San Remo to Cape Woolamai boat cruise (dolphins were spotted!) – San Remo Pelican feeding – lunch at the very lovely Haven Wave Cafe – strolling down Thompson Avenue in Cowes (RELAX!) – quiet dinner amongst our accommodation garden. 💞🙏
Also I had ice cream twice, because I am craving it at the moment, and baby more so, soooo…. I must listen, right? 🤣🤰
We are on a very short family holiday spell… as of tonight.
It was mine and Hubbie’s last day of work, for a little over half a week… and sure, we are going to chill, do holiday stuff, go to holiday places, and try to sightsee, as well as relax majorly.
Tonight was the opening ceremony for all that, so we headed to a predictable fave restaurant that we like to go to, and followed it with some games.
Baby girl was almost screaming the place down as the motorbike swung her from side to side, and it really was fabulous to watch, and hear… it was the sound of freedom, and many fun times to come. 🥰💞
I had some recent good updates on my pregnancy and progress today, so I gave myself the allowance…
for indulgence. 😍
I had some mummy-daughter time with my princess today, where we went to the Main Street and I said “you choose where we go!”
She wanted to sit in a cafe for babycino and coffee… and some other things.
I said indulgence, didn’t I?
The girly and sweet theme continued into tonight, with a dinner catch up with my besties. I tell you, nothing fills up my well as much as being around my people, and they definitely fall into that category.
And, following lead from earlier, right after dinner…
More sweet. If you know how ‘good’ I’ve had to be, you would seriously applaud this, trust me. 🤣
It occurred to me at some point today that it was at that exact Pancake Parlour booth, 6 months ago, I was 6 weeks pregnant, seeing my friends for the first time after finding out that fact, and holding onto this big baby secret which was so exciting but still so early to share.
And tonight, 28 weeks later, same Pancake Parlour, same booth, same friends, lots of thanks and gratitude, but stronger love. 🙏❤
It’s all come very nicely full circle, and I can’t help but wonder two things:
Are all these girly and sweet vibes trying to tell me something? A theme for the future perhaps?
Second, seeing as the catch ups have come full circle, I don’t know if I’ll make next months catch up… I think baby will come early!
I’ll just have to host the catch up at my place… with the new addition close by, of course. 🥰
Now that’s sweet. 🤱
I went through some mental thought processes tonight, that I am ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN ALL MOTHERS have gone through at one stage or another, when preparing to go out on their own.
For some back story, I booked tickets to see the author Sally Hepworth weeks and weeks ago, when I found out she was literally coming to town to promote her new book, The Soulmate.
Only this week did I check my diary and dates again, and realised it was a Thursday… one of the busiest times of the week because of baby girl’s gymnastics.
So I went through the mental processes. YOU know the ones.
‘Should I just cancel?’
‘Am I going to enjoy it?’
‘Really, I haven’t even finished one of her books.’
‘Maybe I’ll go to another one of her events.’
‘It’s a busy week.’
‘I’m gonna have to move things around A LOT of I decide to go…’
‘STUFF IT, I’ll go.’
Yes, I haven’t finished one of her books, but I am in the last 100 pages of The Family Next Door right now, and let me tell you it is some good stuff. I’ve followed her on social media for a while, and just think her brand of authorship and humour is refreshing and welcome, as well as particularly entertaining.
But, for a moment there, I totally second-guessed myself… because it was too hard.
Too hard for me, or too hard for others around me? Or both?
So I dropped off baby girl at gymnastics.
I ran errands.
I then started dinner.
Left notes for Hubbie about dinner all over the place.
Brought Mister F in.
Gave Mister F food (notice I didn’t say ‘fed Mister F’ because that would require him actually eating the damn food 🙄)
Got ready.
Quickly scoffed some food down.
And then left the house!
OMG.
This is normal as a woman, and yet I know, I just know it happens everywhere, ALL THE TIME. We do something for ourselves, but in doing so we are either guilted into, or we guilt ourselves into, doing everything possible for every member of the family so that we can feel more “better” about going and having some ‘me time.’
We’re truly f*&ked in the head.
My reasons were to make Hubbie and baby girl’s lives easier. They get home after 6:30 from gymnastics, and then if he had to cook from scratch, they wouldn’t eat ’til like, 7:30pm.
Which is why I was running around like a headless chook this afternoon.
But… this story has a happy ending.
I loved the Sally talk at the local bookstore. 😍
She was entertaining, funny, insightful, generous with her time, and extremely friendly too, evidenced personally by me when I met her for the book signing!
I realised, that we don’t need to second guess ourselves so much. When we are doing something that is a passion, or spending time with people that will ultimately make us feel great, we don’t need to feel bad, or guilty, or give ourselves 1,000 jobs to balance out the ‘me time’ we end up having.
We are allowed to go out, have fun, make memories and live for ourselves and live our passion.
Next time you question yourself if you should, whether it’s worth it, whether the fam will be ok without you…
Nudge that all aside and say “f*&k it, I’m going.”
Because honestly… they WILL be.
You can thank me later.
Today was Hubbie’s birthday!
So great, that it fell on his day off… Wednesday.
We brunched. We beach walked. Then this evening we headed out to a fave restaurant we haven’t been to for ages for dinner. It’s across from the beach, and quite frankly has a stunning view. 😍
I love birthdays. I love my birthday, my family’s birthdays, anyone I love, I love their birthday too.
You get to celebrate them, have fun, reflect on their amazing contribution to your life…
And to think, today was only the beginning. Further celebrations are a-coming!😁💖
Ahhh.
Or should I say –
Owwwwwwww.
Tonight I pay tribute to my family who are being ever so sweet and attentive to me as I moan and clutch my belly complaining it’s about to stretch and then pop into smithereens.
I’m feeling it more and more lately, and my belly has dropped… like low. It’s really low. I get occasional stretches and pulls and pains, and that’s without baby’s limbs contributing. But tonight I think I got some indigestion, that clawing, clenching feeling in your belly where your insides are just trying to work something out, and OH MY GOD…
It felt horrendous. My belly felt even bigger, more stretched, more pulled, it felt like there was a pulse in my tummy, and no, it was independent of baby. My belly had a life of its own (pardon the pun) and every which way I stood and sat I was all ouch, ouch, ouch.
But Hubbie and baby girl were so sweet. Baby girl sat with me after dinner as I breathed deeply, trying to work out what was happening to my body. Hubbie looked after the dishes while I went to have a comforting shower. Then on his request, she came to check up on me later, just to see if I was ok.
🙏💖
I haven’t really been milking this pregnancy so far, and that’s because I’ve felt ok. But it feels so good to know that my family have my back, when my belly gives me aches. 😅🤰
So I have written about this song before so please forgive me, but you know when you’ve put on an album randomly, are listening to the songs, and then one comes on that you’ve completely forgotten about is on the album, which you LURVEEEEEE?
So tonight I put on my best of Bryan Adams as I was prepping dinner. It was very random, I just wanted something different, and to be honest the one song I was expecting, which came on, was his very popular radio-friendly, Heaven.
So just before we served up, when some familiar guitar notes wafted out of the speaker, I went “ohhhhhh!”
I had completely forgotten one of my all-time faves of his, Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?
Up the volume went, as I warbled along to this song.
There is truly nothing as satisfying as rediscovering a song you haven’t thought about for so long, and even better, when that song is part of your music collection. 😁🎶🎵🎻
Today was one of those days that I’ve looked forward to for a long time, and not just for the obvious reasons either.
We had a long-awaited, dear friend’s child’s christening, which was filled with much love, dancing, happiness, and of course the obligatory hand/face painting.
And then following that at night we had a dinner dance, and so on we went…
More love, more dancing, more happiness, and plenty of kicking from baby. 🤰
The day and night were light and easy, and we flew high like the bird on baby girl’s hand, dropping sparkles every where we went… 😁💫
It’s beginning to turn into a real Sunday tradition.
Sunday afternoon footy, and Collingwood starts playing against some team about 3pm.
The score is tight. Or they are losing. Either way, the game is so close you’re on the edge of your seat, OR you’re thinking, ‘this ain’t going to end well for the Pies.’
But then.
BUT. THEN!
There is a sudden turn-around in the last 5 or so minutes, and the Pies and now in front!
AND THEY END UP WINNING!
This is what unfolded yet again this evening. I had no high hopes after watching the second half of the game, but still kept coming back to check the score as we started dinner prep. Collingwood were 3 goals behind and I sent Hubbie to the lounge room to check the score.
“You’re gonna wanna see this, it’s now 11 points.”
I checked, and sure enough, they were closing the gap.
A few minutes later, I was still in the kitchen, and I said “check again, you go for me.”
“They’re 5 points behind.”
“F&%k off.”
“Yep.”
I joined him at his side. Sure enough, 3 minutes to go, and they were now within reach of a comeback! He was going to feed Mister F and I said “you are not going anywhere, they are winning every time you walk into this room, so you’re staying right next to me now!”
So he stayed, and baby girl even joined my side. When they scored a goal and got in front by 1 point, I just clapped, letting Hubbie and baby girl do the happy screaming for me, because last time I got over-excited for a Pies game I had a headache all night from my frenzied cheers. 🤦♀️😆
And minutes later, the siren rang with the points on their side. 💪💪
I swear, they are giving us weekly heart attacks this team. 😰
If they make the finals, I need to brace myself. I don’t want to break my waters too early, it’s not time yet! 🤣🤣⚫🤍⚫🤍⚫🤍⚫🤍
Today was mine and baby girl’s birthdays.
First great thing – Hubbie got up instead of me to make her lunch for school.
Simple things = GODSEND.
Instead of me waking her up, he did, and so of course she charged up the stairs once awake, jumping into bed with me. 🥰
We only wished each other a happy birthday, like a million times today.
Referred to each other as birthday girls constantly.
I love sharing my special day with my special girl. 💖💖
Of course it wasn’t only roses and sunshine, it never is with kids… the late evening brought yelling and tears, you know, just to liven up the day. 🤣🙄
But it WAS mostly roses and sunshine.
Hubbie and I went to enjoy some coffee time, shopping, and then Gold Class to watch Elvis (again for me!) and yet amazingly I enjoyed it more, the tears just spilling down my cheeks uncontrollably in the last 5 minutes (emotional much? 🤔😉😆)
And we had dinner out tonight too, after all that prior-mentioned yelling and crying.
And there were lots of special wishes, which made it all the more beautiful.
Although we tried our best to make the last two years special despite covid-life and lockdowns, those birthdays honestly pale in comparison to this year.
This year we are back, this year is special, this year there is a fluttering in the air, a quickening of events…
Things are happening, and those things are good. 💖💖
Stay tuned for a possible reveal tomorrow, where a lot of my suggestive comments may be unveiled!
carcrashgratitude 