So for the weekend before her birthday Daniels parents, sister and niece came to help us party! We had a great time, so much fun and laughter. Caitlin and Mackenzie played so well together and Zara was rapt with all of the attention! We dont get to see his sister and niece very often as they are in Melbourne so it was great to be able to spend some time with them. Plus it was lovely for Zara to get so spoiled!



Her actual birthday was on Tuesday, so my parents came up for the day and Caitlin stayed home from daycare so we could all spend the day together. The plan was to go to the Lake for lunch and a play but the weather put a stop to that! So we just chilled inside. Zara got even more presents and a second cake! LOL! Although I'm not sure how much she actaully likes cake, luckily I do!

Then to top it all off we had a mothers group party for her. I decided to have it as dress up and Zara was a tiger and Caitlin was a japanese beauty. I love dress ups! The kids all came dressed up, and although it was still pretty windy they all had a ball and were excited to be able to get outside! I made an Iggle Piggle cake as that is Zaras toy of choice to sleep with and I think I did an alright job, you could tell who it was, when I put the doll next to it anyway!

And these are some of my favourite picture of both the girls from the last week. And of her 3 cakes! What a lucky little girl!

It has been an action packed week, I am glad that it is over, but still sad at the same time. They are growing up too fast!

girls name          Aaliyah

colour                 Amber

animal                Ant

city or country   Adelaide

vegetable           Artichoke

fruit                     Apple

band or singer    Artic Monkeys

fav word             Apparently

actor/ actress   Ben Affleck

I was tagged by Janice and I tag

http://www.minti.com/members/domestic-warrior/
http://www.minti.com/members/ajv00/
http://www.minti.com/members/winja/

Blog about it, heading your blog:

Song to Lift Me Tag

If you can add it to your blog for us all to listen.......bonus!!!!

Explain why it lifts you, is it the lyrics, is it the tune, does it symbolise something to you.............

Then tag two other members to do the same: Mail them so they know they are tagged

Come on  these games are fun and we all learn a little more about each other too!!!!

I was tagged bywinja and I tag DomesticWarrior and ajv00

Ok, I'm technically challenged and cant get the cilp to sit there - but just click on the link - its not that hard!

http://www.unwrittenlaw.com/video/cailin/cailin.php

I love this song. I have loved it since I first heard it, it just gives me a special little feeling in my heart.
I now associate this song with my Caitlin and I did want to call her Cailin after the song.
I sing it to her at night if she wakes up - its so mellow it calms her down.
The lyrics are just so beautiful and his voice just sooths my soul! This song was written by the lead singer for his daughter and that is her on the stage - how sweet is that! What a cool dad!

Song words ~

Unwritten Law - Cailin

well it seemed like yesterday
when the world was looking dark
it felt so cold and grey
and why the hell am i even here
what's the purpose all i feel is guilt and hate and fear

uh huh...yea yea yea...ohhhh

til that day you came along
my heart was empty like the soul was missing from a song
and i thought i'd loved a few
no one ever made me feel the way that you do

hey little girl
look what you do
oh i love you
hey little girl i love you

well i know i'm not always right
and girl it breaks my heart
when i have to see you cry
so many things i wanna say
now i know that you're the reason that I'm here today
whenever you're here just stay near
we'll be alright yea alright....

hey little girl
look what you do
and you do
when all my love starts running thin
i 've gto you my own Cailin
hey little girl
oh i love you
i love you...
yea...hit me...

yea yea i'll be alright
hmm but i, i need you close
please stay tonight
as long as you're here
just stay near
we'll be alright yea alright

hey little girl
look what you do
oh i love you
hey little girl
look what you do, and you do
when all my love starts running thin
i 've got you my own Cailin
hey little girl who i love...
yea little girl who i love...
hey little girl i love you.. Well it seemed like yesterday
When the world was looking dark
It felt so cold and grey
What the hell am I doing here?
What's the purpose, all I feel is guilt and hate and fear

'Til that day you came along
My heart was empty
Like the soul was missing from a song
And I thought I'd loved a few
No one ever made me feel
The way that you do
AND Hey little girl
Look what you do
Oh, I love you
Hey little girl,OH I love you

Well I know I'm not always right
And girl it breaks my heart
When I DONE have to see you cry
So many things I wanna say
Now I know that you're the reason
That I'm here today AND
Whenever you're here
Just stay near
We'll be alright, yeah alright
Hey little girl
Look what you do
Oh, I love you
Hey little girl
Look what you do, and you do
When all my love starts running thin
I got you my own Cailin
Hey little girl,OH I love you

AND I LOVE YOU,YEAH HIT ME

YEAAAH I'll be alright
hmmm But I,I need you close
Please stay tonight
As long as you're here
Just stay near
We'll be alright, yeah alright
Hey little girl
Look what you do
Oh, I love you
Hey little girl
Look what you do, and you do
When all my love starts running thin
I got you my own Cailin
Hey little girl,who I love
Yeah little girl who I love
HEY little girl oh I love you

So to start with I went to my soon to be sister-in-laws hens night in byron. They stayed at the most beautiful house which was in Suffolk and comfortably slept 10 people. Nell and the girls had it for 3 nights but I didnt want to stay, although I regretted that decision once I got there, so spent the day and most of the night there!LOL! Had a great time, except I only got my tattoo - (oh and I got a tattoo! ITs a fairy with Zaras name on my back) the weekend before so I couldnt swim but everyone rally just hung around drinking in the pool and then we had a yummy dinner and then went to the pub to watch a band. had a great time but got seriously sunburned on my thighs as I was wearing a Kaftan sitting on the edge of the pool, oh I could hardly walk and they blistered and have only just stopped peeling!
Here is my new tattoo, this is an old photo when it was first done so it looks much more healed now!

Then I had my friend Kerhs wedding at the Gold Coast. Funny thing is it was at the Currumbin RSL - beautiful place - but that was where the last wedding we went to was! Must be a popular place! But it was just lovely! Kerh and I used to work together in the deli at Bilo many years ago while I was studying and have stayed in contact. We went baby free and Daniels mum and dad came up and babysat the girls for us at Daniels godmothers place which is in Tweed not far from the wedding. Lots of fun being baby free, amazing how relaxing it can be not keeping them entertained or watching what they are touching! LOL! Here is a pic of Kerh and I -

Then the next weekend we jetted down to Sydney for a few days for my brothers wedding. PS the girls were great on the plane, I was a little paranoid but both were angels and it is really only like an hour flight anyway. I had such a fantastic time, my mum and another Scott and his family were staying nearby so we caught up with them abit and went out for dinner with them adn my Todd and his groomsmen the night before the wedding and had an abosolute ball, those boys are so funny, they had me in stiches, I didnt want to leave but both Caitlin was that exhausted that it was temper-tantrum central so it was definately time to go! The wedding itself was just so amazing, it was really funky! I still had a little ball as it was beautiful but I also had a few giggles through the ceremony! My brother Scott has a boy the same age as Caitlin (born one day apart) and another brother (there are 4 of us) Tony has a girl who is 4 and the kids played together brilliantly all night and I just sat back and relaxed and ate some devine food and danced up a storm! It was so sad to leave the next day tough, I love having everyone together and we dont get to do it very often! But it still felt good to be home, although I will miss being across the road from the beach!

I tried to upload a couple more of me and Daniel and of the kids playing but it doesnt want to do it at the moment so I may add them soon!

So yeah we have been having a ball, and it was Daniels birthday on Tuesday too so life has been full and good!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Sweet as Sugar - Grinspoon   ( YEAH!)

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Meet me in the bathroom - The Strokes

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
I hate the TV - Violent Femmes

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Polly - Nirvana

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Rice Rice Baby - Weird Al Yankovic

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Your song - Elton John

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Ironic - Alanis Morrisette

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
You cant bet on an evening star - AfroDizziAct

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Spooky Interlude - Regurgitator

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Friends - Hi 5 (ah, should I mention that Caitlin has a playlist too?)

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Four Seasons in one Day - Crowded House

1. Choose the 4th folder  where you store your pictures on your computer.
   
2. Select the 4th picture in the folder.
   
3. Explain the picture.
   
4. Tag 4 people to do the same! (make sure you let them know you tagged them!

I've been tagged by ajv00 and winja

 Here is Miss Caitlin at 9 months old - Looks like she has lost her wagon under the table, poor little poppet!

What a cutie!

My baby is growing up just far too fast for my liking! Her second tooth has now popped through, the first one had come through on Boxing Day. And now she can do a funny looking little scuffle crawl around the room! She is just too clever! But crawling! My baby girl is crawling! And Caitlin isnt liking it too much either cause now Zara can get to 'her' things that she has left on the floor! Funny!

She loves her Jolly Jumper, and the bird,Rex, just loves her! LOL!

Zara is so funny though, She has so much personality, she is so different to Caitlin too. Caitlin was into everything and Miss Independent.  Zara is alot more relaxed and chilled out and just watches whats happening. She sleeps like an angel too, who could ask for a better baby!

This is Caitlin sitting at the table like a big girl when we went out to dinner the other night.

Zara is getting right into her food now, she likes her vegies like a good girl! So does Caitlin though, the vegies are the first to go off her plate and we have to coax her into eating her meat! LOL! Weirdo! And Caitlins favorite veg is brocolli! I was shopping with her in the trolley one day and a bunch of high school kids were laughing at her so I looked at her and there she is sitting there munging into the broccoli! Funny girl! I like my veggies too though so its a good thing!

This pic was taken a few months ago but I love it. Its my 2 Beautiful Girls!! To perfect!

For some reason my pics arent coming through properly but if you look at them from missnickley it seems to be working! Weirdness!

Ok, well it appears I have a bit to catch up on! It was my birthday just before Christmas! YAY me! LOL! I am 25 now, feeling a little old to tell you the truth, I keep thinking of myself as like a 20yo! But I feel happy as I have achieved so much by this age though, married my teenage sweetheart, 2 beautiful children, working in a good job. I'm pretty happy!

My birthday was good! I met my friend for lunch and we shopped and got some last minute Christmas pressies, I had also gotten some money so I spent $50 on new underwear! Oh how I love Bonds undies! That night we went out to dinner with some friends, we went to Pizza Hut all you can eat! LOL! How romantic, but all the kids loved it and honestly we all had a fantastic night! It was great to catch up with some friends I dont get to see too often as well and fantastic that they were able to make it so close to Christmas! I didnt get a pressie but I am getting a tattoo, I booked it in yesterday for 1st Feb. So exciting!

then came CHRISTMAS!!! It was so the best Christmas ever! We spent Christmas day with Daniels family as all the kids were home this year, OMG seriously there were so many presents! There were his parents, 2 sisters and husbands and one has a 1yo, his brother, his Uncle and his family and then our family. Lots and Lots of presents! I loved it! LOL! the girls got so many lovely gifts, I was so stoked! Everyone really put thought into them!

Here is Christmas lunch, most of us anyway, Caitlin and Mac were off playing and Zara was sleeping, dont know where the other adults are, watching the kids play I assume!
PS I am the one forking in the food in the black dress at the front!

The best part about Daniels parents place is they have a pool, and now they have a heated outdoor spa, and Ben has a boat and all the paraphenalia for tubing, skiing and wakeboarding. So we obviously had a fantastic time and all came back tanned, well, I am basically albino but for me I am so tan! LOL! We were down "home" (Woodburn near Lismore) from 23rd night to 1st. Ah, and yes, there were nights of public drunkeness in the spa! Even I had a drinky or 2 but as I am still doing the Booby Juice I was just the laughing spectator!

We also went to DREAMWORLD! OMG It was excellant. The kids stayed with Nanny and we went with his sister and her husband, friend and his brother. We all crammed into the 4WD and off we went! LOL! It was really busy and hot but I had such a great day. Then when we were ready to go we realised that we had pleanty of time before we had to be home to relieve the babysiters, so we stopped in at Currumbin for a swim at the beach and had Earth and Sea pizza for dinner. Oh yummo! It was awesome!

We spend Boxing day with my parents and my brother and his wife and son came over the day after and we had another little Chrismas which was lovely. And more food, oh we ate so much food over Christmas it was amazing! I love chilling out with my family and it was good to get away from the amount of people that were at Dans parents house for awhile too.

For NYE we didnt do much. Just chilled out with one of his sisters and a few others at his parents house. I made it to see in the new year but I had to go to bed almost straight after, Daniel crawled into bed around 4 and everyone else was still up at 7am when I went downstairs! Sitting in, yep, you guessed it, the spa! LOL!

Honeslty, we had the best holidays ever, great food, (especially from the fruit and veg stall on the side of the road near my mums turnoff, spent lots of money there! LOL!) Great company, and presents! All my favourite things!

I was going to upload some more pics but the kids are being demanding and I have sat here for awhile so enjoy everyone! Love and hugs!

1. Whats the main thing on Minti that make you so addicted?

Peoples blogs. I'm interested in other peoples lives and whats happening and what makes them tick! I am known as Nosey Nikki at work, I think they mean it in a good way, I think. I also realised that I look into other peoples houses as we go past. Hmmm, Am I just interested in other people, or a crazy stalker? You decide! 

I also love Q & A, I have asked so many questions and got some really great answers which are not only helpfull but also are good cause I know someone else has been there done that.

2. Whats something funny that's happened to you recently?

 Gosh, everything is funny, I'm always laughing at something. We were playing with the quad bike at my brothers house and Daniel decided to take it across the stream, like everyone had done, and went in the wrong spot and almost got swept away! LOL! He made it half way up the bank and my brother took over and saved the bike!

3. Whats a word you kid/s say/said thats pronounces funny / cute?

Caitlin says Nuke for Milk. And I love it when she says Oh Man (really nasel like swiper the fox from Dora) and got it, she puts so much emphasis on the t's.

4. If you could be someone famous for a day who would it be and why?

Um, that is a good one! I would be Miranda Kerr! She is so hot, and not to mention Orlando Bloom on the side!

5. sum up what minti means for you in 5 words?

Crazy kids doing crazy things. Oh and Im cheating and doing two -

Meeting Interesting & Nice Thinking Individuals.

here she is being thoughtfull! LOL!

How sweet, all tuckered out!

This is Caitlins first "school" photo! She looks so much older in this picture I think.


Here are my 2 beautiful girls playing together!

Love!

A few weeks ago I caught up with Julie (domesticwarrior) who is just fantastic! Check out my lounge for some pics of us doing our stuff on the toys at the park! They are funny!

My hubby and I had our first wedding anniversary on Monday. It was pretty exciting as I had organised for us to be baby free for the Saturday night so we could have a proper date! oober exciting! So on Friday night Daniels parents came up and stayed the night (with daylight savings as well they were even here in time for dinner) and then they took the girls down home with them on Saturday morning and left us to our own devices! It was quite sad watching them leave, especially since Caitlin didnt care!!! She was more excited about being in their car than the fact mummy and daddy werent coming! And this is the first time I have left Zara with anyone other than Daniel so scary, but worth it!

We went to the movies and watched Body of lies with Leonardo Dicaprio, which was good, not what I thought it was going to be but I enjoyed it anyway. Then we just had a browse around and a shop and I got some knock-off perfume for $5 from this stall in the centre of the centre so that was good. Oh, and I got to have  a relaxing bath and read which I LOVED!

We also went out to dinner at the little restaurant near our house and it was DEVINE! We both enjoyed everything we ate and with no kids we just chilled and relaxed and even stayed for a coffee and cake after. I loved it.

Then the next morning we woke up early anyway, Honestly, I dont know why, but we were up so we just got ready and went down early to pick up the girls and then stayed with my parents the next night since we were down there anyway!

All in all a very nice weekend! YAY for us!

Oh well, luckily now I know she can take off her own nappy! LOL!

She is getting so big now! She has grown out of some clothes :( I was devistated! I want her to stay little for as long as possible!

Hope everyone is well!

My brother got married last Friday. 08/08/08 the luckiest day of the year. It was at Currumbin which is on the Gold Coast and was lovely. It was by the estuary looking out over the water and then the reception was inside the RSL club. It was so fantastic to see all of my family! We havent all been together since our wedding last October as we are abit scattered around. I had a fantastic time, Caitlin had lots of fun playing with her cousins Grace and Jayden and both girls were absolute dreams! So well behaved! YAY!  I had to go home early with the girls and with my SIL and Grace, but I got to catch up on the goss on how everyone else went (Daniel and my other brothers went out to the Casino after the wedding, were all VERY hungover!LOL! the next day as we all trooped over to my brothers for a big BBQ and it was delicious. It was very sad to say goodbye to my brothers though. Well two of them anyway cause I dont know when I will next see them, the one who got married I do see semi-regularly though so at least we have each other!

(me and my brothers + other halves etc, my nephew Jayden isnt in it though, thats me front left with Zara and hubby Daniel standing behind me)

Then on Monday was MISS CAITLINS SECOND BIRTHDAY! Crazy! My little girl is two! She had such a good day though, in the morning we had the mini olympics at her day care and we had a ball doing all the activities and obsticles. Then I went back there with a cake for afternoon tea for her class - hmmmm 10 toddlers and a chocolate cake is messy business!
(Caitlin action shot at the Olympics)

And then that night her best friend Rhuben and his mum LisaDyer came over for dinner and Caitlin got to open all her pressies! She got so spoiled, and she also got a pile of pressies from my mum and two of mybrothers on the Saturday too! Lucky Caitlin!
(Caitlin and Rhuben opening pressies)

Today is a public holiday for Brisbane as it is show day. Daniel has the day off and we went with my friend Megan and Caitlins friends Aaliyah and Kye to the Mini Ekka they had at Springwood shops. It was so fantastic! Perfect for the littlies! The kids got their facepainted, and rode the ponies and got baloon animals, well Caitlin got a baloon flower! There was more to do but it was getting late and Caitlin was getting so very tired so we headed home!

We have been having lots of fun, Zara is being a dream baby, we have had a couple of upset nights but usually goes down around 9.30 and sleeps till 3.30 and then till around 8, BLISS! If only Caitlin slept in that much as well! LOL!

Hope everyone is well, sorry I havent been around much and I am slowly getting to everyone and checking out what they have been up to! hugs to you all!

On a different note Daniel went back to work on Monday after 3 weeks off! Must have been hard for him, he has to leave while it is still dark and Brisbane is freezing this week. My parents came up yesterday and mum is staying till Friday to help me out a little as I'm scared of having 2 under 2 by myself! LOL! (Should have thought of that BEFORE getting pregnant!)

So tomorrow I am taking mum shopping to find an outfit for my brothers wedding which is on next Friday (08/08/08) and then we are going to a friend of mines house for afternoon tea, she is leaving! So upset, she is from mothers group and I am really only just getting to know her well and outside mothers group and her partner got stationed in Newcastle so they have to leave :(    and on Thursday we have mothers group at my place and then Daniel and I are taking Zara to the docs while mum stays with Caitlin, and then on Friday my brother is coming to pick up mum and drive her to Lismore where dad will pick her up............... so yeah, busy week for us!!

I just took this photo of my darling princesses! Arent they sweet!

Here is my darling baby girl- sorry forgot to turn it!

 

Zara did come a little bit too early for my liking though, did you know that I had to call in sick to work to have my baby! I left some vague message on the answering machine saying that I had a doctors appointment and I would call them later, then when they didnt hear from me by lunch time they started to stress and I even got an email from the office manager saying that they werent going to call but they hoped everything was ok! They fret so much about me, I dont think I called in sick all year and I always got to work early cause I used to eat brekkie there. I had this weird pregnancy eating thing where I couldnt eat before travelling or I would see it again so I used to eat at work. One day I was 10 minutes late as I had caught the bus and it was late and they actually rang my mobile cause I am always there! Funny........

Well anyways we have been going great! Caitlin is being really good, most of the time, yseterday was torture though, she was such a little brat, she didnt have her day sleep and she REALLY needs one! But overall she is honestly a fantastic child, loves zara, perhaps a little too much cause she keeps kissing her and hugging her while she is sleeping!! Zara is great, growing so much! I can see the difference already! she is still a blissfull little baby, sleeps like a dream! The poor little poppet though is not ataching properly and as a result is getting air and a bellyache. I cant get her air up propertly and then she ends up straining to try and push it out. I know what is wrong, but I just cant seem to make her do it right, she just spits it out till she is right on the end and then starts sucking! I have an appointment with the clinic nurse on Tuesday so fingers crossed she can help me!!

On the weekend was my good friend Lisa's son Rhubens birthday! The big boy is 2! He is Caitlins best friend, she seriously loves him adn they are like an old married couple plyaing together! He had his party at Underwood park and they all had a big play on the equipment and we had a sausage sizzle. Lisa made the best cake! It was a truck, it looked so great! Here is a pic of the two of them with the cake! Well some of it anyway. Trust me, it was fantastic!

Anyways, hope everyone is well!

That afternoon I was chatting to my mum waiting for my friend to come over so we can catch up and I can show off Zara properly when the doctor rang and left a message saying her billiruben levels are dropping steadily adn she doesnt need anymore tests, yay. Then she calls my mobile straight away, and tells me that she got the urine results and they were abnormal and that we need to take Zara into the hospital now, well that is more of a scare than I needed. I hung up and burst into tears with mum who was still on the other line, then Megan turned up so when Daniel got home from picking up Caitlin she took her to her house for the night and off we went to the hospital.

We didnt really have to wait too long there, the doctor we had was great,(and a spunk too, just on the side!)  he asked lots of questions and after I told him that she eats, sleeps, wees and poos like a perfect baby I think he was just wondering why we had been sent there. He explained that sometimes the samples are contaminated by the skin and that we need to get a clear sample, from a catheter. Oh my poor little poppet! She screamed, she was not impressed with this at all, and rightly so, but part way through she did a wee and they caught it in a jar and luckily didnt need to continue.

After waiting ages for the doc to come back he said that our healthy baby is in fact a healthy baby and we should go home and enjoy her.

So it was just a contaminated sample, gosh I can tell you I was so upset and so worried! We have never had more than an ear infection with Caitlin so I really didnt know how I would cope if my little baby girl was sick. I am so greatfull that she is ok, more than ok, she is perfect!

Our beautiful new family! Caitlin loves her as you can see, loves kissing her and patting the top of her head!

Last weekend my friend Lisa and I went to the Pregnancy, Baby & Child Expo which was at the Brisbane Convention Centre. We had a ball and came back with bags and bags full of goodies and samples. We were actually there for 4 hours alltogether!Lisa got some good things for toilet training her son Rhuben, I got some little toys for the baby and we also got some new food things to try for the kids and other bits and pieces that were cheap as we walked around.We are so going to go every year, all the displays were having specials so some things were much cheaper than you would normally be able to buy them.

What else have we been doing? Well I am still working 2 days a week. Next week is my last week though, thank god, honestly I am just so exhausted and my back is in agony by the end of the day. I do have a good work though, they dont mind me having a quick lay down to rest and are always checking on how I am feeling and stuff. Its just a shame they dont have a bed for my lunch time siestas!!

We are still going to mothers group each thursday. I am not going today becuase I am just too tired and still sore from yesterday, but I am going to catch up with my friend whos house it was at this week tomorrow and she is going to take some pregnancy photos for me! So excited, she is so artistic and creative, they will be great!

Daniels parents came up last weekend to watch Caitlin so I could go to the expo and the next day Daniel and his dad had to pick his brother up from the airport at 6am! How terrrible, needless to say I didnt go! And Caitlin woke up and went straight to Nanny who was sleeping in the lounge room (only place the mattress will fit now we have the cot in the spare room) so I even got a sleep in! Bonus! We all then went to the markets and had a wonder and I got some books from teh op-shop and a pair of Bonds jeans for Caitlin that are in like perfect condition! YAY! I love our local opshop, they always have good books, and they open on Sundays for the markets too.

We are nice and organised for the baby now, I am feeling ready and now am just waiting! Still scared out of my brain about the birth but I just keep telling myself that they are all different and it just cant be as bad as last time! LOL! (Dont you DARE tell me anything different!)

We have a dolls bassinett that Daniel is cleaning up and my mum has brought her a "baby" with a bottle and everything and we are going to give them to Caitlin as pressies from the baby and so she can feed and put to bed her baby when I do. Hopefully this works! I think new toys is a good thing though, and Daniel is going to take her shopping for somehting to give to the baby in the hospital (after she meets her becuase she still doesnt quite understand what is happening yet).  Feeling prepared and as organised as we can be!