Category Archives: The Kids

Little Posers

Posted on May 20, 2009 | 8 comments

I’m not going to admit how many hours of potential sleep I squandered last night, because it is downright foolish. However, I am going to show you the result. Finn is off on a school excursion today to experience what life was like in “the olden days” (for the record, he thinks the olden days were when 1 and 2 cent coins were used, haha*)

Students were encouraged to dress the part, so I hit the op-shop yesterday and dug up a checked shirt for a couple of dollars, and hit the sewing machine late last night to create this waistcoat (pattern is from Ottobre 3/09). Throw in a pair of (non-authentic, Esprit brand, also op-shop purchased) blue jeans and some elastic sided boots, and he should fit right in. Just don’t look too closely at the handiwork, ok, because late-night, sleep deprived sewing makes me incredibly sloppy. When will I learn not to leave things ’til the last minute?! Anyhoo, from a suitable distance it looks good – and don’t you love the model poses?! (Check the pinch-grip though – he’s so tense when being photographed!)

Not to be outdone, here’s another poser – Niamh has recently had a bit of a growth spurt which has allowed her to fit into this tunic a little better (it’s still big though – she should get heaps of wear from it).

I love the second pose – it’s her ‘ooh heck, there’s a bee’ look :giggle:

*For my non-Aussie readers, 1 and 2 cent coins were used from 1966 until 1992!

8 Comments

Posted in Other Craft, Sewing, The Kids

Tagged ottobre magazine, sewing for children

My Creative Space

Posted on May 15, 2009 | 10 comments

I know, I know, Kirsty’s Creative Space meme is for Thursdays, but I did take this yesterday, so it counts! I just wanted to let you all know that I’m here, still alive, and even still managing a little bit of creative this’n’that. Yesterday’s space was captured while I waited in the car outside school – Niamh had bombed out in the back seat on the way back from the shops (a rare occurrence, but the nap was much needed), and Rohan decided he needed cuddling to fall asleep (a frequent occurrence, nap also much needed). So I pulled out my new ‘car project’ to work on for half an hour. I’m playing copycat and making a patchwork ball, much like Christie’s. Look – it even (unintentionally) matches his outfit!

I have retro-blogging to do – pics of Rohan from his first month – it’s been a rollercoaster, but he’s adorable enough to forgive – and a recount of (the perfect) Mothers’ Day. But since I only seem to be able to grab 5 minutes here and there (gee, wonder why!), don’t go holding your breath!

10 Comments

Posted in Family, Other Craft, Sewing, The Kids

Tagged crafting, crafting for children, my creative space, new baby, paper piecing

Or….. Not!

Posted on April 16, 2009 | 25 comments

View from my seat…

This was yesterday. The day when I should have been in hospital having a C-section! Instead, baby and I decided to stick it to the man, and I gave birth early Saturday morning following a fairly fast and furious labour. Sans epidural, what’s more. Owwie.

So everybody please put your hands together for young Rohan Patrick. Born April 11th, 2009, at 3.23kg (or 7lb 2oz). I am so grateful to him for deciding to arrive in such a trouble free/surgery free way. I’m feeling significantly better than if I had just had a C-section, that’s for sure. And I’m finally on some antibiotics for that other troublesome problem, so everything’s coming out for the better. Unfortunately someone seems to have misplaced my order for “one who sleeps at night”, so as soon as we get that sorted out, it will all be good :giggle:

Nothing untoward is going on here – this is just Rohan grooving to some tunes – his routine hearing test in the hospital (which he passed). I just think it’s a cute pic!

25 Comments

Posted in Family, Pregnancy, The Kids

Tagged newborn baby

Unblogged… 3 things.

Posted on January 29, 2009 | 4 comments

This isn’t a meme, nor is it anywhere near the catch up I should be writing after months of sparse and crappy blogging, but forgive me. We are in the middle of a heatwave (hottest Melbourne week in 100 years or some equally scary statistical anomaly), and I have hit third trimester with a bang (I swore I would never have another summer pregnancy. Damn first-try conception!) So I thought I might pull up a half finished draft and post it as some kind of ‘getting back into it’ attempt. Perhaps February might yield more promising content?

Three (probably terribly boring) things I never blogged about:

#1. Back in September (I think), I entered a competition on this lovely lady’s blog. We had been considering a Waldorf doll for Niamh for Christmas, but ultimately decided the price was a bit much right now, and her third birthday was probably a more appropriate time anyway. Aaaaanyway,cutting an unnecessarily long story short – I won! Lovely Jeanette (whose name will no doubt be changed by her eventual recipient) is hiding out in the top of my wardrobe until Niamh’s birthday in June. I plan to make her some more clothes, if I ever find out where my crafty mojo got to.

#2. Around about the time I broke my wrist, Niamh decided she was toilet trained. Just like that! I have never been more thankful for something. She was just shy of 2-and-a-half, but it did seem like we had been waiting a while – she had been dithering for a while; the first time she used the potty (also completely of her own accord) was almost a year prior. But suddenly – it was all good. Including…. NIGHTS! Colour me stunned! Completely on her own she decided to start wearing ‘just jarmies’ (actually, more often than not, just the bottoms) to bed, and since then there have only been a handful of wet beds. We are now landed with the slightly awkward situation of dealing with a six-year old who still night wets vs a 2 year old who doesn’t.

#3. We’re having another boy! (This announcement was ‘Facebooked’, but some of you would have missed it). The oddest thing is, even though if pushed, I would have said I would prefer a boy this time around (it’s complicated!), immediately after finding out, I lamented the loss of a chance to have another girl. This pregnancy has been a bit like that – there are so many ‘lasts’, and a little bit of grieving for what will never be again. And no, there won’t be another, this is definitely the last for us – I like my car too much!

4 Comments

Posted in Family, General Ramblings, Pregnancy, The Kids

Edited for Hormonal Imbalance

Posted on September 16, 2008 | 11 comments

So I wrote out this whole post, and it didn’t start out in a bad place, but it ended up in one, so I’m self-editing, because who can trust a pregnant woman to make any sense, huh?

What I really wanted to say was, thanks for coming to my pity-party the other day. All hugs and premature congratulations much appreciated, and I’ll try not to do it again… much. (Fair warning though: see most of my last pregnancy!)

Minor important details I should probably dish out here are: I’m only 9.5 weeks so far, and I’m still (probably excessively) concerned about the slapped cheek virus and possible subsequent miscarriage. Lets keep all minor appendages crossed, shall we?

…

On another rant entirely, tomorrow, Finn’s school is having a ‘Footy Fun Day’ – an out-of-uniform-wear-your-team-colours kind of hullabaloo. Which is fine. Except you’re looking at one of the teeny-tiny-minority of families in Victoria who do not follow AFL! I know! The Shock! The Horror!

Anyway, Finn barely knows what ‘footy’ is, except what he hears from class mates (which is mostly along the lines of ‘you should… (follow x team/y team/collect footy cards/go to Auskick)’). Whatever. I’m totally on board if he decides to do any of those things, I am. But what’s incensed me today is the suggestion that if they don’t wear footy colours tomorrow, they have to come to school in uniform. Pfft to that (if it’s accurate, which, to be fair, it may not be, since I did only heard it from Finn so far). However… since he’s a small boy who’s sometimes overly concerned about doing the right thing, I’ve convinced him that since ‘footy’ also encompasses soccer/rugby/whatever else (Gaelic football, anyone?), he can get away with wearing the only piece of football paraphernalia which exists in our house – which just happens to be….

…an All Blacks hat brought back as a souvenir for Finn from NZ by my Dad.

Ahahahahaha. Take that, patriotic loyalty :giggle:

…

Back next time with actual photographic evidence of crafting. I swear it’s true!

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PS. We can thank Dermot for getting my blog images back in operation, since I was being a complete dolt about it. Also, he provided hugs as requested. Yay for husbands.

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PPS. Finn will also be wearing other clothes. Not just the hat. In case you were concerned for his welfare and my sanity!

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PPPPPPS. Is 9.5 weeks too early to be breaking out the maternity gear, d’you think?! Because, damn, third pregnancies really suck in that regard!

11 Comments

Posted in Family, Pregnancy, The Kids

Tagged football, moody, Pregnancy, school

Phew

Posted on July 25, 2008 | 4 comments

Guess who needed a nap after a (rescheduled) day at the zoo today. (Hint: not Finn!)

Seriously. I believe ‘herding cats’ is an appropriate simile. After a few hours of what shall hereafter be known as the bums-and-poo trip to the Zoo, (because what could possibly be more fascinating to six year olds than the rear ends – and what emerges therefrom – of exotic animals?) I was completely beat. I have renewed respect for the teachers of our preppies, I can tell you that. Oh, and never so pro-uniform as today – it’s far easier to locate one’s group when all are dressed alike.

It was loads of fun, though, and the weather this time was perfect. After lunch, our class had an hour at the ‘Zoo School’ learning about ‘Feathers, Fur, Scales & Skin’. I hear that the parent helpers of other classes weren’t allowed into Zoo School, and instead took a bit of a scones-and-tea detour. Scones and tea is nice and all, but hey – we got to go in and handle snakes. Soooo much cooler! :giggle:

I’m having an easier evening. Dermot out gallivanting, kids both off to bed easily (Niamh has recently abandoned her afternoon naps, much to my distress, though it does make bedtime more enjoyable), and I’m parked under a doona enjoying my umpteenth viewing of Love Actually. I swear I don’t love it just for Alan Rickman :giggle:

4 Comments

Posted in Family, General Ramblings, The Kids

Tagged Melbourne Zoo, school

Brrrrr!

Posted on July 20, 2008 | 5 comments

We’re all going to the zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow…

Yep, I’m off to Melbourne zoo tomorrow – I’m helping out with the prep excursion. Keeping a bunch of exuberant 6 year olds in line would be, um, ‘fun’ at the best of times, but check this out:

Forecast for Monday
Rain in the morning, then showers with local hail to follow. Fresh to strong
southwesterly wind developing in the morning.

Precis: Showers. Windy.
City: Min 8 Max 12

Awesome.

Monday edit: Phew! Zoo trip cancelled, to be rescheduled soon. There were a lot of sad little faces, and I wouldn’t like to be the teachers keeping them inside all day!

Edit two: The cancellation, btw, pretty much guarantees that the weather will be okay after all! That Murphy bloke knew what he was on about :giggle:

5 Comments

Posted in Family, The Kids

Tagged school, weather

Out of Uniform

Posted on June 25, 2008 | 5 comments

Finn’s school had a dress-up day today to raise money for another local school recently damaged by fire. The theme was SUPERHEROES & CAREERS. I know. Weird combo. Don’t ask me.

Anyway, I spent yesterday on the sewing machine (pants, apron, super big toque) and today our little super hero went dressed as a chef. (Niamh decided to get in on the crazy hat action too :giggle: – told you she really liked it!)

I have another post lined up for you – almost as cute as this one – but I figure that you’d die of shock if I posted twice in one day… so you’ll just have to wait!

5 Comments

Posted in Family, Other Craft, Sewing, The Kids

Tagged Family, school, sewing

Crossing the Line

Posted on June 12, 2008 | 6 comments

Niamh climbed into bed with me this morning, and I’m pretty sure, though I was still fuzzy with sleep, that she said ‘Wuv You’ as she gave me my first cuddle of the day. Cue ‘Awwwww’ 🙂

I could end my tale there and keep that warm and fuzzy feeling going. But…

As I was getting dressed later, she pointed to my midsection and informed me ‘Mummy yat’. Now I’m not altogether 100% positive, but I’m pretty darn sure that ‘y’ was an ‘f’! I was mortified! It may be true, but hey! does one really want to hear it from one’s 2 year old?

Must they really learn to talk?!

(Oh well. Off to pick up Finn and then go ‘wopping’ at the ‘oopymarket’!)

6 Comments

Posted in Family, The Kids

Tagged kids

Welcome to Two

Posted on June 3, 2008 | 9 comments

The big day. It dawned misty and magical, so after packing Daddy off to work and Finn off to school, Niamh and Mummy walked down to the reserve to get some Birthday Girl photos.

But. Hmmm. There was a lot of this:

(She’s about to yell!)

And this:

“No Wotos Mummy”

So Mummy took a photo of Niamh’s beautiful Soulemama-birthday-crown on a magical and mystical log, instead.

(Note – I made this yesterday. So much fun – It took me about an hour (and only that long because I was messing around with elastic casings). Niamh does like to wear it about, honestly. At her convenience, not mine!)