A Portrait a Week: 32/52 -Holiday in South Africa

Thank you to my sister, Simóne, for keeping my blog up to date with Isabella's weekly portrait. And for always reminding me to post a photo every Sunday, even though I still often only get around to it on a Monday!

This week's portrait: one of our beautiful sunny winter mornings on the beach.

We've had an amazing holiday in Cape Town with our family. The weather was fantastic, so good that I managed to get a bit of a tan from walking on the beach, more than I get over here in the UK summer! Even when it's really hot here, the sun is just so much stronger in SA.

Isabella has gotten used to the beach and having her toes in the sand. We had some lovely mornings just playing on the beach after an early morning walk. She also had no problem sticking her hands in the rock pools to pick out shells. Of course sand, shells and rocks all had to be tasted.

We saw all our family and after the initiall shyness Isabella became a little social butterfly. Even though she still didn't like being picked up by anyone but mum, she did start to tolerate it a bit during the second week, but mostly enjoyed friends and family playing with her on the floor. Ouma Estelle's coffee table was a favourite play spot, pulling off the table cloth, books and TV remotes!

Mornings were often spent in Ouma Estelle's bed before breakfast. Isabella enjoyed a few meals out with us at restaurants and tried so many new foods including snoek (a type of fish), calamari, quiche, droeëwors, guavas, oats and tasty wheat for breakfasts, and flings at a birthday party, another first for her.

Snoek in Hout Bay at Mariner's Wharf.

Calamari at Quay Four in the Waterfront.

We enjoyed a picnic at Kirstenbosch and Isabella loved her first visit to the aquarium at the V&A Waterfront.

The 'Boomslang' tree canopy walkway at Kirstenbosch.

In awe of the fish at the aquarium.

She learnt to wave, even though it is a bit delayed sometimes! People have usually given up getting a good bye wave from her and started walking away before she manages a wave! She's also high-fiving everyone now and manages to stand for a few seconds without holding onto anything.

Isabella has always loved bathing but now would stay for half an hour if I allowed her. She pushes your hands away if you try to lift her out the bath and turns away from you. Looking forward to our next visit to the pool where she can stay for half an hour or longer!

Even though we had such an amazing time in South Africa we both missed her daddy. Isabella has been giving him the biggest goofiest grins all the time and follows him around the house constantly. So sweet!