Life gets in the way

Ahhhh...my poor neglected blog.  I can see the dust on my computer screen already!

The above image is very me.  Around 3pm I'm collapsing on a bed with either Liam or Owen or both.  We had a week of shocking jetlag after our trip to London (think two children not wanting to go to bed till 3am but then up at 7am demanding breakfast!) and now its all go go go now we are back.

I have about two and a bit months left of maternity leave before I go back to work in January.  I had to go to a doctors appointment in the city last week and it felt very weird traipsing on the Terrace with all the office workers at lunchtime with a pram and over excited near four year old that loved the noise of it all. 

I have tons to organise in terms of childcare and kindy for the boys.  We are buying another car before Xmas.  We have family moving to Perth.  There is Xmas to think of.  More renovations for the house.  I'm embarking on a diet/exercise challenge.  Rich and I get to see the Stone Roses in March next year.  Life keeps a moving...

I'll be sure to keep you updated. x

Introducing...

I'd like to introduce the new addition to our family - our son Owen Joseph Spillane.

I was so convinced I was having a girl, so was totally gobsmacked when my Obstretrician pulled him out of my tummy and said 'its a boy!'.  We couldn't have been prouder though and I just though 'two boys - brilliant!' - I'll be cleaning that toilet seat for a while yet!

It took us a while to decide to have a second baby and then we had the very happy and quick surprise when we found out I was pregnant.  I'm now at home with Liam and Owen fulltime before I go back to work in January next year and I am amazed at how the days and weeks fly by.  These boys have me on my toes, but I love the chaos of it all and wouldn't change it for anything.  I'm a very lucky mum to have beautiful, healthy boys and a gorgeous husband...

About me

Thankyou to the lovely Nat for tagging me on her blog.  I've only just managed to get around to this, so apologies for taking so long Nat, here are my answers :)

1. Go with the flow or plan, plan, plan

I am very much a planner.  I get quite anxious and panicked if I don't have a plan.  In fact I'd describe myself as a total control freak.  I wish I was more laid back like my brothers who are cruisy and don't let things upset them too much, but unfortunately I'm not wired that way.  I've just packed my hospital bag and have actually bought an aromatherapy room spritzer so I feel more 'at home' in a hospital room.  If that doesn't scream 'freak' I'm not sure what does!

2. City, beach or bush?

Definitely a beach girl.  Our house is a 2 minute drive from it.  I wish I had more time to spend there, but intend on spending a lot of time there with the kids when I am on maternity leave come next Monday.

3. Night on the town or night on the couch?

I love a night on the town but what I deem as a night on the town these days is totally different to what I was used to.  Now I love a beautiful dinner with my husband, some live music and a few cocktails.  But I also like to be tucked up in bed by 12am at the latest.  My life is more about nights on the couch these days but I actually love it and had a pretty good run of being a party girl.  I just have zero energy these days and do you know how much drinks cost in Perth?

4. High maintenance or easy going?

I'm a pretty easy going person.  I wouldn't classify myself as a high maintenance wife or friend.

5. The moment in your life that influenced you the most?

I would say travelling, meeting my husband and becoming a mother were the most important moments for me. 

6. Your greatest achievement?

Being a wife and mum.

7. If you could change one thing in the world, on a global scale it would be….?

That all children could be safe, well fed, well taken care of and loved.  I hate seeing children suffer.

8. Day dreamer or realist?

Both.

9. Your blog is mainly about?

Trying to get a balance of work and family life.

10. Edward or Jacob (sorry, I had to)

I've never gotten into it sorry!  I'm a bit behind the times like that.  If you spoke to me in five years time I would have watched it and then I'd start getting excited about it.  I leave things like this too late and then realise what all the fuss was about!

11. If you had the chance to be an actress/rock-star/singer etc – would you?

I'd love to be a singer.  That would be a dream come true, entertaining a crowd in the Royal Albert Hall in London with a fabulous band and great music.

Chill

It seems I don't know the fine art of chilling.  I think I will have to otherwise this baby will be making an appearance before its scheduled birth date of the 20th April!

Am home on a day off under doctors orders today and have been told to take it easy.

Luckily its a long weekend in Perth too.  Lots to keep me busy and occupied but will have to remember that the health of the baby and me come first.

I am so impatient for this baby to arrive.  I really just want it to be here soon, but this is a lesson I need to learn.

Have a great weekend all.


x

When it rains it pours

In the 8 years Richard and I have been together there has never been a year that has gone by where something major hasn't happened to us.  Be it moving countries, starting new jobs, hospital stays, having a baby, moving house, buying a house, the list goes on and on.

When we moved over to Perth in 2009 we decided we just need a couple of years where things would die down a bit so we could settle finally.  Try as we might, the universe just didn't see it that way. 

We are now 7 weeks away from having our second child and I am 4 weeks away from trying to wrap up my very demanding job and leave it in the capable hands of a lovely lady I have worked with for about two years.  I'm nervous about saying goodbye to my job, its a big part of who I am, but it will be there waiting for me when I go back to work in January next year.

Its totally stressing me out and the days are filled with questions and rushing about, trying to waddle my way into the city and get back to the suburbs to pick up Liam again.  I really don't think I can do full time with two kids.  Its going to have to be part time next year.

Secondly, we are in the middle of renovating our home.  We knew it had to get done before the baby was born but what we didn't count on was ripping up tiles on our wedding anniversary, dust akin to ground zero, coughing fits and the general feeling of dust settling INTO EVERYTHING, including our skin.  Thankfully we have tradies at the house today and by Friday our house should look like something semi habitable.

Then there is the nursery to sort out, a baby capsule to fit and me wanting to clean everything in sight.  Second pregnancies are so much different from the first, there is less time to moan and grumble and generally lay about feeling tired.  You feel all those things anyway, but you just know you have to get on with it and get all the jobs done that need to get done during the week at home, at work and with your family.

I wonder how life just got so damn busy in such a short space of time and whatever free time I did have, I wonder what I used to do with it?  I couldn't be happier though, I do love the frenecity and pace of it all.  I am actually looking forward to that hospital stay, I actually think its going to be a good rest for me :)

Things I love about where I live...

Mawsons Park in Hillarys - a great big park with playground, duck pond and a huge oval for the three of us to have a kickabout.  Just a 5 min drive down the road.

Hillarys Boat Harbour.  A lovely beach to take kids with sunshades and a playground (bit of a theme here really).  You could swim across to the pub if you wanted to, but the fact that they charge around $15 for a pint of beer puts us off.  A lot easier to grab a few beers and have them at home (and cheaper).

Dome Cafe, Mullaloo.  Across the road from the beach, great brekkie and great for kids.  Bring your own pencil sharpener though as their pencils for the kids are always blunt.  But keeps them occupied while you slurp your coffee and eggs.

Our front deck.  Come on baby.  Mama needs to sit out here and enjoy a champagne soon with the candles on.

Jessabelle, the crazy dog next door.  Eats her weight in polony, sausages, chops or anything else we throw on the bbq.  The closest this family will get to a dog and that's the way I like it.

 
Mullaloo Beach.  Perfect in summer, great sunsets in Winter.  Many a relaxing moment spent here and a 3 minute drive from home.

Our lovely back garden.  Its where Liam plays golf, Rich and I moan about the state of the lawn, slippery slides are belly flopped on and bouncy castles have been erected.  Its so great to have space finally.

Farewell our little break...

How quickly did that break go?  I look forward to it all year and then it goes by in a flash.

Back to the grindstone it is tomorrow.  Liam has headed back to childcare this morning, complete with new water bottle and packed bag.  Richard and I have had a precious day off together to get some work done around the house and enjoy some nice chats.  He still has two more days off, the lucky thing!

So, will log onto my work laptop tonight and start sorting through the ridiculous amount of emails that are awaiting me.  But...I feel full refreshed and charged for 2012.

We have so many great things to look forward to this year.  I'll be finishing up work at the end of March (give or take a week either side) and then our bambino joins us on the 20th April.  Am all booked in and ready to have my c section.  I'll be a stay at home mumma for 9 months before heading back to work in January 2013.  Two little charges to take care of.  All I have to do this year is focus on being a mum, no rushing out the door or work deadlines to balance on top of the mumma duties which will be a welcome relief.

We have our trip to the UK in September, and my husband's 40th to celebrate there.  We'll also get our baby christened hopefully in London too.  And I am looking forward to sprucing our home up and getting healthy and fit.  Its going to be a bumper year.

If you've headed back to work this week, I hope its been a short week for you :)