We welcomed our second son, Arthur Ryan Maroun, to the world on 8 September 2023.  I can’t quite believe I’m lucky enough to be the mom to two beautiful baby boys.  The overwhelming sense of joy that I have when I look into the face of each one is indescribable.  There truly is no greater love.  This is Arthur’s Birth Story. My pregnancy with Arthur had certain complications which I mentioned in my third-trimester update.  As with Teddy, I was injecting blood thinners twice a day.  I had the misfortune of developing gestational diabetes which caused quite the sca ..read more

      Hi everyone, we were lucky enough to be able to capture my third-trimester baby bump and have the most beautiful family portraits taken by Marni Olivier who was 8 weeks postpartum at the time!  I wanted a beautiful location so we headed to the citrus orchard at Almost Orange.  It is such a stunning spot and always makes me feel like I’m back in Tuscany.  It was freezing cold and windy on the day.  Teddy was under the weather.  I was exhausted and had been for weeks.  Ryan wasn’t particularly interested in me dragging him to yet another family ..read more

When my friend, Sam, reminded me of my birthday, I joked that I’m another year older but none the wiser.  It genuinely felt that way but upon a bit of reflection, I can honestly see how I’ve been educated by the school of life this past year.  Some lessons have been extremely difficult and others extremely rewarding.  Let me share a few with you.  Becoming a mom means you are never alone, and yet it can sometimes feel lonely.  When you’re on maternity leave and everyone is at work, you may thirst for adult conversation.  It’s so valuable to join a mom’s group.&n ..read more

Hi everyone!  I’ve been promising an updated Arum Lilea Book Club post since before Christmas so apologies for the delay.  Have you set yourself a Goodreads reading goal for the year?  Hopefully, you’re looking for some great recommendations for your reading pile this year, in which case I have plenty! UGLY LOVE BY COLLEEN HOVER Miles, drunk and passed out on the door to Tate’s brother’s apartment piques Tate’s curiosity.  Once he’s sobered up and her brother has explained that he’s a good friend having a bit of a tough time, it’s quite clear that Tate has a red-hot attrac ..read more

   Last month we celebrated Teddy’s first birthday with our friends and family.  I can’t believe have a one-year-old.   Our sweet little baby boy is now a toddler.  Goodness, thinking about how quickly time has passed has made me so emotional.  I’ve been reliving the night before Teddy was born, how the nerves kicked in as I sat and ate my dinner, showered and curled my hair.  At midnight, Ryan and I went into the hospital to begin the induction process and just after 11 am on 20 December 2021, I held my son in my arms.  What a life experience!&nbs ..read more

     Hi everyone and happy new year! I hope you had a wonderful festive period. We had such a topsy-turvy 2022 but we settled into our new home towards the end of last year and it was absolutely magical to spend Christmas in our new space. I hope that the year ahead is far less complicated and brings a lot more peace for our little family. I hope the same for you too! Lately, I’ve been reading so many motivating books to give me a delicious appetite to conquer this year. I’m looking forward to making 2023 the year of endless opportunities. Brene Brown’s “The Gifts of Imperfectio ..read more

I recently read “All Our Mothers” by Joanna Glen on the recommendation of my dear friend Melissa (take a look at her incredible book recommendations here).  This book resonated deep within me as could most probably be expected given that I have become one.  It is written about all the ways different women mold and shape us and that there is more than one mother figure that comes into our orbit during our lives.  It discusses the beauty, bravery, delicacy and vulnerability of these relationships and the way they live in our hearts forever. I lost my mom very unexpectedly at the ..read more

  I’ve been thinking about the importance of leaning in a lot lately.  During a Wits law seminar I attended last month, one of the professors highlighted that there is greater need, now more than ever, for a sense of community.  She mentioned that all of the largest problems we are facing in our country can only be resolved if we learn to work with and care for one another and this really resonated with me. When she accepted her Nobel Peace Prize, Mother Teresa said that “if we love, naturally, we will try to do something. First in our own home, our next door neighbour, in the ..read more

     Hi everyone!  Goodness it’s been a while.  Every weekend I sit down to write a post and then lose all my momentum and decide it’s time to catch up on some sleep instead.  Since my last post we’ve all been sick. Poor Teddy too.  It was terrible and he popped his first two teeth through it all too.  Ryan is back in Hartbeespoort for work and Teddy and I are still in JHB so I’ve been solo parenting, sleep deprived, sick with a sick bubba, working a corporate job and struggling a little.  Luckily, I’m working from home a few days a week which ..read more

I can’t believe how long it’s been since my last Arum Lilea Book Club post but, given that I’ve had a life changing event (and added a member to the book club), I hope you’ll forgive me. I’ve done plenty reading this year despite being one book behind on my Goodreads Reading Challenge. Let’s dive straight into my latest book reviews. NOT A HAPPY FAMILY BY SHARI LAPENA Talk about a complicated family! This story follows the tale of a very wealthy self-made father that does not show any love or affection for his wife and children whom he considers disappointments for various reasons. After tens ..read more