Come on Get Happy!

Currently I feel like an animal in the zoo, see that picture up there? That's the house being built behind us! At present it sucks because all the workmen can see right into our living room and kitchen so we have to close the blinds most days :( but thankfully they're lazy and hardly ever show up! But I've been watching the slow progress and come to the realisation that the builders are the least of our problems, huge windows being put in mean that our new neighbours will have the perfect view into our house and backyard (including the office and nursery). Now we knew they were going to put a two story house up there and plans were looked at before this house was bought (by my parents - not us I would have turned it down if I'd seen this) but now it's actually being built I hate it. I also hate whinging about it because we can't do anything (the previous a*hole owners approved everything) but here I am whinging!

I complained to my Mum who is over the other side of the world at the moment and must have come across as a complete spoilt brat. So I'm attempting to turn my frown upside down, there are definitely things we can do and hopefully their living area is on the bottom floor so that if they are an at home during the day family like us I won't feel so invaded. But trying to change your way of thinking is damn hard!

I feel as though I am always trying to make myself more positive and not a lot really changes. One of the big things I have implemented here in our humble abode is the nightly 3 things that made you happy (sorry if I've mentioned this before!). Hubby and I try and remember to do this nightly and for the most part we are succeeding. Not only does it make you reevaluate a crappy day but its also nice to see what makes it onto Hubby's list versus mine. Sometimes they are quite similar and other times they differ drastically. I highly recommend people do something similar like this but if you're not generally and sunshine, rainbows and unicorns person don't aim too high with how many happy things - of course you don't have to limit yourself to three but if you go to high it might backfire and make you feel crap if you can't come up with that magic number.

So far I'm really happy we've implemented this, along with my much talked about no-tech nights! Having a baby really put a downer on our relationship and even though it might seem like we're putting too many rules onto our relationship it works for us. Before we use to have the tv on and I'd be scouring blogs whilst he'd be playing Diablo. Now we still watch tv but we sit cuddled up on the couch and laugh a lot more - in fact I had one of my crazy fit of hysterics last night which I haven't had in ages and wound up laugh/crying nonstop (all because I wanted candy).

I guess all the good things take a bit of work and that's what makes them worth it in the end right?

 

PS: I didn't know whether or not I should mention this as it seems to be blowing my own horn but I firmly believe in spreading the good and I couldn't think of anyone more deserving than Lila over at Raised by Wolffs. It is an indescribable feeling to be able to give for no reason at all (other than an amazing woman who deserved something special) and I encourage everyone this week to pass on the good - be it in the form of a compliment, a kind gesture to a stranger or something extravagant! It makes everyone feel amazing and isn't that what life is all about!

PPS: I couldn't have done it without the help of Sammie, Emmie and Spark - all incredible women who trusted me not to be a Nigerian Princess ;)

 

Happy Australia Day

If you live overseas then you probably haven't heard about this wonderful heatwave we are having. Over 40C or close to most days (104F), including today! There is even the possibility that our fireworks will be cancelled which, may not be a big thing to people who get fireworks all the time, but here in Perth Australia Day is THE day (we don't even get them on NYE). But whether or not they go off I'm inside with the aircon cranked to a respectable 24C (75F) to be kind to the environment and stay kind of cool.

I did want to go out and enjoy being around everyone and getting into the Aussie spirit but it's just too hot and with a two month old baby it's definitely out of the question. So instead, we're having one of my best friends over for dinner and then we'll watch the fireworks from our balcony (not the main ones but they do lots of separate fireworks depending on the council which is great). I don't even know if I'll have a drink, I really can't be bothered pumping and whilst I do have a little supply stored up (it used to be massive but the holidays drained that away) I want to save it for Saturday when I'm going out for lunch with my girlfriends and all our boys (sans Logan so I can get a little tipsy YAY!). It's funny how much changes once you've had a kid and how your boobs are definitely feeding machines and readily discussed ha-ha.

I did buy lamingtons in an effort to have some sort of Aussie'ness' about the place and Logan is wearing a Bonds outfit (even if it is made in China nowadays). Plus we have vegemite in the cupboard which is an automatic tick in the Oz box.

I hope everyone is keeping cool and if you're an Aussie or even an adopted Aussie have a fantastic Australia Day wherever you may be.

Lucky (& a Big Thank You!)

I feel so blessed to have connected with such amazing people through this (& my old blog). When I really needed help you all jumped aboard and I couldn't feel more lucky!

Thank you so much for the advice (& kind words regarding my last post), it's so nice to be able to communicate with mothers who have been through it and know how I'm feeling. It's a pity we don't all live close as I'm sure we'd create an awesome mother's group.

Family Day

My 11.11.11 photo

So life is now becoming more about doing everything 'sans baby' at the moment until Pecan finally decides he/she wants out. Today therefore is dress shopping day with my Mum and little sister, yesterday was coffee with one of my awesome uni girlfriends and it's funny to keep saying goodbye to people knowing that most likely the next time I see them I'll be a Mum.

I'm really enjoying getting out and about, it's funny to think that movies had always freaked me out that I'd be somewhere important and my waters would break. That always scared me but now (after actually learning what really happens) even though there's a slim chance it could I don't care. Talking with my best friend she also admitted that she felt the same and I'm really looking forward to being their guinea pig. I'm surprised that I don't feel more nervous about the whole thing but I'm really happy that I just want to go with the flow.

Yesterday I had another appointment at the Birthing Centre, it was good to catch up with our awesome student midwife (she & Hubby had to miss the last one due to exams). She goes to the same university that we all went to and we had a nice long chat about how nothing has changed and the admin side of things is so crappy. All the midwives I've met so far have been really nice and it was a pretty simple appointment, same as they all are. Pecan is apparently 3/5ths engaged but still hasn't dropped and I was right with predicting how he/she is sitting (legs all up in my left side). I'm excited about giving birth now and definitely ready for Pecan to arrive.

Baby Shower

Last Sunday it was my Baby Shower, after trying to sort out an appropriate date where all my important ladies could be there it was finally happening.

My wonderful uni girlfriends threw the Shower for me and Mum's fiance was kind enough to give us free run of the house. The food was amazing, we had mini scones (I think I probably ate the most of them), mini cheese scrolls that you can barely see in the bottom left hand corner, little sandwhiches, raspberry cheesecake brownies, Baby Pecan cupcakes, mini gingerbread man, mini coffee cupcakes...it was all sooooooo good. Two of the girls are excellent bakers but as one of the two is more crafty she did the decorations (including gorgeous pinwheels which I took for the Nursery and little colourful onesies that everyone wrote messages on) and the other was a non-stop baking goddess! The third girl organised all the games including a skulling water from a baby bottle, she learnt lots including that there are different sizes for bottle nipples and that next time she does that game she won't get the newborn size haha. I was very spoilt!

Pecan got lots of books and a few other goodies (including a much needed car shade!) and it was so sweet to read people's comments in the books they chose to give and the reasons why. Two of the more 'recent' Mums there, a family friend and my cousin (who is also newly pregnant for the second time) recommended the Save our Sleep book. I'm loving reading it but I'm really not sure that I want to be so restricted by baby (especially with the 7pm go to bed time) does anyone else have any advice or routine recommendations? I think I will wind up being more of a go with the flow kind of parent and if that doesn't work then maybe turn to the whole strict routine thing!

It's hard to believe how close to the finish line we are now! Any advice or recommendations for the weeks (or days) leading up to birth and those first couple of weeks with a new baby would be more than welcome.

Cooking Class

Last weekend was a birthday celebration (of sorts) it was a belated present for one of my best friends (who should be in America by now...lucky thing!) and a very early celebration for my other best friend. We all signed up for a French pastry class.

Now whilst I know my way around a kitchen I was scared of pastry, it's still my aim to make a pie before I turn 26 but I'm quite happy just baking cakes etc... Well the fear has definitely gone away after a wonderful class, granted I was on team Rhubarb and therefore didn't have anything to do with cooking the pastry but I did pipe choux pastry out of a piping bag and that's pretty impressive for me!

I can't really remember what the desserts were called but I'm glad I got photos of them before we demolished them. I have to admit the second one (with our rhubarb filling) was my favourite. Helen, our awesome teacher, was fantastic at making us feel at home whilst at the same time teasing/teaching us, I would definitely recommend this class to anyone in the Perth area - although don't do it when pregnant because you get a free glass of wine/bubbly at the end. My face must have looked aghast because Helen asked what was wrong and I lamented that I was pregnant (can't see how they didn't realise with my bump!) and therefore couldn't drink :( Although I did sneak two sips which went straight to my head!

The only negative I have to say about the class was that it was my first experience with someone making an unwanted comment re: my pregnancy. I hear it bemoaned everywhere - people putting in their opinions, rubbing bellies without permission etc... but I hadn't experienced that until then (maybe I exude get the hell away from me vibes haha). It started out innocently enough the woman asking if this was my first and then how long I had to go. When I told her 9 weeks her jaw dropped and she said where on earth was I putting it all and that she guessed having a small baby would be easier in the long run...unless it was a big baby and there wasn't a lot of fluid! Needless to say I walked off and ignored her for the rest of it, stuffing one's face with yummy desserts is a good cure for idiotic people!

Saturday Sunshine and Laughs

Saturday was dedicated to picnics, baking, sunshine and laughs with a little bit of 'must-do' food shopping thrown into the mix as well as a short dog walk (gotta get my steps up for the Global Corporate Challenge as this is our beat your personal best weekend!).

After finishing our food shop I hurriedly started to bake using a yummy sounding recipe I found via: Chocolatesuze (anything with super easy in the title is a winner for me and I'll be posting the recipe on my food blog). Plus they were CHEESE muffins and because Hubby hates cheese I never get a chance to really cook with it :( Luckily my uni girlfriends love cheese and they were a big hit (although would have tasted better hot out of the oven slathered with butter!). We gorged ourselves on home made treats with yummy Old English scones, delicious mini-quiches (probably not on the list of recommended eating for pregnant people but YUMMO) and the most amazing macaroons (we were telling my buddy she should try out for MasterChef her baking skills are amazing and I know she and my scone making friend are both Baking Whizzes who would love nothing better than to open a little shop).

I ate too much and I think Pecan was battling my food baby because I didn't feel too good after that, probably not the best thing to do (gorge on food) after fasting on Friday for the second glucose test (more on that in my later Bonding with Bubs post). It was funny because I kept doing pathetic yoga poses trying to get comfortable but nothing other than walking/rocking worked (thanks basketball belly) but at least I look pregnant and not like some crazy person...

So after we'd gossiped and stuffed our faces full of food we all trundled back to my friend's house and then made our ways back home. I think I collapsed on the couch for all of 5 minutes before taking the dog for a walk. I figured I needed it after all that food but I was still so uncomfortable that it was only a short walk (which was annoying and not conducive to an increased step count, fingers crossed for a big hike today).

Then after feeling sorry for myself and lazing about on the couch Hubby and I went to see Josh Thomas' new show 'Everything Ever'. Now, I'm not a fan of the Australian 'game-show' like show he's a part of on TV (Talkin' About Your Generation) but I do like his sense of humour. After seeing Dylan Moran live last month and being slightly disappointed I didn't go in with high hopes for Josh but I was laughing the entire time! I don't know if it's because he's in my age demographic or because he's a dinky di Australian (or just because he was poking fun at his life so much) but I really enjoyed the show. The Q & A bit at the end was stupid (too many idiot young people trying to be funny and asking Harry Potter questions!) but I can see that it would have worked in other situations. I definitely recommend going to see him if you ever get the chance but be prepared for a very politically incorrect show. As we were driving home I told Hubby we'd have to go again next time he's in town but that we'd need a babysitter...Hubby said it was crazy how we were now having to think of things like that and it really is but in a super awesome way :)

Miss Abigail!

A huge congratulations to Sammie at Marriage Motherhood And... on the birth of her gorgeous daughter!

Yay for cute newborn baby photos that make me want to melt!

Weddings, Sculptures, Bike Hikes...Oh My!

Today is going to be busy, it's only 550am and I'm awake. My Hubby & Dad have left to get to the start of the Bike Hike (they're doing the 60km option) then as soon as they get back we need to start getting ready for this wedding (thankfully we're not invited to the reception which is the last thing I feel like doing), attend wedding, go & view sculptures and finally catch up with one of my best friends to go over his house plans.

It's going to be an awesome day and I can't wait to post photos later on :)

Oh and I changed my hair it's now mahogany (pretty red) and looks very pretty and with my gorgeous new dress (a present from Mum) I'll definitely do a little show and tell. I really want to braid my hair for today but I have no idea how. I guess I could youtube it but I really suck at that kind of thing!

30 Photos

I’ve taken this from an old post on Sometimes Sweet. I had to alter some because I don’t have photobooth or a photo of my parents when they were my age!

01 / someone you spend a lot of time with:

02 / a picture of you:

03 / a random picture of you and your sig. other:

04 / a picture of something that makes you happy:

05 / an old picture of you:

06 / a picture of your sibling:

07 / a picture you never posted on your blog before:

I made these for my SiL's first baby shower.

08 / a picture of a person you miss (we lost her to Adelaide!):

09 / a picture of people who know you now and then (excluding the guy! these are my home girls):

10 / a picture of your favorite place (Albany):

11 / a person you can tell everything to (ok so technically not a person but she doesn't talk back!):

12 / a picture of your everyday life:

13 / a picture from a place you love:

14 / a picture that reminds you of great times:

15 / a class photo (technically not because I don't have any on my computer):

16 / a picture from the best day of your life:

17 / a picture that always makes you laugh:

18 / a picture of your spare time:

19 / a photo from a great night (proposal night):

20 / a picture of the people who are closest to you (excluding our celebrant):

21 / a picture of someone you always have a good time with:

22 / a picture of your pets (not all of them):

23 / a picture from last summer:

24 / a photo of your closest friend of the opposite sex (not sig. other):

25 / a picture of you on a favorite vacation:

26 / a picture of an accomplishment:

27 / a picture of your closest friends:

28 / a random picture from photobooth (instagram):

29 / a photo that makes you smile:

30 / someone you will never let go of (myself & my childhood):

Weekend Update

So Project Clean is still in it's early stages (even though we spent all day yesterday on it), who knew sorting out the bedroom (& Hubby sorting out the office) would take so long. We still haven't dusted or anything and then we've got the following rooms to tackle: spare room, upstairs toilet, upstairs bathroom, downstairs bathroom, lounge room, kitchen (eeekkk!), front hall area, balcony and outside courtyard. I'm so grateful for the long weekend!

We're still making sure we have fun though and last night saw us at the Outdoor cinema to watch Morning Glory. It wasn't anything amazing but I laughed quite a lot so I was happy. However, the main thing I kept thinking about was 'could I pull of Rachel McAdam's hair?'. I've finally grown out my fringe (aka bangs) and now I want to go and get another one, the mind is a strange thing. I've also decided that I'm going to go light brown, I do like the colour I am now but I'm a brunette and I don't think I'm designed to go blonde.

We also went out for breakfast yesterday and I had my first ever decaf flat white and it was sooooo yummy! Trying to avoid the evil C with all this babymaking so I'm glad I enjoyed that, plus it now means (well once I've bought the decaf beans!) I can enjoy coffee after 5pm! Yay! If anyone in Perth is interested we went to Toscanini's in Bicton (highly recommend).

Soon we're off to the Farmer's Market and I plan on stocking up on peaches and whatever other goodies they have there. We might go and view the Sculpture by the Sea later today but I think I need to stay in cleaning mode to really get things done.

So wish us luck! I hope everyone else is enjoying their weekend.

Disjointed Post - Whoops!

I want to get back into writing! I get so inspired reading everyone's blogs on a daily basis (for shame I am a blog addict). As I said in the 7 things about me I've always wanted to write a novel. According to the man who knows all (AKA my sister-in-law's boyfriend) he thinks it must be pretty easy to get published because so many more people read at the moment. I don't know that I agree with this, I think you still have to write something special to get it out there. Maybe not fantastic to just get published but definitely special to be well-read. So fingers crossed I get to live this dream...but maybe it isn't fingers crossed - maybe it's something that I just need to work at and I'll succeed.

Today was such a fantastic Sunday. I got a great sleep-in after working all day on Saturday, lunch at Pink Zulu (highly recommended and $10 cocktails Tuesday and Sunday). I ate the yummiest salad I've had in ages - perfectly spiced and it had oranges, pomegrante, chickpeas, beetroot and rocket soooooooo yummy and it wasn't too expensive either. Then a lazy afternoon reading and then off to dinner with my university girlfriends in Leederville at a yummy Vietnamese restaurant. All in all a totally awesome Sunday (I wish I could say weekend but work took care of Saturday - boo!).

I hope everyone had/has an amazing Sunday.  And on the other note: I'm looking forward to starting to work towards my dream. I guess in a way my blogging is helping me do this. So here's to taking baby steps to reaching a dream :)

Migranes...ICKY

I swear I am so over my head wanting to kill me! I'm going to take matters into my own hands now though and get rid of the pill. The thought of doing that is kind of terrifying but one doctor suggested it's the fake hormones causing my head dramas so lets see if he's right!

It's finally starting to ease off but last night I was terrible. I always burst into tears when I'm in heaps of pain and poor Hubby has been waiting on me hand and foot since last night. I hate doing that to him and I really hate being confined to the couch or bed on the weekend. It's not fair losing half my weekend to a bloody migrane GRRR

As long as I feel better by tomorrow night I'll be ok, we're going out to Japanese (Perth readers I highly recommend you check out The Bonsai in Northbridge) and we've order my sister their cool puffer fish cake (not that I recommend their desserts! But the food is beyond yummy.) I couldn't get the picture on here but it can be seen on their website.

It'll be nice to have a semi-family dinner again but it'll probably be the start of no free nights until after Christmas for me and I'm not really looking forward to that :( I'm a big home-body but it's good for me to get out and about.

Today is also the day by best friend left for Burma and then France...so jealous of her but so happy for her as well. I sent her a text farewell (because we'd done the dinner, speech, hug thing nights before) and teased that there might be a new person waiting to meet her when she gets back. It was also the first time in awhile that we both said I love you to each other and not in the off-the-cuff comment way but the I really mean it way. It's nice to have friends to be able to say that to. I would do anything for that girl and I know she'd do the same for me.

Today is Do Day

I have declared Saturday my day! Later tonight friends are coming around for pizzas and Wii Games :) So I'm busy preparing the house seeing as I'm not in the habit of keeping it constantly neat and tidy!

Today is also the day I will finally be making pizza dough (once Hubby comes back and can go to the shop so I can continue cleaning!)! Very excited and I'll once again be putting the Kitchen Aid to use so that's always a good thing.

I've also decided to participate in the 30 Days of Truth -

I figure this way I'll be more involved in blogging as well and it'll give a better insight into myself than just my lame-o cooking skills!

Sundays are Awesome

So I should really be tidying up the house! I've said for the past 3 days that I'll sort out all my clothes and still haven't. Yesterday I had a pass due to a headache but now I'm just being lazy and enjoying listening to Anna Pihl (SBS Danish show) whilst Hubby watches it. I figure maybe I'll learn some danish through osmosis haha.

Today was another visit to the Freo markets (holy crazy amount of tourists Batman!) we took one of my closest girlfriends to My Yummy Vice the awesome cupcake place there. Then had crepes (from a French couple opposite timezone) and then went back to the markets for lots of veggies. 

The perfect morning and then later this afternoon I'm catching up with the friend again to go for a big walk around the river with our little Monster. She's house sitting/ puppy sitting for us over the long weekend so I want him to be used to walking with her. 

I always enjoy going on long walks with the girls. I just wish I did it more often instead of once in a blue moon. I always feel so much healthier afterwards. If I could find the cord for my cross trainer then I'd be aiming to get in shape on that thing but Mum has no idea where it is. I feel like she has half of my stuff at her place and just can't 'find' it.

Because the plan is to try and get pregnant in March I really want to start my health kick end of Jan (due to all the festivities and birthdays in December/January). But I figure getting started now is a good idea! I just can't wait to get off the damn pill and see if that does anything re: my crazy headaches!

In other news we scored a dog friendly place down south for Easter! Even though it's so far away (and I'll hopefully be pregnant which will kinda suck re: not drinking) I'm really looking forward to it. It'll be great to have a mini holiday without having to take annual leave. I'm trying to save up as much leave and money as possible and this place was cheap so YAY!