I was hit hard today by the inspiration stick. For a few years now I have been making children's clothes, but was coming to a real dead end/creative block with it all. And today it just kind of whacked me in the face. So stay tuned, and after a little bit of organising I will share it all... Oh and if your wondering what the above pictures have to do with it, I made those tights and booties my little madam has on, and I thought that these pictures were just to cute not to share ;o).

Today...

Today was a rainy, windy, sleepy day. It reminded me of all the time spent cuddling up to my newborn son this time four years ago. Now I have two precious ones to cuddle up with and spend the winter months staying in our pj's all day drinking warm chocolate milk in bed whilst reading truck loads of stories.

Only thing is, this time around I have to share all those wonderful snuggles, and also the bed is becoming pretty full with all the little people and the assortment of soft toys that they bring with them.

Two Weeks...

In eight hours my precious little one will be two weeks old. Where has that time gone?? Right now the little miss is sleeping beside me on my bed whilst I catch up on the happenings online and her big brother plays his playstation next to me. She is in her first ever dress today, and looks ever so peaceful and cute...

(taken with the webcam... so yes a little dodgy, but still ever so cute)

I've written about things that you forget about when you a re pregnant... well here are the things, both the good and the bad that you forgot about having a newborn around. I thought I might get them down before my little one *gasp* is no longer a newborn.

1. If you don't know how to swim then you will soon learn after waking up in pools of milk in the morning...

2. Newborns should come with one of those signs 'slippery when wet'. They are VERY slippery if you attempt to have a shower with them.

3. The feel of spewed up milk running between your (.)(.)'s becomes normal, and if it doesn't happen at least twice a day you think something is wrong.

4. What was that noise... be prepared to jump out of bed like a mad woman when you hear the slightest noise... (even if it was just the cat outside)

5. Do not, under any circumstances look, think or touch your baby (or think happy, soppy thoughts about babies) if they haven't feed for a few hours, unless you find looking like you have just entered a wet t-shirt competition glamorous...

6. In relation to above, do not wear light coloured cotton tops when in public...

7. Your baby does not want you, or any one else in your household to eat tea. Breakfast and Lunch are ok, but tea is another story.

8. The sound of a burp can be the highlight of your day.

9. Even if you do manage to get some sleep over night, be prepared to feel the need to fall asleep all day, and come baby's sleep time be prepared to be wide awake.

10. Your house will get messy, REALLY messy. Your other children may eat tinned spaghetti fr tea two nights in a row.... But who cares, I know I don't :)

All things girly and pink

This here is a picture of the madam's wardrobe the night before I went into hospital...

And here is a picture in its current state... not to mention whats in the drawers that sit below the hanging space.

As much as I am a girls girl... I love clothes and shoes and makeup and everything that goes along with being a girl... but I usually draw the line with pink. Don't ask me to give you a valid reason, because I don't have one. But I have found that when shopping now post-birth I am magnetically attracted to everything pink. purple, bows and frills. I just can't help myself... there is a lot of gifts in the above picture but equally as much I have bought. Its like my brain goes into 'see pink, must buy'.

And then there is todays shopping expedition on etsy... but I'll save that for another post.

A fly on the wall...

A fly on the wall... ( a blog this post)

I’ve always, as long as I can remember been a reader. The type of reader that becomes so involved in what I read I sometimes feel as though I am living in a fantasy land. I have been known in the past to run into objects, be it walls, tv cabinets, doors... if you can name it I have more than likely crashed into it with my nose in a book.

Most of my all time favourite books come from my childhood, so if I could be a fly on the wall, it would be one that was in my childhood bedroom. I have always held onto the fantasy of my toys, mainly my soft animal/doll collection that they come to life once you shut your eyes for the night, and maybe if I was a fly then I could prove it was true once and for all.

Here are a few of the books that used to take me into this fantasy land that I have never left... (images taken from amazon.com)

and last but not least... my all time favourite

No more milk mumma, I'm full!!

Meeting her name sake... Great-Grandmother Valerie Isabel

Her favourite sleeping spot... all curled up on mumma's arm.

The last few days in pictures... I think it's almost official... I have been blessed with a sleeping baby. And it feels like you have won the lottery when this happens. I've done my fair share of waking up constantly to Mr. Charlie who was never a sleeper for the first two years of his life... so this just feels like heaven.

Took the little man to see Playschool live in concert today and we had a ball. Ava slept right through all the dancing and jumping about in her sling and only woke up when we got home. When asked if he would like to buy something from the gift shop, he said 'can I get the baby something to', he never stops melting my heart. I was a little worried that he would be a little lost when Ava came along, as it has been just me and him for such a long time. But he is the most caring, loving big brother that any girl could ask for. She is a very lucky little madam that is for sure.

My gorgeous girl went to sleep at 11 o'clock last night, woke up at 3.45 for a feed and then didn't wake up till well after 9!! Ah Bless, if I have 5 nights of no sleep now I will still be happy :).


You want to knw one of the most amazing things that has happened during the short few days Ava has been with us... I feel like a first time mumma again and it is a FANTASTIC feeling. I don't know  what I expected with having another baby, in regards to experiencing everything for the second time. I always used to say 'I will do this next time' or 'I won't do that next time'. Not only am I experiencing all these 'first times' with little miss Ava, but each and every moment I look at her she brings back those amazing feelings of when I had my son, so its like a double bang of all these 'feel great moments'. I didn't think that this time I would have those helpless feelings of not knowing what to do being my second, but they are still there. Although they are frustrating, they are great at the same time (if that makes sense lol).


I'd just like to say a big Thankyou to all of the lovely messages you have been leaving. When I am a little more organised I can't wait to get back on the ball and reading all of the amazing blogs that I visit.

Oh my gosh... It's 9.00 and I have both kidlets in bed fast asleep... (*insert a big sigh of relief/exhaustion here*). I must not take all the credit to myself though, even though I gt both to sleep myself I have been getting a huge helping hand from my mother who has been cooking my tea, doing my washing, picking up after me and the kids and even washing Ava's nappies every night. All I have had to do is be a mum to my fantastic children. I am ever so grateful to her.

Now that I have a few minutes I thought that I would take the time to share Ava's arrival earthside.

Wednesday 14th of July is the day they booked me in for my induction. After planning a natural labour/delivery I was a little disheartened that things hadn’t started on their own, but still felt quite in control of how things were to happen. With DS, I was induced with the gel and my waters broke about 8 hours later, so labour established quite well (the rest didn’t go so well though.

When I had my VE at 8 am, midwife couldn’t even reach my cervix, so she said that the first lot of gel probably wouldn’t do much. Sat around just waiting for the slightest twinge... but nothing. Second lot of gel was applied at 3 that afternoon, and after a great initial reading on the monitor, that got me a little excited... nothing again. My birth partner Sam stayed around till 9pm and then went home to get some sleep. I was so frustrated at this stage... there were two ladies in my room that were induced that morning and they both already had their beautiful boys already. I think in that first day I walked around 1000 kms!! (ok slight exaggeration but you get my drift ;)

Next morning bright and early I was introduced to a student doctor who asked if it would be ok to monitor me during the day and be included in anything that would be happening with me. I have never felt more at ease with medical personal, that I said it would be fine. His name was Patrick. At 9am midwife came and applied more gel, and I started on my adventure around the hospital. It was funny the strange looks that I was getting as people seen me waddling up and down the stairs for the second day in a row. 

Come 3.00 that afternoon, I was getting ready to blast the next person that walked into the room, when all of a sudden Patrick arrived and told me that the DR on duty wanted to see if he reach my cervix now and brake my waters... if not then he would be inserting a Foleys catheter to try and get things moving. So we headed down to the birthing suite and DR was able to brake my waters at exactly 4.00 and found that the fluid was stained with meconium, baby’s stats were great so he put it down to being overdue. He then explained to me that he would be putting in a drip and I refused... I explained to him my want for a natural labour and that I would like some time for labour to establish on its own. He wasn’t happy... but it’s not as if he could force an IV drip into my arm against my consent. He gave me until 6 o’clock to be having regular contractions and then the drip would be going in. So Sam and I started walking, and walking... and nothing exciting was happening, a few contractions but I was still able to walk and talk through them.

6.30 came around and drip was put in, by this time every single part of what I had hoped for during labour had slipped out the window, so I burst into tears. I was extremely nervous about having the drip because of what I had been told which was sending my anxiety levels through the roof, and the fact that I was stuck on a bed with the stupid monitor on was making things worse. Contractions started instantly. At 7.00 drip was turned up and by this stage they were painful enough not to be able to talk. I finally got myself in a good mindset and was able to breath my way through the contractions quite well, and 7.30 drip was turned up again and contractions became quite painful. Bub was in a good position but because I had to lay on the bed it was all going to my back, my midwife and Patrick decided to take the monitor off me at around 8.00 as babe’s stats were excellent, so this gave me the freedom to move around. I got off the bed and tried to move but contractions were to painful. 

Discussed in the brief few seconds in between contractions with midwife about pain relief and she suggested that she examine me to see how far I had got... which turned out to be a tiny 2 cms... I was shattered. I asked to go to the toilet as I felt I needed to cry, but didn’t want to lose control in front of anyone. MW ended coming in and I burst into tears, it was hard work and I just couldn’t find a position that made me feel comfortable and in control. I got back up on my bed and layed on my side, I had my birth partner Sam holding my hand and the student doctor placing pressure on my lower back when a contraction came on. This whole time I had my eyes closed, I can’t remember seeing anything at all. 

At around 8.35 I felt my body pushing... I hid it the first time it happened as in my head I kind of thought ‘no way, I am only 2cms’ straight after that it happened again and I remember saying to my midwife ‘my body is pushing’. She said go with it and then noticed a bloody show when she took my underwear off. She got all excited and it felt like she yelled ‘we’re going to have a baby!!”. Next thing I knew babe was crowning, midwife told me to push with the next contraction and that would be the stinging one... I can remember saying to her, no, I am just relaxing my mind about it, I will push on the one after that... haha, it was such an out of body experience. On the next contraction my body took over and at 8.45 Ava entered the world. Because no one thought that I would be pushing a baby out so soon, only being 2 cms dilated 30 mins before hand I still had my clothes on, I made them cut them off me as I just wanted her on my skin. She attached straight away to the breast and was still there when my mum and Charlie arrived at 9.00. 

Charlie literally ran into the delivery room, jumped straight up on the bed and snuggled right up to me. He placed his hand on Ava’s chest and ever so sweetly said ‘hello baby’. We are all sitting around and all of a sudden mum said, ‘what is it?’, I hadn’t even checked. Charlie and I had a look and I burst into tears as he screamed out ‘nan, she has a vagina!’ Haha it was hilarious. After such a traumatic experience with DS’s labour, and what felt like the start of another one this time around in their efforts to even establish labour, I felt like I had achieved something amazing of personal belief and want. I still feel it today and it has given me such a high.

The following morning Patrick the student doctor came to see how I was.  He sat and talked to me for a while and I found out that Ava was his first birthing experience. I think how wonderful it is that my little girl will be in the memory of this young man for the rest of his life, and I know he is going to make a fantastic DR one day.

One Week

In 4 hours the beautiful Ava will be one week old. How time flies. She is still just as perfect as the day that she arrived. She has slotted so well into our lives it feels as though she has been here forever. Charlie has been the perfect big brother, being so patient with both Ava and myself and helping in every way that he can. Just today I was outside enjoying some sun and a cup of tea when I thought I heard the princess crying... went in only to find Charlie singing her 'You are my sunshine' and he put her back to sleep... she is a very lucky girl to have him as her big brother.

She is feeding so well, apart from the initial few days when my (.)(.)'s near exploded... haha.

I'd really love to find the time to sit down and write her birth story... it was such an amazing and empowering experience and I can't wait to share!!

a few pictures...

A few pictures to share until I get the tiime (and hands) to type a post :)

It's A...

!!!GIRL!!!

On the 15th of July, at 8.45pm we welcomed beautiful Ava Valerie Isabel earthside. 7lbs 2 oz, 47.5 cms long. She is the most precious little thing. Charlie is totally in love, singing to her, holding her, stroking her cheek... brings a tear to my eye just writing about it. 'My sweet little Ava, my cute little sister' is what he whispers in her ear. Here are a few pictures to share... will be back later with more details. xxx

3 Hours...

Is about the amount of sleep that I got last night. Have now been up since 5.15, showered, done hair, makeup etc. I even got a little eager and cooked my self some scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast. There is about an hour to go and I will be heading to the hospital to get things under way.

So hopefully by tonight I will have a new baby, am starting to get excited about the prospect of what sex it is. I'd love another boy, little boys are just the greatest and I'd love for Charlie to have a brother. Yet a girl would be just as great, it would just be on a road that I was unfamiliar with. When talking in conversation with me about babe, Charlie always references as a she, and always picks out pink things that he wants to buy. Yet when asked what he thinks the sex might be, he says 'I don't know...'. Maybe he has a sixth sense about it? Maybe not, hopefully come afternoon today, we will know.

All Set...

So I'm packed, re-packed and re-packed until I got sick of doing it. Only things missing from my bag is my phone and laptop (yes, I'm taking my laptop to hospital... need something to do when I'm awake at 3am in the morning feeding :P).

Charlie (even though he is staying here with mum) even has his own bag packed of any possible clothing items he may need for the span of three days. (I plan on being home no later than Friday.)

Car seat is in the car, the only thing left to do is do put bags in the car.

Do you have any traditions when a new baby is entering your life? We don't really have any set in stone, but I have passed on to Charlie my old teddy bear, (well lets just say he borrows it because I can;t quite give him up) and I also have one waiting for the new baby. And below is the blanket that Charlie was bought home from hospital in, which also happens to be mine from my infant hood. Its packed in the baby's bag so that it too can be bought home in it. Its rather exciting the prospect of being able to have use of all these things again, something which I never thought would happen.

So I'm off to spend the rest of my day with my only child, it will be our last afternoon/night as just us two, and hopefully next time you hear from me it will be news of our new arrival. xx

*Bump Day* 41 Weeks

41 Weeks and overcooked. This is the first ever 'naked skin' belly shot I have taken, I thought to myself, what the hell and just did it. I feel absolutely humongous, but in comparing the size of my overall belly to when I was pregnant with Charlie, I am tiny!

Wednesday is the day...

Well, unless some kind of miracle happens between now and 8 o'clock Wednesday morning, Wednesday is the the day. I have been so excited all through this pregnancy at the prospect of having a natural birth, so now I am going to share the pro's of having an induction, if only to get them into my own head.

1. I know the date I have to be at the hospital, so there is no rushing around organising care for DS should I go into labour spontaneously. 

2. I know the procedure, (had it done with DS) so instead of worrying about the unknown, I know the ins and outs.

3. I get to relax in my hospital room/bed and have my things organised instead of having to wait till after birth.

Ok, so I can only find three points at the minute, but induction verses spontaneous labour all ends in the same result, a new baby and that is a great thing to look forward to.

Poor little Mr. Charlie, he is not very well at all. Have been up with him all night. He needs to cough but won't because it hurts and it is making him so congested. Just had to be a little firm with him and get him to cough and made him cry :(. When I had Obstetrician this morning I organised for my sister to watch him, but he insisted on coming so he could see 'his baby'. On the way (5 minute drive) the poor soul fell asleep in the car so my mum waited there with him until I had finished. He was so devastated when he woke up that he had missed out that I told him a little fib and said that the drs had been closed.

So its a day full of dvd's, fruit smoothies and cuddles, whilst I enjoy my last few days as a mumma of one, extremely precious little man, and one extra special Bill the cat who makes everything seem just that little bit better. xx

Sick little man...

I have a sick little man :(. Just got home from the hospital, and it only looks like a viral infection but gee has it hit his little body hard. He is currently all cuddled up beside me watching a dvd. Here's hoping a full nights sleep makes him a little better.

3.17am this morning...

No, its not the time of birth of a baby that still seems to be extremely comfortable in my womb. Its the time I woke up this morning. Last look at the clock before going back to sleep was 5.26am. Its so much fun not being able to sleep. It makes you feel so glamorous with the red eyes, the black bags underneath, the crabbiness from being tired. 'What is she talking about, she is about to have a newborn' I hear you say... At least I would have purpose to getting up, right now there is no reason I should be awake and it is driving me insane.

Had the worse case of heartburn as well when I woke up at that hour... but alas all my life-saving antacid tablets had been used... So you know what I did, I got up at 3.17 in the morning and made myself a bowl of vanilla ice-cream. Not just a few scoops to take the edge off my heartburn, like a massively gigantic pasta bowl full of vanilla ice-cream. And to top it of you want to know what I covered it in??? Soup spoons full of milo. And you know what.... it was delicious!!!


Have obstetrician tomorrow who will be issuing babe with an eviction notice. I'm sure it will be Wednesday. Even though I am more than excited to met our new little one, it is making me extremely frustrated and down that it looks more and more likely that I will be induced again. If Wednesday is the day, babe has 2 and a bit days to come of its own accord, and I am hoping and praying that it decides to do so

Pregnancy List

There are things about pregnancy that you often forget about when your not actually pregnant... So while I am patiently (note the hint of sarcasm...) waiting for some kind of sign that babe is on its way I thought that I would write a list of the good and not so good things about being pregnant.

1. Make way for the pregnant lady...

In both my pregnancy's I have found that people are ever so kind to open doors, give you a seat, carry something heavy etc. Wait till you have that baby in your arms, or in a stroller, no-one will be getting out of your way unless you run them down (and watch out for those doors shutting on you as you try and make your way through with a stroller)

2. Most people think a pregnant belly is public domain...

Dear strange lady at the health food shop, no it is not ok for you to grope my belly.

3. (Monday Morning)... 'You are so tiny' - (Monday Afternoon)... 'Oh my gosh, are you pregnant with a toddler?

Thankyou ever so much for a great boost of confidence 

4. Itchy Tummy

Three words, thankyou ex-foliating gloves.

5. Tight Skin

On my stomach to be exact and it hurts. 

6. Stomach Acrobats

That amazing sensation of your babe moving around inside your womb, made even more special when you can see it on the outside.

7. Dreams

What is it with pregnancy dreams... I have had some shockers, they are either down right scary or down right insane. I think if I was to write down what I dreamt about they would near lock me away in an asylum... 

8.  Overdue... Phone calls, messages, have you had that baby yet???

Yes, I have, but enjoyed being so uncomfortable and largish that I have taken to wearing a fat suit that makes me look 9 months pregnant. 

9. What are you having?

Ummm, well, I sincerely hope its a baby, if its not I will be asking for a refund!! 

10. Peoples labour stories

Ok everyone, I get it having a baby hurts. But not only have I been there before, I also do not need your horror stories thank you very much! 

I have a wonderful friend of mine that I asked to be my birth partner for when babe decides its time to be earth-side. She is one of those one in a million type of friend that I am lucky to have two of, except the other lives a million miles away!! She also happens to be my son's best friends mother, it could not get much better than that.

I really wanted to get her something to give her after the birth, something that symbolises the friendship we share, the new baby, and also her own journey of motherhood.

So here it is, well, kind of... this one is actually my matching one, hers is wrapped up in my labour bag. It is a Pandora bracelet, with the letter (mine a C, hers an R) symbolising each of our sons and the stone charm being the birth stone of July (obviously the symbolising the arriving babe) and the fact that they match and we both will have one symbolising our friendship. She is going to growl at me, I know she will love it, but I think it may overwhelm her. I am so excited about giving to her, and so I can finally wear mine. xx

Babe Guess

So here is the round up of all the 'Guess the Babe's Stats', its an interesting mix with more than half of the date guesses already past. If this list is anything to go by, I will be having a girl and 'she' will weigh in the highish 7lb mark... time can only tell :)

Megan: 26^th June, 7lb 11, Girl

Cassy: 28^th June, 8lb 3, Girl

Dannii: 29^th June, Girl

Di: 29^th June, Girl

Terrie: 30^th June, 7lbs 11, Boy

Jenny (mum): 30^th June, 8lb, Girl

Amanda: 1^st July, 8lb 2

Marita: 1^st July, 8lb 1, Boy

Alicia: 3^rd July, 8lbs 6, Girl

Andrew: 3^rd July, 7lb 6, Boy

Kala: 4^th July, 7lb 4, Girl

Traceym: 4^th July, 7lb 6 ½ Girl

Karen: 7^th July, 7lb 7, 7.07pm, Girl

Anita: 7^th July, 8lb 5, Boy

Jaisen: 8^th  July, 7lbs 6, Girl

Mary: 8^th July, 8lbs 4, Girl

Emma: 10^th July, 8lb 4, Boy

Ainslie: 10^th July, 8lb 5, 3pm, Boy

Rosalyn: 10^th July, 9lbs, Boy

Terry: 11^th July, 9lb 7

Jess: 12^th July, 7lb, Boy

Julie: 13^th July, 8lbs, Girl

Mallory: 18^th July, 7lb 14, Boy

Katie: 7lbish, Boy

Tanae: 7lb, Girl

Amy(sister): 8lbs, Boy

13 Girls, 11 Boys, 2 Unknown

Dear Baby in my Belly

To the sometimes annoying, most of the time enjoyable movement in my belly that I am surely to miss once its gone.

It has been 40.4 weeks since you graced my womb with your presence. Whilst I have utterly enjoyed most moments of feeling you grow, hiccup and move inside me, my heart is now becoming impatient to lay eyes on this wonderful creation. 

You have the best of all big brothers that has been waiting ever so patiently to met you. He wants to sing you his special songs, he wants to hold you in the bath, he wants to buy you lots of toys (well, maybe they are for both you and him, but the thought is there :))

There are so many wonderful and beautiful people waiting here to met you, and your mumma would certainly like you to come of your own accord before the need for medical intervention. So please dear baby, come earth-side for us in the next few days. xx

Challenge 51: Photographic challenge - CHANGE

I was hoping for a baby picture to share, but alas, still waiting. Have you ever really thought about the miricale of a baby developing inside their mothers womb. The amount of growth that happens in what is really only a very sort period of time is so amazing that I can't describe it in words...

23 Weeks

40.4 Weeks...

And the end result coming to a post real soon :)

So a new arrival to our small family is drawing near, and I thought that I would take the time to go back and reminisce on my first babe to arrive earth-side 4 years ago, my Charlie...

Its strange how these moments feel like only yesterday, yet at the same time they feel as though it was a lifetime ago...