Cheers to the Cape Winelands

We didn't have to play hooky today. Our job gave everyone some free time this afternoon, so we decided to book a tour to wine country! We headed to the Stellenbosch region, and enjoyed an afternoon of wine tasting and even some cheese pairing. I had a few baby sips of the wines, which were delicious. Tangy sauvignon blancs and smoky pinotages. I even purchased a couple of bottles for Jeremy. We shall drink them in November once Peanut is born... unless I get to them first and Jeremy doesn't get to enjoy them at all. I am definitely fiending for my own bottle of wine! 

Stellenbosch Cellars

Developing Peanut's Pallette with a Sip of Pinotage

Just like Napa?

Saxenburg Winery

Escape to Table Mountain

The sun came out in Capetown! What a gorgeous city. 

It reminds me of San Francisco on many levels. To start, the city has a very touristy waterfront / wharf area. While at the waterfront, one can stop in and eat at Italian restaurants or places that serve clam chowder. Also while here, one can hop on a ferry and visit Robben Island, an island prison off the coast of town. Just like Alcatraz, no? There are even people trying to convince tourists to take boat rides out to visit sea lions. Seriously! 

Capetown Waterfront

In fact, this morning, someone asked me, "Hey, do you and your baby want to go on a boat ride to visit the sea lions?"Apparently I'm now large enough to be two people. 

Given the great weather, Lisa and I ducked out of work to do some sightseeing. Table Mountain, which reminds me of the Marin Headlands in San Francisco, offers great views of the city. So we took a cab to the park, boarded a cable car to the top of the mountain, then walked around a bit, taking in the scenery. It was a lovely day. "Me and my baby" had a great time!

Table Mountain

View of the Ocean at the Top of Table Mountain

Me and My Baby at the Top of Table Mountain

Capetown City Tour

Work started at 1PM on Sunday, which means Lisa and I had time to do a quick tour of the city of Capetown. Here are the highlights...

Bo Kaap / Malay Quarter 

Colored Homes in Bo Kaap / Malay Quarter

City Hall

Last Remaining Bench for Non Whites

Table Mountain in the Fog 

Lion's Head in the Fog 

Camp's Bay

Me & Camp's Bay

Hello, South Africa!

Rather than return to LA after a week in Philly, I boarded a flight to London. Waited for about ten hours at Heathrow, and then boarded another flight to Capetown, South Africa. That's right. 31 weeks pregnant and I'm still going strong, finishing up my Johnson & Johnson internship. How could I pass up this opportunity? 

When I decided to return to graduate school, I looked for schools with MBA/MPH programs that provided students an opportunity to engage in international healthcare work. UCLA's involvement with the Johnson & Johnson Management Development Institute in Nairobi, Capetown, and Accra was more than I could have hoped for, a key reason why I applied to Anderson. I wrote about this program in my applications! So I took care of myself and Peanut these past seven months, and with the blessing of my medical team, as well as my husband, I confidently set off for Capetown.

I lie. I was a little bit nervous. I drank gallons of water during my flight. I wore compression stockings to thwart blood clots. I walked the aisles. The flight attendants took great care of me, and I was fine. I arrived in Capetown after 25 hours of traveling, and surprisingly, felt pretty damn good. 

So after a shower, I went out to lunch along the Capetown waterfront area with my friend Lisa, a colleague in the program. And we did some shopping... Yes, a South Africa Baby Onesie. I'm alarmed at how well it already appears to fit Peanut. He or she still has two more months to grow!!!!

South Africa Onesie

A Shower for Peanut

After a grueling two weeks in class -- I took a two week, intensive seminar in women's global health for 4 credits! -- it was time to celebrate the pending arrival of Peanut in Philadelphia, PA. So we headed to the East Coast to visit with family and friends. Jeremy's mom even came up from Florida to join us for the festivities.

There were a few travel snafus on the way to Philly. First, it took too long to get to the airport in LA. So Jeremy, who was flying Virgin America, couldn't check his luggage. In order to be able to bring back gifts from our shower, Jeremy had packed his carry-on suitcase into a larger suitcase. So, in order to make his flight, he ended up taking out the carry-on and giving me the larger suitcase.

I was flying United, finally taking advantage of the $350 coupon I received last July when we got stuck in Ghana for a few extra days. So I continued onto the United terminal and tried to fit my suitcase (which was already kind of big) into the large suitcase. And to my surprise, it fit! Unfortunately, to my dismay, the bag was too heavy. And now that I no longer travel for work, I have no status on United. So sadly, tragically, I had to repack the suitcases. I ended up with two suitcases and had to pay extra for a second checked bag, but it was cheaper than the heavy luggage fee.

Anyway, I get on my flight. Jeremy's flight ends up being delayed several hours. And all is well except that on the other side in Philadelphia, my second piece of checked luggage never arrives. Thanks, United. You are seriously the WORST airline in the world. I do not miss flying on your airplanes every other week to and from Chicago.

My luggage eventually arrived, but not until after the baby shower. Which was unfortunate, because I had planned to wear such a cute dress at the party. Oh, well, Here are some photos from the party. Thanks, Mom and family for putting together such a great party!

Dad and Mom to Be

GG (Great Grandmom) Grace & GG (Great Great) Aunt Rosie

Forlanos, Boltons, Rubiers 

Kate and Jeremy

Nipple Cream - It's a little scary how much I've received...

A New Little Peanut is on the Way!

 Like all trips to Philly, this trip included copious amounts of Italian food, hoagies, cheesesteaks, Tastycakes, and soft pretzels. No scrapple, but for the first time in Jeremy's life, he tasted some Rita's Water Ice. I think he's hooked. So until next time, Philly, thanks for a great trip!!!

Jeremy's First Open Water Swim

I'm sitting on the beach in Malibu, and yet I am not relaxed. At. All. Jeremy is about t20 yards from me in a neoprene wetsuit. He looks damn good. He is about to run into the ocean for the first time to swim in open water.

Hell, he is about to run into the ocean for the first time. Period. The man does does not like extreme temperatures. Especially for water. And even though it is warmed than the SF Bay, the ocean temperatures in Malibu are still... shall we say, brisk?!

OK he did it. First exercise was just to teach them how to get in and out of the water. He is smiling. I think. I hope. I'm so excited for him. I remember my first swim in open water. It was a total disaster. If it weren't for Amanda I would have died. (Then again, if it weren't for Amanda I wouldn't have gotten "interested" in triathlon in the first place... Oh, but I'm so glad I did.)

Back to Jeremy, who is in the water again. Now they are swimming out past the breakers. He's in a group of about 20 people. There are lifeguards. I wish I could fit into my wetsuit! I would be out there with him. 

But he doesn't need me. Yes, I have basically taught him how to swim these past few months. It doesn't seem like very long ago that he was not liking the looks of the Olympic size pool. And here he is now swimming in the open water.

I so impressed and excited for him. And given the fierce kicking I'm feeling in my stomach, I think Peanut is pretty excited for Dad, too. Go, Jeremy!

- Posted by Nic & Jeremy using BlogPress for iPhone