38 Weeks & Sick of Stripes!

Let me just clarify that comment......it's certainly not me that is sick of stripes ( i can't get enough), but I have a sneaky suspicion that if Cam never sees this skirt again ...it will be too soon! OK, so I have worn it a lot over the last 8 months I admit, but being fashion conscious hasn't really been on the top of my list lately .....or ever really.

Anyway, it's countdown time now and we have 2-3 weeks before our ladybug will join is in our stripey world. A fellow stripe lover even bought ladybug her own white and black striped jumpsuit to wear when she arrives!!! Thank you C! Cam loves it. Ha!

So 38 weeks hey...... I am feeling good, apart from my puffy feet and sore back at the end of the day, but walking around the shops yesterday I had to slow right down as a lot of tightness and downward pressure had me wondering if she was gong to come this weekend. False alarm.

So business as usual, we took Oskar for a haircut and made some scones for Nana and Pa who came to visit.

Oh and I just have to mention the biggest Special K flake that appeared in my bowl this morning! Yes, I am easily impressed.

......and I got a lot further with the nursery and feeling much more prepared....here is a sneak peak. Mum if you want a surprise when you get here...look away now.

Still Working Through the List

I have finally started maternity leave with 3 weeks til my due date and the first week has zoomed by so quickly...too quickly! I thought I would have achieved a bit more, but am not going to fret about it. If I don't get through the list....it's ok....however I'd really like to.

This has been my mission this week. To turn a cluttered, dumping ground of an office space into a clean and calm nursery for ladybug.

I managed to get some painting done and clear the clutter,  and now I think I am ready to start arranging the furniture and decorating. Now the fun begins!....just hold on a little longer ladybug as I finally feel like I am winding down from work mode and really enjoying this time with just the two of us....... Me decorating while you kick me in the ribs.

                                                                    Getting there.......watch this space.

35 Weeks & Cankles!

Well,  with 5 weeks to go and the temperature rising..... my cankles have returned! I've reached that stage when my feet just swell up if I am sitting for too long or I don't lie horizontal enough throughout the day. I could get organised, go to the chemist and get some compression socks....or I could just ignore it and take photos of my bloated feet....like this............. and then complain about how much my feet ache. 

We have finally agreed on a name ......we think...sorry Oskar it wont be Sharon! and we now need to start to get things organised. I have a big list,  so Ladybug....you'd better just sit tight til I get through it, because at the moment you have nowhere to sleep and nothing to wear if you want to come early! 

                                                               
                                                                Ladybug- 35 Weeks

         

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Our Very First Wedding Anniversary!

We really cant believe it has already been a year since we did this...............

                                                                                                                                                                              

For our wedding 'Wishing Well' we asked for contributions to our 'Future Family Camping Advenures!'.....and guess what? It has only taken a year to get the gear and get around to heading out on our first camping adventure! What a better way to celebrate our 1st Wedding Anniversay!? We couldn't have done it without all of our family's and friend's contributions, so we send our warmest thanks to you all....well anyone who reads this anyway. 

We headed down to Broken Head, just south of Byron and spent the weekend under the sun and stars. It was just a perfect weekend and someone was certainly looking down on us to ensure our Anniversary was perfect! Thank you 'higher force'!

Cam setting up the tent with Oskar sitting assessing his skills. ....

                                                               

"hmm not sure I would have started with the grey poles"....

"Ok Ok so you were right to start with the grey poles ! i take it back, I take it back!!!!!"

A late afternoon surf with Stringles and a sunset.

Even in a tent , a boy needs his stories read before bed time...........Oskar slept like a dream and now after his tonsil surgery is silent when he sleeps. No more snoring from this little man!

Coffee and chocolate croissants for breakfast in the morning! Ok, ok... so it was kinda pretend camping with a few luxuries still. 

Another gorgeous day saw us hit the beach again . 

The only downside was that the weekend just went too quickly. We cant wait to do it all again when ladybug has joined us.

Little Man and a Big Word........Adenotonsillectomy

On Wednesday we took Oskar to Pindara Hospital to have his tonsils and adenoids removed as well as having grommets inserted into his eardrums. We discovered he needed this after concerns about his snoring and further investigation also found he had mild hearing loss due to glue ear. It was a relatively quick surgery procedure but it was certainly a long and emotional day for all of us. ......but we are so thankful and appreciative that it was only that....... Just a day.

We needed to fast him in the morning leading up to the surgery and if anyone knows Oskar they will know this boy loves to eat, we locked the cupboards and raised all the food on the fridge out of reach and tried to distract him as much as possible. We got through it without too much fuss. 

Then off to hospital at 12 and by 2.30pm we were preparing for theatre where I had to robe up to go in there with him while he went under the general anesthetic. This was the hardest part of the day for me and don' t need to go into the details of what I had to do make him have the gas, but let's just say it was distressing for me emotionally and left me feeling like I had just betrayed his trust. They assured me though that he would not remember it as I left crying my eyes out.  

There were more emotional stages for us all as he came to and then woke again from his sleep, and all we could do was comfort him as much as possible.But by this stage the worst was over and he was now on his road to recovery. I stayed with him overnight in the room and given his positive results and ability to eat something in the morning  we were allowed to go home the next morning. He was a very sad little boy, and obviously sore, but it was nice to be able to go home so he could be more comfortable. 

It's day 5 of recovery now and he is feeling much better and so much closer to his normal self. He is still talking with a tender throat and we have noticed his voice has changed,  but am not sure if that's due to it still being tender or if he now actually has a higher pitched voice. The doctor did say his voice could change after this surgery now that the airways are now unobstructed. 

He is also just a little bit sad and cuddly but with enough distraction his mood quickly improves. So thanks to an impromptu Grand Final footy lunch on Saturday, where friends came round for a BBQ, Oskar's mood soon improved and he seemed much happier and active. It also could have been something to do with the 3 ice creams he had throughout the day, but it was so nice to see him happier. Exhausted by the end....but happier. Both Cam and Oskar were asleep on the couch by 7 that night. 

After all this, it certainly makes us appreciate our health and how lucky we are to have a healthy son. Being in the pediatric ward and walking around a hospital for a day certainly made us realise that what we were in there for was so minor compared to what some families are going through, and can only imagine how hard it must be for families dealing with more serious illness. 

Our full respect and thanks goes to the doctors and nurses that assisted with Oskar's surgery and recovery and to all our friends and family for their thoughts and well wishes. 

31 Weeks!

With 2 months to go now, Oskar has decided on a name for Ladybug. Cam and I are having trouble agreeing on a name, so we have been asking Oskar for his input. So, Oskar thinks we should name her Sharon.....Sharon!? Shazza!

Hmmmm..... I think the search continues. I am sure we will agree on a name soon enough.

In this final trimester I am feeling great, apart from being a bit tired from a busy week at work and a flight up to Cairns which was a bit of an epic journey home ....Yesterday I think it caught with me and all I wanted to do is lie down and nap.....which I did. 

Sharon Ladybug is growing well and kicking away all the time reminding me she will be here very soon.

                                        

I Almost Forgot!

On our lovely night off with Oskar at Nana and Pa's ...Cam and I got to go out to dinner for the first time since July. Now I don't take pics of  food very often simply because we rarely go out,  but I need to document it when we do, simply because I appreciate it sooooo much. It is such a treat now to go out to dinner and this night was no exception.

The restaurant is just at the end of our street and has a mouth watering Tapas menu and extensive wine list. Hence the name I guess..... 'The Wine Barrel'.

The food was amazing! Pork Belly and Soft Shell Crab for me and beautiful Rib Eye for Cam. To our surprise, there was a Harpist playing in the restaurant which made the experience just that little more special.

Working Through the List

Does everyone have a list like me. A list of all those things you would love to get around to do, but never seem to find the time to do them?

Last weekend Oskar went for a sleep over at Nana and Pa's and it has been a long time since I have had the chance to concentrate on my projects that have been patiently waiting for my attention.

Project One- Dining Chairs I have had 6 dining chairs sitting in the garage for over 2 years...to date I have completed only one! They started off looking like this. ...........and I restored one to this.

                                      

One down....five to go. Thanks to a friend's Dad, I managed to escape the labour intensive task of sanding and stripping the remaining 5 chairs from literally hundreds of staples as I knew I just couldn't find the time to do it and didn't really want to be doing all that sanding of lacquer being pregnant. Not the best idea.

So a couple of clear coats and some fabric is now all they need from me. So I got to it finally!. Upholstery session still to come.

 Meanwhile Cam attacked a garage clean up and started a little project of his own. It gets better...final product still to come!

Project Two-  I dont actually particularly like this unit, but I've had it for years and it was free and the budget is tight,  so I thought I would transform these drawers rather than buy some more for Ladybug's room. Sorry Oskar your toys will have to go into the toy box. now.

Project Three- A Teeny Tiny Table Revamped

Project Four- A Hat Rack- Repaired and sprayed from boring brown to Magenta.....for Ladybug's room.

Project 5- A Foot Stool given new life!

             

   
And don't worry Ladybug...everything was done with water based product and face masks and glasses so no nasty fumes were inhaled in the process.

I want to create a fun bright room for ladybug with punches of colours to welcome her into this colourful world.

I found this on Pintrest and started to collect paint swatches to do something similar on a much smaller scale. Stay tuned.

Thanks Liz Apple

Hair Today ....Gone Tomorrow!

Yes, an overused play on words for today's post title!

I just had to document Oskar's latest hair cut as I just didn't realise how bad Oskar's hair it was until we had it cut last week. This is reminder for me to get his hair cut a bit more often from now on.

He instantly looks older and his eyes wider and brighter without all that hair in the way. What a difference a haircut makes! 

Father's Day Weekend

Firstly Happy Father's day to my Darling Dad, Cam, Peter and all the other fathers out there!

I know Father's Day is a retail marketing scam, but it certainly makes you stop and think about how life has changed since becoming a parent. It is also a nice excuse to stop and reflect on what you have done over the last year as an educator, protector, disciplinarian, friend and loving dad to Oskar. Being a parent certainly changes your outlook on life and approach to nearly everything you do as you consider your child (or children) in your decisions everyday. It is tiring, and yes sometimes exhausting but boy is it rewarding. It also makes me appreciate all that your parents did for you, because until we had Oskar I never really understood the sacrifices parents make. 

We started our Father's Day weekend with a public holiday on Friday which was nice to actually enjoy a public holiday for once, as they normally fall on my usual Monday off. 

I did have a bit of work to do though, so Cam took Oskar down to Burleigh for a scooter ride while Cam skateboarded alongside him and they cruised the foreshore path together. I wish I could have seen it actually. 

We spent Saturday in the garden, planting some new plants and pruning while Oskar ran around in the sandpit, trampoline and scootered up and down the driveway as we continued to enjoy the perfect weekend weather. 

Sunday seemed to be a carbon copy of Saturday and again we headed outside to enjoy the sun. After all the work we did in the garden it was time to relax in it, and that's' just what we did after indulging in raspberry and maple syrup pancakes with sides of bacon! Oh my is there nothing better than crispy bacon!

Although it sounds like a relaxing weekend, it certainly had it's moments as Oskar just doesn't want to seem to listen to our instructions and wants to do the exact opposite of what we ask of him. I guess he is 3 and learning to test our boundaries, but boy does it get exhausting! The time-out room was used many times this weekend and it may be time to introduce something new. 

I don't think Oskar got the memo about being nice to Dad on Father's day!

After all the time outs and discipline though, when you finish the day with some relaxing bath time, cuddles and some very cute comments that just make you all warm and fuzzy, all is very quickly forgiven and forgotten.

Happy Father's Day Cam....you should be proud of how you have helped raise a beautiful baby who is developing into a loving and thoughtful little boy.