Odds on what my next post will be about...

Just looked at my past posts and all it is just of me say, 'Whoa, haven't blogged in a while...' So that's probably what the next post will say too if my stats are anything to go by. Haha.

Woah!! I kind of forgot about the whole blogging thing....

It has definitely been awhile... so much in fact that we have added another member to the clan. Our boy was born on December 13, 2010. (Hmmm... must think of a nickname for him...)He was born under water after an easy 5 hour labour; I never thought I would put easy and labour in the same sentence but there you go. I must have amnesia, because I just recently watched the video and nothing about it looked easy. Wowzers is all I can say, never realised 'it' actually could look like that! Anyhoo, moving on from the TMI moment... B-boy is a very sweet boy with the best hairdo around, he also does a wicked D.arth V.ader impression. Mabesy is the proudest big "stister" on the planet.
I am still plugging away at my nursing degree, I will graduate in 1.5 years and finally be an RN. Ugh, when I think how long 1.5 years in study time it feels like it will never happen but I am getting there. Uni started back about 10 weeks after B-boy born and has been a challenge but I am coping alright, therefor so is everyone else...haha.(ok, thought of a nickname, his initial and boy after it, very creative eh?).

Still Here

Exams are coming up so I am studying like mad and will be back in about 2 weeks.
Things have been pretty tame around here and not much else is new.
-Other than we sold the 'red lemon', our crap-tastic car.
-I recieved a $1000 fine for no rego because of a mix up with the RTA, still have to write a letter(sob story) to try to get off of it...
-Bought a reliable japanese made car.
After the 'red lemon' I have a new appriecation for reliable cars and the cost of repairs (or lack there of).
Go Team Subaru and suck it Team Landrover!
Booyah!

My study buddy

We have had a lovely weekend. Jenny's party was soooo much fun, although I did wake up this morning with my head a wee bit foggy. It was nothing a bit of caffeine and grease couldn't cure.
Although, Mabesy and I had to make B's father's day present this morning(because I some how ALWAYS forget that father's day in Australia is different to Canada; although I did remember last week for 20 minutes, enough time to by the crafts and then promptly forget again...) it was a bit hard to get motivated to do. She painted/glued some crap on canvas and I wrote happy father's day on it and he loved it. We also took him breaky in bed.
B took a 4 day weekend this week which is soo nice for us because he works 10pm-6am. It gives us a chance to all live within the same time schedule. He is basically nocturnal.
So after we got him up we headed of to the markets for good food, face painting and pony rides. Although me being a total idiot told a 2.5 year old before having the pony's right in front of my face to confirm there were indeed pony rides about to happen really sucked the big one when bam! no pony's this week! Suckage. Oh well, she got over it and we all headed to the beach with the pooch and built sand castles while the sun set. It was the perfect way to end a great weekend.

This is a picture Jenny's cake. I tried to load more but blogger wouldn't let me :( I love Jenny's logic, she figured since she bought the cake, she might as well be honest. Happy Birthday Jenny!

Mr. Sun, Mr. Sun shine a little light on me!

I woke up this morning when B got home from work at 6:30am to the sound of pouring rain and thought Jenny's party was going to be rained out. The thought of having to tell Mabesy that the bouncey castle she has been pining for wasn't going to happen was disappointing to say the least.
Later in the morning the sky's cleared and the sun came out with a roar and the kookaburra's started laughing. Mabesy even got to have her bath on the veranda.
We are about to put on our party dresses on and hit the road.
I think today will turn out just fine :)

TGIF!

Thank goodness it is Friday because I'm knackered. It has been a long day. It think the 2 hour drive to and from school has alot to do with it as well. It isn't an easy road to drive either, I think it is more apt to call it a goat track!
I had to go into to uni today for Bio, had a lecture first thing and then the labs. The lecture went right over my head, it was about acid base, electrolytes and fluid balance. zzzzz. It had alot of bio chem in it and I think when my brain starts seeing and hearing things like H+, HCL, ions and crap it just atrophies and shrivels up. eekk. I will definitely need to spend some extra time on it this week. It didn't help that during the lab when the lab assistant was going over the lab worksheets/questions she was only reading off the answers and then when the lab teacher came in she started correcting her because the lab assistant was talking(or reading) out of her ass. She basically feed us incorrect info the entire lab. It is just frustrating because bio is already a difficult subject for myself and that it is made even more so by someone in a teaching position that has no clue themselves. Not to mention we are paying big bucks in HECS for it. And breath, rant and whinge over.
Afterwards I headed over to my dear friend Jenny's house to help her get set up for her 40th party tomorrow. Can't wait, it should be lots of fun. She's even hired a bouncy castle and a sitter to hang around and watch the kiddo's for a bit so the adults can hang out and have a glass of wine and gasbag.
I made the mistake of telling Mabesy about the part and bouncy castle last week and ever since whenever we get in the car she asks if we are going to the girls house to play in the bouncy castle. Needless to say there has been quite a few disappointments this week.
I met Jenny in antenatal classes when we were preggers with our girls. Since then we have been great friends and our girls have as well. Jenny is also studying nursing with me as well. Our mum's are both nurses and our dad's both drunks. woo hoo. Although it is great to be able to talk to her about those things because she understands.
Anyways, I think it will be a lovely weekend. Mabesy and I are off for breaky with my sis in law , then we are off to Jenny's party for the rest of the day and then finish the weekend with a cruisy father's day on Sunday. Hopefully the sun will shine for us but if not oh well, when you live somewhere so dry and rely on rainwater for day to day life you have to take it when it comes. Although, it would be nice if those black clouds could go away and come back Monday ;)

?

I was reading through my usual blogs on reader and came upon my blog(this one, I nearly forgot it even existed) and to my suprise I have 3 subscribers. Wow, I'm shocked that I have anybody. I am so crap at keeping a blog that I'm suprised anyone out there would have the patience for me or care to hear about silly supermarket tantrums to flat tires. I guess I don't keep up with the blog because I figure the stuff I have to say could be bOrInG. Hmmm... I did start this as a journal to write stuff dowm to remember stuff and it could be quite cathartic. Maybe I shall just start writing about my boring day to day stuff. Why not.
On another completely different note, Mom has gotten her work visa and will be moving here soon!!! I hope that she can handle the summers here as she's not 'big on heat'. Looks like we will be A/C shopping. I am stoked beyond belief that she is coming her to live and be able to be a day to day part of our lives. I can't even remember what it is like to have family living close where I could drop by for a coffee and a chat or drop the kiddo off for a couple of hours sanity. She said that hopefully the big move will happen in the next few months, she told me that she doesn't want to be in Canada for the winter. WooooT!

Now that is what I call a haitus!

Wow. It has been a while.
So much and so little has happened.
In my last post I was going to Canada to visit my family and spend time with my Granny. It was a wonderful trip and I ended up staying just over two months. It was a magical summer spent with them. Beautiful weather, beautiful people but most of all beautiful memories.
It was my Granny's last summer and she past away a few months after we left. She passed in her sleep after a brave battle with cancer. She never seen herself a strong women but she was in every sense of the word. She'd had some hard times in her life as a first nations woman and always managed to pick herself up and keep going.
It hasn't been a good couple of years for my family, so much tragedy. We lost both my Grandpa, Granny, my cousin R and my Uncle R. We have lost too many people in our family and so hopeful things will start looking up. It has been extremely hard on my Mom. She also suddenly lost her best girlfriend that she's know for years.
It has been hard on me as well but living so far away for so many years I don't have the day to day loss as the rest of my family. But it is hard none the less.
Anyways, enough of the heavy stuff...life is a yo-yo and what goes down must come up. Right? RIGHT???
So I did what I perceived as the impossible for myself. I started uni. I never seen myself as someone who was clever, smart, or whatever enough to enter the academic world. But gosh darn it, I went and did it!(A bit of Stuart Smiley for ya!)
I had to do a tertiary prep course and upon successfully finishing it they gave me an offer! I still keep waiting for someone to jump out of the bushes and tell me that I've been "punked" and to get off campus. Those thoughts are slowly fading and I'm getting used to my new label as a uni student. I passed my first semester with flying colours so I'm breathing a wee bit easier.
Mabesy has grown up sooo much. I no longer have a baby but a little girl. Sniff, sniff... She is a happy, funny, cute and typical two year old full of tantrums and battle of the wills. Love her. I know that she will never be pushed around and told what to do.
Oh yeah, I also got my Australian citizenship. I would like to thank the Australian government by allowing big to accumulate a ginormous HECS debt. Thank you! Seriously thank you...without you I'd have to sell crack in a back alley to pay for my tuition...

We Are Leaving on a Jetplane.

Tickets have been booked, plans have been made and we are going to Canada. We managed to book a direct flight from Sydney to Vancouver, no stop overs and only 14 hours. Not bad, I think I can handle that. Of course I say this sitting on my couch while Mabesy is napping and it is peaceful and quite. I might change my tune when we are 30,000 feet in the air and Mabesy is screeching and having a meltdown because she is over tired and confined from doing what 18 month olds do. But heh, no biggie. It is only 14 hours and as they say,"This to shall pass"( This will probably be my mid flight mantra) I am looking forward to seeing Mabesy get very excited at the airport when she sees all the airpowaynes. Mabesynese for airplane.

I getting very excited to see everybody, especially Gran. It will be my first time in Vancouver during the summer in years, I'm looking forward to it.

On another completely different note, I think Caillou is a whiny little a-hole. Unfortunately Mabesy watches it when it is one so I will just have to learn to suffer through his little whiny a-hole-ness.

I Love Jemaine and Brett

I probably find this so amusing because this probably most accurately describes "business time" in our house.

Happy Mothers Day

I am very lucky to have the mom I have. I remember my childhood fondly. She was always up for doing fun things. We would make cookies and/or play doh together regularly. Or go on nature walks and look at all the bugs and flowers. She would wipe away my tears with a warm wash cloth and give me all the cuddles I needed when I would come home from school after a day of being bullied and make me feel all better. She even helped me egg one of the bulling bitches mailbox. The biotch deserved it. She also tried very hard not to laugh at me when I got sprayed by a tiger at the zoo but of course I got all pissy(no pun intended, haha) because that just what preteen girls do best. My mom was my best friend growing up, still is and always will be. Being an only child she made sure I was never bored. We've had so much fun together, going to movies, shopping and people watching. She didn't kill me still loves me even though a a 16 year old girl went to the Vancouver riots and didn't come home until 4am. while she watched the news in horror thinking her little girl was going to get killed, or when I put her car in the ditch and got delivered home but the cops. I have a new appreciation for this now that I'm a mother, and I'm so very sorry for those things.I got a tattoo when I was 13, ya I was a mighty badass, and a few years later when I finally felt I had to tell her, hiding was just getting to hard. I told her I had something I needed to tell her and ummed and awwed for ages and told her that she was going to be upset. She started getting concerned about what I wanted to tell her and thought that I was going to tell her I was a lesbian. When she asked me if that's what it was I told her "no, I have tattoo" She said, "Oh, that's it? I thought you were going to tell me you were a lesbian, a tattoo? That's alright then." She wouldn't care if I were gay anyways. I hope that I can be the kind of mom to Mabesy that my mom was/is to me.

This is my second mothers day, I can't believe how lucky I am to have my baby lady. She completes my life. I thank the stars everyday that she is happy and healthy and can't wait for our years together and what adventures they may bring.

This morning I was awoken by B and Mabesy with coffee and doughnuts in bed. It was lovely. I also got a pair of pink ugg boots because I've been bitching commenting on how cold my feet have been lately. B also got Mabesy a matching pair. I took a picture but the computer will not read my new card. Bummer. This afternoon we are meeting some good friends at the beach who have a little girl 3 days younger than Mabesy.

To all the mommies out there, I wish you a happy mothers day and hope you have a lovely day with your family. Too the mommies that my not have their babies to hold and hug because they left too soon and the mommies that no longer have theirs, I'll be thinking of you today. Love to all! I love you Mama!!!

I've Got The Expat Blues...Da na na na na

Sometimes I wonder what I'm doing living on the other side of the world to my family. Although I love Australia, it is where my own family is. It is where I fell in love with B, it is the country where I gave birth to my daughter and have raised her so far. But everyone I want to share it with is a bazillion miles away. It makes me feel sad and guilty. My gran is quite sick and when I think about it, this is when I get my saddest. I am so far away and all I want to do is be able to spend time with her and for her to spend time with my daughter. I know it would light her heart up to see Sue-Sue again. And I also feel terrible that I have denied my mom the experience of being a hands on Grandma. I know it breaks her heart and mine too. Mabel would love to see her Granny and get spoilt rotten. I would love to go home and visit everyone, but the thought of flying 24 hours with a 1.5 year old scares the bejesus out of me. Maybe I need to get over that and realize that it is only 24 hours and we'll survive and get my ass on a plane...

Life's a Beach

To be young and free.



Stepping out of your comfort zone.



Finding new adventures



Learning to trust.



Making friends.



Being with those you love.



Most importanly not forgeting to stop and smell the wah-wah's(flowers)

We Are So Moving To New Zealand For The Next One!

Seeing Miss Mabes did not sleep through until a couple of months ago, I'll try anything if it means more sleep with numero duo...(I feel as if I should add a disclaimer here, as my mom is probably the only one that reads this...) There is no numero duo on the way at the moment.

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(Apparently)New Zealand Babies Sleep The Best
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An international survey has found New Zealand babies sleep better and go to bed earlier than any other babies worldwide and, crucially, wake less during the night.


The survey, commissioned by baby product developer Johnson’s Baby, examined the sleeping habits of nearly 8000 babies aged 0-36 months in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the UK and the United States.
The survey also discovered babies here were less likely to be difficult to settle to sleep.

The survey said New Zealand babies woke less than average during the night (0.9 times per night), were less likely to sleep in their parents’ bedroom (18%) and were more likely to have the same bedtime routine (82%).

Dr Alex Bartle, director of the Sleep Well Clinics, said parents who were worried about their children’s sleep patterns needed to focus on routine.

‘‘Establishing a routine is the essence to getting babies to sleep better. For infants up to 6 or 9 months old, parents should try and establish a routine of half-an-hour quiet time before baby is bathed, massaged and put to bed,’’ Dr Bartle said.

‘‘For toddlers, parents can allow up to an hour’s quiet time before their bedtime routine begins. This routine should consist of pyjamas, teeth, toilet and bed. Once the toddler is in bed, parents can read them a story then lights out.’’

Lovin' This

Chris Cornell's cover of Billie Jean. Poo poo on you Wacko Jacko. Which do you prefer? Although, I can't help but to want to bust a move to WJ's version.

Sometimes you just can't win

My SIL M, the one who is doing IVF and only has a few months before she is no longer able to pursue it due to age, has had a crap month. I feel so bad for her and wish that she could catch a break. She had one embryo transferred a few weeks ago, it didn't work. And now she is in hospital with pneumonia, and because of that she will miss a cycle and that is big seeing time isn't one her side. She only has time for 4 more cycles and that is if they are back to back. Cross your fingers for her. She wants this so bad. I can't imagine her pain to want something so bad and it just be out of reach. She is in such a panic. Unfortunately this cartoon is too true.

Dear Mabsey Babsey,

The little things that I never want to forget
-You like to tickle your eyelashes as you fall asleep.
-You wave bye-bye when your tired and ready for night-nights.
-You do a mean Flavor Flav impression when you choose your own accessories (see picture).
-You eat tomatoes like they are apples.
-I love having breakfast with you and when you feed me your pre chewed banana's(You are the ONLY person on earth that I will let do that!)
-You've recently learnt to take your nappy of and love to poop with it off, you've also stepped in it and thought that it was hilarious. And because we are your mom and dad we think it is funny to and kind of cute.
-You love to dance. And you have some spectacular moves I must say, and I'm convinced that you'll win season 15 of So You Think You Can Dance.
-You like to walk around with a shirt on your head so you can't see and bump into things.
-You love your doggy and he is learning to love you. You are always trying to kiss him and at the moment he is always trying to hide, you pull his ears and make him cry but he never gets angry and tries to bite you.
-You still love your sue-sue (dummy). I was only going to give it to you until you were 6 weeks, but whatever, I couldn't take it away because you love it so.
-You can now say doggy, more, mommy, daddy, birdie, turkey, bottle, your doggies name, Coco, but to a stranger they might not know what your trying to say. But I'm your mommy so I can hear it.
-You make gratuitous yum sounds when your served food. (Which I thank you because I know I'm not the best cook)
-The beach is one of your favorite places.
-You yell WEEEEEAAAHHHH when on the swings or slide.
-You try to drink your bottle or give kisses with your sue-sue in. (Very cute)
-Your Dada and I are always talking about you and the cute things you've done that day after you've gone to bed.
I love you and am so proud of you and grateful to be your Mama, and always will.

About Bloody Time

The Blues and Roots Festival will now be held at Belongil Fields this year. So hopefully now you can breath AND expand your lungs, instead of feeling like your in a 2 man tent with 20 of your stinkiest mates. Now I just need a bazillion dollars so I can go throw my knickers at the John Butler Trio and steal one of their used Hankies. Whatever. Kidding. Really. Don't even ask me what I would steal or throw if Ben Harper was going to be there this year. Seriously.

Only Once Every 4 Years

In honour of all the leap year babies out there HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!