It’s something I used to pride myself on. I would always try and see the best in people, but I would confuse that with assuming everyone was lovely and thoughtful and would have my best interest at heart. The problem with this, is that when someone made a mistake or acted in a way I didn’t agree with, (ie they were human) I would get so bitterly disappointed in them as a person. This did not bode well for either me or the person in question. I remember Hubs pointing out to me early in our courtship that I would say about anyone and everyone “they are so lovely” and he commented that it didn’t mean much if I said it about everyone.

I remember being a little hurt by this comment, before understanding what he was saying. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to try and see the best in people, but I do think it can be a bit misguided when I have unrealistic expectations on people (friends/family/colleagues) and react negatively when they don’t act how I would in a similar situation. It’s something I’ve worked on over the years – to really see people for their attributes and faults; to accept people as they are; to try not to judge; and to show grace and understanding when I feel let down by them, knowing that that says more about me than it does about them or their actions.

So why can’t I do this for myself?

Why can’t I see the best in myself? Why do I constantly feel like I’m falling short, and that the life I’m leading isn’t “enough”? I compare myself to other people every day. They have a career and I don’t; they are more attentive with their kids than I am; they have been able to lose weight and have a healthy lifestyle and I can’t seem to stick to anything; they know what they want in life and I’m still searching; they are home owners and I am not… the list goes on.

What a waste of time and energy. This is something that I clearly need to work on. Seeing myself how others see me: Accomplished; confident; pretty; kind; resilient; adaptable; brave; a good mum.

These are the things I need to be thinking throughout my day. I don’t need to live up to other people’s lives, or at least how I perceive them. I need to start believing in myself more; as an example to my children if nothing else. How can I teach them that they can be anything and anyone they want to be, if I don’t even believe that of myself. I’m not talking about a grand gesture or revelation, I just want to stop those everyday thoughts of not being enough, and start knowing that I am.

Playing Scrabble with mum and dad tonight. This was my first round of letters. Coincidence?

Flying with kids. The mere thought of it can send some people into a tailspin. (har har) By the age of two, Chanbe had been on over 20 domestic flights, so my little guy is a seasoned traveller. And he was always an easy baby on a plane – he would fall asleep as soon as we would take off and not wake up til we landed.

Quindy is another story. My little girl is the easiest baby in so many ways, but she is quite the handful on a plane. Not in a misbehaved, bratty way, just in a 1-year-old curious way. And she has never slept on a flight thus far. No matter what I distract her with, each thing only works for a few minutes before she’s looking for something else to do.

Her most favourite thing to do is walk up and down the aisle, grinning at her fellow passengers. It’s completely adorable, albeit a little tricky when we hit turbulence and we’re supposed to be sitting down. She does not like to be strapped into her seat belt on my lap.

Chanbe is now at the age where he is happy to do stickers or watch a movie, as long as there is a constant supply of food avaliable. He’s actually really great on flights which makes my life a little easier. So even though they’re both pretty well behaved, it’s absolutely exhausting travelling on a plane with kids.

On our most recent flight, with about 40 minutes to go, my energy stores were running low, as was my arsenal of kids entertainment. And then Quindy spotted it. “Bah! bah! bah! bah!” which means “please hand me that thing I’m madly pointing to immediately!”

An apple.

This magical apple got us all through the end of the flight, as well as the baggage collection, and half the car trip home. She couldn’t have been happier.

So yeah! Woo!

Your questions answered:
– yes it was planned (though it happened rather quickly!)
– I’m due early December
– morning sickness (ie regular nausea) and exhaustion is all but over
– we are not going to find out the sex
– we have not chosen names

Anything else?

Looking forward to sharing updates as they come to hand 🙂

Here’s the first photo of the little footus 😉

You know how kids latch on to things and suddenly it’s all about that thing? Whenever we see a plane taking off or flying in the sky, I ask Chanbe where he thinks it might be going. This question has been met with all sorts of answers, generally places we have previously lived. And lately, for some reason, it’s been all about Mount Beauty. Every plane we see is on its way to Mount Beauty.

There isn’t even an airport there, but I don’t want to dash the little guy’s hopes. I’m sure the air strip where Hubs used to go gliding can handle all the extra traffic.
I’m also a big fan of his pronunciation of “Mount Booty”. We often wonder how our friends down there are going; how the lovely folks we met at the church are travelling along; who is now enjoying the amazing view of Mount Bogong from our old living room. That’s the thing about moving so much. You have the privilege of meeting extraordinary people from all walks of life, but then there are so many good byes to be said and so many people to wonder about.

I know the same will happen when our time comes to leave Mount Isa, and I’m sure I’ll wish I made more of an effort and complained less, so it’s certainly something I’m going to keep in the back of my mind on my return in a few weeks. Hubs leaves tomorrow to head back to work while I swan around and socialise 🙂 It’s been a really nice little family holiday and although we’d love it to continue, real life awaits.

On that note, I’m going to have a nice hot shower and get under a nice warm doona with Hubs. Too much info? Too bad 😉

Mama, can you play with me?
Sure Chanbe, I’ll just put this load of washing on
I’ll just finish these dishes
I’ll just hang this load out
I’ll just pick up these few toys
I’ll just get the veges ready for dinner
I’ll just finish my cup of tea
I’ll just get Quindy something to eat

I’ll just… I seem to say these 2 little words a lot during my day as a mum. All of these things listed have to be done, sure, but it’s the stopping as soon as I’ve completed one thing that I seem to struggle with. If I finish the task at hand, and Chanbe is momentarily distracted, it’s so easy to”just” quickly start the next thing. And so the cycle continues until Chanbe takes matters into his own hands and starts hassling Quindy to get my attention.

I remember hearing or reading somewhere, years before I had children, that if you give a child your immediate attention when they ask (nicely) for it more often than not, they will feel secure in that relationship and not be so in need of that constant attention, whereas the more you delay that attention, the more that seek it out.

I have no idea if that has any merit but it makes a bit of sense. So while I don’t feel that I need to drop everything every single time Chanbe wants me, I am being more aware of his request and weighing up the importance of what I’m doing. More often than not, all he wants are a couple of rounds of hide and seek or a few puzzles and he’s on his way. I know I’m going to miss it when he stops asking me to play, so I’d like to say “yes” more often than “I’ll just” in the future.

(Incidentally, the word “just” is the most commonly mis-Autocorrected  word on my phone. It usually comes up with either Jay or Keady. So ridiculous….)

It’s 11:20pm. Hubs and I have just finished watching X-Men: First Class. Hubs saw it without me at the movies when it first came out and I’ve been wanting to watch it for ages. I should have blogged earlier today, goodness knows I had the time, but here I am, in the 11th hour (literally!) hoping you’ll forgive the lack of enthralling content.

In hindsight I should have left all the incorrect Autocorrects in this post. That would have been pretty funny. I’m sure my new phone (Galaxy Note 2) has much worse Autocorrect ability than my Galaxy SII. But never mind. I’m quite sure that’s the definition of a first world problem.

Now it’s 11:28pm and we’re both in bed all snuggled up and warm. The light from my phone is providing the light for Hubs to read his e-book reader.

Wow Wifey. Riveting stuff.

I guess this is one of the reasons to do NaBloPoMo. To show the everyday stuff as well as the newsworthy events. Today was a nice day. Hubs gave me a sleep in, I had coffee and chats with a good friend of mine, I went for a walk… I just remembered a post I put together in my head on my walk, when I saw two 12 year old girls taking funny steps (big, small, wonky,) together add they walked along the path and I pondered the innocence of youth. But that seemed a bit cliché.

Where was I? Oh yeah. My nice day. When I got home from my walk I had a cup of tea and not long after, our friends came around for a BBQ. The three boys ran around like crazy which meant Chanbe went to sleep easily, and Quindy was out like a light as well.

So yes today was a good day.

It’s now 11:35pm and I feel as though I have waffled on enough for one day. I might try writing a little earlier tomorrow. Emphasis on try…