I've been tagged...

My friend Donita tagged me to blog 8 things that people don't know about me...what she doesn't realise that back in December (yes you read that right) I started a post about 50 things about myself - which is still in draft form! So I've decided that whilst 50 things may be beyond me, 8 things I can definitely do. So here goes:

1 When I was little I loved frogs. I'm not sure why, perhaps it was because when I visited my Poppie, we could lift up some concrete bricks in theirbuilt-in BBQ and usually find one, or two. I still have a soft spot for them, especially green-tree frogs.

2 When I was younger (and had no fear) I loved to hang a blue-tongue lizard on my shoulder - my parents even have photos of this. No chance of that happening now - I realise that they can bite!!

3 I have a stationery fetish. No really, I loove stationery shops. Pens, paper, assorted bits and pieces - it all is immensely attractive to me. So much so that I decided long ago never to work in a stationery shop as I'd never take home any pay!

4 I don't know what I want to be when I grow up, I mean when the kids get to school. I'm pretty much resigned to being a SAHM until Sebastien hits kindergarten, but I'd like to get back out in the workforce in some capacity, if only for my self-esteem (earning some of my own money). So I'm trying to work out what I want to do when that happens...

5 I'm a "no-ironing" kind of gal - anyone checking out what I (and Alex) have been wearing the past year could tell this - although I tend to steer cleer of cotton etc that needs ironing in the hopes that I can escape it indefinitely...

6 I have severe house envy - moreso because both of my sisters are now homeowners in Australia. Just something I pictured having done by the time I was 30...maybe now 40...

7 I can't remember the last time I went out to see a movie in a theatre (other than the 3 times we went as a family to a kids movie to see if Alex'd sit through it - no she didn't) and I'm not sure if I've missed anything.

8 Oh, last one. Hmm, my favorite fruit is mango - definitely an "eat it naked in the bath" kind of thing - and unfortunately Alex also enjoys mango so I now have to share :(

So there it is - 8 things that I managed to write down. Nothing earth shattering, but then again, who has time to be earthshattering?!

35 gone 35 to go

Well we've hit the 35 weeks, 35 days to go time for this pregnancy. Although let me tell you that 35 days sounds like a loooong time to me. My doctor had Brett and I guess a delivery date and, well I guessed the earliest at 13th Sept, he guessed next at 22nd September, and she guessed the due date. I know that I'm just asking for an overdue baby given I've been ready for the past month to have him! We shall see.

Alex is getting used to the idea of Sebastien actually being here in person - she has visited the hospital and attended a big sister class. She still wants to be held like a baby and (occasionally) feed like a baby - something I'm not encouraging. But she's also making leaps and bounds in being a big girl, trying to help with everything and insisting that Sebastien stop kicking mummy.


Last night she fell out of her bed for only the second time since she moved into it - boy did she make a loud thump! Luckily no "ows with blood", and she slept soundly til after 8am this morning which was a nice change from the usual 7am wake up call.


Alex is still upset that we don't go out to nearly as many places as we used to, and is always saying "no go home mummy" when we're heading back, usually for lunch. I'm seeking out possible preschools for her, but because she is only 2 1/2 and not fully potty trained it is somewhat difficult. She's definitely keen to go to school though and wants to especially catch a yellow school bus. We deal with that by catching the local bus to visit daddy's work at the university which she loves - both the trip there and the visit.


And because I don't really have a photo for this entry, I thought I'd add a photo of Alex as a baby, and then at 13 months...

A Real Haircut...after almost 2 1/2 years!

Well, we did get Alex's fringe (bangs) trimmed at around 12 mths so that she could actually see to do things, but really she hasn't had a haircut at all. So last night we took a photo after her bath of just how long her hair had gotten. Quite long really - and she really likes having her hair "done" each day, sitting still to let daddy practice and mummy direct.








And although we were talking all day about having her hair cut, when the time actually arrived at 4pm this afternoon and we were sitting waiting in the salon (watching another lady have her haircut finished) Alex declared that she wanted to go outside and that she didn't want her hair cut. Hmm, so in the end instead of mummy being able to take photos of the event (like I did when she had her fringe cut), mummy sat on the seat with Alex on her lap (well, on what is left of it with Sebastien in residence) to give her courage. And all in all Mary Jo did an alright job - talking all the while with Alex, distracting her by counting things and telling her colours of things whilst she trimmed Alex's hair. And the final result? Well you be the judge - still a bit of length so Alex gets her hair "done" each day, but a neat and tidy "do" just right for the end of summer. Not bad. And Alex got a pink lollypop (sucker) for her efforts. So as we went shopping next, I managed to snap a photo of the finished effort - complete with smile and lollypop!

Moving to a big girl bed

For all of this year, Alex has been sleeping on a double futon mattress on the floor - getting her out of the pack'n play. She has made excellent use of all of this space, generously sharing her bed with her inner circle of the Council of Friends. However with Sebastien's arrival fast approaching, it was determined that HRH would have to move onto a "big girl bed".

So it was that we procured a "big girl bed" - and finally sold the futon - thus making way for the construction. HRH was excited to be a part of the construction, poking bolts and assorted hardware into various places of the bed, holding bits and pieces so daddy could tighten it all together.

And then the "big girl bed" finally made it into her room. Now we were a little concerned about where all her friends would sleep - but this hasn't been a problem as she moved them herself into the same box as the rest of her friends and insisted on sleeping in her bed all by herself. Still with "cloth" but none-the-less furry friend-less. And it has really opened up the space in the room now that the futon is gone! Now we are crossing our fingers that when Sebastien moves in, in about 2 months time, that the two can co-exist peacefully...stay tuned!

Potty Training...take it or leave it.

Well, after a concerted effort over the past few months - mainly spearheaded by daddy - we had a mini win over the past weekend. Alex finally "produced" in the potty instead of just sitting on it and singing songs. A minor victory that was accompanied by much clapping of hands, celebration, and her being "allowed" to wear "Big Girl Princess Underpants" - at least until she doesn't keep the princesses dry, then back to a nappy.
She seems just as excited to see a result in the potty - although we're a long way yet from being potty trained. And anyway, we're kind of feeling that it's all come together too late - for when Sebastien arrives, we are anticipating a regression of sorts. But in the meantime, here's "cheers" to our Big, Little Girl!

Delivery envy, and the obligatory pregnant photo...

OK, so after a few requests I've relented and decided to post evidence of Sebastien's impending arrival. As most of you know, I hate being the subject of photos - with a passion. But this photo captures the essence of being almost 33 weeks pregnant.

Of course, many of the women I know who were pregnant have either delivered, or are just about to - leading to a severe case of delivery envy on my part. I think it's just that it's so darn hot and humid here at the moment, not something that I am at all comfortable with even in an unpregnant state! So my doctor admonished me when I stated matter-of-factly at my last check-up "this baby could arrive at any time and it would not be too soon" - only 50 days to go...

Time off for good behaviour...

This past weekend, Alex and Brett drove to somewhere in Wisconsin to go cycling and camping (one night). They left at 5.30am and got back Sunday afternoon. Leaving me with time off for good behaviour!

There was no way I was cycling (my Dr had already admonished me for cycling a month ago...) and with the heat and humidity at the moment, I had no yearning to sleep on the ground...in a tent...so I voted to stay at home.

Brett managed to shoot a few photos - the first is one of the tunnels Alex loves so much.




The town where they ended up was very much like Switzerland - even down to the Swiss flag flying in the park!








Alex insisted in sleeping in just a diaper - and apparently it was cold enough to warrant a blanket...she came back with many mosquito bites and a sprained finger...not too bad for a night away in the "wilds"!

And as for me, what did I do? I had to resist the urge to catch up on all the housework that has sorely been lacking lately - and restricted myself to the laundry, sweeping the floor and then spent the rest of the time scrapbooking the last few pages of Alex's first year album - HOORAY!