Bronte Beach

We took Jambin to the beach a few weekends ago. Bronte Beach is just south of Bondi Beach. On the day we went, it was packed, even though the photos make it look like we were the only people on the beach. Bronte Beach has a kiddie rockpool at one end, which Jambin thought was pretty neat, even though the water was icy cold. We took a bus there and back, because parking can be a nightmare, particularly on weekends.

 

 

 

 

I hate unpacking!

Is there anything worse than a unit full of packed boxes, and the knowledge that you have to find somewhere to put everything, whilst keeping a toddler entertained? Thankfully we had simplified a LOT and gotten rid of pretty much everything that wasn't used regularly or held very special significance.

 

 

 

I'm happy to report, though, that everything is fully unpacked now. Photos to follow sometime in the future ....

Leaving Brisbane

The last day living in our Brisbane house ...

 

 

 

 

We engaged a real estate agent to undertake property management for us, and there are now tenants living there. Hopefully they are enjoying the house, deck and backyard as much as we did.

Our New Pad

 

 

 

So, we're moving to Sydney in 3 weeks. We're downsizing from our current 3 bedroom house (with lovely deck, sunroom, double lock-up-garage and under-house storage) to a 2 bedroom apartment with no garage, no laundry and no linen cupboard. Rent in Sydney is astronomical, compared with Brisbane.

But we're really happy with the apartment. It met all of our essential criteria - within walking distance of train line, within walking distance of parks (Centennial Park will be our front yard), within walking distance of grocery shops and basic amenities (Westfield Bondi Junction is 10 mins walk away), and close to Gareth's work (5 min train trip). It's also 2 blocks from the local library, and a short bus ride to Bondi Beach. We're stoked. And it's been a very good opportunity to pare down all of our stuff to the bare essentials. We've already taken 5 ute-loads and 2 carloads of stuff to the dump, sold books/appliances/furtniture, and there is still heaps we need to get rid of. I've donated almost my entire craft collection (minus sewing machine) to a good friend with 4 daughters (hi Shannon!) who I am sure will make better use of it than I have been doing for the last few years.

Finally, after much planning and unproductive talking, we are actually simplifying our life! And it feels so great.

First Babycino

 

 

My baby boy is growing up. He had his first babycino yesterday, and so became part of the Cowen tradition ... sitting down to have Muffin Break coffees while we plan meals for the week, write a shopping list, and then, when the coffees have been drunk, into the grocery store we go.

Caught in a rainstorm

Yesterday we had a surprise rainstorm while Jambin was outside playing on the deck. I've been disappointed that he won't get to experience the thrill of running through sprinklers on a hot summer's day, due to Brisbane's water restrictions, but this was even better - Heaven's sprinkler!!

 

 

Pregnancy Update

So, I'm 13 weeks 5 days along. A few more days and I'll be entering my second trimester. I'm still nauseous almost every morning, but have only thrown up twice, which is excellent compared with my pregnancy with Jambin, where I threw up daily (and sometimes off the train platform on the way to work). I still can't do the washing up without gagging - which is slightly problematic because our dishwasher has gone belly-up, and we can't afford to replace it at the moment.

I had an appointment with the midwife at the hospital where I've booked in last week. Do you remember how I mentioned that I was measuring 2 days ahead at my 8 week scan .... Well, according to my fundal height, I'm now measuring about a week ahead. I know, I know, measurements are often wrong. But given my history of having a ginormous baby, and 2 measurements taken with different methods by different people in different hospitals, I'm starting to prepare myself for having another toddler-sized newborn.

The plan at this stage is to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean). I'm not sure whether that will happen or not, as I feel that the internal tearing of my stitches after the caesarean with Jambin may have compromised my scar integrity. The spot where the stitches tore has been painful since he was born, and now that everything is stretching and growing in my pelvis, it's giving me even more trouble. If it turns out I'm at a high risk of uterine rupture (not just the average risk associated with a VBAC), then I'm not going to push the issue. I guess that makes me a traitor to the natural birth cause, but I'm far, far more concerned about breastfeeding working out this time around than I am about 'achieving' a natural birth.

If I did have to have a repeat c/s, I'm going to ask that I be allowed to go into labour naturally first, so that I will have some of the hormonal changes to help with getting breastfeeding working from the beginning. I'm also going to ask that I be allowed to wear my glasses. My surgeon last time wore his glasses, and I'm 99% sure they didn't autoclave them first, so I can't see any reason why I can't wear mine. I'm blind as a bat without them, which makes me feel a bit vulnerable.

What else .... Jambin has started patting my belly and saying "baby", and even though he knows what 'baby' means, I'm pretty sure he has no real idea that I'm growing one.
I'm tired, so very tired. Growing a baby and parenting an active toddler is exhausting. I've also been working 2-3 days a week, and getting out the door just about does me in.