Money please..

It is one of the hardest things to get used to when you are no longer financially independent. Imagine having to get your visa paid off by your husband, I know a lot of people would love that. But I can no longer save for large purchases, he does and then we buy it. I miss my financial independence, to work towards something whether it is paying something off or buying something new.

Sanity Regained

Monday the 12th of May is a day to remember, it is the day that I had my first paid day of work since having Beth. I relieved at Wainuioru School which is a small three teacher rural school about 20km? out of Masterton. What a lovely way to start back! I taught the juniors (5 and 6 year olds) for the day, a gorgeous class of 15 students. It was so nice planning the day and dressing in clothes with no baby drool on them....I felt like a grown up again, though I almost went to school in my slippers, luckily Dave pointed them out to me as I was getting in the car! It was even nicer leaving at the end of the day knowing I was going home to my little girl with no marking or planning work to do!!
This week I was lucky to be rung again to relieve in the same class and I must say roaring off through the rolling countryside in the VW on a fine, misty, Wednesday morning, it felt great to be alive!

Porridge

Cold wintry weather always brings back the memory of my grandad standing over the old range making porridge for us all. The brown sugar and silver capped milk at the ready. So it has been wonderful the last couple of cold mornings standing with Grandad looking over my shoulder, as I have made porridge for Beth and myself. The wonderful porridge pool plopping away with Beth listening, a bemused look on her face. Although it is only me who has the brown sugar and milk, Beth still seems to have been enjoying her porridge (with stewed fruit) experience. I hope one day she remembers these cold mornings with her and I huddled lovingly over our porridge.

Crankiness and Snot Goblins

Well it seems to be that this time of the year everyone gets a cold. Beth is the first to suffer in our household. She is fairly cranky, unless she has just woken up and then of course there is the streaming nose! Pipes, candlesticks....whatever you want to call them. My biggest problem is how to avoid getting it all over me! Apart from just not picking her up at all or going anywhere near her to avoid getting sneezed on there really is no hope. So it comes down to wearing old clothes I don't mind the odd goblin on, and having a wash at night once she has gone to bed to cleanse myself.

Things that make you go.....

I have to share a funny moment I had the other day, because at the time there was only Mack and myself there and frankly?!?! Mack didn't get it.

Beth likes to suck on a dummy when she is going to sleep, so like any good parent I have two dummies, the main one and a back up one in case of emergencies. Being back up dummy is a thankless job and it so happened on this day the dummy was on the couch in the dining room when Gizmo (the cat) discovered it. He promptly flicked it from the couch and had a great game of bat the dummy around the wooden floor. I heard this going on from the kitchen so thought I better rescue it. Mack (the dog) and I went to investigate but strangely enough I couldn't find it anywhere!?!?! Puzzled I asked Mack "Mack have you seen it?"

Half a Rodent!

Yes Beth has teeth!! A scarey thought for any breastfeeding mother... Believe me when she bites you'll all know about it! Yes even you Grace over in Ireland!
She got the bottom right tooth first and then a few days later the bottom left cut through. I hadn't really given it a thought but boy it must hurt a bit when they come through the skin. Yes she has been a bit grumpy but she does look very cute with the bright red cheeks and startling blue eyes.
Speaking of startling blue eyes.... couldn't resist putting this picture on!

Selfish or Essential?

It's not that I'm lonely or bored in any way, but I do crave adult conversation and company at times that doesn't involve babies! I think it's the guilt free non-baby time which is the hardest to achieve. I love going to the movies with friends, hanging out singing karaoke very loudly in a new subdivision with the windows open....thanks Gazza and Shazza!!

It is these moments that make me feel like me again and not just a wife and mother. I think that is why I have really enjoyed getting back into my running...because it's all about ME for a change. I spend the majority of my day doing things for my family so to get away and only think about me and do what I want to do.... is LOVELY!!

Definitely essential for me! Time out keeps me human.