What's not to love about Sunday's? Together ness, slow-down-ed-ness :) Happiness. Love.
Life is sweet.
Monday's are my days with just Ben and I, today I have lots of work to do.
Fingers crossed Ben is up for a few big long naps :) Cutie pie is getting his knees up and really putting himself in the ready to crawl position (very determined little guy is he)... I have reminded him that he needs to learn to sit up first!!
Love out
Bxo
Not sure why, but it does.
I have so many things I am thinking about right now:
Right now both my boys are sleeping and I am having a small amount of "me" time.
Peace.
Bxo
Hey, I thought it would be fun to try a few weekly features on my blog, general rants (such as what you are about to receive) by way of Monday Mumma Mutterings, some tutorials, on a Tuesday of course; Wednesday maybe I share my inspirations.
So today I bring you the first of my "Mumma Mutterings"... basically my thoughts and venting on anything and everything to do with being a Mumma.
Photo taken by Penny of paj when Ben
was 3 days old. I didn't ask her to, but Penny did touch up this photo of me... I am far wrinklier IRL!
Lately I have been thinking about the elusive (and for me, non-existent) glamour Mumma. I am not a glamour Mumma, being a Mum for me is many things, most of them very rewarding and gorgeous... non of them involve glamour. Not a one!
This morning my husband asked me if I really wanted to wear the top I had on. A 3/4 sleeve green tee shirt, that I happen to really like... bought recently and only worn about 3-4 times.
Thing is it has breast milk stains all over it. Yes breastmilk stains, it is 100% fat I think... you may as well smear some butter into your top. There are stains on the front and on the sleeves, so pretty much a tie die kind of effect happening!
Ben vomits on me constantly... bless his cotton socks. Honestly I dont really care too much cause he is a baby and he is not doing it on purpose. Asides, to be honest, I cant really blame the baby... see I am, by nature, a bit of a numpty. I often spill food, or drinks on myself.
Plus I have what is known in the breast feeding community as a "fast flow"... the other day while traveling home from a weekend in Melbourne, sitting in the Qantas lounge (all the ingredients for a Glamour Mumma, no?) I had to check that my milk spray had not landed upon the lady sitting beside me. From time to time I even spray myself in the eye. Not very glamourous.
I did see a Glamour Mumma while in the lounge, her bubba was just a bit smaller than Ben, she had her in a sling. She had a lovely sheepskin jacket, skinny jeans and stiletto boots on - oh and she was rake thin... I just watched her with my mouth agape {again not very Glamour Mumma esk of me}. I wear converse sneakers, or ballet slipper style shoes, jeans - and often tracky dacks... and clearly have no problem wearing baby spew tops in public. I don't even want to think of the damage I could inflict on myself and/or bubba if I were to wear a pair of stiletto's.
Recently I went clothes shopping with my sisters. I felt quite special as they "jshusshed" me and put me together. I felt a bit more like "me" and not all Mumma. Still I felt uneasy with these purchases. I could not work out why I had this uneasy feeling. Was it because I was still a bit overweight after the birth? No, it wasnt that because I am all about embracing the now (and not thinking, I will be happy when... when I loose a bit of weight, when I go on a holiday, when schmen, NOW is the time to be happy), right so it wasnt that. I realised what the matter was when I first put some of the clothes on ... it was the breast feeding factor, did they cater for such activity? Thankfully they did/do... but I quickly realised that the very beautiful silky fabric will have breastmilk all over it within about half an hour of putting it on. Which is exactly what happened yesterday, I had to remove said gorgeous material garment to spray it with stain remover before even getting out of the house.
So I am not sure how they do it... these Glamour Mumma's, not when their bubba's are so little. When they are older, yes. I think I had it pretty much together again by the time Mikaela was 4 years old. So, I'll get back to you on this matter, and show you my Fabuloso Glamourous Mumma self in about 4+ years. LOL!
Next week... "How do you do it?"
Oh and if you have any specific questions you would like me to answer, leave a comment, or drop me an email and I'll make a post of it.
Bxo
Only they are $200 new... but I went here and got a pre-loved one for just $80, thanks to my cousin Rose who spied it for me before I got there. Within 5 mins I had it and we were on the way back to the car. My type of shopping.
Well Nath's type of shopping... I could have stayed a lot longer and bought a whole lot more... they have moved out to EPIC in Mitchell & it was HUGE and packed!
If you have pre-loved baby/kids stuff to off load, or you are in need of something and want to save yourself some money... I highly recommend you get yourself to a Baby & Kids Market. They are held all over Australia.
Happy Saturday
Hugs
Bxo
Most Thursday's between 930am and 12ish, you will find us at Paint and Play, catching up with some fabulous women and lots of gorgeous kidlets.
This week Joshua created this fabulous piece:
I was inside nursing Benjamin, thankfully a very considerate Mumma put a smock on Joshua for me :)... when I came out she explained that once he had finished painting, he grabbed a peg to add in the "scratches"... so sweet!
He was right into it !
Squishy joy!!
This is Joshua having his morning tea of fruit. Moments before he was enjoying the shaving cream {pure sensory joy} table... he is such a card!
After Ben had a feed as soon as we'd arrived, he pretty much slept the entire time :)
This here is Martha, my superhero girlfriend who is such an inspiration to me... she had 3 under 2 years... her first boy was Joshua's age when her twins (both boys) arrived. They are now 3 under 5. She is totally amazing. Incredulously {to me anyways} that since Ben was born she has brought me two meals. She is a Yogi and studying to do pregnancy massage. She totally rocks. Martha is definitely in my top 5 for 2009.
Today was such a magical day... sunny, bright, crisp and feeling spring is right around the corner. I got to chat with some other great women, Deb & her Mum Cynthia and Helen (new to Canberra). Plus it is just so lovely to be out and about with the boys. The boys. WOW. Feels strange to say that. Me and my boys. Strange and very, very good. ALso just feels good that the weather is getting nice enough to take them out without my fear that Ben and I will end up back in hospital!
This one is for my SIL, Ben wearing an outfit she bought him which he is rapidly outgrowing... he is such a nugget!
Once we are home from Paint & Play, both boys nap the afternoon and I get to do some of my own Paint & Play LOL !!
Slowly my studio is getting a make-over. I will share once done... so in about 6 months!! kidding :)
Happy Friday lovelies...
Bxo
Went something like this:
FRIDAY:
Usual early morning chaos...breakfast and the Today show:
I love these Peter Alexander PJ's I got for Nath, the back of the top says "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi" translated: "do you want to sleep with me" CUTE!!
Mikaela has a lunch order on Friday's:
930 my friend Dalisay came over with her daughter Mia, we took of to the Craft and Quilt Fair. Kids fell asleep on the way. Ben remained asleep for some time. Joshua not so long and he took off a couple of times, cheeky monkey. Ben awoke and needed a feed then got a bit of a sore tummy. We decided to call it a day. Not before I got these beautiful ribbons and some buttons for my collage art:
I am such a sucker for ribbon, I have seriously WAY TOO MUCH of the stuff! And yet I can never resist buying more. Go figure!
Usual Friday afternoon stuff... EXCEPT my gorgeous sister, Megan, arrives from Sydney just before we go collect Mikaela... I love surprising her :) We all hang out at mine. My other sister, Katie, arrives and they take off to her place for a girlie sleepover. Mikaela is very excited!!
Nath takes Joshua to the plaza to do our usual replenishing of supplies, nappies, bulk detergent, etc. I stay home with Ben and create a mess :)
Naturally my ribbon purchase (and the Fair itself I guess) inspires me to create some more collage art, in a serious way, by 1020pm... this is what my kitchen looks like:
Yah, here we go again :)
SATURDAY:
We are up at 7am on Saturday's to get ready for Joshua's swimming lessons. I dont like the get up early part. But by the time we get home at 1120am with a car full of fresh fruit and vegies, plus meat. I am happy we have the whole day to ourselves and have done all our "to do" stuff for the day.
Joshua is continuing to love his weekly swimming lessons.
After spending the night at my sisters, then walking up Mt Ainslie, Mikaela spends teh day at her Dad's and he drops her home for dinner.
I spend the day doing artsy stuff. Meeges hangs with Katie and comes over in the late afternoon. Nath watches the footy.
We have a roast dinner. Benjamin is a bit unsettled. Meeges is very helpful and I think a little in love:
We hang out, do artsy stuff and have sisterly D&Ms. I am disappointed for Nath that his team loses!
SUNDAY
Early up. Meeges goes to the shops to get eggs and the Sunday papers. We have bagels, eggs and bacon for breakfast/brunch.
11am we have PET reunion at Black Mountain Peninsula park... Mikaela and Joshua have a ball and before we know it 1pm has arrived.
Home again. My sister Katie comes over and she, Meeges, Ben and I go down to Manuka for a coffee. We have a 1.5hr outing... whoooohooo for me!!
Katie takes off for some shopping. Meeges comes back to ours for a bit more before having to drive back to Sydney :(
I was quite sad to watch her drive off. I had a bit of a tear in my eye... I love having my sister's visit and Meeges is just super helpful and blends right in with our family, she has quite a calming effect on me LOL!
Not much else for the rest of the day... relaxing together and family movie...
That's it for our week. It was a challenge that's for sure!
I have a babe in my arms... so will elaborate next post :)
Love out
Bx
Me - not funny. At all. Well some of part's of my day's I find very funny, but I am not ! My friend Tanya is witty. Not me.
Ah and I think I may also have ADHD... 'cause I am kinda bored of this whole "caputuring" every single second of a whole week of my life. Probably not near as bored as you. But bored none the less. I mean I like the concept, but the practicality is... well, kinda time consuming (of which I have very little "spare"). I dont want to "quit" my self impossed project with only three days to go... so I will get back to it BUT...
Right now both boys are napping, Nath is on his computer. Miss Mikaela is at her Dad's and I am doing ART. TONNES OF IT...
Gotta run before those chilen's wake up.
Coffee first?
Love
Bxo
Sheez it is 0959am and already I feel Iike I have been up for about 10 hours. I guess that is because I am awake a lot more than I am sleeping these days.
THankfully Ben feeds very well during the wee hours of night. However because Joshua is still not 100% and very restless, and sleeping in our bed, it made for a pretty ordinary night last night. Lack of sleep is starting to catch up with us.
We were up and at 'em early again today. Mikaela pretty much all ready and running about the house with Joshua, both of them squealing and making a great racket while Nath is having his shower. Ben and I get up and grab Joshua, we all have our shower and get dressed. The Iris' Tanya bought me on Monday have started to bloom, and they are lovely!
Nath and Mikaela get off to work and school. I breastfeed Ben and after a little unsettling, he sleeps until lunch time.
Joshua and I potter about together, some teev, some phone calls, some drawing, some toy playing... particularly lego (duplo) and Thomas trains. Joshua falls asleep on the couch for a much needed nap. He is still not well at all :( but is improving.
I get to do some blogging, emailing and looking for (just the right) buttons to add to some collage art:
The handy man (Kevin) arrives to fix our pantry draws. Marie comes over for lunch & brings me the most gorgeous gerbras (one of my favourite flowers).
Nath arrives with yummo sour dough and cakes from Silo... delicious.
I have made a slow cook Minestrone soup, which Nath cares nothing for as there are too many vegetables!
Both boys were asleep when Nath and Marie arrive, they are awake as they leave... I breastfeed Ben. Joshua had lunch with Marie and his Dadda... we sit on the couch and chat and watch some teev, they have some play time together. I like how Joshua is sticking his finger in Ben's belly button. CUTE!
We go collect Mikaela. Ben falls asleep almost immediately once in the car. Joshua reads a book. I outline some collage art.
Mikaela arrives to the car with two ribbons she was awarded at her Athletics Carnival today, a first (shot put) and second (long jump). I feel sad I didn't get to go see her as I usually don't miss any of her events. I just cant take the boys out in the winter weather when they are sick. Obviously. Why couldn't they hold the carnival indoors?
With my "mini nannie" to assist me (stay in the car with the boys while I run inside briefly), we go into civic so I can buy some paint, then to Woden so I can collect Ben's blue book (which I accidently left at the clinic on Monday... DuH!).
HOme, afternoon tea (more of the cakes from Silo... delicious!!) then Mikaela and I sit down to watch "Farmer Wants a Wife" which Nath taped for us. I breastfeed Ben and nurse him to sleep.
My #1 VIP customer, Peta, comes over to collect the July ReVa kit and hangs out for a bit.
Nath arrives home, after a 2 sec conversation with Mikaela... they decide on pizza for dinner (over my minestrone... really! shocking!), he orders them and takes off to collect.
Peta leaves as Nath gets back home and dishes out the pizza.
Dinner finished and kitchen cleaned by 6pm. Joshua and I have a bit of a muck about.
The boys and I have a bath. Ben and I go hang out with Mikaela and read a book Kim got her "Clarice Bean" by Lauren Child? Nath comes to collect Ben. Mikaela and I have a chat about her grandmother dying in Africa. About how her Dad must feel. About how Mikaela feels. About some issues Mikaela is having at school, and with other kids. About how I will be as a Grandmother and Mother to her... for always. About how much I love her. We shed some tears, we have big cuddles. We come up with a brain storm to add some butterflies to her lamp. We add some. I looks great. Lights out, time for sleep. Night Night! Sweet Dreams. I love You's.
Nath and I watch another episode of "Mad About You"...
I attempt to get Joshua to bed at 2030hrs and again about 40mins later... both times he entertains me for a bit.. then gets off the bed, lets himself out of the room (only just started to reach the handle) and closes the door behind himself. The second time I fall asleep and awake to his banging on the door wanting to be let back in... only for a minute.
I make Nath and I a cuppa. Ben is still sleeping in Nath's arms on the couch as he watches teev. I update this here blog post. Joshua falls asleep on couch.
Bed EARLY 1030ish.
Bxo
0354hrs breastfed Ben
Joshua first thing in the morning with his toys.
