Check Spence out!!

Hey family, 
Check out this vid of Spence today. It hasn't loaded exactly the way I saved it on the comp, but it's taken forever to upload so I can't be bothered trying to redo it! You get the picture anyway, even though it's only half a screen :)

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Mom Challenge Week 3 - Set Realistic Expectations

O.K so Week 3 of the Mom Challenge was to "Set Realistic Expectations" which I've probably found the hardest out of all the challenges thus far.

Not because I don't totally agree with the reason behind this week's challenge which was that "If your expectations are too high it only creates stress for both your child and you", because I totally do...but just because, from an adult's point of view I often find it difficult to ascertain what's realistic to expect from Mac & how much is too much?

Mac helping fold the washing

The situations that I had the most difficulty in setting realistic expectations for this week were more the behavioural ones for example I'm quite often busy doing something for Spence when Mac decides he wants a drink of milk or something to eat & of course when he decides he wants something, he wants it NOW....but because I'm often busy with Spence, alot of the time I have to tell Mac he has to wait until I'm finished doing what I'm doing....to which response Mac has a melt down & starts whining & grizzling that he doesn't want to wait, he wants it now!

Now this kind of whining & grizzling is SUPER annoying when you're already busy doing something else & at times I can't help but think (when looking at it from an adult's perspective) - "Are you for real?? How rude are you??!! You can see I've already got my hands full & yet you expect me to drop what I'm doing to pour you a glass a milk as soon as you ask for it!"....However, I realize that his whiny, grizzly, SUPER annoying response is because he still doesn't fully understand the concept of time & that waiting for him seems like FOREVER!

In light of the fact that he feels like he's going to have to wait for his milk for what seems like a lifetime, it's probably unrealistic to expect him not to whine at all about having to do this...however I do feel it's realistic & I have been asking him to please go outside & do it because I don't want to have to hear it lol...(although unfortunately this usually makes the whining even louder!)

The situation where it was easiest to set realistic expectations was cleaning up around the house & I have to say that Mac was great at this. In fact just over the last couple of weeks while I've been working on this challenge, he's actually been asking to help with different jobs so it's timed in perfectly :)

Uncle Luke's birthday (Anzac Day)

These days if it's sunny out, then there's really no question as to where the kiddies will want to be.... out on their scooters of course!! Bronson was the culprit who started this craze so it was only right that with the absolutely gorgeous weather for Uncle Luke's birthday today, all the kid's scooters come along too.   

What a cool afternoon we had together at the Domain. These special family times are what life is all about & there's nothing I enjoy more than being with my loved ones & seeing the kids running around exploring, being silly together & having fun :)

The Domain is where Mum & Dad & UV & AJ used to take us cuzzies back when we were kids (oh so long ago!) 

Mell, Luke & I had a laugh reminiscing about "back in the day" today, so it's cool to be able to get together to create similar memories for our kids. So scary to think that in another 20-30 years, they could be doing the same thing with their babies though! I don't even wanna think about how old that will make us lol....

The birthday boy & his beautiful family

Mac trying to play frisbee with Spencer's bowl

The Scooter Crew :) AKA "The Posers"

Pulling faces

Scary face

Uncle Jo's big ears

Showing me their muscles lol

Home time

School holiday fun

A couple of weeks ago I was looking forward to the holidays, but two weeks later I have to admit that I'm looking forward to dropping Mac back at kindy tomorrow morning lol :) I love him to bits, but that kid seriously has more go than the energizer bunny!!!

We did have a fun week this week though, hanging out with the cuzzies & good friends.

On Monday Mac & Shylah ran around from one playground to the next at Windy Ridge School...

Remember this slide Mell & B?? Good times aye :)

On Tuesday we met Aunty Mell, Bex, Nix & the kids at Sheperds Park....

On Wednesday Pod & Ella came to play while Aunty Mell went to the midwife. Then when she got back we went for a walk up to Maccas to get icecream & to have a play. Man what a drama that was! The playground was the most crowded I've ever seen it so Mell & I were just standing up watching the kids play when Ella decided to do her "business" right then & there! She's toilet training at the moment & is a bit on & off so I guess she just decided that the middle of the playground was as good a place as any!!! 

Oh man, her Mum was so not impressed (not suprisingly, poor Mell!!) but she did a great job of maintaining composure & got the little madam all cleaned up while the Macca's staff sorted the disinfectant haha...& then we just hightailed it out of there as quick as poss ...with Ella wrapped in one of Spency's cloth nappies cause that's all we had!

Ella lucky to still be alive after her performance at the playground lol

On Thursday we hung out with my friend Clarey again...

& then on Friday we finally had Pod over for her sleepover :) With 2 iphones & 2 ipads her & Mac still had to fight over which ever thing the other one had, but in between the tears over technology they had a great time watching movies, building a fort, walking up to the mall for morning tea & a play & riding scooters. 

Ahh, the life of a kid's a tough one alright!! 

Dropping Pod back home on Saturday arvo

Mom Challenge Week Two

O.K so just reporting back on the Mom Challenge Week Two which was to SLOW DOWN.

I did this 2 weeks ago now but just haven't had the chance to write it up yet. Slack, I know. Anyways, I thought this one was going to be pretty hard for me, however the planets seemed to align at just the right moment to kind of take things out of my hands so that I had no choice but to do just that.

 Usually our day runs on a pretty tight schedule mostly focused around Mac's kindy drop off & pick up & Spencer's sleeps, so alot of the time I feel like I rush Mac from the time he gets up in the morning till the time I tuck him in at night, but the lady who came up with the Mom Challenge reasons that "the only thing that rushing does is create stress and missed opportunities." She also included this poem which I've read before & which always makes me a little sad each time I read it cause I know it's so true :( .....

slow down mummy, there is no need to rush,

slow down mummy, what is all the fuss?

slow down mummy, make yourself a cup tea.

slow down mummy, come spend some time with me.

slow down mummy, let's pull boots on for a walk,

let's kick at piles of leaves, and smile and laugh and talk.

slow down mummy, you look ever so tired,

come sit and snuggle under the duvet, and rest with me a while.

slow down mummy, those dirty dishes can wait,

slow down mummy, let's have some fun - bake a cake!

slow down mummy, I know you work a lot,

but sometimes mummy, it's nice when you just stop.

sit with us a minute,

and listen to our day,

spend a cherished moment,

because our childhood won't stay!

~ R. Knight

So anyway back to my week....The start of this week was also the very same time that Spence's loose nappies started, so rather than rushing to drop Mac off at kindy & then picking him up & rushing to the gym so we can get in at least an hour there before rushing home to put Spence in bed before he gets too overtired etc, etc, we really just had to take it slow & not go too far or even just stay around home.

Instead everything revolved around nappy changes & more often than not it was more than just the nappy that needed to be changed (until I figured out that two nappies are better than one as the outer nappy provides extra protection from it leaking out the sides or shooting up the back lol)....


A few afternoons that week we took Mac's bike down to the park & he ripped around while Spence & I just strolled around the walking track behind him & we also did a couple of walks up to the mall just to get milk or bread or to post a letter. We really should do this more often seeing as we only live across the road!! It was so nice & relaxing.

So yeah, aside from the fact that I was dying for the number of nappy changes to go back to normal, we had a really good week as I surrendered & eased up on trying to keep the house so tidy & rushing to try & fit in as much as possible each day.

I need to try & remember the poem above more often because alot of the time it is important to just slow down.... The washing will still be there tomorrow (unfortunately lol)

7 months

Well our little Spency Wency Spider is 7 months old today so let me just do a quick run through of what he got up to this past month....

- I won't go into all the gory details, but let's just say the month started pretty badly with a week of loose nappies - the worst day we got 11 I think it was!!! It was insane - needless to say we didn't get much else done that day....& come to think of it I still don't know what it was that caused it because at the time I was totally convinced it was teething as he didn't seem sick at all apart from that & was gnawing on EVERYTHING.... & I assumed that since it lasted a week it couldn't be your normal 24-48 hour bug, but I'm not really sure as after the week it went back to normal, but no teeth ever arrived???

Maybe it was from the two rounds of antibiotics he had really close together just before that because that used to happen to Mac sometimes, but yeah, I'm not really sure?? Anyway, the main thing is that we're back on track now cause Mum thinks that 1 or 2 a day is more than enough thank you very much!!

- He can sit up now - he still falls over after a little bit, but he can do it for a few minutes at least :)

- His hair has really started to thicken up this month.....the thighs are also continuing to thicken up along with his cheeks lol. They're so yummy!

- He's had a few firsts this month:
   1)  Went to his first movie (the Lorax for Bronson's party & he was such a good 
        boy & slept through the first half & then just sat quietly through the rest)            
   2)  Wore his first set of pyjamas (from Aunty Mell)
   3)  Wore shoes for the first time (an old pair of Mac's - but he had to start on the
        2nd size up cause he's alot bigger)
  4)   Ate toast, avocado, pumpkin & banana - he prefers all the sweet stuff BY FAR

His nickname has changed a little from Spency Wency Spider to just Pency most of the time. This one comes courtesy of Ella as she's totally in love with him & that's how she pronounces his name. She gets so excited whenever she sees him & always runs over to him calling out "Hi Pency!!! Hi Pency!!!" It's so cute. She's gonna be such a great helper for her Mum when her little brother comes along :P xxx

Mac's birthday cakes

Here are pics of Mac & his birthday cakes over the last 4 years...He's grown up so much from my gorgeous little baby to my big 4 year old! Crazy to think that when his next birthday rolls around he'll be off to school. Where does the time go??!!

Mac's Scooter Picnic - 4th day of fun

So a week after Mac's actual birthday we finally got around to his 4th & final day of fun which was his scooter picnic party with all his cuzzies down at Normanton Park. (We never got around to Lollipops which was his 3rd day of fun, but combined with Bronson's party on Saturday & the Easter Egg Hunt at Mell & Jo's on Sunday, I figure we more than made up for it, so we'll leave Lollipops till the school holidays finish now I think...)

Easter Egg Hunt

Anyways, the weather was beautiful so we all had a really nice time just chilling out together at the park. We got there at 12 & had a feed of junk food & pizza & then the kids played around on their bikes & scooters while us adults just sat back & relaxed - Dad & AJ on his executive chairs - (which he had to drive home especially for cause he'd forgotten them) & the rest of us just on the cheap seats :)


Now the cake for this year was all good until it had to leave the house. Mell came with me in my car so she could hold the cake while I drove...& it made the trip over to Normanton o.k, but as soon as it got outside & was sitting on the picnic table out in the sun, it started to just fall apart. I used a Betty Crocker cake mix together with her yummy frosting, which I've used heaps of times before & am usually a really big fan of... However, Betty really let me down on this occasion lol....As good as she is for an inside setting, she really doesn't have what it takes to brave the elements, so at least I now know not to take her outside again!!


Thank goodness Mac wasn't at all upset by any of the cake fiasco because by the time we went to light the candles we couldn't even make that happen for him, poor little man!!! (It was too windy!!) But like I said, he didn't mind & was just having such a fun time running around & playing with all his cousins, so that was a relief.


Here are some pics of Mac's special day....

Thank goodness I took photos of the cake before we left home!!! (while it was still in one piece)

My handsome birthday boy xxx 

Dad & AJ on the executive chairs :)

Uncle Jo - the party entertainment lol. He had the kids on the go for 4 hours!

 What the cake had melted away to by the time we were ready to sing Happy Birthday

Mac blowing out his pretend candles since it was too windy to light the real ones :(

Love this pic of Jordy. For some reason it makes me just want to pat him :) Think it's his cute little paw lol

Mell spent ages trying to cuddle Spence to sleep - she was determined to do it & she FINALLY got him in the end. Little ripper!