This little chicken does not like to sleep very much at all!

She is almost 5 months. Yesterday she weighed in at 9.3kg.
That’s over 20lbs of cute already!!!

At least one of us is doing something creative lately!!

Our lovely Caitlin Rose arrived at 5.58pm, Friday January 25th.
All 9lb 13oz of her!

Such a surreal, overwhelming and incredible experience. I am still trying to come to terms with the fact that she is out and I am home already. I wasn’t due until this week but I was starting to feel like I was going to be pregnant forever!

Eloise is taking it all in her stride. She is beside herself with excitement at being a ‘big sister’ and we’re all settling into life with a newborn in the house. Having a 3 year old serves as a constant reminder that time flies by so very quickly. I can peek into her room in the middle of yet another sleepless night and be reminded that it all turns out okay in the long run…that’s how I aim to keep my sanity this time around anyway!

Here is the reason for my absence! I’m 14 weeks this week. Yipee!

I have been feeling very very VERY ill for a couple of months now….you know…the kind of ill you have that’s meant to be ‘all good’ but stops you doing anything much except the bare essentials?! My poor family. I’ve been pretty useless to be honest! Just hoping it doesn’t set in for the entire journey like it did last time (anyone have a cure for that horrible taste?). Hopefully I will be feeling fab and ‘glowing’ well before February 2nd when our new little GIRL is due!

I am so excited for Eloise. She keeps kissing my belly and talking to ‘her’ baby (all her own initiative!)! Sisters. WOW! So much fun to be had! (Apologies if anyone wanted a surprise…I love knowing in advance and there’s no way I’d be able to keep it a secret for another 6 months!)

I see I am not the only one announcing baby news!!!
Congratulations Nichola, Fiona, and Dana!!

Maths books from hell are over (yay!) and I have a HUGE backlog of emails and a mountain of things to post about that I am working my way through, so hang in there if you’re waiting. I’m not usually so rude! I feel like I’ve been treading water for the last 3 months just to scrape by!

Boy do I have a lot to do before February!

2007 already! We had a relaxing break at my folks place in the Blue Mountains. It was the most wonderful Christmas and relaxed New Year. The 1000km road trip up the Hume in a day was actually lots of fun. Eloise travels really well — animal spotting, crazy loud singing, laughs and a little bit of sleep thrown in. Dan Zanes was definitely the soundtrack to this holiday. Eloise has taken a particular shine to ‘Malti’ (demanding she wear her sunnies to sing it), ‘Sidewalks of New York’, and ‘Pay Me My Money Down’…sounds funny hearing such a little one singing these but she sings them with great passion and conviction! Christmas morning was lovely with a two year old, such pure joy and such appreciation for every single present opened. Many nights were spent cruising the local Christmas lights. Lots of ooooing and ahhhing.

Santa was kind to me this year. I now have a truckload of new books (which I will post more on later) and… I now have a sewing machine!!! It’s been a while since I put my foot to pedal…so watch out world! Lets see if I have the patience…I was never the world’s most patient sewer!

This year has already been a lot of fun on the thrifting front. Here’s a little taste of my favourite finds so far (click image for larger view)— five sherry/port(?) glasses featuring a silhouette of a lady blowing a dandelion; an old sweet tin; three circular Bakelite frames. I’ve also been lucky with a lot of fantastic clothes for Eloise including this Lilly Pulitzer shift dress covered in bright pink unicorns (for all of $3 mind you!).

On holiday I discovered an antique shop with a leaning toward ephemera and collectibles. You can bet that will become a regular haunt on future visits North! I picked up a swag of old family snapshots that will be great inspiration for some themed collages. The ‘Plum Pudding’ shot was very timely. On the back it says “The Plumpud in all it’s Glory. It did not stay like this for long”. Mmmm plum pudding. I always get a little twinge of sadness when I see so many family photos tossed away…someone’s memories, special moments, key life events…

Before I forget, a big thank you to all who took part in the Christmas postcard swap organised by Nikki-Shell. These are always such fun. I have been a little bit slack with my thanks as most of the cards came while I was on holiday and I am still trying to catch up! More soon…