Weekend projects

The sight of Christmas decorations in the shops has started to scare me a little. Not to mention that today is November, which means I have Grace's 4th birthday creeping up too fast and then to organise the loot for the big red guy in December. Gosh where do the months disappear too?

I've decided to try my hardest to have a mainly handmade Christmas. I've already got a few small things for my kids, but have a few ideas for other things I can make for them. I'm making some special little things for all the kids I normally buy for, which I excitedly got started on Saturday.

Making presents takes so much time and patience, much harder than just popping into a shop, grabbing something and wrapping it up, but I really love giving someone something that I have made especially for them. My main motivation though is trying to avoid the over-consumerism that often comes around this time of the year. It's so hard not to get caught up in the rush of it all, which for me just ends up buying for the sake of buying. I set out with all good intentions and short lists, but soon enough I spot things that would just be "perfect" for so and so, only to get home and realise that their present was already sitting in the cupboard. I also find that buying for kids tends to end up being plastic junk that gets played with a few times and then tossed to the side. So much waste and "stuff" filling up out houses, when it's not really needed.

Anyway, that's what I'm doing to ease my guilt. I figure if I start now and do a little every few days, I wont have to do crash the midnight sales for the presents I didn't get around to doing!

So Saturday was spent sewing and crafting. My Mil came up and the lovely women has cut a pattern of my favourite Maxi dress and has been busy sewing up another one out of some beautiful material I bought from spotlight. She's ironing out the kinks in the pattern, getting it perfect and then I'm going to do have a go at making a few by myself! So for $50 for material and a bit of time, I'm going to have 4 new dresses. I've also bought a bit extra material to make matching mini-me dresses for Grace. A little Naff, but I'm sure this is the only time in my life that I'll be able to pull off the same dress as my daughter!

Today we spent the day in the yard and also checking out some nurseries for 2 little projects we have going.

Firstly, we really want to screen off our back fence. It's ugly and if you catch it on the right angle, you can see through to the neighbours, which means that if they catch it at the right angle, they could potentially see me taking a nudie run to the clothesline. Not something I should be subjecting people too. We only want a plant or hedge that comes out about half a metre, but grows to about 2 mtrs. Seems bamboo might be the way to go, and very quick growing so that will appease the impatient side of me that needs things now, now, now!!

Our second project is part of Grace's birthday present. I've been waiting for years to build her a fairy garden, so we have allocated a section of the back yard that is going to be converted into a pretty little flowering garden for all the fairy's to congregate. She's going to have a Fairy Garden party for her 4th birthday coming up, so to avoid crazy amounts of presents we are asking everyone to buy a special plant or something for the garden. Grace is so excited about it being finished, even telling me tonight that's what she dreams about of a night - her special Fairy garden. I have big plans for it, so stay tuned for plenty of pics of the work in progress.

Well it's 9.30pm and my little Grace just stumbled out of bed all bleary eyed. She has asked me to come hop in bed with her for a cuddle and the lure of sleeping all snuggly with my little girl is enough to drag me away from the laptop.

Goodnight.

Nablopomo

Ok, so in an effort to fatten up my blog, I have decided to jump on the bandwagon and participate in Nablopomo. It stands for National Blog Post Month, and means I have to somehow motivate myself to write 30 posts in 30 days.

Crap, there better be some interesting stuff happen this month, or I will just have to fill days up with picture posts!

WW week 13

I've put on 700 grams and probably deserve every single ounce of it. I knew tonight that I would have put on, so wasn't too surprised or disappointed.

I know that I can safely blame some of the added lard on my heavy and horrible period, but I also know that I haven't tracked properly or exercised as well as I should. My 12 week points tracker ran out of pages this week, I tried just writing everything I ate down on other paper, but I just couldn't do it. I am so used to writing everything down in my handy little purple book, that using something else felt so damn wrong - so I just didn't do it. Pathetic excuse, I know, but I'll blame it on the brain washing from WW the cult.

It's been a long and draining week. I'm hormonal and have weakened with a few emotional eating episodes. My back has been aching and the horrid stomach cramps have been painful, even verging at times on feeling like pre-labour. My headaches are still coming regularly, but I'm fairly sure they are from my eyes. I'm getting to the end of the day (after spending the time after the kids are in bed on the net) and my eyes are all squinty and aching. I've ordered my new glasses, so hopefully once they are here the constant pressure band around my forehead will stop.

I'm not too worried about the gain. Every week around my period I have gained weight, they had a big loss the following week - lets hope this time is the same.

Spring festival 2009

Yesterday afternoon was very, very special.

Grace's pre-school always celebrates the seasons with a festival. This year the Spring Festival was up in the Botanical Gardens on Mt Tamborine, an absolutely spectacular setting which was just perfect for all the little kids. How many other pre-school carers would hold a festival for the children on a Sunday, completely in their time? Another reason why I love school we have chosen for the kids.

One of the Mums had set up a stand for face painting, so of course both kids were into that. Grace asked to have a pink butterfly, whilst Xav was adamant that he wanted a "Big, huge, scary spider pwease"

We all set up our picnic rugs in a lovely shaded area, right beside a boardwalk that weaved in and out of the rain forest - a little persons dream location. The kids ran around playing fairies and monsters, giggling and squealing, having an absolute blast. The ran around and around, hiding behind trees and slipping in and out of the green bushes, running over the bridge and making little boats out of sticks to float down the trickling stream.

Everyone had bought along healthy food to share. The table was laden with so much yummy food, it was hard to choose what to eat. After the blessing on the food (Grace and Xav love singing this and both sung very loudly whilst doing all the proper actions) it was time to eat. My little family feasted on salad, sweet potato and cashew dip, roast vegie patties wrapped in sesame seeds, yummy vegetarian curry, fresh fruit and little home-made cakes. I did have plans of making something, but forgot and did a last minute dash to the farmers markets on the mountain and found a scrummy pineapple & nut fruit cake. It was delicious, and I may or may not have ditched the tag and layed it on a plate to look all homemade like.

After the feast, Miss Amanda and Miss Christine called all the children over to a large area, ready to show the parents something special they all had been practising. Skipping!

It was so sweet to see the 2 carers at either end of the ropes, all in their flowing fairy dresses, as they skipped the rope around for the little 3-5 year olds. Grace waited patiently for her turn, she looked like a mixture of excitement and nervousness and she got ready to start skipping. I was so surprised to see her actually do it and make it successfully through two consecutive jumps! Oh, it was so sweet to watch my little spring fairy concentrate so hard on doing her absolute best at jumping the rope. All the kids had their turns, whilst the parents watched with beaming smiles. Then the kids resumed chasing each other around the rain forest whilst the parents chatted.

Soon Miss Amanda walked through the forest, making a long line of hand holding children and singing "Take me to your story land, lead me gently by the hand" Once all the children were gathered up, they went back over the bridge and into a lovely grassy nook for the spring story. The first story was about a butterfly and Miss Amanda chose Grace to be the child who tries to catch the butterfly in her net. Grace was so excited and happily flitted around trying to catch the purple woollen butterfly. She knew exactly what to do, so must of watched it at pre-school before. The kids all listened intently as Miss Amanda told another story about a little chicken who grew wheat and needed help to pick it, take it to the mill and bake with it. The kids loved watching the little knitted animals playing out the roles of the story.

After the story, Miss Christine whispered to the children to follow her to a very special place. She gathered the children at the end of a winding path, telling them that she had someone very special for them to visit. All the children sat excitedly waiting for Miss Christine to invite them to amble down the garden path. The atomoshere was peaceful, well until my little Xav was so eager to visit Miss Spring, tripped over the rock edging and scrapped his nose and knee. Grace took his place and headed down to the hut to see Miss Spring, where she presented Grace with another knitted garland, a daisy flower and some sunflower seeds. Grace was over the moon, so excited to receive her gifts. After being calmed down by Daddies strong cuddles, Xav came to visit too and was equally excited about his presents.

Duane & I took the kids for a wander around the gardens, it is such a beautiful spot, with lots of themed gardens for the kids to flit in and out of.

It was a lovely way to spend a glorious Spring Sunday afternoon.

Jaded Mummy and Scruffy bum Xav

You know how some days are just one long whingey, whiney 12 hours?

Well today felt like one of them.

Nothing in particularly bad happened, but it was just a cumulative effect of lots of incessant chatter, whinging, refereeing & general kid wrangling. I've gotten to the end of this very long day with not much sanity intact and a knot in my stomach that is going to take a lot of quiet time to unravel.

Thank God though, it's 6.45pm and both kids are tucked up in bed asleep. Hallelujah. I didn't get home till nearly 5pm and by then I was counting down the minutes till dark fell, so that the kids could be put to bed without too many arguments. Dinner was a very quick outside picnic (because their boisterous noise was ruining my inside Zen) of spaghetti and multi-grain toast. I know, bad Mummy but I really couldn't be bothered cooking anything substantial. Duane is not getting home till closer to 10pm, so the quicker the dinner, bath and bed the better. Whilst they stayer outside eating like unfed urchins, I stayed in side for some peace and quiet and made a healthy pizza for myself. Then sat inside (kids still outside doing goodness knows what, I didn't care) and ate in silence.

Then it was a quick dip in the bath, run over with the face washer and shoved into Pj's. The rest of their tummy was topped up with rice milk and then as soon as the sun was down, they were hurried off to bed with a kiss, story and wave as I shut the door and thanked the heavens that my special quiet time had begun. I love the little brats, but oh the silence is delicious.

I meet up with some good friends every Friday for a full day. Nicole wasn't having a great day with her 2 y/o and I wasn't feeling the relaxed easiness of having 2 children either. So, I really should have censored what I said to the singleton Mum's. Instead I rabbited on about how hard it is having 2 kids and how easy it is to just have the one, when really I know that when I just had the one I didn't think that was easy either. I'm cool with that though, I'm sure the Mums of 2 + are rolling their eyes at me and how "hard" I've got it. I know I don't, it's just moments of mental exhaustion, of having to think so much for not only myself, but 2 other people who can be so unpredictable, that wears me done. I really think doing this full time Mummy thing for the last 4 + years is starting to turn me into a bitter old hag.

My memory is just so distorted, that I barely remember what it was like to have only the 1 child. Some days I am just so exhausted and should NOT be allowed to spout my jaded views on those still in the honeymoon phase of parenting. I have many, many more good moments than bad so I really need to be talking about those, not going all "Woe is me".

I guess I just find it all tough, probably cause I fill my head with all types of stupid do's and dont's. I just feel that this parenting gig is going to be my most important role and I'm petrified of stuffing up.

Now, onto more happier things.

Xavier

This little boy has my heart firmly on strings, and sometimes I feel he can play me like a puppet.

I am completely enchanted by him and love, love, love all of his little quirks.

He is such a little boy now, the only glimpses I get of my baby boy are when he is laying beside me asleep. It is only then that I can remember my little Xavy baby, the little boy that I fell so deeply in love with. The last of his babyhood was packed up last week with his night nappies. Yep, my clever little boy has ditched the night nappy and is instead going commando overnight. I am just so proud of him, at the still young age of 2 years 3 months, he is completely out of all nappies. I know he was extremely early at 16 months to be day trained, but he seems so young now to be sent to bed with no bubble butt to smack. He has been dry overnight for months, only waking once in that time with a wet nappy. I decided that I really should follow his lead and just take the no nappy plunge. It's a big leap though, taking the risk of having to do a bed change at some ungodly hour of the night. I do have a big incontinence pad on his bed, also his bed is made up mattress protector, sheet, mattress protector then sheet. So if he does have an accident, it's just a matter of ripping off the top layer and underneath is a freshly made up bed. Good idea hey?

It's been a week already and no accidents though. Can't believe he can go to bed of a night, after a cup of milk, and sleep for 12 hours and then not have to pee till he's been up about half hour. The kids definitely don't take after their mother, who needs the first stop, once her feet hit the ground, to be the toilet.

My sweet little SNAG has also developed a few fine ballets moves. He's been perfecting walking on point for a while now, even running and jumping. So, it's not full point, he goes up on the front of his toes, but it's still quite the skill. It looks painful and something that thankfully he's not doing as much now, Dr google suggested that it can potentially shorten limbs so something that should be discouraged. Also he has been practicing his pirouettes, and most of the time can do a full turn on one foot. Quite the sight to see actually, he puts his little arms out in a pose then twirls around. I went to see Maos last dancer last week, and I'm in awe of how amazing ballet would be, so I'm all all for him to further this interest. Duane wasn't too pleased, until he was sent this clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om6tI5kL6D8
Seems, Ballet might help with the laydees. Wonder if they do Daddy and Son classes?

So far, the terrible 2's have been fairly cruisy for me and Xav. He's generally a compliant little boy who has great comprehension and conversation skills, so we don't tend to get to many frustrating episodes. He speaks in beautifully constructed sentences and can get his point across most of the time. Well cruisy until recently. He's discovered that he doesn't have to be the placid puppy dog that follows Grace around doing whatever she orders, and this has created chaos between the siblings. Grace was happy with her little foot soldier, but now he's answering back and not following orders so graciously. It's funny actually, well for the first few fights it is. I'm using a wonderful diversion tactic now though for the sibling fighting. When they are just bickering and there is no definite instigator, I make them sit on the floor, holding hands and looking each other in the eye. I tell then to stay like that until I come back, or until they can apologise to each other and play nicely. They barely get to a minute before they are giggling, cuddling and apologising profusely to each other. It so works. I love it. They are even starting to instigate when they need to sit and stare, without me even saying it. Let's hope this little tactic works for a long time, cause I'm sure the sibling rivalry is sticking around for a while.

Xav's temper has started coming out, and boy it is scary! It's not something that we see too often, thank God, but look out if he's got his grump on. I still think its a bit funny and tend to just humour him when it happens. I ask him if he's hissyfit is over yet, usually he replies no a few times (then continues to scream, stomp, yell) then after a while says in a defeated little voice "Ninished now" Then he is over it. Yes, he hasn't quite got his tongue around "finished" so says "ninished", which I find too cute to correct.

Sometimes there are just moments with the kids, where you need that picture so you can drag it out for 18th birthday to embarrass them. This will be one of those ones. Xav has decided that his nipples are not just for decoration, he is going to use them to feed his little Iggle friend. I've found him a few times like this, laying down on the floor feeding peacefully. He's seen lots of babies being fed, and must have taken notice of Nicole and Trudy laying down when they feed, cause that's how he prefers too. So, so adorable.

~~Xav laying down to breastfeed his Iggle~~

Just a few quick other things about my little babe. He's learnt how to count to 11, sometimes skipping out 6 or 7, but most of the time can get all the way. He counts out objects and can tell you how many things are on a page, sometimes just by counting in his head. The Truets have been teaching him a few things in French and he is so open to learning it, I really hope that he can pick a few things up. He can say "Merci" "bonjour" "Ar voir" and can count to 3, and all the way to 10 if copying someone. He has a go at pronouncing all other French words, and according to Loic, has a pretty good accent too! So with ballet and a bit of French, he should have the ladies falling at his feet!

Little Xav gives his love out quite freely. He's often telling us randomly how much he loves us and who he loves the most at that time. The main recipient of his love at the moment is Jasper and Logan. He tells me all the time how much he loves both of these boys and will often declare it to them when we visit. It's very cute and I hope he never stops telling his friends how much he loves them.

He is waaayyyy overdue for a haircut. His fringe has grown past his eyes, but it sweeps to the side beautifully, just like all the little trendy teenagers. The hair over his ears is long and thick, however his curls are kicking in now and he has a cute little over the ear flick thing going on. Duane is desperate to cut it, and so was I, except everyone who sees his hair loves it and insists that I don't get it cut. Now either they are giggling behind my back about listening to such ludicrous advice or it really does look adorable. Of course, I think he looks all sweet and delicious with his shaggy, scruffy bum hair do. I might just get the front tidied up (seems its a bonus if they can see past their hair) and let the back and side go scruffy.

~~My little scruffy-bum~

WW week 12

OK, so I've been doing this healthy eating thing for 12 weeks now and although at times I've wanted to go crazy on a block of chocolate, overall I haven't done too badly.

I wasn't expecting big things this week. What, with my little Friday night stint, then a few little "Ah, stuff it" moments, I can't honestly say that I've been a very good student. For example, I'm hanging out at the Truet residence right now, listening to children sleep and I've just scoffed down 2 white tim-tams (Damn you Averil for telling me how good they were).

So it was with great apprehension that I presented tonight. I breathed out deeply and hopped on the scales, praying that my lung capacity is at least a few hundred grams.

Nothing, nada, diddly squat.

I am still spot on 68 kgs, which is exactly what I was last week. I was fleetingly happy that at least it wasn't a gain, then slightly peeved at myself for not loosing anything. I guess neutral was the theme of the week though, considering for a day there, what went in went back out again.

I really have to pull my finger out though and start exercising properly, and do some dreaded ab work. My tummy is still looking like a ball of white squishy dough and Grace asks me every day if I am pregnant.

That kid better not have some sort of psychic gift.

A very messy night

Now, this is not a story that can be glamorised or made to sound anything more exciting than what it is. However, as much as I would like to stick my fingers in my ear and chant "Lalalalalalalala", I need this post as a reminder to not go back there, ever again.

Oh, and kids, if you ever read this, learn from silly Mummy's mistakes and just drink soft drink, ok? Or light shandys like Daddy. He's sensible.

I was having a normal Friday at Nicole's house for Mothers Group. We'd had a great day playing with the kids in the pool and then enjoying the quietness as they all slept and we had lunch. My other Mothers Group were attending a Learning Ladder party and decided to organise an impromptu dinner out to a great little Thai place.

It sounded like it would be a good night with yummy food, laughs and a few drinks. I organised Sera, who is breastfeeding and therefore great as a designated driver, to pick me up around 7pm.

Our alcohol cupboard is nearly over flowing, as neither Duane or I drink but for some reason, people like to give us alcohol. I poked through it and found and innocent looking bottle of Verdelho that I had bought on a quick trip Trude and I had to the Hunter Valley, way before kids.

So we get to the restaurant and no-one else is wanting to drink wine. I think this is where it all went down hill. I was thirsty, but the dumbass in me went to the wine glass to quench my thirst, not the damn water. Lisa had invited 2 of her friends that I had met 1 or 2 times, and after my little shennanigans, hope to never see again.

I was pissed by the time the entrees came out. Not too far gone, but enough to blurt out any minuscule thought that came into my mind. My drunk side has this crazy notion that everyone wants to hear what I have to say REALLY LOUDLY. I'm not a drunk that calmly sits back, sipping quietly. Nope, I'm the obnoxious one that gets louder and louder and louder, totally oblivious to the fact that no-one really gives a shit what I have to say or show (granted that was in context, we were talking about breastfeeding, but c'mon did they really want to see nipple??)

By main course I was completely wasted. My bottle was finished and I was on to someone else's. I did manage to enjoy a small part of my chicken and cashew stir fry, but doubt I'll ever be able to eat that again. I do remember desperately needing to go to the toilet, but being so scared of standing up and walking. Everything doesn't seem too bad until you have to move and coordinate your upper and lower half, without going arse over tit. I did make it to the toilet though, but I vaguely remember Sera helping me. A lot.

I do also remember photos being taken, Duane being called and me even talking to him on the phone. I remember telling everyone that the last 2 times I have drunk, I've fallen pregnant. I can safely say that I was in no state for baby making this time though. I really can't remember what else happened.

Time was a little hazy, but I think Sera & I left the restaurant at about 10pm. I know I gave her my key card and pin to pay for my dinner. Sera and Beck walked with me to the car, but about half way I needed to sit down, so did, on the garden bed. Then the overwhelming urge to throw up came, so up came all my dinner. Believe me, cashews are not nice coming back up. Gritty little things getting stuck in your teeth and throat. Beck & Sera, the bitches, was still taking photos, but also giving me sips of water and holding back my hair. Good friends hey.

I managed the car ride home ok, except the last few mins where I had to really concentrate on not spewing. Sera was chatting the whole time, and I had to tell her to stop as the more she talked the more I wanted to chuck. We pulled up out the front of our house, I got out of the car, said Hi to Duane, then vomited in the gutter, stepped over it and went inside. All class.

Duane was laughing his head off as he stripped me off, put a towel on the bed and tucked me in. Then, he called his Mum to come up in the morning as he had to go to work at 5.30am and he was worried how I would cope.

I was feeling crappy all night, but luckily the kids slept in till 7.30am. That's when I staggered out and realised that my babysitter (God Bless the mil) had been sitting in the lounge since 5.30am. She hung around until Duane got home at 9am, but as long as I was horizontal on the couch I wasn't too bad. She did ask if that was my mess in the gutter that she had to step over on the way in.

It's Sunday and I'm still feeling seedy, but not going to complain about such self inflicted sickness.