After All These Years

{I Don't Know How She Does It}

Have you seen this movie? I watched it recently and was somewhat comforted. My plate is very full. I'm struggling to keep up with the washing. And I always seem to be tired. Eeeek! But I know I'm not alone in feeling this way!

This is not just a whiney blog post I promise! Because I know that when I feel this way I need to get back to basics - documenting and recording the stories and being grateful of course. 

• I'm about to register for this class from Ali Edwards. It's come at just the right time for me! 
• I'm almost up to date on my monthly gratitude layouts.
• The shop is going so well! I've got new product to design and source!

 

Of course, taking up most of my time is my beautiful family! I've been terribly slack at documenting Noah's first year so far so the rest of this catch up post if for him!

At nine months old:

He is pulling himself up and furniture surfing! Nothing is safe!

Has two bottom teeth.

Crawls so fast when he wants something.

Doesn't like to be put down much . . .

Loves his food (obviously).

Puts everything in his mouth.

Gives the best snuggles.

Gives the biggest smiles with his gorgeous dimples.

Still loves his bath!

Still gives high pitched squeals when he's happy or wants attention.

His sister always gets the biggest giggles!

Is such a good baby and sleeps wonderfully!

We love him so much!

 

{0 to 4 In The Blink Of An Eye}

Today is my girl's 4th birthday and I can't help but reflect upon these last four years . . . how amazing they've been . . . how fast it has gone. 

From my first ever PINK layout!

Oh I love this girl so much! 

xxx

{January Gratitude}

I'm a little late posting this month's gratitude list but nevertheless, here is January's list:

1. A great Christmas/New Year's break, the longest holiday my husband's ever had from work! 

2. A handy husband - doing some minor renovations and he does it all!

3. Amelia's extreme love for her baby brother. Still smothers him with love most of the day.

4. Noah. He is a dream baby right now - sleeping and eating so well and playing happily for longer.

5. 7 hours sleep a night. Most nights. At least. Hooray!

6. Balancing my time slightly better. Finding time to work on Greatest View, keeping up with house stuff etc.

7. Coconut M&Ms. Yum. 

8. A smooth start to Kindy for my girl. I was a nervous wreck.

9. Blogs. Gosh I've "met" some nice people through blogging.

10. My baby boy's giggles every single time he gets undressed! 

{Catching My Breath}

Well, it's over for another year. What a busy month December always turns out to be! I had grand plans to do so much but I let it go. I didn't get to make photo ornaments for the tree. I didn't get to make an advent calendar. I didn't get to do a lot of baking. But, I did get to spend more time with my kids hanging out. I did get to do a massive clean out of our house (while hubby is on holidays). I did get to catch up with some old friends.

So now we are in recovery mode. We are re-organising the house to make room for all the new toys. We are eating our way through the leg ham and chocolates. And I am making plans and goals for next year. I love the enthusiasm I have when the new year rolls around!

{November Gratitude}

This project gets me thinking throughout the whole month, to be grateful for the little things. And that's exactly what I wanted it to do! So here's my list for November:

1. My family's health. A few people I know have had/are going through a rough time health wise. It's always in the back of my mind.

2. The kindness of strangers. I'll tell this story another day . . . 

3. Amelia's creativity. I just love when she draws me pictures and puts them up on the fridge herself. And I love that I can tell what she's drawn LOL!

4. Sleep. I've had a bit more lately and it's awesome!

5. Farex. This has allowed me to get more sleep! 

6. Online support. I am humbled and so happy that I've finally launched my first online class!

7. Early Christmas shopping. I'm nearly done . . . the shops are getting so busy.

8. Weight Watchers. I took the plunge and joined with my BFF and I love that it's teaching me the correct eating habits again.

9. A new camera which is inspiring me to snap more photos everyday.

10. My husband. We recently had our fifth wedding anniversary and I can't believe it's been five years already! How different our life is now . . .

Don't forget to let me know if you want to join in this monthly gratitude project!

It's filling up but it's not too late to join in!  There's still plenty of time left before class 'officially' kicks off and to get your kit in time! Read all about it here.

{October Gratitude}

Any time in my life that I feel a bit out of control, overwhelmed (and lets face it - down in the dumps) I refer back to the principles in this book, namely gratitude. This is where the idea for a daily gratitude journal comes from. 

While I don't keep a gratitude journal, in the times such as those listed above, simply taking time each day to be grateful for anything helps. It really does. 

Don't worry, I'm absolutely fine - am feeling inspired actually!

I'm going to dedicate a blog post on the last day of each month to gratitude by listing 10 things I'm grateful for that month. Who knows, I may even make a mini album for them one day!

So here goes for October:

1. Good friends who text to check up on me when I don't make it to playgroup.

2. The abundance of 'help' for babies with digestive issues. Godsend. 

3. The imagination of my 3 year old daughter.

4. Getting 1-2 hours each evening to do something for myself again.

5. Grandparents. 

6. Warmer days but still cool mornings.

7. Venus Spa Breeze razor. Seriously, if you haven't tried it, you need to!

8. My gorgeous boy's smiles and giggles. Finally.

9. Tivo. It ensures I have something to watch during a late night (or rather early morning) feed.

10. Catching up with old friends.

You are welcome to play along. Please let me know if you do :)

{Work In Progress}

Over the next couple of weeks, I'm working on some changes to my blog so it may look a bit strange/different each time you visit! I'm in the midst of a fantastic online class that's teaching me lots of tricks that I could never quite workout for myself! 

A couple of pics to share . . .

He is keeping me busy (and up at all hours of the night)

She is keeping me on my toes as she never stops! Here's my little tiger playing the drums in "Africa" at Australia Zoo.

This is keeping me sane, inspired and GRATEFUL at the moment. Have you read it? I think you should. I read it every couple of years when I need to remind myself how lucky I am.

Ok, back to playing around in Typepad!

 

{This Is Why . . . .}

. . . . blogging, and scrapbooking for that matter, have been virtually non-existent these past weeks!

 

Baby Noah (as Amelia refers to him) is now two months old! And my goodness, he is a high maintenance baby! Poor Noah has quite a wind problem and reflux and we've had all sorts of trouble these past two months trying to get him to settle and SLEEP!

But, he is now improving, is giving us some big dimply smiles and is sleeping much better at night. I can see light at the end of the tunnel!

Noah is HUGE! He is over 7kgs already and into size OO clothes. My arm muscles are getting a workout as he does prefer to be held and carried most of the time LOL!

Unfortunately, scrapbooking has taken a backseat and probably will for a while yet. While I can't wait to get back into it, I don't see myself getting enough time to seriously scrap until next year when Amelia starts kindy. I get small bursts of time here and there which I use to read some blogs to keep me half sane!

So while it might be quieter around here, I'm not gone and I assure you I will be back! I have a few magazine projects to share as well as one completed project for Noah's room!

To all those who take the time to read my blog and especially comment, thanks for sticking with me! I've been unable to comment on blogs for a while as my computer was away being repaired but (obviously) it's back now and I look forward to visiting all your blogs again!

 
 

{Grateful}

I managed to carve out some small snippets of time last week to create a layout. It's one that I've been wanting to create, as a bit of therapy really. I jotted down the journaling the night before Noah was born with this layout in mind.

 
I got my husband to take a few shots of me just two days before the birth. I used one of my favourite actions in photoshop (see this post for more details) to mute the colours somewhat and make them absolutely perfect for the gorgeous pink range from Authentique called Uncommon.

Here are some of the details including Zva bling goodness and flowers.

 

And Elle's Studio journaling tags.

 

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I'm going to get a bit personal here . . . but the week before I had him, actually 6 days before he was born, I fell all the way down my back cement stairs. It was a horrible experience made worse by the fact that Amelia witnessed the whole thing so we were both quite traumatized. I spent the day and night in hospital and was battered and bruised but obviously we were both ok.

After the shock wore off, I was able to find a lot of things to be grateful for as it could have been a lot worse. And I knew I had to create a layout for his album about this.

Here's what the journaling says:

"On the night before you are born, I have to get down on paper our journey. It’s been hard. And scary at times. For most of the pregnancy I’ve been sick – Influenza A, pneumonia and cold after cold, most leading to chest and ear infections, UTIs and severe lack of energy. Throughout it all you’ve remained perfectly healthy and for that I’m so grateful. Which brings me to the week before your birth when I had a terrible fall down the stairs resulting in an ambulance ride and a stay in hospital. You see, I fell on my enormous, pregnant belly and was terrified I hadn’t kept you safe enough. It turned out you were completely fine and I escaped with bruises, grazes, soreness, some chipped teeth and a busted lip. And again I ‘m grateful for YOU. I sincerely think that if it weren’t for you in my belly that my injuries would have been far worse –possible broken bones, internal bleeding, head injury. My belly cushioned my fall to an extent. I’m so grateful that we are both ok. I’m so grateful you were with me to save me but most of all I’m grateful that tomorrow I can finally hold you in my arms."

Thanks for letting me share this.

 
 

{Photo Shoot}

We were so lucky that a friend of ours, who just happens to be a photographer, had a couple of hours free on a recent trip to Brisbane. I took advantage and asked her to take some newborn photos for me. Thanks so much Chrissie! I looooove them so much!

 

I just love how newborns tuck their feet up like little froggies! Oooh they are good to snuggle with!

 
 

He's got quite the frown! His little forehead wrinkles up - so cute!

 

These were the only toys in the house that were suitable for a boy! LOL!

 

And resting on Daddy's hand - Chrissie even managed to catch a little smile!

 

Of course Amelia did some posing also!

 
These just take my breath away.

 
 
And I think my favourite . . .

 

I don't know when I'll ever get time to scrapbook again! I've been jotting down the stories I want to remember and now I have some photos to go with them.

I can't wait to get stuck into it again!