rebecca:vavic

Life is beautiful...

Ahh, so many reasons I am counting my blessings these days...

Here are but a few:

My two adorable (and at times challenging) children who remind me daily what a blessing all the little things in life are... like Joshua with a packet of sultanas. SUCH JOY! If only we adults did not lose that as we "grew up", sad really!

I am enjoying these summer days with my kidlets, in the pool, at the movies, KidsCity and relaxing at home.

I have found myself the PERFECT mini iron to use on the beeswax of my mixed media collages.

I will be selling some original pieces at a gift store in Kingston, she has some prints and wants the originals too... whoot whooo!

Today I have some time to work on some layouts for Ngarie and Scrapbook Creations.

Last night we picked up this most amazing pregnancy (and after) cushion for me {and blossoming baby}, I slept like a log. Best thing as that you can use it for sitting and feeding too.

My little sister is coming home from Korea real soon and I am so looking forward to being reunited with her.

Tomorrow I am off to A Day on the Green to see Leonard Cohen and Paul Kelly with my gorgeous friend Bernie. I am beyond super excited about this event... this music, this experience. It will be so fun!

Next weekend I am off to a scrapping retreat with the lovely Manon (I SO looking foward to that)... and I am almost super organised.

Part of me is sad about the school holidays being over next week... as I will miss my girl, part of me is relieved as I like having more of a schedule that the school term brings... and part of me is really excited because Mikaela is so SUPER excited about starting 3rd Grade. I am so happy about that!!

Check out DQ's post here... the badge ... awarded to Mother's flying with children is GOLD!!

"Ever been stuck on the taxiway for hours with a child who is potty training, a born dancer or a curious, shrieking climber? Run out of snacks and been stuck with a snarky attendant who was no help? With on to a cross country flight with 3 under four year olds and read the lips of passengers as they moan a cuss word that sounds like stuck? Been forced to take a sleeping baby from a sling so you can go through the metal detector? For those with wanderlust and off-spring, your bravery and grit are honored with this badge."

AND if you have not seen her QT kits... do not delay, have a look today!

Edit: pm... I've been feeling bubba move about quite a bit as I sit and relax with Nath.

I think that's about if for me... right now it's time for an iceblock.

EnJOY your weekend. Love out.
Bxo

Bondi Beach layout...

Is featured in the latest issue of Scrapbooking Memories {Volume 10 Number 11}:

Apparently (according to the online view), I have moved to QLD.

My Dad (who lives in Noosa) and my bro Wade and a few friends may be happy about that...

I am pretty sure I am still in Canberra.

I love this series of photographs of Mikaela... she looks so cute in her Auntie Meeges hat. The girl is super cute and growing so quickly it is a bit scrary really !!

Hugs

Bxo

When its 39 degrees...

What else is there to do, but this:

 We dont have a pool, this is taken at one of our favourite public ones, Dickson...

Our dear neighbours DO have a pool and we are lucky that they let us use it whenever we want. You can be sure we'll be using it today.

Right now we are off to KidsCity for them to have some fun while I edit some photos.

Love and Hugs

Bxo 

Colourise me...

Do you ever get stuck for colour inspiration when creating a piece... a scrapbooking layout or a artwork... ?? You can always flick through some magazines, or your inspiration journal if you have one.... or you could go here:

The Colour Lovers is sure to help... there are loads of combinations to give you some visual joy... and patterns also... plus they have a blog too, which is just beautiful!

Here are a couple of colour combinations that I fell for:

Describe Love

Whimsical Wednesday

I will be checking this site out reguarly (and the blog) for new and fresh inspiration.

Joy.

Bxo 

Preparation is paramount...

When going away for a scrap-booking retreat ... for TWO WHOLE nights :)

In less than two weeks I will be sharing dormitory style accommodation and bunking it with lots of like minded souls who love to scrap and stamp...

I cant wait, I have a TONNE of projects under my belt ready to go.

Here is a sneak peek at one of them:

 

Totally lifted the idea from a project that Jen McGuire had done a feature on in Creating Keepsakes. 

I am almost ready to go with that one, may also do our Europe 2007 one in a similar fashion, Nath is also keen for me to do his solo Europe adventure from 2004... mind you I still have to do my solo... living in Italy for a year in 2000 & 2001.... so yeah, I need to get sorted.

A few others I am definitely working on will be:

2008 family album;

2009 baby bump mini album... I made a number of these little tags:

2008 Mikaela mini album;

Valentines one for my love;

Sisterly love;

Finishing my Noumea and Road Trip albums...

Some gifts for family... and anything else I can squeeze in... SO MANY HOURS to scrap... I cant wait. Really, I am quite excited...

I used to go annually... religiously, but as I was the main food source for our little guy, up until about a month ago... it was outta the question for a while. I'd go for the day, but not the WHOLE weekend ... and with bubba #3 arriving mid year, not sure when will go to another one. Maybe I wont sleep, maybe I will scrap all night...

....... mmmmm, maybe not, but I definitely want to get as much as I can done and that is why I will be spending HOURS before hand on "Operation Organisation and Preparation"  Wish me luck.

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Happy Australia Day ... I am so proud to be an Aussie, I love this wide nation of ours... we only covered about 4200kms on our holiday recently... we have the most incredible variety in landscape and people. I am rather hormonal ATM, so I will put it down to that the reason that I cry during our anthem...

I took this photo at the Cape Otway Lightstation during our latest holiday.  I love our two Aussie flags flying side by side. LOVE that sight !!!

Hugs and Love

Bxo

Spiritual Business...

One of the most beautiful gifts that Nath got me for Christmas was this book...

When I opened the gift I cried, because I knew the book... I knew I wanted this book... I could not recall how I knew this. Did I walk by it in a store and mearly mention it to Nath? I cried because he remembered things that were important to me... things that I don't even remember. I cried because he is always so super thoughtful... it comes so easily to him.

In actual fact... there was a write up about it in the Sunday papers and I said to Nath "I must get this book"... I tore the article out [in the hope that it would not get lost in my studio mess, and one day I would get it]. Better still Nath took the torn piece of paper and held onto it... to surprise me at Xmas... and surprise me, he did. He always does things like that. He makes me feel so special! I am lucky, this I know *smile*

Kate began her journey to writing this book by use of her blog. Her new one is here. I have found this book (and the blogs) to be the most powerful resource, and thoroughly inspiring.

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Yesterday at the Birthing Centre went really well... Mikaela and Joshua enjoyed listening to our blossoming baby's heartbeat. Very sweet.

Happy Friday! We have a long weekend here... we're looking forward to some relaxing family time together.

Bxo

2009 Hopes, Wishes and Dreams...

So this post kinda incorporates a few different themes and inspirations... all along the same theme.

Firstly inspired by Ali and her "One Little Word" concept... mine for 2009 is Harmony, or Harmonise actually. At first I was thinking of "organise" as I approach mothering 3 children (2 of those under 2 years)... but it really didnt sit well...  or have the right feeling for me, then I found "HARMONISE" was really what I was after and where I was coming from... my wish for my home and family... that I can create some harmony and unity in 2009.

During a meditation/conceptial idea for my "wheel of life" for 2009 I worked on here over the weekend, I came up with this creative piece:

Which is kinda along similar lines of projects I have done before, such as my dreamboard and wish jar. I find these very powerful tools in manifesting ones dreams and desires... my list for 2009 includes:

SELF: Accept and love myself... embrace "me" and let that love and acceptance flow to all aspects of my life.

RELATIONSHIPS: Harmonise my family, parent effectively (Nath and I are attending this course together this year); Reconnect with my sisters and rediscover each other's souls (this is definitely one of my most important objectives for this year); Nurture my soulmate relationship with Nathan as the most important in my life. Embrace our union daily.

HOME: Harmonise, Organise, Lead, Play, Love, Respect, Appreciate.

CREATIVITY: Go for it, solidify myself as a mixed media artist; sell; promote and market.

HEALTH: Go with the flow and believe in myself with this 3rd birthing experience, know I can have another estactic birth; continue to walk daily; go on regular bike rides; do pre-natal yoga; maintain healthy eating and diet.

SPIRITUALITY: Get back into Yoga in a major way; volunteer in my community; spend time on meditation and spiritual growth.

WEALTH: Continue to support Nathan in creating family wealth; continue to make some money for the family; maintain lifestyle; enjoy family holidays; save money; constant goal of building in Deakin.

The next project I started this year with is Emily's 52Q tags - a weekly challenge:

52Q1 - What do you wish for in 2009... here is the card, pretty much all the stuff above is repeated on the back of this tag:

52Q2 - Am I afraid of change? Basically my journalling is that I am not afraid of change I instigate, but I can be of changes out of my control. And fear of the unknown.

 52Q3 - Do you believe in Faries... well of course! Especially the tooth fairy kind... Mikaela has lost about 6 teeth in the last year, the most memorable was when she was on the back of a jet ski with Nath in Palm Cove, FNQ October last year. No tooth for the fairy that night!!

That's about it from me for now... here's to a wonderful 2009 full of change and growth!!

We're off {all together, as a family} for our first appointment at the Birthing Centre this morning... seems appropriate that we all go, since we have an opportunity for us all to be there for the birth (if not all in the room at the time of arrival).

Hugs
Bxo

Lookie who I can see...

Isnt technology just amazing??, well yes, der... we all know that!!

Still every now and again we are reminded in very solid ways... like chatting to my girl Kim {God Mother to Joshua} while she is teaching in Thailand***.

I see her, I see her excitement, I see her joy, I see her Thailand glow {nice way of saying sweatiness, hey - I've been I KNOW all about it LOL :)}... I see HER.

And it is so wonderful to see her so happy and relaxed.

So brave is my friend Kim. I am so proud of her and her journey.

Nath, Joshua and I all had a great time catching up and squealing in excitement for her {well that was only me, but anyways}... Mikaela was at her Dad's and so unfortunately missed her this time around, but will catch her next time, no doubt.

I miss you babes. You are a wonderful inspiration and soul, I love you much!

***Global Vision International has SO many different projects around the world... so exciting to have my brave friend be part of this exciting and wonderful organisation. I dream of spending a year or more in Africa.... sigh... one day when my kidlets are bigger and I am about 60years old LOL {and Mikaela is old enough to volunteer too, if she chooses} *smile*

Bxo

New Wheels...

and they are sweeeeeeet !! I fell totally, immediately, hard "in-love at first sight" with this bike when I saw it at the store I just loved it! My Christmas present from Nathan :)

Being with my super sensible (Virgo) husband... we STILL had to go check out another 2 stores, magic number is always 3 when comparing prices... by the end of the day I was back at Onya handing over the cash.

I collected it yesterday morning... bike seat for Joshua all set to go, cute little helmet and funky basket (of course)! ready to ride into the sunset...

We went out for a ride in the afternoon... and this is as excited as Joshua was about the whole experience:

Not quite as excited as Me.

Not near as excited as he was about riding the River Torrens in Adelaide at Christmas time.

Not excited at all really!

Gotta love how kids can {and do} fall asleep anywhere, anytime on anything!

Joy

Bxo

17 weeks...

 

Or thereabouts … which means in about 5 months we will have another adorable little being in our home.

 

I am starting to get very excited about meeting this new angel to arrive soon, not to say I havent been excited... I guess I have been preoccuppied during this pregnancy with toddler taming (or not taming) and the "pre-teens" of my near 8 year old and generally trying to be my best self as a wife and mother... most of the time failing miserably LOL!!

 

With both Mikaela and Joshua I was really able to enjoy both pregnancies as though they were both my first, well with Mikaela because obviously she was my first. With Joshua it felt like my first all over again because Mikaela was 6 years old, and we were well past the newborn, baby and toddler years... it was all new and exciting all over again.

 

So with baby #3 on the horizon I got to thinking a whole gammat of thoughts and emotions: some of my usual fearful thoughts - "will the baby be healthy"; "I hope labour goes well" and a new one "what will my life LOOK like in a year's time" ... some occassionally selfish thoughts - "when will I ever have Me/Scrap/Art time?" ... some rational and realistic thoughts - "how will I keep my house clean and organised"... some sad, pre-grieving thoughts for the changes to occur - "Joshua not getting me all to himself (nor me he)"; "Mikaela having more reason to have her (very occassional) meltdown and cry "I just miss you Mum" which will make our Mummy/Daughter time more scarse and precious; "when will Nath and I ever get any couple time"...

 

All these thoughts... plus guilty thoughts for those I love that long to have a bubba of their own, and for many reasons are not able to (just yet)...

 

Yet all of these thoughts and emotions do not detract from the fact that I am SO totally excited about meeting this new little baby bundle of joy.

 

During meditation on Saturday it stuck me that I have in my womb a child who already has their very own unique blue print of who they are, how they think... very soon a whole new little being will enter our family, a little being with his or her very special and unique personality, likes and dislikes, giggle, chatter...

 

Not to mention the very adorable and gorgeousness that ONLY a newborn baby is --> which goes so quickly --> and another fact I was "pre-greiveing" for a bit - I mean I just cant believe that Joshua is already 16 months old, it feels like yesterday (and forever) since he joined our family.

 

I know it will be like that for "blossoming baby" too - once he or she arrives, we will feel as though they've always been with us. And of course, it will go so quickly too.

 

We've started to get ourselves organised for the arrival, we need to get ourselves a double pram, another car seat, etc etc... we've also started to buy a couple of outfits (just for baby, not ALL hand me downs)... including this little number, which is one of my favourites:

 

I am also VERY excited that I will be delivering at the Birthing Centre again. This is where I gave birth to Mikaela, some 8 years ago: 3 hours, no drugs, no issues what-so-ever... and I know that delivering there again does not guareentee the same experience... but I feel mroe comfortable, relaxed and confident... and those are the most important factors. I'll also have a doula, which I am so excited about and really looking forward to.

 

Another big factor is that I am healther than I was with Joshua, I went on a diet and was 9 kilos lighter when I fell pregnant this time, than I was with Joshua... I'll continue my walking; be doing pre-natal yoga; Nath bought me a bike for chrissy (I'll collect today) and chasing Joshua about certainly keeps me on my toes too...

 

As with many changes in our lives... we can at times be fearful of the unknown... then when it arrives we realise we had no reason to be fearful at all... everything is just as it is supposed to be.

 

I figure it's five tough years (and the rest LOL)... and Nath and I are even considering another, baby #4 will be our finale to our family (God willing)...

 

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Also today is the birthday of two very gorgeous friends of mine:

Jodie who has been beside me through thick and thin... who makes me laugh and cry... who is a gorgeous, real, true, unjudging, compassionate woman who I am proud to have as a lifer friend (oh and is SINGLE can you believe it!!!! If you have any gorgeous single men, in Canberra!!, you want to send on a blind date, email me :) teeehehhheee {she will kill me for that, but hey Mr Right is out there somewhere!!!}... I'm otta here to have brunch with her this morning YUMMO!:

 

And Di, who is about as sweet and caring a friend you can find... it is also her 18 year wedding anniversary today too... Congratulations Dave and Di.

 

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Another issue all together - Barack Obama's speech this morning made me cry very very good tears of joy... the joy that change can bring... ahhhh. Hope and Faith - two very beautiful and important factors of life!

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Until next time, love and peace out..

Bxo