Raising my Snoekies

With both my other kids I was right about their sex from the get go.  I always just know what I am expecting.  This time my heart says it will be a little girl.  We went for a scan at 13 weeks, and although it was still a little early to tell, the lady also thinks it is a little girl.  Guess we will confirm it at our next scan, when ever we go. I must say I am really exited about having another princess.  Tutus and crowns just makes me smile.  We bought the cutest pink outfits and I can't wait to see her in it. So before I even knew I was pregnant, Cara-Mia told every one she is having a baby sister called Callisa.  I absolutely love the name.  Don't think daddy is too impressed that Cara-Mia thought of it but oh well.  It is my turn to name the baby since he chose Ciane. But I don't want her to be just Callisa, so her name will be Carmin-Callisa.  Something a bit different. Like both my other kids .... Carmin Language/ Cultural...

So most of you know that I had Cara-Mia before I was married. The only contraceptive I used then was condoms. And if there wasn’t one handy well …. I did fall pregnant. When me and Heine got married we didn’t even discuss contraceptives as we knew we wanted to start a family immediately.   After Ciane’s birth we started discussing a few things but I naively thought that if I breast feed exclusively we only have to start worrying when he is about six months. Well before then I fell pregnant again.   Although I don’t regret having another baby the timing was a bit soon.   13 months difference is very small, they could be twins for that matter. Any case this time I want to be more prepared. As soon as baby is out there has to be a plan. In my ideal dream world we would follow natural family planning. Where I check when I ovulate and then don’t have sex on those days.   But being a busy stay at home mom I don’t even know my Monday from my Friday....

So I haven't posted anything in quiet some time.  Can't believe how busy the kids are keeping me.  Makes me a little worried for when there is 3. Ciane is sitting so nicely by himself now, hopefully he'll crawl and walk soon.  He just has to walk before baby comes, carrying two babies will just be exhausting. Cara-Mia is her usual self, telling every one she is catching baby this time.  Not sure how daddy is going to feel about that. I'm now 19 weeks pregnant, almost half way.  Getting very exited to meet our little girl. My belly of course is huge, it gets bigger faster with each pregnancy.

I get that being a stay at home mom is not for everyone.   But for me it is my life’s fulfillment.   I can’t imagine myself doing or being anything else than a mom. I don’t miss working at all.   I get up in the morning and it excites me to know I’ll be spending my whole day with my children.   And let me tell you two small people can keep you very busy.   It’s not like I sit around and do nothing all day.   I play with them and stimulate their brains.   We go places and see things. We sure do have our lazy pajama days. But that is ok because we can do it together.   I’m so blessed to have a successful husband who supports us.   And who also supports me being at home.   We made the decision together and we know it is what’s best for us. Do family and friends always understand it? No not at all. But we love it and we are confident in our decision. My children mean everything to me, and in the end they are only my respon...

As iemand anders terug kyk op my lewe sou hulle seker se dat borsvoed die obvious keuse vir my was.   My ma is al amper 30 jaar n La Leche League leidster, en het al vier haar dogters geborsvoed tot ons self gespeen het. Ek het gedrink tot ek amper vyf was since na my nog n sussie gekom het met wie ek my lekker melkies moes deel.   Ons het groot geword tussen borsvoed mammas en daar was niks so cool soos om saam te gaan na n LLL meeting die eerste Woensdag van elke maand nie. In 2010 op die ouderdom van 20 het ek as enkel mamma geboorte gegee aan n pragtige baba dogtertjie Cara-Mia.   En since my ma vir my n Womanly art of breast feeding as persent gegee het by my baby shower, het dinge sommer dadelik baie goed gegaan.   Daar was moeilike dae en rowwe dae.   Huilende en laggende dae. Maar ek het my borsvoed journey baie geniet.   Mense vra so baie hoekom ek borsvoed en hoekom ek so lank aan gehou het.   Aan die begin was my antwoord altyd, omdat...

. God wants to use me to help other woman and children, and I am reporting for duty. I feel so blessed and know God has a huge plan for us. At first I was shocked now I am over joyed!!! I am about 5 weeks pregnant with my third baby.  Every child is a huge gift from God.  I feel so honored to be given this huge responsibility.  I make so many mistakes every day but I know that He will always pick me up and put me back on track. I did not mention God in any of my previous posts, I thought i would keep religion out of it and just speak in general.  But I was wrong to do so, cause whithout his mercy I am nothing and I'm capable of nothing. My God is an awesome God and I need to speak up. 

In our life time there are so many different parenting styles.   We all do what we think is right, or what others pressure us to do.   What might be ‘normal’ to me, can sound strange to you.   For me it is normal for my children to sleep in bed with me.   For you it might be normal to keep the bed restricted to mommy and daddy.   For me it is normal to do baby led weaning, for you it is normal to give baby cereal at 4 months because the clinic sister said so. The statement I would like to make today is that breast feeding has nothing to do with what you think is normal or not.   It should be seen as a natural step following birth.   I think allot of mothers are afraid of being labeled or pushed under a certain parenting style and then choose to not breast feed.   SA’s breastfeeding statistics are shocking.   And because only 1 in 3 women really can’t breast feed we are obviously looking at a bigger problem.   Information and sup...