Scrapping Goodies and some Joel love

I am still alive. Just been so busy. Joel isn't sleeping too well during the day so I've had limited time to play on the computer. Having said that, he's been sleeping brilliantly during the night. Usually goes from about 10:30pm till 6:00am straight (although last night he wanted some tucker at 3am but that's ok). So I can't complain. He's been such a good little love.

I ordered lots of yummy scrapping goodies for my birthday and they have started to arrive. Oh so exciting to get packages in the mail. I got a couple of big paper punches from the US - a 2" square and 3" circle. Been wanting these for ages. And I also got a nice big pizza box from Scraploot - this online shop is awesome. I am still waiting on a Crop-a-dile (a GREEN one ordered from the US) and some acrylic stamps from Blue Bazaar. I am seriously excited about all this stuff and it's nice that it's coming staggered - makes my birthday go longer. Once I get everything, I'll put it all together and take a pic so I can share my birthday stash with all of you.

Had my second mothers group today - it's a really great group of girls and I have already made a couple of friends. I look forward to getting to know them all a lot better over the next few weeks and hopefully years. Would be great if we were still in contact in a few years when our kids are all old enough to play with each other

Joel has his first lot of immunization injections on Friday - I am a little worried for him. I hate when he cries and the bottom lip goes out so i'm sure it'll be a little traumatic for both of us but we'll be alright.

Anyway, i have a circle journal that I am doing for Scrap of Faith that needs to be finished so I really should be utilising Joel's sleep time to finish that off and get some tea organised, and feed the dogs, and put the chickens away, and fold some washing. LOL the list never ends!!

I'm really going to try and update this more often

Till next time, I'll leave you with a little bit of Joel love!

It's my party

Well firstly a big congrats to Jess, Jasmine and Robyn for being the first 3 to comment. I will get a little gift organised for the three of you. I just need you to email me your postal addresses so I can post the gifts to you (servingtheson@hotmail.com)

Secondly, it's my birthday today. I have reached the ripe old age of 28. Everyday is a little bit closer to the big 30! I have had a good day so far - spent the morning with my buddy Marina at Ripe Cafe in Sassafras - mmm Lindt hot chocolates. We watched them make them and they put whole squares of chocolate in the bottom of the glass and then pour hot water and milk over the top of it. YUMMO!

Just chilling for the rest of the day.

Apart from that, not a lot happening around here. Life of a SAHM, hey!!

I'll love you and leave you - don't want to waste too much of Joel's sleep time on the computer.

But what would a blog post be without a cute photo of Joel. Here you go


Till next time

Awesome photos,funky bag and pay it forward

So the photos from Joel's photoshoot are up on Katie's photos site.(http://www.katietolandphotography.blogspot.com/) They are totally amazing and I am in love with them all. I know I am biased but damn is Joel cute or what!! Hope you don't mind me using one of the photos of your blog to show people Katie!?!?!?

Been looking on the net for a new handbag - need a slightly bigger one than what i've got to fit baby stuff in. I have a nappy bag but sometimes I don't need all the stuff in there.

Anyway, a girl from Scrap of Faith put me onto Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/) - a total amazing website where you can buy and sell handmade goods - bags, jewellery, clothes, baby things. The stuff on here is amazing. Anyways, I found me the coolest bag - I am seriously in love with it and I don't even have it yet. It's so pretty! I can't wait for it to get here.

I was checking out my mate Ange's blog the other day and she had a Pay it forward post - the first 3 people to comment won a little handmade pressie from her. I was one of the lucky 3 to win. The deal of this movement though, is to Pay it forward. So I in turn am going to give the first 3 people to post comments a little handmade love from me.

So come on people post away, the first 3 shall recieve a gift from me and then in turn must pay it forward themselves.

I'm off to do some scrapping while the little dude is sleeping

Our smiling boy

Here is the footage of Joel smiling. Please ignore my cutesy mummy voice in the video - even better turn the sound off!!!

Life goes on

So we're back from Adelaide. We got back last Wednesday - i just haven't felt like blogging until now. Adelaide was lovely. Super hard but lovely. It was really nice to see family and spend time together, remembering Nanna. Was also nice to catch up with my other grandma (dad's mum) and take some photos of her and Joel together. Joel is like her 22nd or something GREAT grandchild. That's a lot of great grandkids isn't it. Well I guess she is 93! We also had the opportunity to catch up with our buddies Cath, Mark and Amaya. Was nice to spend the afternoon with them, chatting kids!!

Not much has been happening in the last week or so. Just tried to lay low. We went to Katie's (see Katie Toland in the left coloumn) on Saturday for a photoshoot for Joel - it went really well. Apart from the fact that Joel peed on her backdrop!! But she was prepared for all sorts of accidents with a pack of Pine -O Cleen wipes!! I can't wait to see how the photos turn out.

More Joel news - he has started smiling. Not just the windy smiles but bona fide smiles! It started on Tuesday. I even managed to catch one on video which I'll try and load on to You Tube so you can see. I am such a mum, aren't I!!

And I'm hoping to get stuck back into scrapping on the weekend. Bought me a nice stash of boy papers and stuff yesterday so I am all set to go. Now I just need Joel to sleep for a good few hours in the afternoons so I can do some.

Anyway, I better go. The little dude needs a feed.

Till next time

A sad day

My nanna passed away last night in Adelaide. It was very unexpected. She had a heart attack on Tuesday morning but everyone (including the doctors, thought she would pull through - it wasn't a massive heart attack.

I am just so sad. Sad I didn't get to see her one last time. Sad she never got to meet Joel. Sad I didn't get to say goodbye.

But I am also happy - happy that my mum got to spend some time with her this week . She went over on Tuesday to be with Nanna. I am happy that my nanna has been reunited with Grandapa in heaven. I am happy that I called her a week ago and spoke for 20 mins or so. I am happy that she was around to become a great grandma (she had to great grandsons born this month - her first great grandkids.

I will really miss her. We didn't get to see her that often cause we lived in different states but now we won't see her at all

We are driving to Adelaide tomorrow afternoon - funeral will probably be on Monday.

Please keep Andrew and I in your thoughts and prayers as we attempt the drive with a 3 1/2 week old!

Speaking of which I can't go without sharing my fav pic of Joel at the moment.

Thanks guys

Joel's entrance into the world

Ok so I am going to post Joel's birth story - mainly for my benefit so I don't forget, so if you don't want the details then don't read on!! Beware, it'll be a long one.

Sunday 1st July - went to church in the morning as usual. Joked with people that we wanted this bub to come some time this week (even though we weren't due for another 10 days) as Andrew was on school holidays. We even had a curry for lunch that day - more of a joke really than a method to induce labor!

Fast forward to 2am Monday 2nd July - I made my way back to bed after one of my numerous overnight toilet breaks. As i got back in, I thought I must have wet myself but seriously doubted it as I'd just emptied my bladder. I went back to the loo and after 5-6 minutes of steady trickle, I knew that this was my waters breaking and not a severe lack of pelvic floor strength!

I went back to bed and told Andrew but assured him that it could still be a day or so before anything happens. We tried to go back to sleep!!

3:30am - i started getting what I can only describe as slight period pain and wondered whether this was the start of contractions. I realised the pain was coming and going at fairly regular 6 monute intervals and realised that I was indeed in labor. I knew that it would still be awhile so we decided to rest up and assess how things were going when we got up later.

8:30am - the contractions had started to get a little more painful now and where coming a lot closer together. I called the hospital to see what I should do and they said I could make my way in whenever I liked and they see how things were progressing.

The car trip to the hospital was interesting and exciting - it was dawning on us that we could be meeting our bub today. We started stressing about names - we were still to decide on a girls name. We got to the hospital around 10:ooam and made our way to the delivery suite where we were ushered into a tiny assessment room. A midwife came in and hooked me up to a CTG machine to assess baby's heart rate and movements. I continued to have contractions whilst hooked up to this machine and they were really starting to get painful. A doctor came in and did an examination (yowsers!!) and declared that I was only 1cm dialated. AHHHHH!! The decision was made that due to a few reasons - my high BP, bubs not behaving, my waters broken, that they would induce me but I'd have to wait till tomorrow as they were too busy today. They would keep me on the ward overnight and I'd be induced first thing the next morning.

This was not what was supposed to happen - I started getting upset, worried for the baby and still in pain, very scared. If this was what only 1cm dialated felt like, I was seriously worried about what 10 would be like.

By this time, it was around 11:30am and the contractions were getting more and more painful. I asked if there was anything I could do for the pain. The midwife suggested I have a bath as it was being used so I decided to give it a go. It was great. Although the contractions were extremely painful, I felt a lot more relaxed between them. I was in the bath for about 1 hour - 12:00pm -1:00pm. I was starting to want something more for the pain - I was so sure I would only be 2-3cm dialated by now and was really starting to get scared that I wouldn't be able to do this. I got Andrew to get a nurse as I was really hurting. The nurses were awesome. They said they'd assess me and then work out what pain relief options I had. They discovered that I was 10cm dialated already. From 1-10 in 1 hour. I was almost relieved cause I knew that the pain I was feeling was worth it. The got me out of the bath and told me it was time to have this baby. From thinking it was happening today to this was totally overwhelming and very exciting.

The nurses couldn't believe how fast it all happened. Of all the women in the delivery rooms, I went from being the one not expected to deliver that day, too the only one they thought that eventually would!!

They took me into a delivery room (around 1:00pm) and got me on the bed. I so thought I would be one of these chicks that gives birth on the floor or on a ball or something but all I wanted to do was lie down. Contractions were excruiciating now. They offered me the gas but I took two sucks and couldn't work out how to use it so I just bit down on the mouthpiece. I kepts asking the midwife how much longer she thought it would be. She just kpet saying "not long now, you're doing great!"

After about 45 mins, Andi (our midwife) told me she could see the baby's head with lots of dark hair. I couldn't believe it. I reached down a felt this little squishy head. That made me so determined to keep going. I was pushing with all my might and after 2 massive pushs, Joel arrived at 2:32pm. They put him straight on my tummy and it took me a couple of seconds to realise he was even there - i was concentrating so hard. But there he was - the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. I asked Andrew if it was a boy or girl and we lifted his little leg and let out a sigh of relief. We didn't have to decide on a girls name after all. Andrew cut the cord and then Joel and I snuggled for awhile, while the placenta delivered and they checked me over. Andrew and I were both so overwhelmed and both had a little cry. We were so happy.

They checked Joel over too - he got 9 and 9 on his APGAR tests - so proud of him!!

I was in total shock - I had just given birth, drug free, intervention free and with no issues downstairs!! No stitches needed. Andrew got to have a cuddle as well and I took some piccies of them and then Joel had his first feed. It was a bizarre but beautiful feeling.

After awhile, Andrew went off to make the necessary phone calls and Joel and i spent some time alone together.

Later that day, my parents and sisters came to visit as did Andrew's parents. They were all a little shocked at his early arrival too but totally besotted with him!






Almost 3 weeks later and it's still so fresh in my mind. Some days it still doesn't feel real that I have a child. I feel like I am looking after him for awhile and expecting someone to come and get him any day now - weird huh!!

We are all still doing really well. We have been so blessed by people's generosity towards us - presents for Joel, meals for us, cards galore, flowers. We really are blessed with gorgeous friends and family.

Better wrap this up as the little dude will wake any moment for a feed and it's too hard to type one handed!
If you've got this far, congrats and thanks for letting me share my birth story. Overall a positive experience for a first timer.
Hopefully I can get some newer pics of the little man later and I shall share soon. He's changed so much already in only 3 weeks.

Till next time

Update

Well it's been nearly two weeks since I became a mum and life is good. I'm tired but blissfully happy and we are all doing really well. We've had a few long nights but in general Joel is a pretty good baby. He sleeps pretty well, feeds a lot (hungry little squirt) and seems to be enjoying life in his big new world.

Andrew is still on school holidays and once school goes back he still has 5 days of paternity leave up his sleeve. He is going to take 3 days of it in the first week and 2 days in the second, just to ease back into it all with less sleep! And then I'll be on my own. That's a little scary. Andrew has been awesome around here the last week - making me lunch, bringing me snacks, doing the dishes, getting tea organised. Will be interesting when he's not here anymore. I'm sure I'll be fine - I gave birth drug free for heaven sake, I can do this too!

Still haven't got around to writing out the whole labor/birth story yet - really need to do that before I start to forget stuff.

We had out first trip out - went well. Joel seems to like the car seat and slept happily as we drove. He didn't even wake up when we got him out of the car. Hope that continues.

And i've had a stack of photos printed up at Camera House- 15cents each!! so I am so excited about getting back into scrapbooking. It feels like ages since I've done anything.

Anyway, enough already. Will leave you with a couple of photos of my little man (and big man) total spunks!!! And my 5 things I am grateful for


1. The safe arrival of our precious bub Joel

2. An amazing hubby

3. Kind and generous family and friends

4. A 2 hour nap this afternoon

5. 15 cent prints at Camera House

He's here!!

Joel Callan Spinks arrived on Monday afternoon 2nd July - 10 days early. He must have known his dad is a school teacher on holidays at the moment.

The stats
Weight - 6 pounds 5 ounces
Length - 49 cm

We are totally besotted by this little man and are really looking forward to the coming weeks, months and years.

Just wanted to share some photos with you all. I'll be back later to share more of his entrance into the world but all is well.

Have a great week

Baby Room pics as promised

Just thought I'd share some updated baby room pics. Everything is finished in there for the time being. Now we just need a little person to go in there!

We are really happy with how it has turned out and think it's pretty cool for either a boy or a girl.

Had a nice day resting today - really want to shake this cold before it gets any worse.

Anyway, I'm off to have some tea and veg out some more.

Hope you enjoy the picng

3 posts in one day

Hope you enjoyed the two clips below - you need to watch the Nessum Dorma one first then the semi-finals one. I really love opera - bet you didn't know that about me!!

I'm still pregnant - only 3 weeks till our due date now. We had the car seat installed today. Very weird driving around in a car with a baby seat in it.

I really want to meet this little person - I am starting to have real trouble sleeping - it's getting harder and harder to find a comfortable position to lie in. And to make matters harder, I'm coming down with a cold so i'm feeling very stuffy in the head and nose. But the end is nigh! I've only got 8 days of work left so I'm really looking forward to being lazy after that for a little bit.

Things are definitely getting close. We have our last ante-natal class tonight so that should be fun. My bag is all packed for the hospital - just in case! The nursery is pretty much done - I'll take some pics tomorrow when it's a bit lighter and share them with you. It's all getting very real and also surreal all at the same time!! Is that possible?

Anyway, I'll be back with some pics to share soon.

Till next time.

Opera Paul Potts SEMIFINALS WINNER!! High qual. video/audio

He won the Semi-Final and this is his second performance. THis guy totally makes me believe that dreams really do come true.

Paul Potts (Nessun Dorma)

I was watching Sunrise last week and they spoke about a contestant on Britains Got Talent - his name is Paul Potts. I watched this clip on YouTube and it totally gives me goosebumps everytime I watch it (and yes it makes me cry too)
It's totally worth watching

Still here, Still waiting

Still pregnant. Am 34 1/2 weeks today. Only 5 weeks to go (if we have squirt on their due date)
Everything is going really well. I'm still suffering some back and pelvis pain but am not complaining. It's amazing what a heat/wheat pack can do!

There's been some exciting things happening around here. First of all we got a new car!! FINALLY! We are now a 2 car family again. It's been almost 2 years since my little red Ruby went to heaven so we've done well to last that long. The new one is a 2004 Camry Altise and we just love it. It's so quiet to drive. We are in auto heaven. We just desperately needed a reliable car for when the baby comes along.



I had my baby shower on the weekend. I had an absolute ball. My mum and sisters put it together for me and I love them so much for that. It was so nice to have my family and girlfriends around me, laughing and eating together and having a good time. Got some really nice pressies too. I was so spoilt - well I should say the baby was so spoilt!! I don't think I'll have to buy any wipes or lotions for awhile!


I think we are almost organised for this little one. The nursery is almost done -need to get some curtains, some cot sheets and a little lamp for feeding and then that's about it. My hospital bags are just about packed. Just a few last minute things that will need to go in once the process is underway. It's all getting a little close now. We are hoping to finish setting everything up over the long weekend so I will post some pics once it's all ready to go.

Thought it was time I shared my bump. I've included a covered and uncovered pic. Hope you aren't all disgusted by the bare skin!! It's not a huge bump but I'm happy with it.



What do you think we are having - boy or girl? I have no idea.

Anyway, Andrew just made me some tea and it smells good so I'm off to eat.

5 things I am grateful for today
1. Awesome family and friends
2. A fantastic new car
3. A hubby that cooks me tea
4. A fun baby shower
5. A night at home watching Desperate Housewives!

I promise I'll post sooner next time

Until then, stay happy

Still here

No we haven't had the baby. I have no exotic excuse as to why I haven't blogged. Just really busy and just feeling a little lazy!!
So where has that 2 weeks gone, hey? Totally flown by. What's happened? Not a whole lot.

Still pregnant - getting fatter. My belly and boobs have finally met (didn't think that was supposed to happen till I got old and grey!!) Starting to feel a little more uncomfortable but still feeling blessed. Little squirt will not stop moving which is very endearing and reassuring but can also be a little wearing! He/She seems to know when other people want to feel the movements cause as soon as someone puts a hand on my belly to feel, the moving stops. Cheeky bugger!

We went to our first ante-natal class last night which was great fun and it's all starting to feel a little real now. We have some great couples in the group with us and I'm really looking forward to getting to know them all a little better. Last night the midwife showed us what labor would be like using a plastic doll, a KNITTED uterus and a fabric pelvis. Interesting!?!? If only it were going to be as easy as it looked.

Nothing much else to report. I have finally started like doing a little bit of scrapbooking. Have done one LO which I'll post soon and working on a little case for something I'd like done at my baby shower. Will also post a pic once I've finished.

Anyway, i have a stack to do today so I better stop procrastinating and get off the computer.

5 things I am grateful for today
1. A pretty cruisy pregnancy so far
2. An understanding hubby
3. Awesome parents - i love you mum and dad
4. Awesome sisters - love you guys too (and Matt and Stu)
5. My wheat bag/heat pack - total god send for a sore back

Till next time

A new baby

No, it's not mine. My awesome friends Marina and Peter welcomed baby Samuel into the world last Friday. So proud of them. They are going to be such awesome parents and Samuel is one blessed little boy. So we're next!! Ahh. It's kind of dawning on me that I have to give birth in about 10 weeks. I am starting to feel that I am a total wuss and what have I got myself into!

Oh well, not much I can do about it now. Aside from a little fear about the birth side of things, I am just hanging to meet squirt. This little one is getting so active now and I just can't wait to meet them and see what they look like and give em lots of love, hugs and kisses.

Not much else happening in my world. May finish this blog in point form.

• Starting to get the scrapping groove back. Have been in a total rut for ages now so it feels good to be back doing some creative stuff.
• Totally loving the new Missy Higgins album. Man, this chick totally rocks. So easy to listen to.
• Work is going really well. I finish up in 8 weeks for 6 months off, so that'll be kinda weird but just another part of this journey we're on.
• We start our antenatal classes in a week and a bit so that's exciting and so close all at once. It's really happening now. Only 10 weeks to go (praying we don't go too much over the 40 weeks).
• I've had some shocker back and leg pain lately. Am off to the physio about it on Wednesday. Let's just say the heat pack is my new best friend. I'm so hoping they give me a massage, but seriously doubt it!
• Andrew is a happy man as his footy team - the West Coast Eagles, are currently undefeated and on top of the ladder. Not sure that there off field behaviour warrants the top team placing!

I think that's enough for today. Really need to take another belly shot. Might get Andrew to do that over the weekend and I'll update you all on my expanding girth (although it's really not that big)

Till next time, go out and buy the Missy Higgins album - you won't be disappointed.

We've gone baby crazy

So another week and a half has gone by and this blog once again has been neglected. So much has been going on lately so it's time for another update.

We made our trip to IKEA to purchase all the baby furniture and have managed to put it all together without too much damage to our credit card or our marriage!! We've had our heart set on a particular change table/chest of drawers unit from IKEA for over 1 1/2 years now and when we got to IKEA it had been slashed to half price cause they were discontinuing it. We're thinking - BARGAIN! But so was everyone else and there didn't seem to be any left in the warehouse area. We started to freak a little, wondering what we would do when my mum piped up (mum and dad came along to help us with all the lifting and stuff cause I'm not allowed to) that we should ask if we can have one of the floor models (there were 3 upstairs all set up). So we eventually got one of those and cause it was floor stock that knocked another $50 off. And it was all set up!! So pumped about that. We also bought a wardrobe as this bedroom doesn't have one and one of those cubed Expedit bookcases which as you can see we've turned on it's side - that will be for toys, books, etc... We already had the cot.


We have also put a pram on layby. It's called a Phil and Ted's pram and we love it. So we are slowly getting ourselves organised. About time really cause there's only 11 weeks to go (that's 80 days!) It's a really cool pram and has 4 different positions. It'll be great if we decide to have another bub when the first one still needs the pram. Ours is black and sand colour



Had a great ANZAC day yesterday. Had brekkie with my family at my mum and dad's house - bacon, eggs, beans, mushies, juice, toast. Yum Yum Yum. Andrew and I then spent the day in the backyard - lawns are mowed, some weeding has been done. Looking a lot better than it did a couple of days ago. It's really annoying me that some of our plants are dying off but the weeds are managing to grow bigger than ever. What the!?!?!

Anyway, I'm off to hang some washing out, do some scrapping and then watch the Biggest Loser finale tonight. GO PATI!!

Cairns

So I am back. It was a bit longer than I planned but it took a little while to find the time to sift through the photos. Warning semi long post ahead!!

So Cairns was so much fun and we had such a great, relaxing time. We "survived" the tsunami warning - we decided to go for a drive inland just in case. You can never be too careful. We saw some beautiful things that day. The world famous Cathedral and Curtin Fig trees, some gorgeous waterfalls and we had lunch at a gorgeous little place called Mungali Dairy. It was so cute and the food was awesome.

We also went on the Skyrail, which is a cableway up the side of a mountain and takes you through rainforest. It was so beautiful and there was opportunities to get off at a couple of stations and walk around some boardwalks through the rainforest.


And the last big thing we did was our boat trip out to the Outer Barrier Reef. We snorkelled at two different spots and then caught the helicopter home. It was a pretty rocky trip out to the reef. The wind was about 20 knots which apparently is a little rough and I don't usually get seasick but I was feeling pretty green by the time we got to the snorkelling spot. No-one else had actually been sick so I was determined not to be the first to blow chunks!! The snorkelling was amazing. I was a little scared at first. Never been out in the middle of the ocean without land in sight and also I was a little worried about what might be lurking below. But I soon got over that as we got closer to the fish and the coral. We saw so many different fish and coral. The colours were amazing and I have never seen anything like it before. We had an underwater disposable camera so we took some photos. Haven't had them developed yet so it will be interesting to see how they come out. I just couldn't believe how close to the fish and the coral we got. The fish were brushing past us. Kinda creepy and cool all at the same time! And the helicopter ride home was unbelievable. Neither of us had ever been in a helicopter so to go in one over the Great Barrier Reef was an unforgettable experience. The pilot was a bit of a daredevil and did a few swoops close to the water. Very cool.

The rest of our time was spent relaxing, reading, bumming around, went on a couple of drives to Port Douglas and other little beaches. Was such a great time and a great way for us to spend some time together before little Squirt arrives. Yes we have a interim name - Squirt. After the baby turtle from Finding Nemo.

So that was our holiday. We went baby furniture shopping when we got back but I'll post all about that, with some pictures tomorrow. I think I've blabbed enough today.

Till next time

We're Back

So we are back from Cairns. Got home late Tuesday night. We had an absolute ball and feel so relaxed now. Spent yesterday washing, tidying, organising. All those post holiday things.


Don't have time to go into the whole holiday overview right now. I'll be back later tonight to do that. Have to go through our 400+ photos and pick out some good ones to share with you all.


We're off to IKEA today - BABY FURNITURE SHOPPING!! Woo Hoo. The spare room is pretty much cleared and ready for us to buy and start setting up stuff. Love IKEA. Will share more later


Just wanted to leave you a taste of the photos to come. These were taken on our helicopter ride across the Great Barrier Reef. Yes that's right - A HELICOPTER RIDE! So 007 of us!








Be back later.

I day to go

I am so excited. This time tomorrow I'll be in sunny Cairns at the start of our 10 day holiday. We are so looking forward to hanging out together, sleeping in, bumming around at the beach, checking out the Great Barrier Reef. It's going to be so fun and so what we need right now.

This won't be a long post cause I really should be packing my bags - that's right I haven't even started yet and I am going out tonight - my dad is graduating from Uni. So proud of him. So we are going along to support him. Which means I have to have my bag packed before I go out tonight - our plane leaves at 9:30 AM in the morning and I really don't want to have to get up any earlier than I have to.

So I shall leave you all for now. If we find an internet cafe or something up there I may post but don't hold your breath!

"See" you all in a couple of weeks

I'll have plenty of photos to share

Megan

Help Needed

Andrew and I are off to Cairns this Saturday - totally excited about going on this holiday. Looking forward to sleeping in, hanging out together, having no phone calls to answer, no work. Really looking forward to reading some good books. But I need some suggestions.

I just finished reading Jodi Piccoult's My Sisters Keeper -awesome book. And now I've got the reading bug back and I want to take a few books on holidays with me.

Can anyone give me some suggestions of good books to read? I love autobiographies and novels mostly. Not a huge fan of Mills and Boon type books, or science fiction. Apart from that, I am pretty open.

Please help me with some of your recent selections.

Will post more exciting stuff soon!!

Belly Shots

Just wanted to post a couple of belly shots. These were taken a few weeks ago when I was 5 months pregnant - I'll be 6 months pregnant at the end of this week! It's gone really fast. I am going to take some more belly shots on the weekend to see if there has been any change.


The one thing that is bugging me is that we don't have a nick name for the little one yet. I would love to call it something over the next few months instead of bub.


Has anyone got any suggestions?

Had a baby shower for my friend Marina on the weekend. Was lots of fun. Can't wait till I get to have one for me. Love playing silly games and hanging out with friends and family. Oh and eating yummy food of course.

Got a day off today so after cleaning the house I am going to start sorting through the baby stuff that we have already and see what we need. I think we're going to need to go on a little shopping spree when we get back from Cairns - which is in 10 DAYS!! Yippee. So excited. Looking forward to going on a real holiday.

Sunday is Andrew's birthday so we are going to hopefully do something Saturday night to celebrate - go to a movie or go out somewhere nice for tea. It'll be the last birthday in our house till the baby comes!

Anyway, till next time

5 things I am grateful for today

1. 10 days till our holiday

2. More and more movement from bubs

3. Tea out with my sister's and partners tomorrow night

4. A day and night home today!

5. Family and friends

Enviro Bag invasion

So again I've had a long stint away from this blog. Life is just busy and blogging has taken a back seat to working, eating and sleeping. Had a great few weeks though.

Two weekends ago I spent the weekend at The Country Place in Kalorama for the Scrapanalia Retreat. I had the best time. Was soo good to hang out with old scrapbooking friends and also to make a few new ones. Didn't get a whole lot done but got started on my pregnancy journal album (will post the first page sometime this week) so I was happy with that.
This weekend i've been at a Salvo Youth Workers conference. It was totally full on and tiring and brain draining but a great experience and a great chance to connect with others doing a similar thing to me. All I can say is thank goodness for Labor Day today. I had a much needed sleep in and house day!

Also another totally exciting thing that's happenend in the last couple of weeks is that I've started to feel the baby moving and kicking. Very exciting and a bizarre thing. I first felt in on Tuesday 27th Feb (just for my records!) and now it's happening all the time. Mostly at night and early in the morning. Hoping this is not a sign of things to come when they arrive!!!

So that's me for the last few weeks

Just wanted to share with you a funny little story. Andrew and I got ourselves some chips from our local takeaway shop last Thursday and they gave me an enviro bag to take them home in. Now I am all for saving the planet and using less plastic bags but is this getting a little crazy. These bags are taking over the world. The funnier thing is that I walked up to the shop so I had to walk home with THIS bag in my hand....




I LOVE FISH AND CHIPS!!! So here is this pregnant/chubby lady walking home with a bag that says I love fish and chips. Errr! So now you can eat crap but be doing your bit for the environment. I love it.

Anyway, time for this little one to go to bed.


Till next time (and I hope it's not too long this time!)

All is well

So today we had our second ultrasound. It was totally amazing. Loved seeing the little bub on the screen, jumping around and waving and kicking it's tiny, gorgeous legs. I really am totally falling in love with this little person and am starting to become more aware that there is a little human being growing inside of me. All is well. Everything is growing as it should, where it should and the bub is healthy and happy. We didn't find out what the sex was - we want it to be a surprise (although I tiny part of me would love to know but it will be definitely worth the wait!) We are halfway now so only 20 weeks to go. AHHH!





Apart from that, not a whole lot has been happening around here. Andrew totally stuffed his ankle on Sunday night and we spent a couple of hours in Emergency at Maroondah Hospital. We were so sure it was broken but luckily he just has some soft tissue damage. This is good considering we are off to Cairns in about 6 weeks. We had these horror thoughts of having to cancel our last holiday as a couple cause he's foot would have been in a cast. But that is not the case. He has a killer bruise though. So he has been home this week from school, making a permanent indent of himself on our couch and enjoying his barefoot, pregnant wife making his meals, cleaning up after him etc... NO NO. His been really good and I really don't mind looking after him. He better lap it up cause the further along I get in this pregnancy, the more I'll want him to do for me!!

I'm going to a scrap get together for some Scrap Pile girls on Saturday. It's going to be so much fun. We'll be so cool to meet some people face to face and also catch up with those I already know. Am hoping to get a bit of scrapping done.

Still doing my deck of me challenge. I'll take a picture of the ones I've done so far and post it tomorrow (to dark now). It's heaps of fun.

Anyway, I'm going to go and watch Ugly Betty (managed to push the record button on Sunday as we walked out the door to go to the hospital). Looks like a fun show

5 things I am grateful for today.
1. A healthy bub
2. That Andrew didn't break his ankle
3. Our Cairns holiday in 6 weeks
4. The opportunity to scrap with friends on the weekend
5. Ice, Ice and more Ice (I am obsessed)

Till next time

Warning - Cute Photos ahead

So I am trying to live up to the promise of 2 posts a week. So far so good, hey! All is still well in the Spinks household. Had an ante-natal appt yesterday and all is well. Got to hear the baby's heartbeat (was very reassuring to know that there was still a little one in there) and we've been booked in for our next ultrasound Wednesday week. So about 10 days till we get to see the bub again. I'm sure that will go for what seems like forever.

Been slowly getting my scrapbooking mojo back. Been working on a little art journal challenge posted by Emily Falconbridge - very cool, slightly hippy Aussie scrapbooker who's living in the US at them moment (and actually preggers as well and due around the same time as me!)I am basically altering a deck of cards (52 in all), one a week (cause there are 52 weeks in a year - handy, ay!) and she gives a prompt on her blog every week as to what to put on the cards. I only started this week so I am a little behind but I've nearly finished the first 2 weeks and I'll post a picture once I have. It's been nice to get back into creating in small bites.

So that's what I've been up to. Also just wanted to share a couple of cute photos of my girlfriend Cath's bub Amaya. Long time readers of this blog will remember I posted a couple of pics of her when she was tiny. Well look at this little honey now! What a sweetheart - and totally like her dad.

Anyway, I must go. I'm feeling the need for a nap and them some more creating. What a great afternoon!

5 things I am grateful for today

1. That all is going well with the baby

2. That pregnancy seems to agree with me (ie no sickness, etc)

3. That I have a free night to hang out with Andrew

4. That I get to go to church tomorrow and hang with God and His people

5. Garlic Bread and Ice (not together but two things I can't seem to get enough of at the moment - although I need to invest in an ice crusher cause our ice cubes are too big!)

Till next time

Blogger shocker

So again I've been MIA from the blog. I've been busy yeah, but have still had time when I could have typed an entry. Just haven't really felt like blogging lately. But I really do want to keep doing this so I have decided that I am going to try and post at least twice a week. Going by my recent record, this is going to be hard but I am going to try my very best.

So what's been happening over the last few weeks. The bathroom is finally finished (except for one light and powerpoints but hopefully we can get those done this weekend). It looks so good and it was very exciting to have our first showers in there last week. I am yet to have a bath but am seriously considering having one either tonight or tomorrow so that should be great.







Pretty ain't it?

All is going well with the pregnancy (as far as I know). I have another doctors appointment on Friday so hopefully I'll get to hear the heartbeat and it'll reassure me that all is well. Don't think I've really felt any movement yet. Not really sure what I am supposed to be expecting so maybe I have.
I'm slowly getting fatter (due to the baby and not to my diet). My pants are all starting to get a little tight - actually half of them I can't even do the top button up. So I've been looking around at maternity clothes - AHHH! Found some total bargains on eBay. Bought me a skirt and top the other day for 99cents. And they are in such good condition. The top is Pumpkin Patch and the skirt is Ripe. Been outbid on a couple of items too. Hate when that happens. It's actually funny how stressful and caught up you can become when bidding on eBay. Like how dare someone bid against me. Do they not know that I need those pants!!

But eBay is a funny thing. You can pretty much sell or buy anything on there. As I was looking through the maternity section I found the funniest thing - luckily I've been doing my pelvic floor exercises cause I almost wet myself laughing.

Wait for it..... MATERNITY G-STRING. Ewwwww!!! I mean seriously girls, go without for 9 months or buy some in a bigger size but sorry to tell you but this is not attractive. And no I am not planning on buying or ever wearing one of these items.



Anyway enough nudity for one day. I really need to stop going on eBay.

I'm off now. Hopefully going to get me some scrapping done and you never know - I may post what I've done later today or tomorrow.

Till next time

A sad day

Let me just preface this blog entry by saying we are all fine. I'm doing great (although a little hot and uncomfortable and a few of my clothes are starting to get a bit tight!) Andrew is great - he still has a week and a half left of school holidays and is in full blown relaxed mode. And our little bub is healthy and hopefully happy swimming around.



The sad day is that I've had to move all my scrapping stuff off my desk and into a new storage cupboard. The room which I initally called my scrapbook room will eventually become the baby's room so all my scrap stuff has to be moved. So I no longer have my own room. I no longer even have my own scrapbooking table. Even though there is still awhile until this bub makes an appearance, I wanted to do it now before I got too fat and uncomfortable and I didn't want Andrew to have to deal with all my scrap crap.

So from now on I will be a kitchen table scrapper. My storage unit thingy is on wheels so I can wheel it from the office to the kitchen table with no problems. It's actually very cool and I'm totally stoked to have fitted everything in. Love IKEA for storage solutions.



So although it's sad that I'm losing my scrap space, it's exciting to have it all in a new place and also exciting that the reason for the loss of my scrap space is a baby.

Onto another topic, my word for 2007. My fav scrapper Ali Edwards posted a challenge on her blog a couple of weeks back to have one word that describes what this year will be for you - a challenge to ourselves. If you want to read about it, click on the link in my sidebar and scroll down her blog a bit. So my word for 2007 is ENJOY. I want to really enjoy life and the things it has to offer. I want to enjoy being pregnant. I want to enjoy the next six months of our family just being Andrew & I. I want to enjoy scrapbooking. I want to enjoy work. I want to enjoy life

So here's to enjoying things.

5 things I am grateful for today
1. A funky new scrapbooking trolley
2. The opportunity to hang out with scrapping friends on Sunday
3. Dinner and a movie with Andrew tonight
4. My lovely hubby for buying me Greys Anatomy Season 2 on DVD
5. That Andrew still has a week and a half left of holidays - love the relaxed Andrew!

Till next time

Happy New Year, 2 dogs and the first photos

First of all Happy New Year to all of you that stumble across this blog every now and then.

We had a great time on NYE at Pete and Marina's house, hanging out with a group of friends, eating lots, having some laughs and chatting. We watched the fireworks on Ch 10 and then scooted home as I was well and truly stuffed.

















We are now the proud adopted parents of Patch and Ali (Patch is on the left, Ali is on the right)They are staying with us for 2 years while their family is living in the city for a couple of years, training to become Salvation Army officers. They are the cutest dogs and have been fun to have around already. There is something about an excited, slobbery face looking at you through the back window, that makes your heart melt!





We had our first ultrasound today. I was so nervous - worried there would actually be no baby in there or something!! But there is and everything is great. It was so amazing to see the ultrasound and hear the heartbeat and then realise that it was our baby we were watching and hearing! Makes it all the more real now.

Andrew has gone snorkelling this afternoon with some mates and won't be back till later tonight so I'm off to do a quick tidy of the house and then see if I can get some scrapping happening. Mojo has been gone lately but I'm feeling it coming back so we'll see what I can get done!

5 things I am grateful for today
1. A new year full of exciting possibilities
2. That our baby is healthy and everything is in the right places
3. That I still have 1 1/2 days of holidays left
4. That i haven't put any weight on with the pregnancy yet!!
5. For a free afternoon to scrapbook

Till next time