One Daily Positive - Week 39 Babies and a wedding

There's a new addition to the family last week, so here's a brief guide to my numbering, lettering system I use.

Someone commented that they thought it was sad that I referred to my nieces children as the Things, so if you're not familiar, read on and find out why.

I used to work in Child Protection in the early days (2008-2010) of Social Media and one of my roles was to guide sports clubs on how to deal with using images and names online. Around 2011-12 our youngest said no more photos, followed by requests for 'if you blog about me, can I read it first?' Nowadays the kids aren't bothered and will often tag themselves in my photos. The eldest child is in care, but we still post photos of her, she is part of our family.

But I decided I should give them blog names and they became numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5. Their girlfriends/wives get a letter added to the number. We currently have 1, 2 and 2a, 3, 4 and 4a and 5. Last week 2 and 2a had a baby girl, she is now 2b or as I now refer to them now as the 2's.

My niece has 4 children, 3 boys and 1 girl. I ask permission every time before I post online and they are collectively known as the Things. Thing 1, 2, 3 and 4. I'm a big Dr Seuss fan, as is the eldest so with permission from my niece and her husband I gave them the names after the Thing 1 and 2 from Cat in the Hat. I address cards, presents to Thing (insert no) they love it, they knew straight away who their easter eggs and presents are from.

I have another niece who occasionally appears on my blog or social media who is 8 and more recently another Great Nephew on my ex husbands side, who is now 3 months old. I initially asked permission to post online, I now tell mum where I'm posting. These don't have nicknames, I must think of something, but with the number of additional family members I'm starting to confuse myself.

Child 4 and 4a got married on Saturday and keeping with the social media theme, we're waiting till they post the pictures online before we share.

265 Sunday Pottered around the flat, visited Thing 1, 2, 3 and 4, then up to mums to see sister, niece and nephew, then off for a visit to the 2's. I was early so stopped at a coffee shop to discover my friend stood in the middle of a field, fencing it out ready to move her horses into, so I helped out for a bit.

266 Monday Nail bar (wedding prep) a visit to the 2's and off to see the Things, finished packing, bath and bed. Cuddled 3 babies in one day.

267 Tuesday A visit to the 2's, packing, general flaffing around and cleaning, dinner, bath and an early night.

268 Wednesday Dropped car hire, collected by 4 and 4a. Stayed at their new house for the night. Went to collect the suit hire and some last minute shopping.

269 Thursday Peter arrived on my return from visiting the wedding venue to drop the additional table decorations. out for dinner with the in-laws.

270 Friday Collected Peter's mother and made our way over to to where the wedding is being held. We transported the wedding and bridesmaid dresses to the hotel and kept them in our room for the night. We had dinner and a few drinks.

271 Saturday A leisurely morning and out to meet my mum. sister and family who were staying nearby, from 1pm we started moving dresses, collecting suits and button holes before getting dressed and ready for a 3pm start. It was a beautiful wedding. I'll share photos next week.

On the blog this week:

My advice for the expectant grandparents and social media.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Help support babies in Mamelodi

After a dispute with management a women is alleged to have mixed poison into baby food at a facility in Pretoria. The babies were rushed to hospital with sickness, runny toilet and were crying. The facility has now closed down and the babies removed and taken to The SOS Children’s Villages Mamelodi which is one of the facilities that we support at Santa Shoebox.
 
They received 20 babies yesterday from the Department of Welfare. The SOS Children's Villages do not normally have babies and are therefore in desperate need of supplies.

PLEASE ASSIST THEM! They are in need of: • Bottles • Formula • Porridge • Toiletries (Baby soap, Baby oil; Vaseline, bum creams; bath soap; shampoo, lotions) • Wet wipes, Nappies • Medicines (Panado; Calpol; pediatric probiflora ) • Baby Clothes • Any other items that may be useful to care for babies.

Sadly events like this are becoming more common, or maybe they're just being reported more often.

For donations directly into the SOS Children’s Village Mamelodi Bank Account the account details are as follows:
Account Name: SOS Mamelodi Village
Bank Name:       Nedbank
Branch Name:   Randburg Branch          
Branch code:      198 405
Account No:       1984 323 555
Name of Donor:
Reference:         Baby

 

If you who have contact with potential corporate or retail supporters who would be able to assist us to provide products to care for these babies, please connect them.

Contact Leigh: +27 (0)11 234 8708 / Leigh.Swartz@sos.org.za or Lizo: +27 (0)12 801 1737 / Lizo.Tom@sos.org.za

The Baby House

I’ve got myself a voluntary job, 2 mornings a week with The Baby House, a new venture for children and babies under 4 who have been abandoned and/or abused.
My work in the UK was in child protection and teaching and although this is going to be very different from anything I’ve done before, I know I have a lot of knowledge and experience to give and it is going to be hard, emotional and challenging.
The statistics of abandoned and abused children in South Africa is unbelievable. I was informed that every child that is placed in interim care is more than likely to have HIV/AIDS and these children will probably be disfigured from the abuse and trauma they have suffered.
The Baby House’s aim is to provide a safe environment for the child to live where they are loved, cared for and educated. My role will be to work alongside the care workers and to use my experience to nurture their relationships with the children through play and social activities, guiding with activities and support for discipline and managing behaviour.
The Baby House relies on full time funding which the partners are working on full time and any donations of equipment and money will always be greatly received.

www.thebabyhouse.org

Twitter @thebabyhouse

Face book http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Baby-house/145724245476524