Love, bubs and life on our little farm

We are athesists that don't eat much chocolate so Easter is a bit lost on us but the Easter Bunny still visited Elka on Sunday morning of course. She loved hunting down the plastic eggs and putting them in her Easter bag and the lollies inside were a big hit. I think Jase and I enjoyed it every bit as much as she did.

The munchkin has been asking to see dolphins for awhile now - they feature on her favourite Wiggles DVD (a zoo episode). We live close to Seaworld and are eligible for VIP passes that mean we can have unlimited visits to the theme parks until June... so how could we not take her!

Jase decided to take the Thursday off before Easter so its been a lovely extra long weekend for us and a perfect time to head to Seaworld pre-school holiday crowds.

What fun! Elka loved the animals, particularly the fish, turtles and Polar bear. The dolphin show mostly held her attention and left Jase and I impressed since we haven't seen it ourselves since were teenagers. I was delighted to discover that they have built a fantastic area for toddlers with rides that they are actually allowed to go on! I was expecting the height restrictions to be too harsh but was pleasantly surprised. Needless to say Elka loved it!














We finished a perfect day by heading to our families beach house that we love and spent some relaxing time just soaking up the sun at the beach and splurging on a lovely beachside breakfast before spending some special time with the whole family.

I might not celebrate Easter nor really love chocolate that much but so far this Easter has been just wonderful. May yours be just as beautiful xoxo

Wow in the 30's now! And counting ;)
Pretty sore and sorry for myself - I often struggle to walk as I am getting pretty strong Braxton Hicks and my sciatic nerves are playing up. Not sleeping. Fairly hormonal and cranky. Oh yeah glowing totally.

The obs started using terms like "tight fit" and "bigger than Elka" which is a little worrying as Elka was ahem not easy to get out (included the obs falling backwards as the vacuum broke with him pulling so hard). I am now measuring 4 weeks ahead - so technically am dragging around a 34 week belly - and don't I feel like it!

But bubs is just so darn cute kicking and punching away, jumping at loud noises and playing with Jase poking her. Jase can also put his ear on my belly and hear her heartbeat wooshing away - that is gorgeous - makes me wish I could do it too but I will never be that flexible!

I am struggling to fit much food in these days, my tummy must be pretty squashed. Also having trouble carrying Elka now - there is no where for her knee to grip to. Work is getting increasingly difficult - spending so much time on my feet seems to be encouraging the backache and Braxton Hicks.. but at the same time its a nice distraction. Being at home with Miss Toddler is actually far harder on me and my veins are so swollen on those days - the obs has prescribed me some special pressure stockings (oh yep pregnancy is sexy) to wear for that. Thankfully it might get cool enough here soon to actually be able to wear them! Although its still almost 30 degrees during the day so maybe not!

Am alternating between thinking she will come early and that she is going to leave me frustrated and overdue! Its exciting having no idea just how its all going to happen!

I have nested in the new nursery/spare room and bubs now has half the built in cupboards for her clothes, so I can start unpacking the massive boxes of stored baby clothes from Elka and cluck away folding them into the drawers which will be great...

Not much left to buy - just the IKEA change table/bookshelf combo that we want (same as what Elka has and we love it) and a laundry hamper!

Of course once the house extensions are done I have to paint the new nursery and give her a beautiful room like Elka has... am tossing up a colour scheme of Tiffany blue and white...

Its been a long tiring weekend - after all the wet weather we have had, it was finally time to bite the bullet and finish off our cobblestone path.

This is a little area between our shed and water tanks - once a hideous eyesore that we have slowly been tidying up and making into the access point for our higher area of the yard. Eventually this higher area will most likely have vegetable gardens (if we can figure out how to keep the kangaroos out that love it up there..). We have also put in some bottlebrush and lilly pilly hedges (small tube stocks so a long way to go) so it should be a lovely spot for the native birds whilst blocking the neighbouring block as our boundary runs along there... but back to the narrow access area...

We have put in retaining walls, raised garden beds, stairs, two framing golden canes at the top of the stairs and now finally a cobblestone path from our main front yard. It involved hiring a cement mixer which Jase had to drag into the horse float to pick up, a huge pile of sand dumped in our driveway, 29 bags of cement and mortar and a large number of cobblestones. Add in a tired sore pregnant woman fighting sciatic nerve pain, a demanding toddler and poor old Jase on his only two days off from a loooong week and it was not a whole lot of fun really. We always think that it's only a "small area" when we start a project and then we realise that our definition of "small" is a little warped by the size of our yards and gardens being rural... making it a very full weekend!

But I love the end result! Here are the photos...

So this past weekend, we hit the display homes for inspiration for decorating our ensuite bathroom. I love using display homes as you get to see fittings and tiles as part of the whole look rather than just in a shop floating out of a wall...

I couldn't help but notice that greys have now replaced the browns as the colour to decorate in. Looks nice in a modern place but doesn't suit our french provincial styled home. However, my favorite display home brand, Metricon came through for me - they had a stunning home that had the ensuite bathroom decorated in whites, timbers and the honey tiles we are considering - remember my inspiration shot here. The photo below is from my mobile phone so the colours could be better (lighter) but you get the idea. We are planning a massive oversized mirror with downlights above it and a lovely big window with white plantation shutters. Should be a relaxing haven....



Jase loved this drain for the shower too. We are also convinced that our shower is way too large and we are going to go ahead and get two waterfall heads put in on either end. Very decadent for a home on tank water but hey if it rains like it has in the last few months, it won't be a problem!


And this display home village had the best thing ever - swings for the kids. So we had a perfectly behaved 2 year old as she (im)patiently waited for us to finish the houses so she could have a nice long swing. (Disclaimer - she is now picking her own clothes - hence the hot pink socks lol)

It is official I have lost control of my emotions. The same thing happened last pregnancy too. I all of a sudden became incapable of dealing with any stress or conflict and my head would just explode.

In this case, it is trying to organise all the different things needed for the house extension. Poor Jase can't handle my stress and my lack of ability to keep what needs being done straight in my head. I think he has realised that I am a big bloated stressed blob of uselessness and he is more or less on his own, poor thing!

Its the funniest thing - I think it is part of my nesting, but my mind doesn't want to deal with anything that bothers me or is stressful... all I want to do is think about family stuff and planning for the baby etc. I marveled at it in my last pregnancy - its a scary thing feeling hormones take over your entire mind!

Still it kind of works out, as Jase is much less preoccupied with planning for the little ones etc, so he is better to deal with banks, builders and contracts and I am the one making sure that we have bedding, capsules and breast pads ready. Hmmm I would like to think that our duties are equally worthy... but either way I really appreciate all of his hard work (now I just need to show it!)

We have council approval for our house extension!! Whoohooo! So its onwards and forwards to the next steps - organising our detailed contract with our builder and the next round of council forms.

I am ever so hopeful that we will see a slab going down sometime soon - up until now the weather has been so rainy that it wouldn't have been good timing anyway. Sometimes things work out for the best really. We are coming into our drier months now - perfect building time I am hoping ;)

Things to think ab0out now - organising termite treatment pipes along our slab edges (as well as termimesh) and making sure that our building contract fits our budget...

Aah nothing like building when heavily pregnant and expecting a newborn into the house!

I am a good scientist. But I am a terrible housewife.. which is absolutely fine by me. As many wonderful outspoken women have pointed out before me, I did not marry a house anyway. In fact pre-kids, I was so adament that we shared duties that my husband washed his own clothes and I washed mine. Jase ironed his own workshirts, was the main cook and we cleaned the house and did the groceries together on a Saturday morning.

So swap to me being on maternity leave - suddenly I had nothing to do work-wise so I took on the house as my "work" as I go crazy unless I am busy. I cooked, I cleaned all surfaces inside and out, I shopped with a newborn in tow, I washed everyones clothes and I even tried to iron.

However, cleaning is not a skill of mine. Jase would quietly reiron his workshirt in the morning before dressing for work. My cooking often fails more than it shines. I don't change the bed sheets often enough or wash the towels properly so they are light and fluffy. I have set fire to a number of tea towels, dropped bleach on the bathroom rugs and often get distracted by jobs for the horses and outside in preference to inside. I will quite happily hang the clothes out on the line and proceed to let them be rained on for four or so days... And I still to this day have no idea where my husbands clothes and underwear go in the cupboards - I still draw the line at folding and putting away his clothes.

Now I am part time at work and I guess part time at looking after the house. Its a strange balance as I wear blinkers on my work days and think as long as the kitchen looks sort of clean ie no unwashed dishes then its perfectly respectable. But come my first day at home, Thursdays and my "house" eyes open and I freak at how nasty and messy the house truly is - a toddler and two indoor cats tend to do that. So for a couple of hours on Thursday, I will straighten, grocery shop and wipe etc and even iron (in front of my selected internet tv show to watch of course - currently Project Runway). Its not pretty - today included peeling stained cat food sodden newspaper from off the floor, picking dried custard off my lovely dining chairs and discovering a huge sticky bright pink spill of "something" all over a white cupboard that had inticed but then trapped a huge amount of ants...

I honestly thought that being a "mum" made you good at this sort of stuff but I am still waiting for my domestic goddess side to kick in. I also thought I would maybe like being a stay at home mum but I HATED it. Honestly even two days a week is a little tedious and I go out of my way to fill it with activities and chores to run.

But I am proud to say that my horses and other animal are well cared for and loved. Oh and the toddler too ;)

I love this time of the year - as much as people think that there are no seasons in SE QLD (besides hot and not so hot), I can totally notice the shift into Autumn. For me its always coincided with the start of my horse competitions and the cooler mornings and chilly breezes are just perfect for being out and about with the horse enjoying the fresh air.

Of course this year, I am not starting my competition preparations. My horse is sitting in the paddock with nearly as big as belly as I am sporting. But it hasn't stopped me from getting itchy feet - I am craving slinging myself into my saddle, craving cold morning starts with steamy breathing horses washed and shiny ready for competing. I keep telling myself that maybe just maybe I can be back in the saddle by late July. Its really not that far...

I did love the start of Autumn in Canberra in the 7 years we lived there - the leaves are so pretty and it wasnt TOO cold yet. In reminscient mode, we bought two Liquid Amber trees and planted them on either side of one of our driveway gates (we have three sets of gates on the driveway hence the plural). We are unsure just how many autumn colours we will get from them - currently the only brown leaves I can see are from the excessive amounts of water they have recieved from rain (and we have a cyclone on the way so more to come most likely!). But it makes me smile when I see them.

It is already "cool" enough (low 20 degrees celsius at night - yes I know we are so wussy!) that we have turned the ceiling fans off in our living areas and bedrooms - they have literally not been turned off since last October. When they stop spinning, I see all of the dust and cobwebs that have formed on them in streaming patterns from turning non-stop. Needless to say that is one of my first "autumn" cleaning jobs!

The cold also makes me think of tucking little babies into warm blankets and wraps. Elka was a winter baby and I loved it - warm snuggly cuddles and fluffy baby sleep suits. Its nice knowing that this cold will also bring me a newborn....

Kicked off 28 weeks with an obs appointment - have passed my gestational diabetes test which was pleasing. But also found out that I am measuring 3 weeks ahead - I started measuring ahead with Elka in the 30 weeks so seems I am in for another big out there tummy! Have been copping plenty of comments and jokes about twins so its obviously not going unnoticed...

But slightly worrying was the obs face when I walking in wearing a fitted top, he immediately started rifling through my file. Turns out he was checking Elka's birth weight and he then proceeded to comment, "oh she was a bit big for you and needed a lot of help" (trust me I remember Mr Obs, I was there!). So it now I am a little concerned about the size of this bub. Oh well - only one way to find out if she will fit out lol.

Otherwise doing well. Strong braxton hicks that don't let up despite moving (the books always say to walk to get them to go away hummpph). I had to relent and buy a sexy pressure bandage for my leg with the varicose vein as its swelling and so painful.

Have finally organised my maternity leave - taking 9 months, same as last time - all with pay which is nice. Hoping to work until almost 37 weeks - will see how that pans out but I get so bored at home, it keeps me sane to think I have more time at work. Also have two research grants to finish and write up and new staff members to train so I need as much time as I can get..

Bubs has taken to pressing out limbs in the same place over and over which ends up bruising me making it extra painful. She is also currently breech which explains all the kicks to the cervix I have been getting! She is very strong - surprisingly so - I dont remember Elka being quite so strong this early. Hmm seems I breed them big and tough ;)

My weight gain is still more than last time - currently put on 9-10kgs which is way more than last time but I am still blaming the big tummy ;) I do have a terrible sweet tooth at the moment, trying to make sure I satisfy it mostly with fruit but its not always the way!

Hehe on that note, am off to eat my creme caramel dessert....

I keep getting that feeling that my little one is so grown up. She is 21 months now and even wears undies for a few hours a day! She can count to 10 and plays hide and seek with us - putting her head on her arms on the wall and counting, gorgeous!

We had a big change this week - we bought her a big girl bed. She loved shopping for it and was so excited setting it up.

Here she is helping Daddy set it up.


Here was her room before.


The room after. No longer a nursery!


And my big girl enjoying her bed and the linen she picked out - she loves sleeping in it as much as she loves bouncing on it which is nice! We are yet to experience any early wake ups - I don't think she has figured out that she can get out when she wants lol.

I have been loving the big planter boxes that Jase built in our laundry courtyard when we paved it. One box contains the beginnings of a country garden that I am doing in layers of plants of different heights - next layer to buy is lavenders.

But the other box is my herb garden. They all started as teeny herbs last year and we nursed them through a few scorching Summer months. They are now enjoying the very wet couple of weeks we have had and are growing beautifully. I love wandering through in the afternoons after feeding the chickens and grabbing handfuls of herbs to throw into dinner. Elka loves to pick the leaves and smell them - we have grown lemon basil and pineapple sage specifically for her to enjoy. Jase also has built seating edging around the boxes so that we can sit or rest the washing baskets when hanging out the washing on the line, very handy!

I have a few more herbs yet to get - we need a sage plant as we make a fantastic sage and pumpkin pasta. But its a great little addition to what was an empty courtyard.

I drove a long way today to visit a maternity superstore. Fortunately it paid off - I actually got some really great skinny maternity jeans! They were not cheap but they look fantastic and made me feel less of a whale. Big tick!




Not only that I but I scored some lovely skirts for work - even a linen one, yes some people do make maternity clothes in decent fabrics! I had to settle on the black pants though - not sure why its too much to ask for tailored pants, instead they are all loose leg which pool around the knee and sag under the crutch! (and I tried on ALOT of different pairs and brands!). Never mind, am feeling set now. Had to laugh at the sizing though - for some reason size 8's and smalls swim on me in maternity clothes, am guessing they are doing that flattery sizing thing to make you feel better about putting on weight...

We then hit DFO and low and behold one of my favourite stores, Forever New was having a 30% of all sale items (which at DFO is 80% of the store). Oh it was worth the 10min line up in the change rooms and the looong line up to pay. Get in there if you are a fan! Unfortunately my big old belly just wasn't very forgiving on most of their devine silk and beaded tops that I adore but I did treat myself to some long line singlets (for $3) and some great skinny sequined scarfs for autumn - perfect as neck accessories to distract from distinct egg shape or I also love them worn as high belts above said bump to give shape to tent-like maternity tops.

Hubby also got spoiled with some fancy polos and new shoes so it was a good shopping day all round.

And now I have comfy NICE clothes for work next week, happy days. Just need it to get cooler so I can get some wear out of my lovely new jeans!

Its only been a week but it feels a lifetime ago that Jase and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary on our Noosa holiday.

We spoiled ourselves with the fanastic food on Hastings St, relaxed on our deck overlooking the main street people watching, bushwalked and swum to our hearts content. I had forgotten what fine dining felt like - mmm candles, white tablecloths, meals that come as multiple courses and sparkling mineral water, its been awhile!

Yep almost in the third trimester wow. I am feeling pretty good - am getting some sleep thankfully. Bub is still very active and loves to kick me in the cervix which is such an indescribable pain. She reaches out her limbs and pushes them out of my tummy, which is so cute but also hurts!

I am feeling much less dizzy since taking the iron tablets for anaemia. Now I am getting those horrible muscle cramps in my legs and feet that just wont release. So I trotted off to the chemist this morning to grap some magnesium tablets - they were the only thing that helped last time. I have started getting intense lower back aches by the end of the day - no real surprise when you consider what my back has been carrying around all day. I am also finding the Braxton Hicks are surprisingly strong - I sometimes have to stop and breath through them.

My tummy just keeps popping out, some of my maternity tops from last time are already not covering my bump!

Bubs is just like Elka was and gets the hiccups after nearly every meal. My morning nausea has almost settled down and I am finding I have a good appetite but no room in my tummy to fit my meals!

Tomorrow is my gestational diabetes test - yuk! I don't drink soft drink at all so I find the glucose drink so overpowering. Oh well its all for the best.

I am still surprised at how little I am nesting this time round. I have been thinking of pulling down the 0000 clothes and washing them since we have so much water in our tanks at the moment but with potentially 14 weeks to go I think its still a bit soon. I am ignoring planning the nursery because of the house extensions that will hopefully be starting soon. One day bubs will have a nice room lol! Maybe when she is 6!

I am off to order the capsule and baby swing that we are hiring - that will make me feel slightly more organised I think!