UPDATE!!!!

It has been way too long since I last posted, over five months, actually. And alot has happened in my little life. Birthdays, weddings, family days out and about, life in general. So here's a (kind of) brief update. In the coming weeks I hope to get time to expand and detail some of these events.  

Coby is loving kindy and playing with all her friends. She invited some of them to her birthday in March and has since been invited to some of their birthday parties. So much fun, and I have started a handmade only gift promise to myself. Each friend of Coby's has so far recieved gists that I have handmade andthey love it. I have made texta rolls, aprons, hair clip holders, fabric memory games, drawstring library bags, and super hero capes for gifts. I love that they get something fun and unique to all the other store bought presents.  I have become good friends with the mums at kindy too. I'm happy my "village" is expanding and they are always there to help me out when I need it.  Here is a couple of photos from the Rainbow party for our big 4 year old.

(and if you think the cake I made is super prize worthy, please head over to this great page and vote for my entry every day, its the exact pic above you nEed to look for! cheers!)

And around the same time Coby celebrated turning four, this happened:

(now you have to pretend that photo is actually a video of my teeny son walking! yes WALKING!)

 At a little over 9 and a half months he got it and has been on the go since. It only took him a few days of pushing chairs and toys around to be able to walk totally unassisted. Everywhere. Oh he's a climber too! We celebrated his birthday with a Jungle themed party. A monkey cake for our cheeky boy!

We attended not one but two weddings of gorgeous friends. Both weddings were different but both just perfect and so much fun. Makes me want to get married again! We are coming up to 5 years in October, so we'll celebrate that for sure!

In between our parties, weddings and making milestones we did some puddle jumping, went on family outings and celebrated friends' birthdays. 

 

It's been a busy five months, guess what else we did?

I've reached the halfway mark already, soon we will be welcoming baby four, another boy. I cant wait to bring him into our family at home.

Hope you all have been well too. I will do my best to post more regularly but I'm not promising anything! Im having too much fun with my family!

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The post I was meant to post on Monday

* Funny how this post is about not finishing things. I started this on Monday.


On my quest to becoming a better (and more organised) Housewife/ Domestic Goddess Woman, my weekend was spent cleaning/ arranging/ sorting/

chucking/ organising. Inspired by a Pinterest photo (from this amazing lady) I cleaned out my pantry and then my linen cupboard. For the linen clean up I put sheet sets into the pillow case, a tip I heard somewhere ages ago, and it seriously rocks. Try it. Go on. You know you want to...

 

My Dad used to call me "the un-finisher" when I lived at home. He said I never finished anything. If my memory serves me right it was because I would always leave my drinks of juice or whatever with an inch left in the glass.

 

These days, I am "the sewing un-finisher".

As if the pantry and linen cupboards weren't enough, I began the mammoth task of organising my sewing and craft space. Again. I stopped counting at 9 unfinished projects and 7 un-started projects (not counting the hundred I've seen on Pinterest!). Today there is no "I made it" because I haven't got a single thing finished to show you this week. Totally my own fault, I start projects then I don't finish them because I stop when something goes wrong, or it take so long I miss the event (ie birthday) for which it was meant, or I get bored with stuff and yeah, I have a short attention span!

So instead of a finished project, I shall share My Sewing Commandments:

Thou shalt complete project thy art sewing upon; begin ye no new projects until then.

Thou shalt measure thrice and cut only once.

Thou shalt not pin. Anymore.

Thou shalt not covert thy friends fabric stash.

Thou shalt spread the sewing love. Do you want some?

Thou shalt not enter such premises as here and here to "just look"

Thou shalt embark on projects more complex than a bunch of straight lines

Thou shalt sew for love not money

(I <3 rainbows!)

Commandments 1 and 7 are strictly being adhered to as I'm now part of a little sewing group. Suzi is good for me! I'm working on finishing the mountain of stuff I have started and this month I'm attempting a zip. Eek! I'm off now to help my big girl choose some fabric for project #6!

Be Happy

M

Yesterday

Yesterday, this happened:

 My little girl just got a little bit older.

Contrary to popular opinions, I did not cry. I also did not do backflips and cartwheels on my way back to the car. It's not safe when you have a baby on your back.

Tears were flowing 2.5 hours later when I picked her up. Only because she did not get to do a painting.

Full days start next week and she's excited to go back. I may be a just a little lost without her then. She tells me she will be back soon and not to worry while she's gone. Love that girl.

Monday's 'I made it'

I suppose since the title of my blog is 'Made by Mandi', you'd be expecting to see some of my handiwork, yes? I claim to be able to sew and make stuff, so today I prove it!

I'm now aiming for a regular Monday blog to show off  showcase things I have made. I figure that gives me incentive to do complete projects in a week, finish other ones off and attempt some I've seen on Pinterest. There will be sewing, craft and things I make for my children. Some new and I'm sure some past projects will feature.

I'm solo Mumma this week so I have 6 quiet evenings to get my craft on, once my babies are sleeping. Not a lot gets done during day light hours as there's usually 2 out of three awake and I want to focus  more of my attention to them, not my hobbies. If you're wondering; right now I'm sitting at the table feeding the newbie (typing one handed) while the big two are right here creating with playdoh.

Now, here is where I need to give my amazing husband a heap of credit and thanks. Without him I wouldn't have been able to finish this project on time! I am the Queen Procrastinator and left this project til the day before it needed to be complete. I spent about 4 hours sewing finishing a birthday gift for a gorgeous little boy, while my husband fed, changed, entertained and kept the children busy.

Geez I've just re-read this and I'm sure I don't talk this much in person! Anywaaaay, here's what I spent my Saturday morning making. No tutorial for this one, they're so easy to make. I did go to here to grab some measurements for the size and quantity of the filling (and used the tag idea!).

Rainbow Bean Bags

Choosing fabrics is the hardest part but I got to use up some of my scraps, I used 9 different plain colours and coordinating coloured pattern fabric. Number 10 was multicoloured.

A few ready to fill up. And my photography is getting better!

Felt numbers appliqued onto the plain side,
I was so proud of my stitching on these! 

I'm so pleased with how they turned out (and of my photos)

With these bean bags, the learning value is not only physical but cognitive. I used the ribbons for counting. Small children can recognise numbers but it helps to have something to count to associate to the number they see. There is also colour recognition and sorting ("Which ones have stars? Which one have flowers?")

Next is a set for my children but theirs will be black, one side with a number (in a patterned fabric) and the other side will have coordinating colour circles (eep thats 55 circles to applique!).

Stay Happy

M

It's over.

We've had a long, happy relationship but I'm breaking up with you.

source via google image

Two nights ago, as I sat at the computer my husband asked;

"Much happening?"

"I'm not on there."  A few minutes later I elaborated;

"When I say I'm not on there, I mean I'm not on there."

"You're kidding me?" 

"Nope."

He proceeded to take my temperature...

As a Stay At Home Mum, I am proficient in several languages;

Babble; "dadadad" "mummum" (Newbie), 'Non verbal'; point and grunt (The Boy) and 'Nearly 4' (The Girl) She can talk underwater, she rarely stops. However, there's only so many times I can talk about rainbows, unicorns and pink. Facebook was my daily dose of real (albeit on a screen) adult conversation and interaction. But it was getting too much and my children and my house weren't getting the best of me.

For that, I lay some blame with a certain group of women who shall remain nameless. I have become very close to these girls, even though (most of us) haven't met. I must say I miss them more than being on FB itself. It's their fault I was spending so much time on Facebook! They are full of wisdom, encouragement, advice, support and many, many laughs. They are most certainly the reason I left and the reason I shall return to Facebook. Love you girls! (and not forgetting the goats).

I know that I could never permanently remove myself from Facebook. It's just a part of (almost everyone's) life now. I know I would miss too much without it* like announcements, photos, competitions, invitations, news, shopping, updates and birthdays. Have a look at this:
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source via google

Before I left Facebook, it asked me if I was sure I wanted to go? You know, the process to leave is more involved then it is to return. They don't want you to go at all. Pictures of people I know popped up, saying they will miss me. To be honest, I doubt I'll be missed by most (with the exception of my girls) and I can guarantee a heap of people I'm "friends" with will not even notice I'm gone from their list. Upon my return I'm planning to scale back my friends list, just having gone to school with me won't cut it. You have to actually care and be a part of my life beyond the screen. Oh, but if you make me laugh you might just get to stay.

It's part of my plan to make 2012 the best yet. I am so blessed to have such an amazing husband and three beautiful children, they deserve to have a mumma and wife who gives them her best too (and doesn't waste so much time on Facebook.

I have a new love anyway.

Stay happy!

M

 *I also need Facebook to promote this here little blog!! Please, please leave a comment for me or better yet 'follow me'. I'll be back on Facebook when I'm ready.

 

The Great Toy Room Overhaul (Part One)

Last night, I decided to rearrange and sort my children's play space. Great idea to have at 7.45 at night with one crucial element needing more strength than I have alone (I wanted to shift a shelf unit). It took me 4 hours and a good friend (and her man) coming to my rescue!

Just like their parents, my children have a lot a ridiculous amount of toys and things. It was becoming a PITA to keep tidy and they were not respecting their possessions and my efforts of cleaning up after them repeatedly. I had lost count of the times I have warned them that if they didn't pack away, I would pass their toys to children less fortunate. Not to mention the room looking like Fisher Price had vomited everywhere.

Here comes the part where I admit to my children having a "toy room" (the open plan family/games room near the kitchen and meals areas) and then a "spare toy room" (third bedroom) almost full of more crap toys. In our defence I previously ran a Family Day Care business from home and have held onto a lot of the toys/games/activities. I would rotate toys from that room out into the main play space, until they decided that they could just trash use both rooms.

I had to get it sorted. My main focus was to remove the TV and DVD player and pretty much get it back to basics. Toys with scope for endless imaginative play; books, blocks, puzzles, kitchen corner, home made and wooden toys. Out went pretty much everything requiring batteries or a "licenced' brand on it.

Now for the photos. I was so proud of the end result, I took a heap! Don't you just love a before and after...

Before Mumma attacks (and how it usually looks at the end of the day when they don't clean up).

And the "spare" toy room

All this even after one crate of toys went to the grandparent's house and 1 full packing box went to the garage. 

But the moment you have been waiting for (after all that rambling)

Drum roll please...........

TV be gone! Shelving unit now upright!

They can still reach their books!

Black tubs hold musical instruments and dress ups.
There's art and 'Folio' books on the shelves.

White boxes have dolls, puppets and duplo inside.
Small table from the meals area.

   

Home corner moved to opposite side of room. (kitchen makeover coming soon)

I'm so pleased with it! It was well worth the late night.

Click "older posts" for part two.

The Great Toy Room Overhaul (part two)

(I'm attempting to be sneaky and post this one so it follows on from part one! I'm hoping it works, not sure how much Blogger likes me though.) {ETA- Ok so Blogger hates me, it didn't work and won't let me put my photos where I want them, and it's taking sooooo long!, grr}

The new room was a hit this morning. By 9am they'd been playing beautifully for three solid hours (only stopping for brekky) and after each game/toy/activity they put things away! (I wonder how long that will last?) Best of all there was no mention of the missing TV!!

Cuppa tea?

Having babies after breakfast

Less is better. There's more hand made, more wooden and less plastic! More imagining, role playing and togetherness. More crafting in the future.

Here's our morning:

Old friends on the shelf

 

There was building:

Exploring and hiding, changing and fishing:

and lastly, my favourite: 

We are so blessed, The three of them are just wonderful. Having sorted the room, I feel better, lighter, and inspired to get busy with my children (more than usual) and have fun together!

(I do still have to sort the left over toys and then make labels for all the tubs and boxes but today its enough)

Stay happy! xx M

The first baby we made.

So I've got three stories to write so far and maybe (hopefully) one more. I started to write this one when I was 38 weeks pregnant with our 3rd baby. Needless to say I never got it finished. He is 7 months now. Yes I am very busy (so if you see me in the shopping centre you don't need to remind me of this, I'm fully aware!).

Ok so here goes: Birth Story #1

So do I start at the start or before that? Hmm, I don't know how much you already know, or want to know, but I guess bit of background won't hurt. The aforementioned wonderful and gorgeous Husband and I met in September 2006. I will keep this part short because how we met is a whole other post! So, we met in Sept '06, he asked me to move in with him about 2 weeks later. He proposed on a trip to Melbourne on NYE of that year (06-07). Our first baby was concieved by July the next year and we were married in October (2007). She was very much planned despite her showing at our wedding as a cute little 3 month bump.

October 27 2007

I had a very uncomplicated, uneventful pregnancy apart from most of the scans putting her (we didn't know she was a girl until she arrived) roughly two weeks ahead of our EDD (17th April 08). So we can fast forward several months to a couple of weeks before Easter; 11th March 2008.

That Tuesday night was our first antenatal class where we met many other new parents to be, and I made some lovely friends. The usual questions were asked and we all walked away knowing a little more than we wanted to know about our babies impending arrivals, all of us due more than a month away from that first class.

The second class was the following Tuesday, I rocked up in my PJ's and ugg boots, with a hospital band around my wrist! Earlier that day I was sure my waters had broken! Thinking back now it was about 2am when I got up to go to the loo and felt it. I called for Adrian and he kinda just grunted and rolled over! So then it was a rude awakening, get dressed, chuck some stuff in a bag (I hadn't packed yet!) and head to the hospital, all the while me yelling "It's too early, I'm not ready yet!" I was 36 weeks pregnant.

As it turns out my waters had in fact not broken but I was kept in overnight (Tuesday's antenatal class night!). Baby and I were monitored and sent home the next day. My doctor told us that we should expect to have our baby by the weekend. But also to not have it on Saturday as he had plans. PFFT!

Friday the 21st of March around 5 am my waters really did break and I knew it! I called for Adrian from the ensuite and he was there with some towels quicker than a lightning! I guess Tuesday's 'trial' helped! And how is our little girl's timing? It was the Easter weekend and my sisters and parents had planned to visit (we were living about 5 hours away from them). She was born on Good Friday with my family around to meet her, their first grandchild and niece.

But back to the actual birth. Having redressed and gained some composure, we headed again to the hospital, full of excitement and wonder. Well that was me, I'm not sure how Adrian was feeling! So we went through the usual admin and questions and were admitted to a single room. I wasn't feeling contractions or anything for a long time, so around 2 in the afternoon it was decided I should have a drip to get things moving. Being a newbie at all this labour and birthing stuff we went along with it. Doctors and nurses know your body and baby better then you do, right? All this time I was hooked up to a monitor so they could make sure bub was fine as I was still only 36 weeks... 

Enter a lovely midwife (they were all great there) at around 6pm, she comes in to check on me, she reads the chart that is printing out my contractions and says "Are you ok? These contractions are through the roof and most people are screaming for drugs by now." I was chatting to Adrian as if i was having a pedicure or something, couldn't feel much at all. She was amazed by my high pain threshold!

Things started to amp up around then and I was moved into the delivery room. Adrian followed and set the scene. Low lights and our ipod on shuffle! As I lay on the bed I felt a kind of a 'click' and then a gush of fluid flooded the bed! Now I have been told I called for every drug available then and there. However I highly doubt that, but since no one other than Adrian was in the room at the time I have to take his word for it! 


I tried the gas but just couldn't get it to work for me and remember shoving it back in Adrian's hands. I'm thinking now he should have had some! All I wanted to do was get in the shower, the gas couldn't come with me so I opted for a jab of pethadine. Once in the shower I was certainly feeling the contractions and a second midwife was with us now (the first had finished her shift). She was great at keeping me focused and breathing through them. In between them, I declared I was only going to do this for an hour. After that I had no plans, maybe just get dressed, go home and baby could just live there? 

Coming pretty much up to one hour under the steady stream of hot water, I felt that primal urge to push and I wanted out of the shower! I was told by the midwife that surely I couldn't want that (or need to) just yet and to let 2 more contractions pass. No way lady, I'm out of here! She complied with my requests (and being pushed out of the way) and I was helped back on the bed. She went to check and tells me that the baby is crowning! Told ya so!!

Now times are all a blur when you're pushing a baby out of your body, so I have no recollection of how long this took! But after some pushing, some groaning and grunting we met our little baby! I did it and I have never been more proud of myself! We took about 5 minutes to even check if we were blessed with a girl or boy!


Coby Claire Black arrived at 10.41pm, weighing 7lb 7 oz, on the 21st of March 2008.

And who would have thought that 1 year, 7 months and 21 days later I would do it all again!




Here she is at one year:

At two years:

 and today at 3 years, 9 months and 23 days old:

Every day she makes me laugh! I'm so proud of the caring, inquisitive, comedic, thoughtful little girl she has become and I love her so very much.