Nixter's Notes

happy anniversary to us

2011-04-08T08:26:00.003+10:00

Well, here I am blogging again and what better day to start than on our 5th wedding anniversary.. At least it means I have something to write about!!!

5 years ago today was the day we said "I do", it was a beautiful day!! 5 years on 2 units, 1 house (we don't own all these but have lived in 3 places since marriage!!!), a new church and of course 2 beautiful children later and we feel very blessed indeed!!!

We are off out to dinner tonight at the restaurant that is now open at the venue we got married, babysitters are booked (by my husband I might add!) and it's off for a yummy scrummy dinner to reminisce.

In other news my Mum and Jules arrive on Monday! Yay!

Exciting news

2010-03-08T07:57:00.002+11:00

Well, I guess I haven't been as good at blogging as I was hoping to be this year but it is only March so I have some time to make that right and I have a fairly good reason...

We are having another baby!!! Baby number two will be arriving in late September! There will be 21 months between our first baby and second baby.

We are very excited but I think I will enjoy it all a bit more when I stop having morning sickness. I forgot how yucky morning sickness was, I guess that happens so you actually have more kids huh!

So when lil 'O' has been having a sleep so has his Mama which hasn't left a whole lot of time for blogging...

I have been up and down at the idea of having two little ones under two - of course we want this little baby so much so that's not the issue, I think just because I have been feeling so tired and sick it makes me start wondering how I will cope with two. I also have been thinking a lot more about how hard it is to have family so far away, my family in England and then SP's family 4 hours away. I have been a littleysad about this over the last month or so, I see Grandma's walking their grand-kids and really wish that was mine or SP's Mum with 'A'.

But I guess we are not doing it by ourselves we have a great God who gives us all we need to get through, and we also have a wonderful new church family around this time so that will be a great support and already is...

We had our first scan a few weeks ago and there was a strong little heartbeat - one heartbeat!!! We go back next week for our 12 weeks scan where hopefully we will see a little bit more of our new little family member!

Anyway I really wanted to share with you on blogger before I mentioned it on Facebook in a one sentence status update.

Please pray that this yucky morning sickness would leave me soon and that this little one might grow safe and healthy in my tummy!!! I can't believe I am on this pregnancy roller-coaster again but I am thrilled and excited to enjoy the ride - once the morning sickness is over that is!

the three wise (and wet) kangaroos

2010-01-05T13:38:00.003+11:00

These big fellows came to pay us a visit on Christmas morning!

I must get me one of these - infact I think I might get one for each side of the bed!!

2009-12-12T13:30:00.002+11:00

very cool idea - piano stairs

2009-10-17T09:26:00.002+11:00

What a cool idea!

this WILL make you SMILE

2009-10-16T08:08:00.002+11:00

dummy's, teeth and crawling!

2009-10-09T14:31:00.005+11:00

Two weeks ago SP and I decided we were going to get rid of 'A's dummy. He only had it for his 2 or 3 day sleeps but he was also only sleeping for 45 mins at each sleep. I thought getting rid of the dummy might mean he slept for longer chunks.. We decided to go 'cold turkey' and it was quite painful for the first week but slowly but surely it took less and less time for him to get to sleep by himself. He has also managed to have several longer sleeps some days BUT some days he also only sleeps for 30 mins which is less than when he had the dummy - GRRRRRR! I have no real issue with using a dummy but I think if it ends up being more of a hindrance than a help then it is time to say adios. We got rid of it at night after England for that very reason, getting rid of it at night was much less painful than in the day... Now I would love to get more consistent sleeps out of my little one and try to resettle him after the 30-45 min naps...

I think one of the reasons why 'A' has been a little bit out of sorts this last week and maybe sleeping less in the day is because of his teeth. At the ripe old age of 9 months he finally got his first tooth, (note: I was 13 months when I got my first tooth, I was practically bold and toothless, and the small amount of hair I did have was this ORANGE, how very sad) it was quite a non-event really other than 'A' drooling like a dog over a juicy bone, BUT then tooth numero 2 has started appear beneath the gum and it seems to be causing our little man some grief - and us for that matter!!!! Mum if you look really really really closely you might be able to see a tooth, it ain't easy trying to take a picture of it!!!

Anyway other than that little (or should I say) big 'A' is doing well. Still nowhere near crawling, he prefers toys and people to come to him, so very lazy.... Maybe one day, hopefully before school he will decide that getting around on your hands and knees or even your feet for that matter has it's perks. getting into cupboards, following Mummy and Daddy wherever they go, eating DVDs - the list is endless really. Gee I hope he doesn't read my blog to get all sorts of naughty ideas!!!!!

a very exciting day

2009-10-02T08:07:00.002+10:00

Wonderful friends of ours are having their baby today. They have waited 3-4 years for this little bundle of joy and today is the day.

I am VERY excited and can't wait to meet this little person!

Please pray all goes well with delivery!

Not long now and we will! Praise God!

our not so little boy....

2009-09-29T09:14:00.006+10:00

.....is growing up so fast!

dinosaur in the dust!

2009-09-25T09:13:00.004+10:00

Forget 'Gorilla's in the Mist' - here is 'Dinosaur in the Dust'. Due to the heavy dust storm on Wednesday you have missed this little fella who popped to Sydney to say hello!

pics of the dust storm

2009-09-24T08:55:00.006+10:00

what if Starbucks marketed like a church - a parable!

2009-09-24T08:33:00.001+10:00

our little family

2009-08-07T11:37:00.006+10:00

rules of the inn

2009-08-05T21:28:00.005+10:00

When we were in England we went to a pub and this was on the wall in the pub - made us laugh!

i am taking 'A' rollerblading tomorrow!

2009-07-27T19:34:00.001+10:00

what a difference a week makes!

2009-07-27T12:05:00.007+10:00

So there I was worrying about 'A' not eating solids and after all your lovely comments about not worrying below I was starting to chilax about it all and realise it was more about me wanting him to start solids than being worried about him wasting away!
Anyhoo - I persevered with trying little tastes of food and then all of a sudden one day last week he starts eating me out of house and home! Well not quite but nearly ;)

Here is the photographic evidence!

wish i would have thought of this!

2009-07-27T08:30:00.002+10:00

love it! This made me smile!

struggles and joys

2009-07-16T10:19:00.002+10:00

There have been some wonderful joys with our little munchkin over the last few months which bring smiles to our faces and love to our hearts but there have also been a few struggles which have left me wondering what the heck to do!!! Maybe I can call on my beautiful friends for wisdom??

Firstly the joys:

1. Being a big boy 'A' took a little longer than average to do the whole rolling thing! He can still only roll from front to back and he really doesn't care to do it very often! He still can't reach his feet to grab them to roll from back to front! He did his first roll with Nanny in England (Nanny was very very chuffed (pleased) - Mummy was in bed!) but just for Mummy he did another one when she woke up!

2. 'A' has just started to clap his hands and even more recently wave! Such cuteness and of course very advanced!

3. When Daddy gets home from work 'A' gets super excited and smiles and kicks his legs and flaps his arms - I hope he doesn't take off doing that! It is so cute to see him respond to his Daddy like this and his Daddy is pretty chuffed too.

Struggles:

1. Apparently solid food just isn't for 'A'. I tried him with some rice cereal when I was in England when he was about to turn 6 months - the first day he was a bit interested but thereafter he has not really given much time or thought to eating solids.. I have tried him with apple, pear, butternut pumpkin and banana but the kid is JUST NOT INTERESTED! It is starting to become a real area of frustration for me and I am not sure what to do. He is still at the top of the scale for weight, weighing in at just over (9kgs) 20lbs - so he isn't going to waste away any time soon. I know you shouldn't compare and it's dangerous business, but all my friends kids who are the same age as 'A' have taken to solid food and are going great guns. I have always had such a lot of milk - from day one (even the nurses mentioned how much I had!), 'A' has always had very big weight gains and I still seem to have so much milk - still leaking and still needing to wear those annoying nursing pads (hope that's not TMI but just wanting to fill you in on where I am up to)!!!!!! I have had a few successful mornings of shoveling some pear or rice cereal in - but he still hasn't been all that into it and I just don't think he is ready - he isn't opening his mouth like a little birdie greatly anticipating each mouthful. You hear all different advice, people saying if he doesn't start now he will miss the boat, but then other friends saying how many adults do you know who still only eat breast-milk - he will figure it out (so so true my friend!) So I don' know whether to keep on keeping on and trying him each morning or to wait a while until he shows more interest? Please let me know if you have any similar stories or any top tips! I was really looking forward to this time of steaming up veggies, trying different foods, nursing a little less, having someone else feed him for a change but it isn't all going as expected. I thought 'A' would totally love food as he is such a chunky monkey but I guess he is lovin his Mamma's milk too much!
I am going to try and drop the 3am feed I am still doing to see if that makes the munchkin hungrier for food!

2. Also at 'A's 6 month check (I took him today so I was a bit late as he is almost 7 months) they noticed that his fontanelle is pretty much closed - this is quite early (normal is 9 months to 2 years) so they want to check it again in a month. I stupidly looked up what this can mean on google and it's not very good - but as long as his head circumference continues to grow normally and he reaches his developmental milestones it will hopefully not be anything to worry about. It can mean surgery to allow the brain to grow but this is worse case scenario! Please pray it would all be fine!

Anyhoo - that's all for now folks. I am sure I have more joys and struggles to add but I will maybe blog again about them laters..

some pics of england 09

2009-07-15T14:18:00.000+10:00

please pray

2009-05-25T14:36:00.003+10:00

I have totally been meaning to write for so long but I have been a busy lil Mamma! And now I am almost off to England!! The good news is we managed to get upgraded to Business class for our Sydney to Dubai flight (16 hours!!!!), so that should make it more comfortable with 'A'. SP also got upgraded for the same flight when he comes in 2 and a bit weeks!! All thanks to Mum and Jules' air miles!!

I leave in just over 4 hours and I am feeling a little nervous so thought I would ask you to pray specifically about these few things:

* That 'A's ears would be ok on take off and landing!!!

* That he would be settled on the plane.

* That we would arrive safely.

* That I would be relaxed and not anxious!

* I am starting to get emotional about having to leave SP - please pray that the time might go quickly and we might not to be too sad!

* That 'A' would stay healthy (no swine flu please!), that he might get some good sleeps and that it might be a smooth ride. Turbulence means you have to get the babies out of the bassinet ;(

* Pray for SP also, as he will miss us and we will miss him for just over 2 weeks until he flies out to meet us. Pray also for a safe flight for him.

* Please please please also pray for the adjustment for when we get the other end with 'A', his sleep and the time difference.

I will be in touch hopefully once I get to England!!! Which will be Tuesday night Aussie time and lunchtime UK time!

Adios - hopefully I will write more soon!

happy mothers day to all you mum's...

2009-05-10T08:30:00.006+10:00

...from a new Mum on Mother's day ;)

the ergo baby carrier

2009-05-09T14:14:00.007+10:00

I ordered and received my new baby carrier this week. It's a 'Ergo Baby Carrier' - I wish I had known about these before I brought the Baby Bjorn. Anyway I didn't so suck it up Nixter!

As 'A' is such a big boy - like over 8kgs already at just 4 and a half months old - he is getting far to heavy to carry in the BB, even SP finds him heavy after he has carried him for a while.

So I did a bit of research and found out about the "Ergo Carrier' - you can carry your baby on your front, back and side and they can be in it until they are 3-4 years (up to 25kg) - not that you want to be carrying a 3 year old in it all the time but you can! You have to buy a baby insert if you want to carry a newborn in it.

Well I watched the 'instructional DVD' which came with - yes people you have to watch a DVD to figure out how to use this thing. I also made SP watch it with me again - he loved it but when I asked him if he wanted to watch it again he declined!

So far so good, it isn't as bulky as I thought it would be and while at first being a little worried that 'A' was almost doing the splits in it with his legs wrapped around me - I love it and I think he does too! Apparently it is much better for their posture as they are not hanging from their crotch (did I just say that?) like they do in the BB. And it is much better for me as all the weight is carried on the hips, so my back and shoulders don't hurt anywhere near as much.

'A' seems to love it and the few times I have had him in it he has gone to sleep within about 5-10 mins. I can't wait til he is a little bigger and I can wear him on my back! It also has a little hood to project from wind, sun and rain - no more carrying extra wraps around to cover him up!

I also think it is going to be really great for when I am traveling on the plane and around London when I am home. All in all I am happy with our new purchase I think I shall sell the BB and then when we have another little one buy a pouch or insert for the Ergo!

I highly recommend it - if you have or having a baby of course ;)

private blog

2009-05-09T13:54:00.003+10:00

I am thinking of making my blog private!

Not totally decided yet but if you want to keep reading leave me a comment and I will send a link for you (somehow)!

romans 6 anyone?

2009-05-08T08:22:00.004+10:00

Several years ago when I was in Colorado, my friend and I decided that it would be a great idea to memorise Romans 6: 1-14:

¹What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? ²By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? ³Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

⁵If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. ⁶For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— ⁷because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

⁸Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. ¹⁰The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

¹¹In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹²Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. ¹⁴For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

I had most of it down back then and when I was skimming though Romans the other day it jumped out at me again, I could only remember a few verses but I thought what a great passage, and as I am doing this whole memorise scripture thing I thought it might be cool to go back and memorise it again.

Anyone want to do it with me?

visiting friends today

2009-05-08T08:19:00.003+10:00

After a busy day cleaning and doing house chores yesterday (plus I did manage to squeeze in a nice walk at the beach and a smoothie/early lunch with a girl from mothers group!) I am off to visit a friend today who had a baby 3 weeks ago, I am going along with the lovely Liz M - should be fun!

Looking forward to meeting this little man and hanging out with friends from my old church!

memorising scripture

2009-05-07T08:42:00.003+10:00

SP has a new guy working with him on the project he is working on, and this guy is a Christian - hooray! He actually used to go to and do lay ministry at the church which our new minister came from and so knows him pretty well. Anyhoo, he has started to mentor SP which has been awesome, an older Christian man training and growing SP!
One of the things he has SP doing is memorising scripture. I think SP has about 20 or more down so far which is awesome. I too have decided to jump on the 'memorising scripture' bandwagon as I believe it is a good bandwagon to jump on. So far I have 3 down - I am going to try and write them out here to see how I go:

'had a blank for a minute'!

"And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life" 1 John 5:11-12 (Assurance of Salvation)

"Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete" John 16:24 (Assurance of Answered Prayer)

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it" 1 Corinthians 10:13 (Assurance of Victory)

I just checked them and I almost got them right, I just added one word to each of them - DOH! Guess I better keep practicing. I just corrected them so if you want to memorise them you don't start memorising my incorrect attempts!

I believe Aimee and Alison are also at it - You Go Girls!

our little man laughing at a zipper!!!!

2009-05-04T13:11:00.003+10:00

i have managed to get my little man a job......

2009-04-20T08:54:00.003+10:00

......in security!

the two men in my life!

2009-04-14T08:49:00.007+10:00

I love these two men! My big man and my little man and I love these pics of them together! And they are both wearing my favourite colour!

my first online shopping experience

2009-04-09T11:30:00.003+10:00

It was Saturday morning and I was anticipating my Coles groceries to be delivered to my front door - woot!

I couldn't wait!- I had booked a delivery to arrive between 1.30pm and 4.30pm and at 12pm I was called to see if I was home and would except an early delivery - oh yeah I will!!!!

So the nice man delivered my groceries and I was very happy until Scott said - are you sure this is everything?!?!?!!?!

No milk, no bread, none of my weekly essentials - GREAT I thought and then I saw two packets of rice that I never ordered.

I was starting to think that my first online shopping experience had been a total disaster and that they had given me part of some other persons shopping - then it suddenly occurred to me:

"No milk, no bread - DOH". I know what happened - I created a 'Weekly List' with Coles, which is a list of items I get every week (milk, bread etc), BUT I had totally forgotten to add this 'Weekly List' to my 'trolley' - DOH!

And what about the rice and lotion??? On the bag they came in I saw a sticker 'Free Samples' - Yay for free stuff!

So even though it meant we had to go to the shops ANYWAY due to my boo boo which kind of defeats the point of online shopping, I was glad it wasn't because Coles Online are rubbish - it's because I am rubbish and am an amateur at this.

It was still fun to have the man delivery my groceries to my door - no lifting and no carrying heavy items up our stairs.

I have learnt much from my first shopping experience - sometimes those mistakes that you make mean you probably won't make them again

I have just placed my 2nd online order which is being delivered today, so I will let you know if this one is slightly more successful.

I fully recommend shopping online - I won't do it forever but it works for us right now!

my new hair do!

2009-04-09T11:13:00.004+10:00

I finally plucked up the courage to have it all cut off! It's been a long time since I have had my hair this short!

nixter gets so much satisfaction when....

2009-04-06T09:13:00.001+10:00

....she gets the big boogers out of her sons nose and he can breath more easily!! Bring on the Boogers!

shopping online baby!!!

2009-04-01T08:22:00.005+11:00

I am going to attempt the shopping online this week. This saves me having to try and lug a 7kg baby around the shopping centre in the Baby Bjorn - when you are on your own it's a bit hard to push a pram and a trolley at the same time*. I have done the shopping once on my own and it was ok but I like to do a weekly shop as I don't want to go back and forth to the shops during the week, and by the time you get there, do the shopping with baby attached, get the shopping home, get baby upstairs into the unit, followed by 8 bags of shopping, then try putting the shopping away while 'A' is almost due for a feed = too hard at the moment! It's ok when SP comes with me but doing it online means we can enjoy the weekends together without having to do chores like shopping! Here are what I think are going to be some of the potential pros and cons of online shopping:

pros of online shopping

You get it delivered! Beauty!
You can browse online and find the best deals.
You aren't as tempted to pick up additional things that you don't really need.
You get a running total of your bill - which is good for budgeting.
I think they keep your previous shopping list which helps with the regular items that you purchase each week - makes life easier (at least I think this is what happens?!?!)

cons of online shopping

If you forget something you have to make an additional trip to the shops (unless you can do without it for another week).
You pay approx $9 for delivery. (that's not too bad really)
It means I am going to have to do the fruit and veg shopping separately (Coles and Woolies fruit and veg are expensive and not as good as you get from the fruit and veg shops). I am hoping to find an online fruit and veg home delivery website - if you know any good ones let me know!
Sometimes if you forget to write something on your list (if you use lists) when you are actually at the supermarket certain aisles can prompt you to remember that you needed something!

I have had some good reports that online shopping is a great way to shop and you can also save some money.

When 'A' is a little bigger it will be easier to take him, especially when he can sit in the seats but for now, especially with the the rain at the moment and winter coming up - I think shopping from the warmth of my computer at home will be awesome!

I will let you know if it's as good as I think it is going to be!

* No people I have not tried this!!!!!!!

Our little man telling a story!

2009-03-11T17:03:00.004+11:00

i photo-boothed my son!

2009-03-10T17:39:00.006+11:00

and just to prove he is really a cute little boy - here is a normal one of him with his Mamma!

bullets

2009-03-10T08:18:00.002+11:00

been busy
more blood tests
tests have varied considerably over the last 2 weeks
going to endocrinologist tomorrow for more news
looks like it's Hashimoto's disease (NOT a Japanese restaurant apparently )
doc not even sure if I will need meds but will find out tomorrow
feeling ok about it as I know it can be managed
miss my family
wish I had them around to help, to visit or to just talk too
feel like we are doing it alone
being a mamma is wonderful but it can be lonely
managed to do the house work by myself last week
managed to do the weekly food shop yesterday
had 'A' in the baby bjorn
shopping not as easy as it used to be
might get SP to keep helping me until 'A' can sit in the trolley seat
have a new respect for women with more than one child
'A' is 12 weeks this Thurs
he has slept 11 hours the last two nights
up until then he had been sleeping 9-10 hours
feel like a very lucky mamma
day sleeping not going so well unless I am rocking or walking
although he is asleep now
trying to keep him up a bit longer between feeds to see if that works
I guess you can't have it all!
he is now 6.5kgs (14lb 3oz)
he looks more like a 6 month old
went to visit SP's family in Canberra
we have a new nephew called Jamal David
he is cute
my little man slept all 3 1/2 hours on the drive down there
but didn't sleep all the way back
got a bit grumpy about an hour out of Sydney but we made it home in one piece
I was a bit sad cause I knew he was hungry but there was nowhere to stop
but I don't think he was going to waste away
he is now down to 5 feeds a day - yippee
reading 'Changing Your World One Diaper (nappy ) at a Time!
L.O.V.I.N.G it
so relevant
better reading it the second time after actually having a baby
I think I might be quoted in it - unless that was some other chick who lives in Australia and has family in England?
I love that I know so many of the girls who are in the book.
that Marla chick sure knows what she is talking about
blogging still sporadic and still haven't been able to catch up on all your blogs
maybe if 'A' sleeps better in the day I will have time until then I will be thinking of you all
hope you all have a great day

rspca volunteer of the year

2009-03-06T13:45:00.000+11:00

more pics

2009-02-27T08:17:00.008+11:00

Here are a few new pics of my little man - he is growing soooooooo much and sooo fast. He has slowed down a bit which is good, otherwise he would be bigger than me in a few months.

The pic of Oliver with the little girl (Amelia with her dolly 'Lucy') is too funny - I guess he just isn't into girls at the moment (I guess that by the punch to the face). Amelia is so little and dainty at 6 months next to my big man who is just 10 weeks. He is actually bigger than she is - but she is a little 6 month-er!

living in a hot country means.....

2009-02-24T14:00:00.006+11:00

...you must wear your sunhat and sunnies whilst doing a high five at all times, and when you are old enough sunscreen!

Slip, Slap, Slop or whatever it is!

some things I have learnt/am learning

2009-02-21T19:34:00.012+11:00

Soooooo the last 9.4 weeks of my life have changed considerably with the arrival of our little man, who I love to pieces but who has taken me on a roller coaster of emotions, worries, joys, laughs and cries!

So here are some things I have learnt:

- Having a baby is hard but rewarding work.

- Watching my baby do things for the first time, such as smile, giggle and talk (or should I say coo) are priceless! (No, this is not an add for Mastercard!)

- I don't have as much patience as I thought I would have.

- Hearing my own baby cry is hard!

- It's ok to let my baby cry a bit - it's not always easy but it's ok (as least in my opinion).

- Cuddling my little one is one of the best things ever.

- I didn't realise how much a little person could steal your heart.

- I have tried to get out and about since we brought the little man home - even though it can seem daunting at the times, it's worth it and helps my state of mind.

- Less sleep = emotional tired Mum.

- More sleep = happy Mum. Thankfully I am getting a lot more of this at the moment ;)

- Taking naps in the day is important and makes me feel much better.

- Going for walks when I am at the end of my tether helps the body and the mind.

- It's ok to let my housework slip - even though SP and I do it on the weekends I don't bust a gut to get it done during the week - not yet anyway.

- Being a 'Mum' is a spin-out.

- EVERYONE has advice on parenting - some good, some not so good, some confusing and a LOT contradictory.

- Because of above I have learnt to trust my God given instincts and to ask people I trust for advice. Otherwise it is too overwhelming and you can stop trusting yourself and end up in a sea of advice not knowing which bits to listen too and which bits to ignore!

- It is possible to capture lots of great moments on camera and video. You may have guessed that if you have seen my previous posts and my Facebook page.....

- It's possible to miss lots of great looks and moments so I have my camera/video ready at all times ;)

- I like routine and I try to have a plan, but if it doesn't work out I am learning to go with the flow a bit more.

- An overtired boy is much harder to get to sleep.

- Consistency seems to work - at the moment anyway.

- Once I think I have something 'down' it can very well change the next week - and I have a feeling this will be life with a baby/child!

- I didn't think it would be possible to love my little man more and more each day - but I do!

I am sure there is a lot more than this I have learnt but this is it so far! We are learning together - let's not forget that life on the 'outside' ain't easy and takes a bit to get used too!

elvis* has left the bath!

2009-02-17T08:41:00.007+11:00

* I don't think Elvis had a goatee but hey ho - he should have!

my little heart breaker....

2009-02-13T10:15:00.010+11:00

help! and pics

2009-02-10T08:27:00.008+11:00

I need help! but first look at how adorable my little boy is:

My darling precious baby boy whom I love to bits and who is almost 8 weeks old is driving me nuts when it's nap time and (sometimes) bedtime!

I feed him and have play time with him so he is up for about an hour and a half and then I normally rock him for a bit until he is sleepy and then I put him down - he then might lay there for a little bit and he looks sleepy and then not long later he starts crying! Occasionally he will go straight to sleep but more often than not he cries. So this morning it took me almost an hour to settle him - I let him cry for a little while but he got so hot and sweaty and upset that then I feel bad for leaving him. I ended up just going in and rocking him for a while and then put him down and now he is asleep. I really want him to learn to settle but maybe I am expecting too much too early but he seems to have gotten worse with going to sleep in the last 2 weeks.

Then when I finally get him to sleep he wakes up exactly 45 mins later! Then I try patting him and giving him a dummy but it doesn't work! Oh what to do what to do!

I thought I would have more patience for this kind of thing than I do - I am surprised at myself for how frustrated I get, which I am sure doesn't help!

Anyhoo - he isn't a whiny baby it's just at sleep time I am not sure what to do with him and it takes me longer to get him to sleep than how long he is actually asleep! I feel like not fighting it but then he just gets over-tired and I want to try to do the best thing by him. I am sure this is normal I just don't know what else to try - do I keep him up longer or for less time/ do I let him cry more/ do I just get him up even though I know he is tired/ do I rock him to sleep (which I don't really want to have to do)! You get so much conflicting advice so you end up not knowing what to do and which advice to take. I have been reading Babywise which has some good advice but I am not taking it all on board - and in an ideal world when you have fed and played with baby - baby does go for a nap but it's not as easy as that!

Any advice?

my little geezer

2009-01-20T14:42:00.005+11:00

more pics

2009-01-17T16:30:00.001+11:00

more pics of our little man

2008-12-29T15:57:00.000+11:00

'A'

2008-12-20T12:41:00.004+11:00

HOW CUTE IS HE !!!!

It's a BOY !!!

2008-12-20T12:17:00.008+11:00

This is Ruth posting to let you all know that:

Nixter had a gorgeous baby boy:

He was born:

Thursday, 18th December, 12:17a.m

Weighing 3.4kg (7.9lbs)

Length 52cm.

'A' a bit jaundiced currently under uv, but very well.

Nixter, the amazing - gave birth DRUG FREE !!!

Nixter and SP are enjoying him immensely, and are very thankful to finally meet him face to face!

nixter is looking for a house/cat sitter

2008-12-13T19:13:00.004+11:00

My Mum and Jules are arriving in just over a week which is going to be excellent and we have a holiday house on the South Coast booked for a week from 3rd January til 10th January. We are going with SP's family so it should be fun and we will have a little one by then too.

BUT our other little one - Moses the Cat needs someone to look him!

So I was wondering if I know you in real life and you fancy a little holiday of your own, not too far from the beach (we have Foxtel ;) and you don't mind kitty cats then let me know - comment, call or email me!

Moses is really a good little cat, he likes company and just look how cute he is! He keeps out of mischief and does a lot of this:

If you can help out and you are around that week or even for part of the week let me know ;)

guess the weight, date and name ;)

2008-12-12T10:04:00.004+11:00

I thought as it is close to due date and to meeting Squiggly it would be fun to get you all to guess how heavy you think the baby will be (see past posts for a clue, don't say I never help you) and also when Squiggly will arrive on the 'outside', again past posts will help with when I am due ;)

I am also keen to see what names you can come up with!

Happy Guessing. The winner will be revealed soon (hopefully!)

lil squiggly's cute chubby face at 39 weeks

2008-12-09T12:43:00.002+11:00

Good news is Squiggly is doing all the right things other than engaging, he's a healthy (and not too bad after all) 3.6kg (8.2lbs) 'ish' and is measuring perfectly. His heart is a beating well and the placenta is working well too.

We got a couple of 3D shots of his cute little face and doesn't it look chubby and less skeleton like now. His Mamma feeds him well!

One is a side on photo (3D) and the other is a front on of his face - too cute. I can't wait to see it in real life.

Please keep praying he might engage so I can have a natural birth but I am feeling a little better about the whole situation now I have a better idea of how big he is so now it's all about his position! He needs to go down, down, down, down, down now and we are set .

39 week appt

2008-12-08T16:01:00.002+11:00

So I had my 39 week appt today at the ob. The baby still hasn't really engaged, he thinks Squiggly may be slightly lower down than before but not that much.

Also the ob thinks that this is a big baby which he had already told me last week but he said today that Squigs isn't smaller than 4kg (8.8lbs) so tomorrow I have to go and have a ultrasound to see how big the baby actually is which will help make the decision about what we do about birth. The ob is keen to allow me to try to go through labour naturally (which I think nowadays isn't as common, he said a lot of ob's would be gearing me up for a c-section already) but depending on how big the baby is may depend on how we go and how long he let's me try to labour naturally considering the size and the bub and the fact he is still not engaged.

I am a little disappointed and it's started me thinking through the real possibility of having this little man by c-section. BUT you never know, I have a week to go til my due date, the ob just wants to have all the info so he is better informed to help me make the right decision which will keep me and the big huge baby growing in me safe.

I will let you know how the ultrasound goes tomorrow. It will be fun to see Squigs on the big screen again.

At least the little (or not so little one) is growing healthy which is a good thing! Praise God for that.

Anyhoo - I will keep you posted but prayers for a natural birth would be great and appreciated.

naughty squiggly ;)

2008-12-02T18:06:00.003+11:00

Squiggly is already being a little bit naughty - I went for my 38 week check up on Monday and even though last week the little one was a little bit in the pelvis, it seems that this week they have retreated and they are still a fair way off engaging! There is still a whole lot more to do between now and next Monday. Also I have been told Squiggly is 'AT LEAST' 8lbs - OH MY GOODNESS - they are going to be huge!

The OB wants to give me an opportunity to see if Squiggly has engaged by next Monday (39 weeks) but if not the chances of me having this little one naturally are very slim! So then we will have to think about a c-section which I didn't really want to have! But there is still a week to go right! So they might drop down between now and then and if not I could have a little one in a week and a half - my OB does c-sections at 39 to 39 1/2 weeks. WOW!

Please pray that Squiggly drops down before next Monday, it can happen over night so it's not impossible but it's not looking all that good. I really want to be able to have a natural birth and I know the recovery with a c-section is longer and tougher and I was hoping to avoid that with my Mum and Jules coming out in just a few weeks. BUT as long as we have a safe and healthy delivery/baby - that's the main thing. But if you think about it pray Squiggly gets their head into gear.

car sticker

2008-11-28T07:47:00.001+11:00

I saw this sticker on the back of a car yesterday!

"It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden, it's our job to arrange the meeting."

US Marines!

3 weeks to go!

2008-11-26T11:41:00.004+11:00

I can't believe I have 3 weeks to go until we will hopefully have our little one with us, I would totally love it if they came a week early, that would just work out so perfectly and give me a couple of weeks til my Mum and her partner arrive and until Christmas arrives.

Anyhoo, it's not in my hands so I need to be patient and see what happens, I have a feeling I will be going over my due date and if so that's OK too - this little one will come when they are ready and so long as they come out all healthy and well then they can come out whenever they want - even Christmas day if they must, BUT the ob told me I would definitely have a baby by Christmas so I don't think he will deliver me on Christmas day - phew. Plus they aren't fully engaged yet, the little lazy bones, the ob thinks they may have dropped down a teeny bit but still not enough - we will see what happens in the next 2 weeks and go from there.

In other news I am in my 4th week of being a 'stay-at-home-mum-to-be' and I am quite enjoying it. It's hard to do a lot as I am pregnant and things are harder to do so some of the things on my list of jobs while I am off are probably not going to get done!

I have done a few things though:

- Sent off my British passport to change my name to my married name.
- Cleaned most of my kitchen cupboards out.
- Cleaned the HUGE mirrors on our wardrobe in the bedroom.
- Cleaned the fridge and freezer.
- Painted some canvas' for the nursery.
- Got the nursery all finished and set up - pics to follow.
- Picked up some last minute bits for Squiggly.
- Then the usual housework which I now try and split over a couple of days otherwise I get too tired.
- Thank you cards from my baby shower.

Can you say N.E.S.T.I.N.G!

Things I still want to get done.

- Clean the oven (SP is going to help me with this one) - don't you think this one is a man's job?
- Look up verses in the bible of parenting - I think I might do this one today!
- Clean blinds.
- Clean windows.
- Wash cars (SP will be doing this job although he kindly suggested I strap some sponges to my belly and clean the car like that!), I kindly suggested something else - which didn't involve my belly, me or cleaning the cars!
- Organise Christmas presents.

Anyhoo, I think some of the above will require SPs help and if they don't get done it really doesn't matter too much!

I am so excited to meet out little one - I can't wait to see who they look like and how big they are and see their little face. I had my ob checkup on Monday and got to see a face on the ultrasound but it's not the same - to see their face in real life will be something else! All looks well on the pre-eclampsia front, my blood pressure and urine are A OK so it doesn't look like I am following in my Mum's footsteps but continued prayers are always appreciated.

Well, I should stop babbling for now and will keep you all posted!

funhouse

2008-11-25T12:44:00.005+11:00

I just brought the new album 'Funhouse' by Pink and I love it.

I have all of her CDs and think she is great and so are her albums.

She is going to be out in concert next year and I would love to go!

gilmore girls

2008-11-24T10:02:00.002+11:00

As I am now a stay-at-home-mum-to-be I have been watching some day time TV and I have gotten into the Gilmore Girls. I had heard about it but never watched it and I am actually quite liking it.

So I was wondering if anyone has it on DVD that I could borrow, I heard it might be a good 'feeding baby' series to watch in the middle of the night ;)

'cankles'

2008-11-20T18:08:00.007+11:00

This is yet another symptom that you can get during the last few weeks of pregnancy, where the 'calves' and the 'ankles' become one and the where you should normally be able to see your calves go into your ankles but that is no longer recognisable - they now blend to become 'cankles'.

This is something that over the last couple weeks I have noticed that I get now and again especially when I am standing for long or sitting for long. Yesterday for instance a 3 1/2 hour trip in the car + 4 hours sitting at dinner in an uncomfortable chair = cankles!

The only real cure for this is to sit with feet up - it's tough but I guess I can do it

tagged

2008-11-18T09:27:00.004+11:00

I was tagged by Priscilla.

So here are the instructions:

* Go to your sixth picture folder in your picture file on your computer, then pick your sixth picture.
* Pray that you remember the details.
* Post it on your blog.
* Tag 5 others, leave a comment to let them know they’ve been tagged.

This is the 6th picture in the 6th folder in my picture directory. The Eiffel Tower.

I took this photo in Paris of course but I can't remember for the life of me who I went with and what I was doing there. It was in Sept, 2003 that's all I know - if I remember anything else I will be sure to post! I love the photo but I need to try and remove the date from it ;)

I tag Sophie G, Ruth, Tracy, Alison and Ben (don't feel like you have to but if you feel the need go for it, I thought it was a pretty cool idea!).

time to update

2008-11-17T14:16:00.005+11:00

Well, I have just started my third week off since finishing work and I have not even sat down to blog or read blogs - you would have thought I would have soooooo much time to sit, read and write, which I kind of do but I have just been doing other things with my time. And with an impending arrival that kind of takes a lot of your thoughts and energy, particularly at this stage.

I am officially 36 weeks tomorrow and had my 36 weeks check-up today and all is well with little Squiggly other than they have decided not to engage into the pelvis yet. This is meant to happen at about 36-37 weeks, the OB is hoping Squiggly engages soon but isn't too worried at this stage - I guess if I get to 39 weeks and Squiggly is still not engaged then we will need to chat about what to do! From now on I go tot he OB every week so at least we will be keeping a good regular check up.

Today I got to see our little ones face for the first time in a while - saw a nose, eyes and little cheeks it's hard to see everything now as I have one big baby inside me. At this point baby is about 2.7kg (5.5lbs) and measures about 45cms ish. No wonder I have trouble breathing sometimes!

Anyways - I thought it was time for an update. Will try and knock out a few more this week too in my free time ;)

cravings?

2008-10-31T12:43:00.000+11:00

what does God mean when he says this?

2008-10-31T10:38:00.003+11:00

To the woman he said,
"I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing;
with pain you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you."

Genesis 3:16

I have always wondered what this means, I will 'greatly increase your pains'.

Any thoughts?

almost an expert ;)

2008-10-31T10:20:00.003+11:00

Last week SP and I went to the first of two antenatal days.

This past Saturday was on Childbirth and included info on the hospital, labour, pain relief and the actual birth plus what happens while you are in hospital for 4 days and 4 nights.

We listed all the questions that we wanted answered over the course of the day.

It was helpful and daunting - it made me think through some things I hadn't even considered, particularly about labour, what to do during labour and pain relief. We also got to see some videos - nice! It certainly doesn't look like a picnic but when I look down at my belly I think "Well you have to come out one way or another, neither is particularly appealing but let's suck it up and get it on".

I am at the stage where everything is getting a little harder, I am quite big now (one lady at Myer asked me yesterday when I was due and said 'I don't think you will go that long!' Gee thanks lady! Are you saying my bump looks big in this?) And I am also desperate to meet the little one inside me who wiggles so so so much!

Tomorrow is our final class before I become an 'expert' ;) Joking I am far far from being an expert! This day is spent looking at parenting, I have read one book called 'Babywise' on parenting and routines etc but that is the only book other than the 'Up The Duff' book I have read.

So it should be another fascinating day of learning more about parenthood. I am excited but scared about the whole thing - not the class but the actually having a baby. I love kids and have been told I am good with them but actually having your own is a whole different ball game that I am just trying to get my head around.

Despite the fears and apprehension - I can't wait! Just over 6 weeks to go!

come to australia

2008-10-29T10:28:00.003+11:00

A friend sent me this and I thought it was very funny. It's particularly funny when you are British and you know that these scary animals/creatures of the sea are what you fear encountering when you come to Australia. Even though it is not often yoiu bump into a shark, unless you are at the Aquarium!

I have killed one red back with my bare hands (try my flip flop aka thongs) in Canberra after 4 1/2 years of living here, it was the middle of the night and I saw a bug so I looked under the bed and saw the red back on the curtains - I thought if I kill it I know it won't get me but if I leave it he might get me! I killed it and put it down the toilet. I AM SO TOUGH!

I have never met any of the other deadly and dangerous animals/creatures that appear in this video! Oh other than a kangaroo and koala!

2 more days to go!

2008-10-29T09:52:00.005+11:00

I can hardly believe that I only have 2 more days of work until I finish!

I am totally ready as this traveling in on the bus thing is getting a bit old, especially when it's really hot, you have a very large bump and there is NO air conditioning = not fun! Plus I am starting to find everything that bit harder now so I am a lot slower and get tired a little easier, although the tired thing hasn't really been too much of a problem for me which has been good!

At the same time it is a really strange feeling that my 'working' life is coming to an end for a while. Don't get me wrong I am not sad about leaving I am actually relieved and feel ready to leave. I am so looking forward to being a Mummy even though it is all very unknown. we are preparing for a baby but don't yet have the baby in our hands to care for. It's wondering what life will be like and knowing that I am only going to be able to answer that question when Squiggly arrives.

I can't wait to meet Baby Powell, to see what they look like, who they look like - will they have my ears or SP's ears? will they have red hair or blonde hair?

Seven weeks seems like a very long time to wait to meet this little one but I am going to look forward to the 6 weeks off before Squiggly enters this world.

Any suggestions on what I can do with my time once I finish up?

I do have a list of projects I am hoping to do while I am off and also a few friends I would love to catch up with, but suggestions are welcome.

chicken noodle soup and lemon grass

2008-10-22T11:06:00.007+11:00

On Monday night I decided to try a 'new' recipe which was 'Chicken Noodle Soup'.

I always wonder when making a new recipe how it's going to turn out, I have done it a few times in the past few months and ended up really disappointed with the results and then wished I had just cooked something that I knew tasted good. Especially when you have taken so much time in making it!

But this Monday was an exception. I gave this new recipe a go and it was a hit. It only took about 25 minutes to cook but it took a while to slice and chop all the ingredients to go in the dish. I even used a new ingredient that I had never used before 'lemon grass'.

SP really enjoyed it and as he has a bit of a head cold at the moment it was the perfect dish for him to have.

Tonight would be a good night to make it as it is a chilly Spring day! But I think I will leave it and cook it again in the next few weeks.

I find it hard after working all day and particularly now being pregnant to use my energy shopping for new ingredients and trying new meals. I just want to get in and out of the supermarket as fast I can.

One thing I am really looking forward to when I finish work in 5.5 days is getting the recipe books out and trying some new dishes! Bring it on!

what star sign are you?

2008-10-22T10:14:00.007+11:00

WHO CARES!

(rant begins)

I have been amazed by how many people once they have asked me when our baby is due have then gone on to say 'Oh so you are having a Sagittarius' (I had to look that up as I forgot which star sign a December baby is).

I find it so hard to believe that people think there are only 12 types of people in the world, all of which will be experiencing the same thing that they read in the papers, actually I imagine that all the papers will probably say something different about each sign sign for each day so how can you even know. I guess people read into it what they want too.

I was watching Criss Angel do some tricks on the TV the other day, he got about 10-12 people to do Tarot cards with him. He had them each come in individually and shuffle the cards then he got them to close their eyes, that's when he switched the cards for a 'fake' pack. When they opened their eyes he picked the card on top that had a bunch of writing on with text which was made up and written by someone on his team. He proceeded to read the same card out to each person separately. Some of them were so overwhelmed and in tears at what he said, even though what he said wasn't specific to any of them. All of them believed that what he said was true to them.

Each person was interviewed after the 'trick' and each of them couldn't believe that he knew what he knew and how spot on he was.

He confessed to them at the end what he had done - to show them that people totally get tricked into these types of things and how we can read into things what we will.

I think it's all a load of old crock myself. Only God has the power to determine what will happen in our lives and he doesn't do this on a daily basis he decided before the beginning of time.

(rant ends)

born at 21 weeks and 6 days

2008-10-21T11:53:00.007+11:00

In 2006 a baby was born at 21 weeks and 6 days in Florida.

This is the first baby to be born before 23 weeks gestation, click here to read the story.

It's amazing that doctors don't consider a pregnancy 'viable' until 24 weeks. I know this case is probably an exception but it just goes to show me that life begins at conception, not when the docs say 'now the pregnancy is viable'.

Just as a side note - people can have an abortion up until 24 weeks - just when the pregnancy is declared 'viable'. Hmmmm!

What an amazing story and look how little her feet are - what a miracle! Perfectly designed by our maker!

This is the little girl now - looks like she is getting chubby at one year old!

arggghhhhh

2008-10-21T11:32:00.006+11:00

This Saturday and the following Saturday SP and I will probably be in the following states:

Horrified
Excited
Terrified
Inadequate
Scared
Thrilled

No we are not going on any roller coaster rides at Dreamworld - come on people I am pregnant. We are going to our antenatal classes which in and of itself maybe a bit of a roller coaster ride!

Luckily our friends D and L who are also expecting a little one two weeks after us are also coming so that should make is fun and hysterical!

I hear there are videos. That should be interesting!

I have actually been at two births - my 'much younger than me' half sister and a friend of my Mum's who called Mum up when she went into labour asking her to come and I didn't want to stay home alone in the middle of the night so I went too.

Watching the births was so amazing, I remember the first time just crying at how awesome and special it was.

I have a feeling it is going to be a little different being the other end for the birth. I am sure those emotions will come but you have to get through the pain and agony of getting the baby out first!

I am feeling rather calm and collected about it all at the moment, this might change once I have been on these classes. All I know is that this little one has to come out one way or another, neither way is particularly attractive but they do HAVE to come out.

I think God was very clever - before I was pregnant the thought of having a baby freaked me out, but now as I get bigger and more uncomfortable it's up on my top ten list of things to do.

1. Have baby so can get my body back and not feel as uncomfortable anymore!*

I can't wait to meet this little one God has so blessed us with - I hope the next 8 weeks doesn't go by too slowly.

*of course first and foremost we want Squiggly to stay in and cook as much as possible before coming out - so 8 weeks is the aim, but at 8 weeks I will be ready with bells on!

right way up

2008-10-17T15:46:00.003+11:00

I had another ob appointment this morning and all is looking well.

I was convinced Squiggly was still in breech position but apparently I was wrong.

Do I look like an obstetrician people?????

The REAL ob had felt around and was convinced the baby was head down and he was right! Phew, don't wanna be paying all that money for some cowboy to deliver our baby who can't even tell what way up the baby is.

We got another ultrasound too - the OB likes to have a look each time we go. You don't get to see much now as Squiggly is so big. I saw the top of a head, spine and heart beat. That was good enough!

I am almost 32 weeks - only 8 weeks to go! I hope it doesn't drag!

nixter thinks....

2008-10-15T11:22:00.013+11:00

....you should all 'Yearbook Yourself'. Click here to do it, you know you want too! Enjoy!

1990s

1980s

1970s

1960s

1950s

pics of picnic with tracy and dennis

2008-10-14T19:18:00.003+11:00

I have finally got around to getting some pics off my camera. Here are some of the picnic from Tracy and Denis' visit. How cute is little 'E'?

sore back = not happy

2008-10-14T11:59:00.004+11:00

Since I have gotten a lot bigger I have been struggling with back ache. After morning sickness this has been the thing that has bothered me the most. I go some days where it's totally fine and I have no problems and then I have other days where it is just miserable.

The last few days have been miserable - I haven't been able to get comfy and sitting at my desk really doesn't help. I try to get up and walk around but not long after I sit back down it's sore again.

SP gave my back a rub last night which was nice, I put a heat pack on and also tried some of my pre-natal yoga poses but it was still really sore. Thankfully I managed to get a good night sleep.

I think I might need to book myself in for another pregnancy massage!

nixter is......

2008-10-13T12:07:00.004+11:00

trying to kick her 'one muffin a day' habit.

Any suggestions for a healthy alternative that will fill me up as I am starving!

apples and oranges just don't seem to fill me up!

I think I am having muffin withdrawals!

mac support - help please!

2008-10-13T09:33:00.002+11:00

I know this is a weird question but who knows how to add 'accents' to letters on a Mac?

I have some Spanish names I am typing and need to add accents but I don't know how you do it?

Any ideas - anyone? HELP!

heroes 2

2008-10-10T14:36:00.005+11:00

Can you say A.D.D.I.C.T.E.D?

SP and I just started watching the second series of Heroes on DVD, we saw most of it on TV earlier this year but for some reason silly Channel 7 stopped it before they had played all the episodes. SO ANNOYING! Why do they do that?

I brought the second series of Heroes for SP for his birthday and we are trying to get through them so we can get stuck into Series 3 which just started on last night. I taped the first episode so we can watch it in sequence!

Do you rate Heroes?

nixter is.....

2008-10-10T10:47:00.002+11:00

......looking forward to her baby shower tomorrow ;)

She is particularly looking forward to catching up with friends who she doesn't get to see as much anymore but still loves heaps and heaps!

See you there!

talking of toilets

2008-10-08T13:41:00.004+11:00

Check this toilet out, the pic on the left is what the toilet looks to people on the 'outside', the pic on the right is what you can see from the 'inside'. So when you are in there no-one can see you but you can see them. Strange. I don't think I could actually go if all those people were around, even if I knew they couldn't see me!

I am not going to write anymore on toilets now ;) The End!

toilets

2008-10-08T13:35:00.004+11:00

Why is it that in most shopping centres the ladies toilet are nearly always further away than the mens?

I haven't noticed it before but maybe since I have been pregnant and need the toilet more I have become more aware!

my 2nd trimester

2008-10-01T13:51:00.007+10:00

As I wrote here about my first 3 months, I thought it was only appropriate to write about my 2nd trimester (weeks 14-27 apparently), according to my calculations I just split the 9 months into 3 but it doesn't work like that as you still have some weeks left over ;)

So last week I entered my 3rd trimester (28-40 weeks). The last leg of the pregnancy race.. Not that I am racing anywhere at the moment - think more waddling!

My 2nd trimester has been a lot nicer that my 1st:

No nausea - hooray!

My relationship with food is back on the straight and narrow - horray! Although coffee is still not as appealing as it used to be - but I do have myself a decaf hazelnut latte now and again.

Baby brain - I also seemed to have a little reprieve from baby brain - although you may want to check that with my husband, family and friends as I could seriously be deluding myself about that one. But honestly it didn't feel quite as bad at times.

Junk food - the junk food obsession calmed down too.

Chocolate - don't worry ladies my love of chocolate has come back with avengence - I am eating even more than I was before pregnancy. Snickers anyone?

My body - my body still feels as if it has been hijacked and taken over - I am still a walking host organ.

So what's been new in this trimester....

Feeling baby move - this is a pretty special one and one that has evolved during this whole trimester. I first felt the baby move around 17-18 weeks like little flutters. SP felt the baby kick for the first time at 20 weeks when we were on our Babymoon, this time it was quite a strong kick. That was a pretty exciting time. Since then the movements have gotten a lot stronger, I get kicked all over the place, the ones in the bladder and ribs aren't so pleasant. Apparently this will slow down from now on as the baby gets even bigger. I can even see my belly move when the baby moves - think Aliens!

The BIG scan - at 19 weeks we had our big scan to check how everything with the little one was growing and all looked good and well. Praise God. We even found out if we were having a little boy or little girl ;)

Hello belly - from about 21-27 weeks I popped BIG TIME. I more than doubled the weight I had put on in the first 21 weeks in just 6 weeks. I was impressed! My belly is now sticking out and proud.

Back ache - because of the above point I have had a pretty sore back, this has probably been one of the harder things for me during this trimester. I went for a pregnancy massage last week which was lovely and have encouraged my hubby to give me a wee massage in the evenings which has helped.

Sleeping - say what? No really I have been able to sleep but it certainly isn't as comfortable as it used to be and I wake up a fair bit. I almost need a forklift truck to turn me over during the night*. Plus I am normally a 'on my belly' sleeper, I think if I lay on my belly now I would be almost touching the ceiling*! It's worth investing in one of those super long maternity pillows. *slight exaggeration.

Return of the baby brain - this has also come back with avengence. I walked out into the middle of the road the other day when it wasn't even a green man, thankfully I saw the car and quickly got back on the pavement. Poor Tracy and Denis were with me and looked on in amazement and shock! WARNING: pregnancy can be dangerous to your health!

Glowing - I thought this would never happen as I felt so awful at the beginning but I have had some lovely comments from people saying that I look like I am 'glowing' and that I look well.

Sore ribs - because my bump is quite high I get really sore ribs, they almost feel bruised - I don't imagine that's going to be getting much better until baby starts to drop a little.

I think my expectation of pregnancy and the reality of pregnancy were quite different, it's been harder than I thought but I wouldn't change it for the world, to have a little life growing in you and feeling them move is priceless. The 2nd trimester has certainly been a lot better. So be encouraged ladies that if you have a rough time at the beginning it does eventually get better.

how the credit crunch could affect britain!

2008-09-30T12:41:00.002+10:00

Will one be wanting fries with that?

looking for a new church

2008-09-30T09:19:00.004+10:00

We would really appreciate your prayers, we have been going to a new church now for almost a year but haven't really settled there.

In the past few weeks and months we have been praying, thinking, talking and seeking council on what to do.

It's not been an easy decision but we have decided to look for another church.

It's also not an easy time what with a baby on the way. We have been to a couple of churches so far in the last few weeks and are encouraged that Sydney has a lot of great bible teaching churches.

Please pray for us as we look around, pray that God might show us where he wants us.

6 months, 27 weeks, 189 days OR 4536 hours today!

2008-09-16T12:53:00.004+10:00

Yep that's how long I have been pregnant for! Only another 3 months, 13 weeks, 91 days and 2184 hours to go!

Had my first OB appointment today in 6 weeks today and everything is A OK! I have put on a whopping 9kgs (19lbs) so an additional 5kgs in 6 weeks - YIKES. No really the OB said that it is all good, my bloods and glucose test all came back very healthy and normal with no diabetes, my belly measures ok and the baby looks great - he did a quick ultrasound and I got to see part of babies head, babies spine and babies heartbeat but I was in a funny position so couldn't see much, plus Squiggly is so much bigger now that you only see bits and bobs on the screen.

I got to meet my new OB who is covering for my regular OB, the lady who I was seeing up until now had to go and have a baby (how inconvenient really ;), this is the guy who will actually deliver Squiggly and then sometime after baby is born I should go back to seeing Ann the other OB. SP couldn't come today as he had a meeting so the OB said next time we go we can have a good look at the baby on the ultrasound which will be fun!

I now have to start going for an ob appointment every 2 weeks ;)

Thanks to those of you who are continually praying for us! You Rock!

if this doesn't crack you up - I don't know what will!

2008-09-15T15:33:00.003+10:00

I have just started reading this blog and I saw this video there - I couldn't resist.

It is hysterical! Check out the guys on the keyboards!

a very proud wife (who may also do a little bragging!)

2008-09-15T14:54:00.005+10:00

(bragging begins)

On Friday night we went to an 'Engineers Australia' awards night (riveting stuff ;) as SP was nominated for 'Young Professional Engineer of the Year' award (NSW)! It was the last award of the evening and as they began to announce it my little heart started pumping for my husband - who might I add is very humble and non-assuming and not dazed by these kinds of things, he wouldn't have cared too much either way.

So they announce the winner: And the winner is.... dom dom dom...... SP.

I was like so proud of my husband! . He collected his award, did a little speech and now we have to go to another 'national' awards evening in November in Canberra (about 3 weeks before Squiggly is due - hope I don't get too excited and have the baby there and then) where he will be in the running to win the Australia wide award for 'Young Professional Engineer of the Year'!

We have another dinner to go to on Friday night for the 'not so young' engineers of Australia awards where he will have to give a 30 second speech - please pray for him ;)

Lots of people came up to him after wards and his work colleagues have been calling and emailing him to congratulate him. The thing I love is that he is so 'whatever' about it - I mean he realises it is an honour to be awarded with this award in his industry, but he just loves what he does and so that's what really matters to him.

This means I have to do the bragging for him because he won't! I am very proud of my very clever husband!

(end of bragging)

england beat croatia 4-1 in world cup qualifier

2008-09-12T10:10:00.004+10:00

Woo Hoot. That's all I have to say about that!

don't drink and high jump

2008-09-11T17:53:00.005+10:00

le bump #3 - 26 weeks

2008-09-11T16:44:00.003+10:00

So here is an updated picture of me and my ever growing belly at 26 weeks!

Look no belly button (almost!)

toupee or not toupee?

2008-09-08T14:43:00.006+10:00

that is the question!

I am just wondering how some people who wear toupees really don't realise that it actually looks like they are wearing a toupee!

I just wonder if it is better to wear your baldness with pride? Can being bald really be worse than a bad looking toupee?

(just to clarify I am all good with toupees that look good and not at all like you are wearing one - I am talking about the ones that clearly look like toupees ;)

random facts meme

2008-09-08T11:04:00.002+10:00

So I've been tagged by Soph and Bonnie to tell you all 6 random facts about me.

1) When I was little I was an only child and I was quite bossy. I used to make all my friends sit and watch/listen to me singing into a hair brush to various 'cassettes' I had made of my favourite music.

2) I was pretty much bold and gummy until I was 13 months old! The little hair I did have was bright orange!

3) Sometimes when I walk I count the number of steps between cracks or lines in the pavements! Yes I know that is a little odd! These are random facts people!

4) I used to have physical fights with the boys who grew up on my street - one time I won! Yes I was a tom-boy!

5) I used to watch WWF (not the nature thing but the 'World Wresting Federation' how it used to be known!) with my Nan. We loved it!

6) I pee a lot! No it's not just because I am pregnant! I used to pee a lot before I was pregnant I just pee more now that I am! OK is that too much information?

Rules:

1. Link to the person who ‘tagged’ you!
2. Post the rules on your blog!
3. List 6 random facts about yourself!
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post!
5. Let each person know they have been tagged by commenting on their blog!
6. Let the tagger know the entry is posted on your blog!

I think the people I would have tagged have already done it!

Bring on the Olympics in London 2012

2008-08-25T10:18:00.002+10:00

I can't wait! Hope I can be home for the Olympics ;)

le bump 2 - 23 weeks

2008-08-22T12:23:00.004+10:00

why o why......is my bump soooooo big! I know there is only one in there!

23 weeks

Remember this was me at 16 weeks - man I did a whole lotta growing in that time! Well someone did ;)

I am 23 weeks and I feel huge already. I love my bump because I know what it contains is very precious but man am I suppose to be this big? I know you are so not meant to compare yourself to other pregnant women but its hard not to when you have this very large bump in front of me.

I wonder if it's because I am eating too much (which I think I definitely am, including chips and chocolate!) but I don't seem to have put weight on anywhere else? I guess I will find out more at my 27 week appointment in 3 weeks!

Maybe those first few months of eating junk because I was so sick has caught up with me! Oopsey!

ps I better get used to it - it's only going to get bigger!

GO GREAT BRITAIN

2008-08-20T10:12:00.003+10:00

I am so surprised and pleased that Great Britain are doing so well at the Beijing Olympics. They are 3rd on the gold medals list at the moment - just in front of the Aussies.

I do cheer on the Aussies just not when they are up against Team GB!

Let's hope they both do well over the next few days!

not so overwhelmed - thanks for your help

2008-08-18T11:05:00.006+10:00

I just wanted to say a great big thank you (I mean a 'monster big THANKYOU) to those who wrote comments on my post below. You will be pleased to know that your advice and help has made me feel a lot less overwhelmed and a lot better equipped to go out into the big wide world of baby stores.

I actually saved a massive $220 on a cot and changer yesterday at Toys-R-Us - so I am a bit happy about that ;) We saw them on Saturday and decided to go home and check online and sure enough we found a super deal. I am so glad I have a wise husband who is patient and waits - it scored us a super saving!

Thanks again - you all rock!

overwhelming - please help!

2008-08-15T09:10:00.002+10:00

Q. What is more overwhelming that being a first-time-parent-to-be and walking into a baby store with a thousand and one things to pick from?

A. Not much! Well at least if you are me!

Don't get me wrong I am so excited and want to buy things for our little one but man there are so many things to think about and I hardly know where to begin. Plus when you say "baby car seat" there are a kerbillion to choose from.

I know it sounds silly but it is overwhelming to me, plus I think maybe the 'nesting' hormones are kicking in to - you know like those ones that kick in right after marriage where you just want to pretty up and order your new home together? I just want to get everything together for our little one before I get big and uncomfortable!

So SP and I hadn't brought anything for little Squiggly until yesterday and only then did we buy a few little onesies and singlets. Even trying to figure out how many of these little things I would need was painful! Our little one will be born in December - super hot summer time will have just began.

Can you wonderful bloggers help? I don't know why I am stressing so much about this I just feel a little out of control and daunted!

I need some lists of essentials and approx numbers with maybe a list of things that I don't need to worry about until after the baby is born. Can you help me pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee? It would be so much appreciated.

Thanks ;)

dogs don't fall on their feet!

2008-08-13T11:25:00.001+10:00

let's invade new zealand!

2008-08-12T09:59:00.003+10:00

My Kiwi friend showed me this on the weekend, so I am allowed to post it ;) You can skip through some of the beginning if you want to to get to the actual ads, there are two in total. Which one do you like?

to eat or not to eat

2008-08-06T11:28:00.003+10:00

You know the white stuff you get on oranges - do you eat it?

I don't I peel it off, I am not talking about the big thick layer of white, more the stringy bits that don't come off when you peel the orange - it's all stringy and yuck! But I know heaps of people who don't mind on it, apparently (click on the link above) it's good for you. I'm still not going to eat it!

i'm back......

2008-08-05T16:45:00.003+10:00

.... actually I have been back since Sunday arvo but have just been a bit slack about writing!

We had a wonderful time on Dunk Island. It was so pretty. Our room had a view of the beach and ocean, we had a king size bed - I now want to buy one - soooooo much room. There wasn't all that much to do on the island, or rather there were things to do if you wanted too but we didn't want too.

A typical day on Dunk Island looked like this:

8.30am - Wake up, get ready, apply sun screen etc.

9.00am - Go down to breakfast - breakfast was included and full of scrummy things. You could have a full breakfast, pastries, fruit - the whole nine yards and believe me folks we did! I'm eating for two remember!

9.30am - Resume position on beach seats, on beach, under palm and banana trees. Sit a little in the sun but mainly in the shade! Read book! Drink a coffee (yes I did have one or two coffees without vomiting)

11.30am - Head up to the lounge and play Scrabble (after a flying start SP ended up being the Scrabble Champ - did I mention I hate losing? ) we did this some days with a fruit mocktail.

12.30pm - Play pool (I was the Pool Champ - did I mention I LOVE to win?)

Approx 12pm - 2pm - Lunch at the Lounge.

2pm - Head back to the room, watch TV or sleep (at the beginning of the week we were both exhausted so had nanna naps!)

4.30pm - Play Tennis (only did this once - my body can no longer take it!) or Table Tennis (we played this everyday and I loved it). We were quite evenly matched at table tennis. Do you think our little baby is going to be competitive?

6.30pm - Down to Dinner - the food was amazing but expensive.

7.30pm - Back to the room where we watched TV and fell asleep by 9.30pm/10pm most nights - just call us Grandma and Grandpa!

So all in all we had a wonderfully relaxing time. The one big thing we did was go for a 2 1/2 hour bush walk around the whole island. It ended up being quite hilly so I wasn't all that impressed AND we saw a green tree snake YIKES! They don't hurt you but I thought the next snake we would come across was an anaconda*.....

I survived the 12 seater plane ride, I was a bit sweaty palmed but I managed, it was a beautiful flight up the coast. The island was very diverse and pretty.

We only took a few pictures as we did the same thing everyday, I will try and post some up tonight!

The coolest thing that happened on our trip was that the first and second night little squiggly kicked quite hard and SP got to feel it. The baby hasn't done many big kicks so it made me jump - but it was cool that SP finally got to feel the little one move. Squiggly is moving more and more and my belly is getting bigger and bigger - will try to post some belly pics very soon, I can only just see my toes!

* Dramatisation! There are no anacondas in Australia! At least I don't think there are?!?!?!?

baby powell pics

2008-07-26T09:22:00.010+10:00

Here are some pics of little Squiggly - isn't it amaze how God creates life and sustains life. Awesome!

"I just can't get you out of my head" la la la la la la la la la

The Royal Wave

Please stop taking my picture!

Budda Pose

Cuteeeeeeeeeee! I love my hands Mummy!