Thank heaven for little girls

They are just so darn adorable to photograph. Really happy with my first photo session with Ava, she was the perfect model - she didn't even complain when I strung her up in some tulle all for the sake of art!! Just posting some of my shots.

So, it was our Friday catch up with the girls. Was great to see everyone, but I really wish we could sometimes do it on Thursdays cos Sambo misses out on seeing all the kids. Ali is doing really well, a few feeding problems with Ava, but she seems quite relaxed so hopefully it will all sort itself out soon for her. Max slept pretty well this morning, but not much this arvo. Unfortunately when he was ready to go to sleep, was when we had to pick Sambo up from day care, so he missed out there the poor kid. He's so different to Sam as a baby - Sam would have slept no matter what I did with him, but Max is a much lighter sleeper. Thank god he's good at night though!!

Nat and Gen came over for dinner - Nat made us pizzas which were fan-bloody-tastic! She also made some little cake thingys that Sambo and I have to ice tomorrow. I also have to make a tutu for Molly's birthday party on Sunday. Will have to get onto that tomorrow night.

Just a quick one tonight, it's late as I've spent the last few hours editing these photos of Ava. There are so many, but I won't post them all here - just a few of my favourites!!

Just a quick one

Didn't do too much today - Sambo was up at some ungodly hour this morning, so he slept in till 9am. He watched a bit of tv, had breakkie, and then we started getting ready to go to the supermarket. Amazing how it takes us a good hour to even look like getting close to being able to leave the house! We did a spot of grocery shopping (see, check me - all confident now I've done it a few times on my own!!). The boys were awesome - Sambo was well behaved, he listened to me, didn't nag....it was a wonderful experience! He got a treat because he was so well behaved - some little sharks and a milkshake and a wiggles magazine! I made sure that I let him know how proud of him I was that he was so well behaved. I thanked him....and he said "You're Welcome"...I love it when he says that, it's so adorable!

Esther popped over and dropped off Harper for a while so those 2 kept each other busy. Max didn't sleep all afternoon again bar about 20mins....starting to get a little sick of it to be honest cos around the time when I want to be getting dinner ready is when he's getting tired and cranky. Ah well, it's all temporary I guess.

Sambo wanted to take some photos of me today...and I was so proud - he did really well (ok I may have had to help with this one!) I've posted one of the two of us...I really like it!

Ok, I need to go make a card for Ali, we are heading out to see her and the gorgeous Ava tomorrow so I should have some more newborn shots tomorrow!!

Not sure why my photos all look pixelated on here, but I can assure you that they don't look like that in real life!

Sleep Child Sleep.

Or apparently not. Max has had bugger all sleep today which isn't altogether unusual, but what was unusual was that he wasn't happy with it. Pretty cranky in fact. I persevered with his lunch time catnap to get him back to sleep....I tried for an hour, to no avail. He was asleep by 7pm tonight, so hopefully he gets a BIG sleep in tonight. Hopefully he won't be cranky tomorrow too!

Sam was great today, we played with the diggers, read some books, did some colouring, and sang some songs! Usual 2 year old stuff!

Nat and Gen popped over tonight with a b'day cake for me (my third!!), and a voucher for jeans west for $50 - -I have been bitching and moaning about needing a new pair of jeans....and wanting to be skinny enough for a new pair of jeans. So that will help me out heaps! Can't wait to lose the rest of my baby weight!

Well, I'm knackered. Off for a shower, then to watch my tv shows - all the good ones are on tonight - House and Medium. Might have to tape Medium though cos I reckon I'll fall asleep.

I used my tripod today and took this photo of Max and I. Isn't he just the cutest! I am absolutely whole heartedly in love with that boy! Well, actually I'm absolutely, whole heartedly in love with both my boys!

Happy Birthday to Me!!

What a lovely day I've had. Can I tell you how blessed I am?

I got a new lense for my camera a few weeks ago, and that was to be my present from Meggie and Clydey...but my darling husband surprised me this morning with a new tripod for my camera as well! I normally guess what Clydey is getting me for b'days and presents (it irritates the shit out him, he has no idea how I can guess every time) but this time I so wasn't expecting anything. He's such a sweetie. As I said, I'm blessed.

So, we dropped Sambo off to day care, then I got to hit Spotlight for half an hour (did you know you get 10% off on your birthday....me neither!!). Then home for a little while to pack up a picnic, then we met Sam's day care mum at the park, where we stayed and Ali and the other kids went home. A lovely picnic in the park with my boys, and Esther, Harper and Amos. The kids had a ball! Home for Sam to have a sleep (and Max to have a cat nap!!).

Tori and Ben came over tonight to do Shay's and my hair. We cooked tacos for dinner, cos it's my b'day and I got to choose!! Tori and Ben are so sweet...Sambo loved playing with them. He didn't want to go to bed, so was up a little later than usual - might mean a great big sleep in tomorrow!! As a b'day present, they didn't charge me for my hair cut - how nice is that? Timely too, cos I really couldn't afford the cut anyways! You heard me, I'm blessed.

As I was putting Sambo to bed tonight, I said to him "thanks for a lovely day, Sambo, I have had a wonderful birthday", and the little monkey goes "You're welcome, Mummy". He is just the sweetest kid in the world, I swear. Can I say it again? Yep, I'm blessed.

As a side note, I have forgotten to mention about Sam's little imaginary friend, Harper. We have little Harper (the imaginary one), and Big Harper (the real one). Little Harper helps him mow the lawn and do the whipper snippering. Little Harper was in the shower with us last night and I had to find a towel for her. Little Harper had to be picked up and put into bed beside him. Nobody ever tells you what hard work it can be for the Mummy of a son with an imaginary friend! I love it though, I love he has an imagination. I love that he sings and dances and loves to wear nail polish. I love that he can name any type of machinery and god help you if you mistakenly call a digger a mini loader!!

Ahhhhh...I love my life.

As promised, a photo of each of my boys, one of Harper, and a scrapbooking page I did while Sambo slept.

Nuft

Bit of a nothing day today....I didn't even bother getting Sam out of his pj's! I did manage to change his nappy though ;) I also whipped up a scrapbooking page - Max slept for 2 hours this morning (for a change!), and ABC kids entertained Sam (bad mummy, bad mummy) so I scraplifted one of Clair's pages (see link - she does some amazing stuff). Not entirely happy with my title, but I love the rest of the page. I actually used my sewing machine for the first time too - it was my xmas present from Clydey and I only managed to set it up last week. I think he thinks I was a little ungrateful...but I wasn't at all....just busy with a newborn and a toddler! The journalling reads "As in plural - KIDS!! Well, I did have 4 days after this photo was taken. The thought terrified me but as usual the reality of "kids" wasn't anywhere near as bad as I imagined!"

Have to make a card for Ali and one for Brenda too for their new babies. Might start on that tonight.

I really need to put some photos of the boys on here too. I have so darn many. If I take some nice ones tomorrow (we are going to the park for a picnic for my b'day) I will post them on here.

Well, that's about it. As I said, we did nuft today!!

Forgot to mention

That I got Max weighed yesterday - at exactly 10 weeks and 4 days which is when I first got Sam weighed. Sam weighed in at 7040g - and Max at 6930g so not much difference at all!

Whoops.

Already missed a day. Guess it won't be my last, huh?

So, Happy 3rd Birthday to Connor for yesterday. Hope you have fun today at Lavender Trout...wish we could be there to celebrate with you - it sucks living on the other side of the world to family (well, most of the time it sucks ;) )

I took Sambo to his swimming lesson yesterday. It went ok - he's still so under confident in the water. He won't put his head under the water and freaks out at certain things. To be honest, this is probably a good thing as it means I won't have to worry about him ever jumping into the water when no one is there. He does really well though and I really enjoyed doing it. Clydey usually does, but with him having had his mole cut out, we figured I had better bare my 10 week post partum body...sorry world!!

Then we headed over to Esther's to catch up with Phil and Finn. She is doing really well which is good to see. Finn is just adorable. I then took some photos of Amos - I plan on getting a few of them printed out and put in a frame as their present. I got some really good ones which I'm pleased about - can't wait to take some of Ava too! I'll show off a few of the better ones of Amos here. With the ones with the black background, I've done some editing and made the black, well, blacker!! It looks better, but I can't be arsed uploading it!!

Today has been a bit of a nothing day - just did some editing of the photos of Amos, then cleaned the house and we did a spot of grocery shopping. Sambo is still sleeping. We have Nat and Gen and possibly Kaz coming over for dinner tonight - Clydey is cooking this spectacular rump roast thingy (recipe courtesy of Ali). Can't wait.

Ok, pretty boring post. I know Nat and Cas are having trouble posting comments on here - if anyone else is able to - please do so I know it's not something I've done in my settings!

Cluck Cluck Cluck

So I went to visit Ali, Gary, Ryan and little baby Ava today. Oh my, what a doll! She's so so tiny with a head of hair to rival Sambo! She's just adorable. Poor Ali had a rough night with her last night, but Gary is staying there with her tonight so she will at least get to share the load. I think we will head back in tomorrow so Clydey and Sambo can meet her. I don't know how it's possible to get clucky over a newborn, when I already have one! Maybe it's cos my newborn is bloody enormous already!

Speaking of my newborn - I'm going to get him weighed tomorrow - I first got Sambo weighed at 10weeks +4 days....and that's how old Max will be tomorrow so I can compare them! Sambo weighed in at a hefty 7040g, and was 61cm long. Now Max was 5.9kg at 6 weeks of age...so he could very well be up there, but I really think he's either not quite as chubby as Sam was, or he's longer. I could be wrong of course....and I guess we'll see tomorrow. Will let you know.

I'm also going to go take some photos of Amos tomorrow as my gift to Matt and Esther. I hope to god I get some good ones! I plan to take over a black sheet to use as a backdrop...just haven't worked out what is going to hold the black sheet yet!

Clydey had a mole taken out yesterday, so I think I'll be taking Sam for his swimming lesson tomorrow - will should be fun - NOT! He isn't very confident in the water, and Clydey normally takes him for his lessons, so it will be a disruption to his usual routine. I guess I just have to put up with him crying "Want to go home Mummy" for the whole half hour. My darling little nancy boy!! ;)

I had my first pilates class this morning - of course, in the usual fashion Max decided that he needed a feed just as we were starting, so I missed half the warm up! Then he just lay on my mat watching me, then drifted off to sleep! Was so much better than I thought it would be, but I reckon I'll be sore tomorrow. Ah well, if it gets me back into my jeans for winter, it will be worth it!

Before I go, I keep meaning to leave this message for Cas - you will be pleased to know that I have started using some Olay moisturiser and have stopped using the nivea. Still don't look any bloody younger though!!!!!

Happy Birthday Phillipa

Hope you have a great day...and I PROMISE from now on that I will be wishing you a happy birthday on the correct day!!

So, the boys and I had arranged to meet Esther and her kids at a playgroup this morning. I'm rushing around trying to get there by 9.30am and we are about to leave when Sam decides that we cannot possibly leave the house without his new digger.

Me: Ok, no worries, where is it Sambo?
Sam: Dunno
Me: Can you help me look for it then please?
Sam: No, you find it.
Me: Sam, I need your help to find it as we need to go.
Sam: No, you find it.

This went on, and on. I begged, pleaded, nagged for Sam to help me to no avail. Then I cracked. I think it's the first time that I have actually ever screamed at him. I'm expecting DOCS to come knocking on my door any day now, as the neighbours must think I'm a hideous mother. Guess I was at that moment.

So, we get over that (I should have known the digger was in his Wiggles tent), got to playgroup and the kids had a great time! I think we'll go more often - there is toys galore, they do some craft plus some singing and dancing.... great morning out. Then we ducked over to Esther's for lunch, then home. Sambo wouldn't sleep today, so I actually ventured out with them both to do the fruit and vegie shopping - only the second time on my own at the shops with both of them and it went well! Sam was great, Max slept and we ended up having an ice cream after we were done!

Off to see Ali tomorrow and have a nurse of gorgeous baby Ava. Clydey is so not happy that both Esther and Ali now have the pigeon pair and we don't. I'm not sure if he's just joking or not??? I know he adores his boys...but I also know he would love to have a little girl.

Anyway, I'm off to try and sort out some photos to get printed off. Then a shower and bed.

Night all!

IT'S A GIRL!

YAY, after a very speedy labour, my dear friend, Ali, has had a gorgeous baby girl - Ava Ann Campbell. She was a smidge under 7lb...with dark hair. I'm so pleased for Ali - she has a gorgeous boy, Ryan, but I could always just see her with a little girl. I can't wait to go see her (most probably Friday when Sam is at daycare) and get some newborn photos, and a cuddle from her!

On another note, I was up at 5.30am puking today....think it was something I ate for dinner last night. Typically, the boys both slept in until after 8am!! Always the way. Have felt a little weak and tired all day, and had a throbbing headache that won't go away....but I have survived. Of course, Clydey has just walked in the door saying "boy, what a day". Oh really Clydey? Poor you!!

Ali

So, tomorrow Ali is going in to be induced. I'm so excited for her...we all think she's having a girl - purely because I had a boy, and so did Esther....which makes absolutely no sense, but come on...someone has to have a little girl! I wonder how she'll sleep tonight...not that she is sleeping much at all due to her SPD (which is why she has decided to be induced). I hope it all goes quickly for her sake, and that she accepts all the drugs they can throw at her!!

Thinking of you Ali, can't wait to meet your new little baby!

Here she is on her last day of being pregnant!!

Please Explain?

For those of you that don't know us, or heard us tell this story (C and I tell it on a regular basis!), this is the reason for the title of my blog. It's all down to my mum and my sister....neither are actually admitting to it, so both are being blamed!!

So, my labour with Max was pretty easy - and damn quick! It even surprised me how quick it was. Let me tell you, if you ever get the chance, waterbirth is the go. I cannot stress how much that bath helped. For the whole half hour I got to use it anyway (I got to the hospital around 2pm, about 2.30pm they decided to start filling the bath for me - I got in it around 3pm, and Max was born at 3.26pm!!).

ANYWAY...onto my story. I had just given birth. Literally, just given birth. I hadn't even laid eyes on my baby yet, as I gave birth on my knees in the bath, so hadn't even turned around. I heard the midwife say something like "What do we have here?".....and then all I heard was a kinda groan like noise and someone piped up "Not another stinky boy!!!".

This may sound a little nastier than it really was. It was quite hilarious actually. My poor mother (who always said she didn't care how many boys she herself had, she only wanted one girl, and ended up with 1 boy, and 4 girls!!), was there to witness the birth of her 5 grandson. No granddaughters! She was sure I was having a girl, I think. As was my sister, and my husband. I think I was the only one not surprised to find that our baby was a boy!!

So, that was 10 weeks ago today. I have 2 beautiful boys, and am extremely lucky with Max being an excellent baby! Sam is a pretty darn good toddler too - he has his moments of course, like every 2.5 year old, but I really consider myself blessed. Pffffffft, to those that say, if you got a good baby first time, the 2nd one will be a nightmare. Both my babies have been awesome - quiet, relaxed, sleep well.

Of course, they are nowhere near being teenagers yet!!

So, that's it. That's the reason for the title of this blog. And who knows, maybe one day, there will be reason to change it. Maybe not!!

Back again

And the boys are in bed. Sam got into bed a little later than I planned....but hey, he's not complaining! Nat and Gen came around for dinner....I'm so glad we are getting to see them more often.
Spent today surfing the net trying to work out what on earth I'm going to do re my photography. There is this 2 year full time course that I have been dying to do...but of course can't with the kids. Today I find an ad in the paper saying that this course is now being offered on Friday and Saturdays - for 2 years. For a few hours I thought maybe I could do it. Maybe I could actually do it. But 2 years giving up my Saturdays is a lot to ask - a lot to ask of Clydey, and also of the boys. I would miss out on a lot of family time, and it would mean 2 years of not being able to go away anywhere. I just don't think it's something I can commit to. So for now, I'm going back to uni come July to contine my accounting degree. Just don't want to be a bloody accountant.

Just uploading some photos from today - nothing special, but just a little insight into what we got up to today. Got heaps more, but am tired, and need to hit the sack. First one is of my very brave husband letting Sambo shave his head!! Second one is of Sambo dancing....it cracks me up. Technically, not a very good photo, but he loves to sing and dance...and make up songs too, and it's captured his joy perfectly!

Oh, and I promise to explain why my blog is called "not another stinky boy"....but that will have to wait until tomorrow!

*sigh* how typical.

I finally get motivated to get this blog up and running. And now I am stuck with Max on my lap, and he has just puked on me, and done a dirty big poo that I need to do something with. So much for a fantastic, interesting first post from me!

Ah well, as the name of my blog suggests....I am blessed to be the mother to 2, and the wife to 1 Stinky Boy!!

Will hopefully get back later to show off some photos from today.