I found myself with some precious childfree time yesterday prior to going to the dentist for my fifth (and hopefully final) filling. So I visited my favourite quilting shop where the ladies are friendly and helpful and bought my first sewing supplies - a rotary cutter and two fat quarters to start my fabric stash. My Mum also donated some old pink gingham which I know will come in handy. Plus, the quilt shop has a huge bookcase of quilting/sewing magazines which customers can borrow and return or replace at leisure so I took two home to feast my eyes upon. Now I just need to get my hands on my sister's sewing machine (and have it serviced) and I can embark upon some sewing. I think I might start with a dolly quilt before I move up to something more tricky.Thursday, August 6, 2009
A bit of me time
I found myself with some precious childfree time yesterday prior to going to the dentist for my fifth (and hopefully final) filling. So I visited my favourite quilting shop where the ladies are friendly and helpful and bought my first sewing supplies - a rotary cutter and two fat quarters to start my fabric stash. My Mum also donated some old pink gingham which I know will come in handy. Plus, the quilt shop has a huge bookcase of quilting/sewing magazines which customers can borrow and return or replace at leisure so I took two home to feast my eyes upon. Now I just need to get my hands on my sister's sewing machine (and have it serviced) and I can embark upon some sewing. I think I might start with a dolly quilt before I move up to something more tricky.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Photos to go with the previous post
Hurray! I found the camera. So here are some photos to accompany the last couple of posts.
First of all... the girls with the fruits of our labours doing craft instead of watching TV. (The rainbow collage we saw on Tammie's blog but can't find the specific link to).
Then the chatterbox thing which has little sayings inside eg "I love you", "Tickle me" etc. E just loves making these with me. I should try and do some step by step pictures in case anyone didn't do them as a child. Basically, you fold in the four corners of a square piece of paper so that the outside corners end up all touching in the middle. Then flip the piece of paper over and do the same on the other side. Then fold the whole thing in half so that you have two squares on one side and two squares on the other side. Slide your pointer fingers and thumbs into the pockets under the four squares and wiggle your fingers to make the chatterbox talk and reveal the pictures you have drawn on the inside. Write the funny sayings underneath the pictures on the inside flaps. When I was a child, the favourite naughty saying to write was "You stink!" for if your brother chose it. I'm sure kids these days could come up with a whole heap worse.
Then....we have some photos of the new garden we made last weekend. It was a windy day and we had colds so the hour or two we spent outside probably contributed to my chest infection and G's middle ear infection but it was still worth it. We had so much fun and because we planted seedlings as well as nasturtium seeds, we already have picked a posy of pansies and snapdragons to give E'g grade one teacher.
Poor Kipper was chained up during proceedings and looked on woefully as we fenced off his favourite flower bed for sleeping in the sun. He had completely flattened the lovely sun jewels that my mother-in-law gave me.
Re G's middle ear infection, I have held off on the antibiotics for the first time (when a doctor has said they are needed - must be the brainwashing of my nursing training) and tried putting warm garlic oil in her ears instead, plus some panadol at night. It's only 4 weeks since the poor child had a course of antibiotics for her ears and I just hated the idea of another lot so soon. So.....we've had two nights of no ear pain which is great and I'm hoping she can avoid the antibiotics and fight the infection herself. I need her to be well by Thursday as I took both my work days off last week when I was sick and have stuff I really need to do in the office this week (like upset the owners of about-to-be-heritage listed buildings).
First of all... the girls with the fruits of our labours doing craft instead of watching TV. (The rainbow collage we saw on Tammie's blog but can't find the specific link to).
Then the chatterbox thing which has little sayings inside eg "I love you", "Tickle me" etc. E just loves making these with me. I should try and do some step by step pictures in case anyone didn't do them as a child. Basically, you fold in the four corners of a square piece of paper so that the outside corners end up all touching in the middle. Then flip the piece of paper over and do the same on the other side. Then fold the whole thing in half so that you have two squares on one side and two squares on the other side. Slide your pointer fingers and thumbs into the pockets under the four squares and wiggle your fingers to make the chatterbox talk and reveal the pictures you have drawn on the inside. Write the funny sayings underneath the pictures on the inside flaps. When I was a child, the favourite naughty saying to write was "You stink!" for if your brother chose it. I'm sure kids these days could come up with a whole heap worse.
Then....we have some photos of the new garden we made last weekend. It was a windy day and we had colds so the hour or two we spent outside probably contributed to my chest infection and G's middle ear infection but it was still worth it. We had so much fun and because we planted seedlings as well as nasturtium seeds, we already have picked a posy of pansies and snapdragons to give E'g grade one teacher.
Poor Kipper was chained up during proceedings and looked on woefully as we fenced off his favourite flower bed for sleeping in the sun. He had completely flattened the lovely sun jewels that my mother-in-law gave me.
Re G's middle ear infection, I have held off on the antibiotics for the first time (when a doctor has said they are needed - must be the brainwashing of my nursing training) and tried putting warm garlic oil in her ears instead, plus some panadol at night. It's only 4 weeks since the poor child had a course of antibiotics for her ears and I just hated the idea of another lot so soon. So.....we've had two nights of no ear pain which is great and I'm hoping she can avoid the antibiotics and fight the infection herself. I need her to be well by Thursday as I took both my work days off last week when I was sick and have stuff I really need to do in the office this week (like upset the owners of about-to-be-heritage listed buildings). The end of breastfeeding and other stuff
(Picture of G breastfeeding at a few months of age - doing the perfect "special K" mouth that you read about in breastfeeding brochures. I reckon there should be more photos of breastfeeding babies plastered about the place so that new mothers have some idea of what the whole "latching on" thing looks like. So....I have thrown shyness to the winds and posted my one and only blogging breastfeeding photo)Just a quick hello. Life goes on here much the same but definitely more fun since we cut down on computer and tv hours. We've done the rainbow collage that Tammie showed on her blog a few months ago which was great fun. (Sorry, Tammie - I tried but failed to find that post and put the link here). We've also made those "chatterboxes" out of folded up paper that you write little sayings on inside. My friends and I loved them when we were little and I'm trying to remember the fun things I did as a kid so I can do them with my girls. When I was in primary school, fads came and went every few weeks and everyone would be skipping, yo-yo-ing, making string patterns on their fingers, playing "elastics", playing knuckles, playing "sevens" (bouncing a tennis ball on the ground and doing clapping etc before catching the ball). And good old hand clapping games like "Under the Rainbow" and "When Suzie was a Baby". Of course, if I was a more organised blogger, I would have taken photos of the rainbow collage and the chatterboxes. Never mind. (I just tried to find the camera and it seems to be missing. Oops)
Big news (for me) is that I gave G her last breastfeed a few nights ago. I'm hoping I feel less tired and grumpy VERY soon. (Is it rude to type in capitals when blogging? Does it imply yelling like in emails? I mean only to add feeling). We've been talking about it for ages. I feel I have well and truly followed the World Health Organisation recommendation of breastfeeding until 2 years of age and then as long as mother and child want to. She, of course, still wants to but I have had enough. I do feel a bit guilty as I am taking away something she loves but it's probably more important for her to have a happy, less tired mother (with a libido). Anyway.....we had discussed getting a special present for giving up "bee bee" and she was thinking of a "pink and yellow poodle". I'm not sure if the toy shop stocks those. But we saw a great toy cash register this week and she just loved it. It was a bit expensive but I thought "What the heck". Also, I know the big sister and all visiting children would also love playing with it and I thought it would inspire lots of imaginative play, so I bought it. I offered a last breastfeed during the day but she said "No thanks. I a big girl. I have a cash reger". But we had one last bedtime drink for Mummy's benefit and I treasured every moment.
The first bedtime with no breastfeed went fine. I was amazed. Just a half hour of snuggling and chit chat and she went to sleep. But the next night when she asked for "beebee" and I said "No...bee bee is finished" she was quite disappointed. "Take that cash reger back to the shop and give me some bee bee" she demanded. But I stayed strong and there has been no "bee bee". I apologise if this is all too much information for some people (that would be you, Christopher) but it's nice to jot it down for posterity.
Yes...there are photos of the last day of breastfeeding but I shan't be posting them!
PS I know I was talking about taking a blogging sabbatical, but then I found out that two friends have been dropping in and I would miss everyone too much and I have been enjoying finding lovely new blogs like Beck's blog and What Makes You Happy so I am still here, blogging. Yes...the TV is on and Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses is playing but G is playing with the box of wooden blocks and E is drawing with crayons next to me, so I don't feel quite as guilty as usual.
PPS My big brother was married to his beautiful girl in Dili on the weekend. If you read this, you two, Congratulations!!!!!! We were with you in spirit.
Big news (for me) is that I gave G her last breastfeed a few nights ago. I'm hoping I feel less tired and grumpy VERY soon. (Is it rude to type in capitals when blogging? Does it imply yelling like in emails? I mean only to add feeling). We've been talking about it for ages. I feel I have well and truly followed the World Health Organisation recommendation of breastfeeding until 2 years of age and then as long as mother and child want to. She, of course, still wants to but I have had enough. I do feel a bit guilty as I am taking away something she loves but it's probably more important for her to have a happy, less tired mother (with a libido). Anyway.....we had discussed getting a special present for giving up "bee bee" and she was thinking of a "pink and yellow poodle". I'm not sure if the toy shop stocks those. But we saw a great toy cash register this week and she just loved it. It was a bit expensive but I thought "What the heck". Also, I know the big sister and all visiting children would also love playing with it and I thought it would inspire lots of imaginative play, so I bought it. I offered a last breastfeed during the day but she said "No thanks. I a big girl. I have a cash reger". But we had one last bedtime drink for Mummy's benefit and I treasured every moment.
The first bedtime with no breastfeed went fine. I was amazed. Just a half hour of snuggling and chit chat and she went to sleep. But the next night when she asked for "beebee" and I said "No...bee bee is finished" she was quite disappointed. "Take that cash reger back to the shop and give me some bee bee" she demanded. But I stayed strong and there has been no "bee bee". I apologise if this is all too much information for some people (that would be you, Christopher) but it's nice to jot it down for posterity.
Yes...there are photos of the last day of breastfeeding but I shan't be posting them!
PS I know I was talking about taking a blogging sabbatical, but then I found out that two friends have been dropping in and I would miss everyone too much and I have been enjoying finding lovely new blogs like Beck's blog and What Makes You Happy so I am still here, blogging. Yes...the TV is on and Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses is playing but G is playing with the box of wooden blocks and E is drawing with crayons next to me, so I don't feel quite as guilty as usual.
PPS My big brother was married to his beautiful girl in Dili on the weekend. If you read this, you two, Congratulations!!!!!! We were with you in spirit.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Fabric giveaway at Krafty Kash
OK. With perfect timing for me (as I am about to embark on my sewing career and am currently obsessed with looking at quilting books and sites and the "lazy days" easy girl's skirt on Tammie's blog), I hear that one of Tammie's mates, Krafty Kash, is giving away some lovely material to celebrate her 100th blog. It looks perfect for making a little quilt so I have my fingers crossed. Now all I need is my sister's sewing machine and I'm almost ready to go.
Here's the link to Krafty Kash if you want to check it out.
Here's the link to Krafty Kash if you want to check it out.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Gardens, children, blogging etc
I've been thinking lately of maybe giving up the blog. I feel as though real life is demanding my full attention. It is sort of good therapy to write things down but it's not anonymous (I have at least one work colleague who drops in) so I don't feel I can really let rip about stuff.
I have decided to make a big effort to be with the children more and give them better experiences than watching TV while I'm blogging or playing on the computer while I'm doing the chores. I've been reading an eye opening book by Maggie Hamilton called What's Happening to Our Girls, and it has made me think more about all the negative influences of marketing, teen culture, etc that they are subjected to. I tried really hard to turn off the tv and computer on the weekend (without laying down the law as that doesn't work too well in our household). The girls had a great time drawing, playing outside more than usual and sticking together cardboard boxes and toilet rolls to make "cameras". It helped that our lovely neighbourhood girl a couple of years older than E. who visits a lot is so good at pretending and creating with them. Mind you, as I type this, the girls have been eating dinner and are now watching a DVD. Oh well....baby steps.
I went with a school mum friend to her playgroup last week. I've neglected to do stuff like that with G as with two children and a dog, I seem to have less time for regular classes etc. I was active in the Australian Breastfeeding Association when G was born so all the get togethers I went to for that served as a great social network for both of us.
I have decided to make a big effort to be with the children more and give them better experiences than watching TV while I'm blogging or playing on the computer while I'm doing the chores. I've been reading an eye opening book by Maggie Hamilton called What's Happening to Our Girls, and it has made me think more about all the negative influences of marketing, teen culture, etc that they are subjected to. I tried really hard to turn off the tv and computer on the weekend (without laying down the law as that doesn't work too well in our household). The girls had a great time drawing, playing outside more than usual and sticking together cardboard boxes and toilet rolls to make "cameras". It helped that our lovely neighbourhood girl a couple of years older than E. who visits a lot is so good at pretending and creating with them. Mind you, as I type this, the girls have been eating dinner and are now watching a DVD. Oh well....baby steps.
I went with a school mum friend to her playgroup last week. I've neglected to do stuff like that with G as with two children and a dog, I seem to have less time for regular classes etc. I was active in the Australian Breastfeeding Association when G was born so all the get togethers I went to for that served as a great social network for both of us.
My friend's playgroup met at a local beach which has mud rather than sand but the kids didn't care and had a great time. It was so wonderful to watch G running around in the fresh air with the other children and enjoying a sense of freedom while the mothers sat on our rugs and ate the morning tea leftovers.
Here's a little update from the garden. The little snowdroppy things that my mother-in-law gave me (I think she calls them "snowflakes") have come up again in the fairy garden and look gorgeous nestled in amongst the moss (and weeds).
More excitingly, I have my first buds on my lavender bush. I planted it about a year ago and had sort of given up on it. It wasn't doing much and was overshadowed by the crazy passionfruit vine on the fence and the giant geranium next to it, but suddenly I have buds and can look forward to breathing in that relaxing fragrance whenever I am out in the garden and can run my hands over it.
The petunias in the front brick garden bed which Kipper can't really get to are flowering and adding some much needed colour to the front yard.
If I do retire from blogging in the near future, I'll still be enjoying what my bloggy friends are up to, especially Tammie, who is pretty much my sole faithful reader right now (no pressure, though, Tammie!)
Here's a little update from the garden. The little snowdroppy things that my mother-in-law gave me (I think she calls them "snowflakes") have come up again in the fairy garden and look gorgeous nestled in amongst the moss (and weeds).
More excitingly, I have my first buds on my lavender bush. I planted it about a year ago and had sort of given up on it. It wasn't doing much and was overshadowed by the crazy passionfruit vine on the fence and the giant geranium next to it, but suddenly I have buds and can look forward to breathing in that relaxing fragrance whenever I am out in the garden and can run my hands over it.
The petunias in the front brick garden bed which Kipper can't really get to are flowering and adding some much needed colour to the front yard.If I do retire from blogging in the near future, I'll still be enjoying what my bloggy friends are up to, especially Tammie, who is pretty much my sole faithful reader right now (no pressure, though, Tammie!)
Time to pay some attention to those pesky children (just kidding, girls).
Monday, July 20, 2009
Fun in the sun
We went and saw the Disney Princess on Ice thingy on the weekend - a spur of the moment decision by the Daddy mostly. The plan was to perhaps just take the big girl, but I said the little girl is old enough to understand missing out on a special treat so she should go too. Just in case she couldn't sit still for a couple of hours watching various princesses skate about, both parents should perhaps go as well. So....off we all trooped. I'm not a huge fan of big moneymaking franchises aimed at children but I vastly prefer the value systems, language, and dress code of Disney princesses over Bratz and Polly Pocket so I consider Barbie and Disney the lesser of many evils. We all enjoyed the show but the best part of the day for me happened when we arrived home. It was a gorgeous sunny winter's day and some of the neighbourhood children in our cul-de-sac were out playing on the footpath. One little boy was riding his scooter in the cul-de-sac while his mum sat on a chair on the footpath watching for the unusual event of a car coming towards our end of the street. The children across the road were having their own little garage sale. E wanted to have one too, so we dragged out some small tables and chairs, some old toys and the children spent the next two hours buying each other's junk for 50c a piece while my neighbour and I sat in the sunshine and ate and chatted. It was just how I want their childhood (and my motherhood) to be. No TV. No Disney princesses. Fresh air. Children entertaining themselves. No messy house to look at. The Daddy inside having a rare moment of peace and quiet to read the paper. And it was all free (except for a few 50c coins).
Monday, July 6, 2009
The birthday girl gets a tricycle
(This photo shows the quilt my sister and friends made me as a secret wedding present)Well, my little girl is now three! Hard to believe. It feels like the end of my "baby" era as there ain't going to be no more babies! G seems much more babyish at three than my big girl did. We don't know if it's because we have "babied" G more or whether it's just her personality. But she is definitely seeming more like a big girl now and certainly has a mind of her own! We have a lot of fun asking her questions and cracking up at her answers. You have to be careful what you ask though - Scott's family asked her yesterday "Do you love Mummy?". "Sometimes" she replied. We also asked her this week "What do you want to be when you grow up?". Usually she says "A daddy" (!!!) but the other day she said "A grown up". Maybe it was a dumb question.
I haven't downloaded any photos from her birthday yet (which she spent in some pain from a middle ear infection requiring an early morning visit from the after hours doctor, some antibiotics and an afternoon visit to the doctor as she was in heaps of pain despite copious amounts of panadol and nurofen - which I very rarely give).But here are some photos from earlier in the week when we set off to Grandma and Grandad's to receive a beautiful red and cream tricycle for the birthday girl. Happy Birthday Curly Whirl!!
I haven't downloaded any photos from her birthday yet (which she spent in some pain from a middle ear infection requiring an early morning visit from the after hours doctor, some antibiotics and an afternoon visit to the doctor as she was in heaps of pain despite copious amounts of panadol and nurofen - which I very rarely give).But here are some photos from earlier in the week when we set off to Grandma and Grandad's to receive a beautiful red and cream tricycle for the birthday girl. Happy Birthday Curly Whirl!!
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