Easy update...

I'm going to cheat with the long rattling-on update of what's been happening in my life, by only filling out this little questionnaire I found on Tam's site - thanks Tam :)

10 Favorites
Favorite Color: pink or brown or teal
Favorite Food: at the moment I'm really enjoying marinated chicken wings :)
Favorite Month: May because it will be my b'day and Bubby's due date!
Favorite Song at the moment: Cry out for Jesus, but Third Day
Favorite Movie: Love Actually
Favorite Sport: if any, basketball
Favorite Season: late Autumn
Favorite Day of the week: Sunday
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: choc-mint or choc-orange
Favorite Time of Day: probably morning

9 Currents
Current Mood: a little sleepy, I should have stayed in bed a bit longer...
Current Taste: coffee (what kind of 'taste' does that qn entail anyway??)
Current Clothes: pink 'too-small coz its not maternity' nightie
Current Desktop: me, pregnant belly @ 7 months... need an update of my family pic though I think :)
Current Toenail Color: nothing, I don't own any polish!
Current Time: 8.35am
Current Surroundings: very VERY messy study
Current Thoughts: coffee top-up time

8 Firsts
First Best Friend: can't remember primary school, but Mel in highschool, for about 5 years.
First Kiss: My first boyfriend in grade 9 as far as I remember...
First Screen Name: don't remember
First Pet: dog Terra
First Piercing: ears
First Crush: Don't know! Probably some boy when I was 5.
First CD: Michael Jackson - Dangerous... heehee...

7 Lasts
Last Cigarette: probably not in about a year
Last Drink: Cruiser Ice a couple of nights ago
Last Car Ride: home from work yesterday afternoon (how exciting!)
Last Kiss: hubby, last night
Last Movie Seen: Harry Potter (latest one, can't relelber what its called!)
Last Phone Call: to Mum last night
Last CD Played: probably NewsBoys or Black Eyed Peas

6 Have You Evers
Have You Ever Dated One Of Your Best Guy/Girl Friends: Didn't really date but kinda fooled around a little...
Have You Ever Broken the Law: Only speeding fines - havne't had one for a couple of years though
Have You Ever Been Arrested: No
Have You Ever Skinny Dipped: I don't think so
Have You Ever Been on TV: Yes, on Agro's Cartoon Connection as a kid, and on Extra when I did Work Experience there when I was 17.
Have You Ever Kissed Someone You Didn't Know: Yes

5 Things
Thing You're Wearing: glasses
Thing You've Done Today: eaten breakfast
Thing You Can Hear Right Now: air-conditioner and computer
Thing You Can't Live Without: my family
Thing You Do When You're Bored: read or watch TV

4 Places You've Been today
1. to the toilet - and that's about it so far! lol
2. PLANNING to do today - work & easter egg shopping
3.
4.

3 People You Can Tell Anything To
1. God
2. Greg
3.

2 Choices
1. Black or White: black
2. Hot or Cold: cold - weather that is, so I can rug up and be warm, not sweaty

1 Thing You Want to Do Before You Die
See my children grow up

Been a bit AWOL, sorry...

Hello blog,

I've been a bit AWOL, I know. Sorry. Guess I've been a bit of a busy girl. Between working lunch breaks most days and still trying to fit in all the other stuff I have to do, its a little harder when it breaks up my days. Only have a couple of hours in the mornings to do all the important stuff, then its fitting other things in when Jaidyn is home and not demanding too much attention in the afternoons.

Nothing too much to report I guess. Baby is growing well. Due date is getting closer and closer - good golly. Only a bit over 8 weeks now. Yikes! I am feeling really well - I think doing a few hours a day of work is really helping to not be so fat and lazy! Lol...

My beautiful friend Clare had a baby girl last Thursday. They also moved house yesterday - crazy huh! I'm just trying to be there to help out with whatever I can during this stressful time of not only adapting to being a new mum, but packing and unpacking a house too. Her baby girl, Tabitha Abigail is so tiny and so beautiful. She was born 7.5 lbs, only half a lb smaller than Jaidyn, and gosh, its hard to remember he was almost as small as she is! Babies are so beautiful, and such a wonderful miracle from God. Clare and her hubby Tasman are from our old church, but they live only 3 mins around the road, here on the northside... so I have invited Clare to come to our Mothers Group at church when she's ready - will be good for her to be around some other Mums during the week too, as being a SAHM can get a little lonely if you're used to working!

We are having a few friends around on Sunday for an afternoon tea to celebrate our coming bundle of joy. I'm having fun organising some games to play. There are so many that I found on the net - I just hope we get a chance to play all the ones I've picked out :)

We are heading off on our family holiday to Mt Gambier (with a couple of nights in Melbourne too) in only a few weeks.. so we've been busy trying to organise the rest of it, which is quite a lot coz we are a bit slack. We have priced hiring a car from Melb- Mt Gambier and its going to cost the same to fly, so yay, I won't be sitting in a car for 5 hours @ 35 weeks pregnant... only 1.5 hours in a small plane :)... unless Greg's parents decide to come and get us... has been a bit more confusing than I initially thought as I have to organise a medical certificate both times before I fly, as I will be 35 and 36 weeks at those times. I'm going to try and see if my doc will say that I'm not 36 weeks until the week I get home (only 3 days after I am) so I don't have to get one in Mt Gambier too... really, due dates are so vague, so what's a few days? I hope she will, save that hassle. We are really looking forward to it. I'm just having troubles finding any of my warm clothes that fit at the moment, so have to buy some maternity jeans (which I'll wear here anyway) and a couple of longer sleeved tops... hopefully the jackets I already have will do - just not be able to do them up!

I also want to say a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Rozzie for Saturday too... I'm not sure if I'll be online before then, or if I'll have enough of a connection speed (although it seems to be getting a bit faster again)... so have a wonderful day Rozzie!!!

Well, today I have lots of housework to catch-up on, so better get cracking.

Nat xx

My bump, my bump, my bump...

Well, here it is in all it's glory. My bump at 29 weeks pregnant...

it's funny - I've had a few people recently say to me that I don't look almost 7 months pregnant... strange because at 20 weeks people asked if I was having twins!
















































I'm getting more and more clucky each and every day. Can't wait for this little bundle to arrive... have a couple of names picked out, but they are not set in stone and knowing me I'll get over them and want something diffferent next month anyway!

I'm itching to start setting up the nursery now. Can't seem to get much done though because I want to decorate in either pink gingham (jingham!) and green if its a girl or dark blue ginham and green if its a boy.... so that rules out the curtains, bedspread, little bits and pieces till then. I guess I can start collecting some green things. There are also no shelves, no curtain rods and only one hook on the wall so I'll have to ask the real estate if I can put some of those in... oh how nice it would be to own a house and be able to paint the walls!

We also need to buy some furniture and that has to wait until the budget allows... frustrating I tell you! We've decided to try to get another change table, but instead of a 'proper' one, we are going to try to find a second-hand square or oblong table that will have room for the change-mat and some baskets on the side to hold lotions etc, and where I'll be able to fit the bath on the top for bathtime too, or else it will have to be on the kitchen table! Going to have a bit of a look on Ebay and in the Trading Post I think.

In the next week I have to organise a new mattress to be made, plus cleaning up the capsule and taking it for a safety check. All those exciting little bits and pieces. We still haven't bought a pram yet. ALDI had one last year for $100 (a 'mothers choice' brand that usually retails for about $230) and Greg's boss said it should come back before baby is due, so we're hanging out for that one... if it doesn't come in time I guess we'll just have to spend a little more.

Was reading a Pregnancy and Birth magazine the other day and there was an article with diary entries following one woman through the nine months. I now wish that I had started a diary so that I could remember all the little things that happened and when. I'm writing from now on (probably weekly if anything new), and trying to go back and remember some of the important and special moments and write a bit about them. Hopefully too, I can have a little look through my archives here and there'll be some stuff too. It really is such a special time, and over too quick, so I want to document it all.

Well, I'm off to look on Ebay now.
Ciao xx

P.S. Eck - I'm just dying to see your little bump - surely you've got something there by now?? Take some piccies to share please?? BTW how did your weekend go?

Very slow internet connection...

Our super-slow dial-up connection is pissing me off so much right now!!! I can hardly even check emails and my bank account, let alone load and check everyone's blogs and my fave websites... gggrrrrr..... 7.2kbps - that's as fast as it will go right now. And that's with a 56kb modem and it doesn't seem to matter what time of day it is... oh gosh, we soooo need Broadband.... but unfortunately can't afford that for a while yet.... ggrrrr.... I think I'll just stay off the net for a while.

Not much happening in my life. Been getting a few shifts at childcare now. I did 5 hours on Friday (instead of hanging out with the ladies from church) and I've done lunch relief for 2 hours yesterday and today too. I have full shifts (8 hours) on Thursday and Friday and I don't know if I can do it (think a 6.5 month pregnant woman bending down to clean tiny tables and pick up little kids every 5 mins = very sore back) but we need every cent we can get at the moment so I'll just have to live through the aches and pains I guess! Yuck.....

Well, I'm sick and tired of this computer. Will have to catch up on your blogs all at a later date when hopefully the speed picks up. Now to wait 10-15 mins while this loads, lol....

Nat xx

Beautiful rainy weather...

I just LOVE this weather! Perfect inside weather. Good for housework (even if I'm not really doing it, lol) GREAT for scrapping, curling up with a magazine and a coffee, and of course for SLEEPING..... I just love it!

And the heat is gone - yes! Which is MUCH MORE comfortable for this 'fat' lady :)

Last week, we had to put Greg's car in for a new motor. Ouch on the budget! I also misjudged how much money I had in my savings account, so we had to pretty much draw money from every-which-where to pay for it. The good thing about this though, is that I finally pulled my finger out and put my name down for relief work at local childcare centres. I didn't particularly want to work in childcare, but I've made most of my availability between school hours, and its only for the next 2 months, so it shouldn't be too bad. Now hopefully I'll just pick up some work each week to help a little with the finances. I already have two days next week (thursday and friday) so that will be good. I haven't worked for about 1.5 years, apart from my Crafty Kids parties, so I am looking forward to it, and especially because its working with kids again...

Hello Eck!! Its so good to have you back in blogging land again. I shall have to give you a call this week so we can arrange a time to get together and do maybe a spot of baby-shopping, even if its just browsing!!

My mind has been crazy about baby stuff this week. I had my first maternity appointment on Tuesday (and Eck, I didn't get in trouble for leaving it till week 28, hehe, lucky me - have you gone yet??), and they gave me my 'bounty' bag, which was full of samples, a baby diary to mark things in his/her first 5 years (I never got one of those at Ipswich hospital with Jaidyn!), plus a couple of magazines.... I've been pouring over the mags, so baby things are just running around in my mind - cots, prams, how to decorate, and all the little things we will still need to buy... I think its actually affected my sleep too! Been sleeping really crappy for the last week or so - restless, getting up to the loo every few hours... but I guess it will prepare me for the bubby hey?? Gosh, I've still got 3 months to wait, and I'm super excited about it all NOW!!

I've even been doing a little scrapping in this wonderful rainy weather. I've been working on my 'pregnancy album' which is not quite an album really, but will document all the little bits and pieces, and hopefully I'll display it in baby's room once he/she is born.... I even managed to find some papers with pink, blue and green so it will go with either sex... will share it when its all finished - so like next year maybe... lol, no I plan to have it done by baby's birth!

Have a good week all. Today I plan to socialise with the mothers from church then have a lovely sleep after lunch in the nice cool air. Maybe I'll get back to the scrapping I've been doing a bit of this week too.

Nat xx

the little things

My life has been boring, I was just thinking. Was just pondering what I could bore you all with this week. Nothing major has occured. No doctors appointments, no big photo shoots, no overly interesting family events.

Then I just read Tara Whitney's entry for this week. Wow, that woman can write. It has been a year since her beautiful daughter McKenna was badly burnt. I remember reading it a few months back. Remember searching to find out exactly what happened. Remember not finding it, but feeling a mother's pain, anguish and emotion through the weeks that McKenna was holding on for her dear little life. I read today what happened. Nothing overly dramatic. In fact, something that could so easily happen to any one of us. To any one of our precious children.

Reading this has made me reflect on my own life, my family. Its not the big things that matter. Its not the big family events. Its not the days out with friends.

Its the little moments you spend together. Its the hours before and after school when you don't do anything in particular but just spend time with them. Watch them get dressed on their own. Watch them eat their breakfast, brush teeth. Ask them how their day was. What did they learn. Its the little things.

And gosh, how we let these minutes go past. Forget them. Focus on the big things. But these are the moments that make us who we are. Who we are as individuals and who we are in our families. The special little moments that count.

Today Jaidyn is having the day off school. He's not sick. And he's not having the day off just because I was touched by Tara's post. (actually its because Greg took my car to work and I can't really be bothered to walk to school - too hot). But... today I'm going to make the most of my time with my son. Sure, I'll get the housework done, I might watch my DVD or Dr Phil. But I'm going to play with my son. Going to build some lego. Go to the park. Make a book. Do some writing. I'm going to focus on him and our relationship.

Thanks Tara for showing me the special things in life. Because so easily they can be taken away. So easily.

Nat

Bye Bye little sis...

Well, my little sister has gone, and I won't see her for 12 months! I don't think it's quite sunk in how long that is! She's off gallavanting to Holland (and various other holiday destinations) on an exchange. We all went to the airport to see her off yesterday. No tears though, funny that. I think maybe the fact that you can't see them down the plane chute in the International Terminal, but just down an escalator to customs instead. Anyway, she's going to have the time of her life! So now it will make me the oldest daughter and the only one not to travel yet... bummer... but I guess I chose family over that for now hey.

One of the sad things about Shanny heading off for a year is that she won't even see my new baby until he/she is 6 months old. She was always around with Jaidyn (she was only 12 when he was born!) and it will just be different this time. But I'll send her lots of photos and Mum and Dad are probably buying a camcorder soon so I can send her videos too.

Gonna miss her so much! Shanny, if you read this at all (I don't you do though), have a brilliant brilliant time. Hope the plane-trip wasn't too long for you! I love you lots and lots and will miss you even more!

Nat xx

Life Makeover Challenges

I've decided to join in with Zina Wright and a whole heap of Scrapboxx girls (like 70 I think!) in the 'Life Makeover Challenges' that Zina is hosting on the Boxx website. Zina is leading us through a book about changing your life for the better, and we have a different challenge each week, focussing on ourselves, our strong points and where we want to improve our lives over the next year. I'm going to keep a journal at home, with extra bits and bobs in it, as well as the weekly challenges, plus I'm keeping up with the Boxx by posting my responses on the website, but I thought I might also keep a record of what I'm doing and thinking in my blog too. I'm trying to convince Greg to join in with me too, as he could really use some cheering up and focussing on things in his life now too, so I might just put some of his responses here too if he lets me, and we can work through it together, as well as myself with the Boxx girls.

Challenge week one was to think good thoughts about ourselves and to reflect on our accomplishments over the last 12 months, then come up with 25! Here's mine:

25 Achievements in the last 12 months.

1. Finished my teaching degree. I started this when Jaidyn was only 2 months old and feel very proud that I accomplished it while being a single mum (and some of while being married too).
2. Achieved my first 7 in my university degree. It was a goal of mine to achieve a 7 before I finished my degree and I did!
3. Made it through my first ever important job interviews – and did a good job I think.
4. Started my own business. I overcame some ‘shyness’ boundaries and did something for me. Have met some great new people in this, and while still a long way until it is successful, I am working hard at it.
5. Got through my first year of marriage. People say the first year can be the hardest, and we are more in love today than we were 2 years ago, so I think that makes it a success.
6. Began to ‘let-go’ of my baby boy. He was off to preschool last year and school this year, and this is always hard for a Mum!
7. Changed churches and became planted in the one we now call home.
8. Made some wonderful relationships with new people from church, old and young.
9. Lost 6kgs (but then put it back on – but still an achievement!)
10. Fell pregnant with my second child and my husband’s first!
11. Told Mum and Dad that we were pregnant – gosh, that was hard, even when married and 23, rather than 17 and just out of school like with Jaidyn!
12. Supported Greg through a new career with long and sometimes hard-to-socialise hours.
13. Grown in my relationship with God.
14. Learnt to trust more things to God. I can’t do everything in my own strength and have been able to give more things over to Him.
15. Started Scrapbooking again. Only baby steps yet, but I’m trying to get back into the swing of it again, after a long dry spell.
16. Taught classes in two local Scrapbooking store. I loved doing this!
17. Have persevered in organising classes from my own home, even if I have not had many takers yet! Perseverence, perseverance.
18. Have begun to use my own handwriting in my Scrapbooking, and spent more time writing heart-felt journaling at that.
19. Started to organise my time a little better.
20. Started to become a better housewife and take pride in my surroundings.
21. Started to work my house to routines which work a lot better.
22. Read lots of books about improving my life – mainly spiritually.
23. Learned to control my anger and temper tantrums better.
24. Learnt to listen to Greg’s concerns more, rather than jumping to my own conclusions.
25. Spent more time with Greg and Jaidyn and my family.

I think I migt revise them a little when I do it with DH, but until then, there it is.
Anyone else want to join in who isn't on the Boxx? Ultimately it will be best to join up and read the excerpts from the book too, so you can get a feel for the whole challenge and content... but feel free just to do these challenges even if you can't join up.

I'll post here every week (will give me something to post about at least!)

Another week down

Well, it seems I have again been neglecting my blog. Possibly due to the fact that my life is not that interesting really.

So what have I done in the last week? Nothing of significance springs to mind really. Although I did seem to have a rather social week actually.

Oh, we visited friend's new baby girl, Elara Kate last Tuesday. Beautiful and very quiet (she was asleep even with Jaidyn hoo-haa-ing around their lounge-room). 9lb 10oz, ouch. But made us really clucky and wanting out baby to come out NOW! Lol... only another 3.5 months to wait huh.

Had a nice long coffee with my close friend Michelle this week too. We see eachother everyweek at church and cell group but not so often by ourselves, so it was a great time to catch-up.

Had my beautiful friend Clare over this morning for a coffee. She is 35 weeks pregnant, and oh-so-beautiful. I just love her baby belly, although my 25 week belly doesn't look a great deal smaller... lol... yikes... she is on maternity leave not so we've vowed to see eachother more often in the next 5 weeks. Even go baby shopping - she only lives 5 mins away!

I had my Jewellery party on Friday night. Most of my friends cancelled or couldn't come (seems the usual with me) but I still had a few ladies from church come along, and I managed to score a free necklace with the sales percentage from the night. I just love jewellery. Kept thinking how much I would love to do jewellery parties, but was a little turned off seeing how long it took the lady to set up and pack up - 1.5 hours to set up and about an hour to pack up - no thanks! Still absolutley beautiful stuff though. My poor back and baby belly couldn't an hour and a half of walking around a couple of tables and bending over though like I did a couple of months ago.

I've been spending some time working out my class timetable for workshops this week. While I haven't really had any bookings yet, I guess I still like to play around and plan classes, and just hope someone takes a bite. This time I've printed out lots of flyers with lots of info that I'm planning on dropping in local letterboxes. Fingers crossed for some interest please ok!

Oh, I'm also thinking of going back to study while I'm home with a new bub. Seeing as though I won't be able to work at all, probably for at least 6-12 months, it seems a good time to start on a Masters..? Only external and perhaps part-time though, but I have to look into the options a bit now.

Well, that's my boring week. Don't have a huge lot planned this week. My baby sister (shanyn, 17) is heading off on her exchange to Holland for a year on Thursday. I'll miss her heaps and she won't see her new nephew or neice for 6 months! But its going to be such a great opportunity for her.

Take care all, nat xx

I'm on a roll.....

Can you believe it - I ACTUALLY DID SOME SCRAPPING!!

Wow. I can't believe it either. But I hope it has given me the motivation and inspiration to get some more done now. I really enjoyed it too... good to be back in the swing of things...

Anyway, here's what I did:

I just looove these new pics of my belly! I am so loving being pregnant! Its all such a wonderful experience.











and this:















Well, hope you all had a great weekend, and have a great week ahead! I'm off to do the groceries, then hopefuly come back and scrap! nice semi-rainy weather for it.

Nat

Would you look at that belly!!

Well, we took those photos I promised today. And this is my new fave maternity top. It's pink and it hides part of my fat arms, lol. My awesome Mum picked it up for me on special (she's bought me more tops than I have).




24 weeks pregnant









I also just wanted to say a special hello to Shari. I'm thinking of you mate, and I know that giving up your 'baby' (ASC) will have been a hard thing to do. I hope it all works out for the best and that it was the right thing for you and your family. Thankyou for being the one who gave me the opportunity to meet so many wonderful friends and so many inspirational scrappers. You hold a special place in my heart, and I am praying for you and the family each and every time.

Tagged

My lvoely friend Kathie tagged me :)

The rules for this particular tagging are as follows: Remove the blog name in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add yourself to the bottom slot.

Ngaire
Charleigh
Samantha
Kathie
Natalie

Here are the questions:

What were you doing 10 years ago?

Going through puberty! I would have been going into Year Nine at highschool. Had to make new friends as I did Year 8 in a German Immersion class and it was rather segregated. Probably most things that a normal 13 year old girl did - boys, friends, and more boys.

What were you doing 1 year ago?

This time last year I was getting ready to go back to uni for my last semester. My boy would have just started preschool and we would have recently moved into our house at Greenslopes. Greg was still working night-shifts at Woolworths and I would have just finished working at Vacation Care for the holidays. Probably filled my time much like what I do now - a whole fat-lot of nothing!

Five snacks that you enjoy:

Biscuits
Chocolate (or anything sweet really!)
Grapes or sometimes mangoes if I remember they are in the fridge
Toast
Rice crackers and salsa if I'm feeling healthy

Five songs to which you know all the lyrics:

Most of the songs from 'Dirty Dancing'


Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:

Travel around the world
Buy a house somewhere beautiful and a house-maid to go with it!
Buy a scrap-shop maybe?
Study photography at an expensive institute
Give lots of money to our church

Five bad habits:

Terrible time-management
Messy and disorganised
Walking while talking on the phone
Lazy
Nail-biter

Five things you like doing:

Scrapbooking
Surfing the net
Reading
Fellowship with friends
Shopping (with lots of money to spend on me!)

Five things you would never wear, buy, or get again:

A bikini (sad sad I know, but stretch marks will prevent me from ever having a bikini-bod, even if I was think enough)
Short shorts that show off my fat arse
A long gym membership because I never finish them and end up wasting money
...can't think of any more...

Five Favourite toys:

My 350D
Computer
Air-conditioning
Our new bigger TV
My new car when I get one!! lol

5 People I am tagging:

Deb
Brooke
Ruthy
Hayley
Sarah

Update

Oh gosh, it's been over a week since I blogged. Bad me.

So what's been going on in my life this last week? Hmmm....

Most exciting news to report is that Greg felt the baby kick last night!! I've been getting him to put his hand over my bely for days now, just to see if he can, and last night he felt it! It was so exciting! Bubby moves around heaps, so I'm sure it will be a recurring and common thing now for my boys to be able to feel the joys of our baby moving inside.

My belly is growing HUGE!! I'm going to get Greg to take some photos tomorrow when he's home in the morning as it will be a month since we last took pictures, and I'm 24 weeks this Friday. I think this baby is going to be a BIG one!! I'm only 6 months now, and already its rather big!! Ouch to having a baby over 8 lbs...

We've had a VERY lazy few days. Greg got 5 days off this week. Starting Australia Day, we did a few odd jobs taht day and had friends over for a BBQ that night. Since then though, I really don't know what we did! It certainly wasn't the jobs we had marked down to do - oops... I think much of it was spent watching the Family series of The Amazing Race... and we spend all day Monday watching half of the second season of LOST... ooh, sooo goooood..... now I just have to wait again to get some more off Greg's brother as he gets them from USA.... I loooove LOST.

I've been getting a fair bit of heartburn/reflux lately. A few friends have told me some foods to avoid - onions, spicy stuff etc.... but if you have anything to add to that, please do. Also, if anyone has suffered from this during pregnancy, what have you taken for it? It gets sooooo uncomfortable! Ouch!

Well, I better get upstairs and keep cleaning. For some strange reason, I have actually started clearing out the spare/junk room and I want to make it a baby's room asap.... nesting period isn't meant until then end of pregnancy is it?

Nat xx

All grown up...

My 'baby' went off to his first day of school today. (sigh...) I thought I was more than ready for him to go off to school (we've been driving each other nuts for the last week or so), but when I see him in that gorgeous little uniform, well, the emotions flow and I realise just how grown up he really is. It all happens so fast, doesn't it.

His school bag was so big for him, the sleeves of his shirt go past his elbows and his little school shoes make him taller than he is. He's 5 and he's growing up, that's for sure.

I thought I could handle the emotions. I was fine at school. It was only when I was driving to do the groceries straight from school that I started feeling empty, sad, even a little sick. I don't know whether its just today, or also the emotions of yesterday and the past week at church, but today I just didn't really want to be alone. I cried only a little. But I wanted to lots more. And if I hadn't got over it by the time I got home, I would have had a nice bawl session to myself.

I ended up coming home, unpacking the groceries, having some lunch and just going to bed. I was tired (I guess as you do get when you're pregnant), emotional and just wanted to sleep it all away. And the fact that I was alone.

Anyway, my little boy had a fantastic day. He had a whinge on the way home coz he couldn't untie his shoe-laces... something tells me he'll be in bed early tonight. Pity Greg gets home so late and he won't get much time to chat to Jaidyn about his day.

Well, to finish off, here are some photos of my 'big boy' all ready for school. I didn't get any fantastic ones, as he was too excited to stand still, and it was bloody hot and sweaty, making it hard for me to keep the camera still and sweat-free! But hopefully I can use these enough to do a nice layout.

{Puffy eyes}

Today at church was emotionally draining. In fact the whole week has been. And this is a good place for me to let it all out. Sorry to bore anyone.

Last week there was a vote regarding the call of our Pastor and whether or not he will stay on as pastor of our congregation. Much to many many people's upset and disbelief, our beloved Pastor Craig was voted out. It's been a raw week for many. For us not so much, as we've only been there a few months, but today was full-on, and we are rather lost as to what will happen in the future.

You see, as part of the Baptist constitution, pastors can be voted out by the members of the church (and apparently a change-over every few years is fairly normal). Unfortunately for Craig, many of his supporters were either too young to be members, or were not members. He'd never lobbied for it, but it's dealt him a harsh blow. They've been in the church for 16 years. Can you imagine leaving your church, the only church your youngest children have ever known, have grown up in, leave all that you call 'family'.... it's heart-wrenching.

And the tears flowed freely today.

I hadn't cried about it before. I guess I felt a little aside from the raw emotion as we've only been there a few months. But today, seeing the ones I call my family hurting, upset, it broke my heart. I bawled like a baby at times. Hmm... maybe the pregnancy hormones are a little to blame too.

It was like a wake. The mood was sombre. Puffy red eyes all over the church. One of our core members has resigned.

Its all just a huge mess. An ugly, huge mess.

Last week at the meeting that decided the fate, there was anger and bitterness. Some people spoke hard and attacking words at some others. We weren't there and I'm glad we weren't.

But now where do we go? It's so up in the air. So unknown. Although we know God has a plan for us and for Pastor Craig and Robyn, its hard to live with so much uncertainty.

We've really felt at home in this church. We've made wonderful, deep and lasting friendships. We've been embraced by people of all ages, all situations - children, married... or not. And now a tear right down the middle like this.

I guess in all of this we must trust God. Only He knows what the future holds. Only He knows what will happen to the congregation, where Craig and Robyn will go. And He has something wonderful and spiritual planned. He has to. And we have to believe that. Otherwise, well, who knows how we can get through.

God Bless you all, and I'd appreciate your prayers for the situation. Thanks.

Photo Swap...?

Was just reading the lovely Julie Love's blog (sorry, don't know how to link) and she has been swapping piccies with her scrapping buddies and scrapping each other's pics...

I would really love to do this, and want to know if anyone is interested...? And YES, I WILL actually scrap...lol... might be just the inspiration I need, plus I'm getting some new goodies next week... yay.....

So please drop me a 'yes' or an email with some piccies if you'd like to swap. And I'll make a deadline too, so I get it done in time... :)

Looking forward to scrapping someone's pics.... and if you have a daughter, even better! I am just dying to scrap some girly and pretty and such!!

Nat xx

Rain, glorious rain...

Isn't it just wonderful!! OK, not so great with a bored 5-year old, but I've off-loaded him to Grandma's for a sleepover so yay for me!! So tonight, we might get out a DVD (and snuggle), or watch TV, or maybe I'll do some scrapping...? I love the rain...

Actually Jaidyn and I had a great time yesterday when we went to the school to get his books. It was pissing down so we got drenched, even under a umbrella (it's not easy sharing with someone half your size!!). then good old Mum (me) decided when we went to the bank that we wouldn't get wet coz of the eaves over the edge of the building.. but lo-and-behold the water was streaming in there and we got good and soaked! Was fun though.. I really must get Jaidyn some rainboots and a raincoat so he can go out in the backyard in the puddles (and so I can take piccies of course!!) He's had fun walking around even with an umbrella :)

I got my boy's school uniform yesterday and OMG I wasn't really prepared for the emotions of seeing him in it for the first time. I thought I was all ready for him to go to school (mainly because we are so over eachother's constant company!) but oh, to see him in his uniform and it was a wake-up call that my baby is NOT my baby anymore.... oh he looked so cute, but so grown up... I shall take many many photos on Monday and pop some up here. How are all the other new-to-school mums going??

As I've posted about before, have been reading a book about getting over my 'Messie' tendancies... I was talking to my Dad and Gran about it today and Gran (who is the most stubborn woman I know - you DON'T argue with her, lol) was telling me I should keep things in case I need them one day... lol, this type of 'hoarding' has me where I am in my disorganised, cluttered house... and lol, it was a small realisation of another 'Glover trait' I might have... so I blame them... but I'm certainly not listening to her... I'm going to throw sooo much stuff out in the next few weeks... I'm so over hoarding... and if I need it in the future, stuff it, I'll buy a new one (which I probably would have done anyway, lol)...

Well, that's a catch-up of my last few days...

Nat xx

P.S. Oh! Went into the new local LSS today and asked about a job that I also asked about before Christmas when she'd just opened... she still seems to keen to put me on, and said she'll be organising it in February... so fingers crossed... the process for supply teaching will take a few more weeks yet as my rating still hasn't come (will in the next week) - why they hadn't already put them out so we could get jobs to start next week I don't know!! But anyway, hopefully I can pick up a bit of both for next term, and then maybe just the scrapping shop after next school holiday... we could do with some extra spending cash!!

P.P.S. I went in to see a little bead shop today too.. the lady seems really nice and does classes for $10 and $15 plus materials... now that's more my price (sorry B!)... so I'll book in for one in the next couple of weeks I think, just to get the hang of a few more techniques.....

Down to business... that's busYness

Yep, its all guns a blaze today. Lots to do. Gotta get all Jaidyn's school supplies - new uniforms, book pack, well, mostly everything. Good ol' me leaves it all to the very last minute... maybe next year I'll be a little more organised... so today will be a lot of running here and there. And I hope it's all still available.

Yesterday Greg, Jaidyn and I went on a little road trip down the coast to Coolangatta for a swim and some piccies on the beach. Greg and I are rather nervous about using the 350D on the beach for fear that sand will get blown into every little important device... how do you all tackle it?

We saw Erica and the kids and Roz briefly at Maccas, but both of them had to run off so it was back to just us again. Was still great to see you girls!! And next time, the belly will be even bigger... hope to see a bump on you too Miss Erica.

Jai and Greg had a swim and I luckily took a mag to read on the beach. Unfortunately and although I lathered up on the sunscreen, I got rather burnt... I missed my fore-arms - ouch! - and Greg must have missed the edges of my back. Sleep was a little painful last night, but I'll recover... the arms hurt the most! Ouch!! I hate the sun!! And it doesn't like me either.

Didn't get any overly fantastic pics. We were getting tired and ready to go home and Jai didn't really want to co-operate... but here are a couple I like.

Tagged again, and new whitegoods!!

The lovely Roz tagged me with this one. I don't think these ever end...

4 jobs you've done:
Reception and check-out chick at Target
Waitress in a Function room
After School Care
Private tutoring

4 movies you could watch over and over:
The Princess Bride
Dirty Dancing
Love Actually
The Little Mermaid

4 place you have lived:
All suburbs in Brisbane...
Karana Downs
Ipswich
Greenslopes
Ferny Hills

4 TV shows you LOVE to watch:
LOST
Stargate Atlantis
House
The Amazing Race

4 places you have been on vacation:
Adelaide
Townsville
Melbourne
Condobolin (where Shannon Noll hails from)

4 websites you visit daily:
Scrapboxx
My blog list
Hotmail
ASC (usually on every other day though)

4 of your favourite foods:
Chocolate
Thai
Choc-mint icecream
Mangoes

4 places you would rather be right now:
In bed
On the other side of the world in snow
Shopping (with lots of money of course!)
In a house that is mine but looks a lot more 'organised' than this one does!

4 bloggers you are tagging:
Tam
Deb
Brooke
Hayley

And, for news..... we have a NEW FRIDGE..... nice..... very nice to have a WHITE fridge.... ours had almost carked it so we decided to get another (24 mnths interest free) before it died... and it looks so niiice... nothing overly fancy (even though Jaidyn thought we should have got the one with the TV!!)... I would have liked one of the titanium ones but they just didn't have the set-out we wanted in the budget we could still afford... so a nice white sparkly one it is!! Can't wait to go grocery shopping now and fill my new little fridge up :)

We also had a visitor last night:















He was not scared of us at all.. Greg clicked these pics with the zoom lens on, just in case he ran away though. We even gave him some banana, and he ate the whole thing, little piggy. We had heard there is a family of possums in our mango tree but hadn't yet seen them :)

Home again...

Have been AWOL for a bit this week. Greg had to work out at Ipswich filling in for a week, so ALDI put him (us) up in a motel for the week. Nothing overly flash, but a nice big pool, air-con and Foxtel... beats being at home in the stinky heat watching the same videos over and over again!

So Jaidyn and I headed out there for 3 nights and had a nice time. Greg had 1 1/2 of those days off so it wasn't all just us. And I had the opportunity to visit a couple of friends that live out there - Carol-Lea and her gorgeous little kids, and an old friend Sammy. Jai had a great time playing with Edie and Jami and they also came for a swim and a nice cool-off, that day was stinking hot. Thanks for the wonderful company for the day Carol-Lea!

We also went out for dinner to the Brothers Leagues Club with Carol-Lea, Craig and the kids last night. Was really nice for us because its not something we do very much and the scene was also different to what we're used to. Had a really nice time chatting over a couple of drinks (diet coke!), even if at times it was hard to hear over the music :)

I will have 'eaten out' a total of 4 times this week - amaaahhh... KFC for 2 nights, Leagues Club last night and tonight Greg and I are going out for a friends b'day too. Lucky us, but not too good for the poor credit card :(

Was inspired by Carol-Lea's gorgeous house and scrap-room to get myself, my house, my life (!) organised!! It needs to happen some time! And now, its the #1 thing on my 2006 intentions list. It's not going to be easy for me as I'm a self-confessed 'messy', but I'm going to try my darndest. My house needs some order, some storage ideas, definitely some routine and a 'style'... so over the next few pays (months) I'm going to be buying up on storage, curtains, prints etc to make this house look like a home! Thanks for the inspiration Carol!

Will upload a couple of the pics from our week tomorrow. Not too many 'great' ones but will do so anyway!

Oh, and SHOCK HORROR!! I actually SCRAPPED, can you believe it! I did the first page for my 'pregnancy journal' - a double spread including the scan pics I got last week. Just have to add a few finishing touches and then I'll upload a pic.

Hope you have all had a great weekend xxx

Yep, I'm just totally stupid.

Ali, Ali, Ali..... I *know* you showed me today how to do a banner and to put a picture of my gorgeous family into it... BUT... I just can't seem to do it. Even though I'm *pretty sure* we have the same PS program, the icons and windows etc that were on your screen are just not all there on mine... I JUST CAN'T DO IT!! I've tried and I've tried but I'm *seriously* clueless!!

Would anybody, please, anybody, please volunteer their precious time and talent into making me a beautiful banner for my blog?? I have some gorgeous pics of my wonderful family I want to use, so it's not *just coz everyone's doing it", lol.

Anyone? Please? (I'll be your best friend... :))

Scan

We had our scan today and it was so exciting to see my baby. And yes, there is just one in there. Would have been nice to have twins, but I probably wouldn't say that once they were born as I'm sure one will be handful enough!

And, we found out we are a week further than first thought! Baby was supposed to be about 18 weeks 5 days, but the scan inferred 19 weeks 6 days, so we are pretty much halfway now! Making due date 26th May by the hospital, not sure whether the doc will change it or not - I would say so, as it was uncertain before.

What a wonderful miracle child-bearing is! It was so amazing to see the little angel moving around inside me, putting her (hoping!) hands up and down, stretching her legs in and out. Towards the end, I think she was getting fed up with being poked and prodded though because she tucked her face right in and wouldn't co-operate... lol, yep its my child alright. Stubborn and difficult even before birth. Jaidyn came with us too, so he was pretty amazed that he could see his baby sister/brother inside my tummy, and he wasn't 'too' much of a pain.

I have 5 scan photos. While they aren't really good ones, I want to do something with them anyway, so I really need to clean/organise the scrap room a bit and buy lots of new products and get stuck into some scrapping. Now I have a few belly pics and scan pics, so no excuses anymore hey. I really just got to stop procrastinating (my strength!) and do it.

Oh, and we didn't find out the sex as you can tell. We want a surprise. Lol, I kept expecting to see a little penis or something when I didn't want to, so was careful not to look too closely around that area. LOL....

Can't wait till Eck has her scan. I'm guessing she'll find out the sex, but I think that backfired last time didn't it Eck? Was meant to be pink and came out blue! I hope you get what you and Matt are hoping for :)

Nat :)

A to Z of me...

Found this while cruising the Weight Watchers girls blogs tonight... from Sarah (don't know how to link!)

A is for age: 23
B is for booze of choice: Bourbon
C is for career: Early Childhood teacher
D is for your dad's name: Nev
E is for essential items to bring to a party: Camera and something to drink
F is for favorite song at the moment: Hey Mama - Black Eyed Peas
G is for favorite game: Pictionary
H is for hometown: Brisbane
I is for instruments you play: none, but I'd love to play piano one day
J is for jam or jelly you like: Ginger marmalade
K is for kids: Jaidyn, 5 and .....
L is for living arrangements: renting with husband Greg and son
M is for mum's name: Gail
N is for name of your crush: my husband Greg :)
O is for overnight hospital stays: only when I gave birth
P is for phobias: spiders....ewk....
Q is for quotes you like: dunno
R is for relationship that lasted the longest: 4 years, but this one's forever!
S is for sexual preference: Straight.
U is for underwear: anything comfortable, hipsters or boylegs usually
V is for vegetable you love: broccoli, potato
W is for weekend plans: nothing yet
X is for x-rays you've had: only ultrasounds
Y is for yummy food you make: Salmon cob loaf dip
Z is for zodiac sign: Taurus

So, can I tag someone?? How about Rozzie and Brooke!!???

N xx

Baby stuff...

I finally got around to it yesterday and took the first pics of my 'growing bump'... I just love it so much! And seeing as though most of you wouldn't have seen me (if at all) since I've been pregnant, thought I might just show you all how I'm going.



Here I am, dated 1 Jan 06, 19 weeks pregnant.












Greg and I have our first scan on Thursday, the 18-week one. We're very excited about seeing our baby, and its so great that Greg can come too! Shall let you know how it all goes, whether there's one or more in there and if I am indeed 18 weeks pregnant, more or less (I doubt any less, looking at that belly!) We're not wanting to find out the sex and I hope a little doodle doesn't decide to make itself obvious, in fact, we're hoping there isn't a doodle there at all, lol.

Nat :)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! Hope you all had a nice night, whether partying hard or having a quiet one with some friends or family. We had friends over for a nice quiet night, lots of chatting and laughing, and lots of food! It was also Greg's 25th birthday (Happy Birthday Baby!) so we had a caramel cheesecake and sang Happy Birthday as you do. Lol, we were almost ready for bed at 10pm though! Maybe we'll have a quieter one next year, no party... maybe...

Looking back on 2005, I thought I'd sum up what it was for me and my family.

* * *

2005 was a year of... new beginnings, with Greg starting a new career at ALDI.

2005 was a year of... accomplishment, with myself finishing my early childhood degree.

2005 was a year of... exploring, with myself venturing into my own craft consultancy business.

2005 was a year of... failure, with me attempting again to lose weight and being unsuccessful, again.

2005 was a year of... belonging, when we changed church families and now feel at home.

2005 was a year of... new friendships, with all the wonderful new people we've met at our new church.

2005 was a year of... growing up, with my boy turning five and getting ready to go off to big school

2005 was a year of... wonder, excitement and anticipation, with the discovery of our pregnancy.

And 2006 is bound to bring us many more wonderful adventures!!

I have been thinking about my 'goals' or 'intentions' list and hope to scrap it soon and will post it also.

Wishing you all the best for the new year. Hope its full of new beginnings, success and wonderful times for you and your families.

Christmas '05.

I've been on here the last 2 days, written half a post, then got caught up doing something else, so I'll finish it this time.

Christmas was nice. Great day with family in Toowoomba. Nice air-conditioned drive up (not in my car). Lots to eat (in fact, we counted 15 different desserts; only 17 people), lots to drink (not me of course), lots to talk about, swimming and opening pressies, yay! The day was over before we knew it, as we had to leave at 4pm to take my sisters back to a party at a friend's house. We then went and crashed Mum and Dad's place (who had stayed in Toowoomba) - a pool, air-con and foxtel. Nice...

Boxing Day was pretty much a write-off. We did nothing. At all. A few hours of foxtel in the morning, a swim, then home, Red Rooster, a sleep and watching Madagascar. My kind of nothing day. Only thing better could have been a productive bbq with a bunch of friends, maybe.

Got spoilt rotten of course. As you know, Greg and I bought us the 350D, which we are slowly learning how to use, still need some practical assistance though to do anything 'creative'. Greg also got me a nice little pearl earrings and necklace set. Got some outdoor chairs for watching the view, some cash (nice!), clothes and shoes, and a voucher for a whole heap of services at a hairdresser and beauty salon from my sisters. Niiice - I'll need the pampering!!

Now to get the house ready to have people over for NYE party. Greg has today off, so we are doing a dump run (if we can get hold of a trailer!) to finally get rid of all the extra crap we've accumulated over the years. De-clutter!! I love it! I'm tempted to just throw everything out, but know we need to keep some of it!

Have a good day xx

2 more sleeps...

Busy, busy, busy...

Today I have to:

* wash bed linen
* pick up photos from Kmart
* finish canvases for Gran and Mum
* wrap presents
* make a few gift tags for presents (maybe)
* grocery shopping

So, I guess I better get off the computer hey?

Tagged...

Haven't done one of these in a while, thanks to Eck for tagging me :) :)

Never in my life: did I think I would be married with 2 children at age 24 (will be this year!)
When I was five: I was most probably a naughty little rat-bag. Mum and Dad always tell me what a terrible and embarrasing child I was... hehe...
High School is: when I lost my best friend. In year 12, he committed suicide.
There's this girl: that's thouroughly enjoying her life at the moment. A growing belly (for once it's ok!), a wonderful husband and family, a great new house and suburb and wonderful friends. (She's me!)
Last night: we had friends over for dinner. The first time since we've moved.
When I turn my head left, I see: another computer, a window and air-con unit and a few scattered boxes that haven't found houses yet.
When I turn my head right, I see: a CPU and a wall
A better name for me would be: Lazy Suzy.
I have a hard time understanding: how to use my new camera!!
You know I like you if: I clean the house when you come over.
My ideal breakfast is: at the moment, all I've wanted is peanut-butter on toast. But I can't go past a good cooked bacon and eggs, and tomoto of course!
If you spend the night at my house: you'd probably get lost in the boxes at the moment. Nah, we'd probably have a nice dinner, chat, play some board games and have a not-too-late night. If you're a close friend, I might just have to do a photo shoot with my new camera too!
I always make it a point to: compliment people when they look great!
I'd rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: do cleaning for a living.
And by the way: I hope you all have a fantabulous Christmas!!

I tag Brookie and Deb.

Family photo shoot...

So we finally got to use the 350D properly and I am so happy with many of the photos we took. I still can't get over how crystal clear they are! We decided to drag our crappy old downstairs lounge outside for the photos. The lighting isn't the best in some of them, but I guess I'm still learning. Didn't get any 'Christmassy' ones, but some much-needed and very nice family ones. I got my hair cut last week too, so I look much nicer in these pics than I would have with the feral hair I had before!

Here are some of my favourites:



The family shot I just love...
(oh, except maybe the crappy lighting)













Greg and I...









Oh, we're in love!!










My boys...









Jaidyn and I - I love this one!













I can't wait to start scrapping some of them. Have got a few enlarged and a few printed normal size. Think I'll have to make some even bigger coz they weren't as big as I thought. Then I can try some Erica-style, enlarged photo layouts! Yum, I can scrap again. Am using some today to make MIL a canvas, which I really needed to send like last week! Yikes. I think she'll have to have a late Chrissy pressie.

Jaidyn is off at Mum's for a couple of nights. A much-needed break for both of us I think. Greg has today off so we are doing the rest of the Christmas shopping - yes late I know, grrrrr.... will try to get to the shops as soon as they open I think, more chance of a parking spot, maybe.

Hope you're all having a great and not too hectic lead-up to Christmas. I can't believe its this weekend!

A girl's best friend...

Jewellery of course! I went to a gorgeous porgeous jewellery party last night. Oh, I was in heaven!! Rozzie, Eck and Carol-Lea, you girls would have loved it too, being the bling things that you are! It's a new company called 'Jadela Jewels'. A lady called Angela imports and also makes some of the collection, and much of it was to die for! Literally I spent an hour and a half walking around and around a dining room table filled with beautiful pieces. Prices are between $10 and $50. I found a present for my Mum and my sister and also 'just had to' buy a gorgeous necklace for myself... now just trying to see if my sister will buy it for me for Christmas, then it's justified (What with just buying the camera this weekend and all)... now, if I had a USB cable for the camera, I'd take a pic of it and show you, but that's something I'll probably have to get today.

Anyway, I'm going to have a Jadela Jewels party at my house, and if you love jewellery, you'll want to come (if you can of course). I now live at Ferny Hills. The date will be Friday 6th January, 7.30pm. Let me know if you'd be interested...

Well, I have just found fleas in our house, which would explain the hundreds of bites all over my feet, so I'm not sure whether its from the cat that we have 'adopted' (that the previous tenants left here - how nice you say! - still not sure if we'll keep him), or whether its that the curtains weren't clean (wouldn't surprise me) or something else. So today I'm going to get stuck into the rest of these boxes, so I can properly clean the floors and hopefully get rid of the little buggers. What else can I use, anyone know? And I'll take down the curtains, and wash them, which I wanted to replace with some that I have anyway....

Nat xx

I'm baaaacccckkk.....

Hello strangers. Well, if anyone is still out there reading my little blog.

We have moved house and are now back online. The house is still full of boxes but oh well, definitely better things to do, lol.

Other news - guess what!! I GOT MY CANON 350D!!! Sooooo nice!! Yum.... don't really know how to use it, but I want to learn soon. I seem to have a problem with reading a manual and applying it to the camera - most of the terms just go way over my head, so I think I really need some hands-on in person training with someone who is experienced... till then Greg and I will just fiddle around I guess. But I am am soooo excited that I FINALLY have the camera I've been waiting for about a year for!! Yes! Finally its MINE! (well Greg seems to use it as much or more than me at the moment... ggrrr....)

Don't really know what else to report...

Had a great couple of days with the girls last weekend, which most of you would have already read about on Roz, Erica, Nic, Ali, Carol-Lea or Shari's blogs. Love hanging out with this bunch!! Wonderful, funny and super talented girls.

After what seemed like ages, Greg finally got a weekend off and we had a nice relaxing weekend together as a family, not doing a lot in particular, but just relaxing. We put the Christmas tree and our new lights up yesterday (with Greg up on the roof, not me!) and went to the local community carols last night with a bunch of people from church. It was great getting into the Christmas spirit a bit more! I love it all!

Well, will update again soon, once I've caught up on more things I need to do around this net - gosh, so many places to visit and bills to pay when offline for nearly 2 weeks!

Take care, Nat xxx

Oh, P.S. Found a new scrap shop at Arana Hills today that only opened on Saturday. Her shop is yummy painted in pink and brown and even pink, brown and cream mini couches for lounging, reading mags! The lady who runs it has FREE classes, yes FREE to attend, you just need to buy your materials there... plus she said she might give me a job there after Christmas - fingers crossed!

I'm getting a REBEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG, I've only been waiting a WHOLE YEAR!! But FINALLY, I've convinced Greg to get one 'for us'..... yay!! We went into Harvey Norman last night and there is a good sale coming up in the next couple of weeks on the 350D so we have ordered one in and will get it then!! I can't wait!!!!! Greg tried to say I can't have it till Christmas, but I need to learn how to use it before then right!!?? So hopefully I can start to fiddle around as soon as I get it!!!

YYYaaaaaaayyyyyyyy!!!!!!

My weekend...

Well, we had a huge weekend, being Jaidyn's 5th birthday on Sunday. Saturday he had a party with his friends, and I spent the morning getting last minute ingredients and running around the kitchen like a chood with no head. I swear, it would have been funny on video - almost stressed myself out to the point of breakdown I think. Not hard for a pregnant woman mind you. OF course I left all the shopping till the Friday afternoon, and boy, didn't realise how much a kid's b'day party costs! $100 later, easily. But it was worth it. Jaidyn hasn't had a 'proper' party with lots of friends before, and he won't be having one next year (only every 2nd year) so better make it a good one hey. We went to a local park, where the kids ran rampant on the play equipment, and by the end of it, looked like Army Commandos or something - dirt everywhere! So he had a great time.

Sunday was his actual birthday, so more presents! And to think its only a month until he gets more at Christmas. We definitely need a toy-box cleanout!! He got enough new stuff to fill it all over again I reckon! Sunday we went to Mum and Dads for a yummy BBQ lunch. We always get so well fed there - yummmm..... steak....... even if I somehow picked the one that was *still mooing* (rather rare)... Jai had a great time with all his new stuff. But I tell you, after the weekend, I was buggered!

It was nice to not have to be places or do things too much this week, except for packing of course. I have not been too well today, so slept about 2 1/2 hours today! Opps, no packing though.

We move in less than a week now! Monday is the day. Lucky for me, Greg is having the weekend, plus Monday and Tuesday off, so he can help with much fo the packing on the weekend, the move on Monday, and I'm hoping we can get some of the cleaning done on the Tuesday so I don't have to do it all myself! I hate cleaning. And so far, Mum has steered clear of offering to help - thanks Mum.... gggrrrr....

So I better get stuck into it. We don't have enough boxes though, so think I might need to sort the crap under the house a bit. Chuck it and use the boxes from it. We have so much crap that we haven't even opened from last year.

Oh well, gotta go prepare my worship and word for home group tonight. Hope I didn't pack the CDs!

Ciao, Nat xx

P.S. I know they probably don't read this, but I just want to say a BIG CONGRATULATIONS to my ASC friends, Kathie and Nicnac, who both had beautiful baby boys last week! How wonderful!!

Update and crazy quiz...

Well, have had a very busy few days, and it won't stop there. Sometimes its good being busy, sometimes its bad... do you know I have not had time for my 'nana-nap' for the last 2 days! lol I hear you say... I'm 23 and I have an afternoon sleep.... yeah pathetic I know, but I'm pregnant, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it, and I get up too early.....

Tuesday I went shopping. Spent a while in the Maternity shop again, just trying on different things. Bought a top too coz it was on special, and my current clothes are starting to get uncomfortable. I don't want to have to suck my tummy in constantly. I also have a cocktail party to go to Saturday night, so I might just have to go back and get a teal wrap-top I've been eyeing off for a couple weeks now... and I'm meant to go and put the black pants I like on layby too so they don't get sold! Must-haves. Also did the groceries and a few odds and ends. Forgot to pick up Jaidyn's presents from layby after all that, so am sending Greg to do it this afternoon.

Yesterday I did a pocket album with mum's craft group. I do like getting together with these ladies, many of them are family friends we've grown up with, so its always good to catch up. Good solid Christian women too. After picking up Jaidyn from school I did about 2 hours housework - the dishes alone took about an hour (yes, there were that many in the sink...). I feel good to have a clean house for Greg to come home to at night. He still seemed to point out what I hadn't done, by pulling out all the folding and leaving it all over the floor this morning... gggrrrr.......

Oh yeah!! Almost forgot to mention WE GOT THE HOUSE!! yeehaa! Really excited about it! And we don't have to move in till the same weekend our lease is up here - how's that for timing and blessings!! Awesome God! A house in the same street as other from church too - and so close! Will be so great!!

Am getting really scared/nervous about my Ed Qld interview tomorrow morning. I still haven't started on preparing my presentation, and really, I don't know what to do. I think I have a stigma too coz my friend only got an S2 rating (need an S1 - highest), so I'm all worried I won't either now.... have to rustle together something to present for 10 mins.... might do a small portfolio and see what resources I can get together to pop on a table to look like I know what I'm doing... yikes, scary stuff...

Oh, and still got to do all the shopping for Jaidyn's b'day party! I need more time!!! Ggrrr...... this is really the first 'proper' kids b'day party I've put on so I want it to be impressive enough too... its at a park, so have to be thoughtful of what food to make (no oven to cook hot food, and no fridge to keep stuff cool and prevent melting!) What foods can you suggest girls? I need some help!

Well, I guess I better get organised for today - lots to do - and throw in child at home too that I will have to entertain while I do everything else! Ggrrrr.... I hate being busy sometimes....

Will end on this: a quiz I nabbed from Tam and Roz...

2 names you go by: Nat, Natti
2 parts of your heritage: English and German I think...
2 things that scare you: spiders, drivng really fast (me too Tam!)
2 of your everyday essentials: nana-nap (most days! lol) and affection from family
2 things you are wearing right now: nightie and new knickers
2 of your favourite bands or musical artists (at the moment): NewsBoys, Anthony Callea (just looove listening to his gorgeous voice)
2 favourite songs (at the moment): can't think right now
2 things you want in a relationship (other then real love): conversation & honesty
2 truths: I've never yet been out of Australia, I have my nose pierced.
2 physical things that appeal to you (in the opposite sex): arms and eyes
2 of your favourite hobbies (other than scrapbooking!): surfing net, being with friends
2 things you want really badly: a Canon 350D & someone to pack the house for me!!
2 places you want to go on vacation: New Zealand & UK
2 things you want to do before you die: travel, see my children grow up.
2 ways that you are stereotypically a chick: I love jewellery and girly clothes
2 things that you are thinking about now: what on earth am I going to present for my interview tomorrow, and that I should do some housework...
2 stores you shop at: Target & Room 42 (maternity wear!)

Ciao!
Nat xx

Busy little bee...

Have had a rather busy weekend, and will be the same way for much of this week.

Saturday was house-hunting. Went to see one out near Mum and Dads. Was crappy and old though. Had a quick swim and some lunch there before heading into the northern suburbs to look at two, that just happened to have the SAME inspection time - gggrr.... was early to the first though, so I made it to both. First was a bit worn-down. Second was great though! So we put in an application... still waiting to hear if we got it but should know tomorrow. It's in Ferny Hills, a lovely suburb with lots of hills, parks and generally families it seems. This house is at the top of one street/hill so has great views and breezes from the wrap-around deck. Nice... 3 bedrooms upstairs, and a rumpus *plus* an extra room downstairs, which I'm hoping to claim for my scrapping room! Might still have to share with Greg and the computer though - bum... I want to decorate it all nice! Great big backyard too so Jaidyn will actually be able to fun around... also a mango tree but you have to beat the possums to the mangoes unfortunately. So prayers and fingers crossed for us please...

Had a Crafty Kids demo yesterday. Made the most I ever have at a party - a nice $500 in sales, so $90 for 3 hours work, not too bad. I have well and truly earnt over what I spent on my kit now, yay! So now its all in the pocket!

This week I have lots to do.

Craft class on Wednesday, which will go for the whole school hours at least.

Ed Qld Interview Friday, so have to prepare for that. Have been out of the whole teacher-thing for 6 months, so I hope I can still do well!

Jaidyn's b'day party on Saturday! Yikes - kids party! This is the first we will have had with lots of kids coming... have got the invitations out, so that's a start. Just have to do all the menu shopping and making, find or make a pinnata, and work out how I'm going to do his cake.... I suck at cakes, so I'm thinking of going with the individual cupcakes (less likely to melt too) and will hunt around for some batman edible discs or something to put on top.....

And in between all that, packing, packing and more packing... and some house-work too.... we move in about 2 or 3 weeks..... better get a move on hey...

Hope you have a great week all!

Nat xxx

I am loving....

Thanks Tam, I'm going to be positive today and lift your post!

I am loving..... THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO MOVE TO VICKY POINT!! Wahooo!!! The bosses gave Greg the option of going back to Salisbury store until they can find him a permanent home store! We are so happy about that! Now, its just back to house-hunting.... which is frustrating because really we don't know where he's likely to get posted to, and frankly, once I have Jaidyn enrolled in a school, I really don't want to have to move him again, its so not fair on him. So we have to weigh up where he's more likely to get a spot... hopefully the bosses can give Greg and inkling... and we'll move there. It will either be Western suburbs (near my Mum and Dad) or Northern suburbs (near church and friends where I *really* want to be).... so lots of praying ahead. At least God knows where we'll be so hopefully he can help us know where to move to.. we're running out of time too - only a few weeks...

I am loving.... that I have got the first box packed! I always leave packing to the last minute but I started yesterday with some of Jaidyn's room (which is so messy it really needs to be packed first)... now just to get some packing tape so I can get stuck into the rest... it's a big job!!

I am loving... that I get to see my Mum today. Jaidyn and I are going over for a swim and lunch.

I am loving... that I'm also going to go and look at a few digital cameras today. Greg and I have decided that we will buy *us* a digi for Christmas. We can't afford a Rebel or an SLR and I'm coming to terms with it... and really I don't know why I need one - I've never used an SLR in my life - so a good digi it will be! Yay, I'll get to take photos and scrap again soon!!

I am loving... that I have great friends who come and read my blog, and who care about what's happening in my life and who are there to support me all the time!

I am loving.... that there is a tiny life growing inside me. I so can't wait until I can feel him or her, but I know that growinga human takes time and I have faith that God is looking after her in there!!!

Have a great day all xxx

Dealt a shit blow...

Have had a bit of a shit day today.

For one, I've really been feeling the 'morning sickness'. Been headachy all day and haven't been sleeping very well the last few nights, so I was sooo tired...

We got a phone call from Greg's boss today. Good news we thought. Yes, they've found him a home store - finally. But however, its the Victoria Point store. Look at the map of Brisbane and that's aaaages away from where we wanted to be. Away from our new church, away from the new friends we've made and love, even heaps far away from my parents. Basically, it will mean starting over really. I douby many of my friends will want to travel an hour to see us too often, nor my parents. Yeah, its pretty shit. I guess not shit in that our house hasn't been burnt down and we haven't lost everything, we haven't been through a tsunami or a hurricane, but in the scheme of where we thought our life was going, its still shit. Had a nice cry about it this morning. It will mean having to find a new church (again - and that was agonising enough), new friends, finding a reputable school for Jaidyn when I know nothing about the area. Its just really not where we wanted to go. Really, it was almost the worst store in Brisbane they could have put him. Go figure, they tell us we can look for houses in both Western and Northern suburbs of Brisbane and then place us at the furthest Eastern end of Brisbane possible.... go figure. And we've wasted all that time looking for houses on the west and north side now too.

So anyway, Greg has asked whether they can find any other store. Funny, now we're even prepared for him to go out to Ipswich, coz it would mean we could still live western suburbs and even travel to church. Vicky Point is just totally near nothing and no-one we know. If this is in God's plan, I'm really stumped as to how. Now I don't doubt God and His plan, I know he's got us in His hands, and a purpose for whatever it does, but it just seems He placed us in a new church we love, we've made friends, we had our heart set on going north and now its all about to change. I just don't get it.

So yeah, one phonecall can have changed everything really. I don't want to go that far away. I'm pregnant, I don't work, I need my family and friends around me. I need them to sustain what little life I seem to have. Vicky Point means I'll have no-one anywhere near me. Whinge, whinge, whinge... I know it probably seems like that, and I should be happy Greg has a store - and I am, we just are not so happy about where..

Then again, Vicky Point is right on the beach - and the porthole to the Redland Bay Islands, so it could be fun..... just such a big change I'll have to get used to. I'll have to go out and make new friends.

Well, I guess tomorrow they'll tell Greg what the go is. Keep your fingers crossed and prayers going up for us to stay somewhere more inner city suburbs please!!

Weekend news

Had a lovely weekend. While Saturday was spent pottering around and cleaning the house, it was worth it Saturday night when we had friends from church over for a BBQ. It seems ages since we've entertained at our house, and it was so nice to have people around. There were 6 couples that came, 5 married and one just dating. But it was so delightfully nice to now have this many couples of friends that we have things in common with. Unlike at our old church where we just didn't fit in, these 5 married couples are all under 30, two of them have children and all of us have been married under 3 years. It was just so nice to have friends!!

We cooked up the BBQ, ate our fill, drank mainly softdrink, chatted lots and lots and then played Pictionary. Greg and I just love playing this with friends. We decided to play in couples, which may not be the best as some couples thought it could cause marriage problems... lol..... "can't you see that's a horse?" "How am I supposed to get a cat out of that...." and so on... lol... we didn't get to finish the game though as the couple with 4 kids had a whingy 2-yr old who wouldn't go to sleep so had to take him home... but it was such a good night!

Sunday we went to church (yay, as a family as Greg had the day off!) and there was an interesting sermon about suicide. James, on of the youth pastors made up a video clip to begin with of pictures, music and statistics of suicide in Australia, and I found myself absolutely bawling within a minute or so of it. My best friend committed suicide when we were in Year 12, and I think it was that, plus maybe eve na little pregnancy hormones as I can usually compose myself about it nowadays.... it was a sad and interesting sermon. James interviewed young adults in Brisbane about whether suicide is ok, and it was alarming their responses. While many said its not ok, and a few said they would never consider it, there were a lot of answers that said it depends on the circumstances and a couple of girls even said it was ok coz their lives were shit... Wow! You just want to reach out and hug them! Its so sad when they obsiously don't have the hope of Jesus in their lives...

Anyway, after church we went to my Mum and Dad's for afternoon tea, as it was Dad's b'day on Saturday. We always get fed well at Mum's. Ended up watching Harry Potter and stayed till it was dark. So we didn't really have tea. Poor Jaidyn was hungry and tired so we sent him to bed with a banana for sustanence!!

Well today, was meant to go to the Coast with the girls for lunch, but very broke. So I think I'll just potter around here, maybe clean up a little, search for some real estate, organise to see some maybe, and even have a nice sleep! My car has something wrong with it (AGAIN!) - maybe a wheel bearing or something, so I don't really feel safe driving it (its going in to shop Wednesday), so I think I'll be walking to pick up Jaidyn today and some groceries.

Nat xx

Maternity clothes, craft and BBQs...

I just can't wait to wear them. I can't wait till my belly grows and I can really see there's a little life growing in there, a little life that is so wanted in our new little family. Lol, I even want to feel fat and have an excuse! I did a spot of shopping yesterday - to pick up some craft supplies, a present for Dad, all those little odds and ends that you need to do. I also happened to walk past a Maternity shop that even when I wasn't pregnant I wanted to look in. So of course I went in. It was soooo nice! And I was even pleasantly surprised at the prices. Thinking they would all cost an arm and leg I was happy to see prices you might find in many clothes stores such as Portmans or Sussan. A little more than I usually pay (Target, Kmart) but still definitely within reach, and a lot nicer and better made than the maternity wear in Kmart and Target I think. Room 42 it's called. Erica, if you have one nearby, you'll have to go and have a look. I know what I'm going to ask for for Christmas - Room 42 vouchers!

Ok, so my belly is still my own (even though it could be mistaken for a pregnant one, lol), but I have been feeling really yucky in my normal clothes, a bit bloated and definitely not wanting to wear tight clothes. The clothes in here were so nice! I was eyeing off some party dresses that were on sale, but unfortunately looked hideous on me! I also tried on some nice wrap tops (mainly to cover my fadoobadas - tuckshop arms) and she gave me a pair of black pants to try on with them as I was wearing a dress. I put these on and had to check I had put them on right because the hems actually reached the ground! Now, if you know how tall I am, you'll understand why I was surprised. I NEVER find pants that are long on me - and if I do, they are a specified 'long' length... so of course now I'm totally sold on the black pants - and they happened to look really flattering, and the black top with turquoise wrap looked so good too... I want some money or vouchers NOW! LOL.... well anyway, that's enough blabbing about that.. I did buy a little maternity top from Kmart though. I first tried on the baby-doll tops from the regular section but they were totally just wrong - the boob bit was not wide enough to go over your whole boobs and it was just yuck. So I found one similar in the maternity section (black, my favourite colour) and it looked so much better. More flattering, even though its a maternity top - strange. But I bought it and its so comfy coz I don't have to worry about wobbly belly bits hanging out, having to pull my top up or just feeling trapped in a tight top. It's nice and long too.

Gosh, I just realised how much I wrote about a few items of clothing. Oops, sorry to bore you there.

What else? Oh, last night I did a class with some ladies from my old church. It was a nice relaxed atmosphere... and there were Mint Slice so of course I was happy! lol... 2 of the ladies made accordion albums and one wanted to do something different so I helped her get started on 6 frames that she's making for nieces and nephews for christmas - thanks to Erica for helping me with the idea - I think they worked out pretty well and she was very happy with it. So yeah, it was nice to get a bit of money in the hand for that. And for once, we didn't go and blow it on take-away today (although I really wanted KFC chips!).

Greg has 3 days off work, so we are having friends over for a BBQ tomorrow night - thanks for the idea Tam! I'm so looking forward to it. All great friends from our church and I just love having BBQs.... now just to do a spot of cleaning tomorrow to make sure the house is clean.

I've still been really slack in the craft department. I really should be making christmas samples for my CK demo thats in a week and a bit, but I just can't seem to get into anything. Guess it doesn't help when I don't have much christmassy stuff to work with. Hopefully I'll get a bit done on Tuesday when I'm crafting with my CK team leader.

Anyway, that's enough from me. That's if you're still with me, lol.
Have a great weekend all,
Nat xx

I must scrap today, I must scrap today.

I have to keep telling myself. Else I'll end up at this computer bumming all day. It's easy to do. I'm terrible.

Actually, more card-making than scrapping. Have a party coming up and the girl wants some Christmas craft samples. Better get my butt into gear hey? Christmas cards, christmas cards. Can you believe its only 7 weeks away though. I really *should* be getting stuck into them anyhow. If I'm going to that is.

With money tight this time of year (isn't it for everyone?) - we've got Dad's, Jaidyn's, 2 friends, and Greg's birthdays all within 4 weeks of Christmas, bother - I really do need to make some gifts if I can. Cut down on the costs if I can. Any ideas? What's good for Mum? She usually likes some little album-thing... in fact I don't know if I've ever made her one. Yes, she needs one. Specific ideas anyone?

Nice..... I got a nice long sleep-in today. Could have kept going really. Except its getting hot. Might be another stinker whereby I will hibernate in my air-conditioned room this afternoon. Jaidyn went to Toowoomba with my folks for my cousins 18th party yesterday afternnon. Is missing preschool today - first time ever this year I think. Oh well. No doubt he'll be home before I know it.

Should also get off the net so I can call the doctors. Call some clients. Do the groceries. Blergh... house-wife stuff.... boring... such is my life huh.

Lazy few days...

The most of my time over the last few days has been spent telling friends about the new baby. It's all very exciting and it's exciting to talk about it. Exciting that this time is very different from last. While I enjoyed my pregnancy last time, I was only 17, young, more naive, unstable and was forever wondering what people would think of me. Now its so different. Now I'm married, I have a degree, I'm stable, have a family already, and a bit older. It's wonderful now, and I intend to enjoy every bit of it!

Have been talking to some of the ASC girls about their scans. The doc told me I'm not due for a scan until 18 weeks which I thought a bit strange. Then I hear (and remembered) that I should have one at about 12 weeks for the Down Syndrome scan. The doc has me scheduled in for bloodtests at this time, but not a scan, but I'll be changing that, that's for sure! For one, I'd like to have that scan (not that it would change anything - I would never ever abort my child) and two, I'm not really sure of my dates, so I'd really like to know and Eck says the earlier the better coz babies can be growing at all different stages by 18 weeks. So Monday I'm going to call for an ultrasound. I hate having to make an appointment just to ask for a referral for one, but I guess it has to be done.

Our lease runs out in early December. In the year we've been living in this house, they've now put the rent up $15. Buggers. So we've decided to move. That, and our main bedroom is too small for our king-size bed and to move around in, AND we'll need an extra room or a bigger house with baby coming along! So now its down to finding somewhere. And its a bit tricky. Now we want a 4-bedroom house, and for our budget, the options are rather slim. We did find one the other day that we half-liked, then they put the rent up another $10 so I don't know if we want it so much anymore. Plus we still don't really know what area to move to. REALLY, we want to be over the northside of Brisbane, near our church community and friends. However, Greg doesn't seem confident about getting posted out there as apparently there's a lot more competition for management positions and promotions that side of town. But then again, our God is bigger than that. I guess what we really need to be doing is praying diligently and trusting God will place us in the best place for our family's wellbeing and spirituality. Hopefully He can give Greg a position on the northside..... please pray for and with us for this move if you will. It's all so up in the air. We don't know where or when Greg will get a home store, and we now have about 4 weeks till we have to move. And the houses we'll be after will go fast. Just pray for us if you will please.

Well, I suppose I better go and spend some time with Jaidyn or do some housework or something.... yuck, housework.

Another big congrats to Eck for your pregnancy darling, and now also for Matt's new promotion! Great opportunities for your family. I wish you all the best in your decisions as to what you will do together.

Nat xx

P.S. Needs challenge...

Oh yeah, I forgot to add this. I did this after reading Rozzie's blog the other day...

Here's what Natalie needs:

1. Natalie needs a Nightie (apparently this is a play!)
2. Natalie needs more hours.
3. Natalie needs a vehicle (yep, a nice mazda 3 would go down well thanks!)
4. Natalie needs to hit the road.
5. Natalie needs to lighten up.... (geez, I didn't think I was that bad) lol

Good fun... whats yours?

Still gobsmacked...

So I do my morning reading of my friends blogs, and Erica's sounds all regularly normal for her family... (I know Matt and Maddy having golden staph isn't normal, but like Eck said, when it rains at her house, it pours)... until her very last line!! If you haven't checked it out, you must...

Well I was gobsmacked! One because I totally didn't expect Erica to have more kids (SIX!??), and two because I too have news....

I'M PREGNANT TOO!!!!!!!!!!

So you can imagine how excited I was! Of course I called her straight away and we whooped and jumped up and down together coz we are due about 2 weeks apart! We are going to be pregnant totally together!! And I'm soooo excited about it!!

I was going to post it on my blog or send emails to friends today anyway, so the Biatch beat me to it! LOL, love ya Eck! Congratulations sweetie, I'm just so happy for you and your beautiful family. Sure, you're crazy, but I know how much you just love your kids and how much you'll love another.... going for the 'cheaper by the dozen' hey??

So there ya go. I've been quiet lately yes, but my life has been pretty boring otherwise. A little morning sickness, a lot of trying not to tell friends when I really just wanted to!! I so can't keep a secret like this!

We are so very excited! And even telling my Mum and Dad wasn't so bad this time. Bear in mind, last time I told them I was pregnant I was 17 so I had that memory hanging over my shoulder. Now I'm 23 and married and really with Jaidyn going to school next year, the timing is perfect. Oh, except that maybe I should have worked full-time for a while... but anything to get out of working huh?? LOL, that's what my mum said anyway...

So now I have told you, I will have to bore you all with updates and such, and of course photos of my growing belly (which is already quite large to begin with, lol). We don't have a camera at the moment, and don't look like affording my Rebel or something similar for a while, so I think we are going to buy a cheap digital to last for a year or so til we can maybe afford the Rebel. Coz I can't go without a camera now can I?

Nat xx

Update...

Well, I've been so-so with the 'goals' as specified for this week.

Have exercised twice so far. Went to the gym and did my weights (OMGosh, first time in 2 months I noticed - umm-ahh) and felt really good about that... did aerobics on TV yesterday morning too. Was sweating up a storm too...

Should have gone to gym this morning, but haven't been feeling well the last few days/mornings, so I'll hopefully go for a walk or aerobics tomorrow morning before heading off to the retreat...

Speaking of which, can't WAIT to see the girls! It's been a slow process getting me excited about it this year as I'm a little out of the scrapping loop atm but I really can't wait to see Roz, Eck, Nic, Carol-Lea and the other ASC girls I'll be meeting Finally for the first time! I'm sure it will be a blast! Even if I don't have a whole lot to scrap!! I'll try to rustle together something today, but my camera has been AWOL for a few months now so I'll just have to use old pics, or I might get into some BTPs that I want to do for Xmas pressies or such.

See you all tomorrow girls! Can't wait!!

Oh, and P.S. A HUGE congratulations to Rozzie, Eck and Shell for making the MASTERS!! Woohoooo!! Congrats again too to the girls who got HMs... Brooke, Nic and Carol-Lea come to mind... love all your work girls!!

Natti xxx

Getting real...

Following Ali's post on 'getting real' I've also decided to set myself some goals and start reaching them too! I watched Oprah the other day and it was about how she lost the weight and has kept it off. Apparently she followed some program that some guy has a book about (Bob someone). She sent 4 of her staff on a 12-week 'boot-camp' to lose some weight and they looked so great afterwards! So I copied down the 6 rules as a part of this program...

1. Exercise vigourously 5-6 times a week (on boot-camp they had to 8 times - yikes that's everyday and then some!)

2. Eat consiously at all times (knowing exactly what you are stuffing into your mouth all the time!)

3. Eat a healthy breakfast (I don't have a problem with this one)

4. Stop eating 2-3 hours before bedtime.

5. No alcohol.

6. 6-8 glasses of water per day.

So, I'm not totally going all gung-ho on this program, but am going to try to apply these principles where I can. I am especially testing out number 4, and am setting myself a 7.30 cut-off time. No eating after 7.30pm. Bob said that you can lose weight just be focussing on this. So I'm going to see if I can make any changes with it.

OK, so my goals for this week.

1. Drink at least 6 glasses of water each day.
2. Eat fruit - at least one piece a day.
3. Only eat at designated snack times. Breakfast-snack-lunch-snack-dinner-snack (if not after 7.30pm)
4. PORTION CONTROL! Watch my dinner plate.
5. Gym. 3-4 times a week. Like Ali, no excuses.

I REALLY want to make a start on this before the retreat. I'd like to have lost at least a kilo before I go, so I am starting to feel a bit more confident again. Not sure what I'm going to plan for the retreat. I'll be interested in hearing from anyone else (Eck!) who's watching their diet what their plan is.... are you going to just enjoy yourself or be good if you can??

I had a great workout this morning and felt really good afterwards. I made it to 15 mins on the bike, where I usually get off at 10 max... I then set 25 mins on the treadmill on the RANDOM program I found which is REALLY good!! I got to 15 mins and was so set to get off, but I just kept telling myself "just one more minute" and I did that all the way to the 25mins! Yay! Feel so good I stuck to it! 5 min cool down on the siting bike made for a good 45min workout. I'm going to go Saturday morning too.

Well, I'm off back to my air-conditioned bedroom where I've been hibernating all day... yucky hot and still not really close to summer! NOT looking forward to summer hey!!!

Nat xx

Off to Shari's...

I'm off to Shari's for the weekend/night! Yay! Can't wait to catch up with my wonderful friend, play scrapping (hopefully!) and let the boys play together! Will be great! Of course I still haven't packed, so as soon as I'm finished on here, I will have to!

I'm hoping I do well at the demo this arvo. It's my second one, and first with people I don't know (except you Shari!) so I want to do as well as I can. So many products to try to think about and to demonstrate, but I think I have my run-through changed just a little from last time so hopefully I do OK!

Mostly, I'm just looking forward to hanging out with Shari! What fun!

Have a great weekend all, see you next week :)

Nat xx