Christy's top 10

This blog has been a long time coming, thanks for the faithful who are checking to see if I updated yet! I will try and get onto it sooner next time. I have been rolling this little list around in my head for awhile. I feel as though I have added one more string to my bow as a mum, when I discover some product or item that is so amazing that my quality of life goes up another notch (ok, maybe this is a slight exaggeration..!)

I wanted to share with you some of my favourite baby and toddler must-haves in the hope that you might discover for yourself something that will make your life a bit easier too, and also to ask the question...What is your top 10? Or maybe just top two or three? Let's share our knowledge and increase our domestic power!

In no particular order my top ten is....

1. Baby Bjorn. This is a baby carrier where the baby is strapped on the front either facing in or out. There is a picture of shane wearing one in a much earlier post, I think most people know what these are. I don't use mine heaps, but when I do I am always grateful for it. Babies seem to never cry when they are in these things (at least mine anyway). I had great success with this a couple of weeks ago when I went to target with the girls for about an hour. Charlotte didn't make a peep (except happy ones) the whole time she was in there and Esther was brilliant, looking around at all the toys and didn't seem to mind that she couldn't have any!! THAT was a good outing.

2. Paw Paw cream. Where would we be without PawPaw cream? This is hands down the best nappy-rash cure that I have used. It is also great for bug bites and a whole lot of other things. It also smells really good, which is a problem. The number of times Esther has got into this cream and rubbed it everywhere and eaten handfuls of it... Let's just say we have gotten through more than our fair share of tubs in the last three years. Despite the risks, its still worth it. We just have to keep it stashed out of sight!

3. 'Klipo' containers. This is a recent discovery, its simple really but I like it. They are little plastic containers, with one big advantage.. The lids are attached; A bit like soap dishes. They come in clear and see through blue or green and I think there are two sizes. Very handy if you, like me, seem to lose a lot of lids and then have a bunch of basically useless, lidless containers hanging around. I bought them at Woolies in the container isle (or with the lunchboxes and drink bottles?) an inexpensive way to a happier day.

4. Justine Clarke, 'I like to sing' DVD. I reckon this is the best kids music DVD I have seen. Funky, clever, funny, full of colour and lots of dancing children! The songs are great fun to sing and I don't get sick of this nearly as quick as anything else! This is really worth investing in. Trust me. (Esther calls this DVD 'love it' ... that says it all doesn't it?)

5. Rafferty's Garden baby food. Cute, colourful packaging, RESEALABLE packs (yay!) and organic or something thats meant to make it better, PLUS it was the same price as Farex. I am talking the cereal stuff, the pastas and meal thingos are quite pricey, but the multigrain cereals etc. good value I reckon. Big fan of the resealable bag, as you can tell by my use of caps and now mentioning it twice..yup.

6. Peekaboo books. (Charlotte is featured with this book in the above snap) These have been a big hit with both kids and actually Esther still really enjoys them. Repetitive anticipation that the kiddies love. Big flaps that are easy for the kids to open themselves AND they are touch and feel...wooo. I am sure they are very educational as well. They are a real winner as far as baby books go. Love em! (ours are completely trashed, so if anyone wants to give one to Charlotte for her first birthday next week, that would be most welcome :)

7. Kinderkot. If you've seen this in action it speaks for itself. Awesomeness. It's a pop up tent that is a 'portacot' substitute. Let's face it, there is nothing much 'portable' about traditional 'portacots'. Big, heavy, awkward to carry, ESPECIALLY if one is pregnant and going upstairs, not a good combo (don't want to talk about it). This Kinderkot has really met a need in our lives. Lightweight at 3kgs. The carry bag (that could fit underneath a car seat) contains; the pop up tent, a self inflating mattress and a matching sleeping bag. It's genius. We have more than got ouor money's worht out of this baby (about $140). It was Esther's bed for quite a number of weeks when we went through the rocky stage of transferring from cot to bed (the ability to lock her in there with the use of a handy safety pin her in there was a godsend, let me tell you). Please don't call family services on us. Things would have been far worse for her if we didn't have the option and all got sleep deprived instead. She would be asleep in minutes when she knew there was no escape and we would transfer her to bed...Anyway this is all beside the point! It's primary use is for travel or at other people's places. Great little cosy spot that is familiar wherever they are. So easy to carry, set up and pack up. So good!

8. Sunbeam mini food processor. Ok I don't know if this is the right name for it. But it is like a hand blender with different attachments. So you can take off the blender and attach it to a mini food processor, there is also a whisk attachment (which I have never used...). This is such a handy gadget! Obviously great for blending baby food, but also great if you are a bit of a cook and are in need of a food processor but don't have the space in the kitchen or the $ for it. This is fantastic as it doesn't take up much space and is also 600w so it can blend ice!! Love that feature! I use this almost daily for either blending up food for Charlotte or making awesome frozen banana smoothies.

9. First cutlery set. This is a tradition that I am starting with my kids. For first Christmas or birthday to give them a children's cutlery set with their name engraved on it. I think its a great way to show everyone's 'place' in the family, that each is special and thought of. Also a great childhood keepsake for when they grow up and start their own family. (it's also handy to have the children's cutlery in small, metal form. You can't have enough mini eating implements around and the plastic variety just don't cut it in my books...pardon the pun).

10. Charlie and Lola Backpack. Ok, I have been sucked in. It's just so fun to buy this cutesy stuff. Look, I got this on special from; www.mooo.com.au - great website, and Esther loves it! It's just the right size for her little back and back when I bought it Charlie and Lola was about the only DVD we owned and we were watching it heaps. Very cute show. Very cute merchandise. Esther loves carrying around her backpack and taking it to playgroup and friends houses with a drink, snack and a spare pair of undies. I feel I am teaching her to take responsibility. Oh, I have also recently invested in a little Charlie and Lola suitcase on roller wheels. Gosh she loves it! Almost as much as me. It's number 10, thought I would share one of my motherly indulgences with you...We all have one or two right?

So there you go, that's my top ten list of baby and toddler must-haves, hope you enjoyed it, don't forget to tell me your favourites too!

Fresh Obsession!

A week ago now, my life changed...I discovered the joys of groceries delivered. Wow! Don't underestimate the delight such a simple thing could bring you. I was enlightened to this service recently by a friend and I finally got online, shopping list beside the computer. Ticked the boxes of the items I wanted as I sat in the air conditioned comfort of my home and noted the stark contrast and great benefits of this system. No children in tow to keep happy and high on biscuits. No overwhelming array of items all vying for my attention. No temptation to try the latest product and thus blow out the weekly budget (again!) no wondering down one aisle and then the next and then back again in my consistently inefficient shopping style. No waiting in line, no loading onto the conveyer belt, no carrying bags, no drive home, no unloading from the car... Really, there is no question, it just makes good sense! A day and a half after my order was placed, my home delivery arrived at my door! Three boxes of grocery goodness. This particular service specialises in fresh fruit and veg (hence the name 'fresh obsession') which is a bit hard to come by here as we don't have any local ' fruit and veg' stores. I also seem to regularly struggle to decide which veggies I want at the supermarket as few are appealing and all are so expensive. Somehow doing it online simplifies it and encourages me to 'stock up' on all these fresh and competititively priced vegies. Another great thing is that delivery is free if your order exceeds $65, which mine easily did. It is great!

Before you start celebrating with me the fact that I won't ever set foot in a supermarket again, I have to tell you that it won't completely eliminate shopping at the supermarket. The pantry items they have on offer are pretty limited and fresh milk is exorbitantly priced. But, it does mean the trips will be less frequent, shorter and I won't be burdened with as much to carry to and from. I actually kind of enjoy the shopping part of going to the supermarket; it is more the logisitics of loading and unloading, the frustration of constantly forgetting my green bags and how much time it always seemsto take that I am looking forward to saying goodbye to.

I encourage other mums everywhere to investigate similar services, it can make your life so much easier giving you more time in your week, is surprisingly economical (especially when you take out all the usual impulse buys!) as well as giving you that smugly satisfied feeling that you are a mum ahead of the game!

My Girls

We had come to find our pleasures in new ways-in spilled applesauce and tiny nose prints on window-panes and the soft symphony of bare feet padding down the hallway at dawn. Even on the worst days, we usually managed to find something to smile over, knowing by now what every parent sooner or later figures out; that these wondrous days of early parenthood-of diapered bottoms and first teeth and incomprehensible jabber-are but a brilliant, brief flash in the vastness of an otherwise ordinary lifetime. John Grogan 'Marley and me'

I recently watched the movie 'Marley and me' and found it a delightful, heartwarming and refreshingly 'family' movie. I am now reading the book the movie was based on and enjoying it equally as much. The quote above was taken from the chapter I just read. Its a lovely thing to be re-inspired about parenting, because truly it IS a wondrous thing. Last night Shane and I watched a Louie Giglio presentation where he talks about the amazing vastness of the universe but finishes with talking about the miracle of life in the womb and how incredible the journey from conception to birth is. It truly is a miracle. The wonder and awe of new life can quickly be overwhelmed by the increasing demands of parenting. It has its ups and downs, we all know that.

I am a writer. You might have noticed, but I dont' mean it in an artsy self identification kind of way. I just mean I like to write, although it really moves behind liking to a sort of compulsion. I used to write a journal. I mean- I used to WRITE EVERYDAY, for like, 15 years! I stopped journaling daily about 6 months into marriage. It would seem that my whole 'going to bed' routine got severely mucked about and I no longer had the same capacity to leave the light on for hours reading and writing. More than that, I came to a point where I felt guilty, actually guilty, if I hadn't recorded the days events. It was like I had assignments hanging over my head.

I really had a fear of forgetting life. Forgetting the things that matter, I have this desire to know how I spent each day. I hated (and still do somewhat) the idea of having no idea what I did two months ago on Wed 26th, for example. For a long time if I ever wondered; 'hmm what did i DO that day?' - I could just go and look it up. (However I didn't find that necessary very often... )Anyway, back to my point; I was feeling guilty and under compulsion and it didn't feel right. I thought it might be best to lay my pen and journalling down for a season.

So I have, and I have been ok with that, it has been quite liberating. Although, in one way I think 'gosh my life is more interesting than ever, I should be writing about it now'. But honestly I can't do that every day. There are enough things left undone at the end of each day as it is I am not about to add in another voluntary one! So perhaps the season of journaling every event of every day is over now, but I still want to write, to record things that happen that are important.

I don't want to forget the good things God has done for us. I want there to be some record. I cannot think of anything more precious and amazing to write about then my two little miracles. No, they weren't medical miracles- just the usual, run of the mill, pregnancy and birth story you could hear from anyone. But of course, there is nothing run of the mill or ordinary about a life that has God's fingerprints all over it. My girls are extraordinary, mini miracles from God. They are a gift. A gift for me and Shane to love, watch over, cherish, nurture, teach, bathe, dress, feed, discipline. It's an all absorbing life calling that is messy and exhausting and heartbreakingly beautiful. I am so grateful to be a mum.

Haunted from the grave.

Well, I thought live rats running about the house was bad, but let me tell you rooming with dead ones is far worse.

A couple of days after the little rat 'treats' went out things seemed to be going smoothly. On the second or third day after we had put them out I bumped into Mr. Rat in the kitchen, he seemed to be somewhat sluggish and didn't really run away very quickly. I went and got the broom, optimistically thinking I could just sweep him out the door and that would be that. He was still too quick for me and ended up getting into his favourite crack next to the stove. Rats! (he he he) well he obviously won't last much longer now...

The next day, a Sunday, having pretty much forgotten about this encounter, I noticed a slight odour that was not so appealing in the kitchen. It smelled somewhat like food scraps or something that might be rotting and I was in search of it. It was also Sunday morning, we were running late and I was irritable.
"WHAT is that smell?"
I demanded from Shane.
"ARGH!"
I vented my frustration.
"Let's leave and then you won't notice it anymore!"
Shaned snapped, for once he was the one trying to rush me out the door (believe me THAT doesn't happen very often!)

On the drive to church the obvious dawned on me. Having seen with my own eyes one very sluggish rat limp behind the stove the day before
"You know what? That smell is the rat. We will have to get it out after church".

I was right and we did (well when I say 'we' I really mean I got Shane to do it. I think fetching decomposing rats definitely falls in the male 'to do list' don't you?) it was fairly simple. He knew where it was and got on with it. We cleaned up behind the stove and wiped our hands of the whole messy business. Or so we thought.

Ok, I always knew there were possibly more rats out there and so a few days later I began noticing 'the smell' again.
"Grrr"
Ok, we just follow our nose and find the culprit and easy peasy its dealt with. Well, the smell got stronger and we looked for the rat and we looked. We pulled back the stove again and tipped it up and looked underneath. We unscrewed the back of the stove, as that seemed to be where the smell was coming from, pulled out all the insulation on the back of the stove and still nothing! Oh my gosh this smell is driving me insane! It hasn't been so strong that I've contemplated evacuation or anything but its just THERE. Hanging around putting me off doing the dishes, or anything in the kitchen really. In fact it is putting me off housework in general. What is the point of getting the house spick and span if it still smells disgusting? It's hard to convey just how much of an impact this odour has had on my spirits. It has really got me down, really frustrated, annoyed and discouraged. This dead creature is sure rocking my world right now.

I think the smell was the worst on Tuesday and Wednesday...It has faded significantly, but I still get whiffs of it as I am doing the dishes or putting things in cupboards and then the search starts again, the futile search that leads to more frustration!!! It has bothered me so much that I am starting to wonder if it is some satanic plot to throw me off my game just as I am finding myself in a bit of domestic bliss.... Yes, I am happy to say since we have been back in Darwin my housekeeping has reached new heights in consistency and efficiency and I have been feeling pretty pleased with myself. And then this .... this smell is threatening to throw me off my game. Well, whatever and whoever the culprit I will have it known, that this domestic goddess will not be defeated by any rats; dead or alive! SO THERE!

R.I.P rats!

Well I mentioned the mouse population that had had a rave in our spice cupboard while we were in Adelaide correct? Well, it turns out they are actually rats. Mmmhmm. I can no longer turn a blind eye as I have seen mr. happy fat rat twice and there is rat poo in an assortment of unsavoury places.
When we were gone overnight I returned to find rat poo in CHARLOTTE'S COT!! NOooo!! You have overstepped your bounds Mr. Rat. I may have turned a blind eye if you kept your actions more discreet, but this? This is a flagrant violation of human rights! (isn't it?)
We sought advice. and eager to be humane in our extermination we purchased 3 rat traps that are kinda like little tunnel things. They lure in the rat with peanut butter and then it tips over and BANG! the door whams shut and they can feast away and then they are sent away to live in the creek the next day. Happy ending for everyone right? Well turns out there is little need to crawl into creepy tunnels when there are boxes of cereal (ON TOP OF THE TOP CUPBOARD) to get into and enjoy. So that's that. We tried to be kind. To do things win win. No one had to die here. But I cannot, cannot have little rat poos lying around for Charlotte to get into. No doubt she would as she will put anything into her mouth right now and I have fished decent sized bugs out at least twice!I freaked out today coz I thought she was eatingn one (rat poo that is). Turned out it was a runaway sultana from Esther's overcooked fruit loaf. Phew.
So, to cut to the chase, we have bought rat baits. I know they are horrid and they certainly don't sound very humane to me. Yes, I do feel somewhat dreadful about resorting to these means...but desperete times call for desperete measures and believe me I am just about desperete! So don't call the RSPCA on me please. I just want to keep my children safe, honest, I take no pleasure in killing. Hey, I used to have PET rats so believe me this isn't easy for me. But it is time and there will be no more soirees in the spice cupboard at this house. That time has come to an end. I am just hoping that they will choose somewhere easy to retrieve when they take their final rest... I will keep you posted....

Home again, home again jiggidy jig!

I am home! Back in Darwin. I had a really lovely, refreshing, fun and relaxing time in Adelaide with all our friends and family. It was great, everything a holiday should be and another thing that is great about the holidays; coming home again. There is nothing like being away for awhile that makes you appreciate even more the place you call home. Even if that home does smell like mould on your return...The house was tidy just very musty. We spent the next two days going nuts unpacking, cleaning and washing things. Shane really got stuck in! He took everything out all the dishes, cups, pots and pans and washed EVERYTHING before cleaning the cupboards and putting them back. We are hoping that this will unsettle the mouse population that seemed to have had a rave in our spice cupboard while we were gone, well that and the mouse traps should do it.

It actually has been kinda fun, reorganising and cleaning thoroughly. It feels good start fresh on the year with these sorts of things. I LOVE the new year! I always have loved getting the new stationery at the beginning of term 1 at school, writing my name on things, covering books, the empty pages and the expectation of learning new things and making friends...Gosh its fun! I am really looking forward to being able to do all that school stuff with the kids one day. But in the meantime I make the most of enjoying my new diary for the year and pondering all the things I am looking forward to in the coming months as I fill out its pages. I love how there are so many new beginnings in life, there always seems to be a fresh start coming, just when you need it. I think God knows the humans psyche can only bear so much. We need newness like we need breath. His mercy is NEW every morning. God is fresh and ever present each day and the knowledge that he is with me and goes before me as this year is unfolding is really the most exciting thing of all. So, happy new year everyone!! I am planning to continue to blog faithfully this year and I hope you will all join me in my journey and allow me to share in yours. xo.

I'm a survivor!

I'm going to make it, I will survive, keep on survivin'! (gotta love that song) Yes I am a survivor! I have 3.5 sleeps left to go of the Darwin 2008 build up and I think I can safely say that I am going to make it! I do believe everyone who got through November in Darwin, sanity intact, is worthy to receive some kind of award (maybe a giant ice-cream) as I have recently been told that it was the hottest Darwin month since January 1991!!!!!! AH! That explains a lot. I am actually quite relieved to hear that as it really did seem unbearable at times- worse than normal, though you just never really know and its hard to remember what last build up was really like. I think it is like labor pain, you block it out and then say 'it wasn't really that bad, now was it?' YES IT WAS!! But this year actually WAS hotter than usual, so I am hopeful that that is the worst it will be for another 18 years...

Now that I am so close to escaping the heat for a few weeks I thought I should make part two of my build-up edition a reflection on things of a more positive nature, in relation to life in Darwin. I do feel highly priveliged in a way, that God should call us to live here. As though we have some extraordinary capabilities not usually bestowed on the common man. Perhaps it is his way of fast tracking my character training, which I would like to believe is indeed taking place amidst all the sweat, mold and cockroaches. Yes I feel somehow honoured that he thinks I can hack it, yet I know truly all credit goes to him. Any 'hacking' it that has been achieved is thanks to his power being made perfect in my weakness. However, I do retain a certain smug sense of achievement, is that wrong?

I must say something else I do appreciate about the heat is exercising in it. That may sound crazy I know. But think about it. You EXPECT to sweat and be hot when you are exercising and there is something really satisfying about doing so when you are working hard. I have enjoyed riding the bike home from Shane's school. The warm wind, the beautiful clouds, excellent biking paths, lush green trees and gardens really make it a pleasure. And, as I said working up a sweat feels good. I feel like the climate is working with me in my bid to lose weight. (its working up a sweat when you get up to take a trip to the loo in the middle of the night that doesn't feel so good, but this is positive reflection time, so I won't go into that).

One more thing (yes I am at the end of my positives already!) that I really love about the build-up; is the sense of comaraderie that you have with your friends, heck even strangers! Going through extreme weather really bonds you with others. Talking to others and hearing how they are struggling, coping/not coping makes you realise you aren't alone. We tell stories of how we flip out tying kids shoelaces between the air-con house and the air-con car (;P karin) or how we lost it and kicked in the laundry basket (yep that one was me), or we just want to chuck it all in and move 'down south' (i.e anywhere else in Australia)! It is a good reminder that in general, in life, there is always someone else going through the same thing you are. There are people who know EXACTLY how you feel. I think in Darwin I am closer to my weaknesses, which brings me closer to God and closer to others...At the end of the day, I really love that.

A bunch of us Darwin girls, enjoying the incoming wind and rain!