A little bit of Friday

A quiet morning of looking after our regular visitor and trying to incorporate some learning into our craft activity.
Today it is the Letter D- It was meant to be a D for duck but when I had already cut out the letters I found that I couldn't find my feathers. I still think they look cute, but not quite like ducks:)

Princess remembered what letter it was- the other two needed more reminding although the guesses did rhyme- it was either V or B (close enough I guess).




This is another cubby- its the castle- isn't my hubby clever putting it together.






Now I need to get ready for ballet class. Princess is really loving these classes which is so lovely. And she just looks so cute in her leotard and skirt.

Tracking the bump

Well today I am 14 weeks pregnant and I thought I would like to record what is happening to me and my body at this stage.

*I am officially in my 2nd trimester

*I am not so sick in the afternoons and nights now ( although I still like to rest around these times and am punctual about eating to ward this off)

* I managed to make my first Wednesday night Bible Study in a while which means I am not so exhausted - I still get the odd night where I am in bed at 7.30pm with the girls but I don't nana nap so I don't feel too guilty about that.

*I have a big tummy- in the right outfit you can see that it is a baby bump and not just a bit too much of Sunday lunches

*I mostly wear dresses because in the first trimester I really didn't enjoy anything touching my stomach. The only time not I wear pants or skirts is when I have a doctor's appointment.

* I haven't found myself craving any type of food. With Princess it was apple juice and turkey and cranberry sandwiches, with Sweetness it was Bacon. I didn't have a huge appetite at the start but I seem to be enjoying food once more.

*I have had feral moods with this pregnancy. I don't remember feeling quite so emotional with the first two but I didn't have two other children to look after then either.

*I don't think about this pregnancy 1/4 as much as my first or 1/2 much as my second, only when I feel sick or tired or maybe a little sorry for myself. Which is why I wanted to record this info.

*I am happy to be pregnant but unlike my first two I'm not too interested in just enjoying the pregnancy- I would really like baby to be here. I would just like to feel a little more normal and be able to have a jump on the trampoline with the girls again.

26 weeks to go!

I wish this was what I looked like.

Isn't she lovely
Isn't she wonderful
Isn't she precious
Less than one minute old

I never thought through love we'd be
Making one as lovely as she
But isn't she lovely made from love

Isn't she pretty

Truly the angels best

Boy I'm so happy

we have been Heaven blessed

I can't believe what God has done

Through us He's given life to one

Isn't she lovely, made from love


My Sweet,

You have been such a blessing to our family, you have brought so much joy and fun. You're so lovely and full of life.

You make me laugh when you stick your bottom lip out as far as can be when you decide your not going to cooperate. And the way you do that odd tongue sucking face when you are tired is something I will never forget about, even when you (Lord willing) have babies of your own.

Now that you are are two year old you have started to display to us that maybe you are not always going to be our compliant little one, we see that spark in your eyes when you are thinking about obeying, we see that hint of a smile on your lips when you copy your sister even though you know your going to get into trouble, we see that temptation to run in the opposite direction when we call you to us. We will never let you know now when you are little, but inside we are smiling. Smiling over the fact that you are displaying your own will, which God has given you. It reveals that you are thinking about your decisions (sometimes good, sometimes bad) but we like that you are thinking because one day you will have to make these decision on your own which makes us pleased that there is a rebellious streak in you.We hope that you will rebel against youth culture, that you will rebel against your friends when they are heading down the wrong path, that you will rebel when some scientist in school tells you that Creationism is just a myth.

My sweet, we pray that you will continue to grow and learn and love. We hope that you will love your new role as a 'big sister' and that you will continue to love your position as 'little sister'.

We love you so much and feel so blessed to have you as a part of our lives.

Playing with our new toy

Sweetness had her birthday this week and this was a very special present that I was very excited about and grateful to recieve. It's called a crazy fort and we can put it together in lots of different ways. Today we tried it for the first time and I managed to 'help' the girls make the house.

My arm hurts

Poor little me. I just had the swine flu jab to make sure I don't get it while I am pregnant.

Now I feel like I have a dead arm.

That is all!

I still don't think I'm over the weekend

Yes after our little scare with Angus, not to mention all the other hassle that adds to that. Luckily for him at least he is now getting better. I say for him because I've been told he needs to 1. stay inside (he's an outside dog) 2. Be calm in order to heal well ( he is a crazy little fella with way too much energy to be calm) 3. I'm meant to keep the children away from him (the problem is more keeping him away from them, he loves them too much). well at least I have managed to keep him off the trampoline.

In other news our very excited Princess has been able to start her very first ballet lesson. This has been something she has been dreaming about for a while and last Friday afternoon we had our first and she loved it. So now we have or cute little leotard and skirt. She was hoping for pink of course but at least blue is her second favourite colour.

Tick, tick, tick...

Poor little fella. Last night we got home and he was acting like he was drunk- his back legs not having any control but he was still able to walk. We then took him to the 24hr vet.

Paralysis Tick on his ear.

He had to be keep over night in the hospital and today too. We should be able to pick him up this afternoon. Poor little fella.

Most expensive night we've had in a long time.

Life with her!

I could write one of the largest posts here about how this girl has changed me and my life and my very essence. I truly believe that until your child is placed into your arms that very first time that you really do have no concept about being a parent. I remember the first thing was the feeling of helplessness, not of the newborn babe in your arms but the feeling that comes over you when you think 'God has given this child to me to raise for Him but how do I do that?'. All my relationships prior to that had mostly been with other adults or children that were old enough to manipulate into doing what I wanted them to do. This new baby couldn't be controlled, couldn't be manipulated, couldn't even be charmed into doing what I wanted her to do.
She broke me, not in a bad way but an amazing, give God great praises because I have discovered humility.
There is nothing so humbling in caring for a child, you are responsible for everything that goes into the baby (food, words) and everything that comes out of a baby (bowel movements, tears, laughter). And yet that baby still has their own will (God given) and will reveal it to you to both surprise and confront you just when you had them worked out.

This beautiful Princess of mine has brought me such pure joy and she has brought me to my knees where I could go nowhere else but to God. Sometimes I needed to check if He really thought I was up to the challenge of this girl and other times to thank Him so much for bringing her into my life.

Who would have thought that a child of mine would have such a strong will:) And I must admit sometimes it was hard to see past this and see much more.

But as she has grown I have learnt just how truly amazing and intelligent and beautiful and giving and nurturing and funny and life changing this child is.

She is four years old now. And just last week she had to have her immunisation (two needles). She had known about it for some time and was very scared and nervous about the prospect of two very painful needles going in to her arms. So she took along a pen and said that it was her needle and that she was going to needle anyone who tried to give her a needle. As you can imagine I had scenes of carnage in my mind, we enter the nurse's office and the nurse introduces herself and asks Princess a few questions. The nurse then starts to get things ready and Princess comes over and whispers in my ear. 'She's very nice, I like this nurse, I won't need this' and she hands me her 'needle'.

In four years this strong willed baby has been trained to be broke with just a few kind words. She has grown and changed like I never would have believed. The truth is I don't feel so helpless now (at least not most days) because I have been given a gift of a child who is just so amazing (to me).

Please don't ever mistake my words to mean that I am deluded in thinking that I have a perfect child. I know that is certainly not the case. Everyday she reminds me of her imperfection in fighting with her sister, her silliness and her desire to follow her own will. But she is truly more than I ever imagined both in difficulty and in pleasure. I just enjoy focusing on the joy that she brings me everyday. I give thanks to God every day for her (and especially as I type this as I have brought tears to my own eyes many times).

I love you Princess.