Place: home

Poison: boost mango magic

Favorite things: my cot newly set up with beautiful cot set.

If the life of a mum can be explained in one word, I believe it’s the phrase ‘lay-by’.

Today I officially became a mum, I believe I came close on christmas morning when I wrapped up myself a present that I wanted and acted surprised to open it but no today I achieved mummy greatness.

I braved the Target baby sale and the. I lined up and put a heap of needed things on layby for the first time ever.

Being a late in life mummy, I’ve never had to wait to buy the things I want. I’ve never had to consider timing and safety, storage and necessity.

I’ve pretty much done what I wanted and most of my life recycled as much as possible.

There are so many baby items that can’t be recycled and so many that can.

Charl and I made an agreement we wouldn’t buy anything until after Christmas and wait for the sales. Also we knew we would get given so much also.

So today was the day…

Mummy’s and lay-bys
*just like pregnancy we have to wait for what we want.
*seems like I will be buying and thinking about my child’s needs more than my own. (not a bad thing at all!)
*checking out the prices and the specials to make the best choice.

Here’s a toast to motherhood being official. I am a lay-by card holder.

And I can’t wait to bring home the bits and bobs ready for our little person to come into our world!

A

Place: my couch

Poison: cranberry juice

Favorite Things: my husbands new hair cut.

Tonight I got home from work expecting a quiet night in front of the tv and my husband changed that in one decision.

He said ‘Were going on a date, soon we’re not going to find this as easy with a new baby!’ he also said ‘You’re so worthy of courting…’

Ahh, violins…candles…floating moment.

We so want to be great parents, but we believe the foundation to great parenting is a great marriage,

Great marriages are not built in front of the television, with dinner balancing on our laps.

Great marriages are built on communication and trust. These two traits are built when we take time just to be with one another and face each other at the table and delight in each others company.

So a progressive dinner ensued. Spontaneous, not overly expensive but completely priceless.

Thankyou Babe.

I loved every bit of tonight.

It is my total privilege to call you my husband.

In love

Amanda

Place: My Office

Poison: Water

Favourite Things: Almond crossiants

I am back at work today and I am not sure how I am going to step out of the chair for 6 months and let go.

Letting go of a season and embracing the new is never an easy transition.

Even when a season is tough and stretching and difficult, to gracefully ease into a new beginning, a new space, a new routine is never easy…

I think the more we confront the reality of the change, we process our emotions and we communicate our feelings to those close by, it really helps make the transition more effective.

Change is never easy, but life truly is experienced in its fullness when we face the reality of the season we are currently in.

Letting go of my fulltime, hardcore work vibes is easy in one sense, but in another really a challenge.

I need help?

Don’t we all sometimes.

A

Place: home

Poison: chocolate shake

Favorite Things: silence

I made it back to the office today after a weeks leave of absence and it was really great.

However.

There is always a but or a however with my writing. Today I officially was the cover girl for pregnancy brain. From loosing my phone, to forgetting my lunch, I was completely unable to multitask.

For a girl who not only multitasks, I often multitask on multitask. I am like a task list on steroids. I think I hit a wall today, especially whilst in a meeting with one of my staff trying to write some copy for an Eletter, I was completely dumbfounded as I said to her ‘Michelle I’ve lost the asterisk on my computer keyboard’ not one of my finest moments, I simply sat there for 5 mins trying to find it and she had to come to my computer and help me.

The scary thing was, I’d only used it the previous sentence, 5 mins earlier.

Forgetfulness can be really annoying or really funny. Depends how we accept it.

I have a knack for going through forgetful stages especially when I am consumed with another task or a big project.

Obviously baby V is consuming some of my brain cells right now, because today was simply forgetful.

Another day tomorrow.

Ahhhh

Pregnancy.

It’s a wonder!

Mrs V

Place: Waylen Bay Scout Hall

Poison: Water

Favorite things: the people in this room…

Today is our youth and young adult leaders day today. We’re sitting in a random scout hall on the river, with a fresh breeze floating through and I am so expectant about this coming year.

Our youth and young adult leaders are the most amazing group of everyday people. As we are supposed to be inspiring them towards their new year in leadership, they are inspiring me.

The potential in this room is truly amazing. The potential to create, the potential to inspire, the potential to lead cultural change is breathtaking.

I can’t wait to see what picture is painted this year.

Expectancy

Brilliant.

A

Place: home

Poison: juice

Favourite things: being married!

This morning was true bliss. Nothing radical, nothing to extravagant, just true contentment in the little things that make life grand.

After a generous sleep in and an early to bed (we are soaking it up pre-baby) my husband woke me with a cold glass of cranberry juice.

Simple, but lovely.

Then we both threw on our bathers and ran across the road and snorkeled. In my husbands words ‘Babe soak up the atmosphere!’ that’s him saying wow, how blessed are we!!!

Then we cruised to a local cafe and I read the paper front to back whilst eating poached eggs on toast…then my husband said ‘babe lets get you a pedicure.’

Not much more needs to be said.

I married the most lovely man in the world.

I am content.

I am happy.

It’s the little things.

Soaking up the atmosphere…

A

Place: My Office

Poison: Water

Favourite Things: A fan right next to me on a 35 degree day…

As I was skimming some Blogs last night, I found the most delightful daily organizer from a blog called A holy experience.

I have been reflecting a lot lately what I am going to do, when I am home all day everyday. I know our babies routine is going to be exausting, I know lots of nappy changes, long feeding routinues and hours trying to coax our baby to sleep. Then there is the washing, the cleaning, the cooking…Yes the list goes on…

I also want to take moments for myself and inspiration and dont want to fall into a land of daytime television, a hourly check of facebook and lay on the couch to catch a moment of sleep bank positive gearing.

I am sure I will do all of this, but I also want to fill my days with some priorities and stay connected in a place of inspiration. You see, I have worked in the same place for twelve years. My job has changed periodically, but have driven to, sat and eaten lunch with and stretched my mind and heart towards large endevours for a long time and I want embrace this new season well and not fall into a land of entropy.

I came accross this Daily planner and I love it!! Although it may not get used in the first six weeks, I have printed off a pile to work on organising my life to my priorities, when our baby is in a bit more of a routine.

Even if I only accomplish one thing of the list… ie- Write a blog everyday of 2012, I am winning!

http://www.aholyexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dayplanner.pdf

Hope this helps, all credit to the writer of ‘a holy experience’ blog.

Ahhh, I feel more organised already and I havent even done anything.

smile

A

Place: doctors surgery

Poison: frappe

Favorite Things: lip gloss my husband gave me for Christmas

Here I am waiting once again for an appointment and I am all stocked up on time wasters. The Internet, a great book and my trusty iPod.

I’ve been told the doctor is at least an hour and a half behind, so I am going to try and make the best out of the wait.

I found the cutest T-shirt design today that I am going to try out on some little onesies or small T-shirts. A boy version and a girl version, I’ll give away whichever one doesn’t get used.

Well, I’m going to start looking now for iron on transfer paper where I can find it from?

http://www.creaturecomfortsblog.com/home/2010/11/11/diy-embellished-iron-on-transfers-with-free-printable.html

Happy creating

Amps

Place: At my mums

Poison: Homemade Bannana Muffins

Favourite Things: My husband setting up our cot!

Whilst surfing pinterest I found the following new tradition of asking children to each fill in a form like this and creating a family book but more importantly I found a kindred spirit.

Check out this blog www.thirtyhandmadedays.com

Brilliant

Enjoy

A

Place: on my couch

Poison: water

Favorite things: daytime tv

I am not bed bound very often, so daytime television is not high on my list of priorities…

I have become a daytime television junkie and it’s not something I want to continue.

I had my iPad with books sitting on my bedside table and a great new book sitting next to me, but neither got touched or even picked up.

I became a channel surfer, channel flicker, a women’s daytime television groupie.

The doctors show, the view, the circle, the morning show, dr Phil…the opportunities are endless.

Yet I somehow feel a little ripped off. A lot of pointless information, random new stories and gossip has filled my current landscape and I’m not sure I like it.

As I cruise into motherhood, spending hours watching mindless daytime tv is not a pattern I want to grow into. I want to read, write, relax and grow.

Daytime tv might not be your muse, it might be mindless surfing of YouTube or it might be an hourly fix on Facebook. Which aren’t bad in themselves, it’s just your dependency on them and the balance that they are weighed by more substantial technological brain stimulants…

I am going to have to fight the couch when Baby V arrives and find myself a routine that keeps my brain fresh and active.

But for now I can boss my husband around a little with the sympathy rating high and kick back taking it easy.

Deal or no deal?

Yes please

A