Natural

Pregnancy is not a natural state for me. Some women when pregnant glow, I am not one of these women. I tend to survive! I always want the elusive perfect happy pregnancy, the one where Im not in pain almost everyday and I don't have to take pills for various conditions from nausea to heartburn, but as He-Man says it "ain't going to happen" and it only seems to get worse each time.

There is however one thing I do love more than anything about being pregnant - the kicks! It was the one thing I missed after Monkey was born. I love the feeling of their little feet and hands and sometimes heads moving around my belly. The fact you can almost play games with them as you get further along. The movement is very reassuring and comforting to me. This time is no different except that I was told at 20 weeks the reason Im not feeling much movement is that the placenta is at the front. Well little one heard that and decided not to follow protocol so since then has been kicking enough for me to feel it. As if to say I am here, Im doing good and Im not going to let some doctor tell me how to act! I LOVE IT!!!! This week He-Man even got to feel his first kick.

This pregnancy still doesn't feel too real, maybe it was the lack of having to "try" so hard as we did the last two times or the fact I have been so ill, or maybe its just because Im so busy with my other two. I want this so badly and Im scared to really believe its going to happen.  The kicks are helping.

Lazy Sunday

Its been almost a week since the wonderful D left us after an incredible week. I was so happy to have such a good friend staying and helping me out. It was lovely having someone who loves my kids almost as much as I do around giving me a hand and just hanging out. The kids had a ball with her.

We broke out the bubble machine for a bit of a break.. Miss Boo has never seen bubbles like this, she was fascinated. It was great as they were kept busy for a little while while we did some more unpacking.

Over the weekend we hired a car and headed out to Ballarat Wildlife park and Sovereign hill, both places He-Man and I visited the last time we were here. We had had a ball and decided it was time for Monkey to pat a kangaroo. So the first stop was the wildlife park.

Boy these Kangaroos were hungry...

We even had a chance to meet a very cute and soft Koala..

After we headed to Sovereign hill where Monkey attended school, danced in the street and panned for gold. 

The following day we chilled out at home and then headed out to ScienceWorks. We love visiting this museum. The kids can really burn off a lot of energy running around and doing the activities both indoors and out. 

Finally the day before D left we headed over to the MCG. Not being a sport buff I wasn't too sure what to expect but it is truly an impressive stadium. Though the cafe is quite expensive! Outside the kids played with a ball in the puddles and sun. The perfect moment! After going for my 20 week scan we ended the day with dinner in Hardware lane.

This weekend we got a car. It isn't "our" car but it is a loaner until the new one is ready. Now that I have finally gotten my head around the fact we are going to need a car if I am to stay off crutches I cant wait to get our real one. He-Man head out and got new car seats on Saturday. The kids love them and were happy to test them out on Sunday.

I love days like today. Woke up a little later than usual. Spent time cuddling with Monkey reading stories in bed before having pancakes for breakfast. Then got ourselves organised and headed out to get stuff for Monkeys invites and look at a cupboard for the playroom. After we cruised down to Brighton for lunch and a play at the pirate playground. Our daughter is becoming a real dare devil. She has no fear going down the biggest slide she can without caring if someone is there to catch her as she flies off the end. Finally ice creams by the water before heading home to relax before dinner.

Check out the amazing view from the playground. 

Hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend. 

BIg Changes

Right now I am listening to my kid stalking and chatting while they go to sleep, fingers crossed. Its the first night in a very long time they have shared a room. Im not to sure how we go about getting them to sleep without keeping each other up constantly. At least with Monkey in the room Miss Boo is not calling out for us to keep her company!

The morning chaos!

For the last night Monkey got to sleep in Mummy and Daddys room.

Today we moved! I have moved a number of times in my life now. Each time my organisational skills are more refined and it is easier... That was until today! I was my usual organised self al boxes we colour coded to the room they were going in, all the furniture was dismantled and everything that could possibly be boxed up was! But man it is sooooo boring not being able to help with the move. As lifting and walking are off limits all I could do was sit and watch as piece by piece our lives were taken down the long winding carpark and placed into a truck. At the other end it was slightly more fun, as I got to direct where things went. Though I have to say I didn't get the happiest looks form our movers as I said once again "upstairs with that one please". 6.5 hours later we were in our new house with all our things, though for al my organisation I have no idea where to find anything!

My new hall... 

The lounge

Checking out the yard

I realised this morning that Miss Boo has now lived in 4 places in the short 14 months of her life. Thats a lot of change for a little girl. They say children adapt faster and easier than adults, and Im told not to worry they'll soon adjust, but Im just not sure. I do worry how all this moving and lack of consistency in home is effecting them. Hopefully we will be in this house for a few years at least. Bring on the normality and routine!

Snack time.. 

P.S. They're asleep... now its my turn night all.

Sunshine

Today the sun shone and I couldn't make the most of it. It was cold and crisp but with sun streaming down it was a day just begging for me to go for a walk, visit a park or go to the beach. Unfortunately this is not a possibility now so we headed to Js house for a morning play. It was lovely to get out of the house even if it was just across the other side of the building and watch the kids play. I think we have all been getting a little stir crazy.

 J has a daughter the same age as Miss Boo and the two of them had a ball following each other around. No I always like to take something when I visit friends and today was no exception.. It was a bit of a challenge as all the bowls measuring cups and baking trays are packed. I made brownies but had to guesstimate the ingredients. They came out pretty good considering they were mixed in a tupperware container and cooked in a roasting dish. Not quite as soft and chewy but yummy all the same and the kids loved them!

We spent the rest of the day just relaxing and going on holiday to Africa to ride the elephants. I didn't do any packing but hey well have a final burst over the weekend and will be already for the move on Monday. Then all I have to do is unpack!!!

Visiting Cousins

Monkeys new best friend

The school holidays have started here in Aussie and with that we have finished attending both playgroup and Tennis till after baby is here.

The holidays this time round are a little different, aside from the lack on my part of being able to get out and about we are packing. Moving in less than two weeks, I have to get organised. Not an easy thing to do with baby brain and two helpers. Miss Boo loves putting things in boxes so I have to constantly check to see if anything is going in the wrong box. The thing that has caught Monkeys attention is that all the boxes are being colour coded with stickers. His first job was to choose the colour for each room in the new house and now he loves me finishing a box so he can put the stickers on. As of tomorrow the children will only have one type of toy out as all the rest are being packed ready to go. I might have to get inventive when it comes to activities especially as the weather seems to have turned horrible.

Food Thief!!!

This week we have also been lucky enough to have some of He Mans cousins visiting from NZ. They braved the trams to get to ours on Friday. The kids instantly seems to be best buds. They stayed for pizza. Tegen spent the whole of dinner trying to get the boys food from their plates even though she had her own. The boys were so upset when it was time for them to go that we made a second playdate for today. Monkey has been talking about it all weekend, and was sooo excited to see M and J again. The kids had a ball. There were lots of loud happy noises and running around. It is lovely to see our kids enjoying each other so much. Hopefully we will be able to catch up again sooner rather than later.

No, no, no!

Having had my repertoire of activities I do with the kids almost completely axed for the next few months (ok 6ish) we have been finding it a little difficult being confined to an appartment with no real outdoor area. Keeping the kids entertained and not going stir crazy has been a challenge. We are still able to do our have to activities like kindy, tennis and until its becomes too sore playgroup, it just all the other stuff like zoo, park and aquarium visits that have been kyboshed. I am having to think very carefully about each thing we do and weigh up how necessary it really is. My list of "no" activities involves anything that requires walking, using steps, lifting or even crossing my legs. I know that if I keep doing these things too often the pain Im getting will only get worse and ultimately make this pregnancy and my post birth recovery extremely hard, but its hard to feel as tough I'm letting the kids down and not giving them the activity they need. So I have busted out my sewing machine with the intention of making some new things for us to use in our play at home. I can after all sew sitting down and therefore its an ok activity for me, though if they could invent a way for me to sew lying down it would be preferable in my therapists eyes.

Sorry for to blurry pic but light was bad and Miss Boo never stopped moving!

To start with I finally made a new cover for the dolls buggy. Our poor buggy has been without a seat for about 6 maybe 7 months and therefore been stashed in the back of the cupboard. Not much fun. Last night I made a new cover for it, it was quick and it doesn't have my usual neat finish but it works and best of all I changed the strap for elastic making it much easier to use. Today its been in use almost all day. All the dolls and teddies have been given zooming rides up and down the hall and round the bedroom. Tomorrow to fit in with our letter I'm planning to make a kangaroo tail for Monkeys dress-ups.

It even has teeth!!!!!

Last night I also managed to do Monkeys dinosaur shirt. I think it came out quite well and was so quick to do, I have some others planned already so stay posted.....

Parenting

How do we become the parent we want to be? There are so many influences out there pushing and pulling us in various directions telling us this is how to have a happy child, a confident child or a calm child. Just when you think you have an idea of which way you want to go something else crops up to show you another better way.
Today was our maternal health nurse 12 month check up ( I know a month late - but we got there in the end) and while waiting for our appointment I decided to have a look in the library for some toddler and baby game inspiration as well as the obligatory stack of books for bedtime.
While looking for these I found book after book telling me the best way to raise a child, how to have the perfect child. It got me thinking about what has influenced the way I want to parent and if I am living up to my expectations or if I'm falling back onto old habits. When we began this journey we had some ideas, but not very defined ideas of how we wanted to parent. Initially I found that what my gut was telling me didn't always fit in with what others around me were doing. It took me a while to realise that this is ok and probably how a lot of others were feeling (we're all just faking it after all - aren't we??). Since then I have read books and spoken to various people finding what I instinctively agreed with and what I don't. It hasn't always been easy to parent in the way He-Man and I want but it seems that whenever I find my self moving in a direction that doesn't feel right, or i start to get lazy something comes along to re-inspire me. My parenting style will adapt to the changes in our lives but our core beliefs are now set. I realise we may not get it right all the time and some days maybe not even most of the time but we are getting there and I am proud of the people our children are becoming.

Now about the check up. Miss Boo is doing great surprising the nurse by "running" (her version) and just about climbing up everything she could find all the while babbling to us about it. It is nice to see her so comfortable around strangers, she even put her head forward to have it measured. Too cute. She's a bit above average for both height and weight (more so for weight, so I think we are in a store to grow phase). Overall it was a great visit.. now I  just have to get her immunisations done and all will be good - though she might not agree.

Showing off her tennis skills...

Raspberries on mummys face after a mouthful of milk is a favorite way to end the night for one Miss Boo. There is something about those milky lips that I just love. PFFFFFFTTTTTT!!!! and on that note "Goodnight and sleeptight!"