Family Holiday

We're back from our first family of four holiday in sunny QLD.

We had a stressful start not only due to my hair's dislike of QLD weather (frizz factor ENORMOUS) but with issues at airport security. I carried Mia through security after she had some separation anxiety from our baggage and pram. Long story short, her metal water bottle set the alarm. I offered both before, during and after to put it through separately but was ignored by staff. Mia became rather hysterical as they demanded we take her belt and shoes off, grabbed her arm and started to swipe her for explosives! It was ludicrous and to add to the trauma, we almost lost our super camera as we left it behind in the panic. A gorgeous woman grabbed it for us and brought it over sympathetically. Anyway, we survived and recovered to enjoy the flight. Mia loved the take off and both girls were on their best behaviour (note Mia with her travelling 'doggie' the ride on suitcase, excellent purchase!).

For the rest of the time we were absolutely spoilt. The happy couple provided us with an apartment (with bonus hole in the wall to their apartment) opening up to the most glorious view one could imagine. Nothing between us and the beach (approx 30m away) besides a swimming pool where Luke taught Mia to swim (well, attempted).

Most mornings began with a sensational breakfast of fruit platter, teas, nuts and grains... a real education session (so much for your traditional cake in bed my dear friend).
We felt like we were in a health resort. A number of trips to the beach, the pool, cafes and our lovely view soaked up much of our time. We also enjoyed the Currumbin sanctuary where amongst other highlights, Mia fed the Kangaroos and saw "Man Bird" as she called him (see Luke's interpretation).

Mia seemed rather exhausted most of the time (still struggling with those naps) which unfortunately also presented itself with quality grumpiness, while Poppy once again called in for room service every night. This time I minded less as I sat on the Balinese day bed and watched the moon shine its light on the waves. One morning she also timed it well for sunrise.......spectacular!

Other memorables were:
Beautiful lunch in Currumbin with the happy couple (the views again!).

Sculpture festival & kites on the beach.

Mia's introduction to Nemo or as Mia calls it "Emo"(also know as the self loathing, black liner and heavy mascara wearing little fish).

Lunch with Saba & Ada in Brisvagas. It was a treat to catch up with these enthusiastic travellers who had by then seen more of QLD than our little family combined. Mia was initially shy but warmed up, and Poppy couldn't believe her resemblance to her Papa Smurf.A solo beach walk.

Hearing Pete do bed time stories with Mia. One hour in and Mia was in the depths of sharing her most treasured of life's gifts: "I like it aeroplane, I like it bus, I like it taxi, I like it Kangaroo, I like it chocolate, I like it ice cream......"

Mia with her new baby doll (initially called Eadie, is now called Sophie) she received from the happy couple, with three squillian accessories. Excellent role playing Mia!



And just spending quality time, chocolate & wine with our special and most thoughtful of friends. Thank you, thank you thank you, we can't wait to see you again soon.

Almost there..

Another busy few days, I can hardly remember what we've done, and how is it that suddenly I'm all stressed out over preparations for our holiday?

I'll try and summarise as I only have a small window of opportunity to write this (Poppy will be bored soon).

And bored she was, it's taken me a week to write this post! I've now got so much to jam into this, please excuse the sloppiness.

Highlights:
Taking Mia and Poppy to the city. We intended on visiting the Jim Henson exhibition, but they were only showing Muppet Labyrnith. Contingency plan? Well, we weren't short of ideas. The train ride in its self was a treat: "Mia do train (pronounced dough), Mia like it train, Poppy do train have it too (yes we realise she has a touch of the Joda about her speech), a special babycino (is this the coolest one you've ever seen?), giant ferris wheel, carousal (just like the one in Mary Poppins), ice Cream, playground...



Other highlights: Lunch in Fitzroy, Playdate at the park, a surprise home delivery of declicious and gorgeous looking cupcakes from our friends, Luke and Mia's gardening afternoon (with her new wheelbarrow), watching Mia at an open ballet class (too cute for words), our last Gan Gani on Jew Wed (when we caught this exhibition at Hudson and visited Safta), Mia's amazing drawings (this rainbow is a favourite, and dinner with family (how many family member's does it take to settle a baby?).
Another matter of significance, is my preliminary return to work discussion.....scary, exciting..... I'll return to this subject another time.

See you in QLD (or just after)

Confessions of a stay at home Mommy

If anyone can remember my first mat leave, you'll also remember I had a number of rules to help keep some order and control over myself, my life, the house, Luke and of course Mia. These rules included:
1. Thou shalt shower every morning
2. Thou shalt never wear trackies outside thou house
3. Thou shalt avoid all day time TV

I'm so very proud to say I kept to these rules throughout my entire seven months of mat leave (that's me with Mia, don't I look tidy? Did someone say Lindy Chamberlain???).

Well, second time around and these rules have flown out the window.

I confess I'v had some mornings where I haven't showered, and I felt good about it! I've also worn my trackies around the block (or two), to the milkbar and even out (to Sara's- sister in law). Clarification, when I say trackies I mean my 'leisure suit'. And...... yes I have watched daytime TV! Can I blame the Olympics? Post Olympics I almost forced myself to watch a bit of Oprah or Phil and sincerely (why?), I couldn't stand them. I also gave the morning shows a go- yuck, disgusting, brain morphing, dull, delusional and desperate; I detest them all. But then, I innocently stumbled upon two fabulously trashy and entertaining shows. The View and The Ellen Degeneres Show. The View is probably what channel 9's ill fated The Catchup was based on, but it has some more opinionated chicks including Whoopi Goldberg and Barbara Walters and they talk about stuff including the American Presidential race which I'm also obsessed with and they welcome fun guests. Then Ellen comes on and she is so ridiculously self indulgent and sweet about it, I can't help but be amused. So it's a good hour of light and fluffy entertainment and I love it!

While I'm at it I may as well confess about the rest:

• Eating chocolate for breakfast (well, after some Weetbix, and behind Mia's back)
• Staying in my PJs past noon
• Playing with lego by myself
  
• Watching 5 episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm in one day
• Sometimes leaving the dishwasher unstacked
• Only completing 80% of the daily washing
  
• Refusing to attach name tags on the girls' clothes
• Swearing like a wharfie (not in front of the children of course)

So this is what you're probably envisaging? That's me with the red jumper and the fag.


It goes on, by I wont bore you. As you can see, I'm far from perfect, but I'm happy.

Our little Aussie Battler

It's been just over a week since the great tooth incident. Mia could care less about her new look, unlike her aesthetics obsessed Safta (Grandma). She's not satisfied in projecting all her insecurities on to her own children, she's thinking bigger picture, lets screw up many generations to come!

I kid you not, she wants Mia to wear a mouth plate to 'correct' her unsightly new smile (a' la beauty pageant tart)! So being the dedicated daughter I addressed the situation (natural and affordable!):More importantly we must get on to the tooth fairy who still hasn't come. Her PA did advise that since the teeth were fair welled prematurely there will be some delay as she had Mia slotted in for sometime next year..... Not sure what she'll do, we don't want her to set too high an expectation with anything too lavish and money seems so boring, any suggestions???

Had my very first single mother night last week when Luke went away on camp. We started off well, taking full advantage of the glorious weather and headed to the park. I over loaded myself (as I often do so naturally) and took Mia, her mini pram, 2 bears, Poppy in her pram and Oscar. Mia was fine until we had to head home. She then delivered a tremendous tantrum and I ended up pushing the 2 prams, Poppy in the baby bjorn, the bears and half of Mia's clothes in the large pram and Oscar and Mia dragging their feet behind me... aggggh! Managed to restore order at home and even get the girls to sleep fairly smoothly. However, at 3:00AM Mia decided it was party time, woke Poppy up and we were all up till 5:00AM when I eventually snuggled up with Mia in her bed. As annoying and exhausting as it was, there was something deliciously sweet in sharing the room with my little girls for the night.

Lukey was very sympathetic and spoiled me with a gorgeous gift from Mimco for my night of hard labour.

I did treat myself (or more correctly was treated to) a girls lunch on Saturday, not to mention an overdue visit to Scullary Maid to continue my Masters in Martha Stewart-ness. Can't wait to use my new piping bag!

And on Sunday it was of course the girls' chance to spoil their Dad. Mia was so excited about Luke's gift (no, we didn't buy him a bit of 'yeah yeah', it's a wig Anna brought over, I had to share this with you) two polo shirts, and our outing to a cafe called "Taste" for brunch. This cafe was superb, great food, service and super child friendly. Mia and Poppy were on their best behaviour with Poppy sleeping for most of our time there. This is her when she finally emerged.

In the afternoon Safta redeemed herself and looked after the girls while Luke and I had some us time. We were so shagged and struck with hay fever that we decided to head to the fashion capital (yes I know, boring). Anyway, we walked around aimlessly, bought some stuff for the girls and transported ourselves back in time by introducing each other to the perfumes and eau de toilettes we each wore in the 80's (Luke- Jazz, and I -Anais Anais). Being Father's Day, Luke got new eau de toilette: Hugo Boss XY (how very anti-Semitic of him).