The Verran Family Blog

Our little boy, day by day, is really showing his little personality to the world. He started walking about 3 to 4 weeks ago and now his steps are progressing from stomp-stomp-stomp to a brisk little pat-pat-pat – and all this with putting on the pace as well.

He loves being outside and if we’re not looking, you’ll find him climbing down the step from the sliding door to the paved patio and a clank-clank can be heard as he grabs the dog bowls and clangs them together. Oh, not to forget, it is better to be one step ahead since he loves plonking himself into the dogs water bowl.

Earlier in September, he was in hospital to have grommets inserted into his ears as well as his adenoids removed. The liquid build-up in his ears was becoming critical and his snoring was earth shattering. The operation went so well and he was such a good boy throughout the process. He is now breathing much better through his nose and his ears are liquid free.

Is he starting to say a few words I hear you ask? Well, besides mama, dada and baba, he is starting to say bye-bye and tata as he waves goodbye. Of course his famous “ta” when he wants something is loud and clear. It was one night when I showed him photos of the dogs that I am sure he said Candy, but it could of been a mixup of sounds instead. He hasn’t said it since.

But he really loves animals and points to birds that I can’t even see. So it is rather fitting that all his books feature farm and wild animals and you’ll find him sitting in his room paging through them over and over again. He had stacks of fun at the nursery running after the chickens and putting his hand into the koi pond.

On the Verran household front, we had the house painted and it looks SO smart now. Now we don’t need to be ashamed when inviting people to the house and worrying about shabby outlook anymore.

As always, below are some pictures and videos for you to enjoy.

We could not believe that the 6th of August had arrived. It felt like yesterday that we both found ourselves in the delivery room at Milnerton Medi-clinic welcoming our little boy Josh to the world.

The day started at 5am when we all woke up and Josh got to open his pressies. Although oblivious to the fact that it was his birthday, he tugged at the wrapping paper, with our help, to reveal his new toys and clothes. Although Thursday went by as a normal day in the life of Josh, he dd enjoy cupcakes that Bridgitte made for his classmates and teachers at his daycare, but little did he know, that we had planned a bash on Saturday.

Slaving away on Friday evening, Bridgitte and myself got stuck in and got his cake baked and got other odds and ends done for the party on Saturday. It was an awesome train cake and Bridgitte did a great job at the baking side. She really can be very proud of herself there.

We invited about 20 people to the house which not only culminated in Josh’s birthday party, but also a braai and the watching of the SA vs Aus tri-nations rugby match too. With me being the geek/tech head that I am, I streamed the festivities live on ustream from 14:00 to 15:30. Within that time, everybody had arrived and we did the speech and played out the first year montage video as well as sing happy birthday to Josh. He really enjoyed his cake and got stuck into one of the Chomps.

It was such a pity that I was not able to record the speech and festivities on the camera itself since the camera was already busy with the stream, but thank goodness I was able to record the stream using ustream’s interface. These guys are brilliant indeed. See how it all went down below.

But with SA beating Aus in the rugby, the braai that was so lekker and everybody having a good time, it was an event to remember. Josh was just in such a festive mood, you can see that he enjoyed the day too.

But I’ve also got to add that Josh took his first 2-4 steps today. It was groundbreaking! It isn’t too long now until he can walk and put us into the new mode of having to run after him as he ravanges through everything.

But without any further a-do, here are the pictures and videos below.

As I am typing this, Josh and Bridgitte are having a wild time playing on the bed behind me while the dogs attempt to play up against each other for a chase down the passage in the house. It is pouring with rain in Cape Town, so cold and to have to tell the dogs this afternoon that I cannot take them for a walk after seeing their begging panter and eyes looking at me. I guess they don’t really get the whole, it is raining and cold outside type of things.

In a month’s time, Josh is going to be 1 and tomorrow, Caden, his cousin in the UK, is going to be 2 years old. It is actually quite scary that this time last year, Caden was the age Josh is around now. How time has gone by.

Over the past few months, say 2 or so, we have seen Josh grow into this little boy with a wide smile, a heart of gold and a total love for us and the dogs. Although his little legs have grown a lot, walking is still about 2 months away, but is more than happy to run around using his walker or getting onto his feet to open and close the drawers in the kitchen, bang on the toilet, flush the toilet, stand up against the nightstands and pull off various objects that are in reach. Oh, and that does not exclude the toilet paper when we’re not looking.

We so enjoy hearing his little giggle around the house, which will soon turn to little words, more laughts and happy times indeed. So, as we head towards his first year, here are some pictures and videos that will put a smile on your face.

We’re back! And with more photos. Josh is 9 months now and he has grown such a lot. He is able to pull himself up against furniture, tables, etc and stands so nicely. Now of course the first thing he does is bang, bang, bang on the table. He crawls all around the house now and the dogs still have no rest, but we are very glad that the relationship between him and the dogs has improved a lot. Champers is starting to not mind being banged on, but please don’t pull her ear or touch her mouth – those are no-go areas.

He is an outgoing and lively little boy and enjoys life a lot. He has his first 2 bottom teeth and it looks like the top 2 should be out very soon.

Josh loves his food and gets so excited when breakfast, lunch or supper is upon him. Not to mention the snack as well. Finger biscuits, dried mango, toast and Flings are his favourite. At daycare, he is also eating all sorts of food like chicken nuggets, fish fingers and other yummy foods too. Josh is a bit of a piggy at times. Our daycare can tell you many stories.

Although he is still eating soft foods, I somehow don’t think a big piece of steak is not too far away from now. I cannot wait to teach him how to braai. Oh wait, that is still many years away.

I’ve also included a video of the fun with his grandparents, my folks for that matter. Yep, fun with Oumie and Oupie.

And here are the pics.

Yesterday, Saturday the 21st of March, myself, and many others awaited with baited breath the announcement of the 2009 SA Blog Awards finalises! And finally, after we got back from

Mass last night, I hit the SA Blog Awards site to see that they were announced and by surprise, The Verran Family Blog was short listed as a finalist under the SA Parenting Blog as well. We are super stoked, Josh has been gleaming with excitement – well, we like to think so.Not only did the Verran Blog make it, but our podcast The ZA Show made it too.

So this is how you can make a difference in the life of a cute little boy named Josh. He’ll be super happy if you can please take some time of your day and vote! Click on the dog tag on the right which will take you straight to the website as well as check verran.za.net under Parenting blog as well.

So, we ask you, beg you, to please vote for our little blog on the net. We’ll be so ever greatful and Champers will give you a huge lick for your troubles.

So, back to the family. Josh’s crawling escapades are surely keeping us on our toes. A short vid that proves that big things amuse small minds.