hope you all had a fabulous day celebrating with people that you love... we had Christmas here in Oamaru with my sister, parents and my Granny.... it was brilliant. great food, and great presents oh and great company :)
yesterday we had an early birthday tea for Benjamin, its his birthday on the 2nd but he will be in Chch writing and we will be at Lake Tekapo or here in Oamaru, yummy roast chicken and homemade lemon meringue pie for desert....
highs of 2010
Posted in highs on by
wow, its nearly the end of the year, its been trying at times and hard work, but I have survived my first year as a Mama to four awesome little people...
so this year we clocked up some neat milestones, 12 years of being married, and year 6 of PhD land.... Miss N reached a lot of firsts, smiling, crawling, walking, still feeding. Mr O went from a cot sleeping, nappy wearing, dummy sucking little boy, to an independant kindy kid. Miss L started school which is a huge thing in itself and is taking it all in her stride, Miss K lost 3 teeth and has formed some great friendships which I hope will last her a life time.....
I have lost some weight, yay me, got my mobility back, started Black Bow designs, supported Ben in his study, got elected to NZLP Womens council, sponsored a sling walk, become a better friend, owned our own house for a year and celebrated 12 months medication free... not too bad really.....
so this year we clocked up some neat milestones, 12 years of being married, and year 6 of PhD land.... Miss N reached a lot of firsts, smiling, crawling, walking, still feeding. Mr O went from a cot sleeping, nappy wearing, dummy sucking little boy, to an independant kindy kid. Miss L started school which is a huge thing in itself and is taking it all in her stride, Miss K lost 3 teeth and has formed some great friendships which I hope will last her a life time.....
I have lost some weight, yay me, got my mobility back, started Black Bow designs, supported Ben in his study, got elected to NZLP Womens council, sponsored a sling walk, become a better friend, owned our own house for a year and celebrated 12 months medication free... not too bad really.....
phd... the mistress that I know about
Posted in on by
and a very demanding one at that....I know other wives that have felt the same, or you just feel like its totally taken over your Husbands life and that you come second to it... thank goodness the damn thing is close to being completed.
blogosphere
Posted in on by
some places I like to go to read are the awesome Stef, her travel and food photos are awesome, for political happenings I love THM.. for more intellectual stuff Deborah writes amazingly. I went to school with Anna and her blog makes me giggle.
A blog named fred is another that I visit often, and I love reading blogging project runway, but if you havent seen season 8 dont read it. Carla is another blogger I read, Tales of a red headed devil is neat for crafty knitting madness.... I like reading Nick Verreos of project runway fame too....
hopefully you might find something you like above
love D
A blog named fred is another that I visit often, and I love reading blogging project runway, but if you havent seen season 8 dont read it. Carla is another blogger I read, Tales of a red headed devil is neat for crafty knitting madness.... I like reading Nick Verreos of project runway fame too....
hopefully you might find something you like above
love D
christmas is coming
Posted in christmas on by
and I am not organised enough at all, I have a present for K,L and N, but no ideas really for Mr3, we are on a really tight budget that is not helped by petrol hitting the $2 a litre mark. Most of our money is being used for our trip south next weekend.
my present was to get my hair coloured properly, so I now have nice blonde hair instead of terribly dyed at home brassy blonde hair... it seems like a strange present but it was something I wanted to get done and I love how it looks... and I had a voucher of 50% off which helped make it affordable.
I have made my sisters present and I won a gorgeous necklace for her earlier this year, I am making something for Mum and we are getting Dad a joint present. Ben choose his own present and hes pretty happy with that. Its the first time in ages that I have struggled to get organised and to be excited about it all, maybe it will get better once the girls finish school on Wednesday
my present was to get my hair coloured properly, so I now have nice blonde hair instead of terribly dyed at home brassy blonde hair... it seems like a strange present but it was something I wanted to get done and I love how it looks... and I had a voucher of 50% off which helped make it affordable.
I have made my sisters present and I won a gorgeous necklace for her earlier this year, I am making something for Mum and we are getting Dad a joint present. Ben choose his own present and hes pretty happy with that. Its the first time in ages that I have struggled to get organised and to be excited about it all, maybe it will get better once the girls finish school on Wednesday
this time next month
Posted in on by
we shall be celebrating... yahoo, the PhD will be handed in and we will be able to relax a bit.. wahoo..... now to get through the next month...
night feeding
Posted in sleep on by
I need some help.. I am getting a bit tired of feeding bubs 3 or 4 times a night, I will not let her cry it out as I hate it.. so I am asking for strategies that worked for you... it seems the more stressed I am the more she wakes at night which isnt helping the situation at all....
she has yet to sleep the whole night and is over 12 months old, the longest sleep I have had since august last year is 7 hours....
D
she has yet to sleep the whole night and is over 12 months old, the longest sleep I have had since august last year is 7 hours....
D
questioning faith
Posted in on by
I am not sure if its my faith that I am questioning or the lack of sense of belonging at the church I currently attend.. I have been feeling like this since I shifted back from Oamaru, a sense of dislocation from the community of my church and just not really feeling like I fit in... So next year I am going to see what else there is out there... I aren't 100% sure what I am looking for but I want to be happy in my choice.
I sometime wonder about my extended family too... I am a Labour supporter and quite open about it, I just wonder if I fit at all... some of it comes from having gone to uni, and I am not saying I am better than anyone, it just gives you a different outlook on life, some of it is political that my stance is different, and some is just that I have never really fitted in.
My parents are lefties too, so was my Grandma, I use to have awesome conversations with her about politics and who to vote for, she loved MMP, she lived in Wigram and could vote for Jim Anderton and vote Labour, best of both worlds she thought. I am just feeling a bit lost in a few ways and when that's happening its so easy to just question everything around you.
I sometime wonder about my extended family too... I am a Labour supporter and quite open about it, I just wonder if I fit at all... some of it comes from having gone to uni, and I am not saying I am better than anyone, it just gives you a different outlook on life, some of it is political that my stance is different, and some is just that I have never really fitted in.
My parents are lefties too, so was my Grandma, I use to have awesome conversations with her about politics and who to vote for, she loved MMP, she lived in Wigram and could vote for Jim Anderton and vote Labour, best of both worlds she thought. I am just feeling a bit lost in a few ways and when that's happening its so easy to just question everything around you.
is it s a luxury...
Posted in school, walking on by
I have decided lately that its great that we live so close to our school that there is no point what so ever in driving my girls to school. Its lead me to wonder though if that is a luxury or not.... We chose to move into our school zone so our children has automatic entry and we bought our house on the same street as school for convenience and because it was the right price.
What I also wondered was if what was normal for me of walking to and from school with out Mum was now not the norm for most kids... it was one of the factors in our shifting house too that we the girls be able to have some Independence in getting themselves either too or from school some days, Miss K loves being able to walk home with Miss L, I don't let them walk alone, they must be together. Its also nice that a lot of other children around us walk too.. and this morning I was able to get our neighbour to walk Miss L to school as Miss K is home sick.
Another advantage of our living so close to school and kindy is that I now use 1 tank of petrol a fortnight, which is half of what we were using when we had to drive to school. We did choose though to not send Miss K to our closest school when she started school as we intended to shift to the area we now live in.
Its also great that Ben is able to bike to and from work too, its a nuisance to do buses from our place as you have to go right into town then out to Massey, and he can bike the 7km in about 20 minutes which at peak times is quicker than driving there.
D
What I also wondered was if what was normal for me of walking to and from school with out Mum was now not the norm for most kids... it was one of the factors in our shifting house too that we the girls be able to have some Independence in getting themselves either too or from school some days, Miss K loves being able to walk home with Miss L, I don't let them walk alone, they must be together. Its also nice that a lot of other children around us walk too.. and this morning I was able to get our neighbour to walk Miss L to school as Miss K is home sick.
Another advantage of our living so close to school and kindy is that I now use 1 tank of petrol a fortnight, which is half of what we were using when we had to drive to school. We did choose though to not send Miss K to our closest school when she started school as we intended to shift to the area we now live in.
Its also great that Ben is able to bike to and from work too, its a nuisance to do buses from our place as you have to go right into town then out to Massey, and he can bike the 7km in about 20 minutes which at peak times is quicker than driving there.
D
on the soapbox.. breastfeeding in Public
Posted in breastfeeding on by
Some women I know staged a breastfeeding sit in last week to protest on of their friends treatment in a cafe.... the woman was approached and told not to feed there and that breastfeeding was unhygienic.... seriously? what country are we living in?
When I had K, I struggled a lot with breastfeeding her, and would use a shawl over us when she was tiny to breastfeed in public, as I got more confident I would just feed her whenever and wherever she needed it.... now I am happy and comfortable that I just feed when N needs it too....
I had a woman pull my top down over the side of my breast earlier this year, I found it strange and offensive that she thought she had the right to do that too me, esp as we were waiting in the women's health clinic at the Hospital... I didn't say anything and now wish I had.
Why does a woman breastfeeding in public cause such alarm among some people... to me its perfectly natural and normal to do this, I would never comment to a woman bottle feeding her baby that its unhygienic or disgusting yet people do this to breastfeeding mothers a lot.
I get the whole breasts are sexual thing, but seriously breasts are there to feed babies too... multi functional things breasts are..... but if you are classifying breasts as sexual and that they should not be seen in public like that, then had we better start covering our mouths and hands too. They can be used for sexual purposes too.
And as for the woman's comments that its not good for kids to see breasts... well I don't get that either.... my children are comfortable with me breastfeeding, and what parent has never had their child walk in to the bathroom when showering, little kids don't care about breasts... they are just breasts to them, nothing sexual in it.
Anyway, rant over, and big ups to the women who took a stand on this.
When I had K, I struggled a lot with breastfeeding her, and would use a shawl over us when she was tiny to breastfeed in public, as I got more confident I would just feed her whenever and wherever she needed it.... now I am happy and comfortable that I just feed when N needs it too....
I had a woman pull my top down over the side of my breast earlier this year, I found it strange and offensive that she thought she had the right to do that too me, esp as we were waiting in the women's health clinic at the Hospital... I didn't say anything and now wish I had.
Why does a woman breastfeeding in public cause such alarm among some people... to me its perfectly natural and normal to do this, I would never comment to a woman bottle feeding her baby that its unhygienic or disgusting yet people do this to breastfeeding mothers a lot.
I get the whole breasts are sexual thing, but seriously breasts are there to feed babies too... multi functional things breasts are..... but if you are classifying breasts as sexual and that they should not be seen in public like that, then had we better start covering our mouths and hands too. They can be used for sexual purposes too.
And as for the woman's comments that its not good for kids to see breasts... well I don't get that either.... my children are comfortable with me breastfeeding, and what parent has never had their child walk in to the bathroom when showering, little kids don't care about breasts... they are just breasts to them, nothing sexual in it.
Anyway, rant over, and big ups to the women who took a stand on this.
weight loss journey
Posted in on by
its taking a while, but my journey is getting better, I was a size 24 after I had miss K, my hip measurement was 133cm, and my bust was 125cm, pretty big really, so I have been slowly loosing weight since then and getting more active, I measured myself in the weekend and my hips are 120cm and my bust is 116cm, wow, they are still too big but its awesome to see that I really am smaller than I was. I am hoping to start doing more exercise soon esp as its school holidays I want to start walking or biking more with the kids.
I am quite proud of myself, its a huge battle for me to not eat crap or drink coke and coffee laden with sugar, so its nice to see that it is paying off....
D
I am quite proud of myself, its a huge battle for me to not eat crap or drink coke and coffee laden with sugar, so its nice to see that it is paying off....
D
headaches
Posted in on by
so I am still getting nasty headaches, I am trying to drink more water but still getting them, my GP suggested trying to lower my stress levels as that's probably whats causing them but its really hard for me to relax at the moment... I am worried about Christmas, about travelling, about money and about Ben getting his PhD finished... any ideas for relaxation would be welcomed....
I hate how it makes me act too, I am not liking the person I have been today, grumpy, head achy, just blah and not good....
love D
I hate how it makes me act too, I am not liking the person I have been today, grumpy, head achy, just blah and not good....
love D
date night
Posted in kids, parenting on by
we have been having some issues with Miss K going to bed and staying there, we are not sure if its an attention seeking thing or if there is some reason that she wont talk to us about, so last weekend we instituted a tick chart... stay in bed 5 nights in a row and Mama will take you out for a fluffy as a reward.. well it did work, and last night her and I put on our nice dresses and went out for hot chocolates and ice cream..... it was really nice to have some one on one time with her and we were able to talk about some things which was great.
Miss L currently has a tick chart going too.. hers is to do with eating all her tea.... she often will eat 5 or 6 mouthfuls then say shes finished, so shes been making a real effort to eat all her tea, shes got her 5 ticks and I will plan something for her and I next week I think.
the problem though is that Miss K earned her 5 ticks then stopped staying in bed... so do we start the chart again? or does some other measure need to be taken?
D
Miss L currently has a tick chart going too.. hers is to do with eating all her tea.... she often will eat 5 or 6 mouthfuls then say shes finished, so shes been making a real effort to eat all her tea, shes got her 5 ticks and I will plan something for her and I next week I think.
the problem though is that Miss K earned her 5 ticks then stopped staying in bed... so do we start the chart again? or does some other measure need to be taken?
D
Monday, Monday
Posted in breastfeeding, housework on by
and the words to that song often goes around in my head on a monday morning when I am trying to catch up on things, but this morning I have hung out washing and am about to start tidying the living room, its so warm though that I have got the air con going....
And this afternoon I get to go to breastfeeding group which will be really good, I love going to it, and am proud that I have gotten bubs to 12 months breastfed with no formula or bottles at all, yay, so 2/4 have been breastfed till 12 months, L I got to 11 months, and K to 10 months with formula supplementing the breastfeeding.... to have continued feeding after the disasterous start I had with K is awesome, I had cracked nipples, blisters, mastitis requiring hospitalisation, latching issues, just major mountain to climb, and now its just so easy, I am really proud of my breastfeeding journey and think I am lucky to have had great support to have gotten this far with it.
D
And this afternoon I get to go to breastfeeding group which will be really good, I love going to it, and am proud that I have gotten bubs to 12 months breastfed with no formula or bottles at all, yay, so 2/4 have been breastfed till 12 months, L I got to 11 months, and K to 10 months with formula supplementing the breastfeeding.... to have continued feeding after the disasterous start I had with K is awesome, I had cracked nipples, blisters, mastitis requiring hospitalisation, latching issues, just major mountain to climb, and now its just so easy, I am really proud of my breastfeeding journey and think I am lucky to have had great support to have gotten this far with it.
D
my darling baby is one
Posted in birthdays on by
party tomorrow
Posted in birthdays on by
its Mr O's 3rd birthday tomorrow, far out has that gone quickly, we have got him a big tonka fire truck which I am hoping he will love as hes hugely into fire trucks and any other vehicles at the moment, next Thursday Miss N turns one so we are having a joint party for them tomorrow afternoon.
Next year we might have separate parties but at 3 and 1 we don't think its important esp as the same guests would have been invited anyway.
so this time tomorrow I will be sitting here recovering from an awesome party for my two littlies.
D
Next year we might have separate parties but at 3 and 1 we don't think its important esp as the same guests would have been invited anyway.
so this time tomorrow I will be sitting here recovering from an awesome party for my two littlies.
D
breaking the addiction
Posted in addiction on by
because I am rather anxious at the moment I have been drinking a can or 600ml bottle of coke most days, but yesterday I decided no more, if I want coke it has to be coke zero and its not going to be as often as I have been drinking it, I am going to try to cut down sugar in my coffee too... why I ask myself? I am now the lightest I have been in over 10 years, yep 95kgs.. still too much but coming down so I need to get moving, I ran most of the way home pushing the double buggy this afternoon and walked rather quickly too school, so my aim is to walk the school trip faster, cut back on sugar and other crap food and really try to lose some more weight, I am liking being able to wear smaller clothes or having my clothes fit nicer so I am really trying to do this and to keep myself honest about it.
D
D
the end is near...
Posted in phd on by
yay, Ben has a date for submission of his PhD, yahoo.... its the 10th of Jan... still hanging over us for
Xmas but that's OK a date is good.
So our plans are head south on the 18th of December, he will stay in Christchurch till Christmas and study and I will take the kids south to my parents. We will all go camping between Christmas and New years then Ben will head back to Christchurch to study and submit the PhD and I will stay with Mum and Dad... then we will all head home, yay.
I am happy that we know when its all got to be finished by, hes working such crazy hours that he will be so tired once its all done. But hopefully it will be worth it, well I am hoping it is.
D
Xmas but that's OK a date is good.
So our plans are head south on the 18th of December, he will stay in Christchurch till Christmas and study and I will take the kids south to my parents. We will all go camping between Christmas and New years then Ben will head back to Christchurch to study and submit the PhD and I will stay with Mum and Dad... then we will all head home, yay.
I am happy that we know when its all got to be finished by, hes working such crazy hours that he will be so tired once its all done. But hopefully it will be worth it, well I am hoping it is.
D
first steps...
Posted in walking on by
Miss N has been taking one step here and one there for a few weeks now, but today she did it.. she just kept going... 6 steps in a row, it was so cute and I was so proud of her. And she then did it again when Ben got home so it wasnt a fluke....
So looks like my youngest bubba will be my youngest walker too....
So looks like my youngest bubba will be my youngest walker too....
broken wrist
Posted in on by
I just realised that I hadn't even blogged that Miss L had fractured her wrist so the comments about her cast coming off totally wouldn't have made sense
She green stick fractured it on the second Monday of the school holidays... she was pushed over by miss K and fell awkwardly... and of course all the drama happened at 5:30pm so was not brilliant timing at all for any of us.
She was great about it all, really brave and lucky that it didn't snap the bone at all, apparently its a really common break, and it only needed a cast for 4 weeks. The cast she chose was awesome, light blue and it glowed in the dark.....
So after 7 years of being a parent we had our first big injury, not that bad really but was horrible seeing her in pain....
D
She green stick fractured it on the second Monday of the school holidays... she was pushed over by miss K and fell awkwardly... and of course all the drama happened at 5:30pm so was not brilliant timing at all for any of us.
She was great about it all, really brave and lucky that it didn't snap the bone at all, apparently its a really common break, and it only needed a cast for 4 weeks. The cast she chose was awesome, light blue and it glowed in the dark.....
So after 7 years of being a parent we had our first big injury, not that bad really but was horrible seeing her in pain....
D
wow
Posted in on by
so there are some changes happening in my life that I cant really go public with yet, but its very cool and giving me a new direction for some current projects.
miss L has had her cast off after fracturing her wrist in the school holidays, she and I are happy that its gone, it was a pain to keep it dry to bath and shower but glad wrap is awesome stuff for keeping water off casts.
We have 2 birthdays coming up, hard to believe that Miss N is going to be one soon, shes just gorgeous and a real blessing to us, she can take a step when standing so we are hoping she might be walking soon, Mr O is 3 5 days before her birthday, gosh time is flying so fast this year.
the dratted Phd is still being written, I am so over it, just wish it was done so we could get on with life.... but hey the end is near on it which is great.
Miss K is great, so much healthier now shes had those tonsils out.... its nice that shes not missing school like she was.
I am doing ok, still not 100% but trying to get things done and keep some routine going....
D
miss L has had her cast off after fracturing her wrist in the school holidays, she and I are happy that its gone, it was a pain to keep it dry to bath and shower but glad wrap is awesome stuff for keeping water off casts.
We have 2 birthdays coming up, hard to believe that Miss N is going to be one soon, shes just gorgeous and a real blessing to us, she can take a step when standing so we are hoping she might be walking soon, Mr O is 3 5 days before her birthday, gosh time is flying so fast this year.
the dratted Phd is still being written, I am so over it, just wish it was done so we could get on with life.... but hey the end is near on it which is great.
Miss K is great, so much healthier now shes had those tonsils out.... its nice that shes not missing school like she was.
I am doing ok, still not 100% but trying to get things done and keep some routine going....
D
have been away
Posted in labour party, slings on by
Bubs and I went to Auckland for a few days, to do the sling walk and to go to Labour party conference.
It was great to get away from the normal routine and to meet lots of old friends and meet some new ones too.... Baby girl was really good and it was nice just being her and I.
the slingwalk was awesome... over 70 people attended it, it was a stunning day and I got tomato red sunburn which was so painful (note to self: put sunblock on when you take your cardy off)
Conference was good too, I got elected onto Womens council which is very cool, I havent been on it since 2003.
D
It was great to get away from the normal routine and to meet lots of old friends and meet some new ones too.... Baby girl was really good and it was nice just being her and I.
the slingwalk was awesome... over 70 people attended it, it was a stunning day and I got tomato red sunburn which was so painful (note to self: put sunblock on when you take your cardy off)
Conference was good too, I got elected onto Womens council which is very cool, I havent been on it since 2003.
D
me...
Posted in clothes, depression on by
I need a bit of help... I am flat and down, but am trying to keep moving, I need some ideas of something I could do for myself to help move forward.. I am trying to be positive and keep moving forward, taking my medication again is helping but I need to do a bit more than just that.
I am going to Auckland for a weekend just soon which I am really looking forward too... so I was thinking about what clothes to take, they need to be smart, but comfortable and feeding friendly, I have 2 sling orders to do then I can create something nice for me, I am a sponsor for the sling walk so want to wear something nice to that, but not ott.... will need to think about comfy shoes too... hmmm I know it all sounds shallow but its giving me something positive to think about and to do for me, I also want to have another sort out of my clothing.. I have far too much.
love D
I am going to Auckland for a weekend just soon which I am really looking forward too... so I was thinking about what clothes to take, they need to be smart, but comfortable and feeding friendly, I have 2 sling orders to do then I can create something nice for me, I am a sponsor for the sling walk so want to wear something nice to that, but not ott.... will need to think about comfy shoes too... hmmm I know it all sounds shallow but its giving me something positive to think about and to do for me, I also want to have another sort out of my clothing.. I have far too much.
love D
rough patch
Posted in depression on by
I have hit a low patch... I am pleased though that I saw it coming and have started taking my medication again, I had been off my anti depressants for 12 months which is the longest since I was 17 so I am really pleased about that, it shows that I can do ok with life. But things have been getting on top of me and my anxiety levels have been out of whack so I have started on my meds again. Its been 2 weeks now and they are slowly beginning to work which is good.
I am really pleased though that it wasn't Mum or Ben telling me I was low this time, I saw it coming and took action which was really good. I hate feeling like this and am hoping that once the meds kick in I will start feeling a lot better again, its so annoying I have so much in my life to be grateful for yet I feel like crap.... oh well maybe things will get better soon.
love D
I am really pleased though that it wasn't Mum or Ben telling me I was low this time, I saw it coming and took action which was really good. I hate feeling like this and am hoping that once the meds kick in I will start feeling a lot better again, its so annoying I have so much in my life to be grateful for yet I feel like crap.... oh well maybe things will get better soon.
love D
2010 Auckland Sling walk sponsor
Posted in on by
I am sponsoring my first thing as a business.. how damn cool is that, click on the link to the side and see where it takes you, love D
wardrobe wednesday.. opps forgot
Posted in on by
tired grumpy and stressed
Posted in operation on by
I am tired, had have a nasty headache all day and I am stressing out big time... I have had a busy day yesterday with 18 kids here for Miss L's party so had a quiet day today, but my big stress at the moment is more worry actually... I am scared, Miss K is having her tonsils out tomorrow, I know its routine, I know what they will do etc, but shes my baby and I don't like the idea of her being in pain....
so i am scared, stressed, anxious etc, we have to be at the hospital at 7am and things will go from there, I know that it should be fine... but shes so little and shes my wee girl .... and i am just being normal...
so i am scared, stressed, anxious etc, we have to be at the hospital at 7am and things will go from there, I know that it should be fine... but shes so little and shes my wee girl .... and i am just being normal...
earthquake
Posted in earthquake on by
we were woken on Saturday moring to the news that Christchurch had been hit by a 7.1 earthquake, thank god that no one died....looking at the photos make me sad, I lived in Chch for 5 years, so each photo of a familiar place makes me fell worse
there have been over 270 aftershocks and its those aftershocks that are doing the emotion damage to people. its so sad and really hard feeling like I cant help up here. This website gives a really clear indication of how often the aftershocks are happening and why people are so on edge...
Our families are all ok, Bens parents places are fine which is great, and my parents are further south in Oamaru so they havent been affected by it.
anyway huge hugs to any of you that are affected and if ther is a way we can help please ask.
there have been over 270 aftershocks and its those aftershocks that are doing the emotion damage to people. its so sad and really hard feeling like I cant help up here. This website gives a really clear indication of how often the aftershocks are happening and why people are so on edge...
Our families are all ok, Bens parents places are fine which is great, and my parents are further south in Oamaru so they havent been affected by it.
anyway huge hugs to any of you that are affected and if ther is a way we can help please ask.
my girl is finishing Kindy today
Posted in on by
My wee miss L is 5 on Monday, she will start school that day... I am sad about her being so grown up, its a bittersweet feeling as she is so ready to start school, and so excited... shes very philosophical about it, when I asked her if she would miss kindy she said "no Mama, I can just go to the fence and see them," and she will see her kindy teacher when Mr O starts kindy next term....
wardrobe wednesday
Posted in on by
this is what I wore today, being the first day of spring so I decided against wearing tights.... the skirt I made over the weekend, its a gorgeous cotton sateen and
I am in love with it, the red t shirt I got in a clothing swap and the same with the denim jacket, Mr O wanted to be in the photo too....D
home alone, well with the kids
Posted in on by
Ben is away for a week, so its my first parenting alone session with 4 kids, its taking a bit of juggling but I am doing pretty good so far, having music on in the evenings helps, and keeping our routine going is going to be the biggest way to keep things fine....
I didnt want him to go, but am doing ok, was nervous as to how I would go last night, but we did fine, the kids were good at doing what was expected of them.
so one day down and 6 to go.....
I didnt want him to go, but am doing ok, was nervous as to how I would go last night, but we did fine, the kids were good at doing what was expected of them.
so one day down and 6 to go.....
wednesday wardrobe... week 2
Posted in on by
I will add a photo as soon as I can, but my outfit today was a grey hat, a red merino v necked top, black below knee shorts and my fave red boots....., comfy for school run etc and nice and bright, the hat was to cover up a bad hair day
feeling sick
Posted in breastfeeding on by
for the first time in over 2 years I have the flu... sore body, sore head and a temperature, Ben got it first, then K, and now me..... I haven't had a temperature for a while now and I had forgotten how truly horrid it makes you feel... thank goodness for panadol and sleep...
what I am finding really hard is drinking and eating enough, esp as I am breastfeeding, has anyone got some hints on something that's easy to eat or drink that wont make me want to throw up?
D
what I am finding really hard is drinking and eating enough, esp as I am breastfeeding, has anyone got some hints on something that's easy to eat or drink that wont make me want to throw up?
D
wardrobe Wednesday....
Posted in wardrobe wednesday on by
I found this while surfing today over at Dee construction..... so I looked further... and the idea is that you post an outfit that you have worn that week
so here is my contribution for the week....
Black pillowcase dress made out of a sari, blue knee high boots, black warehouse leggings(not seen) and a black warehouse t shirt.....
so here is my contribution for the week....
Black pillowcase dress made out of a sari, blue knee high boots, black warehouse leggings(not seen) and a black warehouse t shirt.....
school soon
Posted in birthdays, school on by
three weeks today Miss L will start school... wow, she will be 5, I look at her some days and wonder where that time has gone, I will have 2 wee girls at school and two lil ones at home with me....
I am actually really excited about her starting school, shes bored at kindy and needs some new challenges. She is ready for school too, she has her first school visit this week and has been doing Smart Start for a few weeks now. (smart start is a system our school has where we take them on a Monday afternoon to school for an hour in the class they will be in with the teacher and anyone else starting in the next 8-10 weeks..)
I have to get the last bits of her uniform this pay and then we just have to wait for her to start and to plan a 5th birthday party..... which will be after she starts school as Ben is away the week before her birthday and I don't want to plan everything on top of a week of parenting alone....
D
I am actually really excited about her starting school, shes bored at kindy and needs some new challenges. She is ready for school too, she has her first school visit this week and has been doing Smart Start for a few weeks now. (smart start is a system our school has where we take them on a Monday afternoon to school for an hour in the class they will be in with the teacher and anyone else starting in the next 8-10 weeks..)
I have to get the last bits of her uniform this pay and then we just have to wait for her to start and to plan a 5th birthday party..... which will be after she starts school as Ben is away the week before her birthday and I don't want to plan everything on top of a week of parenting alone....
D
new blog
Posted in on by
I decided to add a blog to my business stuff, so that I could have a bit more personal stuff, and some more writing behind what I do....
love D
love D
2 years of blogging today
Posted in on by
happy blogversary to me.. wow 2 years, I am somewhat amazed that I have stuck with this blogging business.... I started when Mr O was 8 1/2 months old, the same age Miss N is now.... my eldest had just started school, in three weeks time I will have 2 girls at school....
Some days I wonder why I do it, but generally I really like having a space to write, its not always brilliant writing, but I try and I enjoy it.
so happy blogversary to me
Some days I wonder why I do it, but generally I really like having a space to write, its not always brilliant writing, but I try and I enjoy it.
so happy blogversary to me
Black Bow designs has a logo
Posted in blackbowdesigns on by
yep.. my label has its own logo... am so pleased with it, just love how it looks, it was exactly what I asked for, simple, elegant, a bow and italic writing......
But I will let you make up your own minds... I am in love with it, and smile everytime I see it on my facebook page which by the way has over 270 fans....
D
But I will let you make up your own minds... I am in love with it, and smile everytime I see it on my facebook page which by the way has over 270 fans....
D
World Breastfeeding week
Posted in breastfeeding on by |
| Breastfeeding Miss K at Sumner beach in the middle of winter |
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| girls feeding their babies... aged 4 and 2.. now 7 and nearly 5 |
My biggest support other than Ben were the fabulous Lactation consultants at the Hospital, the gave me believe in myself that I could do it... so I now like to help others to be able to breastfeed too... I go to a group on a Monday and help support other Mums who are doing this too.....
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| Feeding Miss L in neonates |
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| feeding mr O aged 9 months |
I am lucky breastfeeding has gotten easier for me, but I will not forget the struggle that it was, and will not judge other Mums for their choices.....
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| Feeding Miss N aged 3 months |
need to rant
Posted in business on by
I am feeling really pissed off, I have made a Mei tai carrier to sell, I have called it a Palmsupial... that's not the problem,. the problem is that a woman I went to school with saw them on my business page, made one and is now selling them too...
I don't know whether to approach her about it, or to just leave it, anyway it makes me unhappy and I have been careful not to sell/make things that my friends are making, I have tried to keep away from that as I feel its unethical.
I am able to make most things I see yet I don't as I respect the creators rights on it. I understand that most clothing ideas come from someone else etc, nothing is new, its just frustrating me as I am making these to sell and shes copied my idea and doing it too....
I don't know whether to approach her about it, or to just leave it, anyway it makes me unhappy and I have been careful not to sell/make things that my friends are making, I have tried to keep away from that as I feel its unethical.
I am able to make most things I see yet I don't as I respect the creators rights on it. I understand that most clothing ideas come from someone else etc, nothing is new, its just frustrating me as I am making these to sell and shes copied my idea and doing it too....
babywearing.....
Posted in on by
I just read a blog post about the term babywearing being insulting to babies... I don't think it is... to me it implies a way of life where carrying you baby in a sling , carriers, piece of cloth is normal, that keeping baby close is important and helps with bonding, and makes life easier for parent/carer and for bubs.
Its like its a movement that promotes baby's wellbeing and happiness... maybe it could be termed something else, but what? baby slinging sounds bad.... and I cannot think of other names for using a sling.
I love wearing my baby in her sling, its nice to have her close, shes contented when in the sling, shes happy and that's one of the main reasons I do it. Its great for bonding, for breastfeeding, for having free hands to look after my other kids... I am a convert, babywearing is awesome.
Its like its a movement that promotes baby's wellbeing and happiness... maybe it could be termed something else, but what? baby slinging sounds bad.... and I cannot think of other names for using a sling.
I love wearing my baby in her sling, its nice to have her close, shes contented when in the sling, shes happy and that's one of the main reasons I do it. Its great for bonding, for breastfeeding, for having free hands to look after my other kids... I am a convert, babywearing is awesome.
can I have another weekend please
Posted in kids on by
we have had a hugely busy weekend and I need another one so I can recover..... we have been to two birthday parties, a bastketball game, another friends for coffee, had an extra for the night, had one away for a night... and a teething baby.
Its been great though but I need a rest. I made a wee apron too for the birthday today so was sewing too, and trying to catch up on the washing too. Oh well tomorrow is another day, so I will try to get stuff done that I have neglected today.
d
Its been great though but I need a rest. I made a wee apron too for the birthday today so was sewing too, and trying to catch up on the washing too. Oh well tomorrow is another day, so I will try to get stuff done that I have neglected today.
d
black bow designs is online
Posted in blackbowdesigns on by
Today I launched my own website, I had an awesome helper who has helped make it look fabulous.... please go check it out.
D
D
co sleeping
Posted in cosleeping, kids on by
I somehow ended up being interviewed for the Herald on Sunday via email about co sleeping, it cam up on facebook through a group I belonged to that a journalist was wanting to talk to co sleeping parents about their experiences and the advice they had been given by midwives, Drs, nurses etc....o I talked via email to the journalist and I was quoted in the article.
I have co slept with all our babies, with K she was over 3 months I think before I did, I was scared that she was so little and I found it difficult to sleep with her, my confidence as a mum has grown though and now most of the night little N sleeps with me, they have all slept in the daytime in their cot and from 1am most nights they sleep with us. I have read about the risks from co sleeping, and I decided that it works for us.... I am not suggesting thought that everyone should do it.
I did an informal poll of friends on facebook, some co sleep happily others didnt, it was discouraged when I was a baby and thats ok, we make choices from the information that we have available to us, and that was the gist of the article in the paper, that information is not being given to Mums about co sleeping, its benefits and its risks.
So readers what are your thoughts on this?
love D
I have co slept with all our babies, with K she was over 3 months I think before I did, I was scared that she was so little and I found it difficult to sleep with her, my confidence as a mum has grown though and now most of the night little N sleeps with me, they have all slept in the daytime in their cot and from 1am most nights they sleep with us. I have read about the risks from co sleeping, and I decided that it works for us.... I am not suggesting thought that everyone should do it.
I did an informal poll of friends on facebook, some co sleep happily others didnt, it was discouraged when I was a baby and thats ok, we make choices from the information that we have available to us, and that was the gist of the article in the paper, that information is not being given to Mums about co sleeping, its benefits and its risks.
So readers what are your thoughts on this?
love D
I'm Back.....
Posted in familly, kids on by
Its the longest that I have ever not gone south, it will have been a whole year, when we first shifted up here I would just go whenever I wanted too.. now its carefully planned to the cheapest flights and the easiest way to travel with children. I am flying by myself with the 4 kids, will be interesting, but K and L are pretty independant now so it will be ok, and they have flown heaps now so the quite enjoy it.
So Home here we come.
D
ps no its not me in the photo its my sister, shes not my twin.....
wow, what a day
Posted in kids on by
The service was lovely, she dipped her hand in the water/font thingy and had a play which was very cute, she didn't cry at all, and was lovely and smiley all morning, we then squeezed into our wee house for lunch etc, at one stage there were 42 of us here, including 8 children under 7 years of age, they were 6,5,4,3,2,2,1 and 6 months, plus 3 twelve year old boys, and some older teenagers, it was really neat.
We had lovely homemade pumpkin soup and a laksa style soup and french sticks for lunch, and most those over 16 had a nip of Glenfiddich to "wet" baby's head again. It was a pain that it rained most of the day as it has meant there are only one or two family photos and I would have loved to have gotten more, maybe I will get some tomorrow, I might just get us guys all dressed the same as today and take some of us all.
D
doing ok
Posted in blogging daily, kids on by
family members start arriving tomorrow for N's baptism on Sunday, its why I have been so stressed, but I think I am doing ok today, the house is looking fine, I mowed the lawns, there is baking in the fridge, and I have half made a top for me to wear. I am hoping to get the top finished in the morning before my parents arrive and we just have mr O's room to tidy. So hopefully we will be ok.
love D
love D
nearly done
Posted in blogging daily on by
with this blogging daily business, its been good, it has certainly helped me clear my head a few times which has been great, its helped me get back into the routine of posting and its made me think about a few things too. So over all even though I missed a couple of days due to a need to have a break I am quite pleased with my efforts.
love D
love D
that wasnt much of a post
Posted in blogging daily, kids on by
Its funny how people see different ones of our kids in each other.... there are expressions or looks that each of them has that is unique but they all have a oneness too, they have a look that unifies them as siblings, its very cool, and it amazes me at time how people comment that they look alike, but shouldnt they when they have the same parents? maybe its just me, but I kind of expect them to look similar in some way, it might be because my sister and I look similar or something. Anyway I have added a photo of my gorgeous youngest babies who look similar but unique and I am totally in love with them, over the weekend I will get some of my two big girls together too and of them all together. They are all amazing wee people and I am truely blessed to be part of their lives
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