tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50936739735124880142024-03-15T05:00:39.393+11:00eat play bondAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comBlogger274125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-14453855633272474652014-01-23T10:03:00.000+11:002014-01-23T10:03:43.243+11:00Colour Selection Day - Not As Fun As You Might Think<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the process of building a house you would be forgiven for thinking that the day you pick all of your colours and finishes would be up there on the fun-scale. After all, isn't that why you decided to build rather than buy in the first place? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You spend months debating over the 50 shades of greige in your selection pack only to discover that "June Fog" is exactly the same colour as "Silver Pendant", drive yourself and everyone around you mad asking whether you should go for the white or dark kitchen cabinets and become so acutely aware of the various shades of Colorbond available that you can name them on sight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By the time your plans are passed through the various councils and government bodies required to build your stock-standard, same as all the others, house, you will be sick to death of even thinking about colour schemes and just wish the bloody house was built already! </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVlFJxyJ6AtbN2FEbCJ1Sal7hlmPWkwj_tYGdjghvMFrM4tngeqRCYDLb2KwLMzWHM0T3u1U0T1sLaBV6Dk_pfVLaoVmAgVilgHcFOEVigAY4imN7Lp8QLbuWdhfc-pBjIDA7NgbJCjM/s1600/IMG_4749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVlFJxyJ6AtbN2FEbCJ1Sal7hlmPWkwj_tYGdjghvMFrM4tngeqRCYDLb2KwLMzWHM0T3u1U0T1sLaBV6Dk_pfVLaoVmAgVilgHcFOEVigAY4imN7Lp8QLbuWdhfc-pBjIDA7NgbJCjM/s400/IMG_4749.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So. Many. Greys.</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yet I held out hope for our "big day". I imagined our Colour Consultant to be some arty designer type person who would help bring our vision into reality (and hopefully guide us through any questionable choices) over coffee and delicious biscuits. I expected to leave feeling excited about our house in all it's shiny-surfaced glory, desperate to see the finished product and call it home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I should have known it was never going to be a picnic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mr Bond is not a fan of any kind of meeting that takes all day and Hayden had to come with us so conditions were not ideal. There had also been some heated discussions prior to our meeting regarding the necessity of power points and lighting and all that stuff that can blow a manageable price into tell her she's dreaming territory</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I can say with confidence we will never be auditioning for a spot on The Block.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our plan of attack was to get in there with everything already decided on so we didn't drag the day out longer than necesarry and we wouldn't be swayed by any of the potential upgrade options. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We arrived early, folders in hand ready to make a start. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">First item of business? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Render. Too easy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I whipped out my booklet and gave her our choice. Confused, our Consultant asked what booklet we had chosen that from. I showed her the brochure clearly marked "paint selections for interior and exterior" and as this was the only paint chart we received, I had assumed this was what I was supposed to choose from. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Apparently not. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was supposed to choose from the Moroka chart. The Moroka chart that you don't get in your selections pack. The Moroka chart you are not aware even exists until this precise moment and which, incidently, is actually just a table of the names of the Moroka colours and not a chart of the ACTUAL COLOURS YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO GUESS WOULD MATCH YOUR BRICKWORK. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Excellent. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Five minutes in and Mr Bond looks like his head is about to pop off. I feel about the same. Our Consultant is visibly unimpressed by our exasperation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On we went making our way through the booklet. Bricks, gutter and fascia, garage doors, internal and external doors, sorted. There were a few tense moments when we dared to ask things like can we see the different cornices we have to choose from and do we have to have the metal grill on the screen doors. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Fussy bastards.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Finally we get to the kitchen stuff, but there is another problem. At some stage between us receiving our selections pack and this meeting, the builder had stopped using the particular brand of stone we had decided on and we would have to pick a colour from one of the other suppliers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If there was one thing I was completely certain about it was the colour of the stone benchtops! </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had used the kitchen as the starting point for all the other choices we made. I couldn't just blindly pick something else! </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Luckily there was one that was an almost identical match or I may have completely lost my shit having to then rethink my whole colour scheme. By now what little sense of humour our Consultant had has well and truly left the building.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My brain was starting to melt. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />A coffee would have been helpful at this point, but instead out comes the electrical layout. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh goody, this should be fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not giving Mr Bond a chance, I quickly tell the Consultant I want to add an extra power point in the main bedroom. Yes one on each side of where the bed will be placed, thank you. Yes I know I am a freak for thinking we would want a power point each. Yes that will be $40, just add it to the final contract. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Clearly put out by my frivolous behaviour, Mr Bond then pounces on the plans and declares that we couldn't possibly need two power points in the home theatre and to take one out thus cancelling the $40 charge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sigh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thankfully that tense little discussion marked the end of the selections process and we were free to get some lunch whilst our contracts were finalised. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Halle-freaking-lujah!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For convenience we had arranged to choose all of our tiles from the store nearby and decided since we were running ahead of time and having so much fun we should get that over with too.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7A9kn_zNJw4ZR9wIDbwGBH1kJOi07JTBsYaI8sd1MiRZ7IRVQI7klLPEiPRVGpx192ur7RZaPLpNYbnYxw1gxREgm2qWixId5mHPwD__S_rT-gifH2_NsSRVgJdlZqjvP9JV2miJNxY/s1600/IMG_0654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7A9kn_zNJw4ZR9wIDbwGBH1kJOi07JTBsYaI8sd1MiRZ7IRVQI7klLPEiPRVGpx192ur7RZaPLpNYbnYxw1gxREgm2qWixId5mHPwD__S_rT-gifH2_NsSRVgJdlZqjvP9JV2miJNxY/s1600/IMG_0654.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After we had some lunch and a goddamn coffee we headed over to the tile store. We discussed our choices with the assistant (who was fabulous by the way) as I threw vegemite sandwiches at Hayden. I thought we were just about done when all of a sudden I hear Mr Bond is asking to take the bathroom tiles right up to the roof. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wait a minute, what was that?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh, that will be another $1,500? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh, that's no problem, let's add that on?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Excuse me, who are you and what have you done with my husband?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well, while you are at it how about we go with those fancy oversized tiles for the kitchen splash back?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Okay? You like them too?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don't know what just happened, but just quietly I think the bathrooms are going to be the most awesome part of the house.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The moral of the story? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Never underestimate the power of a chicken schnitzel burger.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-6409530582068867252013-09-10T03:30:00.000+10:002013-09-10T03:30:03.521+10:00Things That Go Roll In The Night<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3am. A time that was once reserved for eating greasy pluto pups and staggering not-so-gracefully home from the pub. These days, there is still bleary-eyed staggering, but it is limited to the confines of my house, and there is a significant lack of pluto pups. Or booze.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The reason for my staggering lately is this:</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYg5kYKJ-EvsaSUBWMN8pVQU8nevYei2HAenaaEUws573ZQXoWXHFiKNA0UP6bw6wY320SwI9itVQ_zoeBf_L_vIQ-zhefrvPJmJ1hciO5q-DIDulBAs6SRCJ9p3PNwnIDlDC_m0NLQE/s1600/IMG_4943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYg5kYKJ-EvsaSUBWMN8pVQU8nevYei2HAenaaEUws573ZQXoWXHFiKNA0UP6bw6wY320SwI9itVQ_zoeBf_L_vIQ-zhefrvPJmJ1hciO5q-DIDulBAs6SRCJ9p3PNwnIDlDC_m0NLQE/s400/IMG_4943.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rolling Ninja</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And his new game I like to call "I've rolled over and I need you to fix it".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The boy is super quick on the escape roll when I need to get him dressed, or change his nappy, but he has yet to work out how to roll back. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Which is where I come in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Were he to play the game once a night I could probably just get up, flip him back over and go back to bed. But Hayden really likes his new game, that or he is a slow learner, because the moment I get back into bed he is back on his stomach and squealing to be rescued. His current record is 5 times in half an hour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Frankly, it's driving me bonkers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He isn't hungry, he isn't wet, he isn't too hot or too cold. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">His teething seems to be inconsequential. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He just likes to roll over and then complain about it. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Short of stapling his sleeping bag to the mattress I am running out of ideas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On the upside I am struggling far less with the idea of not having any more babies!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Joining in with Essentially Jess for iBOT. Pop over and check out who else has linked up.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.esstentiallyjess.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpk72A4MKFuTGHXJH7dUs8xI69G21BggW5KgYJcGlEWHkUcEVy92BlGuvaycYHYU1FGyNzu5vSpV8jEBoB7TDIiFaTaewmkKST0h5XCorVAD1m-ea5Xs56GDOg2m3m9ZI1hJAESN_TrOk/s1600/ibotbutton.png" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-58134703294905988032013-09-06T03:30:00.000+10:002013-09-06T03:30:00.181+10:00Too Much Fun Can Be Bad For Your Sanity<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The last few weeks we have had far too many of <a href="http://eatplaybond.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/meltdown-mary.html" target="_blank">these kinds of incidents</a> happening, both at home and when out and about. Skye has seemed highly strung, anxious and difficult. Constantly. It has made the whole family feel tense and frustrated and honestly it has not been fun to live with. It had reached the point where I was wondering if this was more than just a phase, I was beginning to wonder if there was some kind of behavioural issue we needed to identify.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Really I just needed some kind of validation it wasn't my crap parenting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I wanted to be able to say "It's not me, it's you". </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscsEnRQG8bmxaK-EkwmzVIRwkOCNlHZHWZTo77Ao1jboBmwfbT8KpghIOnF-D0KvSFOBobh-0A1NS1rULQSO-GX6Dxevi7MEgjNEToZ5_-VG0aaJOmAnog4ibadTzWPhrA7pwl3PH0Dk/s1600/IMG_4577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscsEnRQG8bmxaK-EkwmzVIRwkOCNlHZHWZTo77Ao1jboBmwfbT8KpghIOnF-D0KvSFOBobh-0A1NS1rULQSO-GX6Dxevi7MEgjNEToZ5_-VG0aaJOmAnog4ibadTzWPhrA7pwl3PH0Dk/s400/IMG_4577.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going on holidays... so hard.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I mean really what is Skye's problem? She gets to do a lot of fun things. In between Preschool and swimming lessons and weekly visits from my mum there are regular play dates with friends and trips to the beach, we make play dough and cookies, we read stories and dance along with Giggle and Hoot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Living the dream if you ask me.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaenlFjRdmJF31sd6kTt6yA4GHG9SR6Er8bm2nAjNSodq2l1NMCzWp8APqcBmWxAsJx_vvU76TVOOet81ZuRN1ciFNmCaOYHM5FNvb2tHQ59jQoQVn1GAXB4u8xvlOy2RPA-w1izSdOrM/s1600/IMG_4878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaenlFjRdmJF31sd6kTt6yA4GHG9SR6Er8bm2nAjNSodq2l1NMCzWp8APqcBmWxAsJx_vvU76TVOOet81ZuRN1ciFNmCaOYHM5FNvb2tHQ59jQoQVn1GAXB4u8xvlOy2RPA-w1izSdOrM/s400/IMG_4878.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catching big fish... so hard.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But sometimes there can be too much of a good thing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All this fun business was just so... busy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The daily outings and seeing people had become the norm, the expectation. It was addictive too, the more we did, the more Skye wanted to do, and the less grateful she became. No matter how much we did, it was never enough. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was just so tired.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tired of making plans.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tired of taking two small children and all of their "stuff" out every day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tired of hearing cries for more, longer, better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">TIRED.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then it dawned on me. If I was this tired, surely Skye was tired too? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She is 3 for crying out loud. Why is she the one deciding how much she can cope with? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That's MY job!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had to regain control of the situation and give all of us the downtime we needed. It wasn't doing Hayden any favours being ferried around and pulled in and out of the car all the time either. So last Monday I cleared the calendar and made it a home day. The kids played, I cleaned, we hung out in the sunshine whilst I pegged out the washing, BOTH kids had a proper afternoon sleep and there was a whole lot less whining and tantrums.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was boring and it was exactly what we needed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Skye <a href="http://eatplaybond.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/hey-mum-can-you-do-this.html" target="_blank">doing herself a mischief</a> on Tuesday night meant there would be no swimming on Wednesday either which gave us another chance to spend the day at home. I had thought about calling some friends and making a play date but quickly thought better of it. Even though Skye was calmer, Hayden was still being a right little twerp what with all the teething he has been doing and I just wasn't up to dealing with his grizzling somewhere I couldn't just <strike>knock him out</strike> put him to bed when I needed to. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRvPNPLI4lS_4rX_oOfIpJFji7V0cv5gY9bsA-n08AsCsBfWCXfvSroOQlMowx1N1YzeQreyqZZlluHiWa2H4iY5opVoQ34Ro3UMebO0MaywRuukj6LDGCkz-58mPyW9L83yaynh0vTU/s1600/IMG_4936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRvPNPLI4lS_4rX_oOfIpJFji7V0cv5gY9bsA-n08AsCsBfWCXfvSroOQlMowx1N1YzeQreyqZZlluHiWa2H4iY5opVoQ34Ro3UMebO0MaywRuukj6LDGCkz-58mPyW9L83yaynh0vTU/s400/IMG_4936.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teething baby... so shitty.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So once again, we spent the day doing very little and I think we all benefited from the total mundanity. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Of course I still had to pull rank on a couple of things, (I wasn't trying to turn her into a robot!), but there was far less aggression and anxiety and power struggles. There was a lot more use of manners, a lot more listening and most importantly, we enjoyed each others company far more than I think we have in weeks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was a valuable lesson both Skye and myself. Our days don't need to be filled with activities, in fact, trying to have at least one day a week to catch up on sleep and each other (and the laundry!) can help set a more positive tone for the whole week. At the risk of sounding like a wanker, it was great to be able to focus my attention just on Skye and Hayden and really see where they are both at right now. I feel like I miss a little bit of the detail when I am so distracted by all of the constant "doing" and it was a relief to shut it all out for a while.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No one ever died of boredom, but sometimes there is such as thing as too much fun.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-24136327194083212702013-09-04T03:30:00.000+10:002013-09-09T14:28:30.838+10:00Hey Mum, Can You Do This?<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You know what I think the worst thing about being 3 is? It's not the constant talking, or the selective day sleeps or even the epic meltdowns. That shit I can handle. What I can't handle is the silliness. The general hell for leather flibitty jibbityness that goes on from the moment Skye's eyes are open to the moment her head hits the pillow. I know I should be enjoying her excited enthusiasm but honestly it's just bloody exhausting! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXtgL4UV2YpQUr0CJY-wthreK5E_vo6NhkrmriKt2vuSBrd46Ymjp-xnxzECqCiCk2accZOpB-m-EUaU9wjB8ki-Uc8zXlZoN3As3HhRRX8IrPchw6epe-Q5Ks0aOxMR_7Bnzkr_SrMs/s640/blogger-image--152663674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXtgL4UV2YpQUr0CJY-wthreK5E_vo6NhkrmriKt2vuSBrd46Ymjp-xnxzECqCiCk2accZOpB-m-EUaU9wjB8ki-Uc8zXlZoN3As3HhRRX8IrPchw6epe-Q5Ks0aOxMR_7Bnzkr_SrMs/s400/blogger-image--152663674.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And dangerous.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The kid has no spatial awareness, or concept of gravity what so ever. I feel like all I do some days is try to prevent her from killing herself to death with her precariousness. I wonder if I am being over-protective, but she very rarely proves me wrong in my paranoia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiTNiyvjH-Rbw_GlIOmV_1gQCjo7qVv-WFPcBrOM-_C6sv9hLriubKDF0zYSEN8iLCwiaSseVMZiPtqovAJ89OBEW1dYK2tpf2SAw4jiaKK2Z02VnxmxmB_ykiqcxXAyIaRw73vFzZ1c/s400/blogger-image-244068823.jpg" width="400" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Take last night for example.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hayden, fresh from his bath was being dressed on our bedroom floor. Skye was assisting by dancing around and pulling faces at herself in front of the mirrors. After several impressive demonstrations of her self-taught yoga poses, Skye suddenly yells out "Hey Mum, can you do this?" as she attempts to pirouette between myself and the bed whilst continuing to look at herself in the mirror. I glance up just in time to see her trip over her own feet and disappear between the bed and the bedside table, but not before she cracks her eyebrow on a corner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No honey, I can't do that, or more to the point, I don't think I want to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She got herself a good one too, she managed to draw blood and I expect she will get a shiner for her efforts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It will really set off the black shins she has given herself trying to jump up the back steps.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She is just one of those kids. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5-vvAfUTz08ls3dYHNqMomUqsvo0lKk_I3b2cs7fWZiPbdGHFqYByAI8HpS1bm5DqT2yNSKyPZr4iG0BsS7tLlShGJFus4HIfAWHzln5hdymJTlUpOjG0vb2BHRjUamwVo38CSpiha0/s640/blogger-image-2057733530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5-vvAfUTz08ls3dYHNqMomUqsvo0lKk_I3b2cs7fWZiPbdGHFqYByAI8HpS1bm5DqT2yNSKyPZr4iG0BsS7tLlShGJFus4HIfAWHzln5hdymJTlUpOjG0vb2BHRjUamwVo38CSpiha0/s400/blogger-image-2057733530.jpg" width="299" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In her 3 short years she has torn off toe nails, had numerous nose bleeds, bitten through her lip, bounced off doors, slipped over in the bath and fallen off perfectly stable lounges. Don't even get me started on the random stuff she will eat off the floor or kitchen bench. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In every instance I have been right next to her, telling her to settle down before she hurts herself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not that it helps. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sometimes I wonder if I would be better off just letting her learn the hard way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But I can't help but worry how many broken bones and concussions it would take for her to figure it out.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-11811236558008856852013-09-03T03:30:00.000+10:002013-09-03T03:30:00.356+10:00Would You Like Lighting With That?<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Building your own home is a tricky business. Even talking about the possibility of maybe thinking about building a house can be enough to cause a migraine. After working in the Building Industry and having some involvement in judging display homes in the area, I thought I was pretty savvy with picking out what was a standard inclusion and what was going to send our final price through the roof. As we went along and I got some written quotes from a number of different builders I gained even more insight into how much to add onto that pretty, non-threatening base price they like to throw at you in the Sales Office. After even further investigation I managed to decipher some of the vague terminology they use and what that actually means to the final product. But try as I might I still could not be confident that their final price was actually final. Add to that the fact that no two builders have the same standard of inclusions and it is almost impossible to determine who is the most suitable builder and how far your money will really go. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In an effort to reduce the chances of someone else losing their mind as they wade through the pages of fine print, I have put together a little run down of some of the things I have encountered so far. As a general rule if it looks good in the display home, you will be paying extra for it. More specifically, expect these to be an upgrade.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Caesarstone benchtops - Even this is included, it will only be the 20mm variety, not the solid 40mm version you have grown accustomed to in the display homes. Also be aware that if you are getting the swanky waterfall edges, there are at least 3 different kinds of joins that are used. The type you get as standard does not exist anywhere other than your new kitchen. I will let you know how that pans out when ours goes in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Raised ceilings - Every display home you visit will have ceiling height at a minimum of 2550mm, sometimes right up to 2700mm (9 foot for those needing imperial conversions). You however, will be provided with the standard 2400mm ceiling, unless you want to fork out another $5,000 - $10,000. Make sure you look closely at the door heights too, often they raise them to make the higher ceilings more balanced. To me it makes the house look at little Willy Wonka but it all adds to the light airy dream they are trying to suck you into. It bloody works too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Melamine shelving - Pantry's and Walk In Robe's will have clean, bright solid melamine shelving on display, but the standard inclusion will almost always be either powder coated wire, or flaky chipboard. Nothing says luxury like a fluffy bath sheet full of splinters. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Despite the annoyance, these things all seem fairly reasonable as they are more an issue of aesthetics than necessity. But I do have a few items that I have found to be truly mind-boggling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Flooring - polished exposed aggregate is so in right now, unfinished slab with bonus paint splash is not. But that is exactly what you will get unless you go with the optional upgrade to include floor coverings. Flooring doesn't seem terribly optional to me, when was the last time you saw THAT arrangement in a glossy magazine?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Concrete for Alfresco Areas - Most of the designs we have liked have included the Alfresco or Outdoor Entertaining spaces in the price. We have however been caught out by a couple that only provide a lined ceiling with brick posts as their included offer and then sting you another couple thousand to get a concrete slab poured. Kind of like buying Tupperware but only getting the lids. Totally stupid.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Overhead Kitchen Cupboards - this one really got me. I could not believe that there could be cabinetry displayed in the home that simply didn't exist on the standard plan. It was only when I was discussing the finer details of the microwave location with the builder that I discovered I would need to add another $1,000 onto the cost just to have the bank of overhead cupboards in the kitchen. Don't even get me started on the whole melamine, thermolaminate, polyurethane business! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lighting - a potentially huge add-on. Enter a display home and you will be practically blinded by the sea of downlights twinkling in the ceiling. From a real-life perspective it is overkill and I certainly wouldn't want to be paying their power bill, but it is a far cry from the single, bare bayonet point per room that is allowed for in the base price. Take no notice of the stunning pendants over the kitchen island either, there will be no illumination for you! Power points will also be scarce and in odd places.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Driveways - Many councils will require you to have a sealed driveway to sign off on the Certificate of Occupancy, but don't expect that to be included in your quote unless you specifically request them to add it in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hot Water System - Depending on the state you are in, your build will be subject to BASIX requirements such as flow rated shower heads and taps, insulation, water tanks and your choice of hot water system. Providing you are in an area that has Natural Gas, the hot water system will come within their basic BASIX package (still additional to the base price), if you are not so lucky you will be required to install a solar or heat pump hot water system adding a significant amount to the final figure. Guess who doesn't have farking Natural Gas in their area? Yes, that would be this little sour grape right here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Confusing? You betcha. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Outrageous? Absolutely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Doing it anyway? Yep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love a challenge. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Either that or I'm just a glutton for punishment.</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-24123250047047395912013-08-29T08:37:00.000+10:002013-08-29T08:37:54.553+10:00Meltdown MaryHave you ever had your child lose their shit in front of someone so spectacularly and so completely that you honestly do not know what to do? In such an instance have you ever responded in such an entirely unexpected and inappropriate way that you worry that said people may just question your abilities as a parent?<br />
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I have and I did. </div>
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<div>
Usually I can see a meltdown coming. Believe me, in the last 3.5 years Skye has given me plenty of practice. Today, not so much. Today I was taken completely off-guard by how quickly we went from zero to inconsolable. </div>
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A surprise attack.</div>
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One minute we were discussing my need to feed Hayden before we went outside to play in our friends new sandpit and the next minute I was being screamed at. Not about the sandpit though, oh no, that would be logical. I was being screamed at because I had forgotten to pack some DVD's for our play date as per our discussion earlier that morning. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Yes. Sorry about that. It must have slipped my mind what with the packing for swimming lessons and remembering to post the final house plans to the builder and answering the urgent emails and how about JUST BE FUCKING HAPPY YOU ARE HAVING A PLAYDATE WITH YOUR FRIEND DAMNIT!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Even as far as Skye tantrums go, this was a pretty good one. There was arm flailing and leg stiffening and teeth gnashing. It was truly a sight to behold. </div>
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Tantrum level: Exorcist.</div>
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Right when I thought she was about to vomit on herself I looked at her and I just could not help myself.</div>
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I laughed. </div>
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And laughed.</div>
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In a nervous, guffawing, can't stop myself, maniacal kind of way.</div>
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This did nothing for Skye's fit of rage. </div>
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She wasn't terribly coherent at this point but she did manage to get out an IT'S NOT FUNNY! Before throwing a couple of swings at me. </div>
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This made me laugh even more.</div>
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Parenting level: DOCS</div>
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Had we been at home she would have been put in her room at the first shriek, but I had not expected her to put on such as show in someone else's home. The sheer ridiculousness of the whole thing caused me to freeze. </div>
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Was this really happening? </div>
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Why is this even happening? </div>
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Why the hell do I bother trying to do fun things? </div>
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At that point, I really should have taken her home and put her straight to bed but Hayden still needed to be fed and it was such a beautiful day outside I thought taking her out to the sandpit would calm her down.</div>
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That was my second mistake.</div>
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Turns out my friends excited, jumpy little Jack Russell terrier was more than she could handle and once again she was off. Thank God we were outside because the noise she was making would have been deafening indoors. </div>
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This time there was no laughing. </div>
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Admitting defeat I loaded the kids and my multitude of DVDless bags into the car, made my apologies and got the hell out of there. </div>
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It took me an hour to drive the 10 minute trip home because Skye and Hayden both fell asleep before I hit the first corner and I sure as shit was not going to wake them up before they were ready!</div>
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Got any tips for dealing with mega tantrums? </div>
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Have you ever been so floored by a child's meltdown that all you could do was laugh???</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-1654452060016809572013-08-29T03:30:00.000+10:002013-08-29T23:05:13.289+10:00Welcome To The Danger Zone<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Right now, Hayden is in that blissful stage where he is beginning to become his own little person, but has no strong views on anything. He is still yet to crawl (although I feel my days of being able to say this are numbered), he can sit on his own, feed himself pieces of food, he laughs and giggles and squeals with excitement. He sleeps. A lot. He is all-in-all a content, joyful, loving little bundle of baby boy.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Z2vA9t4w-1FnFaha04OE3JmNpXKIwqv5JEeR1_lvv1lqoU-nbTX6c84bRHak3SkSZVfVdDG7dYvrOEkiUQmw6yH567D0vRm2RtAmedjBZXiZSnOTxwfduOCVbmViiLKW7VpLx_Ram5k/s1600/IMG_3602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Z2vA9t4w-1FnFaha04OE3JmNpXKIwqv5JEeR1_lvv1lqoU-nbTX6c84bRHak3SkSZVfVdDG7dYvrOEkiUQmw6yH567D0vRm2RtAmedjBZXiZSnOTxwfduOCVbmViiLKW7VpLx_Ram5k/s400/IMG_3602.jpg" width="298"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This makes him dangerous.</span><br>
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<div><font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">His sweet, snuggly, chubby deliciousness is an assault on my measured and practical decision that there will be no more babies for Casa De Bond.</font></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Welcome to the Danger Zone. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The time when routine and predictability begins to emerge, when sleeping through is a consistent and reliable notion, when you can see a real excitement for the world around them in their eyes and your days are filled with a steady stream of 'firsts'. The time when I am so enamoured by their squishy, smiley newness that I don't want it to end!</span></div><div><font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Cluck.<br></font>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This was never part of the plan. The plan was to have two children, feel blessed and enjoy a life of regular sized cars and separate bedrooms and a balanced parent to child ratio. Aside from the whole pesky pregnancy and birth bit there is the patience factor. Something both myself and Mr Bond are quite lacking in. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">I know my limits and I know I have reached them.</font></div><div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But then this happens.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCD5UmrxB-uj3Ykr4ao0r25KNiF6LYlEcpnGxwFUrqgnNYnD0zVfxTISZZwjHL8uPOAdlHcU9COAY1Pc-Isi967cDPWSGQFqhNIBXxULqHYAW4XJbXh6ONdmQmzbPJyqT0WNB9ynzaZU/s1600/IMG_4744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCD5UmrxB-uj3Ykr4ao0r25KNiF6LYlEcpnGxwFUrqgnNYnD0zVfxTISZZwjHL8uPOAdlHcU9COAY1Pc-Isi967cDPWSGQFqhNIBXxULqHYAW4XJbXh6ONdmQmzbPJyqT0WNB9ynzaZU/s400/IMG_4744.JPG" width="400"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And this.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-zItAczXGHIwvk254gh20BCerr8eErk7dvYYJ2-5SVIZbLlNsnlFAdlf65E5byBay3EimCSr_EUyBDmOYYT1-wfzommwWlGKx_4zJBKbv6cFrymmy3j-yMYzuwqE23nAZtAVZkjMKOs/s1600/IMG_4552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-zItAczXGHIwvk254gh20BCerr8eErk7dvYYJ2-5SVIZbLlNsnlFAdlf65E5byBay3EimCSr_EUyBDmOYYT1-wfzommwWlGKx_4zJBKbv6cFrymmy3j-yMYzuwqE23nAZtAVZkjMKOs/s400/IMG_4552.jpg" width="300"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And then there is a little bit of this.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEru-2OATZqRJnRD9RFKNEavRtaDGLIAw_tkxs9FEPgTRv1yEImlsILxL_BTcrbZMTeQ31Ri7YI9qEaxeypMQrB6AoLOYBdai1mkfWwuS9pV3W831ZBTCo57QhmZV29gu-9xpRSRhuXW0/s1600/IMG_4500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEru-2OATZqRJnRD9RFKNEavRtaDGLIAw_tkxs9FEPgTRv1yEImlsILxL_BTcrbZMTeQ31Ri7YI9qEaxeypMQrB6AoLOYBdai1mkfWwuS9pV3W831ZBTCo57QhmZV29gu-9xpRSRhuXW0/s400/IMG_4500.JPG" width="400"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Suddenly the plan seems a little flawed.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Why can't he just stay this size forever?!? Is that too much to ask?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I first held Hayden I was sure that our family was complete, my work was done, there was no need to ask for anything more. I still feel that way, but all this cute stuff is wearing me down. Selective memory is starting to kick in and all the hard stuff seems a little less hard. He didn't wake up THAT much, my nipples weren't THAT cracked, Skye didn't take THAT long to adjust. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Honestly, the bullshit we tell ourselves.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; ">Ask me now I feel about the matter 12 months from now when Skye will be getting ready to start big school and Hayden is heading into the terrible two's. It's highly likely I will laugh hysterically at the mere notion of more babies.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; ">I just have to get through the Danger Zone.</span></div><div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Pray for me.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Err, not you Hayden, that's not helping.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5u3SthD8N-Irv_OcXLD_0LH-yGkQ28v00_CHCNFVkxB9YFgjULHDZG7AvE4vRXASq6S32KaP-CfYVeBmPkvV0INpwTZeP-d4oaXm4ZCAyTGEudJcVSzDb8KIOVubeD_UltkJ40hyphenhyphen7TA/s1600/IMG_4579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5u3SthD8N-Irv_OcXLD_0LH-yGkQ28v00_CHCNFVkxB9YFgjULHDZG7AvE4vRXASq6S32KaP-CfYVeBmPkvV0INpwTZeP-d4oaXm4ZCAyTGEudJcVSzDb8KIOVubeD_UltkJ40hyphenhyphen7TA/s400/IMG_4579.jpg" width="298"></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-76732533479619821802013-08-27T03:30:00.000+10:002013-08-27T08:21:22.802+10:00Newborns: Not So Scary The Second Time Around<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Throughout my pregnancy with Hayden I worried about how I would cope with the newborn phase again. When Skye was born I wasn't hit with the instant overwhelming bond of mother and babe. I knew she was mine, I knew that I loved her, but she scared me. I felt a little lost and unsure as I am sure most first time mums feel. Even though my <a href="http://eatplaybond.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Birth%20Story" target="_blank">birth experience with Skye</a> was by comparison straightforward and dare I say it, even easy, I felt that I had " failed" because we had required Ventouse. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I struggled with breastfeeding, and swaddling and putting tiny hands in Wondersuits. But more than anything, I had not come to grips with the complete change to your every waking thought and movement a baby has. I spent much of those early months with Skye resenting the demands of a newborn and how unaffected those around me seemed to be. I put a lot of pressure on myself to <a href="http://eatplaybond.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/who-is-she-trying-to-impress-part-4.html" target="_blank">get everything "right"</a> and missed a little of the magic.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCNaEcP9E8pSue4WbtvqSjqvz6ff_41yFKAW5XAFCs_RrOgvpWw91u0cyeYnuNTi2bWesuBBhha9LWGnATmfjLwczcUdYukXUPZwV6x52Aa4p8gKjH8LZZf97g5zoZoqpNXtWGPPShdM/s1600/with+mummy+in+hospital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCNaEcP9E8pSue4WbtvqSjqvz6ff_41yFKAW5XAFCs_RrOgvpWw91u0cyeYnuNTi2bWesuBBhha9LWGnATmfjLwczcUdYukXUPZwV6x52Aa4p8gKjH8LZZf97g5zoZoqpNXtWGPPShdM/s400/with+mummy+in+hospital.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skye was gorgeous but scary.</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>I don't know if I will ever write Hayden's full birth story, it's not comething I wish to recount in detail, but if I had to describe it briefly I would use terms like posterior, stuck, episiotomy and scary. I would say to anyone having their second child to not take any notice of the experts telling you that your second labour will be a piece of cake, and I would strongly suggest getting a shot of morphine BEFORE they break your waters, because you probably won't have time for one after.<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Experiencing that drug free does not make me feel like a hero, it just fucking hurt.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_EN7GXcLpfFN1e0WRQpl01NVFoSvFgILlBSNL5VAdkpSfTRMElQJibybzjRsTTrAtvCF2H0v9MYMM73E29ID1FEE_tRR00tefoEi66fujtrFbWHh0athYq7bjVdJjXt83Skw9KQP79g/s1600/IMG_3120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_EN7GXcLpfFN1e0WRQpl01NVFoSvFgILlBSNL5VAdkpSfTRMElQJibybzjRsTTrAtvCF2H0v9MYMM73E29ID1FEE_tRR00tefoEi66fujtrFbWHh0athYq7bjVdJjXt83Skw9KQP79g/s400/IMG_3120.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Despite all that, when they placed Hayden on my chest, it was instant. I still had no clue whether he was a boy or a girl and definitely did not know that he was 8 pound 8 ounces but THAT is the moment I wish I could capture. At 11.23 pm on the 13th of December 2012, that was the moment that I felt an instant connection and I instinctively knew my role as his mother. I can still feel his warm skin on my chest, I remember feeling the weight of him and knowing he was bigger than Skye. I remember the joy of seeing his full, chubby arms tucked against my body.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He was here, he was safe, he was perfect. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I fed him in that birthing suite for an hour before they took him for his checks. Finally, I showered and we eventually made our way up to the ward at 2.30am where Mr Bond slept on a thin, hard camp mattress on the floor, while I held our unnamed little boy in my arms. There was no long recovery sleep for either of us that night, he wanted to be held, and I wanted to oblige. After a couple of hours, Mr Bond woke and tried to get me to have some rest but my little boy wanted to be held and fed and as exhausted as I was, I did not mind one single bit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I decided to take the full 5 day hospital stay, partly because even limping the 3 steps to my ensuite was a mission, but mostly because I wanted that time to focus on Hayden and I getting to know each other. Granted the food was not fabulous, but it magically appeared and then was whisked away in a timely manner that allowed me to do nothing more than be with my baby.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkqTCT-tAohyUIceKOmAt8hNN7PA9BySKvFAfk5zaOwM3vSPLxCDg0SW1vMqTVoPcPaccZ3OqPHNiv9Wue-nRnggC4KA7gwuZzIgMJ9JdpJrDGrG2pQoqhelYj80btwOfttGsF3KutCo/s1600/IMG_3138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkqTCT-tAohyUIceKOmAt8hNN7PA9BySKvFAfk5zaOwM3vSPLxCDg0SW1vMqTVoPcPaccZ3OqPHNiv9Wue-nRnggC4KA7gwuZzIgMJ9JdpJrDGrG2pQoqhelYj80btwOfttGsF3KutCo/s400/IMG_3138.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Once we got home, things kind of just fell into place. We still experienced the same initial struggles with breastfeeding and unsettled nights (this time with a more windy and </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">refluxy</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> version), but I had the knowledge that it would get easier and that gave me the confidence to just enjoy his tinyness. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsiZnvg9GZHC7bWWKVWewrzVsFXwY-MuM3GwHvQkSJSqhrh3lMy6d99McsqUN2ZI0Vrzp1iWdEYMxHFUU_dp5KsyVwQjXpFhSY5ICTWGLuqsl49JcIaOitYE2KRiNzw_zcUQ-vPyjJT4/s1600/IMG_3205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsiZnvg9GZHC7bWWKVWewrzVsFXwY-MuM3GwHvQkSJSqhrh3lMy6d99McsqUN2ZI0Vrzp1iWdEYMxHFUU_dp5KsyVwQjXpFhSY5ICTWGLuqsl49JcIaOitYE2KRiNzw_zcUQ-vPyjJT4/s400/IMG_3205.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Free from the cloud of first time doubt, and feeling less inclined to worry about the state of the house, I got the chance to really love the newborn stage. It gave new depth to my love for Skye too because I now got to see her as the loving, protective older sister. I had a better appreciation for how simple the <a href="http://eatplaybond.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/newborns-vs-toddlers-day-at-shops.html" target="_blank">newborn stage really is</a> and how blessed we are to have two beautiful, healthy, happy children. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhcyQFo15DpiGL-wdg04t2GFfcBn3_fwlwj1NQASLgIVbveetz2wrieZ-BFfaRf7BonO88ii4Tk4a-t1hEbzsbglamlX1KAdH8R2h165tpX4q9O115ZyvcQe1QCanevQVv1wjTuJnRpc/s1600/IMG_4531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhcyQFo15DpiGL-wdg04t2GFfcBn3_fwlwj1NQASLgIVbveetz2wrieZ-BFfaRf7BonO88ii4Tk4a-t1hEbzsbglamlX1KAdH8R2h165tpX4q9O115ZyvcQe1QCanevQVv1wjTuJnRpc/s400/IMG_4531.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm linking up with Jess at <a href="http://368000 163000 256419 419419 51419 42747 94166" target="_blank">Essentially Jess</a> for iBOT. Please pop over and say hello, she hasn't been well this week and it would really cheer her up :)</span><br />
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<a href="http://essentiallyjess.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQxuKfVEbZs-huqYsrP0uPzpSqB50ZHe1U7_PNBapqaELWhiKcsyzFvFYPFpOeGZ3YqBNbcRtDGe_AsJwTJOo3Ig8RSmmXjS6YZs6RMsnwIsFmR_5PTQ0g1ZUfyYHd4iFvDPXNdodXuk/s1600/ibotbutton.png" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-23094177438876307772013-08-16T03:30:00.000+10:002013-08-16T03:30:01.602+10:008 Months Old Already?!?<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hayden turned 8 months old this week. I cannot get over how quickly the time is going. Skye seemed to be 3 months old forever and because I knew we would have more babies, I didn't feel so desperate to hold onto every moment of baby like I do this time. This time I just want him to stay this size forever. But since that is entirely impossible, the next best thing is to write a totally self indulgent post detailing all of the things I love about my little boy right now.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7XpyJvrv9v3LMgoYjfpYTuvH079eBYaveP7YEP4TQjHWNcthNt16YJhs8vAXUY-BxA0a8NrsYdDy_vpztLxwyzYJhaLeKrnW58XFlSGqNuhKTKGmvreNRV-VENFyvp0Qq69HBMdxBcQ/s1600/IMG_4794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7XpyJvrv9v3LMgoYjfpYTuvH079eBYaveP7YEP4TQjHWNcthNt16YJhs8vAXUY-BxA0a8NrsYdDy_vpztLxwyzYJhaLeKrnW58XFlSGqNuhKTKGmvreNRV-VENFyvp0Qq69HBMdxBcQ/s400/IMG_4794.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I took Hayden for his check up with the baby nurse this week. He weighs 9.3kgs and is 73cms long. He is wearing size 1 clothing and "toddler" size nappies. I have already filled 2 suitcases with clothing that he has grown out of. His healthy development does nothing to ease my sadness that he is no longer a tiny newborn.</span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Any day now Hayden is going to crawl and just a little bit more of his babyness will be gone. I know there is so much wonder and excitement still ahead of us, but there is just something so intoxicating about this age. The smell of his warm little head snuggled into my shoulder as I take him to his cot.<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"> </span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">His delicious, chubby arms that just beg to be nibbled. </span>The big, gummy smiles that light his face when Skye plays with him. Actually not entirely gummy anymore since he has cut both his bottom teeth this week!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJX23Xbd3XuSBwP5lKo04nQNpJW4Cjusf8WNRZTH4gLPpBa8VMLiffFK2I5Dno2Nw56c8s5D01XZ37JjlHni2La11crUvw2XUDtU1xiUa_5ETZbXQAs9J6El0waINozAa0jLIm7Y9q46U/s1600/IMG_4778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJX23Xbd3XuSBwP5lKo04nQNpJW4Cjusf8WNRZTH4gLPpBa8VMLiffFK2I5Dno2Nw56c8s5D01XZ37JjlHni2La11crUvw2XUDtU1xiUa_5ETZbXQAs9J6El0waINozAa0jLIm7Y9q46U/s400/IMG_4778.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hayden has discovered his voice and spends every waking moment experimenting with the sounds he can make. He is saying mum and bub and what I am positive is his version of hello. Most mornings I wake to his playful gurgling rather than crying. Except for the mornings when he has rolled over and can't get back. Those mornings I need to move quickly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He is a happy, easy-going joyful little boy. His beaming smile is rarely far from his face, but he is not much of a laugher. Although tucking his sheet under the mattress when I am putting him to bed has him in hysterics. I see a spark of cheekiness already in his eyes that makes me fear his toddler years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He has me wrapped around his finger, and he knows it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hayden has a healthy appetite and is thoroughly enjoying being able to feed himself chunks of all kinds of foods, but refuses to drink anything other than breast milk which he has 4 times a day. After such a rocky start, I didn't expect we would still be breastfeeding by now, but it has become second nature, and its yet another thing I will miss. The kicking me in the shoulder while he feeds... not so much.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dsOrJGOXdOJ4XhIPPAActG6buGz8V5ot0iTH8_SqtSI2-I4JzYkSAPNkfquwPx48ED4ZTSkD2Hhg9cpzJOfbsU9PGRImVkM8XlwJuCyHEzpdU4HO1wJBg9s5RarylfnbLAi_bAxV-po/s1600/IMG_4725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dsOrJGOXdOJ4XhIPPAActG6buGz8V5ot0iTH8_SqtSI2-I4JzYkSAPNkfquwPx48ED4ZTSkD2Hhg9cpzJOfbsU9PGRImVkM8XlwJuCyHEzpdU4HO1wJBg9s5RarylfnbLAi_bAxV-po/s400/IMG_4725.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Aside from some hiccups with teething and a cold, Hayden is sleeping through at night and has 3 or 4 naps during the day. I would prefer 2 longer naps during the day, but given that he falls asleep on his own and wakes happy, I am not about to complain. He has shown that he has a liking for blankies like Skye, I held off as long as I could, but gave in a couple of weeks ago. I made sure it was a plain white muslin wrap this time just in case it ever needs replacing later on. He has never liked the dummy.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUKVDfLzXa4vh0vUklD95_fGj6XzztOF8sbsDbVq-B8JOqRjHbzdxLhYc1F_sRnqvYqrltXfjtfZVpxg6Br3sbQd3O82Lt1JnKfI_kGpwKf3972Cg9NDPLCQFOmL2y2pyhZAoTVV_KEQ/s1600/IMG_4744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUKVDfLzXa4vh0vUklD95_fGj6XzztOF8sbsDbVq-B8JOqRjHbzdxLhYc1F_sRnqvYqrltXfjtfZVpxg6Br3sbQd3O82Lt1JnKfI_kGpwKf3972Cg9NDPLCQFOmL2y2pyhZAoTVV_KEQ/s400/IMG_4744.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The blankie that started it all. Too hard to replace if needed.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Last night he started waving. He gets so excited when he masters a new trick. But probably not as excited as we do, especially Skye who will insist he repeats his new skill over and over until he is completely bored of it and refuses to do it any more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Watching the relationship between Hayden and Skye grow fills me with joy. He idolises her and watches everything she does, desperately trying to figure out how to make his own body jump and skip and dance like hers does. Skye in turn is the adoring older sister racing me to greet him each morning and piling the toys high around him to play with as they sit together in the lounge room. She loves that he is big enough to share bath time with her and is the first one to pick up a dropped piece of food or toy. I am holding on to these moments while I can, before the squabbles take over. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Why oh why do they have to grow up?!?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-21273909397644276812013-08-15T08:25:00.000+10:002013-08-15T08:25:05.924+10:00Picking my Battles<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have to admit, I'm not very good at picking my battles. I'm always worried if I let something slide once, I am doomed. I am also a firm believer in not backing down when I have said no, not matter how severe the tantrum, or how petty the argument may be. As you can imagine, in my constant effort to establish my position of authority, we have had some spectacularly ludicrous battles. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now that Skye is old enough to enjoy arguing back and has mastered the art of the pester, I have had to change my approach slightly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If only to prevent myself from developing an ulcer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Skye is nearly 4 which means day time naps still happen, but not every day, I run on more of an as needs basis and on the days they are needed, Skye will still sleep for 2 hours. Which is great until bedtime rolls around and she is still making requests for milk and cuddles and custard well past 9pm! On the days when she really should have had a sleep and for whatever reason doesn't, well, I am sure you know how pleasant an overtired 3 year old is by dinner time. Then, of course, there is always the risk of the Nap of Doom happening at 5:30pm. Nap of Doom is never a good thing.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5ZVzEo0_VKuKea6MKTrlzFgrKuI75h7SWwNHcIXnW7Lo_ZXntgwaf1O7XhkX4YYUxiU8dj9g73nePyX-_T7Uv7jtqY4dSGxrCq2CJQoP7yG8gArERIx0hWl_WY3m-H0ST9BZx-iNuZg/s1600/IMG_3196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5ZVzEo0_VKuKea6MKTrlzFgrKuI75h7SWwNHcIXnW7Lo_ZXntgwaf1O7XhkX4YYUxiU8dj9g73nePyX-_T7Uv7jtqY4dSGxrCq2CJQoP7yG8gArERIx0hWl_WY3m-H0ST9BZx-iNuZg/s400/IMG_3196.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yesterday was a borderline day.</span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had been to swimming in the morning and after over a week of only car trip napping, I thought a catch up would be a good idea. The fact that she was almost asleep on the way back from swimming made me even more confident in my decision. It's a pity Skye did not agree. Reluctantly, she got into bed and had her usual story and song routine. Blinds were drawn and doors were left ajar while I took Hayden to his cot hoping to hit the synchronised nap jackpot. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXolTm31cDxUADOJ_8M9boDZ8NXQJEsjhRNsCgqs6MzTfmzAgLYH9vCppZLfu6yYhZeBknLb9cMXen7L5W3nfN-1jzULBTBjFeR6UiLanocMx5dCfGd-69DKIh7yRm38sdDgqqFO_wl1E/s1600/IMG_3306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXolTm31cDxUADOJ_8M9boDZ8NXQJEsjhRNsCgqs6MzTfmzAgLYH9vCppZLfu6yYhZeBknLb9cMXen7L5W3nfN-1jzULBTBjFeR6UiLanocMx5dCfGd-69DKIh7yRm38sdDgqqFO_wl1E/s400/IMG_3306.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I came back to the front of the house and all was quiet. I breathed a sigh of relief and gave myself a pat on the back for my phenomenal parenting skills. Then I thought I would have a sneaky look at Skye sleeping because the only thing better than the sight of a baby sleeping, is a toddler/preschooler asleep amongst a sea of pillows and stuffed animals. But she wasn't asleep. She was standing on her bed looking out over a crowd of imaginary friends mouthing some kind of story. I darted back behind the doorway and waited for her to call out to me, but she didn't. So I crept into my bedroom and decided that rather than yell at her to get back into bed potentially ruining the peace and quiet, I would let her think that I still thought she was sleeping and continue what she was doing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Win/win if you ask me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sadly my win only lasted another 10 minutes until the phone rang and Skye suddenly sprang up and begged to come out. Not long after that Hayden was awake again too and the silence was a distant memory.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not napping, just talking.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But hey, I still managed half an hour without being asked for something to eat, or a different show, or when is daddy coming home. Better still, I didn't have my blood pressure go through the roof because of yet another battle about something unimportant.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-18027747880776417192013-07-30T23:25:00.001+10:002013-08-04T23:46:35.420+10:00Extreme CouponingMove over Real Housewives of Everywhere, I have a new series linked obsession. Actually it's a bit sad, but I am hooked.<br />
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Extreme Couponing. </div>
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It's pathetic and embarrassing and I love it.</div>
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If you have not yet had the pleasure, the show basically follows an "Extreme Couponer" as they prepare and execute a massive shopping trip armed with a folder or box crate full of neatly clipped and itemised coupons. The aim of the game is to get as much as they can, for very little out of pocket expense. It doesn't really go into how these people are able to amass such large numbers of coupons, although some have been known to climb into recyling waste bins...</div>
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You also get to see their personal "stock pile" of free or heavily discounted items lining the walls of their homes. Paper towel seems to be a popular item, as is deodarant, sports drinks, tooth paste and cereal. Obviously items with a long shelf life are the most desirable.</div>
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But its the suspense of the checkout that really has me sucked in, the whole process is rife with potential hiccups.</div>
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Did they count out exactly 700 toothbrushes?</div>
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Will all of their coupons scan correctly?</div>
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Is the checkout chick going to lose her shit at having to spend 3 hours serving 1 anxious, hyperventilating tightarse?</div>
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Edge of your seat stuff I tell you.</div>
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I find myself cheering for the reductions and marvelling at the savings. </div>
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How on earth do they do it? </div>
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How did they just buy $1,000 worth of groceries and the store owes them money?</div>
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What the hell are they going to do with 94 packets of croutons? </div>
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Most importantly, why don't we have couponing in Australia? </div>
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I think I would be good at it. I have couponing nerd written all over me. Nothing gets me more excited than a spreadsheet of promised savings. I have even put one together to track our spending before. Not to mention the meticulously labeled and ordered folders that you need to keep it all organised.</div>
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Yep, I was made for couponing. Get me in there!</div>
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As much as the show amuses me, if I let myself think about it too long it actually is a little bit depressing. I think it's great that families are able to recover from financial hardship using this system, but I can't help but worry about the sheer compulsive consumerism of a 16 year old boy proudly displaying his shelf of feminine hygiene products that he just had to get because they were free. The same kid that complained he had to go 5 weeks without couponing because his inconsiderate bastard family took him to Mexico for a holiday. </div>
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And I don't care how good the sale was, I cannot see a reason why I would need a 50 year supply of the same crappy roll on deodarant sitting in my garage. Variety is the spice of life people!</div>
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Still, it kinda leaves our 2 Helga loaves for $6 for dead doesn't it?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-72264240929116452162013-07-30T21:37:00.001+10:002013-07-30T23:12:46.736+10:00Being a Mum is so GlamourousFor the last month or so Casa De Bond has been plagued by a steady stream of Preschooler illnesses. Amongst the normal winter sniffles we have also dealt with Hand, Foot and Mouth disease, the flu, conjunctivitis and worms. <div><br></div><div>Fun times.<div><br></div><div>The actual illnesses have not been that severe, but due to their highly contagious nature, it has been a terrible inconvenience to our social life. Not to mention my sanity as I have had to essentially quarantine myself with 2 small children whilst we wait for the latest bout of cooties to pass.</div><div><br></div><div>The constant trips to the chemist are a bit painful too.</div><div><br></div><div>Case in point, today. </div><div><br></div><div>Skye's Preschool had informed us of a case of worms at the centre and although Skye was showing no sign of being affected, I thought that it would be best to be prepared so we called into the chemist on the way home. I had a few other things I needed to grab while I was there, but thought it would be simple enough to breeze in, pick up my supplies and be on my merry way. However having never had to deal with this particular issue before, it was necessary to ask the staff for some guidance, especially if we needed to treat myself or Hayden.</div><div><br></div><div>Not being able to even find the worms section, I gave the assistant on the counter a run down of what we needed and she went over the back to ask the pharmacist. </div><div><br></div><div>The young, fit and not entirely unattractive pharmacist. Which in itself should be illegal. </div><div><br></div><div>He, of course, needed more information, but rather than come out from behind the dispensary to discuss our options, he decided to enquire, in a rather loud voice, if I also required treatment. </div><div><br></div><div>Thanks for that.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm fairly certain I squirmed in a way that would suggest I did in fact need a dose before managing to blurt out err, no, it's just in case at this stage. PREVENTATIVE.</div><div><br></div><div>The need for shouting was not helped by Skye standing at my side repeatedly asking for jelly beans. </div><div><br></div><div>Because apparently that is the only reason anyone goes into a chemist. </div><div><br></div><div>Flustered by entirely too much conversation about such a revolting topic and the incessant sound of my darling daughter in full pester power mode, I finally turned my attention back to her only to discover she had been busily throwing the packet of super overnight maxi pads I had placed on the counter up in the air to help emphasise her demands. </div><div><br></div><div>Sigh.</div><div><br></div><div>Motherhood is so glamourous.</div><div><br></div><div>Have you ever had a mortifying moment in the chemist? </div><div><br></div><div>Do you think there are professions where attractiveness can be inappropriate?</div><div> </div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-36934972162850297122013-06-18T20:55:00.001+10:002013-08-23T09:51:15.731+10:00Newborns vs Toddlers - A Day At The ShopsWhen Skye was a newborn, the very idea of leaving the house with her terrified me. The first time I had to take her to visit the baby clinic nurse I was so anxious I packed the triple checked nappy bag and pram into the car the night before, and had my mum, who lives an hour away, come with me to make sure I didn't bugger up the whole car seat/pram biz on my first solo outing. I freaked out about nap and feed times clashing with appointments, stressed about whether there would be a parents room available if Skye needed a feed, and dreaded what I would do if she had a nappy explosion in the car.<br />
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As she got older, I began to realise just how straight-forward a trip out with a newborn actually is when compared to taking a toddler along as your shopping buddy. Not to mention the nappy bag overflowing with snacks and toys and dead flowers pinched from some beautifully landscaped display home.</div>
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To demonstrate my point I have put together a little timeline of a simple trip to a Shopping Centre requiring me to get some pyjamas / sleeping suits and some milk.</div>
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<u>Going out with a newborn</u></div>
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Pack nappy bag.</div>
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Make sure you have twice as many nappies as you would think reasonable for a 3 hour trip, I like to run with about 8. You will also need wipes, disposable nappy bags, a full change of clothes with warm and cold weather options, a couple of wraps and if breastfeeding, be sure to check you packed your boobs.</div>
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Load baby into car.</div>
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Drive to destination listening to all of your favourite rude words songs while baby sleeps peacefully.</div>
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Arrive at your destination, load baby into pram, store nappy bag, enter Shopping Centre.</div>
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Baby will most likely want to be fed before you get started so grab a coffee and some kind of cake and find a parent room or quiet spot to feed baby.</div>
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Baby will most likely have filled their nappy during the feed so change baby, finish your coffee and head towards your first shop. </div>
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Purchase Wondersuits and Baby Sleeping Bag.</div>
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Realise baby has fallen asleep so take advantage and peruse a couple of other shops, buy yourself a cute pair of shoes then pick up the milk.</div>
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Sense baby is beginning to stir and return to car.</div>
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Load baby, pram, nappy bag and purchases into the car.</div>
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Drive home listening to all of your favourite rude words songs while baby sleeps peacefully.</div>
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Arrive home, feed and change baby.</div>
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Put baby to bed.</div>
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Have a coffee and unpack purchases and give yourself a pat on the back for a successful day out.</div>
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<u>Going out with a toddler.</u></div>
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Pack nappy bag.</div>
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If toddler is still in nappies, pack as many as you would think reasonable for a 3 hour trip. I like to run with about 3. You will also need wipes, disposable nappy bags, a full change of clothes, a jumper, hat, dummy, blankie, a sandwich, apple, banana, sultanas, drink, muesli bar, le snack, grapes and a mandarin, don't forget the 3 most popular toys of the day including a ride on unicorn and a plastic cash register.</div>
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Load toddler and various paraphernalia into the car, it should take about 3 trips.</div>
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Drive to destination while fielding questions from your toddler about the rain, cat whiskers and why you have toes. Feed toddler the apple, muesli bar and drink. Sing the incy wincy spider eleventy billion times.</div>
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<div>
Arrive at your destination, almost crash your car because your toddler has asked you to LOOK AT THIS!!! as you are pulling into your parking space. </div>
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Explain to toddler that daddy cannot get her out of the car because daddy is at work. </div>
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Forcibly remove toddler from car and explain to toddler that she must go into the pram because it is too far to walk.</div>
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Forcibly secure toddler into pram, give toddler a sandwich, store nappy bag, find a space for the ride unicorn, enter Shopping Centre.</div>
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Toddler will most likely want to play in the play centre before you get started so grab a coffee and some kind of cake and move to the play equipment.</div>
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Surrender cake to toddler.</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Toddler will most likely have filled their nappy during this time so go to parents room to change them. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Head towards your first shop.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Give toddler a box of sultanas.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Purchase pyjamas, 4 pink t shirts, a pair of light up joggers, a plastic lion, a glitter hat and a lollipop. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Realise toddler has tipped contents of sultanas onto the floor, continue walking. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Quickly.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sense toddler is about to crack it, return to the car.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Load toddler, pram, nappy bag, ride on unicorn and purchases into the car.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Drive home listening to your toddler complain that they want to get out.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">See your toddler fall asleep as you turn into your street.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KTLRIhXEfTY__HJRxKN27thJDf_djoJTsBruPH3yqry3X-wALgxB1oOjbbj73p9gS8jEfacrHaSgRGyxyJSNqLcDS7OTtvFoGkRtRzdbWNz4CdKLWUzRKLTWIsrkCLfYCbLH7dghOaE/s640/blogger-image--1457864154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KTLRIhXEfTY__HJRxKN27thJDf_djoJTsBruPH3yqry3X-wALgxB1oOjbbj73p9gS8jEfacrHaSgRGyxyJSNqLcDS7OTtvFoGkRtRzdbWNz4CdKLWUzRKLTWIsrkCLfYCbLH7dghOaE/s640/blogger-image--1457864154.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Attempt to transfer toddler into the house while still sleeping. Toddler will most likely wake up believing she has slept for 2 hours and does not require any more rest today. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Attempt to make a coffee and discover you forgot to buy the milk.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Listen to over-tired toddler having a hissy fit because you put the grapes in the green bowl instead of the pink one.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Vow to make all future purchases online.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-30995595406451166582013-04-12T21:55:00.001+10:002013-04-12T23:15:45.787+10:00In the Calm of the NightToday was a long day, actually it has been a long week. But today, today was the hardest. Skye is sick with a cold, nothing serious, but enough to make her short tempered and hard to reason with. Hayden, my usually placid, happy ray of sunshine had his 4 month (yes I said 4 month!) needles and whilst he took the whole process in his stride, as the day wore on, he was only going to be quiet if I was holding him. After a week of feeling like I just couldn't do enough, for enough people, quickly enough, my energy was spent. I had nothing left to give and I found myself counting down the clock, willing the day to be over.<br />
<br />
I really hate to feel like that. <br />
<br />
I hate feeling like I am just going through the motions. <br />
<br />
I hate feeling ungrateful.<br />
<br />
Today, I had a moment of ear popping rage that made me want to shout loud screamy swear words at Mr Bond so badly, for no other reason than I was worn down. But with one child finally asleep and the one likely to repeat my loud sweary words sitting right next to me, I held my tongue. <br />
<br />
Just.<br />
<br />
Now, as I sit in the quiet calm of the night, finally alone, able to breathe deeply for the first time today, the weight has lifted and my mind has cleared.<br />
<br />
Today wasn't really so bad. Yes it was tough, but sometimes I think I expect too much. <br />
<br />
Of course Skye is cranky and over sensitive, she is miserable from all the coughing and spluttering. She just wants her mummy, like everyone (including me, still) wants when they aren't feeling well. <br />
<br />
Sometimes I forget she too is still very much a baby.<br />
<br />
My first baby.<br />
<br />
Of course Hayden wants to be held. He got two needles and a live vaccine this morning, it's completely normal for him to be feeling clingy. If this is my idea of him being difficult, I have a lot to be thankful for. <br />
<br />
Now, with the lights dimmed and the TV low, I can remember feeling similar resentment at the constant needing when Skye was Hayden's age. The incessant physical contact, the round the clock alertness to duty, the feeling that as much as others may offer to help, it ultimately is on me to look after things. Only this time, I have the benefit of knowing how quickly the intensity of that dependence fades and how much I will miss it once its gone. <br />
<br />
Now, with everyone sleeping soundly, I can recall that today I made Hayden laugh his first laugh, and the way his face lit up when he realised what he had done. I can recall that today Skye came home from Preschool beaming that she had made some new friends after weeks of saying that the other kids wouldn't play with her. I cannot tell you what a relief it was to hear the excitement in her voice.<br />
<br />
Now, as I sit in the calm of the night, I realise that today, all my children asked of me was a little extra love, and if that's all they really needed, then today was a pretty good day after all.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-68397557198807597652013-03-13T03:00:00.000+11:002013-03-13T03:00:06.777+11:00Toilet Training Progress Report<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Worst.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Post title.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ever.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The fact is there is NO toilet training progress. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We are at the same stage of toilet training now that we were 5 months ago and frankly the cost of Pull Ups is sending us broke. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Skye will happily drop a dooce in the toilet unprompted and I am eternally grateful to not be dealing with THAT in a 3.5 year olds nappy. But the idea of weeing anywhere other than a Pull Up or knickers just escapes her. You would think she would be sick of having wet ankles by now. I know I am entirely sick of mopping up piss.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am not blameless in this predicament though. I have never pushed the issue because there was always something else going on and right when I probably should have made a more concerted effort, we decided to move house, bring home a new baby and send her to preschool. The last thing I wanted to do was cause stress or anxiety and the timing was always off.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I keep hoping that if I put her in knickers for the day she will stop relying on the little amount of absorbency Pull Ups provide and realise that the mess running down her leg is rather unpleasant and she would be better off getting to the toilet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Apparently not.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At the moment Skye does not so much as even pause when this happens, but will continue to sit, soggy and smelly, going on with whatever activity she is too busy to tear herself away from.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will ask her if she needs to wee, I will insist that she sits on the toilet even if she does not think she needs to, I will read books, sing songs, offer bribes, threaten toys, implement reward charts, you name it, I have probably done it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's quite possible consistency is the issue...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some days we will go accident free and as long as I remind her regularly throughout the day, she will comply. Then the very next day she will simply refuse to go near the toilet and so the power struggle begins all over again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am seriously kicking myself I didn't force the issue more before we had Hayden. Even a placid, sleepy newborn takes up enormous chunks of my day that keeps me from the task at hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Was your child difficult to toilet train? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Am I going to have to cling wrap the lounge?!?</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-4889115537368490112013-03-11T03:00:00.000+11:002013-03-11T03:00:03.829+11:00The Joys of Building Your Own Home #sarcasmfont<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You know going into building your own home that it's not going to be a straight forward process, but the heady promise of getting your dream home just the way YOU want it quickly drowns out the 100s of horror stories you are told by everyone from your closest friends (helloooo Clever Baker Friend!) to the random lady sitting next to you at the hairdressers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Yeah, yeah, it's complicated, and it will cost way more than we first thought, but it will so worth it in the end. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>It can't seriously be that bad or people wouldn't keep doing it, and doing it more than once (kind of like child birth really).</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>How else are you going to find the house you really want?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>You only ever hear the bad stories, these builder's must get it right occasionally or they wouldn't still be operating.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Blah. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Blah. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Blah.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So off we go to begin our search for the ideal floor plan. Armed with a pretty clear idea of what we DON'T want, it became a quick process of elimination. </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No, I do not want the Master Bedroom right next to the other Bedroom's.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No, I do not want an open ensuite so I can wave at Mr Bond from the bed while he goes about his morning business.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No, I do not want the Main Bathroom at the opposite end of the house from the Entertaining spaces so everyone has to wander through the whole house to have a wee.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No, I do not want a crazy useless diagonal wall cutting my bedroom in half to fit a study in.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No, I do not want the laundry nestled in between the kids bedrooms so the sound of my front loading washing machine can keep them up at night.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No, I do not want a Home Theatre room to be directly next to my Family room that will also have a TV. Cubicle living, much?</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Do these designers actually understand the basic principles of living in a house with other people?!? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I re-read that I am aware that my issue's seem largely based on sound transference. Maybe I just need to learn to shut the hell up... moving right along.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mr Bond was reluctant to have to actually visit any of the display homes unless we were certain we liked the layout first, which proved difficult given that you can't really tell what the house will look like from a black and white outline on screen and as savvy as I am with a tape measure, it is impossible to gauge dimensions off a basic sketch. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Eventually I convinced him to come and look at some homes with me. Knowing that display x was the only one likely to be within our budget, I had no intention of looking at the other much larger ones next door, but when Mr Bond marched in there I just shrugged and followed with a concealed smirk on my face awaiting his reaction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now we have a problem.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">THIS house is exactly what we wanted, without us even realising it until we were standing in it. It covered everything we had on our wish list and more. The layout made sense. There was doors on the toilets, wall set microwaves away from pesky toddlers, a walk in pantry large enough for me to hide in all day and open, flowing indoor/outdoor transitions that gave us the light-filled, casual, welcoming space we wanted so badly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So what's the problem?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's only about $60,000 over budget.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bastard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Deflated but determined, I had spent countless hours searching online, visiting displays and updating my comparison spreadsheet in the hope that I will find a more dollar friendly alternative, but try as I might, nothing was coming close.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So what does one do when faced with such a situation? Well, around here we tend to take the head in the sand approach. Go off and have a baby, enjoy Christmas with our family, spend time at the beach, all the while dismissing any questions from our friends about how the house was going.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">House?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What house?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh yeah, we should probably do something about that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">During that period of procrastination though, something magical happened. The builder completed a new display home with an only slightly smaller version of the home we so desired and suddenly the price was within our reach. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our reach may or may not have stretched somewhat during that time too as </span><strike style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Mr Bond</strike><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> we became more realistic about the cost of building such a large home...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But all that time was not wasted. While we were unable to find a suitable layout, we had managed to agree on an awful lot of other vital parts of the building process, like </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">bench tops, paint colours and ducting. Once things finally start moving, we don't want anything to stall due to our indecisiveness (we will have enough delays just with builder/contractor/council issues)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So now we are waiting rather impatiently for our preliminary plans to be finalised so we can submit to council. HOORAY! External colour selections and materials have been locked in, flooring choices are all but confirmed and we hope that all (or at least most) of the variations we wanted to make have already been identified. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So if anyone is looking for me, you will most likely find me buried under 5000 variations of white and beige paint chips.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Seriously, how are there so many versions of WHITE?!?</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-5124284374847116842013-01-23T03:30:00.000+11:002013-01-23T03:30:01.852+11:00Well Hello There Baby Bond!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh hi there! Long time, no post huh? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sorry about that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But as you probably already know, I have a pretty good excuse for my absence...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQbS7lmfObvRePK39MgJFWdDPLllJXxaIdvPJFYteZhPxwZ_LqILBRxskECPTz8BqlZKALjrQCuQgzYqOuVL0SRLSORHBQEzT-ykQSPTmNxS9v8Wz0QrifynAoOMVFc-CippNh_KEZzE/s1600/IMG_3120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQbS7lmfObvRePK39MgJFWdDPLllJXxaIdvPJFYteZhPxwZ_LqILBRxskECPTz8BqlZKALjrQCuQgzYqOuVL0SRLSORHBQEzT-ykQSPTmNxS9v8Wz0QrifynAoOMVFc-CippNh_KEZzE/s400/IMG_3120.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Little Hayden Derek arrived on December 13th 2012, weighing 8 pounds, 8 ounces (3.86kgs for those who prefer metric) and 52cms long. His birth was not quite the straight forward and by comparison, <a href="http://eatplaybond.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/skyes-birth-story.html" target="_blank">easy labour that Skye's was</a>. But he has been trying to make it up to me ever since by being the sweetest, snuggliest (totally a word) and most settled baby I could have hoped for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With that being said, there is still that sense of being hit by a truck that is the first weeks with a newborn. The period where days simultaneously drag and fly past in a haze of cracked nipples, 3am feedings and a rather insane number of dirty nappies.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A good night's sleep, versus a rough one.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Not to mention the older sister who is still adjusting to no longer being the centre of the known universe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But there is an awful lot of cuteness too.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqVwLzggW2xEYviEuHR2ilyMPFjU_v0NtLdY-R-GD_a2W4cIJJsCaJPEqoMW9CPLFIQTNB7_kXAEROkYDYhbgwedgCEtY-VC_F-tOu4v8UVnnKdlnvqp0TjNjt-JOO47WpFxVxPEjOBw/s1600/IMG_3204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqVwLzggW2xEYviEuHR2ilyMPFjU_v0NtLdY-R-GD_a2W4cIJJsCaJPEqoMW9CPLFIQTNB7_kXAEROkYDYhbgwedgCEtY-VC_F-tOu4v8UVnnKdlnvqp0TjNjt-JOO47WpFxVxPEjOBw/s400/IMG_3204.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have missed my little blog and have had about a thousand post ideas running through my head, but in the interests of my own sanity and not wanting to inflict a whole bunch of waffling, senseless posts on you, I have been choosing sleep over pretty much anything else lately. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will be back, I will share more than just the sporadic upload to Instagram, and I will get back to reading all the other wonderful blogs I have lost touch with, but right now I am just too busy soaking up that new baby goodness while I can.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm sure you all understand x</span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-84818700134107018702012-11-26T08:12:00.001+11:002012-11-26T08:12:29.944+11:00Happy 3rd Birthday Skye!Today my baby girl turns 3. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/11/25/1703.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/11/25/s_1703.jpg' border='0' width='350' height='233' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />The first day we met seems like a lifetime ago and only yesterday all at once. Nothing seems to mess with your sense of time more than having babies. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/11/25/1704.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/11/25/s_1704.jpg' border='0' width='350' height='262' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />I was so relieved to make it through the first year I didn't feel sad to be losing "my baby". As her 2nd birthday neared I was taken aback by how quickly she had become a toddler and wondered if I was capable of handling all the joy and frustrations of that stage.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/11/25/1706.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/11/25/s_1706.jpg' border='0' width='350' height='261' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />But despite weeks of planning and prepping for her party last weekend, realising that having a 3rd birthday party meant that Skye was actually going to be turning 3 hadn't quite hit home until just now. <br /><br />Being up to your ass in printables and zucchini slice will do that to you.<br /><br />More on that later in the week.<br /><br />I know Skye isn't going to be dramatically different today than she was yesterday, the growing up itself is gradual, but somehow officially reaching that milestone makes things feel different. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/11/25/1707.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/11/25/s_1707.jpg' border='0' width='370' height='276' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />I am noticing what a big girl she is becoming and it excites and scares me seeing her grow. She settled into sleeping in a big bed like it was the most natural thing on earth. One night she was sleeping in a cot, the next she was in a new house in a new bed without so much as a question mark. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/11/25/1708.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/11/25/s_1708.jpg' border='0' width='350' height='261' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />I knew that independent streak would start to work in my favour eventually.<br /><br />Then there is the talking. <br /><br />So. Much. Talking. <br /><br />How is it even possible that someone so small has that many things to say?!? It doesn't always make sense and there are days when I tell her to stop talking simply for the chance to hear myself think, but the headaches are far outweighed by the convenience of her being able to express her wants and needs clearly. Even when those wants or needs are in direct opposition to my own. <br /><br />There are days when Skye's testing of the boundaries completely overwhelm me. Particularly now I am so exhausted and lacking in any kind patience. But the more I get to understand her will, the more equipped I feel to guide her choices.<br /><br />Right now Skye's whole world revolves around pussycats, unicorns and My Little Pony's. <br /><br />There is no such thing as too much pink. <br /><br />Any attempt to dress her in another colour is met with the matter-of-fact statement "that's not very cute". <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/11/25/1709.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/11/25/s_1709.jpg' border='0' width='350' height='261' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />I am learning to pick my battles and clashing prints and Minnie Mouse ears just aint one of them. <br /><br />From the first week of Skye's life she showed signs of her independent, strong willed personality. It continues to blow me away that someone so little can have such a big personality, almost like she still has to grow into it. But I hope that self confidence stays with her as she gets older and she continues to bless us with her cheeky, sunny, loving ways as the milestones keep flying by.<br /><br />Happy Birthday my beautiful Skye, I am so thankful you chose me to be your mummy x<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/11/25/1712.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/11/25/s_1712.jpg' border='0' width='350' height='261' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-50274894470849699162012-11-15T02:30:00.000+11:002012-11-15T02:30:01.063+11:00Preparing for Baby Number 2<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's amazing how much a little experience can change the way you approach things and never is that more true than when you are preparing for the arrival of a new baby. I don't believe that I went overboard when preparing for Skye's arrival, but I would absolutely say that my priorities this time around are very different indeed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While I was pregnant with Skye, I spent an excessive amount of time scrolling through post after post on Apartment Therapy searching for ideas for the perfect nursery. Probably the only thing that really kept me from going all out (aside from the money factor) was the fact that we didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl. It meant that I had to restrain myself when looking at clothing, bedding, toys, wall decorations and all that other fun stuff that has nothing to do with actually having a baby, but was my biggest fixation the first time around.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Prior to Skye's birth I did not even own a single Wondersuit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They horrified me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I could not think of a more daggy, boring item to dress my gorgeous new baby in than a towelling all-in-one whose design had not changed since before I was born. Besides, Skye was a Summer baby, what the hell would I need a Wondersuit for?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The second day in hospital in arctic frost air conditioning quickly changed my mind and I discovered they had the added bonus of making a newborn far easier to hold, velcro like even. A safety feature that cannot be underestimated when you are a sleep deprived first time parent.</span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Actually, when I think about it, I was grossly underprepared for bringing Skye home. Of course I had all the obvious big ticket items like the cot, car seat and pram. I had boxes and boxes of nappies in a variety of sizes. I had a drawer full of creams and lotions, none of which I had the foggiest about where I was supposed to apply them. I had a handful of cute toys and some unisex coloured clothing, which honestly was more suited to a boy and I had a feeding chair that was super comfortable to bounce in while I was pregnant, but impossible to lift myself and a sleeping milk drunk baby out of. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Frankly, before Skye's birth I was more concerned about having a decent stock pile of magazines to read during all my "downtime" in hospital.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After having difficulties with breastfeeding in the hospital, I was fully expressing by the time I was discharged. This was fine until I remembered that I only had a basic breast pump, a grand total of TWO bottles and no sterilising equipment what-so-ever waiting for me at home, meaning we had to swing by Coles on our way home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like that first trip in the car isn't scary enough!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The first night home from the hospital we experienced unusually cold December weather and I soon learned that all those light muslin wraps I had were not going to be enough to keep my little bundle cosy enough to sleep for longer than half an hour at a time. Slightly problematic when I was also trying to express every 2 hours just to make sure we had enough supply at the ready. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Why on earth did I not flog a few bunny rugs from the hospital like every other person I know?</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmz2xryfzzS3CGKM7qO2ow01FQ-2ePqk7-szyoJeWxTJIkNQdjexS1CVMRsTBYNhgYapROwRib1Wh74K-xRZ_hDMEb-rriVHFGWnXAyDaH-MTTSUKR_6q95CfcCvAgQ16SKcuWGE1WGk/s1600/1st+Week+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmz2xryfzzS3CGKM7qO2ow01FQ-2ePqk7-szyoJeWxTJIkNQdjexS1CVMRsTBYNhgYapROwRib1Wh74K-xRZ_hDMEb-rriVHFGWnXAyDaH-MTTSUKR_6q95CfcCvAgQ16SKcuWGE1WGk/s400/1st+Week+012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thank God for Clever Baker Friend who arrived the next day loaded up with blankets, warm wraps, Wondersuits and all manner of I've done this before paraphernalia including a copy of What To Expect The First Year (which truly saved my sanity on many occasions).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Since those first few months of fumbling around and doing my best "I have this shit under control" impression, I have learned that the practical necessities are far more valuable than the perfect wall decal and this time I have spent my time (and money) on the basic's I <i>know</i> I will need in the first few weeks.</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">12 singlets</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">6 - 10 singlet suits</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">6 - 10 short sleeve suits</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">6 - 10 Wondersuits</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As we don't know if we are having a boy or a girl this time around either, I have bought pure white or grey as much as possible. This proved to be much harder than I would have thought. I would have even settled for yellow or green if necessary, but even in newborn sizes you really only get a choice of pink or blue and apparently this season, black, which just seems so wrong to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I really have no interest in trying to dress a newborn in cute little top and pants sets when I know that after spending an hour trying to wrestle their tiny wriggly hands and feet into them without breaking something, all they do is ride up or come off anyway. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If they don't shit all over them first that is.</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">6 super light bamboo muslin wraps</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 jersey wraps</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 knitted wraps</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 cellular cot blankets</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Skye hated being swaddled and was completely out of wraps by the time she was 2 months old, so I will be waiting to see how Baby Bond takes to being wrapped before I buy up big on these. All the ones I had previously were far too small to allow for secure tucking so I made sure these were all extra large.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Baby Bjorn carrier</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dummies</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Summer weight Sleeping Bag</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Head and Neck support for the car seat and pram</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Breast pump, bottles and steriliser because even if I don't need them this time I am hoping to express and freeze some breast milk just in case I am sick, or <strike>get a life and escape the house</strike> need to be away from Baby Bond for any length of time</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Rocking bouncer with vibration setting (possibly one of the best things we had for Skye)</span></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZtJ2l2XaLE8xpiZYs21g40CYgGWvnNQMgVaE4atPGhPvPEr0AKlf2_xXAcY67NxFP3x-YeN1mpsr9yI1THXQbZzyWU82vfy0vEme8IiiOI0u21y_ad21K7dgIjLuE1vZnLidUBqgY8Y/s1600/1st+Week+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZtJ2l2XaLE8xpiZYs21g40CYgGWvnNQMgVaE4atPGhPvPEr0AKlf2_xXAcY67NxFP3x-YeN1mpsr9yI1THXQbZzyWU82vfy0vEme8IiiOI0u21y_ad21K7dgIjLuE1vZnLidUBqgY8Y/s400/1st+Week+030.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even at 2 weeks old Skye wouldn't stay wrapped</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was surprise at just how much stuff I needed to buy for Baby Bond. Until a couple of weeks ago I had assumed that I could get by with what I already had, but there were so many things that would have made my life easier had I known about them and I see no reason to not take advantage of that knowledge this time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What would be your must have item and what would you have bought if you had to go back and do it all again? </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-73459860440769921772012-11-13T02:30:00.000+11:002012-11-13T02:30:03.756+11:00Seriously, Who Let That In The House?<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It has been a journey of discovery packing up this house. The things you uncover from the depths of cupboards, things you don't recall ever acquiring and you sure as hell don't ever use. Worst of all, despite your total lack of interest or purpose for these items you are compelled to keep them on the off chance that someone will remember they gifted it to you all those years ago and be deeply offended that they found their way to the donation box, or better yet, the garbage truck. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So instead I am going to out them on my blog and hope to hell they don't get the email update for today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have talked before about my issue with <a href="http://eatplaybond.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/being-polite-and-acquiring-ugly-things.html" target="_blank">acquiring ugly things</a> before, sadly that dinner set is still with us, waiting patiently in a storage container for the time when it can taunt me with it's useless obligation once again. Since then however, I have discovered even uglier and even less useful items skulking around in my cupboards.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now I know the question on everyone's lips since I posted it on Instagram before the move is "What the hell is that wooden phallus on a plaque about?!?!" In case you missed it, I would be referring to this...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGHKM441BQfUXrF6aUgIytdK9afdvNpJ8fnTIrDw30MkJdmnAJt5ld6AbRSxHZ0DqJPZm6BCFsbWemaP1Hy3nZCUgIDueC-YFvMIf0C1KatUQ4V5BM5dRS9R1U4HFJAStFDyzjF06qTM/s1600/IMG_2886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGHKM441BQfUXrF6aUgIytdK9afdvNpJ8fnTIrDw30MkJdmnAJt5ld6AbRSxHZ0DqJPZm6BCFsbWemaP1Hy3nZCUgIDueC-YFvMIf0C1KatUQ4V5BM5dRS9R1U4HFJAStFDyzjF06qTM/s400/IMG_2886.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you really want me to caption this?</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Disturbing isn't it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That's certainly what I thought when I unwrapped this part first of a 2 part Christmas present from Mr Bond's brother a few years ago. But it turns out that it wasn't nearly as bad as you would expect and given Mr Bond's love of all things fishing, it was definitely appropriate. You can imagine my relief when I opened the second part of the present and realised it was purely to hold this up.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJmj4kILCYlK3Pk7LdXFWPtfwrocgHJMUNZaGFFhTd75UR6DkJJp7jHMWP1_VH3cPcU7BJuP-EgkEo634Qz_C7RSvivqJSmXRu_QtQopx0_OCrHfWd6wrVWly6t5Dpaahou9pZ6X32SA/s1600/IMG_2885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJmj4kILCYlK3Pk7LdXFWPtfwrocgHJMUNZaGFFhTd75UR6DkJJp7jHMWP1_VH3cPcU7BJuP-EgkEo634Qz_C7RSvivqJSmXRu_QtQopx0_OCrHfWd6wrVWly6t5Dpaahou9pZ6X32SA/s400/IMG_2885.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can still see it can't you?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I still have my suspicions that we were only gifted the Barra in the first place so that I have a wooden mounted todger displayed in my home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Something that has become abundantly clear to me since we packed up our house is that people see us as "animal" people. Yes, Mr Bond grew up on a farm with a whole menagerie of animals around him (including ferrets, but that's another story all together), but do I really come across as the kind of person who keeps a variety of bird life decor in her home? No? I wouldn't have thought so either, but the evidence would suggest otherwise.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0cPe8BMcwajJhaza1iI2aklUHisrHBVVe38rD4D1hwM0t5Ftm0hhwmXYCNAXF4NmG3I0naWLQwOV1UwpNaKIjzml-9tnrpVd642ZIPofI8NcRkqfxeuFy6BMQgX1ujob8_ZODgWz9M4/s1600/IMG_2884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0cPe8BMcwajJhaza1iI2aklUHisrHBVVe38rD4D1hwM0t5Ftm0hhwmXYCNAXF4NmG3I0naWLQwOV1UwpNaKIjzml-9tnrpVd642ZIPofI8NcRkqfxeuFy6BMQgX1ujob8_ZODgWz9M4/s400/IMG_2884.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bird anyone?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But we are not just limited to fish and birds around here. How about a little leopard print for the bedroom? It's totally in this season.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k_XaU-nDUJsGUis7TZAqzeHyEdzZtfq8ZzW_ofj6kDzvBbA0Rc2A-HZykr6hYh7sOnP-PQ0Yh5kq9lSkDausNy-gUUUHaDcDJEU_tSfsbKUB9K4pmfhDwKNy1hxumRzkmGjKQ9vBlSQ/s1600/IMG_2888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k_XaU-nDUJsGUis7TZAqzeHyEdzZtfq8ZzW_ofj6kDzvBbA0Rc2A-HZykr6hYh7sOnP-PQ0Yh5kq9lSkDausNy-gUUUHaDcDJEU_tSfsbKUB9K4pmfhDwKNy1hxumRzkmGjKQ9vBlSQ/s400/IMG_2888.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do I make you horny, baby?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I could go on, but unfortunately I "re-homed" many items before I thought to take pictures. In hindsight though, it's probably a good thing I didn't as it will no doubt come back to bite me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Or maybe peck me, to be more precise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Did you know uber-awesome Jess from Diary of a SAHM is now living at <a href="http://essentiallyjess.com/" target="_blank">Essentially Jess?</a> It's where you need to go for your weekly #iBOT fix. You can also find her on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/EssentiallyJess" target="_blank">Facebook here</a> so be sure to pop over and make her feel welcome in her new home - she loves visitors x</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-16468565747155546332012-10-31T00:05:00.001+11:002012-10-31T00:05:32.581+11:00No Internet For You!Tomorrow is the big day. <br /><br />MOVING DAY.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/10/30/626.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/10/30/s_626.jpg' border='0' width='350' height='261' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />It's going to be manic to say the least. What kind of dickhead books the removalist for 7am anyway? Oh, wait. That would be me...<br /><br />Balls.<br /><br />Did I mention that Mr Bond is working on Moving Day?<br /><br />Double Balls.<br /><br />Or maybe minus balls if we want to get technical. <br /><br />Oh, and it's invoicing and pay run day today too.<br /><br />Fark.<br /><br />So today, in between overwhelmed meltdowns, I will be frantically packing the 80% of the house I have not been able to pack until now, thankfully with the help of my mum, who is going to suffer the full brunt of my delirious, random ramblings.<br /><br />I must remember to send her some flowers once we get settled.<br /><br />Anyway, the whole purpose of this post was to let you know that I have made the appropriate arrangements to have all of our utilities etc connected and most will have little to no downtime, with the exception of our Internet, which I was, until yesterday, blissfully unaware would not be available until at least next week.<br /><br />How I am going to keep you all updated with the progress of our move now?!?<br /><br />An exceptionally first world problem I know, but unsettling none the less. <br /><br />It's probably a good thing though since I should have my full brain capacity back by then and you will be spared any more of my incoherent nonsense!<br /><br />You know you are excited about my return, if only to find out what the hell this is.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/10/30/627.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/10/30/s_627.jpg' border='0' width='350' height='261' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />On that note, have a great weekend and I will see you all when I am rebooted x<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-29334475020822689662012-10-30T03:30:00.000+11:002012-10-30T03:30:03.589+11:00Goodbye Little Home<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've made my fair share of complaints about our home since starting this blog. The lack of space, the <a href="http://eatplaybond.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/oh-give-me-land-lots-of-land-or-some.html" target="_blank">too close for comfort neighbours</a>, and of course, my <a href="http://eatplaybond.blogspot.com.au/2011/07/im-dreaming-of-new-kitchen.html" target="_blank">total disdain for my kitchen</a>. But now that it is time for us to move on to bigger and better things I can't help but feel a little sentimental. There are a lot of wonderful memories in this home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our first home. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQzyO38EudVi7m0oV7gREKZwJ2CCNUn-2B0Fho48JvVfZvdg1MIwN3WasT8W2Qm8RvPsLCpRmv2qezHvp5lGARcZ5dZZqA8VtJnzoyjx5qZjoYVlAJH6OzHaiDAh00eAHwGlLMBp5omk/s1600/img021+front+of+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQzyO38EudVi7m0oV7gREKZwJ2CCNUn-2B0Fho48JvVfZvdg1MIwN3WasT8W2Qm8RvPsLCpRmv2qezHvp5lGARcZ5dZZqA8VtJnzoyjx5qZjoYVlAJH6OzHaiDAh00eAHwGlLMBp5omk/s400/img021+front+of+house.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjIs79Q8f4PMS-VwXzV3d-xlaV7t7rS-W2Oh9XZWKMbEhJ_R-iJbOSd3RygwNerpjif9bNUr8lzKegzAeZZwULtFxNX59XVJbvxiQQaWZuB__vlhw9Y7SJxmCJVYF6Au1BkO5tXC_7Zw/s1600/Front+of+House+Large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjIs79Q8f4PMS-VwXzV3d-xlaV7t7rS-W2Oh9XZWKMbEhJ_R-iJbOSd3RygwNerpjif9bNUr8lzKegzAeZZwULtFxNX59XVJbvxiQQaWZuB__vlhw9Y7SJxmCJVYF6Au1BkO5tXC_7Zw/s400/Front+of+House+Large.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The home that we bought wide eyed and naive back in 2003, as an unmarried, childless couple who had never experienced financial commitment beyond a personal loan for a small car. The home with the lavendar purple walls, cheap carpets and a leaky bathroom who's modest dimensions only came to light as I unpacked the boxes of kitchenware and promptly ran out of room. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCltBz67CGGqpWVg5mK9t6w4nF8cw0idaFI61rsgvSdCafapbqhDuXp96vGNIf9WYuTts0sKS03hPra5mTRJMZlxnrdTDh8wKOuBrio6esrH3NzVziDUB-PAY1qNoyuBbq-QyHwn6MY_M/s1600/img023+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCltBz67CGGqpWVg5mK9t6w4nF8cw0idaFI61rsgvSdCafapbqhDuXp96vGNIf9WYuTts0sKS03hPra5mTRJMZlxnrdTDh8wKOuBrio6esrH3NzVziDUB-PAY1qNoyuBbq-QyHwn6MY_M/s400/img023+cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwL6Id8e5bKet4DAgby5Rq8IBDyf1_yyb3IrELi2k3W95ZBJ5PidaK-kUC-KcPqoliW51WFrzmH50DjwF5T8q5jhCFJWJ70mt2FQm-8AQ0dR7J7bgH2_REbRF9P_7T1hN1L0461pB-SEo/s1600/Kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwL6Id8e5bKet4DAgby5Rq8IBDyf1_yyb3IrELi2k3W95ZBJ5PidaK-kUC-KcPqoliW51WFrzmH50DjwF5T8q5jhCFJWJ70mt2FQm-8AQ0dR7J7bgH2_REbRF9P_7T1hN1L0461pB-SEo/s400/Kitchen.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Since then we have put our own stamp on this place, we have replaced flooring, <a href="http://eatplaybond.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/i-finally-did-itbye-bye-lavender.html" target="_blank">painted walls</a>, rendered exteriors, installed light fittings, air conditioning and blinds. We have renovated bathrooms, relocated hot water systems, landscaped gardens and erected a gigantic garage and carport. But none of this makes me sad to go, it's the life we have lived while in this house that I feel so connected to. The incredible, life-changing moments that have shaped us and made us the people we are today, these are the things I think of when I think of this house. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdl5jJZqumTdN1L9BGqod3kiQ2siow2V7-sawL-dUyhFaRwfnRzR0m_g0CpgduGU1HH9J4tE3gmfI11qUTXdxjMp92rxS6aTXkx4k6WuaICFUrTmjue1L7QuRRhJMsib71sncKSfV2UQ/s1600/Erin+238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdl5jJZqumTdN1L9BGqod3kiQ2siow2V7-sawL-dUyhFaRwfnRzR0m_g0CpgduGU1HH9J4tE3gmfI11qUTXdxjMp92rxS6aTXkx4k6WuaICFUrTmjue1L7QuRRhJMsib71sncKSfV2UQ/s400/Erin+238.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In the time we have lived here we have got engaged and married, had (almost) 2 children, started a business, completed degree's, changed career's, celebrated milestones, mourned losses, forged long-term friendships, gained true independence and become adults. We have loved, fought, forgiven and discovered who we really are. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">These last nine years make up what is possibly the most significant period of our lives and as excited as I am to be moving onto the next stage, I never want to forget the things we have achieved while we have been here.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjD2Fl2qVSOjGxeO1Pmg7A2dxGVir7CQd_y7GPqApHMZPN8A1e_MNANN4Emwh22Djt5aPpNDtVbfYhk8QDLAl3-j5uxxAvhVOM-3ycm8l6B9zNFAVtAoS27Tn3EVeBrWka6Vp3ORF_Bc/s1600/randoms+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjD2Fl2qVSOjGxeO1Pmg7A2dxGVir7CQd_y7GPqApHMZPN8A1e_MNANN4Emwh22Djt5aPpNDtVbfYhk8QDLAl3-j5uxxAvhVOM-3ycm8l6B9zNFAVtAoS27Tn3EVeBrWka6Vp3ORF_Bc/s400/randoms+017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This little home will always be special to me and while we may have outgrown its physical dimensions, the impact on our lives is far greater than its square metres would suggest. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I hope the new owners will enjoy living here just as much as we have and look forward to all the memories we have ahead of us in our new home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Does your first home hold a special place in your heart? </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Do you think a house can have an impact on the path your life takes or am I just hopped up on pregnancy hormones?!?</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Joining in with Jess at Dairy of a SAHM for #iBOT, who is taking a leap into a new bloggy home.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.diaryofasahm.net/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSdP8IG8EE2lZCyJP57wYCcqGw1um4hmXPGbSrO-haqu5DIbuRjTG8R0DHXLRr2V4SxPDDDX4Ec3DsoZ-sGw4Ooy3Dztnlpq64VKiaVT2VDvDpUUBvthZarrv-5diVhwVqAImWEVFWgw/s1600/ibot.jpg" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-19327467987565541152012-10-25T03:30:00.000+11:002012-10-25T03:30:03.516+11:00I Can't Believe I Heart My Pregnant Body (We Heart It - I Heart My Body 2012)<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A lot can change in 12 months. For last years I Heart My Body campaign, I was physically fit and learning to embrace my appearance for what it truly was - healthy, strong, beautiful. I wasn't sure if I would participate again this year, I saw some of the negative responses from people and I was saddened that some misunderstood the purpose of the campaign. It was a promotion and celebration of body love, yes, but it was also a chance to show each other what REAL women look like. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Something that we just don't get the opportunity to see very often.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I decided to remove the post earlier this year because those few opinions were enough to make me feel vulnerable about having pictures of myself in my underwear 'out there'. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I also felt that I had got what I needed out of it. I had shown real images of me after becoming a mother and what that looked like. I had made some small dent in the countless number of photoshopped and surgically enhanced images we have come to accept as normal and I had felt liberated by publishing the images when I ordinarily baulk at the idea of wearing a bikini at the beach in front of my closest friends. Now, I regret taking the post down because it was an important reminder to me that what your mind perceives is not always an accurate reflection and most importantly, it's such a small part of who I am.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This year, I have a different focus. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This year, I love my body for what it is capable of. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFiso_fvc2mlF40pa1Zew4883exPQTjHfup8soSlLA46CoBsbGjGvdMnSmkcO_awrm6-xq96EggDlIpq2thKmd3Osws03tleoPBZStvQpwsJM5Np1ARC-5xcPBpyy1XnfO1kMVPXLy1A/s1600/IMG_2862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFiso_fvc2mlF40pa1Zew4883exPQTjHfup8soSlLA46CoBsbGjGvdMnSmkcO_awrm6-xq96EggDlIpq2thKmd3Osws03tleoPBZStvQpwsJM5Np1ARC-5xcPBpyy1XnfO1kMVPXLy1A/s400/IMG_2862.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I admit that I struggle with the changes to my body during pregnancy. The heaviness, the constant battle to find clothes that fit and flatter, the limitations my out of proportion body suddenly has, the obsessive stretch mark watch, it all gets me down. Taking part in the campaign this year is giving me the chance to look past this and embrace the beauty of what my body is doing - growing life. It has made me appreciate that I can be in this situation at all when so many aren't blessed with that opportunity.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwnWpDv4xrZq33lZ5XBFXQG5_iLM1KscaPSPh6oOKb_Xd9zLupilGPuG22rO7cmJPtXUeQ_73HyT_0QLRY0z50y27HOkFy78QurF8F5i2QEEktQ_7lxDZiTL16Yty1lvJocqnirZz40s/s1600/IMG_2865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwnWpDv4xrZq33lZ5XBFXQG5_iLM1KscaPSPh6oOKb_Xd9zLupilGPuG22rO7cmJPtXUeQ_73HyT_0QLRY0z50y27HOkFy78QurF8F5i2QEEktQ_7lxDZiTL16Yty1lvJocqnirZz40s/s400/IMG_2865.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Plus having a decent rack for a change is definitely a positive, I went from a small C cup to hefty DD in a matter of weeks. Welcome back knockers!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This pregnancy has been harder on my body in many ways. I would say without a doubt that I have "felt" all 32 weeks of it this time around, largely because I try to live in denial that being pregnant requires me to make any kind of adjustment to how I carry on my normal life (within healthy behaviours of course). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But as much as I complain about the heart burn, sore back and lack of waistline, I am comforted by my body's ability to continue to grow a healthy life. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26GlDGPPUJO35Q5mLjwztiQv-7JqzwVr4Xf8f3zuNYzX5eB2iTvZqvoyj0mH_vBYrJlT-MVCkfj7Wd5AClzmFPIhTVKdbMCuEjvcGDXpu3N9VXTK7AJ2eAGnyzN5M8qzrOSR8qCrLF2s/s1600/IMG_2747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26GlDGPPUJO35Q5mLjwztiQv-7JqzwVr4Xf8f3zuNYzX5eB2iTvZqvoyj0mH_vBYrJlT-MVCkfj7Wd5AClzmFPIhTVKdbMCuEjvcGDXpu3N9VXTK7AJ2eAGnyzN5M8qzrOSR8qCrLF2s/s400/IMG_2747.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Beyond the physical, and despite my </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">minor (and temporary) discomfort, my body is doing everything right to ensure that our baby is protected and nourished. Physically, my body handles pregnancy pretty well, I don't suffer from blood pressure issues, my ankles and face have not become swollen, and am not at risk of gestational diabetes. Providing there are no unexpected complications over the coming weeks, my body will also be able to birth this life with minimal fuss or intervention and recover quickly from the whole ordeal, just as it did when I had Skye. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If this turns out to not be the case, I will still be grateful for what my body has allowed me to handle so far and marvel at the wonder of holding this new life in my arms, a life that my body carried.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am sure in years to come when I look back at these photo's that rather than fixate on the weight gained or the shape of my thighs, I will remember fondly how I sat in the stillness late at night massaging cream into my belly and wondering about the little person I have yet to meet. I will smile wistfully at the special, secret knowledge only I have of the way our baby moves and wriggles. I will recall how I would imagine all the things we have yet to experience together as mother and child, the endless possibilities of a future waiting to be lived. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And I will thank my body for allowing me that amazing gift.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A woman's body is a beautiful thing, it should be celebrated for its many shapes and sizes. But in order for us to do that, we need to see what real women over the age of 18 and without the hoax of lighting, makeup and photo editing software actually look like, which is why I am proud to take part in the We Heart Life - I Heart My Body 2012 campaign. </span><br />
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<a href="http://weheartlife.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcWsZwB6HHQtfDuC80JjlodOgVSCTRKw995ss4GK_h86bYfZR64m1VehWE2LqLUS1aX6glZeL3_vWJXY7kVJnT9tGBHcHKE0F1DeWWMlcolwsX1vSphTT7FAXOMYpAac101SsE1etEo8/s320/WHLpresentsIHMB12.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-11857833196072864052012-10-23T03:30:00.000+11:002012-10-23T03:30:02.063+11:00We're Gonna Need A Bigger Bed<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have known this day would come but I was doing my best to ignore it while we were living in Limbo Land not knowing exactly where we might be living when Baby Bond arrived, well that has been my excuse anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But the time has come, I can't avoid it any longer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Skye is going to need a Big Girl Bed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes, at almost 3 years old, Skye is still sleeping in her cot. I never meant for her to stay there that long, but through a combination of lack of space, a desire to avoid too many changes too quickly and lets face it, laziness on my part because the cot keeps her trapped until I say she can get out, she is still in there.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3SCy7SOcZqssvQjq6KnrxPA36H3zx52hqXmM7cb1tXEsCjH_C0GQhpYTY6tLdbPD_C3tdFhjUX5iztODaDZChafn2U-kUABKS-PFmugVflXzkclaIZPQ2I8h8-QxieVWwq8bapKQzB4/s1600/040612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3SCy7SOcZqssvQjq6KnrxPA36H3zx52hqXmM7cb1tXEsCjH_C0GQhpYTY6tLdbPD_C3tdFhjUX5iztODaDZChafn2U-kUABKS-PFmugVflXzkclaIZPQ2I8h8-QxieVWwq8bapKQzB4/s400/040612.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now that we have sold the house and will be moving into a rental property in a matter of weeks, I feel that now is as good a time as any for her to make the transition. That and the fact that there is another little person due to arrive in less than 2 months who is going to need somewhere to sleep! </span><br />
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<a name='more'></a>Skye herself is adamant that she will be having a pink bedroom and reminds me of this every opportunity she gets.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfY3BtBx6_zMquxoJWtSFiUAwWT8Q2InxqoEYU-PnHtqoYE_ncmcRvNkXWzUZqO_j7LSHgLHYu8olt6hRyhFUrw2k53jOVI95TnZoOPQ97YPY9_6KYF8NyyKoLTAwAhXQNoLivOF4GC_M/s1600/IMG_2564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfY3BtBx6_zMquxoJWtSFiUAwWT8Q2InxqoEYU-PnHtqoYE_ncmcRvNkXWzUZqO_j7LSHgLHYu8olt6hRyhFUrw2k53jOVI95TnZoOPQ97YPY9_6KYF8NyyKoLTAwAhXQNoLivOF4GC_M/s400/IMG_2564.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It all started when she spotted this room in a Display Home recently.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am hoping that giving her a grand new Big Girl room in a new house will make the change more exciting than stressful. But I will admit I have failed miserably at trying not to change too many things at once...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is however one very big positive to doing this - FINALLY, something I can focus my nesting urges on!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">First stop, Pinterest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It has proven quite difficult to find pictures of toddler / little girl bedrooms as opposed to baby rooms. But since this is only going to be a temporary residence, I'm not going to put a whole lot of energy into a flashy makeover, but rather want to make sure that any purchases we do make will be suitable in the long term once we move into our newly built house (hopefully by this time next year).</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not pink enough, apparently <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/258112622364556236/" target="_blank">Image Credit</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My first dilemma? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What colour furniture to go with. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Currently, Skye's furniture is dark wood. Originally I thought it would make it easier to update her furniture as she grew, but I have quickly discovered that most children's furniture available in the stores right now is white. Once the cot is moved into Baby Bond's room however, there will only be a basic IKEA chest of drawers and the good old IKEA Expedit left in the dark colour. Besides, eclectic is more appealing than match-matchy, right? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our second problem was that we had grossly underestimated just how expensive a single bed can be. Some of them cost more than our Queen Size and as much as I want her to have a beautiful bedroom, we about to start building a house and quite frankly, I would rather keep the money for a nice new lounge suite thankyouverymuch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Luckily this was where mum came to the rescue and said that she still had my old white tubular bed stored in the garage which dad is in the process of cleaning up and respraying for us! Hooray! Now I only have to get a new mattress rather than a whole bloody bedroom package and my lounge suite fund remains relatively unscathed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now that I have that sorted it's time to move on to linen and all the fun little touches that will mark her graduation from baby to big girl. Wait, I still don't know if I'm ready for that. Thank goodness I have some mandatory retail therapy to help me through it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Stay tuned for the reveal in a couple of weeks!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Linking up with Jess at Diary of a SAHM for #iBOT AND remembering to put her fancy button on this post this time so be sure to pop over for a visit :)</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093673973512488014.post-55837105024502652862012-10-22T11:00:00.001+11:002012-10-22T11:00:51.982+11:00My Guardian Angel Saved Me $5,000<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This time last week I was suffering from the beginnings of pneumonia, we were still awaiting confirmation of contracts exchanging on our house and Mr Bond's work ute was causing all kinds of grief with troublesome clutch issues. Definitely not a week I would want to feature in any highlights reel and certainly not a time I was giving Guardian Angel's much credit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last Friday, at the end of said very long week we had all been out together talking to builders and tagging along while Mr Bond did a bit of quoting. On the way home Skye had fallen asleep (as usual) so we pulled into the driveway and left the car running in the hope she would stay that way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I went to collect the mail, I heard Mr Bond close his car door and then the sound of offended crying coming from the back seat as Skye had been rudely woken from her slumber. I dashed back to her and sat the mail on the back of the ute while I got her out and settled her inside with "her shows". In the meantime, Mr Bond had dashed past me saying that he had to leave to get to his next appointment, jumped in the car and took off down the road. </span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was then that I realised that the mail was still sitting on the back of the ute, most likely now strewn all over the road, but when I went to find it, I could see no trace of it. I only quickly checked the envelopes when I had grabbed them and could only recall a few letters from local Real Estate's and maybe a telco spruiking their latest value plans, so I wasn't bothered if I wasn't able to find them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Monday morning I went to see if the mail had come and I see 3 envelopes with tyre marks on them sitting in the letterbox, one of which had no clear indication of what was in there, but it looked official. It looked very much like the mail I had lost last week so I went inside to ensure I hadn't missed anything important.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I then opened my official looking letter and my heart jumped into my throat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was a $5,000 cheque from the Office of State Revenue for our Home Builders Grant.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Holy shit, someone was definitely looking after us today. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Guardian Angel or not, whomever was kind enough to take the time to return our mail to us, I cannot thank you enough. I can only imagine what a nightmare it would have been to try and have that cheque resent if it had not been returned to us. You have saved me an incredible amount of stress and of course, the much needed 5,000 smackers!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Do you believe in Guardian Angel's? When was the last time you felt like someone had been looking after you?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05857533895297228753noreply@blogger.com