tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49906882600500460482024-03-06T01:26:23.776+08:00miss jane in the gardenJanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-80072744532876500682013-08-06T13:37:00.003+08:002013-08-06T13:37:54.467+08:00Do do do do doSo many things to do. It's nap time, as it so often is when I put something on this blog. I have a long list of things that need to get done today and I have a secret, unwritten list of things I would prefer to do today. Like, start buying Christmas presents. Going for a walk/run (a ralk). Eating.<br />
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Since my last update, I've been diagnosed with coeliac disease. I'm fairly asymptomatic, so I haven't noticed much difference in me since I started eating gluten free a couple of weeks ago, but apparently it can take years to feel better. And who knows if I will? This is my 'normal' and it seems fine to me (not sick, not sore), but maybe I am more tired than I should be. So that's a whole new thing to learn. Gluten is in a whole bunch of things - not just bread, pasta, cakes, pastries, biscuits. It's also in sauces, marinades, spice mixes, Vegemite. I'm learning to read labels like a pro. We haven't tackled eating out yet, but that will come in the next month or so.<br />
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I'm not sad about it, really. At first I was. I was shocked at the idea of never eating these things ever again in my life ever. I will miss croissants the most. Now I'm trying to focus on the positives - there are some really decent gluten free things out there and I may not die of bowel cancer. Also, it's not like I've been given a death sentence. I can still consume many of my favourite things: wine, cheese, coffee, chocolate. It's not a bad thing - it's just learning a new way of eating.<br />
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I had some other things planned to write here, but I'm going to stop procrastinating and start doing some things that I need to. Well done, Jane!<br />
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Just quickly though, Daniel is 1 next week. One! Time marches on.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-48660760774839467302013-07-11T13:03:00.001+08:002013-07-11T13:03:12.956+08:00At the moment....Didn't I say I'd be back on here in a few hours? Ha. Weeks is a bit more realistic. It's quiet time and I've found myself in a house with minimal dirty dishes, clean floors, a load of dirty washing (but it's raining out and the indoor racks are full of wet washing) and a husband who will cook dinner when he gets home from work. So, here I am and I thought I'd make a note of a few current things. I'm:<br />
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<b>Watching</b> Downton Abbey season 2, new Dexter and re-runs of Modern Family. After a long day (every day), I'm not really into watching films. I get tired pretty quickly and I like to watch something that I don't have to pay too much attention to.... Downton Abbey is about as talky and in-depth as my viewing gets at the moment.<br />
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<b>Listening to </b>not much really, apart from ABC local radio. I like the topics they talk about and there aren't as many incensed crazies as other talkback stations.<br />
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<b>Loving </b>our family, life, my friends and many, many more things. Our kids are at a wonderful stage at the moment. I mean, they're all wonderful stages, but neither of us can stop commenting on how great our kids are. Doesn't that make you sick? I know - even I hate it. I've been enjoying the little moments throughout the day, which is very satisfying. Each day as a whole is fairly unremarkable, but each little snippet is heartening.<br />
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<b>Eating </b>some terrible food. Terrible for me, not terrible tasting. I've been quite slack in terms of watching what I eat, but that may all change soon, so I suppose I'm having a sort of fat last hurrah.... It's delicious.<br />
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<b>Missing </b>exercise. I've had a few colds this year and the current one has lasted a couple of weeks. I would be running running running right now if I didn't have this ridiculous cough. I'm pretty miffed about it too, because I can feel it getting closer to October (Tough Mudder) and I'm nowhere near fit enough yet.<br />
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<b>Looking forward to </b>a trip down south this weekend. We're going to visit my parents for a couple of nights. It's been ages since my husband has been able to get away with us, so I'm pretty glad about this one. Sophie loves going there too, because she gets unlimited grandparent time.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-53966936423801324772013-06-19T09:08:00.001+08:002013-06-19T09:08:19.551+08:00I was going to let my sleeping blog lie........ but I really should update things, because I'm enjoying reading back over my past entries. I don't have time to do it now though: one child is asleep and the other is occupied, so now is the perfect time to get dressed and write my shopping list.... Maybe I'll get back here during nap time today? We shall see. It's baby food making day (ughhhh), so I'll be confined to the kitchen for most of it. We might try and get out in the backyard for a spot of sunshine and weeding too.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-34428160474659946992012-10-12T08:10:00.001+08:002012-10-12T08:12:32.944+08:00Here's nowLately I've been aware of every little moment. Present. But I've also realised that I will have forgotten most of it by the following day. Or two minutes later.<br />
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My days are so busy and when I do finally get to stop and breathe, it's bed time. I've never known busy before now.<br />
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In this entry I want to write about my life now, because I'm sure I'll forget. I want to read it and reflect in a year or so. And longer. So this is just so I can remember what things were like, because life is good. Very good. There are other things I want, but for now they are a list in the notes section of my phone - they're on hold - because I'm parenting full time for the next few years. And also we have no money. That's a situation that probably won't improve as the kids get older.<br />
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Dan is 8 and a half weeks old. He's a relaxed little boy. He smiles when he hears my voice enter the room or sees me smiling at him. The smiling thing is still new for him, so he has to work hard to get it happening. He also likes to have conversations. I don't think I had ever heard a baby actually coo before him. He's a cooer. He is starting to sleep for longer stretches at night. Last night holds the current record of 6 and a half hours. I got four and a half hours in a row, the longest in the past couple of months. Just lovely.<br />
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Sophie is nearly 22 months old. She's saying lots of words. Better stop swearing soon. I called myself a dick the other day and she repeated it. She has discovered Play School and has a love for the Hokey Pokey. She doesn't seem to enjoy sleeping in at the moment. We've had some pretty early starts, which equate to a pretty cranky toddler by mid-morning. Soph is really into climbing things and running. She runs up and down the side of the house when I'm hanging out the washing. She also LOVES going to the park. It's become a bit of a hobby of mine to find a park with a good playground that's accessible for little kids. Lately, she enjoys talking to (listening to, really) people on the phone. She always wants to call Kate or Amma.<br />
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I have a really good group of friends in our playgroup. They're all lovely families and I feel very lucky that I have them in my life. In fact, I don't know what I'd do if I had stopped going to mothers group all those months ago. It's nice to have friends around the corner that are going through the same things as I am. I think about moving to a different suburb and for once in my life, I wouldn't care about the location as far as re-sale value goes. But I don't want to move away from my friends.<br />
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I got the sewing machine out last night (for the first time since Dan was born) to make a start on Christmas presents. I sewed to seams and Dan woke up. I spent an hour and a half putting him back to bed and then sewed a little bit more. I didn't finish it (and it is the simplest project in the world), but it felt good to do it again.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-14013004405423195022012-09-20T14:43:00.000+08:002012-09-20T14:43:16.990+08:00Home. Life.Well. I finally have both kids in bed, sleeping, for the first time in a week. I love getting this middle-of-the-day break and I have been cranky that I haven't had it for a few days. What am I doing with it? Eating pumpkin pie with double cream, drinking Coke Zero and updating my tired old blog.<br />
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This past week has been a doozy. Just crazy. Hard. But let me start back about five and a half weeks. That amount of time ago, I gave birth to our second child. A boy named Daniel. He is the sweetest little thing. And - a boy! We assumed we'd have another girl.<br />
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And you know, I was so scared about coping with two kids, but it's been alright. I just get on and do what I have to do. Which is feeding and clothing and bathing and putting to bed. The house is a mess, but I've managed dinner and the children each day, which is all I'm really worried about. So I was settling into this routine-that-isn't-a-routine (because newborns don't follow any sort of schedule) quite well, I thought, until last week. <br />
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Fast forward to the beginning of last week. Our little boy was circumcised on Tuesday night. After much thought and discussion we decided that it was what we wanted to do. He was in a bit of pain that evening and was unsettled all night. I didn't realise how guilty I would feel for doing this 'thing' to him and I felt so sorry every time I changed his nappy and saw his little bloody wad of cotton wool. He also started to show symptoms of reflux that evening. So, that set us up for a week of sleepless nights and cranky days. We bought some reflux formula and that has helped a bit and we've just started on Losec (prescribed) yesterday. Hopefully that will start working in the next day or so.<br />
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Sleep-deprived, grumpy, feeling guilty for yelling at our daughter so much and I made the decision yesterday to stop breastfeeding. It was going really well for the first month, but since the reflux showed up, he's been pulling off during let-down and dribbling a lot of milk too, so I end up with a big wet patch. I bored the shit out of everyone I know by asking their opinion on what I should do (quit or keep going when the Losec kicks in) and the most succinct advice came from my Breastfeeding Champion friend (she's had two kids and breastfeeds like a motherfucker, with absolutely no issues - she was made for it): "People breastfeed because it's easier, right? If it's not easier for you, then stop". So that's what I've decided to do. I'm still feeling guilty about this decision - why is it so difficult for me to follow my own advice for others and do whatever works?!<br />
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Now, today. I haven't managed to shower in between getting the kids fed, ready to go to the park and holding Dan upright so he doesn't cry. We eventually made it to the park at 11.30. At 12.30, Sophie and I went down the slide together and her foot got caught under my leg. She cried all the way home. She won't stand or walk on it. I've put her to bed for her afternoon nap with some Panadol and I'm hoping she wakes up feeling better.<br />
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Right this moment, I can hear Dan stirring. I'm guzzling Coke Zero. I have huge, engorged breasts and I'm putting off the inevitable hand express to ease the pain. My husband left the house at 8.30 this morning and won't get back until 2 tomorrow morning. I'm looking forward to a shower tonight. I have a huge list of things to do and no expectation that I'll get more than one or two things crossed off it today.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-81190455566089041172012-07-12T13:40:00.000+08:002012-07-12T13:40:00.926+08:00I don't want to be that person...My blog needs a makeover. I've changed a fair bit since I started it, I think. Anyway - no time for that now. I've just been sitting idle while my daughter sleeps and she'll be up soon, so I'd better hammer out this post.
I haven't written in such a long time. Whenever I get the urge to, I feel that I shouldn't, because it will always be read by someone who doesn't agree or who may actively disagree. This shouldn't matter so much, but I hate the inflammatory side of my personality.
So. Today's post is going to be a little bit inflammatory, but I'll try and keep it mature and well-worded.
I read a lot of blogs. Mostly about cooking and lifestyle. The blogs I follow are written so well and they make me wish that I could write like that, although I'm not sure I'd want that sort of following. I do like the 'diary' aspect of it.
My issue with a couple of blogs is how sunshiney each post is. Even the posts that aren't supposed to be so positive end up being super saccharine.It drives me nuts. I want to leave a comment afterwards that says: "It's okay to have a bad day!", but then, I don't want to be <i>that</i> person.
I hate it when people talk about the birth of their child as a harrowing or difficult experience and then discuss the day-to-day parenting of said child as glorious and magical..... Really?! You haven't had a bad day since the kid was born? Come on.
Well, my child has just woken, so I must continue my glitter-filled Thursday. It is actually a pretty good day.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-67953560622493410362012-05-16T13:59:00.001+08:002012-05-16T13:59:13.575+08:00Current ramblingI read a blog post recently about feeling valued and worthwhile as a homemaker. It was pretty inspiring. I'm trying to think of it whenever I'm doing housework, so I take more pride and I consider it less of a chore and more as a part of my role. This works well when my daughter is having a good day and isn't tired and grumpy..... Tired and grumpy days are a lot more trying! It's hard to do anything when a crying toddler won't let go of your legs or let you put them down.
So, there isn't really much to this post. I never know what direction to head in. I've taken up sewing. The old dining room is halfway converted into a sewing room and it will be a great space when it's finished. I really want to start making patchwork quilts (as if I wasn't old lady enough!), but I'm holding off for a couple of years until I have two kids that sleep through the night (touch wood). It's on the same list as learning the banjo. I might start small with patchwork cushion covers now....maybe.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-4753736788360464262012-03-17T20:34:00.001+08:002012-03-17T20:34:18.865+08:00Sewing an apron.I've signed up for an apron swap through one of the blogs I follow. Yikes. The last thing sewn by me was a pillow case at school. But it's an apron, right? It can't be the hardest thing to sew. I want to get some really pretty fabric for it. I'd better make sure I do a calico practice run first.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-30311461733938953452012-03-01T13:40:00.001+08:002012-03-01T13:40:45.276+08:00Blog drought.... What's going on?Well. I have been slack. Or busy doing other things. I haven't blogged since October and now it's the first day of March.
My daughter is now 14 months old and just learning the art of tantrums.
I'm pregnant with our second child.
Summer has been milder and kinder than last year.
There - all caught up.
Sophie is spending the day with her grandparents today, as she does every Thursday. I usually spend the time cleaning the house, or getting a pedicure, or doing the shopping. Today? Nothing. I'm feeling very lazy indeed. Oh, wait. I did put on a load of washing.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-52516486560109901242011-10-11T14:30:00.003+08:002011-10-11T14:31:28.757+08:00WeddingsweddingsweddingsandspringI go through waves of blogginess. I've sat down to blog twice in the past month and each time I've stopped and thought, "What do I actually want to say?". Rather than think too much about it today, I've decided to start typing.
The next couple of weeks are all weddingy here. Friends of ours had a surprise wedding reception disguised as an engagement party on Sunday just gone, my friend from mums group is getting married this weekend in Dunsborough and my brother is sealing the deal next weekend. It's a good thing I love the loved up.
Sophie and I are heading south tomorrow for a few days. It's time to do those wedding cupcakes! I'm mostly worried about the baking side of things. I haven't used that oven much and I really don't want to overcook them. The decorating should work out alright as long as I take my time. I'm feeling stressed about it all, but I think that's because I need to remember to take everything down with me.
So basically, my head is occupied with thoughts of weddings lately.
Other things are happening? Yes, other stuff is going on too. Spring has sprung and we have glorious weather today. Summer is hinting and nudging at the edges. I've planted corn, basil and roma tomatoes. I'm starting slowly - watering every day - hoping they fruit nicely... I'm constantly in awe of how quickly this year has flown. It's nearly Christmas, nearly my daughter's first birthday. I'm less terrified of motherhood than I was six months ago.... a week ago..... yesterday, even. I'm enjoying it muchly and I'm trying to live in every moment because it's all going too fast. Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-4677621321634883822011-08-23T13:24:00.000+08:002011-08-23T13:24:37.130+08:00My middle is rounder, my to-do list is longer.This is a weird ol' couple o' weeks.<br />
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I was sick last week and I transferred my cold to Sophie this week. We live in The House Of Snot, which is slowly drying up. Mmm.<br />
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And so, in the interest of not being a sadsack:<br />
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Today I am grateful for a beautiful child to spend my days with, a hard-working (long suffering) husband, sunshine to dry my washing, a great carrot cake recipe, my sister coming to stay, lunch with family tomorrow, a new camera and my health.<br />
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Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-51755080890976785712011-08-08T09:40:00.000+08:002011-08-08T09:40:37.679+08:00Sweet thangI love baking. It relaxes me. It does for me what reading a book or going for a walk or watching a film does for others. I like all those things too, but baking is my go-to activity if I have a bit of free time.<br />
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With only three of us at home (one who isn't allowed to eat any baked goods yet), it is hard to eat our way through the fruits of my relaxation. I like tasting it, but I'm usually good for one or two and that's it; it's more about the process for me. I often take cakes or biscuits to family night and to mothers group.<br />
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Last week, I took a practice run of cupcakes to mothers group. They were a practice for my SIL's 40th and I had tweaked a recipe and wanted to see that it still worked out okay. Also, I hadn't quite decided on the way I was going to decorate them, so I wanted to have a play around with that. They ended up looking pretty flash and almost professional (my piping is still a little shakey).<br />
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Anyway, one of the girls at mothers group has asked me to make the cupcakes for her wedding in October! I'm beyond excited! It pleases me that someone thinks my baking is good enough for a wedding and I'm looking forward to the challenge of making these little cakes look stunning and delicious at the same time.<br />
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So..... this has got me thinking... I might like to set up a market stall once or twice and try to sell my cakes and biscuits. I know there are too many cupcake places around, but they seem to focus more on how spectacular the final product looks, while I would prefer to focus on the taste. Also, I have some good biscuit recipes that are lovely and need to be shared with cups of tea everywhere.<br />
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The more funky, boutiquey markets like to showcase wares from people who have (at the very least) decided to set up a facebook page promoting their craft. I don't want to do that just yet. I'd prefer to go to a couple of little community markets or farmers markets and see how I do there. <br />
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There are still a lot of things to nut out, though. How do I package them? Cupcakes have their own boxes, but biscuits need something similar so they don't get crushed... How much do I bake? When do I bake it? Can I use recipes that I haven't made up or is that frowned upon?Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-35105434311325293642011-07-13T21:10:00.000+08:002011-07-13T21:10:09.992+08:00A day off to brunch.While I've been on maternity leave, my husband has been working incredibly hard to provide for our family. Two jobs. Five days of 9 to 5 managing a music store and four nights of gigs a week. That's a whole bunch of work. Sophie and I get to spend time with him on Mondays and Fridays during the day, but he's off to work those nights. He doesn't get a full day and night at home.<br />
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AND he does it all because he loves us. We're super lucky.<br />
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Before Sophie was born we went out for meals a lot. It's one of our things. We love good food and we love other people preparing it for us. Since Soph arrived, I've perfected the art of eating quickly. I reckon I could finish an entire meal in five minutes. Our little one isn't at a stage where she appreciates fine food and wine and taking one's time to enjoy both. She's also on her best behaviour in the morning.<br />
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So now breakfast has become our thing. It's quick and cheap (ish) and delicious.<br />
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We're slowly working our way through the breakfast places in Perth. We've had some super duper ones and a couple were meh. Standout places that I've been to with friends but not yet with Court: Sayers in Leederville, The Attic in Fremantle and The Kiosk at Floreat Beach. <br />
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We'll get there. We're making breakfast our mission.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-70670982864226885122011-07-13T14:15:00.000+08:002011-07-13T14:15:24.853+08:00Stomping my foot.I haven't ranted and raved on here in a long time. I think I prefer to keep it more as a diary - less essays - more of a place to sit and reflect on how lucky I am in life.<br />
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This probably won't be very ranty at all, really. Well, maybe.<br />
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Anyway, since becoming a mother, I've really noticed the difference between parents and non-parents. Prior to the start of my motherhood, I hated it when people made statements like that. I always thought that we're not that different. But until you've held your absolute favourite thing in the world in your arms, <b>you really don't understand</b>. You thought you had a favourite thing before? You didn't. <br />
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A childless friend of mine made a comment recently about how she wouldn't immunise her future kids, should she have any. <br />
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I went off. For starters, she hadn't researched either option AT ALL. She said the risks of being immunised far outweighed the risks of not being immunised. Whatwhat?! And then came the clincher: it can make your kid autistic. Or asthmatic, allergic, dead. But the autism thing really got my goat. That has been disproven and everyone who knows even a smidge about this theory knows that.<br />
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Aside from that, how the hell is it fair if a six week old baby dies from whooping cough after coming in contact with an unimmunised child?! See? This isn't just about your kid - it's about others too.<br />
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Okay - that was a bit of a rant.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-9402447142644704592011-06-29T21:38:00.000+08:002011-06-29T21:38:14.439+08:00Six months old yesterdayMy girl had her six month birthday yesterday. Very exciting for me and her father - a whole bunch less exciting for her. This is really the best age we've had with her: her personality is starting to show, she's becoming more vocal (attracting more "shhh"s from her father in public places!) and she's getting stuck into solid food. She loves the fruit - not so much the savoury stuff. AND MY GOODNESS IS SHE CUTE. Adorbz.<br />
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To celebrate her half birthday, we turned her car seat around. This can be done at 8 kgs or 6 months old, but I think it's better if you do it at the later stage of the two. She's 9.3 kgs now, so we've been pretty patient! She loves being able to see us easily in the car. I love it too - I keep turning around to make faces at her.<br />
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I did a terrible thing to her last night. By accident, of course. I dropped her while I was putting her in her high-chair for dinner. On the hard kitchen floor. She landed on her side and banged her head hard. And then we both started crying. She was in such shock and had a hard time calming down and I felt so incredibly guilty. I'm supposed to be one of two people who will always try to protect her and make her feel safe and then I also became the one who gave her the shock of her young life and probably the most pain she's known so far.<br />
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She had a huge lump on the side of her head and she eventually calmed down, but would cry every now and then. We took her to the hospital and the doctor said she would be okay and gave her some Nurofen. She slept well when she eventually got to bed. I ate a whole pizza in an attempt to feel better. It really didn't work.<br />
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Two things made me feel a bit better. Time and googling 'dropped my baby'. It turns out that lots of people have done similar things and considerably worse and their kids have turned out alright.<br />
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I still feel nervous though.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-11162857301548572712011-06-17T20:05:00.000+08:002011-06-17T20:05:36.266+08:00What a week it's been....It's 7.39, Friday evening. Court is at work. Sophie is in bed. I have dinner in the oven, red wine in my hand and James Taylor on iTunes.<br />
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Court and I have always said that with Soph we have a bad day and then a good day. Ebb and flow, all that. This was particularly true when she was super reflux-y and undiagnosed. Usually when I have a bad day with Sophie, I tell myself that it was a write-off. "We'll wipe the slate clean and start afresh tomorrow", I say. I did that on Tuesday this week. And Wednesday. And Thursday. Today was excused because we had plans that got us out of the house at nap time.<br />
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It has just been one of those weeks. Sophie isn't a big sleeper during the day. I assume she'll have two half hour naps - one in the morning and one in the afternoon. It isn't a lot, but it's enough time to myself to make it through the day. I have a few minutes to switch off. This week? No naps. Maybe 15 minutes in the car, but I can't switch off while I'm driving. The thing that replenishes my energy is the 12 hour sleep she has every night.<br />
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As I'm typing this, I'm thinking that as hard as it is to get through a day - or this week - I miss her as soon as she goes to bed.<br />
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And so I'll attach one of my favourite recent photos to this post. It's of my two most favourite people ever.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnWEAjxToT-Jii8r3_g9wTbdPkfIGGTwYokyRrmma1OWRxWI4JbW4xSXfHdlhlfWVnmN_MYtKZe7xAY7T_kABI9pXxfQXm_hd8HZoOTTH23UVLHbjreWPfSinenyVeyV0tldqLxHjNQMt/s1600/photo+%252814%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnWEAjxToT-Jii8r3_g9wTbdPkfIGGTwYokyRrmma1OWRxWI4JbW4xSXfHdlhlfWVnmN_MYtKZe7xAY7T_kABI9pXxfQXm_hd8HZoOTTH23UVLHbjreWPfSinenyVeyV0tldqLxHjNQMt/s320/photo+%252814%2529.JPG" /></a></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-25195614738633093102011-06-11T21:03:00.000+08:002011-06-11T21:03:11.234+08:00Five and a half months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqsr5zG58674D1KHI9rOOwobYaOesOec-9_BHumEb8bWmfcfP_L4KQYmTluUKa6EMWYs5_S8-axIqRLy9KOGseLNB86EqCLP5HleQf5-CSea9LBUdkLFGyOD9LrYa6DncsyAWU6QlKJLJ/s1600/Sophie+Murphy+5.5+months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqsr5zG58674D1KHI9rOOwobYaOesOec-9_BHumEb8bWmfcfP_L4KQYmTluUKa6EMWYs5_S8-axIqRLy9KOGseLNB86EqCLP5HleQf5-CSea9LBUdkLFGyOD9LrYa6DncsyAWU6QlKJLJ/s320/Sophie+Murphy+5.5+months.jpg" /></a></div><br />
In the last five and a half months, I have gone from feeling completely helpless to feeling confident that I can get through a day with Sophie by myself. It doesn't sound like a long time, really, but Soph and I have grown and learnt a lot so far. I was just telling a friend that I'm finally starting to understand her tired and hungry signs. Only now! Definitely still learning. I know that she doesn't like sitting in her pram, she likes being held upright, she likes standing up, she likes Skidermerink, she doesn't mind having her ears cleaned but hates the nasal aspirator, she loves her Daddy's "owrowrow" sound that he makes just for her and she usually finds it hilarious if we snort like a pig while nuzzling into her neck.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheThK3kLBW8QYVSk3IngHsOaSmPFDLKaQc3GYjERMNePRzuhincfoEOFSBl3E9YZaqkJrRgQbSVICTwUIenVUJZAYf02pmFmUTmRI14VTTynCIiFHBkCa_VFqouCh1QUnDppHzdQWGLMSm/s1600/IMG_2008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheThK3kLBW8QYVSk3IngHsOaSmPFDLKaQc3GYjERMNePRzuhincfoEOFSBl3E9YZaqkJrRgQbSVICTwUIenVUJZAYf02pmFmUTmRI14VTTynCIiFHBkCa_VFqouCh1QUnDppHzdQWGLMSm/s320/IMG_2008.JPG" /></a></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-50185965363625791152011-06-08T19:18:00.000+08:002011-06-08T19:18:46.622+08:00Coffeeandcake ClubDo you know what I'm enjoying about motherhood?<br />
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Many things! But one of the top ones (obviously apart from the adorability of my daughter - I'm not that selfish, you guys!) is mothers group.<br />
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I'm not a very social, good-at-chit-chat kind of lady. My face goes red and my knees go weak in pretty much any social situation, so I'm surprised that I'm loving this side of things. <br />
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I'm part of two mothers groups. One is a community one and the other is organised by a friend who wanted to get together regularly with mums she knew. Initially I had to force myself to go. I came up with heaps of excuses as to why I would be better off at home on a particular morning, but I always told myself to stop being silly and to get Soph and myself into the car.<br />
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Just this week I've started to feel really comfortable with both - yes, it's taken me four months of seeing these people weekly....<br />
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I think I knew that when we had Sophie I would break away a bit from my other groups of friends, not to mention no longer spending forty hours a week with the girls at work. But I tried not to think about that side of things. I didn't really want to make new friends (because I'm terrible at it - see above), but I knew I would be keen for people who were experiencing the same things as me.<br />
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And that's what I've found. A couple of groups of women who are friendly, open-minded and have some really great advice.<br />
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Also, there is always food. You know how I feel about cake.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-35546395011306509242011-06-08T15:33:00.000+08:002011-06-08T15:33:22.171+08:00Cooking and baking and tasting - oh myI'm right into my baking at the moment. LOVING it. Loving it so much, in fact, that I'm having supply and demand issues. Not enough demand. Everyone is away on holidays at the moment, so I haven't really had anyone to give it to. I've mostly tried to eat it all myself, but my mothers group has also copped a fair load of it. As has Court.<br />
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Many of the recipes I use are from food blogs that I follow. It's really nifty to have a bit of a background to the recipe and a review of how it all went. Ooh, plus 'along the way' photos! I like to know that my mix is looking right.<br />
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I made a fabulous cheesecake a couple of days ago. It was super duper. Just the bee's knees. I've been wanting to bake macarons for a very long time. I have the recipe printed off and sitting next to me. But I know they're fairly tough to get right and I'm scared. I've never been so apprehensive about a baked good in all my life! Eventually I'll get around to making them (probably when I have a babysitter) and if they work I will be the happiest girl in the world.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-27120686126964338682011-06-04T09:02:00.000+08:002011-06-04T09:02:20.429+08:00Slackety SlackI've been slack in blogging. It's one of the many things I say I'll do once the baby goes down for a nap, but more often than not I spend that time doing nothing in particular on the computer.<br />
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Yes, now I have the perfect excuse for not doing something. "I have a baby", I tell myself, "I can't possibly do some exercise or clean the house". For now we live in squalor and my belly gets a wee bit pudgier every day.<br />
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I'm really getting used to this 'stay at home mama' thing. The 'meeting up with friends for coffee and cake' part is probably my favourite (see pudgy belly above), but I also love the late afternoon when Sophie and I are waiting until 6 to start the bath/bottle/bed routine. She's usually overtired, so we lie on my bed and play and she giggles a whole bunch - she giggles the most when she's knackered.<br />
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That's my little update for now. I'll try and get back here sooner.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-52013184573743256232011-03-07T15:12:00.002+08:002011-03-07T15:18:57.035+08:00Danger!Mmm, I do believe that my blog is in danger of becoming a whole bunch of photos of Soph. <br /><br />Oh my goodness, she just becomes more and more beautiful every day. <br /><br />Her nickname is Little Lamb because her bottom lip trembles when she cries and she sounds like a bleating lamb. It is both the cutest and most heartbreaking thing to see!Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-52087952819074796932011-03-07T15:05:00.003+08:002011-03-07T15:11:38.490+08:00My favourite little girl<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibb9MQ0HBTPNLc22Y3XksmsDsxjKFdB_FslPsL2N3e9alPU471S8Cksy75bdLCey_0VdFxO3rm1DrH2C-xoBrV3n1YkCjNPrJvU9aYho8svN6d0gj3kffurUB_fNFynU8nRuwFOHhUzfGi/s1600/x2_4e6992b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibb9MQ0HBTPNLc22Y3XksmsDsxjKFdB_FslPsL2N3e9alPU471S8Cksy75bdLCey_0VdFxO3rm1DrH2C-xoBrV3n1YkCjNPrJvU9aYho8svN6d0gj3kffurUB_fNFynU8nRuwFOHhUzfGi/s320/x2_4e6992b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581232227385630898" /></a><br />How could I not be in love?Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-39419553011305005782011-03-01T18:03:00.003+08:002011-03-01T18:09:06.568+08:00Sophie Kate<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvg7FueXz9Sra5RsL8bqfB9QALzD8SXzRyThQM9Uj1Un3UfK4vT0erjBGDkSZhOVsy1H3WpFi5wdL0z2wd4Z98P-roxU-2HZPaVRkiI4R4xupWhFSzclrvzIHRbdsdT9gZtdauD0TOIhm1/s1600/DSC_3668-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvg7FueXz9Sra5RsL8bqfB9QALzD8SXzRyThQM9Uj1Un3UfK4vT0erjBGDkSZhOVsy1H3WpFi5wdL0z2wd4Z98P-roxU-2HZPaVRkiI4R4xupWhFSzclrvzIHRbdsdT9gZtdauD0TOIhm1/s320/DSC_3668-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579050873243121186" /></a><br />I'm completely in love with our new daughter.<br /><br />She's nine weeks old today and beautiful.<br /><br />Parenthood has been totally overwhelming for us and so I'm only getting around to writing this now. I could bang on for hours about how tough this new phase of our lives is, but I won't because we're really lucky to have such a healthy, happy baby.<br /><br />...and we're PARENTS - how cool is that?!Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-6837917757268407902010-12-27T07:28:00.002+08:002010-12-27T07:33:43.505+08:00Hawt and bawd.I'm now 40+2 and waiting somewhat impatiently for this baby to arrive. <br /><br />Everyone keeps texting Court and I to ask if anything has happened. I ignore the texts, but Court is nicer and replies to each one.<br /><br />The weather is ridiculous. This is the third day it will be about 40 degrees and I'm over having the air conditioner running non-stop, but I'm not going to turn it off and allow this little box of heat to warm up.<br /><br />Both of us just want to head down south for a few days of relief from the heat, but.....obviously we have to sit around here and wait this baby out. I now have a strong feeling it will have to be induced.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990688260050046048.post-77515106968828593222010-12-14T09:09:00.002+08:002010-12-14T09:25:09.216+08:00Chewsday.Yesterday I was TIRED. I thought it could have been a big day (by my standards) on Sunday, not enough sleep etc. I left work at lunch time and came home to have a snooze.<br /><br />Today I've taken the day off to rest up some more. I slept for nearly ten hours last night. And so I think that this third trimester has caught up with me. With only a couple of weeks to go. I certainly feel like my mobility has changed in the past few days: more grunting when I move, a much larger effort required to roll over in bed. <br /><br />I need to take it squeezy, but I'm already thinking of everything that needs to be done around the house. I might make a list. And check it twice. It's that time of year, after all.<br /><br />Last night we had a little band Christmas catch-up in a park. It was nice to see everyone again, but I was a bit groggy from my nap and I felt a bit out of it.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258277833407794425noreply@blogger.com0