Ruben didn't have a name until day three.
So, in the meantime, we called him all sorts of other things.
[Click on the pictures to enlarge]
preparing to leave the clinic
Ruben means "Behold, a son!", or more simply, "Check, my boy!".
We left the clinic just 39 hours after we'd rushed in...
coming home (29th April)
The trip home was peaceful.
Ruben likes his room!
The two grandmothers helped lots to make his first day at home a happy one...
We were also visited by a strange man.
Also, nice pics of his feet!
a trip outside (30th April)
Sunday was warm. Nice sunshine.
We took him outside to get nice pictures with natural light and his eyes open.
Well, at least we got one of those...
Not many photos with his eyes open yet...
Here's a pic of Dad and Grandad walking down to Queen street for breakfast at Belém (where contractions started on the 27th!)...
12-05-05
family visitors! (3 May)
Oupa turned 60!!! and came to visit. Also young Dez...
Granny Jeanne stayed for a week and left on Mother's Day. Ruben's Gran and Ouma have been a HUGE help to us throughout the past 2 weeks... 8th May
Been doing a lot of sleeping. And showing off my cool clothes. Lots of presents from cool people like Karen. 2nd, 3rd May
bath time (taken 4th May)
friends visiting
Ruben poses with all the visitors who come to see him. He certainly makes a photo!!!
Family in PE (thanks aunty Carol) gave him a Simba outfit...
7th May
angelic poses (his second week, 5-11 May)
third week (12-18 May)
Ruben likes sleeping. He sometimes likes bathing, depending on the temperature of the soap. He's got a cute butt!!! and he opens his eyes a lot more now. Seems he might be a "blue-eyed-boy" after all...
morning faces (27 May)
Later in the day we took Ruben outside for some sunshine pics.
The sun was too bright, so he closed his eyes.
Moving him into the shade produced the nice sepia shots...
more visitors... for elaine's 33rd birthday
Family and friends arrived for Elaine's birthday celebrations.
There were four generations of courageous women gathered together!
Ruben bought his mother a Best of Prince CD for her birthday...
Holiday on the Farm (2 May)
Ruben's first Holiday
In July, the Marshall-Botha family went on holiday in their new Terrano. We did 4500kms in the 10 days that we were away. During the trip Ruben cut his first tooth...
pictures from june
[click on this photos for an enlargement of elaine and ruben on the grass>
the morning routine
every morning ruben comes to join us in bed. now that he sleeps through (from 10.30 till 6.30 YAY!!!) he's hungry, but once he's eaten he's in a fabulous mood and lies and chats for quite a while...
groot oom pierre
August - 3 months plus plus
Ruben now has two front teeth (unlike his dad, he's early for Christmas). He loves his bath-time and is able to grab item and pull them on his play-gym.
Suddenly it's November - 6 months, eight teeth...
Ruben now has 8 teeth. He is close to crawling and started on protein this week. He doesn't like little bits in his food. Fussy guy wants the chicken liquadised to smooth pulp...