Christmas 2010

Was so perfect.

We had a fantastic day here. The weather was great.

We got totally spoilt by family and friends.

We had pancakes for breakfast, opened some presents and went to the park for lunch.

We've learnt that all you need to give Malachi is wrapping paper and he's happy. He was so intent on eating the paper, we spent most of the morning saying 'no, we don't eat paper!!'.

It was all a bit too exciting for him. He had to have a sleep between opening his presents, as he got a little too overstimulated.

A perfect day with my little family.

MMM paper...

MMM more paper

My little snowman

 yum yum... dribbles

Chilling at the lake

Merry Christmas to all...

and to all a good night............

Well not really. I will be taking a little blog vacation until early January. The husband is on leave and he doesn't appreciate the blogging world like I do. Which in turn does not make for a great blogging atmosphere.

I wish you all a super duper Christmas and a Happy 2011. Thanks to all my loyal followers and a BIG HELLO to some new followers. It still blows my mind that real people would actually read this here little old blog.

Stay safe lovelies.

It's Christmas and I......

Have one of Santa's reindeer's in my house. Isn't he the cutest!!

I Stole this idea from Jaydee. Head over to her blog to check out her answers.

Wrap presents: Like a 5 year old child. Honestly, I detest wrapping presents, unless they are a nice shape. Like a CD, book, or a box of something. Everything else BLAH!!! I am actually a slight might embarrassed when I hand over presents that I have wrapped.

Have finished shopping? : Almost. Just need to buy the husband a few little things for his Christmas stocking. I was going to go to the Mall as what I need would be cheaper there. But I think I'll just buy it at the local shops. Less chaos that way.

Have on my Christmas list: Breastfeeding friendly summer PJ's, new clothes in general, pretty sandals, air conditioning, a new car and earrings. Not asking for much hey!?

Will be eating for Christmas lunch: A vegie burger at the park at this stage.

Cannot have Christmas without: Pecan pie and a Christmas tree of course.

Like listening to: Christmas with Frank and Bing CD.

Always: end up having a sneak peek at a few things under the Christmas tree. So far I already know we are getting towels from the Husband's grandparents.

Love: How mesmerised the young one is by the Christmas lights. Hello free babysitter!

Do not understand: The need for a hot Christmas lunch in Australia. Honestly the thought of eating that much meat makes me want to puke.

For the first time this year: We are celebrating Christmas as a family of three. WOOP WOOP!! Can not believe this time last year I thought I was dying from morning sickness. Now I have a sweet little (almost) 6 month old.

A new Christmas tradition: Having the little one see Santa with a Hawaiian shirt on. Have also stolen Lauren's idea and the Husband and I are buying each other:

• Something that starts with the letter of our first name,
• PJ's and
• beer/wine/spirits (or food for me as I'm breastfeeding).

An old Christmas tradition: Watching miracle on 34th street.

Before Christmas Day I always feel compelled to: Say I'm going to do heaps of Christmas baking, but then never get around to it.

This year I forgot to: Buy a nice Christmas decoration for Malachi's first Christmas. I don't want a standard 'baby's first Xmas' one. Something pretty, and unique and preferably with his name on it.

My wrapping paper is: Nothing fancy. Just red and white with Christmas trees.

Merry Christmas to you and your family. I hope you enjoy the festive season with your loved ones. Will catch you in 2011!!!

Spreading the Christmas Cheer

Just thought I'd spread some Christmas cheer by posting some recent pictures of our Santa's little helper.

Look at that pout

Who turned out the lights?

mmmm pom pom

My favourite

Gosh he's cute... if I do say so myself.

And do you know who else is spreading the Christmas cheer?

Some uber talented, generous and crafty bloggers who are doing a massive giveaway at Maxabella Loves.

Head on over and check out all the drool worthy prizes you can I will win. Nothing like positive thinking hey!?

Tired Baby + Santa

I've been meaning to take Malachi to get his photo with Santa for ages but just haven't quite gotten there. So today was the day. We were hoping that since it wasn't super duper close to Christmas the line up wouldn't be too bad... hahahaha yeah right!!

We decided we'd have breakfast out at a cafe since we hadn't done that for a while, do some shopping and then go and see Santa. Malachi had quite a big (well big for him) sleep in the pram of an hour or so, so we thought he'd be fine to see Santa.

We drove about half an hour to see Santa. We get there and ......... Santa was having lunch!! Even though he's only there for all of 3 hours!! Hubby wanted to leave and come back next weekend. AH no thank you! Not when the line up will probably be twice as long as it is now.

So we waited around for 45 minutes. Hubby just walking the store trying to keep the little one calm and happy. Me, just standing in line tapping my foot and watching the clock. By the time it was Malachi's turn to sit on Santa's lap he was so tired. His eyes were hanging out of his head.

So, no smiles for the camera. On the plus side though at least he was looking at the camera and not screaming the store down like the poor little toddler in front of us. Santa seemed a bit over it too by this stage. I put Malachi on his lap and he didn't even talk to my boy. How rude.

But I guess at least Malachi was happy and content, and a human!! The lady behind us brought her two rabbits to get their photo taken with Santa. I kid you not. She also decided she'd make a nice sweeping generalisation that all parents are on Centrelink. I felt like turning around and letting her know that actually I'm a nurse, and a damn good one at that. But I decided fighting some one while waiting to see Santa probably wasn't the best idea.

I will have to put a photo up once we collect them in a few days time. At least when he's tired he doesn't scream and cry. He just starts to fidget and make the cutest little noises. I could tell he was super tired though as he was nestling into my shoulder and he never does that.

So I guess in short I'm grateful for a cute and cuddly baby who doesn't scream and cry like a banshee.

I'm also grateful that I have nearly finished all my Christmas shopping so I can avoid the masses of people who decend on the mall at this time of year.

I don't know what it is about this time of year but people seem to forget they have a brain and like to walk at the pace of a snail and either stop in the middle of the walk way to have a chat to some one or stop at the top of an escalator to have a chin wag.

What are you grateful for this week?

He's coming to town!

Who??

Santa of course!

I can not believe that it is December already... and only 24 days until Christmas. Oh Gosh!!

I'm actually really organised this year (surprisingly). Just waiting on a few personalised gifts from Snapfish before I post off the goodies to the loved ones.

Still have not bought anything for the husband... he's so hard to buy for!! Whenever I ask him what he'd like he responds with something silly like 'a kiss and a hug'. Cute, but not at all helpful.

I thought I'd post my Christmas wish list, five things that I would LOVE for Christmas.

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1. A cleaner for a year

Not having to scrub the toilets for a year? Priceless. A girl can dream right!?

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2. A day of pampering bliss

Hair cut and coloured, pedicure, manicure, full body massage, facial. Even getting my eyebrows waxed would be nice. Just a day all to myself.

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3. An overseas holiday

Actually, just any kind of holiday will do. I am getting stressed out and grumpy lately so need some time away to relax and recharge these Mumma batteries.

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4. A Wardrobe full of beautiful new clothes

I've blogged about it before. Shopping just ain't what it used to be now I have a little one. By the time I actually get organised and leave the house I'm over it already. Maybe Trinny and Susannah can pay me a visit and make over my wardrobe?

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5. Health and Happiness for my family in 2011

Corny I know. But there's nothing more precious then my family.

What's on your Christmas wishlist this year?

Fantastically freakin' awesome Friday

Incase you hadn't notice I'm so excited. A few things have made me happy this week, such as:

* Finding out Crazy 8 is having a sale.

I have never ever shopped/bought anything from an overseas site, but thought I'd have a look and have found some very cute things. Plus, I think I may have found someone to share the postages costs with. Can you say bargain?

* Harry Potter is the Mums and Bubs movie next week.

I thought for sure I wouldn't get to see it on the big screen and would have to wait for it to come out on DVD. But hoyts have granted my wish.

* This time next week we will be setting up the Christmas tree.

Finally. I have tried to convince hubby to set it up early but he has his heart set on waiting until December.

* I have nearly finished the Christmas shopping.

I have ordered a few things from some online stores, to save going to the hellish place which is the mall. Now fingers crossed they arrive with plenty of time to on post them to people's houses.

Happy weekend friends

I'm Obsessed

I know I've blogged about it before, but I heart MadeIt. There are so many wonderful and unique treasures on there, I just can't stop browsing!! Here's a few I've stumbled across recently. The only thing I haven't found yet is a lovely personalised Christmas stocking for Malachi. There are heaps on Etsy, winter themed though for only $25 but with the postage costs it brings the total to over $40! For one little Christmas stocking.

Here's what I'm loving this week.

Lamp bead Pendant

From here

Gorgeous Owl Fabric Print

From here

Photographic Fine Art Print

From here

Junior Masterchef anyone?

From here

More Nursery Artwork

From here

A little comforter to snuggle up to

From here

What are you loving today?

Why Hello There Friday

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You're back. Nice to see you again.

Yes it's that time of the week. It's almost the weekend. It's so close I can smell it's sweet sweet goodness. We have many-a-things planned for this weekend.

* Attend our 1st ever Farmers Market
We're nearly out of fresh fruit and vegies and have heard people raving about the farmer's market so thought we'd finally go. We're also hoping to score some cheap herbs or plants for the vegie patch out the back. Have also heard they have some beautiful cheap cut flowers. My vase needs something pretty to fill it.

* Hopefully plant said cheap herbs and plants

* Buy some Christmas Gifts
I saw some Toy Story playing cards and also a Toy Story puzzle for one of my nephews. It feels like Christmas is just around the corner so we should probably get organised and get searching for some gifts

* Make some Christmas Gifts
I'm making some name canvas's for my niece, God daughter and a few other special little people. Have been searching for some cheap canvas's and ribbon and other little trinkets. I have the majority of things I need so I can at least make a start

* Buy A Grobag
I'm thinking of slowly transitioning Malachi from the wrap to a grobag. I bought a 6-18 month 2.5 TOG one for at night but need a 1.0 TOG one for during the day. Hubby thinks they're a gimmick. But hey he thought the bumbo was a gimmick and he's eating his words now!!

I think that's really all that's on the agenda this weekend..... What have you got planned?

13 Weeks Pregnant

Happy Belated Christmas Wishes!
We had a really quiet Christmas day here. I was sick so I just layed on the lounge all day and watched DH play wii Mario Kart, which was so funny because he gets so animated when he's losing/if something is 'thrown' at him. I got tickets to see the Cricket in Sydney in February. West Indies Vs Australia in a day/nighter. CAN'T WAIT!! We managed to watch Miracle on 34th street on Christmas day. I know it's on nearly every year around Christmas but I never actually watched the movie. Well we did this year and I must say I quite enjoyed it, and even had a little cry in some parts.

Boxing Day was lovely. I had to work in the morning which was okay because I worked in the Xray department and it was so cruisy. I finished reading my book (Ps I love you) because we only had to do scans on 8 people in the whole 8 hours I was there. I was going to have a sneaky ultrasound done but chickened out at the last moment.

We went to a friend's house for boxing day dinner (they're pregnant too and around 3 weeks behind us). We haven't done the couples hang out for a while so it was lovely to see them again. They have a daughter who is 2 and a bit and she's delightful. It took her a while to warm up to me, but after that we were bestest friends. We hung out by the Christmas tree and read some books together. It was lovely seeing her play with DH as well. My friend's parents were down from Sydney so we saw them again which was nice. We even managed to play UNO and while I didn't win (darn it) it was all in all a lovely night.

Pregnancy wise nothing much is happening. The nausea is slowly fading (YAY) so I'm hoping my appetite and sense of taste returns soon. I've booked my 18 week midiwfe appointment and also my Morphology scan (11th February, can't wait).

I'm tossing up whether to make a trip home to Toowoomba in late February so that family/friends can see me pregnant (I'll be around 22ish weeks then) but I'm not sure whether it's worth it. We'll be up for a family thing in September (with a 2 month old EEK scary) so maybe that's enough for the year. I know our mum and dad's want to come down once Squirt is born in July so we'll see them then. Neither DH or I have a lot of annual leave up our sleeves to make too many trips in 2010.

What's Squirt Up to This Week - Week 13

Squirt is now 7 to 8 centimetres long from crown to rump and weighs 23 grams -- about half a banana. Its unique fingerprints are already in place. And when you poke your stomach gently and she feels it, your baby will start rooting -- that is, act as if she's searching for a nipple.

My Symptoms

* Insomnia - I just can't get comfortable no matter what position I try. Pillow between my legs, no pillow, sleep on right side, left side, curled in a ball.

* Extreme Tiredness - Probably due to the fact I can't get comfy in bed and I'm also battling a little head cold thingo as well

* Bad skin - still. I was told this will ease in the 2nd trimester so my fingers are crossed.

* The centre of my nipples are changing colour - it kind of looks white-ish? Odd indeed.

* Veins everywhere - You can see them on my boobs, stomach, legs, arms.

* Pregnancy Brain - I went to put my dirty plate in the cupboard and my peanut butter in the fridge

* Food Cravings - I am loving oranges. Can't get enough of them. I have one or two a day.

Belly Pictures

(and yes that's water you see dribbled down my shirt!! Haha)

Hello 2nd Trimester

I can't believe we're in the 2nd trimester already. Or are we? One website says the 2nd trimester starts now, another says the 2nd trimester doesn't start until week 13 and a book I have says it doesn't start until week 14? Very odd indeed.

Time really has flown. I'm still having the occassional 'sick' day but no where near as frequently as in those first few weeks. I still haven't started to put on any of the 5kgs that I've lost, but I'm hoping that my appetite returns soon. DH is worried that I'm not putting on weight and asked whether we need another scan. I assured him that bub's is fine, it's my body that's being depleted of energy and nutrients :-)

So the name Squirt has stuck. DH was acually quite angry that someone told us about some sex connotation that can be associated with the word. We actually picked Squirt because it's that cute little turtles name in Nemo. Now he knows why you don't tell people some of the 'real' names you like, because they are bound to have an opinion or hate the name 'Bob' because 'there was a guy I went to school with who was called Bob and he was an X Y Z'. Honestly people, it's our child. We created bub's so it's our right to call him/her whatever we like. Whether it be a cute in utero name or a proper 'real life' name.

I can't believe it's nearly Christmas. I'm not at all excited about it this year. All our family are in QLD and I'm scheduled to work an evening shift on Christmas leaving darling husband twiddling his thumbs all evening. I've actually booked a doctors appoinment tomorrow to try and get a medical certificate for Christmas day off. I'm meant to be working on a ward that's quite physically heavy and I'm not willing to risk my health (or Squirt's) for the sake of a job. Plus I haven't been sleeping well lately. I'm constantly tired, so an extra day off won't hurt anyway. I think I may be getting another cold. My stupid nose is running like crazy and I'm sneezing a lot. I also feel I may have another UTI. GREAT!! More things to ask the GP about.

What's Squirt Up to This Week: Week 12

Squirt's face is beginning to look more human, even though she is only about 5.5cms long from her crown to her rump and weighs 14 grams. The eyes, which started out on the sides of the head, have moved closer together. The ears are almost in their normal position on the side of the head. The liver is making bile and the kidneys are secreting urine in the bladder.

My Symptoms:

* Extreme tiredness (I'm wondering if maybe I'm anaemic?)

* Awful skin (Thanks pregnancy hormones)

* My nipples are changing colour and looking pointy

* Food cravings. I'm currently craving sliced cheese. Can't get enough of it. Whether it's with rice crackers or by itself..... MMMM yumm!!! I've already gone through a 12pack. Must add that to tomorrow's shopping list.

Week 12 Belly Picture