The Aussie Mommy

Mail Order Mama!

2010-06-03T21:09:00.004+10:00

I have to be honest, I'm a sucker for mail order gifts. I know I SHOULD like to shop but I have to admit, the effort it sometimes take to get to the shops is not always worth the joy I get in actually shopping. Maybe that's because window shopping just isn't the same! ;)

What I do love? Shopping online? I love finding a good bargain, reading good reviews, and - living overseas - the ease of purchasing a gift and shipping to friends and family all in one step! Often times when we're pricing an item for our family, I find the best deals are online. I get massive energy from a good deal!

That's why I'm stoked to soon be reviewing a product from buyster.com.au. They have an incredible amount of home and lifestyle items! Check out these Melbourne Bar Stools:
They have a heap of baby and childrens' toys too!

Its pretty much your one-stop shop! I'm so excited to review a product for them!! Be looking for my review soon!
From the living room couch,

Dimples Monkey Pram (Stroller) Liner (GIVE AWAY)

2010-06-03T20:53:00.006+10:00

Well I am quite pleased to announce that I will soon be reviewing a Dimples Monkey Pram (Stroller) Liner which is being custom-made for my Baby Jogger. There are a number of reasons I am quite stoked about this but I don't want to spoil it all before the big review!In the mean time, the lovely Sara from Dimples Monkey has just launched her Facebook site and is celebrating by giving away TWO Stroller Liners. All you need to do is "Attend" her event and you will be entered to win.

While you're checking her out, be sure to take a look at all of the fabulous fabrics she has to chose from! The girl has got style!!

WINNER of the Happy Birthday Notecards from flo3er

2010-06-01T20:32:00.002+10:00

Amy Hoover said...

I follow the Ausssie Mommy!

May 28, 2010 1:05 AM

Congratulations, Amy! You have 48 hours to contact me at theaussiemommy@gmail.com to collect your fabulous Happy Birthday notecards!

Phantom Pregnancy Pains

2010-06-01T15:18:00.002+10:00

Pregnancy. Not my favourite thing in the world. But not terrible either. As pregnancies go, I think I had a pretty fantastic one. Aside from mild evening queasiness (made easy by living up the luxury of laying on the couch eating crackers and bell peppers and watching reality TV thanks to the fact that I had no other children), a trip to the doctor for what my neighbour/nurse thought could be appendicitis (why didn't anyone tell me about ligament pain!?), and some severe swelling for a couple of days (note to self: when 9 months pregnant, it is not advisable to cook in 100 degree weather + 90% humidity all day long with no air conditioning), I had it easy.

I felt great so I just kept working right up to my due date and every one of those 10 days I went overdue and even traveled at 39 weeks without one flight attendant batting an eye.

I loved the weekly updates and rejoiced when my baby grew past seeds and beans to fruits and finally to sporting equipment! And, oh, the feeling of those first flutters which eventually turned into feet in my ribs and thrilled not only me but also my husband, and even humoured colleagues as my belly would ripple during meetings.

I'm not sad to not be pregnant anymore. Of course, I'll be excited to be pregnant again one day - but mostly because I love babies.

In the mean time though, there are times when I feel little flutters and bumps inside my belly. Its almost as if my little man is still in there kicking and I have to stop and remember - no he's out now. I have never heard of phantom pregnancy pains, but I have heard of people who have lost limbs who can still feel pain. (So strange, by the way).

So, it begs the question - do I have an overactive imagination? Wishful thinking? Or am I in fact experiencing phantom pregnancy pains?

Happy to be holding my baby on the outside,

You Know You're A Mom When...

2010-05-31T15:14:00.001+10:00

There's a hicky on your shoulder and it DEFINITELY wasn't your man who it put there.

How Much Does Your Baby Weigh?

2010-05-30T12:16:00.001+10:00

My scale broke two weeks before I hit the 40 week mark. I'm still bummed I didn't know exactly how much I weighed through my pregnancy, but I was very happy with my weight gain (yes, I said it!) up to that point so I tried not to be fussed.

Nearly four months later and we still have not fixed that scale.

So how do we know how much our boy weighs between doctors' visits? The produce section at the grocery store. Pop him on like a sack o' potatoes while the other mommies smirk as they walk by.

Yeah. We're ghetto like that.

RedSnapper Onesies (GIVEAWAY)

2010-05-29T19:59:00.000+10:00

Oh to know how many unnecessary snaps I have snapped in the last (almost) four months of my life. As the realisation of just how considerably the pace of my life slowed since having a baby continues to sink in, I must admit that I am more eager than ever to avoid whatever roadblocks I can - especially one as silly as mis-snapping a onesie.

When I find myself in a mis-snapping mis-hap, I take a deep breath, put on that big goofy smile my baby loves and, resisting an eye roll at myself, I start to sing our "1 snap, 2 snap, 3 snap song" (yes, I make these up as we go along)... again. But inside I do wish there was a better way.

Which is why I think RedSnapper Onesies are a seriously GENIUS idea.
Check out the little red snap right in the middle. Its like Baby-Dressing for Dummies. As someone who loves organisation (colour coding makes me giddy!), this is my new favourite mommy-minute saving tip! Plus, they have some super cute styles to choose from.
Hey, but don't take my word for it! Now is your chance to win your very own RedSnapper Onesie! Click here and you could be on your way to singing the "snap song" only once!

Onto singing the chopping veggies song,

Stop the Press

2010-05-29T11:11:00.005+10:00

Okay, I must admit that I have been SO tired of all the advertising for the movie "BABIES." We don't often get movie ads on TV here so it has been the hype on all my baby product packaging that has driven my crazy. Quite frankly, I just hated the typeface they wrote BABIES in and decided the movie probably sucked.

Now, living in wannabe big town but still fairly rural Australia (I do love my city, but its true), I have NO idea if or when this movie will come here; however, I finally sucked it up to watch the trailer and I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE IT.Culture. Babies. Real Life. Some of my favourite thing all packaged into what looks like it will be a hilarious hour or two to spend my life on.

Maybe you're from the big city and I'm the only one behind the times on this, but this small town girl is saying if you haven't at least seen the trailer, watch it! FACT: I cried.

BABIES Trailer

Growth. Spurt.

2010-05-29T00:02:00.000+10:00

Growing is good. Growing in spurts = not so good.

What is the point of growth spurt? I hated them when I was growing. And I still hate them now that I'm growing you, my little boy.

I hear some kids just grow steadily. No spurting. I'd like to know where we were supposed to sign up for that option. I'm quite sure you would strongly prefer this option as well.

For the record though, I thought growth spurts were supposed to make you tired? I swear sometimes I look at you and wonder, "How in the world are you not asleep!?"

You have rubbed your eyes red, yawned long enough to swallow a fly or two, and yelped those pathetic, grizzly cries over and over but your poor little thing... sleep just will not come. When I look at you, I remember the childhood feeling of those achy joints - a dull, annoying pain that just won't go away - and wonder if you feel the same but with no words to tell Mama where to rub.

All you want to do is eat. But Mama's milk just can't come fast enough. I feel so sad that I can't seem to give you enough of what you need but I know that if you suck long enough more will come. Its the way God made us to work in a team. Its tiring sometimes. But I like being on the team with you. And when you don't feel well, there is no better place you'd rather be.

And so the training, the routine, the principles, they all go out the window so I can give you that little bit of extra comfort until finally, your ravished little tummy is satisifed enough to drop into a deep sleep.

I let you stay next to me instead of in your cot and even though the last little while felt so exhausting, in the moment, looking at you sleeping there, I know we made it! And I know we'll make it next time.

I love you little boy!! Grow good. Love, mommy.

You Know You're A New Mom When...

2010-05-27T23:57:00.000+10:00

...intimate moments are traded for a clogged milk duct massage.

Its All Good.

2010-05-25T10:05:00.001+10:00

At the end of an unideal nap-time session today, I was so ready to just get on with some "me" time. Ironically for me, "me" time is less about "me" and more about everything else that is not "baby".

Work. Housework. More work. More housework.

So when we had unideal nap time on a day when I really wanted this "me" ... uh ... "work" time, I was not thrilled when a quiet little voice in the back of my heart said, "Stop. Sit. Wait."

I headed to the door, willing to ignore it, but my heart tugged me back and I reluctantly fell backward into the soft rolls of my rocking chair. Wishing I had something productive to do while I stopped, sat and waited (where is that phone and why isn't my email downloading on it today!?), I noticed the Bible sitting under the lamp.

It was one of those moments where the last thing I wanted to do was look at it... (yes, I have those) but I picked it up and opened it up, lost and uninspired, to the very beginning. (Definitely uninspired.)

And then I started to read.

The creation story. The one I've read probably hundreds if not thousands of times. The story I've told my little boy at least 10 times since he was born. Yes, the very one I spent five days of the last week teaching about.

And yet, in all of that, it hit me in a new way again. (Okay, IT didn't hit me. God Himself hit me. Okay, He didn't hit me... you get what I mean.)

It was the part about rest... and it wasn't just a slap in the face telling me I am taking too much on or doing things in my own strength. It was the reminder that the reason that God rested was that "It was good."

And that the reason He wants me to rest is because what I've done is good!

I want to spend my life loving, respecting, and working in team with my husband, lavishing on and training up my little boy, and using my time to help people in a very tangible way. I want to do that well.

And when the week is over, I want to remember that I've done good.

Getting bubby to sleep sucked. The emails waiting to be answered were still there when I got back. And so was the ant infestation I noticed on my way to the bedroom.

But my heart... my heart was at rest.

Dreaming Again

2010-05-23T09:17:00.002+10:00

How does revelation come walking the aisles of Bunnings? There's something about the smell of saw dust that just makes the world okay for me.

It must be growing up the daughter of a contractor (who, ironically, ended up developing an allergy to saw dust and changed careers)... falling asleep on the construction site to a symphony of power tools while my 18 year old mother helped her new husband on the job...

Or the special memories of walking the aisles with my builder-turned-minister husband who can talk for hours about the physics of different types of hammers. And I'm not exaggerating.

Today as I walked those aisles, breathing deep and smiling at the elderly lady who had her arms full of a special project I could tell she was just itching to get started on, hoping that one day I could be just like her, I remembered the last time that I had walked those aisles.

It was the day that I had started labour and I remembered the very chair I sat in when I had the first long contraction that caused me to need to catch my breath. And the woman who looked at my sympathetically. And the shopkeeper who came to ask if I was okay as I laid my head on the little DIY table. And then the determination I had to suck it up and not show the pain when I realised that people saw there was "movement at the station." (I hated that phrase during the 10 days I was overdue, by the way.)

And while I enjoyed the memories that came flooding back - and the fact that there were special things about the day that made it so memorable that it would strike me in an ordinary moment like that, I also got a little bit sad.

Because if that day was the last day I was at Bunnings, that means that I haven't been to Bunnings in almost four months. And its one of my favourite places to be.

In that moment, I realised all over again just how much my life has changed in the past four months. There are the obvious changes - the weeks without sleep, the overflowing rubbish bins, the yellow poop stains on my favourite shorts, and the fact that my heart feels like it has tripled in size.

But its the subtle changes that surprised me... the fact that I had not had a moment to do one of my very favourite things in almost four months.

So as I walked the aisle today, holding the hand of my favourite man, as he pushed the pram holding our sleeping sweetheart, I relished in what it meant for my heart to dream again...

Planning the deck we could build on the back of our house, the dwarfed fruit trees (um, they have dwarf avacado trees now!? yes, please!) we would put on it and the friends we should share the fruits with... Calculating how many cold cokes we'd have to sell for a dollar to save the money to do it.

And picking out the new floor we could put down at our ministry centre so that our friends who have an Indigenous dance outreach could practice and the teenagers who need a safe place to hang out can dance their precious little hearts away... And feeling motivated again to get that grant application in to see it a reality.

Teasing. Laughing. Loving. Disliking. Problem Solving. Not having to use the toilet every 5 minutes.

It felt good to dream again.

Deal Alert - Muslin Wraps

2010-05-22T21:39:00.000+10:00

When we were preparing for our baby, I must have been given muslin wraps from about 4 different people. Before he arrived, I told people I didn't need anymore because I thought, "This is getting ridiculous! What will we do with all these blankets!?"
Little did I know, that these wraps would be an absolute staple in our bed time routine!! And we found ourselves doing laundry more regularly just to have the best blankets to wrap our little one when naptime came around. It got to the point where we decided having a few more would be helpful because we were getting behind on laundry (hey, I never claimed to be on top of everything!) and lo and behold the next day we got a belated baby present - a set of SUPER adorable muslin wraps. Ummm, perfect!
American mommies, if you don't have muslin wraps, I 100% recommend you get a set, particularly if you live in a warm climate. They are a staple for Aussie mommies and I can see why. Our little one sweats like none other. In fact, we ended up sleeping him in just a nappy and a muslin wrap swaddle almost every night because it was so hot! They're also perfect for a lightweight blankie, a semi-breathable shade cloth for your stroller/pram, and a million other things like an impromptu breastfeeding cover (although not as ideal as proper one), a burp rag, and more. (Disorganised or resourseful - you decide!)

So, all this to say that Toys-R-Us (Australia) has these on sale for half off - just $10!! If you don't have some, be sure to go snag a pack... or a few!! You won't regret it... and if you do, just send them our way! ;) Your timing might be the perfect solution to me actually doing a load of laundry!

Definitely NOT avoiding housework,

Check out these ADORABLE note cards (GIVE AWAY)

2010-05-22T20:40:00.008+10:00

I am a sucker for adorable things... especially note cards. I love writing notes - long ones, short ones, thank you ones, funny ones, meaningful ones. Its just something I love to do! And I really love having cute note cards to use.

I went on Etsy in search of some cute note cards and was thrilled to find flo3er Not only are her cards adorably handmade, but the prices are absolutely amazing. After growing all to accustomed to the "cheap" rack at Target in America, I have been shocked to find cards upwards of $8!! Sometimes that is my entire budget for a birthday gift!!

I was stoked to find these awesome cards at a really great price... even including shipping!

Flo3er agreed to send me some of her note cards free of charge to review... and the best part? Yep - she also sent me a pack to give away to one other lucky person! Aren't they too cute!?

The shipping was SO quick and they came packaged with a cute little sticker that had the perfect boutique feel.

One of the great things about flo3er is that she will even custom make cards for you! How is that for customer service? This truly is the perfect place for a mummy on a budget who doesn't want to sacrifice thoughtfulness... and adorableness. Is that a word?!

Isn't this one adorable?!

So, what do you need to do to win this super cute pack of 4 birthday tags?

You can enter up to 5 times. Be sure that you leave a separate comment for each entry as each comment will be counted as an entry!

1. First (you must do this one): Visit the flo3er shop on Etsy and comment to tell me what cards you like best.

Sample Entry: I like the Car Birthday Card for Little Boy

2. "Like" the flo3er Facebook page and comment that you did. Flo3er is new to Facebook so leave an encouraging welcome message!

Sample Entry: I liked the Flo3er Facebook page.

3. Follow this blog and comment that you do.

Sample Entry: I follow The Aussie Mommy!

4. Follow The Aussie Mommy Twitter and comment that you do.

Sample Entry: I follow The Aussie Mommy Twitter!

5. Blog about this Giveaway and send the link to your post.

Sample Entry: I blogged it!

This giveaway will close on Monday, 31 May at midnight! Winner will be announced on 1 June!

And the winner is...

2010-05-18T06:43:00.005+10:00

The winner of the Lilacs and Lollipops HideAway Nursing Cover, chosen by random.org is...

Debi Adams said...: Hey! I also 'like' the facebook page...good stuff.

Congratulations, Debi! You have 72 hours to email me at theaussiemommy@gmail.com to claim your prize!

One-Armed Wonder

2010-05-15T19:08:00.001+10:00

On February 8, 2010, I received a special gift... a super power emerged from deep within... I became...

A One-Armed Wonder.

Its true. All of a sudden, I developed these miraculous abilities to do day-to-day tasks with only the use of one arm.

I could feed my baby with one hand and make dinner with the other... I could type massive proposals one-handed and cuddle my baby with the other... Vaccuum while burping... Dusting while soothing... Text messaging with one hand!? (Well, I ashamedly admit I learned to do that one-handed PRIOR to having a baby) BUT, one time, I even fed my baby, blowdryed my hair, AND ate my breakfast all at once. So what does that one make me? A no-hand wonder!?

So, did I miraculously develop a super power? Or just become a mom?

As a multi-tasker to the max, I have an incredible respect for efficiency, which is why now that I've seen what I'm capable of I am stoked with my increased capacity, albeit diminshed by my new found responsibility... an adorable little man and new favourite way to spend my time!

With a salute to all my other one armed friends,

I'm So Tired That...

2010-05-13T20:56:00.004+10:00

Early this morning I was stumbling around the bathroom. Its funny how being so exhausted can make it that difficult to find the toothpaste and get it onto the toothbrush.

Apparently, I wasn't the really tired one though because as I brushed with half-opened eyes, my sweet husband stumbled in and had the realisation - "Wow. I was so tired last night, I put my underwear on inside out!"

Now, I always fold his underwear (right side out) meticulously to put it away and yet somehow he was so tired that he managed to get them that tangled!

It gave us both a chuckle and I was reminded of one of my most tired moments since mommyhood began...

I was walking home in a comatose mode, literally 100 paces from my house when all of a sudden I stopped. Left, right, or straight!? I could NOT remember how to get home.

A body does funny things without sleep.

What's your sleepiest mommy moment?

Book Review: On Becoming Baby Wise

2010-05-13T18:08:00.000+10:00

When my husband & I found out we were having a baby, how we would raise this child became a popular topic of conversation.

We knew a number of our friends who had read the book "On Becoming Baby Wise" by Gary Ezzo and Robert Buckham. We had a lot of respect for the way they parent and the way their children are behaved so we decided to have a go.One of the things that really stuck out to me about this book is that it strongly emphasizes the importance of the marriage part of a family. (Now, please understand I know there are circumstances where this is not possible, but I'm talking about a family where there are a married mom and dad. Sometimes we forget the importance of that relationship when we start adding kids into the mix!) This has always been significant to me, especially because I remember how important it was to my parents and how blessed I felt growing up in a house where my mommy and daddy loved and respected each other.

The other thing this book does is really empower the parents to be that - parents! This day in age, lots of kids tend to run their households. This book helps parents understand what it means to love and care for their children and help them develop into awesome adults.

I learned so much reading these principals and a lot of them we have incorporated into the way we care for our little boy.

One of the really controversial things about the book is that it advocates "Crying It Out." I don't really want to go there in this post because there are plenty of arguments both ways for this, but what I do want to point out is that it would be a shame to throw away all the very good tips this book has just because you don't believe in "Crying It Out."

I gained a lot of knowledge and insight into newborn sleeping patterns, how to feed, and the importance of learning MY baby and not just relying on a system or schedule.

I will say that one con for me was that while the book did encourage parents to learn their baby's cues, for me, it didn't help me know HOW to do that. While I really WANTED to get to know my baby and what he was trying to tell me, I didn't feel very equipped to do that.

In addition to a LOT of trial and error (which SEEMS against the book in theory, but really is all part of learning to be a new mommy or daddy, which the book advocates), I also found some other helpful resources in other books. Mostly, though, it has just taken time.

Of course, I'm constantly reminded that a mere three months into this parenting journey there are lots of other challenges ahead, I am really grateful for where we are at in our family. If you're looking for a good resource for your newborn or infant, I'd definitely encourage you to have a look. We are looking forward to reading more of the Babywise series to see what other tips may be offered for our little man!

Here's hoping for some more time to read,

Favourite Games at 3 Months

2010-05-11T09:07:00.000+10:00

At the three month mark, we've established a few guaranteed-to-get-a-smile activities with our sweet boy.

The number one way, is a little game my grandpa (I call him Papa) taught me and played with me when I was little. For this reason, it makes my heart ooze with happiness every time I play it with my son and see his smiles and giggles.

I sit my baby up on the edge of my knees, facing me and sing a little song that goes like this:

El Paso, El Paso, El Paso (bounce baby softly on knees)
El Trote, Trote, Trote (bounce baby bigger on knees)
Giddyup! Giddyup! (bounce baby super fast)
Whoa! (pretend that you're stopping the horse and lean baby back just a bit)

Now, my little guy likes the first bounce and LOVES the second bounce. The third is just a bit rough for him yet and he sometimes gets a bit of a confused look on his face, but I figure we can build to that as he grows in confidence.

Another game that is similar is one my husband plays. Our son likes it almost as much as its very similar. It goes like this:

This is the way the lady rides, lady rides, lady rides. This is the way the lady rides to church on Sunday morning. (bounce baby slowly on knees)
This is the way the gentleman rides, gentleman rides, gentleman rides. This is the way the gentleman rides to church on Sunday morning (bounce baby bigger and sing faster)
This is the way the hunter rides, the hunter rides, the hunter rides. This is the way the hunter rides to church on Sunday morning. (bounce baby super big and sing faster)
This is the way the baby rides, baby rides, baby rides. This is the way the baby rides to church on Sunday morning! (bounce baby all around and sing super fast)

What games do you like to play with your little ones!?

Loving the playtime,

Mother's Day Memories

2010-05-09T09:18:00.002+10:00

It was this time last year that our little boy made his debut into the womb.

To give a bit of history, we had spent a few months not trying to not have a baby, but as we looked at the potential timing of a little one's arrival, we decided we would need to stop "not trying" for a few months so we could time things better. My husband had been away during my prime time of the month so I figured we were in the clear and we would start being "safe" when he returned.

So, when I went overseas to work with a developing nation on a strategy to help improve their health care, I didn't take any extra health precautions. That week was a strange one. I was SO emotional. Usually I am very on it and enjoying what I do, but I found myself very sensitive and out of it. I even cried!! I was sharing a room with a friend during our stay and she secretly wondered whether I was pregnant because I was so strange.

When I returned home from my trip I was having coffee with a girlfriend. I was telling her how emotional I'd been and wondering what was wrong with me and asking for her to pray for me. Our coffee date went on and we were getting ready to leave and I had a thought - "Hey, I'm late. Do you mind if I run in and grab a pregnancy test?"

I know, I know. Stupid. But I didn't even put two and two together with the emotions.

I got home and needed to pee so even though my husband was having a meeting with some colleagues in our living room, I decided to take the test.

Of course, it was positive. What in the WORLD do you do stuck in your bathroom with guests in the living room when you find out you're pregnant!? I just stayed calm, hid everything and went and joined them. It seemed like they were lingering (they probably were, we hang out a lot and normally I LOVE having them around!) But when they weren't showing any signs of leaving, I said something really rude. I said to my husband, "I really need to speak with you privately before dinner."

They definitely got the hint and as soon as they were out the door, I showed him the test. Of course, I had purchased the cheapest one in the shop and we were both really confused at how I could be preggers so we did the only thing a naive first time pregnant couple would do - go buy a second test! It was positive too and so began our journey...

And now, a year later, I am being celebrated as a mommy by my precious boy and his daddy.

Enjoying this day oh so much,

Lilacs & Lollipops HideAway Nursing Cover - GIVEAWAY

2010-05-07T19:10:00.016+10:00

That's right... you've read the review about how much I absolutely LOVE my HideAway Nursing Cover from Lilacs & Lollipops... how it absolutely changed my life... how I can now peacefully feed my sweet baby in public without worrying about what body part is showing to whom... and how I double it as a cover for his Baby Bjorn when we're out to help his super stimulated little mind turn off for just a moment so that he can fall asleep when we're out and about.
Well, today is the day you get to change YOUR breastfeeding life!! That's right, the fabulous ladies at Lilacs & Lollipops are offering one privileged Aussie Mommy reader the HideAway Nursing Cover of your choice!!

If my first blog didn't convince you enough, well let me say that Lilacs & Lollipops have just released a new and improved version of their fabulous HideAway Nursing Cover. According to their Etsy store:

"We have improved our Nursing Covers by adding a Terry Cloth pocket and Nickel Overall Buckle. The Overall Buckle will allow you to adjust the Nursing Cover to the exact length you want and no re-adjusting for every use."

Now, I love my HideAway Nursing Cover, but any mommy saving minute like an always adjusted overall buckle really sounds appealing to me!!

If you're not a breastfeeding mum, well I would definitely recommend this Lilacs & Lollipops HideAway Nursing Cover for a gift for any mums to be. It is my new number one favourite to give to my girlfriends at their showers! You'll also have to check out the Lilacs & Lollipops store to see all kinds of other fabulous baby shower gifts with ADORABLE diaper clutches, bumbo covers and more!

So, are you wondering how you can win this fabulous giveaway from Lilacs & Lollipops? You can enter up to six times. Here's what to do:

Visit the Lilacs and Lollipops website and comment this blog to tell me what HideAway Nursing Cover you will choose if you win. (One entry)
"Like" the Lilacs and Lollipops page on Facebook and comment that you did. (One entry)
"Follow" the Lilacs and Lollipops blog and comment that you did. (One entry)
Tweet about this Giveaway and comment that you did. (One entry)
Follow The Aussie Mommy on Twitter and comment that you did. (One entry)
Follow The Aussie Mommy blog and comment that you did. (One entry)

The winner will be chosen by random.org on Tuesday, 18 May. Check back here to find out whether its you! Once the winner is announced, you will have 72 hours to contact me to claim your prize.

Enjoy!!

Asking for Help

2010-05-06T21:26:00.007+10:00

I'm definitely an independent person. I always have been. I spent a lot of time alone growing up. I was always keen to travel and take adventures. I'm not necessarily a risk taker... I just like to be able to handle things on my own.

That's my approach to motherhood a lot of times too. I know that I have the capacity to do what I need to do to take care of my little boy. I want to be assured of that.

At the same time, while I'm very confident in that, I've also decided that I really like to hear other peoples' experiences. I like to hear their ideas and what worked for them. I know that their choice may not work for me because their child, family and circumstances are different from mine, but I often find I get some great tips hearing from other mums.

Today I took a big step. I went and saw a lactation consultant. I went with this mentality: "I am fully capable of taking care of my son. He is healthy and he is thriving and that is good. BUT, there might be something more I can learn. There might be a way that I could do this better."

Thanks to the Australian government (Hey you Americans, the right national health care MIGHT not be as bad as you think... I'm just sayin'...), I was able to see a lactation consultant at an Infant and Parent Management Service totally free. The nurse I saw was very sweet. I took my son at a time when I was sure he'd be ready to eat and we just chatted.

Do you know what I learned today? My gut was right. He IS healthy and thriving.

I said: He generally only eats for around 10 minutes at a time.
She said: He is a very efficient eater. (She could hear him chugging away!)

I said: He still takes feeds during the night... sometimes 2-3 times!
She said: Is he always this active? (Yes.) Because he is always on the go, he needs more calories than babies who are content to just sit quietly.

Am I disappointed I went? No. I thought that these might be the answers I'd get. But I am really proud of myself for asking for help. For understanding that there MIGHT be a better way but there also MIGHT NOT for now. I am happy that I was open to the possibility and even happier that - as exhausted as I am - my boy and I are doing just fine!

From one vulnerable mum to another,

The Wall.

2010-05-06T21:00:00.006+10:00

I hit the wall today. Okay, maybe not THE wall. There are so many walls to hit in motherhood, aren't there? And then somehow we keep going again!

I didn't mind today's wall so much. The emotional wall, now that is a spooky wall to hit! Today I hit the physical wall. I just got to the point where I didn't think I could physically keep my eyes open anymore.

So I grabbed baby boy and even though he wasn't tired, we rested together on my bed. Him, babbling away to the lines on our wood-paneled ceiling and me, content to smell dried up spit up as I nuzzled into his cozy neck rolls.

Is it possible to be THIS tired and yet THIS fulfilled all at once? Ah, motherhood.

Is there anything better than a laughing baby?

2010-05-05T21:06:00.002+10:00

I don't think there is anything better than a laughing baby. Aside from Hamish and Andy, there is not a lot that can make me laugh out loud... but a laughing baby? Now, that is the exception.

I've always love the sound of a laughing baby, but I don't think there's anything that could've prepared me for the sound of my own little boy laughing.

Weeks and weeks ago, I didn't even recognise his laugh. There were these tiny girgles as he smiled but slowly but surely the gurgles started to get longer until one day I thought to myself, "Wow! He has been laughing!"

These days, my little man is FULL of laughs and I feel like the funniest person of the world. Isn't it fun to make people laugh!? And especially so you own little one!?

We have had lots of giggle session lately (admittedly, some of them when I'm supposed to be setting the tone for bed time... I'm a sucker, I know!). I finally captured one on video and just had to share because I know that a good baby laugh is always guaranteed to brighten my day.

I hope this one brightens yours!

Protect Your Kids in the Sun! (GIVE AWAY)

2010-05-02T08:58:00.006+10:00

When I first visited Australia, I got sunburned TERRIBLY in my first weekend. I was so naive, thinking that one dose of sunscreen would be enough. I burned horribly - to the point of blistering and everything. It was miserable.

Now that I have a little Aussie boy, I want to make sure that his skin is always protected. I'm very careful about this and now that we're going into the water with him and to the beach more, I've had my eye out for some great swimwear.

One Bored Mommy has an awesome option from Sun Protection Zone. You can visit her blog site and enter to win one of these short sleeve rash guards for your son or daughter.

If I win, I'd get the brown and white short sleeve rash guard.
I also really like the long sleeve suit. This one is cute, don't you think? Not only does it have the standard UV protection of all Sun Protection Zone's products, it even has a nappy changing snap at the bottom! How perfect!

Enjoying the sun,

My Baby Clothes Boutique Giveaway

2010-05-02T07:35:00.007+10:00

The Babywise Mom is at it again with a fabulous giveaway for $25 at My Baby Clothes Boutique. They have some fabulous little outfits which the Babywise Mom will tell you more about.

My personal favourite for our little boy? These little vest outfits... perfect as we head into winter!

Just picturing my little man playing in this one...

This is my absolute favourite!

By the way, if you REALLY want to up your chances to win, check out the Meg's A Mommy blog for even more chances!

Hoping for a great winner!

Breastfeeding in Public Just Improved Dramatically

2010-05-01T21:49:00.004+10:00

I remember my first experience breastfeeding in public. My mom was visiting from America the week after our son was born and despite the fact that I had had a bit of a hectic delivery (read: tearing an artery without drugs and requiring three bags of blood!), we decided to go for a hike to enjoy dinner with a view. It was a cool and windy evening and our baby needed a feed while we were out. Despite the beautiful sunset view, there I was with a muslin wrap trying to keep him latched on and not flash the world. I know some mums are cool with this and even though I'm happy to feed in public, I like to stay a little bit modest.

The next day my mom insisted on buying me a breastfeeding cover but we could only find one in town and it was $60 for this piece of square fabric. I was not impressed!

Instead, I hopped on etsy and found a wonderful seller - Lilacs & Lollipops. They had heaps of HideAway breastfeeding covers in beautiful fabrics with very reasonable prices!

Lilacs and Lollipops were great to work with. When my HideAway breastfeeding cover arrived, I was so impressed with the quick shipping and I don't know what they scented the cover with, but it had the most beautiful (but subtle) scent for the next few washes!!

It is so easy to feed in public with this cover. It fits right around my neck with a little pop out top so I can see my little man. Its also perfect to wear over his Baby Bjorn. He is one of those super stimulatable kids who is just always curious. Whenever he's tired and I pop the breastfeeding cover over his carrier, he falls asleep literally in about 30 seconds! Its breathable and I can peek down at him. PERFECT!

If you're a breastfeeding mom, i definitely recommend picking up one of these HideAway covers. It will seriously change your breastfeeding life!

Miracle Stain Remover

2010-04-21T17:36:00.000+10:00

My baby happens to be a champion pooper. It generally happens about 7 minutes into his feed. He starts getting a big agitated at the breast and then pulls off entirely with this incredibly determined look.

Its then I know what's about to happen... and I wonder... how big will it be? Will my clothes be stained?

The rumble begins and can go for minutes and can be heard within a 10 metre radius at least. It can also be heard over the phone. I know because a vendor I was on the phone with commented on how loud it was. Embarrassing!? YES!

I hear about kids that store up their poops for days and then have these rippers. Well my son seems to have these rippers MULTIPLE times every day! And for a while there when he hit the 5 kilo mark, he seemed to be between nappy sizes and I was the victim of blowouts several times every day!

Now, when I find myself covered in the yummy yellow mustard sauce courtesy of my son, I am so diligent to soak it in nappy san immediately and then put it in the wash. Unfortunately, we have still succumbed to some stains. I thought all was a loss until my girlfriend heard about our misfortune and offered me her "EXIT" stick to borrow.

This little stick looks very humble and almost homemade. But let me tell you, it is a miracle worker! My yellow clothes suddenly turned back to their beautiful shades of blue, green, gray, and yes, even white in under 60 seconds.

According to their website, "EXIT INSTANT STAIN REMOVER is 100 % biodegradable, compact and portable, and is a safe and very effective mutli-purpose stain remover suitable for a wide range of stains made by blood, biro, boot polish, grease, lipstick, red wine and many other household stains.

The active ingredient is a by-product of the citrus juice industry and is a natural substitute for most other organic solvents, this results in a safe yet very effective stain removing soap."

Exit Soap is a new must-have in my house and I recommend it for yours too!

From one pooped out mommy to another,

We Want to PUMP! YOU UP! (My Double Electric Breast Pump Has Arrived!)

2010-04-17T16:22:00.003+10:00

Yes, I have been so eagerly awaiting the day that my Medela InStyle Double Electric Breast Pump would arrive! I absolutely adore breastfeeding my little boy, but I am also a working mom. While I am blessed enough to be able to work from home and also have an area to bring my son to work, there are times when meetings are on and I need to leave bub with someone else to take care of him.

Because I've been breastfeeding exclusively, I've really been hesitant to use formula even for those occasions I had to leave my baby with someone else. I know breastfeeding is not for everyone but since it is something that is working for us, I wanted to maintain what was going into my son's body.

My pumping journey has been a bit on the hilarious side.

1. First, I tried a manual pump from a friend. I started out very optimistic., picturing an abundant flow milk pouring from my bosom. Then came the reality check. After about 15 very uncoordinated minutes, I found myself with a cramped hand, and an ounce of milk. I was so discouraged!

2. I then rang the chemist as I heard they hired out electric pumps which would hook up into this manual pump. I had to ring a few places before I found success and it was $30/week! Great for a once-off but not a good long-term solution at all.

3. A couple of days later I happened to be at a friend's house. She was moving out of the country and had a few items to get rid of so I was stoked to see that one such item was a electric (battery operated) pump. This was the funniest experience to date. I hooked up, convinced this was going to be the pump that changed my life. As soon as I got it connected, I cried out in pain! It literally felt like my nipple was going to fall off! I finally understood women who say they have great pain in breastfeeding and immediately felt horrible for them! Determined as I am, I continued to try but no milk came out. My midwife happened to be coming the following day for a home visit so I asked her about it. After showing her what I was going, she said, "First of all, this pump is too small for your nipple." (Hence the awful ripping feeling!) None the less, the battery faded out within the time that it took to try and show my midwife so I gave up on that one!

4. My husband and I decided to suck it up. We have been very thrifty with our "Baby Bonus" but this was going to be worth it. We did lots of homework online - and asking other breastfeeding moms - and decided to go with the Medela In Style Breast Pump.
Even the packaging indicates that THIS is the real deal! It arrived in a beautiful backpack with a compartment for the actual pumping mechanism on the bottom and a section at the top for bottles and the cooler bag (included.) There are all kinds of practical compartments which really excites an organised mom like me. It even came with a manual pump just in case!

My first pumping experience was in the evening and my baby was going through one of those big eating stages. He had all but sucked me dry but I still managed to pump 2 ounces. I couldn't believe how comfortable it was compared to the other pumps I had tried! It felt like a miracle and I waved the milk in my husband's face in joy!!

I now pump regularly to keep up a stock for those just in case times and always have a great yield in record time and with a lot of comfort.

Its a real blessing. This morning, our baby woke up about half an hour early. Being the weekend, my sweet husband grabbed him and gave him a bath while I kept sleeping (yes, exhausted from the other 3 times I had fed him in the night!). I started to hear my son's hunger squack but by the time I had come out from bed, there was my wonderful husband feeding our baby a bottle.

We love our Medela In Style Advanced Breast Pump and would DEFINITELY RECOMMEND it!

Happy feeding times!

What's Your Motivation?

2010-04-01T10:24:00.000+10:00

Whether you call it that or not, I think everyone has a parenting philosophy - a set of thoughts, values and ideas that drives why we care for our children the way that we do. I find that there are lots of good principles to chose from among advice from friends, parenting books, etc, but as I consider the decisions I make with my son, I constantly come back to one thought:

What is my motivation?

There are obviously a lot of motivating factors that drive what we do - from the big things like the way we were raised, our values, our spouse's values, and even our circumstances. (Let's face it, if you're child is hungry but you are about to wet your pants, you might go to the toilet quickly first and then come back to feed your child.)

I've identified 2 motivating factors that often challenge me in the wrong way.

1. What makes me happy.

Yep. I said it. Sometimes, when I'm looking after my son and I think about all the sleep I'm not getting or all the things I could be doing, I think to myself, "I have to find a solution so that I can get what I want! More time to myself! More sleep!" Sounds terrible, doesn't it? When I realised this is part of how I was thinking I was so disappointed in myself. How selfish!!

But there was another motivating factor equally as bad...

2. What makes my son happy.

I am a sucker for my sweet little boy's smile. It is so addicting. And making him laugh?! Oh my goodness, I never want him to stop! Sometimes I equate the smiling with the happy child I want him to be and his crying or disappointment as this negative thing that I want to protect him from. I think we all want that.

But reality is, being happy 100% of the time isn't life and the thought of raising my son to think that made me equally as disappointed in myself.

Life is about compromise. Its about what we do in the midst of disappointment - even if that disappointment is a meal delayed by 60 seconds because mum had to go the bathroom.

And that's when I realised that the answer to what motivates me has to be both - it has to be what makes me happy AND what makes my kids happy. But it also has to be more than that. It has to be what makes my husband happy. And what makes the world around us happy. I'm not talking about people pleasing - I'm talking about kindness, compassion, friendship and brotherly love. And not in the fuzzy wuzzy way - I'm talking about the difficult way - the way that highlights just how selfish we really are - the way that means that caring about others has to come above our own selfish desires.

Its important for my son to know that most of the time, his needs come first and his mum and dad are 100% looking out for him. Its just as important for him to learn that there times when mum and dad make the decision that something else is more important or equally important and his needs might have to wait a little bit.

So with that said and my son sleeping, I'm gonna go spend some "me" time with his daddy,

Huggies Nappies on Sale at IGA

2010-03-14T20:34:00.009+10:00

We're still in the process of trialing all of the disposable nappy options out there. In the mean time we are stocking up when sales are on. (For the record, we would love to have a go with disposable... so comment if you know of any good sales on some quality options.)

Huggies Nappies are on sale at IGA for only $20.99 for the large package. For newborn nappies that means only 19 1/2 cents per nappy... even cheaper than the generic brands.
We've found Huggies nappies to be very good (and have been recommended by friends as the best to handle those yummy mustardy newborn blowout poos!)

Happy Shopping... and nappy changing!

Let's Get Our Jog On!

2010-03-07T21:28:00.002+10:00

Who isn't eager to get out after that baby and lose that tummy!? I didn't gain much excess weight, but I really am not into the little "souvenier" that is hanging on my almost flat tummy!!

That's why I was thrilled when we received the "City Elite Stroller" as a gift for our new baby. I love walking and tolerate jogging because I know its good for me... and I love doing it with my little one inside his pram!

This pram is FABULOUS! In my pre-baby days have helped numbers of friends get their prams in and out of cars and always feel like the most incompetent child-carer because I can never seem to get them to fold or open. Literally the very first time I used the City Elite Stroller, I was able to both open and close it - with their patented one step process. It was SHOCKINGLY easy! It left me feeling like the most confident mom in the world! (Heck yes, I can do this!)

Its also very lightweight, and even though our tiny, fuel efficient car doesn't have heaps of boot space, we are able to pop one wheel off to fit easily in the tiniets of compartments.

Other things I love?

The easy grip handle bar... with adjustbale heights
The locking front wheel for easy navigation
The quick-tap locking break right at the back
Ventilation options for our very hot climate
The padded (and nearly fully reclining seat) - perfect for resting on the go
The efficient shade cover for the hottest of days and good sleeps for my little one
The ability to add on cupholders and other accessories
The ability to add on a toddler seat
TWO storage compartments

We have used the City Elite on dirt trails, roads, and concrete pathways and we love it! Most importantly, our little one is very happy in side!

The kangaroo and I both have our "joeys"!

You can purchase your own City Elite Pram on Amazon!

Well on my way to loosing that tummy,

Sleep in (Adorable) Peace

2010-03-01T21:06:00.004+10:00

I am not the mom who found I was pregnant and went out and bought anything and everything. I love organisation and detest clutter. As much as I love a good gadget, I was not about to fill my house with baby stuff I'd never use.

Add to that the fact that I'm (along with my husband) incredibly frugal. I had a candy stash that lasted me from holiday to holiday when I was little and saved almost every penny (literally! pennies still exist in the States) that I found.

So when it came to decorating my baby's room, I was not about to spend hundreds purchasing a matching set of cot sheets, wall hangings, nappy holders, and light switch covers.

I found a $6 set of cot sheets on a clearance sale at Spotlight, and as much as I love the clean look of all white, I just could not do that to my little baby.

In fact, I had one of those ridiculous preggo emotional outbursts about it to my husband one day. Sobbing in the car I irrationally asked him, "Am I already such a bad mother that my baby's room has no colour?! I have to do something!"

Fortunatley, my girlfriend mentioned that she had found an inexpensive - but awesome set of sheets at IKEA. Even though we don't have a shop in town and they don't ship, I hopped online and picked out my favourite set. The next time I knew a friend planning to go, I asked her if she would mind picking me up the set. She didn't and I have to say, I am stoked with how our little man's room turned out... for only $14 for the sheets!!

We chose this set for a few reasons:

The fab deal
Bright colours for stimulating our little one
Its not gender specific so in case our ultrasound proved wrong, we wouldn't be caught out... AND when we have number 2, it won't matter either way!
I loved the adorable little receiving blanket that came with it

We love it! Its super soft, washes well, and our little man looks very handsome sleeping on it.

May your penny-pinching be rewarded with fabulous results,

Choosing Where to Give Birth

2010-02-27T21:39:00.007+10:00

Choosing where to give birth is an important part of preparing for your baby. Every family, of course is different, but here is some of our journey:

We had four options for places to give birth in our town.

The State Hospital - as Aussie residents, this would be covered by our public health insurance (awesome!). Most of our checkups, however, would be with whatever midwife or doctor was on duty (not so ideal!)
The Private Hospital - Not having private health insurance, we would've had to pay outright for this. No thanks!
The Birth Centre - also included in health insurance (YES!) and our checkups would be with one midwife the entire way through.
Home Birth - There's only one midwife who does home births in town and he (yes, he) must be paid for outside of public insurance.

After seeking lots of advice, we considered some of our values and preferences and decided to go with the birth centre. Here's why:

Cost. Being that it was covered by our public insurance made it a BIG bonus.
Low intervention. I really wanted to have our first baby drug free. A big part of this was to see whether I could do it - I love a challenge! But as we did our research, we became concerned about some of the effects that drugs could have on our baby and that gave us even more motivation.
Low cesarean rates. Obviously, there are times when a cesar is needed and I am SO glad that the technology is there. We have so much to be grateful for in the developed world! However, with hospitals being over 30% cesar rates in my town, I was concerned that perhaps I would be sent to cesar without truly needing one.
One-on-one care. We liked this option more because it meant we didn't have long lines in the hospital; however, after getting to know our midwife, having one-on-one labour and breast feeding training, and developing a trusting relationship, we cannot recommend this model enough!
Beautiful environment. Some hospitals are built for this; others are not. Our State Hospital has lots of good birthing aids, and does their best, but it still feels very much like a hospital. Its small and clinical and loud.
Short recovery time. Again, I like to tough it out and I liked that generally a birth centre recovery only lasts 4-6 hours.

The room we laboured in with our little boy.

The Birth Centre is not for everyone. We were fortunate enough to have a "low risk" pregnancy - bub and I were healthy all the way through - so we were able to have that option. Unfortunately, due to some complications somewhere between 8 & 10 centimetres, we had to be transferred to the hospital. You can read the story here.

Having our amazing midwife made that transition GREAT. The hospital was a corridor away. She was a champion and really helped me through the whole rest of the delivery. I don't think it would've gone as well without her. Plus, she fought for us in the decision making when things were chaotic because she knew our prefernces. AND, since the birth of our sweet little boy, we have loved the follow up visits (usually at home!) and someone we can ring at any time with questions. If we had to do it again, we would definitely go with the birth centre again!

Soothie Soothes My Baby

2010-02-12T15:53:00.003+10:00

Dummy. Pacifier. Binkie. I'll be honest. No matter what you call it, I was the kind of mom who said I'd NEVER give my baby any "sleep aides."

And then I actually became a mom... of a crabby baby.

Let me tell you, things changed FAST. I know they say that crying is healthy. "Its your baby's way of communicating." "Its your baby's only form of exercise." But every mom knows, sometimes you're just desperate to help your baby calm down.

Fortunately, my mom was about to fly across the Pacific to the land down under and before she left, my sister (who has been through just about every pacifier in the shops) handed her a two-pack of Soothies as she was leaving.

According to the manufacturer's website, "Soothie is a premium pacifier designed for newborns and babies without teeth who are successfully bottle or breastfeeding. Its one-piece construction adheres to the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines."

From a mom's point of view, my first thought was, "I can't believe I'm succumbing to this." The second was, "Wow. My child looks ridiculous!" HOWEVER, when I saw how happy it made him, I was stoked! The Soothie is small enough to fit in his mouth and flexible enough to feel pretty close to the real deal. When he's not hungry but wanting to suckle, this is the perfect solution. Plus, it gives Daddy a way to help soothe him too. Good for bonding and to give mom a rest.

The best part is, Soothie's are very affordable. You can purchase them online at a number of outlets including, The Preemie Store. A 2-pack is only $4.29 (USD) and they ship to Australia!

Please comment if you know where to pick one of these up in Australia!