Jozi-wired @ 3 & 18 months

Son was wired. Could not fall asleep last night however hard he tried. Usual Tellytubbies, bath, books and bottle didn't usher in usual next step- sleep. It just wouldn’t come. It wasn't that he was thirsty, or his eyes had forgotten how to close or that he needed his gown over him, as he would have us believe. It was really just that he had napped in the day and his mind was racing through the brilliant and busy weekend we had just enjoyed in Johannesburg.

Robbie and I mentally revisited the family holiday too, in-between visits to Son’s room. We referred back to some of our most memorable moments and time spent with family and friends. We spoke about Sunday; a braai at my folks house for Brent’s 24^th birthday, a visit to Rio and her new baby brother Hugo where puzzles, Lego and cooking turned into dinner for the children and a late drive back. We admired Son’s current love of sharing his thoughts and how, whilst Baby M was out for the count on out drive home on Sunday evening, he offered some pearls of toddler wisdom between silences:

"Cape Town is even colder than Jo’burg"

"Cape Town is further than Jo’burg"

"Space is further than Cape Town"

We arrived back at Granny V’s, all tired and ready for bed, and I explained to Son that we would go inside for a quick bath, some bed time milk, a few stories and then sleep.

He replied "is it night?"

"Yes, it is night and it’s already very late. You had a fun long day but now it's time to sleep. It's already past bedtime"

A pregnant pause.

"But I am nocturnal!"

Robbie is in awe that his 3 year old is rebutting bedtime with such an applied understanding of the world. It really is great example of his ability to put in beautiful context the things we speak to him about. 

He has a sense of humour too; when Robbie accused Son of being an Owl whilst carrying him inside, he thought it was completely hilarious!

Baby M, not to be outdone, also constantly surprises us with her level of understanding. She actually understands everything. Most people don't realize this as she is just 1 and a half. This understanding, which was a slowly developing attribute, has suddenly has expanded at an exponential rate. She will overhear a conversation between her Dad and Coby about a piece of a toy and its purpose such as "I think a helicopter fits on top of this and when you pull the string it flies up."

Miks heads off and returns a few moments later with the missing helicopter.

She is very busy and knows what is going on around the house. Fiercely independent, she communicates through head shakes, finger pointing, shouts of fury and shouts of joy. She is up for adventure and enjoys healthy food. In fact this morning, before her 11 to 2 shloff, I took her out for a beetroot, carrot, spinach, celery and apple juice which she thoroughly enjoyed! Happy mommy!