Easter Weekend....

So, Easter weekend is upon us! A glorious 4 day weekend filled with Easter eggs, fluffly white bunnies, Easter egg hunts, baskets full of sweets and chocolates, hot cross buns and (if you're South African) loads and loads of pickled fish....

Pickled Fish

Hot Cross Buns

Mmmmmmmm...... Mouth watering!!

This year, my friend and her husband will be visiting us for a little more than a week. I'm so excited I could burst!! We're planning a brief get-away to connect and unwind. It will probably be the highlight of my year since we don't see each other enough.

As we reflect on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus our Christ this weekend, make your loved ones a priority. This is a time of celebration of life and family is one of the most important institutions in our lives. 

Whatever it is that you're going to be up to this weekend, make sure that it is enjoyed with good food, family and friends. Celebrate and enjoy your loved ones. After all, this is a time of hope....

Happy Easter everyone!!

Happy Post-Human Rights Day

So, this past weekend the whole of South Africa celebrated Human Rights Day. There were so many festivals and festivities to attend that it was so easy to just get lost in yet another public holiday. But let us not forget how far we have come as a nation. We have fought an unjust government system and won, we have fought cruelty and injustice and (for the most part) have learned how to co-exist as a nation, as one people.

We definitely have loads of victories to celebrate during Human Rights Day.... We now live in a society where all people are equal. I know we aren't fully there yet and we definitely haven't arrived at where we ought to be yet, but we sure are a long way from where we were. We have the priviledge of living in a country where all peoples are considered equal (and not just according to race, but in all spectrum of life - race, gender, etc.).

Human Rights Day

But, we also have some ways to go...

I was once again reminded of this fact today. I had a dentist appointment and while waiting on the receptionist to process my records one of the local soapies was showing on tv. The scene that was on showed a guy (coloured) who found out his ex-girlfriend (black) was pregnant. The receptionist, to my shock, stated "How could he have sex with a black woman?". I was shocked at the fact that someone who seemed educated could make such a statement.

Having just celebrated Human Rights Day this past weekend, it's easy to have thought that we have fully arrived - getting lost in the festivities and all the human rights rallies. Today was a reminder that although we have come so far, we still have a lot of work to do.

Rights and Equality for all...

Let's work harder at building this great nation, let's make the future even brighter so that our children may see the path we have carved out for them. Judging from how far we have already come, I say our glass is half full....

Happy post-Human Rights day SA!

Home Sweet Home

So after basically no journalling for almost 3 years I've decided to try my hand at it again... I really do hope I prove loyal this time around...

Okay, quick update...

We left South Korea and headed back home to South Africa - home sweet home! At this stage I was at the end of my 1st trimester of pregnancy with our precious Evan - who have since then been born and grown into quite a busy little toddler boy. After being home for exactly 6 months and basically about to pop my husband Winston got the position as Job Placement Officer at the College of Cape Town where he is still happily placing students into employment. I, on the other hand, have opted to stay home to nurture and care for our precious little boy. It has been an absolute joy so far.....

Our new and improved family

This brings us to where we are at this moment....

I have been making plans to re-enter the work arena and I might be on the brink of stepping out of being a stay-at-home mom into being a working mom. The transition will be taxing on both me and the little one at first but it is something that will benefit both of us (I need to exercise my mind more and he needs more stimulation than I can offer at this stage). I welcome this new shift, this change that's about to take place... After all, we are continually growing and becoming as individuals.

It will be an interesting ride, so it's best that we buckle up and make a conscious decision to enjoy it... Fully!!

Still Waiting

Just a small update.... This previous Saturday (02 July) I passed my due date at 40 weeks. I thought I had everything planned out and was so sure that everything would work according to plan. My husband and I expected that our baby would arrive by the time I reached my due date or at least a few days before or after.  I'm currently approaching one week past my due date and still no sign of the baby's arrival. I guess pregnancy and natural birth doesn't always work out exactly as planned. At times I'm all nerves with regard to what is awaiting me (how long I still have to be pregnant) and what would have to happen from now on (induction or cesarean section). I'm hoping that the baby will decide to make his appearance soon. I was planning a natural birth and would like to still be able to do that. But, I guess one week past due date is not exactly something to stress over too much.

For now, I'm enjoy the last kicks and moves because that's something I will definitely miss once it's gone. I'm enjoying all the extra time to rest and be pampered. Once the baby arrives, both my husband and I won't have much time for anything else. So, we're making time for doing things like going on dates, watching movies and relaxing with each other. Soon our new addition will have a lot of demands of his own and we won't have time (neither would we want to have time) for anything else.

My first pregnancy was a great journey.... Now, parenthood awaits :)

Last Round

I know it's been a while. But, I have a very good excuse. Getting ready to have a baby is no joke! I never knew there would be so much planning that goes into it. These last few months have been hectic and tiring ones, but somehow I wouldn't trade them for the world.

There have been ups and downs... but luckily the ups far outweighs the downs. We've had a great 9 months so far and we're desperately looking forward to the next lifetime of memories. I've gone from being flat stomached (well, fairly flat stomached) to having to carry a huge watermelon sized belly in front of me for what felt like the longest time. But no complaints... Pregnancy have been treating me well.

 At 3 months

At 9 months

Other than the swelling I've been experiencing the past 2 weeks, everything else has been working out great. I'm really glad that I haven't been bursting out of my seams like I expected I would.

We are currently going through our 9th month and it's almost time for baby to arrive. Soon there will be a little one around whom our world revolves (not that the world doesn't already revolve around him/her) and we'll be so consumed with our little bundle of joy that we won't have time for anything else. I honestly wouldn't want it any other way...

Ready for our little bundle of joy

This past weekend my family and close friends surprised me with the most beautiful baby shower. For so long they have led me to believe that everyone had forgotten to arrange a party before the baby arrive. Although it was very sad, I forced myself to get used to the idea. They were all so persuasive that it was a total surprise when I arrived at home this past Saturday and found that they had an awesome baby shower set up and waiting on me. They even invited people!

Baby shower 18 June 2011

My husband and I left early morning to take care of last minute errands before the baby arrives and when we returned later in the afternoon I found myself being blindfolded and led into a room to prepare me for what lay ahead!

 

Wearing a diaper LOL

It turned out to be such a fun day filled with lots of games, prizes (only for the guests!), food and great memories. I'm so thankful to be surrounded by all my loved ones (family and friends). They truly are a precious commodity in my life. 

All the baby shower ladies (and babies)

 Me and my 'baby daddy' :)

Our due date is one week away and we have one more milestone to cover before baby arrives.... Pre-baby photoshoot!!! I'm so excited! We're having our pictures taken before I end up losing this big tummy... But, this is only the first round. Once the baby reaches 1 month our photographer is set to come around and do some post-baby pictures. So, keep an eye out for those pics!

Oh my gosh! This is all happening so fast! Soon I'll drop the latter part of 'mom-to-be' and take on only the first part 'mom'... what an exciting journey. 

Until then, I'll keep you posted on what happens with the baby and the labour. Keep all fingers crossed... this might be a rocky ride ;-)

Better late than never...

Okay, okay... so it's been awhile. Our move back to Cape Town, South Africa turned out to be more eventful than we had planned it to be. We've been home about 2 months now and haven't gotten around to doing everything we needed to. Luckily we've seen most of our families and friends thus far, but there's still a few more that needs to be visited. I'm sure we'll get around to doing it soon.

Once we arrived in SA we headed straight to Johannesburg where we spent some time with family. It was our first time and we had a ball of a time. An entire week of sightseeing in our own country. Johannesburg was great!

But, still we couldn't wait to get back to Cape Town to share our excitement in expectation of the little one.

Once back in Cape Town, we really took it easy and spent loads of time with family and friends. It's so great to see everyone again and to be able to hang out and enjoy being part of our family's lives.

Now all our attention is directed towards the arrival of our little one. We recently found out that it's gonna be a boy and decided on the name Evan which means 'God is good'. We're overjoyed and cannot wait for his arrival.

He's kicking so much these days and it's so awesome to feel him alive within me. Everyday is a new day in getting to know our little one and I cannot wait to final meet him when he arrives.

Until then, Evan is growing and so is my belly... and I'm sure this will bring it's own challenges in due time. Until then.. I'm just taking it easy.

Welcome!!

Hi Everyone!! This is so exciting...

Okay, so just to give you guys a little background on  who we are... I'm Jacky and my husband is Winston and we've been teaching English as a second language in South Korea for the past 2 years. We are finally heading back home to South Africa in about 3 weeks and we're super excited about it!! Also, another piece of awesome news... I'm about 13 weeks pregnant and will soon reach the end of my first trimester. Although we love South Korea, we felt it would be best if we moved back home since this is our first little one (and my parents' first grandchild) and we really want to share this experience with both our families.

I won't lie... we've gotten pretty used to being in Korea (and pretty spoiled too). Life in Korea is just so easy - besides the missing your family every single day part - all in all, Korean life is kinda the sweet life. So, it will be a major adjustment to be back in our own country and having to adjust to the South African way of life again. But, we welcome it with open arms and we're beyond excited to go back home.

Also, the most exciting thing out of all of this is our precious little angel who is due for delivery in early July (or late June... which I hope it would be). We cannot wait to welcome him or her into our lives and to witness the way this little angel will transform our lives... or just turn it upside down. Either way, words cannot explain our excitement and anticipation.

So, welcome and enjoy the ride as we take on this new journey in our lives....