2010. The year that was.

Another 12 months have breezed past.... and what a year it has been...


G and I rang in the year at a lovely French restaurant with some dear friends... I would love to say it was a lash of a night but in actuality I was 6 months pregnant, so other than a celebratory glass of bubbly any indulgences were about the garlic and bread. Might I add this is probably the first time since I was about 16 that the beginning of a new year did not herald the start of a diet... I know... sad.

 


January was also filled with a few 'snow days.' After awhile the home confinement becomes not so fun and what was initially a treat becomes incredibly boring.


In February we celebrated G's 30th Birthday and the same restaurant (yes... when I am on to a good thing, I stick to it.) It was a surprise party and am quite pleased with myself that I pulled it off, with customized photo cake and all!


In March I finished work for 12 month maternity leave... I won't lie... that felt great. I love my workmates (and my job) but I was TIRED. and it was COLD. and I just wanted to sit at home... My MIL asked, 'But won't you be bored?'.... Ermmm Heck NO! My estimated due date (EDD) was March 28th so I was looking forward to the me time before the us time.

So, March 28th came and went... I started to get a little fidgety although I knew baby would come when he/she was good and ready... and she did, entering our lives (and our living room) on April 4th, Easter Sunday. That day, is a blog entry in itself.
It is pretty safe to say that the rest of the year flew past in a joyous, emotional haze... wow..... just wow..... 
I cannot explain how I have felt; the degree of emotions, sometimes on a daily basis, are awesome. I am well aware that these are feelings that all Mothers have felt in that first year, but truly, until you experience it yourself, you cannot fathom what it is like. The sleep deprivation has been something that I could not even imagine... but we push through, knowing she is happy and healthy.

My lovely parents and one of my brothers came to visit us in May, it was great... spare pair (or 3) of hands with A and around the house. Thank you. Thank you. Of course they doted on their first grandchild (and niece) with abandon and I was so happy for the love/help/support.


With G's job he can frequently be away, so when my best friend, Kate, came to visit from Australia in June in was a Godsend... 2 weeks of help and conversation and laughs-- Gahhh she saw me at my worst and still stuck around.... gotta love her.


My birthday came in October with little fanfare, G was away (again) but I am luckily enough to have such wonderful friends around me who made the day special for me.


In late November we headed to Australia (HOME!) for a month... what a rejuvenation for my soul... family, friends, sunshine... 4 weeks was not long enough, but I am so grateful for the time I had.

We arrived back to the cold just after Christmas and our New Years Eve was spent in a jetlag haze at some friend's house... a couple of drinks... babies... and Indian food.




I am looking forward (Onwards & Upwards) to what 2011 has in store for our family, we already have a few changes in store and that is just the ones we know about. Hmmmm.... will be a ride.

3am Blogging is awesome... Jetlag? Not so much...

Ok.... so I started this blog last month and haven't revisited it since... Why? Well I have an excellent excuse, we have just had four glorious weeks visiting family in Australia.


Talk about chicken soup for the soul... it had been over 18 months since I had been back home (yes, I am an ex-pat) and hadn't seen my family since April when my daughter, A was born.

I just needed to chill out and enjoy the company of my family and old friends... I would have liked to have included the warmth on my skin but there wasn't a whole lot of that- yes, it was warm (stinking hot some days) but it rained the majority of the time we were there... still an improvement on the snowy conditions we had left behind.

I seem to live in a constant state of feeling like I don't *quite* belong in either place... I guess the UK doesn't really feeling like home and yet when I am back in Australia, I have a sense of melancholy... When I last went back 18 months ago, I felt like a tourist in the place I spent the first 24 years of my life. It was a crazy and unnerving feeling.


But THIS time was different....


The last 4 weeks I found myself missing the UK much less.... maybe it is the pull of family and friends (I don't think it helps that where I grew up is so breathtakingly beautiful)I think my mind has been made up... and some point (soon!) We want to return to Australia... for me that is the place I NEED to be.

To blog. Or not to blog.

For some time now, friends have asked if I had a blog and seemed genuinely surprised when I answered with an emphatic 'No'... I didn't get it... Who has the time for that and what do I have to possibly say that anyone else would be interested in reading? 

Well... as for the time issue, I seem to be able to make time for a myriad of other things (a particular social networking site I am eye-balling you!) and as for what I have to say? Well, maybe my little musings on life and all that is of no consequence to anyone else? This is just for me. To express. To vent. An avenue for my musings and most importantly, to have a 'record' of my family and our life..... Hey, at least I am sure my Mum will read it.

A wise woman I know once wrote; 'Blog to Express, Not Impress' and that has always struck me as the best place to begin. 

So, if you decide to actually read on, here are some of the topics you may find covered;  my family, music, natural & attached parenting, film, books, social issues and anything that inspires and aggravates me.

So, a little bit about me? I love my music loud- from rock to blues, to old school R&B to heavy metal. I find change difficult and try to find balance in my life...I have been told I am opinionated and passionate which I shall take as a complement.

I am ALL about my family; My husband of almost 4 years, Grant and our beautiful daughter, Avalon. We like to live all things 'Green' and follow natural and instinctual parenting; We are a homebirthing, breastfeeding on demand, baby-wearing, co-sleeping family. Call me a hippy if it makes you feel better to use labels, I don't mind...

So, do you still want to stick around? I hope you enjoy.... shall I start?