Love, bubs and life on our little farm

Me apparently!

For ages I have been griping on about how much I wanted to paint our bedroom. Its the last room that I haven't repainted from the hideous colours the previous owners used throughout. Its the last as it was the least dire, it was one feature wall done in the suede effect paint that I just dont love (no offence to people that do! It can look great) and a very bodgy paint job that drove me nuts. The colour wasn't too bad - a deep plum but it didnt do much with the rest of the walls that are in the house's main colour of a soft apricot/cream.

I had my heart set on a Tiffany blue room. I thought how romantic without being overtly "girly".
Something like this


Our room is a good size, has both a walk in robe and a wall cupboard, a large window that is almost ceiling to floor and takes up most of a wall so lots of light and is filled with lovely deep timber furniture and a black and white chandelier. Sounds like it should look great - right?!

Hmm well after a morning of painting, I HATE it. Oh the blue is the right shade - I got the colour correct (by getting a stronger blue done in a half strength). but its cold, particularly after the cosiness of the plum and the light flooding in through the window just makes every thing including the pale floortiles look blue tinted.

I want my plum back :( So its back to the paint shop for new paint samples - I am now planning on having my cosy girly room and embracing a dusky rose or mauve colour scheme... in the meanwhile we are waiting to see if the blue grows on us.

Perhaps photos to follow..

My mum has been designing and sewing. She makes her own patterns, buys her fabrics directly from a lady who imports beautiful textiles for craft work and sews with love for her granddaughter. That makes the clothes pretty special. I think she is amazing and very talented.

I have mentioned that she might like to start up an Etsy store but she is not sure that she could sew with the passion that she does for her own family. She has been approached already to sell her designs as patterns for others to sew.

My photos dont so these beautiful clothes justice. The fabrics are so soft and breathe well - perfect for babies. She has two themes - english rose and japanese inspired, more of which is to come. Two themes that I love.


Flower dress. I love the princess bunched sleeves.



The patterns are wonderful together and Elka gets lots of comments when she wears this pant suit. There are pleats in the front of the top which haven't come up in the photo.


Quite unusual fabric and a lovely colour on Elka



Cute party dress - it has both belts on it in the pic - can either use the ribbon or the oversized rose. The bodice is dotted with beads.



So pretty and I love the ribbons on the legs of the knickers.

Every day my boys take themselves for a swim - they normally finish with a roll in the dirt and a gallop to dry off. Fun times for them, not so much for me and keeping them and the rugs clean. oh well horses will be horses!

Its been a busy time for little one - she now has 6 teeth, including those front top ones now! So no more cute vampire smiles (we managed to catch the smile above before the top teeth grew longer).

She took her first steps 2 days after her 9 month bday. They were a pretty wonky two steps but they were definitely solo! She is still doing it but seems to have lost her confidence and takes a lot of encouragement. She is still however, zooming around everywhere with her walkers. She jams them into furniture and pushes and pushes trying to make them go – sometimes she is successful and ends up pushing the furniture along with her, other times she is most definitely stuck and she cries in frustration, which makes me laugh. She also loves to take the walker off the verandah and onto the grass where of course it barely goes. She is determined to get it across the yard though.

She is also pointing at everything. She loves to point at the cats. She will also point to Mummy or Daddy in her little plastic covered photo if she is asked where they are. The other day she was pointing at a photo of herself and saying “bub bub” – very cute! She also claps at the right point of “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands” – we were very pleased to capture that on video!

She has been a little fussy lately and off her food a bit. A visit to the Dr’s confirmed she had sore ears so she is now on some antibiotics. I have also found that finger food is more enticing for her so she now has toast in the morning and cheese sandwiches at lunch and I have cooked up chicken nuggets which she loves (chk breast pieces dipped in greek yogurt and rolled in breadcrumbs).

She has discovered that doors open and shut and sits there for ages pulling them back and forth. She tries to brush her hair with her little comb. She also eats tissues whenever she can – if I am not around she sits there pulling them out of the box and stuffing them straight into her mouth. They are very hard to get back out again!

I really feel she understands so much now. Its an amazing feeling to really communicate with her. I am very excited for the next few months and all the new exciting changes that are coming.

I guess losing a kg or two is handy when you are putting on a nice dress to go to a "do", however losing said weight from vomiting from Norovirus is hell on earth. I was so so so sick it wasn't funny - it came on yesterday afternoon and was a definite 24 hour bug.

Jase cheerily avoided me and headed off to work whilst I struggled to get up this morning and care for Elka. He is normally the best husband around but he definitely lost brownie points today - when I emailed him to tell him I was too weak to lift Elka (and Murphys Law - she had a sooky day and wanted lots of hugs), I got told to drink more water (ggggrr). I nearly passed out trying to change her nappy at one point. But I soldiered on, as Mums do. So then of course dear Husband then comes home from work sick with the same thing - crawls into bed (oh if only I could have done that!) and that is the last I have seen of him for the last five hours (GGGGRRRRRR). Leaving me to continue to mind bub, attend to the farriers coming to fix Spech before my Sunday competition, organise food for Elka for the next few days, prepare her babysitting things and disinfect the entire house so my parents who arrive tomorrow dont get sick too.

So am currently less than impressed.

On a side note, am off to vacumm with our brand new vacuum cleaner. For the price we paid, it really should vacuum the house without me ($700!! and no its not a Dyson - some fandangled European thing that it meant to be good, I just wanted something that will last more than a year).

Tomorrow I have to set up competition arena's and the showjumps at my club grounds, vote, orgnise baby for babysitting, get dressed and get to the luncheon by 12.30pm. Sigh - I remind myself that I love being busy - life is too short to twiddle your thumbs!

I have done a little Op Shopping in the last week or so. I would like to call it "Vintage" Shopping but I am afraid that in my area there isn't a lot of money and therefore most clothes are very definitely of the Op shop variety rather than vintage gems! But I like a challenge. I also love the idea of recycled clothing - I mean trends are constantly coming back in and its so much better on the planet to reuse rather than to spend all that energy pumping out new clothes for every fashion whim that end up discarded just as quick.

Now as I mentioned in my winter fashion want list - I was tossing up whether I wanted a blazer jacket. Well that decision was made for me when I found a cute cropped grey one at Vinnies in perfect condition. The cut is very flattering for me and still very feminine which is my style. $5 -- how could I say no!


I am also loving scarfs with outfits at the moment. I however dont feel I need to pay $25-40 per scarf when I want lots of different colours and styles. These two were $2 each. I have already worn them and loved them. The brown polka dots scarf makes a super cute belt on my white lace dress.


That is the end of the recent Op shopping. Not as good as some of the awesome things I have scored in the past but still good contributions to my winter wardrobe.

Other Winter purchases include these great tan heels - I love the gold studs that are dotted over them.



And finally - my gorgeous new Witchery dress. I adore the fish tail detail on the back of this dress.


The heels and this dress are my outfit for a 30th bday party this weekend and I cant wait. If only I wasn't also competing in a dressage/showjumping competition - as I will be too busy to get ready properly and wont have time to curl my hair like I wanted. Why do all the good things have to happen on the same weekends! (Oh yes my life is so hard!)

Jase and I were just sitting chatting whist ELka played between us this evening. We were both just watching her stand against the lounge.... when all of a sudden she turned and took two steps towards me!! Unsupported all by herself! I caught her and was just mouth open, staring at Jase to see if he saw too. Which he did!

I got all teary realising we just shared that amazing moment - her first steps. And Elka loved all the fuss and proceeded to continue taking one or two steps for the next half an hour - just to prove it wasn't a one off!

I didn't expect it yet - she is only 9 months, two days and although she has been furniture cruising and walking lots with her toy walkers, I assumed that she was still a long way off. She is also starting to go from sitting to standing without holding onto anything so I guess she is getting strong.

I am just so pleased that Jase got to be there for it. I am one happy mum right now :) My god they grow up quickly!

Its cycle 12 time for America's Next Top Model - I love it! Tyra is so egocentric and slightly insane but makes great watching... I love watching fairly normal girls transform into leggy goddesses. And a little cat fighting never goes astray.. hehe good times!

Here is the link if you are interested in watching it...
ANTM episodes

Quote from Romeo & Juliet quote Act II, Scene III.

Elka has discovered walking using her walker. She has also discovered that fast is much more fun then being slow and in control. Needless to say she has two lovely bruises and has had many stacks. But its oh so cute watching her discover her independence.

• Basic long sleeve tops - plain and some a little different ie beading, pleating etc

• Long stripy cardigan - in grey and white I think, Witchery has a lovely version (in the black stripe above)
  

• Black ankle boots - maybe with a strap or cut out bit - RMK has some gorgeous ones

• Brown strappy or mary-jane shoes with a casual heel ie wooden, thicker etc - I already have my eye on a pair

• Maybe a long line vest in a dark colour - I bought a caramel coloured vest already and love it.

• A nude coloured strapless bra.
  

• Things I am thinking about - a blazer (not sure if I suit something so structured), something "different" in pants - I am quite liking the slim leg styles that have feature studs.

• Oh and every single skirt on this page ;)
  

I am quite sure this list will only get longer rather than shorter ;)

Not much blogging going on - have had our lovely best couple friends staying with their gorgeous 6 month old bub. It has been so nice and Elka loved having a little live in friend!

Then work has been hectic as always but Elka has had another good 2 days at daycare - learning new tricks again! This week she has learnt the moves to Open/Shut Them and blows kisses. Her standing is also getting stronger and she can balance a little bit without holding on.

I love finishing work and rushing the two blocks to pick up Elka from daycare. It is the best feeling to sweep her up into my arms and know that I have five straight days of hugging her.

I normally start Wednesdays with an early grocery shop - its a good way to get my head around the change from busy career woman to at home mum. Elka loves smiling at everyone and we make many new friends. Today with the cyclone off the coast, we had a gorgeous cosy cool morning with stready drizzly rain. I was feeling very content. The lady in the bakery section went specially into the kitchens and packaged up hot cross buns fresh from the oven for me. The smell and the warmth was just the best with the rain outside.

Its one of those days where I am very thankful for all that I have and where I am in life.

Hot
My new Witchery top marked down from $49.95 to $4.95 - bargain!
Elka's gorgeous reaction when she sees me for the first time picking her up from daycare
The Who What Wear emails - I love the fashion trends they write about - so inspiring
Me losing another 1kg without even noticing - sweet!
Getting bunches of roses for $2 this morning - see picture
My new scarf - brown with white polka dots - best recent op shop find

Not
Losing my scientific technician and trying to fit her duties as well as my five days worth of work into 2 days
Elka having a cold
Spech losing both his front shoes at our riding competition
My freezer - it needs to be defrosted but I can never use up all the stuff in it (I have a compulsion to fill it rather than let it run empty!)
Craving pumpkin scones and not having the time or inclination to cook them ;)
Not being able to find the killer shoes I want for winter in black and brown..
Having a sore tooth - feels like the nerve is exposed? I just had a check-up so I dont think its a cavity..

I am sitting here in front of the air con with legs that are so sore and heavy I dont think I can get off the lounge... symptoms of a big weekend! For me big weekends normally mean horse competitions and today was the first comp back for 2009.

It involves plenty of time on the Saturday washing, plaiting, grooming, trimming, packing and organising and then an early start Sunday and then hours of work and riding in the boiling hot sun in stifling clothes - today was a top of 37 degrees. Truly it is fun! Its challenging, its exciting, its social and it is just something I have always loved and done. Horse people understand - it's in the blood and impossible to ignore.

I am blessed with an amazing husband who organises the 4WD, parks the float better than me and most of all babysits Elka the whole time. I love seeing him kicking back on his chair in the shade reading his paper and rocking Elka in the pram. He is always there for me. Elka adores the horses and was a perfect baby despite the heat.

Spech was calm and quiet considering its his first comp after about 5 months off. However, his canter work needs work and my half halts are not as strong as they should be. Things to work on before our big dressage comp coming up in three weeks...But we did well - as usual with hacking, the judge fell in love with him. We won our Presentation Class and I was also given first place in the Rider class - which is the most important class to me. My riding skills are a matter of pride to me.

Here we are sporting the delightful uniform of my club (yellow and brown - blrugh!)


Now to enjoy the remnants of the weekend. Having work on mondays and tuesdays takes some getting used to - I have appointments and car maintenance to sort and interstate guests coming from Thursday - going to be a busy week!

that a woman wielding a power tool would be so exciting to the opposite sex!

Elka and I wandered up to the top of our driveway (about 600m from the house) to put up some new property numbers on the wooden fence. So there I was drilling with the drill with a baby in a pram right next to me. Yet many a car slowed down for a good look and I got three different cars of guys beeping in the 10 minutes it took. Seriously guys??? Ooh hot, a mum with a pram and a baby?!

I will never truly understand males. But meanwhile the new property numbers look great!

Its our fourth wedding anniversary today. Time has flown. And it truly has been bliss - everyday I am even more glad to have found Jase and to have married him. I hear often that the first years of a marriage are the hardest - well then we are in for a smooth ride as these years have just glided past. We are stronger than ever before. He calms me, understands me, advises me, laughs with me and loves with me. Life has colour and reason and purpose because of him. Having a baby has only drawn us closer - nuturing a new life together creates a bond that cant even be described in words.

We exchanged presents last night - Jase as per usual broke the budget we set and bought me a devine gray striped silk chamisole and pj pants. So elegant and like wearing air. He (being the romantic one) tells me that the fourth wedding anniversary gift is "silk". I on the other hand am the practical one so I bought him a box set of one of his fav shows - Hollowmen.

We are taking bub and heading out for a nice dinner out at a lovely Thai restaurant. If Elka doesn't oblige by falling asleep we might just grab it as take-away. We aren't fussed - us and food sounds good either out or at home ;)

I feel so very blessed to have this amazing man.