Jumpty Jump!

Lily is totally obessed with jumping at the moment. Ever since she learned how to get both feet off the ground at once she literally hasn't stopped jumping.

She loves to put on a show for anyone that will watch. She's so proud of herself. She doesn't just jump on the floor though - she'll take any surface. She LOVES our bed, the lounges, the trampoline - anything coushy and she's onto it. She knows she isn't aloud to do it but when you turn your back she's off again. Sigh.

We went to a party for Byron the other day at one of those play centres and there was a jumping castle. Lily was in her element and as you can imagine she was worn out come home time.

That girl seriously has so much energy.

(Click to see it bigger)

Could it be?

TTWe might have played a little bit of Russian roulette this month, if you know what I mean. Part of me has been hoping for the past week that perhaps we might be lucky (or maybe it’s unlucky) this month. I secretly have my fingers crossed that the egg meets the sperm although sometimes I uncross them because I’m really not sure it would be the right decision for my family. Plus, surely it’s not possible since things weren’t ‘timed’ properly or not as they would be if we were trying properly.

What’s been making me wonder if it could be, are the dreams – they’re so vivid and real. For the last few days I’ve been having the most intense dreams. They’re so much more intense then they normally are. It’s like I’ve gone from tranquil dreams that I can’t remember in the morning to dreams so vivid I feel like I’ve literally been there and not asleep.

The funny thing is the dreams were the first indication that I was pregnant with Lily. So, I’m thinking that maybe it’s a sign that I could be pregnant. Maybe I’m just trying some wishful thinking. I don’t think I have any other signs out of the ordinary. Just the dreams!

I guess time will tell...maybe another week or so and I’ll know for sure. Either way, I'm swaying negative more then positive.

Sir Walter

Isn't he beautiful? So lush. So green. So soft.

Is it possible to be in love with grass? If so, I am.

Sir Walter...I promise to honour you, mow you, water you and love you as long as we both shall live. xxx

It goes without saying that the kids LOVE their new grass...

About time...

It's only been about 5 months and a few weeks (but who's counting)!

We are one day away from actually having grass. Now it's costing a pretty penny because Trevor and I aren't really great with 'green' things so it was best to pay someone to do it for us. At least it will be done properly.

Today we had the ground prepared because as you could imagine there was...umm...five months worth of weeds and crap - nothing the weed killer could possibly fix.

Byron was a mighty helper as always...he did the edges.

So, this time tomorrow we'll have grass. About time I say.

And so it begins...

I’ve been yearning for another baby since Lily was born. It’s funny. My friends said to me that I should stop at Lily; that I have terrible pregnancies; that I have a pigeon pair; that I’m lucky for what I have but I didn’t think so – I mean I’m definitely lucky. That goes without saying. Just look at my little cherubs. They’re the greatest kids ever. Just because I’ve got those two though doesn’t mean I don’t want any more because I do. I want three. Always have and always will!

Today I headed to the chemist for the first important trip in our trying to conceive journey. We plan on trying in the coming months (although I secretly hope, which is probably not possible, that I can get pregnant sooner. Naughty huh?!).

We’ve been debating it for ages. Thing is, the decision rests on whether I get a permanent position with my job (I’m still on contract!). The longer it goes on though – the trying to get permanent - the more inclined I am to say “stuff it” (waiting for permanent that is – life’s to freakin short if you ask me. Anyway, that’s another entry).

So I picked up some pregnancy and birth/folate vitamins today. I keep forgetting that I need to take the folate. With Byron I was good but only for the first couple of weeks before the dreaded sickness kicked in. With Lily it was much the same. I wonder what good it does only consuming it for a few months? I know you’re supposed to take it for at least 12 weeks but I can never manage it. This time I hope to take it for as long as I can.

It’s a bit strange buying the folate. I meant, it feels like I’ve only just had Lily. Seriously though, she’s 2 years and 2 months already. We were well and truly on the trying to conceive journey for number two when Byron was that age – although we lost one at 10 weeks shortly there after. I don’t want to waste anymore time waiting around.

Anyway, I just wanted to make known the occasion...an occasion where we’ve officially decided we’re ‘nearly’ ready (it’s bloody scary) to increase our little family for one last time.

My Sleeping Angel

My little cherub angel sleeping in her cot...it won’t be long before it's but a distant memory. It won’t be long before my little poppet is sleeping in her own big bed. A matter of weeks really is all.

(Look at those lips!!! Are they not the most kissable ever?!)

She's the picture of a sleeping angel in her baby bed, that is until she decides, using her cherub voice – or not so – to sing aloud at 5.30 in the morning. She's the angel no more. I really hope her new bed will curb her desire to call to attention all those in the house the moment she sees the sun shine through her window (NB - the sun doesn't seem to shine so bright on a Monday morning...it figures!).

A few more weeks and Lily will be my baby no more...Sigh.

Nouns

Trevor and the kids picked me up at the bus station after work this afternoon. I’m really loving my ‘bus time’ at the moment – I’m currently engrossed in the Stephenie Meyer ‘Twighlight’ series books – I only have 60 odd pages to go of the final book (which is over 700 pages long) and I’m wishing it to never end. Of course I can’t stop reading so it’s bound to end by tomorrow. Sigh. Next to Harry Potter they’re my new favourites. Fantastic and I’d totally recommend them!!!

Anyway, my new favourite books are not the crux of this entry. It’s about my totally talented son! He’s a genius for sure – ok probably not Mensa material but he’s pretty damn smart. We were driving home and Trevor told me that Byron learnt some new things at kindy today and that he had something to tell me. Byron pipes up with “nouns are things”! To my shock, Byron’s discovered nouns – oh my gosh that boy is clever. I thought he was clever reading those little readers all by himself then he goes and discovers the foundations of grammar, and all before he’s even come close to hitting grade one (which does concern me a little but I’ll adopt the wait and see approach for prep).

He continued on with his discussion...

“A cup is a noun”
“A car is a noun”
“A clock is a noun”

Trevor turned to him and said “You’re such a clever boy Byron!” to which Lily turned around and said “No....he’s not a clever boy – he’s just a boy!”.

Byron even has his very own ‘Well Done’ certificate from kindy which says...

“Byron has started to learn about grammar. Today he learnt that nouns are the names of things”

Please Vote...

Pretty Please give me a chance to win something. I mentioned previously about the Canon Photo Comp. I had to use a red ribbon, tea light candle, cocktail umbrella, green crayon and bubbles in some creative unique way - let me tell you I'm far from creative so these were really hard!!! I look at some of the other entries and think how the hell did they come up with that...talk about thinking outside the square. Mine are still kinda in the square - maybe top right corner.

Anyway, these are my entires. They're nothing special but I thought you have to be in it to win it right?! . I've attached the link to my images in the gallery (click on the object name) if you'd care to vote for me...

*getting down on my hands and knees to beg*.

1. My red ribbon entry:

Give Peace a Chance...

"Freedom from strife; freedom from time out; freedom to watch ScoobyDoo all day long and freedom to have as much chocolate as one desires...that's peace to my 5 year old. (red ribbon is in his head - symbolic of an era when peace was paramount)."

2. My caryon entry

"Mummy...I can see its eyes!"

"A crayon is unearthing to my two year old. To my five year old it's not so...it's much more than a mere crayon but often a crayon helps."

3. My cocktail umbrella entry"

Life Whirls By...Or Does It?

"When you're two, everything matters yet nothing's important. Life stands still. When you're an adult, everything matters and it's all important. Life whirls by. When I handed the umbrella to my two year old...she had no idea what it was. She wasn't hung up on trying to find out. She just liked how it could spin around in her chubby little hands and that's all she cared about."

4. My bubbles entry:

The simple pleasures...

"A warm Sunday afternoon and a pot of bubbles - what more does one five year old need?"

5. My tea light candle entry:

Mesmerising


"The candle is the object of his curiosity...mesmerising his thoughts (as much as one thing can to a five year old)."

It's all starting now...

It’s really a matter of weeks now until Byron starts school. Well ok, perhaps not weeks...more like a few months. However long it is, there’s no doubt it will fly by.

It’s getting closer – that’s all that matters. This was evident today when Trev and I visited his soon to be school. We had our very first parent teacher interview (although I can’t be sure we’ll get the same teacher yet). Sigh. I wonder if it’ll be the first of many?

The school we’ve chosen for Byron is the same primary school I attended in my final year (we moved towards the end of my primary education). Walking through the court yard where we used to stand for parade was quite surreal. It felt like nothing had changed…from the old bench chairs to the hopscotch painted on the ground. It literally felt like I stepped back in time – 18 years past.

Don’t get me wrong…the centre of the school was like a page out of a history book but the school surrounds had changed a lot. There are now 5 prep classrooms, one big sandpit and a sweet little playground. My son will soon be playing in that sandpit, sliding down the slide and opening up a whole new world of learning in one of those five classrooms. A whole new world will be born for him in those school grounds and it all begins in just a few months.

I’m really excited about Prep but I’m nervous about the next chapter. Partly because it’s letting go of that dependant little person and partly because it means I’m getting older – I will be the mum of a school aged child!

Byron didn’t come along today…there will be more of that next month when we take him along for his first taste of prep. I can't wait...or can I???

Inspired!

So I’m back!!!!

Man oh man did I have fun this weekend. It was everything I’d hoped it would be. Well worth the money and well worth my time! Jinky (aka Barb Uil) was an open book answering all questions and providing lots of inspiration along the way. It really was great to watch a super professional in action.

I feel very inspired to do better with my photography – not that I thought I was doing bad with it. I guess, it’s just that, I’ve been feeling a little flat. I’m having ‘style’ issues at the moment. Basically, I’m wondering whether I’ve actually got a distinct style with my photography – something that makes me unique. I’ve been told that I do but I just seem to have trouble seeing it myself. This weekend has made me yean to discover a little bit more about what I have to offer!

I know the type of photography I’m interested in taking or the style I kinda fancy, but sometimes I just find I'm not connecting or bringing that style to fruition. The photos are ok and parents love them, but sometimes I feel like I wish I did better or did things differently. Hopefully after this weekend I’ll be able to step outside the box and connect with my sense of style a little easier!

On a different note, I enjoyed getting away. Work has been so crazy at the moment and it really was nice to have a longish weekend.

So anyway, I’m back to reality now – back to the grind and back to my ‘real’ job tomorrow. Sigh.

I broke my promise...

To keep you updated.

Sigh.

If truth be told I've had the most terrible experience with internet. When we moved we were no longer able to get ADSL, which is absolutely painful - apparently we live too far from the exchange...what the!? It's not like we moved out to the sticks. We're 20 mins from the city for crying out loud.

So, aside from dial-up our only option is wireless. And so far...wireless has proven the bone of my contention. I hate it. I could tear my hair out over it. I hate our provider. It has gotten so bad that today I've had to go and find myself another provider.

Fingers crossed, the new internet seems to be working, although it does cut out every little bit which I suspect is just the nature of wireless. I have a 7 day trial of coverage to decide if it's for us. The thing is, I'm off to Canberra on Friday morning for my Jinky photography workshop *YAY* and I'm not here to test it out.

Please, please, please cross your fingers that we'll finally be back to civilisation because having no internet is causing me some serious grief.

Once I'm back on board...I will try my very hardest to get my entries where they should be.

Talk soon
xxx