New scrapbook layouts :-)

I havent posted a scrapbook page in forever! But i got a new kit My Little Princess by Carolyn Rose Kite to play with this week and i love the pages i made with it! This is my favourite kit of hers so far!

My babies new and improved bedroom!

Since Michela is living with us at the moment, Thomas will be sharing a room with his little sister for awhile (possibly even after Michela moves out. I like the idea of them sharing a room, i just dont know if it will be practical with Thomas being a very light sleeper).

We went to ikea yesterday to buy some more storage for their room - I thought they'd be ok with one chest of drawers, but i was kidding myself. The baby already has a ridiculous amount of clothes and Thomas has quite a few too! And we really needed somewhere to store all Thomas' toys.

I spent this morning organising, cleaning and kind of decorating their room. Im so happy with how it turned out, considering our very limited budget! This is just as you walk in the door. The whole far wall is the baby's side of the room. Her changetable, chest of drawers and cot are along that wall. Love that little blanket on top of the drawers that Laurens mum made to match the one she made for Thomas almost 2 years ago! Then the side wall has their window, and the beginnings of Thomas' area - His chest of drawers (with his matching little blanket on top!). His hand me down "big boy" bed is along the 3rd wall. Its the only thing in the room i dont really love....I really wanted a white bed for him, to match the rest of the room, but i didnt want to buy one and beggars cant be choosers! And the new toybox shelves we bought yesterday are the last thing on the third wall. All his junk in the drawers and few "display" toys on the top shelves. I had all intentions of putting his books on those top shelves, but they didnt fit, and they're all pretty neatly kept on the main bookshelf in our lounge room.

The only thing they need now, is some shelves up on the walls for knick knacks or toys and one day ill finish all of Thomas' name letters for the wall, and get some for bubba too! But other than that,its done and im happy with it.

29 weeks

Our baby girl at 29 weeks gestation. It was hard to get a clear look at her face - she had it smushed into her placenta for most of the ultrasound, but we got to see her features in bits and pieces. She reminds me so much of Thomas already, with that nose and those Angelina Jolie lips. Her features are more petite than his tho. I think shes beautiful and im so in love with her already.

Unfortunately, she had her cord between her legs, as well as having them crossed, so we couldnt get a second confirmation on her gender, but im not too worried. It was pretty obvious at 20 weeks that she was a girl. Hopefully no boy bits have sprouted since then!

my future soccer star

At 21 months, Thomas' absolute favourite thing to do is kick the ball. Every night, Thomas and Jira spend hours kicking that inflatable ball around and practicing kicking goals. We're pretty sure he's going to make us millions one day :-)

stuff

Finishing: Editing photos i took of Evelyn yesterday.

Thinking about: How full i am from dinner and half a family bag of m&m's

Just discovered: That i can survive on about 5 hours sleep in three days. Thomas is teething.

Cooking: thinking about making a moussaka since i have an eggplant in my fridge.

Planning: Michela's bedroom (shes moving in for a few months while mum renovates their new house) and my baby shower.

Checking out: Most recently? New car seats for Thomas so the baby can have his old one.

Listening to: Glee and Bon Jovi.

I really must: clean this house...tomorrow

Watching: My kitchen rules

Wanting:. to have the time/money/motivation to go back to body balance at the gym

Have just finished: reading another of my favourite trashy vampire romance novels (black dagger brotherhood...think i just finished book 5)

Needing to: pay the electricity bill, before i spend the money on something else

Missing: being fit.

Hoping: That the next 16 weeks are uneventful in regards to the baby. Just stay put and healthy til your big enough to meet us lil girl!

Looking forward to: Meeting our baby girl. So very much.

19 months / 19 weeks

Gawd, I havent even mentioned on here that were expecting baby #2! But we are, and I'm currently 19 weeks pregnant. Coincidentally, Thomas is 19 months this week. So heres a few bits and pieces about both my babies at 19 months and 19 weeks (pregnant)

This pregnancy has been on the rough side. In comparison to my pregnancy with Thomas anyway. I was deathly sick from 5 to 9 weeks. It wasnt a throwing up kind of sick, just an all day, severe nausea. I barely moved from the lounge. It took all my effort and energy just to feed Thomas and change his nappies. Mum came by on her way to and from work everyday and did some housework for me, and poor Nam had to pick up the rest on top of his weekday job, his weekend job and his tafe classes! It was an absolutely miserable few weeks. I felt really depressed most of the time. More than once i had the thought that i didnt want the baby.

But thankfully the nausea started to ease up around week 9. I got a little energy back, and started being able to function again. Thats when the throwing up began. I'd wake up feeling ok, have some breakfast, then all of a suddent id feel sick, throw up and then id be ok again. Its only been a handful of times, but its continued on right up til the current moment. I often feel off in the mornings now, if i dont actually throw up. But its so much better than the all day nausea!

I thought i started feeling bub move around 12 weeks. But i know for sure i could feel kicks at 15 weeks. At 19 weeks, i get a good few kicks a day, which is lovely. The baby's placenta is on the front wall of my uterus, which supposedly means ill feel less movement, but so far, i havent noticed a difference between this baby and my pregnancy with Thomas.

For most of my pregnancy so far, ive been 99% certain we were having a boy. We'd talked about calling him Olliver and in my mind, thats what id been calling him. I often said "him" outloud. We had our 19 week ultrasound on Friday, and turns out, were having a baby GIRL! Nam had been saying the whole time it was a girl, and we'd tried to gender sway but i thought our timing was off. Already having a little boy, were beyond thrilled to be having a little girl. So so excited.

Now as for our little boy!

I am AMAZED at how much he is trying to talk at the moment. He tries to copy many many words, everyday he comes out with something new. I'm the only one that understands him, but pronunciation will come with time! Some words he says somewhat clearly, and on a regular basis: Yes (yesh - so cute!), Thankyou (this is pronounced differently everytime), Raining, Windy, cheese........oh theres a bunch more, none of which i can think of right now!

He runs. Alot. He's quick.

Weve just started swimming lessons. He didnt really enjoy the first week (too much dunking under the water) but the last two weeks he's been very good. He getting so good at kicking his legs (or splashing like an elephant as i tell him).

Were back at playgroup for another year! Both of us enjoying it!

He loves the garbage truck. Every Wednesday, we listen for the truck and race to the door to watch when we hear it. Some of the garbage guys now wave or beep the horn for him. He gets so excited, its adorable.

He loves his blue puppy dog. He drags the thing around by its neck, cuddling it constantly. It's his comfort toy.

He has recently found the wiggles. And boy does he love them. We bought one dvd, that gets played on repeat most of the day (not that he watches it continually, he comes and goes between playing with his toys) He is slowly learning all the little dances and it makes me so happy watching him shake his lil butt and wave his arms around!

If you ask him about the little baby in mummy's belly, he comes over, lifts up my shirt and points to my belly button, or sometimes tickles my belly. :-)

He is all about his daddy at the moment. As soon as Nam gets home from work, hes all over him like a rash. He just wants to do or help with whatever Nam is doing, wether it be outside work, computer stuff or just putting a load of washing on. THe only time he wants me over Nam is if hes hurt, sick or when he wakes in the middle of the night. And while occasionally i would like an extra cuddle, it makes my heart happy to see the beautiful relationship that has grown between them. I know Nam was worried about the amount of time he spends at work, and how it would affect Thomas, but it just goes to show, its quality time over quantity.

Just a cute lil something...

That Thomas is doing now.

He's just turned 14 months, and is MR INDEPENDENT. In a big way. His latest thing is his milk cup.

We give him his milk about 5 minutes before he goes to bed, and every now and then throughout the day, especially if hes cranky.

He walks around the house sipping on it, until i take it off him and put it back in the fridge. Well, that was causing some drama, because he would cry when i took it off him (even tho he was done drinking, he was just playing with it or deliberately spilling it around the house). SO i said to him "ok then you put your milk cup away please".

His little face lit up like it was christmas. He was so proud to toddle over to the fridge, and carefully place his cup on the shelf when i opened it for him. He even stands it back up if it falls over when he puts it down. Then he gets to carefully close the fridge door before its bedtime.

Its become his little ritual and its so cute! He just thinks he is so clever, and so do i! lol

If you read on an e reader......

You have to check out this site! http://goodereader.com/

IT IS AMAZING!

One of the girls at Gingerscraps reccomended it to me, and i am in seventh heaven. Its like walking into a bookstore and the assistant saying, take whatever you want, free of charge! (ok well minimum charge)

In short, you pay a fee to become a member of the site (i paid $11.95 US for a one month membership to check it out and just upgraded to lifetime membership for $125.00 US - ridiculously cheap when you consider that in a bookstore, you'd only get about 3 books for that price) and as long as you are a member, you have access to download any of the ebooks they have on the site. And let me tell you, they have HEAPS!

Ive downloaded all my favourite books (ie-twilight series, sookie stackhouse series, the tomorrow when the war began series....and so many more) to read again, plus a ton of books ive been wanting to read forever.

They have all the new releases, plus a bunch of older books too. AND if they dont have a book you want to read, you can request it!

Seriously, i cant say enough good things about the site. If you read on an e reader (i use my iphone) you need to join this site. Let me know if you do! We can be forum friends! :-)

Ginger Scraps CT Layouts

Absolutely loving the kits i got to use this month for the designers i CT for at Ginger Scraps . They have a bunch of awesome challenges also. Im hosting the Pop Culture Challenge from September. If your a scrapper, come join in!

Using Afternoon Delight Collab by Marshmella Designs and Daphadilly Art
Using Seeds of Tomorrow by Marshmella Designs

Using Little Sir by Scrappy Cocoa

mini gleek!

I love that he loves to dance. Hes so stinkin cute!

To put it simply....

Thomas really loves yoghurt.

Evelyn loves Thomas....

Im not sure he felt the same way on this day.... lol.

Ginger Scraps CT

Ive found myself on a new site CT. Fun! Loving getting to pick whatever kit i want from their store and help them promote it. Im new to the site, but so far, it seems like a bunch of really nice people. Lots of great designs in their store, lots of fun challenges. ALL GOOD!

Heres my first layout. Using Happiness Blooms by Kathy Winters and Scrapberry Designs. (image clickable for full credits)

I did this layout for the scraplift challenge .

More Thomas randomness

Something seems to have clicked in the last week or two for my kiddo. He is all of a sudden understanding, and able to communicate so much better. It seems like he is doing something new everyday!

This morning, i was putting washing in the machine, and as always, put in the clothes, turned the machine on, then put in the powder. Thomas was sitting on my hip, and he starts pointing over my shoulder and saying "nuh nuh" (this is just what he says when he points to something he wants). I looked over and hes pointing at the fabric softener, which sure enough, is always my next step! I just thought he was so clever knowing that thats what went in next!

This week, hes also started to clap hands. I kinda forgot to encourage him to learn that little skill! i was so busy trying to get him to wave that i completely forgot about clapping hands! lol. So i was rather surprised when this week he just started doing it. I say "clap hands Thomas" and off he goes, clapping his chubby little hands together with the biggest smile on his face, as if to say "look how smart i am mummy!". Its so adorable.

Hes still not walking by himself, but lordy, the boy will not stop climbing on EVERYTHING! and hes too smart for his own good! Hes started pushing things up to other things in order to climb up. I quite often find him standing on a box in his bedroom, trying to get into his cot. The other day i watched him stack a box on top of a box in order to try to get higher. Yesterday he pushed Nams sports bag up to the esky in order to try to get my keys which were above the esky. Of course, with climbing comes the inevitable falling. He has multiple lumps on his head right now! But i suppose he has to learn. I just hope he learns before he breaks a bone.

A Bunch of New Pages.

Its been forever since i posted some new pages. Heres a few of my favourites from the last few weeks. All using kits from Carolyn Rose Kite (CRK Designs). Original Pages with Credits/Kit links can be found in my gallery here

my baby is one!

Some random thoughts, and photos from his first birthday ...

I love his baby thunder thighs and his chubby belly that hangs over his nappy. The little fat rolls on his arms.

I love the way he lets me cuddle and rock him to sleep. I love that he snuggles right into my neck and is content to just be near me.

I love the way he crawls when you say to him "im going to get you". How he spins around laughing and tries so hard to crawl quickly that he often falls over himself. He does this in his walker too.

He is becoming quite a little boy that loves to climb, and apparently has no fear.

A little boy that doesnt cling to me quite so tightly around people he knows.

A little boy who loves trucks and lego and cars
I get so excited over all the new things he is learning, and even better, he seems to be beginning to understand and communicate with us. He says "mum/muma/mummy", "dad/dada", "nan/nana "- tho this is also what he says for banana, "bub/bubba". Im not 100 percent certain, but it seems lately that he has been trying to copy words we say alot. "Khodi" for example (our dog). Sometimes he'll say "di di di" and sometimes he'll just blabber something, but it will be in the same tone we use to say her name. He points at things he wants and says "nuh". His drink especially.

He LOVES the bath, and im sure he understands the meaning of the word. Because if we mention the word bath, and then dont follow thru, there is much crying, and pointing and "nuh"-ing at the bathroom door.

He walks around the furniture with so much confidence. And will walk everywhere if you hold his hands. But let go of him for a moment and he plonks down on his bottom. Hes not ready to walk. But it wont be long.

I dont love that he has started throwing tantrums. If im not paying enough attention to him, or i do something he doesnt like, he will throw himself on the floor, kicking and yelling and hitting the floor. I do admit to finding it amusing at times, because he is so tiny and it just looks wrong, but most of the time its just frustrating.

Speaking of frustrating, if i have to pull him off the tv one more time, i might just throw it thru the window (the tv, not the baby).

Weve completely weaned him onto a cup during the day, but we still breastfeed before bed and in the night for comfort.

He's going on about 7 months of pretty unspectacular sleeping. Hes down to two naps a day (unless were going out at night), but he still doesnt sleep thru the night. He occasionally wakes about midnight and almost always at about 2am. To save my sanity, and avoid getting sick like i did at the beginning of winter, ive started bringing him into our bed to feed him. If he wakes at midnight, i put him back in his bed, but after 2am, he is very restless in his own bed - he rolls around alot and hits his head often. So we tend to co-sleep from about 2-5am which is when he normally gets up for the day. So many people tell me how terrible that is and that im digging myself a hole, but i dont care. I actually quite like having him right next to me for a few hours in the early morning. He sleeps better and i get to look at his sweet sleeping face til i fall asleep myself.

He is such a good little eater. He eats pretty much whatever we do, and isnt overly fussy. He eats most vegetables and loves the fruits ive given him - Banana and mandarins are a daily event in this house! He's also just like his muma, he loves chocolate. I actually have to hide it from him if i dont want to share it!

He still idolises Blake. Follows him around like a bad smell. lol. Love how cute they are together.

Happy first birthday, my baby boy. Couldnt love you more. xxx

If you think you had a bad day....

Then read on, cos im about to make you feel a WHOLE lot better!This is how my day went....

Thomas woke up and threw a tantrum
Changed Thomas' nappy and he threw a tantrum
Took too long to make Thomas' porridge and he threw a tantrum
Got Thomas dressed and he threw a tantrum

So i threw a tantrum over all the tantrums and put him back to bed

Thomas woke up and went to his end of term playgroup party at one of those kids playlands

Took off Thomas' jumper and he threw a tantrum
Tried to get Thomas out of the ballpit and he threw a tantrum

By this time its oh, only about 11am! But he did perk up a bit after his morning tea, and when he realised that he could go back in the ballpit! You'd think the kid had never seen a bunch of coloured balls before. He has a set at home he never plays with for heavens sake!

About 12, i ordered us some lunch. A plate of hot chips. It took 40 mins to get it. You can imagine that somebody probably threw a tantrum...

Left the playland. Got home, Thomas is asleep in his car seat. Of course, he wakes up when i stop the car. It then takes me an hour to get him back to sleep, because apparently, according to Thomas, 5 minutes sleep in the car is equivalent to an afternoon nap.

Jira rings and needs to be picked up from my brother's place in an hour (they car pooled to work). But i need meat for dinner, so i decide to run down to the shopping centre to go to the butcher before i go get him.

Walk into the centre, and hear someone yelling my name. Its Michelle, a girl i used to work with when i worked for a travelling photography studio. She begs me to let them take Thomas' photo, because they only need three more customers to get their bonus for the day. I remember vividly how hard it is to get your bonuses, so i go back on my vow, to never ever photograph my child in a bucket of flowers. (ok, well, its not quite that bad. He wouldnt sit in the bucket. He did get to model a cowboy hat tho..........shame.)

Go buy meat. Go back to the carpark. Now here is the part that will beat anybody else's bad day.

I strap Thomas into his car seat, put all our bags in with him, including my handbag. He was starting to get cranky so i gave him the keys to play with, as i often do. Without thinking, I shut the door (this i dont normally do). I go to put the stroller in the back of the ute and i see the lights on the car blink twice. The sign that the car is locked. With my 11month old child inside. With the keys in his chubby little hands. Yep, he locked himself in the car.

Well, if you ever look up the definition of FREAKING OUT, there'd be a little photo of me there. Thankgod, for some reason, i'd put my phone in my pocket (its normally in my bag, which was locked in the car). I rang Jira, who was already at my brothers house, and pretty much screamed at him to get down here with his keys NOW! I then spent the next 15 minutes pulling faces and playing peekaboo through the windows at Thomas, in an attempt to keep him happy and calm until the boys got there. I must have looked like a right royal idiot, lord only knows what people thought i was doing. But it worked. He was happy as larry the whole time he was stuck in the car.

About 10 minutes later the boys arrived to spring the baby. And i burst into tears. The baby was fine, he didnt know any different, but i was just so shocked, and so relieved! Plus, Im pretty sure my brothers will tease me about this til the day i die. They already tease me about a few "blonde" moments ive had in years past, but truly, this one takes the cake.

Fortunately though, the rest of the day was less eventful!

Never discuss politics or religion...

so, i wont discuss religion.

But for once, i actually do feel like i should discuss politics. Very briefly. Then that dirty word will probably never appear on my blog again.

So, Australia had its first ever female prime minister sworn in today. And then i had the displeasure of watching a full grown man (the ex prime minister K Rudd) cry on national tv. I actually felt really sorry for him.

In my mind, the only reason they turfed K Rudd out was because people didnt like him personally. Julia Gillard is supposedly, more likable. Their policies are all the same, so its really just a popularity contest.

Really, tho, i dont care who their front man... sorry, front WOMAN is, because they'll probably only be in power for a few more months anyway. Once an election is called, i think its highly like that Tony Abbott will win and Liberal will be back on top. I think Julia Gillards run as prime minister is going to be one of the shortest on record....

Eh, politics. They're all the same anyway.

Thomas at 9.5months

Weighs 9 kilos. Ridiculously hard to work out his exact length as he is so wiggly, but i estimate it to be around 68cm.

Has been army crawling for almost two months. He does push himself up onto his hands and knees to sit up, or to climb over something, but doesnt ever crawl that way. He will always go back down onto his tummy to move around. And he is quick!

He is becoming such a little boy. He crawls around with a car in one hand, pushing it along the floor. Often he blows rasberries as he does it (trying to mimic a car noise maybe???)

Is eating lots of solids now. He loves almost all vegetables, but is not a fan of fruit, apart from bananas, watermelon and rock melon. He isnt a huge meat fan, but loves to feed himself bbq chicken. He likes porridge with sultanas or weetbix for breakfast. He likes to feed himself toast with vegemite.

He loves his water cup. Like ridiculously so. He gets all excited when he sees it.

He loves to go out. He gets all excited whenever we go to the front door.

He LOVES Khodi. He often sits at the backdoor for long periods of time, just watching her. If we go outside, he loves to pat her and laughs if she licks him.

He LOVES Blake (and older kids in general). We go visit Tamara at least once a week, and thomas just crawls around after Blake like his shadow. Blake is often seen beckoning thomas to "come" with him, though he doesnt always like sharing his toys with him. The 18 month age gap between the two of them is seeming smaller by the day.

Has just started taking steps when you hold his hands. Has gone from not moving his feet at all, to practically trying to run in the past two weeks.

He can pull himself up, if the object is lowish. He is beginning to try to pull himself up on the lounge, but as its cold now, and he normally has socks on, he isnt too successful on the slipperly wooden floors.

Still loves bathtime. If Daddy is home, its Daddy's job to bath him. Its their bonding time.

Still breastfed. Will be weaning him onto cows milk in a cup when he turns one.

Doesnt sleep very well. For months now, he has woken up regularly during the night, and has started wanting milk at midnight as well as 3-4am. We think it is partly to do with the heat of summer, as now that were into autumn, he is a little better. His teeth also seem to be a factor, as he normally sleeps better once he cuts a tooth.

We still wrap him to go to sleep, though it is only because it is his cue for sleep, and it seems to have become a security blanket

He has 4 teeth, the bottom two came through at 7 and 7.5months. The top two cut through just the other day, within two days of each other.

This week he was offered a position with a modelling agency, though we arent sure yet wether we will be accepting.

Quite likes having his photo taken now, which is a good thing, as we do alot of photos.

Will be starting playgroup on monday, and i am considering enrolling him in gymbaroo over the winter, when we wont have much to do.

eeek!!!!!!!!

oh my, what a terrible blogger i have been! I have NEVER neglected my blog so badly! And i really regret it. Im sure ive forgotten so many little stories and moments because i didnt blog them. Sigh. Life with a baby is just soooo busy! And i spend too much time on facebook. Lets face it, thats more likely the reason my blog is so neglected!

But anyway. Lets move on shall we?

I scored myself a new CT gig! yay! Im CT'ing for Carolyn Rose Kite over at Pickleberrypop. Im super excited about it. Im loving her designs and the other ladies on the team are all sooooooooo nice! And some are even Aussie! So nice to be awake at the same time as other people! lol

Heres my first layout using CRK designs. Im loving this kit called Seasons of Change - Summer. Was perfect for the photos of Thomas and Mel at the beach in Forster.

Thats all for now. Fingers crossed ill be back more regularly with some updates on life in general!