Martelize's first Birthday

Martelize turned 1 on 30 July. We had two parties - the actual birthday pics will come later - but here are her Sunday birthday party pics in the meantime. First guests to arrive were Jopie and Nelia with Urielle, 10 months.

As Urielle has a stay-at-home mom, she is not used to having other babies around, but she seemed quite content to be with her nephew and niece. She happily crawled everywhere and reached out to them.

Urielle looks a lot like her dad Jopie and her Aunt Ethie.

Franco was the oldest of the little guests!

Martelize grabbed Urielle's tea, but Urielle did mind in the least - just curiously contemplated her niece!

"Kom na Ouma toe." My sister Lalie dying to hold her granddaughter.

" Kos is op die tafel." The family gathering around to sing to Martelize. Ethie in the foreground and Marius and Lisa with baby Roi next to photographer Dad Frans.

Ouma Jo and Oom Deon H, also pitched for the occassion. Martelize is privileged to have such a large family!

The teatime table with Thelwyn's famous Pavlova. We had soup and bread beforehand and this we served sommer in the kitchen. We had boontjiesop, (beansoup doesn't sound right), butternut soup and mushroom soup and a variety of breads and rolls.

The flower cake for a pretty one year old.

Mmmm lekker! Martelize did not grab the cake, but daintily poked it with her finger.

She was very intrigued with the candle.

Wat's die gedoente met blaas. Ek wil net nog versiersuiker he!

Here are the three babies again - their previous pic together was taken on New Year's Eve.

Dorette and Franco, Nelia with ? and Urielle, Thelwyn and Martelize and Liza with daughter Roi at the right. (Liza is a very good friend of Thelwyn. Her husband Marius taught Thelwyn to ride, many years ago - he was about 19 then and Thelwyn about 10)

After lunch it was time to open presents! Mamma still had to help a bit.

Wat's dit?

Martelize soon caught on and started to open the packages herself. She loves ripping paper and she loves unpacking bags. (All handbags in viscinity must be zippered!)

The best was opened last: a bus! Lucky Martelize has one for the farm and one at home! Have wheels will ride!

Happy birthday Martelize - it was great to have your party here!

Our babies are "talking" and "walking"

Franco, 12 months and Martelize, 9 months old, having a great time at the windowsill overlooking our garden. All my ornaments had to dissapear of course! The videos are symptomatic of an Ouma who can't choose - I just had to try and capture their first conversations, but of course by the time I realised that these were Kodac moments, the real excitement had passed...