VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD

Thanks and appreciation goes to Erin Bella Bleue, author of the blog, Bella Bleue Healing, Health & Inspiration for Your Life ,for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger Award!

I am so very thankful and honored to receive this award and share with you my life.

Here are the rules to the award: Thank the person who nominated you and link back to them when you create a post on the award. Share 7 things about yourself. Pass the award on to 15 people you know who have blogs that you follow and enjoy. Contact those people that you have nominated. Put the Award Image on your blog page (go to images in the widgets menu in the Appearance category).

More on the Versatile Blog Award http://versatilebloggeraward.wordpress.com.

7 Things about Erin, Bella Bleue

1. I am a mother and a wife.
2. I am a teacher.
3. I love reading teen paranormal books.
4. I am writing a book.
5. I am a converted cat lover.
6. I am a morning person.
7. I want to make a living at home to spend more time with my son.

My Nominations for the 15 Blogs (in no particular order). Thank you for your wonderful blogs:

1. http://gofishywin.wordpress.com/
2. http://nevercontrary.com/
3. http://nittygrittydirtman.wordpress.com/
4. http://foodimentary.com/
5. http://thefulcrumchronicles.wordpress.com/
6. http://karenslatte.wordpress.com/
7. http://superluminous.wordpress.com/
8. http://natureofphotography.wordpress.com/
9. http://arewehavingfunyetlecture.wordpress.com/
10. http://sweetipomoea.wordpress.com/
11. http://debbie915631.wordpress.com/
12. http://patcegan.wordpress.com/
13. http://sannatuulia.wordpress.com/
14. http://peacefly.wordpress.com/
15. http://theblessingchair.com/

Thank you again, Erin Bella Bleue from Bella Bleue Healing, Health & Inspiration for Your Life.

I DON”T WANT TO GO…

After Charlie’s birth I was keen to get back to work, like immediately right this second keen. 6 months on I never want to go back. It never ceases to amaze me the difference time can make in a life. It does help heal you, but you never forget. I will never forget the agony that was my recovery and the uphill emotional journey I had to endure. I will never forget the pain and sadness, nor the joy and wonder of it all.

I now, like many other moms who stay at home, am looking at ways which can keep me here. I am due to return to work at the end of June, and although I still have a few months, I know how quickly that time will fly. I am fortunate that we only need me to return part-time so three days per week will be it for me. I have many different business like ideas and I will let you know how I go with this endeavour as it comes to play. Wish me luck.

For now I am trying to enjoy every moment, remember every detail, every smile, every cry. All too soon he will be grown up, I know this all too well. But… these memories will live in me forever.

 

JUST WHEN I HAD IT DOWN

This mom thing, as previously stated is hard. Every few weeks, however, I feel like I am on top of it all. The housework, the motherly duties and most importantly the routine. That works, and I like it, and then Charlie decides to change it. I am so not looking forward to teething as it is more than likely going to be hell based on what people tell me.

Charlie has just moved to 2 sleeps per day if he is up for 3 hours he is down for 1.5 hours. If I am slack and want a break before the 3 hour mark, then he goes down for half that. So… I am trying to find more to do with him throughout the day. I read to him, we do music sessions and nursery rhyme sessions, tummy time, jolly jumping time, eating, changing etc…

No matter what I am now appreciative of everything I took for granted before I had my little boy. The fact he sleeps 8pm till 7am with only I wake for a dummy at 5ish some nights is a blessing. Everyday a little easier, everyday a little more myself again. This is my new mantra.

 

Does anybody out there have any other ideas to keep bub busy throughout the day?

 

TO COMPETE OR NOT TO COMPETE

I am recently really torn by whether or not it is morally sound to place your baby in photo competitions or other competitions alike. I have placed Charlie’s photo in a photo shop competition worth $10,000 and Bonds Baby 2012: http://babysearch.bonds.com.au/entry/17377/charlie-m. I am torn whether I am doing the right thing, or if it is wrong to utilise what I think is a cute baby for commercial profit. Any money etc… earned goes directly into his own little bank account for him later, I do not use any prize money. But still…

 

What are your thoughts on baby photo and modelling competitions?

WANT TO BE FRIENDS?

I have really noticed lately just how much Facebook and other social media outlets have changed how people behave. People put comments on to share wonderful things, terrible things, and more importantly to get sympathy or attention. I am more of a Facebook reader, as I hardly ever actually put a status update on, but it amazes me lately just now self involved some people are. It is a really fake method of interaction for many people. I have had friend requests from people I was not friends with at school, and let’s be honest we are both being sticky beaks into what the other person’s life is like now. What they have achieved, and more importantly what they haven’t.

I message people to wish them happy birthday, and never have to actually remember when it is because Facebook will tell me. I compare myself to others. I know everyone else does too, I’m just not afraid to admit it. I really worry about the implications on people socially when I read about another teenager committing suicide due to bullying and social media. It is far too easy for the world of Facebook to be real to people. What is this world coming to, when you can’t pick up the phone of visit face to face with your ‘friends’. The real ones that is.

 

What are your thoughts on this? I would love to hear some other views.

 

TOM

I thought by now it was absolutely time to introduce you to my whole family, in particular one member. Before I found out I was pregnant (in fact 9 months before), we purchased our first baby, Tom. Tom, is a domestic tabby cat, who is ultra cuddly, ultra loving but on his terms (typical cat).

As you can see he grew, A LOT. He is a giant cat now, but still awesome. He is very much Charlie’s entertainment throughout the day as he tries to pat him. I think Tom needs to find some good hiding spots before Charlie begins to crawl. We have many great stories about Tom, but far too many for one post. So for now, this is Tom, my buddy, and first baby.

FOOD, FOOD AND MORE FOOD

Since we are now verging on 6 months, yes you read correctly, I am starting to really research food for my little boy. He is on solids and has been since 4 months but he has only had 1 food for three days as a starter. I am hoping at 6 months to start breakfast, lunch and dinner, and have been tossing up introducing meat at 7 months and just continuing with fruit and veg for now. I can’t wait to begin mixing a variety of these together.

I cannot believe how many rules there are with foods, allergies etc… It really is a science in itself. There is so much information telling us what makes us a good parent and what makes us the devil who is for sure going to kill our own children. I think in the end common sense needs to prevail. I am so super excited about the next stage of weaning him onto solids, and am preparing meal ideas for us big people so I am not double cooking. I want to be efficient, but still provide nutritious meals for all.

This stage is a little odd. I am sad that the bottle bonding time will lessen over the next few months, as I find this time special. Charlie is now able to hold the bottle himself 80% of the time. His grip makes it nearly impossible to pry the bottle out of his hands. That kids got muscles, seriously. For now I am enjoying him still laying in my arms, still having a bottle, and still being willing to have cuddle time. I know too soon this will end and I will be chasing him for this.

 

Does anyone out there have any advice or recipes that worked well for their kids when weaning them onto solids?

POST, POST, POST

I am so over people asking how everything is post-baby. I want to scream to the world that I am still me and Charlie is still Charlie and yeah I’m a mum, but? I just don’t get it. The 1st February marked my 27th Birthday and all everyone asked was how it was to have my first Birthday as a mom. Uneventful as it has been every year of adulthood since my 21st.

I really want to just be me and still have me things. Not have all these ‘firsts’. They are not my firsts, they are Charlie’s firsts. Like a first smile, first word, first step, first Birthday. I turned 27. It was my 27th birthday and it was same old, same old. The only difference is my realisation that I am verging on 30 which scares me. I still feel like that 18-year-old  who was really carefree and enjoyed life. The fact I can type those words for the first time in some years is amazing.

I more than anything had a realisation on my birthday. I realised how far I have come in my life, how much I have done. I realised I am stronger than I every thought possible. I realised that I actually, through everything, have this passion for life. I realised that I have dreams that I have had for almost 27 years, which I had just given up on. No more.

In the years to come I want to be able to look into my son’s eyes and tell him that he can be anything and do anything in his life. I want to not only say this, but believe what I am telling him. I have always wanted to make a living through writing. As long as I can remember this has been it. Writing has been my saviour in times of darkness. Writing is me. So on my birthday, I made it a vow to give it a good go. To finish that manuscript that is sitting on 35,000 words, to finish those short stories and dedication to my son.

All I can do is give it the best shot I can. I can’t imagine anything than I want more than to write for a living. So here I vow to try to at least finish my unfinished writings and more than anything to work towards getting a piece of writing published. I will keep you updated on my progress of achieving my dreams, for me, and for my son. Anything is possible if you believe.

 

How about you. Do you have a secret dream?

THE IMPORTANT THINGS

So my sister moved to a small town in western Queensland two weeks ago. Yesterday the area was declared a natural disaster zone. Her house with many others were flooded including many properties with live stock. This has really given me a new perspective of what is important in life.

It doesn’t matter what you own, it is who you are and the kind of life you lead that matters. It is the people who we share our journey with that are important. My sister and her partner are safe, nothing else matters.

LIEBSTER BLOG AWARD

I am so honored to be chosen by Country Road 233 for the Liebster Blog Award. Thank you for your loyal readership it is very much appreciated.

The rules of this award are:

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Reveal your top five picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
4. Hope that the people you’ve sent the award to forward it to their five favorite bloggers and keep it going!

The following blogs are not listed in any particular order.  I would like to nominate them for their beautiful writing, enthusiasm and real life stories.

Kaleidoscope

Countryroad233

Love and a Six-Foot Leash

Pete Denton – Writer

Family Haikus