My Funny Girl

 

Eleanor requested "big girl panties" today.

 

She was so happy about it-- this is her "cheese" face. :) She even ran up to Tucker and squealed "Tucker, look, I am wearing my big girl panties!"

 

A few minutes later, the conversation went something like this:

 

Me: Eleanor, let me know when you need to teetee in the potty.

E: Ok, mommy.

 

...

 

E: Mommy, I went teetee.

Me: What? You went teetee in your panties?

E: Yes! I want a piece of candy.

Me: No, you only get a piece of candy when you teetee in the potty.

E: Ohhh. [With a very very disappointed look on her face.]

 

We are not pushing potty training. Until we no longer spend an hour commuting each way to school/work, it won't be a good idea. And getting a new little brother and moving to Texas will probably be somewhat traumatic-- events of such caliber can cause regression. So when we get settled in Texas, we will more seriously revisit the idea. But Eleanor is always free to try out her big girl panties and potty when she wants to! :) 

 

And earlier, after we skyped with Adam for a few minutes from South Africa, I said "Daddy is in Africa," to which Eleanor replied, "No, mommy, daddy is in the iPad. And now he froze"-- referring to the still picture of Adam on the screen!

 

Eleanor has the cutest little personality. Her language development is so amazing to me, and I just wanted to blog about these little moments today so I could be sure to remember them.

 

In other news, Eleanor now peels her own oranges (clementines). And she holds each piece up to the light before she eats it-- which is just like Honey does-- to check for seeds.

 

 

After oranges, she says, "My hands are tape-y." She means sticky! My little girl loves school supplies just like her momma-- so scotch tape is a good reference for sticky.

I love it-- all of it.

More Eleanorisms....

She comes running in the room with a random collection of toys, hands them to me, says "Hold my stuff, momma," and then runs out. What?? How do I get left holding all the stuff??

Or, this one: "I want to hide you" as she covers my eyes with her hands, and then lifts them and says "HI!"

 

 



March in Michigan and South Africa

 

We are anxiously awaiting spring up here in Michigan. Apparently the first "official" day of spring was this week, but someone forgot to inform Old Man Weather. It was 18 degrees and snowing yesterday....C.O.L.D. to say the least! I think I am having a particularly rough week with the weather because I was in such beautiful weather last week in South Africa.

 

Adam has been working in South Africa for this entire month. Adam's residency director travels the world teaching and lecturing, and Adam capitalized on his director's contacts. I won't speak for him, but needless to say I think he has enjoyed learning from unique experiences, health care systems, and colleagues across the globe.

 

Adam planned his trip for March, the very same month of my mom's spring break, because she graciously agreed to come to Michigan and watch Eleanor so Adam and I could have a vacation together. Surely you know by now I take a lot of pictures...so here are some of my favorites from the 854 total photographs. :)

 

This is the waterfront of Cape Town, viewed from our hotel room balcony-- a beautiful area with amazing food, music, and scenery. We enjoyed a day strolling around, relaxing, and taking a sunset cruise along the shore line.

 

Penguins at Boulders Beach. This was my first trip to the Southern hemisphere, so seeing penguins in the wild was just amazing. These are African penguins, also called "jackass" penguins, because they bray like a donkey.

 

There are also 5 large troops of baboons in the Cape Town area. Closer to the city, large fences on residential properties keep out crime, but as you move further outside of the city proper, the large fences exist to keep out baboons. Our driver described them as exceedingly "naughty" and we had to keep our windows up and doors not just shut but also locked. There are big signs every where that say "BABOONS ARE WILD ANIMALS. DO NOT FEED THEM." Increasing contact with humans has caused them to break in to homes and cars. But they were so neat to watch along this cliff side!

 

Cape of Good Hope, viewed from the Cape Point lighthouse. WOW.

 

Wineries in Stellenbosch. Some of the wine estates we visited dated back to 1699. Adam tasted different wines and I enjoyed the beautiful mountain scenery.

 

 

Mountain views on the cross-country flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg.

On Safari in Madikwe. Six months pregnant, no less! :)

 



 

Beautiful giraffe-- and look at that big termite mound next to him!

 

A beautiful lion. This is one of my very favorite pictures. He looks so ferocious, but he was actually mid-yawn here. :)

 

Look at those amazing golden eyes. So majestic.

 

 

Elephants!

 

A water hole.

I loved seeing the rhinos. Unfortunately poaching has decimated this population, and our ranger predicted that the White Rhino will be completely extinct within the next 10 years. It is so sad. In Madikwe, a private reserve larger than the country of the Netherlands, game sitings are called in on the radio so that they can be shared by other visitors. But rhino sitings are kept quiet for their protection.

 

 

The zebra were SO beautiful. I was mesmorized by the unique patterns on their face. I don't think I have ever been close enough to appreciate this patterning before now.

 

Elephants swimming at the water hole by our Lodge. Did you know that their rumps float because their digestive system has so much gas in it? 

 

A beautiful lioness finishing her wildebeest supper. When watching a computer video, I have always rooted for the prey, not the predator. But in the wild....the circle of life is beautiful, and witnessing this was very special.

 

When she finished eating and started walking toward us....wow. This was probably the only time we felt a bit too close for comfort.

 

 

A spotted hyena at night. They are quite shy, so seeing them at night was fun.

 

There are hundreds (literally!) more that I could show you, but these were some of my favorites. I think I may be ruined for zoos for life. When you see an animal in the wild, living the way it was created to live, it is so amazing-- I feel so lucky to have witnessed it.

 

A huge thank you to Milt, who allowed me to borrow his 70-200mm lens and take it half way across the world. Most of the pictures above were taken with that lens.

And to my mom, who took wonderful care of Eleanor. I came home to a happy daughter, a clean house and car, and fresh flowers and a welcome home card. Mom, I wouldn't have been able to relax and enjoy myself on vacation without the peace of mind that came with knowing you were taking such good care of my girl. A million times, thank you.