood fall.
I know where I go wrong, and yet I do it every day again and again. I am constantly waging battle against my selfish desire for “me-time”, I seem to be caught up with people who constantly tell me how vital it is to have time for me, and that I really should send my boy to playschool so that I can just have some peace. Each time I am told that, everything in me fights it, although the temptation is great, the Deceiver whispers to me that I would be able to do more around the house, and Elijah would be stimulated more and he would be socialized… But against that sly whisper comes a Voice like the wind that reaffirms what I know in my heart, that my children’s place is with me, that I “would commit to no others hands the sacred and holy trust” given me. I am called to be His daughter, Chris’ wife and my children’s mother, in that order. Being His daughter leads me to be a better wife (although my husband can tell you I am very much a work in progress) and also shows me how to be a better mother. On a day like today, I don’t want to be a mom, I just want to be a daughter, I want to be cherished and looked after and held fast. I don’t want to be needed, or pulled at or disobeyed, I just want to rest. But then He speaks to me through quotes like the one above, and reminds me what my place is, who I am, who He made me… and that even though I am tired and broken from fighting with a stubborn toddler, and having a sick baby, I am called to the highest calling, that my work is molding two little people into people who will function in a broken society, and I am charged with teaching them right from wrong and teaching them about Him who loves them more than I could ever try to.
It doesn’t make it easier to be a mom when you this, it just makes you realise its about more than today, and He who has charged us with this great work, has also given us enough grace, and His mercies are new every morning. Man, I am comforted by that fact, that His grace is sufficient and His mercies are new every single morning, no matter how badly I feel I messed up today, tomorrow is a new day to make up for the mistakes and distractions of today.
I hope this is of some encouragement to other moms in the same space as I am… I am in the process of getting together a small group of moms to meet up once a week to encourage each other in this season and to grow in our knowledge of God. I hope and pray that I will find a mentor in this season too, an older lady who has been here, and has survived and can walk along side me and encourage me, and help me to use the gifts God has given me to be the best mom He designed me to be.
You might know that I am an agent for Cherub Tree, and as such my opinions may seem biased, but really, these are amazing nappies!
The night nappy is the latest addition to the Cherub Tree family, and I can’t wait for the new stock to arrive so that I can get a whole bunch for my kids. At for the last 2 years, Elijah has been in cloth by day and disposables by night… just like Princess Fiona in Shrek – beautiful by day and nasty ogre like by night. Its useful but the nagging guilt feeling of pollution and how bad it is for his bum has been getting to me. I am really happy to announce that as soon as these nappies are readily available, my kids will be fully fluff-bummed!
This OSFA All-In-One Bamboo Velour nappy is super easy to use, with the absorbent parts of the nappy sewn and snapped in.
Each nappy has one sewn insert and one snap in insert. Each insert is made up of two layers of bamboo fleece with one layer of microfibre sandwiched between. Additionally these nappies are lined with absorbent bamboo fleece making a thirsty seven layers of absorbency in an ultra-trim fitting, quick drying nappy.
Excellent for night time use, these nappies are best used in conjunction with a Fleece cover or wool soaker. Available in Blue, Cream, and Pink.
(I couldn’t use a photo of Elijah in a pink nappy on the blog, so here it is on Naomi)
I used mine with Elijah with a normal waterproof cover, and unless I forget change him first, the outside of the velour is dry in the morning. This is a miracle folks, this kid can wee for the A team and wets through pretty much any nappy! I have been told that fleece covers or wool soakers would work even better as the night nappy already has PUL in it.
I highly recommend these nappies, and purely as a mom of a heavy wetting boy, not even as an agent. That said, if you’re in Cape Town and interested in trying these nappies, please contact me.
( I received one nappy to try out but was not reimbursed in any way for my opinion.)
This is my new theme verse for the year… to go along with Jeremiah 31:3 … Because He loves me with an everlasting love, I do everything for Him… even if no one else cares.
Eco Nappy Solutions is a lovely company run by Marion, who is a mom to one gorgeous boy. They sell Bamboo cloth Nappies, training pants, breast pad and other reusable cloth nappy accessories. These re-usable nappies are washable, waterproof and breathable.
From their website:
The Bamboo material is incredibly soft, highly absorbent, naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic, so it’s extremely kind to your baby’s sensitive skin. Bamboo also keeps your baby cool in summer and warm in winter.
Marion sent me a pink minky nappy for Naomi, bright orange training pants for Elijah and breast pads for me. I will admit I have not tested the training pants yet, so that review will come once I have.
The bamboo nappy is much slimmer than most one size nappies I have tried, and it has one inner, made of 4 layers of bamboo terry. It’s absorbent enough for a daytime nappy, but I would get a few more inners the older she gets and obviously for night time a few extra inners would help. These nappies are especially made for Eco Nappy Solutions, so they are unique. I have never liked minky nappies before, I’ll be honest, but this one I actually like. I’m also impressed that you can add quite a few extra inners in the pocket, apparently you can fit 3 of the terry bamboo inners.
The only thing with this nappy is that it’s only from 3-13kgs, so it won’t fit Elijah. So it’s a great nappy if your child potty trains before 15kgs… But I think it also depends on your child’s size. I think Elijah is bigger than most kids his age, so he is not the standard measure for these things.
Being that they are made from bamboo, the price is justified, at R150 each they are still in the more affordable bracket of cloth nappies. The extra inners cost R55 each. But as I said, these nappies are great daytime nappies without the extra inners.
If the minky bamboo doesn’t fit your budget, there’s the Babyland bamboo nappy that is also in the Eco Nappy Solutions shop. I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s a but cheaper and according the the website it’s slightly bulkier. But truthfully I like a big fluff bum 
Now for the breast pads. I don’t like disposable breast pads, they make me itch, they are bad for the earth and they also make me sweat. But I was afraid in the beginning to try reusable ones because the embarrassing moment where you realize you have been leaking through your shirt, is not one I’d like to repeat. After making my own breast pads (which work really well) and trying a few other brands, I was happy to try something new.
The Eco Nappy Solution pads are bigger than the other reusables I have tried, 12cm in diameter. So they will probably work for any mama. The 3 layers of bamboo make it really soft and absorbent, and hands down the most comfy breast pad I have tried. They are not bulky at all, which is great when you wear tighter tops, as they don’t show. You can buy 4 pairs for R139, which is a really good deal, for the quality.
Contact Marion at econappysolutions@gmail.com or 081 061 8989 if you have any more questions regarding their products.
I while back I shared my life verse with you guys and our story/my testimony. In both I mention that Jeremiah 31:3 is a central verse to my life.
Being that its such a vital verse, I had to have it permanently etched into my mind… and body…
Now I will absolutely never forget that I am loved with an everlasting love, and no matter what happens or who lets me down, I have a Heavenly Father who loves me so much that His Son died so I could be with Him forever. I hope I can live it out so that my kids know that too, that they don’t need to rely on people to love them and validate them, but that they too have a Father who will always be there for them.
my most beautiful girl is 20 weeks old today… she really is a joy! when she wakes up she smiles at everyone, and you can see she adores her papa and her brother. we’re so super blessed with these two little people!
My lovely doula, Rikki Walsh, wrote my birth story from her view, and I thought I’d share, it might fill in the gaps…
So the weeks leading up to this day had been tense, we were all hoping and praying that little N would make her own way into the world soon. She had us sitting on tender hooks. I think somewhere deep inside I knew Christmas day would be hers. I recall mentioning a few months earlier to Lizanne that I would be there for her even if it was Christmas day, and N was holding me to that promise!
So when I woke up bright and early and saw a message saying Lizanne’s waters had broken I was actually over the moon, and not that surprised! I asked if I had enough time to just to gifts and breakfast with the family, and then I would head off. Lizanne said we had plenty of time, and eventually she said they would only be going to hospital at 4ish to be monitored. Keeping an eye on my phone for the day, with constant messaging to make sure they were ok, I did the family Christmas thing, with everyone very excited for what I would be supporting later on.
At 4pm I headed off down to the hospital, with some Christmas Crackers and champagne for Lizanne and Chris.
When I got there Lizanne was still calm, and only in early stages of labour, but I’ve seen before how quickly early can change to “this baby is coming NOW” so I settled in, not prepared to leave until N had joined the world.
Angela came through at around 5 and did a checkup, and didn’t expect anything to happen, and suggested perhaps they go home for a bit. I gave a bit of counsel on the pros and cons to both staying where they were or going home.
Angela then called Dr. D, who said he wanted them to stay in for the night. – Thankfully as it turned out.
Around 6pm, they had family who brought them some food, and we sat and chatted, about how important this was for them. I found it delightful that a dad was so knowledgeable in what was going on
Around 9:30 N started moving like mad, and Lizanne’s surges seemed to get a bit more intense. Chris and I supported her as best we could, and a nurse came to monitor N for a bit. To me it seemed like it was happening, something was happening. Until the nurse looked concerned and paced in and out of the room a few times before calling in a Dr. to come look at her readings.
After a bit of time, and double checking with another Dr. it was agreed that an emergency C-section was the way forward. I felt my heart break with Lizanne and Chris, and the 3 of us sat and cried together. I knew how much they wanted this. I knew how much I had wanted my vbac, it is the main reason I love supporting couples in labour, to help avoid the heartache I have felt not getting my natural births.
But in this case I knew it was not a C-section of convenience, it was 11pm on Christmas day, the Dr.s were doing this to save a life. I told Lizanne what a great mom she was, and how her birth made no difference, and that she had done everything, above and beyond what most do, to give her daughter a good birth.
The staff were amazing, and allowed Chris and myself into theater to be there for Lizanne. I stood watching in awe. I saw how the Dr.s still struggled to get N out, how she was completely wrapped (arms legs, tummy) in her cord. She had gone so far back up they needed forceps to pull her out. The C-section saved her life. I shudder to think what may have happened if they had gone home.
Once the Pead had checked her over he handed her to me (yes I feel beyond blessed to have held her before her parents) and I got to take her to Lizanne.
Chris took her for a bit while Lizanne was in recovery – only about 10min, I was super impressed. And then we got to take her back for her first feed.
Although the birth may not have been the planned one, I still feel very privileged to have been a part of it. Little N arrived safe and sound at 12:01 on the 26th December and that in the end of it all, is what really matters.
Thanks, Rikki, for your support and help in ensuring that this precious girl was born safely.
four and a half months
I love babywearing so much, and since having Naomi, I love it even more as I can have my hands free for Elijah and I get to cuddle her, which wouldn’t otherwise happen with a busy toddler running around.
I’m part of a babywearing group, where we have a big “library” of various carriers which moms can try out and test to see what works for them. So I borrowed some Zozinette wraps from the library to try them out. The reason I tried these wraps is because the one is made of a spandex type fabric, which made me really curious. I originally thought the fact that it is so super stretchy would be a bad thing because it might make baby drop too low.
Imagine my surprise when I found it to be the most comfortable wrap I have ever tried. I wish I could keep it… It’s a great size too, it’s made slightly wider than most wraps, which means it can cover baby really well and it pulls over mom’s shoulders without being uncomfortable.
The one I borrowed is really really bright, lime green with a funky print on the middle. Not my favorite colours, but the comfort and snug fit for baby makes it a win despite my personal colour preferences. The other one I borrowed is less stretchy, but still quite comfortable with the same width, and is more my colours, in earthy browns. Both are also really long, which make it great for mama’s like me who will never see a size 10 again… Or maybe we will but still.
The stitching is really neat, it’s not just a piece of stretchy fabric that’s been cut, it’s been sewn and really well made. With the colored panel, it’s also more unique than just a plain wrap.
The other great thing about this brand is, they have a designated You Tube channel where Bianca explains how to use the wrap and the various carries that can be done with them.
I love that it’s all run by a South African mama, in Port Elizabeth. Go local! The price is quite steep as far as wraps go, but I really think the quality and comfort make it worth it, all the way.
I’m forever looking for a new way to convince Elijah to get into the bath without an epic tantrum, I’ve tried food colouring, bubbles, a handmade fishing games, bath crayons… You name it, I’ve probably tried it. And then there’s the fact that once he’s bathed he tends to run around and get all hyped up, so I was looking for a way to get him calmer and enjoy his bath.
A friend of mine mentioned that I should try magnesium sulphate baths for myself to help the inflammation in my hand due to the carpal tunnel syndrome I developed after Naomi was born, and I went on a google search of the qualities of this so-called miracle bath.
I found out that magnesium sulphate is Epsom salt, and that it is an amazing natural muscle relaxant and anti-inflammatory. it is recommended for muscle pain, back ache and various inflammations. It is also great for detoxing the body as its absorbed in through the skin, and helps rid the body of toxins which cause headaches, ADHD, cramps, and many other ailments. It helps adults and children sleep better and be calmer and less aggressive.
In my search, I came across this amazing product for kids and adults alike, Therific Naturals. They have a children’s range called Kiddie Calm and an adult range called Mai-Thaim. (I was sent the Kiddie Calm range to try on Elijah.)
Some background about the company, from their site:
The Therific Naturals range of products was created by Theri Rossouw, a mother who had a need for a “clean” cure for her daughter who at the time was labelled ADHD. Jessey perceived her Epsom Salt Bath to be a medicine bath and refused to get in… So Theri found a way to disguise the “peas and the carrots” and turned a boring Magnesium Sulphate bath into a fun, fragranced and colourful bath filled with bubbles.
Magnesium Sulphate is well known for its benefits in reducing hyper- activity, improving sleep patterns and increasing memory and concentration. Its also known for its rapid relief from headaches, migraines, stress, muscle spasms, insomnia and many “modern day” ailments.
I tested the salts on my very busy 2 year old, and I’m impressed. He loved the colours, and the scent and the bubbles. It was so fun for him to add the salts to his bath and watch it change colour. What I appreciate is that although the colour is vivid, it never stains the bath or the skin. The smells aren’t overwhelming or fake, which I am glad for, as a cloying scent in my tiny bathroom would just kill me.
After just a few days of using the Kiddie Calm bath salts we saw quite a difference in how Elijah acted, he was calmer and didn’t fight bedtime as much… Not to mention how excited he was to bath.
I was a bit afraid to try it on Naomi, as I’m not sure a 4 month old should be detoxed or have the scents and things on her, but I am totally going to be using these on the kids in future.
You can order from their agents who are listed here.
