How to get expelled from a US Embassy

...throw up your egg lunch all over the US Ambassador's annual Christmas Party.  Seriously, not the merriest of experiences, but exactly what young Master Luka managed this evening at 1800.  Things were going super, he was once again a main attraction with smiles, cuddles and more smiles abound.  Mommy sang in the Community Choir, then stopped to have a cold beer afterward.  Daddy decided that Luka looked a little hot in his stroller, so removed him - and then it happened.  Poor guy just opened up and barfed* egg everywhere over the floor of the outdoor veranda area.  Needless to say, we were dumbstruck and immediately concerned.  Chris had the wherewithal not to move him, rather holding him like an outstretched rugby ball to finish his business in a neat pile, before I swooped him up and charged indoors to bring him into the cool airconditioned air, just as he blew another load, right down my front (but thank heavens I missed the ambassador's rug!)

I wiped Luka down with cold water on one of the lovely white terry cloths in the Ambassador's guest bathroom, and cleaned myself up some too.  I decided best we head back out and make our leave gracefully or else someone might be concerned, or just deem me rude.  So here we were, Luka covered in egg-flavored puke, and myself looking like I had just participated in the Embassy's annual wet t-shirt contest, not carol singing.

We said our goodbyes, a few fellow parents commiserated mostly by reminiscing about their own offspring's most inappropriate reverse digestion.  Ah, parenthood.

At home, it was a bath, followed by a breastfeed, some more vomiting, some sheet changing, some more breastfeeding, some more vomiting - before mommy and daddy finally figured out just to put him to bed with an empty stomach.

So, at 21h00 we're off to what we believe will be a rough night with the young man.  Don't worry - we're armed with a flight schedule and emergency private number for a doctor in town, just in case.  

* Did you know that there are apparently 339 synonyms for 'puke' on this website.  Hopefully Luka does not make a habit of it and I won't have to learn all of them.

Snack time

Teeth?  Who needs teeth??

Am I the only one noticing an orange theme here...
hiking backpack, stroller(s), t-shirts, and now all my food!

Felinfants or Infanteline?

Ever notice the marked similarities between infants and felines?  I mean think about it.

1. They both need to sleep a lot or they are cranky
2. They are both able to sleep with their eyes open (seriously, check out bub next time and you'll notice (s)he staring at you through a half-mast peeper)
3. They are both fussy eaters, and don't try and change their food on them or be warned!
4. They're both wonderful to cuddle with when they are calm, and impossible to hold when they are fussy
5. Clipping the nails of both of these critters is not for the faint-of-heart
6. They are both very possessive of their mommy/human and very picky as to who will have the privilege of a cuddle
7. They both tend to vomit on precious possessions to show displeasure
8. They both lose a lot of hair
9. They both take quite a bit of training to get the toilet habit just right 
10. Finally, they are two of the most talked-about items at a dinner table - nothing like 'crazy cat' or 'sleepless infant' stories to get a party started.

Anyone have any more?

Bottle Battle Round #4

Contestant #1:  Luka the Legend
Weapon of choice: new-found intent on winning, armed with a fresh nap under his belt.
Contestant #2:  Mommy now Mildly Meek
Substitute:  none, this is a singles match
Weapon of choice:  remains unchanged - AVENT One-Piece Anti-Colic Valve System fitted with a slow-flow teat - 50ml of Nestle Lactogen Formula (why? because mommy can't keep up feeding a growing 4'ish month old, AND the Medela - so will have to 'get ahead' first before can provide him with expressed breastmilk)


Outcome:
Game 4:  Advantage Mommy (with Luka serving next)
Match notes: With Daddy the Determined braving the freezing (14C/54F) Atlantic waters in his inaugural Cape Peninsula dives with local dive outfit Pisces Divers mommy was left home to brave Game 4 in the Bottle Battle Match alone.  Using the skills and technique demonstrated by the Daddy yesterday, mommy proceeded with trepidation.
Results:  It was a game of 50's.  Formula attempted:  50mls (1.7oz) of that 50mls, Luka ingested probably about 50%. Of the remaining 50%, mommy is wearing about 50% and Luka's bib the other 50%.  So in all, not a terribly bad showing, and certainly an improvement over previous Games.
Match time:  About 45mins, no tears, a little fuss, lots of bouncing and entertainment, and a much better communication strategy between Luka and Mommy.

Will Game 5 be the Match decider?  Stay tuned.

Bottle Battle Round #3

Contestant #1:  Luka the Legend
Weapon of choice: Sheer and utter will and determination (with two Games won, add some confidence to the mix!)
Contestant #2:  Daddy the Disillusioned (re-branding in the hopes of thwarting the opponent)
Weapon of choice:  AVENT One-Piece Anti-Colic Valve System fitted with a slow-flow teat
(Reasoning for weapon for Contestant #2):  Because Weapons #1 and #2 SUCKED!
Substitute:  Mamma the Meagerly Hopeful


Outcome:
Game 3:  DEUCE (with a possibility for advantage Daddy)
Match notes: A much more respectable attempt by Contestant #2.  It is clear that he studied match tapes from earlier games, and used the 'surprise-factor' to shock and awe the defending champion into submission with unexpected twists such as outward-facing approaches and swift footwork.  While less than 30mls/1oz was accomplished, taken with the negative amounts from the previous attempts, we're probably close to a gallon of net gain.
Match time:  An hour of sweat, drool and formula (happy to report no blood yet), and no tears this time!

Bring on the next round!

Bottle Battle Round #2

Contestant #1:  Luka the Legend
Weapon of choice: Sheer and utter will and determination
Contestant #2:  Daddy the Delusional 
Weapon of choice:  NUK Latex  #1
(Reasoning for weapon for Contestant #2):  Another NUK apparatus, this time with a more 'natural' teat for our organic kid. Ha!
Substitute:  Mamma the Mercurial 


Outcome:
Game 2:  6-2 for Luka the Legend
Match notes:  DtD gave it his best shot - and managed to get a few shots in this time, but LtL had improved on his volleys and managed to floor DtD once more with a deep shot down the sideline to square away a solid win for Game 2 in the match.  Mamma the Mercurial was brought in briefly off the bench - but it was soon evident that the game was already decided.
Match time:  A much more respectable twenty minutes.  

Bottle Battle Round #1

Contestant #1:  Luka the Legend
Weapon of choice: Sheer and utter will and determination
Contestant #2:  Daddy the Determined
Weapon of choice:  NUK Orthodontist-choice Silicone #1
(Reasoning for weapon for Contestant #2):  Same/similar as dummy/pacifier/binky that Contestant #1 sucked on until recently deciding that his god-given thumbs are way better (with which his sleep-deprived parents tend to agree)


Outcome:
Game 1:  6-0 for Luka the Legend
Match notes:  DtD did not stand a chance.  LtL hit an ace, powerful on the baseline, and finally buried his opponent at the net.
Match time:  didn't even register  

Happy eleven weeks!

Luka in the nature reserve behind our house.
Photo by Brenda Wardall from 'Hearts in a Shutter'

On this lovely wintery Tuesday in Cape Town, we are delighted to celebrate Luka's 11 week birthday today, and even more thrilled to welcome his grandma and grandpa from California tomorrow.

As luck would have it though, our little man celebrated his birthday with a little 'gut assistance' in the form of a glycerin tablet deposited somewhat uncomfortably (for both of us) for the lack of well, 'activity' for a week.  Might explain why his Aries horoscope this week is all about  'pushing harder for what you want' or something of this nature - I was still too traumatized to really pay attention.

Still hoping he'll have one hell of a sense of humor to make it in this family...

Our little favorite little featherweight!

What's hot, and what's not

Exhibit A - Cheekalicious!

Living with an infant seems to be something like living with a very cute and squishy schizophrenic bi-polar split personality.  One day a bath is the best thing since breast milk, the next day no way Jose, whatcha trying to do, boil me into a broth?  Similarly, you would think we ceremoniously pull out toenails with some of the nappy changes, only to have Mr. Tranquility himself two days later...

Shamelessly plagiarizing Newsweek:

This week in Luka's world:

• Bouncing - Luka would like his parents to know that under no circumstances can they ever sit with their legs still again, EVER, we must have BOUNCE (aaaallll the time)
• Smiling - we have discovered our smile, and is not afraid to use it!
• Vitamin retention - following a few touch-an-go weeks where vitamins were generally frowned upon, retention seems to have skyrocketed!
• Vocalization - after the eerie silence of preemie-hood, watch out world, we have a VOICE!
• Cheek circumference - "Is it me, or is it's very cheeky in here?"

• Pooping - that's right, after the initial post-op bi-hourly poop explosions we're on a hiatus from moving our bowels, and have been for a few days (though in no way does that hiatus extend to flatulence - we have actually considered hanging a car freshener around his waist)
• Holding down our feeds - seems more fun to see whether we can make an equal amount of laundry for mommy as for ourselves by consistently reverse drinking a rather shocking amount of our feeds.

• Nappy changes - since this time last week the usefulness or general existence of nappy changes has been seriously in question

Either way, they certainly know how to keep 'em (read: unsuspecting inexperienced parents) wondering! 

Laundry with a View

It has been a mere two weeks since the boys in my house have doubled, and already it is evident that one laundry monster is now two.  In an attempt to save on expensive electricity and the environment I have had to go in search of additional space to hang the ever-multiplying laundry ... so it came that Luka's onesies are now being dried with one of my favorite views in the world.  Somehow I am sure his clothes will smell better for having dried there :) Fresh ocean breeze anyone?

Dad-dude type stuff

So while I have been updating the blog and perfecting our breast-feeding skills, what has Chris been up to lately...

Purveyor of homemade chicken stock for all the hearty
soups and stews we have been planning for months...*

Mighty hunter of pesky baboon-folk in the backyard...**

Cuddler extrodinaire for our little man while mommy makes
dinner...

* Yes homemade chicken stock makes all the difference in soups

** No baboons were hurt blogging this

Luka and the bear

As we adjust to being at home, Luka and his photo-obsessed mommy enjoyed not being creatively inhibited by monitors and other unattractive backgrounds like breastfeeding posters in the nursery.  Here Luka poses with his first ever teddy bear - notably bearing a name tag displaying the first of what is sure to be many name confusions - "This teddy belongs to Luka Marx" - sorry sweetie - at least we abandoned the thought of combining our last names into something silly like 'Marjack' or 'Serjax'

Here is Luka and his teddy...

That's right - work it, work it!

The camera loves you! (and so do we!)

Froglegs for dinner?

No reference to Luka - instead the froggy that made himself at home on the cap of our olive oil bottle last night... so many critters in Australia!

Frog legs anyone?

Luka Prospective Careers #1

As we continue to watch Luka grow, the world remains his oyster. Perhaps out of the countless hours spent at the hospital, or the lack of good coffee, we often find our minds wander as we ponder whether he will become a professional rugby player, musician, world traveler or one of a plethora of other career opportunities that await him.  One thing is for sure however, he is showing an early penchant for the Marx-family tradition of civil engineering - specifically taking after his Oupa Marx' specialty of waste management...

One of our new favorite tricks - we present to you,
the 'Poop Explosion' (careful: do not try this at home)

A Short(s) Story

"Mom....there is something I need to tell you..."

"Oops, hang on...something coming through now..."

"One second...."

"Well, I think it kind of speaks for itself now doesn't it..."

"Aaaaaah....so good...."

"Now where were we...ah right, I think I need a new diaper please"