this year I'm bloggin' again...

"It's no New Year's resolution, it's more than that"...
Great Christmas Day this end. I hate to be a boring cliche, but Christmas is just so much fun again, enjoying it through the kid's eyes. I must admit, I don't think there was ever a time I actually believed in Santa Claus, but I am really loving that my kids believe. It's so fun to see them wake up and be so thrilled that the milk and cookie that they left out had been eaten during the night. I think as usual we overdid it and the boys were just spoilt to the max. We got an inkling when they complained their arms were getting tired from unwrapping gifts. I would like to try and tone it down a bit next year, hoping that we haven't set the precedent already. I just end up feeling like such a consumer, wishing I could go against the wave of pressure to buy, buy, buy.
It was great seeing everyone although I was pretty preoccupied with little Zo. She got an hour long cuddle from Grandpa Don which was lovely.
Eli was a little sad on the way to our lunch. I think mainly he missed his family. I wish someone would hurry up and invent that atom mover that could transport us to another continent in seconds. Just think, Christmas Eve with Grandpa Walter in Vermont, Christmas Day with Judy, Roy, Dewey and Kira, and then Boxing Day back in Sunny Melbourne watching the cricket.
Ahhhhh... Dreams.
Will be back on track with blog this year...

little kids

Have been playing out on the back deck a lot this sunny, hot week. It's a great thing for the kids to do as they have spent so much time inside this Winter. I think we have a pretty beautiful bunch of kids, I'm a proud Mumma.

cup day bbq

We went over to Roula and Andrew's today for a BBQ and it was really fun. E is still on the Gold Coast so It was a bit sad for us not to have him there but everyone else came. Gypsy won two of the sweeps and I blew all my dough and didn't win a cent... I have pretty bad luck on the races generally.
Zoe is doing great, but won't sleep in a crib, or anywhere really except in my arms which is quite a challenge considering I only have two of them and they usually need to be doing a million other things.
Eli is back this weekend.
Looking forward to some more warm weather... and some more spring storms.

Zoe is 5 weeks old today...

Today Mum and I decided to take the kids to Fountain Gate after karate... what were we thinking? It always seems like something quite fun before we actually get there and then the whole shopping centre reality sets in. I end up becoming a ball of anxiety and just want to run from the place screaming. We did it though and actually got almost everything we needed on our list which was a bonus.

We have been slowly getting used to our new life with three kids. Zoe is pretty great and we are all in love with her. I just love my time alone with her at night when I can lay there and drink in her beautiful soft baby/milky smell. She is really starting to become more alert and I have to keep reminding myself to enjoy this present moment and not wish her onto her next milestone, this being my last baby I just want to enjoy every moment.

The boys are great, feisty as ever. Liam particularly is really testing us right now. He spent most of the time at the mall today on the floor refusing to budge. It's pretty hard to make him move while carrying a baby as well, so i had to keep thinking of creative ways to get him moving, when he would finally get up he would give me the cheekiest look, reveling in his naughtiness. Anyway I now never look down on harried, screechy Fountain Gate Mums because I officially am one.

a few pics from the last 3 days...

she's here...

After a surprising early water break (38 weeks) Zoe was born on Saturday after a speedy labor (around 1 hour). Eli and I rushed off to the hospital after mum arrived to look after the boys only to be a bit worried as no signs of contractions or labour had started. I was actually starting to panic I had gotten everyone worked up for a false labor. The nurse was deciding whether to send us home when she suggested maybe Eli and I take a little walk to see if anything happened first. Within about 10 minutes I was on the floor crawling up the stairs to get back into the delivery room, with Eli laughing all the way. Marti arrived as the contractions started to get more frequent and stronger and we were well into the swing of it within about another 20 minutes.
OK so if you haven't had a baby yet and think you are going to maybe you might skip this bit : )
I had Zoe pretty much drug free (a little gas which kinda freaked me out) and even though it was pretty quick from go to whoa, I have never experienced so much pain in my life. The boys were both induced under an epidural and this was a complete shock to me. Eli is now telling me at one point i was screaming out "HELP! HELP!, WHAT'S GOING ON?" which everyone found kind of funny as it seemed pretty obvious to everyone there what was happening except me. I think I was fully expecting to have my drug fix and ease my way through the labor and by the time I was in full panic mode and begging for some drugs it was too late. Anyway, in retrospect I am so happy I have experienced a natural childbirth, but I am so glad that will be my last.
We are all settling in pretty well here, I am still pretty amazed I have a little girl, and I am a Mumma of three... who would have thunk it. What a blessed life I have with my little family.

my beautiful family looking so happy at the wedding in june...