Internet Village

When I was pregnant with Miss S (3 years ago!) I joined an online forum of likeminded women who were all pregnant and due at the same time. 

There were some differences and many a learning experience but essentially I have found a group of women (some of whom I'll never meet) that I love and cherish on the internet. 

If you had told me that this would happen 5 years ago I would not have believed you. I didn't think I was the "type" - which is what exactly I don't know! 

There have definitely been some trials and tribulations, which one would expect from a group of pregnant hormonal women! 

In learning the perils of first time motherhood these women were my sanity - there to chat when up feeding at 3am, there when there was a funky spot, there when I needed a laugh, or a vent or a pick me up. 

After catching up with my fav internet bestie last week it got me thinking about all of our children - the generation that comes after meeting each other on the internet. Will our kids become friends on the internet? Will they forget about each other? Will they get married? Will they fight and think their mums are weirdos? 

I can't tell you. 

What I can tell you is that - without these women my adjustment to motherhood would have been a lot harder. In this day and age, mothers don't have the support and help they need from family (for various reasons!) and sometimes that late night chat is just what you need. 

They say it takes a village to raise a child, well I want to say thank you to my fav internet village and I hope one day Miss S will too. 

Future besties?

This time around I joined a new "due in" club, what started as 70 women with many differences has become a group of 10 ladies who I have started to love, cherish and appreciate for their wisdom. 

I hope my advice and knowledge helps them as much as my first group have helped me.

Peace out ladies. 

x

Guess what?

I am finally convinced that we are actually having a baby - we tried to conceive for 4 months and I am currently 29 weeks pregnant but its only just hit me. THERE IS A FRICKEN BABY IN MY UTERUS!

Long weekend plan for us was to paint the nursery/storage room. So naturally, we were too slack and lazy and ended up only sanding and washing the walls. BUT aside from the smell (oil of cloves aka Nana smell) it's coming along!

Then on Saturday night I got sick - cramps and nausea. YUCK. Mr G was fabulous. He rubbed my back until I fell asleep! The fact that I actually let him touch me when I was in pain and I listened to him when he suggested things to make me feel better - really gives me faith about us actually working together in this labour.

Today we had a fancy smancy 3D scan and I think it has really bought it home that there is a child in there! 

See - it's a real baby! 

It's SUPER exciting the second time around, there is something magical about knowing what's coming (at least as much as you can) and being able to remember the first time all over again. 

I have finally gotten a new sewing machine foot so I can start being crafty again! I have picked some GORGEOUS Cat in the Hat material to make some curtains. 

We don't know what the sex is and it makes it a little hard to buy clothes and things but the things we have purchased are super cute - and I can't wait to see them on the baby!

Not to mention that my baby, yep. My baby girl is going to be a BIG sister. What will she be like? Will she love her bro/sis? Do we have enough love for another one? 

We will find out in 11 weeks (or more!) how we all work together! 

Daredevil Children

Obstacle course time! We have been wanted to do this for a while - we believe in encouraging Miss S to explore anything she wants to and also to take risks in her play. 

When we go for walks, we encourage her to walk on walls (she always wants to hold our hand!) and we jump over things all the time. She is quite confident doing things like this but will always let us know if she isn't. 

Some things work, some things don't. 

Miss S was hanging from a tree branch on the weekend, and LOVED "falling" into big piles of leaves. In the end it was all about the fall for her! 

Then on Sunday she was climbing on our lounge and decided to dive over the arm. Sorry. Not such a smart choice missy! There was crying, but no broken bones and I am sure (WELL I HOPE) she learnt a lesson! 

Here is our little obstacle course, I would love love love to keep it down permanently but it would kill the grass! What do you think? Have you done something similar? I want to see it! Personally I think next time we need to up the ante! This was too easy for our daredevil!

If you are really serious about your sun protection - this is the way to go. DER.

19 things you NEED to know

Pardon? What did you say? You want to know more about me? Well since you ask - here is a comprehensive list of all things you didn't even realise you wanted to know about me.

> Mr G and I got together when I was 17.
> My star sign is Cancer.
> I go MENTAL if I don't have me time.
> I am interested in tarot.
> I dream of being more crafty (watch this space).
> I love the Real Housewives of any city.
> I hate cats.
> I think french fries dipped in thick shake should be classified as a meal.
> I believe ALL people who love each other should be able to get married.
> I hate not making my own money.
> I am obsessed with Tori Spelling and her family.
> If I try to stick up for myself, I always make things worse!

> I snore like a mutha trucker.

> I hate gardening, the stupid weeds just grow back!

> I care TOO much about what other people thing.

> My favorite singer is P!nk.

> I love yoga.

> I am in awe of the fact that getting poo or boogers on my person does not bother me in the slightest anymore.

> I currently have 2059 photos on my iPhone. 

Don't you love how instagram gives you a nice glow in photos? I look like an angel! right? 

I would love to hear something random about you - share with the world! 

Pebbles Crunching

Sounds of brakes and engine slowing down.
Pebbles meeting tyres in the drive.
Dog: Barking, waging, excitement plus. Finds nearest shoe for mouth.
Car door shuts.
Miss S: "Daddy!"; runs to front door, opens it and yells out for him.

My favourite time of day. What's yours?

Disclaimer - followed closely by any kind of sleeping, on the couch, daytime, night time, on bed, on floor. Not fussy.

Eco-Gs

In an ideal world we would all live on a couple of acres and have access to everything you need to have a successful vegetable garden to encourage sustainable living.

I am a "greenie" at heart but have always been quite lazy about it. Mr G and I have visions of grandeur. We imagine ourselves river cottagesque - only ever eating things grown in our own garden, drinking organic beer whilst watching our children play in the yard in their bamboo cotton clothes.

Instead I find myself thinking - how annoying that you have to wash the vegemite out of the jar before recycling it! Really? That's absurd! I need sunlight to dry my nappies, when there is a dryer? What the?

Since I have unloaded a couple of things and organised my life a little better I have more time to make our house more eco-friendly. On our immediate to do list is:

> Monthly meal planning to assist in less wastage and use fresh fruit and vegetables that are in season.

> Taking care of our vegie garden instead of expecting it to take care of itself.

> Buying some reusable snack containers - instead of glad bags!

> Recycling EVERYTHING that I can. Including vegemite jars.

> Less car use. 

> Use vegies from the garden.

> Using reusable nappies and wipes FULL time with new baby. 

Our long term goals include:

> Chickens!

> Solar power.

> Water tanks.

I have included some photos of our vegie garden (from December!), unfortunately we seem to have many problems with animals (possums? slugs? rats?) eating everything but we WILL solve this problem! 

Any suggestions or helpful hints? 

Cockatoos and decisions made

I have been struggling a little lately about what to do with my life. I find it it so hard to let go and just enjoy being a mother because I feel like I need to plan for my future. 

I am currently studying my Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) via correspondence. This degree covers ages 0 to 8 years so I figured I could teach at a preschool or at a primary school. Unfortunately, I have been finding it difficult to study online and I don't feel like it's the right way to study for me.

So I decided to try to attend university here in NSW once my new bubs is old enough. Only catch is the NSW degree only covers 0 - 5 years so that limits my career options. So to continue with Early Childhood or move onto primary?

I wanted to share with you how I found the answer...

I walked to pick Stella up from her kindy yesterday and we had to walk up to the shops. Stella is (mostly) very cooperative and I allow her a little freedom when walking so she is always very well behaved! 

Except for this day. 

Tantrum city. 

Molars. I hate them (they are the devil! DEVIL!!!). Once we cuddled and sung ALOT I knew I would have to use distraction techniques all the way home.

It was dusk so all the local cockys were out and making a ruckous! I pointed some out and we went on a hunt trying to spot more. 

Stella loved pointing them out! I decided that this distraction technique was working!

Next step - flapping like birds down the highway on the way home. Sometimes you just have to let your shame go!

THEN we found a feather! Perfect! We talked about wings and how they help the cockys fly. 

Once we got home we googled images and videos and watched them in the wild, playing guitars and even dancing to Backstreet Boys (he was good!)

To finish off we videoed ourselves making cocky noises! Here is the finished product for you:

We relayed our stories and lessons learnt to Daddy when he got home. 

I was so proud that I managed to let go of any hang ups about myself and just go with it, finding things to elaborate more on what we were learning and just having fun! 

The wonder, the excitement, the fun, the shame (or lack of it) - of course this is the age group I want to work with.

Once bubs is born, I will start studying again but for now I start my life as a "cheater" SAHM (I work as a bookkeeper too!)

I am apprehensive and nervous but also so excited and I have started to feel so much more relaxed about my life now. 

I look forward to sharing more toddler lessons (for both me and Stella) in the near future.

Ciao for now.

T x

PS. Normally I would have about 50million photos to share with you but I was too focused on  Stella to even think about it! :)