Rattles, Crime Prevention and Sick again

Martelize is 3 1/2 months. She often turns onto her side, but I have yet to capture it on my camera. She prefers lying on her back, but she moves about a lot - here she has moved right off the blanket.

Happily busy with her rattle and her feely blanket.

Why is Jan opening the gate in the middle of the night? Because this is South Africa!
There have been quite a few incidents of robbery in our community the past week. We are all in radio communication with one another. This week we started with a new strategy neighbourhood watch ("buurtwag"). The idea was to monitor any vehichle driving through the area. Here we are on our way for our first watch session from 1:00 to 5:00 (a.m.) and that after not having slept much the previous night due to all the radio commotion about a crime.... Did not sleep much the next night either - again due to a lot of commotion about two attempted robberies and one real one - the real one 15 minutes after the various watches were told to go home to tend to the safety of their own homes. The armed gang did not enter the community by car... they must have been inside already and convinced that they would be able to steal a getaway car. (They did!) (The people who were robbed were not yet on the radio system.)

This is what you look like at 1:00 in the morning after only 3 hours sleep, on your way to a 4 hour stint of neighbourhood watch!

Do I look sick? I am believe it or not!
Poor Franco (6 1/2 months) has tonsillitis! I looked after him today, because I did not have school today. (A happy co-incidence for me, but a sad day for Tammy: they went to her grandfather's funeral.) Anyway Franco was still feeling a bit grotty and had to be either entertained or put in his cot for another short nap. (I lost count of how many times we went up and down the stairs...) But he had times when he felt fine. His Bambino swing is a real blessing. He loves it, and it keeps him distracted and happy for ... well for reasonable periods. Here he was squeeling with delight!

Not a royal wave but Franco spinning the toys on his swing with enthusiasm.

We tried outdoor as well - smelled the roses, touched the stones... Franco enjoyed sitting on the grass for at least....well, only for a few minutes, but it was fun while it lasted!

'n Blommetjie? Moet ek daaraan vat? As Ouma so se...

By the time Gert got home, Franco was feeling much better, and again squeeled in delight on his father's knee. He loves "riding horse" and playing with a nappy over his face.

After my stint with Franco, I quickly went to see my other grandchild. She enjoys her playmat more and more. Here she has discovered the noisy sun!

Thelwyn stares at her computer with disgust. There is something wrong with her blog and she cannot upload any pictures. Big frustration for all. (See my bloglist). Look at her lovely new cushions.