Jake the Great is 8!

The picture above was taken exactly 8 years minus 1 day ago.  I was fat, swollen and just about ready to explode!  I thoroughly enjoyed being pregnant with Jake and my pregnancy was a breeze, but 6 days after his due date I knew that the time was near.

I had no idea though, when the above picture was taken, that in just a few hours time, my waters would break in the middle of the night and I'd be rushed off to begin the hard work of delivery a baby.  The things your mother doesn't tell you!  We'd phoned my parents and Jacques' as soon as we knew that we were headed off to the hospital and the whole family had been up all night with us.  They had breakfast together and around 11am, went their own ways, only to meet up again for crayfish and more food later in the day.  After Jake was delivered, I called my mom and Jacques called his.  Jacques was so overwhelmed, he couldn't talk!  When I told my mom, she just shouted "it's a boy!" - the neighbours even heard.  What a day, what a moment.  Within minutes, the entire family descended on the hospital - I was just being wheeled out of the labour ward when my mom rushed in.  I met Paul for the first time (in all my 1-hour-post-labour-beauty) and we got to show off our precious son to those who love him most.  It feels like yesterday...

At 17:40 on 16 May 2004, our beautiful little boy made his grand entrance into this world and how thrilled we were to welcome him!  Jake was just 4 hours old in the below picture and the nurse was burping him after a feed.  I can remember this tiny little face so clearly, where has the time gone?

 

 Jake's first year was a crazy one and I won't go into all the dramas that surrounded his birth.  Suffice to say, that much of the year passed by in a bit of a blur for most of us.  He was a happy, friendly baby though and loved people.  He was busy though and by his first birthday, he wasn't just toddling, he was running full speed.  The day before his birthday, we had family around for tea and cake and I did a trial run of his birthday cake.  Don't laugh, it served it's purpose and Jake ate and ate and ate...

 His first birthday party was at the little Blue Train in Sea Point.  The weather was perfect and we were surrounded by so many friends and family, it was a really special day...

By his 2nd birthday, Jake had grown and changed so much.  He was still at home during the day with my mom, but was talking non-stop and still the same sweet, friendly little guy... 

Because our birthdays are so close together, we try do something combined for both of us, normally on Jake's birthday.  For his second birthday, we took the family out for dinner at Cafe Chameleon, it was fantastic...

 We hired the pre-primary school out as a party venue and I made Jake's cake again.  It was the last I did for a while...

I love this picture of Jake with his hair all spiked up and a snotty nose.  He was tucking into the cake already...

Birthday number 3 was a Spiderman themed party.  I had a cake made for him, much easier than baking and icing for hours.  We had the party at home and hired a jumping castle for the kids.  Once again, the party was huge, but Jake was really starting to enjoy his birthday...

Me and my boy.  I must get this photo framed sometime...

The day before his actual birthday, Jake got hold of the scissors and gave himself a haircut, there wasn't much we could do about it, so he just had to look like a goofball...

He got his first remote control car and yes, I did forget to buy wrapping paper...

We had the family over for supper and cake...

But Jake didn't deal with the late night too well...

So I carted him off to bed with Apple and Barnie...

 By his 4th birthday, Jake was well into the swing of it all and was up at sparrows to open his presents.  I can't even remember what I bought him that year...

We were due to leave for our Euro Disney adventure shortly after Jake's birthday, so we had a Mickey Mouse party at home.  I did little picnic plates of snacks - there was WAY too much food...

 Jake took charge of cutting up the cake and we later found the dog cleaning the board off... 

Jake's birthday party was on my birthday that year.  He wasn't too impressed about having to share his day with me, nor was he happy about singing to me.  I'm sure it won't be the last time, but I do try to make his day special for him...

Bubbles solve the world's problems to a four-year old though, so we ended off the party with lots of bubbles left over from Jo and Paul's wedding the Feb before.  Jake thoroughly enjoyed his party...

A week before Jake's 5th birthday, he fell off a jumping castle at another friend's party and fractured both bones in his forearm...

 The broken arm didn't slow him down in the slightest, thank goodness it was his left arm and he still managed to open all his presents.  Again, I can't remember what I gave him besides that plane and a green rubber snake... 

We had a Ben 10 Party for about 25 kids at home again...

Jake had wanted to have a jumping castle again, but at the last moment we realised that it was going to pour the day of his party, so I had to make an alternative plan and hired a last minute magician.  He was brilliant!  The only downer was that every single parent stayed (some moms & dads & siblings too) and we all had to squash inside...

A highlight for Jake was "pooping" out a chicken's egg...

 He had a ball...

It was Connor's first time to join in for Jake's birthday party too, but he slept through most of it in his besotted granny's arms...

 Family all stayed on afterwards for lasagna...

2010 saw Jake turning 6 just before the world cup.  I wrapped up lots of little presents and did a treasure hunt for him - he loved it... 

We'd just moved into our own house and Jake chose to have a small party, boys only at home.  There were 12 kids all together - easy peasy after doing 25+ previously.  We ordered pizzas and played games - it was great...

 I tried to make my own pinata, but it was a flop and just wouldn't dry, so I bought one instead.  It didn't last long on the string and the kids ended up kicking it around the garden until it broke open.  Much better that way...

 We had a Bakugan cake - Jake's still into Bakugan, so loved this cake...

 A highlight for me was no parents stayed.  Plus, I got this picture... 

 We had cake in the garden of our new home with family on Jake's actual birthday... 

 

 Last year saw Jake turning 7 and starting a whole new adventure at big school.  All he wanted for his birthday was a remote control boat, which Danie organised and Jake was thrilled with.  Miraculously, it's survived far longer than the Ferrari... 

  The family popped in to see Jake that evening.  I love this picture, although Jo probably won't, but it was the night before Bianca was born, so it's special.  And, yes, yes, that little miss is turning 1 tomorrow...

 

Jake chose to have a Survivor party last year.  He invited just about everyone he knew and then some.  It was a very cool party, even if I do say so myself...

 

 Jake with his cousins...

 He steals my heart with these little winks...

 And that brings me to this morning.  All these years have gone so quickly.  Too quickly.  And now my baby is 8.  8!!???  When the heck did that happen?

Jake was up just after 6 this morning to open his present from Danie & I (a little waterproof, shock resistant point and shoot).  We've had a count down going to this day from before Christmas and I'm sure that the next one will start tomorrow.  When I look through these pictures, I can't get over how much Jake has changed over the years.  He's still the same, but so different.  I can't wait to get home and enjoy this afternoon with him.  He's got his first rugby match of the season straight after school and cubs tonight.  On Saturday we're having a snake party at home with about 28 kids, fingers crossed that it doesn't rain.  We're having a braai afterwards with our family to celebrate Jake's very special 8th birthday...

 

To my darling, sweet Jake, I hope that you have the most amazing day today and I hope that you enjoy every moment of being 8.  I love you so much and I am so proud of how well you are doing at school.  You are a beautiful little boy, who sometimes doesn't listen too well and who's sometimes a little too cheeky, but who is full of love and fun and I love sharing life with you.  We have shared so many adventures together and I look forward to many more.  You are too precious for words!  I love you so much!  Happy birthday, my angel.  Love you, love Mom XXX

Sue X

A bit of history...

This is a bit of a history post and one that I've wanted to put together for a long time and finally remembered to take some pictures to go with my story, so bear with me...

Many years ago, Moeka & Papa Louis, as they were commonly known, immigrated to South Africa from Belgium.  Jake's grandpa (Jacques' dad) was about Jake's age at the time.  They lived on the outskirts of town for many years and eventually moved in just 4 doors down the road from Jacques' parents.  Jacques had a very close bond with his grandparents and, growing up, spent a lot of time with them.  It's no secret that Papa Louis had a soft spot for and favoured his name-bearing grandson.  And thank goodness Jake was a little boy - Papa Louis was super chuffed!

This was our first visit to Moeka & Papa with our precious newborn son.  Jake was exactly 6 days old in this picture, I can't get over how tiny he was back then.  It feels like yesterday...

Visiting Papa became a regular part of Jake's week. Moeka was fairly frail for many years, but Jake adored Papa and we tried to visit at least once during the week and once on the weekend. As he grew older, Jake developed such a lovely little routine on his little visits with his Papa. Although Papa's been gone for a good few years now, Jake still remembers him well and often talks about the fun things they did when we visited.

When we rang the bell at Papa's door, Jake'd hide away and I'd have to pretend that I'd come to see Papa alone.  Papa would have to pretend to be super disappointed and then as he unlocked the gate for me, Jake would jump out and give him a fright and laugh and laugh.  As soon as we'd walked in the door, Jake would to rush over to the cupboard in the kitchen, open it and get the biscuit tin out.  Papa had to open it for him though, he couldn't manage on his own...

There was always a treat in there for him and he'd usually walk out with a handful of something nice and a full packet to take home...

 From the kitchen, it was outside into the garden to pick Papas cherry tomatoes, which I think he planted especially for Jake...

 Then the tomatoes had to be watered so that they didn't die before our next visit... 

All that was followed by cool drinks (usually coke) from the fridge and crisps out the lounge cupboard.  Needless to say, Jake very seldom needed lunch or supper after a trip to see his Papa!  From food, they'd generally progress into the garage.  Papa was a carpenter in his day and loved building things with Jake.  It was their special guy time.

This is one of the last photos I have of Jake and Papa; I can still hear Papa saying "that's my boy"... 

Anyway, I'm getting a bit side-tracked here, back to my original story. When Jacques and I started dating more than half my life ago (true story), we used to frequent his grandparents house after school for lunch.  Their home was always well stocked with good food and we certainly took advantage of it.  They always had a variety of cold meats, cheese and bread, so it was too tempting not to pop in for lunch.  We sometimes popped in for breakfast on the weekend (Moeka's bacon & syrup pancakes were legendary), but we were there for lunch more often than not. Being a growing boy, Jacques' way of eating was to 'go large, or go home' and his lunchtime sandwiches at Moeka and Papa's were no exception.  They were layered with cold meat, cheese, real mayo, tomato, gherkin, more cold meat, more cheese and crisps.  It had to have crisps on it.

Jake and I still make sandwiches like his dad used to; we've named them Jacques' sandwiches and Jake is always excited when I make the suggestion.  You can put anything on it, or nothing at all, but it has to have crisps and mayo on.  After a quick braai for lunch on Sunday afternoon, neither of us were particularly hungry, so we had smoked chicken, cheese and tomato rolls for supper.  Jake added crisps to complete our Jacques sandwiches...

 You have to have a big mouth to get one of these whoppers in - just like his dad, I swear it...

Funny enough, whenever I make Jake a Jacques sandwich, he eats well and usually asks for seconds.  I think he just likes knowing that he's eating something his dad loved so much.

Sue X



A Bear Affair...

 We met this little princess at Buitenverwachting last week at the annual Teddy Bear Fair.  She likes me and she likes my camera...

Connor's not so keen though.  I have to sneak pictures of him and he's not too happy when he catches me...

 My pork chops were there too.  Also not too obliging with the photo-thing...

 I love these pictures of Bianca playing with her mommy's sunnies.  And yes, we were drinking wine at 11:30 in the morning sun.  It was only R8.00 a glass...

 Peek-a-boo, I see you...

 again, jus so I can see your cute toofy-pegs.  Love the reflection of Jo pulling funny faces...

 Jake stole my camera for a bit too.  He found the chickens and realised that it isn't so easy to take pictures on Auto of chickens behind wire.  I also had my camera on continuous shoot mode, so I have like 70000 blurred photos of chickens.  Jake says that this one is his best shot of the day...

 I disagree, I think this one was.  Even with his head shadow in the picture...

 There were lots of bear collections on display, but we didn't stay to see who won the competitions...

We all enjoyed the morning.  The sun was out, after a lot of rain, so it was good to thaw out a little.  There was good food, good wine, lots for Jake to do and of course, it was a good excuse to catch up with Jo & Paul and their lovely family too.  We'll definitely be back again next year (and in between).

OK, I'm getting there...  Nearly up-to-date.  Just one more post to go, but I'll leave that for tomorrow.

Lots of love,
Sue X

What's up...

My orchid surprised me with a late bloom!  My dog has subsequently knocked it off :o(.  How long do I need to wait for more?

Sorry I've been a little absent, we had a lot of public holidays at the end of April/beginning of May and I've been playing catch up on a few things.  Work was exceptionally busy last week, which was only a 3-day week for me and I seem to be putting out a few fires at the moment.  Why are other people so unreliable?

Besides that, Jake and I have been pretty busy at home too.  We decided that, instead of having our lovely landscaper do our garden, we'd attempt to tackle the job ourselves.  We did most of it while Danie was in China, so I'm a little slow in sharing these pictures.  I measured the beds out as per the plans drawn up by our landscaper and marked the areas off with string.  I started digging out the grass on my own, but after a lot of hard work, I decided that digging out grass was men's work and hired someone to do it for me.  That man worked like a machine and he managed to get all my beds dug out, planted some grass, dug in compost, he trimmed back 2 trees and cleaned my stoep.  He'll be coming back for regular maintenance for sure.  This is looking out from my stoep.  Don't you love my dog's old kennel??

  Looking down the back of the garden.  The big patch of compost on the lawn is where we planted some grass that had been dug out... 

 Turn around, looking down the back of the house.  This is where our veggie patch will go some day...

 Looking at the stoep again...

 And out...

 Jake and I spent most of the weekend shopping for plants and then laying them out in the beds.  We have opted for indigenous, hoping that they need less water than any other plants...

 A sand olive in the fading sunlight...

 Jake was super excited to get going on the actual planting part.  He faded on me a little though and I ended up doing most of the work on my own...

 This bed under my bedroom window, is Jake's special one.  He did all the planting in there (including the ground cover not shown).  It was part of his gardening badge for cubs.  I love looking out my window and seeing life in my garden... 

 And wild irises are so pretty, I just love them.  Mine have got new buds on them, so I'm guessing they're happy in their new home.  I'm sure there'll be lots of flower photos soon... 

 1st one in the ground...

 Starting the ground cover...

Now that every thing's actually in the ground, I need to take some more photos.  It'll take some time before everything starts filling out and looking gorgeous, but we're super excited to see that happening!

Sue X