Double trouble...

...coming our way

So what I failed to mention in my previous post of the almost year long catch up...was that in September last year we decided we were brave enough to try another round of IVF.  But unfortunately the powers that be thought that perhaps we weren't quite ready for another little miracle just yet.  So after 1 round of IVF, carried out over 2 cycles...after the first being cancelled and the second using frozen embryos which didn't take...we decided to have break before trying again.

It was during this break that Mark kindly signed us up for the Standard Chartered 10km race...something which I thought at the time I wouldn't be able to do, but which I'm very happy to say we both completed!  Mark in just under an hour, 53 min or so and myself in 1 hour!  Whilst I have probably hardly run since, I do hope this is something we can try to do at least once each year in the coming years, as it was really a great sense of accomplishment!

Then in February we started a new round of IVF, this time the doctor did everything the same as he had done with Hudson and the blood test was due not long before we were scheduled to leave for SA for our Easter holiday.... The results were in, it had worked, we had a POSITIVE...!  :)  Whilst it was all still very early days when we arrived in SA, it was great to be able to tell the families in person this time.  We were also due to have our first scan (6 weeks) whilst we were in PE and it was there we were given some rather interesting news....dum dum daaaa...the fact that we are actually expecting TWINS! Something that I don't think has really quite sunk in 100% yet!

Now its 12 weeks later, and I'm 18 weeks along and we have found out the genders of our new little Twiglets.  We had always planned on NOT finding out the second time round, but with double trouble coming our way (which was enough of a surprise on its own), we thought it best to be as prepared as possible!  So what would they be...we were both almost certain we were destined to have 3 boys, considering the dominance of the male Attwood gene, but... it appears I am in luck and we were told there was one of each baking away inside!

So whilst it all still a little scary, we can't help but feel doubly blessed!!  Hears to hoping the rest of my pregnancy goes well and we get to welcome Twiggie and Twigles in November later this year.

Another SA holiday and Hudson turns 2...

...Birthday celebrations in SA this year!

In true 'The Woods' style we decided fairly late in the day to do another South African holiday this year, to try an avoid what had been a very hot and long Dubai summer.  Whilst most go away during Ramadan in July, we decided to go for the month of August.  

Hudson and I got to spend some quality time with the Jhb family...spending a week at dam in Johannesburg with the cousins (and Aunty Claire and Uncle Grant).  Hudson had an absolute ball spending time with his older cousins, riding his bike, riding in the golf cart, jumping on the trampoline, playing ping pong and just enjoying the cooler (and at times the much cooler) outdoors, after having been cramped inside at home and at Mall Play Areas for over a month!

We then spent another week in Joburg, where for the first time since 2002 I myself celebrated a birthday in SA!  My sister and I got some time to ourselves, trying out our first (and probably last) fish pedicure ever... Claire initially wasn't too keen, as she is ticklish on her feet.  I on the otherhand am not, but that appears not to matter too much, as apparently I am very ticklish on the tops of my feet, which the fish seemed to migrate towards as well.... So lots of cackling and shreaks of laughter later...we could only stand a mere 15 minutes before giving up!  Our evening continued with some dinner and a movie (the first I have seen for many a month...probably in about a year!)

But what would a trip to SA be, without the visiting the rest of the family cities!  So after our time was up in Jhb, we headed for a quick stop in PE, where we got to spend some with Granny, Great-Granny, Granddad and Felicity.  I also got to see some good old friends, Shona and Jackie (and her 2 littles).

From PE we headed to East London, where we met up with Daddy, who had since arrived in SA to join us on our holiday.  We got to spend time with Grandpa, and little cousin James (and Aunty Helen and Uncle Ian), as well as see all the East London friends.  

And since Hudson's second Birthday was due shortly after we would get back to Dubai, we decided to celebrate his 2nd birthday with the friends (and the few family members in town) in SA too.  So it was here that we had Hudson's second Birthday Party.  

The theme for the party was none other than Hudson's favourite...Cars!  Doc Hudson, Lightening McQueen and Tow Mater featured as his favourites of course.

The table... 

    

 

The Cake...

 

 

The games...

 

The 'Thank You's'...

Once the party weekend was over, it meant our month long holiday was drawing near an end.  But not before a last 2 nights back in Jhb, to see the newly engaged Tim and Michelle and for Mark to have a quick catch up with my sister and family.  And another mini birthday celebration for Hudson with them.

A celebration of all things 2!

...2 big holidays to SA within the year...

...Hudson turning 2...

...2 birthday celebrations...

...the soon to be arrival of our 2 new babies...THE TWINS!

When life as we know it now, will no longer be...Watch this space!

Almost a year to catch up on...

...just toddling on!

So it appears the blog very much took a back seat after Hudson took his first steps (just after his first birthday in September last year)...being on his toes, meant keeping everyone else on their toes too (and inevitably me off the computer)!

What a year it has been, and one that I am rather bleak that I didn't capture each special moment as and when it happened...as there were so many!  Crazily enough with his second birthday fast approaching, I thought it was time to catch up on some of the special times from this past year and get myself ready to be able to keep more up to date before his next big day approaches!

UK holiday...

We had a trip to the UK in October last year...for Hudson to meet his British Great-Grandma and Great Aunties (and see Grandma again whilst she was there) and the rest of the London Aunties and Uncles!  It was great to see all the familiar faces again and just how things have changed...lunch at the Leather Bottle where there were just as many kids as there were adults, was rather a unique sight.  After a busy couple of weeks or visiting friends and family and flat hunting (with no success), the trip ended with sickness from the good old cold UK weather, resulting in Hudson being admitted to hospital for a few nights when we returned back to Dubai...which ultimately lead to our entire family being sick and camping out in the hospital for a few days.  

 

  

Even with a drip in his foot, it's good to know our little man keeps on smiling and plays the fool (a puke bucket hat...)!

 

Visit from Grandma...

We also had another visit from Grandma on her way back to SA from the UK.  Whilst it was probably one of the more quieter visits, we still managed to get out and about.  

A water taxi ride from the Marina to the Creek...

A stop at the Dubai Car Show...

One of numerous toy shop stops...It was love at first sight.

A trip to the hugest chinese mall for some new outside play stuff for the little man...

 

   

 

A very first hair cut...and the only happy one to date (1 out of 4 so far)

 

After Grandma's visit had come to an end, we had a few more momentous occasions on the cards before the next wave of visitors were due to arrive.

The Dubai Rugby Sevens...with bokkie.

                                                 

An couple of trips to IKEA, with an ice-cream treat at the end...

              
                                                   

                                                   

The Dubai Classic Car Show...

The lead up to Christmas...

Soon it was almost time for Christmas and on the lead up to Christmas The Woods had a full house....with a visit from Grandpa Gifford (a first visit ever since Mark has been away!), along with Aussie Great Uncle David and Granny.  Our itinerary was very busy with... 

Some of the many Mall trips and Christmas displays...

 

Scuba diving experiences...

Early morning dessert trips, spotting the local wild life...

                         

   

  

An evening in the dessert eating Arabic food and seeing and trying all things traditional...

The favourite of all Grandpa's presents...

 

Eating sushi (a first for some) whist watching the Dubai Fountains...

Grandpa Gifford and Great Uncle David headed off for the UK, leaving Granny to stay on for Christmas.  But not before yet another drive in the dessert, again spotting a number of Alice's.

As a family Christmas present, I decided it was time to make the house more homely with a pet and and Christmas eve we got our beautiful kitty, named Gemma.  Hudson and her hit it off straight away, Gemma is still much a kitten herself and always happy to have a willing playmate nearby.
  

Christmas...

Christmas again though was a rather quiet affair, but not quiet enough not to go over board yet again with the cooking (for 3 people!)...and a feast was had!  

   

New Year...

New Year was even quieter with a sleeping baby in the house, so we headed down the dirt pathway near our house (baby monitor in hand) for a view of the Burj Khalifa to see the fireworks on the worlds tallest building, in the near distance.

 

Then the holiday period came to an end and it was time to say Good-Bye to Granny.

 

The start of a New Year...2014

It was time for the little man to start to socialise a bit more...so we booked him into nursery for 3 mornings a week.  Leaving him in the capable hands of our friend, and his teacher.  A handy combination to have for any parent nervous about leaving their child on their own with others for the first time.  To make things even better, knowing the admin person in the office, helped to get me in as a volunteer 2 mornings a weeks for the second term.  And I signed up for the Diploma in Child Care (Cache Level 3 course).

The First Day of Nusery...both mom and dad were there to see him off.

 

We got this pic (from his teacher) about an hour later...quite happy and settled in.

Firm friends already...

 

Some playdough fun...or bullough (as Hudson calls it)

One of my Christmas presents was a Cooking Class at Jones the Grocer...making homemade pasta for the first (and only time).

Another of Hudson's favourite activities...bike riding!

  

A Holiday to Singapore...

Packing for Singapore

Singapore...

The Marina Bay Sands Hotel and the sights from the rooftop lookout.

 

  

The Singapore humidity

  

 The Colonial Raffles Hotel and the Singapore Sling....

Chinatown...

The Jurong Bird Park...

 

Tummy's full after a tasty trip to the Hawkers Food Market...

My Gran turned 94...

Unfortunately we couldn't be there to celebrate with her, but the rest of the family were there to join in the party celebrations with her.

 Trips to the beach...

 A braai...

The new Choo Choo train...

Me and my kitty...

 

Easter Holiday to SA...

With the second term over, it was time for another holiday...this time heading to SA for Easter.  We hired out a house in Haga Haga and had both families, Claire, Grant, Tayla and Chesney come down from Jozie to stay for a few days (before heading down to PE for 2 days and then back on to Jhb), we had Sue and Gifford join us for a few nights, as well as Helen and Ian and little James.  So Easter was a full house and James and Hudson's first Easter egg hunt was a big success.  To make it even more special all the  EL friends were out at Haga too, as well as the Stephenson's visiting from the UK.  So once again it was so special to see all the friends and the just how big some of the 'little' ones were.  Before heading out to Haga, The Woods spent a few days in EL with Grandma and Grandpa and catching up with some of the friends.    Time in PE was very short, but we did get to see Granddad and Felicity, as well as Great-Granny Betty.  

Mark, Claire, Granny and the girls drove back to Jhb, whilst Hudson and I flew and Mark had 1 night with us all, before heading back to Jhb, whilst Hudson and I got to spend another week with the family in Jhb.

Teaching...

Back in Dubai, it was time for Hudson to get back to nursery for what was left of the last term.  I was offered to cover a maternity post as teacher for the class aged 2.5 - 3 years, which kept me very busy for the last 6 weeks of term.  With me being there everyday, it meant Hudson also got to go 5 days a week, and this together with his new found confidence acquired over the holiday, lead to a great few weeks for the little man.

Long Summer Holiday...

Now it's the loooonnnng HOT summer holiday and what a long one it is!  Ramadan is here and the heat is as it's  max, which makes very long days inside for the little ones (as well as the parents).  Whilst most people take their big hols now to escape the heat, but since we have already had ours, we find ourselves still here and no holidays booked anywhere, anytime soon.  

Well that very much sums up the past 10 months in a nutshell, with our goings on anyway...

A brief catch up on Hudson's little quirks...

Unfortunately it leaves out all the great little things Hudson has done and achieved already in his short little life... and one of my main purposes of even writing a blog!  It really is amazing to see just how much they grow and change and learn in such a short space of time!!  Like how he is is now talking up a storm, with a huge vocabulary (if not quite pronouncing all the words quite properly), how he has almost a full 16 teeth, how he zooms around on his cars and bikes, skidding into 360s in the lounge,  his love and obsession with cars and money (very much his daddy's boy), how we have had 4 haircuts in the last year and each one has been worse than the last (as in, his toleration in letting them happen), how sweet and gentle a little boy he is, his love for playing with water and the hose pipe and in the paddling pool, but how he hates being made to 'swim' in the big pool, how we started trying out the potty 6 days ago and already we have had 7 wees on the potty...and the list could go on!  

Needless to say, we are just loving our little man!  He is just too sweet and too cute for words and it only seems to get better with every passing day.  We looking forward to the next chapter in our lives and seeing this little boy, become a big brother!