I found this really useful book called “What happy working mothers know” by Cathey Greenberg and Barrett Avigdor.  Click here to visit their website.  Their book is based on positive psychology principles providing women with practical guidance to achieve a happy work/life balance.  With Christie and I returning to work (and me Uni) life has certainly pick up a notch!  As I’m working...

What a week!  Following the teething saga, Alora has been sick with a cold, and conjunctivitis.  The last few nights she has been waking up crying every two hours!!  It’s been like having a new born all over again!  I’m exhausted!  After the second night I figured this behaviour can’t be normal for just a cold so yesterday morning I took her to the doctor.  I felt like an over protective...

Alora has had a shocking week with teething! She’s getting her 4th tooth on her bottom jaw along with a front tooth. She keeps waking after a couple of hours sleep at night very upset and disorientated. I’ve started using Hyland’s teething relief tablets (Christie and I bought these on Bartercard from the Oakley Pharmacy). They are a homeopathic remedy which I’ve been adding to her...

Today Alora and I joined a playgroup! We’re going to a group in Labrador called ‘Milk Monsters’ – quite apt! The group meet every friday for 1 – 1 1/2 hrs in this gorgeous little wooden house. They have a toy library where you can borrow toys for up to a month – which I know will come in handy when Alora gets a bit bigger. The centre is close to a hockey field and on this...

Today we visited Sea world using our Qld V.I.P pass.  We had such a fantastic afternoon.  The dolphin show was my favourite – Alora slept through the whole thing! Alora was facinated by the shark bay enclosure.  I feed her her milk whilst we were in the underground gallery – it was the first time in a long time she didn’t wriggle around – she sat mesmerised by the fish and sharks. The...

Over the weekend Scottie set up Alora’s high chair (which we bought on Bartercard from Better Baby Deals).  She was getting a little bit too big for her bouncy chair and thought it was great fun to bounce whilst I was trying to feed her!  I’ve tried to get Alora used to sitting by surrounding her with cushions or putting her in my comfy chair.  I think the high chair will give her more (safer)...

We held Sienna’s baby dedication (Christening) over the Easter long weekend and it was fantastic! Sienna was the perfect angel. She looked out over the crowd during the whole ceremony and laughed and smiled at all the guests. When the Pastor placed the water on her head she got really excited and started laughing. She wore a beautiful white gown that had belonged to my mother and I later put her in a special...

Alora got her first tooth today! YAY! I thought she had a piece of banana in her mouth and when I looked closer … there it was!  She hasn’t quite worked out what to do with her rusks as yet.  Check out the photos! [View with PicLens] ...

I’ve just booked a holiday in Port Douglas on Bartercard! YAY! We’ve booked a two bedroom appartment at Latitude 16, transfers to and from the Gold Coast Airport with Con-x-ion Coaches, transfers to and from Cairns Airport with Exemplar Coaches and Limousines and car hire through Latitude 16 ALL ON BARTERCARD! Latitude 16 can supply a portacot and a car seat which is fantastic. I’ll have...

After 5 1/2 months I finally got it together to get my haircut! I went to BNVS Stylists situated on Southport Nerang Road in Ashmore. This hairdresser accepts Bartercard.  It was lovely to get out and spoil myself for a hour. A big thanks to the staff at BNVS!

Mothers day in England is celebrated in March as opposed to May in Australia. This year I order (on Bartercard!) a beautiful bunch of flowers for my mum from Lillypad in Victoria. Check out her photo. Lillypad are great, you can download their order form from their website and either fax or scan it and email your order through… Tell your partners/husbands about it as the aussie mothers day is coming up…...

I think Alora has her first cold.  The poor bug!  She has a slight cough and keeps waking in the night crying.  I can’t work out whether it’s from her 4 month immunisation jabs or she’s just picked up a bug.  Even though it’s still hot here in Queensland, I don’t think I  was putting enough clothes on her (I was only dressing her in a short sleeve jumpsuit).  Now I’m...

We visited Emily and Alora today. Sienna is now 3 months old and Alora 4 months. It is amazing how quickly they are growing up! They had a great old time rocking out in their baby rockers. It gave Emily and I chance to have a little mum 2 mum time while they entertained themselves. Sienna was being her smiley self and even managed to have a sleep in Alora’s room. Thanks Alora for lending us your bassinet. Here...

A few weeks ago we moved Alora from her basinet (that we bought on Bartercard from Better Baby deals) to her cot. This has given her so much more room to move. Check out the photo below. her new nickname is now miss riggles!! [View with PicLens]

The best thing that I have learnt about getting my baby to sleep is to know when to put her down. Sienna is breast-fed and feeds every three hours for about twenty minutes. After her feed we have playtime. Once she starts to show signs of being tired such as: Jerky movements Whining or crying Red eyebrows Hiccups I know she is ready for bed. In Sienna’s case this is pretty much exactly one hour after the...

I’ve just watched A Current Affair (ACA) on channel 9.  The Australian Women’s Weekly, Women’s Day and Harvey Norman are promoting a best baby/toodler moment photo competition.  The closing date is march 22nd.  I’m definately entering Alora.  Check out the details at http://www.harveynormanphotos.com.au/photo-competition.html They are offering a first prize of $10,000 towards your...

I’ve added some more recent photos of Alora to the “Emily – its a girl” page. Take a look… she’s smiling heaps now and is developing a deep laugh… like her mum… huh huh huh!

I’ve started a fitness class on a friday morning! Phew! Its funded by the Gold Coast City Council and run by mummylicious fitness just for new mums. Mummylicious run 4 classes a week and you can pre-purchase a 10 pass to use at any class over 3 months. This morning we did lots of core strength exercises which was fantastic for me as I need to tone up that tum! You can check out the program at mummylicious...

Today Christie and I caught up with the Bartercard crew for lunch. We went to a cafe called Peppertree – a Bartercard member. it was great to catch up on all the developments at work and hear alittle about the Franchisee conference taking place this week. Does anyone have any suggestions of good Gold Coast cafes or restaurants on Bartercard that we can meet at?

Yesterday Christie, Sienna, Alora and I went to the local children’s clinic’s ‘mum and bub class’. The presenter was from the Cancer Council discussing being sun-smart. She demonstrated a heap of hats, sunscreen and sunglasses. I hadn’t even thought about sunglasses for Alora! The Cancer council sell some really cute hot pink ones called Baby Banz ($19.95) which Christie and...