Each day is becoming a blur. We are ready to come home. Kai needs a normal schedule. Louisa needs a normal schedule.
We went on a township tour.
Starting in the early 1940's the SF govt made black Africans leave their homes and move to the Cape Flats. We went to visit three. The smallest has 30000 people living there, the largest has a million. The homes fluctuate between being brick houses to shacks. People live in half built homes and homes made from junk they find. There were alot of small businesses selling food, hairdressing services etc. It is hard to describe. Pictures speak but I hardly took any and I can't upload/download any pictures in my present location. We went to a preschool where 3 ladies were looking after at least 60 children. It wouldn't pass any regulations in Canada.
Was it a good tour? It was okay but I wish we had the opportunity to talk to more of the people that live there. However, I realize that I talk to them everyday. The majority of the people working in the hotel, restaurants live in the Cape Flats.
Thursday was a lets find a store that sells the right formula, diapers and breakfast cereal. We tried going to the planetarium however after five minutes Kai LOUDLY and clearly expressed that he wasn't watching the stars. Kai was mesmerized by the pigeons at the park. He actually fell asleep and I got to enjoy a salad. SERIOUSLY this is a big deal.
Kai wore three different outfits.
Today, we went to the botanical gardens. We drove around on the tourist bus, Kai loves looking around and hates when I try to make him have his afternoon nap. We stick around the hotel in a.m. so I know he gets a good nap then. He usually falls asleep in the afternoon after his bottle.
Our last full day is tomorrow so I plan on shopping. I have bought a t-shirt and CD of African lullabies. Shopping is on the agenda tomorrow little man, so get ready! (he is sleeping peacefully now)
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
PASSPORT ARRIVES
I just received Kai's passport this morning, we are coming home. (not until Sunday though as that was the earliest we could get a flight)
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Day 2 FREEDOM DAY
Visited Robben Island
At night when we give Kai a bath, we sing the song, Splish Splash we're taking a bath and Kai gets into the action by kicking his arms and lets to the music.
Day 2 was a success!
Cross your fingers passport arrives tomorrow.
Freedom Day celebrates the first free election in South Africa in 1994.
- Kai peed on me twice
- Kai didn't want his afternoon nap.
- Kai cried when the tour guide was talking and when he finally fell asleep, the tour guiide actually made a crack about not liking his crying.
- We watched these funny performers and Kai enjoyed the performance by jumping around (very cute)
- I took a total of three pictures all day. Baby + pictures = hard
At night when we give Kai a bath, we sing the song, Splish Splash we're taking a bath and Kai gets into the action by kicking his arms and lets to the music.
Day 2 was a success!
Cross your fingers passport arrives tomorrow.
Freedom Day celebrates the first free election in South Africa in 1994.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Day 1 of SMITC
Can Kai and Louisa make it without Bob?
I’m going all Carrie Bradshaw on you (title character in sex in the City). Obviously this is “Single Mama in the City”.
Day 1 is almost done! Five more to go!
The family had a great weekend after the initial shock that we weren’t going home together. We enjoyed a winery and agreed we would return one day to sample more of South Africa’s wine. We drove back to Cape Town and visited World Cup Stadium (it looks like a pringle chip), we all agreed (yes even Kai) that Durban’s was definitely prettier. We then returned to Table Mountain. It was a clear day without a cloud. What a view!
We drove to Fish Hoek and got lost trying to find our B&B. There are four different Mountain roads. We finally got the right one, it was a relief. Kai took an instant dislike and woke up at 3:30 am and REFUSED to go back to sleep. We brought him to bed, we sang, we changed him, we let him “cry it out”. At 5:30 we gave up and just pretended it was morning.
Sunday was another beautiful day in Africa. We drove down the coast to Boulder Beach where African Penguins live. Very cool. We then drove to Cape point (it’s the small point near Cape Town). Considering my son had no sleep he was in a FANTASTIC mood, chatting up a storm. We took a hike up to the lighthouse (I mean UP). Bob carried Kai in the ergo, a lady said now he knew what it was like to be pregnant. It is a beautiful area and we had a great day. A perfect last day in Africa. FOR BOB!
Not us though! Bob dropped us at our hotel this morning. Yes I was a crying mess. It was hard for him to leave. I can’t explain how much our son already adores Bob. I could watch them for hours together.
Today, Kai and I went for a walk around our hotel area (it’s in the heart of the city), we looked in stores and had lunch at a cafe. We went to the bathroom, that was a chore. We booked our ticket to Robben island and a township tour. We went to the park and Kai tried to eat sticks and leaves. We walked some more and Kai fell asleep in the ergo. (Bob, after 5 hours of walking my back hurts) When we got back we played, had dinner and then it was bathtime and bedtime. Whew! EXCITING!
I have one wish.
1 ~ please let Kai sleep
Can Kai and Louisa survive without Bob? Yes, but it isn’t as easy or as much fun! (well I can look at any stores I want)
I’m going all Carrie Bradshaw on you (title character in sex in the City). Obviously this is “Single Mama in the City”.
Day 1 is almost done! Five more to go!
The family had a great weekend after the initial shock that we weren’t going home together. We enjoyed a winery and agreed we would return one day to sample more of South Africa’s wine. We drove back to Cape Town and visited World Cup Stadium (it looks like a pringle chip), we all agreed (yes even Kai) that Durban’s was definitely prettier. We then returned to Table Mountain. It was a clear day without a cloud. What a view!
We drove to Fish Hoek and got lost trying to find our B&B. There are four different Mountain roads. We finally got the right one, it was a relief. Kai took an instant dislike and woke up at 3:30 am and REFUSED to go back to sleep. We brought him to bed, we sang, we changed him, we let him “cry it out”. At 5:30 we gave up and just pretended it was morning.
Sunday was another beautiful day in Africa. We drove down the coast to Boulder Beach where African Penguins live. Very cool. We then drove to Cape point (it’s the small point near Cape Town). Considering my son had no sleep he was in a FANTASTIC mood, chatting up a storm. We took a hike up to the lighthouse (I mean UP). Bob carried Kai in the ergo, a lady said now he knew what it was like to be pregnant. It is a beautiful area and we had a great day. A perfect last day in Africa. FOR BOB!
Not us though! Bob dropped us at our hotel this morning. Yes I was a crying mess. It was hard for him to leave. I can’t explain how much our son already adores Bob. I could watch them for hours together.
Today, Kai and I went for a walk around our hotel area (it’s in the heart of the city), we looked in stores and had lunch at a cafe. We went to the bathroom, that was a chore. We booked our ticket to Robben island and a township tour. We went to the park and Kai tried to eat sticks and leaves. We walked some more and Kai fell asleep in the ergo. (Bob, after 5 hours of walking my back hurts) When we got back we played, had dinner and then it was bathtime and bedtime. Whew! EXCITING!
I have one wish.
1 ~ please let Kai sleep
Can Kai and Louisa survive without Bob? Yes, but it isn’t as easy or as much fun! (well I can look at any stores I want)
Friday, April 23, 2010
Say it ain't so JOE!!!!!!
Bad News. Just found out Kai passport wasn't delivered today and won't be couriered out until Monday. Tuesday is a holiday here so won't get it until Wed, but factor in Africa scheduling we are changing are flight plans to Friday. Our new flight path now takes us through Frankfurt to Toronto as we should arrive next Saturday afternoon. It's been a very stressful day making changes and phoning everyone to double check details before we rebook. We had talked about me flying home alone but decided it was only a few days and it would be easier on Mom & Kai. (really mom)
We plan on staying in the city center and walk everwhere we want to go so hopefully everything works out in that perspective.
That was so five minutes ago...
How quick life changes. Well the fee to change fights isn't $80 dollars it is 380 per person to change airlines. So for all the changes it would be around 1600. YIKES! Where is my fairy godperson? Now Bob will go home Monday and yes it will be hard on mom and Kai (who adores him) and we will come back a week later on the 3rd!
The week in Cape Town won't be bad but OMG the FLIGHT!!!!! Please let there be an empty chair beside me! I doubt it with the volcano eruption/cloud. Pity the poor person cause my son has a voice like his mama! Next week you'll be reading the "Single mama in the City" blog.
We plan on staying in the city center and walk everwhere we want to go so hopefully everything works out in that perspective.
That was so five minutes ago...
How quick life changes. Well the fee to change fights isn't $80 dollars it is 380 per person to change airlines. So for all the changes it would be around 1600. YIKES! Where is my fairy godperson? Now Bob will go home Monday and yes it will be hard on mom and Kai (who adores him) and we will come back a week later on the 3rd!
The week in Cape Town won't be bad but OMG the FLIGHT!!!!! Please let there be an empty chair beside me! I doubt it with the volcano eruption/cloud. Pity the poor person cause my son has a voice like his mama! Next week you'll be reading the "Single mama in the City" blog.
What do Osteriches really like to eat??
What an exciting day!
We finished up driving the Garden Route along the coastline through George & Mossel Bay.
We visited an Ostrich Farm (Kai sat on an ostrich). We were given packets of corn for the ostrich to eat it from the palm of our hands. The secret though, is to put it on your palm, not the fleshy part where your fingers are joined to your hand. Anyway, after everyone in our group had no problems feeding the ostriches, Louisa was coaxed into feeding but she forgot the proper placement of the corn and the ostrich grabbed her skin along with the corn. (THIS IS NOT TRUE I PUT THE CORN IN THE RIGHT SPOT) I have a series of pictures of her reaction so be sure to ask to see them when she returns. As we were leaving the farm, our GPS decided to stop working I had to rely on the old fashion way of blaming your wife when getting lost.
As we were going down a county road, we noticed a few vehicles pulled over ahead and they seemed to be watching a herd of maybe 140 osteriches that we being moving to another farm. Louisa jumps out of the car camera in hand and starts shooting these osteriches. I stayed in the car with Kai and noticed Louisa 70 yards up shooting the herd. Then after probably getting tired of these tourists slowing them down, the herdsman snapped their stick and picture this, Louisa running towards me with 140 osteriches running towards her. The image of this would've have surely have won me money in America's funniest home video. Louisa opened the door of the car ahead of us and sat inside as the herd came running by.
The scenery around our location was gorgeous and every five minutes I was getting comments to pull the car over so Louisa could take another picture. I always pretended never to notice the scenic pit stops and zoomed past them hoping Louisa never noticed them.
Our supposedly planned route was to take this highway to Ladismith but after travelling twenty minutes, the highway changed to gravel and continued for atleast two hours (the scenery was BREATHTAKING). We arrived in Ladismith and booked the first b&b we found.
We finished up driving the Garden Route along the coastline through George & Mossel Bay.
We visited an Ostrich Farm (Kai sat on an ostrich). We were given packets of corn for the ostrich to eat it from the palm of our hands. The secret though, is to put it on your palm, not the fleshy part where your fingers are joined to your hand. Anyway, after everyone in our group had no problems feeding the ostriches, Louisa was coaxed into feeding but she forgot the proper placement of the corn and the ostrich grabbed her skin along with the corn. (THIS IS NOT TRUE I PUT THE CORN IN THE RIGHT SPOT) I have a series of pictures of her reaction so be sure to ask to see them when she returns. As we were leaving the farm, our GPS decided to stop working I had to rely on the old fashion way of blaming your wife when getting lost.
As we were going down a county road, we noticed a few vehicles pulled over ahead and they seemed to be watching a herd of maybe 140 osteriches that we being moving to another farm. Louisa jumps out of the car camera in hand and starts shooting these osteriches. I stayed in the car with Kai and noticed Louisa 70 yards up shooting the herd. Then after probably getting tired of these tourists slowing them down, the herdsman snapped their stick and picture this, Louisa running towards me with 140 osteriches running towards her. The image of this would've have surely have won me money in America's funniest home video. Louisa opened the door of the car ahead of us and sat inside as the herd came running by.
The scenery around our location was gorgeous and every five minutes I was getting comments to pull the car over so Louisa could take another picture. I always pretended never to notice the scenic pit stops and zoomed past them hoping Louisa never noticed them.
Our supposedly planned route was to take this highway to Ladismith but after travelling twenty minutes, the highway changed to gravel and continued for atleast two hours (the scenery was BREATHTAKING). We arrived in Ladismith and booked the first b&b we found.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Waiting at the Airport
It is 5 to 8 in the morning and we’ve been up since 5:45. Kai fast asleep. Yes, he slept thru the night. Mama did not. No mama could not sleep, it was either too hot or too cold. Sa la ve!
We said goodbye to Shayne (the owner of the 7 star Heaton Cottage) and we were off to the airport. Kai sat on my lap (no carseat) seriously this would not happen in North America. Even though we had to wake him (instead of the other way around) he was in a good mood until Daddy didn’t hide the bottle.
So now we are past security, bags are checked in and we are waiting for the plane. It feels very real that he is coming with us. Three weeks together and that surreal feeling hasn’t been lost. He is ours! We got all his official documents (minus the passport) and some more pictures of Kai (B.U. –before us). Kai is happily playing on daddy’s lap listening to daddy tell outlandish stories. Oh now he is singing (honestly if it makes Kai happy we will sing ANYWHERE).
Can’t wait to get to Cape Town and all the new adventures that await.
We said goodbye to Shayne (the owner of the 7 star Heaton Cottage) and we were off to the airport. Kai sat on my lap (no carseat) seriously this would not happen in North America. Even though we had to wake him (instead of the other way around) he was in a good mood until Daddy didn’t hide the bottle.
So now we are past security, bags are checked in and we are waiting for the plane. It feels very real that he is coming with us. Three weeks together and that surreal feeling hasn’t been lost. He is ours! We got all his official documents (minus the passport) and some more pictures of Kai (B.U. –before us). Kai is happily playing on daddy’s lap listening to daddy tell outlandish stories. Oh now he is singing (honestly if it makes Kai happy we will sing ANYWHERE).
Can’t wait to get to Cape Town and all the new adventures that await.
Boys are sleeping and I found the internet code
Where were we?
We've left the stunning Cape Town and are travelling up the Garden Route (think beaches and mountains). Today we drove up the coast and went to an almost deserted beach. Kai spent the time rolling around in the sand. So cute! The sand that stuck on him not so much! Our goal was to not drive so much because it really isn't fun for a 9 month old.
We are going thru the mountains tomorrow. We are going to visit an Ostrich Farm. They have tons of ostrich in this area, as well as sheep.
We forgot to tell everyone Kai said DADDA...lots! Now I refuse to believe he is actually saying this to Bob. He is also moving ALOT! Bob can't wait for him to walk. He rolls over, and crawls (almost). It means you can't leave him for a second. He grunts alot! You can tell immediately what he is doing. I'm trying to teaching him to say excuse me, when he is done. I'm just saying he STINKS!
A few more days. I wish we could stay a few more days there is so much to see. We might if the passport doesn't come!
We've left the stunning Cape Town and are travelling up the Garden Route (think beaches and mountains). Today we drove up the coast and went to an almost deserted beach. Kai spent the time rolling around in the sand. So cute! The sand that stuck on him not so much! Our goal was to not drive so much because it really isn't fun for a 9 month old.
We are going thru the mountains tomorrow. We are going to visit an Ostrich Farm. They have tons of ostrich in this area, as well as sheep.
We forgot to tell everyone Kai said DADDA...lots! Now I refuse to believe he is actually saying this to Bob. He is also moving ALOT! Bob can't wait for him to walk. He rolls over, and crawls (almost). It means you can't leave him for a second. He grunts alot! You can tell immediately what he is doing. I'm trying to teaching him to say excuse me, when he is done. I'm just saying he STINKS!
A few more days. I wish we could stay a few more days there is so much to see. We might if the passport doesn't come!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Setting the tablecloth on Table Mountain
Kai has been doing amazing! He loves the new hotel (well he is sleeping thru so that means he likes it). The only issue was the first night when after 3 calls they still hadn't delivered his bed and he was CRANKY!
When the cot was finally delivered, it was broken.
However, when we checked in at reception, they noticed we had a baby (they should've known) and upgraded our room away from the main hotel so our bedroom shared no walls with other rooms. delivered a cot. It was broken. The hotel is actually very nice and right by the beach. It has a fantastic breakfast. It is expensive, internet service for an hour was 60rand (that's nearly 10 dollars). We are at an internet cafe down the street (13 rand an hour).
When we first arrived we walked around our hotel and walked the boardwalk. It was lovely and it was nice that we could all walk together and we didn't have a car. Sunday we decided to go to Table Mountain. It was a clear morning, hardly no clouds. This is important because sometimes a cloud will cover Table Mountain and visibility is ZERO. So excited! We went on the stop and go bus (a tourist bus you go on and then get off at any stop you want). We bought our tickets, up the cable car we go (very cool ~ it turns as you go so you get a view of all sides). We at the top, one side is obstructured by a cloud but the other side is good. I start taking a few shots ~ beautiful blue sky and ZOOM! The TABLECLOTH comes down! Yes we are enveloped in a cloud a mere 5 minutes after we arrive.
Kai is upset so can't finish update. We are hopefully moving again to a B&B outside of Cape Town tomorrow as we have to book it tonight so again don't know about internet access. It was always alot easier to do it from our room as Kai slept so we'll see. We had started a update from a few days ago from our laptop but there no time to download it and update our blog.
Everything is going well. Louisa left and i'm not proof reading what we wrote so hopefully everything makes sence. Airlines cancellations have affected alot of Europeans here but don't anticipate a problem with our return next week.
When the cot was finally delivered, it was broken.
However, when we checked in at reception, they noticed we had a baby (they should've known) and upgraded our room away from the main hotel so our bedroom shared no walls with other rooms. delivered a cot. It was broken. The hotel is actually very nice and right by the beach. It has a fantastic breakfast. It is expensive, internet service for an hour was 60rand (that's nearly 10 dollars). We are at an internet cafe down the street (13 rand an hour).
When we first arrived we walked around our hotel and walked the boardwalk. It was lovely and it was nice that we could all walk together and we didn't have a car. Sunday we decided to go to Table Mountain. It was a clear morning, hardly no clouds. This is important because sometimes a cloud will cover Table Mountain and visibility is ZERO. So excited! We went on the stop and go bus (a tourist bus you go on and then get off at any stop you want). We bought our tickets, up the cable car we go (very cool ~ it turns as you go so you get a view of all sides). We at the top, one side is obstructured by a cloud but the other side is good. I start taking a few shots ~ beautiful blue sky and ZOOM! The TABLECLOTH comes down! Yes we are enveloped in a cloud a mere 5 minutes after we arrive.
Kai is upset so can't finish update. We are hopefully moving again to a B&B outside of Cape Town tomorrow as we have to book it tonight so again don't know about internet access. It was always alot easier to do it from our room as Kai slept so we'll see. We had started a update from a few days ago from our laptop but there no time to download it and update our blog.
Everything is going well. Louisa left and i'm not proof reading what we wrote so hopefully everything makes sence. Airlines cancellations have affected alot of Europeans here but don't anticipate a problem with our return next week.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Kai turns 9 months and we survive the Safari
It has been a crazy couple of days. Friday night and we leave in the moning for a week in Cape Town. Bob is searching for the budget car rental agreement. Kai is peacefully sleeping (for how long who knows) and I'm almost packed and ready for bed.
Tuesday
Kai becomes a CANADIAN! We have to get paperwork certified and apply for his temporary passport. More complicated than it should be. Oh did I mention we are homeless?? We expected to do this Monday and didn't book accomadation for Tuesday night. Normally we wouldn't be fazed, Bob and I can sleep anywhere (even an airport bench) HOWEVER Kai is still a little young to introduce to "lets sleep in the car". So we spent Tuesday afternoon with Sam (a wonderfully helpful travel consultant). Sam booked our flight to CT and helped find us a place that takes babies. It cost twice what we normally pay and was on the beach (GREAT VIEW).
We were all happy to have a place to sleep. We took a nice walk on the boardwalk and ate ice cream. (My version of heaven)
Wednesday
We drove to a little town called St. Lucia and stayed at a B&B without a television or internet. (Bob is typing now) When Kai went to sleep Bob went to sleep . When we arrived in town, we went to the local watering hole overlooking the river where we saw crocodiles and hippos. Later we took a walk along the boardwalk where Louisa got some picutres of some hippos. (Someone didn't like that I spent 30 min utes watching them)
Kai had a bad night as he kept on waking up every 10 minutes it seemed and it was probably our worst night yet. (Kai slept with us and he is a squirmer)
Thursday (HAPPY 9 Months Kai)
Woke up really tired but Kai seemed full of energy. Kai is nine months! We had breakfast and went to Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve. The park was good for Kai as we were given a map and could drive throught the reserve on our own. We saw giraffes, rhinos, wart hogs, hippos, impalas, wilderbeasts, zebras. We never saw any elephants or lions which the park had but we only drove through half the park and its alot of luck of what you see. We finished our game drive late and had to drive back home in the dark which wasn't fun asI had a splittin headache. We got back at 7 pm and had Kai to bed by 730 pm with mom and dad following shortly after. (Okay where are the !!! we saw ZEBRAS! Report writing next year! We drove into the park and I expected to see animals immediately but it isn't a zoo so you have to wait and search, and drive 20 km an hour ~ we compromised and drove 30km/h. The funniest moment is when Kai was peacefully sleeping and we saw giraffes ~ ON HIS SIDE! Sorry but I have to get a picture...I lean over Kai and start snapping OBVIOUSLY waking my child)
Friday (Day 2 of Kai not sleeping thru the night AT ALL!)
On our final day in st. Lucia, we took a leisurely boat trip to get a closer look at some crocs and hippos.
After the tour, We set off to our original home in Durban, heaton cottage. When we arrived the social worker was there with another Canadian couple and we received Kai's birthh certificate so us to fly to Cape Town tomorrow. Our flight leaves at 9 am so with have to wake up early to take the rental car back etc. After upacking, the owner of the B^B took us uptown to get a bunny chow for supper. A bunny chow is famous in Durban as its a loaf of bread with the insides removed and it's feeled with curry beef and or chicken. We were excited to try it but we disappointed as it was too spicy. I finshed 20 percent and Louisa finshed abit more.
The only thing we still need to bring Kai back into Canada is a passport which we've been told will be mailed/couriered to us in Cape Town on Wednesday/Thursday. We don't know if the hotel we are staying at in Cape town has internet so we might be a few days before we make another entry.
So much to say but really we need to go to bed! Excited for CT and Table Mountain. Blog later!
Tuesday
Kai becomes a CANADIAN! We have to get paperwork certified and apply for his temporary passport. More complicated than it should be. Oh did I mention we are homeless?? We expected to do this Monday and didn't book accomadation for Tuesday night. Normally we wouldn't be fazed, Bob and I can sleep anywhere (even an airport bench) HOWEVER Kai is still a little young to introduce to "lets sleep in the car". So we spent Tuesday afternoon with Sam (a wonderfully helpful travel consultant). Sam booked our flight to CT and helped find us a place that takes babies. It cost twice what we normally pay and was on the beach (GREAT VIEW).
We were all happy to have a place to sleep. We took a nice walk on the boardwalk and ate ice cream. (My version of heaven)
Wednesday
We drove to a little town called St. Lucia and stayed at a B&B without a television or internet. (Bob is typing now) When Kai went to sleep Bob went to sleep . When we arrived in town, we went to the local watering hole overlooking the river where we saw crocodiles and hippos. Later we took a walk along the boardwalk where Louisa got some picutres of some hippos. (Someone didn't like that I spent 30 min utes watching them)
Kai had a bad night as he kept on waking up every 10 minutes it seemed and it was probably our worst night yet. (Kai slept with us and he is a squirmer)
Thursday (HAPPY 9 Months Kai)
Woke up really tired but Kai seemed full of energy. Kai is nine months! We had breakfast and went to Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve. The park was good for Kai as we were given a map and could drive throught the reserve on our own. We saw giraffes, rhinos, wart hogs, hippos, impalas, wilderbeasts, zebras. We never saw any elephants or lions which the park had but we only drove through half the park and its alot of luck of what you see. We finished our game drive late and had to drive back home in the dark which wasn't fun asI had a splittin headache. We got back at 7 pm and had Kai to bed by 730 pm with mom and dad following shortly after. (Okay where are the !!! we saw ZEBRAS! Report writing next year! We drove into the park and I expected to see animals immediately but it isn't a zoo so you have to wait and search, and drive 20 km an hour ~ we compromised and drove 30km/h. The funniest moment is when Kai was peacefully sleeping and we saw giraffes ~ ON HIS SIDE! Sorry but I have to get a picture...I lean over Kai and start snapping OBVIOUSLY waking my child)
Friday (Day 2 of Kai not sleeping thru the night AT ALL!)
On our final day in st. Lucia, we took a leisurely boat trip to get a closer look at some crocs and hippos.
After the tour, We set off to our original home in Durban, heaton cottage. When we arrived the social worker was there with another Canadian couple and we received Kai's birthh certificate so us to fly to Cape Town tomorrow. Our flight leaves at 9 am so with have to wake up early to take the rental car back etc. After upacking, the owner of the B^B took us uptown to get a bunny chow for supper. A bunny chow is famous in Durban as its a loaf of bread with the insides removed and it's feeled with curry beef and or chicken. We were excited to try it but we disappointed as it was too spicy. I finshed 20 percent and Louisa finshed abit more.
The only thing we still need to bring Kai back into Canada is a passport which we've been told will be mailed/couriered to us in Cape Town on Wednesday/Thursday. We don't know if the hotel we are staying at in Cape town has internet so we might be a few days before we make another entry.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Playing the waiting game
We are waiting for the Canadian High Commissions to grant Kai citizenship. We need to do this before applying for his temporary passport. We are left in limbo because we can't do anything until this happens. Hoping for tomorrow! Cross your fingers and toes! We are hoping to get to a park later this week and then leave for Cape Town on Saturday.
Neither of us are trying to eat Kai :)
Yesterday we moved to a new B&B (very nice) The Westville and then took a drive down the Southern Coast and stopped at some beaches. Lovely but someone was cranky....I'm arfaid long drives are not his favourite thing! Here are a few pictures (the internet is free at this B&B).
Neither of us are trying to eat Kai :) 
Friday, April 9, 2010
Settling In
We haven't entered anything into our blog for awhile as life has become somewhat normalized as we are all spending our day together and just learning to be a family. We had hoped Kai would receive his Canadian Citizenship today but now we have to wait until at least Monday. As a result, we will have to extend our stay in Durban until next friday where we will be flying to Cape Town to finish our trip. With our schedule uncertain, we haven't booked anything after Sunday including airfare to Cape Town as we don't want to make reservations and have to cancel. Luckily South Africa high season has just ended so we shouldn't have a problem booking anything when we do make a decision on our plans.
Wednesday we visited the new soccer stadium they built in Durban for the world cup scheduled for June. We took a cable car to the top of the stadium and took pictures overlooking the city. Afterwards we went out for drinks at a local bar for the first time and closed the bar at 6pm. It gets dark here shortly before 6, so I'm just starting to feel comfortable driving at night. We were back in our room by 6:15 with 45 minutes to Bath, Feed and read the same story to Kai since we've been here. From 7pm to 7am is our time and our nights are usually spent watching tv, internet and relaxing with a glass of wine.
Thursday, we visited the B.A.T. Centre where local artistans sell there wares. We liked a few pictures but haven't decided if we'll purchase anything. We had a nice picnic at out B&B (we went back to the place we were before) with another family who adopted. It felt so normal.
Today, we visited Usharka in Durban which is like Marine Land but not as good. They have an aquarium there with plenty of native fish and mammal species. Thank goodness for the stroller we are using. Kai has gained weight!
Everyone is doing well and we appreciate everyone's email. Sorry we can't reply to everyone's email but we do read them!
p.s. Louisa's night also includes washing the bottles, packing the diaper bag, organizing clothes, cleaning up and then she gets to relax! Just saying!
Wednesday we visited the new soccer stadium they built in Durban for the world cup scheduled for June. We took a cable car to the top of the stadium and took pictures overlooking the city. Afterwards we went out for drinks at a local bar for the first time and closed the bar at 6pm. It gets dark here shortly before 6, so I'm just starting to feel comfortable driving at night. We were back in our room by 6:15 with 45 minutes to Bath, Feed and read the same story to Kai since we've been here. From 7pm to 7am is our time and our nights are usually spent watching tv, internet and relaxing with a glass of wine.
Thursday, we visited the B.A.T. Centre where local artistans sell there wares. We liked a few pictures but haven't decided if we'll purchase anything. We had a nice picnic at out B&B (we went back to the place we were before) with another family who adopted. It felt so normal.
Today, we visited Usharka in Durban which is like Marine Land but not as good. They have an aquarium there with plenty of native fish and mammal species. Thank goodness for the stroller we are using. Kai has gained weight!
Everyone is doing well and we appreciate everyone's email. Sorry we can't reply to everyone's email but we do read them!
p.s. Louisa's night also includes washing the bottles, packing the diaper bag, organizing clothes, cleaning up and then she gets to relax! Just saying!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
My name is Kai and I'm a cranky pants
This is the first line of a new song I have written.
Kai had a tough time sleeping last night and ended up between mama and daddy. Yes I know, BIG mistake but it is hard I say to hear him cry. Bob here, yes it is hard to hear him cry at 1am in the morning, but when other guests from the B&B are staying above and beside you along with the owners and everyone meets for breakfast in the morning, I find it hard to say "Good Morning" when i know our little Kai has probably kept them up, so that is why we decided to let him sleep with us.
Louisa continues, He is so little and I want him to feel loved and secure. I think it is going to take him a while to get into our schedule (the lack of schedule might be the issue).
Our day consisted of eating (Kai), changing diapers and a doctor check-up. The doctor just wanted to check his ears. All good. We got more cream for his excema. Spent about an hour in line at the pharmacy. Ran into Brendan and Mary and their kids (canadian couple whole also adopted). This was of course when it is Kai's afternoon nap.
So the song goes "my name is Kai and I'm a cranky pants", I sing it as a rap you repeat over and over and wave his arms in the air. He loves it!
His absolute favourite song is "Hands up baby hands up give me your love gimme gimme your love..." I will try to expand his musical tastes to some Wham! "Wake me up before you go..."
I did get the best present today....first Kai likes me more than daddy and I got Easter notes from my Blue team! Shout out to the BLUE team. I miss all my kids (blue and yellow). I hope they had a great Easter and not too much chocolate (a sometimes food). How was indoor nutrition break? Yes I know EVERYTHING so be good! Love you!
Kai had a tough time sleeping last night and ended up between mama and daddy. Yes I know, BIG mistake but it is hard I say to hear him cry. Bob here, yes it is hard to hear him cry at 1am in the morning, but when other guests from the B&B are staying above and beside you along with the owners and everyone meets for breakfast in the morning, I find it hard to say "Good Morning" when i know our little Kai has probably kept them up, so that is why we decided to let him sleep with us.
Louisa continues, He is so little and I want him to feel loved and secure. I think it is going to take him a while to get into our schedule (the lack of schedule might be the issue).
Our day consisted of eating (Kai), changing diapers and a doctor check-up. The doctor just wanted to check his ears. All good. We got more cream for his excema. Spent about an hour in line at the pharmacy. Ran into Brendan and Mary and their kids (canadian couple whole also adopted). This was of course when it is Kai's afternoon nap.
So the song goes "my name is Kai and I'm a cranky pants", I sing it as a rap you repeat over and over and wave his arms in the air. He loves it!
His absolute favourite song is "Hands up baby hands up give me your love gimme gimme your love..." I will try to expand his musical tastes to some Wham! "Wake me up before you go..."
I did get the best present today....first Kai likes me more than daddy and I got Easter notes from my Blue team! Shout out to the BLUE team. I miss all my kids (blue and yellow). I hope they had a great Easter and not too much chocolate (a sometimes food). How was indoor nutrition break? Yes I know EVERYTHING so be good! Love you!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Roundabouts and Shopping
You can’t seem to travel more than a couple kilometres anywhere without running into a roundabout. After driving probably five dozen of them over here, i find the size of the roundabout and the amount of traffic flows are similar as what we have in Waterloo Region; however, the lack of signage does pose a bit of a problem, even with a GPS. (okay Louisa here..I love my husband but it is his inability to listen to my directions from the backseat, the directions and illustrations from the gps and his lack of understanding about how a roundabout works is what has us going around in circles)
We decided to spend our day at the local mall which is billed to be the biggest in the area with over 50 restaurants, 18 movie theatres, largest indoor climbing wall in the world, skate park which was designed by Tony Hawk and a wave pool. We have found no real great deals here on clothing, souvenirs etc. here as I find most prices are competitive to Canadian prices. (That what I get telling Louisa anyway as she still had problem converting prices to our currency) (Louisa again, I thought the mall was good but would have preferred shopping with the girlz and Kai!)
We decided to spend our day at the local mall which is billed to be the biggest in the area with over 50 restaurants, 18 movie theatres, largest indoor climbing wall in the world, skate park which was designed by Tony Hawk and a wave pool. We have found no real great deals here on clothing, souvenirs etc. here as I find most prices are competitive to Canadian prices. (That what I get telling Louisa anyway as she still had problem converting prices to our currency) (Louisa again, I thought the mall was good but would have preferred shopping with the girlz and Kai!)
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Easter Sunday
This is our actual Sunday blog as the other two were done by louisa and myself over the last two days. I'm feeling great today and now Louisa is starting to get some of my symptoms so we've purchased a family pack of imodium.
Our day started with kai waking up at 2:30am in the morning with him falling in and out of sleep over the next 4.5 hours. At 7am, we fed Kai his bottle and by the time he was ready, we were ready for our breakfast by 8am. Today was the first time I’ve had a real breakfast probably in the last three or four days. After asking the owner of the B&B we decided to go on a tour of the coast up to a small town called Ballito. We walked the boardwalk and enjoyed a festival where they had go-kart racing and burger eating contests. After wanting to take a picture of Kai in the sand , beside the phrase “SOUTH AFRICA 2010”, that Louisa had wrote, I let go of Kai and he did a nose plant with sand managing to find itself in almost every crevice on his body. Sand we have learned, is not a parents friend. We continued our journey to the crocodile creek farm where we saw 5 species of crocodile, a black mamba snake, vipers and a python. We took a picture of Louisa holding a croc and Kai and me holding a python.
Back to the B&B by 4:30 and the nightly routine starts all over again. Hopefully Louisa starts feeling better tomorrow.
Our day started with kai waking up at 2:30am in the morning with him falling in and out of sleep over the next 4.5 hours. At 7am, we fed Kai his bottle and by the time he was ready, we were ready for our breakfast by 8am. Today was the first time I’ve had a real breakfast probably in the last three or four days. After asking the owner of the B&B we decided to go on a tour of the coast up to a small town called Ballito. We walked the boardwalk and enjoyed a festival where they had go-kart racing and burger eating contests. After wanting to take a picture of Kai in the sand , beside the phrase “SOUTH AFRICA 2010”, that Louisa had wrote, I let go of Kai and he did a nose plant with sand managing to find itself in almost every crevice on his body. Sand we have learned, is not a parents friend. We continued our journey to the crocodile creek farm where we saw 5 species of crocodile, a black mamba snake, vipers and a python. We took a picture of Louisa holding a croc and Kai and me holding a python.
Back to the B&B by 4:30 and the nightly routine starts all over again. Hopefully Louisa starts feeling better tomorrow.
Happy Easter
Friday night and the boys are in bed! Kai is sleeping like an angel and Bob is under the weather. It has been a stressful 2 days of what feels like single parenthood (with some brief visits from dad). Please let Bob feel better tomorrow!!!
We moved to a new b&b near the indian ocean!! It is just a suburb of Durban called Umhlanga. Lots of hotels and houses with gates. We went to the beach and I walked in the ocean. They have flags to indicate where you can swim. It wasn't a wide space. Lots of people! I'll just say I really appreciate North Carolina. It was hot and someone didn't sleep well last night. We've figured out that the first night in new places are upsetting. Which makes sense since we have only been a family for 11 days. The new b&b is nice but we miss Heaton Cottage, Shayne was a great hostess and she made it feel like home.
If you didn't have a car, Shayne would drive you, doctor appointment, car rental, Shayne was always available if asked.
We moved to a new b&b near the indian ocean!! It is just a suburb of Durban called Umhlanga. Lots of hotels and houses with gates. We went to the beach and I walked in the ocean. They have flags to indicate where you can swim. It wasn't a wide space. Lots of people! I'll just say I really appreciate North Carolina. It was hot and someone didn't sleep well last night. We've figured out that the first night in new places are upsetting. Which makes sense since we have only been a family for 11 days. The new b&b is nice but we miss Heaton Cottage, Shayne was a great hostess and she made it feel like home.
If you didn't have a car, Shayne would drive you, doctor appointment, car rental, Shayne was always available if asked.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Umhlanga - New Digs
We moved to a new B&B two days ago. Umhlanga is located around 30 minutes from Durban and is situated along the Indian Ocean.
I've been feeling abit under the weather the last two days as i think i've been sick with food poisoning as Louisa has had to handle motherhood all by herself. She found the last two days very hard with me being sick as she not only had to look after Kai by herself but her other big baby, me. I've started to feel better today and we actually swam in the ocean.
The pace of our lives has been very slow motion the last few days and nothing much to report. Louisa went to sleep at 8 pm as I'm fullly rested after spending the last couple days sleeping. Everyone is doing good and we thank everyone for there happy wishes.
Love Bob and Louisa.
I've been feeling abit under the weather the last two days as i think i've been sick with food poisoning as Louisa has had to handle motherhood all by herself. She found the last two days very hard with me being sick as she not only had to look after Kai by herself but her other big baby, me. I've started to feel better today and we actually swam in the ocean.
The pace of our lives has been very slow motion the last few days and nothing much to report. Louisa went to sleep at 8 pm as I'm fullly rested after spending the last couple days sleeping. Everyone is doing good and we thank everyone for there happy wishes.
Love Bob and Louisa.
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