Holiday Stories

Emma snorkeling in the bay

Daniel snorkeling in the bay

Pass me another beer ...

So, you have seen some our holiday photos, now we tell you all about it! The drive down to Harrismith went smoothly, with the babies sleeping most of the way. We arrived a little before 10pm, so went and bought us some supper (Wimpy Double Cheese Burgers with Chips), and gave them bottles. We had borrowed camping cots from a friend, but decided that at that time of night, we were not putting them up, so as the room had 2 double beds, we each took a baby and a bed! I lucked out with Daniel, as he is really a super sleeper but poor Steve got Emma! She woke us all up a couple of times!

The first day at the coast was pretty hot, and we were actually really struggling a bit with the humidity. Our early morning walk went really well. It started out with us waking the babies up (for a change). We then took them in Kangos onto the beach. They sensed our excitement at being on holiday and were full of smiles and chats. Nice as they could have cried and moaned for the duration of the walk.

Early morning at the beach

At about midday, Steve pointed out a row of clouds that looked like the cold front that was coming. Well, within ten minutes the scene had changed from calm and hot to overcast, very windy and cool. Amazingly quick. There was a traffic jam to leave the Southport parking lot!

Except for the first night, Daniel slept very well, and didn’t wake up for a bottle. Emma also settled down a bit, and only woke once for a bottle, but we have a dummy problem which we have now decided to try and eliminate slowly. Normally after 4am, she wakes a couple of times with the dummy having fallen out which is rather painful for us!

My cousin Craig got married to Renee in Hilton College’s chapel on Saturday. The entire guest list arrived dressed for summer, and ended up being a bit too cold for most of the day. The reception was at place on the Curry’s Post road, and fortunately the venue was a bit warmer! The babies came with us to the wedding, but had to be left with a nanny while we attended the reception. After the wedding, the Fullers and us all went to stay at Erin’s boyfriend’s lovely family cottage in Rosetta.

Four sisters at the wedding

Granpa and Granny Fuller!

It must be that tie ...

It was a very disruptive and cold day for the babies and they paid us back by keeping us awake for most of the night. Daniel ended up in bed between us, and Emma fell asleep on my chest. Ah, finally a bit of sleep…

We spent most of Monday on the beach as the weather was perfect with a flat sea. It was amazing to watch the massive rollers come in and periodically turn the calm sea into a very dangerous place for ten minutes while the set of waves pounded the beach. All then returned to calm until the next set arrived. Quite confusing for many of the bathers who entered the calm sea, only to be dumped shortly afterwards by the massive waves. Of course, everyone soon worked it outand soon everybody was making a game of being dumped. It was interesting to see how parents don’t watch their kids in the surf – one had to be rescued by the lifeguard – the parents only found out when the rescued boy arrived at their chairs to announce he had been rescued! The babies were very good, and seemed to love being outside. We bought a beach tent for them the last time we went to the sea, and they spent most of the day sleeping and playing in there. They always get smothered in a heavy duty baby sun block, but both times I have used it on Daniel he has come out in a mild rash, so I think he is allergic to the stuff.

Emma moaning that we left her Versace lame at home!

The beach is not as badly damaged as we anticipated by those very high seas a few weeks ago, although there is a band of dead vegetation along the entire edge of the beach where the salt water must have killed all the plants. The swimming pool and old beacons all survived the very heavy seas. Some of the steps built by house owners from their private paths to the beaches were washed away. Whole new dunes were also all gone. It was interesting to see once-sandy beaches as rocky beaches and the opposite at other beaches. and areas of beach that used to be rocky, but now the rocks are covered with sand. The lesson for us is that if you build behind the main dunes and if you do not damage them, the sea will leave you alone. Those who take away the dunes to get a view are now putting in insurance claims.

Dune vegetation damage by unusually high seas

Bit of stoneworkwork washed into the bay by rough sea and retrieved by snorkelers

All too soon our holiday came to an end, and on our last morning we spent one last hour and a bit down at the beach before heading back to the house to pack. The trip back was long and quite tiring. We left at noon, and because of a number of stops to feed and change babies, we arrived home shortly before 8:30pm. The babies didn’t enjoy being in their seats for so long, but were very good, and only moaned a little bit. But after Harrismith, they were well and truly fed up with the situation, and both cried inconsolably. I sat backwards on my seat, and held Emma’s hand until she fell sleep (which didn’t take too long), and also fed Daniel. But he wouldn’t be comforted, even by us singing to him. So, after listening to the poor boy crying for almost an hour, we pulled onto the side of the road, chucked everything out from between their seats, and I sat between them until we got home. It was very uncomfortable, but at least our boy was happier that I was sitting next to him. I eventually got him to sleep, and he stayed that way until we got home.

They have settled nicely back into a routine, and it is an even better one than before we went away, as we focussed very heavily on getting them to sleep earlier while down at the coast. It seems to have worked, and we now have longer evenings as they are going to bed much earlier.

As Norose is writing exams currently, they don’t have anyone to look after them, so they have been booked into the Baby Hotel for last Friday and the next three days. Friday went well, and they seemed to really enjoy it and came full of chats, stories and giggles.

They are starting to sit unsupported for a few seconds up to a couple of minutes, and Daniel’s belly crawling is taking him backwards at the moment! Emma has started coming more vocal, and is also now ‘swimming’ on her tummy very happily. Last Wednesday when I took them to be weighed, Daniel was 8,5kg and Emma was 6,7kg. This coming Wednesday they have their next set of jabs, so that is something not to look forward to!

This weekend we moved the second cot from the lounge into their room, as it is definitely time they stopped sharing a sleeping space! We had great fun arranging and re-arranging the furniture until it looked right, and fitted well. We are really pleased with it, and even having that second cot in there has not made it look too small (and we got everything to fit in!).

Have a good week!

Oh, the snorkeling pictures were done using software on Leona's new cell.