A new year!

Here's Lachlan all ready for his first day of Grade 1. When we picked him up and asked how his day went, he said "it was awesome!" Well you can't get better than that!

Friday of the same week, Hayden started kindy / preprep. He was somewhat apprehensive in the days leading up to it despite having been to the centre twice for a play. On Friday morning he cried during breakfast saying he didn't want to go. Then we got dressed and packed his bag and he got excited. After that he was fine. I stayed for a little while to get him settled and then I left him without a care in the world!

Time flies when there's birthdays going on

Here's a very brief overview of the last few months! And you're all probably very glad to get the brief version because I can tend to waffle if given the chance :P

Hayden turned 4! He chose a volcano cake for his family birthday party.

It was the easiest cake I've done and I think it turned out one of the best (if I do say so myself!)

We bought him a skateboard for his birthday.....

As I was buying it I kept thinking it was really stupid, that I was just buying him a one-way ticket to the orthopedic ward. I should have been more worried about Grandpa. A little while after this photo was taken, Grandpa and Hayden went downstairs to compare tricks. My Dad fell off the skateboard and hurt his shoulder. 10 weeks on and he is facing major surgery on it and hoping that he'll be able to get back to golf soon.

And for the record, Hayden has NO injuries from riding the skateboard. He was an amazing natural balance. This kid is so crazy!

I turned 30!!!!!

I don't feel thirty. And I know a lot of people feel depressed turning 30 but I didn't really care. It's just another number.... I remember when I was younger (ha!) I would look at women approaching the big 3 0 and think they looked so responsible. They had it all together. They had their life in control and were so accomplished. Well I am none of those things and sometimes that scares me but most of the time I don't think about my age.

Lachlan turned 6!

And since his knees were around his ears when pedalling on his old bike, he asked for a new "big boys bike". And look - no training wheels!

Lachlan took cupcakes to school and I was silly.... and entertained Lachlan's request for spiderman cupcakes. Piping 28 cupcakes with one of those little tubes of icing you buy from the supermarket was a killer. It took forever and killed my hands. It wasn't till several weeks later than I had a lightbulb moment involving a piping bag and royal icing. So stupid!

Anyway, he was very chuffed to take them to school.

We made a Ben Ten creation for the party. This was another fun one to do!

(By the way it was an off year for both boys this year - meaning we only have a family party for each of them. They get a friends' party every second year. Lachlan wasn't thrilled with this plan this year but he coped with it by talking about his 7th birthday plans constantly!)

And here's Natalie... just because......

Natalie is crazy happy!

And soooo cute!

Patheticness at it's best

May???? My last entry was May??? What the heck! You've missed my 10year wedding anniversary, a farmstay holiday, my 30th birthday, both sons' birthdays, new Natalie antics, and a spring holiday!

I'll gather some photos and be back to fill you in tomorrow!
(Not that I anticipate having any readers left. I mean to fill in for posterity sake!)

I get the award

Today I hereby present myself with the award for the worst mother.

Lachlan, who is nearly 6, is sick. He has a cold - constant runny nose, watery eyes, chesty cough, sneezing repeatedly, sore throat, mucus, did I mention the runny nose?

So he stayed home from church on Sunday and from school on Monday. He was ok in the morning on Monday but as the afternoon wore on he became warmer and more miserable and so he took himself off and laid on Hayden's bed. He went to sleep and the next I knew it was 5pm and he was standing behind me in the kitchen concerned about the regurgitated peanut butter sandwich which was all down his sleeve.

Here is where I can praise my mothering. I was lovely. Comfort, calmness, love, hugs. You name it I did it. So long story short he skipped dinner, had a shower, and got ready for bed.

While choosing his book for bed, he vomited again. New pj's, rug removed from the bedroom.

Take 2. All good. Asleep within secs of being tucked in!

At 11pm I was brushing my teeth when I hear "Mum! Help! Mum!" I rush in and catch the second lot of vomit. New pj's. New sheets. Toilet trip. Drink. Asleep again within secs.

Phew! I thought. That will the last. There's nothing left in the poor kid's stomach.

At 3.30am I heard footsteps to the toilet and was about to get up when I heard Elliot's voice asking Lachlan if he was ok. Great, I think, he's got it covered I'll stay here. Poor Lachlan does his business then has to vomit again. Poor kid :(

Elliot came back at 3.45am and I was suddenly having visuals of Natalie lying in a pool of vomit so I had to then get up and go and check on her. Sleeping peacefully.

Anyway, I thought Lachlan had done ok only getting up once in the night. I thought he must have had a reasonably settled night.

But not so. Talking to Elliot this morning I became aware of my failure as a loving mother.

After the 11pm ordeal there was the 12.30am. Then the 3.30am one (which I was aware of) and then apparently another ordeal at 5am.

Yes. I slept through it all. I was not aware AT ALL.

So I hope you all feel better about your day now knowing that there is a worse mother than you out there.

ME. I sleep through my poor sick child emptying his stomach repeatedly.

Who does that? I feel dreadful. But thankfully he has a BRILLIANT dad.

'

I'm still alive

I've been absent a little lately - anyone missed me?

I'll be back in the blogging world soon.....

In the meantime go check out this girl's fun new blog for some domestic inspiration!

Like chalk and cheese

I am the first to admit it.

Lachlan and Hayden are like chalk and cheese.

Sure, they look VERY similar - some people (strangers) even go so far as to ask if they are twins. (Hello, they are a head difference in height?!?!?!? And you can tell that one is older...) But they are EXTREMELY different in their personalities. They are polar opposites. It is very clear and it is rather fascinating. I admit it, it's quite interesting to look at them and it's very easy to summarise them and define each of them. This definition is made even easier to do by comparing them.

But why must people compare them ALL the time. Maybe it's just an easy conversation starter? Whatever it is, I don't like it.

Sure, I find it fascinating too but I'm becoming aware that it is harmful to each child. The one who is deemed less cute, less accomplished, less obedient, in particular. And why must people talk about them and compare them while both boys are standing right there? Why would it be ok to talk about how brilliant one child is at soccer and talk animatedly about how amazed you are at their prowess while the other child is sitting there, having also played soccer? He's listening and he gets the message - even though you haven't intentionally made one. Kids are smart. Kids get it. And kids know and understand when one child is being praised and the other isn't.

And it's harmful to their self-esteem, confidence, self-belief.

Yes, they are different. But different is good. Why does different have to carry a negative connotation? Why is one personality perceived as better or more desirable than another? Why can mankind not just appreciate that we are all different and be ok with that?

Lachlan, I love you. Hayden, I love you. And Natalie, I love you. Each with your own unique personalities, talents, strengths, weaknesses and abilities. Each with lots to share and give.

So next time you're about to open your mouth and make a comment about someone's children and how different they are, just stop. and think. About how it will make the children listening feel, and how it might make the parents feel to hear you neatly categorise each child into a concise little package. Because there is always more than you can see.

Infatuated

Ok. I admit it.

Having a girl is not exactly the same as having a boy.

At first, I (tried to) believe that a baby girl invoked all the same feelings as a new baby boy did. It was "just another gorgeous newborn baby. The sex made no difference".

I've also told myself that the hugely adoring feelings I have towards miss Natalie are a result of being so much more relaxed and me really trying to enjoy the moments. All of these being a result of a bigger age-gap between #'s 2 & 3, and the boys being older and more independent etc.

But......

I'm ready to admit there may be more to it. All of the above are in fact true. All are very good reasons for my utter blissful state over the last 12 weeks. But I also have to admit they are not the only reasons.

There is something about the little girl which affects me in an indescribable way. I really wish I could describe it. It's an extra bond. A special protection for her that I feel. I can't help but melt a little everytime I dress her in a fresh clean shade of pink - or a dainty little dress which suits her pretty little face perfectly.

She's 12 weeks today and I'm a little bit sad. Ok, a lot sad. It's gone far too quickly. Time, please slow down. My little princess will be grown and gone off with her prince before I know it. And I'm just not ready. I want to kiss her pudgy little pale pink body for a while longer yet.