LOL (((hugs))) IK... here I am, no not beating myself up... just back from the usual Friday trip into the city (Melbourne Central) ... and last night after DH got home we showered Niall and then I just crashed! Wade hadn't slept all day and I was exhausted... he's sleeping now though! so is Niall...

Rory: LOL at cavebaby! I think about life from that perspective a lot too... it really helps you sort out your priorites and be grateful for what you have instead of wanting more more more material comforts, as if we don't have enough in our 1st world country.... so many precious little babies just like ours are living like cavebabies right now! Verity's school (Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar) recently conducted this amazing fundraiser for 3rd world orphans... it went like this: everyone in year 11 donated $5. Then they were allowed to enter the cafe where tables were set and lovely cooking smells wafted from the kitchen. The round tables each seated 10 girls. After everyone was seated "waiters" brought out covered plates of food. Only 1 out of the 10 girls at each table got a "proper meal" the rest lifted the cover to find just steamed rice. This illustrated to them the percentage of people in the world that actually DO survive primarily on rice and other plain staples compared to people like us who have a wonderful array of food choices. I'm not sure what happened next... would love to have been a teacher to see what the girls did and thought. It was mentioned in the school newsletter as a successful fundraiser... I think the girls knew what to expect so there were no riots etc LOL Not sure why I told you all about that.... it was held recently and I guess i've been thinking about it a lot.

PreSchool in Victoria: Enrolments for both 3yo and 4yo Preschool classes (council run) are taken after a child turns 2yo. It is advised that you do this asap after their 2nd birthday or risk not being offered a place at your prefered preschool. I knew this was the case for 3yo but didn't know it was the case for 4yo... I assumed also that children at a centre's 3yo class would be given preference if they were continuing on to the 4yo group but this is not so! Wade has been accepted into my prefered 3yo group (because I enroled him 3 days after he turned 2) but I've yet to submit the paperwork for the 4yo group meaning he might miss out! So please keep this in mind for 2008 girls! You've got to enrol them then! There are huge waiting lists for the better centres.

time for a cuppa.... back for more personals soon.

Simone: Good to hear you've arrived safely... and well done dealing with your 3 children on a plane for such a long stint! Did Anneliese cry at takeoff and landing? Apparently it can hurt their ears. I was told to feed Wade during these times when we flew to QLD when he was 6 weeks old (feeding helps equalise the pressure in the inner ear as they breathe through their mouths and suck). Hope you have a wonderful stay! It's quite cold here today... is it better in Perth? Thanks for the tip regarding JetStar.... haven't travelled with them myself and I'd like to fly up to QLD again this summer... so we'll stick with Qantas... the best flying experience in terms of helpful attendants for me has been with Singapore Airlines, they are the best!

Candy: I agree with Rory; go out and buy some pampering bath ingredients... products containing essential oils such as vervain, sandalwood, jasmine and rose are especially good in helping you feel more positive and secure. It's amazing how they can alter a mood really. I'm loooooving vervain at the moment (products from L'Occitane) and I use them after Niall has finished his time with me in the shower or bath because I think they might be a little too strong for him. Vervain has this ability to make me feel so happy and it's lovely in getting rid of that sour milk smell that comes with BFing. Sandalwood makes me feel more secure when I'm going through times of low self esteem... helps when DH is late home and I start fretting irrationally that some girl in the office is trying to sleaze onto him! LOL

All of a sudden I feel inspired to get my vapouriser going.... might try some bergamot... that inspires me to get stuck into the housework! LOL