So What Did You Do Yesterday???

Well, a week overdue for getting it done but we did my third (and

final???) belly cast.

I've said it before, I believe, but I really love these keepsakes that I have done for each of my children. Although, Miss Schmoo's is yet to be painted it is one of those pieces of "art" that I love hanging on my walls. It's a great talking point too.

I have to say that when we did the first one when I was pregnant with AJ I thought I looked MASSIVE but now, comparing all three, hers is so tiny. Just goes to show what a good set of stomach muscles can do in that first pregnancy.

What is even more amazing is that they are all so completely different. Even Miss Schmoo's, who I thought was very similar to her sisters, looks uniquely hers which has made me really happy. Hers has a slight twist to it which shows she was sitting in some "look at me" kind of pose when we did the first cast and I love it.

And this one, well it's quite different again. There isn't much of a widening at the sides like with the girls. This baby is all out the front - probably due to the "relaxed" (read: separated) stomach muscles I was blessed with after my 10 pound Schmooey entered the world.

I have decided I am going to get the girls to decorate this little one's belly cast. I think it will be so fitting (only wish I'd thought of that when I'd done Schmoo's). I will post a picture of all three once they're all painted - don't hold your breath Schmoo's two and hers is still white. ; )

Anyway, it was a lovely day catching up with T who I hadn't seen in so long and had almost started to feel lost without her presence. It really has ended the week well. And, tomorrow, I think we're off to those stacking specialists again to grab a couple of things so I can put the nesting monster to rest. Oh, and in keeping with my vow, I'm going to try and organise to meet up with some friends along the way too.

PS. I'm in the 10WW. Holy curap! How did that happen?

Consider Yourself ...

TOLD!!!

We were debating the issue of warmer clothes with AJ this afternoon who thought it would be nice to go outside in a very *ahem* let's say summer dress - read one that doesn't even cover her bum anymore but she loves it so much that I often let her wear it over jeans - when CJ decided to pull rank and demand she put on some warm clothes (which, in her defence, she was on her way to do).

The reply .....

"I know what to do in my house! What do you think? I'm one? I'M FIVE!!!"

Luckily for both her and him I was in the kitchen crying with laughter while he tried to keep a straight face and resume the argument. She couldn't see me which I'm guessing is a good thing because I know she was out of line but OMFG it was soooo funny!

He let her go without any disciplinary follow up because he really was quite speechless after the fact. Don't think he saw that one coming. I don't think he'll ever learn that "demanding" her to do something just won't cut it. It never worked on me as a child and I know it doesn't work on her but he still follows the same pattern over and over and ....

Don't get me wrong, she should do as she's told. No doubt about it but he just hasn't quite figured out yet that him getting his back up just makes her do the same. What was I saying about the apple not falling far from the tree?

I'm still laughing just thinking about it.

Being Two ...

So, my little Schmoo is really starting to show us just how much knowledge she has gained in her short two years. Everything from singing songs to following direction so well in ballet class to playing make believe and being able to entertain herself (a trait I am thankful both her and her sister have although sometimes it is sad to realise they don't need you all the time), to reminding us of something we may have told her last week and just showing basic signs of maturity.

Thanking you when you say "Bless You" if she sneezes and telling you what good ideas you have and, of course, rousing on you when you have displayed un-asseptable (gotta love The Nanny talk) behaviour. AJ is quickly learning that she can't get away with quite so much now too, as we had been warning her for some time that her little sister will be able to speak one day and then we'll hear both sides of the story. Schmoo is definitely asserting herself within the house now and she is no longer the little baby that you almost forgot you had. Far from it! She now makes sure you know she's here and often tells you "I'm Lulu. Here I am!"

I do love that she will sometimes put herself to bed when she's feeling tired too. It is a vast contrast to her sister who still does anything to stay awake past bedtime - however, school is helping in that regard - and I'm enjoying the novelty that I have a child who still does really love to sleep. Just like her mummy!

She is also becoming increasingly bossy and nowhere is this shown better than with our dogs. My husband is forever telling the dogs to "Quit it!" when they are barking, normally at nothing but the slight wind change and Schmoo is very quickly proving, yet again, that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Today when we got home from the doctor's the dogs were barking, yet again, because the concrete truck from next door had stopped at our gate - loving construction in the neighbourhood I  have to say. Not only it is difficult to hear my typing work when my office is almost on the boundary but the constant drone of trucks is starting to take its toll considering that this has been going since just after Christmas - and Schmooey gets to the door and yells "Quit up, dogs!" Then she turns to me and says "Mumma! I told them to quit up!"

Thatta girl! Now if only she'd wake up one day and decide she was going to use the toilet and we could just scoot over the actual training side of it all!

Now just as an aside, while at the GP today - Yes, I get to see my lovely GP every fortnight now. How happy am I!!!  - he gave me the good news that I have passed my GD test but that I am anaemic which would explain, firstly, my desire to sleep ALL the time and, secondly, he thinks it may even have caused this mouth issewe (which subsequently is feeling alot better today and he said my mouth looks normal) so I need to go get me a steak!!!

Funnily enough I was seriously craving a steak yesterday which just proves to me yet again how well I do, in fact, know my body even though I spend most of the time doubting it.

I would love to say lesson learned but I'd be lying.

Not Again!!!

Okay, so we have been fairly vigilant since our experience last time but the past week I have really dropped the ball or the hair comb so to speak!

Yes, this morning I was brushing AJ's hair only to find they had returned! OMG! Seriously not happy about it. Quite strange considering this morning I was sitting thinking that my head had a slight itch to it and brushed off the idea that it would be nits as we've been in the clear for quite a few weeks, only to then brush AJ's hair about 20 minutes later and find the motherload of eggs.

Even stranger is the fact that every louse itself is dead? Obviously the KP24 spray does work but with my feeling poorly last week and forgetting to spray it they have had time to get in and lay some eggs the sneaky little bastards!

AJ is happy as it meant a day off school - well, that is once she realised she could have her tuckshop lunch tomorrow instead. I just can't send my daughter to school knowing she has eggs in her hair. I can send her with a snotty nose, providing she's not sick and even then I feel wracked with guilt that I'm doing someone else a disservice by sending my child to school even though all the kids seem to have snotty noses at the moment but when it's something I'm unsure of and can't be certain of sharing it around I just have to keep her home.

So what does this mean for me? Two little girls to go grocery shopping with today, one little girl begging to stay awake to play with her big sister and me ... supposedly finishing my typing job but sitting here instead winding down after a morning that didn't quite pan out as I'd first expected.

Not that the girls were naughty really. Just kids and they really are great kids. I can take them anywhere but I probably stress myself more because I expect so much from them in terms of their behaviour. I don't expect to portray the perfect little family but I do have a "standard" if you will of how much rowdiness I will tolerate especially at 29 weeks pregnant and not feeling 100% myself.

I have what would seem to be a burnt mouth from the severe reflux I experienced on the weekend. It was literally making me feel like I needed to vomit. I have no idea what brought it on - I do get reflux but only very mildly - but whatever it was has gone and left me with a lovely reminder that makes everything I eat feel like it's slowly grating my tongue into a million pieces. I have no taste buds and not a big appetite. I can drink water and a weak latte thank goodness but that's about the extent of things that don't hurt my mouth. Sad huh?

It has made me realise how desperately I need to change my very, very poor excuse for a diet though and I have vowed to eat a little more fruit and salads and ALOT less chocolate - however looking at our cupboard after shopping today you'd find that hard to believe.

So I'd best get back to work as my little Schmooey has ballet this afternoon and I don't think Daddy's going to be home any time soon so I need to stay on top of my game.

Hmmm, really should have decided on a dinner menu earlier though.

Ummm, Slack!!!

I know it, you know it. I have been meaning to update for over a week now and just haven't found the time or the energy I'm afraid.

Let's see. Not one post for August. How slack!

I will say, in my defence, that we have been quite busy with weddings and what-not. Plus typing. Typing, typing, typing. Not that I'm not grateful for the extra $$$ and it isn't overly strenuous but it certainly takes the fun out of sitting at the computer all day. But I'm learning to monitor that a little better so I'm not spending every night sitting here until midnight. 

Well, we went to North Stradbroke for a wedding a couple of weekends ago and it was absolutely gorgeous. It was so lovely to catch up with friends that we hadn't seen for a few months, some even for over a year. We have vowed to make the time to catch up more often so let's hope we can stick to that little promise. It's all too easy to get wrapped up in life and work and meeting new people that we sometimes forget we have good friends that we just haven't made the time to see for so long.

So I am going to try ... no I. WILL. Keep up my end of the bargain and make the phonecalls and arrange a get together.  Let's call it my middle of the year resolution!

Now, what else? We also celebrated another friends birthday while we were on the island and the girls loved being able to share some chocolate cake with Lucky Phil and, of course, the newly appointed Lucky Lisa.

My girls adore these guys and the feeling is obviously mutual. It's so nice to see them forging their own special relationships with the friends I have known for most of my adult life and those, of course, that feel like they have been around just as long. It really was just a wonderful weekend away and the weather was absolutely gorgeous. We have decided we will be planning another weekend getaway over there when the weather is a little warmer.

So, here we are at 29 weeks! OMG! How did we get here so fast? Still feeling reasonably well but starting to feel the need to get things organised. Not so much the nursery even but getting the girls room organised so Schmoo actually has somewhere to put all her clothes that just seem to be overflowing out of drawers and cupboards at the moment.

And that's us up to date in a nutshell really.