A selection of messages in cards received on your safe arrival

Congratulations to you both
On your sweet 'someone new',
Who couldn't make a finer start
Than choosing folks like you.
Best wishes, Maggie
Berea Gardens Resident
P.S. (Maggie mole came from Maggie)

May she always be a bundle of joy (yes, you are)
and fill your life with sunshine (yes, you do)
Love George and Betsie
Berea Gardens couple

Congratulation on your miracle.
"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works"
Ten fingers, ten toes and a perfect little nose -
God has created a masterpiece for you to love and hold.
To Kelly and Claire on the birth of Madison, such a beautiful little treasure.
Molly
Berea Gardens resident

Most woman have the greatest hearts desire and wish to experience the joy of motherhood in life!! We wish you lots of happyness, good health and lots of love and joy.
Sincerely yours,
Joan and Peter
Berea Gardens couple

I have heard Madison is beautiful! God bless you all.
Love Nora
Berea Gardens resident

This is for Madison!
I pray this for you.
That God will bless you in the years to come -
That Our Lord will watch over you,
keep you healthy - happy.
And may your life be filled "with the joy of the Lord".
And may you grow up to serve Him.
The peace of God be upon you and all your family.
I pray this prayer in Jesus Name.
With much love,
Daphne Dreyer
Berea Gardens resident
(She is in one of the pictures and she annointed your head with water that day and prayed for God's protection over your life - was beautiful)

Dear Kelly and Claire
What a wonderful event,
you've given birth to a CUTE and LOVELY baby girl;
So here's WARM congratulations and best wishes for your
baby girl's HAPPY future.
CONGRATULATIONS
and lifes best to your baby girl.
Enjoy your little girl.
Love and God bless,
Aunty Inez (Papa's sister in Zambia)

Dear Claire and Kelly,
when Lisa gives you this parcel (gift) you will have given birth to a child! Strange to know when it will happen, but also reassuring! Good luck with everything that is yet to come.
Veel lief van ons allemaal met een dikke kus van my!
Rieke en de rest!
(This is your Aunty Lisa's neighbour in Holland. She gave you the cutest outfit. See the picture, it says 'little colic tummy')

Dear Kelly and Claire
Congratulations mom and dad. Welcome little Madison.
Lots of love,
Judy and Wyn (Dad's Aunt)

Dearest Clairy-belle and Kel,
CONGRATS
My gosh but we are so very thrilled for you both on the arrival of darling, beautiful little Madison! Little angel baby from heaven.
Madison, we love you lots little one, you are a true blessing to our world.
Love, Robin, Nix and Sam XXX
P.S So proud of you mama!

Welcome Madison
May you always have laughter to kiss your lips
Friendship to brighten your being and
beauty for your eyes to see.
God bless,
Wendy
Berea Gardens resident

Leaderpackaging staff:
Hope your little bundle brings you lots of joy - Liz
May she indeed bring you endless joy - Nettie
Congratulations, truly blessed - Wessel
Congrats, here is the start to your little family - Michelle
You are going to love it! All the best! - Sheldon
I'm sure little Madison is going to bring you much happiness - Love Claire
Enjoy the time you have with your child to the fullest, because they grow up so fast - Jeremy

Aren't little girls wonderful?
To Kelly and Claire,
So happy to be hearing a girl has come your way!
Sincere congratulations - You're "In The Pink" to stay.
Well done! Best wishes to you both and of course Madison - welcome.
Sue Properjohn
Berea Gardens resident

Wishing you every happiness as you share in the delight of your beautiful new daughter. Congratulations. Love Derek (Grandpa) and Lorraine.

Congratulations on the birth of your new baby girl. Enjoy your bundle of joy.
Love Lou and Marie Visagie
Berea Gardens couple
(gave you the cutest bubble dress and leggings outfit)

May your baby be as beautiful, gentle and loving as you!
Love Elsabe (Nana's very good friend, they ran the London marathan together!)

Dear Claire,
Congratulations to you and Kelly!
One thing I know for sure, is that this little bundle of joy is going to have a 'wonderful' mommy. We can't wait to meet your babe.
All my love,
Nix
(Your Godmother)

Stimulate the senses

A fun thing to do for your baby is to stick different pictures up at her changing mat.  Madi loves it.  I stick up pictures of her Grand parents, Aunty, cousins and some pictures just for fun, cut out of magazines.  It distracts her while I change her and the look of contemplation when she sees a new 'batch', is too cute.

Try it, it is so easy and rewarding to see her growing brain ticking over.

Yours in mothers trying their best

Teething

Second tooth appeared today after a night from hell!  When ever you feel your baby is just misbehaving, remind yourself...  at this age they always cry for a reason!  Poor wee soul. 
Mothers in trying their best

Constipation and teething

I started solids and be warned!  Constipation follows something terrible.  I followed the recommended rice cereal advice as a brilliant first food, but it has its draw backs.  Don't hesitate to introduce purity prunes.  I learnt to late!  After many glycerine suppositories and the prune pulp we have a happy baby again.  Mix the prune pulp in the porridge, I am going to do it every second day and see how it goes.  So distressing to see her cry with pain trying to pass a stool.  If I had only known.....

P.S  She cut her first tooth today!

Yours in mothers trying their best

Introducing solids

After much research and a terrifying allergic reaction to Nan milk formula, I started my Madi on puried pear.  According to my naturapathic friend, contrary to what most people believe, fruit is a great food choice to start as a solid.  I know there will be raised eye brows followed by, 'be warned they will develop a sweet tooth' - well rubbish, they wont.  Fruit is one of the puriest forms of food you could offer and they will still enjoy vegetables.  Carrot being the first.  Well cooked.

I was surprised to learn that in Holland fruit is also the 'norm' first food.  She is 5 months and 3 weeks old and I think it is going well.  It didn't go quite as I expected (and her Dad who couldn't wait to feed her), gulping down one delicious mouth full after another, but rather like a slow exploration of tongue and flavour.  2 spoons being an awesome achievement, just once a day.

Tomorrow, Paw Paw. 

If you have decided to do the 'jar' root - Olli is recommended as the puriest.  Keep some in your cupboard as back up.  Available at Pick & Pay and Woolies.

But most of all have fun!

Baby products

There is an amazing range of pure products lovingly made by a local couple living on a farm just outside East London and they call themselves 'Casa Castile'.  The 'healing balm body mouse' is too wonderful.  Made only from Olive oil and shea butter it is excellent for all skin types but especially for the sensitive skin of little ones.  I have used it to massage her from top to tail and as a bum balm and it is wonderful. 

They also have a lovely lavender body/hair wash.

They are at the Lavender Blue market every Saturday or you can contact them on 043 7343269.  Do yourself and your baby a favour and buy some!

Yours in mothers trying their best

Recommended read: Conventional and alternative view

My good friend and a complementary/alternative expert, just gave me a lead on a really good book.  I thought I would share her recommendation with you.

Been meaning to tell you about the best birth and pregnancy book ever called:'Birth and Beyond; The first 9 months' by Yehudi Gordon. Every subject has a conventional and an alternative view which I just loved. Also deals with such a variety of subjects and problems that no other book covered. Wish I could lend it to you but I borrowed it myself and had to give it back. Expensive, but worth every cent!


Saturday at 1:22pm.  Just ordered 'Mother and baby health: A - Z of pregnancy, birth and beyond' by the recommended author from Amazon.com for R138.00. They have a great option to buy second hand, so if you are willing to wait a few weeks for shipping, it can work out really inexpensive! Thanks for the tip...  can't wait to read it.

Yours in mothers trying their best