New Lists

Last year I did a list 23 before 24 and not failed but just didn't succeed in many of them. I could give you a thousand excuses of why, like it was a year from hell, I hated life, um or some other true but depressing excuse but I am not going to. I am just going to do a new list.

24 Things to do before I'm 25

1. Get a drivers license!
2. Do a Photography course.
3. Do the Soweto 10km run in November.
4. Make Eleventh Hour successful.
5. Do the Magaliesburg  Canopy Tours.
6. Do the  train ride  to Magaliesburg (separate trips)
7. Keep smiling, everyday.
8. Take Aiden to the beach.
9. Meet Dreamscaper.
10. Learn to whistle.
11. Let go of the sides when I ice-skate.
12. Bake unburnt cookies.
13. Throw Aiden the most gorgeous first birthday.
14. Learn how to tie my shoelaces.
15. Become more forgiving.
16. Go on a roller-coaster.
17. Make lots of dresses out of the tons of fabric I have.
18. Kiss someone when the clock strikes 12 on New Years.
19. Drink way to much with Claire & Kay Van Dyk.
20. Become a regular volunteer at a charity organisation.
21. Dance in the rain. (Corny maybe but have you done it)
22. Go camping.
23. Stop smoking.
24. Have one hell of a 25th Birthday (it counts as a big one right?)

Mommy Matters

Some of you might have read it before, some of you might want to read it again, my new post is up over at Mommy Matters and it's all about our favourite topic POOP!

Nanny or the 'C' word

I have always been adamant that Aiden will be at home with a nanny till he is at least two years of age. I hated crèche when I was little; I used to hang on the gate screaming till my mom gave up and took me home. I was like that from horrible experiences of a few schools previous.

Aiden is used to attention, and spends the majority of his time with me, I'm worried about him being left in a cot all day, being left to scream and settle on his own, I'm scared they don't play outside or stimulate them, I am scared they force him to eat what he doesn't want to (I clearly remember green macaroni and someone saying if you don't eat it yourself I'll force it down your throat)

I have had a part-time nanny since February and boy has that been a disaster. She drives me mad and is practically useless; lazy doesn't even do her justice. I thought of getting a new one, I had one to think about on the side but the thought of getting yet another nanny who doesn't do her job and that I will constantly be moaning and explaining how I don't want my baby watching TV all day, or sitting in the laundry room while you talk to the domestic, just the thought makes me feel ill.

So the hunt for the perfect crèche took place, well I wouldn't say hunt. I already knew of a great school right down the road from my house but it's on the pricey side, kind of like double pricey. D was insistent I find a cheaper school (not going into that one) but I went to have a look, it's clean, friendly, lots of teachers everywhere, 1 teacher and 2 assistants to 7 babies and they give them breakfast, lunch and a snack, they have a book system that they write everything your baby does in the day, from pooping to how much ml's they drink. I would only be sending him 3 times a week, R1000.

I did proceed to look at cheaper crèche's in the area, I went to one, so we ring the bell, the gates open, we go through a little gate and encounter about 40 kids running wild in the playground, if you wanted to take 5 home you could just snatch them and walk right out, the little girl (teacher) watching them was too busy on her phone to notice. So we search for the office and any adult with an answer other than Ben10, all the way on the other side of the building. Dirty is all I can say. We walk into the office, lots of kids everywhere; some napping some picking their nose but nobody to help us.

We end up talking to a lady feeding the kids gloop and say can we find out about the crèche, oh she knows nothing and the lady in charge is MIA!

Screw this, I start walking out and notice a number of dangers like the fact that the top of the jungle gym is right next to and in line with the bob-wire on the wall. I keep walking. A little faster.

So pricey it might be, but safe and clean it is and the only place I will send Aiden.

He starts on Friday.

I already want to cry.

Buts it's what's best for both of us.

I can't work and look after him and I can't watch a nanny watch him all day.

So my little boy is going to school.

Cupcakes, Cookies and other lovely things

When you find something special you want to hide it so nobody can touch it, in this case it's something you want to shout from the roof tops. The wonderful Samantha over at Samantha Catering does the most beautiful little things your eye's did see and oh my do they taste good too. 

She did the cupcakes for my sisters 18th birthday party, Butter Cream frosting with Lindt chocolate cake can you get any better than that.

She does cakes and cupcakes and cookies and all your party needs, oh and did I forget to mention she delivers! (fee if you live on the other side of the world,she's based in Edenvale so you do the math)

You can follow her on her blog or over on Facebook.

Afternoon Sunshine

I have amazing friends and over the past year I have really come to appreciate and love beyond words two very special ladies that have been around since school. We all had little boys last year and we are all getting to enjoy the little monkey's firsts together. Leanne's bundle of joy was Baptised on Sunday (I'm not Baptising Aiden but that's a story for another day). Aren't these just the most beautiful kids ever, any one have any daughters for the future, we only take the best of course.

Guest Blogger - Heather

Some stories just hit home and have to be shared, my granny battled with Lymphatic Cancer last year, you always hear cancer, cancer, cancer but until it's there in your life you can't fully comprehend it. Here is Heather Von St James' story that touched my heart.


My Village 

I've often heard the phrase “it takes a village to raise a child".  After having my daughter, Lily, on August 4, 2005, it has become a saying that I believe in.  I had an emergency C-section and I quickly understood what it meant to “take a village” when my entire village showed up.  My parents, in-laws, and friends all came to wish us well. We were more excited than ever, which didn't foreshadow the coming months.  

Within a month of going back to work, I started feeling a lack of energy.  I assumed this was a new mom side effect, but checked in with my doctor anyway.  On November 21, 2005 I found out the real reason.  This was the day I was diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer.  I learned that exposure to asbestos as a child probably caused this cancer to develop in my lungs.   

My biggest worry after diagnosis was my daughter.  I couldn’t imagine my family having to live without me.  When the doctor told me I’d only live 15 months without treatment, I knew I had to do whatever was necessary in order to survive.  I thought my best course of action was to travel to Boston to one of the best mesothelioma doctors in the country.  On February 2, 2006, I underwent a surgery that removed my left lung.  I recovered for nearly three months before starting chemotherapy and radiation, all within my first year of motherhood.   

At this time we figured out that our village was different than we had thought.  People we thought we could count on disappeared, while others stepped to the forefront. Cancer has the unexpected side effect of letting you know who your real friends are.  My parents raised Lily while I was in Boston.  They both had jobs, but people I knew from my youth came forward and babysat Lily when my parents couldn’t.  

Meanwhile, my husband and I were meeting new friends who were basically in the same boat.  My village is what helped me manage to get through this difficult time.  I wouldn’t have been able to do all of this without their love and support.  
         
My parents ended up teaching Lily the things that babies have to learn.  They kept me updated with pictures of Lily's progression, which my husband showed off to everyone.  They knew she was the reason I was fighting for my life.  My parents were so great during that time, and the bonds they made with her run deep to this day, even with the distance between us.  

No one said life was going to be easy, but we embrace it as a family. My favorite quote says, “life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death.” Embrace every part of life. Cancer was terrible, but with all the bad came some good. My diagnosis wasn’t ideal, but we learned from it, and for that I am grateful.  

Heather Von St James is a 43-year-old wife and mother. Upon her diagnosis of mesothelioma, she vowed to be a source of hope for other patients who found themselves with the same diagnosis. Now, over 6 years later, her story has been helping people all over the globe. She continues her advocacy and awareness work by blogging, speaking and sharing her message of hope and healing with others. Check out her story at the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog.

Can't wait for Aiden to be older

Change is Good

Getting stuck in a rut is a terrible thing, getting stuck in this dark hole you create in your mind is even worse, becoming your own worst nightmare is a one-way road to destruction.

The last little while has been tough, I reached the lowest of lows, I become so angry and so resentful, it started eating me up inside, I was becoming someone I didn't even like being around.

Miss Preggy has always been my outlet, my safe place, my place where what I think really matters and there's nobody to pull funny faces at me like I'm a stark raving lunatic.

I guess I'm known as Miss Preggy and I am always going to be a Miss Preggy or Miss Preggy will always be a part of me but Miss Preggy needs a change. I need change. I need to move to the next chapter of my life and I need Miss Preggy to move with me, I need to step away from who and what happened to me during pregnancy.

I should of done this when Aiden was born but I wasn't ready to let go and start my new journey but I am now and don't stress I'm not about to tell you Miss Preggy is shutting down.

Miss Preggy is getting a name change and a new look and I want all of you to be a part of that and hopefully enjoy what ever the next part of my life entails.

So first things first, name, this scares me the most, it really does, Miss Preggy is who I have been for so long and I really love the name but it's time I know it is and I need the new name to be just right. So I am asking for your help.

Please leave a comment on what you like the most:

• From There to Here
• Birdy Bye
• Fly Away Birdy
• Hello Goodbye
• Purple Pony    
• The Princess and the Peanut

I know Birdy is spelt Birdie before anyone adds that, but I like the 'y' and it looks better when designing.

And if you struggle to comment, send me an email, jmckaydesign@gmail.com 

Mommy Matters

Hi all, it's that time of the week again and I did a little post over at Mommy Matters, a little rant about being a young mom and how people around you change.

Go have a look, I had a baby...

Let me know what you think.

I'm a mommy blogger

I've been blogging for over a year now, I started the week I got the news of my little miracle and started sharing my story with maybe to much honesty, lots of sarcasm and hopefully made you laugh at all my stumbles.

Last year I watched as all the mommy's took part in the Mommy Blogger competition and I couldn't enter as I still had my bun in the oven but I am finally and officially a mommy blogger.

The wonderful and awesome Stacey (last years winner) sent me a message saying she gave me a nomination and my little heart skipped a beat.

Please go over to Kidz World and put a nomination in for me HERE. I will be forever grateful.

Info you will need http://misspreggy.blogspot.com/ and my email is jmckaydesigns@gmail.com

Thanks
xxx

Words of Wisdom

My Four Walls

Working from home has it's up sides, on really lazy days I sit with my lap top in bed and only get out of PJ's in the afternoon, this can though become a hermit lifestyle very quickly so I try not to. Your home also becomes a prison after a while, so I try go out as much as possible, this weekend was a perfect concoction of madness and now I am quite happy to be in these four walls.

Saturday morning I actually set my alarm for even earlier than my natural one of face pinching and hair pulling (yes, Aiden sleeps in my bed). We were off to Hillbrow to go do some volunteer work at Door of Hope better known as 'The hole in the wall.' Mothers can put their babies in a opening in the wall that has a sensor on it and sets off an alarm in the house so they know a baby is in side. They also receive babies from the local police and mothers coming straight to the door.

If I had the money and a big house I really would adopt a child. My heart goes out to those children but also to the mothers who were so desperate and in such a bad place that they couldn't keep the true loves. Apparently the laws in South Africa make adopting children really difficult so lot's of kids struggle to get placed.

We weren't allowed to take pictures of inside the orphanage, understandably. A whole group of people wet from my church and some other people in our local community. We worked on the garden and sorted out clothes into labelled boxes, fixed shelves and re-wired the washing line. Small things that make a huge impact in the lives of the people who care for these precious beings on a daily basis.

Sorry for all the mis-matched pics, my camera died when I got there so it's a great comparison of iPhone vs Blackberry.

Aiden is now pulling himself up on everything, I think he might skip crawling!

Aiden will sleep anywhere.

Sunday we headed over to the Baby Expo, two babies, my best friend and my sister. I don't think I will ever be braving that chaos again, needless to say I didn't get any photo's, what with pushing a pram, with 3 dog balloons tied to it, Jeep stroller in a huge box in one hand, a box of nappies, pamphlets from a hundred stalls that just get thrown at you and trying not to bash into every ankle in front of me. The discount is not worth the stress. We even skipped the Barney show, I don't feel guilty.

Aiden got his first bloody nose on Sunday, my gorgeous God-son is a year and not baby/kid friendly and pulled Aidens nose. 

I was quite proud of this.

Random Poop

A topic mothers seem to never be able to stay away from. I generally only talk about it when it's absolutely hilarious mainly because I don't know what every shade means, poop is poop to me. Anyways I got this book at my baby shower, I have never read it (sorry if you bought it) it's basically a random reference for the modern parent. I when I say random I mean random.

So here's some randoms about poop

First words for a bowel movement


Aa Aa (German)
caca
do-do
dobby
dong (Korean)
doo
doodie
doo-doo
dookie
dookie doo
jobby (Glaswegian)
kaka
kakashka (Russian)
keech (Glasgow)
kuso (Japanese)
pichin (Spanish & Italian)
plonk (Norwegian)
poop poopie
poopoo
poopsey
poopsters
tahi (Malay)
tutti (Hindi)
uchra (Arabic)
unko Japanese)
yukky

My Teddy Bear

I love Pinterest

I love all the random but wonderful ideas on Pinterest.

Makes me feel normal when I say "Lets paint clouds on the ceiling" and "Lets cover our back wall with paintings of different doors."

I will one day on in my house.

Watch this space.

Mommy Matters

I got this great opportunity to be a weekly guest blogger on the amazing online parenting magazine Mommy Matters, I will be doing a post for them every Wednesday so don't forget to check in but I will remind you, I know how the mommy brain tends to forget things.

My first post is up, I went all the way to the beginning and realised just how far I have come and I can say I am proud of myself for getting this far. Go have a look see, From there to here, and have a peek at all there other lovely things on there.

Also head over to there Facebook page and give them a like and you can follow them on Twitter at @MommyMatters.

Hummus, Yes, No, Maybe

I don't like peas, beans, any bean, I don't like food touching, I don't eat soup, actually anything blended, you do know somebody could just drop a finger in there and blend it for extra flavour.

Now Hummus is all that in one, its basically a pea, with the texture of a bean, it's a whole lot of things touching, blended like soup with the colouring of a human finger.

I don't eat Hummus, until Christmas last year, my aunt brought a home-made one over. Needless to say I was starving (proves if we stranded on an island I would probably eat you) so I tried some and I ended up eating the whole bowl.

Now since then I have tried numerous Hummus versions and well its a pea with the texture of a bean and some even smelled like a rotting human finger.

So here's the recipe to the only Hummus I will eat, write it down and when you have forgotten my description of Hummus and human fingers, make it, I promise, it's good and I'm told it's healthy.

Hummus Recipe


1 Tin Chickpeas drained
1 Tablespoon Tahini
50ml Olive Oil
80ml Lemon juice (put a little more in)
Salt and Garlic to taste
1 Teaspoon Toasted Cumin Seeds (called Jeera in Indian spices)

Totally blend until ultra smooth (can add a bit of water if needs be)
Oh blend with love and prayer that the texture isn't bean like, bleh, I hate that.

Aiden finally rolled

Small things amuse small minds, I say small things excite loving mothers.

I always watched mothers and some woman who are just born to be mothers and always thought these woman are undeniably crazy and clearly have no life and seriously someone pass them a tequilla.

I have become a crazy and doting mother. Someone can still pass me that tequilla though, actually rather not hangovers and babies are unnecessary torture.

Aiden reached all his milestones a bit earlier than what all the books say, but I don't really think those books are accurate, all my friends who had babies last year, all of them reached different things at different times. If there really was a book with a correct recipe this wouldn't be so damn hard.

First Party

First non-violent connection with a child

First time on a jungle gym

First time at the zoo

First time sitting on a chair

First time eating solids

First time riding his fire truck

First time sitting alone

First time eating his feet

First taste of vegetables

First Easter

First time shoving his sock in his mouth and carrying on doing what he's doing, with his sock in his mouth.

No first, just to cute.

First time playing the drum

First time sitting in the bath

First time playing with a ball

First time sleeping with a teddy

First time really playing with his toys

First attempt to play with the kitty, they friends now

First time holding his own bottle

First time in a walking ring

I could go on and on and on, but the real point to all this, is Aiden never rolled over. At all my injections and check ups doctors and nurses ask if he rolls. Apparently they supposed to roll before they sit. So for the last while I have been trying to teach Aiden to roll, and he finally did! I was so excited, I did a little dance, and clapped and for the first time in my entire life did that really annoying girl scream.

I love my son what can I say.