Riding with Grandpa

The other day Shane's Dad took Georgie on the four-wheeler. He was so proud of himself! He was very careful, but it is not an experience I will care to repeat! The whole time I was thinking "That's my baby!" Poppy is already trying to teach her "Bike! Bike!" I'm not sure how I'll deal with it when she is bigger and does want to go for a ride. They are just not very safe.... but I'll just deal with that when it happens.

This one I love! She was on for a couple of minutes and then decided she wanted off, Now! ( I'm hoping that continues)

In other news. I am very flat lately. Shane has been working too much and we are a bit lonely. Georgie is sitting up all the time now and she hardly ever falls over now! She is also so close to crawling. It's so cute! At the moment, she's doing  little caterpillar belly flops, she gets up on all fours and then flops herself forward to get where she wants to go. We are also swimming an awful lot because it's so darn hot here!  I will have to put some new pictures up sometime soon of how big she's getting and what we're up to- but that will happen eventually.

43 things........ (part 1)

1. Today it was 41 degrees! (that's 105.8 Fahrenheit for you Americans) I felt like we were melting! Thank God for air conditioners!

2. One day I would LOVE to do a triathalon.

3. As a child I watched Captain Planet- and loved it! My cousin and I would play it in the backyard and I would always want to be Linka.... I still know all the words to the theme song.

4. Looking back at Captain Planet- I'm now really annoyed. They had a Planeteer from every continent except Australia.... they gave America two instead! I also thought poor old Mai-Ti was ripped off with his power. I mean Heart? Lame!

5. It is 10:42pm and I should really be in bed!

6. Tonight I pinched Georgie. She was feeding and pulled off, but tried to take half of me with her! She's been biting me really badly lately. As she came off- it hurt so much that I shrieked and pinched her tummy. My poor baby cried and I felt so bad. I didn't mean to, but it just hurt so badly that I had that instinctual hand-clench happen. I feel like the worst mother in the world!

7. Today was Australia Day and we did.......... nuffing. Shane had to work, but he put two Australian flags on his truck.... he's so cute.

8. Right now I am DESPERATE to go to the beach. We normally go around this time every year, but just can't afford it this year :(

9. When we were engaged, Shane and I were fooling around, and I threw a bridal magazine at him. It hit him in the face and he got a terrible split, fat lip. When we went to the Doctor, he laughed at us. It was quite mortifying for a seventeen and eighteen year old!  Plus, poor Shane had to go to bible college the next day and do an oral presentation, and couldn't do it because of his lip. I felt SO bad. However I still maintain that he shouldn't have ducked. Amazing he still married me huh?

10. My first car was a Mazda 626 that was as old as I was. It's name was Frank.

11. Georgie is doing so well at swimming. I take her to the pool about four times a week. She knows "Georgina, ready, set, Go!" and then she goes underwater. I'm even starting to let go of her hands a little and she swims to me. Such a clever girl!

12. I'm one of thise weird people who, when she goes on holidays, goes to the gym. As soon as I have the opportunity, I tend to find whatever gym and or pool I can, and try to exercise heaps. I don't know why but I always have so much more motivation when I'm away. Perhaps it's because I have more time?

13. Before Georgie was born I lost 10kg, and that's when I developed my love of exercise and going to the gym. I never thought I would be a person who went to the gym- but I dicovered how much I love it... I especially love group fitness classes.

14. I don't know if I ever do want to go back into a career in education or childcare. Part of me really does, because I just think it's so important. But another part of me just loves the idea of having a less stressful job in a shop or something, where I can just go to work, and come home without bringing work home with me. I think it would be much easier on my family... but I guess we'll just take that one as it comes.

15. I really don't like teenagers. I didn't even like them when I was one. I can't help it. I thought it was just because I was so close in age to being a teenager, but now I'm not so sure. All that angst and those hormones? Ugh! They're just so painful! I think I'm really going to need a lot of help from God when my kids get older- but hopefully it will work out, because they will be my children, and I will love them. I'm sure it will be fine, and I know some teenagers who I get along with well. But as a general rule- they just annoy the heck out of me!

16. I did ballet for thirteen years. I started when I was four, and finished when I was seventeen. I really loved dancing, and did tap, jazz, contemporary, so may kinds. But I was never really cut out for ballet. I had the enthusiasm, but not the natural talent or the figure.

17. One of the biggest things that put me off being pregnant was finding out that I would have to wear a bra without any under wire during pregnancy and breastfeeding. (Ha!) I really thought it was going to be horrible! Growing up, I always thought I had a huge chest, and, while it was large-ish, it was still in proportion to my body. I think I just spent too much time in a ballet class, surrounded by teeny, tiny, butterfly little girls with mosquito bites, while I was a caterpillar with juicy, juicy mangoes!

18. I used to LOVE the rain. I think that comes from growing up and living in a small country town in Australia, where it hardly ever rains. (except for now when we've had a heap of flooding.... Australia- the land of extremes!) However as a grown up (and a mummy) I now love it less. After four years in childcare, when you have to keep small children inside when it rains, and  now as a mummy, who needs to wash and can't just curl up inside with a good book... It's not so good.

19. I do way more facebook stalking than I would like to admit to.

20. I have just very recently, got some Zumba DVD's to try. So far- so good. I feel pretty ridiculous doing it, but it's a great workout! My tummy muscles get so sore. I think it will work well for me, since I can do it in the middle of the day when Georgie sleeps. And not for love or money will I ever let anyone watch me do it. At least not until I feel less like a lame, dying hippo.

21. Shane bought me a bread maker for Christmas and it is so freakin' awesome! I love how easy it is to make bread, and I don't see myself ever buying a loaf of bread again.

Wedding Anniversary

Yesterday was our fifth wedding anniversary. We went out for dinner at my favourite restaurant and it was so good! It's funny, we've been a bit snappy and grumpy with each other lately, and it's amazing how much better you feel just from having a night out! Georgie was babysat by her Aunty Lizzie- and she wasn't too upset, and it was just lovely.

I am so glad that I have been married to Shane for the past five years. I couldn't imagine life without him. I've known him for seven and a half years, and he isn't perfect. He still leaves his clothes on the floor sometimes instead of putting them in the laundry basket, and I don't think that, in five years of marriage, he has ever cleaned the toilet. But he loves me, and, in the words of Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice...

"He truly is the best man I have ever known."

 

Today....

Today I cleaned the office....

And no, darling husband. I probably didn't put things where you wanted.

No, darling husband, I did not.

But guess what, darling husband?

That's the price you pay for not doing it yourself!!!


Love You :)

Maybe I should try this one?

And she sleeps....

Isn't she just so flippin' cute!?

Devastation

Things are terrible at the moment. Queensland is flooding. About 70% of the state is under water. We are very fortunate in my town- the water has left us alone. But we are a little isolated and cut off. The capital city, Brisbane is preparing for major flooding, and Toowoomba and the surrounding areas was hit by horrible flash floods a couple of days ago. So far 12 people are dead and over 50 are still missing. It's just awful.


Brisbane is bad, over 30 000 homes are expected to be inundated. But at least those people have time to get themselves and some of their possessions out of the way of the water. Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley are worse. They had no warning, so people had hardly any time to get out of the way of the flood waters. Many didn't.


They're calling it an inland tsunami. The destruction is just enormous.






I see this, and I just wonder..... how do you come back from this?




I feel pretty useless and ineffectual right now. I'm trying to pray but at the same time I feel almost guilty because we're okay, and here I am feeling exhausted with Georgie right now because she just had needles and is not happy! I also don't know what this means for the future. Much of our country's farmland is underwater and many crops have been destroyed. It is not flooding here but for the past few months have been wet enough to stop Shane working.  He has still been working- doing fencing, organising sheds and maintenance on the vehicles, but when they don't drive the trucks- there's no income. Money is getting to be a big problem- because Shane's parents can only pay him for so long. We just don't know what we are supposed to do.

Things are just so difficult, poor Shane is really feeling the stress and I am just so tired. Honestly, I can barely even function lately, this is more tired than I can ever remember being in my life.

But at least we are still here. At the moment, Shane Georgie and I are healthy, well fed and have our own roof over our heads. So for now, I'm just going to be grateful for what I've got and give all our problems to God- there's nothing else we can do. I know that there is nothing we will have to face that we can't handle- with His help. I'm also going to be praying as much as I can for all those who are affected by these floods. And we will just do what we can.

Little Women

Today after church, Mum and my sisters came over for coffee after church. Oh how I love my family! It is very nice being so close to them.

We were talking and I got lots of helpful advice on getting Georgie to sleep, because at the moment it's just not happening very well. She cries herself to sleep a lot, or else feeds herself to sleep... and I really don't like either of those options! When she cries she gets so angry! Georgie, I'm so sorry, but I think you have inherited your Mother's bad temper. You just get so angry at me whenever I put you in the cot! You don't like to miss anything. And I don't really like her feeding herself to sleep... it's not a great habit to get into!

Anyway, the other day I watched the movie Little Women. I quite like that movie, it's a childhood memory one. And my family reminds me so much of that family. I am the youngest of four girls, and to me, we have just always just fit those parts. (Even though, I know Lizzie- Beth dies! I don't mean that part!)


But anyway, I'll introduce you to us:


Jenny is Meg. She is my oldest sister and is ten years older than me. When she was a teenager she had a bit of trouble with her friends. Drinking champagne and dressing up to please her friends? So Jenny! Twisting her ankle in shoes that are too small? So Jenny! Having a meltdown when the dinner didn't work and crying "I'm going to Marmee's!"? So Jenny! She became a nurse, and then she settled down with her husband Ross (who is perfect for her... although maybe not so much like Mr Brooke) and was the first to have children. She lives about five houses down the road from us. Jenny is so wonderful. I think the Jenny-Meg character fits the most.


Cathy is a bit of a Jo. She is seven years older than me. Cathy is much more practical like Jo, although I don't think she's quite as dramatic as Jo. Cathy was also very much a tomboy when she was younger, and is the one most likely to go off by herself. She is a teacher and taught out west before coming home. Cathy also traveled to England for a year. Although there is no Teddy in Cathy's story......... I can't really picture Cathy and Shane ever having a romantic interest! But we are still waiting for Cathy's Fredrick! I really hope and pray he comes soon, because Cathy is going to be a fantastic mother- she would love to have a houseful of boys like Jo!

Lizzie (ElizaBETH) is the next sister. She is five years older than me. Lizzie probably fits the least. She does play piano, and was probably the quietest of us all growing up. She was also sick a lot when she was little, and was very much Mummy's girl. But that's where the similarities end. Lizzie has much more personality than Beth! And (Thank Goodness!) she did not die! Lizzie works at a legal firm, and is married to Nathaniel, and just recently bought Grandma's house so is now living next door to us!


And lastly, me. I wouldn't really say I am much of an Amy now.... but I definitely was an Amy when I was younger. I'm sure I would have put a peg on my nose if I had hated it! And burning Cathy's books is something I totally would have done! I was very much the horrible youngest child! I was a terribly silly drama queen (still am a bit). But I don't think I grew up to be quite so sophisticated as Amy. I am also not artistic at all! Plus, while Shane can be a bit of a drama queen like Laurie was- I don't think Shane is really too much of a Laurie. (I never really liked Laurie that much- Fredrick was much better!)


Mum is a bit of a Marmee (I always hated that name- Marmee!) we love her so much. But I think Mum is better than Marmee. She was also probably not so calm and serene as Marmee- but much more fun! Mum lost her temper with me many times and I forget how many wooden spoons she broke over bottoms.... but she was the best mother.


I am so grateful for my family! Sometimes it was painful having so may sisters, being the youngest meant I had three extra mothers. But I wouldn't trade my childhood or my family for any others. We were (and still are) so awesome.

The Why

I just thought I'd share the reason behind this blog.

When I was about 10 or 11. My Auntie died.

Auntie Jenny was my Mum's only sister. She had a beautiful two year old daughter and was pregnant with a son. She and her husband lived over the other side of the country in Perth.

When she was delivering her son, something terrible happened and the baby's amniotic fluid got into her bloodstream. She went into a coma and died a few days later. It was horrible. Her son survived and her husband raised the children by himself over in Perth.

He did the best he could. But those children didn't have a mother. They don't really know their mother. They don't know how much she wanted them, loved them, and prayed over them. They know that she loved them.... but they don't know her. I don't know if they can comprehend the depth of her love. Her daughter does not know how much her mother enjoyed spending two years of her life with her. They just don't know. They don't even know her family very well since they live there and the rest of us live here (which is perfectly understandable- my Uncle stayed with his family). But, those children grew up without a mother, and, they also grew up without very much knowledge of their mother.

That frightens the life out of me.

I know that I can't protect my children against everything- that's impossible. But it scares me that they could grow up without me. What scares me even more than that is that they would grow up without knowing just how much I wanted them, and loved them and prayed for them.

Auntie Jenny loved Jesus, and I have no doubts that she belongs to God now.

But I don't know really know if her children do.

That scares me more than anything.

I want to let my children know- to help make them understand just how important their choices are. I want to be able to see them in heaven. That is the most important thing.

So this is why I write, not only because I have a horrible memory, and not really because I think I'm going to die young- but still..... what if?

This is a 'just in case'. I don't think anything could replace the loss of a mother. But if it was me, I'd sure appreciate this. So I write this blog. Not just for entertainment, or for something to do. But so that my children will have little pieces of their childhood, little pieces of their mother. And a big reminder that they should know where they are heading, and who they belong to.



I know it's painful to hear this constant cry, and I probably sound dramatic and over-the-top....but kids, you've got to love Jesus. Without him, there is nothing. His sacrifice is the one thing that can bridge the gap between you and God, and there is no life without God, no reason or rhyme to life. You must follow him.


I am not the best Christian in the world by any means, I do not pray, read my bible, or love nearly enough. I do not do everything I should, or think everything I should- and if you do get to know me well, you will soon see that! But of one thing I am certain. I am saved, not by my works, but by my faith in God and his Son who died on the cross. I belong to God and am secure in his grace.


Now, I don't know why God took Auntie Jenny away from her children. But I believe, that his ways are good. I know that he loves us, more than we could possibly understand, and that no matter what happens, everything he does- is out of his great love for us.

6 months

It's taken me a while to get up some photos lately. I've just had a hard week in general. Yesterday in particular was one of those days when you just feel like nothing you do is right and you are absolutely worthless- Thank God that they only come around very rarely! Georgie- the bad times will come... but if you can just get through them things will improve!

I think it's just been difficult being home after such a long time away. Plus Georgina got very used to having four adults at her beck and call... which makes things hard when we got home and now it's just her and boring old Mummy! Especially when Mummy tries to leave her on the playmat while she has a shower... it's just not happening at the moment. Plus I'm having one of those weeks where I'm trying to attack the housework- but it just seems so hard!

But anyway, today has been much better- the dishes are done, the bathroom is clean, the floor is clean and (drum roll please!)...... there is no folding to do! Wohoo! Today Georgie has had a big sleep and is now playing by herself happily while I write this blog post. It's a good day :)


Here are a few photos of Georgie at 6 months:

Christmas Day with Daddy

With her cousin Cassi (who is a month older than her)

This was really cute... On boxing day Georgie was really tired, so I sat her next to Shane, and he started playing the Ukulele and she just sat there rubbing her eyes until she eventually fell asleep- It was so beautiful!

We played dress-ups with Grandma Kay.



Sitting up all by herself like a champ!



We're up on all fours and rocking, but not crawling yet!



Enjoying our new play-mat and all our new toys from Christmas!

I do not like pumpkin, Mummy Dear. I do not like it. Can't you hear?!

This week we've started a journey into the world of food.....

Georgina I love you so very much. But please......




GO TO SLEEP!






Mama needs a nap!