A chill in the air...

Well, we are now down in Mt Gambier, South Australia and enjoying a week off with Greg's family. I thought if I can't update on holidays, when else am I doing anything interesting..?

We arrived in Melbourne on Saturday morning after leaving Brisbane at 6am at probably 16/18 degrees. Two hours later, in Melbourne it was a lovely and mild 8 degrees! My type of weather!! However, the cold down here is so different to 8 degrees in Brisbane. The air is so crisp and so cold, not like the humidity we get in Brisbane, making everything that bit warmer. Still, its a nice change from sweating! Was quite a strange sight to see everyone in Melbourne airport rugged up in coats and scarves!! Much to say, we needed a change in clothes when we got in... fishing through the suitcases for jackets and a change of shoes for me out of my thongs! LOL... Has surely been a stretch of my maternity wardrobe trying to keep warm... most of my normal coats don't cover my belly (don't do up) and I only have one pair of long pants and no socks.... lol.... good thing this house is heated inside!

So far we've done a lot of relaxing really. Not a great deal of sight-seeing or anything just yet. Today is my MILs b'day (and Anzac Day) so I don't think we'll do a lot today.. and we're having famil;y around for dinner tonight. We bought a yummy scrummy jaffa mudcake - I can't wait to try that - makes my mouth water just thinking of it.

It's lovely and sunny outside today, so we may have to make the most of that and do a walk around the Blue Lake or a photography excursion to the cemetry just up the road. Cemetries are most interesting to walk around - but during the day, thank you!! The Blue Lake in Mt Gambier is just that - a brilliant blue colour that you wouldn't imagine to see from a natural body of water. It is an old volcano and I believe the limestone or something makes the water that colour. Its best around November, but even now its still a nice rich dark blue, rather than the normal browny poo colour of lakes in Qld!!

Tomorrow we are venturing into some caves about 30 mins away... there are a few around, so we'll have to sus out which ones will be more appropriate for me in my 'condition', but I'm hoping the steps at the big one aren't too steep coz it has the best things to see and take photos of!!

Friday afternoon we leave Mt Gambier and fly back to Melbourne. Unfortunately we're only going to be there for 2 nights and one day, plus a little on Sunday morning, so I'm desperately trying to cram everything and everyone I want to see into that time!! It will be a very busy, running-around couple of days. Friday night we will going for dinner with my cousins who we are staying with... then Saturday we are going to the zoo and I'm possibly meeting some of the scrapping girls (Tam and Lou - boo hoo, Brookie can't come anymore) or a friend who moved down there recently. Sat night will probably be dinner at my aunt and uncle's house. Sunday morning may be breakfast with the scrapping girls (if we can all come Sun morning) or with my formerly mentioned other friend. Then we fly out on Sunday at mid-day. Goodness! Kinda wish we'd left here on Thursday now, just to give us a bit more time in Melbourne!! But it will still be great to see whoever I can!

Will uplaod some pics from our trip when we return. Surely with taking lots of pics, I can get some updated ones of my growing belly huh... can you believe there's only a little over 4 weeks left till we have a baby!! Can't wait to meet him/her.

Well, take care, might update again soon. Hope those of you who have today off work are enjoying the time with your family :)

Nat xx

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 :)