Babies born~September 2007 #58

hi girls!

sherie: oooh the cannonball would be funny...and OH.SO.NORTI lol! so funny when they are doing something norti and need to be roused on but you are just stifling the laughter lol.

arte: you might need to bite the bullet and go mega short...i too hate the in between thing of not being able to ponytail it. otherwise mebbe buy some headbands and/or bobby pins to pin it back easily in the mornings?

ginger: we're the same with the TT. she is in knickers at home, but still mostly nappies when out. not that it stops her from still using the toilet when we go out. but it is confusing and i want to just have her in knickers the whole time. the problem is convincing DH...i took her out the other day for a brunch and she was sidetracked with a 'hairy babycino' (babycino with cool turkish fairyfloss on top!!) and had a wee accident. DH just doesnt cope!! :wall: i dont really see it as a big problem so not sure why he's so anxious about it?!

MP: we have a few firm rules with Leila that are non negotiable. like not leaving the table until we have all finished (or at the very least asking before just jumping off lol). we also do make a fuss about her helping us put her toys and books back in her room of an evening. and if for example she brings out a book in the evening that is too long/short etc we ask her to take it back and choose another. little things like that...nothing too heavy really.

AFM: had to have my broken tooth fixed today and havent recovered too well. i guess being pregnant i was more inclined to react to the anasthetic. i got really woozy from it and got lots of flushes and felt that i had to vomit during the ENTIRE visit...yuck. and now i am just mega dizzy and tired. yuck. note to self: dont break ya teeth lol!

Clare, bummer about the tooth. I am up for a root canal in a couple of weeks. Have to travel to the city to do it because I made an arse of myself at the local clinic (booked in for it to be done, arranged for DH to have time off work, went in and the locum dentist re-confirmed it needed to be done and gave me a pamphlet so I let rip about the waste of time etc, ended up storming out in tears, didn't pay....not my finest moment).

OMG my hair is a disaster! It was shoulder length when I cut it but it seems to have lifted up another couple of inches since then (because it isn't weighted down now???). We are going to the city on friday so i will go to a hairdresser and see if they can salvage it. I may wear a hat to mothers group tomorrow so they don't see the butcher job I did on it....

arte: like they sooo aren't gunna ask about the hat lol!! i reckon wear it loud and proud sista! i still reckon a few well placed bobby pins and it could be ok until you get into town...

so, the locum didnt want to do the procedure on the day?? that woulda sent me bonkers!!

Oh no Arte! I hope they can fix it for you. Or perhaps you can turn it into an a-symmetrical bob style. ;)
Cass - that doesn't sound good. Hope the dizzies stop for you soon - not a nice feeling at all. re the newsletter - i start next week. They gave me a laptop (with Windows7 on it ) to practice over the holidays. I haven't been able to use it though, because the school domain isn't available. I've been waking up panicky some mornings, but i just tell myself to get over it. I will be fine, and if i'm not, they can find someone else to do it :)
Trill -did you get all your washing done?
MP - i think i spoil H a little. She gets away with alot 'cause she's just so cute!! She does put her scraps in the bin when she's finished eating, and puts her plate in the sink. She helps put away her undies/socks/pj's in her drawer. She doesn't tidy up too much else though. She may change a little as she gets older though - when we're Target the line up for the checkouts has a very low, very large shelf of lollies and chocolates. She likes to put all the stray packs back where they belong. Good matching/sorting skills ;)
I used to stress about her touching everything. Now i just say, if they're going to put lollies at toddler height - she can touch as many as she pleases!!

What time do all your littlies go to bed? It's been getting later and later here. We can send her into bed at 7/7:30pm, and she's still awake at 9pm. It's the same on days when she hasn't had a sleep during the day too.

Hi Ladies...just wanted to pop in and say that. Hi! hehe.

Yeh, I'm shocking but surely you guys are used to me being slack on here.

Bit of a selfish post here, just over it all. Was sick of the house being not finished, being uncomfortable, both Sarah and DH being a pita, having family staying, then having them leaving...so pretty much just typical preggo hormones lol. Snapped big time yesterday at both S and DH, (even with S giving me 'tuddles', kisses and 'lub you 2's', hard to be cranky with that but I was soon back to snapping at her). Today was better cos I actually got out of the house and DH knocked off early and was a bit more of a help.

Anyhoo...too uncomfy sitting on here so will sign my b*tchin off lol

My beautiful nana passed away last night. I am sort of o.k with it, sad for me but I know that she really wanted to go. RIP Nana Hazel.

Oh Arte :hug: I'm so sorry to hear that.

Arte I am really sorry to hear that your Nana passed away. It's a strange feeling once they are gone iykwim. big big :hug:

:hug: Arte - I'm so sorry for you and your family. I know how much you loved your Nana.

sorry arte xoxo

I havent' caught up with the rest of the thread but I saw your post Arte, I'm so sorry to hear your Nana Hazel has passed. :hug: No matter how ready she was it's a big hole in your life and your heart. xxx

Arte - so sorry babe. I know how hard it is, even when their time has come. thinking of you. xxx

Thanks everyone. Heading down to my hometown tomorrow for the funeral on Saturday. Clare, it is a weird feeling knowing she is gone, I don't think it will seem real until I see her :(

Seeing my Oma at the funeral home was really healing for me. it was a lovely way for me to just sit there and hold her hand and talk to her etc. I went up a few times, so take your time and see her as often as you want. funeral homes are REALLY accomodating for this kind of stuff. :hug: and TBH for me, being still relatively raw, it still doesnt always seem real ITMS. I guess because so much of our lives have them in it that even after they are gone we are still here...i dont know how to fully explain it but yeah, this is what i am finding anyway.

Arte, I'm thinking of you today. xxx
BTW I think the instant tanty upon hearing the word "no" has nothing to do with spoiltness and everything to do with a developmental stage. I always try to respond in such a way as to elicit cooperation, sometimes that means negotiating, but sometimes an outright no is needed and yes we get overreaction too (altho nowhere near as bad as with DD1 LOL). BTW - cutting your own hair is never a good idea :hug:. I'm guessing you didn't get to see the hairdresser yet? You might end up with a really snazzy style cut that you love!

MP - we're not really having any huge TT success. I've got E in pull-ups (found a cheap bulk source) and he happily goes to the toilet at the FDC but she's a bit resistant at home - I think it's because DH gets uptight about it - so we're holding on for the warmer weather and then I'll put her back into cloth training pants...in hindsight we were stupid to start when we did because she just wasn't ready. We don't really have any chores happening, although picking up toys and minding one's manners are expected.

Kate, :hugs: on your preggy crankiness...good sign you should be spoiling yourself I reckon!

Jazah, stop stressing, you will be just fine at your job! It's just beginners nerves. E goes to bed around 8 - 8.30, but I think that's gonna have to move forward when I start work and she has more early starts. She often stays awake and chats & sings in there, which I don't mind.
Cass - :hug: on your broken tooth. Dentistry is never fun. Last thing you wanna be dealing with preggy too. We have a huge tub full of bits we bought for H - some sets (house & furniture) and some random bits I've picked up 2nd hand (like an indian in a canoe LOL). E's just started playing with one set, it's got these tube bits that connect together, so you can make big long curly tubes and then roll balls thru them. She's fascinated by it.

Ginger what duplo did you get? We're big fans here too. I have a shop one in the cupboard for E's birthday.

Trill - love the idea of a giftless christmas and have seriously contemplated it in the past...also like the idea of a sustainable christmas - only recycled or handmade/sustainable gifts...but not this year. I still haven't made it anywhere near the shops/the catalogues...I'm suffering from a serious case of CBF'd right now...but I know a small amount of effort now will save me much effort later so I better get it sorted I guess (more for neices and nephews than for my kids, H is getting an ipod dock and we're repainting an old dollshouse for E so I'll probably kit it out with a wooden dolls house set (or similar).

My big news is...I got the job! OMG massive relief (saved from embarrassment that is)...still don't know what section I'll be in, so can't negotiate hours/times just yet, but sounds like they are totally flexible so I shouldnt be in a lather of anxiety about it (I am). I opened my big trap about having surgery on 3 Aug, is it weird to start work for a week, get all the admin/orientation stuff done, then take a week's sick leave? Given they *are* my current employer and I've got 3 weeks worth of sick leave accrued? Also, I'm freaking out about childcare (current FDC lady doesn't have a place on Wednesdays so if they want me to work a run of three days I'll be stuck), went to see a CCC that DD1 went to occasionally (it's a community one) and it's quite good as they go, and it makes sense to have her in there 1 day a week because it gives me a fall-back plan if the FDC (or kids) are sick, BUT I much prefer the kindy room set up to the toddler room (where she would have to go for a couple of months) and plus I really prefer the FDC setting BUT I know how freaking hard it is to get a place with a good carer and I've really only got a fortnight to get it sorted out.

ETA - yeah Ginger, maybe I should write a novel. ^^^ Seems like i"m already quite good at it :rofl:

hi girls

arte- i'm thinking of you hun xoxoox

md- congratulations!!! i secretly knew you would get it all along LOL
the duplo we got is the big farmhouse/barn type thing with lots of animals (for lewis) and a big construction site thing with trucks and diggers (for jimmy). i also bought an awesome big tub from kmart for $8 to put it all in and the best part is that the boys can't get it open themselves so can't just spread the stuff everywhere unsupervised (like every other toy in this house). i'm loving kmart atm- anyone else?

i have horrible hay fever atm and feel like crap!

Thinking of Arte... hope you are finding the weekend healing and not too overwhelming. and that the kids havebeen good for you at this time when you need some of your focus/energy elsewhere.
MD - CONGRATS! Like G I knew you would get the job - but excited for you now it is 'official' LOL! are you happy to be going back to work? I am sure you will be the CC sorted... wil miss E go to 3yo kinder next year? the C centre sounds like a nice one. though FDC is more what she is used to so that would be ideal. I am sure once you have it all in order you will cruise into this new phase...
Hmmm duplo. i think i will get someone to get N that for his bday - where do you buy it?

Arte, I hope yesterday was kind to you :hug:

MP, you can get Duplo anywhere - target, kmart, Bigw, Myer. I love it. Seriously considering getting a huge train track set for A for his birthday but put a wooden thomas track set on layby at BigW on friday.

G, I can't stand Kmart! They just seem so cheap and nasty and dodgy that I rarely set foot in there. That whole advertising spiel they have now about how you get change at Kmart just means that you get change because their clothes are straight off the slow boat from China CRAP! LOL. Seriously not worth carting home. DH went shopping on his own a few weeks ago and brought a jumper from there for himself and already it is full of holes after only being worn twice because it looks like the cotton has just given way ITMS. He thought it was a bargain at only $13, I told him it is an expensive oil rag :rofl:

MD, I knew you'd get the job :hug: Fingers crossed that they are able to work in with you for hours etc. I think they will be fine about it - like you said they are already your employer so they know what you've had going on :hug:

Is anyone else getting a big nostalgic that in a few short weeks they will all start turning 3? I was just thinking about it the other day and it made me sad LOL, not in a bad way but just that next year we will have them all at Kinder/preschool and very soon BIG SCHOOL! But at the same time it's also a celebration of just how long we have known each other too :grouphug: Our preschool will have their enrollment day late October and he just doesn't seem like he is big enough to go to preschool LOL but I know come February next year I will be more excited than he will be about going ;)

Had a big weekend - football was at Hillston which is 200km away and DH was on nightshift so he couldn't come with me so we decided that it would be best to go there on Friday and stay the night because the girls have to be there by 9am so it would have meant a 5am start if I just went up yesterday. I'd have to have given myself 3hrs to drive there as the roo's would have been bad and I didn't want to risk hitting any. But for all the early starts and travelling, I am LOVING it, it's such a family oriented club and they kids have so much fun doing it. I'm excited about next year already and we haven't even finished this one.

Arte - i am also thinking of you. I hope you're able to talk about all the good times you shared with your Nana. I know that after my Nanny passed away (1995 - i was incredibly close to her) I always enjoyed talking and reminiscing with other family members. It's something we still do today.

Ginger - I've bought a bit at Kmart recently. I've bought quite alot of clothes for the girls - shirts and leggings and stuff that they can layer. They were cheap too, which i love.

Trill - i can't believe how fast our babies are growing up. Hannah doesn't start Pre-prep unitl the following year (unless they don't fill all their spots with children who turn 4 before 30th June 2011) so I will have her home with me next year as well - which i'm incredibly thankful for . I know i'm going to be one of those Mums doing the 'ugly cry' when Hannah starts Pre-prep :(
Next time any of my friends complain about having to travel 30 minutes for their kids' sport, i'll tell them your story lol.

hi girls!

MD: CONGRATULATIONS ON THE JOB BABE!!!! this is awesome news! :dance: :happyforyou: the universe will find a way for the kids to have someone look after them...this stuff just has a way of working out.

G: i do like Kmart! we get alot of Ls shoes from there as she is quite obsessed and *needs* diversity. in fact we are off there today LOL!

Sherie: ohh i was JUST thinking about how we have all known eachother for so long now lol! actually it was a thought that came to me as DH watched over my shoulder last night and saw that i had managed to accrue over 4000 posts lol!

JaZaH: did you 'ugly cry' with the other girls?? i *think* that i just might even with Leila...first cab off the rank LOL!

MP: Duplo is pretty awesome! like the others have said can be bought anywhere. usually near the lego etc. i love it because it is really easy to pack up and is virtually indestructible. two very important factors when i toy shop lol.

Hit me with all your birthday/christmas ideas ppl!! i am wanting to get Ls birthday stuff organised now, considering this bubs is due pretty much the same day...
DH wants to buy her a balance bike and i am leaning towards a smallish trampoline...for those of you with tramps are these any good? do the kids get much out of them??? i remember being on mine 24/7 for years....

Hi Cass - i did the ugly cry - but managed to wait until i was in the car. When Jessica went to Kindy, Zoe was really upset, which made it harder.
We have a trampoline, and all the girls love it. Hannah and i spend time on it when the girls are at school ( i have to make sure that i've emptied my bladder beforehand though lol!)
For H's birthday i've bought her some dress-ups, Dora books and puzzles, and a personalised Dora dvd - with her photo included in the cartoon - i know she is going to love it! I'm trying to steer clear of toys - i know they'll just end up in the toy box with all the other stuff we have - although i'm going to check out the duplo now ;)
I hear you about the shoes - Hannah loves putting her sisters shoes on - i have to work hard to convince her to wear her own shoes out.

Go the trampoline!!!! Our kids use it nearly every day - it's a big rectangle one and A loves it! Worth every last penny we paid for it. I think the balance bikes are cool, but the trampoline is a lifetime investment that will outlast the bike ITMS.

:rofl: at the ugly cry Jaz, I usually just cry on the inside LOL. I'm not pretty when I just let er rip with a good old cry.

well as long as you dont sound like a baboon in heat Sherie, you aint got nuttin' on me in the 'ugly cry' ugly stakes ROFL!

hmmm i reckon you guys are onto a winner with the tramp. i totally agree that it would be a much longer term investment. now i will have to do some research...we dont have a massive yard, so will need to factor that in as well...i'm guessing they arent like the 'good ol' days' tramps where you can just fling em up against the fence??

and it's a good point Jaz about the toys. leila has a heap and is just as happy with things like activity books and shoes and clothes. i do like the dress up idea though. do you get costumes or just hit some op shops or $2 shops for 'big people' stuff??

If you have a small yard, the round ones wouldn't be real suitable. We still put ours up on it's side when we need to but we have the room to leave it out anyway so it's only when mowing the lawn etc it gets moved.

Awww, i was just thinking the other day about our little thread family too :grouphug:. We're trying to get up to Qld for a family wedding (if my pay packets kick in fast enough to kick the wolf away from the door in time) and I was thinking how wild it would be to catch up with our Brisvegas ladies while we're there!!!

Seriously go the tramp. We held off getting one for DD1 until she was 9, but she'd been desperate for one for a couple of years before that. We've got an Action round 8 ft - small and low enough to not consume half the yard, and the round ones help stop the rebound effect if 2 kids are on there at once...BUT DD2 still needs to be supervised out there, so you could leave it another year or two and instead get something like a swing set, covered sand pit, cubby house. TBH I have no idea what the deal is with balance bikes, Missy E is going strong on her radio flyer trike, but also whizzes around on her scooter and rides a 2-wheeler (with training wheels) at FDC. Other thing Miss E is really interested in right now is gardening, and if you're going to be doing any gardening yourself over summer, Christmas is a really good time for their own little wheelbarrow/watering can/garden tools and their own little patch of garden to grow things in.

We have a fantastic dress up tub full of (mostly) weird and wonderful op shop finds and scarves and hats. The FDC lady has a million fairy/princess type costumes, but our tub has more variety in it.

Trill I'm sorry but I have to disagree - partly - about Kmart. We're shopping in the slummy end of the market this year out of financial necessity, and Kmart is one of the few places where I've found (plain but solid) clothes - without those rubbery pictures that are spray-painted on that decay & crack halfway thru the season (my pet hate). I agree there's a lot of crap there too, but we've had some good affordable finds there. Plus we have one near by where they always seem to have extra clearance prices on things that are total BARGAINS. But I hate those ads too...

ETA - forgot to say THANKS everyone for the congrats.

trill- i love the new layout at kmart and the wide aisles. i think it seems heaps neater since they have made the 'changes', and easier to find everything- not as cluttered as before. i'm a huge fan of it, in fact i'm going there tomorrow to get the boys some diego gumboots LOL
wow that is a long drive for footy! did they win?

cass- we got our tramp from target in the toy sale this time last year and it is an absolute cracker! the boys are on there any chance they get. ours is 14ft so not suitable for you, but i think they have smaller ones?

mp- we get duplo manily from kmart. there is a couple of things in the sale- a horse stable, i think, that my gf is interested in looking at tomorrow.


jaz- i didn't think the girls would be as 'into' the duplo as the boys, but one of my gf's was here yesterday and her dd was obsessed with it! especially cos we have lots of little farm animals and fences etc. she loved it! is H really into dora? L loves diego so much- he will only wear undies if they have diego or buzz lightyear on them LOL

Granted yes, Kmart clothes don't seem to be covered in those rubbery decal things but I just can't find clothes there for the kids that I would bother buying kwim? How have you found it for clothes for H? The girls range in NSW for girls that age is terrible - the jumpers barely cover their midriffs and the skirts are just too short for a winter skirt and everything looks tarty? Or is that just me being old fashioned? I don't know if the range varies much from state to state does it? I just can't find anything of lasting quality anywhere though. BigW isn't much better either but their $6 trackies are hard to beat and the quality is reasonable even though I know they are straight from China too *sigh* so I've only brought the kids the bare necessities for winter this year.

i haven't looked at the girls' stuff, but they have these awesome little puffa type vests there atm for boys that i'm thinking of getting. they're about $10 i think, i'll let you know what the quality is like in a couple of weeks LOL

oh and i wanted to add something about our little thread family too. i always see that thread in new posts about 'who from bb did you think of today?' and i don't even bother posting in it cos every single day i think of at least one person from this thread, often many of you. i feel like you're such a part of my everyday life now iykwim?

Trill, yep we struggled with clothes for H after she turned about 8 (given she's pretty tall), a lot of it is too short (ie doesn't even fit), too revealing or just slapper-tastic. That was when I started shopping at PP. I've found I have to go much further afield now, although the last couple of years with the tunic-style clothes has been easier re fit and length. The other thing I learned is to buy lots of plain stretchy basics (like tanks and tops) and mix em up and layer under the shorter things. Winter is easier tho at this age, no major school hols so they don't need as many sets as in summer.

:

---

oh and i wanted to add something about our little thread family too. i always see that thread in new posts about 'who from bb did you think of today?' and i don't even bother posting in it cos every single day i think of at least one person from this thread, often many of you. i feel like you're such a part of my everyday life now iykwim?

---

Yep, me too. Hence my post count :rofl:

I missed your post earlier G. They haven't changed the Kmart closest to me in YEARS! I'm sure Moses was still playing football for Jerusalem when they last did it :rofl: So it looks terrible, the racks are always full to overflowing with clothes to the point where you get one thing off and 10 other things fall down and it just doesn't seem like they rearrange things if people have put things where they don't belong. But the BigW spent a bundle last year on a complete re-fit and it makes you feel like shopping there kwim?

hi all
hmm havent been to kmart in ages.. now that there is all this debate about it i think i should get in there and check it out.
the duplo sounds great - i remember it when i was young, but i dont remember sets - more just blocks... i am sure N would like it, so i will add to the bday list (wel at the moment it is the only thing on there, though we will get him a trampoline)
Jaz - how is the newsletter going? I am sure you will do a fantastic job!
Thinking of Arte. And Cally - how did the trip go, I hope you spent some good time with your folks.
All here is good. N seems to be battling a bit at the moment, he i being super clingy, has regressed a little physically, v clingy and emotional and testing EVERY boundary! I think maybe it is to with J growing up, getting lots of praise/attention etc. J is so engaging and doing new thinhs all the time and i think N is used to being the centre and doesntlike it itms... not sure what to do... i guesssome of it is adjusting on his part (and he is v nice to J, plays with him etc) and maybe w ecan also make some adustments. N gets lots of 1:1 time with each of us., but maybe not much 2:1 time... we do books/puzzles b4 bed (when J asleep) all together... anyway thinking we may get mum to watch J a few hrs opn some weekends and we will take N out... he would love it. any ideas???

ETA - I made a great chicken casserole tonight that the boys both LOVED (i served with brown rice) and DH and I are looking fwd to as well - will post it in recipe section (it isnt slow cooker) - thought i would tell you as it is v easy for us busy mums

Been away for a few days with mum and dad. You girls are just teasing me with all this shopping talk aren't you? I'd kill to go shopping. :D

MD- Well done on the job, got any more info? When's your start date?

MP- Lu is a real handful at the moment too. Always pushing the boundaries and WHINGING! :wall: To be honest some days she is driving me crazy. As well as an adjustment thing for N, it is probably a bit age related too.

Jaz- :lol: I always make sure my bladder is empty before jumping too! We have a springfree tramp and it is awesome. I jumped on a tramp every day of my life from about the age of 3- 15 i think. Totally worth the money.

Trill- i had a little moment recently thinking our babies would be 3 soon. Ive never felt anything except excitement about an upcoming birthday but 3 seems a bit different. It made me feel a bit sad to think about it and i though i was weird! Good to hear i'd not the only one. :lol:

Poor little Lu had Malaria last wekk and was really sick, but she's much better now. Like i said she has been driving me up the wall a bit lately. She is so stubborn and forever pushing the boundaries. She says No and shreiks every time she asked something even if she wants to say yes she automatically says no and then changes her mind. She refuses to share with her sister and snatches anything she has from her. I am trying to be patient and understanding but the truth is i want to strangle her somedays! :redface: We use time out. All i have to say is got and sit in time out and she takes herself and sits down. She is better for a minute or so and then it starts over. Please tell me this is a phase, or give me some parenting advice!!!

JM: oh i am telling myself it is a phase. unfortunately i read a blog the other day that told me the 'threenager' is the phase...does this mean we have to wait it out til their four??? :o

where is your closest local town? in suva we had the port and there was this AWESOME shop where all the excess loads off freight ships would dump all the clothes that they couldnt be bothered paying port fees for between oz and the US. so this meant that all these cool brand new clothes were left there and because no one had ANY idea of kookai, roxy, dkny, gucci, armani etc they would sell for about $3 a pop. i have some BEAUTIFUL clothes from that time...mebbe there is something like that?? but be warned ANYTHING from target or kmart is 'posh' and is priced astronomically :rofl: LOVE IT!

MP - I think the idea of having just N time is a good one.
JM - Malaria!! Far out! What are the symptoms of that?

Well, i stepped out of my comfort zone and took H to a playgroup today. It's an awesome set-up, with huge sandpit, swings, fort, lots of bikes, cars and a great home -corner. H had a great time, but i have to admit that i have to make the effort to do it. I find small chat tiring.(does that sound terrible ???) If I'd not gone and introduced myself to people and started chatting, i would have been left to myself. I know whenever new people started at the playgroup i used to coordinate, i would introduce them to the other members. Ah well - i'll just settle in for a few months, and then take over lol

Duplo - we have loads of it, I stopped DH from buying some more the other day. He did buy a Lego airport which he and DD aer putting together a little bit each day as their holiday project. She absolutely loves it. He has something like 13,000 Lego pieces...... Most of the study wardrobe is drawers of Lego.

MD - super well done on the job. Have you found out any more on which days you can work etc?

Arte - big hugs

Trill - I'm with you on KMart clothes. I hate the pink that they seem to have and it all seems small. At the moment I am a huge Target fan for Miss K's clothes.

Hope all the sick little ones (and big ones!) are getting better!

We had a lovely time in Canberra, although DH only ended up staying for a couple of days because he had to get back for a meeting (who organises important meetings at schools in the middle of the holidays!!). We took DD and niece out to Tidbinbilla - had to wipe the frost off the slides, but we had a wonderful time and saw two koalas really close. I did a bit of shopping as well which is always fun!

Some good news on Dad - the pills he is on seem to be working and the cancer indicators in his blood have gone down by 50%. He also saw an oncologist last week who thinks he would be suitable for radiotherapy (prostate specialist didn't think so) so that will start later in the year once the pills kick in a bit more and the tumour shrinks. He has an appt in Sydney with another prostate guy on Thursday. The weird thing was being up there and seeing how Mum is obviously thinking more long term now - she is almost up to speed on internet banking now and she was replacing lightbulbs (never seen her do that before, they have a fairly stereotypical male/female responsibilities)

Time to do some more work...

ETA - Jaz, PMSL at taking over in a few months!!

Cally - I am so happy for your Dad!! That is awesome news. Glad that you had a lovely holiday too.
Do you have the Duplo, or just the regular Lego? I had a look at it the other day, and it's so expensive! I was thinking if i just went straight to Lego, J and Z will get alot of use out of it as well.

I received H's Baby book in the mail today!! I did it using Snap fish, and i'm so happy with how it's turned out. I did one for J and Z, but it was a handwritten, photos stuck into an A3 display book type thing. I'll have to scan in their photos (no digital ones back then :) ) and i'm not sure they'll turn out as well. I guess i'll just have to try.

cally: that is great news about your Dad xx
DH sooooo wants to buy Leila the 'playmobil' airport...but at the price they want for it he can just keep on dreaming :rofl:

Jaz: bahahahaha! you are planning a playgroup mutiny already lol!!
i saw that they are selling scanners that are for converting old school photos into digital...could be an interesting option...

Jaz - Miss K has Duplo (I think there are photos on FB of how much there is), and then DH has heaps of Lego. He is really into the big fancy sets (ie Millenium Falcon, space shuttle etc) that come with thousands of pieces. They have been playing with a bit of a combination of it lately, his trees, benches and roads and she has been making cars and tunnels / bridges to drive around with.