Rejected

Well I got into the Bach of Midwifery at ACU.

Even though I already had it in my head that I wasn't going to accept the offer if I did get in, I couldn't reject it without exploring every possible option to see if maybe there was a way. Nope, not going to work, unless I was prepared to put the kids in day care and sacrifice so much of our family time. The uni is a 2 hour each way trip from here, way too far. I spent the whole day going over and over the timetable, trying to work out if everything could be crammed into the one day. Well it could, but would mean from 8am -8pm of solid lectures, prac's and tutorials. Yeah, way to get burnt out quickly hey!

Next idea was to start Nursing at a uni closer to me. I was keen for that, eager to get started and closer to the end. However after having a chat to the the lady in charge of Midwifery, she's not too confident that the nursing subjects would give me any credits for Midwifery. The curriculum hasn't been set yet, and she thinks they will make the subject a lot more midwifery specific. She's the one to take advice off, considering she's setting up the course for 2010. It was great to chat with her, really put everything back into perspective. She asked how old I was and also how old the kids are, then told me that I was only young and the kids are only young so enjoy them for the year. She explained how the Mid course is so demanding on families as you have to do so much practical work and also follow through 30 women with antenatal, birth and post natal appointments. She suggested that I spend this year getting ready for next year, involving myself in all things babies and birth and reading everything about maternity that I can get my hands on. No one has any real idea what the ranking will be to get into it, there's talk that it will be high seen as how it is the first year and plenty of people are eager to get in. I hope that my 89 will be enough to give me a spot, even the last one - I really don't mind.

So I am a lady of leisure for 2009. It's going to be a great year for me too, I'll make sure of that! The kids are less dependant on me now, so I'm getting lots of me time. I'm making the effort to go walking as much as I can, trying for every second night to get out with a dog and clear my head.. I'm keen to start a photography course and hopefully work out what all the extra buttons and dials are on my camera. Duane & I are going to make more time for each other, whether it be out of the house or after the kids have gone to bed.

It's also a big year for our group of friends. 2 of my best friends are having babies this year and I am looking forward to helping them out as much as I can. I know how appreciated it is to have an extra pair of hands, whether its meals being prepared, washing up down, clothes hung out or just holding onto a newborn thats still adjusting to the outside world whilst Mum has a quick shower. I missed out on helping with the first round of babies, and now my kids are a little older I can offer more assistance.

So 2009 is going to be a productive year, lots of things I want to achieve and also lots of time to just be a family.

I know it is the right thing to do, but it absolutely killed me to press "reject" on my application.

It's my dream, it was there and now I'm just hoping and praying that I get an offer next year at Griffith.

January 21st Photo

After a long morning of craft on the lounge room floor, it all got a bit much for Grace. I went out to the kitchen and came back to find her sound asleep, looking just adorable.

She's slowly weaning herself of her daytime sleep. I'm not liking it, but it's either no sleep or up until 9pm. As much as I hate giving up my "me" time in the middle of the day, I'll sacrifice it for the early night.

January 20th Photo

Just enjoying some quiet craft time. Grace was busy gluing little bits of cellophane and crete paper to cardboard, Xav was just taking the lid on and off the textas. I sat with them for a while, but then got a little too confidant and ventured off to do some cleaning. Came back to find Grace still busy gluing and Xav covered top to bottom in texta, he'd also decorated the wall and the fridge.

I really should have learnt my lesson by now!

January 19th Photo

Just a cute pic for today!

Grace & I were mucking around on the trampoline. She loves to lay on the tramp and gets me to jump around like an idiot - making her bounce around. The other thing she requests is "typewriter". It's where I sit on her chest, pinning her arms under my knees and use her chest as a typwriter. Spelling out all different storries for her as she wriggles and tries to break free. Adding in the obligatory "bing" as I poke her on the cheek. It's really just a form of torture, but she begs for it and I oblige because there is nothing better than a giggling Grace.

January 18th Photo

Grace was desperate for a pair of thongs like mine, so on the weekend we went shopping for her own special pair. I thought about getting her a pair of havianas, but the $20 price tag put me off, so we ended up getting cheap pair from Target. We then headed to Dreamworld for the morning and of course she wanted to wear her new thongs, and silly me didn't put her other shoes in as a back up. Well she tripped and stumbled her way around the theme park. If she was going slow she tripped up, if she tried to run she fell over. Finally by the end of the day she got the hang of them though and now only having the occassional tumble.

I took this pic at the new indoor play area at Dreamworld, hence the super green astro turf. She's definintely a real little girl now, thongs and all.

Here are some other pic's of the day:

January 17th Photo

Every day after my shower Grace wants to put on perfume. It's just another one of the girly things that she likes to do. Of course Xav wants a squirt too, which I was happy to indulge him in until Daddy found out. Seems he doesn't want his little boy stinking of "Chloe", so he hightailed him into the bathroom for some boy smells. One whiff of his "Eternity for Men" and the ladies will be swooning!!

HAPPY 18 MONTHS OLD MY SPECIAL LITTLE BOY!!!!!

The Tantrum

Finally silence. The kids are in bed and I am glad.

I've just gotten back from an invigorating, heart thumping walk up the hill and back down. Damn I needed it, the 3 y/o has been driving me bonkers, I just needed to get away before I followed through with my threats of donating her to charity. It was hot, sweaty and humid, but nothing a quick dunk in the spa on my return didn't fix.

I think I had been lulled into a false sense of security. Grace has been perfect over the last few months, rarely causing a hassle and able to snap out of any mood easily.

Well that was until yesterday happened. Oh, golly gosh. She copped me a beauty, catching me totally unawares with, I am sure, the biggest tantrum that has ever been thrown. Ever.

The day had been going well. We were having our regular get together with Nicole & Chelsea and all the kids. Logan and Xav had been having fun together. It was quite funny actually, Xav was very interested in Logan with no nappy on. He crouched down to get a good look at his bits, then wouldn't stop pointing at them. He sees Grace nudie all the time and never takes any notice, but for some reason he couldn't stop gawking at Logan. No doubt these pics will get dragged out for their 18th!




Anyway, the 2 boys retired for a snooze whilst we had a nice relaxing lunch. Grace was missing playing with Malia, but she was behaving nicely. I should've known something was going to be brewing though, she had been up since 6am. I am also trying to get her out of her day sleep, unless it is absolutely necessary. The days she has a sleep now she wont got to bed until 9.30, which although I miss the quiet time in the day, having her up that late is so bloody annoying.

So after the boys woke we thought the kids might enjoy a stroll to the park. Walking down was fine, both kids held onto my hands and cooperated nicely. At the park was fine, the kids all happily played on the slide and swings. We then went for a little walk on an old unused bike track, picking up leaves, bark, feathers and just enjoying the stroll.

Even leaving the park was fine, no annoying whinging about "Just one more swing, puhleease", we were all happy and heading back to Nicoles.


Well that was until Miss Grace decided that she would prefer to walk alone, ahead of me, right beside the busy road. I told her that she had to hold my hand, first I asked nicely. Then it was all on, the whingy, screaming toddler noises started as she frantically tried to break from my grip. I gripped harder, knowing that if I lost it, she would be off. I regripped my hold on both kids wrist, and picked up the walking pace. Grace was still inconsolable and could not be settled, she just kept on screaming at me to let her go. Xav, being the partner in crime, then also started screaming and squirming. It was hot and muggy and I was starting to get frustrated and over it, but as we were so close to a busy road I couldn't really just walk of and leave them, although at the time I would have loved too.


Nicole was behind me all this time, staying well out of the firing line. Probably her first experience of a full on tantrum, certainly not something she has experienced from her very placid 16 month old. No doubt scared the bejeevers out of her though, considering she is 6 months pregnant and going to have the same age gap that I have between Grace & Xav. Good experience though, if you can deal with a tantruming 3 y/o, you are ready for anything!


So I mustered all my energy, scooped Xav up onto my hip, grabbed Grace firmly by the wrist and marched on back to the house. The screaming kept going, and it was a long and exhausting walk but we got there. Grace was promptly put on the step and told she was in time out. I left her for a bit until we had both calmed down then we had a chat about what had just happened. She had a drink and went back to being a happy little girl.


For the most part of the afternoon she was perfect, only breaking into her very annoying, sing-songy whiny voice every now and then. Duane only spent a few hours with her that afternoon but even my placid husband was ordering a stiff drink when she was down for the night. Actually being the non-drinker that he is, a stiff drink for him was a splash of rum in his coke!


I'm hoping we don't have too many repeats of the "episode", I'm not sure how many more I can take!

January 16th Photo

Trude had come around last night for a walk and was chatting to Grace about how she was going to Tasmania tomorrow. She told Grace that if she saw a plane go by our house it might be her, so Grace should wave.

So the next afternoon we were out feeding the chooks (note the chook food container and random chook poo on the concrete!) when she spotted the plane above. She broke out into the hugest smile and yelled, "Look, it's Trudy, it's Trudy, it's Trudy - on the Jetstar plane!"

She stood there waving and yelling at the plane for the whole time that she could see it. I'm sure she truely believed that she could see Trudy on the plane, the look of amazement on her excited little face was just beautiful.

January 15th Photo

I was enjoying my morning cup of tea and perusing the paper, outside in the gorgeous morning sun. A few sips in I realised that I was alone AND there was silence. No, when you have children a combination of the above doesn't not often mean that the children are playing nicely and safely. I contemplated sitting there though and just enjoying the serenity, the house is kid-safe, so surely they couldn't' get up to to much mischief? I took a few more sips and tried to concentrate on the paper, but then being a responsible parent (and curiosity) got the better of me.

This is what I found. Grace had set up a "soft" (pffft) landing and was getting airborne of my bed and falling on the pillows. Xav was right behind her, you can't see in this pic but he is lining up for the big jump too!

So I grabbed the camera and managed to get a few shots before any bones were broken. It's a bit dark, cause the morning sun had already passed the window. It was also one of my first tries at action shots in manual. I know a few tricks now that would have made it better, but this ones still ok. I love the look on her face, its like she's full of excitement and scared all in the one expression.

January 14th Photo

Well after another successful week of no daytime nappies, it might be time to start packing most of them away. I'm a bit apprehensive about it though, nervously waiting the dreaded "regression" that is often talked about. I'm hoping that it doesn't happen and even if it does we can just ride it out with an old cloth square nappy at the ready to clean up any accidents.

So, it's pack up time for all my gorgeous nappies. I know, crazy to be calling something that deals with poo & wee all day gorgeous, but they are. Most of them are beautiful organic bamboo/cotton, or straight organic bamboo. Perfect and absorbent for soaking up many a wee or containing something from the other end.

I started using the cloth nappies for the $$ factor, thinking that the extra time spent washing them would outweigh having to buy nappies every week. They really don't take that extra to wash at all, 1 load every 2 days. As crazy as it may sound, I also loved hanging the nappies out on the line. After they were all hanging there, flapping in the breeze, I would stand back and admire them. I know strange, but I loved it.

Soon I realised that using cloth was not just great for my $$, it was also good for the environment and my kids bums. Most people sprout off that using cloth uses up too much water and you have to take into electricity costs etc, etc. Well this is true, but you could say the same about making disposables too. They also take more water to make and produce, but do we just ignore that because its not using our water? Or what about the cup of crude oil that is in each disposable. Yuck. Also disposables don't breathe, sure they are very absorbent and normally you don't have trouble with leaking. Okay, enough of my ranting. Out of all of this, the thing I love most about cloth nappies are the fluffy, plump smackable bottoms!

My own handmade woollies will still get a workout though on the overnight nappy (even though Xav has been holding on all night for the last few, meaning a completely dry nappy in the morning!), but most of the nappies will be packed away, maybe coming out to adorn the bum of another baby!

The little pink bamboo nappy and cover will be put with Grace's "special" clothes, in years to come she might think I'm strange, but the memory of her baby bottom covered up in this lush nappy is just as special as any clothes. Many a time the nappies have been turned into outerwear, with just a t-shirt or singlet and then the cute little nappy on.

January 13th Photo

Grace had developed a terrible habit of chewing her nails down to nothing, sometimes even going so far as to make them bleed. I promised her that if she could try really hard not to chew them, Santa would bring her some special polish.

Santa had a tough time looking for a safe nail polish though, one that was free of formaldehyde and all the other nasties. Lucky it was worth the search, Grace was over the moon. She insists on constantly having her nails "done" and will not leave the house if her nails are bare.

Here she is putting on the polish by herself for the very first time. She also did my toenails and fingernails, well she may have missed a few and there may have been more polish on my skin than the nails!

I have never been a real girly girl, but it's kinda fun doing all these grily things with my very own daughter!

January 12th Photo

In true boy fashion Xav has taken a liking to all things with wheels and noise. The lawnmower fits this description perfectly.

He loves watching Duane as he pushes the mower around, and couldn't hold himself back when he had the chance to get up nice and close. He pushed every button he could find and also desperately tried to pull the stringy thing (the technical term for the starter whatchamacallit!)

He has his own little mower that he pushes around the lawn pretending to be just like Daddy. Except Daddy likes to wear clothes when he mows, not like nudie rudie Xav!

January 11th Photo

I'm really starting to struggle with ideas for pics. The kids are over the camera already, instead of posing nicely they run away screaming.

So I doubt I'll be getting any nicely posed shots from her on in, just random candids -or back of the head pics!

Both kids love drawing on the concrete with chalk. Here is Grace one morning drawing her version of an octopus, an animal that she is slightly obsessed with at the moment. Could have to do with my own obsession with The Beatles and introducing the kids to all the child appropriate songs, one being "Octopus's Garden" Grace absolutely loves this song and insists that I put it on whenever we get in the car. The other song that she wants to hear over and over is "Get off, off My Cloud" by the Rolling Stones, always wanted to hear the cloud song. Mmmmm, maybe not totally appropriate, I'm sure this song is full of drug connotations!

Sorting out my head

Ok, so I've just had a quick look at the QTAC website and offers for 2009 have been released.

I'm a little scared to check if I'm in or not. How stupid is that? I've been waiting for ages to find out and now I'm chicken.

I just want to get my head around what I will do with each possible scenario, before I either high tail it to Officeworks to get my stationary fix or console myself with the biggest block of chocolate ever.

So, here's the situation. I've applied for Bach of Midwifery at ACU Brisbane as my first preference and part-time Nursing at Griffith GC as my second.

Bach of Mid ACU:

Midwifery is what I want to study, it's something that I am extremely passionate about and I'm hoping that this passion will be what gets me through the difficult science subjects. However, it's 2 hours each way by train. That bit sucks, and I'm not sure that I could remain motivated to be travelling 4 hours 2 days a week. Apart from being expensive, it's extra time away from the kids that I want to avoid. Also if I start up there, I'd most likely have to finish the degree up there, so that potentially 5 years of less than ideal circumstances.

Bach of Nursing Griffith:

Realistically this is the better option. It would mean that I am closer to home, cutting down on travel and the time that the kids have to be cared by someone else. I can pick the subjects that will most likely be in the Bach of Mid that starts in 2010, meaning that I could then get credits for them. I would have to get my head around potentially having to complete the nursing degree, if I didn't end up getting into Midwifery when it is offered next year. That's not too bad though, if I did finish nursing I could then go on and do another year to become a midwife. Then I would be a RN & RM, giving much better opportunities. I really hope though that I can get into midwifery in 2010, it's what I really want.

So there it is. I think I have made up my mind that I don't want to go to ACU, but it's going to kill me declining the offer. Midwifery is such a competitive course to get into and I will feel like I've killed my dream when I say no to it. I should've just made nursing my first preference and been done with it, but it was a combination of ego and laziness that forgot to change it over. I really want to know if I could get into Midwifery, I know that it's different every year, but I just wanted to know if I did have a chance.

Ok.......now that's sorted out, off to check it out. Wish me luck.

January 10th Photo

Mmmmm....this was supposed to be 12 Krispy Kreme donuts, but as you can see 5 are missing. 3 of them are sitting at the bottom of my belly like a lead weight, threatening to come back up the same way they went in.

Yep, there should be a disclaimer on the box "These contain an addictive substance, and even though you will feel like crap after eating them - You can't stop" Or is that just me that has absolutely no will power when it comes to yummy, sugary sweets?

As disgusting as I feel, my mind keeps wandering to the 7 that have to be eaten. Duane is on strict instructions to eat as many as possible and pre-warned that yes I may be pissed of at him - but it is for my own good.

Anyway why do I have a dozen Krispy Kremes? Normally I wouldn't, but this was my latest mystery shop, it was really, really, really hard to do.

I really should have used the $15 dollars (plus reimbursement) for doing this to fund a full day at the gym, cause that's what I would need to burn off one of the foods with the highest fat content around. Nope - I just spent the night slothing around on the couch, complaining and whinging.

January 9th Photo

It was a lovely afternoon at the park. Xav and Grace flittered between the swings, climbing the fort, zooming down the slide and hiding behind the trees.

The sun was shining brightly, even though it was getting to the end of the day - which meant for some crappy photos. I was desperate to get a decent pic as I hadn't picked the camera up all day. I clicked away and then sat down on the bench to delete all the outtakes, whilst Duane pushed the kids on the swing.

Next thing there was a flash of pink hurtling through the air, a thud and then a cry for Daddy.

Poor Grace had gone to brush a lock of hair from her face and had lost balance on the swing, tumbling back first to the ground.

Daddy scooped her up and consoled her as only her Daddy can. Me, being the ever attentive Mother busily snapped the moment away. This pic is about 10 shots in, all the other ones are of her red, scrunched up face with tears streaming down her cheeks. This one is after she had settled and was telling us how she went flying through the air. There are bits of bark still on her arm and down Duane's back, and the look on her face is one of just contentment.

Doesn't matter what happens, Dad will always (try) to make it better.

I also wanted to put this pic in too......Its a flash of Xav - the child never stops!

January 8th Photo

Frangipanis would have to be one of my favourite flowers, it's got the whole beautiful flower thing down pat - smells gorgeous and looks great.

So of course when we were doing up the front yard, I wanted plenty of frangipanis planted. Now this was ages ago, way before human children - when it was just Duane and I with our "fur" babies. Seems the dogs liked the look of the bare frangipani tree and most afternoons we would come home to a hole and 2 dogs playing tug-of-war with what looked like a stick. Everyday I would re-plant it again, only to find the same scene over and over again.

That got tiring, so we put up a side fence and kept the mutts out of the front area. Now my beautiful frangipani sticks could really flourish without the risk of being mauled every day, and they did. I have 3 that have grown into the most gorgeous trees, all flowering too. They look devine and I never tire of inhaling their beautiful scent.

The above pic was taking just after an afternoon shower. It's not as sharp as I would have liked, but I love the colour and the few droplets of rain on it.

January 7th Photo

Ok, so once again not a great pic, but a special one as it is Xav getting his 2nd ever haircut.

He was a little scared and went into typical stunned mullet mode during the whole ordeal. Made it a easy for Katrina to snip-snip and get rid of his shaggy do quickly though. He was little scared of the clippers, but still managed to keep reasonably still. I wanted to get some great pics, but the lighting was crap, the background was too busy and Xav was refusing to move from his stunned pose. So whilst not a great pic, it's a memory of my little boy.

Now I LOVE this pic. This was taken after the big haircut (mmm maybe the hair is a little too short?!)

Looks like he is just rolling around in the grass, having a rollicking old time. A perfect candid moment of my little boy experiencing pure joy.

I was not standing above him with one foot tickling his tummy and the other pinning down his right arm so he couldn't roll away. I most certainly was not.

Ahh, the things we do for a good pic!

Now whilst the spotlight here is on Xav, I wanted to just do a quick update about his bodily functions. I know, pathetic that I am so excited about it, but apart from being so proud, I am also overly excited about only dealing with nappies occasionally. It's been over 3 years of dealing with stinky nappies, so yes the thought of not having them anymore is a little thrilling (cheap thrills!)

So, he is going fantastic! Most wees and poos are done on the toilet, only the odd accident every now and then. All naps are now without nappies, and hasn't had an accident yet in his cot. Xav has started telling me when he wants to wee, but not always. I just pop him on the toilet when he wakes, before a nap and about every 2 hours during the day. I don't have to keep him on the toilet for long, he either does what he has to do straight away or he doesn't.

I'm still not sure if he is trained or time. Either way, I don't really care. He seems to understand, he's not weeing as frequently so must be learning to hold on and I'm not dealing with nappies. I'm sure as he gets more aware he will start asking to go to the toilet more.

We even had our first venture out without nappies the other day. It was a stinking hot day, but the kids wanted to go to the park, so we headed to Bunnings. Xav weed at home before we left, then after about an hour I took him to the toilet there and he did another wee. No accidents at all.

I'm not brave enough yet to go out too much without nappies, as much as I don't like the idea of pull-ups, I think I might buy some cloth training pants. Much easier to take them on and off that my cloth nappies.

So I'm thinking that over the next few weeks we will do short trips out to build up both our confidence, then depending on how that goes it may be undies all the way! Gosh his little bottom is totally smackable in them too.....so cute!

January 6th Photo

So the kids weren't being cooperative today. Grace was just pulling crazy faces and declaring loudly that she was not modelling today! She wouldn't even be swayed with the promise of teeny tiny marshmallows -uh, oh, I really hope this modelling strike doesn't last, there's still so many days of January left!

Anyway, someone that was willing to sit and look adorable was my beautiful Daisy. I did try to take some of Lily, but it was late afternoon and the lighting was a bit dark to get any good ones of her -I most definately do not have a favourite dog.

January 5th Photo

It's so hard to capture a nice, smiling photo of Xav, he just doesn't stop.

This pic shows everything that I love about my little boy - cuteness, cheekiness and the sparkle in his eyes. He's dressed in his typical summer gear, a chesty bonds singlet and undies.

Wanna know what he was doing when I took it? Straddling the stand on the outdoor swing and laughing his head off, I *think* he was trying to ride it like a horse - but it looked like a lot of pelvic thrusting to me.

Not looking so sweet and innocent anymore is he?

January 4th Photo

Not a great day for photos today, so this is the best of a bad lot.

Nothing special for anyone else, but for me it is a perfect capture of my baby and his babyhood.

We had spent the morning at Dreamworld and he came home completely exhausted. I got his dummy and blankie ready for him & organised Grace into bed. By the time I came back into the lounge room he was fast asleep on the floor - Xav has never just crashed on the floor!

He's cuddled up to his favourite blankie (see it clutched in his hand!), who he insists on sleeping with all the time. His crooked dummy is also a special treat saved just for sleep time. If either of these fall out of his grasp of a night, he hollers out for us to get them for him - once he has them, straight back to sleep.


There's nothing sweeter than watching a baby cross the threshold from awake to dreaming.

Girls night

Grace had fallen asleep late in the afternoon and didn't wake until 5.30pm.

Desperate action was needed, she needed to be worn out enough to still go to bed at a reasonable hour, otherwise we would be up to goodness knows when amusing her.

I decided to be brave (or stupid) and take her to the movies. I had wanted to go by myself and spend 3 hours all alone watching Australia, so it was a big step to trade that for a Disney movie.

The only kids movie on at the time we needed was Bolt, which I knew absolutely nothing about. Duane said that he had seen the previews and it was an animated movie about a dog. Ok, sounded suitable for Grace's very first movie (well not including the many that she slept through as a newborn!)

I was a little nervous, imagining chasing her around the cinema or shoving my hand over her mouth if needed. Well I should really have had more faith in my darling daughter. She was an absolute angel! Sitting up straight in her chair, laughing in all the right places and slowly eating the popcorn that I had made at home and smuggled in.

Couldn't have asked for a better date! So from now on going to the movies has been elevated to bribe status. I know, it's not encouraged to bribe, so maybe I'll just call it "rewards". I'll take her along to all the kiddy movies that I wouldn't mind seeing, and I'll sent Duane to all the crappy ones!!

We often have nights out for coffee or shopping, so this will just add our list to choose from. We both enjoy the time just the 2 of us, it's these times that I realise how grown up she is getting.

January 3rd Photo

Ok, so I tried really, really hard all day to get a decent pic of Xav. My camera is super quick, and even it wouldn't catch him as he zoomed on by. I threw my hands up in the air, and conceded that I wouldn't get a photo of his cute little face. I set him up with his absolute favourite Christmas present, and he spent a good 2 secs playing with it, the boy has NO attention span!

I have been searching through my camera manual, working up the courage to use all the scary manual settings. The above pic is my very first using all manual. I had to pic the ISO, aperture, SS and all the other settings.

My aim for this pic was to get the blocks in focus and everything else blurred. Kinda worked, but doesn't really have the "look" that I was going for. I'm hoping one of the pro's will let me in on the secret to this. I would have like a nicer expression on his face too, but I'll take what I can get from Mr X!

January 2nd Photo

Yes, another pic of my beautiful Grace. 2 main reasons for this, she is a fantastically willing model and the second is she is just so damn stunning. I know everyone thinks that there kid is the most gorgeous children around, and I am no exception. I am captivated by this sweet little girl, she is looking even more gorgeous at the moment (mmm could be to do with how well behaved she is right now) and I just can't stop looking at her.

Anyway, today we headed to do our weekly fresh fruit and vegie shop at the farmers market. I bribed the kids with a trip to the park if they behaved, the didn't but softy Mum still headed to the park. Grace spotted a beautiful big poinciana tree, which I immediately thought would make a great pic. I hoisted her up (about 2 1/2 metres!) and perched her in the tree. She sat their beautifully,posing and smiling for the camera.

I love this pic, she looks so much like the picture I have in my head when I think of her. The soft blonde hair loosely clipped back, the little bit of her earlobe that is missing, her beautiful complexion and that very cheeky smile. Ah, she's mine, all mine!

January 1st Photo

I've started a photo challenge with an online group.

It's taking a photo a day for January and putting it online for the group to critique. I was nervous at the start, being a total novice I was expecting my pic's to be torn to shreds, however so far everyone has been positive and encouraging. So far both photos have been of Grace, it's too hard to catch Mr X on the run.

It'll be great way for me to learn more about my beautiful camera and also a great record of the first month of 2009 . I'm hoping that I can improve, and theoretically the last photo of the month should be an improvement on the 1st. We'll see I guess!

I'm going to post every pic in here also, with a little blurb about each one.

January 1st 2008:


This pic was taken late in the afternoon out the front. Grace was wearing a black ice-skating leotard (totally inappropriate for the stinking hot weather we are having at the moment!), and she really wanted a cuddle with Bertha. I really wanted Bertha to look more into the camera, but she was not following direction very well. I guess that's why they say not to work with kids or animals! It should have probably been taken a bit further away, but it's a cute pic anyway!