I'm a terrible mother

according to my 2yo son, I am a terrible mother... really I am. My son should be called 'parrot' as pretty much everything hubby or I say, or anything within earshot, is repeated over and over again. Being a sarcastic person I find myself saying things like 'oh I know, I'm a terrible mother not letting you have cake or ice cream for dinner/breakfast/walking around with snot dribbling to your chin/not allowing you to climb onto the book shelf/jump from the kitchen table/making you lie still for a nappy change/making you put shoes on'.... Well, it's backfired hasn't it, as Monkey Man spent all day Thursday telling me, his sisters and his toys that 'mummy is a tebbible mother'. He also kept telling his sister and the neighbours dog 'to give it a rest'. The poor dog gets yelled at alot, and not just by my kids. If someone leaves eg Daddy, my Mum, friends, other kids, Monkey Man tells me and both his sisters, over and over AND over again that said person has 'gone to work'. Seems lots of people go to work! I hear him telling he's toys they are 'naughty boys and there's gonna be big trouble soon'.... Hmmm me thinks I really have to make an effort to think before I speak in his presence. He has hearing like a bat so can hear me from 3 rooms away, unless I'm telling him to stop hitting, pinching, punching, kicking, pushing or jumping on his sister. Then, he's deaf as a post. Spose it could be worse, I say alot worse than 'give it a rest'. . .

I explained to him last week, as the storm clouds rolled in, that the black clouds meant a big storm was coming. A storm did indeed hit and it was infact a big one! Now, every time the sun goes behind a cloud, a plane goes over or there is some form of big noise outside, or all of the above, I am informed that a 'big storm coming'. Seriously cute!

His Thomas the Tank Engine obsession is still in full flight, with him telling me many times a day how he 'neeeeeds thomas', and we have watched the same DVD's hundreds of times yet he seems surprised when something exciting happens or there is a new character on an episode. Meanwhile Missy Moo is happy to dance to the theme music. He also starts telling me he 'needs thomas, watching thomas' about 3 minutes into the second last episode on the DVD, appears he knows when its coming to an end. Oh, and just a small side note, I'd hate to know what the insurance premiums are on the Island of Sodor as there is an accident every 5 bloody minutes!! I wouldn't want to work there!

Next time you think you're having a bad mother day, just remind yourself it could be worse. You could be a 'terrible mother'.

have you ever...

Have you ever hung washing on the line at midnight? Have you ever done this because it saves time during the day and the weather is warm enough to dry it by lunchtime?
I just did. My household is all tucked up sleeping while I was outside hanging washing out. Oooh its an action packed Saturday night for me!! Pre kids however, I also used to do this although it was more for practicality purposes than anything else. Our previous house faced the sun in a way that meant the first morning and midday sun bore down on the line and then disappeared behind the house by 12.30 so afternoons, unless there was a hot wind, were useless for drying clothes. Plus sun dried clothes are so much nicer than tumble dried clothes. Standing in your backyard in the still of night is so peaceful, you hear animals, leaves rustling and the odd domestic from your neighbours. No judgement though, hubby and I have our fair share of those.

Have you ever bought clothing for your child or even yourself and thought about it all day, wondering did I get the right size? Bought Missy Moo some Xmas pjs today, super cute and in a size one. Been thinking ever since I should have got the two. I bought her a Xmas dress the other night, during a FB market event (OMG how addictive are they!!) and have been thinking I should have got the one instead of the two. It arrived today so tomorrow I might try both outfits on Missy Moo and see which I need to return/exchange/etc.
Have you ever thought about your life before kids and missed anything? Would you change anything? I wonder what we did with so much income? I wonder how we slept til 9am on a Saturday or Sunday. I wonder how we went to 7 weddings in a year, along with associated hens & stag nights, kitchen teas etc without dropping. I wonder why we didn't clear debts, no matter how big or small, before we dropped to one income. Would I change anything in regards to these thoughts? Probably not, I'm not a huge believer in regrets. We loved our life pre kids and now post kids, well it's evolved to a new level but we love it too. I went to my work on Friday and on the way there I questioned whether I missed working? An hour in the city and I'm so glad I don't have to deal with that stuff anymore. People just seem stressed, although a man did help me with the pram which does not happen out here. Don't get me wrong, I've never been busier but I do feel like I'm achieving something more worthwhile now.

Have you ever shed a tear over something stupid like a toilet paper ad, or a birth scene (fake) on a TV show? And no matter how much you try, you can't stop the tears. Or cried over something serious like the loss of innocent life? I cried so many times yesterday hearing about a fire at a nursing home near my place. And it turns out it's suspicious circumstances with a staff member arrested and charged. How messed up do you have to be to set fire to a place where hundreds of invalid or immobile old people are sleeping? Mental illness or not, what a scumbag.

Have you ever sat still and listened to a toddler? My 2yo Monkey Man speaks pretty clearly, and its getting clearer everyday. Everyday he amazes me with the things he comes out with, especially things that are clearly developing right before my eyes. Counting for instance. I say a number and he says the one after! Genius!! He does have a penchant for 1,2,9,10 when doing it on his own but its a work in progress. My 1yo Missy Moo says quite a few words but she does alot of her communication non-verbally. You turn away and can miss a shake or nod of the head and its on. Makes for interesting times when I'm driving with her in the backseat! hahaha!

Have you ever . . .

Just a girl

Over the last week or so I've been cranky, irritable, ravenous and short tempered - not in that particular order. I didn't realise why until a day or so ago when I suffered from cramps and the never ending desire to eat chocolate. No, I'm not pregnant (thank the heavens!) but I am getting my period. Aunt Flo, the red witch, decorators... Whatever you call it, it's an inconvenience I could do without. Considering I've barely had any over the last 3 years, well I'd pretty much forgotten about it and I didn't miss it!! Seriously it sux being a girl sometimes. We have to do the pregnancy part, the swollen belly and cankles to match, non stop peeing, then the delivery and endure a monthly inconvenience as well?? Plus the total indignity of post birth hair loss which I have to thank for the layer of fuzz I'm currently sporting. Boo hiss!! Not fair!! Although then again, I spose those first flutters you feel, then the solid movements and kicks etc do make up for it a little *wink*.

Yep, being a girl does bite the big one occasionally. While I eat a family block of Pineapple chocolate and wallow in self pity, I realise I now have two daughters!?!? OMG! Can you imagine our house around that time of the month when the time comes? I should stock up on chocolate, pain killers and hot water bottles now!! My toddlers are eating me out of home as it is - both just ate 3 whole pieces of toast each (think I might need to worm them). God help my grocery bill by the time all three are teenagers - can you buy shares in cadbury?? So three women under the same roof with PMS... hmmm shall be interesting. I can see hubby and monkey man taking up a hobby such as fishing and disappearing once a month!!

Mind you two daughters also means lots of shopping, and girly hair things and bags and shoes (oh my!!), provided of course they are anything like me. How exciting! Two daughters possibly means dance lessons and netball on weekends and the whole you're too young to shave your legs/pluck your eyebrows/colour your hair/no you can't perm or chemically straighten your hair conversations. Two daughters means worrying incessantly about what they're upto, who they're with, are they safe - well this applys to all 3 kids but you get what I mean. Will they be bossy and organised like me? Will they be smart or totally chilled and not really bothered by much? And who knows, I might be lucky enough to be around when my kids become parents themselves, and have all these hopes and fears too.

The joys of being a girl and a mummy... Oh god I think I'm out of chocolate???

3x sleeping children

My 3 children are all sleeping right now, in the middle of the day. They all went down at pretty much the same time so fingers crossed for a decent sleep out of all of them. I can't tell you the last time this happened. Don't get me wrong, I often have them sleeping at once during the day but they usually overlap or tag team their sleeps on me so most days I get about 10-15 mins to myself. Today, I have a break, and to be honest I don't know what to do with myself. I'll grab some lunch but then what? The washing is on the line, the house needs cleaning but its too hot and I refuse out of principle!!... I have some trash TV on IQ that I might watch - love me some trash TV and often end up deleting it as I don't get time to actually watch it. So yes, stuff the housework (am sure I will regret this later in the week), I'm off to have a sandwich and some TV time xo

I didn't publish this blog for some reason, possibly due to a screaming child demanding my attention but funnily enough, I jinxed myself by writing this blog. The next day I had tag teaming children who slept at different times or not at all. Missy Moo had an hour and a half but was up from 4.45am so by 3pm she hit the wall and was uber cranky. Little Miss decided it was cat nap day and slept no longer than 40 minutes at a time and was so overtired and hysterical she pretty much screamed through the kids dinner time, then bath and bed time. Getting her down for the night was hard work! Monkey Man, well he's pretty chilled these days and did sleep, however it was in between his sisters sleeps so at around 2pm I had him yelling at me that he was 'done' with sleeping and Little Miss screaming the place down. Needless to say when hubby walked in (early) at 6.40pm I handed the kids over and walked out. Came downstairs and checked my emails with the door to the study shut... I could still hear Missy Moo yelling mummy over and over but I had to ignore it as I too hit the wall. Everyone has their limits, and yesterday put mine to the test.

Oh hum, today is a new day! I will get two loads of washing folded and put away and I will cook dinner, maybe even dinner for tomorrow night as well and as a result, feel much better about my ability as a stay at home mum. Yes today I will achieve something, even if I have to do it with a toddler wrapped around a leg each and a baby in a sling.

poor puddy tat

This afternoon we found a cat in our backyard. At first my hubby tried to shoo it away but I very quickly saw that it wasn't well, and wasn't going any where. The poor thing looked to be in a bad way. It was lying in the hedges, almost under the back deck and I kept having flashbacks to my childhood when a cat went under my nan and pops house and died, and oh my lord the smell was horrendous!! My toddlers were so excited at this cat being so close, they were jumping and squealing and the cat still didn't run away. Clearly it wasn't well. Hubby got a towel and fished it out of the hedges, checked for a collar (none) and wrapped it up so as not to scratch him, which in hindsight was not necessary as the poor thing wasn't moving much at all, while I called for help. We rang a local animal hospital who told us to bring it straight in. Mind you they did ask me some questions and not being a cat person I had no idea how to answer some of them; 'is it an old cat or a young cat?' ummmm it's a cat, it's black and white?? I don't know! It's not a kitten, does that help?? They also pointed out that we wouldn't have to pay anything for the treatment as its a lost or stray animal in need of medical treatment. Ok, interesting they felt they needed to point that out. Hubby and I did a quick game of rock paper scissors to see who would stay and who would go. Hubby went and I stayed, not sure who you'd say won really??

Both our toddlers were very distressed at seeing the cat being taken away in a box and the worry turned to hysteria when I said 'Daddy was taking the cat to the hospital'. Maybe they thought another baby would come back with Daddy?? It's a logical conclusion really seeing as during their short lifespan the only time anyone has gone to hospital they've come back with another baby?? I then had to say the cat was going to the doctor and this seemed to be an ok thing to say. I'm glad my kids aren't scared of doctors, although thats perhaps a reflection of how much time we spend at the doctors. We went upstairs for an early bathtime and I even put Chicken Little on the TV in our room as a treat afterwards. The cat was soon forgotten.

The cat had no microchip so no way of knowing where it came from and the vet said it most likely had a tick. It was gasping for air by the time hubby got it to the vet and they did say they would most likely euthanise it. Poor puddy tat, what a sucky way to go. I hope there isn't a family out there looking for their cat. And if they are, I wonder if they regret the decision not to microchip it. We're not cat people and if/when we get a pet it will be a dog but I think the three kids are enough work at the moment. Plus seeing how the kids reacted to something going wrong with a stray animal, plus Ivy's reaction last time she saw a dog, well a pet is a long way off for this family. But I do take it as a compliment that this cat chose our house to spend its final hours at. Poor puddy tat.

its getting hot in here

It's not even Summer yet and it's getting very hot here. Both my active toddlers are constantly clammy with sweat and their hair is often plastered to their heads as they run, run and run some more. Today is forecast to be particularily hot so I thought we'd kill two birds with one stone and go shopping. We have a birthday party on Saturday that I needed to get a gift for and I wanted to check out the xmas PJs and clothes in Big W. And I spose I should start some xmas shopping. So off we went. The kids were really well behaved, and sat quietly in the pram. For about ten mins. Then it was on. Both toddlers took turns yelling at me, shouting, kicking and bouncing the pram. Whilst ever the pram is moving they're ok, once we stop well the fun begins! Little Miss was strapped to me in the baby bjorn and rather than sleep she decided to look out at the world. We ran into a friend from school who's got two weeks to go until her second baby arrives and she looks amazing. Poster girl for pregnancy. I want to stab her in the eye! hahaha Got a few bits in Target and headed to the foodcourt to load the kids up on milkshake and donuts, all an attempt to buy me another half an hour of shopping time. All was going well until Little Miss wide awake decided it was food time. So I had to feed her in the food court while passing donuts to the kids. Monkey Man dropped his Percy and started screaming. I had no choice but to ask a passer buy for assistance to retrieve his train. Thankfully she obliged but then stayed for a ten min chat bout how I've got my hands full and her kids were this age and these genders and blah blah blah. I'm used to it now but it does make me laugh how suddenly people tell me their whole life story. I think I've got a face for it as its happened all my life. If there is a crazy person in close proximity to me, they always manage to hunt me down and chat away. Anyway, once everyone was fed we did a few more things and headed home. All 3 were asleep by the time we did the ten minute drive home and if I hadn't needed petrol I would have gone on a long drive so they could stay sleeping. Thankfully all 3 transfer from car to bed quite well so I now have some quiet time. It will be the only quiet time for the rest of the day so I'm enjoying it.

I didn't manage to get the birthday present, and I bought only one xmas present so overall it wasnt a big success but it was nice to get out of the house for a bit. And seeing Missy Moo with cinnamon donut all over her face was quite entertaining.

30 mins later and Monkey Man is yelling at me. Me thinks my quiet time is over for the day which means its gonna be a looooong afternoon!

today was 'no sleep day'... wish someone had forewarned me

Today, none of my children would sleep. I'm hoping it wasn't due to heat as summer hasn't officially begun yet and it's obviously gonna get hotter, but yeah all 3 were awake pretty much all day. FUN! Apparantly there was a memo sent to all parents but I missed it. Little Miss was awake from 8ish this morning til well into the afternoon, cranky as all hell and only a poonami from head to toe seemed to relieve the situation. Missy Moo was falling asleep in her high chair at 10 this morning and crashed when I put her down at 11. I think she was woken up by the crying baby though and after an hours sleep she was awake, cranky and shirty with life and everyone in her path. Monkey Man, well he will tell me for hours he's not tired and needs 'no sleep' but generally crashes once put into bed. Today he told me he was ready for bed, and then proceeded to play in his cot for an hour, with no actual sleeping being done. Ironically both he and Missy Moo wanted up at the same time, and screamed blue murder until I got them up. Monkey Man then jumped on his chest of drawers, cracking the top of them, while I was trying to put his shoes on him. Yay, another expense to add to the ever growing pile that ironically seems to be worse at this time of year. Where is my festive spirit hiding this year???

By 1pm I was totally over today, and counting down the minutes til 7pm when today could be over and we could start again tomorrow. I tried to have a nanna nap on the lounge and copped trains, cars, phones and fingers in the face plus tag teaming toddlers pressing their face into mine. Sleep was abandoned. By late this afternoon I decided we should brave the heat, having spent most of the day inside in the air conditioned bliss, and try to exhaust them with water table and paddling pool fun. Next thing I hear a big crash and the baby gate has been ripped down by the toddlers... A serious attempt to escape from cranky Mummy?? Whatever the reason, we abandoned outside play plans and in the car they went. Off to Ronald's house so they could trash his joint rather than mine as if I have to vaccuum once more today, I'm going to scream... Happy meals all round, followed by icecream which was pretty much demanded the second the golden arches were in sight. And as a sidenote, is it still 14 and 9 mths you can get a job? How young do the 12 year old's working at maccas these days look?? Surely if they're 12 they should be at school and not working? Anyway, I digress...2x happy toddlers with grease and ice cream everywhere, half an hour of peace for me, so worth every bloody cent. Listening to other parents explain that no, we don't eat icecream first, that if the dinner wasn't eaten we'd go home without icecream, that the toy from their happy meal would go in the bin if they didn't behave.... well it was music to my ears to be truthful. Some might find it a stressful environment. I think, to put my kids in that environment with their own kind, well it made it easier to handle and made me realise I'm not alone. Other kids are like mine and other parents are like me. Sometimes you just need to know you're not alone on your journey, sometimes you just need to see someone elses child have a full body throw down tanty to feel so much better about your own... and sometimes you need your husband to come home early and put the kids to bed while you pass out on your own bed. Mind you I woke at 8.30pm, in the same position I'd gone to sleep in, fully dressed and quite confused as to how I got there seeing as the last thing I remember was tickling my kids before they went to bed?? The phone rang next to my head, I heard nothing. Clearly I was/am tired and on that note, I'm off to bed for hopefully a decent nights sleep - stopping on the way for cuddles with Little Miss of course.

santa claus is coming to town..... fark!!

So, it's November. How the hell is it November already?? It's ok though, I've bought one present! And it's for the youngest child who won't have a clue whats going on. Oh dear, time to panic, although I refuse to panic buy. I will use my trusty friend, internet shopping, to get me through. It's more the what to buy for who, and can I buy it in time (gotta love monthly pay!!) thats stressing me out.... Monkey Man is having a Thomas kinda xmas this year as his obsession has intensified, he wants to sleep with trains, take them in the bath, to the table and wakes up in the middle of the night talking about Thomas. A friend gave me some 'wooden railway' stuff that her son has outgrown and the face on Monkey Man when I showed it to him today, well it was totally worth it and cemented my suspicions that he'd love it. He played trains for hours, was happy in his own world. Meanwhile Missy Moo and I spent a couple of hours playing Little People and dancing to various songs that came on TV. She loves one on one attention. What to buy for her? Well someone suggested a dolly and pram and while I am considering it, I'm worried that Monkey Man will take it and make it his train carrier?? Not bothered about buying her a gender specific present (for any of my kids actually), its just she's not really into anything much (yet). She loves music and dancing, Fisher Price Little People (we have loads!), annnnd whatever Monkey Man is playing with, oh and smacking Little Miss around. Poor baby has had to toughen up pretty quick! I thought today I might make a dress up kit for all 3 of them, with various hats, costumes, wands, drs kit, wings, etc etc. That would be a good pressie I spose?
Monkey Man will get a train table, just where from I'm not 100% yet. Little Miss has a Sophie the Giraffe teether winging its way here as we speak - I swore I'd never buy one of these, stupidly over priced teethers but it was on sale and I figured it might be nice for her to have a teether all of her own that hasn't been through two lots of teething already. Poor kid gets alot of hand me downs as it is. The least I can do is buy her a giraffe. And Missy Moo, well something will come to me. It has to.

So far on the list (x3): hooded beach/pool towels, bath towels, aprons and art smocks, xmas PJs, a stocking full of little things (books, trains, bath toys and bubble bath squeezies, rubber ducks for the bath - last lot went mouldy and are now in toy heaven, a t-shirt or outfit for xmas day, some choc coins/custard for Little Miss etc etc) and this is pretty much where I stall!!

And speaking of xmas, my kids will be having a photo taken with Santa this year. It's a tradition I intend to uphold for as long as the kids will co-operate, or live with me! And actually even if they cry there will still be a Santa photo. Aren't I terrible?? I figure its a memory to look back on and laugh if they're crying or sigh nostalgically at how cute and small they were. My Mum told me last night she doesn't have Santa photos of me as I hated Santa and refused to go near him. Attitude from a young age. Hmmm and I wonder where my children, particularily Missy Moo get it from??? It sux I don't have any Santa photos, how freaking rude!! Missy Moo is not gonna like Santa, I can pretty much bet money on that. She's not good with strangers, very stand offish and pretty much only warms to you once you've been around for a few hours. And if hubby or I are there, well it'll be a extra long few hours as she clings to us. I'm betting I end up in the Santa pic, so best make sure I've got my smiley face on that day. I'm a bit vain when it comes to photos... is it wrong to choose the Santa photo that I look good in but the kids look shocking?? Seriously?

weigh in day

Today was weigh in day... I was not feeling confident, and really I never am, but I also know that a blow out tends to take 2 weeks to catch up with you. So I weighed in with a heavy heart and found I'd only lost .2kg this week, which is a loss all the same so I'll take it. At least it wasn't a gain. I started to feel a little down about only losing 200g but then realised in the 6 weeks since joining WW I've lost 8kg so I should feel pretty damn proud. And in the 3 months since my baby was born, I've lost 18kg. Alot went in the form of a 4kg baby and all the stuff that accompanied her but still, that's huge! Thats the most weight I've ever lost, and whilst I have a long way to go, I am taking a moment to celebrate this little milestone. I'm fitting into clothes I haven't worn for 3+ years/babies, I'm finding some things are way too big and are now at the back of the wardrobe. I'm feeling and looking better, and I'm inspired to keep going. I do have a long way to go so lets not get too carried away but yes, one must celebrate!

My husband stayed home today for his first day alone with all 3 kids, all day. A milestone for him. I went on a first aid course so its not like I was off shopping to celebrate my weight loss or enjoying a day of freedom. I last did my first aid certificate in 2009 which was pre children (although I was pregnant) so it was interesting to do it now that I am a mum, and practice CPR on infant and child size dolls... certainly gets you thinking about what would I do, would I know what to do in the case of an emergency, especially if one of my children was involved? It's one of those situations where you don't know how you will react until you're in it, living it and terrified. Adrenalin is so powerful, and it really does take over. Last week a friends 6mth old baby got locked in a bedroom, we don't know how but it happened and I stayed calm. I was trying to keep my kids calm, babys mum calm and myself calm and I think because I knew if we couldn't get him out the fire brigade would, that I was calm. And yes, we got him out through the window. Yet a few years ago my husband had an accident at home, and finding him floating in the pool, face down, blue as a smurf is an image I will never ever forget. I knew what to do yet I fell to pieces. And if it wasn't for his best mate helping me get him out of the pool and doing CPR on him, he wouldn't be here today. I was hysterical, that banchee woman you see on TV, that was me. His mate told me to pull myself together and help him. Emergency situations are horrible and you just don't know how you will cope until you're faced with one yourself. Hopefully armed with knowledge I will react in the appropriate manner and be able to save my kids (or anyone elses) should the need arise.

And yes, my hubby survived his first day solo, even though he called his best mate and fiance over to help. Cheater!! The kids were happy, fed, changed, entertained etc and whilst I had no doubt (ok, maybe just a tiny bit) it was nice to see they could cope without me for a day. Who knows, maybe I will go off on a day shopping sometime soon? Maybe I could start our xmas shopping?? GAH!!

busy morning

This morning between 7 & 8am I copped it, well and truly copped it. Little Miss, my almost 3mth old, has puked all over me, all down my pants, my top and saved the biggest deposit for my bra. I'm so glad I had a shower this morning!?! She's blowing snot the size of a 5c coin. Annnnd she just cleared the room with the smelliest, biggest poonami she's done in her 3mths earthside. Considering she only went last night, when we were out in public without the nappy bag (long story!), well I've gotta wonder how something so small can make such big messes!?? 3 children later and I'm still asking this question. And I'm still amazed how much comes out of such little people!!

Given I'll soon be attempting the toilet training path, spose I should just suck it up and accept my fate re me and poo. And be grateful my kids 'slept in' this morning til 6am. Yep 6am is a sleep in and the cause of much celebration around here. Considering buying Monkey Man one of those grow clocks as I've read they help with early wakers. Frankly I'm not convinced anything will help here??

all I want for xmas

All I want for Xmas this year is a DSLR camera. I'm a simple girl really, with simple (sort of) tastes... Ok so it won't be cheap but if I really really want it, surely that makes it ok? I don't want a professional super dooper expensive one, just one to get me started. I take loads of pics of my kids on the trusty point and shoot camera but I really want to learn how to take proper photos on a proper camera. Plus I figure I better get as many shots of the kids as possible before they get older and tell me to bugger off with my camera! I'm working on a photowall for our house and what's been done so far looks really good. I just need to get some more photos printed. Thats the thing with the digital age though, we take thousands of photos, delete hundreds yet probably print a dozen or so? If my house was on fire I'd grab my children, of course, and then my photos. And yes I have an external hard drive full of photos as well as a folder of back-ups on cd (learnt my lesson after my laptop died!!). This is all strategically placed so I can grab it and run. Am I the only one that thinks like this??

In our parents time they didn't have the luxury of digital photos, and whatever photos they took they printed out and framed or stuck in dodgy albums. I'm old enough to remember the old way, and the excitement of picking up prints. Wondering if there was any good shots or even wondering what was on the film in the first place as its been sat waiting to be printed for how long?? I still prefer the digital option though where I can delete horrid double chin shots or edit out red eyes, both I do alot!! Heck I even use technology to scan/photograph my children's artistic creations and capture them for future tormenting (can't wait to show potential partners the 'cow' my child drew at 2yo) and memory sake (mine, *sigh*).

Someone once told me never to delete photos of your kids as you can edit, crop, paste, layer them etc and something that looks odd now might be the perfect size, look, shade etc for some photo compilation you make in the future. I try very hard to capture my children on 'film' so I can remember how they were. My own baby photo album has alot more photos than my younger brothers does, and I spose thats due to my Mum not having the time and/or the funds to print all she took. That was the time I grew up in. The digital age grants me more freedom in that respect, plus I have a thing about equality and do all I can to take equal numbers of photos of my three kids. I have issues re equality but won't go into that here! It's hard to be equal though when trying to take pics of my youngest, I mean just how many photos can you take of a sleeping baby?? Haha! The digital age means places like facebook and blogs serve as online baby books. And while I have proper baby books here for my 3, I am going to have to refer back to my digital entries to fill them in. What counts is that I've written everything down... somewhere?!! I've loved looking at my baby book, more so now I have babies myself and while I think this keepsake stuff is more important to women, I'm still doing it all for my son. Looking at photos of me as a baby, I still don't see any of myself physically in my children despite what others say. It appears the genes from my husbands side are much stronger than
mine. Dammit!

So Santa if you're listening, please bring me a nice shiny DSLR camera for Christmas. I've been a good girl. I'm doing my best to be a good mummy, I'm not naughty (ok sometimes), I try to do my bit for others... plus lets be honest, you've forgotten me the last couple of years so I reckon you owe me. Actually come to think of it, your pal the Birthday Barbie and Anniversary Annie have forgotten me too so let's say the camera is a big IOU/joint present from all of you. Ok? Throw in Michael Buble's Christmas album and we'll call it quits. Cheers!