Ahh crap

My son has Hand Foot & Mouth, he has never had it before and I'm thinking he must have picked it up from kindy on Thursday. The blisters appeared yesterday, apart from that he is his usual frantic self. I rang the kindy this morning to see what the protocol is, I have to keep him home until the blisters dry up as the fluid in them is contagious. I just have to cross fingers that he doesn't pass it on to his sister.

Is it bad that a little part of me is bummed that I have to keep him home as I won't get my 'break'. Of course I love him to bits but I have come to look forward to those kindy days, not that I have them to myself. Plus it's annoying that you still have to pay for the days they don't go...I understand why but it's still a little frustrating. Thankfully I didn't have anything planned so will likely just have a low key week at home. I don't think he could pass it on if we were to go out and about, you have to be in pretty close contact to potentially get it...still probably best we keep to ourselves.

Also I haven't forgotten about doing a blog post on banana loaf, I keep buying a bunch expecting to have a few left at the end of the week (like usual) but they keep getting eaten! I guess that is a good thing but I really wanted to get it done by now. Hopefully the end of this week (I might just buy more than usual in the hopes that there will be left overs).

Just want to take a moment as well to say that I am grateful that all my child has is HFM, found out yesterday that a little boy not much older than my son lost his battle with cancer. He was a brave and smiley little soul who fought hard and it is just so incredibly sad when things like this happen to good people. Life can be cruel and unfair sometimes and it really rams it home that we all need to appreciate our lot in life and be happy for all that we have and try not to think about what we don't have. I am guilty of this sometimes, I need to stop and take a moment and realise how incredibly lucky I am. I love my little family, hug your kids extra tight tonight. x

Till next time xo

Why hello there sunshine

Today has been a gorgeous winter's day, the sun has been shining and it wasn't cold...glorious. Plus you know you're a mum when one of your first thoughts when the sun comes out is 'now I can catch up on some washing'...god knows it's never ending. The more kids you have, the bigger the piles get. It must become quite the operation when you have a big family, there must be a system of sorts in place for dealing with it.

Today is day two of solo parenting (although hubby's home tomorrow so really not that hard to manage), we have had a good day today. I had a girlfriend come over for a catch up this morning (baked some choc chip cookies for the occasion). Then we went to lunch with my sisters and two of my kids cousins, followed by a play in the park for awhile. Good times, it also helps being busy as it makes the day go quicker.

I managed to get to the shops on Thursday and put a toy lay-by for Christmas on, I was really surprised that it wasn't busy at all. I will have to go back again and do another lay-by as there wasn't as much when I was walking around that I had thought I'd seen when I'd gone through the catalogue and I was second guessing my initial ideas...so indecisive.

Also in other news I think it is safe to say that my son has now officially dropped his day sleeps. He will still have one on the odd occasion but for the most part he is like the energiser bunny that keeps on going. Even when he has been up all day he still doesn't want to go to bed and is sometimes taking till 8-8.30pm to go to sleep. I don't know where he gets his energy from but I wish he'd let me in on his secret.

Something else that is getting on my nerves of late (and I am partly to blame), my go to word that I use now (instead of swearing) when I am frustrated or annoyed is stupid. Hence for the last couple of weeks my son has started saying it...A LOT! It drives me bonkers, he will say stupid mummy if I tell him off for something. I have been telling him not to say it, that it's not nice and it's naughty. I am starting to suspect that if anything, my telling him off has encouraged him to say it even more. I am going to try my best from now on to ignore it, it's hard though as I really don't like it when he says it. I guess I should be grateful that it is this word and not the f-bomb.

I hope everyone has an awesome weekend, and to anyone from the states a belated Happy 4th of July :)

Till next time xo

Baby it's cold outside...

We are having some very miserable and wintry weather here on the GC, it's currently raining/overcast and freakin' cold outside. The perfect day for snuggling up on the couch and watching a movie, not that there is a chance in hell that I will actually be able to do that.

I can't believe it's the first of a month and a Monday, that is the holy grail of fresh starts and clean slates as far as being good. The only problem is I have a fridge full of leftovers from a BBQ we hosted yesterday (including delicious potato bake) that I am more pained to throw out rather than just not eat it. Am I the only one that likes to start 'being good' on a Monday? It is even better if it is the start of a month, not that it ever lasts. I haven't been all that motivated of late and have been having lots of naughty treats (tsk tsk), I just don't care at the moment. I am fairly happy with the way I look and sure it could be better but I'm doing ok. I think we are all our own worst critics and sometimes we need to just give ourselves a break.

Is it just me or is this year just flying by? My daughter is almost 7 months, it feels like in a blink of an eye she will be 1. I'm sure it wasn't all that long ago that she was born, I'm feeling a bit guilty that time is racing by and I don't feel like I have really stopped and taken the time to appreciate it and take it all in. It is so much harder with number two to dedicate as much time and attention as you did your first. I love them both to bits but there are days when the two of them combined take turns in sending me loopy. I wouldn't change it for the world though, the love you have for your children is unlike anything else.

Only a couple of months till our Melbourne trip, it's slowing getting closer...so excited. Hubby is actually in Melbourne for work later this week, Thursday to Saturday morning. I think I can manage a couple of nights on my own (hats off to the mothers who's partners are away for long periods of time, I don't know how you do it. I am even more awe filled by the single mother's out there...you ladies rock). We will miss him though...

Unfortunately there are dishes calling me...boo hiss.

Till next time xo

It's a bit fresh

Gorgeous day outside but gee it's a bit fresh (aka chilly)...I never thought that I would find Gold Coast weather cold after living in London but it's amazing how fast you acclimatise. Mind you, it is nowhere near as cold as it was in London and I don't require copious amounts of layers to go outside but there is definitely a chill factor.

What a great weekend I just had, jam packed full of fun.

Friday night was dinner (teppanyaki, yum) with the girls followed by a few games of bowling (of which I sucked and came last every time, ha) and finished off with a delicious hot chocolate at Max Brenner's. It was a great night with good company.

I was fortunate enough to have two child free nights in a row, so thankful to nana for watching the kids for us on Saturday night. We went out for dinner with a bunch of friends at the Mecca Bar in Broadbeach. We had the two course buffet, it was delicious and so much food. Followed by a quick pint (for the hubby, I was driving) at the Bavarian Beer House across the road, people wanted us to stay and kick on but I pulled the plug just before 10.30pm cause I knew my daughter was potentially up and screaming the house down. We got home just before 11pm and she'd been up for an hour and had kicked up a stink off and on so I'm glad we left when we did. We tried buying formula for these such occasions and just like my son, she is also not a fan.

Yesterday was the christening of our little nephew, thankfully my kids were reasonably well behaved during the ceremony. It's not easy keeping a 2 year old entertained for almost 45 mins when they have to be semi quiet and stay put, not my son's strong point. Afterwards we went back to my brother-in-laws house for a BBQ to celebrate the occasion, there were lots of kids there and my son had fun playing with his older cousins toys and stuffing his face with chips. My daughter managed to pull a full glass of my juice onto us (mostly me, all over my lap) which was not so fun, you always pack a spare outfit for the kids but never yourself. It was a pretty long day for us and we were all knackered by the time we got home. Lazy afternoon followed by some take-away pizza & ice cream for dinner /dessert (naughty I know) was a great finish to the day. Also did everyone see the super moon, it was so big and bright...awesome.

I hope everyone else had a fantastic weekend and has an even better week.

Till next time xo

Fun times ahead

Tonight I am out with a couple of girlfriends for dinner and bowling and I can't wait. I really appreciate when I get to have some kid free time (as much as I love them) and just get to be me, not mummy. I am doubly lucky as we (my hubby & I) are also out tomorrow night with some friends for dinner and drinks and maybe even dancing...depending on how my daughter behaves. Obviously I can only have a couple of drinks but I am not someone that needs to drink to have fun so I'm sure it will still be a good night. Hubby is buying some formula today in the hopes that she will take it tonight and tomorrow night so that I don't have to stress about racing home. I am crossing fingers that she will, it would be nice to have a bit more time on my hands and not that constant worry in the back of my mind that she is screaming and hungry and I need to get home.

Sunday we also have our nephews christening and hubby is the 'Godfather', cue Marlon Brando impression here. I hope the weather is nice as it is followed by a BBQ at their house, mmm BBQ. So a very jam packed weekend (my favourite), I feel like I don't do all that much during the week so I really look forward to weekends when we have lots of fun things locked in.

I always thought that being a stay at home mum would involve more catch ups with other mums but it just doesn't happen all that often. People are busy with their own lives and also getting back to work (I kind of envy them). This motherhood malarky can be a tough gig and I often wonder whether going back to work would actually be easier. My main issue with when I do go back to work is whether it is financially worthwhile. The cost of sending two kids to childcare may outweigh what my salary would be and therefore be redundant. It doesn't make sense to work hard and then at the end of the week after paying fees discover that what's left after amounts to bugger all. Have other mums found this to be the case? Plus I assume there would be mummy guilt about leaving your kids, I'm sure I would suffer this too but I am someone that has always enjoyed working (to an extent, every job has its moments). I don't plan on going back until my daughter is weaned so I probably still have 6 months to a year until I really need to worry about it. It does play on my mind though, I have already been out of the workforce for 2.5 years...will it make it that much harder by the time I go back?

In other news, I was right...the dreaded monthly's are back. I had a feeling they were on their way, I was emotional and craving chocolate last week. At least now I will no longer have that irrational fear in the back of my mind that I could be pregnant and not know it ;) ha.

Well I think I have rambled on enough for today. I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend.

Till next time xo

Gosh they grow up fast

I cannot believe it, my just over 6 month old is already pulling herself up to standing! It made me realise that she is getting big and growing up...it is slightly bitter sweet knowing that she will be our last baby. I am happy with our decision to stop at two, we got our pigeon pair and couldn't be happier. I guess it is just a little sad when you look at your cute baby and realise that it will be the last time you watch them reach all of those mile stones as they get bigger.

Then you flip the coin and we now have separation anxiety, if I leave the room my daughter will cry. It makes getting things done just that little bit harder. Sometimes I wonder why I bother cleaning up when I know that it will look trashed within minutes of doing it, ahh well.

Speaking of getting things done, my motto of start as you mean to go on has officially come to an end. There are just days when I can't be assed...I might leave the dishes over night and tackle them in the morning instead, or put vacuuming off another day. I tend to be more slack of a weekend as there are just so many other things I would rather be doing than cleaning the house. Although I managed to do a decent clean today as my son is in kindy.

My sister brought over the cutest little pack of Thomas undies for my son on Sunday. Gosh they look cute on, I have only managed to get him in them a couple of times despite the fact that they have Thomas on them. He just does not seem interested in toilet training at all, we really need to step things up and try again. I don't want to force the issue and have him get upset but I am just going to have to bite the bullet and put him in undies now and again and just deal with the inevitable puddles. He is good about telling you when he's done a wee and will tell you where and show you, thank-god.

Nearly time to go and pick my son up from kindy and I still haven't managed to make a start on dinner. I can't decide what to make, I wouldn't mind Spaghetti Bolognese (seriously one of my favourites) but I know hubby won't want it. Purely for the fact that for the 14 years we have been together I had made it once a week for majority of that time and he is over it. Hmmm decisions, maybe I will do tacos instead.
Not that any of you probably give two hoots about what I cook for dinner, ha ha. Sorry bout' that.

Till next time xo

Firetruck

That is my mummy way of saying the F-Bomb. The reason behind it is that I think my son may have killed our external hard drive. I am hoping beyond hope that it is not the case and somehow hubby will come home and fix it (I can't get it to work at all)...sad face. I will be so upset if it can't be saved...

I am doubly annoyed because we brought another one to back it all up on to (I hadn't finished that process unfortunately) and I have searched high and low and can't find it. It even forced me to tackle the junk room (which is a nice bonus in this crappy situation), it is far from finished but I made a decent dent in it.

Plus I am in a cranky mood, I suspect that the dreaded monthly's may be making their return soon. I have had some slight abdominal pains the last couple of days and craving chocolate (although I could eat chocolate at any time of the month so that is no fore gone conclusion). Time will tell if that is the case, I got them back after 7 months with my son so we are around the same sort of time frame again.

It doesn't help that I am tired after a hell'ish night with my daughter, she woke a lot and I am knackered. Woe is me ;)

Thank-god it's the weekend.

Till next time xo