2013: The year that was!

It is only an hour and a half away from 2014. A new year! Fresh! The beginning of a new page in the beautiful life of Jo.

As I close the chapter on 2013, I reflect on the craziness of the year that was - 2013.

I would most likely describe my year to be crazy! I started full time work this year  meaning that Eliza also started attending daycare at the tender age of 9months old. Both kids attended daycare 4x a week with having Thursdays off to be minded my either my Mum or Dad.

When Noah started going to daycare, he did get sick so we were expecting Eliza to also have her sick days. Little did we expect that Eliza would be sick almost every 2 weeks from January to July. Apart from the regular cough and colds, Eliza also acquired pneumonia, hand foot and mouth disease, bronchiolitis, asthma and nits. I became very familiar with the Triage procedure at the Emergency Room at Manly and the Royal North Shore hospitals.

Apart from Eliza being sick, I too fell very ill at the beginning of the year. I was asleep for almost 4 straight days, suffering over 40C temperatures and could not keep anything down. Tim took me to the hospital but was not admitted. Based on my symptoms, Tim unofficially diagnosed me to have onset of mild meningitis - possibly getting it from Eliza's hand foot and mouth disease. We later learned that there were other cases in our area at the same time.

Thank God for Tim's work allowing him for a bit of flexibility as without that, I am not sure I would still be employed. This year I managed to use up ALL of my 15 days of sick leave. Never in my entire career history have I taken so much sick leave from work. Let's hope that 2014 is not as bad!

2013 is also the year when Tim and I travelled to the UK with both children, Being in the UK, attending 2 beautiful weddings of 2 very special couples, spending time with our families and watching the children create brilliant memories in the 10 days that we were there was amazing but oh my goodness, Tim and I never expected the travel to be as painful. Doing long haul with 2 young children completely wrecked us, especially as we were only there for such a short time.

2013 is also the year when I had my 2 minutes worth of fame on paper and tv. Despite having more than enough on my plate, I agreed to being the champion to fight against increases in our day care fees from our Council run centre. Nothing came to fruition but we fought for our beliefs and cannot wait to show Noah and Eliza the newspaper print photo and the video again when they are older.

This year, we finally bit the bullet and joined the Sydney property market. We knew that we had outgrown our 2 bedroom Fairlight rental but was not prepared to move until after our UK trip. House hunting was fun to begin but that did not last long. After 3 months of spending almost every Saturday afternoon driving around, Noah was over it and told us that he did not want to see another house again. Tim and I felt the same, watching 30-50 groups of people go through open houses with us and learning of places selling at least 20% over their asking price! It was ridiculous! Thank God that we did find our house when we did as we could not do another open house and get our offer rejected again.

In as much as for most of the year, Tim and I felt like we were riding the roller coaster of life, trying to manage and balance the kids and work (and constantly feeling that we are shortchanging one), I think this year has brought Tim and I closer through the challenges we have faced and the decisions we have made.

This year we also saw our kids grow so much closer. They truly have started to become friends and have each others back. We have heard Noah refer to Eliza as his best friend or no longer his best friend when  she chooses to not listen to him.

Tomorrow, I will be waking up and it will be a fresh year. A year that Tim and I are looking forward to. We are hoping for a more settled year especially in our new home - a year where we will continue to grow as a couple but hopefully also manage to pursue our own individual interest (which Tim and I have had to forego this year). We can only hope!

So my dear family and friends, I wish you a wonderful 2014.

Cheers to what is ahead. May God continue to reveal His great plan for each of us and may we always be happy, healthy and completed blessed in His presence.

With lots of love.

Our first Christmas at Chez Stentiford

I would like to officially introduce our new home to you.

Today, we spent our very first Christmas here.
Sadly, we were not blessed with the beautiful sunny weather that is depicted in the above photo. However, having more than enough space in our new home has provided us  with a pleasant, comfortable and "happy to stay indoors" type of day! Happy to stay indoors to eat, open presents, eat, open presents, eat and open presents!

Surprisingly it was already quite late when the children woke up. I have been waking up pretty early the past few days despite not necessarily having to. I think it stemmed from the week when Tim went away. That week, I made the effort to be awake at least 15-20 minutes before I expected the children to wake up, meaning needing to be up 5.30AM! Ugh!

Anyway, the first thing I heard from Noah this morning was "Did Santa come?"

I let Tim guide Noah through the loot the Santa brought and let him explain what Santa and the reindeers ate out of the feast he left for them. I wanted Noah to come up, to wake me and Eliza up, to excitedly tell us that Santa did arrive!

 

Once the mess had been made in our bedroom upstairs, it was time to move downstairs.

After breakfast, it was inevitable that the kids wanted to open more presents so Tim and I agreed to let them open their presents from us.

I can seriously say "Thank God we now have the space to accommodate this craziness, which included having a water table with an umbrella in our lounge room and a race track in the rumpus !!!".

As Tim was scheduled to be on patrol at North Curl Curl beach this afternoon, we hosted my parents over for Christmas rather than going to theirs today. Of course, despite the rain, I was adamant that we (he) would still be bbq-ing!

Luckily it was not too wet when Tim got started so he was still agreeable!

Lunch was a lovely feast. We missed Chad, Bambi, Ate and Isaac as they are away but we will be doing Christmas round 2 on Saturday with them. I think Tim and I agreed that we needed to get a bigger dining table soon!

Tim had to leave for his patrol for a couple of hours leaving us behind to digest our meal, and open more presents.

Of course when he got back, we opened more presents (and made more mess!) and ate more chocolate!

The kids are now in bed fast asleep, probably relishing the wonder of today, despite having to be indoors all day.

They did not even miss their new trampoline which is still a work in progress. Rain dampened plans of completely building it today.

To all our family and friends, wishing you a wonderful Christmas day, just like the one we had. May we all continue to be blessed and guided by God's loving spirit. Thank you too for all the wonderful greetings, cards and presents that you have showered our family with. We are indeed very blessed!

Merry Christmas!

New beginnings!

Let me preface this blog that I am not referring to Tim and I announcing that we are expecting another child. God help us if that ever happened. I love my N & E and can actually claim that I am content. I know that I am made to be a mother to 2 but not sure if I would cope with any more. I am quite happy adding to the brood with  having my niece and nephew stay with us.

Anyhow, I digress.

In several weeks time, Tim, Noah, Eliza and myself will be saving goodbye to our beloved Fairlight flat. The place where we began as a family. The place where Tim and I built our hopes and dreams for the unknown. The place where Tim and I have seen each other at our worse and at our best. The place we call home.

Tim and I are moving out of this place as different people. When we moved in, little did we know that this place would see us through 2 children, our wedding, lots of lovely family and friends coming to stay from all parts of the world, baptisms, playdates, friendships with people from the area and lovely get togethers with people we love. Soon, we move out carrying those wonderful wonderful memories with us.

I am a bit apprehensive with the move as the change is no longer about me. I have packed my life up several times. Previously, my greatest worry has been either finding a new job with the move or what the change in commute meant.

Today I am thinking about new child care centres for the children. I am thinking about first year of school for Noah. I am thinking about swimming lessons.  How will the children adjust to the change?
How will they cope?

People have asked me what my new commute may be like and quite honestly, thats the least of my worry - for now!

However, I am also confident that our new beginning could only be an extension of the beautiful blessings God has showered us with here at our Fairlight flat. I am a firm believer in Gods gift and I know that our move is a gift from God. I know because the gift was not immediate - like most gifts I have received. Therefore I know that each one of us will be given the coping mechanism to make the most of our new future.

Today,  I am full of mixed emotions.

The excitement of new beginnings and a place for our family to finally plant our feet will hopefully surpass the feeling of anxiousness of changes, new routines and of course having to pack and move!

Wish us luck!!!

Sibling love - almost a year later!

Almost a year ago, I blogged about the sibling love between Noah and Eliza.

With such pride in our hearts, Tim and I continue to notice how much they really enjoy each other's company - and as they continue to grow, they are becoming such great friends. They truly make each other laugh and as with siblings, make each other cry!

Noah calls Eliza his baby and is quite proud of her, especially at school, and the first thing Eliza does upon waking up is to toddle over to Noah's bedroom to wake him. We often hear her wail Noooooooooauuuuuuu too.

We (well Tim mostly) continue to capture the love and friendship these 2 have for each other.  So proudly we share:

L.O.V.E.

I have noticed that Noah has started to use the word LOVE quite a lot.
I LOVE purple
I LOVE Sambo and Livvy (his best mates at school)
I LOVE noodles
I LOVE the wiggles

Prior to LOVE, Noah was using the word Like.

Now I am not too sure how much Noah differentiates between LOVE and Like, or if he does at all.

As an adult, I differentiate between LOVE and Like a lot.
I like a good cup of coffee while I LOVE Campos
I like shopping but I LOVE a bargain
I like jazz music but I LOVE Pink Martini
I like my husband while I LOVE Ricky Martin (Tim told me to say that!!!).
You get the drift.

It makes me wonder when I started to differentiate and how I came to differentiate.
Did someone point out to me that LOVE is a very strong emotion and should only be used when my feelings are intense? Otherwise, I should just use the word Like. Did someone tell me that LOVE is only for special occasions rather than for every day use?

I am sure that as a 3 year old, Noah is not differentiating between LOVE and Like, yet. To children, it is plain and simple - if they Like something or someone, they LOVE it. Plain and simple.

As an adult, I tend to complicate things a bit more.  Maybe I can learn something from my 3 year old
and just appreciate things, plain and simple.

My Mother's Day Reflection

So I have been a mother for over 3 years now....technically almost 4 as one almost immediately become a mum as soon as she conceives, I think.

Motherhood would have to be the toughest and most challenging yet funnest and most rewarding journey I have ever embarked on in my 40 years.

Pre-children, I prayed vigilantly for a family. I prayed for the opportunity to be a mum. In as much as I love my niece and nephew as my own, I wanted to experience everything that it meant to be a mother. I wanted to know and feel what it is like to have someone call me Mummy, to have someone instinctively run to me when they get hurt and to be able to proudly say "I am so-and-so's Mother".

God was kind enough to bless me with the opportunity to be a Mum, not just once but twice...and to 2 wonderful, happy, beautiful children at that.

Today, my prayers continue to be answered. I continue to experience everything motherhood encompasses. My heart is full of love and gratitude but at the same time, I have wondered how I could possibly keep going. My patience continue to be pushed but I am constantly rewarded with cuddles, sweet moments and such wonder from the children.

Motherhood has taught me things beyond changing nappies and caring unconditionally for others. My children have taught me to enjoy every moment as much as possible. Sooner or later, they will no longer want to be poured with never ending kisses and hugs. Sooner or later, they will no longer ask you to play with them. Sooner or later, they will no longer want to have bedtime books and stories.

Very quickly, motherhood reminded me to stop judging others. Pre-motherhood, I had pre-conceived notions of what a good mother is and how a child can be a reflection of one's parenting style. Quickly, I learned that children have very much minds of their own and that most parents are just trying to be the best they can be, past trying to cope. When I see other mothers struggling with their kids screaming their heads off, I commiserate and empathise, fully acknowledging that we are all just trying to do our best.

My children have started to teach me the importance of being involved. I have never been so active in our community since having the children. I volunteer as much as I can with day care activities. I am actively participating in ensuring that my kids have the best possible environment to grow up in, including writing to my local councilors. Today, I am no longer just a spectator in my community. For my kids, I am trying to make a difference.

No doubt I will continue to be reminded of how tiring motherhood is. No doubt I will continue to be reminded of how much my life has changed since having Noah and Eliza. No doubt I will continue to be reminded of the constant unconditional sacrifices that mothers make.

However, Noah and Eliza also remind me of how blessed I am today. Today, Noah has constantly greeted me "Happy Mothers Day Mummy" and Eliza has taken on her very first step. Nothing else matters!

The big Four - Oh!

So yesterday, I turned the big four - oh! Yikes! It seemed as if was just yesterday when I flew to the UK from DC to celebrate my birthday with my brother as I did not want to be alone on my milestone birthday. My life has certainly changed in the last decade - and for the best.

I spent most of my 30's waiting...waiting to meet the man for me, waiting to have my own children, waiting to find inner peace. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be blessed so abundantly.

So as I turn a new decade, I want to share 40 things that I have learned in the last decade. It has been a massive learning experience for me as I transitioned from being completely selfish to someone who barely has time for herself these days (thank God for a husband who is very good at taking care of me).

I would like to think that my story is still being written, my picture is still being painted and the puzzles are still being put together.

I can only look forward to what the next decade has in store.

1. Life is how you make it! (Thanks Dad!!!)
2. Be grateful for what you have
3. Never compare
4. All in God's time
5. Children will drive you to drinking
6. Happy wife = happy life
7. Pray for a partner who makes you a better person
8. Its all about timing!
9. Never judge - you never know what goes on behind closed doors
10. Prayers work
11. I will never be a size 8 -the sooner I accepted my body size, the sooner I became at peace with myself
12. Housework will never end
13. Marriage is a verb
14. Parenthood is like riding a roller coaster ride
15. Children can bring you so much life but also suck the life out of you
16.  Food and lifestyle choices do impact your body
17. Appreciate your parents -  they are/were trying to do their best
18. Traveling opens the mind
19. Pick your battles
20. Social media is here to stay
21. Why worry about things you have no control of (Thanks Lolo Maneng!!!)
22. Take care of your teeth - especially when you are young
23. The best gifts my parents gave me - Love, Support and Opportunities
24.  Does it really matter?
25.  Happiness really is a choice
26.  Know your body shape and find your style
27. Everything has a cost
28. Sometimes the cheapest option is not the best
29. Find a good hairdresser
30. Sleep deprivation is a form of torture
31. Grab opportunities
32. Listen to your intuition
33. Let go of your sense of entitlement
34. Pray for others
35. Try to be the best wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, niece, cousin etc. possible
36. Read washing labels, especially on dresses
37. Be happy for others - what comes around, goes around
38. You will never need everything you pack when going away
39. Ask for help, the world will never fail to surprise
40. Believe in someone/something greater than you

Look at those lights, Mummy Daddy!

Amongst our family and friends, it is common knowledge that we hardly accept evening invitations. School nights are non negotiable especially now that I am working full time. Friday and Saturday nights are debatable.

We have been burnt and paid the price of throwing the children's routine out of whack. Getting to bed late does not mean that the kids will be sleeping in. Too often, they are awake at their regular hour of sometime between 5.30 - 6.30am, jumping up and down, ready to start their day. Tim and I, not quite.

Our cousin Patrick from Jakarta and his girlfriend Deborah are visiting Sydney this weekend. Since they are only staying for 5 days and are here for a wedding, their schedule is quite hectic. However, I was keen to see them and Tim was keen on meeting them. My brother organised our get together...for last night, a Friday night.

Since Chad had organised it to be somewhere quite close to us, we made an effort.

I made an effort to get out of work a bit earlier to catch the 4.45pm fast ferry. This gave me the chance to go with Tim to pick up the kids. When we got home, we quickly gave N & E a bath, packed the bags and got ourselves out of our home just after 6pm. Just as well N was cooperating so we were able to move quickly. Nothing like the promise of seeing his cousins as his bait to get a move on.

It was a lovely evening. We ended up at a different pub to where we originally intended to go as the other pub was jam-packed. I have completely forgotten what it was like to be out on a Friday night. The other pub was lovely though - a bit bigger so more space, not as hectic and a massive indoor playpark to boot.

N loved being out....Ate, a massive indoor playpark, pasta and meatballs...he was in heaven.
E, albeit very very tired, did not want to miss out. E kept awake the whole time we were at the pub despite it being way past her bedtime.

We stayed until almost 9pm. We knew we did not want to push our luck with the kids...besides Tim and I were quickly losing steam too.

On our drive home, both kids were still on a high. N was chatting non stop. Talking about the pub, the playpark, Ate, meatballs...Everything. All of a sudden, N started ooooohing and aaaaaaahing about the street lights. He started loudly observing the yellow lights on the lamp posts and was tickled pink at how many they were. We went through a dark freeway and N decided that we were going through a tunnel.

Very quickly Tim and I realised the novelty of being out a night for N. He was a complete novice with going home in the evening because he has never experienced it at an age where he can appreciate it (and that he is awake and have not fallen asleep during the ride). We quickly realised the effect of not taking them out! Who would have thought?

E with Patrick and Deborah

You are so much nicer these days!

this is Tim's exact line to me sometime last week...

...and I have to agree.

Tomorrow will mark my first month of working full time. Yey to me, Tim, Noah and Eliza for surviving our first month of full time work for both parents and full time daycare/Lolo&Lola for the children.

Tim and I are tired but oh so happy.

Tim is happy because I am happy.

I am happy because the children are happy.

Noah has happily settled back to his daycare room - seeing his carers and playing with his favourite friends, learning, being active, not seeming to mind that Mummy is now also working.

Eliza is happily settling into her new environment. Described by the teachers and staff as one of the happiest babies EVER, Eliza seems to have been ready for the stimulation and attention that she is now getting.

Having Lolo or Lola (my parents) come and stay with the children on Thursdays (their rest day from daycare) is also working out. The kids are enjoying their time at home and have started to look forward to having either Lolo or Lola over.

Tim and I are tired but oh so proud.

Tim had the opportunity to take care of both children on his own for a few days and as I have previously shared, I am so proud of him and his efforts. He managed to take both children out, not only to the aquarium but also to the zoo and he also started the routine of bathing the kids together, which we have discovered to make both kids so happy.

We are slowly getting used to our routine, which sees us starting our day at 5.30am. Tim is usually on his bike to work by 7.15am (ok, more like 7.30am!) and I am packing the kids into the car by 7.40am. Thank goodness that our daycare is no more than a 2 minute drive so we are usually in the rooms by 7.45am. First ones in!!!

Short of a dump-and-run, I am back in the car just before 8am, driving back home to park the car, then make my way to the ferry, aiming to get the 8.15am fast ferry.

Now I am not sure how long fast ferries have been operating but O.M.G. they are the best thing EVER. My commute to the city is no more than 20minutes and I am usually at my desk by 8.45am. Yey!

Now it has been way almost 3 years since I last worked full time but I am quickly remembering why I am a better mother when I am working. I am learning new things. I am being asked questions that I have to think for. I am having adult conversations - some about children, most not. I get a lunch break where I can browse at the shops and try things on. I am getting to tell Tim all about the things that I am learning. Who  knew employee engagement and productivity could be so exciting!

Tim does the afternoon pick ups so the children are usually having dinner when I get in. After a quick change in costume, my focus turn to the children, helping with dinner, bath and bedtime.

By 8.30pm, the steam is usually running out. A 9.00pm bedtime is a must these days.

With my days being so full,  who has time to nitpick every single thing that my husband does wrong?

Instead, I can only be grateful.

Grateful for such a supportive husband.
Grateful for such well adjusted children.
Grateful for grandparents who can help out.

Gratitude. That's probably why I am so much nicer these days!