Inked.

I am not a huge fan of tattoos. This may come as quite a surprise to anyone who knows me as I actually have three myself. (I know.. Ek!)
Now, don't get me wrong.. a beautifully drawn design in just the right place on the right person can look amazing, but the majority of tattoos I see make me cringe a little*.


(This is the only photo I could find that vaguely shows 2 of my tattoos. This photo was taken in Perth last year.. you can see why we are moving there can't you?)

I got all of mine when I was quite young and had no idea how to contemplate the meaning of 'forever'.
The worst thing is that I think they are now quite embarrassing** and I feel like they don't fit with the person that I have become at all.
Although, 99% of the time I don't even remember that they are there, occasionally (like when my 3 year old daughter asks who did all the drawings on mummy? or can she get drawings like mummy when she is bigger?) I feel a little sense of regret.

So, tell me.. Do you have a tattoo or two? Would you ever get one? What do you think of them?


*I understand that this is a completely subjective view and I obviously keep my views to myself!
**You know those (awful) tattoo designs that scream 'early 90's'.. yep.. mine are those!

My creative space..

Well, it's not much yet.. but it will be..



Simple sewing for Baby by Lotta Jansdotter from Fishpond.
Little house fabric from Kelani Fabric.

More creative spaces over here.

Sophie and the new baby

I found this book at the bookstore the other day..
Can you imagine anything more perfect?



The story is about a little girl called Sophie whose parents tell her in spring that a new baby will arrive in winter. Sophie has to wait through summer and autumn until the new baby (finally) arrives..

It's like his book was written for us.. it's uncanny!

'Sophie and the new baby' available here.

20 weeks

The bump at 20 weeks.. halfway there..



(more point and shoot over here)

28

Today I woke up to find the table all set for birthday croissants..



I had a lovely little drawing from Sophie (This is a drawing of me and she tried to write 'happy birthday mummy'.. how cute is that!)



I will spend the next half hour here..



Then I am going to meet a girlfriend for lunch, spend the afternoon at the beach with a good book and then pick up Tom from work and Sophie from pre-school before heading home for birthday cake*.. Perfect!

*According to Sophie I am going to have a rainbow unicorn birthday cake and she will help me blow out my candles and open my presents.. Hmmm...

found

With just over 7 weeks until we make our way across the country, I started to go through all the boxes full of old paperwork (that are taking up space in the cupboard) when I came across this photo of Sophie and I..



Look at that darling little thing.. It makes me want to have another baby.. (and I am already pregnant!!)

Loafing around

It's my birthday on Friday.. So a few weeks ago I bought myself a pair of these shoes as an early birthday present (that's allowed right?)..

They are the most comfortable things I have ever worn. I am seriously considering buying a second pair because I am already worried about the day when they will be so worn out from me wearing them 24/7 that they will fall apart..

Lemon cordial

This is the recipe I used to make our homemade lemon cordial.

It is really so easy to make and nothing beats a glass of this cordial on a hot day with a bit of mint and a load of ice.
(Plus you get to feel really smug when you say "Oh thanks, it is delicious isn't it? I made it myself"!)

Make Do

Sophie got some fantastic presents for Christmas and her birthday (which is 2 days after Christmas). So I thought that I might share some of them here in case you ever need to buy a present for a 3 year old..

For her birthday, Sophie got this great Makedo dolls house kit form Tom's parents..



It contains everything you need to construct a dolls house from household items/ rubbish. We have made 3 dolls houses from the contents of the recycling bin (empty boxes etc.)

On the box it is recommended for ages 5+ but Sophie has loads of fun making houses with our help. Great eco-friendly gift!

And here we are..

Exactly four years ago on this day I was single and lived in a little studio on my own. But, I had a serious crush on the boy who lived upstairs.. In a few hours time we would pack a picnic, a bottle of wine and head off to Jazz in the Domain together where we shared our first kiss.

Here we are.. four years later, we are married with a beautiful 3 year old and baby number 2 on the way.. (Yep, you do the maths!)

Im not sure if anyone else still celebrates their 'going out' anniversary even after they are married.. but, happy first kiss anniversary my darling xx

The Greatest

If someone was to ask me what it is like to become a mother, I would tell them that, for me, it was without a doubt, the best thing I have ever done in my life. And the hardest.



I often wonder why no one told me that motherhood was so tough. My mum raised 7 kids. She had 3 kids by the time she was 22 and she never once told me that being a mum can be challenging at the best of times.

Now, meeting Tom and becoming a mother and wife has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. I honestly feel like I was walking around without a clue, without a point to my life, before I met Tom and had Sophie. I know it sounds like the worst cliche ever, but it was like there was a piece of me missing that was only filled by becoming a family. Seriously, I know how wanky that sounds, but that is really how it feels. If anyone reading this knew how much my life has turned around in the last few years they would understand. Every day I get closer to becoming the person that I always dreamed of being.



But, at the same time, motherhood has been the most difficult thing I have ever done. It has pushed me further than I ever thought I could go physically, mentally and emotionally. Sometimes I think that it's because I met Tom, had Sophie and got married all in the same year. Maybe it's because I am about 10 years younger than the average mother or maybe it's because I am just not as naturally good at mothering than other people.. I don't know.



But, you know, Tom and I still plan on having 3 or 4 kids.. Because even on the hardest of days, it is impossible to imagine life without the joy and love and happiness having a little one brings to your life. No matter how hard the day has been, I can still creep into her room at night and feel my eyes well up just holding her little hand in mine and thinking about how happy she makes us.
How hearing her little footsteps run up the corridor every morning and jump on the bed, talking at a million miles an hour about some random event that happened weeks ago, giving us big sloppy kisses and demanding 4 different kinds of breakfast is the best thing in the universe and I would not change it for the world.

Rainy days

With all this rain around, I thought I would share one of my favourite posts from Lox papers.. 10 things to do on a rainy day..



Also, Jacki over at More than a Mummy wrote a fantastic post this morning about the top 10 bookstores in Sydney, including this one and this one that I have posted about before.. nothing better than drinking chai tea in your favourite bookstore cafe on a rainy day..

Like mother, like daughter

My mum is a total greenie. When I was growing up I felt like I was given such a hard time. If I ever came home with a new top or a nice dress I would get a lecture that would go something like this.. "How could you spend $40 on a new dress when there are starving children in the world? It's not even 100% cotton and its made in China.. How much do you think the poor child slaves got paid to make this? Plus they spray the clothes with toxic chemicals so that rats don't eat the fabric as they are shipping it to Australia. Did you think about how far that dress had to be shipped? Why do you feel the need to fill you life with stuff" Etc. Etc. And the lecture about the toxic chemicals in make up was even worse...

It was enough to drive a teenage girl CRAZY!!


(photo of my mum in the 70's)

So, for a few years after moving out of home I rebelled, but the last few years, especially since I had Sophie I realise that my mum had some very valid points, although..

Yesterday, I was in the supermarket with Tom and I would not let him buy any of the deodorants. I picked up each one and went on and on about the different chemicals in each one and how this one causes cancer and this one messes with your hormones..
I concluded that he would have to walk around smelly because he was not allowed to use any of them..

I stopped for a moment and realised that I sound EXACTLY like my mum!! Word for word. Ahhhhh.....

Favourite things

Bag from Gorman.
Diary from Kikki-K.
Latest issue of Frankie.
Korres lip balm from Kit.

Thumbs up!

Check out this little hand...



And there was a cheer in the ultrasound room when we got this...



How cool is that!

Growing up..

Sophie and I went and met Tom in the city for dinner last night. We are having alot of fun playing tourist in our own city before we leave.. We even went for a ride on the monorail!



I love this photo of Sophie, she looks so grown up.. I can't believe she is 3 already. Sigh.

A brother or sister?

Today is the big day.. I have my 19 week ultrasound and If we want to, we can find out the sex of the little munchkin growing in my belly.



In some ways I would like to wait and keep it as a surprise, but I am also dying to find out.. mainly because I have absolutely no inkling either way. Plus, I was convinced that Sophie was a boy, so my instinct is obviously way off anyway!

Sophie is 100% sure that she is going to get a baby sister and had told us many times that she only wants a girl baby and is not interested in having a baby brother at all.

Tom also has 5 yonger sisters, so if it is a boy, it will be the first boy born in Tom's family in 34 years! Hmm..

This is a photo of me when I was about 5 months (?) pregnant with Sophie, but this time around I looked like that at about 3 months!!

Sophie's pizza

Would you believe that my daughter who turned 3 a week ago, made this all by herself!?



Well, okay.. Tom did make the dough and roll it out for her.. but she added all the toppings by herself! Yum!

Homemade christmas gifts

I really wanted to post these photos before Christmas, but that would have ruined the surprise for all our family and close friends that were about to receive these goodies..

And except for Sophie, we actually did manage to avoid buying a single present.. I hate shopping centres at the best of times and it was so nice to not have to shop for anyone this year.. definitely a tradition I think we will continue!

So here is our original "Porter's homemade marmalade"..



Our homemade lemon cordial..



Our homemade muesli..



And my little helper counting bottles for me..

Happy new year!

I hope you all had a wonderful new years. I am so excited about 2011.. Its going to be filled with BIG adventures.. Driving 4000km across the country, setting up house in a new city and most importantly, having another baby.. I can't wait!



We had a beautiful day today at Balmoral beach. hopefully this amazing weather stays put until Tom goes back to work on Tuesday.

Wishing you all an incredible 2011!