Tangled

Abi and I recently discovered the Disney movie 'Tangled'.


I bought the DVD for her in Woolworths a few months ago when it was released and kept asking her if she wanted to watch it. But stubborn Abi, wanted to watch her usual favourites like Toy Story 3, Beauty and the Beast, Dumbo and The Lion King. Finally, after my sister Louise chimed in how much she would like it, Abi sat down with me and watched it.


And it hasn't left the DVD player since. I can honestly, and almost shamefully say, that Abi watches it nearly every day. She is IN LOVE with this movie. We have the soundtrack on my ipod and on days when I say no to the movie, we listen to the soundtrack on the ipod dock, dancing around the house.


I'm a big kid at heart and love watching the movie too. The songs are adorable and Mandy Moore was the perfect choice as Rapunzel. My sisters and I can sing all the songs from Annie, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Aladdin, we like Disney movies in our house, ALOT!


I have no idea how long this obsession might last. Toy Story 3 was the last movie to leave the DVD player, and that was on high rotation for nearly 12 months.


The last song of the movie is probably my favourite. I love Grace Potter from way back and fell in love with this song even more when I found out she co-wrote and sang the song.


Have a fantastic long weekend, and if you need something to dance to, I highly recommend this.

July - In Photos

I've been so lost lately. Can't find my mojo. My blogging mojo. My friendship mojo. I'm barely holding my wife mojo together too, while focussing everything on my 2 tots.

Here is what I did in July. Easier to show you then to tell you.

She played with her toys

We went to Fagan Park in Galston,

where we had a picnic and cuddles.

My new double pram is amazing!

We drove to Glenorie and enjoyed the scenic back roads

Edward rolled over and loves tummy time on the mat

Abi is in love with Masterchef and made me play-doh cupcakes for days

We are really settled into our new place now. I have a love affair with my kitchen.

Saturday nights are for takeaway and DVDs

Edward's favourite place to fall asleep, on my lap

Abi is delighted that she still fits in the bumbo baby seat!

My little mermaid at swimming lessons

A very generous gift from my inlaws! Abi turned 3 and this is her awesome new cubby/playground. I never have to visit the park again!

Edward tried his first meal, organic rice cereal. He wasn't thrilled.

Here is my angel on her 3rd Birthday. She was so inspired by Cadel Evans winning the Tour De France that she wore her helmet around for 3 days.

We went to the beach house for 4 days. Why on earth do we need so much stuff?!

James and Abi swam at the indoor pool and enjoyed the quiet family time,

until I ended up here. 6am, Monday morning, Wyong Hospital ER. Was picked up from the beach house by an ambulance with chest pains and difficulty breathing. Once I arrived at the ER, I was more frightened by the general filth of the ER wards and the mental patients roaming the aisles. Avoid Wyong Hospital at all costs.

Edward loves sitting in his bumbo seat

Where did my other baby go?! 3 going on 13 sometimes

My crazy outspoken lady with my quiet prince, what a pair!

Siblings. Best Friends. Love.

Edward and I playing around with photobooth on my iMac

B-B-B-B Bird is the word

This song is a firm favourite in our house. We sing it all the time. Abi thinks it's hilarious. She loves Peter Griffin... Yes, I'm a naughty Mum and let my toddler watch Family Guy occasionally. But this clip is hilarious. SURFIN BIRD!!

Lately...

Abi in her high chair

Wearing my chain necklace

Abi and Ted on our daily walk down on the wharf

The P&O docked at the wharf today

The living room, a little neglected after a hectic morning

Abi and her gorgeous smile

Teddy wakes after a snooze

Teddy ready for his feed, YUM!

Feeling a little rough the other night, good thing newborns are so cute!

24 hours

The last 24 hours have been rough. Really rough. I'm feeling slightly better this evening but woah mumma, I was a bag of emotions last night.

Yesterday morning we had a photographer friend come to the apartment to take some family photos. And it just wasn't meant to be. Edward was unsettled for 90% of the shoot, as you can expect with a newborn. At one stage, he was lying nude on this beanbag and I picked him up for a cuddle and he wee'd and poo'd all over me. It was hilarious. Abi didn't want to be in any photos and I was a terrible mother, offering her bribes like candy, cupcakes and lollies and she finally caved and smiled for about 10 photos.

After the photographer left, Edward slept briefly while we lunched and cleaned the apartment. Then off we went to Castle Hill to visit the Early Childhood Clinic for Edward's 1st check-up. The nurse was a complete bitch. She said all the wrong things. Also, she looked like a slightly slimmer version of Mama Fratelli from The Goonies.

Edward has lost 20 grams since being discharged from hospital and this nurse really came down on me hard about it. It really shook my confidence and made me feel like a failure. I'm not following any set guidelines and I'm demand feeding him whenever he wants and she basically implied that I have been neglectful.

After we left the clinic, while James minded Edward in the car, Abi and I popped into Castle Towers to buy a dummy for Edward and some breastpads for myself. I got tired walking through the mall and a little shocked that this will be my life in a few weeks. Suburban house wife. With 2 kids. It rattled me abit and I got back to the car and confessed to James that I will miss city living sometimes.

Things really got bad on the drive home. I started to feel weird. And by the time we got home and started dinner, my whole body shutdown. I got the chills and shakes, a high fever, my hands and feet were cold and purple, my nails were white, my teeth chattering and then I looked down at my chest. Bright red, sore, lumpy boob. Mastitis. I had developed mastitis with Abigail as well but it resolved itself without antibiotics. I sat in the sofa while James contemplated calling an ambulance because he was so worried.

Abigail wasn't herself either, crying and whingey, which didn't help the situation. She had a slight fever too. Poor James was running around, taking care of all of us. We finally got her into bed and I had a big cry to James about how I felt. I took a long hot shower and tried to massage the lumps out. I climbed into bed at 11pm, exhausted and emotional. At 3am when Edward woke for his feed, I woke up and felt wet. The entire side of my bed was wet with sweat. My whole body was covered in sweat. I cried the entire time I fed him. Doubting myself and telling James that maybe I should give up breastfeeding and switch to formula.

This morning, I made an appt to see a Doctor and took Abi along too to have her checked over. She and James both had a tummy virus last week with lots of vomiting and diorrhea so I thought maybe she wasn't completely better yet. After an excruciating long visit with this new Dr, it was determined that Abi has a bad case of thrush and a possible urinary tract infection. I have mastitis with a possible urinary tract infection as well so off we went to the pharmacy to fill our new scripts of drugs. I also got a script for some motillium to help with my milk supply.

Walking in the city was terrible, I will never get used to how terrible some people treat eachother. Even though I'm not pregnant anymore, I still feel tender and sore. And people just walked into me, and Abigail, which made me sick. Pushing a little 2.5 year old, out of their way, whilst talking on their iphone and smoking at the same time. Sometimes I just want to punch some people.

We got home and started our meds. I was supposed to try and catch urine in a pee cup from Abigail, mid stream, which is IMPOSSIBLE with a toddler. So I sterilised her potty and she did a wee on there and I filled the cup that way. James ran the urine sample back to the medical centre this afternoon and we will get the results later in the week. She seems better already with the cream to treat the thrush.

I still feel pretty rough. No fever, but still clammy and have the chills. My boob is super sore. I'm emotional, so emotional. I keep reminding myself, it's only been 2 weeks since Edward was born, but I'm so hard on myself. I want the breastfeeding to work now, with no sore boobs and no more sore nipples. And for my sweet babe Abi to be all better.

James has uni exams this week for Grad School and has been trying to study at the same time. God only knows how he juggles it all.

So yes, it's been a HELLISH 24 hours. I feel like a need a holiday! I know things will get easier. It's still early days. We are all still adjusting to life as 4. I just want the house to be ready so we can move in and get settled. I have no idea how the HELL we are going to move house in 1 month with a newborn...

Flashback - July 2008

I'm feeling very maternal today and looking at photos of when Abigail was born. I can't believe in a few weeks, I will have another newborn again.

I'm a little nervous about giving birth in Australia. Abigail was born in Singapore and my birth experience over there was fantastic. The level of care, the amount of attention, support and advice I received was outstanding.

I have heard horror stories of maternity wards, cravy midwives and lazy Obgyns but I know I am in good hands. My Obgyn is very qualified and respected. I feel very confident in his hands.

Here I am, in Abigail's nursery, the night before she was born. I loved that blue tee. I wore it everywhere in the last few weeks of my pregnancy and the local Singaporeans loved it too.

Here is Abigail, 3 days old. I look a mess of course, I forgot how little she was.

This is Abigail and I on discharge of the hospital. On my left was one of my favourite midwives who cared for me. On the right is the Head Lactaction Consultant who was fantastic. She was firm but supportive and understanding. The language barrier wasn't much of an issue, the hospital I gave birth in catered for locals but mostly expats.



Transverse Baby

Here is my bubs. I can announce that we are having a BOY and we are all over the moon. Look at his little face! He looks just like Abigail did in the womb. I have heaps of 4D photos of her too. The cord is right near his face too, the detail is amazing, isn't it!

I had my 34+ week appointment this morning with my Ob/Gyn and again, everything looks fantastic. Baby is growing well, strong heartbeat and rolling around in my belly. But peanut has moved, from frank breech position to transverse. I felt alot of activity and kicks last Saturday and my belly changed shape. I'm convinced that is when he moved from breech to transverse.

So the diagnosis is the same. We are hoping baby turns in the next 2-3 weeks. After that, we aren't sure if baby will have the room to turn. I've been doing some stretches on all fours, and pelvic stretches too. My back and hips are loosening up alot. My hips are not aligned and my left side is KILLING me most of the time when I sleep or sit down with my feet up.

I had another blood test to check my iron levels and my anti-D levels too for my blood type. Hopefully no antibodies are present and my iron levels have increased.

Less than 6 weeks till my baby is here. I can't believe it. It's getting CLOSE!

Photos taken this morning on the balcony. The sun is out, and despite the heat, I'm really enjoying the last few weeks of summer.

Last few days...

New House Renovations -  Have knocked down walls

The ensuite in the master bedroom. This was a small bathroom + small walk in robe, now it will be 1 large bathroom with double shower and double vanity.

Abi enjoying custard at the McKinnon family Christmas dinner last weekend

McKinnon / Robinson family sitting around the unique decorative tree with toy decorations

Abi with her Aunty Weezie at the Sydney Aquarium on Friday. We had a great day although the aquarium itself was a bit of a letdown. Wildlife World next door is much better in my opinion.

Rainbow on the M2 last Sunday. It was a double rainbow. I managed to control myself, unlike this guy.

Abi looks REALLY sleepy in this photo. This was taken at the David Jones window display at the city store today.

Thursday = sunshine, packages, italian food & laughing

James is working from home today. I love when he works from home.

The stupid tenants hadn't moved out yesterday (settlement day) and so we had to go back today and see the house empty. James took Abi along so I had the morning to clean the apartment which wasn't too bad because THE AIR CONDITIONING is finally fixed and it's nice and chilled in here.


Some lovely parcels arrived today from Peter Alexander and LarkMade. And my subscription to Real Living arrived too so I can sit on the sofa and enjoy my read this afternoon.


I suggested going out for lunch today because James is off to the USA on Sunday and Abigail and I will miss him to bits! So off we went to Fratelli Fresh's in-house cafe, Sopra in Walsh Bay. We ate zucchini flowers stuffed with goats cheese, ragu bolognese and linguine lemon+chilli. Abigail ate her pasta and breadsticks like a princess. Surrounded by ladies who lunch (and drink!) and men in suits having meetings.


Look at my loves, smiling and waiting outside for a table in the sunshine. Abigail danced her chicken dance while James and I discussed how much we will miss dining the city.

Tonight my mother-in-law is minding Abigail while James and I head to see Robin Williams at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. We are both huge fans of his movies and stand up performances so I'm sure we will come home with sore bellies from laughing so hard.

All in all, a great Thursday. The sun is out. The breeze is fresh. It feels like a normal spring day today. Finally!