I've made it a goal of mine to try to keep the front end of the house habitable and as such the bedrooms etc have gone to poo.
Well, today I decided it was time to get into them. its not really that long since I did a big tidy in the girls' room but it was a disgrace once again. Amazing how simple things like a messy bed can make it look so much worse than it really is.
I managed to get the bits and pieces all picked up off the floor and did a proper vacuum including skirtings and the tracks for the BIR, window sill etc. Amazing hwo many things were stashed under Ashleigh's bed! She's such a hoarder - gets it from her father! I also found about 6 dummies under Gabi's bed so have stashed those away for when I need them for her rather than her having access to them all!
I packed away stuff in the spare room so that now its usable for mum next weekend. I just need to strip the bed, wash the sheets and put them back on and its good to go. The floor in there also got a good vacuum today.
Our bedroom had so much stuff on the floor, mostly in laundry baskets - washing to put away, clothes I had sorted from Gabi's cupboard etc. I also had a huge pile of nappies to sort through and I now have 2 piles - those that have tears etc and those that are still usable. I managed to do a big tidy up in there and then a major vacuum and also a half hearted attempt at cleaning the mirror on the BIR (its enormous and takes me ages to do the whole thing properly)
My biggest project of the day was the bathroom. Totally disgusting, I know, but I honestly can't remember the last time I gave it a proper clean. The orange grout was probably a good indicator that it was well overdue. The paint on the ceiling in the actual shower recess is peeling but also has mold on it so that got a good brushing over to get rid of the loose paint and hopefully remove some of the mold. Then it was onto the tiles - another reason I hate our bathroom. The bath recess is roman bath style with an arched entry. Its truly hideous and the shower doesn't get much light into it at night because of the arch being so far below ceiling level and blocking the light
Anyway, I used my new Nutrimetics all purpose cleaner and it was great. The tiles are now white and shiny and the grout so much cleaner. I did use a scourer and a toothbrush but it didn't really take as much effort as I had thought it would. That said, i did loose motivation and energy towards the end and stopped scrubbing the grout with a toothbrush but it still looks great. I finished off by bleaching the base of the bath to clean that grout up and also did the hand basin at the same time. Seeing as I had the ladder in there to reach the top of the shower recess I took off the exhaust fan cover and gave that a clean. I'm yet to get it back up but Gabi, in particular, took great delight in watching it go "round and round" while they were all in the bath.
I also managed a quick sweep through the lounge just to keep it under control and will try to get it vacuumed tomorrow. I also want to vacuum under the couch cushions etc to be right on top of cleaning.
In the midst of everything else I've put through a few loads of washing and had it all go through the dryer (final load nearly finished now). We've had a rough day with wind, rain and hail so nothing was going out on the line and we have no under cover clothesline.
Another thing we've done that I had almost forgotten was to start making some of the craft things we need for Gabi's party. This was a messy production as it involved cardboard, felt, glue, paper, pencils, scissors, rulers etc etc. Lots of things to be spread around so thankfully the dining table was clear when we began and the floor WAS clear as well. Now is a totally different story..... I did sweep it all under the table though!
My biggest job tomorrow will be catching up on dishes. Yet again they've slipped beyond control and it will take a major effort to get back on top. I have also promised Ashleigh we will make some cupcakes and try to catch up with her cousin who she is desperate to see. Its been quite some time since they last had a chance to play together and she is obviously missing her
So I must get myself up and moving in the morning to clean up before making more mess once again! Tomorrow's cupcakes will be plain vanilla with caramel top n fill in them and milk choc ganache (seeing as there is some left over from Friday's cupcakes!)
And, speaking of Friday's cupcakes, I was good and put half a dozen in the freezer for hubby so that I don't snarf them all!
Dinner tonight was just pizza and garlic bread... from the freezer. So pleased when I looked in the freezer to see what we should have and found something so quick and simple and liked by the girls.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Just a matter of time
I know I've very recently blogged about Stephi and her push ups etc.
Well... today she was doing push ups and holding herself up for at least 5 seconds at a time. She spent most of the afternoon doing this.
She then caterpillared herself across the mat - push up, forward onto her tummy, another push up and forwards again.
Until she got to the edge of the mat
And then she was up on her knees for real until she decided she'd had enough and needed mumma cuddles.
So I guess I should consider dark coloured clothing for her in future. White is not an option for a crawling child!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Five months!
Oh my goodness... our baby girl is 5 months already! How fast do the years go when you have kids?
So, what is she doing now?
As I type this she is on the floor on her tummy squealling at a drink bottle and getting up onto her knees then pushing forward!
She has most definitely found her voice this month, in fact, this last few days she's found it ever so much. She can squeal in varying pitches and takes great delight in doing so. She can go from a very deep husky voice right up to a squeal that I'm sure only dogs can hear.
She is moving around all over the place by either rolling or pushing herself with her toes. She can do push ups on just her toes and hands - way more fit than her mother!
She adores her sisters and grins and squeals at them and will also cuddle with them.
She's still not much of a day sleeper but we've had a few very good nights of late which I'm too afraid to talk about in detail in case we stuff that up again!
She's showing signs of interest in food but I'm really hoping to hold her off until she's 6 months, not only to follow guidelines but also because we're going to be away for a week between now and then and I don't want to be thinking about what we can give her. That said, we are staying in an apartment and will be preparing our own meals for the most part so I can always do baby led solids again with her and offer her bits of potato etc.
I weighed her on the Wii last week and it said she was 6.9kg and she's definitely shooting along in length as well
Her pesky little teeth continue to go up and down with none cutting the surface yet. Poor little mite has been dealing with this for nearly 4 months now
She has taken an interest in her toys and holding things lately. Its sometimes quite hard to get her to let go as one little girl at kindy found out yesterday after offering her her finger to hold!
All I keep thinking is that Ashleigh was this age when daddy started FIFO again back in WA. How fast the years go
So, what is she doing now?
As I type this she is on the floor on her tummy squealling at a drink bottle and getting up onto her knees then pushing forward!
She has most definitely found her voice this month, in fact, this last few days she's found it ever so much. She can squeal in varying pitches and takes great delight in doing so. She can go from a very deep husky voice right up to a squeal that I'm sure only dogs can hear.
She is moving around all over the place by either rolling or pushing herself with her toes. She can do push ups on just her toes and hands - way more fit than her mother!
She adores her sisters and grins and squeals at them and will also cuddle with them.
She's still not much of a day sleeper but we've had a few very good nights of late which I'm too afraid to talk about in detail in case we stuff that up again!
She's showing signs of interest in food but I'm really hoping to hold her off until she's 6 months, not only to follow guidelines but also because we're going to be away for a week between now and then and I don't want to be thinking about what we can give her. That said, we are staying in an apartment and will be preparing our own meals for the most part so I can always do baby led solids again with her and offer her bits of potato etc.
I weighed her on the Wii last week and it said she was 6.9kg and she's definitely shooting along in length as well
Her pesky little teeth continue to go up and down with none cutting the surface yet. Poor little mite has been dealing with this for nearly 4 months now
She has taken an interest in her toys and holding things lately. Its sometimes quite hard to get her to let go as one little girl at kindy found out yesterday after offering her her finger to hold!
All I keep thinking is that Ashleigh was this age when daddy started FIFO again back in WA. How fast the years go
"People'd out"
I am finding dealing with people at the moment very irritating! I am so sick of people doing stupid things and expecting me to do the wrong thing to let them do what they want.
Classic example:
We've just been to the mailbox and get back into the car. I start to drive out of the car park at a very sedate pace. It has a few blind corners and I'm not willing to chance running into someone hooning the other way. I come around the final corner and there is a woman in a station wagon coming at me on the wrong side of the road! She looks at me, grins and indicates with her hand that she's pulling into a parking bay on HER side of the road.... Obviously the only way to do that is to drive up the wrong side of the road. She then keeps coming forward and is insisting that i have to move back.
Now why should I have to do this when she is the one doing the wrong thing?
Just one example of stupid behaviour of late.
People seem to be very aggressive behind the wheel and all too self important (which I guess I am considering my rant above) and this is in the state that was recently voted the best behind the wheel! Shite.... I don't think I'll do any driving when we go to Canberra etc then!
I am always astounded at the way people behave when they get into a car. I always think of it as a dangerous weapon - more people are killed by car accidents than guns in Australia each year - so why is it so easy to get and keep a drivers licence? Too many people think of it as a right not a priviledge (?sp)
Classic example:
We've just been to the mailbox and get back into the car. I start to drive out of the car park at a very sedate pace. It has a few blind corners and I'm not willing to chance running into someone hooning the other way. I come around the final corner and there is a woman in a station wagon coming at me on the wrong side of the road! She looks at me, grins and indicates with her hand that she's pulling into a parking bay on HER side of the road.... Obviously the only way to do that is to drive up the wrong side of the road. She then keeps coming forward and is insisting that i have to move back.
Now why should I have to do this when she is the one doing the wrong thing?
Just one example of stupid behaviour of late.
People seem to be very aggressive behind the wheel and all too self important (which I guess I am considering my rant above) and this is in the state that was recently voted the best behind the wheel! Shite.... I don't think I'll do any driving when we go to Canberra etc then!
I am always astounded at the way people behave when they get into a car. I always think of it as a dangerous weapon - more people are killed by car accidents than guns in Australia each year - so why is it so easy to get and keep a drivers licence? Too many people think of it as a right not a priviledge (?sp)
Monday, August 10, 2009
Coming out of a "meh" stage - part 2
Following on from the post I began the other day and then lost thanks to my computer doing weird things and deleted an entire block of my post!
I've been feeling really flat lately and small things have quite upset me so I've taken it upon myself to withdraw from forums etc and just do things that make me happyI feel I'm on the improve now so am throwing myself back into things again.I've also used my time out to focus on the girls and the house and as such we have a much more organised looking house and my girls I'.......................Just typed a huge post and my computer buggered up and deleted half of it. Will try it again later
So the girls and I have spent a bit of better quality time together. We've spent hours outdoors with them giggling and happily playing. We made up a bath with Gelli Baff and they had a play in that. Gabriella did NOT like the stuff but Ashleigh would have stayed in all day had it not been getting cold!
I've continued trying to teach Ashleigh how to do cartwheels and therefore demonstrated them myself over and over again (and am still yet to experience painful muscles!)
We've baked together... well, I've baked and they've helped clean up by licking bowls, spoons, measuring cups, whatever came their way
I think one of my biggest contributing factors to mehness is lack of sleep. Given that I've had at least a few weeks of very little sleep its hardly surprising that things get easily on top of me.
I then had 2 nights of reasonable sleep and felt even more exhausted but happier at the same time. Last night was a horror night again and tonight is suspiciously sounding the same with Miss S seemign unsettled already.
I just find myself feeling flat and then simple things make me feel worse. I then need to make sure I take a step back and try to focus on the big picture again. I have to make sure I don't let those small (and often seemingly innocent to others) things get to me. Leaving something at night and getting back to it the next day can make it seem so much less significant adn therefore not bother me so much.
I also find myself kicking myself for expecting more of Ashleigh than I should. She is such a mature little being that I have to remind myself that she is only 4... nearly 5 and not a teenager. Both hubby and myself expect more of her than we should and I think I remember it more when I can sit back and see what he expects of her rather than just working through the day by myself as I most often do. I feel that we can be quite unfair of our expectations of her and as such she can feel pushed and then we have the behaviour issues.
A classic example of this would probably be this morning. She got up quite early (6.13 if my blurry eyes and memory recall correctly) and got Gabriella up as well (she lifts her out of her cot and lets her free). An hour or so later I went into her room for something and noticed that her bed was wet. When I asked her about it she told me that her water bottle leaked. I then noticed a pair of knickers had been hidden away in the bottom of her wardrobe. She'd had an accident overnight and rather than it being a simple thing to tell me and we change her bed, she had felt she needed to hide it. Now, that screams to me that she is worried about now being as grown up as we are demanding of her. I had a talk with her about it being ok to have accidents now and then, she's been dry for ages now so its not a problem. She just needs to let me know and we can deal with it but we can't go hiding wet underwear as it will make her room smell yucky etc. She solemnly listened to me and agreed and then it seemed that a weight lifted off her shoulders - the rest of the day was mostly lots of giggles and fun.
I hate to think that my moods affect my little girls but I know that they must. For the most part I try very hard to keep a buffer zone between the girls and my attitude but sometimes.... to be honest, far too many times lately, it has stretched out and engulfed them as well. Its just not fair to expect a nearly 5 year old and a very nearly 2 year old to understand that so I must focus on being a better mum to them in that respect.
Time to focus thoroughly on getting wwell and truly out of the mehness and into the yayness
I think another think that affects me is the lead up to a birthday. Firstly I am focusing hard on getting the party together but I'm also thinking about how quickly the years are going and how fast my little girls are growing up and that makes me sad. I adore the little people they are becoming but I feel I've let too much time slip by without making the most of it. Another thing that MUST change.
And that is tonights Meh ramble
I've been feeling really flat lately and small things have quite upset me so I've taken it upon myself to withdraw from forums etc and just do things that make me happyI feel I'm on the improve now so am throwing myself back into things again.I've also used my time out to focus on the girls and the house and as such we have a much more organised looking house and my girls I'.......................Just typed a huge post and my computer buggered up and deleted half of it. Will try it again later
So the girls and I have spent a bit of better quality time together. We've spent hours outdoors with them giggling and happily playing. We made up a bath with Gelli Baff and they had a play in that. Gabriella did NOT like the stuff but Ashleigh would have stayed in all day had it not been getting cold!
I've continued trying to teach Ashleigh how to do cartwheels and therefore demonstrated them myself over and over again (and am still yet to experience painful muscles!)
We've baked together... well, I've baked and they've helped clean up by licking bowls, spoons, measuring cups, whatever came their way
I think one of my biggest contributing factors to mehness is lack of sleep. Given that I've had at least a few weeks of very little sleep its hardly surprising that things get easily on top of me.
I then had 2 nights of reasonable sleep and felt even more exhausted but happier at the same time. Last night was a horror night again and tonight is suspiciously sounding the same with Miss S seemign unsettled already.
I just find myself feeling flat and then simple things make me feel worse. I then need to make sure I take a step back and try to focus on the big picture again. I have to make sure I don't let those small (and often seemingly innocent to others) things get to me. Leaving something at night and getting back to it the next day can make it seem so much less significant adn therefore not bother me so much.
I also find myself kicking myself for expecting more of Ashleigh than I should. She is such a mature little being that I have to remind myself that she is only 4... nearly 5 and not a teenager. Both hubby and myself expect more of her than we should and I think I remember it more when I can sit back and see what he expects of her rather than just working through the day by myself as I most often do. I feel that we can be quite unfair of our expectations of her and as such she can feel pushed and then we have the behaviour issues.
A classic example of this would probably be this morning. She got up quite early (6.13 if my blurry eyes and memory recall correctly) and got Gabriella up as well (she lifts her out of her cot and lets her free). An hour or so later I went into her room for something and noticed that her bed was wet. When I asked her about it she told me that her water bottle leaked. I then noticed a pair of knickers had been hidden away in the bottom of her wardrobe. She'd had an accident overnight and rather than it being a simple thing to tell me and we change her bed, she had felt she needed to hide it. Now, that screams to me that she is worried about now being as grown up as we are demanding of her. I had a talk with her about it being ok to have accidents now and then, she's been dry for ages now so its not a problem. She just needs to let me know and we can deal with it but we can't go hiding wet underwear as it will make her room smell yucky etc. She solemnly listened to me and agreed and then it seemed that a weight lifted off her shoulders - the rest of the day was mostly lots of giggles and fun.
I hate to think that my moods affect my little girls but I know that they must. For the most part I try very hard to keep a buffer zone between the girls and my attitude but sometimes.... to be honest, far too many times lately, it has stretched out and engulfed them as well. Its just not fair to expect a nearly 5 year old and a very nearly 2 year old to understand that so I must focus on being a better mum to them in that respect.
Time to focus thoroughly on getting wwell and truly out of the mehness and into the yayness
I think another think that affects me is the lead up to a birthday. Firstly I am focusing hard on getting the party together but I'm also thinking about how quickly the years are going and how fast my little girls are growing up and that makes me sad. I adore the little people they are becoming but I feel I've let too much time slip by without making the most of it. Another thing that MUST change.
And that is tonights Meh ramble
Not sleeping through the night?
Must be time to start solids....
Why is that ALWAYS the answer from the older generation? I mentioned to my mum on the phone the other day that Stephi has had some bad nights of late and her immediate reaction was to tell me it was time to start her on solids!
She isn't 5 months yet (ok, so only a few days off but she's NOT 5 months!) We really want to hold out until 6 months before starting solids and then will most likely go baby led weaning again
And there is another issue. Apparently Gabriella is a picky eater because we did "that weird introduction to solids" We apparently should have gone the "traditional" method and put her onto weetbix as an 8 week old. I mean, really, my eldest brother was into everything by 5 months so why aren't we doing that?! Perhaps because its 35 years later and we have more information now
Argh.... all well intentioned but often misdirected advice
Why is that ALWAYS the answer from the older generation? I mentioned to my mum on the phone the other day that Stephi has had some bad nights of late and her immediate reaction was to tell me it was time to start her on solids!
She isn't 5 months yet (ok, so only a few days off but she's NOT 5 months!) We really want to hold out until 6 months before starting solids and then will most likely go baby led weaning again
And there is another issue. Apparently Gabriella is a picky eater because we did "that weird introduction to solids" We apparently should have gone the "traditional" method and put her onto weetbix as an 8 week old. I mean, really, my eldest brother was into everything by 5 months so why aren't we doing that?! Perhaps because its 35 years later and we have more information now
Argh.... all well intentioned but often misdirected advice
Respect your vehicle
Every morning as I sit in the lounge I can tell when its 7.40 without even looking at the clock. You see, there is a guy who drives a Hyundai Getz who leaves home at around this time every morning (except Sunday). He comes out of the laneway that runs beside the other side of the duplex and HAMMERS THE SHIT out of his car. The poor little engine whines like mad until he eventually changes gears and then it roars and whines more.
I don't understand people who thrash their vehicles. I mean, surely you have spent money on something that should last you a reasonable amount of time so treat it with some respect. Of course, everyone has days where they are feeling cranky and perhaps driving a bit recklessly but not EVERY.SINGLE.MORNING!
Its really getting a bit old!
I don't understand people who thrash their vehicles. I mean, surely you have spent money on something that should last you a reasonable amount of time so treat it with some respect. Of course, everyone has days where they are feeling cranky and perhaps driving a bit recklessly but not EVERY.SINGLE.MORNING!
Its really getting a bit old!
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