Mother's Day Memories

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

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:

1. 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)
   
2. "Like" the Lilacs and Lollipops page on Facebook and comment that you did. (One entry)
3. "Follow" the Lilacs and Lollipops blog and comment that you did. (One entry)
   
4. Tweet about this Giveaway and comment that you did. (One entry)
5. Follow The Aussie Mommy on Twitter and comment that you did. (One entry)
6. 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

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.

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?

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)

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

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!