Re-Group and Re-Gather

Life at the Cottage the past few days has resembled a war zone with both the mess and the emotions.  I have felt fat and sorry for myself - Macie has jumped at the oppurtunity to be extra-cheeky and Heath just comes home at the end of the day to pick up the pieces (he's a keeper). 

Then I got something that I always love....a big fat kick in the arse....while reading this blog about The King Family.  It is enough to loose a child - but to loose your husband a few months later is just cruel. 

So it's time for me to be thankful for being fat & uncomfortable with a growing baby boy, grateful for a cheeky healthy 2 year old and most certainly time to kiss and cuddle my husbo and thank him for being here. 

Go and seize the day.....you never ever know what it may bring.  X 

36 weeks....

Sharing with you some special shots captured by Heath today.  Something I will treasure forever. 

X

10 random things....

I reached the 15,000 hits milestone on my blog.  Thank you for your support. 

I have 30 days to go with my pregnancy....

I faced my serious and sometimes frightening needle fear and had accupunture last week.  I have to admit that I enjoyed it and will be going back for more.

I keep on having to remind myself that our beautiful darling girl is going to be a Big Sister.  I know she is going to rock it, own it and sometimes is going to make our lives hell - but hey - I'm up for the ride.  I was asked by my midwife the other day "How do you think Macie is going to cope"......and my response was...."We will all be fine".  It's all in trusting the process.....isn't it?

I have thrown my "Eat Well" plan out the window and enjoying my last 30 days of extra calories and chocolate milkshakes. 

I make a crap nurse.  Heath was sick over the weekend and I coped terribly.  In the end, after 3 days of him being in pain, I packed him in the car and took him to a real nurse at the hospital that looked after him.  I am happy to report that he is back to 100% health....and he to agrees that I suck at playing "Nurse".  I can take that. 

I finally sewed up my curtains that have been pinned by my gorgeous & generous mother-in-law for the past 2 years.  It took 15 minutes and I cursed myself for taking so long to do it!

My urge to nest is fighting with my two year old who is adament that the house should look like it hasn't been cleaned for a good two weeks.  Today I declared "Fuck It".  Yep - I swore.

Macie has now learnt to send text messages on my iPhone.  It is a recipe for some great conversations with friends I haven't spoken to in ages!

I keep on having nightmares that I am going to be flooded from town - and I go into labour.....

Nesting....

I'll be the first to admit that cleaning is never on my top list of priorities.  I am the kind of housewife who waits until the washing basket is overflowing then I proceed to curse myself for being so lazy.  I am the kind who has the rotten potatoes in the crisper in the fridge and most certainly the one who is sure there is a monster underneath our couch who kidnaps toys and collects a ridiculous amount of dust.  I fold washing and take 2 days to put away and I never ever iron for the fun of it....if we're lucky, I'll iron before we go out while everyone stands in their undies waiting for their clothes!

Yep - that's me....the real me....the not-pregnant me.

But I'm 35 weeks pregnant....I've changed.

Being pregnant has given me the nesting bug overload.  Today I have sorted toys, placed puzzles in special bags to ensure their pieces aren't lost, made pencil cases for Macie's ever-growing pen/pencil collection and I even put her dress up clothes on hangers.  Yep you heard me right.

Then when I thought I would just spend the afternoon cleaning the skirting boards.....my husbo brings me home an industrial couch cleaner that his parents have been using to clean their house from the flood.  Could I have kissed him?  Yes.  Could I have kissed the Cleaner?  Yes.  Oh you betcha.

Two and a half hours later......and my nesting is satisfied. 

Take my advice though.....never ever buy yourself a cream couch.  It was the most beautiful thing I had seen....until we had children.  Now it's stains from baby vomit, blue crayons, vegemite and chocolate biscuits all tell a story.....and the moral to that story?  Listen to your husbo when he tells you that a cream couch is not a good idea!!

Did you nest?  What was the craziest thing you did??

Summer Storms....

It appears that this tiny little corner of Australia where we reside now experiences a "Wet Season"....complete with summer storms, grumbling thunder and flooding rains.

Unfortunately the flooding rains has hit the farm this past weekend and my in-laws are currently undertaking the mammoth task of cleaning the aftermath of the inches of flood water through their house.  Lucky for us, the trusty Dalli Cottage managed to escape the water and is on 'high' ground - I wish I could say the same for Ma & Pa though. 

Summer can be a real bitch....but check out the majestic sunset that makes me remember her beauty!

Preggo woes!

I have been somewhat quiet on this little blog of mine.  Pregnancy seems to have overtaken any kind of spare time I had.  If I get a moment - I am usually passed out in bed or on the couch trying to be 'present' for Macie while she plays around me.  On more than one occasion I have declared that Heath is "Head Chef" for the night as I practice becoming a whale on the lounge....and thankfully I hear absolutely no complaints from my beautiful husbo - even after he has worked a massive day.   

Does I sound like I am whinging?  Well - to be honest, I probably am!  I hand it to all those woman out there who declare that they never felt an ache, or a twitch or the sensation that their baby could fall out at any given moment.  Either you are the best secret-keepers ever....or your bodies are made to have a trillion children.  Me?  I have clearly been built to stop at two children (and I am certainly very blessed to have these little darlings in my life) - and whoever says that summer is a great time to be pregnant because you can wear Maxi-dresses....needs to be shot!

In between the day sleeps, couch sessions and "OMG - cross my legs - this baby is going to drop out" moments during our day....we have been trying to fill our days with lots of summer play with our lovely friends.  I haven't even really had the camera out lately.....but I am sure that is destined to change as I persuade Heath to take some final maternity photos of the bump as the final 6 weeks draws to a close.   I have listened to my body and really really regretably cancelled the last few photoshoots that I had planned in the last 6 weeks before bubs is born.  I hated having to tell these gorgeous clients but sometimes I just need to listen to this body of mine. 

But today I managed to capture my beautiful little girl in all her glory - her Daddy's cowboy hat with her signature smile while holding her 2 newest pets - Cameron and Cyril the Caterpillars. 



It excites me watching Macie.  I get so much joy hearing her independence and happiness sing from giggles and screams of delight.  Or to see her cheekiness from that little glint in her eyes when she looks at me for just that little bit longer - as if she is saying "I know I am cheeky Mum....but I also know that you love me".  She is funny, intelligent and confident.  She can be so stubborn to the point of no return - yet can be such a beautifully mannered little girl that could never do wrong aswell!!  She is always one step ahead of us - even though we try to be one step ahead of her.....so it always feels like a race....then we collapse in giggles and love and promise to slow down.

A promise to slow down to soak up the beauty of a simple smile, cuddle and a kiss.  Because gratitude of the simple things can bring so much happiness to soothe the aches and pains...and reminds me of the miracle that is about to enter our world.   X