Three

In two days it will be Noah's third birthday. In that 3 years we have taken literally thousands of photos (on our recent 3 day camping trip alone we took over 300). Even though I failed miserably at my 365 photo project (This was my one and only entry) I still do try to capture something almost daily.

In this day of digital images the photo album is all but a relic of history.  We had vowed to make a photobook each year for Noah but so far we have racked up an IOU of - ahem - three.  Rob made me one as a wedding present documenting out life together up to that day and is such a treasure to me I do want Noah to have that too.  

The one thing I have got of course is this blog which is a great way to share photos and document fleeting moments in our lives that may otherwise sit unlooked at  and even forgotten.  The other small thing I have done is these magnets below which I have sent to family and friends each year with the birthday thank you cards.  I am not very tech savvy at all.  All my photos come as is - I do not know how to use Photoshop and I have never really done much of anything with my pictures but I am glad I took the time to do these.  I made them on Vistaprint using a template and once the pictures were chosen it was super easy.

I didn't plan on doing one this year I thought the first two were enough.  I also had this crazy thought that the changes from 2 year old to 3 old would not be as pronounced as the previous 2 years - I was so wrong. I am glad I've done number three due to some friendly requests (I thought people might find it a bit over the top but apparently they love getting them).  

Sitting and looking back at the year of photos yesterday in itself was such an enjoyable experience.  Then seeing my little boy turn into a child (no longer even a toddler I don't think) through those pictures was such an excellent reminder to savour every moment, every stage of his precious life.

If it's even possible here are the 21 pictures that best represent the first 3 years of Noah's life.

Each one starts with the earliest picture top left then goes clockwise until the most recent picture in the centre.

I love the things you do

Noah I haven't been the best with keeping up with the monthly letters but I wanted to share some stuff about you right in this moment.

I love the way you sing - all day long

I love how you love books - you are a worm just like mummy.  You know several books by heart now and can 'read' them beautifully to anyone that will listen.

I love that you have your own style - whenever I put on your 'soccer' shoes (your words not mine they're just sneakers) you undo the two strips of velcro and cross them over - that's just how you roll.

I love how you love.  You are abundant with kisses and cuddles and are sure to tell me many times a day 'Love you Mummy'.

You are a one of a kind and you're all mine

X Mummy

Baby Bump Love

Back in the Saddle

Every time I leave this poor blog of mine unloved for an extended period of time I promise never to do it again. I don't expect you to believe me anymore.  I just haven't felt the blogging vibe lately but now that it's looking so fresh and adorable how will I be able to resist.

We have had a very emotional  week.  It started on a high last weekend.  We had our anatomy scan and everything was PERFECT.  I also had a night out with my sister seeing Wicked and had a win at the casino.

Then on Tuesday our precious dog went missing and for two days we were positive we were never going to see her again.  Thursday afternoon some wonderful people called us and told us they knew where she was being kept.  Noah and I together with the nice couple visited a house literally a couple of streets away and there she was.  These (not so nice) people had been holding her for 2 days and had made no attempt to find out who owned her.  They claim they were going to take her to the vet the next day to have her checked for a microchip but I am extremely dubious about that.  Who holds a lost dog for that long?  Turns out they had lost their own white fluffy dog the week before and I firmly believe they thought they had found a free replacement.

As they say all's well that ends well but it was very stressful and needless to say we will be keeping a much closer eye on Cleo's whereabouts from now on.

This weekend we're back on a high.  Although yesterday was Banjo's 4th Birthday (and simultaneously the 4th anniversary of his death) - we don't get sad - we celebrate him.  We wonder about him and we wish he was here but we know without Banjo there may not be Noah. Banjo will always be our angel baby but it is Noah every day that fills our hearts and brings us more happiness than we could ever have hoped for.

We are really looking forward to welcoming this new baby boy into our lives and filling our hearts once again with that crazy overflowing love that babies bring.

Camping 101

Once you've got the basic camping gear all you really need is firewood, warm clothes and chocolate and you can survive.  This past weekend though we gathered up some extra special ingredients that made this camping trip one that none of us are likely to forget - Grandparents and Great Grandparents. We camped on air mattresses in tents in the forest with four generations of my husband's family from Baby Beth 3 months old to Pa Pa 83 years old.

It was an idea that we weren't sure could be executed - in theory it sounded wonderful and Rob's Pa is still an adventurer - but this is freezing cold conditions in the middle of the forest with no facilities sleeping 15cms off the ground. There was concerns for the warmth and comfort of our youngest and oldest campers but both ends of the spectrum breezed through and loved every minute of it.

It really was a once in a lifetime camping trip and I am thrilled that Noah got to experience it.

(Almost) the whole group gathered around the fire

Youngest and oldest campers enjoying special cuddles

Noah, Pa and Beth

Many many cups of billy tea and coffee were enjoyed around the campfire

Time for fun

Time for relaxation

Plenty of time for oohing and ahhing at babies

Having a paddle

Campfire Cake just for fun 

(idea stolen from Frog, Goose and Bear blog)

Camping food is simple but sooo yummy

The hammock is the place for lots of fun (not much relaxation)

I couldn't resist some little goodie bags to celebrate this extra special camping trip

Never underestimate the joy of the post-camping bath!!

Don't Worry Be Happy

I've been absent.  I don't know what to write.  There has been an elephant in the room.  I'm pregnant but I'm scared to write (talk) about it.  I'm not superstitious just an old fashioned worrier. Being a worrier is in fact one of the many contradictions in my personality.  I don't worry about hundreds of other things that lots of people do - BPA's, cancer from everything, numbers in my food, the latest scary research on X.Y & Z, kids falling, mysterious rashes, serious sounding coughs. I'm an 'it'll be alright kind of gal' in many many ways but when it comes to being pregnant I'm a nervous wreck.

I have every right to be - I have a very checkered history.  My first son died in utero at 26 weeks and my beautiful boy Noah was born healthy but after a very tumultuous pregnancy with multiple scares along the way.

I know this pregnancy could be perfect - logic tells me this.  My inner worrier lies awake at night thinking about what could happen.  I have unexplained blood and autoimmune 'things' that nobody is really sure about.  The Dr's are constantly guessing at what caused Banjo's death.  In the end it could have been a one off freak of nature but they're not sure so we test everything and monitor everything just in case.  It's a nightmare.

I wish for the innocence of those first 26 weeks of my first pregnancy.  I was just swanning around without a care in the world.  Ignorance really is bliss.

Today I had a scan.  I have them scheduled every 2 weeks.  My doctor is happy for me to go in earlier if I am feeling worried.  This time I lasted 8 days.

Each time I see that little heart beating I am reassured - for a couple of days I am full of confidence then the niggling doubts creep in.

I wish I could enjoy the ride but I really just want a healthy baby in my arms to make our family complete.

It shouldn't be this hard.