52 Week Project : Wk 47

So here's young Magoo sweetly doing what he has sweetly done for a few months now.
(Not talking our bub through the making of berry muffins, per say.)

Trying to lull me into a false sense of security.
Trying to make me believe that he will be nothing but beautiful to his baby sister.
Trying to maintain a front that the green eyed monster won't be rearing it's ugly, tantrum throwing "but, look at ME" head in the next few weeks.

I'm not buying it. No, sirree.
(But there is a glimmer of fairy tale induced hope in every girl's heart, isn't there?)

After taking centre stage in the solo division around here for almost four years, it will be an adjustment for Magoo to share the limelight - not to mention the audience, costumes, make up and bouquets.

So...
I have bought gifts for him on behalf of his sister and he has chosen a gift to give the baby. 
I plan to spend some one on one time with my big boy as soon (and often) as possible after his sister's arrival.
I have a stash of little 'surprises' for feeding time, should they be necessary.
Magoo is now wiping his own bottom and dressing himself. (As well as loading & unloading the washing machine, wiping down his table and 'making' his bed - of his own accord, I swear!)

Any other hot tips for navigating the first few weeks (years?) of sibling-hood?

In the home stretch of Fi's 52 Week Project - even though it is officially over as a link up @ My Mummy Daze.

Shar :-)

BTW ~ please don't be concerned for Magoo's welfare.
It was a very mild 15 degrees in Perth the morning of this pic.
After receiving the gas bill the day  before, I was encouraging the household to refrain from turning the heater on without due cause.
Magoo has an unfortunate double dose of the smart ass gene, so was subtly making a point with his pyjamas, dressing gown and beanie. He did take his thermal gloves off to stir the mixture at least.
I predict some teenage fun ahead of us. :-)

Running - Let's talk

Shar (http://www.mummyontherun.blogspot.com/)
Sent : Aug 2012
To : RUNNING

Subject : Um, us.

Hi there,
Hope you are well.

So this is a little awkward.
It's been a while.
A long while.

I just wanted to let you know that I have been thinking about you in the past few months even though we haven't spent any time together.

It's not that I haven't wanted to, but it just hasn't been the right time.
Even though I've missed you, I've needed to put my family first this year and play it safe.

I hope you are still as terrific as when we last hung out and that all the cold, wet weather lately hasn't got you down.

I see you've been hanging out with a couple of my friends recently too.
Maybe when you and I have had a decent catch up ourselves, we could all venture out together one weekend?

I must warn you.
It'll be different.
I'll be different.
I don't look like I used to and I sure as heck won't feel like I used to.

But if you're willing to give me another chance, I look forward to getting together again before the end of the year.

Shar xxx

A Blog Post (It Note)

Friends, bloggers, countrymen...

It is Master Magoo's 4th birthday early next month.

I have bought, wrapped and hidden his presents.

Considering the fact that I will be having a craniotomy baby between now and then...

I feel the need to tell you that they are under the bub's cot in the nursery, concealed by the grey blanket with the pink elephant on it.

Please drop me an email or text at the start of September with this information to save me from crying and wailing that I am the worst mother in the world because (among many other reasons) I forgot to organise birthday presents for my poor, gorgeous son.

On the upside, watching Magoo open his presents will have a double excitement factor to it this year - as I'll get to rediscover each one myself.

Shar :-)

Point + Shoot : Avon Adventures

Bells Rapids - not so 'rapid' in 2012

   For 16 of his, ahem, 21 or so years my Hubby has competed in an international white water endurance event called The Avon Descent here in WA.

This event is sometimes known as The 'Avon Divorce' in the smart-alec wifey circles that I like to associate in. 

The Avon is a huge commitment in training terms - but also seems to consume a man's every thought (not to mention finances) for weeks and render him unable to speak about anything else for longer than ten seconds.

Whilst the lead up to the Avon is sometimes a tad fractious on the family front,

the weekend itself is one I really look forward to.

Once I realised, a few years ago, that support crew are prone to abuse/neglect

and adjusted my expectations accordingly -  I've always enjoyed the experience.

Magoo and I only joined in the fun on the Sunday this year -  and only in a cheer leading capacity. 

My front-heavy status deemed me a tad too clumsy (read 'useless') for scrambling across rocks, onto river banks and over fences this year.

So with little responsibility or pressure and a beautiful dry day, Magoo and I had a wonderful time visiting a few vantage points along the way.

(Hubby was obviously fortunate enough to secure a sponsorship this year - can you guess who?) 

7am - slightly keen

9am - what do you mean 'selling out'?

11am - happy riverside

1pm - Daddy spotting with Grandad

1pm - preparing for a pit stop and more riverside repairs

1.30pm - making new friends in trees

2pm - Finish line bound



With hideously low water levels and a run of bad luck, Hubby did not have such a wonderful time though.

Linking with Lou's Point + Shoot

How was your weekend?

Any battle scars/interesting chafe to share this Monday?

4.30pm - war wounds

Shar :-)

Grateful For... The Women

Just to clarify...

I absolutely love my own beautiful boys and they really are my world.

I'm no 'man hater'. We women are just as ridiculous and infuriating!

I actually find the male sense of humour and perspective easier to relate to a lot of the time.

But, in the last few years I have really come to appreciate the beauty

that is female relationships and friendships in my life.

My world wouldn't be half the place it is without the amazing women of our 'village'.

It's with great pride that I reflect on the support, love, empathy and connection

that exists between many of my girlfriends and myself.

Each relationship (or bunch of relationships) is a two way street that ebbs and flows depending on so many factors and what's going on in each of our lives.

I take great pleasure in the company of these gorgeous women, but also in the way we're there for each other when 'stuff' goes down.

God bless the sisterhood. :-)

When times are tough, I rarely feel alone, misunderstood or isolated.

When I need a laugh or a trivial distraction there's always a girlfriend (and my fabulous sister) 

a call or text away to lighten the mood or enjoy an inappropriate joke with.

When it's just to vent - there's the understanding that each of us reserves the right to change our tunes or retract misguided opinions after the fact!

When I don't even know what I need - somehow the chicks around me seem to.

The kindness that has come our way in the past months has been mind blowing and so humbling.

Much of that generosity, care and support has been mainly driven by the gorgeous women around me.

I'm ever so grateful - and determined to continue to be there for these ladies as much as humanly possible.

Linking with Maxabella Loves' 52 Weeks of Grateful.

Shar :-)

When A Pile Of Negatives Is Oh So Positive

For lack of a better term, we've dodged another bullet over here.

Magoo's test results have come back negative to a lot of scary stuff ... which is super positive.

We don't have answers regarding the the cause of his dodgy brain scans at this point.
But what we do have is assurance that it's not one of the feared syndromes or diseases that have kept my heart rate nice and high for weeks now.
We also have faith that regular scanning and monitoring will ensure that we're not ambushed by any nasty surprises in the near future.

I've cracked open a packet of sour Cola bottles in celebration* and may well crash on this here keyboard with relief once the sugar rush has subsided.

I can't even articulate how I feel this evening.



Thank you x 1 million +!

Overwhelmed with gratitude is a start  - gratitude both for the news we received today and the amazing people we are lucky enough to be surrounded by. How do you even begin to express to people how damn fabulous they are?

Optimistic and energised about the coming weeks is another wave of emotion.

As much as I planny-plan-plan, I have only allowed myself to view the next weeks and months logistically really. The possibility of devastation this afternoon and of the unknown held me back. Now, I feel a surge of genuine, unrestrained excitement about our plans (and all of the unplanned!) in the coming weeks.

Joyful, mushy, tremendously relieved, exhausted, relaxed....

I also feel a touch of guilt. Guilt that I get to be so lucky, lucky, lucky. Guilt that I've caused stress and worry for people in our lives. Guilt that the next patient behind us today was the embodiment of what we have been spared from - and I couldn't look her Mum in the eye as I walked my gorgeous, healthy boy past her wheelchair.

Anyway, enough about me, me, me.
Although, I'd love you to have a drink for me tonight.
How are YOU?

Shar :-)

*Apologies to my poor bubby girl for today's diet of adrenalin, cortisol and sugar

52 Week Project : Wk 46

Sorry 'gym guys' - it's a tad difficult to put this little one in the creche.

Rewind 10 years...

If those muscle bound, self obsessed guys at the gym took their eyes off the mirror momentarily to do a double take at my physique - it may just have been a compliment.

These days...

Definitely not so much.

I'm pretty certain their thoughts are far from complimentary as they gawk and recoil when I walk past!

But, on the upside LMFAO could have used me in their satirical clip for 'Sexy And I Know It'

"I work ooouut!!"  (safely!)

Do you get checked out - for all the wrong reasons?

I started this 52 Week Project of Fi's - and even though it has wrapped up, I'm determined to finish it!

Shar :-)