2 weeks and counting.....

The BIG move is getting closer, they even very kindly brought it forward a week for us!!!! So this last week has been busy fixing things around the house, to make it ready to rent. Why is it that you just make do with things around the house but then fix everything that is ok for you to live with, for other people?? Like my curtains for example they have been annoying me forever as they always fall of the curtain rings and I have been meaning to fix them for I don't know how long.... did I ever do it for me? NO but it is at the top of my list to fix now! I have also been busy selling furniture that will not fit into our new tiny little house or things that haven't been used in awhile. We had a very unpractical white leather lounge a reminder of our before children days, which had to go. It sold on Monday and since then Miss E has turned our front room into her play room! TOYS everywhere.
I think she must know something is happening as we had our first proper tantrum the other day and she has been a bit funny all week, as well as not sleeping again. I am beginning to become sleep deprived.... It's either the move or maybe the terrible two's have come early!!
If anyone has any tips on things you can do to help a toddler handle a big move to a new town, I would love to hear them. PLEASE help, all advice is greatly appreciated.

Newborn Cuddles

I have just had a cuddle with my friends little newborn boy. I can't believe how fast our kiddies grow and how quickly you forget, how small they were. Miss E was in fact smaller by a pound when born, she was just over 7 pound. I know that's not small, but holding him I couldn't imagine how anyone could be any smaller. I love that newborn smell and that milk drunk look when they have a nice full tummy. I remember just spending hours watching her when she was born, sometimes with eyes propped open with match sticks... as a sleep deprived new mother. I was just in awe that we had made this little baby and couldn't take my eyes off her as I didn't want to miss a thing.

So now I am super clucky and can't wait to be able to add another addition to our family, but for now I thought I would share one of my favourite photos of Miss E. She was only a couple of months old here..... her mumma had good milk!!!  

Don't be shy at leaving comments, I love to hear from you, in fact it makes my day when I see someone has left me one... Deb xx

Gymbaroo

Today we had a make up class at Gymbaroo, due to our delay in flights last week, that so kindly gave us a few extra hours in Broome! Anyway this term the theme is 'colourful characters' and todays colour was 'orange'. We are asked to dress our children in the weeks theme colour so they are able to associate with the colour. Well late last night I realised we had no ORANGE. However I did manage to find a very bright 70's looking fabric in my fabric stash, so I ended up making her a top.
Emily loves Gymbaroo and it is really helping with her development. Today was all about Bi laterality, they were learning to climb up ladders and there was a big focus on jumping.
We were given an interesting hand out on Bi-Laterality which I thought may be of interest. It is focused on the 18-24month age group.

Our toddlers are now fully developed bi-lateral little ones. Once they start jumping during this period, there is nothing as exciting as practising this new skill. At first it is a bit 'hobbeldy hoy' a quick sort of step/jump, especially when trying this new skill off the lowest step of the stairs.

Handmade with love

With so many birthdays fast approaching and trying to keep within my family budget. I have decided to hand make my gifts, I'm not really sure if a handmade present can compete with a store-bought present and am extremely nervous in giving a handmade present in today's society. So I decided that I would only give something that I would be happy to receive. Now I haven't sewn since school and to be honest the thought scared me as I am a bit of a perfectionist and tend to procrastinate about things if I don't think I will be able to do it. I eventually gave it a go and am actually quite excited at the results. So I thought I would share with you my latest creations.

Broome Time

We have returned from Broome and I must say our little lady was the perfect flyer, even with a four and a half hour delay! We had a fantastic time and it was the perfect little getaway. We went for a friends wedding and everything about the day was just perfect. Stunning bride, handsome groom, a beautiful ceremony, the yummiest food, and great friends to celebrate with.

Congratulations Bel and Scotty.  To love, laughter and happily ever after xxx

Travelling with a toddler

We are currently planning a family holiday to sunny Broome, which got me thinking of the last time we flew with Emily and if there was anything we could do differently to make it a little easier on all of us. You see we were one of those families!! the ones with the screaming child that starts just after take off and seems to go on forever. The family that when coming down the aisle to find there seat people see you have a child and and they think to themselves, please don't let them be sat next to me. Then when you find yourself next to them, you get that funny little smile, that says hi lovely to meet you just don't let that kid cry. The reason I know they are thinking that is because I have been one of them plenty of times.

Well last time we got an evening flight around her usual bedtime thinking she could have her bottle on take off to help with her ears and then she would fall blissfully asleep and stay that way until the next morning when she would wake up well rested in the hotel room. Well as you can imagine it didnt go to plan, in fact it went a little something like this, have bottle on take off, all good so far. Then it begun, Emily had no intentions what so ever of going to sleep, so for the next two hours we had to entertain one over tired child with an attention span of a fish!. There were tears and tantrums and escape attempts. Hubby and I were trying so hard to become invisible. which is a little bit difficult when you have a 13 month old that has legs and arms going everywhere. In fact if someone had of told me there was a parachute in the back I think I would of considered using it, just to clarify, the parachute was for me, not Emily, I'm not that mean a mother! Eventually hubby almost had her asleep and then the food trolley came and she was off again. I found myself not looking at anyone, as every time you would look up, someone would be staring at you and it made me feel like I was failing miserably as a parent. It wasn't supposed to be this way I kept telling myself she was supposed to be fast asleep cuddled up in my arms, the perfect child. We were so relieved when she did succumb to sleep, but I believe the mention of driving home from Adelaide instead of flying was on the cards at this point!
That was only the beginning for some crazy reason we decided to stay in four different places in the span of five nights and our return flight was at 8pm, what were we thinking??

So for Broome we have booked our flight for in the morning well before nap time, and her take on bag will have a couple of her favourite books, puzzles, crayons, stickers, flash cards and for back up in case of emergency we will have a couple of new episodes of 'Dora' and 'Charli and Lola' on the iPhone. She still has her dummy for sleeping, so we will have that packed as well for take off and landing to help with her ears and we will be staying in just one place this time.
Have you travelled with your toddler or baby, car or plane? do you have any tips you would like to share as I would definitely love to hear them.

Can cleaning be fun?

For those of you who know me and know me well, before becoming a mum I was a bit of a clean freak! My house was always spotless, everything had it's place and it was always in order. Then Cyclone Emily came along and that changed everything. I still love having my house clean and tidy, but I find these days it's not as important anymore, I would rather be cuddled up to my little girl reading stories, making a mess with playdough, painting or playing outside with her. I figure she is only little for such a short period of time, plus it will still be there tomorrow. Unless of course the cleaning fairies pay me a visit, but I think they must have my address wrong as I am yet to see them.

Although I do find it much easier to keep on top of things, so I just spend a quick half hour doing one or two jobs each day. plus I make sure I do at least one load of washing, as I have a very small laundry and if I leave it for a few days it can be like climbing mount Everest just to get to the washing machine. Then before Emily goes up for her bath, we have pack away time and we put all of her toys from the day away together and sing a little song. She loves packing her toys away!

I have tried to make cleaning fun and always let Emily help, so it doesn't become so much of a chore. I took some photos this morning that I thought I would share with you. I would love to see or hear how you make cleaning fun.  

I hope you all have a lovely Tuesday, we are going to sit and have some play time now before I get around to loading all the new goodies that arrived for our shop. http://www.from1mum2another.com/category/new.htm