mammajoy

embracing the change

:: I have spent the most part of today in my pj's

:: The instant I woke up I pulled my hair back and that is how it has stayed ever since

:: The girls' beds aren't made

:: I can't remember if I brushed their teeth or not

:: The girls and I ate hot chips for lunch, on the couch, watching Masterchef

:: And then we ate ice-cream

:: Joseph ate honey sandwhiches for lunch, sitting on my lap, on the couch, watching Masterchef (noticing a pattern?)

:: I've managed to do one load of washing

:: I still have a head cold and stuffy sinuses

:: I watched the world turn grey and the rain come down, from my comfy seat on the couch

A day like today is like therapy for me because I usually like to get things done.  I have this little routine that I like to keep to every day and it's nice, it works for us - stuff gets done, the house doesn't get too messy, the kitchen stays tidy and I feel like there is some order in our universe.

But every now and then it is so refreshing to just let go and let whatever happens happen.  It felt nice today, throwing routine out the window and I feel like this is good practice.  I'm about to have another baby and I really have to embrace not having a routine, otherwise those first few weeks are going to be harder than they need to be.

I mean really, I'm going to have four under four and a half.

I'll be lucky if I can even spell 'routine'.

Hello!

Has it really been 3 months since my last post?  How quickly does time fly when you are busy.  We've had two family weddings since April and I must say that is more than this mamma can handle!

At the moment I am between head colds and grateful for whatever bursts of energy I get.  There has been so much to do in preparation for our new baby - due in 5 weeks!  Where did those 35 weeks go?  Matt has been busy attending to my 'must get done before baby comes' list - which of course contains all manner of crazy items like build a linen cupboard, move that heavy bookcase and completely change that room around.  He's so patient with my pregnancy crazy.

My next step?  Find and wash baby clothes.  I have tonnes of cute little boy outfits that Joseph only wore for 1 -2 weeks because he grew so quickly - it's so nice that I get to use them again!

And as a completely random photo because I just.can't.post without a photo - my lovely little flowergirls and myself at my sisters wedding.  It was such a gorgeous day.

i'd like to think it's refreshing and zesty

Thank you to my sister from pepper stitches for nominating me for a Lemonade Award - my very first 'blog award'!  And to be in such company  - I feel honoured folks. 

A Lemonade Award is given to bloggers that you feel show a positive attitude and/or gratitude.

 

Here's how it works:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs that show great Gratitude and/or Attitude.

3. Be sure to list and link your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know they have received this award by leaving a comment on their blog.

5. Nominate your favorites and link to your post.

 

Deciding on 10 was tough so I'm going to cheat and only do 5!  Here's my list of blogs that have a great attitude towards life -

 

Sarah from Life with Lance

Andrea from Uniquely Placed

Amanda from SouleMama

Sophie from BooMama

Heather from Whittaker Woman

 

And I wanted to put pepper stitches back on my list but that would probably be against blog award etiqutte - but that girl and that blog? Fabulous.  She has a way of looking at the world that is so refreshing.

 

These 5 are on my 'check everyday list' because you can bet your bottom dollar that you'll feel a little better after reading them.  That's the thing I love most about blogs - the way they can speak into your life - right there while you're still in your jammies with screaming children all around you asking yourself how in the heck you got here.  I couldn't count the times I've been blessed by something someone else has posted about on their blog- it happens all the time.

 

So thanks ya 'all for spreading a little love.

 

I'm off to the blog award after-party.

 

Don't wait up.

pretend that this title is sombre yet witty

We have all been sick at some stage during the past week and oh my word am I ready for it to STOP ALREADY.

Matt and I have been walking around like weak, pale zombies for the past three days with some kind of weird tummy bug - the variety of which people don't really talk about so I'll spare you the details but I swear, I have never felt more sick.

Today has been slightly better, I just woke up from a 3 hour nap and ate something and this has been the standard routine lately - sleep, eat toast, sleep some more.

Because I'm searching for things to be chipper about as I logged into Typepad today I noticed that I have posted 50 times on this here blog.  Today's post is number 51.  So Happy 51st Blog Post to me.  Quite a milestone I thought.

 

Because I can't bear to post without a picture.  Here is Rachael at about 2 weeks old.

Oh and those are Matt's hands she's in...not mine.  I don't have man hands.  Just wanted to clear that up.

a day in the life of Joseph

Joseph and I at the wedding reception Saturday night.  I was tired.  So was Joseph and I remember trying to keep him distracted and not crying during the speeches.   Screaming baby anyone?  Haha, I think not.  See him looking away?  I think he was looking for an escape route.

But earlier?  One very happy boy running around on the beach and amongst the sea grass (I call it this because it is grass growing beside the sea - not because that is actually what it's called).  He loves the sun.

And earlier still for our morning cuddles at home while the air was still fresh and cool.  This little boy so has my heart firmly in his chubbly little hands and I'm trying to make dedicated time during the day to play with just him - I once thought this would be difficult to do with two other kids but it's not.  I love one-on-one time with him and I think he enjoys it too.   In four months when my next little bub will be here available time will be even harder to find.....but let's not think about that m'kay?

For if I ponder too long about having 4 children under 4 1/2 I begin to feel slightly overwhelmed.

But seriously, how can you not go all gooey looking at that goofy smile?

our super busy weekend

We are home and exhausted but what a great weekend we had!

One of Matt's cousins had a beach wedding on Saturday at the Gold Coast and so we booked a motel, packed up and left for the beautiful beach with what seemed like every single one of our belongings in the car with us.  Travelling with kids - it's a whole new ball game.

The wedding was lovely and the weather was gorgeous (although there was some patchy rain about).  It was so great to catch up with Matt's extended family and see how everyone is doing.  The kids had a blast and the girls danced like crazy at the reception.  All I can say is that I want some of their energy.

Sunday morning we packed up again and headed down to the beach for a swim which the girls were super excited about.  We were in the water for about 15 minutes and then RAIN.  Patchy but heavy and cold with wind!  Hello?  Gold Coast.  Where is your nice weather??  Jess was most upset about having to leave and so was mamma - bobbing in the water with the nice warm sun on my belly was so relaxing.  I think we'll put aside a Saturday before winter kicks in and do a dedicated 'going to the beach' drive - I have a sudden urge to soak up every bit of sun before it turns cold.

After that it was Sizzler for lunch and then the long drive home - stopping at a couple of shops on the way.  The girls were complaining of sore tummies on Sunday and poor Rachael was sick on Sunday night and Matt was sick yesterday - my poor peeps.  While all this was going on Matt's parents were here for a short visit which was lovely.  I just hope no-one else, especially me, gets sick as well!

Now to work through the five loads of laundry waiting for me not to mention the folding and putting away....oh boy.

inspiration and celebration

I found this cute little doll at a friends garage sale and immediately knew that I had to buy it and make more just like it.  Cute?  Oh.I.do.think.so.

It looks relatively easy to make but I'll be winging it a lot as I don't want to cut this doll up.  I have a feeling that I may become slightly obsessive about doll-making and so I can see myself spending many a cold winters day making dolls!

In other not-nearly-related news Matt and I celebrated our five year anniversary last Friday.  Five years.  Is that all?  Really?  It feels a lot longer given that we've got three children and are about to have our fourth.  Time is a funny thing isn't it.  But the past five years have been the best and I can't wait for the next five.

 I love you baby.

right now

Giving :: my girls a chocolate biscuit for afternoon tea.  A healthy snack indeed.

Listening :: to Kari Jobe and longing to be alone and still in the presence of my King

Drinking :: a lovely cup of hot coffee

Thinking :: about what to have for dinner

Dreaming :: of what my little baby inside of me will look like

Wishing :: my handsome prince would come home from work so I can hold his hand again

Remembering :: what beautiful big eyes Jess had as a baby

Thankful :: for every blessing I have

handsome little boy

 

 

the embroidery bug

I love embroidery.  Love the way a heap of tiny stitches on crisp white homespun transform into a beautiful pattern, or a picture or whatever I've designed them to be.  Lately these little birds have caught my eye.  Little birds make me happy.

The thing I like most about embroidery is that it's a go-anywhere craft.  I can have three different projects going at the same time and various hoops spread across the house and in the car - just waiting for a few spare minutes when mamma can stitch.  And isn't stitching so calming?  I can feel my breathing slow and my body relax with each one.

See this cushion?  (Well, don't look too close 'cause you can see the under-thread through the fabric...oops).  I did not measure anything when I threw this baby together.  Not.one.thing.  I usually measure at least three times for fear of anything being crooked!  But this time I just went with the sewing whim and threw caution to the wind!  It was great.

And is it crooked?  YES.  But I don't care.  Because I enjoyed sewing it and the girls love it!

Now, on to the massive pile of clothes to be mended....

Hope you are having a great day.