It is finished

Our last antinatal class was last night. So that's it, we're done. Fortunately I now know how to breast feed. Phew. That's a load off my mind. Scott

The Pulse

Lots of pictures on the blog lately, but not too much info. And since the idea is not only to be an update for you, but also a record for my boy during the 9 months he is on the inside, a moment to touch base could be in order. (By the way I stole this idea of my brother.) What I'm reading I've just finished 2 books. Fatherhood by Tony Payne, a easy read, but a really solid manhood, fatherhood type book. The other was the Rhinemann Exchange by Robert Ludlum. A top WW2 Nazi spy novel. Finished it at midnight last night. What I'm listening too. A bit of a trip down memory lane with Cake and the Presidents of the United States. Last week was a week I needed the President's frenzy and the driving bass of Cake. But as I type this, it's Van Morrison. What's out my window Steady cold windy rain in the St James carpark and a homeless guy going thru the bins. Most recent movie Couple of nights ago we got out Finding Neverland. A bit slow in parts but well worth it. It mastered the sad but satisfying ending. The next big challenge Many. Writing a Synod report for Youth stuff in the Cape, writing a sermon on Ps 105 for a preaching group, trying to get my arse into gear to read the bible with a guy here at church, getting back into running after a 3 week break, continung to be a servant while loosing the snotty self righteous attitude. Current thoughts on Baby Tub's Pumped, egar, a bit nervous. The realisation that these are the last 2 months without kids . . . ever . . . not sure what to do with that. Scott

I know, handy man stuff is not what I'm famous for, but these cupboards have been transformed - a lot of sanding and a bit of putty later. Just call me Tim the Tool Man Tubman 

Jacques and Alison

Our little guy is already paying his way. It's because of him that we have started to hang out with Jacques and Alison. They're a couple who have been in the same anti-natal class over the last 5 weeks. She's English, he's Africaans and they were married in Paraguy - so you can tell there is a story in there somewhere (in fact, Jacques started the first ostrich farm in Paraguy - I told you there was a story in there!) They came to church with us last week and then stayed for coffee until 10pm. They are off this weekend for their last weekend of peace and quiet (she is due at the start of August) but they were keen to see us when they got back - which is good by us. So it looks like we won't have to wait until we are hanging outside the front gate of school, picking them up from kindergarden, until we start making 'kid friends'. I say, bring it on!

Scott

I know, I know - completely inappropriate 

Here is the other uncle. Uncle C. He's sporting a lovely pink singlet - and I am assured, that pink is the new black. Nothing like a good role model . . .  

Seven months and going strong! 

Um . . . we got some more nappies today . . .bringing the total to 1387. 

Uncle

Mmmmm. . . . for some reason this picture, which was meant to go on the Senior Youth blog, ended up on mine. Maybe for the same reason, trying to get pictures to go on the SY blog is as hard as it is for Hayley to tie her shoes. (Because of the big tummy, not because she's shoe-tieing challenged). Nevertheless, its good timing because now we have a picture of brother in law, uncle to be, on this blog.

In Senior Youth we have just finished 3 weeks on the minor prophet Habukkuk. In Hebrew his name translates as 'wrestle', pretty much describing what this prophet does with God. To kick of our series we ran the night like WWE and Leights was one one our wrestlers who kicked it all off. Just in case your wondering if he normally dresses like that.

Anyway, I might try for a picture of the other uncle (yes craig, that's you) up here soon.

Scott

Brother Leights telling it like it is 

One of Hayley's coffee morning groups started to get us ready for poop patrol. Mind you the excitement dies off a bit when you think, we have to put everyone of these on, and then take it off - full of poo! 

My 2 favourite ones . . . The bunny has character and remember No More Tears? Just smell the stuff and you are transported back to your childhood! 

Sherbet! After we got home and actually looked at all the presents - far out! And there are still 4 baby showers to go! 

Unexpected Monday

Mondays are often not good days for Hayley. Sometimes she will have 3 meetings back to back taking her all the way to 2:30pm. Not cool. But this morning her leaders meeting was hijacked and turned into a baby shower and then the same thing appeneded with the ladies board meeting. I was not allowed in the first one but was invited to the second (I think mainly becuase I was looking hungry and lean) and took a few pics.

Scott

It was a teddy bear lunch - you even got to dip and eat his head with the soup 

The Ladies board put on a 'do' for Hayley and I was invited along. It was the first "baby shower meets board meeting" event I had ever been to.  

Peter Rabbit made an apperance sitting on top of his best sellers 

My Kid the Genius

"Studies indicate that there are critical periods, windows of opportunity that nature flings open, starting from before birth and then slams shut one by one, with every additional candle on the child's birthday cake." Wow. So reads the insert for a CD we recieved in a goodies bag from our health insurance group. It's full of things for the new born and this CD "Majors for Minors" is a mix of classical music redone for babies. It makes some big claims. If I play Tubman Jnr this music it will stimulate, strengthen and devlop his higher level learning skills, facilitate the development of language and speech and strengthen the circuts for complex reasoning. Pretty impressive stuff. If you believe the blurb from the CD, not playing your kid this music is a crime on the same level as locking him in a dark closet. Now, don't get me wrong. I love classical music, I even had the benefits of a quasi classical education, but I wonder if they are not overplaying their hand just a bit? I'll have to check with my parents to see if they ever played me any music while I was a baby. That might explain why I never got off quota 18 on my spelling list and why the 8 times tables caused me so much grief. I may have been abused by lack of classical stimulation! Bottom line, I'll give the CD a go. But my kid is also going to get some other 'classics' as well. For play time we might go with a mix of Counting Crows, Lyle Lovett and The Presidents, and then for bed time a soothing compelation of Van Morrision, Enya, Lemon Jelly and James Taylor. This kid will be a genius!! Scott

Movie Night!

Last night we went out and saw some videos. There was pop corn and drinks but no Tom Cruise or Natalie Portman. Instead we had mostly naked women pushing out babies. Yup, it was movie night at antinatal classes. For those who have been there before, it's probably nothing new. But for the uninitiaed (like myself) it was quite something. I can produly say I was not grossed out nor did I feel sick. In fact the Tubmans felt so at home, we made short work of the popcorn to the dispair of the other couples in our class. (Hey, you snooze, you loose). And to keep us watching, Jill (our instructor) had a mix of videos from the UK, USA, SA and France (the french women actually pulled her own baby out - very euro). Overall, it actually did help us in terms of getting ready, and helped put everything in perspective. In case your wondering, I don't think we will be filming Tubman Jnr, you'll just have to wait for the blog. By the way, next Tuesday, we will invite our class mates to our evangelsitic service at St James, so shoot up a prayer for us and them and we'll let you know how it goes. Scott