Seeing double

There are some things in life you never imagined yourself doing. Preparing for our twinkies to arrive has brought upon quite a few of those:

1. Installing two car seats in the back of the car and crying about it. Fear not, they were not tears of sadness, perhaps a few of overwhelmed-ness but mostly because the sight of these two seats literally tugs at my heart.

2. Watching the husband build two cots on a Friday night. Now although the husband lived in London for a good while, he somehow never built IKEA furniture (!?). Watching him build our two IKEA cots made me look at him differently, perhaps it was the first glance of his impending role as a dad? Whatever it was I think it made me love him even a bit more than I already did. Seeing two cots set up in our nursery was also a very real indicator that there would be two real babes in those two cots.

3. Snuggling up with two soft bunnies at the age of thirty. No, this is not for my own comfort (although it is undoubtedly comforting I will admit). The idea behind sleeping with these bunnies is so they can smell like me in the instance that one or both of our babes has to go to ICU. Smell is a baby's strongest sent and since they already know my smell, the bunnies will feel somewhat familiar to them if we have to be separated.

4. Receiving two big, beautiful bunches of flowers. One the day we found out we I was pregnant with twins, my mom sent these two bouquets to our apartment. I was feeling on top of the world and it was such a lovely thing to come home to.

5. Being doubly spoilt by my wonderful family and friends. I am really touched as how generous people have been to us - giving us not only one of a gift but two! Not to mention all the kind words of support and thoughts from my lovely readers :)

Weekend time

Wishing all my lovely readers a happy weekend. My giant dome is preventing me from being that social so I am going to be chilling out this weekend. The nursery also needs to be finished! I had some practice contractions last night (EEEK!) so packed my bag today - at least that is ready.

I am sure you will be getting up to more exciting antics than resting weary feet and folding baby swaddles. So whatever it is - have fun. Be good. And have a glass of champagne for me.

{Photo by Pia Ulin via here}

Weekly round up of 10 links:

Some more amazing Lego designs (birds! iPhones! wedding dresses!)

If winter is getting you down, take a look at this sunshine map of Europe

A beautiful vertical garden

When typography and food come together

Work spaces of the famous creative set

Intricate design of a Persian rug on a whiteboard

Are you watching the Tour De France? I love these posters for the race

A Coke vending machine brings India and Pakistan together

Good advice for a happy marriage

What a fun idea to add a little sparkle to your cupcakes

xoxo

35 weeks

I am 35 weeks pregnant this week. Which means the babes will be arriving so soon. It is quite a thing walking around in public with my giant twin dome. Many stare and often comment - I don't mind but feel I should have at T shirt that says "It's twins people."

I can't imagine that my bump can get even bigger but I am hoping to keep the twinlets in for at least another 2 or 3 weeks to make sure they are as healthy and strong as possible. How do I plan on doing this?

1. Talk to the babies (it is much warmeer and calmer in there that out here in this crazy world)
2. Walk very slowly. I am like a giant ship in the night.
3. Keep driving and outings to a minimum - then feet up and rest
4. Stay calm. And breathe.
5. Stop yoga (Note - This was a hard decision as yoga has really helped me throughout my pregnancy but I am listening to my instincts. If I was pregnant with one I am sure I would be doing downward dogs until I went into labour. But I am at risk of these babes coming early,  squats, hip openers and cervix softening visualisations made me a bit concerned.)

These are easier said than done. I still have a to-do list that keeps growing - you know all that admin that you keep putting off until you realise that if you don't sort it out now you will never get a chance to do it? Besides, sorting out admin does nothing for ones nerves - my medical aid actually made me cry today after being on the phone for the better part of an hour. The nursery is still not done (roping in my sister/mom team this weekend to finish up). And the bags are not packed! (I don't think my last minute packing technique will be suited to this situation). And our name search continues...

Beyond all these practical things, the thought of two babies arriving is not exactly calm-inducing either. Two babies! TWO. Arriving on earth in just two or three weeks to change our lives forever. Joy. Excitement. Fear. Hope. Love. Anxiety. Peace. Worry. Happiness. Nerves. Amazement. Love. Excitement. Take your pick...

PS. Check out our my maternity shoot on Emma Jane Nation (I can't believe how tiny my bump was then). Thank-you Emma for a lovely post :)

bare legs, bakeries and ice-cream

I haven't been very conscientious about keeping up to date with my photographs on B&D. I still have pics from last year I want to share. I console myself with the following thoughts:

a) somethings don't go out of date
b) I think my posts are better when I share what I feel like blogging today, and not what I "should" blog
c) there are no rules in my little land of B&D - to me that's half the fun of blogging

So, now that I am done with that little explanation, here are some snaps from a wonderful summer's day we spent in Kalk Bay when we were in CT in March. Kalk Bay holds a special place in my heart as I have wonderful memories of escaping there while I was studying at Stellenbosch, to indulge in a day of vintage store browsing, Cafe Olympia lunch, or a stroll in the harbour.

This time around we joined a bunch of friends for lunch at the cool, casual Live Bait Restaurant, just under the more formal Harbour House Restaurant but with an equally beautiful view across across the bay. After a long, lazy meal we strolled through town and finished off with coffees from Olympia Bakery, and (my favourite), yummy ice-creams from the Ice Cafe.

 

Round food

Come to think of it, I love round food - juicy winter oranges, Woolworths chuckles, perfect scoops of creamy gelato, tomatoes, eggs... So much so, one year I thought it would be good to give up round things for Lent (that didn't actually happen). I was reminded of that when I came across this competition, where Cereal asked readers to submit pictures of round food. The mangosteen won but they all look beautiful to me.

What are you reading?

"She loved to walk down the street with a book under her arm. It had the same significance for her as an elegant cane for the dandy a century ago. It differentiated her from others."

 Milan Kundera, The Unbearable Lightness of Being 

{via here}

What are you reading at the moment? I have just finished Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsolver. She is one of my favourite authors - no matter what the story is (and they are all so different) her writing is so delicate and real I can't put her books down.

In between baby books (naming books, sleeping books, twin books!) I am starting to read Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In, given to me by my darling friend Miss T. I am particularly interested in reading this book because of the debate that seem to surround it. However, as I switch between learning about feeding schedules for twins and this book about grabbing opportunities as a woman, I can't help feeling it is perhaps it is not the best choice of reading material right after resigning from one's job! On the other hand, who know what great ideas it may inspire :)

Weekend time

Brrr winter arrived in Jo'burg this morning with her her steely grey skies and icy stare. Pretty much the perfect weather for curling up on your couch with a grey blanket (I do like to match the skies darlings) and a cup of steaming lemon tea. Which is what I am doing right now. Not such perfect weather for actually leaving the house and running chores. Which is what I need to do in the next 30 minutes.

Apparently winter's stay is just on a day trip and the weekend promises warmer temps. What are your plans? The husband and I are going to watch Great Gatsby - I remember reading the book as teenager and certain scenes remain so clear in my mind I am intrigued to see how the movie  portrays them. Tomorrow we are attending a CPR/Survival course which the nerd mom-to-be in me is kind of looking forward to. And of course it's essential when I think of these two tiny lives we will be responsible for.

{via here}

Here are some links from around and about if you feel like a browse:

Cereal Magazine visits Babylonstoren

A good reason to relax

The "Art of the Brick" exhibition takes Lego to a whole new level

Haha. I am a big hair person and have totally been there.

What the greats learn from the greats

Playing with scale - Big Appetites makes you look twice

Outdoor piano concerts on the streets of NY this summer

Logos without names

Easy dinner party idea that I will be stealing

The beauty of abandonment

Have a lovely weekend. Keep warm. xoxo