Yesterday I received a fab gift in the post from Sam and Deb. Such a great surprise and a really delightful and practical present – gorgeous animal coat hangers and a funky bib. I checked out the website that it all came from and it is so cool – check it out if you want to see some great present ideas. The hip Infant.

Thanks so much Sam and Deb – Deb if you are reading this can you send me your email and phone number!

I went into work today, Amy was great just sleeping by my desk, and it felt good to be actually out of the house and using my brain. I had to do a BAS and bank Reconciliation, as well as pay invoices and tidy up our invoices paid, so that our clients don’t get nasty “overdue” emails! However, the whole getting to work was a bit of a nightmare. We have a rule in our house that the girls can’t watch TV until they are dressed, have hair done and teeth brushed etc. This monring there was some Wiggles extravaganza on and do you think I could get those kids to budge? I was hoarse and highly wired by the time by the time I left the house. Jess tipped a whole container of powder on the carpet, no-one would co-operate and come when I called them, no-one does I as I ask – and yet, and yet…everyone expects me to listen to them and immediately tend to their needs. Well I cracked it today and in a busrt of complete frustration threw a haribrush at the wall and a Barbie down the hall way (at which point she lost her head). I burst into tears and when Meg came in to see to me and give me a cuddle all I could do was cry more. Holly was really freaked out and at school told everyone about the incident “See… my Mum really is a crackpot!!”.

Justin gave me a hug, and told me I had to let go of a few things. My nerves are raw, I’m sensitve and emotional. What i really need is about 10 hours sleep and a good massage.

Did I also mention I locked myself out of the house this afternoon? Hmmmm where is my brain?

Baby crying, must run – bye for now 🙂

On Monday I looked at the calendar, and in my sleep deprived state thought it was the 23rd, so pronouced to everyone that Amy wan now a month old. “Didn’t that go fast” I was thinking to myself and then about 6 hours later reaslised that it was only the 16th! So in fact she is really only 3 weeks old!

However, we have had a minor breakthough with her sleeping in the night. She has been very unsettled for about the first hour that she gets put down, so I’ve been letting her cry for about 5 minutes and then going in to put in the dummy, at which point she falls straight to sleep. Now Touch Wood, that this keeps happening. She even had 4 hours in a row last night which meant I did too! I guess it shows that routine is the best thing even for a newborn. I’m still feeling really bleary eyed, but that is to be expected I guess. It is hard to have a new baby at the best of times, but add 3 other kids into the mix and there is bound to be a few moments of hysteria.

In a burst of energy I managed to scrap a page on the weekend. Holly’s first day of school is now complete and I’m pretty pleased with it considering I’ve been out of scrapbooking action for about 6 months or more. I printed off 100 photos of Amy and the girls so now have plenty of material to keep me busy and my mind off “why isn’t she sleeping/why isn’t she awake…”

My Cousin Sarah had her 4th baby last week and it was a boy, called Hugh James. Well done Sarah. And Michael and Cath had a boy 2 weeks ago, David Howe – Congratulations to you as well.

Off to Lisa’s for morning tea today, Penny is coming along as well with Jacob who is sitting up, starting solids and has turned into a little boy. A few weeks ago he was still so baby looking. Lisa is nearing the end of her pregnancy and the baby is a bit small for dates, so she is having extra appointments and ultrasounds to make sure that all is ok. I have my fingres crossed for her.

Well that is proabably all for today. Holly is back at school which is nice, but the kids really miss having her to play with. I took her yesterday and Amy was her News. The teacher asked “Holly, what is the best thing about being a big sister?”

She replied “I get to put the dummy in when she cries.” Ahh – yes, mummy’s little helper.

Have a great day 🙂

Time is flying, Amy is 2 and a half weeks old, and we just had a great week here with Adas and Lin. They were such a great help – just the sort of visitors you need when you are tired and emotional and feeling fairly helpless. Lin cleaned up to have the place shining, and Adas had a Jessie Shadow which kept her mostly out of my hair so I could rest and take care of Amy. Adas cooked amazing meals for us and we even had a dinner party on Monday with Mum and Dad and James and Sascha (and Zoe).

We did a lot of site-seeing. The AIS, National Dinosaur Museum, Questacon, Floriade and of course Brand Depot (a new mega huge factory outlet place here in Canberra).

Holly and Meg arrived back from Port Macquarie safe and sound and now all seems right with the world. We are settling in to a good life with a newborn and I even managed to go for a walk this morning and the other afternoon all alone, with Ipod and no baby attachments. How much better do you feel after a bit of excercise anf fresh air – a lot!

Today is the last day of the school holidays and I’m not sure how I feel about the rat race beginning on Monday. Meg got accepted in preschool this week, so that is another event for the juggling act next year. I’m already panicing about how I’ll manage. Breathe deeply – it will work itself out!

Ok, off to get some jobs done with ABC kids is interesting and Amy is asleep. Have a great day 🙂

PS I am missing you Adas and Lin – when are you coming back 🙂

I have 2 brothers and on Wednesday I forgot to call one for his birthday. Bad Bad sister. Happy Birthday Matt – Hope it was a good one – it being your first as a Daddy!

The second one, James, I have a bone to pick with. He does this magic trick for the kids where he gets a pencil and makes it disappear up his nose/ear etc. The kids are spellbound by it, especially Holly. Yeterday at the breakfast table Holly is playing with her ‘Ello” toys (you build little characters by sticking bits on sticks) and says

“I can do the magic trick like James”

and proceeds to push the little stick into her ear. A big Yelp later and she is bellowing about a sore ear. I grabbed my ear light (thank goodness I have one of those) and there was blood in her ear canal. I made an appointment with the GP and she said that it hadn’t perforated the eardrum, but made a scratch on it with had clotted and was going to probably be OK.

Now James – if I ever see you do that again you’ll be on the way to a smacked bottom!

Where does the time go? When you have a new baby that only eats and sleeps, how can the day go so fast?

Anyhoo, we are going great over here and even though the kids have been away all week, I’ve had the wonderful company of the in-laws to keep me sane and occupied. We’ve been out and about sight-seeing and shopping, and today they’ve gone to Sydney with Justin to pick up the girls. Can’t wait to see them, I know it’s only been 8 days, but it seems like a lifetime and I’m longing to give them a huge cuddle. They should be home soon.

It was Meg’s 4th birthday yesterday and our 9th Wedding anniversary on Wednesday. Lots to celebrate!!

I discovred yesterday that my aunty is a friend of Bobby’s Mum (Sideshow Bob from Australian Idol, as I have named him). So given that there is only 3 degrees of separation there, I feel that I can no longer bag him out. I know Moi loves him, but as I commented on her blog, I have this aversion to people with big hair. Should have put that one on my “Werid” list!! So anyway – Go Bobby 🙂

Must be feeding time as Amy is groaning and moaning and hoping that someone will come pick her up and give her a cuddle. Looks like that is my job!!

Take care all 🙂

Due date today and it came and went with no change in the status of things!

Saw the Dr and she said that the head is 2/5 engaged, which is a good sign that things might be moving along, as it is highly ususual for a 4th baby to be engaged at all. The back is now in perfect position for birth. So we keep waiting for now.

Had a great night out last night with the family at Mum and Dad’s. Penny’s sister was over from WA so we had a huge dinner, got home late and paid for both all night. I had terrible indigestion and Meg and Jess took it in turns to be whingy and sooky on the hour, so I had virtually no sleep. Fortunately, Lisa was brave enough to take Meg off my hands today, and Moi popped over for Morning tea, so I had a few distractions to keep me from throttling at least one child.

Wasn’t Steve Irwin’s Memorial great? Poor Terri, I feel for her so much, but a great tribute to her husband, much more appropriate than a State funeral, which just clearly wouldn’t have been his style.

Ok that is it for me now. I have to get off my feet and into a comfy chair, am so pooped I can barely think straight let alone type the right letters here.

Stay tuned………