You spend 9 months getting to know your baby before they are born as well as watching the changes happening to your body.  Then there is the labour and birth, if you are lucky it is quick and drama free.  After bringing your little darling into the world, you begin the real work of learning how to keep them happy and what parenting is really like.

You watch as your baby grows.  The firsts are now being logged: first smile, first word, first tooth etc.  You ‘oohhh’ and ‘ahhh’ at the antics of your adorable, dribbling child and congratulate yourself on ...

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Living in Queensland Australia, it is very important for me to remember to apply sunscreen before spending anymore than 5 mins at a time in the sun.  Why?  Because the sun here is incredibly intense and totally unforgiving.

Queensland is the skin cancer capital of Australia, with 1000’s of people being diagnosed with one type of skin cancer or another every month.  Sobbering to think of isn’t it?

Usually, I don’t spend a lot of time in the sun.  I prefer to hand the washing up under the house to the rotary clothes line in the back yard for the following reasons:

1. I ...
   
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To see each and every person directly affected to take some of the debris from their now ruined homes, or those of neighbours.  Why?  To make a tribute to what they have lost, lived through and a reminder of what they want to achieve in life.

If I had been down there and lost everything, I’d be rebuilding for sure, and making a memory nook in my garden where I could go and remember the lives destroyed by the fires.  I could also be there and remind myself of the strength I have gained and would certainly use the memory nook ...

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You would think after having 4 babies, I would have gotten this right, but apparently not.  Now with #5, it seems that I have finally managed to have huge success, for which I am so thankful for as it has made life so much easier.

I’m talking about something that many mothers have problems with and often agonise about- as I have done too.  It is breastfeeding of course, something that every mother should at least try.

With every baby of mine, I have breastfeed for as long as possible.  My 1st lasted about 1 month before I sneezed while feeding her, ...

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There have been bushfires in the state of Victoria, Australia, that have claimed lives.  Thousands of people are homeless from it and several towns have been destroyed.

Some of these fires were deliberately lit, which makes it all even more of a tragedy.  Humans deliberately harming humans and causing death, and what for?  Their own amusement of course.

It has taken me a few days to be able to write about it as I have been in shock from it all.  I have not been directly affected by the fires, but I am still affected by them.

For the past week, I have ...

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This is all about your first born, so try and remember back that far lol.

Kssers started this one, so I thought I'd join in and tag 2 people:  DarkenedAngel and MariaMum

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED?  Sort of, though didn't think it would happen so quickly.
2. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? Excited!  I was going to have a baby!  I think hubby was very excited too, as his first round of parenting wasn't the best experience in the world.
3. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 22 when I found out, and 23 when she was born.
4. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? Got morning sickness within hours of conception, not kidding either!
5. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? My parents, Les already knew! lol.  He was the one who said to me I think you are.
6. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? Yes!  But she was shy and didn't want to share with us.
7. DUE DATE? 9th March 2003
8. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? No, I had chronic morning sickness!!!!
9. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? Anything I could keep down!!!!
10. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? Moving house with a big belly.
11. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? Girl
12. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? I had wanted a girl, so was very surprised, considering Les' family are all boys.
13. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? I gained about 7kgs all up- sorry, not going to convert to pounds! lol.
14. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? No, you have to know people for one of them.
15. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? See above.
16. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? Like morning sickness isn't bad enough?  No other complicatioBowralns, just a little later than expected.
17. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Gold Coast hospital.
18. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? 12
19. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?Taxi driver and bus driver- we didn't have a car at the time.
20. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? Les and a midwife.
21. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? Natural, though I asked for a c-section! lol.
22. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? Pethadine, and I'm glad I did- It helped me to focus better.
23. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 3.3kg
24. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN? 15 March 2003
25. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Ayla Rose
26. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? Almost 6

I was tagged by DarkenedAngel for this interesting exercise.  Unfortunately for me (and fortunately for you all- my taste in music isn't what people expect! lol), I have to decline.  I do not have an mp3/4 player that is loaded up with music at the moment, and if they were, I wouldn't know where to find them (they are in a safe place- so damned safe even I don't know where they are lol.).

To give you an idea of the music I like, I'll tell you some of my fave artists and songs instead, so I'm not totally dropping out.

Carole King- Her Tapestry album saved my life a couple of years back- I'm not kidding, if it hadn't been for track #5- Beautiful- I wouldn't be here today.

The Pretenders- What an amazing voice Chrissy Hines has!  And what  a rock chick!  I have the Singles album, and my fave song is Hymn To Her- an ode to mothers and daughters.

Neil Young- Such a beautiful artist who I grew up listening to.  No specific album or song, just his amazing voice!

David Bowie- Need we say more?  This man turns me to jelly, and always has done! lol.  Loved him in the movie Labyrinth.

The Rolling Stones- Can a girl have to many older men in her life? lol.  His showmanship is amazing, and even in his later years, he can still put on a show to remember.

Joni Mitchell and Joan Armatrading-  I grew up with these vocally talented gals, and even to this day, I can pic who is who, though there voices and styles are very similar.

Queen- Who doesn't like their music?  Great Pretender is one of my fave songs, but I haven't heard it since I was about 7.

Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen- Mediocre in looks, but make up for it in talent.  Though LC's voice is defintely a strange one.

Cat Stevens- Another amazing voice!  My dad's influence I believe.

Shania Twain- This is one girl who knows how to sing!  Such grace and talent does this lady have.

Andrew Lloyd Webber- See, I'm totally tragic! lol.  I love his work

Well, that's all I can think of that have made a huge impact on my life, but there are many more that I listen to and enjoy.

Using the computer is a must for me, and at least every day at that.  My main connection to the outside world is via the internet, and I rely on it for some sanity and more adult contact.

You would think then that a new computer would behave itself, being uncorrupted and all.  But no, not my computers.  Both of my new laptops have been giving me grief over the last week or so.

Let’s see.  It began with my little white netbook not wanting to hibernate, even though that was what it was set ...

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Ah yes,  technology is great!  The internet is my life saver! And now it is even better!

Les has hooked me up so I have wireless access to the internet. Yes, as I type this to let you know, I am sitting at the kitchen table completely cable free and loving it. 

Oh happy days!  I will have to see if I can go into the backyard and still have contact with the outside world, that will be the real test.

Well, it is midnight here, so I best finish up and start getting ready for bed.