ACTing like a mama

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2011-06-19T19:17:00.002+10:00

The End of an Era

2010-06-10T14:41:00.003+10:00

It's been a while since I have posted here. I am using a combination of my new blog and facebook to communicate now, and sadly this blog,as a result has been neglected. Rather than half-heartedly reviving it, i think I will send this little blog off into retirement. It will still hang around, there is nothing I love more than flicking back through the archives. But I wont be posting anything new on here.

So, if you liked what I write, and you want to see my new blog, head here:

http://www.actinglikeamama.wordpress.com

It's a bit more of a mix of all the things that interest me, so it may be your cup of tea or it may not be.

You can find me on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/actinglikeamama

or facebook:

http://facebook.com/actinglikeamama

Who knows, there may be space for this blog one day, but for now, it is having a long rest.

adieu

Claudia the Creeping Caterpillar

2010-05-06T14:13:00.002+10:00

Check out her moves here!

The Walker

2010-05-03T17:10:00.003+10:00

Life has been pretty quiet around here. And there has been very little photo taking. The batteries ran out of the camera, and well, getting to the shop has been the last of my priorities!

Anyway, while doing the grocery shop this weekend I actually remembered them and promptly took them home and popped them in the camera. I only then had to come up with a photo-worthy activity.

This was Dantes walker when he was little. It's been sitting in the shed waiting for Claudia to grow big enough. She is still young for it, but her strength is pretty amazing so I thought I would pop her in for a little bit and see how she liked it.

She loved it. I think Dante loved it more. Being able to spin her around and around, sending them both dizzy with excitment? fear? who knows!

Anyway, she loved it enough that my job this weekend is to give it a good clean up and bring it inside. It gives her a good view and is an excellent thing for Dante to interact more with her by showing her the various buzzers, being able to make eye contact etc.

Shilo shuddering, rememebering that this machine only helps the babies move quicker

Claudia having complete trust in her big brother.

"weeeeeeeeee!"

Claudia showing off her hairdo - The Kramer

Claudia pleads to daddy to get Dante to stop as she is too tired to keep going.

new blog update

2010-04-12T15:21:00.001+10:00

Want to see me sing a lullaby to my baby girl? except that I am not singing, and i spend most of the clip trying to stop her from pulling my hair. seriously.

http://actinglikeamama.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/just-like-karaoke-but-not/

let's not talk about my easter, tell me about yours.

2010-04-06T12:15:00.003+10:00

We are having some tough parenting struggles at the moment, something along the lines of my baby boy is turning into a testosterone fuelled little man and I was totally not prepared. yeah. something like that. So, that may explain the absence of photos. as well as the absence of any little cute stories to accompany said photos.

I leave you with the above. This summed up our easter weekend. chocolates and tantrums to excess. coincidence much?

semi-update

2010-03-27T15:16:00.004+11:00

If there was one word I could use to describe the last few weeks, hectic, would be my first choice. Things have just not slowed down - We have had family come and stay, Claudia's christening, preparing Joe for his OS trip (off to Las Vegas with work) and I am undertaking two uni subjects, of which no assignments have even been looked at by me and one which is due next week!

So this post is short and sweet. I am hoping to get some photos from my mum and when I have time will do a post on the christening, so these photos are just the last week.

First up, these were little gifts from my mum to the kids for easter. When I hopped out of the shower the other morning, I saw that Dante discovered their hiding place and had appropriately placed one on his head, and one on Claudias.

Our big thing this week was moving Claudia from her bassinette to the cot. She is moving and shaking the bassinette so much we were getting worried about it's stability so we polished down Dante's cot and moved it into her room once Joes parents left. Dante has had a ball having Claudia share his room for the past weeks and it's a shame to break them up but the cot wont fit in his room unless we break it all apart (too lazy for that) besides, it means I get to make Claudia's room as girly as I want!!

Anyway, the other day Dante woke up from his nap, I could hear him talking and playing. Usually he comes straight out to the living room to give me a hug (he is like me and it takes him several minutes before he is fully awake and able to communicate in a human manner). Anywaym curiostiy got the better of me and I went to his room to see what he was up to. He wasn't there. I was stumped. Then I heard chatter in Claudia's room. This is what I found (see how far she moved? she does that every sleep, often ending up at the other end of the cot, often on her back).

And the next sleep:

So we have had to talk to Dant about how he can't go in and wake Claudy up while she is resting. It's a big no, no.

Finally, I crossed one thing off my life challenges/bucket list (well not really, but it is something I promise to make every year but never do). I made hot cross buns today. Haven't tried one yet so don't know how they turned out but they sure do look good!!

I will post more once uni assignment #1 is finished and sent off! Until then, adieu.

What do you see?

2010-03-10T10:09:00.004+11:00

While I was preparing dinner last night (cottage pie but with mashed cauliflower instead of potato - yum!) Dante decided to go play outside.

When i looked out the window to check up on him ten minutes later, I saw him tangled up in a bunch of household items. it took me thirty seconds to then realise that he wasn't tangled up but playing a game.

I came outside (with the camera) and asked him if he was a turtle - that's what he looked like to me.

"No, I'm an Astronaut"

He then proceeded to show me how an astronaut walked when they were on the moon, he showed me how an astronaut looks for "moon treasure" and then he showed me a bee he had found on the "moon".

I am constantly amazed at the games this little boy makes up. How he so accurately role plays something that he has only seen in books. How he can find totally unrelated objects and turn them into props for his games. amazed.

Window Washing

2010-03-05T16:32:00.004+11:00

Here we have dante the SES/Fireman on duty again. This time it is pouring rain outside, yet he tells me that means more people might need saving and he needs "to go to work".

He obivously saw me washing all our windows last week. He obviously doesn't care that I will now need to re-wash all these windows again, especially considering he is using the dogs water, aswell as the puddles on the deck to do so:

Dante the Fireman

2010-03-05T16:01:00.003+11:00

As you may have read, when we were at the show Dante could not go past the fireman showbag. It came with a whole selection of fire rescue vehicles, but most importantly it came with a firman outfit.

This has meant Dante has spent every waking moment since, either playing with his trucks, or out in the backyard "saving" people. Part of the costume was an axe & crowbar. I showed him how a fireman might use a crowbar to open the door and save people. All i can say is thank goodness it was made of plastic, my doors have not felt the same since!

Of course, standard issue for every fireman is sunglasses right? Dant understands the importance of protecting your eyes and wont even consider "saving" anyone until his sunnies are on (preferably upside down is his preference)

Uncle Rob and Uncle Mark, watch out, you have a rookie coming your way!

2010-03-03T15:45:00.003+11:00

Like a rose I am starting to unfold. This blog has been wonderful, but I have often felt that my creative and writing did not really belong here in what was mostly read by family (all hanging out for the family updates and pictures). I have been in limbo for a while and it did stop my motivation for blogging. lock it in folks

Solution! I have a new blog, a blog that is for me to explore my thoughts, attitudes and yummy recipes that I come across in my journey of life. you can find me here.

I will also keep this blog - this will be the "family blog" where you can still find updates on Dante, Claudia, Joe, Shilo and myself. I think this way I can achieve both my dreams and hopefully please all the readers out there!

Dinner Tonight: Greek Lamb Meatballs with beetrook tzatziki and fennel, parsley & orange salad

2010-03-02T22:05:00.004+11:00

The lamb meatballs looked like horse poo, so I wisely chose not to photograph them (you can see them sitting very unattractively on dantes plate in the background). ;-P

These recipes came to me via fabulous food minus the boombah whose book is just filled with lots and lots of delicious recipes. This book has been my salvation since i have waved goodbye to the massive amounts of carbs that we were consuming. I thought about posting these recipes but a) I am currently typing this in bed and don't have the book near me and b) I think you should all go out and buy the book yourself.

All i can say is, Joe and I devoured everything, Dante devoured the beetroot tzatziki with his rice crackers, but apparently, my meatballs aren't as good as the meatballs they serve at his daycare. humph.

The Canberra Show

2010-02-28T19:59:00.003+11:00

We received some free tickets to the show this year and we were really excited about attending. We went last year and Dante had a lot of fun although we thought that this year he would get more appreciation from it all. he did.

We went along with my friend Mel, her son Luka and Mel's mum Pip. We were a little worried as it had poured down with rain that morning. We had hoped it had cleared and walked from our house to the Show. It was pretty humid so the first thing we did was go through the sheds full of the craft. We were a bit dissapointed with the presentation and amount. It wasn't as a good as last year and was in amongst retail stalls which I thought was odd.

The boys had been so well behaved that we let them loose. The first thing they went for was the ride on lawn mower display. Getting them from there to the animals was not as easy as we thought!

They loved the baby animals but it seemed so did everyone else, it soon got pretty overwhelming amongst the crowd so we walked outside to get some fresh air. We walked straight into the Toyota Precision Team doing their thing in the utes. Well, did the boys think that was the bee's knees or what!

We then wandered through the stalls and the rides and the boys had a turn at both. Dante won a pirate sword (something he has been coveting for the last week!) and Luka asked to turn his "top win" Prize in for a sword (the loser prize so the Carny told us) also.

swords in hand the boys then decided which rides they would go on. We had chosen and were placing them into position when a sudden down pour got us. Joe had to race him and Claudia off out of the rain, and the Carny was nice enough to let us share his umbrella while we waited ten minutes for it to be over. Finally the boys got their turn and loved every minute!

Showbags were our last stop and Dante picked out a Fireman one (Uncle Rob and Uncle Mark will be so impressed!). AFter a much slower and quieter walk home we all fell into various sorts of naps and sleeps and were utterly exhausted. I only just managed to cook up some lemon and herb barramundi with a greek salad (recipe still in experimental mode) before putting the kids in the bath and then bed.

Getting a feel for the ride on mowers - much different to Dantes lawn mower at home!

Sometimes it is just a two man job

Pip showing the boys the baby ducks in the animal nursery

Easy rider

After all that excitement, Dante still had time to help me with washing Claudia

Linky Love

2010-02-26T12:35:00.002+11:00

OKay, inspired and motivated by Brenda at MummyTime I decided to take part in FlogYoBlog Friday. You will even see I attached the bubbly thing on the side advertising it. Thank goodness for blogger.com being so easy to use!

Anyway, i thought it was about time to update all my "currently reading" links as there are some most terrific blogs out there that I would love to share with you, also, since the last time I updated, I now have a new sister (hi Rosie!) who has started a blog - that just leaves Monica and Francis now before the Duffy children can really take over the blogging world - Mwah hahahaha!

So - I have deleted those links that I no longer really visit, or some that have moved on, and added some of my more recent favourites - *snaps* to you if you see yourself on there, I love you!

So now that I have spent all my time updating the links, i alas, have no time for photos, but stick with me - we are off to the Royal Canberra Show tomorrow so will have the camera poised and ready for some ferris wheel & dagwood dog action!

Another chance to frock up & smile

2010-02-21T13:34:00.004+11:00

While Dante and Joe were off to swimming lessons, Claudia and I had morning tea with "The Westpac Girls". This is a group of four of us girls, who all worked for Westpac at the same time (2000). Two of them are still there, while us other two got out a few years ago. I have just realised that we have all known each other for over 10 years and have had regulalr catch ups throughout that time (although never as often as we all like). What I most love about our friendship group is our ages. At the moment, the four of us are all in different age decades. I am in my 20's, Myf in her 30's, Viv in her 40's and Mandy in her 50's. Despite the age differences, the lifestyle differences, we still find so much to gossip and talk about. I love that we each make the effort to remain in contact, especially these days when life is so busy, staying connected socially can sometimes be very hard.

Anyway, it gave me an excuse to get Claudia 'frocked up". This was a gorgeous Fred Bare dress that a work colleague of Joe's gave us. I had put it away thinking she would not be able to fit into it until next summer but just on the off chance tried it on her, Lucky i did as it is a perfect fit right now and so we will aim to get a lot of use out of it before that cold weather descends upon us again!

Dinner Tonight: Salmon & stir fried vegies

2010-02-18T19:00:00.002+11:00

Stir Fry Sauce:

2 cloves of garlic
1 cm knob of ginger, chopped
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons olive oil
splash of sesame oil

combine above ingredients in a food processor. put to side.

in a dry hot wok, fry sesame seeds until browned, put to side.

Rub salmon fillet (with skin on) with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Add skin side down first to hot wok and cook until liking (I know chefs around the world will frown on me but I like my salmon opaque ALL the way through) turning on all four sides. put to side.

Add packet of ready made stir-fry vegies (or knock yourself out and buy them whole and chop your own) and above sauce, stir fry for 1-3 minutes depending on amount of vegies (they should still crunch). Turn off wok, stir through sesame seeds and divide among bowls. Place salmon on top with skin side up (it should be nice and crispy)

Top with corriander leaves and fried oinon and serve! voila!

The Astronaut & the Yoga Champion

2010-02-18T15:16:00.005+11:00

Today we walked down to the library for story time. We had a great time, the theme was Dogs and Dante enjoyed the craft at the end which was decorating a picture of a dog with lots of crayons (I was delighted to see some crayon on some paper for once!) and glue and sticky things which he made for his dad.

We also bumped into an old man who introduced himself to dante as Santa - Dante recognised him straight away anyway with the long white beard but was curious as to why he wasn't in his santa clothes? the man explained it was his day off. Such interesting people we meet down at Dickson, our local shops.

After we walked out of the library Dante saw something that so obviously resembled the "space station" and promptly went to work on fixing it. He has a DVD on the real space station and his favourite bit is when the astronauts leave the space station to fix the outside of it. He is showing me here, how they do it:

Some people have asked about how I am getting around with two kids. When I was pregnant with Dante I didn't even think of purchasing a pram that would eventually be able carry two children so of course, we brought the one pram that doesn't come with any toddler attachment etc.

Luckily at the moment, Claudia is small enough to squish in the back while dante rides up front when he gets too tired to walk. It works a treat now, even if I do get horrible stares from mothers who push their two children in their $1000 pram. I am sure they hurry off to rat me out to welfare, but both kids seem to quite enjoy it all .....

Even when it all gets way to much and they both need a rest. At the moment they enjoy each others company enough to tolerate the claustraphobic conditions. The way we force Claudia to flex about in the pram assures me she will become a yoga champion!

Even when we get home and the pram is packed away, these two can't get enough of each other, claudia is more than happy for Dante to show her how to sing "Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes" I am amazed that she even tolerates the eye gauging when they get to "Eyes, Ears & Mouth & Nose"
But eventually it all gets too much and Claudia starts looking for a feed, she has realised that Dante can't help her out there, no matter how hard she tries to convince him.

Budding Picasso

2010-02-15T12:21:00.003+11:00

Dante told me he wanted to do some drawings. I gave him some paper and told him he could go get his pencil case out and draw while I was skyping (hi again mum!). After I hung up, this is what I found:

Friends

2010-02-14T09:33:00.002+11:00

Watching playschool & reading books on a rainy afternoon

Even Demitri the bear looks interested

If I can ask for one thing, its that these two have a wonderful friendship with each other for the rest of their lives.

A day at the park

2010-02-12T09:51:00.003+11:00

Dante playing on the train

This was the "fire truck"

Having fun at the park

Claudia's first trip to the park - she seemed to enjoy it

But soon tired, lucky Shilo was there to keep watch!

How to smile

2010-02-05T09:32:00.003+11:00

Kaffir Lime, Chilli & Soy Chicken with salad

2010-02-04T19:41:00.003+11:00

So we got given a little bit of cash for christmas this year, after using some to fix up our DVD player I had a little left over to go crazy with. Considering the money was for the family, I felt fully justified in spending it on one of my passions - a cookbook.

I had been looking for a practical family type cookbook for a while now. I love those big colourfull glossy pages of those celebrity chefs but honestly, I very rarely find a recipe where the ingredients are all at my fingertips, and being the totally disorganised parent that I am, I am left with a meal of beef terrine with cous cous, except I have used mince instead of eye fillet, and moldy bread instead of cous cous.

Anyway, this book caught my eye. For one, it is written by one of my all time favourite females, Jane Kennedy. I remember watching her on Frontline and deciding that I wanted to be her when I 'grew up'. I loved the fact that there was this great gang of people that bounced ideas off each other and produced amazing entertainment in a locally starved TV environment. Okay, enough gushing. back to the cookbook, Fabulous food, minus the boombah.

The other thing that sparked my interest was that the book is aimed at us that are looking to shed some kilos. Jane adopts a low, or no carb policy when it comes to weight loss. I can't tell you how much I cried at reading that. Give up pasta? rice? really? But as I flicked through the pages at the local bookshop (while devouring my last double cream, full fat latte - kidding! it was only single cream hehe) the food just looked like stuff I wanted to eat, my mouth was salivating and glance through the ingredients list told me that most of this stuff I buy regularly.

So to co-incide with my increased activity, I am aiming to adopt a better and healthier eating style. Two things I need to change which will be drastic to me - smaller portions and fewer carbs. Now, being married to an Italian, there is no way I can fully ditch the pasta, so for the time being, i am going to jsut decrease them from our meals where possible, and when we do have them, try to have them at lunch.

So with this in mind I set out to make dinner for tonight. This is what I came up with. Now there is no way that Dante and Joe would have been satisfied with just a chicken salad, so I 'cooked' up some 2 minute noodles for them. Luckily i can't stand the taste of them so it was easier for me to say no to them!

Kaffir Lime, Chilli & Soy Chicken with Salad

Marinade
2 x Kaffir Lime Leaves, finely shredded
1 teaspoon garlic, squashed & finely chopped
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons oil (I used extra virgin olive oil but I would have preffered to use peanut oil if I had any!)
1 tablespoon mild chilli (for adults only I would have used a hotter chilli - suit yourself with this one)

2 chicken breast, skin off, diced.
1 bag of mixed lettuce leaves
1 handful of corriander, roughly chopped
1 red capsicum finely diced
1/3 spanish oinion, sliced
I carrot, shredded
1/2 cucumber, peeled in thin slices
Juice of lemon or 2 limes
1 Avocado, sliced

Mix marinade ingredients together and cover diced chicken. Let marinate for at least 1 hour.

Fry chicken on a non-stick frying pan (or put on skewers & BBQ) until cooked through.

While chicken is cooking, combine salad ingredients. Mix. Pour juice of lemon or limes over salad. The flavour of the chicken (if you haven't overcooked it) should be enough to not need a proper salad dressing.

Place chicken on top of salad. Enjoy straight away!

Note: I would have loved some toasted sesame seeds with this but didn't have any. A bit of crunch would have really turned this dish into something awesome!

PS - the boys did need the noodles (so they told me) but so far, I haven't missed the carbs!

Twinkle Toes & Thumb sucking

2010-01-30T18:35:00.003+11:00

Curry Chickpea Patties with Raita & salad

2010-01-30T18:18:00.002+11:00

How delicious and easy is this meal to make and eat! yum - perfect for a mid-week meal as most the ingredients would be in your pantry/fridge.

2 x tins canned chickpeas, drained & rinsed
1 teaspoon of curry powder (more if you like curry flavour)
3 shallots/spring oinions , diced
1/4 cup of roughly chopped corrainder
1/4 cup of natural yoghurt
1 handful of breadcrumbs
1 egg

Raita - combine the following:
1/2 cup yoghurt
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1 shredded cucumber
Salt & Pepper to taste

Method:

Rinse chickpeas and put in a large mixing bowl. Mash with a fork or potato masher. I like to keep some chickpeas big/whole so I don't fully mash- the texture is much better.

Add the rest of the ingredients and mix. Shape into patties and let set in fridge for 30mins (I never let them set and often cook them immediatley but they wouldn't be as crumbly to cook if they were set).

Cook on a flat hot plate or dry pan with just a little oil (I use a spray oil on the pattie, not the plate) until crisp and firm on the outside and heated through the middle.

Serve with salad & raita - enjoy!

Week Four

2010-01-19T11:13:00.003+11:00

It's hard to believe Claudia has already reached the three week mark! She is doing marvelously, feeding and sleeping well. She becomes very alert around two to three times a day (or night!) and will be wide eyed and bushy tailed for anywhere up to an hour before nodding off again. She will often surprise us still with a roll or two a week and her head coordination is amazing. At this age Dante was very stationary and just enjoyed lying down and watching the world. Already there are signs that Claudia wont be like this and we will have to keep our eye on her - she is already interacting with her toys and often reaches out to grab them, or will try manipulate her body & head to get a better view of them.

This week has been a slow week, Dante came home from his first week back at daycare with a nasty cold which we all proceeded to get also. It has meant lots of sleeping, little eating and many tissues for the whole household. Being sick has lead my milk to practically dry up, so expressing has become a miserable and unfulfilling past-time. Claudia has been feeding on formula for the last three days without any breast milk. Last night I was feeling better so tried to put her back on the breast for a feed. This resulted in her being confused about how to feed (she has obviously gotten used to bottle feeding) and a whole heap of soreness (again!) for me. I am starting to come to terms with breastfeeding not being my thing. I really perservered with Dante due to a lot of pressure I was feeling and am not prepared to do that this time around, while I so desperatley want to feed my children, its not worth the pain, stress and depression that comes with it all. It stopped me from being the mum I wanted, and knew I could be, and once I gave up with Dante, my, and his world changed so much for the better.

I feel really upset that I can't get a grip on this breastfeeding caper. I see all my sisters have done with (seemingly) ease and most of my close friends are/were all breastfeeders. I feel a failure, I feel humiliated that I cannot do it right, no matter how I try. And I need to let go of all of that. I need to accept that perhaps it is just not meant to be, and move on. And I am nearly there. This week I will give it one more go with Claudia, because lets face it, there are so many pros to breastfeeding, and I genuinely would love to be able to feed her, and (in my mind) complete my role as a mother.

Well, this post wasn't meant to be a sob story about my boobs, so apologies - let me make it up to you by providing you with some lovely images of my offspring!

If I told you that 2 minutes after taking this shot Claudia projectile-vomitted all over Joe? hehehehe

This grin that Dante gives usually tells me he has done something he knows he shouldn't have.....I wonder what he & Claudia were planning?

"kisses for my baby sister" says Dante

The protector & comforter

Dante explaining to Claudia the trend behind two different pairs of shoes.

Loving the gifts - A big thank you

2010-01-12T12:14:00.003+11:00

Learning to love the camera I hope!

Dante begins rolling practice with Claudia - this is his bonding time with her

While resting Dante shows Claudia all the balloons on the blanket

See the panda on the singlet? so cute!

The two kidlets model their outfits in front of the blanket - I asked them for a happy face but somehow got cranky faces instead??? (Taken on phone, sorry for poor quality)

We recieved a gift package in the mail yesterday. Actually we have been inundated with gifts to celebrate Claudia's birth so a huge thank you to everyone that has sent good wishes, gifts and has kept us in your thoughts - we all really appreciate it!

My sister has a wonderful mother-in-law who has sensational skills in sewing (could that be my first aliteration of the year? yes, i think so!) and Claudia was the lucky benefactor!

We have recieved a whole wardrobe for Miss C, and I now just have to find all the appropriate social outings so she can gt some use out of all the stunning frocks she has collected. I have also tried taking photos to post them to the gifters so they can see just how beautiful she looks in them.

This post shows off my sister's gifts - some Robot jammies that were a huge hit for Dante, so much so, that at 9am when the parcel arrived, he promptly got changed from his totally now "uncool" dinosaur jammies and into the robot jammies. I eventually managed to get him back out of them with the promise that he could wear them to bed that night. In the background you can see the lovely quilt/blanket that Lorraine made - Dante had a great time showing and counting the balloons for Claudia while undergoing our rolling practice. Claudia is also sporting two singlets that Lorraine embroidered - I love the bright green and they look so trendy with her bonds graffiti pants and her bright pink goes perfect with her leggings!

So a big thank you to Claire, Lorraine & family for ensuring that not only are my family comfortable with a blanket that is easy to carry around, but are also dressed for success!

Stay tuned for the next blog posts that will be more akin to a runway special with Miss Claudia modelling her wonderful aray of frocks & outfits! I just need time to put her in them all!!

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

2010-01-11T11:47:00.003+11:00

Hi there- below you should be able to view some footage of Claudia taking one of her first rolls. She is rolling quite often which means double supervision required! She also has been taught how to High Five. Sorry for the quality but I had to compress it for the blog

Week Three

2010-01-10T12:10:00.003+11:00

The busy household (minus Gemma (photographer) and Claudia (sleeping beauty))

Claudia dressed in Nonna's special PJ's

Grandma showing me the ropes in how to manage more than one child at a time!

Dante recieved an upgrade to his wheelbarrow and pretty quickly set dad to work.

Claudia enjoying her bathtime knowing that a lovely olive oil massage comes next!

So we are powering into week three. Mum and dad left admist a flood of tears (mine) and sighs of relief (them, I'm sure!) to head back to Ballina yesterday. Joe's final day of holidays is today so come tomorrow, I will be on my own with the two munchkins. I am both worried and confident that we will manage. I think it will be harder than I ever imagined but I also think it will be dispersed with moments of joy, happiness and utter contentment (is that even a word???).

We had my brother and his family come and stay with us for a few days which was really lovely. We don't see each other much, mainly at family occassions where our attention is divided over a whole heap of family members so to just spend a few days in each others company was really great. His partner Jess really helped with Dante and their four kids were also legendary at keeping Dante amused and Claudia cuddled.

Claudia has been a star baby. The last few days she has found her voice and will let us know when she wants something, but she has been feeding and sleeping well (about every 3-5 hours but 4hrs on average). I developed Mastitis not long after coming home from hospital due to some pretty severe cracked and bleeding nipples. Having experienced this with Dante with the help of all the surrounding family (dad, mum, frank, jess & kids (Joe was in perth at the time)) I was able to rush to the Dr and get treated (antibiotics) and get on top of it before it got really out of hand. I also decided to express and feed Claudia by expressed breast milk only. Unfortunately due to my stress, health & lack of sleep I was not expressing the amounts needed - so we are topping up with formula.

This week I will attempt to put Claudia slowly back onto the breast. Any more complications and I will take her off and give up, but I would really like one more go at it.

Dante has been a fantastic big brother, he really cannot wait until Claudia is big enough to play with him. He enjoys showing her how to roll, and will often try include her in any of his games. He is going through his own little development stage which includes lots of "No!" and "Why?" and "Don't want to mummy" which is very trying. This on top of his latest interest in guns and shooting has turned him into a real typical boy. Having people in the house and visiting us really amplified his behaviours so I am hoping this will settle down once we are back to our normal routines. If not, it will be discipline central at our house for a while!!

Health wise we have come to the end of all the delicious festive foods that have been hidden in our fridge and cupboard. Both Joe and I are determined to lose weight this year and so we have registered ourselves on the WiFit and we are looking at some changes to our diet to assist with Joes cholestorol and gout (both not severe but we want to be pro-active). While I cannot get into anything too strenuous until the six week mark, we have enjoyed trialing all the fun activities that are included on the system. We also will try work out a roster system to fit in some walks (me) or runs (Joe) minus the kids!!

So other than that, we are travelling well - we have been getting out and about as a family (movies yesterday) and today we celebrate Joe's birthday as a whole little family. It really is wonderful, no matter how hard it is, you cannot say its not worth it!

Siblings

2010-01-01T10:04:00.002+11:00

Dante just making sure the rocker is safe for Claudia - he is a good big brother always looking out for her safety!

Are you ready for your close-up Claudia Sabine??

The bonds boy and the bonds girl - the big and little of it

Dante "sleeping" with his baby sister

Taking her for a ride in the boat - the beginning of many adventures to come!

T'was the night before christmas.....

2010-01-01T08:29:00.005+11:00

All was going well - It was christmas eve, we jut had a scrumptious dinner of oysters kilpatrick and scallop mornay (I know, bad pregnancy food but by this stage I didn't care - I wanted seafood!!). We pshyched Dante up about Santa coming the next morning and put him off to bed before settling in to watch the carols on TV. At 9,30 we woke Dante up to take him to midnight mass (at 10pm) to see "the baby jesus". He was charming to all the ladies at church and was so well behaved throughout (hint: he may have slept for most of it). We came home, and went to bed, I was feeling nothing so was sure that I would be up early christmas morning to open all our gifts!

The Paolino family on christmas eve 2009

At 3am I was wide awake - my first contraction! got up and made myself a cup of tea. I knew that this stage could either be a short or long stay so woke Joe to tell him it was happening, but to stay asleep and conserve his energy until I needed him. I then settled into watching some bad morning TV once i made sure my bag was packed and ready.

At 6am I was waking the household, we were on and I needed to go to hospital - stat! I had rung them and told them to expect me. Mum and Joe and I jumped in the car and by 7am we had reached the delivery ward and met our midwife Ellie. Dad and Dante stayed home to await the news.

The labour progressed quickly and normally (if you call that amount of pain normal!). For pain relief I used gas and although I screamed and begged for any other drugs under the sun they could give me to take the pain away, I was (rightfully)not encouraged to use them.

Halfway through the labour the Dr on duty changed and when he walked in the door I immediately recognised him - Ken, the Dr who had delivered Dante (at a different hospital). He had seen our noes and remembered us and asked the midwife if he could deliver this baby also. She obliged.

At 10.15am on christmas morning, our angel, Claudia Sabine Paolino was born by natural delivery (yay!). The experience of seeing my daughter being born and then immediately placed on my tummy afterwards is a moment I hope never to forget. Such a different experience from the emergency c-section that I had with Dante. This delivery did involve needing some stitches afterwards but the relief and joy of having a quick and safe natural delivery made it all worthwhile!

I had a very proud moment when the ever-squeamish Joe managed to cut the cord - something he said he would never be able to do - but he did it!

Joe, Ellie the midwife, Ken the Dr, Claudia and Me - The only person missing is Mum taking the photo!!

Taken moments after her birth, me cuddling Claudia, both of us relieved that ordeal was over!

The birthing buddies (Mum & Joe) celebrate with a cuddle

Dante meeting his "baby sister" for the first time - it was love at first sight.

Dante got a little confused and when speaking with people he was very excited to tell him that "mummy was in hospital with the baby jesus".

Welcome to the family baby Claudia Sabine!

Fertile happenings at Casa Paolino

2009-12-13T18:56:00.003+11:00

As we reach the final week of this pregnancy I cannot tell you how excited, nervous, anxious and everything else that I am feeling. This pregnancy seemed to drag where with Dante it seemed to fly - maybe that's just with hindsight though? I am sure i had tough times through that pregnancy but I still cannot get over how completely different the two were.

I am still 10kg's lighter than before I fell pregnant and am hoping that the weight will stay off after little Fragola is born. It will then hopefully kickstart me into 2010 which is the year I am aiming to do (again) do the whole weightloss thing. I will be attempting breastfeeding so there will be nothing dramatic about the process, just sensible diet and portion sizes along with (shock! horror!) excercise.

Anyway, all that is still a simple thought away as much more pressing (and talk about pressing down on my pelvis!) things are going on at the moment. We have our friends on baby watch, and mum and dad should arrive by the end of the week. Fragola isn't technically due till christmas day so we are hoping it might come a few days early so we can be back home in time for some celebratory fun (and seafood! and ricadonna!).

But to tide you over until any further news here are some other quite fertile or fruitful things that are around us at the moment for you to enjoy:

This budding young boy is now able to climb up onto the Frog on his own - It's still his favourite pastime at the park.

Here is Fragola, watching through the belly at his/her big brother to be playing happily in the park

Our Tomato plant, the others are looking a bit sickly and this is the only one showing any hope of fruit in the near future

Our first crop of grapes

The second crop of raspberries, the first lot I ate them before i got a chance to take a photo - these are super delicious and soooo much better than the shops! I wish I had another three or thirty(!) bushes, or be they called rambles?

Tis the season

2009-11-29T20:54:00.004+11:00

I know, I know - It isn't the 1st December yet and it's bad luck apparently to be putting decorations up before then, but due to a big basketball sized belly I was unable to do a lot so needed Joe's assistance, and there was NO WAY I was waiting another week for him to be free again!

This is the first year we got Dante to help, which was, well lets say interesting. He had no idea what he/we were doing and when we gave him a bauble to choose where it was going to go, he picked a branch that already had a bauble on it.

But it was so much fun and I think the first time Joe has even got into the act also which made it really lovely.

You can also see in the background the new (IKEA!!) curtains that Joe hung up for me. I really want to get rid of the blinds but we still need some for of sun/heat/cold blockout so I need to leave them there for the time being.

We are also hoping to do some investigation into home renovations next year and we don't want to spend alot (any) money on window treatments until we have an idea of what we might do to the house.

Anyway, for those that love the Dante shots - here he is, we tried to get him to put the angel up on top of the tree but he struggled and after the tree almost collapsed on us, we decided Joe would help him! Sorry for the poor quality!

Dantes turns at finishing off the tree - The very first year that it is not my job to do it *sob sob* so bittersweet :-)

In the end it was slightly safer for Joe to do the honours.

But Dante was still more than happy to keep a hold of her and smile for the camera!

I then asked him to stand in front of the tree. He thought the photo would look better if he brought his chair across and sat in front of it. He also wanted to show the "Santa Stop Here" sign that seems to have turned into a gun. hmmmm Might need some more talks about christmas spirit methinks!

Thai Beef Salad - Ally Style

2009-11-15T19:40:00.003+11:00

When I had my last check up at the doctors, I told her that I was struggling with wanting to eat heavy meat dishes due to the weather, my hunger and the fact that it often resulted in very uncomfortable indigestion. She immediately checked my iron levels and being happy with how high they were (all that spanakopita I am sure! go spinach!) she said that something like a Thai Beef Salad would be a good option for me.

I have been craving this dish ever since. Here is my recipe, mainly made up with what I had on hand and some ideas from a few cookbooks.

Ingredients:

500gm Lean Rump Steak
Handful each of fresh: Corriander, Mint, Chives, chopped
2 cups of baby spinach
1 Carrot - grated or peeled finely
2 cucumber, diced
3 tomatos, diced
1 packet of Changs fried noodles
handful of fried shallots to serve

Sauce:
Two cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 lemongrass stalk, bruised then chopped
1 tsp brown sugar
1 lemon (i would normally have used limes but lemon worked well)
2 tsp chopped chilli (add more if you like more heat)
2 tsp soy sauce (I couldn't find any fish sauce)

Place steak to one side. Assemble all fresh salad ingredients into bowl except noodles. In a separate bowl add all sauce ingredients and add or minus amounts according to taste. Your aim is a mixture of hot, sweet, sour without being dominated by any. Pour sauce on salad.

Cook steak on high heat until medium rare (due to being pregnant I cooked mine a little more than I would normally like - the more you cook it though, the less tender it will be). Let sit for 5-7 mins before chopping into bite size strips.

Add steak to salad and at last minute add fried noodles and stir. Top with fried shallots and enjoy straight away!

breakthrough

2009-11-15T13:40:00.003+11:00

We have had a breakthrough - and none of us could be happier. Friday signalled the night that we would not allow Dante to come into our bed with us anymore. For the last 18months, Dante has woken up anytime between 10-5 in the night and has wandered into our bed. After a few half-hearted attempts of putting him back in his bed, we eventually gave up as at least this way we all went straight back to sleep.

Obviously with my expanding belly, Dantes expanding height and our queen remaining the same size, things were getting quite uncomfortable. We also knew if we didn't stop things soon, it would only get harder.

Anyway, Joe and i decided that this weekend was going to be our "no sleep" weekend and prepared ourselves appropriately. We made sure we had nowhere to be or go during the day to allow ourselves to catch up on our lack of sleep after tag-teaming putting Dante back into bed each night. We committed to memory what our "script" was with him, how we were going to say it, and how often we each went in before the other person got up and supported them.

Dante went to bed a little later than normal on this Friday night, we had been at a friends BBQ and he had a little accident that resulted in an enlarged lip that would make any hollywood actress envious. After all the excitement of the evening he went off very quickly and well, which isn't un-normal for Dant anyway.

So, Joe and I turned in early ready and geared up for the night from hell to crash down on us, I had downloaded half a dozen podcasts to keep me awake through those early hours when your body is crying for sleep, but can't due to your toddler crying to not sleep.

So, 2am came and Dante awoke. I was hyper alert and shoved Joe, who jumped out of bed, and went to speak with Dante. He explained that Dante was a big boy now and needed to stay in his own bed. He also mentioned that there was a present waiting for the big boy who could sleep in his bed all night and not come into mummy & daddy's room (bribery = parenting 101 right?). Dante cried and after throwing his hands in the air, stayed in bed. Joe came back into our room and mentioned that it wont be long before we heard his footsteps.

Turns out those footsteps never came. I stayed awake an hour waiting for Dante to come in, he stopped crying after about three minutes (yes, I was counting and clock checking) and after a couple of coughs, we heard nothing until 7am. Yes, our child finally slept in his own bed until 7am in the morning.

He was rewarded with his present (a cheapo mini basketball and hoop set) and hasn't stopped playing with it since he received it.

We were so relieved but knew that Saturday could be something special in itself. We treated Friday as a fluke.

Putting the Dant to bed on Saturday night was just as hassle free. This time, the bribe was going to the shops and he could have an ice-cream. it worked.

Again, he woke around 3am and I jumped up put him back to bed, and gave him a cuddle, repeated much of what Joe had said the night before. Dant wasn't impressed. He cried for daddy! Joe, ever the wondeful father, got up even though it wasn't "his turn" and gave dant a cuddle and told him about the trip to the shops tomorrow. He then blew Dante a kiss which was apaprently returned.

We heard footsteps again at 7.10am that morning. Bliss. Dante climbed into bed with us at that time and quietly read his "mail" (a big w catalogue) for another 30 minutes before convincing me to wake up.

As he was so well behaved, he got to choose his favourite breakfast - googy eggs (boiled eggs).

He ate two!

At the shops he met Santa which he was super excited about until he was face to face with the "big santa" and then quickly became terrified, so no photo - Santa was kind enough to give Dante some antlers though!

Luckily I brought my camera so thought I would try get some christmassy snaps in anyway

I even convinced Joe to take a photo of me, depsite my bed hair (untouched from the night before - sorry) and ever-decreasing wardrobe!

We are excited about what tonight (Sunday) will bring us, could we be so lucky that it will be a repeat or even better than the two nights previous? We can only hope!

2009-11-11T21:47:00.002+11:00

Hello Ally,

I thought you might like to add this photo of another of your special creations. Little Erin is delighted with the outfit you made her. She had her first swim today but I am not allowed to share that photo yet!!

Hope you have more happy sewing days ahead. I am sure Dante will enjoy learning how to occupy himself while Mama is on the sewing machine.

LOL

Grandma Gem

Whats growing in my backyard.

2009-11-10T08:26:00.004+11:00

Our "fig twig" has done really well this year - doubled in size and the leaves are looking wonderfully healthy. It is behind a barrier (normally our fagoli patch) to protect it from toddler trampings.

Our first strawberry is contemplating it's own photosynthesis. I played with the colours only because the real colours haven't developed yet but I am very excited when the time will come that we can pick our own and enjoy!

I have now entered that "zone" where my world has pretty much shut down around me except for preparations for the impending birth.

I don't remember it happening this early with Dante, but I do remember those last few weeks at work where there was zero concentration on anything unconnected with babies, labour and motherhood.

We have been busily preparing the house for the new arrival, spring cleaning every cupboard in sight, I even managed to convince my sister to come down from Brisbane and show me how to clean my bathroom so it was as nice and clean as hers! Thanks Clairie!

There is still so much to do, I had a little scare that made us think we might be welcoming a November baby rather than a December baby and that has on the one hand made me more determined to have everything ready as early as possible, but also to stop doing so much (doctors orders). While I haven't really been exerting myself, I certainly can notice now when I try to accomplish something it is taking me much longer and requires much more concentration than normal!

Dante has been a champion through all this. He is often neglected, left to play on his own while I bustle about with loads of washing, emptying cupboards and then the mandatory re-coup on the couch afterward! I also can't bend over to quickly pick up his toys or join him in a quick game of "rockets" or such, and while he will often express some resentment he is generally good natured about it all. Thank god he still has his refuge at the child care centre to go and run amok with his mates!

My care factor for many other things that I would normally consider important is waning also, and I really need to up my discipline to make sure I keep connected with my friends, and my study - these are the two that I have seriously let slip. I have a uni exam in two weeks so I have already highlighted my study times in which I will force myself to revise. I received two HD's for this course already, I would hate to let it all slip now at the end.

The one thing that has certainly made all this easier is the onset of spring. Our backyard has turned from wasteland to wasteland with some pretty flowers. No seriously, for the first time in several years we have green, green grass. It has been annouced that we will be allowed to water the lawn on weekends right over christmas, and that combined, with our washing machine connected to a grey water hose we hope to keep it green long into the new year. The roses look the best they have ever done, but I don't need to tell you - see for yourself:

This is a "fresia rose" and smells divine. It was mum and dad's when they lived in canberra, I never managed to make it look as good as they did, but I think I am pretty close this year!

This dark mahogany rose was in our garden when we brought the house - we don't do anything to it besides a little clip here and there and every year it never fails to bloom and look lovely.

I never thought I would be this excited about green lawn. Go the grass!

Last summer we moved our citrus around and in the process lost our lemon tree, and made our orange and kaffir lime very unwell. Luckily the kaffir lime has sprouted some buds giving us some hope that we will be able to enjoy some homemade fishcakes and laksas!

These are my babies - my grapes. Apparently they taste awful but I love the look of them and grapes in a wine barrel is just a combination made in heaven. There is parsley in the bottom. Dante knows what parsley and orgegano is and can now go and pick them for me when I am cooking (although he tends to be a stingy when I request a handful I am lucky to get a leaf or two!)

Countdown to party time

2009-10-27T09:08:00.003+11:00

Well Casa Paolino is totally getting geared up for the silly season. It starts this week and doesn't end for the next 18 or so years. My sister is arriving at the end of this week for a flash in the pan weekend visit. I cannot wait. I love catching up with family and I seem to be at the best stage of my pregnancy to date so should be able to enjoy all the lunching, munching and shopping we are planning to do (well, shopping as in "window shopping" right Clairie?).

Next week I have booked in my yearly pilgrimage to IKEA. At the moment we are looking at heading up on Tuesday. It's a public holiday here in Canberra for Melbourne Cup (if you can explain that to me, that would be great!) and it's not in NSW so we are hoping it will be relatively quiet.

My Law exam is then on the horizon and the weeks before will be filled with frantic preparation. Thankfully I then have a break of around two months before getting back into it.

We then fall smack bang into christmas parties, end of year going ons and preparation for fragola to welcome themselves into this world. In admist all of this my parents are coming across for a few weeks to help with the whole gaining a second addition to the family.

So, busy busy busy. But fun, fun, fun. Dante has recently expressed an interest in cooking. He loves playing at his little kitchen wearing his apron and making cups of "tea or coffee". With the brief glimpse of sunshine last weekend we also were able to get out and play in the garden together. We tried to teach him the fun that is Grip Ball, except it's not so much fun when you are an adult, or if you are under 5. But any chance for Dante to play with his daddy he will be there. Joe has been teaching him how to kick the "footy ball" which is basically any ball (Joe is hoping that he will stick with the soccer ball!) and Joe informs me that he is showing promise and is "good on both his legs". Right.

Dante, perhaps the reason you can't catch the ball is becuase your eyes are shut??

The boys playing in the backyard - Look we finally have green grass!!

Does this make me Whistler's mother?

Taking my order "White, no sugar thanks Dant"

He's now ready to take your order - what will it be??

This blogger has been blogging

2009-10-17T09:13:00.005+11:00

Yes, another break in transmission has occured - albeit unintended. It has been very busy around the canberra household with lots going on. But I have been blogging, just not on my own blog. I was offered the prestigious opportunity to guest blog over at my pal's blog, Caveat Calcei. This awesome chick is not only a lovely, nice lawyer (they do exist!) that has motivated me with my current uni study, she also is a mum and awesome twitterer! Check out her blog and leave a comment.

For those after the mandatory Dante, shot - this is him demanding a photo to be taken (and yes, we are aware it is well and truly time to go back to the barber!) :

Teddy Bear's Picnic

2009-10-11T14:27:00.004+11:00

Well we finally had some lovely weather today and just in time for the Teddy Bear's Picnic. It was a fun day at the park (put on by the ACT Govt) with lots of exciting things to see and do. Today the theme was "Return to Space" to celebrate the international year of Astronomy. This meant that Dante HAD to attend. Any chance to see some rockets and astronauts!

We had a lovely time, we ate lots of food, played on the playground and we even got to dance to the funky band playing. Dante brought Fusion and Dimitri along for the fun times and we even met up with his two best mates and their parents.

We didn't make it to the Teddy Bear Parade as it was way past nap time and boys just weren't interested. A pity because so many people stopped us to comment or play with Fusion, and Dimitri was totally dressed for the occassion:

Dante kissing Dimitri the "astrobear" while getting ready for the picnic

d
Dante and his mate Luka "tackling" and "cuddling" often mean the same thing with these two boys

Getting their groove on - the boys dancing to the music

Oliver and his mum Alex came also and joined in the fun times!

A bit too tired to walk back to the car, it's much better to get a horsey ride from daddy

A week in film

2009-09-18T08:23:00.004+10:00

I have been writing so many blog posts in my head but when I sit at the computer they all mysteriously dissapear and run off to play with those fairies and leprachauns that also occassionally haunt my mind.

I have replaced the batteries in the camera and i have started taking some photos again, but have not been really happy with my work this week. I don't know if the flu side effects, the weather, the plain simple fact that i am finding parenting a "terrible (but adorable) two" very trying at the moment, or just the pregnancy but motivation and committment to anything has been really hard to come by. That's not to say to I am cranky, or depressed- I am actually feeling really good - I just don't feel like doing anything!

So, until I get myself and my house sorted out I bring you a week in pictures - just for your viewing pleasure!

My beloved Zuk - the Suzuki - We are getting his windows fixed today. After a wild storm around four years ago I walked to the car from work to find all the windows on the driver's side smashed. This happened to a few hundred cars all over Canberra and as a result the price of window replacement skyrocketed (and no, i didn't have insurance, and yes, I know how foolish that was - now!). Anyway, long story short; We left the car as is while we went on holidays and the battery died, and the wheels went flat - when we got around to doing somethhing with it, the rego had also run out - meaning fixing this car was going to cost us $$$. It's been in a coma since then but we are slowly beginning it's ressurection today - we are all excited! (Especially Dante who has only just found out that not only does Grandad own a TRUCK! but so does his Mama!)

We got a special package from Aunty Monica this week - Dante scored an apron with matching chef hat and gloves. Dante has obviously seen my work in the kitchen and thought it might be more OHS practical if he wore his hard hat and googles while cooking instead - Thanks Mon!

A masterpiece that went wrong. I am cooking again but still struggle with raw meat - Joe won a meat platter last week and after using most of it on a neighbourhood BBQ, I thought i would use some bits of beef skirt to make an authentic Chilli Con Carne. Turns out it wasn't beef skirt but lamb. Joe and Dante enjoyed it (Dante loved having CAKE! for dinner - polenta corn cake) but i couldn't get past the lamb flavour knowing it should have been beef.

In my true procrastination style, I have decided to start my second quilt. By a strange force I walked out with some very feminine pinks and yellows. Not sure if I am tempting fate but this quilt is to practice my applique and some of the best applique are things like flowers and butterflies - so I couldn't help but pick all the "pretty colours". Should make a good present if we don't have a girl right?

This is me on my way out last night. There have been so few photos of me (I am usually behind the lens and Joes skills as a photography are best left undescribed) but I think it was the first time in my pregnancy that I was wearing make up, not wearing jeans but a SKIRT! and I had even tried to use a hair curler (which wasn't very successful).

So there you go - A week in pictures. If your week was in pictures - what would your highlight be?

Fragola - 24 Weeks

2009-09-07T15:13:00.002+10:00

Just realised I forgot to tell you we had an ultrasound last week - All is going well, Fragola is still unknown in sex to us (we don't want to know) and by all accounts is happy and healthy and on track to being born 25 December.

We took the Dant along with us for the visit and he just loved seeing "the baby in the water" He waved and the baby waved back and also opened and closed it's mouth like it was talking to us - Awesome!

The lady who screened us printed off half a dozen shots for us and one for Dante - he is still walng around with it showing everyone the baby that is in mama's tummy!

Fathers Day, a Spring Clean & The Zuk

2009-09-07T14:53:00.002+10:00

For our first weekend back we decided we were going to relax and enjoy it. Joe won a meat tray at work so we decided to organise a BBQ for Sunday. We spent Saturday morning at Swimming lessons - They had a blow up whale for the kids to ride on and Dante was beyond excited that we finally got to see "A whale!" even if it was in Canberra and not Ballina!

Afterwards we headed to Bunnings and lost ourseleves there for an hour - we walked out with some down lights that needed replacing and some seedlings.

Saturday afternoon I became bored and convinced Joe that the house URGENTLY NEEDED REARRANGING - Joe tends to accept what I want to do because it is often the only time I volunteer to actually clean the place up! We moved the living room and play rooms around to make more space. This result looked so good I was determined to tackle the bedrooms on Sunday. Joe said no due to our BBQ.

Saturday night we ordered my favourite Indian takeaway and Dante gulped down the Daal and rice but only if it had "yogi" on it (Raita). After a big day of moving furniture and cleaning I feel asleep exhausted. We also got a phone call from our friends saying that they couldn't make the BBQ due to other committments - the meat tray went directly into the freezer and the party was rescheduled for the following weekend.

Sunday morning arrived and it was Father's Day! I had promised to buy Joe a nice shirt for dad's day but he wanted to pick it out. Dante and I had made a card which he got when he woke up. We went out shopping and returned with a shirt for Joe and (shock horror!) Nothing for me and dante - I think the shopping centre broke down and cried it was such a major event to walk out with nothing for either of us!

The next few hours were spent with me pottering in the bedroom while joe planted some tomato, zucchini, basil, strawberries and a raspberry tree - can't wait to enjoy the fruits of the crop! He came in to get a drink to find I had moved Dantes bedroom as much as possible (excluding the heavy furniture) into our spare room. He then assisted with the heavy stuff and I spent the the aftrnoon and this morning putting both rooms back together in its place.

This means our house is halfway spring-cleaned. I tidied the kitchen last week but it still has some rearranging of contents that i want down and then that just leaves us with the bathroom and laundry - Joe has gallantly taken on board the cleaning of the laundry so I am hoping in the next two weeks the house should be completely cleaned and ready for a trip to Ikea (I have been nagging Joe and I am hoping on his next trip to sydney we might come along for the ride!)

So that brings us up to date. Nothing much more exciting happenening apart from my old faithful Zuk (the Suzuki) is being awoken from its Coma to once again grace the roads of Canberra - A few years ago we had a massive wind storm in Canberra which lead to the windows along the driver's side being smashed in completely. This happened all over Canberra so at the time the price to fix windows increased. We decided to wait until we returned from our Christmas vacation. Over that time the battery went flat and I forgot to renew rego. It has been sitting in our garage since and the tyres are now flat. So it needs a lot of work and a few $$ put it's way to bring it back to life.

Dante saw it for the first time yesterday and asked if it was also Grandad's truck (he has a Discovery), I told him it was my truck but that it was broken and we needed to get the man over to fix it.

This morning he asked me "where's my man?" I said "what man" "The man to fix truck" I had to explain he wasn't coming until later this week and boy, was Dante upset about that! I am afraid I might be hearing more about this truck from my toddler than I really would like to - at least his nagging will motivate us to get it back on the road sooner!

End Note" Sorry - ran out of batteries last day of holidays and keep forgetting to restock - will be bringing some more picture bliss to this blog once I purchase those AA's!

The Rest of the Holiday

2009-09-07T14:33:00.003+10:00

Well despite my best intentions to keep the holiday posts up to date as much as possible, it didn't happen. I think we were having too good a time to even think about technology, even beloved twitter didn't get hardly any usage from me at all. A sign of a great holiday I am told!

So what did we do? What didn't we do! In our 10 days we managed to see dolphins frolicking in the water (more than once!) play on the beach (I was the only one brave enough for a mini-swim!) or as Dante called it "the sandpit". We spent a day at Dreamworld, two days in brisbane catching up with my sister and family as well as meeting a friend off the net (it sounds dodgy but was awesome and she is lovely - Hi Ang!) at a great water/park. We fine dined it for my sister's birthday, and followed up the next night with take away mexican - mmmm if only I could have had a mojito to complete the meal!

We also took Dad's boat out for it's maiden voyage in the river, Dante was super excited about it and it is still the one thing he keeps talking about. Joe became addicted to playing the Wii and we are in the process of obtaining one so the whole family can "get fit" and "have fun".

I spent a lovely afternoon with my mum going out for lunch at the Ti-Tree plantation and then followed it up sobbing to the movie My Sisters Keeper. My sister told me that when I got to Brisbane she would take me to another movie which was Blessed - again more sobbing. And I think I could even blame it on the pregnancy hormones given all the other people leaving the cinema with red blotchy eyes.

Now I know I am leaving out some of the best stuff that happened, like Dad making a lovely curry for dinner one night and just having close family there, to the picnic we held for Clairies b'day and Dante pulling out all of Grandma's parsley and dropping it down on the carpark - so many memories collected in such a short time. Here are some photos but I have posted plenty more on my facebook page and have probably (most definately) doubled up:

Dante loved the sand, surf and closeness of family around him

"water splashed me!" he tells us when we ask him about Grandad's boat

Grandma and Dante searching for pelicans (and whales)

Daddy and Dante playing in the sand

The dolphins out near the breakwater at Ballina

Ballina: Day One

2009-08-22T12:56:00.002+10:00

Well after two days of heavy driving we reached Ballina. It was a great trip that had us stop over in Port Macquarie for the night at a Caravan Park. Dante travelled really well, having no complaints the first day, and while he was a bit hesistant to hop back in the car, he did and survived the 2nd day of travel (around 6-7 hours each day!) without too much fuss.

The (good) fuss all began when we arrived at our destination - Yay! Grandma and Grandad's house. It was all very exciting - and Dante got to have a quick visit to Aunty Dympna's house to say hello to all the birds, elephants and the funny little Mexican man who wore no shoes.

The day ended with a wonderful storytime, both Grandad and Grandma showed Dante a very special book that had a dog called Bolt. He looked like Shilo so it was rather funny!

Day two (our first real day here) and we were up and off to the beach as soon as it was acceptable (being holidayers - acceptable is mid morning). I had thought it would be rather cold so we were quite surprised when we all turned bright red from not only the sun but the heat! Should mean that we get a swim or two in while we are here. We had also psyched Dante up that we might see some whales while we are here. None today so Grandma and Dante had a go at drawing them in the sand.

Dante and Grandad had a nice walk down the river wall and Grandad pointed out some dolphins. Once Dante knew what we were looking for, he was able to spot another pod of dolphins on the other side

Can you see that blurry black mark - that is my superior photography skills catching a dolphin in action. Hope to play around with the camera a little more so next time we can get some better shots.

Speaking of photography skills, how could i pass up an opportunity to take a picture of some driftwood. It's cliched photography right? But I love the shot all the same!

Back home for a light lunch and a nap. Bill and Joe are off to do some fishing, I am currently finishing off a uni assignment and Dante and Gemma are in the land of nod for an hour or two. I hear we are having roast lamb for dinner tonight so all in all, Day One/Two was a success!

Teddies and Moon Treasure

2009-08-17T14:51:00.003+10:00

Dante has become very attached to his teddy Dimitri. I am not sure if it was us talking about a "baby in mama's belly" or not, but he has certainly taken on a parental role with old Dimitri here. Dante tells me he is a daddy. We will sometimes change Dimitri's "invisible" nappy before tackling Dante's unfortuanly very visible and odorus nappy. He will sometimes put Dimitri in the bar stool and request a serving of food for him when it is snack time.

Dimitri needed a bed and luckily we had this box lying around. Dante will often be found putting him in in there and giving him a kiss goodnight. Once or twice he has tried to read to Dimitri while in there.

I hope this is Dante gearing up for his role of Big Brother - if it is, he is certainly doing a great job! No complaints from Dimitri yet!

It has taken me almost a week to upload these photos. We had some hail here in Canberra last week, I was at the Doctors when it occured and could'nt wait to leave to come home and snap some shots.

These were taken about an hour after the hail storm. Dante was at childcare but there was still plenty around when he came home. he jumped out of the car screaming "Moon Treasure!" He asked if he could eat some and for the next 30 minutes he spent walking around the garden selecting which moon treasure he would devour! My camera had run out of batteries so no photos of what was a very entertaining afternoon

The Intellectual

2009-08-11T12:22:00.001+10:00

Masterchef Challenge Week Two - Part Two

2009-08-07T19:07:00.003+10:00

Okay,

As promised here is part two of my this weeks Masterchef challenge thanks to Amanda!

I ws going to cook this dish and still am planning to, however my mum lent me a photo of the dish, which means I wont have to stay up until midnight tonight cooking it before entries close tomorrow!

My mum makes this dish all the time, and due to that, this has become a bit of a comfort meal - I have never made it before, so this weekend will be my first time (and to be honest, is more likely to happen early next week!) The dish is known as Mrs Streeters Lemon Pudding. Mum might be able to better explain the history but I believe Mrs Streeter handed the recipe to my grandma who in turn taught it to Mum.

1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon SR Flour
Juice and rind of 1 lemon
2 eggs

In clean bowl whisk egg whites until stiff and set aside.
Beat together butter, sugar, egg yolks, lemon juice & rind.
Stir in flour and slowly add milk.
Lightly fold in egg whites and pour into greased baking dish.
Put baking dish in larger pan of hot water coming halfway up side of baking dish.

Put in slow oven (140C) for about 50minutes. Adjust to suit your taste. The longer you cook the less lemon sauce there will be at the bottom and the more sponge on top!

If hosting a dinner party I would serve this with macerated strawberries (marinate strawberries in a mixture of balsamic vinegar and caster sugar) and a dollop of mascarpone or ice-cream on the side - delish!

Masterchef Challenge Week Two - Part One

2009-08-07T18:58:00.003+10:00

You may be aware of Bugmum's awesomely fun Mastechef challenge - now into week two. By default, I won last week and so got to pick this weeks 10 ingredients for the mystery box challenge.

I cheated with this week's challenge - breaking my meals up into two. Part I is

what I cooked for dinner tonight. I call it Ally's Huevos Rancheros.

3 chorizo sausages - chopped

1 can of refried beans

I jar of salsa (the Aldi organic salsa is awesome for this!)

three eggs

fetta cheese

tortillas

Avocado mixed with lemon juice & sweet chilli sauce for guacamole

lemon wedge to serve.

In a frypan cook chorizo until cooked through. Add refried beans and salsa until mixed and warm. Crack in three eggs and cook until the bottom of the eggs turns opaque (top and yolk will still be raw). Sprinkle chopped fetta over dish and place under grill until cheese and eggs are cooked.

Sprinkle chopped parsley to serve.

Meanwhile, warm tortillas according to directions. Then cook in frypan until warm and crispy-ish.

To eat, lump a spoonful of sauce onto tortilla and serve with guacamole and some lemon juice.

This is actually a brunch recipe but works equally well as a last minute dinner option, other than the chorizos, everything else is stored in the cupboard and/or are standard ingredients.

So Amanda - there is 1/2 my submission - stay tuned for part II!

iPods, rockets and the normal weekend stuff

2009-08-03T09:39:00.002+10:00

We had a lovely weekend just gone. Spent lots of family time together, we played all of Dantes favourite games (at the moment, he likes cooking in his kitchen making us cups of tea) and just generally relaxing - Could be why I am in such a great mood this morning.

On friday evening I had promised Dante that I would get him a "rocket". There is a TV show called Lunar Jim and i was hoping i could find a DVD or toy. Alas three trips to different toy shops resulted not only in no Lunar Jim toys but no rocket paraphanalia whatsoever.

Eventually after much searching I found a $15 book that was about Man's mission to the Moon - it was an adult non-fiction book but The Dant seemed quite happy with it, even if it was not what i was after.

We got to the checkout and The Dant came across a bottle of water. It had Buzz lightyear on it and Dory and some other Disney character. He got all excited and called it "Rocket Juice" - We told him he had to choose between the book or the water - we would only buy one. He chose the "Rocket Juice". After feeling slightly bad we conned him out of a real rocket toy - we told him if you drink the juice the car turns into a rocket - For the rest of the weekend we could not start the car unless we counted down and yelled "LIFT OFF!". Fun for all.

Sunday we decided to head to one last toy shop. We were getting ready and as Joe and I walked out of the house I realised our little shadow was not following us. I went to look for him. He was on our bed playing with my iPod. It's a bit scary when a two year old knows how to use it almost better than I do!

Alas the last toy shop had no rockets either (well, except for the $80 one which getting Dante away from is another story in itself!). I came home and got out my old FIMO and created this for him:

At last -a rocket - and to think we never needed to leave the house for it!

Fantasy & Reality

2009-08-02T19:20:00.003+10:00

Jaime at She Will Have Way has come up with a fun way of playing with a bit of fashion. Her challenge is for people to show two concepts - one that would be the fantasy outfit, and one which would be the reality.

While it was so much fun playing with these styles, I have to say, there is no way my reality outfit looks as good as it does in the picure - likely because the program (god bless Polyvore) dot stock kmart and target brands.

Okay so here is the Reality of what i wear during the week, if I need to leave the house:

Reality by ACTinglikeamama featuring Wrangler jeans

And for my fantasy outfit, How I would love to be able to pass of this look:

Fantasy by ACTinglikeamama featuring True Religion jeans

Just lovely, all $1755 worth of it (probably the cost of my entire wadrobe from the last five years!)

So thanks for letting us all play dress ups for the day Jaime - it was fun!

Fun Things To Do When the Cricket is Rained Out

2009-07-31T12:32:00.003+10:00

It's been a while since Joe and I have had a date night, or just a night where one of us hasn't fallen asleep in front of the TV before 8pm.

Last night was an exception. For one, it was the first time I have cooked with raw meat since the morning sickness kicked in. A creamy chicken pasta with wine, semi-dried tomatoes, mushrooms and shallots topped with grana pandano (which i think is Aldi talk for parmesan but who knows??). Anyway it was delicious and although Joe was working late and couldn't enjoy it fresh I had my mate Alex come around with her little man Oliver (one of Dant's best mates). We had a nice evening where I indulged in my daily ration of coke and Alex had a nice red to sip on. By 7pm they were gone, and Dante was out of his bath and dressed for bed.

Joe came home and hovered down dinner before spending some quality time with the Dant - they play this game called "c'mon" (To be said like Leyton Hewitt would say it) - I've been meaning to capture it on video but the camera is always dead or the memory card is out. One day though...

Anyway, but 7.50 Dante was tucked up in bed with Dimitri and Joe and I turned the TV on - Nothing - not a single thing to watch. Joe was keen to watch the cricket but it was a previous game or something - Once the word cricket is mentioned I tend to tune out you see.

Anyway, we flicked over to Foxtel and started watching some 90's music clips - Joe began to rate the songs - And if any of you know Joe, you know he's not the most musically atune guy. He rated my Tom Waits song "I hope that I don't fall in love with you" a 2 on the "JP" scale and gave a 9 to Enrique Englasias' song Hero......so um....yeah.....

Anyway, we got onto the Beatles, and when I pressed him to name his favourite beatle track (mine was Something) I jumped onto youtube - we spent the next two hours watching old and new music clips and laughing and groaning (he wanted to watch Greenday & U2 and I wanted to watch Lou Reed). Our final tracks where both favourites for us - Elvis' In the Ghetto (I couldn't find the Nick Cave version I wanted) and Johnny Cash's San Quentin.

It was a really lovely evening being able to turn the idiot box off and even though we were watching another type of idiot box, it was reasonably interactive and sparked a lot of conversation, or debate, or ridicule - All of which was forgiven of course. Except for the torture of listening to that Savage Garden hit that i refuse to name.

Another poor attempt of an update

2009-07-22T20:23:00.004+10:00

Well I am not even going to try make an excuse as to why I have been slack on the blog - to busy rediscovering my music past perhaps?

So I thought I better hurry up and put some photos on the blog, and when I clicked on the July folder there was one photo of Dante and it was already halfway through the month - oops. Dante really wanted a clean blackboard and was more than happy to clean it himself. I think he's a keeper!

So I dusted off the camera and Dant thought it would be the perfect time to model my ugg boots for everyone - he is very fond of trying to walk around in mine or Joes - that is until he falls over and gives himself an "Egg" on his head.

This is Dante's "smiley face". We have started talking to him about having a smiley and cranky face to help him deal with his temper tantrums and emotions.

And this is his "cranky face". You can also also see the Cook and the Chef in the background as well as the filthy fingerprinted TV screen - sorry spray and wipe, you did not deliver for me.

And to top it off, I thought I would include our dinner tonight. Joe spent the evening on sydney harbour on a private boat tonight so it was just Dante and I. It was just going to be boiled eggs and soldiers but I got a little adventurous - the result - yummy eggs benedict - my favourite brunch meal!

Two hours later my belly is still full and feeling very satisfied! And to all those concerned well-wishes, the morning sickness is pretty much over, every now and then I feel unwell but the constant nausea that was plaguing me is finally over and am now starting to feel that second trimester energy I have been hanging out for!

The top 20 songs that have shaped my life to date

2009-07-14T12:17:00.002+10:00

With all the hysteria (mine included) of the Triple J’s Hottest 100 of all time it got me thinking about which songs would feature in my top 100 of all time. Most the songs I chose were not because they are genius pieces of work, but because there are memories attached to them. This is why I love music. Sometimes a basic melody and corny lyrics can bring tears to your eyes because of the place, or people you were with when you first heard that song.

I have never had one genre of music that I prefer over any other – I have always had an open mind to music and fairly accepting of most pieces. I guess the important thing for me is that the song tells a story. Doesn’t have to have words, but it must have some sort of meaning – even if that meaning isn’t quite clear.
So, with adieu, here is my top 20 (couldn’t bear to make you live through the top 100!) and also why these songs are special to me. The biggest theme I can pick up is Family. It shows how important family is and through that, how music has connected me to my famil - so, in no particular order:

20. Sorrow / David Bowie – I think it was my 8th or 9th birthday. My parents had just brought this new system called a CD Player and I was given two CD’s – Tiffany and David Bowie, Changes. I loved them both. I could toss away my tape deck and John Farnham cassette in favour for this new technology. Tiffany was no.1 at the time, she rocked, I had pictures from magazines of her on my wall – I wanted to be her. I had not heard of David Bowie but the fact that this guy had one blue eye and one hazel eye was pretty cool. And the make-up? How outrageous! Of all the songs I loved Sorrow the best, it still is one of my favourite Bowie songs. It wasn’t on this album but the songs (Space Oddity, Heroes, Ashes to Ashes) lead me to discover it. How I wanted the power that this femme fatal had over this man. It was intoxicating.

19. Mack The Knife / Ella Fitzgerald – I know there will be arguments on this but I think this is perhaps the best version of this song, if you could call it that. I first heard this when I discovered mum and dad’s record collection. They had an album of Ella in Berlin and I played it. The story goes that Ella forgot the lyrics to this song so just scatted and improvised – eventually earning herself a grammy for it! I love her skill at effortlessly coming up with words and sounds that just sound like she has rehearsed them that way for weeks. I still have this record and up until my record player broke played it semi-regularly. I love the sound of a record playing. So much more soul than CD’s or MP3’s.

18. StoryBook Love / Willy DeVille – This song is played at the end of my favourite movie of all time, The Princess Bride. It was also the song my husband and I danced to for our first dance at our wedding. Two sisters also walked down the aisle to this song when they got married. It’s a beautiful tale and I get shivers down my spine whenever I listen to it, love the vocals.

17. In The Ghetto / Nick Cave – I had to choose a Nick Cave song and found it really hard to pick my favourite – something more hard like Red Right Hand, or something more sweet like Into My Arms – I still cry every time i watch that music clip. But whenever I think of Nick Cave, I immediately think of watching an indie flick with a young Brad Pitt and Nick Cave in Johnny Suede. Cave sings a cover of Mac Davis’ In the Ghetto and it is haunting. The feel of the movie, the look of the characters everything about it brings this song to life.

16. Under The Bridge / Red Hot Chilli Peppers – While this is probably not my most favourite Chilli Pepper song now, it certainly was for a good decade at least. My cousin Peter used to live with us and I remember one night mum and dad out for dinner and we just kept calling the radio station requesting this song. Pete was a huge fan at the time (I think every 16 year old boy was?) and I loved this song. Eventually the radio station played it. I remember the feeling of anticipation of hearing this tune, the effort put into requesting it and then finally hearing it come on air – It was amazing!

15. Me & Bobby McGee / Janis Joplin or Johnny Cash – I couldn’t decide between these two versions – I love them both. I love Janis because you can feel her heart in the music and I love Johnny singing about this woman Bobby, who sounded so free, so independent. This is probably my favourite song at the moment and I think I have about 4 different covers of this song on my iPod at the moment.

14. Danny Boy / Grace Knight – I discovered Grace Knight when I went to stay at my sisters house one school holidays. She had an album that I immediately fell in love with and my love affair with Grace Knight began. I love her voice, I love that she tells the story through song. Danny Boy is an old classic but in the early days of Dante being a baby I used to sing it to him as a lullaby. It used to be the only song that calmed him down, now whenever I hear it, I think of my little boy. That is why music is so precious.

13. God Bless the Child / Billie Holliday – Our first easter in Canberra dad brought me a present. It was a Billie Holliday CD, a compilation of all her hits. I had heard of Lady Day before but had never heard her sing. The first time I listened I found it quite confronting. It didn’t have the easy listening quality that Ella had, but it had something more – something gritty, something raw. It took me a long time to work it out. I then heard someone say that she would try to make her voice sound like an instrument, say a trumpet etc and that she would experiment with her vocal arrangement - It then clicked. Her voice connected so much to the music and the feel that she was no longer just a singer – she was the soul of the song.

12. The Devil Went Down to Georgia / Charlie Daniels Band – Oh I love this song, I love the heat in it, the duel that you think cannot be won. This song has always reminded me of my brother, something that was reiterated when we all got together last year for Mum and Dad’s 40th wedding anniversary and my brother serenaded (probably not the best term for this song?) to us this track – love it.

11. Carmen / Bizet – This is my favourite ‘classical’ piece. Unfortunately I don’t own it on CD so I can’t even name the tracks that I like the most. But this music is instantly recognisable. I once performed in a dance production of Carmen as the lover that gets rejected for Carmen. I learnt some Spanish dancing and it was the first and only role that I ever danced in.

10. Sweet Jane / Lou Reed, Velvet Underground – I love this song – when I discovered Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground my world just opened up. It was a different life, a totally different attitude and I loved how worlds apart we were but how I still loved the music. I remember the first time I heard “heroin” – just listening to it felt exactly like how I would expect it to be when taking the drugs. I loved reading about the stories at The Factory and Max’s Kansas City – It sounded so decadent, so without thought, so impulsive – true rock and roll.

9. Beloved Wife /Natalie Merchant – one of my favourite female artists, I just love her vocals. This song makes my heart weep, this poor man who has lost his wife after 50 years together. So tragic, so sad.

8. Hey Mambo! / Rosemary Clooney – I love Rosemary Clooney and this song is one of my favourites. No serious meaning, just taking the mickey – I love it, such a feel good and if you can listen to this song without tapping your foot or swaying you are a strong person!

7. Where Have All the Cowboys Gone / Paula Cole – I loved this song when I first heard it on Triple J many moons ago. I love the irony, the sarcasm and the vocals. Its modern country and its great!

6. Moonriver / Henry Mancini – One from the master. I love this track. It doesn’t even need vocals to tell the story you can just feel it. I love playing this song late a night with all the lights off, just letting the sound overwhelm all other senses. If I had to pick a favourite vocalist it would be of course Andy Williams.

5. Highway Patrolman /Bruce Springsteen – This is another song that makes me shed a tear. I came across this song when I was watching a collection of Springsteen music videos. The video was so sad but also included the very hunky Viggo Mortenson. I went on ebay that day and brought The Indian Runner. It is such a tragic story, the movie was based on the song written by Springsteen, and often it is done the other way around.

4. Cootamundra Wattle / John Williamson – This song reminds me of my childhood and my mother. She would often play this album while pottering around the house on the weekend and sing along to the songs, but mainly this one. It has taken on new meaning to me since having my own family and being a mother and I often stop and start reminiscing when I hear this song, much like I am sure my mum did and probably still does!

3. The Gambler / Kenny Rogers – This was another family favourite that got a workout on our stereo. I think it was one album and in particular this song that everyone in our family of 8 would accept listening to. It has since become an even more connecting part of my family, with the sisters ringing each other up at all hours of the night screaming drunken lyrics into the phone – this is the way we celebrate our love!

2. Ode To Billie Joe / Bobbie Gentry – Another family favourite with all of us arguing the story behind this song. We each have our own conclusions. When I was younger I used to come home from school and have a couple of hours before anyone else came home. I would often go to the stereo and put on a CD, often a country compilation (that had this song), Kenny Rogers or Dr Hook. I would then lie in front of the stereo and listen to the music, or I would act out the songs – taking the lyrics all literally (as you do when you are 10 or so). When I hear any of these songs I think back to that time when life was all about acting out a song, putting a blanket on the ground, or Ruby taking her love to town (in a bag of course!), or trying to make Sylvia’s mother understand before the money ran out...

1. Cry Me a River / Julie London or Grace Knight – I had never really thought about this song, I found it among Mum and Dad’s tape collection once and loved it (along with the bittersweet Honey by Bobby Goldsboro), I then came across the Grace Knight version and loved it even more – even though I had to look in a dictionary to find out what plebeian meant! This song didn’t have much significance for me until Dad was dropping me off to my year 12 final exam as I had missed the bus and was very upset and stressed. Dad tried to calm my nerves by asking me to sing this song at his funeral when he died. Well it certainly took my mind of the impending exam. It has often occupied my mind, especially whenever i see or hear this song and I wonder how I could ever achieve this for dad – there is no way I would be able to emotionally, but it’s the only thing he has ever asked of me.

So there you have it, the 20 songs that I think have most defined my life until now. So tell me, what would your top 5/10 or 20 be??

A day at the snow, but not

2009-07-10T15:20:00.002+10:00

Last weekend we decided to head to Corin Forrest to catch some snow and have a snowball fight or two. Unfortunatley despite the bitterly cold weather it just wasn't cold enough to have snow yet. We decided to hang around and make the most of our picnic hamper and heavy coats. We went along with two of Dantes mates and their parents and we had an awesome day out. We saw the Corin Dam (levels so low!) and the boys got to throw rocks off the ledge, touch some spongey moss, look at water droplets on a leaf and look at NOTEATING mushrooms (yes they are those 'special ones')

We then headed back to the picnic sight and settled in. We found a toboggin ride and the boys each got two turns with an adult. It was an awesome ride and all three boys couldn't wait to go again (and the parents were just as eager!). We then came back to the table and had some lunch. The boys then discovered some puddles of melted ice - unfortunatley for us Dante had also discovered how to take his gumboots off. But it was a great day despite no snow and we all agreed we woud love to go back when its more likely to be a winter wonderland!

Joe and Dante on the toboggin ride

Dante pulling his mate Luka along on Olivers toboggin

Dante loving getting pulled along but looking for the snow

Joe got lumped with toboggin duty

Toot-Toot!

2009-06-28T21:05:00.002+10:00

Dante, Luka & Oliver enjoying the winter morning

Today we were invited to join Dante's mates at the Minature Railway Museum. It is a mini-steam train set up that takes you on the tour of the Railway, with lots of big trains both old and in working order. The boys loved it! Oliver had been several times before but it was the first time Luka and Dante got to experience the thrill of a train ride! There is a little park in the middle of the train track where the boys played between train rides. It was super fun and we are hoping to make it a bit of a regular venue.

Hair Today, Cut Tomorrow

2009-06-28T20:49:00.003+10:00

So we have been talking to Dante about going the "Barber" for a few weeks now. We let him know that the barber would "snip snip" his hair and make him look "beautiful". Dante was more than keen and for the last week he has woken up every morning asking if we could go to the barber. Finally on Saturday, we relented.

Here is the before:

Dante was really well behaved and walked into the Barber like he did it every week. He was keen to sit up on the swivel chair and more than happy for the Barber to snip away.

He didn't move much for the whole 15/20 minutes it took to groom his hair, the barber kept talking to him (while I kept snapping away) Dante was interested in everything going on around him and only slightly worried when he saw his hair falling down.

Such good behaviour is exhausting work!

The barber was so happy that he gave Dante a lolly at the end which made it even more special. Dante is still talking about his very special trip to the Barber!

The after:

Introducing....Fragola!

2009-06-19T16:10:00.002+10:00

We had our first ultrasound today - and all looking good. Officially we are 13 weeks today and still due on Christmas Day. Coming up with a name will inutero was very hard this time around, We called Dante "Fagioli"which was Italian for bean, he was our little bean. Not wanting to call this little fetus "Fagioli II" I came up with another name - "Fragola" this is Italian for strawberry, and considering its about the only food that settles my tummy and has been my main source of anything, I thought it was fitting.

As soon as we got an image of lil Fragola, he/she raised her hand at us and gave us a little wave to say hello. Well, if that wasn't the most sweetest thing to see!

No sickness today which is great - yesterday was my big uni exam and unfortunately I wasn't feeling well at all and don't think I did too well. Just hoping that I passed! I now have several weeks off and am considering what I can do to enjoy my time while Dante goes to his daycare two days a week - no more study for a while so a movie or two might be on the cards - any suggestions from you regular movie goers out there?

In new news, we are doing a little house re-arranging this weekend, we have called in some muscle friends to help Joe with the heavy stuff and I am really looking forward to seeing how to make this house work better for us. If it turns out well enough, I will be sure to post some pics up!

low-key weekend

2009-06-14T20:38:00.002+10:00

It's been a pretty quiet week in our household, so not much to share. Am preparing for my uni exam next week and also Joes return on Wednesday - yay! Dante had had a bit of a cold and I am still not 100% so we have kept it all a bit low key.

Last night, we had Alex and Oliver bring us some Indian takeaway for dinner. It was a lovely night - the boys had a ball playing with each other and Alex and I had a nice and very delicious relaxing meal (I think it was the only time I have ever just eaten an entree from Bollywood!).

Just before Oli & Alex went home the boys decided to share the rocking chair for a bit - it was a photo opportunity that could not be missed!

This morning I awoke to find Dante amusing himself out in the lounge. He woke up about 30 mins before me and discovered the book that Grandma and Grandad brought him for his birthday. Once he saw me he grabbed my hand and told me to "siddere" or sit here, and we read the book together, three times. Dante then decided he wanted a photo - he ran off and brought the camera back to me and asked "photo?" He then did his best "CHEESE!" expression:

So thanks grandma and grandad - the book is certainly a winner!

Dante learning his name

2009-06-11T21:23:00.003+10:00

This clip was too sweet not to put up here - even though Dante practically gives out every last skerrick of information about him/us from our address to our bank account details.

I had totally forgotten that Dane had a last name, and that I can't even pronouce our last name correctly it made sense to try get him to learn it now while he can still train his tounge to speak Italian (I wont even go any further with that comment!)

So here it is, I present Dante in his first video appearance. And many thanks to my mum who stood by his side offering him much support!

Sunday at the War Memorial

2009-06-08T15:23:00.003+10:00

Well today saw both Dante and I woke in fine happy spirits and searching for something to do. After a day in PJ's and not leaving the house at all we were both experiencing a little cabin fever. I had no idea what to do - I didn't want to go to the shops - too boring. I didn't want to go to an indoor playground - too noisy. I originally toyed with the idea of driving until we saw some snow but doubted where it might be and how long it might take us to get there. I asked Dante where he would like to go and he replied "Airport?" Now if you have ever been to the Canberra airport, you will know it is nothing special, and not really any great viewing to be had which would defeat the purpose. So after stretching my brain I decided on the War Memorial - perfect choice. We rugged up (I swear that place is freezing in summer let alone winter!) and set off. Well it looked like 2/3rds of Canberrans also had the same idea but that was fine.

Our first stop was the HMAS Sydney set-up. Not much in that window there - I think its really missing a certain letter opener!

Of course - Dante saw a big truck and asked for "photo?" so I had to oblige.

This is a plane - probably the closest Dant will ever get to a real life size one, even though it doesn't operate anymore. This is part of the G- for George light show which we only caught the last minute of - Dante was super excited hearing all the plane noises!

They have a childrens section where you can walk through a submarine, hide in a bunker, fight in trenches and of course, hop in a helicopter. Needless to say the other things didn't get much of a look in once Dant spied the "chopper" it is all he can still talk about five hours later.

Dante felt very special being the helicopter cockpit (?). I tried to hop in the back but with the simulated chopper noises (at real life decible level) as well as a huge simulation screen in front it was all a bit much for me!

What a great day and a perfect end to a long weekend. We are off to Dante's friend Luka's house for a play and dinner tonight so we even scored in not needing to cook anything! Not sure how this day could get better!

is this blog still here?

2009-06-06T20:20:00.002+10:00

Well its been both a busy and quiet week - Joe has left for two and a half weeks for Perth. I was a little worried about how we would go, but thankfully my mum and dad suggsted they would drive to Canberra to finalise some stuff and look after me and the dant.

This week I have felt like a queen, albeit a sick one. Mum has cooked for us every night aswell as cleaning up the kitchen and helping with household stuff. Not only did mum and dad look after me but they were super involved with Dante allowing me to indulge in some two hour naps during the day. It was as close to heaven as I could imagine at this point!

But alas, everything good must come to an end and Dante and I both had tears streaming down our faces when 'Grandad's truck' pulled out of the driveway.

am now on my own (with Dant of course) for another week and a half and am both enjoying the quiet and am finding it a bit lonely. In normal circumstances I love the opportunity to have some time to myself, indugling in long hot baths, bottles of wine and lots of take-out or simple cooking (eggs on toast usually). This time around I have another little body to be responsible for and a growing little fetus (11 weeks today! Currently named Fagioli II) inside that is also reminding me almost every minute that it is there. Being unwell makes it harder to get through the day but it had also allowed Dant and I to get into a routine of sleeping in (no phone calls before 9am people!) and taking our mornings nice and casually. This frees up the afternoon for visiting friends or just getting out of the house.

So its been quite a struggle even getting to the computer. I haven't forgotten about the blog, I have just found it hard work getting out the camera and then sitting down and writing. They tell me at 12 weeks morning sickness usually goes away so I am praying to the fetus gods that this will be the case for me! Until then, check in occassionally, I may even start blogging more!

Sleep eventually comes

2009-05-26T11:19:00.002+10:00

So Dante hasn't been going to sleep very well the past few weeks. Usually he is awesome and is more than happy to toddle off to bed and go to sleep without a fuss. For two years we have had this routine. Now, Dante doesn't want to go to sleep unless someone lies down with him. If we do, he is out like a light straight away. If we don't, he screams for up to two hours. Last night was the latter. We decided we didn't want to indulge Dante by allowing him to get away with needing someone to sleep with - We decided to let him cry it out. After an hour and a half he went quiet. Phew - I got ready to go to bed and decided to check in on him just before hitting the sack - this is how I found him. I love that his teddy Dimitri is in the exact same position, obvisouly just as exhausted as Dante was.

Dante turns Two

2009-05-23T19:27:00.002+10:00

Well - what a day it was in the Paolino household. Celebrating Dante turning two years old. Honestly, you would think that he was only ever having one birthday for his whole life - but it was enjoyed by all so very worth the effort!

Dante awoke to a very special surprise. He found a massive train table complete with train track and equipment all set up in the living room. It occupied him for about an hour - ohhing and ahhing over every new piece he noticed. His first sight was the "CRANE! CRANE!" which has probably become his favourite item off the whole table:

We then got ready and before we knew it, Charlie Mel and Luka rocked up to take Dante to the markets for a fun excursion. Charlie rode his bike over and offered to take Dante for a spin. The rode to the markets with Dante apparently chatting all the way and was very excited to see a fire engine in their travels!

Home in time for quick nap (unfortunately not for mum!) before PARTY TIME. Dante had a cowboy themed party and all the children received a cowboy/girl hat, a bandana and a hobby horse. After a few kids being a little hesistant about those scary horses and the big hats, I think the treasure hunt sealed the deal and helped make it a success.

Here is the cake, after weeks of searching for the 'perfect' cake to create I decided simple was best (especially the way I was feeling!) All the kids seemed to love it (although the two kids who tried to eat the cowboys treasure were a little dissapointed. and the cake turned out great - there is still half left for any visitors coming our way!

So all in all a good day. Bt 5pm Dante had hit the birthday wall and was over it all. He is still up now but is getting very close to bedtime. So on that note, we close off the 23 May as being a wonderful day, and are looking forward to recovering quietly tomorrow!

The Little Soccer Star

2009-05-18T20:56:00.002+10:00

Dante's cousin sent Dante a little package filled with clothes from a recent trip to Thailand. In the package was a gorgeous mini Italian soccer outfit. I didn't know when the opportunity would present itself that he could wear it. Well low and behold, wouldn't you believe it, we got invited to a friends soccer match, in the hope that they could sign up Joe.

Dante's friend Luka was there, so I was employed as chief child watcher. Luckily for me, Luka's uncle Matt had rocked up on his bike and offered to take the boys for a spin on it. They loved it! It was a lovely sunny autumn day to spend outside and the boys loved running around with their balls thinking they were actually playing soccer!

In sad news, Dante has decided to neglect his normal bedtime. Ever since he was born (almost two years!) Dante has always been happy to go to sleep. I could count on one hand the amount of times he has raised a fuss about going to bed, well, until last week were I would now need two hands and my feet to count the times.

He is still happy to go to sleep - more than happy, he kisses everyone goodnight, grabs a pillow and heads into the dark corridor until an adult follows to turn on the light. He then jumps into bed and demands that we "sit ere, sit ere" We often do, and begin to read a story with "mouse? mouse?" (This can be one of three books that has a little furry creature with big ears), then we sing songs "twinkle?" (obvious) and "bug" insy winsy spider. A quick kiss and cuddle and he is usually waving goobye ready to go to sleep.

Now, the minute we get up and go, he starts crying, this then turns into screaming. We haven't dealt with it very well, offering to lie with him until he falls asleep (oh I know!) so we really need to get cracking on sleep school!

But round the twist again, and Dante is booked into childcare for two days a week. As of a week or two, Dante will be attending Tuesday and Wednesdays to get some action, and for me to get some rest! I sold the idea to Joe that I would use this time to study, clean the house and cook up a storm - I think he saw through it completely and knew I would use these two days for resting, slothing and veging. I am really excited about it and it will be a great new adventure for Dante.

Mother's Day

2009-05-10T20:22:00.003+10:00

So the updating has been very slack, and is likely to remain so for a little while to come. Morning sickness has descended in all its glory - It's all I can do to remain awake in the hours that Dante is and take breaths in and out every few seconds. I don't think I was this sick with Dante - I remember one or two days where I didn't feel crash hot but overall was quite good and energetic. This has rocked me - I cannot imagine there are people out there (my sister included) who felt like this for the majority of the nine months. I am hoping mine will only last a few more weeks. Poor Dante is getting bored with having to watch Finding Nemo and Toy Story over and over again (actually he isn't - its the guilty mother in me that can't bear to think that is how my toddler son is spending his days)

But enough about me. Today was mothers day - a day for rejoicing everyting about our Mothers. I didn't get spend Mothers Day with my mother, which always is sad, but it did mean she was spending it with her Mother, which I think is awesome. I only hope I get to spend Mothers Day with my mum when she is in her 92nd year!

And it was probably just as well we didn't have plans today - I only just managed to injest a boiled egg (I was craving Eggs Benedict but knew it was probably not a wise choice!). I received an awesome gift though - A book voucher at my favourite book shop - I am hanging out to feel better so I can enjoy a browse.

We then went to go to a Mother's Day Picnic in the Park that I had glimpsed a sign of earlier in the week. I either got the venue wrong or the date. There was nothing, so instead we went shopping. This was slightly harder for me to manage, but manage we did.

We then went home and after Dante and I crashed and had naps we went to the park where we had an awesome family time.

Joe is off to Melbourne for a week tomorrow and I am starting to get nervous. Since being sick he has been awesome helping prepare meals - I haven't been able to face any aspect of food preparation. Knowing this was coming, Joe stocked up on freezer meals for me and Dante. For the next five days we will be eating our way through the help of our freezer and microwave - bring it on scurvy!

So, now you might understand a little more why the updates are not as free-flowing as I intended. Firstly, this post is the longest I have sat in front of a computer for two weeks, prefering to use my ipod to just read things and twiiter. It means commenting on my favourite blogs has also dropped off - I am still reading them everyone and enjoying every post! I will be back soon i hope! In the meantime, I will try make an effort to take some more photos each day, so for the next few weeks this might be more of a photo blog for awhile.
Can't wait to back!

Dante managed it.....

But Joe couldn't....

Thank goodness I am not sitting at home watching Finding Nemo again!

Big Bellies, Big Brothers and Big Slides

2009-04-30T21:24:00.009+10:00

Again with the blogging excuses, but this one is a good one - I promise.

You may remember in my last post i spoke about some of the things that have been on my mind (read - the stresses!) and the decisions that have to be made.

What I didn't mention was that there is another little decision that needs to be made. What are we going to do for Christmas, given that I will most likely be in labour producing our second child.

Yes, we are pregnant again - after over 12 months of trying, it took the one month when work called me back and decided to give a semi-career another go to grow a little baby.

This is really exciting news for us and I am over the moon. It's early days yet (5 weeks) but I have never been one to keep anything a secret for long! This means our due date is 25 december. Our GP was right on the money with Dante - does anyone know the general stats on second births? Because I will be devastated if I have to be in hospital on christmas day!
Sorry blogger, but this is why I have been avoiding you these past few weeks - I just really wanted to share my news but had to ge the docs OK and of course the immediate family told first (although some we couldn't speak to yet - you know who you are!), and I felt so guilty not sharing it with you. It was easier not to post than risk typing it anyway!

So there it is. Will try get back into the swing of things and be a much more regular poster. The problem is I am reading SO MANY great blogs at the moment that I spend most my computer time reading all the goss on these sites - Much easier than thinking of my own blog fodder! But I will be back!

In other news, I wrote to Fusion Electronics thanking them for their great service in providing Dante with 2 aliens (thanks to my SIL Rell). Two weeks later we recieved a package in the mail of an assortment of Fusion merchandise including ANOTHER ALIEN (Monica are you reading this???), a ball, a stubby holder (what toddler doesn't have a stubby holder?), a key chain and a whole heap of stickers. Attached was a nice note that read:

Hi Ya,
Thanks for your email, was very nice to get a thank you. Please find some spare's just in case our Alien needs to go on holidays again. All the best, Fusion Electronics.

Can I blame it on hormones or does that just make you want to go out and purchase whole suite of Fusion Electronic products? They have been so awesome for us - so even though I have never personally used their products (I think they make car and boat radios??) I would totally recommend them!

Well Dante has already started preparation for his BIG BROTHER role. Last night was our three year (cheer! cheer!)wedding anniversary so we went out for dinner. The next door neighbour babysat. Apparently Dante was quite happy to go over to the family's house to play with the twins and told her when he wanted to go home. He then walked in the door, pulled a chair up to the kitchen bench, climbed up and grabbed his dummy. He then walked off to his bedroom. My next door neighbour just waited. A minute later Dante returned and asked for his "latte" (bottle) she prepared it and gave it to him and he walked back into his room and put himself to bed. She was astounded (as we were we, but we just pretended that this was a normal occurance!).

So, a little bit of everything for you today, oh, except photos right? Well I can even provide that for you. Last weekend we took Dante to another indoor playground and he and Joe had a ball on all the slides.....

The bouncy slide was the most fun I thought!

Dante and Joe brave the big triple slide together....

And Dante attempts it on his own...well he waited up there until Joe went up there again.

Cousins

2009-04-25T20:42:00.000+10:00

Recapping a fortnight of stress

2009-04-25T20:23:00.002+10:00

It has been such a long time, is anyone still out there in blog land reading this?? Wow - so much has been going on. We have had family visit, Joe working REALLY long hours, a funeral to attend and the prospect of what our future holds for us all in the last two weeks - I'm exhausted! are you??

Well, lets start back to the weekend some family came to stay. Dad was with us for his final week of living in Canberra. My sister and her young son Billy came along with her husband Alan and his two teenage kids Jordan and Matt. A full house in our little humble home but we all managed to make it work (just!). But it was so much fun. My sister Claire came down from Brisbane to run the Canberra marathon and we were all so proud of her. She didn't do as good as she had wanted to do, but she still did dammed good winning a silver medal for her age group! *snaps for claire*

Billy and Dante are only five months apart in age. So you can imagine just how much fun those boys had! They were practical inseperable and it was really lovely to see Dante get on so well with his cousin - I am sure those boys will have many interesting adventures in the years ahead.

Joe has been having tough recently - working long hours, with some travel aswell. He is working hard to not only juggle that but also the demanding wife and child that is waiting at home for him everyday.

Which brings the story back to me (all about me remember!). Work has called back and offered me a role. It is no longer in recruitment but OH&S which has more appeal for me. They have allowed me to choose my hours and my days which is really lovely of them. I am due back in July.

What to do with Dante? Well, while the thought of leaving him in the backyard to keep Shilo occured to me just briefly, I succumbed to my loathing of childcare centres and made an appointment. Having worked in a centre around 10 years ago I was pretty much against them from day one. My main issue was that there were some really young children who I thought were not receiving adequate care. This is not so relevant now that Dante is a little more self reliant and able to communicate much better than a six week blob.

The interview did not start so well. The director of the centre was an hour (an hour!) late for our interview, but the teacher in the room that Dante is going to came to the rescue and showed me around the place. I have never felt so old than seeing all the workers. there were about 10 workers and they were all YOUNG. I have always considered myself young as the people I tend to hang out with tend to be older than I am - Now I am having to leave my child in the hands of someone who looks like she needs a babysitter herself!

Anyway, we have agreed that this place has the right philosophy and style that I am comfortable with and we have requested enrollement forms.

This has all been quite overwhelming for me. Having to make these decisions relatively quickly (I know I really should have been more prepared!) has been pretty stressful, especially of deciding to let someone have responsibility for my son for a few days a week. I do think he is old enough to really gain a lot of positive experiences from this, and this is what has finally convinced me that the timing is right. I have also had a lot of people tell me that Dante is quite uncomfortable being away from Joe and I and that this will start impacting on him (read = more pressure!). So now we are just waiting for our enrollement forms so we can sort it all out.

Now do you forgive me for not updating?? I haven't even opened a text book in the last two weeks for my uni study which is yet another weight on my mind!

But the last thing you want to read about is my little worrisome world right? so instead, I bring you photos. Lots of photos.

Rain on our parade

2009-04-13T21:32:00.003+10:00

Happy Easter everyone! What a weekend we have had, We started with an awesome feast on Friday night of prawns, squid and scallops with pasta (and meatballs for those not following religious tradition!) with family that were in town for the night. After staying up and catching up on all the Brisbane goss from Alan, Jordan and Matt we all crashed ready for an early start on Saturday. The travellers had to make quick time to make it in time for the football so left before 7am. It was a shame to say goodbye so soon but they assured us they will be back in time to watch Clairie run her marathon!

Saturday morning was spent doing some sewing, making Dante two pairs of Kung-Fu pants and watching children. The neighbours kid (Alex) came around to play and we decided to go out the front to ride bikes. The boys must of ridden their bikes in some crazy rain-dance because it wasn't long before the rain started falling.

Sunday Dante enjoyed his first easter hunt and has consumed four easter eggs (foil and all thank you very much) before it was 9am. We then got ready to go to my girlfriend Lidia's parents house for a small low-key Italian feast. This mean there was around 30 of us all and Dante enjoyed saying everyones name except Lidias. Poor Lidia.

As we pulled up in our drive our neighbours yelled out to us, they had been drinking for the last few hours and wanted some new life for the party. Dante was pooped (as were we) so I think we lasted 15 minutes before calling it a night.

Today (Monday), our final day of easter celebration, was spent doing things around the home and enjoying the rain. Dante best mates and their parents joined us for my family's famous seven-hour roast lamb which was enjoyed by all, even my girlfriend Alex who hates lamb and hasn't eaten it in over 10 years.

The boys had a ball playing with each other and enjoyed ANOTHER easter hunt! All our guests had left by 7pm so it was really great to still have some evening left to just relax.

As you an tell, I didn't spend much time behind the camera. I really wish I did, but like most things, I get too focused on doing other stuff and completely forget. At least we got a shot of Dante (wearing his home-made pants!) frolicking in the rain!

Prawn & Chorizo Saganaki

2009-04-06T21:13:00.002+10:00

Ingredients

3 chorizo sausages, sliced

300gm Prawn cutlets (green/raw)

1 capsicum, diced

1 oinion, diced

1/4 cup pasta sauce

1 dessertspoon fresh oregano

crumbled feta, to serve

fresh cooked pasta, to serve

Fry oinion, garlic and capsicum until cooked through and oinion translucent. slowly add pasta sauce making sure it doesn't get too wet. Add half the oregano. Cook pasta or other (you could try rice, risoni, polenta or just bread?)

Drain pasta. Add prawns an rest of oregano. Dish it up baby. Sprinkle with feta and some cracked pepper. Enjoy!

Studytime

2009-04-06T14:50:00.003+10:00

Before the below felt & chalk board was designed, this is how I often studied:

Can you see my twitter account in action on the iTouch?

A combination of serious study resources, a toddler and plenty of distractions for said toddler.

No more boredom, just boards!

2009-04-06T14:23:00.004+10:00

If there were two words to describe me you could easily call me a "frustrated artist". I love all of the arts, drawing, acting, singing, dancing, painting, sewing - you name it, I have tried and probably fallen in love with doing it. The thing is, just because you love something, doesn't really make you great at it.

Drawing, painting - these are talents I would gladly trade in my internet connection in for (and that's a big ask for me!). Even when I was little I remember trying so hard to put what was in my mind onto paper, and was always dissapointed when it wasn't even remotely similar.
Anyway, it has been something I have been searching for all my life - my niche -the one creative thing I am really, truely good at. Still searching.....

It does mean though, that when it comes to my son, I am all for letting him discover these hopefully successful 'creative genes' that might be budding inside of him. And if the opportunity is there for me to have a go also, well thats just a bonus!

So while catching up on my blog reading (could that be a talent?) I found Belinda's project at the Happy Home Blog really appealing. We gave the magnetic wall a skip for now (but might consider it when we get to painting the house. But the idea of a felt & chalk board was too good an idea to pass up.

This meant yesterday was spent scouting the materials and assembling it. We road tested it last night with the twins from next door and Dante and it proved a massive success. Of course Belindas is much more stylish and something you would see out of a magazine (maybe Real Living Belinda? lol) and mine is full of much more kitchse - but it made Dante's day to see Iggle Piggle, Nemo and Bob the Builder on his felt board!

Once the painting in the living areas are complete we might look at hanging it up like Belinda has done, although I like being able to move it around (ie; outside!) when appropriate so we might need to see how we go with it.
Now I have plenty of felt left over for making some other felt creations - any ideas?

Nemo (who looks more like a whale) has been found! on our felt board!

The whole crew (although Thomas is professionally made)

Dante testing out the chalkboard (I new I should have brought dust-less chalk!)

Not sure how are going to fully comprehend felt stays on the the felt, and chalk stays on the chalk board rule....

A tale of two lawns

2009-04-06T12:17:00.004+10:00

Life almost ended for me over the weekend. If Fusion coming back into our life brought sunshine and happiness, losing internet access for two days was pure darkness and misery. Luckily the people at iinet were able to sort me out - Its OK blog, twitter and internet world - I AM BACK.
I had some really great posts lined up to present over the weekend where we had little planned. Due to the techincally difficulties and the occurance of ANOTHER neighbouhood BBQ that didn't happen.

One post that I still am going to bring to you, is all about our backyard. I have recently been converted to the use of Grey Water. Grey Water is the water taken from your washing machine when it drains. Normally the water will just drain and go somewhere (This is terrible but I have no idea where it goes) never to be seen again. By fitting a tube to the washing machine this water now drains into our garden (Cannot be used on food plants). This means we get to water some of our lawn which hasn't seen water for MONTHS or maybe YEARS.

Now it took me ages to even consider doing this - I DO NOT KNOW WHY (nor do I know why I have gotten really friendly with captial words - sorry for the shouting!). Maybe because I thought a (groan) man needed to do it because it wasn't as easy as it looked. Or maybe I scoffed at how really effective it was. After watering our lawn (well some of it) for only two and a half weeks I am AMAZED at the difference. You don't believe me? I have photographic evidence. But before we get there, a few words of warning. The lawn is a disgace. Initially due to water restrictions and not being able to use sprinkles or hoses on the lawn let it deteriorate to dirt. Now, that it is starting to grow back, we haven't had time to weed it, or mow it, so we have a little micro-climate going on here where half the lawn resembles a dry barren desert, and the other half an over-grown jungle. We are off to the hardware shop this weekend to get a longer hose so it will hopefully reach the rest of the lawn.

The two lawns... and a naked boy

This lawn is horrible to walk on, yucky for children and the dog

While this lawn is lush and green and soft and now full of dog poo as this is Shilo's preffered toilet spot......

The hose in action

Fusion comes home

2009-04-03T21:48:00.004+11:00

A big special thanks to Zia Rell who contacted Fusion Electronics, told them the story and two days later we receive not one but TWO Fusions in the mail, plus a heap of Fusion stickers.

Dante is very, very happy. More alien photos to follow over the weekend.

RIP

2009-03-31T13:53:00.002+11:00

Well it has been a tough few weeks in our household. It is no fun when someone you are close to is terminally ill and no matter what you do, you cannot help.

I had been in denial for weeks. Surely he will get better. Maybe we can just put a band-aid on it and it will go away.

Last week, there was no doubting it. It was time to say goodbye. Now for Joe and I, we could accept it. Sure we weren't happy about it, he was part of our family. As adults, however, we could understand that life just sometimes isn't fair and ends before your time is due.

My worry was explaining this to Dante. How do I tell him he is gone? What do I tell a little boy who is not yet two, that one of his best mates is no longer with us. Can i just not mention his name?

We decided the latter, Joe and I would try to not mention his name in Dantes prescence. If the Dant asked where he was, we would just shrug our shoulders and say we didn't know. I figured two years of age is not time for THAT sort of talk.

Which was all okay until yesterday when Dante found the photo. It was of him. Dante looked up at me with his big eyes and asked "Fusion?"

My heart crumbled, It had been a week and I hoped Dante had forgotten about him. He hadn't. The minute he saw the fluro green, the blatant advertising inscribed across his chest - he knew immediately who it was. I didn't know what to say, how to respond. I just said that he was gone.

Poor Fusion. You came into our lives when Grandad brought you home from the boat fair. Joe and I initially thought he might have been the stuff nightmares were made of (me being alien-phobic and all) but our hearts softened towards you. Even Shilo looked out for you, growling every time he heard the air leaking out of your fragile body.

We still to this day don't know what actually happened. Dante had developed a very close attachement to Fusion, putting him to bed every day, several times a day. Makeing sure fusion had a blanketon him to keep him warm at night. And the last week, Dante even started bringing Fusion into bed with him, not wanting to go to sleep until Fusion was safely tucked in by his side.

Then it happened. I woke up one morning to find Fusion quite deflated. His air-socket was open. This was a bit of a game for Fusion and Dante - often deflating. I breathed air, and life back into fusion and placed him back on the bed. A hour later, without being touched by Dante he was deflated again.

Upon closer inspection we found it. Fusions foot was torn at the bottom. Like someone had taken a chunk of his big toe off. There was little I could do. I tried sticky tape but that night Dante wanted to take Fusion into the shower with him. That was our last night with him.

Fusion died that night and was buried in our garbage bin that was collected last friday morning. He is now in some recylcying process, probably making the stickytape that couldn't save his life.

My grief has been brief but intense. So intense I have considered bidding on some aliens on ebay, but most of them dont have the blatent advertising that Fusion had. They wont have the battle scars that made Fusion a member of our family. And they come in packs of 15. Sure I want one Alien, I don't want a colony of them though.

So, here is our Montage to Fusion:

RIP - From boat show to garbage bin - it was a fun-filled life

saturating photos

2009-03-29T19:46:00.002+11:00

"CHHHEEEESSSEEE"

My new $10 shoe purchase - unfortuanlty the seven blisters I recieved from them cost me $20 in band-aids

Touring the streets

Alex happy to be my model

But only if he cold make funny faces.

playing with pictures

2009-03-29T19:36:00.003+11:00

I have been doing a little playing around with my picture editor and have now discovered a thing called "saturation". I want to marry this photo effect - it makes a average photo a good or great photo. I am astounded that by contrasting the colours it can make an image so much more effective.
It also gave me a good excuse to bring the camera out again and play some more with it, so I present you with my pics for the last week.

Dante and his next door neighbour Alex at a folk bushdance

Doing some light reading on the couch

Every day Dante asks to go to the park and play on the Frog

Pumping those arms for more speed a'la Cathy Freeman

A day spent in the park is a day well spent

Grandma and Grandad Autumn 2009

2009-03-26T16:50:00.008+11:00

Nearly time for bed ....Grandad!

I thought it was time to put in some more photos! These are some of my favourites from my recent visit to Canberra. We all had lots of fun but there is nothing nicer than relaxing after a roast dinner and listening to the little ones giggle happily and then grab a bottle and fall asleep!

A picnic in autumn usually ensures glorious weather and picturesque views. We got all of this when we headed up to the Cotter River Reserve and Ally baked some picnic treats and we had a lovely relaxing day. Joe taught Dante how to skim rocks across the river and Dante became an expert at finding rocks and throwing them at his feet!

Learning from Dad..

Bill was recovering from his recent operation and Dante followed him everywhere to make sure he didn't fall in the river.

Minding Grandad near the river.

The weather was so pleasant that we had many nice occassions just sitting on the back patio and chatting, planning the next version of the garden and watching the planes and the birds.

Dante and Ally on the patio

Another day Bill and I had to visit the clinic in the city so Ally and Dante caught the bus in from Downer. What a surprise for all of us when they stepped off the bus and there was Grandma and Grandad ready to party in town! Canberrans will recognize the poor sheep that get constantly abused by photographers but we had lots of fun. I hope Dante doesn't try this approach when he is getting on his first horse!

Dante found Grandma and Grandad in the city too!

Trying to get on the sheep.

OK Ally, over to you again!!

No cause for alarm....

2009-03-23T11:46:00.002+11:00

Last night Joe and I were woken by a screeching siren. It went on for about five seconds (just enough to wake us up) then stopped. We both "humphed" and went back to bed. 30 minutes later, again the sound. Joe jumped up and correctly guessed it was our smoke detector. He did the rounds of the house just checking that we hadn't left the BBQ on or no toast was burning in the toaster.

He came to the conclusion that it must have been the gas escaping from the beer fermenter (we just put our second brew down). Riiiigghhht, so we have a gas detector and not a smoke detector?? Guess thats 4am logic for you.

Anyway, we figured that it was probably just telling us that the batteries needed replacing. I dont think we have ever replaced a battery in the smoke detector since we moved in five or six years ago. I had always figured the battery was long dead anyway. I would have much prefered the smoke detector letting us know that we needed to replace the battery another time than four o clock in the morning.

It was the first night in the history of my motherhood for the last 12 months that neither of us have had to sleep with Dante. Once I had to get up and shift him under the blankets, but other then that he stayed asleep in his own bed. I am hoping these are the baby steps to sleeping right through.

He did wake at around 6am and went back to sleep until he and Joe got up at 7.30ish. I am so thankful that the smoke alarm didn't wake him up!

I am just now wanting a word with the God of Sleep and am going to ask him to stop mocking me. Do I really need a smoke alarm reminder the ONE NIGHT my toddler decides he doesn't need mum or dad to sleep with???

And now for something different..

2009-03-19T22:36:00.004+11:00

hahaha, yes - another apology from me. I have been spending the last few days with Dante making our first vlog - video log. I have some awesome ones that I would love to share with you - especially the one Dante chucks his Bob the BUilder toy at the computer screen in a fit - awesome viewing. Alas, it is not to be because our witty repore with each other is so catchy the video tends to be too long resulting in a file thats too large to load.

I will attempt to either slice the footage or just make a short one and will try post over the weekend. I am also completing a uni assignment due on Monday so we shal see which takes higher priority - procrastination anyone?

And are you on Twitter yet? because you should be. Its the NEW thing. All the kids are doing it. Facebook is dead now that Twitter has come into my life. Enjoy it with me.

Bedded down in history

2009-03-11T14:28:00.001+11:00

Hello Peeps!

Want to see the new "big boys" bedroom for the Dant? Click over to my other blog here

The Budding Picasso

2009-03-10T11:12:00.003+11:00

Oh how I love the long Weekend. We spent all day Saturday cleaning the house, so we could relax on Sunday and Monday. Except we went shopping and only half cleaned the house, which resulted in us needed to clean on Sunday aswell. Oh well.

We acheived a lot of things this weekend. We had a lovely picnic yesterday where Dante got his feet wet in the river, and then Joe and Dant spent a whole hour throwing stones into the water. We each had a turn of skimming stones. Joe probably won the award for the best skim, but my Dad was able to skim correctly on his very first attempt, which deserves an award in itself! Dante, My mum and I still remain skim-less.

Today I really need to start on my study. I have an assignment due in less than two weeks and still no textbook. It also means I need to throw Dante in front of the TV for some 'babysitting' while I try and do some 'light' reading on Organisational Culture. To make up for it, we spent the morning painting. And what fun did the little Picasso have.

I am happy that I decided on the non-toxic paint option, due to the amount consumed by a certain toddler. I am also happy that this paint comes off almost everything with soapy water (already worked on the bench, the phone, the tap & hose, and my clothes). I think it may
become a regular each week until the weather gets really cold. I can't see us doing this indoors (I am not in that much need of torture thanks!) so I might need to attempt play-doh?

A post about beds

2009-03-04T09:13:00.004+11:00

You know the year is swinging by when you finally get out your sunscreen and sunnies and sun hat for a day out only to be told it is now autumn, and there shall be no more hot weather :(. I am also reminded that time is passing quickly when I have to create another month folder for my photos - Is it seriously march already?? I am starting to shed tears when I read all the american blogs and they are jumping around as the snow has stopped falling and they are preparing for their "Summer Vacations".
I am normally the biggest advocate of Autumn, I really, really love it. So much I would marry it if I could. But alas, Joe beat autumn the altar that day so it's his ring which I wear on my finger.
Summer passed so quickly, i think we had one week of insane hotness, but the rest seemed quite mild, like it didn't really want to come out this year, maybe Summer was feeling a bit frumpy, a bit unfabulous (and don't we all know what that feels like!) and it was only after a night on the tiles that it decided to show us its true glory in one week of 40 degree weather, before returning to the place that seasons go when they are not here.
The true test of the clock ticking however, is the fact that last weekend we went to shop for a bed for Dante. Yes, that's right, a bed. For the past few months Dante has been sleeping on a mattress on the floor. Joe is horrified that I would actually tell anyone that we treat Dante like a dog and let him sleep on the floor. I then had to correct Joe to inform him, that actually, the dog sleeps on our bed, not on the floor at all. I digress, so we have been looking for beds. We had so many ideas about what we would want, a day bed that can be used as a lounge, bunk beds that can be separated into two a crappy trundle bed that we could throw out in a few years time, or a bed that was master crafted and handmade to ensure the durability of all time.

I only had a few conditions; I wanted white, I wanted storage or trundle option for underneath, I wanted a matching set to put the other one in our guest room. What did we end up with? White. I didn't get my storage or trundle option (the bed is too low), I didn't get my matching set (we may need to keep the Queen bed for longer) but I did get white, which was hard enough to convince Joe on.

Buying this bed took three weekends to trawl around every bed store in Canberra, looking at our options. By the time we got back to where we started, I was bedded out - I couldn't care less if Dante was 21 and still sleeping on his cot mattress. But low and behold, there it was, a beautiful white bed that Joe actually liked. The fact that this was the first bed that we even remotely considered together, made it special. The fact that Dante was two hours overdue for his sleep and was biting my shoulder meant that we had to make a decision, and quick. So we went for it. It arrives in around 2 weeks. I cannot wait.

Then, the search for bedding occupied my every waking moment. Do we go with dinasours? Bob the Builder? Could I really handle seeing Bob the Builder staring up at me with his manic grin every time I entered the room? Do we go with cheapo $30 sets, or choose the luxury $200 sets?

I asked Joe if I could budget $150 and make a doona cover for Dante. He actually agreed. So I did. I made a patchwork dona cover. Again, without a pattern, without measuring so it certainly is not the most crafted work ever made. Dante thinks it's perfect. So do I. I have some material left over to make two pillow covers also. The cover can fit a double or queen doona, which saved on us buying a new doona for Dante just yet, and as it's a King Single bed, I am hoping it wont dwarf the bed. Dante runs into the spare room a few times a day just looking at all the tractors, trains, animals and whatever else he can find on it, which makes me think we made the right deicison to make something just for him. He's worth it.

Dantes new patchwork doona cover

Very homemade, very ecletic, just how I like it!

This is apparently what the bed looks like according to the website. I remember it being a solid headboard. Guess we will find out in two weeks!

Pictures tell a thousand words....I hope

2009-02-27T17:05:00.003+11:00

So it's been a very busy couple of weeks, trying to get my uni registration sorted (first week in and still waiting for the required textbook- arrghhh!), Watching dad go into hospital for removal of a cancer behind his knee, and the usual looking after an almost two year old.

So, I know I always say it's busy around here, but finally, this last week I have some proof of just why I haven't been as good at blogging. It always seems to happen but as soon as we have visitors in our house my time on the computer goes from 98% don to about 27%. Luckily for me someone wonderful have me an ipod and I am able to access the net on that, but blog writing? Not recommended for ipods, just so you know.

We've been searching the freezer (dressed to the nines) looking to snack on come frozen fish fingers....

To making tomato sauce (90 bottles!)

And some home brew, coopers larger - here we come!

To visiting 'Grandad' in hospital, and making sure he came home safely to our place

To making a couple of friends down by the lake

My New Thing

2009-02-13T12:02:00.003+11:00

OK, so I finally have found something to sink my teeth into. I have been trying to avoid it but it keeps haunting me. Yesterday while I tried to re-configure our router/modem Dante played on his own - FOR TWO HOURS. 30 minutes is unheard of, let alone two hours. This was my sign.

I have re-enrolled back into uni. Now you may remember that I enrolled when Dante was just a little sack of human flesh. And I did pretty well, scoring a distinction for my efforts. I didn't think I would cope with the study/work load as he grew older and I think I made the right decision to take a leave of abscence. So I have did that for the past year. It had now reached the point that I would either have to cancel my enrollment entirely or go back. I have decided to go back.

To my horror, the subjects available to me are really scary ones. Marketing came natural to me and I really enjoyed it. But honestly? Enjoying Accounting? ummm, seriously?

Initially there was the pressure to get that "piece of paper" under my belt - Surely no one would hire someone without that right? Especially in these hardening economic times. Now, I really don't care so much about the paper, but I am really excited about the learning, about the knowledge that I hope to prevent going through one ear and out the other, but actually aquire.

So, no time to spend 365 days going through a cookbook, possibly very little time to write that novel that I keep dreaming about. And those blank white screens will soon be turning into essays and assignments.

Wish me luck!

Walking The Dog

2009-02-12T16:41:00.005+11:00

Nothing says MOTIVATE like your 20 month old son bringing you the dogs leash (with the dog enthusiastically wagging his tail behind him) saying "Walk?" "Walk?" A thousand times over until you give in. So depsite our noses running stronger and faster than the Niagra Falls I decided to rug us up and head outdoors. Dantes beanie and scarf are courtesy of Grandad a christmas present we thought would have to wait a good five/six months to try out - turns out we only had to wait two. Thanks Grandad! Go the Brumbies!

Oh, and for the dog lovers, Shilos coat came all the way from Hong Kong. When Joe was sent there for work he was told by his pregnant wife that he better not just get something for the fagioli (our name for fetus Dante) but also for our "current" baby, Shilo. This is what he came back with.

This could have been a scene out of any silent movie - who wins? Boy or Dog? Perhaps mama who buts in because she just wants to keep moving in this cold weather.

I can't bear to look at this photo without seeing all our dead grass - but honestly, with a smile like that, how could you even notice the grass?

Dante can usually hold Shilo for most the block. He gets to the start of our street and then always seems to let go. Obviously this is the most safe area for him to let go of Shilo, so it makes sense that this is the one area that he doesn't want to hold him.

It's been there all along

2009-02-12T09:55:00.004+11:00

Most of you dear, kind, lovely readers are also connected to me via that wonderful application called facebook. For those that are, you will already know that I am quite fond of changing my status about eleventy-hundred times a day. For those that aren't connected to me via facebook (poor you - missing out on so much!) you now know.

Now I have been around the blogosphere for quite a while now, I think it all started about four or five years ago and I haven't looked back (although I have gone through four blogs, most unfortunatly still in existence somewhere out there....). Now I heard of twitter over a year ago, but couldn't understand the fuss, besides I had just found this awesome thing called facebook, so I wasn't interested in learning ANOTHER application (so un-gen y of me I know!) so I filed it to the back of my brain (plenty of room there!) and went on my merry way. Know it has got to the point where I can't read a blog without someone explaining the benefits of Twitter, and how they would gladly sacrifice their firstborn just to be able to log on. Today, due to the plague descending on our house, and also that fact that despite it being summer, we are in jumpers and beanies (I am considering turning the heater on) I thought I would look into it.

I am officially hooked. It is basically a mini-bog a place where you can put up to 140 characters and people can follow or be followed. It is my dream come true -A blog soley for status updates -what could be better?

So now i have yet another application to tune into daily, equalling more time spent on the computer, but come on, endless status updates? Theres no question that it can't be fun! So, if you also are looking to spend MORE time on the computer, or looking for more TIME WASTER applications, come follow me on Twitter - I promise I will follow you!

https://twitter.com/ACTinglikeamama

When You Can't Choose between a Hat and a Skirt

2009-02-09T19:45:00.002+11:00

Dante woke up pretty unwell today. It could have been half the olympic sized swimming pool he swallowed yesterday, or it could have been the boiled egg he ate last night - SHELL and all. Or maybe it is just that he is coming down with a cold - or a combination of all three, anyway, I know when I am feeling lousy there is nothing like retail therapy - and retail therapy for a toddler equates to finding a box of toys that has been long forgotten, or in our case, never before discovered. Of course it had a skirt - It is the dress up box. Joe asked me if we should be worried. I just grinned a big smile, glad that my son is embracing all sorts of experiences, even if they are stereotypically aimed at females! Of course he also demanded dancing music, because honestly, who would twirl in a skirt without some groovy tunes?

Enough of whingeing, have some more photos!

2009-02-05T21:07:00.004+11:00

Okay, so I am thinking I didn't really make myself clear in my last post. After receiveing way to many calls or emails saying "I would give anything to swap my life with yours...." I now feel sufficiently guilty enough thanks! Anyway, I feel so lucky to be in this situation, not having to go back to work straight away, being able to stay at home and bring up our family. Loving the fact that I can do this, does not get rid of the boredom. As Dante is growing older he can entertain himself for longer periods, the workload of running the house has become so routine and can be completed in a relatively short period, so now it leaves me open to tackle new things. New Opportunities - that is what i want to embrace. So I am really sorry for those of you who thought I was smashing it in your face screaming "Nah Nah Nah Nah" I didn't mean that. Now, to show you how much I love you all, here are some shots of the little man:

Dante and Shilo having a sleep-in

Dante rediscovering old toys - and they are proving to be a hit!

Grandad reading Dante a bed-time story "Cock a Moo Moo"

Grandma took Dante on a picnic to feed some birds.......

And BOBBY! BOBBY! MAMA - BOBBY!

(This was repeated for the first hour)

Error 404

2009-02-04T11:17:00.002+11:00

Well I have to say I have looked everywhere for it, but I can't seem to find my camera cord, which means this post will contain no photos of Dante (boo) and will therefore pobably be all about me (double boo).

I have been in a sort of limbo land lately, New Years what with all the resolutions tend to do this to me, and while I tried a month ago to set them out and live by them, I probably haven't been as committed as I should (especially considering it is only February) - Although this week we have scored bonus points with three vegetarian dishes (bruschetta, mushroom & pea risotto & spicy tomato pasta) and going for the fourth (lentils - but not sure which way). I have also slowly started working on my new get-fit campaign with dante walking Shilo around the block with me, and Joe coming home early on Thursday nights so I can go swimming.

I am thinking that this is a stage most Stay-At-Home-Mums go through (I have stopped calling myself a recruitment manager because really, two years is more than enough to establish the fact that while I am technically still on Maternity Leave, I have spent longer in this role as domestic goddess far longer than any other employer.

I digress, anyways, I was saying that this feeling. Once you get you and your family into a routine and everything seems to be going along grandly it hits you - You can't work out what it is, frustration, boredom, the loss of opportunities, scared, jealousy - its all these and more. I hear my friends going back to work, or those that are still working and getting promotions, doing exciting (childless) things. Or even more envious am I of those that seem to juggle it all - part time work, being the primary carer, aswell as house cleaner and laundry doer. Dude - I struggle to sweep the floor each week and If I get one load of washing on the line, I am very rarely the one that brings it in (It's usually Joe just getting home from work and noicing the drops of rain rushes out to rescue it - dream husband huh?)

So I get this urge to DO something, to satisfy these feelings and turn them from being negative thoughts into inspirational and motivating thoughts. But what can I do?

I recently read the book Julie & Julia which, while being a fairly average read, did plant something in me - the urge to tackle my own project. My own thing. The only thing is - I'm stumped. What can I do - how long can I do it for? The options are so endless it makes it hard to choose one. This, I think is my biggest downfall - Get me started on anything, and I am there 200%all the way no turning back, completley obsessed for about the first three weeks, talk to me six weeks later and I can't even remember talking about it. Thats just me. So do I do mini projects - you know accomplish this in a month? Then its not a big bite to chew and I don't see it as a challenge.

Writing has always been something I wanted to do. I just felt I had nothing to write about - Still don't really. Every few months I promise myself that I will sit down and start writing. Do you know how hard it is to look at a blank page - see all the keys in front of you and not come up with anything new?

I really don't want to go back to work yet, I would rather get pregnant and have a child thanks, but in the meantime I would really like a challenge, something to really sink my teeth in to, something that Dante can be proud of, and mostly something that gives me something to be proud of - Any ideas??

Australia Day Weekend

2009-01-27T17:39:00.003+11:00

To celebrate Australia Day we decided to drive a fair bit of way through it. We drove from Canberra to Coffs Harbour which took us about 12 hours with stops along the way. We had breakfast in Goulburn, lunch in Newcastle, dinner in Kempsy and we got to see a bit of Northern NSW which Joe and I had not seen before.

That was Saturday. On Sunday we arrived in Ballina for lunch. Not only was my mum there to greet us, but my sister clairie, Alan, Jordy and Billy had come down from Brisbane for a visit. We all celebrated with mums famous roast chicken for dinner.

We spent Monday catching up and just getting over the big drive. Today we had an action packed day of taking Dante to the beach (Shelley's Beach) where I received my very first blue-bottle sting. Dante had a ball swimming and playing in the waves and then even more fun when Grandma showed him the buckets and spades she keeps for well-behaved grandsons (goodness knows why Dante got to use them!). He met a little friend who had a couple of "Bobby's" so Dante was in his element!

We then went home to have a shower and this afternoon we went to the Macadamia Castle which is a Ballina tourist joint filled with baby farm animals which you can pet, reptiles that you can recoil from, caffiene that you can energise from and play equipment that you can have fun on - so it was terrific - and here is the proof!

Dante at Shelley's Beach - he is a natural water baby!

Dante and Grandad deciding on breakfast in Goulburn

Eating on the balcony at Grandmas in Ballina

Dante talking to the cows who tried to swallow his hand

The blue bottle that bit me

The January Collection

2009-01-21T22:18:00.004+11:00

Already we are nearing another 23rd of the month and I am in no way prepared or motivated to write my usual monthly letter to Dant - I think the last few months have been a complete write-off! Our air-conditioning is still broken and with the temperature getting into the mid 30's and canberra becoming unaturally humid all of a sudden, my motivation to do anything with pre-thought has been wiped. So instead, I thought I would give you a few snapshots (after all, that's why you come here isn't it?) of the week that was (or really just yesterday and today):

Dante getting hold of the camera...

A little boys tea party - espresso shots at the kitchen bar!

The modern day male - washing up after himself

Dante getting his bag ready for Ballina - Shilo watching on

Mama - le me press the button / Not the lense though Dante!

So there you have it - The January collection. Maybe tomorrow will be cooling and my mind can attune itself to some more thinking and I might even surprise you with another post before we go on our road trip this Saturday!

Convincing strangers my son is not a thief, just obsessed

2009-01-18T15:09:00.003+11:00

I gave in today. Well actually I gave in last week as well as today. Dante absolutely loves Bob the Builder, well he loves the tractor/digger thing that he likes to call bobby. Anyway, I was happy buying him the toy, or a book with "bobby" on it, hell, I even made a Bobby cake for Joes birthday but today I was the camels back breaking and bob, it seemed, was the straw.

Anyway last week - a particularly hot week meaning lots of liquids and icy things getting consumed and clothes getting dirty. Without the air con I was reluctant to do any work - especially the kind of work that involved a washing machine and walking in the hot 40 degree sunshine to hang out said washing. So when it was clear Dante had no more clothes to wear, and it was looking like I might just need to go put a load on - I remembered. A great friend gave Dante a christmas present two years ago (07) it was a Bob the Builder shirt. I had hidden it away in the wardrobe hoping to come upon it when Dante turned 17.

Anyway I got it out and put it on him - perfect fit. Dante beamed when he saw "bobby" on his shirt and kept going up to the mirror and looking at himself - so pleased!

Anyway, luckily enough for me it didn't take long to get dirty (15 minutes and an icy pole I think) so off it went before anyone saw.

My problem came the next day trying to dress Dante - he kept pointing to his shirt saying "bobby? bobby?" As if, come on mama - where is that totally awesome shirt I was wearing yesterday?

Anyway, it was soon forgotten about until we were at the shopping centre today. Dante was playing in the play area and I had briefly taken my eyes off him to skull down some caffiene only to look up and see him stealing someone's bag. I raced over and apologised to the parents and tried my best to explain that I wasn't training my son to be a thief, but the bag had a picture of bobby on it, which he really really loves. They weren't convinced until we bumped into them in another shop and he raced up to give the bobby bag a kiss.

It meant we left the shop with a Bob The Builder DVD (currently babysitting him at this moment) as well as being forced to reconsider my stance on character clothing for my son. It's a losing battle I face.

And so it begins

2009-01-16T20:00:00.003+11:00

I have been planning a post all week. I was going to write about how wonderful my son is - Doesn't sound like me does it? Anyway, I was going wax on about all the words he is saying (among my favourites; Shilo, Love-You, Bobby (aka bob the builder), Pakka (Makka Pakka), Latte, Cuddle, Water and of course, Mama. He says so many more and each day he adds to the vocabulary.

I was also going to write about his recent development, abut how he randomly he runs up yelling "cuddle, cuddle" and crash tackles me to the floor to give me a big hug. How he sees me reading so gets one of his books and sits next to me to read also, how he sees me sitting on the side of the road watching him play with all his neighbourhood friends, and leaves them to come and sit next to me, all these sorts of things I wanted to write about.....and then this happened.

Joe had just come home from work and in the midst of cooking dinner, trying to get Dante to put on a nappy at least, and asking Joe how his day went, I lost track of the number one son. I then heard the front door slam (thank god!) Joe ran out to see Dante escaping to the neighbours front yard. He came back in to tell me the news. Our Childproofing now must reach a new level. We decided tomorrow we would get our front door keys and start locking the door from now on. We sat down to dinner, Dante finished before us and wanted to play. We let him. We then heard a similar noise. I grabbed the camera and managed to catch him in his act:

He has moved his stool out under the door and has worked the handle - He also (this time) learnt how not to make a noise when shutting the door.

So for all the wonderful things that I am so proud and glad to have in a son, I must admit, this one just completley freaks me out!

I do like green eggs and ham

2009-01-13T17:23:00.002+11:00

For the last week or two Dante has not being eating very well. Nothing seemed to interest him and the only time he would take more than a few bites would be of his friends food or when grandad looked after him.

I haven't been too worried, the weather has been pretty hot, so fruit has been the stan

dard and also he hasn't completely stopped eating, but has just increased his liquid consumption.

To my delight he turned the tables around today -he ate a whole boiled egg and a whole piece of toast - half I think was the delight of devouring something so sticky and messy aswell as tasty. So now I at least might have one guarranteed meal up my sleeve....fingers crossed!

When All You Want is a Bobby Cake for your 41st Birthday

2009-01-12T08:59:00.004+11:00

We had Joes 41st birthday on Saturday. I had planned to have cake and champagne in the afternoon, followed by dinner and movies that night. Dad had offered to babysit so it was all looking good.

We had some friends over for dinner on Friday night and Joe started getting really cold. Now Joe is a typical male and doesn't 'get cold' often. He rugged up in a jacket but was still shivering. He came down with fever and when he woke on saturday he was so tired and lethargic. This meant we spent most of Joes birthday on the couch.

We managed to get ourselves sorted and Joe said he had enough energy to go outfor dinner so off we went, leaving Grandad and Dante to play together. This went really well - Apparently Mary Poppins was on TV and Dante was more than happy to sit and watch - on the second lullaby he fell asleep!

Our night was relaxing, I had wanted to try two fine dining restaurants and was really excited at finally getting the opportunity to spend our life savings on small morsels of food, as well as not having to worry about hving any children in tow. Sad for me, but both these restaurants were still closed for the christmas break. We ended up going to another place which wasn't the ultimate dining experience but was fine. We then went to Koko Black for coffee and dessert. This was enough for Joe so we decided we would do the movies another night.

On Sunday Joe was feeling a lot better so we pottered around our garden and in the afternoon I brought out the cake and we had some champagne. We had some friends and Dad also joined us and it was really lovely. Our neighbours John and Julie ended up staying for dinner, and all in all it was a lovely weekend.

Nellie the dog from aross the road came and played with Shilo and Dante - Shilo wasn't interested in playing catch with Dante and Nellie though

Joe's "bobby (aka bob the builder) cake"

What else would a 41 year old ask for? Needless to say, Dante and his mate Oliver LOVED it!

One sick boy, one cheeky boy - This is Dante make his "cheese!" face

Chillin' out with dad

The Big Reveal

2009-01-09T12:01:00.002+11:00

Now i know you have all been waiting for what sewing creations I have been busy making....Nw i can share. As I am still waiting for Joe to get me my camera batteries (he has promised he has them in his briefcase!), I can only share other websites.

My project was christmas presents for my two nephews. A pair of shorts, a t-shirt with transfer and a PJ bag (with a book also). I found a great pattern on etsy by Nanoo Designs, she asked to send a picture of the creation and then sampled it on her blog.

This was for Billy, his family are big Essedon fans (AFL) which is the motto on his shirt. My other nephew Lincoln, has parents that go for different teams so I had to make the executive decision and give him a Swans t-shirt. Here Lincoln is modelling the look on his blog.

I have made some bags which I will try photo tonight to show you the more 'grown-up' projects I am tackling.

Happy Sewing!

2009-01-04T20:34:00.001+11:00

Sorry for the lack of blogging, our computer had some corrupted software making it agony to even turn on. It all seems to be fixed and up and running like clockwork so the blog posts will hopefully be more frequent!

Hello there 2009

2009-01-04T20:07:00.002+11:00

Another year has flown by. 2008 was a year of great times, sad times, challenging times and all those other times too. I always look forward to the new year. While I am not one to really make resolutions, I remember deciding that I wanted to SIMPLIFY our life.

I failed. Well, not totally and utterly failed, but I probably didn't get to the point were I was hoping to be. On the positive side, I cleaned out every single room in the house and rid our lives of some really useless stuff. We also started getting our garden in order. Part of my goal of simplifying our lives was to create an edible garden - lots of fruit and vegetables that we could enjoy. Another part of living simply was the art of enjoying time together. Joe and I managed this by playing scrabble most Tuesday nights. I loved these nights to bits, there was no TV, Dante fast asleep and Joe and I could just enjoy each other's company over a competitive game of scrabble! I also made a huge effort to stop buying Dante so many toys - this was easy in that we have no more room for them, and that we get many hand-me-down toys from the neighbours to keep us constantly amused with.

So it wasn't all bad, but my aim this year is to really improve on this resolution. Here are my others:

2. Go meatless two nights a week - I want this to be a minimum. It horrifies me how much meat we consume each week - almost every lunch and dinner we will eat some form of meat. Joe is not really keen on this so I will start with two nights a week, but I hope to make it to three or four nights a week. Send those vegetarian recipies my way!

3. Two TV free nights a week - ANother one I will have to convince Joe on, the one thing I love about holidays is the crap TV on so there is no point in switching it on. There are times when I seriously feel like moving the TV out of the lounge room - It just makes me so tense when it is on and no one is watching it, or we watch it for the sake of it, not really enjoying what we are seeing.

4. Get fit, loose weight - A no-brainer really. When Dante was little I resolved that once he started sleeping through the night I would get up early in the morning to take a walk. It has now been 12 months and Dante still has not slept through the night (that's 12 months of disturbed sleep for me also!) and it has got to the point where I need to just get up and do it. I was also thinking that we would fall pregnant pretty soon so I wasn't to worried about the weight. Now I need to get the weight off to be a healthy size and increase the chance of us falling pregnant again.

5. Enjoy my hobbies - 2008 didn't bring many hobbies for me. There was cooking, reading, but nothing that was just for me and nothing that I could see the benefit of. Now that I have my sewing machine I aim to really enjoy making things for our home and people I care for.

6. Be a positive role model - This is probably the most important one for me. It amazes me how much Dante imitates us, or picks up on our behaviours, our moods and the way we react to things. I am such a major influence in his life at the moment and I really want to be a positive influence. I want him to enjoy his life, the people around him, and I want to teach him about respect, honesty and love. If we don't. no one else will.

So that's it for 2009 - quite daunting in review. I alos have some other mini-goals, like blogging alot more, reading more (can you ever read enough?) and also trying to be less critical and insecure about myself and who I am. I also want to take plenty more photos and really develop my interest in photography.

So tell me, what are your goals for 2009??

Christmas Re-cap

2008-12-29T08:32:00.003+11:00

Well Christmas has come and gone for yet another year - And what a christmas we had! This year was our first year for hosting christmas in our home, something that I have been wanting to do since we bought our house five years ago.

The day couldn't have been better - We were well prepared so there wasn't too much to do on the day. I glazed and cooked the ham the night before. I prepared the turkey stuffing, and took the lasagne that I had made a week earlier out of the freezer to defrost.

In the morning we met mum and dad at church for the christmas day service. I was looking foward to hearing some christmas carols, but for whatever reason there was none. Dante was kept occupied by trying to take the baby jesus from the nativity set home.

We came home and opened our presents. Dante was really excited with his Tonka Truck from Grandma and Grandad, although I think his favourite part was the hard-hat that came with it. He has assumed that this is his bike helmet as he was wearing it when he got his next gift – his bike. He loves this and although he isn’t yet able to ride himself – he certainly enjoys being pushed around!

Joe received a home brew kit for Christmas and got a bit excited at that – He is going to pull it out this weekend and see what he can make of it all.Shilo received another cuddly toy to turn it dirty and smelly just as he likes.

I scooped up with a sewing machine. It didn’t take me long to get it out and play around with it – I was really surprised at how easy it all was. I remember really struggling in Home Ec making boxer shorts and saying that sewing was useless. Now I can’t wait to go shopping and buy some patterns and material!I started working on the quilt that I bought several months ago but as it started getting a bit tricky I put it away and just got out some scrap pieces of material to practice on. I figure that I will get used to the machine first before attempting the quilt.

Dante also received a sandpit which was a lifesaver for us parents on Christmas day – the boys loved playing in the sand!

We had some people join us for lunch, of course my mum and dad were there, thankfully dad took charge of the turkey and rescued it before it resembled charcoal. He also carved the ham AND made the Christmas pudding and cake for us to enjoy! Mum mad her delicious gravy and kept Dante occupied while we did the last minute run around.

Mal and Bev Bennet were in town that week and had nothing planned for Christmas so they joined us for lunch which was lovely – I hadn’t seem them in ages – they went to uni with dad and have remained friends since – they travelled with mum and dad overseas so it was great hearing their side of the story!

My girlfriend Danni and her family (Husband Paul and boys Ronan and Eric) had no family in Canberra so we adopted them for Christmas day also. This was great as it gave dante some mates to play with, and there were enough kids there to really feel like Christmas, but not too many that it was overwhelming! I am very sad that Danni and family are packing up to move to Melbourne next week as we were becoming great friends and the boys really enjoyed each others’ company – Still, it does give me an excuse to go to Melbourne now, and Danni will live right across the road from a major Shopping Centre!

Once everyone left, Joe did all the washing up and packing away while I went with Dante to visit the neighbours – how awesome! My best friend Lidia then dropped by with her partner Marco and we caught up with them (Lidia is currently living in Melbourne – double whammy!

By this time it was about 9pm and we all pretty much phased out for the night. But it was great!The next couple of days have been a blur of playing with presents, trying to eat all the leftovers (I am so over ham and turkey now!) and doing some gardening – We shifted the Lemon and Orange tree out of the pots and put them in the ground. We were also given a fig cutting from a friend so have planted that also.

Today will be the start of taking down the Christmas decorations – This is a job i do not enjoy, it has bittersweet feelings associated with it – looking lovingly at all the wonderful Christmas stuff I have collected over the years, and knowing that this is the longest time to wait until we get to take it out again (unless I begin a Christmas in july tradition!)

Unfortunately these are the only photos I was able to capture, being the hostess with the mostest and all!

By boxing day I had it out and had done so much sewing - see the quilting squares in the corner!

Dante peddling on his bike (with help from Daddy). The sandpit is in the back of the photo - still undiscovered by the dant!

Dante understanding the street smart philosophy of wearing helmets...even if it is plastic!