babies Born June 2006 #51

well its my babies birthday today ... such a happy sad day all mixed into one... I think it coz I am normally almost ready to pop with the next one when the other two turned 3 yet this time we still arent even UTD... but I have faith that we will get there one day if its meant to happen it will...

Mel thats wonderful news with TT what a break through... I have been meaning to tell you that my mum said that even though most of her children were TT when they were two that her 3rd ( my older sister ) just didnt get it until she was 3.5 years, and one day she just clicked, and never had a problem again, each child is different she will get there when she is ready... which sounds like she is almost there anyway... but just thought I would tell you so you dont think that Marly is behind or anything...

Rory sorry I cant make it tonight I hope both you and bath have a great time, with the rest of the BB girls sounds like its going to be a big night... I am down here every summer so I will just have to make you all meet me somewhere next time I am in town, I wont take no as an answer...

Maya thanks for the info, I have been meaning to read that book, I just have to get of my butt and buy it, I didnt know they made one for girls too Mel so looks like I will have to buy both ;), one of the most reasons that we are moving up to Mackay instread of staying here is so that Zayden can spend more time with BHL, I think they both need it...


hello to everyone else, hope you have a wonderful long weekend mwah :loveshower:

Happy Birthday Kai!!!! Enjoy Tali, maybe you ARE utd this weekend ;) And if not, well, you'll see more of BHL later on to get onto it!

Happy birthday for yesterday Kai! Hope she had a wonderful day. I can't believe we have little independant 3 year olds (well almost 3, 2 more weeks). I'm sure you'll be sharing your news with us soon. Its so nice to hear of other kids that have taken a bit longer to TT. Chelsea was relatively easy, this is a new experience for me.

A question for you all to ponder -
Since the excitement of Marley doing wees at creche on Thursday, Friday was a bit of a disaster. 4 changes of clothes came home with her on Friday, she wet every bit of clothing I packed and ended up in their spare clothes! Then on Saturday morning, I put her undies on and noticed her trying to hold herself and asked her if she wanted to do wees. She really cracked it and said no and started to cry. I left it. Few seconds later I saw her holding herself again, so I took her to the toilet. She sat on and I could see her holding it, her toes were curling and she was doing her best not to let it out. She started to cry saying she wanted to get off. I said no, just wait and then all of a sudden this huge wee came out!!! It went on for ages, she must have been holding for a while. Both Chelsea and I started cheering, dancing etc and she was laughing and she got a couple of M&M's as a treat. Then all day Saturday we decided to stay home and see if we can get it happening. Well its been awful! She has been in the worse mood since and seems to really not want to go to the toilet. Wet herself for the rest of the day, kept asking to go to bed (I think she knows that bedtime means a nappy on) and has been in the worst mood ever. Its horrible, she is so moody, grumpy and hardly smiles. I went to a friends for dinner last night and I was so glad to get out of the house, she was driving me nuts. Today has been more of the same. Where has my happy, funny little girl gone? Do you think I am causing more angst by pushing the TT????? I am so confused what to do with her. I wonder if she is holding on to it for so long, its making her feel sick? I can't think of any other explanation. I don't want to confuse her and go back to nappies but maybe she isn't ready yet? I was hoping you girls could come up with some words of wisdom for me - PLEASE.

Enough ranting, hope that all makes sense and any suggestions would be great. This one has me stumped! :doh:

Oh, no Mel! It sounds like she is getting stressed with the TT sicho. Actually, I think her brain has gone into overload with it. I'd say that the tack from now on could be to concentrate on her realising when she needs to go, rather than holding on. They are two separate concepts, really: recognising the body's need to let the wee go, and then progressing later on to holding on. She doesn't need to hold on, she just needs to let someone know she needs to go so that she can get help using the loo. It may be that everyone else is forgetting this distinction, too, and that's how it's getting too much for her :( Easy enough to do. Holding on like that as a self-enforced thing could be really unhealthy for her little system. I would even suggest not to make a big deal of ANYthing to do with toileting. Just ask her regularly and normally if she feels like she needs to go and if she does then just quietly take her to the loo without making a big deal of it. Rewards can be counter-productive with a lot of kids and the desire to please you and the family is probably adding to the stress of expectations. So, no fuss when there's a regression, no fuss when she uses the loo or tells you she needs to go. Just play it quietly. It might take a while to bring her back from the anxiety she's built up in her mind about it now. Poor chicken :(
Just got back from seeing Rai Thistlethwayte who was brilliant! I went with my GF and Oscar is with my parents. Might even go to bed soon...it's late enough...

Maya I think you've got it right. Yesterday I left her in nappies and never really pushed the whole TT thing all day and she was an angel. Back to her usual happy self, laughing and being cheeky. I asked her quite matter of factly if she wanted to go to the toilet and she said no, I just said OK and moved on to something else. I also told MIL not to push it with her either. I don't want her getting so stressed she makes her self sick. I just can't believe the difference its made by just letting it go. She might be like Tali's sister and take a bit longer. Oh well, nappies for a bit longer is no big deal. Slowly, slowly wins the race!

I see you enjoyed Rai on Sunday?

How is exam prep going?

I cannot believe how cold its been, I know its winter but boy it was cold this morning! DH worked yesterday and we barely left the house, only to get lunch. I didn't want to take my slippers off lol! Spent the day baking now my oven is fixed - only took me 6 months! We did cupcakes, biscuits, soup and a roast. Kids enjoyed decorating the cupcakes and made a huge mess in the process, but it was fun ;) Soup was delicious (green lentil and veg), have a big bowl for lunch today. If anyone shops at Coles, they have a new FREE quarterly magazine with heaps of recipes. The soup came from the magazine and was easy and it made plenty. Looking forward to lunchtime!

Stay warm girls!

Mel: I was going to suggest what Maya said (well said matey! Gotta spread the love!) all my three had TT regressions, usually when they are unwell... but it sounds like you have it sorted now... I remember cheering when Niall did his first poos on his potty but these days no fuss is made... he usually just trots off to the potty when he needs to go and yells out if I need to wipe for him... sometimes he doesn't yell and I find the little "deposit" when I am walking past the bathroom and then have to wipe him... fortunatley it usually 'comes out clean'! LOL Marely will get there ;) I know how frustrating it is to have to deal with all the wet and pooey clothes though! This time next year it will all be a distant memory I'm sure!

Mel - glad Marley has relaxed back into herself :) You could even not mention the toilet at all and just ask her if she needs to wee - break it down to smaller steps, take out of the equation where she's going to wee and get her thinking about the feeling on needing to do it?
Rai was ace - not a big crowd at all (Sunday night Open Stage with Heath King was always packed - I've played to a bigger crowd in the same venue for just a few songs!), but the music was very good for the soul and I'm definitely a fan. Unfortunately, he didn't play my favourite song (of all the 7 or so that I've actually heard!) because the crowd was egging him for more upbeat songs, and this particular one is mellow, but melodically beautiful. Oh, well, will just have to buy his album and go see him in town next time!
Bath - how are the boys getting along? They're kind of the same age gap that Oscar and this little one will be, I think. I hope you had some fruit left after your penultimate post!
I've got an oil column heater going by my legs at the desk and the heater is cranking with firewood. I'm wearing a beanie, long sheepskin boots and a wool blend wrap (from my fave boutique, of course ;) )...just feeling unprepared for winter, mainly because of my maternity wardrobe shortcomings in terms of warm layers!
Oscar yelling for more pasts - pasta fiend...

Time for a vent from me girls. I am over DH being down and depressed. It is awful for me to say it but I am really feeling like I maybe want to be down and have someone cheer me up instead of it always being the other way around. I know it is health making him feel this way and no doubt the atrial fibrilation drugs doing it but I am just so sick of it. I want my old, quick-tempered husband back, not this fragile person who gets moody. I keep saying to myself "in sickness and in health, in sickness and in health" but it gets so trying at times.

Ah well, vent over. Time to go and give him a snuggle and soldier on. He really is my Sun so I better go and orbit closely. Cheers girls :redface:

:hug: Rory! You'll get your chance to rain on his parade ;) DP must be feeling the same as you do, but about me by now...feisty people having personality reversals... :(

Hi lovely Junie ladies

Thought I’d pop in and say on my Junies birthday while he’s in quiet time (does this for around 45 mins since stopped sleeping in the day last Sept). I don’t think ive posted since Christmas – oops but have been lurking and seeing how you are all travelling.

Mostly good here, Will toilet trained in a few days over Christmas and night trained a few months ago so that’s all good – thanks to him wanting to be like Oscar so it wasn’t any skill on my part!

His troublesome-two attitude didn’t disappear at midnight when he turned 3 like I was hoping! He’s been a bit of a poo so far on his birthday s it’s quite hard to keep giving him his pressies when he’s really got the attitude going. I think he may not have slept too well last night as he came in for snuggles with us at 6.30am which usually means he’s been awake a fair bit before then, he suffers from nightmares sometimes, really awful ones like my dh used to (and sometimes still does) where horrible things happen in the room so a 3 year old wouldn’t know he was dreaming because it was in his room – so sad for him when it happens!

He will start going to 3 year old kindy on Friday – just 12 till 2.15 which is nightmare timing but they don’t have any spots in the morning slot. As he has never been away from me apart from 1 hour cr?che per week at the leisure centre and that was with Oscar, so he needs some experience alone before he starts proper kindy in Feb. He know’s one of the ladies there from a playgroup we go to so hopefully he’ll be OK.

I keep forgetting that he really is so young at just 3 as he has been speaking so well for so long and basically does everything Oscar does, sometimes I think we expect a bit too much so we will have to watch ourselves. He is such a sweety sometimes but with such anger issues! On the whole he is great and is quite an ‘easy’ bub.

Oscar is fine and enjoying school but doesn’t seem to play with other kids yet – hopefully he will soon. I’ve just finished doing the PPP to try and get some help with his behaviour – we’ll see how it goes!

Isla is super sweet and is crawling and cruising everywhere – trying to be wherever the boys are who are total ‘gods’ to her. Still waking lots through the nights for feeds, usually at least 3 which is such a killer, especially when at least once a week I get on of the boys in as well due to wanting loo/bad dreams/can’t sleep etc – she did have a great night the one before last when she slept through till 7.30 in the morning – I felt like a different person all day! Not complaining though, she is wonderful. I’ve also done the whole cloth nappy thing with her which is great – so wish I’d done it with my boys!

I’ve had plenty of visitors in the last few months – in’laws in April which was hell, won’t dwell on that, then my parents for all of May which was great – they were so helpful and James and I actually went out for a few meals and had some time just the two of us so that was lovely.

Mel – Wow at all that baking in one day – my tummy is rumbling now! Good luck with the TT, I know it’s so frustrating when they know what to do but just don’t want to do it for some reason, Osc was well over 3 before he clicked, I’m sure Marley won’t be long. Am very envious of your 5 days solo in Brissy, you will have a ball, and to be godmother too will be fab. How’s the pool situ going? It will be so good to have one in summer.

Tali – happy belated birthday to Kai, hope she had a lovely day. Good luck to your move up north and with the TTC – with any luck it will coincide! I found out I was expecting Isla 5 days after we’d moved in here which was a bit of a worry with all the heavy lifting and cleaning with dodgy chemicals I’d one in our rental the weekend before!

Rory – glad you are enjoying your new job so much and I’m very envious of your social life – sounds like you get to go out a bit! We manage to when my parent are over but don’t really have any one else around that can babysit yet. When Isla’s a bit older I will be ringing some agencies to find someone nice so we can have a bit of a life back. Hope your hubbies feeling happier soon, I can understand it being frustrating at always having to be the upbeat one.

Nic – hope you are feeling better – sounded so rough being in hossy with food poisoning.

Maya – congrats on your second adventure – how exciting! Glad your gig went so well.

Amanda – hope you are feeling better now and that your move went well. Happy birthday to Cody for last Tuesday, hope he had a great day.

Ali – shame about the house, hope something crops up soon

Bath – lol at getting a whipper snipper for mother’s day – bet you have a very tidy looking garden now!

Anyway, can now post this post that has taken me 8 hours to write! And that’s with DH home helping me out – it’s why I don’t get to post much at the mo!

Take care

Julie x

Julie it was great hearing from you, cant believe that is Isla she has gotten so big... cant believe she is 9mths already feels just like yesterday she was a new born...

well we leave next friday time has gone by so quickly, cant believe I have been in Melb for over a year, ( cant believe we didnt all catch up ! ) and moving again... we have put in a house app again we didnt get the last one as the owner backed out and decided not to put it up for rent :wall: BHL was very disapointed he had fallen in love with the place... But now we are trying agin and hope to hear something back by the end of the week as it would be so much nicer to have somewhere to move to rather than just going up there and living in a caravan park and hope for the best which is our plan at the moment... we would have loved to a been able to buy but the banks have told us we have no chance as we dont have 30% deposit which when you looking at $500k + to buy up in Mackay I dont think we will ever be able to buy...

We are hoping to still have the net while we move so I should still be able to post..

At least with this Melb weather we are having at the moment is quoling any 2nd thoughts I might have been having about moving... Its going to be a hard one knowing that we wont ever move back but I know its whats best for my family for the winkies to have there dad home more is what really counts not the occaional visit from family.. they can always have a winter break...

Well we finally have the internet connected again, the move went well and we are settling in still. Cody had a good birthday and Jess organised a surprise party today for my birthday.

Happy birthday Niall, I hope you have had a great day today.

I hope that all the Junie babies have had great birthday so far, and I'd like to know where have the last 3yrs gone, it feels like yesterday they were all new borns.

Wow, can't believe I missed all these posts!!!

Bath - thanks for the encouragement. I have been trying the no fuss approach, not too much sucess but at least her stress seems to have disappeared. Happy Birthday to Niall for today, I'm sure the family have enjoyed celebrating it.

Maya - yes, no mentioning the toilet lol!!! I have been asking if she needs to do a wee and a few times she has voluntered to go, sat there and nothing. But at least she is happy to sit there. She did wee twice at creche and doesn't seem to be worried about going there. Maybe its just me! Well now you have a reasong to go see Rai again, bugger about not playing your fav song - did you ask him? I bet that oil heaters been getting a work out these past few days. Its been bloody freezing.

Rory - how did it feel to vent? Hopefully better to get it off your chest. Has DH spoken to his specialist about the meds and their side effects? A professor I work with has just published a study on depression and heart disease. It's important that DH doesn't just blow it off and seek some help (as hard as that is for most men!). It must be very hard to cope with for both of you, esp as he wasn't like this prior to his illness. I'm sure his sun will start shining for you again soon. Chin up babe.

Julie - I can't believe its been so long since you last posted. I think because of Facebook, I feel like we have kept in touch. Isla is just divine, her latest pic is beautiful. You breed such gorgeous kids! I'm sure Will is going to love kinder and its not too long away from you. Great lead up for when he goes longer next year. Must be a June baby thing, Marley has anger issues to sometimes. It must have been so lovely to have your parents stay, but I bet hard to see them leave. I just put it down to her being a gemini. Two faces, two personalities! Still waiting on pool to start, driving me nuts as I just want them to start. They are just waiting on engineers to finish the computations for the steel reinforcing then we are all systems go!! Well and truely ready for summer.

Tali - I bet you can't wait to get to the sunshine lol!!! I wish I was going with you- this cold weather is doing my head in. It seems to have gone so fast from when you told us you were moving to you actually going. You finally got a place didn't you? A really great place with lots of land? Don't give up on the dream, it will happen for you guys one day. Good things happen to good people.

Amanda - happy birthday for today. How ace that you got a surprise party - did you get a surprise?

Marley has been having orientation in readiness for her to move the the kinder room at creche. She is going with another boy Will, who loves her! He wants to help make her bed all the time, so sweet! So far it's gone well and I think she will enjoy it more with the bigger kids. And to make it even more fun, they have their own rabbit, Ollie. The kids all help out cleaning his cage and feeding him. They have had him for 2 years now and loves the kids. He gets let out of his cage when they go out and play and hops around with them. We are taking an icecream cake in next Friday for her birthday so that should be a hit.

Chelsea went to her first AFL game tonight with DH. They aren't home yet but I hope she enjoyed it. She was so excited all day. She was rugged up, wool tights under her jeans, spencer, jumper, thick coat, scarf, beanie and gloves! Hope she was warm enough. DH was really excited to be taking her. Pity the glory of winning for the Tigers is few and far between - DH might have to explain that to her.

Still need to pick our tiles for around the pool. Been meaning to do it for weeks but keep putting it off. The weather isn't helping either. DH wants to go tomorrow but I would rather wait and see. Don't fancy trapsing around with the kids outside in the freezing cold, I'm likely to pick the wrong tiles just to get out of there!

Time for my nightly coffee - stay warm girls!

Good morning :)

Spent the weekend at Sale with DH's family... so Niall had a lovely little celebration for his birthday.

Good to see you Julie! I can't believe it's been that long between posts either! You need an avvy update! Send me a PM or an email with your preferences.

Love reading the longer posts in here (well done Mel!) and it's also good to see shorter ones that just let us know that you're ok... been thinking of you Rory, feel free to vent in here as much as you need... I can realte to your situation and that of your Dh's very closely.

I'm hoping that Nickers will post soon to list the birth dates for our June babies... she has always done such a good job of that.

tali: you are probably very busy! but was it Friday just gone or this Friday?

Julie: And speaking of Fridays... how did Will go on his first day of 3yo kinder? I've been thinking Niall would benefit from doing this too.

So who's birthday is next??? (I'm hopeless with dates! :wall: )

we are on the move this friday but we will be packing up the house tomorrow so wont have much time for the net over the next week or so... :pray: we will still have connetion as we are wireless but its attched to our home phone bill and as that will be disconnected it might take the computer connection with it...


We got ourselves a rental 18 acres really excitied but a little scared at the same time, I hope the locals are open to new people find this isnt always the case.... winkies and BHL all have big dreams Mountain bike tracks, chook pens, tree house's and quad bikes, I feel like the only sane one among them always having to say that we are only renting its not our house or land ( BHL wish's he was buying I bet)... but its a good way of trying before we buy, as BHL has always wanted land I have always said I would be happy with 1/2 acre, so we will get to see if we like it or not...
Had a really nice lunch out today with the girls from playgroup ( 2 of them are BB members ) I always seem to do this make good friends just before we leave... maybe we just dont give a place long enough...

winkies are waiting for " coffee " so better be off....

Happy Birthday to any remaining Junies...

Bath - love the new ticker, the countdown is on. Are you excited to be turning 40? Do you have any exciting birthday plans? Marley, Oscar & Nathan are all on Friday, not sure if there is any in between.

Tali - new place sounds beautiful, all that space. You might have to take up quad bike riding lol!!! Good luck with the packing, it's not fun but your new life awaits.

Had some sad news today. My nan passed away this morning, peacefully in her sleep aged 90. She had her 90th birthday in April and had a ball. Glad she got to celebrate that and I'm relieved she went peacefully. I'm just really hoping that her funeral is not on Friday. I didn't want to have to celebrate a birthday the same day as a funeral. Nan was very adament about her resting place. She wants her ashes scattered at Port Melbourne pier. She always told us for as long as I can remember. Even my brother remembered (and he doesn't remember much!!!). My other major concern is seeing my mum at the funeral, who I've had absolutely nothing to do with in over 10 years. Its a very messy situation with her and I really don't want to have to see her again. My brothers are both worried too. I don't think I will be taking the girls with me as I don't want my mum seeing them. I have told Chelsea that my mum died a long time ago (well she is dead to me really) as it was far to difficult to explain to her the real situation. I don't want her to cause trouble, which is more than likely and I don't want the girls being any part of it. Is that horrible???

Tricky situation, Mel :( I hope it's not on Friday. Given what you've already told Chelsea, it's probably best not to take her, or else you'll have some explaining to do before-hand and leave it up to her to process adult logic, KWIM?
Bath - was Sale just lovely? Great for Niall to celebrate with family :)
Tali - even though it's rented, it sounds awesome!
Just uploading photos from my camera, sinking back into real life. I got home tonight to a very grateful but sick little boy. I guess I must have missed him! He got some goodies out of the trip, anyway ;)
Have to get to bed soon...

Mel- I just wanted to say that I am really sorry to hear about your Nan. I also would not be inclined to take the girls given the situation. Maybe you and the girls and DH can have your own goodbye ceremony for her that is more kid friendly and less involved in family politics. Maybe once her ashes are spread at Port Melbourne you could go down with the girls at sunset have dinner, and maybe float some flowers or some candles out, or get the girls to write her a little note or draw her a picture and put them in a bottle and send them out to be with her ashes. Good luck with it all.

The funeral is on Friday, my poor aunty forgot that it was Marley's birthday. Oh well, we'll just have to celebrate her birthday on Saturday. Lucky she isn't really old enough to work out what day her birthday is. The funeral is at 2pm, over the other side of town and thankfully MIL will look after the girls.

Maya - your pics look fantastic, you look fantastic! Loving that baby bump. It looked like it was nice and sunny for you. Did you enjoy Eumundi market?

Ali - that sounds like such a beautiful idea - thank you! I will definately be doing that.

Still freaking out about seeing my mum after all these years. My brothers and I have all decided to just stick together and keep out of her way and if she tries to speak to us, then just walk away. Last thing we want is to cause a scene, but she will probably enjoy that!!! Fingers crossed it all goes ok.

Mel: about your mum, I would love to chat over a cuppa with you about her. I can so very relate. My relationship with my mother could so easily be similar to yours. Most days it also feels like I have no mother.... and every time we spend time with her it hurts, because she basically lacks compassion... everything has to be about "her" and in her mind children are not as important as adults and should learn to fit in with the needs of adults (not the other way around :( ). Some days I wonder if it wouldn't be better to cut her out of my (and my children's) life but from experience i know that that makes it harder for me to live in peace. I don't want to go on about my sitch too much in here but please know that I am here to talk to. With the school hols coming up you and the girls are most welcome to come over. I'm sure Verity wouldn't mind taking them outside for a while so we can chat. Like Maya said, it's a tricky one... all i can do is share my experience... and offer you my understanding :hug:

Thanks so much Bath - your kind words always make me feel better. I'm sure we could talk for hours about it. It will be nice to talk to someone who understands it, most of my friends have such wonderful mothers its hard for them to relate. They sound very similiar with regards to being selfish and its one thing I have made sure I'm not (along with all her other bad traits that I have tried to avoid!). I keep thinking its only one day I have to be near her and then that's it. I always knew this day would come and was hoping she would still be living overseas and wouldn't be able to afford to return - wishful thinking! I would love to catch up over the school holidays. I am hoping to get a few days off so will let you know.

Mel I just wanted to drop in and wish you all the best for today, i hope you are able to find happy tears for the wonderful memories you have as well as the sad tears for what you have lost. I also hope that your mum realises this day is not about her, but about someone loved by everyone and allows you to say your goodbyes without any drama. Will be thinking of you today!

Hey Mel, thinking of you today also ;)

Girls I am much better now - got over my pity party LOL! Just flat out busy with boys and work ATM

BBL

sorry its been a while between posts Ive been away for a week, went to melbourne actually!! it started as a w/e trip for a gf baby shower but i wanted to stay longer to catch up with some friends. so i end up driving and taking the boys (dh had to work so could not come)
i left at 330am which was a great time for kids, they slept till 7am and by then i had gotten a good distance down. Took a total of 11hrs on the way down including about 2hrs worth of stops.
The week i was down i got to catch up with my old mums group, prem playgroup, an old neighbour, go to the baby shower, see close friends, it was exhausting but fun!

Bath- sorry i wasnt around to post the Junies bdays i know i have missed saying happy bday to majority of them now but will do my best to recap. (get out my book lol)

1st - Caitlyn (Emma)
2nd - Cody (Amanada)
6th - Samuel (Jaspen)
7th - Alex (Ang)
8th - Aleise (Janine)
9th - Freya, Annelise & William (Jo, Simone & Julie)
11th - Flynn (Rory)
13th - Aneta & Niall (Ewilina & Bath)
14th - Lachlan (Donna)
19th - Oscar, Marley & Nathan (Maya, Mel & Dee)
23rd - Tori (Ali)
?? - Kai (Tali, sorry i wasnt sure what date!)

So a Big happy 3rd birthday to all Junie's!



Rory- glad to hear you are feeling better.

Julia- wow Isla is 10months old already my gosh!!

did you guys see the birth announcement that Ang had a baby girl? a little sister for Gabby & Alex, congratulations!!

Mel - im sorry you had to have such a sad day as well as on marley's birthday. i hope it was a peacful day

You girls are wonderful - thank so much for your support it truely means alot.

The funeral was beautiful, my nan would have loved it. Lots of laughter and funny stories which was nice. It was out your way Rory, in Glenroy. DH and I as always were running late and they had to wait for us (very embarrasing!!!). Of course when we arrived, everyone was inside and I was worried where my mum could be. Quickly sat and asked my brothers if they had seen her, they hadn't. The service started and a family friend got up to say a few words and the first thing he said was he had a letter from mum as she couldn't be there, she was in America! We'll my shoulders just relaxed and I could feel all the tension leave my body, it was the weirdest feeling. But at least we all knew we could focus on saying goodbye to nan and not worry about anything else. We don't believe she has gone back to America, I think she got cold feet and decided not to come. Thank god she didn't! So overall the day was nice, sun was shining and the eulogies were full of such interesting and funny stories. An amazing story for 90 years.

We got back about 7.30 to celebrate what was left of Marley's birthday. Thankfully MIL had made cake and they made quite a fuss over her. We bought her a Nintendo DS for her birthday, which she got so excited about when she opened it. I've never heard her squeal so much. Chelsea was excited too cause now she can play hers in peace for a change. That was one of the main reasons we bought her one, she is always taking Chelsea's. Even when she hides it somewhere safe, Marley always finds it. The scary thing is she can actually use it and most of the time properly!!! Amazing watching the dexterity of her hands and the understanding of what she needs to do. She has a few basic games and she has mastered a few already.

School disco was on today. Being chairperson of the P&F committee meant getting their early and staying back after it. Long day! It was heaps of fun and I love watching all the little kids doing their dance moves - some are such good dancers. I won a $50 voucher to a local restaurant which was great, will use it one night next week.

Ali - how did the cake go?

Hope all the Junies that have had their birthday or are having their birthday enjoy being spoilt!

Two weeks and no posts - you girls must be busy!

Great news on 2 fronts.

Pool has finally started and I now have a whopping great big hole in my backyard along with heaps of mud!!! Trust the rain to start the minute they wanted to dig the hole (not that I am complaining about the rain) so they have been a bit delayed. They are back tomorrow to hopefully finish it. I have posted some pics on facebook. Kids are loving it, bobcats and diggers in their backyard! Its great to finally see some action and it should be finished in about 8 weeks. I just have to live with the mud for a bit longer. :rolleyes:

Marley is finally doing wees on the toilet :dance::dance: Its so exciting. The breakthrough came when she needed to do a wee in the shower. Rather than get her out, I told her to just wee in the shower and the wee will go down the plug hole. She looked a little confused but then let go and out came the wee. She couldn't stop laughing, then wanted to get down on the floor of the shower to look down the plug hole!!! Then that night she said she wanted to do wee, I took her to the toilet and BINGO! She did it. And she has been doing it ever since. We went to the shopping centre yesterday and it worried me having her in undies but I did it and she told me that she needed to go, so I raced off a quick as I could not knowing if she could hang on. Got to parents room toilet and a little boy was in there. Race to the ladies next door, there's a queue! Race back to parents room and the mum kindly asked her son if he was finished (which he said he was) and to hurry up. I thanked her and got in there as quick as I could. I reckon we just made it as the minute she sat down, out it came!!! I was very proud that she managed to hang on. Poo is another story - no poo in the toilet but almost daily a nice big poo in her pants. Thankfully she does firm poo. I hate cleaning it up. But I can't complain too much, at least she is weeing so thats a start. Will work on the poo!

How is everyone???

Come back and chat soon. I feel lonely lol!!

Well done, Marley!!! That's great news, Mel :)
I've got hardly any battery left on the laptop and I'm resting up in the loungeroom - have cold I have to get rid of before Wednesday (have a band rehearsal) and definitely by Saturday (day of the gig!).
Oscar is going great guns, talking a million miles an hour, jumping and climbing with alarming accuracy. He's ridiculous, not just doing ordinary somersaults - he leaps into these rolls and also rolls himself to a headstand on the couch from the floor with a small run up. Ridiculous!
They're all 3 now, our Junies - they're so big, but still have so much to give :)

well done Marley :dance: what a good girl to still hold on even at the shops... it the hardest step isnt going to the shops for the first time in knicker... My kids always got wees much earlier than Poo dont know why that is, I hate having to clean dirty knicker, but they get there in the end...

Good to hear Melb is having some rain, I am sure it wont be enough to touch the dam though but you can hope...

Well we are in Mackay, so far so good... staying at the caravan park was intrusting but I got though ok... was so surprised to see how many people live there... I take my hate of to them I couldnt do it, I can understand why with the rental prices here are though the roof, but I need a house, just too hard with kids... There was a lady there who had JUST had her 3rd child he was only 1 day old when we got there! her other two children were 5 and 2.5... there is NO WAY you would get this priness in a caravan with 3 kids and a hubby in the mines!

we have moved in to the house... it is huge and has some wonderful views, which I execept to get better in the wet when every thing will be green again... we have view over the cane farms and out to the water and islands... I have taken some photos so I will try to put them on FB soon.. I have been enjoying the country life so far nice and quite, I have rung up about a playgroup and the lady sounded lovely so I hope to make some friends in the near future...

Apart from that we are still TTC without much luck so far, its been 7mths, but I still have hope that we will be able to get there soon, I keep thinking that I will concive in Oct... So you never know maybe my hunch will be correct..

I have 3 sister TTC ATM too... 1 has been TTC for over 12mths and has to get a op tomorrow to unblock her utrus or at least thats what they think they will be doing then they hope to be able to start IVF...

another sister already knows she has endo but has chosen to try herbs 1st

and my baby sister who has been TTC for 2 mths found out she was UTD the week I was leaving, but had a MC last week...

so all in all none of us are doing to well in the TTC frount, we have been joking with ourselves saying that because mum could get UTD without even trying she took away all our TTC abliltys. But I have faith that very soon we will be flooded with babies...

Hi all- I hope all the june babies had lovely birthdays! Can't believe they are 3.

Mel- Yay for Marley and doing wee's. Tori was the same,refused to go on the toilet for ages, and one day she was in knickers and soooooooo busting than I raced through the house with her and got her on the toilet in time, and she has been weeing on the toilet ever since. I got some tips from my GP for Poo in the toilet, because Tori was really really frightened to do it. She said to sit them on the toilet after each meal for 10 mins, and make it a fun time- sing, play puppets, read boooks etc, once they have sat there, even if they don't do a poo- you reward them with a sticker on a sticker chart- once they have reached a pre determined amount of stickers 5, 10 whatever you choose they get a reward. For us it a trip to the beach, and when she actualley did a poo in the toilet she got to go to the shops and choose whatever she wanted. It really worked, she loved the sticker chart- wasnt so keen on sitting on the toilet, but we got there. The GP said the theory behind sitting on the toilet after meals is to teach them that it takes a little bit longer to sit and do a poo.

Tali- Glad the move went well, and you are settled into a house. I take my hat off to anyone who can live in a caravan- sometimes I feel like our 4x1 is too small, cant imagine living in a caravan.

Maya- Hope you feel better soon.

Things here are good, on school holidays (first day today) and enjoying some peace and quiet while both kids are sleeping. Liam has been unwell, he had croup which turned into a 'viral induced wheeze' which is basically a precursor to asthma- he is on a ventolin inhaler which has helped, and we are hoping he will grow out of it.
Our trip to melbourne is booked..............woohoo, I am so excited we arrive on tuesday 29th Sept and flyout on Weds Oct 7th. We have booked a 3 bedroom apartment in East melbourne, so hopefully nice and close to everything. We are spewing a little bit because we wanted to see Wicked, but they are finishing up in August- but such is life.
Our other big news is we are buying a house, we have decided to by MIL's house which we already live- makes it nice and convenient as we dont have to move and we got it for a fairly decent price which is also nice.

Anyway I better go back to my baking, I am stocking up my supplies of baked goodes while I have some time, I have made 2 slices, next I am making a batch of lemonade scones and a couple of batches of biscuits and hopefully some pizza scrolls as well.

I hope everyone is well!

*flying through*

ooooh! I have jotted down those dates in my diary Ali! :dance: East Melbourne is lovely... just a short tram or train ride into the heart of the CBD... or a walk through a lovely park if it's nice!

Thinking of going up to the Birth choices Rally in Canberra on the 7th Sept too. Not confirmed though...

Mel: will get back here soon! Yay! Marley for wees!!! LOL :thumbsup:

Tali: Good to hear you are starting to settle in! Enjoy the warmth and fresh air!

Bath - love the new avvy, one of your designs I hope ;)

Maya - a gymnast in the making (or movie stuntman!!). Marley is just a non stop chatterer (if that's word). Chelsea got up the other morning and sat next to Marley at the breakfast table and Marley said with hand in the stop signal "don't upset me"!!! Poor Chelsea only said good morning to her. She is such a little miss! How is gig practice going?

Tali - dirty undies are gross!!! I am so lazy I just throw them away, can't be bothered trying to extracate the poo out! I don't think I do caravan living either, love my creature comforts a bit too much. Your new place looks amazing, the views are spectacular. Glad to hear you have settled in and I'm sure you make some lovely new friends. I'm sure you'll all be due at the same time, good luck to you all. It will happen.

Ali - might try that idea as she certainly enjoys sitting there. I think its me who doesn't have the patience to sit and wait lol! Sorry to hear about Liams asthma, I know so many young babies who have been diagnosed lately. How exciting about your visit. I really hope we can get a Junies meet up sorted out. Be great to meet you and your family. Bummer about Wicked, we saw it last year and it was amazing. Congratulations on buying a house and nice that you don't have to go through the hassle of moving. Yum, your baked goodies sound delicious and making me hungry!!!! Enjoy the school holidays.

I can't believe our school holidays are almost over. It feels like its gone super quick this time. DH took Chelsea to see Hannah Montana on Tuesday and they bothed loved it. DH said Chelsea was singing away to all the songs! She is becoming so grown up now, prefering Hannah Montana over Yo Yabba Gabba etc.

Marley was at dr's on Monday with a perforated ear drum. Second one in two weeks. Same ear. Dr wants to see her again tomorrow to check the ear drum as she said its very uncommon for it to happen so soon after the first one. Then we will probably have to see an ear specialist and then a hearing test to make sure it hasn't damaged her ear drum. Chelsea has never had antibiotics in her life and been to the drs twice. Marley has had 5 ear infections and been on antibiotics each time. Weird how they can be so different. Although MIL told me that both DH and my BIL had issues with ear infections so maybe its genetic??? They may suggest grommets which worries me a little. I hope it doesn't affect her going swimming as we are putting in a pool.

On the pool, thats progressing very quickly. Concrete hopefully being sprayed today and it looks amazing, so big. And we still have plenty of backyard left which is great. The mess is hard to deal with, being the neat freak that I am. I just have to suck it up and leave it until they have finished with the messy work. The end result will be well worth it though.

Hope the Melb girls are enjoying the sunshine today, its beautiful out there. Better get back to work.

Hi to everyone!

Hiya all - I have been very busy lately but lurking around BB here and there. It was my birthday on Wednesday (I am not half way to 70 LOL!!) and mum and I had dinner with me stepdad and then saw the musical "Crazy for You" at the Arts Centre. I have been busy with Law Institute Council as well and this weekend is just chockers with stuff - it will be easter before I know it :)

My job is great as is Mick's health - the other day he actually said he was happy for no particular reason, which is great for someone who was previously depr4essed and anxious (WTG cognitive-behavioural therapy!!)

Boys are great - Ollie was a poor little DHS baby with a black eye the other day (decided to jump off a chair) and Flynn is really into space ATM (space ships say "4-3-2-1 ink-in-ission" AKA "ignition"). and we are TTC #3 - I had a really vivid dream last night that I had a girl this time :redface: She was very cute, as I am sure #3 will be if he is a boy :)

Better get back to work - love to all :)

Happy Belated Birthday, Rory! I'm terrible with birthdays!! I'm great with names and faces, I think my improvement in those areas has come at a price...I used to be great with birthdays...:blush: Not even FB can help me...I often just don't look down that side of my profile page...!
Tali - great that you have settled in up north! The house looks fabulous and the lifestyle even better :)
Boy needs my attention and I ditched him this morning to go to Booby Club and he went to KinderGym with DP...
Have a good weekend all, planning a quiet one :)

Happy Birthday Rory! You spring chicken! Sounds like you had a great birthday. Great news about DH, CBT is excellent (alot of the psychiatrists I work with talk about) and glad it's having such positive effects. Boys and chairs are not a good mix lol!! Any one give you funny looks? Hope your dream comes true. Check out your chinese lunar calendar to see how conceiving a girl looks. It has been accurate with so many of my friends and me!

Maya - I forget to scroll down too! Might make sure I start doing it. Don't want to miss anyones birthday. I don't think Rory's came up though, some people don't put their birthday on when they register. Enjoy your quiet weekend, mine will be much the same I think.

Pool is going full steam ahead. Its been concreted and our pool fence is up and looks fabulous. I am really pleased with it. We have an issue with the size of the pool steps. I am not happy with them and are in the process of trying to get them fixed and made bigger. Thankfully I have a few contacts in the building industry who can tell me the truth about it. I have caught them out telling me that it can't ben done when it can. Watch out now! Someone is coming to look at it on Monday so fingers crossed I get my way ;)

Girls are great. Marley is doing wee in the toilet all the time. Hasn't had any accidents for over a week. Poo is another issue. Constantly doing it in her pants and its gross!!! I am just chucking out so many pairs of undies as I hate washing them out. I have been trying Ali's trick and getting her just to sit there for a while. She is more than happy to do that. And when she has done it, she will happily sit in it and not tell me until I smell it! Frustrating :wall: She is having her creche photos today and she was practising her smile, it was hilarious. Hope she gives the photographer those smiles - they are beautiful.

I have a student workshop on today so better go check on them. They finish early today so that means I do too - YEAH.

Enjoy your weekend.

Happy Birthday Rory! so glad to hear DH is feeling a little happier about life, and GL with TTC #3 hope it doesnt take you too long... I believe that dreams do sometime have a way of telling us things, I remember I had a very vived dream just after I had given birth to Kai, I was looking up into a tree and sitting on one side of the tree were Zayden Mayleaka and Kailaia ( in the dream Kailaia was about 4ish )looking very cheeky and giggling and pointing to the branch on the other side where there was a little baby just sitting and waiting... At the time I was quite freaked out as I was done I didnt want anymore kids I had my three and that all I thought I would have, but as you all know now we have been TTc our 4th, so I believe now that I dreamted of my little one just sitting and waiting to join the others on the other side of the tree...

Mel I had a look at your pool its looking so great, I am sure you will be almost living in there come summer time...

AFM, the winkies started school on wednesday, and seem to be fitting in nicely, its a very smally school of only 160 students, which is almost what they had in prep at the last school, the small school seems to suit them well Zayden anyway I think May been the socal butterfly that she is would fit in anywhere...

The mothers also seem very warm and welcoming, I went to a kindy group with Kai today for 3 / 4 year olds where we as the mums have to stay but are incuraged to sit in the coffee room and chat, but been Kai's first day she didnt let me out of her sight for long, but did much better than I thought... It is so surpricing how many ex- melbourne people are up here, there were two in todays group, but they both have been here for quite sometime... so with any luck I will find my feet and make a few friends, Pray that the banks ease up a little bit soon so we can buy a house...

speaking of houses Bath would your DH know if we were to buy a working cane farm ( BHL would still be working in the mines ) could we get that loan as a business loan or would it still have to be under a housing, and which are the better ones to get anyway? Just dont know if we were to get a cane farm if its better to ask as a business or just buy the farm/house and keep it as housing loan...

Anyway thats about it from me for now...

hope you all have a fab weekend...

:birthday2: HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY BATH :birthday2:

Hope you are having a wonderful day...

HAPPY BIG 4-0 BATH!!!!
:happybirthday: :happybirthday:
Hope you get spoilt rotten today - you certainly deserve it.

MWAH!

He he, I love a bit of collusion for a good cause! I had a great night talking about all sorts of things, including the hijinks our Junies are getting up to! There is no way DP will be as thoughtful as Bath's DP has been for her birthday...maybe he can give seminars on how to get brownie points that last forever??

Bath it sounds as though you all had a great night and that you DH did a great job on the organisation of your surprise, it must be the year for DH organising birthday's ;).

I think my sister said it all this morning: "You were looking a bit tired and flat by the end of the BBQ but you really seemd to perk up at the restuarant with the Junies!" Yep ;) What can I say??? Thankyou Maya, Rory and Mel for helping me to celebrate that most sensitive of birthdays... the big 4-0. You have seen me safely through to the "other side" now and in such style!!! It was amazing that my DH did so much behind-the-scenes work emailing and contacting you guys! And Bec!!! (Hoobley) You all kept up your end so well! I was so surprised! I felt thoroughly spoilt! And how DELISH were those oysters????? Oh yum! Makes me want to go out and start earning a professional wage so I can eat there on a regular basis!!! AND best of all how good was it to have an uninterrupted catchup! Nearly 4 hours of constant chin wagging really says it all.... after all this time we can still deeply enjoy each others conversation! :grouphug:

Rest assured that I'll accept any and every excuse to do it again... especially when our interstate Junies find themselves in Melbourne.

Thanks Amanda :) , yep, my DH just loves a chance to "organise" I'll have to think big for his 50th in 7 years because this effort will be hard to beat!