A Muddy Friday

Today Casey was supposed to come and visit us, but she woke up sick (get better soon, Case xoxo). So, Ellie and I made a mud puddle in her 'pool container' for her animals to wallow in. The water in the container was fun, but THIS was the best thing! She got her horse, cow and elephant and they had a grand adventure in the depths of Muddy Container. Once they were good and dirty she thought the next best thing would be to run around with great globs of mud and try to hug mum, which was lovely :)

She sang and talked to herself and sometimes to me and had a wonderful time exploring the texture, smell, feel and obviously the taste. Nothing is much fun if you don't taste it.

Kahlei did her thing, looking about and strengthening her back and neck muscles.

Day 23: Self Portrait #1

I have decided to make sure I take at least one photo a month of James and myself, whether it's together or alone, that way we wont be missing from this year's Project 365.

Day 22: Tent City

Our new Huggies Tents came today!

Trying and Failing

I have been trying and trying to upload today's Project 365 photo. Unfortunately, it's just not working for me tonight! I don't know if it's me or our gallery, probably me. I will try and fix it tomorrow when my head isn't killing me!!

Day 21: Taking the Plunge

Weigh In Wednesday!

To mark our 300th post I am beginning my weight loss journey. I had written in my diary that I wanted to lose 20kg by June, starting February 1st. However, somehow I managed to completely forget to actually start my new eating plan and exercise regime. Oops. For whatever reason I decided to hop on the Wii Fit board, weigh myself and get started today, something which has surprised even me.

As soon as I got the board down Ellie hopped on it, so I registered her Mii and weighed her first before popping on myself. James got a pez Wii remote, which we give her to play with when we have our remotes out, so she was pointing it at the screen to 'play'. We don't get the chance to play much (like once every six months lately) but she has already picked up what you're supposed to do, by the time she's 3 she'll be flogging us!

She was not impressed with me being on the Wii board and I ended up having to re-weigh myself three times, it kept telling me I was a little restless and to stand still but Ellie was trying to push me off so she could use it! Apparently, I have lost 2.4kgs since I last did a test. That was a nice little boost to begin this adventure with! Especially given that I have two pregnancies worth of losing to do! When it became apparent that Ellie was not going to let me back on without a fight I decided to do some Tae Bo Total Body Fat Blaster. Ellie had a blast dancing around, laughing at me while I was literally KILLED by Billy Blanks! Maybe I should have started gentler, tried something soothing like Pilates, but I find I am easily bored by things like that. Plus, if I am going to work out I want to feel like it's doing something and when you're drenched in sweat, red in the cheeks and every muscle in your body burns you know what you're doing is working! The thing I love about Tae Bo (or Billy Blanks to be more precise) is that when I get to that point where my arms and legs are on fire, my face is flushed and I have sweat beading on my forehead and I want to stop because I can really feel it he looks at me down the camera and tells me to keep going. So I do. In the end I feel refreshed, positive, proud of myself and maybe a little bit sore in today's case.

After our workout Ellie put herself to bed (in our bed) while I was trying to make it.

Day 20: Smiles of Love

This is my Nan, so Kahlei's Great Nan, having a lovely cuddle together

Day 19: Painting...

Laundry Day

For some weeks after Kahlei's birth I found a way to keep on top of the laundry, mostly. I just told myself that if I folded it as I got it off the line and put it away when I got inside it would all go smoothly for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, I have a hate-hate-HATE relationship with washing. I hate washing it, hate hanging it and HATE folding and putting it away. It only took one day, one time of not being able to fold the clothes as they came off the line (Kahlei thought she might need a feed...) and it was ruined. Since that fateful day clean clothes have been piling up on the chair in the cornor of our room, mocking me everytime I look at them, contemplate getting into it and decide that I actually have something else to do.

Yesterday I put them in a basket and placed them on the coffee table, where I couldn't close the door and ignore them, I figured that would make me fold them. Instead, I avoided them by doing things like washing the floor.

This morning, after I cleaned up after breakfast (and you really do have to 'clean up' when you have an 18 month old! You can't just 'put the dishes in the dishwasher'), I made myself sit down and start dealing with the pile. I got halfway through before Kahlei stirred and needed a feed and change. When I came back out Ellie was sitting happily in the middle of what should have been my nicely folded piles...

I think my girls are against laundry, too.

So, I made some paint and we went outside to get rid of some of Ellie's energy. We don't have any paint brushes, so I cut up a sponge and attached pegs to the end of each piece.

This is the first time Ellie has painted first and only once the paint had practically run out decided to eat it. I was so proud. Whenever she put the sponge in the paint or onto the paper she made a 'plopping' noise.

Once her paper was nice and colourful and the remaining paint was all eaten she ran around saying "Nun, nun, nun" which is how she says run and it is said in a way that makes it sound like she's riding a motorbike. Kahlei happily spent time in her playshade, she loves going outside, too and gets so excited when Ellie pops her head in to say "Hello".

After sufficient time 'nunning' around we came inside, I put Kahlei to bed, fed Ellie and started back on the pile, which had grown as I had taken more clothes off the line while outside. Before putting Ellie to bed, she helped put some of her clothes away.

Then  she went to bed (I love that they sleep at the same time) and I finished up. Now, I just have to remember to fold the clothes as I get them off the line tonight. And continue to do it the easy way.

Now, to put them away.

"Maybe I Have Ovarian Cancer"

Not me. James. Apparently he can feel it in his ovaries, after seeing an ad where it mentions the signs/symptoms, of which he has every single one.

Day 18: Baking Banana Loaf

Luckily it looks tastier now that it's cooked :)

Day 17: Handy Man & Helping Hands

Miracle of Miracles

I may have mentioned (once or twice) my desire to move  closer to my parents. Since Kahlei's arrival I have become increasingly adamant that is what I want. With two children under two, having a family support network would be invaluable and is starting to feel much like a necessity. Not just for helping out with the girls, babysitting and being there in the event of me getting sick but there's also the social support. Being able to catch up over a coffee or meet up at a park for the girls to play.  The strength I get from being surrounded by my family is indescribable and in these early years so important. Plus, I really miss being near them.

James and I have looked online at houses in the area near my family. There have been some we liked, but it was all dabbling, really. James wasn't really sold on the idea of moving there, he just likes to look at houses. Today he was having a 'house searching' moment, in both our town and my parent's when he came across a house he really liked. I mean really. He was looking through the pictures, so totally in love and planning exactly what he could do with the large backyard.

This house just happens to be near my parents. Honestly, I did feel a flutter of excitement, this is the first time he has seemed genuinely excited about the prospect of moving there, which made me think maybe it might actually happen. Definitely a step in the right direction.

He even had me believing that if we had $100,000 he would put this place on the market practically straight away so we could buy it. I rang my mum and told her that she needed to help us raise the money, that this was her opportunity for us to move closer to them (and then I wouldn't be nagging her to move closer to me). Of course, this is one rather large sum of money we're talking about, but it can be done right? Right??

Today has really made me see just how much I want this to happen. And just how far away it is (if it ever happens at all). What I wouldn't give to be doing this in the near future...

To cheer me up I've done a scrap page :) It's a two page layout, so I will put them both here:

Credit:

Template #53 side A & B by Andrea Gold
Lovely Minikit paper 01 by Verena Karolyi Designs
Lovely Minikit paper 03 by Verena Karolyi Designs
Pink Paper by Liz Franklin
Pink Glittery Paper by Liz Franklin
Glittery Diamonds paper by Liz Franklin
Butterfly by Liz Franklin
Beautiful & Adorable Journal Strip by Scrap'it by Breeza
Bitznpieces crosstitch by Scrap'it by Breeza
Alphasflower by Redbutterfly
Dusky Sunset Bling Flourish by Scrap'it by Breeza

Day 16: Let's Play!

My Socialite

Ellie is such a social butterfly. She loves people. She loves to be the center of attention. Lately, I have noticed her becoming more selective about who she chooses to approach, whether it be at a playground or in an extended family situation. It intrigues me to watch her pick one little girl over another, or an older boy over a little girl. Sometimes she will totally disregard a person who has made an effort to come up to her or be totally oblivious of another child following her as she plays. I wonder what qualities she sees in those she is drawn to, I wonder what she is thinking. I try to pick up a pattern, does she choose the most outgoing? The prettiest? Is it an age thing? As yet, I have been unable to figure it out.

I love how she goes up to children at the playground, leans slightly towards them and waves while saying "Hello". Her face simply lights up. Then she will happily play and be excited to come face-to-face with them again as they go about their own games and say "Hello" again. Sometimes she will follow said child, if they particularly take her fancy, at a distance for a while before going off to play again. I wonder what she is learning from these interactions, from watching others.

She is in awe of our family doctor, she will sit silently and watch his every move as he checks her over, measures her, listens to her chest. She is totally in love. She already knows how to charm him with a smile and some bubbly chatting (who knows what she's actually saying...).

Talking on the phone to my parents is a highlight for her, she will look at me with her eyes shining and say "Na" or "Pa" and then will happily chat away forever. She even pretends to talk to them, walking around the house on her little phone saying their names and babbling for AGES. When she gets to see them it's like Christmas (and sometimes it actually is Christmas...).

Another person she loves to spend time with is her favourite aunty, Casey. Case is my first cousin, so not technically Ellie's aunty, but she may as well be and that's what she would like to be called. When we went to James's appointment the other day Ellie had the opportunity to spend some time with Aunty Casey and she was so cute. Everything Case does is hilarious, every move she makes is watched. It doesn't matter how long it's been since they last saw each other, like when Casey was in America for 4 months, Ellie always remembers her and is ready with a big smile for some special fun, the kind you can only have with an aunty like Casey.

If I were to be honest, and I try to be, I would say that I don't know where she gets her confidence or how she manages to be so at ease with people she does not know. I'd have to say I doubt she got these qualities from James or I. Maybe it's all the time she spends with my mum - she is the meaning of Social Butterfly. Casey, too. Thank goodness she has some good socializing role models!

Day 15: Toasties for Dinner

Last night was the first time I have made toasties for James and I for dinner.

The Saga Continues

James had an appointment with a renal specialist yesterday, I was so hoping that we would start getting some answers. Instead, he just has more tests to do and the possibility of more medication.

This has been going on since November 28 last year, when we simply thought James had Whooping Cough; you can read about our (or mine, at least) traumatic experience. Since then he has had many doctor's appointments, oodles of blood tests, urine tests, been tested for a tumor (still not sure of those results) and has been put on two different types of medication. Many of the side effects listed for his medications he is experiencing; from joint pain to headaches. He is always so tired, sore and often grumpy. He's only 25 - it's not meant to be like this!

Yesterday, as we traveled the two hours home from his appointment, he said he would almost rather die than have to take medication for the rest of his life.

What??

He went on to clarify; he just meant it was practically like being put in jail for life.

Practically?

You know, it's a life sentence.

Oh.

He really hates the idea of popping pills daily for the next 60 years. He just wants an answer, preferably an answer that can be cured and does not have to be managed this way. I really feel for him, as I mentioned above, he's only 25. You're not supposed to get high blood pressure until you're older.

My only suggestion is for us to move and start again. Get away from our stressful living arrangements and high-stress job. Just leave it behind, you never know, it might help. Yeah, right. It was a nice thought, though.

For now we will have to continue with what we're doing and hope we'll get some answers soon.



Credit:


Liz Gasaway Designs - Rustic Paper
Rhonna Farrer - Free Love Tag

Day 14: Uninspired

Reflections of Life

Day 13: Precious Pieces

Today I had two favourites, that's the problem when I take photos of my girls, it's too hard to choose!

Project 365 Catch Up: Day 6 - 12

I've been desperate to post my Project 365 photos for the past 6 days, unfortunately we had some issues with our change-over and integration of Gallery. Now, we're all good again so here we are;

Day 6: Joy of Laundry

Day 7: Road To Sydney

Day 8: Puzzle It

Day 9: Raindrop Moment

Day 10: Kiama Blow Hole, A Valentine's Detour

Day 11: Pram Shopping

Day 12: A Sister's Love

I had to be quick to get this shot, as Ellie doesn't hang around long, especially once I get the camera out. So, it's not a GREAT shot but it's my favourite for today - well, it's equal with the next one I am going to post. Yes, two photos for Day 12!

Day 12: Precious Baby

Hopefully, from now on I will be able to post more regularly on the days I have taken the photo, as I like that layout much better than dumping a whole heap of photos at once.

Tuesday's Tribute: My Mummy

Yet Another Jay and Deb Production.

Tuesday's Tribute is a gorgeous idea created by Jay at Halftime Lessons and Deb over at Dirty Socks and Pizza. The basic gist of Tuesday's Tribute is pretty simple; to write a post that spotlights someone else and is NOT about me.

Just recently I have been thinking alot about my mum and missing her heaps, leading me to decide to do my first tribute on her...

Her name is Debra, she is bubbly, happy, confident and sometimes extremely embarrassing. She is an eternal optimist and has love for everyone she meets. She is my mother. For many years now she has been one of my very best friends, when I lived at home we would go out for coffee, go shopping, watch movies, talk and laugh.

I've never met anyone quite like my mum.

There are people in this world who are able to make anyone feel accepted, loved and comfortable. Mum is one of those people. Walking down the street with her is practically a meet & greet as we wander past person after person who say hello and stop for a catch-up. "Who was that?" is my most used sentence when out with her. People just love her and I don't blame them.

One thing I have recently (in the past 18 months) learned about my mum is that she was born to be a grandmother. Spending time with Kahlei and Ellie absolutely makes her glow. She dotes on the girls and I love to see how much love she pours into them. The time they share is so precious, I wish she was closer and could have them more often so they could get to know her as well as possible. Ellie does love her Nanna, she always pretends to be talking to her on the phone, I think she misses being with her. When we're visiting, she and dad will get up with Ellie, whether it be 7am or 5am. If Kahlei is having trouble going to sleep after a feed at 3am mum will get up and put her to sleep for me so I can go back to bed, even Ellie had her up at 5am that morning. She just gives so much.

I appreciate the time we do get to spend together, I just wish it was more frequent.

I love my mum. She rocks.

Pram Wars

James and I have been having a 'discussion' about prams since before Kahlei was born. Late in my pregnancy I started to peruse some forums about having more than one child; I read about people getting ready and buying a new pram that would accomodate both children. It got me thinking that maybe our setup might need some looking at.

With a Bugaboo, a Quinny Zapp and a Baby Bjorn we weren't lacking means of transporting our babies but I was reading things that made me realise it wasn't going to be as easy as we had assumed. I talked it over with James and we decided it would be fine, the combinations were obvious - Ellie in the Quinny, Kahlei in the Baby Bjorn or Kahlei in the Bugaboo, Ellie walking. Easy.

Not long after Kahlei's birth James had to get his hair cut and I experienced my very first 'just me and the girls' moment. We figured the best way to go for that outing was Ellie in the pram and Kahlei in the carrier, mostly because I was still healing from my c-section and running after Ellie really was not an option. Unfortunately, Kahlei didn't like the carrier and I found the pressure of her (even her tiny amount of weight) on my stomach painful.

Since then I can count on one hand the amount of times I have been out alone with both girls.  These times I have had Ellie walking, with her little doggy backpack lead, and Kahlei in the pram. One word: Drama. Ellie is at such a naughty stage. If there are things she can touch or pull off shelves, she will and if we've been somewhere like the park and it's time to leave then she throws a doozy of a tantrum. Kahlei has issues with the start-stop nature of our walks and ends up very upset as I am forever stopping to pick Ellie up to cross a road or put her down because she's so heavy or Ellie simply wants to stand and look at something that has caught her eye.

Popping Kahlei's dummy back in, putting my sun glasses on, readjusting my bag on my shoulder and especially 'picking up a few things' from the shop are almost impossible as I am tethered to Ellie's doggy lead and the pram lead. Doing anything other than simply walking at a slower-than-slow pace requires at least five minutes to put on the breaks, unattach myself, do what needs to be done, reattach and get Ellie moving again. And generally, by the time I've done all that Kahlei's spat her dummy and is protesting having been motionless for so long.

After each disappointing outing I have tried to make James have a look at other pram options with me and for sometime he has been very anti. Obviously, we have literally spent a fortune on the prams we already have, but I am honestly of the opinion that we need to at least talk about getting a pram that will fit both girls. Maybe it wouldn't really help, I knew that but I wanted him to show me his point of view to give me more perspective.

I had all but given up on him seeing my point of view and resigned myself to the life of a hermit when suddenly, on Valentine's night, he was doing some research!! Now, I am not sure if it was spurred on by a need to shut me up about the pram issue or if our most recent Sydney trip had something to do with it, but who cares? At last, I was able to have a proper conversation about what I thought I needed, what the options were and what might be an issue should we choose to take this route.

At first I was looking at tandem prams, namely Phil & Teds, but as I read more and thought about it I decided a twin (or double) pram might work better for us. I had been worried about maneuvering a twin pram through shops and checkouts, but James found they weren't much wider than a normal pram, especially the Bugaboo. So, turned out our first decision was easily made; if we get a new pram it will be a twin. Then we started looking into what's out there. Oh. My. Gosh. The options. The more we looked the more confused I got. James was easily sold on the Mountain Buggy Double Urban and I have to admit I thought it looked pretty awesome, too, but I didn't know if we wanted to fork out so much money for another pram. Especially when Ellie might not be in it for too much longer... But then there's the fact that we might have another baby at some point while Kahlei's still little (like when she's 2).

I liked the look of the Firstwheels City Twin Stroller as oo.com.au has a sale on that, but when I looked at reviews found there wasn't much positive information from parents with this pram. The Phil & Teds double appealed, too, however it only comes in red. I thought the Emmaljunga Twin Cangaroo looked good, too.

We looked at the cheaper options and found the one we think we will go with. The Baby Love EzyGo Twin Odyssey. It has the basic functions we require such 5 position recline and, more importantly for us, each seat reclines independently,  it has adjustable foot rests for each seat, fits through a standard doorway and easily folds away into a managable size (unlike the Bugaboo...). The key, though, is that it isn't expensive, so if Ellie decides she never wants to go in a pram again sooner rather than later we wont feel ripped off. Kahlei will just go into the Quinny and then when we have our next baby they can both go in this. If Bubba #3 comes along later than expected and Kahlei has completely transitioned out of needing a pram or stroller it wont be an issue that we're not using it (unless we have twins, haha. No, that's not funny, I take it back).

The plan is to purchase my sanity saver (that's what I've named whatever pram we buy) late this month or early next. I feel so relieved. I won't have to worry about our next nightmare 'adventure' or, worse, keep the girls and myself at home.

Home Sweet Home

I am so glad to be home. I'm especially glad about the fact that we'll be in our bed tonight, without Ellie there! Our sleeping arrangements over the last few nights has been a disaster! Seriously. All three nights Ellie woke when we went to bed because she was sleeping between us and she stayed awake for hours afterward! She would toss and turn, roll and climb in an effort to get comfortable driving both James and I mad. In the end both of us would turn away and go to sleep and she would calm down and fall asleep after that. So, we're all pretty tired.

Right now I am going to watch a movie with my sweetheart <3

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Support Victims of the Victorian Bushfires

Just a quick post to share some information I have found on how we can help the victims of the Bushfires in Victoria;

* Coles supermarkets will be donating this Friday's (13th February) profits to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund, for more information on this check here.

* Donate blood or money through Redcross.

* Visit your NAB, ANZ, Westpac or Commonwealth Bank branch


* Donate By direct deposit to the Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund - BSB 082-001, Account number 860-046-797

* Donation can be made at Any Bunnings store, Post Office, Woolworths and Safeway outlets (except in Queensland where money is being raised for flood relief)

* The Salvation Army are accepting donations such as toiletries, clothes, bedding, toys, nappies to assist people who have lost everything.

* Oztion.com.au is donating all the fees and commission on Wednesday the 11 February 2009 to The Victorian Bushfire and Queensland floods victims

* Hoyts will donate $2 for every movie ticket sold on Sunday

* If you want to leave a message of support, sign this guestbook

We're off to Sydney this afternoon, so I will have to back-post my Project 365 photos for the next few days. Take care of yourselves!

We're Back!

Before I get into the entry I've been planning for the past few day while our site was down, I want to pay my respects to those who have been effected by the horrific fires in Victoria, as I write this I am hearing the new statistics; the death toll has been confirmed at 173, over 700 houses have been lost, whole towns have been ruined and 20 fires continue to burn. I can't even begin to understand what people are feeling, having lost everything, but I can offer my thoughts, prayers and support.

For more information on this disaster, go here. And please DONATE through the Red Cross.

Also in our thoughts are those in North Queensland who are struggling with floods.

***

So, we're back up. The whole time we were down, all I wanted to do was write this entry!

I have a confession; I've been using another blog. The affair has been purely superficial, my heart will always be with beckyandjames.com, the thing that drew me away was my frustration at the limitations placed on me within the program we were using. I was unable to change the things I wanted to change without it being a HUGE drama, I was unable to put my photos on the server and had to go through photobucket... I was unable to comment on other blogs without a google/blogger sign in, anyway, so I figured why not give blogger a go? Why not try the whole annonimity thing?

Beckyandjames was started as a way to keep family and friends up-to-date and we have never really ventured into the true blogosphere and become social -I felt it was too hard to start connecting with other bloggers from here after so long.

At Scrappin' Me Sane I have found a community, but not through belonging to blogger as such. I had to venture out, after some time, as I was starting to wonder why I couldn't get readers or comments at all and found SITS. Once I joined in there I was surprised to find many comments on my blog, I was welcomed so warmly and have already found some awesome blogs to follow. The support provided by this site is awesome and I started wishing I had found them and participated through beckyandjames.

I have found it too difficult to keep both blogs running as I would like, so we've taken steps to give me more control here so that I can make this blog what I want it to be and I will keep my google log in but not the blog so that I can continue to follow the blogs I have become attached to.

Faithful readers; don't leave me for my indiscretion and new readers; welcome, let me know you've been :) Oh, and please be patient, we're still working on this site and how we want it to look/work, thanks!

For now I have a possible Sydney trip tomorrow that I need to pack for.

Day 5: "Burrs!"

"Burrs!" Ellie squeeled excitedly, pointing behind me. As I turned I caught this shot, it's not great but it's spontanious and my faverourite for today.