The Baby Shower

I was a bit nervous on that day thinking of preparing everything and making it all nice and having my mind full of things to do, but I needn't have been as Caroline was there to help me prepare all the snacks and lay all the things out. It was fun to do, easy, happy, chatty and laid-back.

Cath, Caroline and I opened a bottle of champagne before anything started, just to get us going and to get us 'in the mood'. (There was quite a bit left in the bottle when people arrived and I think...I don't quite remember...but I think I polished it off quietly. Hic.

My beautiful, radiant, happy, contented, loved child. Well deserved.

Candles were given to each person to light when Cathy goes into labour to wish her and Joel and the baby, a speedy and safe labour. I will 'phone everyone when the time comes.

Nice snacky food was laid out, dips and pates, cold meats and fruit kebabs, cheese and crackers, and of course a bit of booze in the form of a fruity punch.



Wow Cath, put your tummy in!

We all had a great time watching Cathy opening the prezzies for the baby and a few for her and listening to all the little blessings and messages on her cards. Everyone had some good advice for her and shared some of their own stories about children and birth and it was fun to hear.

Cathy came down the stairs doing a 'Marilyn Monroe when her dress blew up around her with the wind', but unfortunately (or fortunately) I missed it and just caught her when her dress had already floated back down. Oh well...next time!

Lucille is one of Cathy's oldest friends from Varsity and lives in the US but usually visits her parents in Cape Town at Christmas.  Lovely for Cathy to have two well-known, good friends with her, sharing her special moment, as many of her other friends are in Jo'burg and just did not manage to come for the event.

 Great consternation over the choice of cupcakes. Mmmmm, shall I have the chocolate one or the vanilla one? No problem...I'll have both!

And at the end of it all, Cathy sent Joel an SMS telling him that he can come home as all the ladies have left! It was a lovely end to the day as Joel arrived and it was just the four of us, Joel, Cath, Caroline and I left to chat about the day, to show him some of the baby prezzies and generally to chill while waiting for Wayne to pick up Caroline. I drove home just a tad tipsy but happy that all had gone really well.

Our First Christmas Living in Cape Town

 
It's not often that Tony and I get spruced up as we normally wear tracks or jeans and sandals, but it was nice to get a bit dolled up for a change and a Christmas lunch was exactly the occasion for it. I think we look rather nice!

Our first Christmas in Cape Town was really special as Philip and Ines were able to be with us as well as Caroline and Wayne which made it really lovely for all of us. The day of course would have been perfect had our best friends been able to be there with us as well as Joel's family, but nevertheless we had a wonderful time, with gorgeous food, and fabulous presents for all and from all.

Cathy was pleased to see her uncle as the picture tells and as the picture tells he seems just as happy to see her. 

Joel handled all the cooking and it was superb. The chickens were tender and juicy, the salads divine and roast vegetables just finished off the lunch beautifully. We sat in the garden under the pergola which protected us and our food from the wind which was blowing in gusts. But the weather held and besides having the pergola blow away at one stage, it was most pleasant sitting and eating outside.

Here we all are looking happy and contented.

Cathy is happy as well and glowing and beautiful, and her and Joel say they are excited and awaiting their new arrival with impatience, if not with slight apprehension at all this newness that is going to happen.

Cath does get very tired now and she says she is quite uncomfortable sometimes as the baby is weighing heavy on her tum. But she's still doing pretty well. She has handled her pregnancy like a star, never complaining, or getting irritable, a bit cranky when hungry maybe, but besides that, good humour always.

Joel loved his bonsai present and shows it off proudly for the camera (while Cathy packs up laughing in the background, at his pose).

Cath examines her new book and probably wishes she could start reading it straightaway.

Joel gave Tony a mountain bike and he is all smiles as he takes possession of his new toy, (he loves bikes). He was really chuffed with it.

Caroline, Cathy's best friend, and her husband stayed a while with Cath and Joel and it was nice for the two friends to be together at this special moment.

It was a really great Christmas day and Tony and I went home happy and full and loved and put our toys away (I got a gorgeous camera) to play with the next day.

I knew then that the move to Cape Town and all that went with it, was worth the effort.