8 weeks ...already

Since this post has been in draft form since Jacinta turned 8 weeks on Sunday, I thought I would post it incomplete today (Wednesday). I will get around to typing out her 8 week letter soon, but until then I will just share the pics I plan to include...

...8 weeks and so many cute clothes.

....one of your favorite places for a nap...


....reaching out to touch the toys on your rocker...

....my little chubba bubba in her very cute cloth nappies...

living life

Life seems rather busy at the moment, thankfully tomorrow is the last day of school lunches and uniforms for a couple of weeks, but the start of at least four kids home all day everyday!

So what have we been up to for the last couple of weeks....

The older two boys had their school sports day and both did really well. They both came proudly home with a few ribbons, and to top the day off their team - GOLD, won the day.

Very exciting as that hasnt happened very often while we have been at the school. Caleb also competed in SAPSASA athletics yesterday and their school finished fifth overall, and first in their 'division'.

A couple of weeks ago I got myself a baby sling. I wanted something that was quick and easy to use. I can pop Jacinta in here to go into the shops, or into school and have two hands free - well one once you take into account the other little hand Im usually holding at the same time. Its been fantastic and Jacinta LOVES it. She is so settled that Ive made another one out of some nice snuggly fleece. Its a godsend in the evenings when she is really unsettled. From about 6pm - 9pm is her grizzly, hold me, needy time...yep right on tea time, bath time, kids bed times, etc. The sling is fantastic as I can do just about anything with her snuggled up happy and content...

How cute are these!!! We have used up all our newborn disposable nappies and I am now on the road to becoming a cloth nappy convert. I never thought that day would come, but as you can see, cloth nappies have come a long way since plain old square flat nappies. Modern cloth nappies - or MCN as they are known (yes there is a whole lingo to go with them as well) are gaining in popularity as people look for more sustainable and eco friendly options to disposable nappies. Most of the all in one nappies are as simple to use as disposables, and some are just to cute for words!!! The little green and purple number was a gift from my friend Nat who has just started her own nappy making business (PATOOTIES) pop by her blog and check out the little cuties modelling this nappy!!!At the moment we are only using them part time. I need some more boosters (layers of absorbant fabric stitched together) to put in my magicalls (the bright coloured nappies at the end of the row), so Ive ordered some bamboo to sew some up, then we will be using them most of the time... while we are at home at least. It is taking a bit to get used to the slightly larger tooshie that the mcn give Jacinta, but Im getting used to the look and feel of it now. Its nice not to have quite so many 'sposies' going into the bin each week. Once we get onto the tiolet training with Isaac it will be even less.

Isaac is coping really well with loosing his place as the 'baby' of the family. He loves to help out (which is often far less helpful than he thinks!) His Teddy and dummy have been getting a fair work out though. I think it is his way of reassuring himself. Teddy even gets nappies changed - and has progressed to being a mcn user too [guess who 'borowed that very cute little nappy Nattie? :o)] he also has his very own teddy sling...just like 'cintas!Today (well yesterday as its now Thursday as I finish this post!) we set up Isaacs big boy bed. The cot is now nearly packed away, ready to come out again when Jacinta needs it. This is the bed when it was first set up (thanks for your help Jode!)
and this is my baby about 1 hour after we put him into bed last night,

snug as a bug and sound asleep (with Nathan sound asleep in his top bunk) He did come out and visit about five times in that hour, but let us put him back into bed with out too much fuss. He had a good couple of hours nap this afternoon too, and only came back out once! He looks so tiny in that great big bed, but he is growing up so fast now.

Sunday we took the boys to a wildlife park. It was great to have a bit of family time, and everyone enjoyed themselves. Isaac managed to get his finger snapped by some big weird bird (brolga?) but it didnt phase him at all. You can pat and feed the kangaroos and wallabies which all the kids loved. You actually buy a packet of peanuts or milk coffee biscuits to feed them !!! Isaac was happy to feed the first biscuit to the kangaroo, but after that "I need more bicit" was always followed by "Issac eat it?... not kangroo!" Jacinta slept in her own little pouch for most of the time we were there.

Jacinta turned six weeks on Sunday, and on Moday I decided to do a little photo shoot. She is loosing that newborn look already. Some days Im afraid if I blink she will have already become a toddler! Both of these shots are ideas taken from the gorgeous Katie. Her skills with children and families photography are just stunning. Gotta say, you can definately tell the difference between using a point and shoot camera, and a professional set up. It would help me immensely if I actually got my DSLR out of the cupboard and played around with that, but I just havnt had time, so this is better than nothing. It would be even better if Katie lived closer and I could get her to take them ;) seriously trying to feed, set up, feed, settle, arrange, settle and photograph a baby all by yourself is one long, long process! The second pic ihas been turned into a card that I gave my Doctor as a thank you to put in his office baby album, and I did one for the doctor and midwives involved in her delivery and care as well. (They have a photo board at the hospital they put picks of bubs delivered there)

Well I will leave you with a couple of snaps of my gorgeous babies that I took this morning when we were hanging out on Isaacs new bed!!!! (for those of you who know about my ongoing dummy saga...problem solved. I finally found some of these Tommy Tippee dummies that she likes. they are the same cherry shape as the happy baby ones that I have issues with, but are quite a bit cuter!!! and even cheaper LOL)

PS oops I nearly forgot - Happy Anniversary for yesterday to Katie & Brett and Rozzie & Clint, who all share the same anniversary date as Craig and I. We celebrated 13 years of being married yesterday!!! Hope you all had a wonderful day.

I can...

...still call myself a scrapbooker! Today I scrapped for the first time in months! All my scrapping gear was packed away when I got rid of my old desk last year in preparation for the room re shuffling that occured with the imminenet arrival of Jacinta.

Our new desks only arrived a month ago, but Ive not had much time to sort through everything. Slowly Ive been making my way through my stash, and packing it into my new desk. Yesterday I went through the box of stuff I won in the FK awards for excellence, that was enough to inspire me to actually do something! The fabric flowers are off a bib I got for Jacinta (I dont like the velcro on them as it digs into her neck....so what else was a girl to do but cut it up to use as gorgeous embelishments!)

I dont think Ive shared my entry in the awards for excellence yet either, so while I am in scrapping mode, here it is...

This first one is the LO that won the photography award. Funnily enough this is also the LO that I nearly didnt include in my portfolio!

Here are the rest of them...

one month

Dear Jacinta (aka Jazz, Jazzy, sweetness, my girl, cinta, baby girl, sister, bubs)

Today is Easter Sunday, and as Christians all over the world celebrate and remember the death and reserection of Jesus Christ this weekend, we also celebrate you turning one month old.

Happy Easter my sweet little easter bunny!

You celebrated your first easter with brunch and an egg hunt at grandmas on Saturday with Mummys family,

and an egg hunt at Nannas and tea at our house with Daddys family on Sunday. We have our own little tradition of leaving our hats out for easter bunny to fill with yummy treats, so this year you left out your brand new pretty pink hat that Jim (Auntie Helens partner) bought especially for you, and this morning it was filled with special little easter surprises for you. These first four weeks have flown by so quickly. I know that they will continue to do so, and I am trying to cherish every single minute of these early weeks with you - even those long sleepless nights, that we still get on occasions. It is taking a while to get into a routine, but finally in the last week or so we have had more good nights than unsettled ones. We have moved from the feeding every couple of hours, to a much more workable 2 -4 hours during the day, and usually only one feed over night after 10/11pm somewhere between 2.30am-4.00am. You are also beginning to cut down the time it takes you to feed. 45 minutes is quite a long feed now, in the first couple of weeks it would take you a good hour to feed both sides...that didnt leave much time for me to sleep when you were deciding to feed every 2 hours! We have been to visit both of your great grandmas, and last weekend travelled to Horsham to attend Daddys cousins wedding and introduced you to your great Poppy. Your a lucky little girl still having three of your great grand parents. You travelled really well, and we only had to stop once each way for a feed.

The second and third weeks of your life were spent mostly hanging out inside in the airconditioning as we sweltered our way through a record breaking heatwave here in Adelaide. I think it was 15 days in a row of temperatures above 35 c, with the majority being 38-40. I was so glad I wasnt pregnant still!
Ever since our second night in hospital you have been a tummy sleeper, during the day you are happy to sleep on your back or side in the rocker, but if you are in your bed you will only settle on your tummy. Both Caleb & Nathan were tummy sleepers too. You sleep
You are also a very 'sucky' baby. To try and discourage you from using me as a dummy and snacking constantly instead of having decent feeds, I tried to get you to take a dummy. No funky and cute little dummies for you though, Ive tried the gorgeous little pink nuk ones I bought before you were born - no way would you take them. I thought I might give a cheapy from the suermarket a go, and you love it! Its a latex cherry shaped happy baby one, and Mummy thinks it is aweful! I dont like the look of the round happy baby dummies, I dont like latex dummies, and Im not a fan of the cherry shaped teats! I tried a silicon teat in the cherry shape but you wouldnt take that so I guess I will have to learn to like them!

Im loving be mummy to a little girl more than I ever imagined I would. I love being surrounded by all the pretty girly things, gorgoeus clothes, hanging a line full of tiny pink things out, sitting and cuddling you. I guess its a special bond that a mother and daughter share. Its definaltely no more important than the special bond I share with each of your gorgoeus brothers, its just somehow different.

I treasure these newborn days, and I will make the effort to cherish each and every one of them. Some days are hard, and everyday is definately so much busier than it has ever been, but we all love you so much, and are grateful and blessed that you have come along and filled that void in our family, that until your arrival. we didnt even know existed.

I love you my sweet little girl

Mummy xxx

so totally in love.....

...with my little girl.

How could you not just want to kiss, cuddle, love and protect this sweet little, 9 day old, divine bundle of cuteness (yeah I know Im probably a little biased!)

Even though she did decide that she needed to be fed at 11pm, 1am, 3am & 7am, and considering that she takes at least an hour to feed and settle, that didnt leave much sleep time for me. Oh well thats life with a new born I guess, I still love her to bits, and I wouldn't change a thing!

Pink, pink, and more pink....

Sorry its taken so long to get on here and officially welcome and introduce our beautiful little daughter (yes it really was a girl, despite all my doubts!!!). .........................

12 hours old 25/02

JACINTA GRACE

arrived at 7pm last Sunday, and has stolen all our hearts.

She is a beautiful little girl, and already we couldnt imagne life without her.

Its hard to believe that she is a week old .

She is feeding and sleeping well, although seems to prefer her big sleeps during the day!

She is a contented little baby, and is such a snuggle bunny!

She weighed 8lb 8oz, was 49 cm long and had a head circ. of 37cm!

all dressed and waiting for Daddy to pick us up and take us home 27/02

1-03-2008



Her birth was a little dramatic. After waiting since 2am when I had my first leaking of hind-waters, I had managed to dilate to 6cm by 3.30pm with only mild pre-labour pains, and no very regular contractions. Ive never had to wait for my labours to kick in before, so it was a long day trying to get things moving. Our little princess was floating around in so much fluid, that there was no pressure from her head to start any 'real' labour happeneing. Too much fluid to attempt rupturing the membrains, so we had to wait for nature to take its course. By about4.15pm things finally started to happen! The contractions finally became regular and I was now actually in labour! By 6pm, the contractions were on top of each other, my blood pressure was through the roof, and after another internal I was still 6cm, she was still not engaged and so still wasnt putting any pressure on my cervix! I layed on the bed, and at 6.22pm my waters finally broke with a huge gush. The next half hour saw lots of painful contractions ( I did manage to do it with out needing any pain relief) I started pushing at 6.45pm and at exactly 7pm little Jacinta was born. Her extra long cord was wrapped tightly around her neck and twice around her body, so after a few scary seconds and one big hurried push, as they couldn't get it unhooked, she was born very blue, and whizzed off to the resus trolley for a few breaths of oxygen...they were the scariest few minutes of our lives, and the sound of her cries were the sweetest sound we had ever heard!

Jacinta & Mummy. 1 hour old 24-02-2008

The doctor couldnt believe the length of her cord, or the amound of fluid that a was carrying....no wonder my tummy was so huge and felt like it was going to explode by the end of it all. This shot was taken on the Friday before she arrived. I was 39 weeks, and huge!


Im loving all these pretty pink clothes, and the pink cards, and the pink balloons, and the pink flowers. I never thought Id would be a mummy to a little girl. I was quite content with my three gorgeous boys, but obviously someone had different plans for my life, and Im so, so glad that we now have our little princess!

29-02-08

Caleb, Nathan and Isaac all adore their little sister. Isaac is always wanting to hold her, or "I hold him?" as he puts it, and is always telling me "cinta my baby!"

Caleb & Jacinta 27-02-08

Nathan & Jacinta 25-02-08

Isaac & Jacinta 29-02-08

Jacinta has been really settled since we came home, and Im feeling great. I guess thats the one good thing about feeling so crap towards the end of the pregnancy, once its over every thing feels SO much more comfortable, and even nights of broken sleep are so much more restful than the sleep I wasnt getting before.

Thanks so much for all the emails and messages of congratulations that have been arriving daily. We really appreciate them, and the fast that so many people have been thinking of us! By the looks of the hits on my blog over the past couple of days, lots of you have been checking in waiting for photos and more details LOL sorry I kept you waiting so long!

starting to feel organised

There is only 18 days to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I must say Im starting to feel a lot more organised. The carseat has been reversed and all the straps adjuted to fit, so all Craig has to do is put it in and hook it up when the time comes & the seats have been fitted into the back of the wagon -at least we can all fit in there now.

The cradle is here and all made up - so cute! Ive painted (with the help of my wonderful Dad - thanks Daddy!!!!!) the two chests of drawers, and there is only the wardrobe to go...cant see myself getting that done before bubs arrives, but you never know! I cut up the flat cot sheet I had and have made a cushion cover, trimmed a sheet for the cradle, covered the lamp shade, and covered my baby feeding pillow. Im not sure my sewing machine knew what was going on actually sewing fabric instead of paper! LOL

All the baby stuff is washed and packed away. Most of the junk is cleaned out the nursery, and Jode is dropping off a glider rocker chair for me to feed in sometime today I think. Ive nearly managed to track down and collect all the baby gear I lent out to people thinking I wouldnt need it again!

Here is a picture for all those who have been asking....me with my massive belly - surely it cant get much bigger! and the nursery set up. (Still not game enough to paint over my blue wall in the nursery - just in case!!!!)

Still on the to do list - the wardrobe, buy a special teddy for bubby, get this house clean and organised (still waiting for that nesting instinct to kick in!) print off thank you note cards, and Im sure there is a heap of other bits too, but I cant remember them atm!

The countdown is on....

I just looked at the little counter thing on here and on EB and there is only 38 days till our little bubbas due date....so probably (hopefully LOL) a few days less than that till she actually arrives - eeekkkkk that seems so close now, and there is still so much to get done.


Belly update.....feeling huge, everything is uncomfortable, and awkward. Not sure how much more this belly can stretch LOL.

Ready for bubs arrival - NOT!!!! Did one huge wash of clothes etc, it was so cute to see all that pink hanging on the line.Started sanding back the wardrobe ready to paint - got bored of that real quick....perhaps when the boys are back at school next week I might try and get it finished.

The treehouse dinky daisy pink wall paper border I won on ebay never arrived, and the seller hasnt answered any of my emails GRRRRRRRRRRR...not like it cost me heaps, but it matches the cot linen etc I got, and I want it!!!!! fingers crossed.

Been checking out lots of stuff on etsy lately. Ordered myself this gorgeous silver pendant yesterday...present from Craig when bubs is born LOL its buy it myself in this house or miss out!!!

As soon as I saw it, I loved it. Reminds me of our little family. The two swirls at the bottom are Craig and I... joined by marriage (the heart)...linked forever to our four children, symbolised by the four loops at the top. Yeh I know way to much thinking by the hormonal pregnant lady LOL but for some reason thats just what came to mind as soon as I saw it.

I also love these funky nappy bags.......mmmmmmmmmmmmm......might have to wait till I save up a bit more $$$$$$$$ before contemplating if I really need one!

We spent last weekend away at a beach house with some friends. Had a nice relaxing break before bubs arrived. the kids were really good.....lots of swimming, boogie boarding and bike riding - boy did they eat and sleep well!

Only a few more days till the kids are back at school! They are looking forward to going back, especially Caleb who will be in a 6/7 class this year with a great teacher, who he has heard is really good. He is really looking forward to it. Nath has the same teacher as last year, and is looking forward to getting back with all his mates. We havnt really done that much over the holidays. Ive not had the energy really! Thank goodness for the Xbox they got for christmas, boys to play with next door, the mulberry tree down the road and their bikes and scooters, and a few well timed sleep overs with friends and family! Been plenty to keep them amused most of the time. Ive got all their books etc, just need to get motivated to get it all named.......and pick up the school shoes off layby...and get Caleb some new sneakers....and dig out some school uniforms because the new stuff I ordered isnt arriving at the school till the first day....must get on to all of that.