So...

So...

today I am determined to post about something other than

children / babies / childbirth / parenting.
(Or these suspicious little spots on a certain four year old's torso.)

I'm striving to throw off this boring new Mum cardigan made of 'look at my sweet baby'

and pull something fabulous, funky and current out of the closet.

So...

Lovely weather we're having then, isn't it?!

Shar :-) :-) :-)

52 Week Project : Wk 52 - It's A Wrap!

Made it!

52 weeks, 52 snaps of oneself, 52 cringes as I hit publish.

To channel Eddie McGuire... 

and what a year it has been!

From the first week of jumping into Fi's project 

when I took a quick snap in the mirror as I headed out the door to work -

to a year later sitting here on my couch with wet hair and my TWO children.

(Yep, I had a tear typing that.)

Who'd have thought, hey?

Well, I definitely had hoped.

In week 6 , when I posted a pic of my tattoo

- and bared my stomach in the process, kind people were so complimentary.

Praising that flat stomach - the one that I hated.

The flat stomach that meant - nuh - I wasn't 'in the family way' as I wished to be.

And then a few months later - I was.

And I got my growing belly back in front of the camera in week 24 to prove it!

I sure got more than I bargained for at many times through this project.

I learnt 'stuff' about myself and articulated 'stuff' I didn't think I could share publicly.

I'm pretty sure I shared 'stuff' publicly that people wish I hadn't!

In week 9,  I dared to bare all - revealing that I, in fact, have no eyebrows.

In week 11,  I admitted that I still struggle against the scales - daily.

In week 43, I even subjected you to a shot of a heavily pregnant woman (who shall remain nameless) in bathers.

It was very cool to have a bit of a visual pregnancy diary here in this space.

I thank you for indulging me and enduring all those belly shots.

When the going got tough and there was no way my red, sore eyes could face the camera, I improvised.

As I reflect, I can tell the weeks where my self image was a-struggling.

You saw sneaky peek-a-boo pics or shots of my legs, shoes or scalp feature at these times!

Thank you for riding the roller coaster of life ~ via pics ~ for the past 52 weeks.

Thank you Fi for the inspiration and push.

I'll keep my mug off the blog for a while now, hey?!

Shar :-)

Point + Shoot : Super Crazy?



Magoo is four!!



You know what good friends do?

They see you making a decision they disagree with - and try to talk you out of it.

You know what great friends do?

They see you make a decision that they deem pretty nutty - and prepare to support/catch you if you fall.

Months ago, I made the choice to throw a 4th birthday party here at home for Magoo on Saturday

 - knowing full well that I would have a newborn baby on my hands at the same time.

I wasn't prepared to let this year (the year of the baby sister!!)

be the one where I stop going overboard on the birthday celebration front for Magoo.

I planny plan planned my heart out in the weeks leading up to Missi's birth and

had the Superhero themed bash super organised to within an inch of it's life.

I know that friends opened their invitations and shook their heads.

I also know that many of those friends laughed and resisted the urge to shake some sense into me.

Instead, they offered to prepare extra food, wrangle children, pick up supplies,

 pray to the weather man and hold babies.

So, thank you great friends.

It's safe to say I got lucky - and my crazy lady decision turned out just brilliantly.

Magoo and his little buddies had a ball.

Mummy didn't have a nervous breakdown or even a single kitten.

Missi isn't responsible for ruining anyone's life around here - just yet.

Can't ask for more than that.

Did you have a super weekend?

Linknig with Lou's Point + Shoot - if she's not too Bali-blissed out.

Shar :-)

Grateful For...Hmmmm???

Okay, so if I state the obvious and declare my gratitude for the

boodiful bubby with the cutest button nose and pouty little lips

-  are you going to close the page, roll your eyes and never return??

(Or smile an evil smile, knowing this delirium can't last much longer!)

Thought so.

How about  - refreshment - then?

I'm so ridiculously grateful for how 'refreshing' the past ten days have been.

Contrary to every expectation I had prior (tut tut)

- Missi's birth and early days have proved seriously and surprisingly uplifting.

Before now, I (guiltily) felt that the newborn stage was something to be endured out of love,

so that I could have the joy that is children.

Luckily for Hubby, I didn't catch onto how incredibly and completely beautiful this stage can be until now.

We simply don't have the time to have ten more now!

Seeing and feeling our family foursome take on this new dynamic

has had a lovely combined sedative/euphoric effect on me.

People would part with some serious dosh for a hit of what I'm having right now.

The absence of all that self doubt, negative self talk, fear of failure and
the pressure to prove my worth as a Mum has been an absolute joy these last weeks.

And of course, catching a few zzzzzs somewhere in the mix has also been a welcome refreshment too.

I guess the question is - in such a relaxed, blissful state of mind - will I ever get the urge to run again???

What are you grinning and grateful for this fine Friday?

Linknig with Maxabella Loves' 52 Weeks of Grateful.

Shar :-)

I'm Doing It Wrong... And Loving It

Caution - baby talk ahead. You may want to click away.

Alternative titles :

 'Confessions Of A Second Time Mum'

or

'Feel Free To Judge'

With only two children under my belt (literally - I've the scars to prove it!)

 I'm no expert.

But, I have read, listened to and tolerated many an expert in the last four years.

(Hey, I may even have thought I was one in my pre children years.)

According to many of the experts on childbirth and motherhood,

I am doing all the 'wrong' things this time round.

For some reason though... I feel freaking fan.tas.tic.

For some reason though ... my beautiful girl is feeling fan.tas.tic.

My Magoo is a godsend and such a joy in my life - but our 'beginnings' were tough.

(Tough, not tragic. I am most grateful for that.)

Until last week, I didn't truly realise just how tough.

I delivered Magoo naturally - and suffered some, ahem, serious repercussions as a result.

For quite some time.

(The delivery and the repercussions.)

I persistently breastfed Magoo through incompetent nipples, ridiculously low supply, his infant reflux, oversized adenoids, a throat condition and an allergy to cow's milk protein.

Neither of us enjoyed the experience.

But I agonised when it was recommended that Magoo be put on a prescription formula.

I let well meaning (I assume?) advice from left, right and centre

drown out my own instincts when Magoo was unhappy and unhealthy for months.

I was treated like the anxious, neurotic mother that I very nearly became 

 - until I finally met the right specialists and a simple surgery changed our lives.

I suffered on through pain, splints, OT and repeated cortisone injections in both wrists brought about because my baby needed constant comforting and settling.

Blah, blah, blahdey, blah.

I wouldn't change the history and incredible bond Magoo and I share for the world

- but I won't let the expectations of others dictate the decisions I make for my family any more.

My Missi was delivered via caesarean on the advice of my ob - and to my relief.

It was a fabulous, moving occasion for Hubby, myself- and evidently Missi.

I had hoped that breastfeeding would be different (and just a smidgen successful) for us this time around

- but it has taken a nosedive.

A blistered, excruciating nosedive.

Despite the gorgeous olive complexion and dark hair - my Irish genes are shining through.

Sister can drink...and drink...and drink.

The milk bar here couldn't meet the demand and has outsourced supplies.

Missi is drinking formula.

We are both enjoying the experience. Immensely.

I refuse to be brow beaten by the 'right' way of doing things and am intuitively finding my way.

I am in awe of the intense, comfortable connection I feel to my little girl

and am brought to tears by how beautiful these early days have been for us.

 

At this stage, it appears all the wrong ways - are the right ways for my family and I right now.

Apologies for any offence caused. None intended.

Shar :-)

52 Week Project : Wk 51

Lately, I seem to have lost touch with an old, familiar friend of mine.

We were fairly constant companians over the years, this friend and I.

Despite having little contact with each other in recent weeks, 

I was positively certainly absolutely sure she would come crawling out of

the woodwork once my beautiful Missi was born.

But she's keeping her distance.

She didn't visit us in the hospital and hasn't surfaced since I arrived home on the weekend.

She knows Hubby is returning work tomorrow and isn't interested.

Unusual.

Unexpected.

Home Sweet Home Missi

Anxiety, my old pal;

If I have offended you, driven you away or made you feel unwelcome here

...

brilliant.

Adios.

There's far more breathing space around here without you.

Shar :-)

Point + Shoot : Smile + Weep

I am an annoying happy snapper who has sometimes fallen into the trap of believing that every moment worth remembering or celebrating also needs to be recorded.

Occasionally living life through the lens instead of in the moment.

But then, there are some moments in life that need no assistance 

to be etched into our memories forever more.

Life altering moments in time that replay themselves over and over

until every detail is completely embedded.

Although, having the precious snaps to tear up over isn't all that bad either.

Linking with Lou's Point + Shoot

Technically, these snaps are not from the weekend - but as I can barely distinguish the days of the week at the moment, let's let that slide.

Shar :-)