2011

Happy New Year

Wishing you much love, happiness and fun for 2011

Tis the season

About time I posted something on here wouldn't you say?! Especially if you got our Christmas newsletter and decided to pay a visit.

We are busy getting ready for Christmas. We have family coming to stay and can't wait. It's Lukes first Christmas and while he may not remember it in years to come, we will so we are trying to make it special.

The tree is up and decorated. Most of the presents are bought. We are almost there.

Wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas and I will try to be back very soon :-)

One year ago today

Wow, that year went fast!

Love you G xxx

29 @ 29

 1. Paint my toenails

 2. Scrapbook at least 12 moments of baby’s first year

 3. Plant sunflower seeds/grow sunflowers

 4. Eat tiramisu

 5. Get my hair cut

 6. Summarise/scrapbook our first year married

 7. Read a novel

 8. Lose 5kg

 9. Decide if I’m returning to work or not

 10. Participate in a Christmas ornament swap

 11. Write a Christmas newsletter

 12. See Harry Potter 7 (part 1)

 13. List 29 reasons why I’m a good mother

 14. Blog at least 29 times

 15. Email at least 50 photos/videos of baby to family

 16. Finish rainbow crochet blanket

 17. Get a nice photo of all 3 of us (plus maybe the dog)

 18. Take baby swimming

 19. Send 10 postcards or letters (with photos of baby maybe)

 20. Buy at least 10 bunches of flowers

 21. Try 10 new recipes

 22. Create a photo wall (in the dining room?)

 23. Make bunting for baby’s bedroom

 24. Have a picnic or tea party

 25. Find ways to celebrate each season

 26. Give away at least 29 things

 27. Try to take at least 1 photo every day

 28. Write my birth story

 29. Have 12 ‘dates’ with my husband

You can see my 28 things list here and my 27 things list here.

Review of 28 things aged 28

You can view the 28 things list here.

I have tried a couple of times to colour code it so it's easy to see what's complete, what was started and what wasn't done but for some reason it won't publish it.

At first glance the 28 things list could be considered an epic fail.

I completed 8 items.

But to be honest, I am pleased with what I achieved.

Not only did I complete those 8 items, I also made some progress with another 17 items even though I didn't finish them.

Only 3 items weren't started or completed and 2 of those were because I was pregnant and didn't want to do them for safety reasons (ride a horse and play badminton).

And let's not forget that in this last year I have achieved something pretty amazing. I got pregnant, grew a strong, healthy baby and then delivered him into this world (without any drug relief I might add).

Some things are more important than a list I drew up 13 months ago.

I realised pretty early on that I had made the list 'too much' - it wasn't a list of 28 things at all - most items had a bigger task than doing just one thing. It was do 28 of this or list 100 of that. I made it too hard.

Even if I hadn't been pregnant/a new mother for the whole year I think I would have struggled completing more items.

So I have made a 29 list but it's a fair bit simpler than last years. I'll try and share it with you over the next few days.

Keeping Busy

Our beautiful baby boy was born on Tuesday 10th August at 12.40pm.

We have been very busy between then and now getting to know him and learning how to be parents.

Hopefully at some point in the future I might be able to blog with a little more regularity but at the moment it's going to be very hit and miss.

So while you wait for some regular posts I decided to leave the cutest photo ever in this post :-)

Long time, no post

Wow - is it really the last day in July today? Am I really supposed to be having a baby in the next month? Eek! Seriously, where has the time gone?

My last day at work came and went and I thought about posting about my finishing work feelings.

We lost Graeme's Grandpa and I couldn't get the right words down to explain that.

And now I am 3 weeks into my maternity leave, baby's official due date is in 9 days time, we have a cot and a buggy (finally!) and I'm very much aware that there won't be too many moments to sit and think about putting words together soon.

I really can't wait to meet our new little person. I admit to being a little apprehensive about his journey into the world but knowing I will get to meet this little bundle that's been keeping me company with his little kicks and fidgets at the end of it makes me realise that it's going to be worth it.

I wonder what baby will be like? I think it goes without saying he's going to be gorgeous! How could he not be? What will he be when he grows up? When is he going to arrive?

There's so many thoughts and worries and questions at the moment but I have surprised myself and feel much calmer than I thought I would at this time. Maybe it's the hormones or some maternal instinct but there's part of me that just knows baby will be here when he's ready and we will do the very best we can for him when he gets here.

And until then I will do my best to put my feet up and rest up ready for being on round the clock duty when he does make his appearance!

June

Wow, June. How did we get here? Time is flying by and I honestly don't know where it went!

We have been busy getting ready for the arrival of baby and have now chosen most of the big items we want (cot, buggy, carseat etc) and either have them here or they are on order (fingers crossed they arrive before baby does!). We've also been attending antenatal classes and only have 2 left to go. We've already done the tour of the hospital and have a box of nappies ready to go so we are almost prepared!

I've found I've really had to slow down lately and am often tucked up in bed at 9 or 9.30pm most nights (what a nana!). Undisturbed nights are well and truly in the past and I'm often awake a few times in the night trying to get comfy. I'm trying to see the good side of this - it's getting me ready for being up and down in the night with baby!

I'm also feeling a little less creative and full of ideas lately. I think my brain is busy focusing on baby related things and everything else has gone out the window.

I've been notoriously bad at taking photos and without photos I don't have much fodder for blog posts. I've had a look at what's on the camera today and then headed out into the garden in the rain to get some photos to share so I could finally update the blog. All flowers today - some brightness and prettiness to take away the winter blues.

It's been quite cold here some days and the fire is on most nights these days. I've taken to lighting candles and putting the fairy lights on to make the most of the darker nights with some twinkles!

I still struggle with the turnabout of the seasons in the Southern Hemisphere and it's weird to think Graeme will be celebrating his birthday next weekend in winter. I still have to buy his presents and am currently deciding whether or not to bake him a birthday cake, birthday muffins or birthday cupcakes...in fact I might go and have a peek through my reciep books just now to get some ideas.

And I'll promise to try and leave less time between posts next time :-)