One year on

It is hard to sufficiently express gratitude for the past 12 months. Despite some initial challenges in getting this whole parenthood thing started, I would say we made out like bandits. Judging by the speed with which Luka is acquiring mobility, babblebility, dexterity and a whole lot of other 'ity's - we're in for an interesting ride.

Today we got to celebrate the first of many joint birthdays for my boys, and I couldn't help but think back one year ago to when I was a terrified, first-time pregnant mom in a foreign country, dreading going into labor.  Yet, here we are today, celebrating the first birthday of many more to come!!  Here are a few of my favorite photos from today...

If my year of baking results in a book I will call it 'A Year
in the Baking' and this recipe will feature - Serious Eats'
Brown Butter Pecan Carrot Cake - yummie! And I go back
to my belief that I now need a cake decorating class.

The BIRTHDAY BOYS!

Happy Birthday to y'all! Happy Birthday
to y'all...

With mommy/mamma...

Ah yes - daddy and mamma's birthday gift to the little
terror....a HELMET - (with that mischievous look, how could
you NOT want to put a helmet on him...)

What a lovely day, with two amazing people....

Ouma and Luka

Going through Luka's photos I was just so overjoyed by all of these of my mom during her stay with us in Dili from end of September to end of October.  What a blessed time and opportunity to watch her and Luka get to know each other and for him to learn from her.  The love between a grandmother and your first child is something that I could never begin to appreciate until it happened.  I am so blessed to have had her spend this time with us, and so is Luka.

This photo was taken the morning before Ouma got on a jetplane to leave after her amazing month here in Timor helping us through the transition back to work.

Luka and Ouma at Cazbar

Here is another favorite of this incredible bond between a grandmother and her grandchild....truly amazing.

...hanging out, exploring all sorts of new things...

Oooh, Prada glasses!  What does that mean?

Luka, how we love thee - six months on

Luka the Legend today, six months on

We have come a long way from here - Luka at 4 weeks

Today, 22 September 2011, is Luka's six month birthday.  Yes, every cliche is true about how I can't imagine my life before him any longer (though a sleep-in on a Sunday every now and then won't hurt!), and how much he has changed my outlook on life (shopping for clothes has taken on a whole new race-like quality) and taught me patience and understanding (who doesn't love a shoulder full of regurgitated milk?).  Our path over the past half-a-year has led us (quite speedily) to Darwin, Australia; eventually (quite terrifyingly) around the world back home to Cape Town, South Africa; followed by a quick trip (quite jauntingly) to Oxford and Edinburgh in the UK;  and now finally (quite imminently) back to Dili, Timor-Leste in Asia.

Standing this morning over his preemie clothes we are packing away in anticipation of our move back to Dili, both Chris and I could not help but shed a tear at the sight of the outfit that we brought him home from hospital in.  The tiny 'onesie' with the monkey feet we were so fond of, now dwarfed in Chris' hand - it was hard to imagine that this outfit was way too big for him and required us rolling up the sleeves on his tiny body.

Today, Luka weighs (finally) over 6kg, that is more than three times his birth weight.  He is the happiest little boy with chubby cheeks and a feisty personality that will surely help him survive this family!

How far indeed we have come.  During the past six months we have been terrified at the prospect of Luka coming so early, filled with fear upon returning to hospital for an emergency inguinal hernia operation and a host of other overwhelming emotions.  Fortunately, we have also been overjoyed with his progress, humbled by the enormity of finally taking him home from hospital - and incredibly grateful for all the support from staff and friends alike.  We have both learned a lot about each other and to say that the experience of having Luka in this manner has brought us closer together, is an understatement.

But most importantly, we have come to know and love a littler person with an incredible spirit.  People will tell you that preemies are special, and I think they are right.  To see a tiny 1.7kg/3+lbs person fight for every millimeter, milliliter and gram of his life for the first few weeks is an experience that one can hardly describe.  Thank you Luka for grounding us in the firm knowledge that someone bigger than us all takes care of us, and that the unending spirit of love can see you through some pretty hairy things in life.

You are the light in our lives and we love you for teaching us how to relinquish more control of our lives to you every single day.

Happy 'un'birthday Peanut!

Luka at Six months

Photos:  All photo credits to Brenda Wardall of Hearts in a Shutter - she is an amazing photographer in Noordhoek, visit her website here:  www.hearts.co.za .  If you want to see more of our shoot at our home in Scarborough, please visit:  http://www.hearts.co.za/blog/luka-family/ - for a trip down memory lane, see the previous photo shoot with Brenda when Luka was still 4 weeks premature here.

Flashback - Little Luka at -4 weeks.
See photos from this shoot here

In memoriam... (from Chris)

On Sunday, 25 September, I will run the Cape Town City Marathon, my first-ever.

Scott (center) with my little sis Cara and their teammate
at a recent racing event.

I would like to dedicate this marathon to my sister’s boyfriend, Scott Nelson, who tragically lost his life in a freak accident when he collided with a runner while on a training bike ride on 17 August, 2011. 
Scott was first and foremost a father to two children, a partner to my sister, a friend, but also a competitive tri-athlete and considered the best cyclist in my hometown of Visalia.

I never had the chance to meet Scott personally, but knew him vicariously through my sister and the impact he had on her life and that of her own two boys. I would like to use this marathon to raise awareness about the importance of road-sharing between various users (drivers, runners, cyclists).

If you are a runner, hiker, cyclist, driver, or parent and would like to support me in my marathon quest you can do so by sponsoring me with a donation of your choice (per mile or otherwise), the proceeds will go to a college fund for Scott’s kids.

This fund can never bring Scott back into my sister’s life, nor to the lives of his children and students at the school where he taught, but will live on through the lives of his children.

If you would like to make a donation, please mail a check to:

Audrey and Ethan Nelson College Fund, 

Visalia Community Bank 

P.O. Box 1311

Visalia CA 93279

For those of our friends not living in the US who would like to make a donation, please use my Paypal account name: chris.susan@gmail.com, when you make the payment indicate marathon and all donations will be forwarded to the memorial fund.

Read a tribute by a fellow-athlete and friend of Scott's here.

Sincerely,

Chris Serjak

cserjak@gmail.com

Luka goes to Oxford - July 2011

Luka traveled to Oxford with mommy, daddy and the whole extended family in July for mommy's graduation.  We had a fun-filled trip full of hikes, punts, pubs and other activities.  Luka spent the majority of his days in his Ergo baby carrier, or arms of eager friends.

The whole family outside our rented house in Oxford
15 July 2011

A trip to Oxford would not be complete without a visit
to "Kings Arms! Kings Arms!"

Luka enjoying the Turf Tavern during daylight hours,after
being tossed out the night before...silly laws. 

Loving the train ride to Edinburgh!

About an hour before the Graduation Ceremony at Kellogg
College 16 July 2011

View of the graduation ceremony to which Luka was
not allowed, fortunately aunts and uncles are wonderful
things who took care of him at the pub!

The night after graduation at the New College formal

Niggie Hannah comes to visit!

Luka and Hannah having a little chat about the erratic
Cape weather and the Springboks' performance
against the Kiwis - 22 Aug 2011

Luka had the distinct pleasure of hosting his niggie (cousin) Hannah this weekend.  While she is technically not his cousin since she is the adorable daughter of Susan's cousin Susan (yes, you read that right, there are four of us as a matter of fact), we figured it is way too complicated to come up with "first-removes" or "second" anythings, and have therefore decided in the interest of simplicity, they will be known as 'cousins'.

Hannah Carol 21 Aug 2011

Hannah is a beautiful six-month old baby-girl who could have loaned some of her gestational time to Luka since she decided to make her mommy wait a whole two weeks longer before gracing them with her presence!  She is a babbling, porridge-eating, 12-hour a night sleeping cutie-pie!

Luka's reaction when Hannah told him that he won't be
getting a cool stroller like hers!

Grrrrrrrandpa!

On a recent visit to the Pub at the Brass Bell restaurant in Kalk Bay, Luka and his grandpa had all sorts of exciting things to discuss.

"...pst, Grandpa..."

Have you seen my mommy - I mean, what does a
boy have to do to get a drink over here?

"Seriously?  You mean she's not here right now?"

"Ah! that's funny, I know she never goes far from me!"

...20 minutes later...

Good feed - burp cloth = grandpa burping me over the
shucked oyster shells :)

Oh! Such a fabulous Ouma!

28 June - thoroughly enjoying the toy 'worm' my Ouma
uses to amuse me

26 June - Hm...what to do...what to do..

...that's right, I think I'll have a nap in Ouma's arms

We are marching to Pretoria...

Or flying at least.  Night before our first flight since arriving in Cape Town from Darwin with Luka on May 4th.  It is absolutely insane to even begin to think how we managed that trip with more than twice the luggage (including a printer, newly arrived car seat, and clothes for two seasons), and only half the infant...

Luka currently weighs roughly 4.2kg, to think when we came here, it was only just over 2.5kg...amazing.  More amazing is that he packs nearly as much luggage as we do - hm, how does that happen?

In other news, we were sad to see Grandma and Grandpa Serjak depart yesterday.  What a splendid trip we all had together, certainly one for the books.  We'll have to work on the next time they get to see Luka - the way he's going, he might be walking by Christmas ;)

Luka and his grandparents

Grandma Julie meeting Luka for the first time, June 9 2011

On June 8th Luka's grandma and grandpa arrived all the way from California to spend a few weeks getting to know him.  While grandma Julie was rooting for a girl the whole time, all resistance melted away when she laid eyes on their third grandson for the first time.

Luka showing off for grandma and grandpa

For the past ten days it has been such a pleasure having them around the house where my way too energetic father-in-law has occasionally been spotted between errands, dish washing, breakfast makings, light fixing, trash hauling, and a myriad of other useful activities.
As for grandma?  She declared herself the chief baby-holder to free Chris and I to go about getting some things done.  As my dear friend Stacy (also a new mom) recently mentioned to me, watching our families with our children is an amazing experience, particularly realizing that someone else can love your child almost as much as you do!

We look forward to welcoming Luka's Ouma and Oupa back on Saturday for a combined family-affair!

Hands down my single most favorite photo of the
in-laws in nearly fourteen years together!

Luka turns 3 months

Luka models a knitted cap that his great grandmother Ouma
Susan knitted for his mommy more than thirty years ago.
Like him and his daddy, mommy and Ouma also shared a
birthday...30 September.

Luka is three months old today, and tips the scales at 4.12kg/9lbs 1 oz which means he has caught up to a normal weight for his corrected age (3.5 weeks old), despite his premature birth. Happy birthday little guy!

A First Father's Day

Coffee and beskuit in bed, along with a gift voucher for
six dives in the local freezing water!

Along all the millions of fathers around the world, both first-timers, young, old and experienced alike - Luka and I got to spoil Chris this past Sunday on his very first Father's Day.  It started with coffee and beskuit (like biscotti, but better) in bed, followed by a selection of chocolate chip pancakes and cinnamon French Toast (though I digress, I did forget the bacon...)  An afternoon walk on the beach was followed by a late lunch/early dinner at local eatery Camel Rock.  


For a gift I got Chris a six-dive package with local dive shop Pisces Divers in Simons Town - good thing I did not spring for the 10-dive package as Chris's comment when he saw the gift was, 'do you know how cold that water is?'* - looks like Tropical Dive Boy will finally have to earn his diving stripes!  A number of books and of course the requisite Big Blue funny t-shirt to finish things off.

So lucky to have this experience with such an awesome fellow!

* Incidentally, the current water temperature according to the dive shop is 11 Degrees Celsius (51 Farenheit - that is compared with the 32 Celsius it often is in waters off Dili.   

First visit to an old family tradition

You know it is a good day in Cape Town when it starts with a visit to your very first winery, in this case local establishment  Cape Point Vineyards, followed by a drive across the spectacular national monument, Chapmans Peak Drive, to end up a an old family tradition for calamari - Chapmans Peak Hotel.

Having my nappy changed on
the tailgate of spoedvark ('speed pig')
daddy's 20-year old Toyota

In the morning, Luka oversaw a tasting for grandma and grandpa of the lovely lightly oaked Chardonnays, and Sauvignon Blancs with hints of local fynbos in the terroir accompanied by a fabulous cheese plate.  Of course Master Luka had his own requirements before we could depart, resulting in what we like to refer to as le tailegate change.

A late lunch was enjoyed at an institution that the Marx family has frequented for at least twenty years.  There might be better calamari somewhere in the world, but in all our travels, we have not found it yet - and definitely not with the combined ambiance and view to boot.   It seems only fitting that Luka should find himself camped out on the deck while we feast on their famous grilled calamari, Portuguese steak topped off with a Groote Post Old Man's Blend.

On the deck of Chapman's Peak Hotel

My first hike

On an absolutely gorgeous warm winters day in Cape Town, exactly 12 weeks after my birth (2.5 weeks after my due date) my mommy and daddy loaded the 20-year old Toyota 4x4 with a picnic, an awesome Ergo Baby carrier, my grandma and grandpa, and yes ME!  We headed to the Cape Point Nature Reserve to hike in the Olifantsbos area to a local wreck on a pristine beach.

"Walk 'n feed" - an advanced breastfeeding skill I picked
up from my fellow-nursery moms in the Outback

Criss-crossing the rocky beach near Olifantsbos

Awesome day

Pure pristine beach, my new favorite spot.

Part of the wreck from long ago, the whole beach
is a bonafide treasure chest, can't wait to take Luka back
when he is old enough to enjoy all the fun things!

Whale bone on the beach