Friday 26 September 2008

It's all worth it

Texta, crayon, pencil and pen on every door, wall, floor and surface in the house, whole bottles of milk tipped down the drain, food mushed into, well everything, 'self hair cuts' or those given by siblings, wee on everything, poo finger painting (if you think ewwwwww you are clearly not a parent, remember this post when it happens) toy after toy after toy left on the floor for you to step on, slip on and curse over, the 'Why' phase, drinks spilled on the carpet before you realise floorboards are better, 4 thousand changes of clothes in one day, vomit down your back 10 minutes before you walk out the door, and the many, many more parenting moments.

Your 2 year old calling out Mummy as he runs to you and gives you a big hug and says "Huuuuuug" your heart melts and yes, it's all worth it.

Monday 22 September 2008

What I have learnt this past weekend....

You can lead a man to water, but you can't make him paint. Hi Honey! We are making snail pace progress on the painting. We can only really do it late at night when all the kids are in bed. After a long day at work for hubby, and a long day at home with the kids, neither of us want to paint. But it must be done!

I will say it again, and hopefully this is the last time... "The painting will be done by THIS weekend" Fingers crossed.

Pictures of houses on the net may appear larger, smaller, nicer or worse than they seem! We looked at a few houses, well ok, about 10 houses on the weekend and some of them looked very different to the photos. One house that seemed ok on the net was awful in real life. The photographer had obviously taken the photo from far away, giving the illusion the front area was larger than it was. This trick also aided in the viewer not being able to see the house as clearly.

Paint peeling off the boards, holes in the side, yuck.

Another house that did not seem that appealing in the photo was actually quite nice.

So, when house hunting, take the pics with a grain of salt.

Thanks to sites like realestate.com you can browse everywhere, and at any time in the comfort of your own home.

Then you can go looking with your list in the car. With 5 children, this is a huge help!



Children are smarter than you think. I say this often, but also need to remind myself a lot. Children are fantastic problem solvers. Team them together and they work together to get what they want.

Locked the back door so they can't go out there in the mud? Easy. One child will sneak out the front while another gets your attention. The others wait patiently at the back door, waiting for number one child, who has climbed over the side fence and gone to the back door to open it with the keys. This way, you won;t hear the clanking of the keys.

Unluckily for them I am quite experience in this area and could see what was going on, all without moving from my seat.

The other trick is the get down low and sneak quietly past mum and then two children will 'try' to open the pantry very quietly, boosting one to reach whatever goodies are on the top shelf. They learnt quickly that a chair makes too much noise getting it in front of the pantry.

Nope, I can hear you, out of the kitchen!!

Cherry tomatoes are different from grape tomatoes.

Foods that are wheat free can still contain gluten, and foods that are gluten free can still contain wheat! I am dairy and wheat free at the moment, to try and pinpoint bubs eczema. Do you realise that almost everything has either wheat, dairy or both in it?!
Again thanks to the Internet it is not as ad as it could be. Supermarkets have a pretty good variety which helps.
It doesn't help the cravings for bread, cakes, and CHOCOLATE though. But, for our children, we will do anything :)

Thursday 18 September 2008

When Wednesday

When you know you're old...

We are deep cleaning the house to make it easier to paint.
My eldest son just handed me a cassette tape and said "What is this?"
Where to start.

Tuesday 16 September 2008

Conversations at our house today...

8 year old "Smooth move, space-lax! You've destroyed the totality of existence."
6 year old "It will be fine, I'll just leave a note"
(Yes, my children watch The Simpsons.)


8 year old "All I need is some wire, tape and this charger and my device will be complete"
6 year old "Cool!!!"
(MacGyver de javu anyone?)

8 year old "There is just too many jobs for me to do when I am older. Fireman, Scientist, Astronaut, helping Poppy at his shop. *sigh* I'm gunna need a Clone machine, I'll call it The Duplicator"
6 year old "Yes, for dupilacating! I'll need one too."

Monday 15 September 2008

Breastfeeding Advocacy

Whilst I am a strong supporter and advocate of supporting mothers breastfeeding, I am not pushy or overbearing. Well, I try not to be, but sometimes I can get quite passionate.
I have seen some t'shirts on another gorgeous homebirth bubba recently and needed to know where her equally gorgeous Mamma bought it.

So here it is, advocacy starting young :) When we are out and about as a family we get lots of looks, so we may as well have something for the people to look at and spread the word.

(For Haz)

Spring Saying Number One

Ah Spring, how I rejoice at your presence! The days getting warmer and longer. Flowers starting to bloom and blossom. Children spending their days outside... then back inside, then outside, then inside.

"Shut the damn door!!!!!!!!!"

And if you do remember to shut it once amongst the fifty times in and out don't slam it!

Thursday 11 September 2008

Breastfeeding longer

Over at Blogher I read this post last night.

I liked this paragraph in particular, from the Eureka Alert


Longer duration of breastfeeding was also associated with better infant
development, especially at 18 months. Breastmilk also contains omega-3 fatty
acids. The benefit of fish consumption was similar among infants breastfed
for shorter or longer durations.

I am both excited and frustrated to see this latest news. Excited as breastfeeding and its infinite qualities are being confirmed and talked about all over the world.

Frustrated because I don't believe there needs to be ongoing research and studies into the best source of nutrition for our babies and children. Every other mammal in the world is left to feed their young as nature intended. No one questions that each mammal produces a specific milk for its young that is perfect in every way. Furthermore each mammal can feed from her or his mother until they are ready to wean.

Why then do humans, have this urge to analyze and pull apart everything about feeding our young? Can't we just come out of the closet already and say yes, human breastmilk is best for babies and children. Each child should have breastmilk for as little or long as they like with the full support of all.

WHO tells us that "Breastmilk is the natural first food for babies, it provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first months of life, and it continues to provide up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs during the second half of the first year, and up to one-third during the second year of life." Also something that is rarely spoken about, to which I think should be shouted at the highest rooftops

Breastfeeding contributes to the health and well-being of mothers, it helps to
space children, reduces the risk of ovarian cancer and breast cancer, increases
family and national resources, is a secure way of feeding and is safe for the
environment.

For some reason some people cover their own ignorance and discomfort by telling us we shouldn't push breastfeeding, as those mothers who can't or couldn't will be made to feel guilty. I am yet to meet a mother who felt guilty because she could not feed her baby. Grief yes, but not guilt. Pinky McKay talks about this with better articulation then myself. Her article titled No Guilt is posted here.

Not long ago I spoke with an elderly woman about breastfeeding in 'her day' and was surprised to here her mention that no one ever discriminated against a nursing mother. She told me how no matter where she was if her babies needed a feed, she fed them, and that was that. It was a given that babies could feed whenever and wherever they wanted. In a shop, in the street, on a park bench. It was the norm. There was no law, as there didn't need to be. She also spoke about women's bodies being treated with greater respect back then. Nowadays women's bodies are sexualised at almost every street corner on a poster or billboard.

As wonderful and perfect as breastfeeding is, it is also normal. And frankly if the sight of seeing a baby being nourished by the perfect blend of nutrients bothers you, I urge you to have a good think about why that is so. Maybe something you can ponder with a blanket over your own head :)

Just two mammas feeding their babies :)

Monday 8 September 2008

Happy Fathers Day!!

Our day started with snuggles and being jumped on!
I cooked, under protest, scrambled eggs on toast for Hubby and us all. We didn't have set plans for the day. Just that we would go for a drive and take the kids to a park for a play.
We ended up driving further and further. Until reaching a lovely town we go to every now and then that has an awsome lolly shop. Mmmmmmm


A pit stop on the way and a bubba in need of a feed! No, we didn't drive off like this :)


Behind the park is a huge pond and oval right near bush and a walking track with a stream running alongside. So we walked a little way along the track. Most frequently used saying as we were walking "Stop throwing things in the water" of course!
One of the two ways to cross over the stream. I went this way.
The other way to cross the stream. Now you see why I didn't go this way! With bubs on my back wriggling and kicking, I would definitely have fallen in!

Aww, bubba sounds asleep on Mumma's back. Snug, cosy and very comfy :)


After our mini nature walk we went into the bakery for a snack of sausage rolls, before heading over to the Lolly shop!!!
No, the kids didn't go inside, they stayed in the car while Daddy went in, he he We have been to this Lolly shop a dozen times I'd say, and they are yet to go inside. This may sound cruel, but we do it for the safety of the store and our own sanity.

Despite buying the children the EXACT same lolly bag, there was still tears and tantrums in the car on the way home. Children seem to have a knack for finding differences in things that appear identical!

Also on the way home we tried to remember if we did this same trip last Fathers Day. After much discussion and reminiscing, yes, we did.
A tradition is born. See you there next year!

A few pictures...

Here is our 2 year old 'helping' push the baby in the swing. He is wearing gumboots, only gumboots. Clothes are optional here!


Another one of our 2 year old in the fridge. This time he is at least wearing a t-shirt! Busted munching on a block of cheese and very happy about it too!

Feel safe knowing spider baby is out there! This pic courtesy of our 8 year old.

The gardens are sooo very close to being finished, it is very exciting. I never thought I would be so excited over a garden, but there you have it. About 6 more plants/shrubs to be planted and we are done!

The painting, hmm, don't go there! Hubby and I just can't seem to get motivated enough for it. I am hoping we can get the painting bug back again this weekend. After that we have the floor and that is it!!!

I am sending 'buy my house' vibes out already!