One kid has not been very well for the last few days. She slept in our bed last night and the night before for snuggles. I found it hard to sleep due to the snoring from said child and then getting pushed out of my own bed. I spent most of the night staring at the ceiling.
Sick child sleeping
Sick child in your bed is cute for a bit, however when they snore in your ear, hit you when they turn over, stretch and make it hard for you to have any room in your own bed. It is not fun and due to you not getting any sleep and then having to contort your body into weird shapes and positions to just get some rest (maybe if I was a contortionist, I would not have had an issue with little space in the bed). I decided that I would move to the spare room to sleep as I was being pushed out and the sound in my ear was not going to create sleep.
I did understand that the child was not doing anything on purpose and it was good that she was resting. I don’t mind if a kid is sick and comes to our bed for cuddles and some extra attention. That is all fine… it just makes it harder for me to rest as well. Do you find that? I do like the cuddles and time together with one kid and helping them feel better.
Due to moving rooms I did get some sleep and was grateful for that. The unwell child is getting better so maybe she will sleep in her own bed tonight.
What happens when a child or both kids are unwell? Do they want to sleep with mummy/daddy? How do you handle it? We end up putting the child in the middle of the bed and we try and work around that.
I don’t think I have a hard name. It is easy when you think about it. It is not spelt strangely. It is rather ordinary in the scheme of names actually.
You might already know, My name is Suzanne. Yes very basic and easy. The name is how it sounds.
So why is it when I fill out forms or tell someone my name they call me, Susan?
Do people have a fear of the letter Z? I think they do. Even if they get my name sort of right they don’t add the Z.
Beware of the Letter Z. Many cannot put it into a name or try and substitute an S instead.
I really don’t get why my name is so difficult for so many people.
Susan is a completely different name. It is not my name. It has never been my name. It also makes me so annoyed that people cannot get my name right, even after many times telling the same person that my name is not Susan!
I try so hard and make sure that I get other people’s names correct. I was always taught that it is a sign of respect and it is also to polite, plus shows that you have listened to what the person said their name was.
It does make me think…. if you write, “Suzanne” down on a form why do you then get called Susan. If you know why this happens, please tell me!
I have even signed up for newsletters online and put my name down as Suzanne. And you might have guessed it…. I now get emails addressed to, Susan!
Are you like me and have your every day name changed into a different one? Or do you have a name that has an X, or Z in it and no one gets it?
Does this happen to you? Do you feel my pain?
How have you addressed this with people that insist on calling you a different name? Have you started calling them the wrong name to illustrate a point? I did this at school to a teacher as he called me Susan. I then got into trouble. Yes fine for them to get your name wrong, but you cannot get their name incorrect…. oh well. I think he eventually got the message.
We all went to Ballarat for the winter holidays in 2015. Read below to find out what we got up to.
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Okay it was our winter holiday.
I was drooling over sunshine, beaches, swimming and just balmy days.
Just so you know, the Blue Mountains is freezing during winter, so a nice warm change was needed and deserved.
So where did we go for our ten day winter holiday?
We flew to Melbourne to holiday in Ballarat. Yes the weather as you can imagine was very much the same, COLD! Although I was not keen due to the cold … we had a fabulous time. Yes a wonderful time was had by all.
There was plenty to do and we kept ourselves very busy indeed. I must say due to picking a colder location there were not a lot of people where we were. This surprised us due to it being school holidays, but maybe it might have been different if we chose Fiji as a destination instead. So think about this for your next holiday. Go were others are not, and you will avoid the crowds and still have a brilliant time.
So our first hurdle was to get to the airport with everyone intact, no tantrums and everyone relatively happy. We managed this and then made our way to check in our luggage and get our boarding passes.
My tips to keep kids happy on a plane:
1. Have electronic devices fully charged and ready to go. I make sure to charge the iPad and iPhone the night before so that they have full battery power. This way the kids can make use of the inflight entertainment.
2. If they get bored with the electronic entertainment I make sure to have pens/pencils in a bag with a colouring or activity book. Even a blank book to allow creative drawing is ideal. This way your little artists can go mad and draw their masterpieces.
3. Have some snacks just in case they don’t like what is on offer on the plane. I have two very fussy kids so making sure they have some snacks that meet their approval is ideal and also creates less arguments and annoyance. (Mainly for the parent – really this is for you to make sure you have a calm and stress free flight)
4. Since I have twins (even if you have more than one child) one parent sits with one child one way and then we swap on the way home. This way each child gets a chance to sit next to mummy/daddy.
5. When we book in and get our seats we try to get a window seat so that each child can have the view if there is any out the window.
6. One big tip is we make sure the kids go to the toilet before we all board the plane. I know they might not really need to go but I make them anyway. If the worst does happen, there is a toilet on board but you don’t want an emergency dash to the loo to happen when you have to remain in your seats for take-off!
We arrived at Melbourne airport, got our hire car and then we were all on our way to Ballarat.
Due to the fact our kids are fuss pots with eating we thought that a good pizza would be the way to go. The kids I am sorry to say are not that adventurous, so they stuck to the cheese pizza.
The Forge had a great cheese pizza for the kids and was kind enough to take off anything green like parsley or fresh herbs. Yes if there is anything green on it, it gets met with a confused look and the kids just freak out. The team at this pizzeria understand kids and made sure that the pizza was all cheese!
For the adults they have an excellent choice of pizzas with all sorts of wonderful ingredients. Anything from pumpkin, pulled pork, garlic prawns to sauerkraut.
While we waited for our pizzas to be cooked the kids occupied themselves with colouring in and drawing at a big table at the end of the restaurant. This was great as the kids were happy being there and due to it being at the end of the restaurant it was safe and you could keep an eye on the kids.
The environment is rustic and very warm. The tables are recycled and some are very long that it allows big groups and families to all share dinner or lunch together.
Once we received our pizzas we were amazed at how wonderful they tasted. The dough was so light and just melted in your mouth. Devine! Simply amazing. I was not planning on eating the whole pizza but ended up finishing it due to how tasty it was. I could not help myself.
We were so taken with the place that we had to come back. A few days or so after our first meal at The Forge, we came back for our second meal. The waitress that helped us when we were first there was working that night and remembered us. She even remembered what drink I was drinking and organised it all for me. She was very helpful and how amazing to be remembered.
If you are ever in Ballarat you must try The Forge Pizzeria. You will be in love with it as much as we were. It is family friendly, tasty meals, kids had a blast and so did we.
I was craving dumplings and due to having fussy eaters we did not entertain going to a dumpling restaurant for dinner. However we stumbled across Fu Man Lou and saw that they had Chicken Sang Choi Bao, Fried Rice, Prawn Chips and more. The kids would love this and they can try the dumplings.
We love dumplings well hubby and I do and have been craving some while in Ballarat. This place looks amazing and so groovy. Cannot wait to try some!
The first thing you will notice about Fu Man Lou is that the place has a sense of humour. Even their menu is fun. Instead of saying entrée, they call it the small stuff, the mains are referred to as the bigger ones. If you wish to have just water or soft drink that is in the no booze category. Plastered all over the walls is Fu Man Lou propaganda poking fun of the Maoist Regime.
If you are like me and crave dumplings every now and then, you can have a dumpling taster or just order a few dumplings and then see how you go.
It was great for kids as they made sure that the kids got their food first. The girls loved the Chicken Sang Choi Bao and did surprise us when they tried some dumplings.
Fu Man Lou is fab for families and has a fun atmosphere. My favourite dumpling was the Wontons in Chilli Oil, it is so yummy!
If you are ever in Ballarat and need to get a dumpling fix, Fu Man Lou is your place.
We all had a great time in Ballarat and surrounds. Initially I wanted to be somewhere warm and sunny. However we had a great family holiday and we did not have to fight any crowds.
Maybe we need to look at where others might not go next winter? Nope I still want to go to the beach!
Did you plan to go somewhere and then it did not work out.
Was it the beach and you ended up somewhere cold or was it the reverse?
Let us know. Did you end up having a great time anyway?
For a long while the kids have had wobbly teeth and it is the same tooth for both kids. I was thinking they would have them forever until one kid was extremely determined to twist it, wobble it and more!
At about 4am Lillian’s tooth fell out. Her first tooth to come out! It was a big occasion and one that then caused sadness, anger and crying in Julia. She wanted her tooth to come out too. Lillian was so excited she came in to wake me up and tell me about her tooth and how it had happened. I congratulated her, hugged her and sorted out a little cup for the tiny little tooth that came out of her. It is a big gap but super small tooth. I wonder how that works?
She is so happy her tooth finally fell out. The red lippy was for a disco birthday party the kids were off to on the weekend.
After convincing her it was too early to put the telly on and that she really needed to go back to bed, she finally did.
Saturday night we had our first visit from the Tooth Fairy, as you can imagine we had one very excited girl.
The Tooth Fairy left red glitter sparkles. It is some of her magic that is left.
Lillian wanted to keep her tooth to show friends and family so asked me to write a note to the Tooth Fairy. Lillian signed the letter and we put her tooth in the little cup so that it did not get lost. (I cannot think of the hysterical outcome that a lost tooth would bring.)
The letter to the Tooth Fairy and the little gift bag and money that she left for Lillian. See the small little tooth. It is tiny isn’t it!
Have your kids been late in losing their teeth. Most of the kids in the twins class have lost more than one tooth, this is the first for Lillian and soon to be for Julia.
How did you handle the upset that one lost a tooth before the other child? I have comforted Julia and told her that it will happen soon and it won’t be long.
The tooth is very wobbly so the Tooth Fairy will be visiting us again in a matter of days I think (well I can only hope.)
Do you start to worry when winter approaches? Do the kids get colds and the flu easily? Does it happen more now that they go to school or day care? I have had my fair share of sickness with the twins and being exposed to more germs at school can make things harder for the whole family.
So how do you all remain healthy in cold and flu season?
Make sure you teach your little ones about proper hand hygiene techniques. I’m sure you are already telling your kids to make sure they wash their hands after eating, the toilet and so on. I know I do.
This hand wash is fab as it smells divine and of course gets rid of the nasty germs.
Parents are teaching their children about proper hygiene but it can fall down when they are at school or elsewhere. Do you know if there is a policy to wash hands after eating or playing? I don’t, but will definitely ask now.
The lovely people at Dettol sent me this care pack so we can not get sick this winter. It has helped and with us getting a cold while on our holidays I have used this to ensure we don’t get anymore nasties.
The simplest and cheapest way to make sure you don’t spread germs on your hands is to wash them well with soap.
To help get the message across to little people Dettol have teamed up with Tina Harris, who stars as Lah-Lah from Lah-Lah’s Big Live Band and she has created the below song to help encourage kids to wash hands and to stay healthy this winter.
Dettol has also created a free initiative available to all primary schools in Australia. It has been developed alongside the “NSW Department of Education and Training to provide teachers with a range of curriculum aligned resources to help students stay happy and healthy.” If you wish to recommend that your school take part download the letter and give to your school or email Dettol to be part of the program now.
In my pack from Dettol I have a laminated card. This will be put up in the bathroom once the renovations are complete. It lists all 5 tips to ensure you have really well washed hands.These handy wipes are so great. They help make sure the counter tops and any surface is clean and rid of germs. Dettol Surface Cleanser Wipes are great to keep with you for any emergency.
Have you succumbed to the flu or a cold during winter? Or have you managed to dodge any germs so far? If you have what do you do to remain healthy during winter?
Thanks so much to Dettol for sending me a care package. It has come in very handy.
Today we woke to snow everywhere. Yes we were snowed in. The depth of the snow was about 15cms and 30cms in parts. Very deep for up here. The whole area has been blanketed by white bright snow. As I write this the snow is slowly melting and we are all enjoying a hot cuppa, well the kids are having a hot Milo.
Our snow filled streetThe other end of the street. Covered in snow and it felt like a magical playground today.
School was closed, the roads were closed and we could not go anywhere. Hubby could not get to work and was able to enjoy the snow day with all of us. Most times when it snows he misses out so it is finally nice to the whole family home on this occasion.
Our snowed in letterbox. No mail today!Look at how thick the snow was on my car.
I know this might be cold for most of you but the temperature has just hit 2 degrees so it is slowly getting warmer (well it was when I started writing this post at about 2ish this afternoon). I did see a big black cloud on our walk with the neighbours to the local oval and was told that we might get some rain this afternoon/evening.
The kids and I with their first snowman
I do like the snow but due needing to pick up tiles in Penrith tomorrow having it melt might allow the roads to be reopened and for us to get them. We were lucky and the roads opened up late this afternoon and we managed to pick up the tiles so no need to worry.
After we got home from getting the tiles, Hubby helped the kids build a second snowman. Hope it is there still in the morning.
I must say today was a magical adventure and it was lovely that we could all be here to witness the snow and be involved with it. It was also nice that the kids and hubby were not at school or work and we all had a great day together.
Did it snow at your place? I heard it snowed in Queensland as well. Apparently this is the biggest fall of snow we have had since 1984. Yes, amazing isn’t it!
Hello. I do apologise for not blogging sooner. Here is what has been happening lately.
We had 10 days in Ballarat and Melbourne, flew home to then fall in a heap. Before we left for our holiday hubby got ill with a bad cold. I then got sick with it while away and thought it was gone but have a few things still lurking. All okay but just annoying, and does not help when I feel tired already.
Now I have a lot of laundry to do, and due to kids deciding to wear nearly everything and get it dirty. The pile is not going down. Although I have left the lounge covers to do later as they are not urgent, but make the laundry basket have clothes over flow. Not good really. It all should be organised soon.
Washing and more washing!
On top of making sure that we are all sorted like we were before we left for holiday, we are having renovations start next Monday. They are long waited for and much needed, but trying to race around to move things and create space is just annoying.
We need to move things around so that one room can be worked on and that means moving all furniture and items into one room and that takes a bit of planning.
I know I will love the after effect of the renovation and it will all be worth it but trying to get it all done when you are:
1. Constantly tired
2. Every time I bend over I feel like I’m going to be sick
3. Need to go to the toilet nearly every 5 secs
4. Thirsty and then I need to do point 3 more often
5. Hungry so need to eat, which then leads to the feeling of being sick even more
Is so hard! I suppose it could be worse, I could be 8 months pregnant and doing this. Currently I’m only 15 weeks.
Looking forward to the finished product.
The kids went back to school on Tuesday and they were super excited to see all their mates. Julia was so excited about being a big sister she asked her teacher if she could have some time to tell the class some special news. The teacher had no idea and from what I heard Julia was very proud and beaming when she told everyone about the impending little sister or brother on the way.
We have gone back to our regular routine. School and then after school activities, Karate and Swimming and then home. It has taken it out of me this week, it was so nice to not have to be anywhere or make lunches for kids.
Are you feeling it this week? Have you been more tired due to school going back?
As I write this I am thinking a nap might be nice, but I need to do some work to make it easier for us to move things for the renovations. I do think the bed sounds like a great idea at the moment.
Maybe a cup of tea might help me wake up a bit and then get to it.
How are you coping after holidays and school going back? Let us know.
Learn about all the fun places we went in the Winter 2015 School Holidays.
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We have been keeping very busy and have been out most days exploring. Below is a list of the places we have visited and you can learn what we did there and see some of the photos from our visits.
We all had a great time at the Wildlife park. Kangaroos, emus and the like are free to roam. They seemed quite tame but I did remind the kids that they still have big claws and are still wild animals.
The kangaroos let the kids pat them, feed them and be very close. They seemed very used to human contact and were very good around children.
Show times below are for weekdays and if you wish to find out weekend show times, just click here
1:30pm Reptile round.
2:00pm Koala round.
2:30pm Wombat round.
3:00pm Crocodile OR Alligator round.
3:30pm Tasmanian Devil and Quoll round.
4:00pm Eagle Show
As you can see shows are every half hour. So this will keep you busy and make sure that you are not waiting around for hours to see one show.
There is plenty to do at Sovereign Hill and you will not be bored. If anything your feet and legs will be very tired from walking around all day.
You can try your hand at decorating candles, watch gold being poured, see lollies being made, try your hand at gold panning in the creek and have a ride on the stage coach.
Just one thing to remember:If you purchase a family pass make sure to get it validated. If you do this you can come back for a second day. We did this and it helped as our first day we arrived at about 1pm so that we had plenty of time to see the sights and then stay for the lights that evening. We promised the kids a coach ride with the horses but missed out the first day. We managed to do the promised horse coach ride on day 2 and all was happy then.
I also did not know that with the price of the family ticket to Sovereign Hill we also got an automatic ticket to the Gold Museum for everyone.
Holiday Program open till 30th of July 2017 so you have a few days to get there if you can.
One of the girls is chasing the lollies that are falling down the building
See a train go across a building.
A view of main street with the snow and the lights.
After our first day at Sovereign Hill we went to the Gold Museum. The museum is in the same complex as Sovereign Hill so if you are there for one you may as well see both.
The museum is open from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm every day except Christmas Day. Last entry is 5.20 pm.
One exhibition that I was amazed by was the photographs of the whole of Ballarat. I have forgotten the photographer but he climbed up to the top of the town hall and took a 360 degree view of Ballarat at the time. The images were amazing and so sharp so that you can see every detail.
On Sunday we went off to the Daylesford Markets. It was a lovely sunny day and a welcome relief from the overcast days we have had. The drive was not too long from our hotel and was a pleasant drive through lovely countryside.
Once we arrived to the markets we walked around and looked at all the stalls. It was your typical markets, trinkets, clothes, and the like.
The kids got their faces painted while at the markets and then we went off to lunch at a local pub.
After lunch we visited The Amazing Mill Markets. These markets is a huge warehouse complex that houses many stalls of antiques and collectibles.
The kids new clothes
If I had heaps of money and did not have to post all my purchases back I could have gone crazy. I did purchase a jumper and a scarf for one kid and the other got a coat and a scarf also. I must say that the kids look rather stylish in their new clothes.
We wanted to come into Melbourne to see the Museum and catching up with friends that have decided to move to Melbourne was a great excuse to spend the day there and to see some great exhibits.
Dinosaur Bones at The Melbourne Muesum
It was a HUGE day as we had a bit of a drive from Ballarat to Carlton and also to back to the hotel.
So what did we see there?
Well we learnt about the human body, saw the real Phar Lap, dinosaur bones, and of course a giant squid. There was so much more. The museum was enormous and it was so well done and we were super impressed.
Phar Lap at The Melbourne Museum. I did not realise that he was so tall!
The building was just amazing and the facilities were impressive compared to what we are used to. Some of the museum’s in Sydney are in older buildings and are limited for space. The museum in Melbourne seemed purpose built and has the space they need for all exhibits.
If you book online for tickets you get a great deal. You don’t pay for kids that are under 12.
Also for parking if you book online you pay $20 for a full day of parking. What great value is that.
I hope this gives you some ideas on where to take the kids on the holidays and the weekends.
We are flying home tomorrow and the kids cannot wait to see their teddies again. We have all had a fabulous time and wish our holiday could last forever but we have to go home to our life and jobs.
What have you done these school holidays? Have you had a great experience somewhere that you would love to share? Let us know.
Monday we started our Ballarat/Melbourne trip. We flew to Melbourne and then hired a car to allow us to drive to Ballarat and then explore the surrounds.
We were surprised that the airport at Sydney was not jammed packed with school holiday travellers. Maybe many were going to a warmer climate compared to visiting a cold Ballarat in Winter. Today was freezing and the wind did not help!
Our trip started of with us planning to be on a beach, somewhere warm and not cold like home is. However this was not to be. I looked at many options as we had already paid for the accommodation component and had certain areas within Australia, New Zealand and Fiji that we could visit. As mentioned all dates for our trip were full in any warm area. Some places were great for us but the kids would be bored out of their brains.
I decided on Ballarat due to the proximity to Melbourne, and the fact that there is a lot to do for families in Ballarat and surrounds.
Pop Up Ice Skating Rink
Our first full day in Ballarat was Tuesday. I had organised tickets to the Pop Up Ice Skating Rink in the main part of Ballarat town centre. The kids were so excited to go skating but that did not last long. I joined them but was concerned about falling over. Julia had a bit of a fall but was all good, however she was upset and in need of cuddles. Both kids then decided that they did not want to skate anymore and would like to try the tobogganing. This was a huge hit and we all had a go.
The Tangled Maze
After our time at Winterlude we decided to go to the Tangled Maze. We all had lunch before we tackled the maze and that was a good move. There were many things to find to answer the questions in the maze and we were there for a while.
The kids racing around The Tangled Maze.One side of the maze. It was all created out of hedges and flowers. It would have taken ages, it also looked very pretty.
The maze really tired out the twins. They had fun, found the answers to the questions that we were given and managed to get out of the maze without having to be saved.
The kids having a fab time running around the Tangled Maze
Kyral Castle
I had no idea that there was a castle in Ballarat! But there is. Kyral Castle has a draw bridge, a moat and of course a dragon.
The kids and I outside Kyral Castle
“In 1972, Keith Ryall began building the castle, which formally opened 2 years later primarily as a tourist attraction but also as an educational, conference and function facility with ‘royal’ accommodation and a wedding chapel.”
The fire performer at Kryal Castle.
There were so many things to do for kids at Kryal Castle.
Here are some of the events from the Kryal website:
The daily program consists of:
10:15 – Roving performers
11:30 – Mounted Skill at Arms
12:00 – The Storyteller – Grab a seat and join The Kryal Storyteller by the fire in the rotunda.
12:30 – Roving performers
1:30 – The Joust of the Flame – In the land of Kryal there is an ancient tradition. In the darkest depths of winter, when the snows fall, the moat turns to ice and people hide away indoors against the fearsome winds from the west, they are visited by a dark and powerful force.
We did do the maze at Kryal Castle but the kids needed to be rescued. They were fine and all worked out well. So if you do the maze with the kids make sure they stay with you.
The dragon at Kryal Castle
If you are ever in Ballarat make sure you visit Kryal Castle. You will have a great family day out.
Stay tuned for more of our holiday adventures.
Hope you are all having a great time these school holidays. What have you been up to so far? Let us know.
I have been dying to tell you all. However I have kept quiet.
I’m 12 weeks pregnant with the third baby!
Documenting the pregnancy so far. Yes I know I have a belly… maybe that is due to having twins before this little person.
We are having another little bundle. This new person is due in January 2016, the first week to precise. We have some conflicting dates but they are all in the first week. Who knows the baby might decide to come earlier? Or later, you never know right? Did your second baby come on the due date? Or was he/she earlier or later? I am keen to know.
Yes I will be all hot and bothered and very pregnant in summer, I love summer and I hope that I am not too big and bothered in my favourite season.
We have decided to not find out what sex and leave it as a surprise. Hubby and I are super organised and have picked out a name for a boy and a girl to be prepared. I made sure to sort out names for the twins before they arrived and we had no idea they were going to be girls, so we were prepared either way. I did not want to be in the hospital and having an argument about what we call the baby. We will be keeping mum on these names as I would like to have it as an announcement when the baby arrives. Did you have the name for your baby sorted before you gave birth? Or did you decide once baby was here?
And you might be thinking is it twins again? NO we are having one this time.
Both the seven and twelve week scans confirmed just one baby. Also the twelve week scan showed that the baby was healthy so that is great news. I wanted to make sure that all was well with the baby before we told anyone.
I of course have been feeling horrible and it started early. I think from the first few weeks I have been nauseas and really feeling terrible. This made me think it could be twins again, and we would have been fine with this. However having one will make life a little bit easier the second time around. I can finally experience breastfeeding one child!
I’m still fighting all day sickness otherwise known as morning sickness. I have not been sick but have tried to be, and have been feeling queasy all day and night. It is just awful! I also need to eat food more regularly or else I feel ill, but then after I eat I feel ill. I am dammed either way! I just hope it passes. When I was pregnant with the twins I felt like this throughout the whole pregnancy and I am feeling the same this time, but not as bad with two babies.
I’ve also been very thirsty and don’t remember this being the case with the twins. Maybe I was and I have forgotten. One annoying thing is that you drink heaps due to being very thirsty and then have to constantly go to the toilet! Although one good side effect is that I have been warmer than usual and being in the Blue Mountains this is a good side effect. One of the only ones actually!
I am not the glowing pregnant type. Also due to my boobs being bigger normally they are really sore and uncomfortable without a bra (Maybe too much info my lovely readers). I don’t get ladies that jog and remain so active during their pregnancy (I wish I was one of these active and fit ladies). I have been zapped of energy and just want to close my eyes and fall asleep any chance I get. I’ve been falling asleep during the evening and missing crucial parts of the shows that hubby and I watch. The next show I am sure that we have missed a whole episode to then find out that I fell asleep and missed an essential part of the show. At least I have it to re-watch, but it is annoying.
Due to this being my second pregnancy I am showing a lot earlier than I thought I would be. I have also felt flutters for a few weeks and it is definitely the baby as it was the same feelings I got with the twins. Although I felt it later with my first pregnancy, I have read that it can happen earlier with second pregnancies. Thank goodness for winter as I have been hiding my growing belly with jackets and jumpers. It has got me worried. I hope by the end I will not be too big.
Having two kids and being pregnant does really make you extra tired. When pregnant with the twins, I could take a nap and have a rest and not be bothered. This time around I have to keep on going until the kids are asleep. Due to kids having school and other activities such as karate, singing and swimming lessons, the weeks have flown, and I look up and twelve weeks have already been and gone. With my first pregnancy I documented more things and took more photos each week. I managed to take one selfie at 10 weeks and will do another one at twelve weeks. I’m sure other mums and parents are in the same boat.
The baby’s profile and you can see one hand raised.
My plan of sipping cocktails by the pool and having a nice glass of red wine while at Problogger are not to be. However I will be drinking mocktails and still having a great time. By August I will be definitely rocking the baby bump and looking a bit bigger than I do now.
I will need to think about my wardrobe and finding some comfortable and stylish clothes to wear to the conference. Did you find it difficult to find some nice maternity clothes when you were pregnant? I have been looking but some are just tents and others are just boring. I don’t want to look bigger than I am, and I would like to look nice at the same time. I think this is a hard ask for pregnancy wear.
I did see online that there are some nice options but the stores that stock these labels are in the city and I have not been able to get there to have a look. I hope to do this soon, well before Problogger. What are your favourite maternity stores to get some fab items? Let me know. I need some ideas in this area.
The twin’s reaction was mixed. One was somewhat excited and happy and the other looked like she was in shock. I think it is huge news of the kids to digest and they need some time to understand what is happening. One did ask if I needed to go to the hospital today. I did say that I’m not having the baby yet so I don’t need to go. However when she asked me she was patting my side and looking concerned. Nice and very caring of her. I suppose the kids have a while to get used to the idea of having a baby sister or brother.
Both kids like the idea of being a big sister and teaching the baby things when it is a little older. Not sure what things they will teach this new person and it might not all be good. Did your child get excited when you told them you were having another baby? Or not look interested at all?
I did get a DVD with the twelve week scan and the kids were more interested to see the baby moving and to hear the heartbeat.
Since my twins were tiny at birth I am rather concerned that due to there only being one baby it might be HUGE! I hope not! My sister had a baby that was on the smaller side, and when I was born I was about 3kgs. So that is not HUGE. Yes I am having some weird thoughts and concerns. I hope I’m not the only one that does this.
I’m off on holiday from Sunday and will be documenting what we get up to. Make sure to check my Instagram Feed to keep up to date as well.
Did you find it hard to keep quiet about your pregnancy or did you spill the beans before twelve weeks? I just didn’t want to tell the kids for fear something went wrong, and have to deal with their reaction and explaining it all.
Let us know how you coped during the first trimester. I don’t like it. Although my sister did not get morning sickness with her baby. So I must have hit the jackpot! Everyone is different. Send in your comments.
Yesterday our new TV arrived. We were all very excited. It arrived in a very very BIG box. I am sure it was not that big? Did I just forget what the size actually was? I’m sure it is just the box and it has padding. The HUGE box worried me. I was not sure we could fit it in the room.
Our old TV died a long time ago and before it finally gave up its last show it was flickering and just not looking well.
When it finally went to black we had to have a replacement. We used one of my computer monitors. Yes we went from a HUGE screen to a tiny one. Hubby and I took it carefully out of the box and thank goodness, it is smaller than the box!
We finally have a new television. Now we need to figure out how to work it.
Well it would not have been tiny when I was a kid, it would have been huge, however since we were all used to something enormous it was weird to suddenly have a smaller screen. The kids were shocked when we produced the monitor for a stand in until we replaced the television. I could not understand why they were so upset, but then I figured it out. They had never known a smaller screen.
Now we have the reverse happening. The new telly is 3 inches bigger than the old one. We have decided to rearrange the living room a bit for a change and to create more space. Now every time I walk past and see the TV it is MASSIVE! JUST HUGE! It will take me some time to get used to it.
Has this happened to you?
When we purchased the TV we went to look at all different makes and models. There was one that was GIGANTIC! It would have taken an entire wall to put it on. To have this telly you would have to have a very big house as well. We got one that was still big but not something we cannot fit in our house.
Plus the GIGANTIC telly cost nearly $12,000 so that is not the price we wanted to spend on a television.
I am very happy that we finally have a new TV but since it is new we have not figured out all whiz bang things that it comes with. It will take us some time to learn what buttons to press, and what to do with it. I managed to watch Clarke and Dawe and Portlandia on ABC’s iView today so that is something.
Before I pick kids up from school I need to get some cables that will hopefully allow me to watch free to air television again. I have not been able to watch regular telly for a long while now. It stopped working and we think it might have had something to so with the old telly not working and communicating with the aerial. I hope this is the case. If not it is an aerial issue. Hubby did look on the roof and thinks all looks good.
Fingers crossed that the magic cables I buy make the television all work.
Today was Mother’s Day and I’m sure you called your mum, did family things with the kids and spoilt the wife, and just had a great day. We did a bit of this. I had a very early wake-up call due to one kid wanting to help finding some My Little Pony toys. She even tried to wake me up by waving a crystal above my head, thank goodness it did not hit me.
I eventually got up and got the kids breakfast. Hubby then woke up and I got to open my gifts that I have been curious about for a few days now. One gift in particular I told hubby I wanted so Julia and Daddy went off to the post office to secure the book I wanted. The rest of the gifts were things that the kids purchased from the Mother’s Day stall at school, and hubby got some things at the shops the other day.
My Mother’s Day Gifts – I wonder what the kids got me?
So for the curious, I got the following for my pressies:
2 lots of sunflower seeds from the girls
1 magnet meal planner for the fridge from the girls
1 book about all things to know about sewing. This book tells you how to do all things you have said, “I wonder how you do that?” Now I will know and have the book to tell me. Yes, I am armed with the info I need. Now I just need to magically find the time and space to do what I want and all will be right with the world.
PJs from hubby (very happy with this as I needed some new ones)
After the grand opening of my amazing gifts and putting a movie on for the kids, hubby got busy making me and his breakfast. Well, mine was breakfast in bed to be precise. So what did he cook me?
Hubby made me Sticky Apple Pancakes and that’s not all, he made them all heart-shaped for me. Yes that is amazing don’t you think! Thanks to IGA for sending me such a lovely gift box for Mother’s Day.
Ingredients ready to make Sticky Apple Pancakes – All from IGA
Ingredients:
40g unsalted butter, cubed
2 pink lady apples, cut into thin slices
40g sultanas
½ cup maple syrup
375g Greens Original Pancake Shake
Method:
Melt the butter in a non-stick frying pan over medium-low heat.
Add apples and cook for 5 minutes then add sultanas, maple syrup and 1/3 cup water. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until the apples are translucent and the sauce has reduced and thickened. Remove from heat, cover and keep warm.
While apple compote is cooking, prepare the Green’s Pancake Shake according to packet instructions. Cook pancakes as directed.
Spoon the apple and sultana compote over the pancakes and serve immediately.
Creating the apple and sultana compoteThe finished product – all ready to eat!The girls serving me breakfast in bed with daddies help of course
After we had our yummy breakfast, we got all rugged up and headed out to see the sculptures at Scenic World. It was a very cold day and we have had over 70km wind gusts so about 5 layers helped me feel warm.
We all walked over 4km, went on the railway, cableway, the skyway and the walkways. No wonder I am so tired.
On the walkway trying to spot the next sculptureThe kids on the glass floor in the skyway. It is opaque and then becomes clear.
What did you end up doing for Mother’s Day? Did you stay in due to it being freezing? Or venture out with the family? I was lucky we got to see the sculptures as today was the last day they were on. Some were very interesting and others were rather odd and morbid. We all had a great day and it was nice to be out and about. Getting some exercise was a good thing for everyone to be doing, we all walked a lot today.
I hope you had a great Mother’s Day.
If you wish to cook this yummy recipe that hubby made for breakfast or something different, you can visit theIGA Recipesfor more inspiration.
Thanks again to IGA for my fab Mother’s Day gift box it was yummy and made my day!
With Kate Middleton due to have her second child any day, there has been a tonne of advice about going from one to two children.
It has taken me back to my early days with my mother’s group when I first had the twins.
Okay, well I had two children right off the bat but had I not had twins, I may have shared the anxieties many of the women in my mother’s group. [Don’t get me wrong – I still had anxieties, ‘wow, how am I going to cope with twins?’]
The mum’s in my group wondered: How were they going to manage going from being mum to one, to mum to two and still leave the house?
How would they get out the door weighed down with enough stuff to appear as if they were leaving home never to return?
How would they get their older child off to school when new bub is napping?
They were all so worried that the difficulty factor would be so overwhelming it would be easier to just stay in.
“I have accepted the fact that I will need to find a new normal! I’m still working toward what that is going to look like, but I know that we will get eventually there. And although there are days that are tough, when I look at these two sweet babies of mine I know that it is oh so worth it!”
Well, I can tell you from navigating all those challenges but without a running start, that you will do it.
Of course Kate will probably have a nanny for each child making life a tad easier.
For the rest of us mere mortals, I would share my own experience. I remember when I was worried about how I would cope with the twins.
I did stay in the house for a bit and was very concerned that I might not be able to work my pram. What if there was an issue? I would be on my own! I practiced putting the pram up and down in the house and when I was confident I ventured out with the babies.
It did not matter if it was to window shop at a major shopping centre or just chill under a tree at the park. We were out of the house and for me that felt like a success.
I had the pram in the boot, I strapped kids in car then once we arrived at our destination I somehow managed to assemble the pram and get two babies onboard. When that mission was accomplished, I was on top of the world.
If you had seen me then, you would have spotted a woman walking around the shopping centre with a big smile plastered on her face. I know it was a small thing to do in the scheme of life, but I thought it was an amazing accomplishment. I got out of the house with two babies! Yeah, Me!
“Children reinvent your world for you” Susan Sarandon
Sibling Love
I have spoken to many mum’s bracing themselves for the shock of having two children.
Reading about Kate’s impending birth – and the interesting Women’s Weekly cover all about how George will cope (anyone else think that a bit odd?) it hit me, I have no concept of having one child.
However, for those about to know what caring for two children is like, here is my two cents for what it’s worth:
It’s okay to feel a bit daunted
It is hard but it won’t be hard for long. You got number one to sleep through the night and got him/her potty trained. That part for me was fun –double the challenge but once we were through it, we were done. Bravo.
Soon your little baby will sleep longer and you will get more rest. It will all just work fine.
Remind yourself that you did it once and you can do it again.
Having a schedule is great too. Make sure that the baby sleeps and eats at certain times.
The new baby has to adjust to life in your house, if you have some noise don’t suddenly become a super quiet household due to your new little person. I know sleeping time needs to be quite but you have to live life as well. A little bit of noise will not hurt, as long as it is within reason. I think the baby will adjust.
Don’t forget playtime and having a bit of sunshine does help you feel good and helps baby as well. Make sure to pick the safe times in the day to be out and about.
Having two kids is great; they can play together and will hopefully be great company for each other. It is nice that we have given each child a sister and having that support is lovely in life.
The most important thing I think is: Getting out and about
I must say the biggest challenge is getting out of the house and to all the normal appointments that you keep. Just putting yourself out there no matter how small the step is a wonderful achievement.
You should have been a fly on the wall when I managed to get kids in the crèche at the gym and be in an aqua aerobics class, now I felt that this was deserving of an award! Have you done something similar that you were super proud of when the kids were babies?
Not only did I get two kids fed, dressed and in the car. We arrived at the gym at the right time, I got them into care and I made my exercise class. Again I was the mad woman in the pool smiling at how brilliant this all was. I might have looked strange, but I did not care. I was at the gym. I was exercising and I got there with little babies with me. I was very happy! Did you have moments like this?
Getting out and about with your new baby
Are you about to have your second child?
Have you had other mums or parents confide or seek advice on having two kids rather than one? Let us know.
“Every baby born into the world is a finer one than the last” Charles Dickens
I do wish Kate Middleton well and hope all goes well for baby number two. Also if anyone else is set to have their second, third or more I wish you all well too.
Let us know your thoughts. Why not continue the discussion on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Kids are now back at school and having a fab time. YES! Thank goodness you hear me say! I think I need another two weeks to be at the same energy and speed I was at before school holidays. Do you find you need some weeks to yourself as your little holiday? I know I do!
Just between you and me, there have been more than a few times that I did deep breathing and relaxation exercises to chill myself out. Holidays are always full on in my house. Kids want to go at a million miles an hour and never seem to get tired. They wake earlier and carry on till late and then repeat it all again the next day. Exhausting really! Why is it that they can sleep in on school days but not holidays or weekends? If you know let me know!
I did love lazing about at home with no particular thing to do or be at. No school lunches to make and I did not have to race off to pick kids up from anything. This was great, but there was one thing that I missed and dread on school holidays.
It is some quiet time for me! I do love some time out with no noise, yelling, fighting and carrying on that allows me to just do my thing. I can think, I can just sit with my own thoughts for a while. Being on the go constantly takes its toll. Just having a little time alone is a help.
Meditating with Body Beyond Birth
So what did I do that helped a bit?
As you know I have participating in the Body Beyond Birth 12 week program. I have struggled with a sore eye and of course then school holidays, but I did manage to do some wonderful meditation videos. These left me feeling much calmer than before I did the mediation and armed to face the rest of my day.
If you have not looked at Body Beyond Birth, why not take a look at their brilliant website and all the great resources there. The program is fun and you can take it with you if you travel.
What allowed you to get through the school holidays calmer? Did you manage to find time for you? Exercise or see a mate that you love to chat to? Let us know.
Let us know your thoughts. Why not continue the discussion on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Today we are staying home. I do like staying home, especially in school holidays. However when you need to stay home to wait for a delivery it can get quite frustrating. Frustrating due to not knowing when your delivery will arrive.
The delivery driver called earlier to say they will be here in the afternoon, so I have an idea. I just hope that they get here before 4pm so I can go to an appointment. Yes I had to make an appointment this afternoon as I could not get in any other time. Annoying really.
Why is it that due to having to be home all day you can think of a million and one things you would rather be doing, and they are of course not at home or waiting for my delivery!
I hear you ask, “What am I waiting for?” Well it is a much needed clothes dryer.
No more waiting for sunshine. A dryer will mean I can dry my clothes when it is wet and stormy! Cannot wait.
Mine decided to die and I have been making do with hanging clothes everywhere inside the house and on the line. However this falls down when you have days and days of non-stop rain! As you can imagine living in the Blue Mountains having a dryer is a necessity not a want or item that you can say no to. Without one most of the clothes generally don’t dry due to wet and very cold days.
I am very excited to be getting a new dryer and happy that I can finally have items dried when I want them to be. I am getting sick of living in a house that looks more like a laundry or a very messy clothes shop!
My new dryer is smart. It can sense how long to dry clothes for, and will not run for hours and hours if it is just a pair of jeans, or some towels that need to be dry. How clever is this! Keen to try out this fab feature.
So I am very happy that my dryer is on its way, but I hate waiting nearly all day to get it. Do you have days like this? Waiting for a delivery. I must say it is not all bad. I am doing some housework, responding to emails, and kids are happy playing outside as it is finally sunny again.
Now that I finally get a replacement dryer I bet that the weather will be super sunny and no more rain. What do you think?
Today might not be the only day waiting to get a replacement item. Our television has also died and we are using a computer screen monitor in place of a large screen TV. The twins were rather shocked as it is very small compared to the BIG Plasma screen we previously had. Hubby and I explained that this is not bad and it was the same size that we had before the big screens. This was met with dismay and annoyance from the kids (I see you are shocked at this – it did make us laugh). The twins have never known a small T.V. and have only had the large flat screens. It was interesting seeing their reaction to this change.
Oh and I forgot to mention that our toaster also decided it did not want to work anymore and the kettle fell to bits! I think the white-goods and electrical items at our house are giving up! Maybe they are on strike! Should I hold a meeting and see if I can negotiate a better deal so they keep working and we don’t have to spend money on replacements? I wonder?
It has been four items in quick succession that have stopped working or had a failure:
Television
Dryer
Toaster
Kettle (this just fell to bits. The handle and the wiring just perished) We noticed this one last, but the first 3 were right after each other.
While we ponder what television to purchase next we will use our computer monitor as it is serving the purpose for now.
Are you going through a stage where your white goods are on their way out? Have you had a string of things die and need to be replaced? Let us know.
Let us know your thoughts. Why not continue the discussion on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
I started my blog nearly seven years ago. I did it due to being at home with my new born twins and feeling disconnected from my previous life as a producer of websites and content.
I wanted to have something of my own. I was suddenly a mum to two new lives that I had to be there for. I loved this and still do. However I do love to work and to have something for me, and this work has become my blog.
Hubby does support me, but I feel he would be more supportive if I was earning a wage from the blog. Do you find that others don’t see value in something that does not give you financial gain? As a mother who stays at home to look after kids, I do feel that I am undervalued due to not earning a wage. Do you feel like this?
Getting ready to blog
Why is it that just because your hobby or passion does not earn money it is irrelevant!
I suppose coming home to a messy house is not ideal. I don’t love it either and I try, however I like to update my site and somethings are topical and of course I need to keep my site current. No one wants to frequent a website if it is not changing.
However I have left hubby with some things to tidy and he managed to tinker on his computer all day and find other more important things to worry about. So why is it that I am questioned over valuing my work or my passion over something less interesting like housework? I do get it that I am supposed to do some of it, but I would really rather be blogging all day and night if I had my wish. Sad but true. I just love it.
This is not a rant over men being terrible to women, or not supporting their passions. It is more of a question on the whole of society. Why is more value put on roles that pay a lot of money? I suppose this is the eternal question.
Women who do something and it is seen as tinkering or not really employed. If you have a job that is part time it can be belittled to not being a huge role and not that important. (I know a part time job is just as hectic as a full time one can be, plus you still have the house and kids to sort out!)
My main aim was to build a site that has value. Has a community and if that makes money that would be the icing on the cake. I would really love it to earn truckloads of cash but that has not happened. Maybe in the next year or so it might. Maybe my swish redesign will work its magic once live?
Don’t worry it is not all bad, I have been paid for sponsored posts, advertising and an affiliate deal. So there are some things that are working very well, however I would love more of them to tell the truth. I’m sure I am not alone on this. A lotto win would not go astray while I am wishing.
I know others have made it big with their blogs and have turned a passion and their much loved hobby into a thriving business. One day I say! One Day!
Some bloggers that have made heaps and heaps of money are:
Here is a list of top 50 earning blogs. You will see what they earn and how they fare against the others. I think what they have done is brilliant. Built a business that works online and from home. How cool is that! I bet they had their doubters when they were starting out, or getting to the tipping point. How silly would they feel if they had given up?
Without my lovely blog and attending blogging events I would not have gotten some work from home jobs. They were short term contracts that I helped corporates with their social media management. I loved it and it also allowed me to blog and to earn at the same time. However without the blog these jobs would have never have happened. I used my experience building communities, blogging on my website and others to help these organisations. See the blog has paid off in a way.
I was also lucky in 2013 to win a blogging contest that allowed the whole family to have a trip to the Gold Coast mostly paid for. Thank you blog I say! Wouldn’t you say that this is payment from the blog? I would!
I know I am not earning a full time wage but the blog is definitely picking up steam. Emails have come in the last few weeks to test out products, attend functions and to write on others sites, and be a guest editor. The blog is gaining in readership and authority. This can only mean one thing. World domination is imminent. I’m sure you agree, right?
My blog is my outlet. It is my own empire that I can do with what I wish! Yes you heard that right. My little piece of the pie. I know currently it is small and I’m no Rupert Murdoch, or Arianna Huffington, but you have to start somewhere.
It is my baby and no boss can tell me not to publish or to do one thing or another. It is all up to me. I control the direction of my site. I like working hard at something and investing in a site that could one day change my life completely.
What hobbies or passions do you love doing? Is it your outlet? Does your partner poo poo your time you pour into your sewing, craft, blog or other hobby? Have they had to eat cake when your passion has had a big win?
Have you been terribly lucky with all your hard work and now the website or passion is now earning a good income? Let us know. Who is laughing now?
Let us know your thoughts. Why not continue the discussion on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
I find that I look around my immediate neighbours and I feel that I am on a different timeline all together. Is it just me that feels like this? Is it a mummy comparison that I will never live up to, or is my way a hack for mummies?
Do you see other people have laundry hung out in the early hours and you have not got to the washing at all? These early birds are wonderful and are super organised. They have the first load of laundry out, and have taken in maybe one or two loads that are dry, folded all laundry and put them away! (I’m lucky to have it all dry and put out when the heat of the day is at its peak!)
Do you despair at the fact that you are on a different path? Sometimes I do, however I have now decided to work with it.
The despair over doing everything at different times than others.
How do you ask?
With the fact that I miss the magic drying window with the washing, and of course now due to the dryer not working, I have to have things on the line to dry. Being in the Blue Mountains makes things difficult as many days are rainy and now due to autumn and the impending arrival of winter getting clothes dry is going to be increasingly difficult. (We are going to get a replacement dryer but have not done so yet)
Now here is my brilliant wisdom….. if you are not doing this you will be amazed. After you follow this you will be like the early birds with their laundry on the line super early!
My fabulous hack to make things easier for me:
I do as many loads as I can and hang them on the line
I make sure the weather the next day is going to be fine or at least sunny to allow clothes to dry mostly. If they are just a little damp they come in and can finish drying on the clothes horse in the laundry.
I leave the clothes that cannot come in the house on the line overnight and now I am the early bird who has all the laundry on the line and getting dry.
My laundry on the line since last night. Now I’m the early bird today!
What things do you do at different times to others? Do you think it works well for you or does it cause issues? Everyone is different and you need to do what works for you. However at times I wish I was a bit different and I could channel a cleaning goddess. I still think hypnosis might be the way to go!
I have on occasion gotten up early to do laundry and housework, but that is never kept up as I do love sleeping in. Or whatever I can get that is like a sleep in, kids do throw a spanner in the works here!
Let us know what you do to make things a bit easier for you.
Healthdirect Australia who manages the national Pregnancy, Birth and Baby service conducted a survey to find out the concerns parents have being new parents, about pregnancy and the birth of their child or children.
Did you know that many parents have thoughts that they are unable to share with others. Sad really. Every parent has probably had the same thoughts and sharing will make you not feel so alone.
Pregnant and wondering what it will be like being a mummy.
“The online survey of 1,011 expecting or new parents found that 53 per cent reported experiencing some issues that were so personal they couldn’t tell anyone.”
I do understand not wanting to share very personal information but at times having a person who you trust can help a great deal.
What were your biggest fears when you were pregnant?
Mine was just around the health of the baby and that the birth went well. Initially I was thinking that we were having one child, but that thought soon ended and the worry over a multiple pregnancy entered my head. I was fine but my doctor was rather concerned.
From the survey they were:
Something being “wrong” with their baby (49%)
Miscarriage (42%)
Coping financially (34%)
Baby crying… please go back to sleep!
Emotional support is a big thing that is needed in the first stages of parenthood.
71% needed significant emotional support in the first six months of parenthood
Men and women looked to their partner, friends and family as well for their support network.
GP’s was next on the list
Online forums was noted to be a good source of support as well.
I for one was super tired and a zombie like person after the birth of the twins. Constantly getting up every three or so hours to feed babies, change them and to make sure all is well with little people made me very, very, very tired!
It is no surprise that one of the biggest challenge once you have a new baby is the lack of sleep that parents face, especially the primary care giver. The next major issue was if your little bundle does not sleep at all. I was very lucky my kids slept well, I don’t know how I would have managed with babies up non-stop and I with no sleep either.
Factor in recovering from birth and if you have other children to care for as well. This would push your limits.
Sleepy baby
One third of respondents reported experiencing miscarriage. 32% sought counseling. It is difficult to talk about loss, feelings and pain.
“Pregnancy, Birth and Baby was set up specifically to help people struggling with issues around pregnancy and birth, and that includes pregnancy, stillbirth, neonatal and infant loss. We’d encourage anyone dealing with a tough time to call us on our 24 hour help line on 1800 882 436, or visit our website at www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au.
I have my down times when everything feels horrible and like I am a complete failure. Yes I suppose everyone goes through this. Terrible mother moments, and self-doubt creep in.
I then look at all the good things that I have done.
My kids are:
Happy
Healthy
Smart
Love hubby and me
Giggly
Funny
Active
Considerate
Helpful
Caring
They are also sometimes naughty, silly and don’t listen but that is kids for you.
On the whole. I am doing a good job. I think you are too. Don’t beat yourself up over some little things. So what if the house is a mess. So what if you did not have a shower to drop kids at school. If you brushed your teeth and hair and managed to get kids dressed and sorted for school that is an accomplishment in itself. You can always have a nice relaxing shower or bath while kids are at school or care. This way you can relax!
Focus on the positives. Take small wins and if someone offers to help you accept it. When the kids were babies I had family come over all the time to help me out. It was a nice time and much needed.
A father with his new little baby. Finally sleeping. Now not to move!
Oh and one other thing. If you are pregnant and about to give birth. Freeze about three months of meals in a freezer. If you have to add rice or salad that is easy, but having all the hard cooking done makes things ten times easier, especially when you are tired and don’t have the time or energy to cook.
Don’t worry about reaching out for support or help. This is what these organisations and groups are there for.
Anything that helps and makes you feel better is a positive and is good for the family.
See below for all the info about HealthDirect Australia and Pregnancy, Birth and Baby.
ABOUT HEALTHDIRECT AUSTRALIA: Healthdirect Australia is a publicly funded company, established to provide all Australians with access to trusted health information and advice, when and where they need it. We deliver a number of health services, including Pregnancy, Birth and Baby- free 24hr advice and through pregnancy, childbirth and the first year of parenthood. For more information visit: www.healthdirect.gov.au.
ABOUT PREGNANCY, BIRTH AND BABY:Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is an initiative of the Federal Government and offers free, confidential information and support to women and their partners through pregnancy, childbirth and the first year of parenthood. The service is also available to friends and relatives.
Becoming a parent can sometimes be challenging or overwhelming, and it’s reassuring to know there is expert help and support available whenever you need it, 24 hours a day, seven days a week:
By phone: call 1800 882 436 at any time of the day or night. Our staff can answer any questions you may have, give you advice on what to do next, and redirect you to other useful services.
Video call: Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is one of the world’s first health services to offer a secure, high quality video call option, 7am – midnight, 7 days: http://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/video-call
Online: The Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website provides information for expecting and new parents on a range of topics. The information is easy to understand, up to date and has been subject to Healthdirect Australia’s strict quality assurance processes: www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au
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