On the move

Well the family is on the move!!! We didn't think that we would be doing this for a number of years to come. We are moving a long way from everyone and everything we know. We are happy to have a permanent job but are nervous about the move. Nervous about having to go somewhere so far from everyone, somewhere that's hard to get to, somewhere that's far from support networks. It is just a big shock. Something we didn't plan but when opprtunity knocks, what can you do? We are going to be apart for a month while I finalise things here and Kevin works up there. That is also nerve racking but people cope all the time with all kinds of adversity and we will be fine but it is a huge shift in our lifestyles and our mind sets from two days ago. Two days ago we thought we would be living here for another five years. On Wednesday Kevin rang to inquire about the job and last night they rang to say he could have the job and how quickly could he start. So he starts in 10 days!!! We have to go to Melbourne next weekend so there isn't much point him going up there next week to come back on Friday for the Melbourne trip.
Gosh what a change!!

Using my scraps

Using my scraps is one of my challenges and New Year's Resoltions. I created a mini album for Ann, Kevin's sister, about her visit to Queensland in January. From the scraps I created two pages.

It is a great thing to do and it means that I don't have packets and packets of scraps that I might use one day. I feel really good about it because it's not wasting paper and it makes me complete quick pages. I guess that it is more about getting the memories down and preserved than creating amazing layouts. I don't want an over crowded page. I want the photos and the journaling to be the most important thing. Also because of the kids I don't have a lot of time. I need to create layouts quickly because if I have to put them away, it is really hard to get back to them. This way I can do that and ue all the beautiful papers and not waste a whole heap of paper or kept a whole heap of scraps or half used paper.

Here are some of the things I have created.

Sleepless nights

I'm not getting much sleep lately because Jessica is waking all the time. About every three hours. Sometimes more frequently. It is really difficult to stay calm and alert during the day because I am so exhausted. I just don't seem to have enough milk or it isn't satisfying her enough. We have increased her solids but that still isn't helping. She isn't taking a bottle either so that is making it even harder. She just won't suck the bottle so I don't know what to do. She has been waking like this for 6 nights!! She will sleep if I let her suckle but wakes if I take her off and just doesn't seem satisfied. It feels like I have a new born without the hormonal high of having a new born. It is very difficult but she is a joy during the day.

Today I spent 1 hour trying to give her a bottle. Holding it in her mouth and trying to get her to drink but she didn't. In 1 hour she only had 40mL. Gosh. I don't know how I'm going to get her to take the bottle. I don't know how I'm going to last longer at night or get her to have the bottle. I will just have to keep trying.

Got to go get the washing off the line before it rains.
Sampai jumpa

An adventureous soul

It is a rainy day and although the rain is needed I just want it to stop. Hollie wants to go outside all the time and I've had to lock all the doors because in the last week she has been able to reach them by standing on her tippy toes! Yesterday while Kevin and I were gardening in the front yard and I was prunning out on the footpath, I turn to see this little naked girl standing on the footpath! I thought that she had climbed out over the gate which was scary enough but then I realised that she had actually opened the gate!!!! So no more playing in the front yard unattended or keenly watched until we get a lock on the gate. She is so independent and so keen to learn everything. She just wants to be outside all the time which is a really good thing except on days lik today or on days when I can't attend to her every need.

Friday meeting with Emma

After a few weeks break from our usual Friday meetings, Emma and I got together again today. Jack and Hollie were shy with eachother for the first time in their lives. It was quite strange but they also played very well with eachother too. Hollie is such a bossy boots and Jack always shares with her which is really nice. Hollie actually had a sleep there today too which was good because it was while Jack was asleep and we were able to spendsome time with the babies. It is difficult to get one-on-one with the little ones because Hollie and Jack are so demanding of time. I am just so glad that we got to do it together, have babies at the same time and share the joys of motherhood together. It has also been a really good thing to keep up th Friday visits as it gives us a break from the usual at home and allows us to realise that we are normal and the kids are normal too.

Hollie has now gone off with Kevin to Gran and Grandpuff's for the night and Kevin has train club which is leaving me with Jessica and uninterupted scrapping time!!! What's the bet that Jessica doesn't let me have that time that I want (and need as I have so many projects that I need to finish). Murphy's Law hey. She is currently asleep on the floor next to me after having a long time at crawling practise. She is going to crawl soon or it looks that way at least.

I feel a little strange with Hollie going off for a sleep over. I feel a bit empty. Strange isn't it? You would think that I would be very happy to be having some time by myself and time with Jessica but it just feels like something is missing and it is. Kevin and Pauline are bringing her back tomorrow which will mean that Kevin (mine) and I will be able to get some work done tomorrow morning before we have to get things organised for lunch. Hollie was so excited about going off to spend the night at Gran and Grandpuff's. She didn't even get upset that I wasn't going in the car. I don't know why I'm so sad. It's not like it's the first time she has had a sleep over. My baby is growing up.
Sampai jumpa,
Amity