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

Baby Jogger

Look what arrived at my house this week, my new Baby Jogger City Elite Double pram.

Even though Abi is nearly 3, and never uses a pram anymore, she surprisingly LOVES it. I wanted a double pram to start exercising and going on daily walks and so far, she loves sitting for 45 minutes on the walk as we stroll the streets.

This pram is amazing. It weighs a whopping 16kgs though, which means when I add both the kids in the pram, I'll be pushing some heavy resistance around my local streets. I'm hoping to transform my "tuckshop lady" arms into toned, buff arms.

I look forward to long walks in the fresh air, getting fit, exploring our local area and most of all, the kids to get out and about and see new things along the walk.

Busy Bee

I totes look like this. A frazzled busy bee!

I haven't been blogging lately. Adjusting to life as a family of 4 and busy finishing the renovations on the new house has kept me busy, kept me exhausted.

James is in Albury today, at his graduatation ceremony for his degree in IT. It was logistically too hard to take the kids, so he went with his parents. I'm sure they are as proud as punch. A slave for hard work and studying, James is half way though his 2nd degree, an MBA.

The house is almost ready. About 95% of the way there. Air con has been installed. Bamboo floorboards are being laid as I type, new paint is drying and the bathrooms are being sealed. The fridge, washer and dryer are being delivered tomorrow. Carpets being laid early next week, then, we will be in. We are moving some stuff in over the weekend. Fun times ahead.

This week I realised something... That on Saturday, it's MAY! Which means it's almost June, the middle of the year. Half way through 2011. It's impossible that 6 months can pass so quickly. I need time to slow down, not to stop, but to tick by slower. I feel out of control at the moment, so many things on my plate. My concentration has been dim, my temper short, my eating habits terrible and overall speaking, I'm exhausted. The new house and renovations have sapped my energy and enthusiasm. I think once we settle in, I will relax and unwind. Until then, I'm as tight as a spring!

I'm blessed though. Edward is a prince. He is smiling and coo'ing at us now. He loves his sister and follows her around the room with his eyes. He is a water baby and loves the bath. His baby acne has disappeared and he has my fair skin and James's deep blue eyes. Abi loves being an older sister and is intrigued with breastfeeding. She watches me express milk and helps me with burp Edward and change his  nappies. She is settling into sisterhood better than I could ever have hoped for.

I have so many things I've wanted to blog about but am struggling to find the time or energy. The Royal Wedding, the extended Easter/Anzac holiday, the weather, new movies etc. I promise to myself to find more time. But for now, it's off to bed for a quick nap while the kids sleep. Woo!

Right Now

Eating: Yoplait Berry Bliss yoghurt

Listening: Frou Frou

Reading: Yesterday's papers

Drinking: Water with a slice of lemon

Watching: The waves rolling in from the beach house balcony

View from the balcony

Thinking: About the house which will be ready in 2 weeks from today. F-I-N-A-L-L-Y!

Wearing: Lovable Maternity singlet, Country Road skirt

Smelling: Dettol from cleaning the house

Wishing: I could live at the beach house. I am a different person here. So relaxing and quiet.

Abi and her new friend Ava, at the playground this morning

Wanting: Starbursts Babies or a cold Kit Kat

Doing: Blogging and catching up on news

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!

Mon-Thurs

This week so far:

Monday:

Standard day. Didn't feel inspired for dinner, so as James walked in the door from work I asked if we could go to Pancakes on the Rocks for dinner. Off we went. Abi loved her Clown Face pancake with ice cream for dinner. I got the Bananarama dish which includes 3 pancakes with toppings and couldn't even finish half of the serve. The place was packed at 7pm! Who knew pancakes and ribs were so popular!

Tuesday:

Had a real crapper of a day. Drove out to the new house and dropped James off so he could do the current inspections and discuss progress. Abi and I headed to our soon-to-be local Woolworths to pick up 'a few things'. A few things turned into a full trolley load. Me, struggling to get around the aisle corners and yet still filling up with more things. My nesting instinct took over as I realised I needed maternity pads, lux flakes, and other things for the arrival of new baby. I struggled at the checkout, and even more so in the car park as I loaded up the car.

Went to my Mum's house which is a 2 minute drive from the new house and Abi played with Mum as I vented all my worries and concerns. Mum is the best, and just listened and gave advice. Abi was flustered and upset when we left her house. Picked up James from the new house and realised I forgot to buy pizza bases for dinner so back to Woolies we went.

After getting home and preparing dinner, I had a huge meltdown about everything. The house, the baby, feeling unprepared and unorganised, the apartment being so messy and cluttered, the renovations costing more than we could have imagined, I let it all out. It felt good to cry like a baby.


Wednesday:

Slept well after my big cry. But still felt anxious and stressed. Spoke to Mum again and vented some more. Had a quiet day at home and managed a 3 hour nap in the afternoon which was bliss. Abi slept for 4 hours, gosh I hope she still sleeps like this in a few weeks once the baby comes. Baby was SUPER active all day, kicking and rolling around all day.

My father-in-law who works right next door to our apartment block came up after work to discuss some things with James. I was preparing to make our dinner, home made pizzas, and boom, the braxton hicks contractions began. Nothing too serious to begin with, but then I realised they were coming every 5 minutes, and were quite painful. I didn't say anything to James for about an hour, then I told him and he got excited and curious. The BH contractions stopped after 90 minutes or so and I relaxed on the couch for the rest of the night. I am excited at the idea of going into natural labour soon but I want to make sure baby isn't breech or transverse. He feels transverse still, I can feel his head and it's right on my side, not down low. I hope he is trying to move head down. Only a few weeks to go before he runs out of room!

Thursday:

Slept in till 9am. Had my usual weetbix and milk. We let Abigail choose her own outfit today and she decided to she wanted to wear her Croc Snow Boots, because it looked cold outside. James was reluctant to let her wear them but I thought, let her be. She was definately channelling some Pamela Anderson with the denim and ugg boots. Went to the Good Guys in Willoughby to pick our kitchen appliances and a dishwasher. $4800 later. Good lord.

Went to Trend Windows and chose glass/window combinations. The sales guy was so morbid and depressing, someone who really hated their job. Came home and ate leftover pizza for lunch. Find the turkish loaf I bought 2 DAYS AGO is already mouldy and I can't use tonight to make home-made Sammy Burgers. Gutted. Then remember that I have a loaf in the freezer, HUZZAH! James went to get a haircut and Abi refused to sleep this afternoon. I've been on the IKEA website for so long that I'm going cross-eyed. In search of a grey fabric sofa from anywhere, so if you have any suggestions, please send them my way.


So that has been my week. Stressful with tears. Contractions. Having fun with Abigail. Pancakes and pizza. Woolworths and worrying. Knowing I still need to buy feeding bras, set up the bassinet, wash baby clothes, pack hospital bag, book haircut and colour before the birth, and waxing too. Ahhhhhh

Senses

My 5 senses this week

Sight:

Sound:





Taste:

Smell:

Touch: