tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74177045494539750972024-03-13T15:31:03.347+11:00Tom and Katie Down UnderAaah look Katie!http://www.blogger.com/profile/05423940734613633110noreply@blogger.comBlogger341125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-24017943537980723982016-06-16T01:11:00.000+10:002016-06-16T01:12:33.696+10:00My Birth Story with Number Two<div>
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Shortly after Sienna was born, I <a href="http://tomandkatiedownunder.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/siennas-arrival.html" target="_blank">blogged about her arrival</a>. It was an emotional post for me to write, and I remember it
generating a fair amount of emotional response amongst those who read
it. Ironically however, most of the true emotion that I felt at the time
didn't make it into that blog post. Reading it back now, I talked a lot about the facts and very little about my feelings.<br />
<br />
Writing that I was 'stunned by the
enormity of the situation' is about as close as I got to documenting
just how damn hard I found things during and after my first delivery.
Why did I not write more candidly? It wasn't
because I didn't want to remember the feelings, or even because I didn't
want to admit to them - instead it was because I didn't really realise at the
time that what I felt wasn't the way it was for everyone - and wasn't
the way it always has to be.<br />
<br /></div>
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So - some bullet point reality checks to set the record straight:<br />
-
My first delivery was quick and traumatic. The pethidine made me
hallucinate and feel totally out of control. Things got stressful and my
baby was yanked out by forceps. She was beaten about by the trauma of
the delivery and I felt little to no emotion when she arrived.</div>
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-
The day after she was delivered I felt like I'd been hit by an
emotional tonne of bricks. The baby blues were immediate and very real.</div>
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-
The physical impact of delivery on my body was huge. I couldn't sit
down without pain for a good few weeks. I swelled up so much with the
excess fluid that I was a good couple of dress sizes bigger than normal
and could not get my shoes on for several days. I couldn't walk more than a
couple of hundred meters without my pelvic floor feeling like it wanted
to give in. </div>
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- My baby had tremendous difficulty feeding
which took weeks of perseverance to solve, as well as a handful of other
health issues which were thankfully minor in the grand scheme of
things, but none the less very stressful for a first time mum.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Only
over time, and through the counsel of some great friends, did I come to
understand that my difficult experience first time around was not a
reflection on my inability to cope with childbirth and a newborn. I'd
genuinely been dealt a tricky hand, and it took quite some time for both
the physical and emotional wounds to heal.<br />
<br />
I'd be lying if I
didn't admit that it put me off having a second baby. I always
joked that the conception of our second child would have to be impulsive
and very lucky or I'd get cold feet. Well, it was and before I could
change my mind our second bub was on the way. An army of
supportive mums assured me that the second time would be different, and despite the
fact that I wasn't entirely convinced, they couldn't have been more
correct.<br />
<br />
</div>
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And so here begins what this post is all about.. the delivery of my second bub, Joey...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NWhl6ZqrkdA/V2FsPf6ofyI/AAAAAAAACRY/aVleCrpYgLwc-peorfjRyMZjPpS3gVABwCLcB/s1600/JOEYBLOG_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="546" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NWhl6ZqrkdA/V2FsPf6ofyI/AAAAAAAACRY/aVleCrpYgLwc-peorfjRyMZjPpS3gVABwCLcB/s640/JOEYBLOG_2.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
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Pregnancy
with number two was a very different experience to first time around.
Chasing the tail of a toddler with a baby in your tummy is exhausting,
although it no doubt kept me fitter than the sedentary office job that
occupied me when I was pregnant with Sienna. Tom and I both had a
chuckle when a doctor responded to my low blood pressure reading by
enquiring if I was an elite athlete... I believe the last time I did intentional exercise was in 2012!<br />
<br />
</div>
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It
was otherwise a smooth and uneventful pregnancy. I was well cared for by the NHS
midwives, although I will admit it was quite a different experience from
the Australian private system. Instead of seeing the same obstetrician
month in and month out, I didn't see the same person twice throughout the nine months. Most of my check ups were in a temporary-hut in a
school playground and seemed to revolve around taking urine samples -
something which was not done once during my Australian pregnancy! Sienna
enjoyed coming with me to see the 'dot-dot' (doctor, aka midwife) and
watched the blood tests and so-on with great fascination. </div>
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<br />
By
38 weeks I was desperate for relief and delighted when the grandparents
arrived to help me look after Sienna. I'd been having Braxton Hicks
contractions for many many weeks, but they started to ramp up by 38-39
weeks and I had a few false starts wondering if this 'was it' or not.</div>
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My
expectation was for a quick labour. My first delivery was 7 hours all
up from the very first twinge to baby's arrival. I knew very well that
things are usually quicker second time around, so my main goal was to
make it to the hospital in time. I lied and told the midwives it was 5
hours, just in case they didn't let me come in quickly enough!<br />
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My
birth plan also had a number of changes from first time around - no
pethidine this time for obvious reasons, and instead I really wanted to
try an epidural. I chickened out of this option first time, afraid it
would slow my labour, or leave me with some horrible side effect. I also
enlisted the help of a budding-doula and very close friend, Fiona, to
help me during labour.</div>
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<br />
We all know that a birth plan
is really just a guide, a shopping list of 'nice to haves' in the
lottery that is childbirth. Well I won the jackpot that night, because
everything went exactly as I wished it to. For every challenge that I
faced first time around, I was rewarded with an entirely different
experience with our second baby.<br />
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I started having
contractions at about 6.30pm. Having had a few false starts in the
previous days I wasn't too excited, but an hour later they were getting
steadily closer together. The hospital surprised me by encouraging me to
come straight in, and we left home just after 8pm on a Saturday night
for a relatively pleasant traffic-free drive into Kingston. Being a
Saturday night also meant parking was easy at the hospital, and I wasn't
so far along in my labour that being in a car was too difficult.</div>
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I
was 3cm on arrival, not quite enough to be admitted. So they sent me
for a walk around. During this time we established a great system
between Tom and Fiona to help me with each contraction - Tom was my
physical support - squeezing my hand, letting me lean on him etc. Fiona
was my emotional crutch - talking me through each contraction and
lending me words of encouragement. After just 45 minutes I was the
required 4cm, and could be admitted to the labour ward. I called for the
epidural immediately and it was all set up and effective about another
hour later, 11.15pm.<br />
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I had a lovely Scottish midwife
called Miranda and the anaesthetist was very professional and calming.
Having previously thought I'd be terrified of the needle in my spine, it
was actually a piece of cake - probably helped by the fact that I was
on the gas and air by this point!</div>
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<br />
Whilst the epidural
took away all of my contraction pain, I still felt incredible pressure
from the baby moving down. I was under the impression that an epidural
would mean I couldn't even tell when I was having a contraction, but for
me I needed gas and air and a heck of a lot of cheerleading to get
through the pressure of every single contraction. In hindsight, this was
probably because the speed of my delivery meant it was all happening
extremely fast.<br />
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</div>
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Within an hour of getting the
epidural, my waters broke, the contractions got really close together,
and our baby was born in a way I could never have imagined possible.
Fiona guided me to breathe slowly and listen to my body - it felt so
unbelievably natural to slowly breathe him out. Before my final push I
felt absolutely euphoric - such a contrast from my previous delivery -
and I specifically remember thinking, 'I'm actually going to do this!'. The emotion
as I was handed our baby boy was immediate and real and full of love.
There were tears all around. I finally felt the emotion that I was
denied with my first delivery. It felt like the most wonderful reward
for surviving the first time around and being brave enough to give it a
second go.<br />
<br />
</div>
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The contrasts don't stop there - my
recovery has been so much quicker this time around. Barely a stitch and
no bruising has meant much less discomfort, I am not the size of a blue
whale (perhaps just a humpback), breastfeeding has been much easier, no
major or minor health concerns with baby - and so on. A tonne of bricks
has not come thundering down (yet!) and the blues have only been
momentary, perhaps a very pale shade of turquoise, and more likely
related to a toddler meltdown than a newborn-induced depression...<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-75Q1vtEYspQ/V2Ftd7Y-ifI/AAAAAAAACSA/cWdkQ6uqNAQhZx7WCWKEJVsMNvszLtzxgCLcB/s1600/JOEYBLOG_4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="606" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-75Q1vtEYspQ/V2Ftd7Y-ifI/AAAAAAAACSA/cWdkQ6uqNAQhZx7WCWKEJVsMNvszLtzxgCLcB/s640/JOEYBLOG_4.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
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My message here is two-fold and very simple. For all those women who've had a tough time having a baby -
(1) it's not a reflection on your abilities to birth or be a good
mother, and (2) there is hope for a better experience. Have confidence
in your body and the fact that it knows what to do. Take comfort that
your previous experiences will stand you in good stead for the future.
Believe that even if you don't feel instant love for your baby, it will
grow each day until your heart is fuller than you ever thought possible.<br />
<br />
</div>
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So
why was I blessed with such a positive experience this time? I believe a
good amount of luck, some careful mental preparation, the unwavering
support of Tom, and also the instrumental role of friend and doula -
Fiona.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l7w5xRbO69A/V2Ftv7g_XZI/AAAAAAAACSI/e9lLC97p2vQ5CpBa8mlrdaFG6RuvzlXdgCLcB/s1600/JOEYBLOG_7.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l7w5xRbO69A/V2Ftv7g_XZI/AAAAAAAACSI/e9lLC97p2vQ5CpBa8mlrdaFG6RuvzlXdgCLcB/s640/JOEYBLOG_7.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div>
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<br />
Fiona has become somewhat
instrumental in my life. She introduced me to my husband, was the maid
of honour at my wedding, and has now helped me deliver one of my precious
babies in the most wonderful of ways. <i>Everybody</i> questioned my decision
to have her present at my birth - most could not fathom opening up such
an intimate moment to someone other than your husband or the medics. I
think my differing outlook was a result of a few things - firstly Fiona
has had two wonderful deliveries of her own, and I was willing to try
anything to influence my second delivery to be more positive than the
first. She is also training to be a doula and I knew that experiencing
her first birth as a 'third party' would be critical in her training.
And finally, I myself had the honour of accompanying a close friend
whilst she give birth several years ago, and that had only served to
make our friendship stronger. If there was ever a reservation from
either Tom or myself, it quickly disappeared and we both agreed her
contribution to our experience was key. I'm not planning a third baby,
but if I was - I'd want her to be there, and I think Tom would too.<br />
<br />
</div>
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So
baby Joey has safely arrived. Eight minutes past midnight on the 5th
June 2016, weighing a tiny 6lb and 3oz (2.8kg). He's a delight and
Sienna adores her little brother. My heart is full :)</div>
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<i><br />CAVEAT: throughout this post I have tried to referr to my 'first pregnancy / delivery / baby' and 'second pregnancy / delivery / baby'
rather than to 'Sienna' and 'Joey' - because in no way does my
differing experience reflect on who my children are and how much I love
them. If Sienna or Joey were ever to read this (let's face it, Sienna
might, Joey probably won't!) I would not want them to think that the
positive/negative experiences I had was in any way a result of who they
are as little people.</i><br />
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<i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-apYyLd6ATOY/V2FsQDEoC1I/AAAAAAAACRc/YTdnSmns8YEv6v6gvzEzGFnvibRedcd1gCLcB/s1600/JOEYBLOG_3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-apYyLd6ATOY/V2FsQDEoC1I/AAAAAAAACRc/YTdnSmns8YEv6v6gvzEzGFnvibRedcd1gCLcB/s640/JOEYBLOG_3.jpg" width="640" /></a> </i><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u4sHsWx9Kwk/V2FsRpAuZII/AAAAAAAACRs/ybK3fmH1TO4MnsXeXq0GI3IiL-TUW4gIwCLcB/s1600/JOEYBLOG_6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u4sHsWx9Kwk/V2FsRpAuZII/AAAAAAAACRs/ybK3fmH1TO4MnsXeXq0GI3IiL-TUW4gIwCLcB/s640/JOEYBLOG_6.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fYLORY-txbQ/V2FsQ00DIKI/AAAAAAAACRk/cLeuDXoyQOE8YweHjQ-hTSbtXW0mN-NYwCLcB/s1600/JOEYBLOG_5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fYLORY-txbQ/V2FsQ00DIKI/AAAAAAAACRk/cLeuDXoyQOE8YweHjQ-hTSbtXW0mN-NYwCLcB/s640/JOEYBLOG_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sienna vs Joey at the same age!
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Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-2723831160797514422016-01-22T01:41:00.000+11:002016-01-22T01:41:18.897+11:00Little StreetWe had a fantastic day out yesterday at Little Street in Frimley with Sienna and her little friend Lucy. Little Street is a toddler-sized 'town' packed with 'let's pretend' adventures for children. It features a cafe, hair salon, medical centre, supermarket (my favourite part!), theatre, fire engine and construction zone. The details are incredibly realistic and ticketed slots mean that it isn't overrun with too many children at once. <br /><br />Sienna and Lucy had a great time 'together'. I use inverted commas here because they are still so young that they largely ignore each other, but the mums did plenty of chatting to make up for it! Sienna was very excited to have Grandad along for the ride, so I was rather redundant and could chat to Sally more easily than if I had need to chase around after her.<br />
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Here are some photos from our fun adventure!<br />
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<br />Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-59241700108555075692015-09-24T17:20:00.000+10:002015-09-24T18:07:28.099+10:00Leaving Australia... one year on<div>
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A year has passed. That's 365 days without Melbourne in our lives. Without our friends, the babies, the coffee, the football.</div>
<br />
I
couldn't let this milestone pass without a blog post. Another chance to
capture my thoughts because I know I will enjoy looking back on them in
the future.</div>
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<br />
We've had a wonderful first year back in
the UK, filled with family and friends, quality television and
convenient eating. Our lives are no longer punctuated by long distance
facetime calls, and Sienna's grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins
are firm features in her life. </div>
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The move was hard,
Sienna was tough, and the winter was long, but it was without doubt the
right decision. But that doesn't stop me getting nostalgic for the
things we left behind.</div>
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<br />
We miss our friends, and I
pretend in my head that the children have not grown up and nothing has
changed. I pine for Melbourne the most when new babies are born to our
old friends. Andy and Stacey - little Harriet was the first and oh how I
longed to be there with my camera! </div>
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<br /></div>
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We
miss the delicious and healthy take away options that were on our
doorstep in Port Melbourne - Hunky Dory, Thomas Dux, The Greek place, Foxes Den and of
course Crust (ok that's not healthy). I have no idea if Bay Street still
looks the same and if these places still exist.</div>
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<br />
I
miss the convenience of walking everywhere with Sienna - the park, the
beach, all of her little classes. Don't even mention Monica from Albert
Park storytime. My heart pines for this woman! Please come and train up
the UK librarians to be even half as good as you. Carla please send
videos... lots of them! (Special request from Sienna for Wheels on the
Bus or Open, Shut Them)</div>
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<br /></div>
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In leaving
Australia I left behind my colleagues and my job of ten years. It was a
second home and a second family, one which gave us so much opportunity
and supported us through good times and bad. Flying the nest to go it
alone in my own business venture has not been easy, but so far it is
paying happiness dividends for our family. Sienna has taught us to
measure success in smiles, not dollars. Daily life with a toddler can at
times rival the stress of a city commute however!</div>
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<br />
You
could argue that Tom left behind even more with his job. His 'dream'
job. Boy did we pick our time to leave, right before the Doggies make
the finals. Tom and I have an agreement that if they make the Grand
Final he will hop on a plane. I'm not sure Qantas take smiles as payment
so lets hope their exponential improvement levels off a bit...</div>
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<br />
We,
of course, miss our friends, but have been so fortunate to see so many
of them in the year since our return to the UK. Richard, Matt, Lucy
& Claribel, Lucy & Martha, Seb.. thanks to all of you for fitting us into your busy
travel schedules. I hope I haven't forgotten anyone...<br />
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<br />
Whilst Melbourne will always have a
place in our hearts, our return to the UK has taught us that fitting
back in really works. Our friends have welcomed us back into the fold as
if we never left, and we have made plenty of wonderful family memories
in the last 12 months.</div>
<div>
<br />
We look forward to visitng
Melbourne again and showing Sienna the place she was born. We can't wait
to visit old friends - Sam & Lou we hope *that* house is built
before our first trip over! For now however, I've stopped coverting
pounds into dollars, I've lost my Aussie-twanged 'no', and we are
falling in love with another place called home, all over again.</div>
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Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-48325635837963098172015-07-22T20:48:00.001+10:002015-07-22T20:59:04.075+10:00SIENNA52: Week 1 - Rolling AroundIt's time for a new photography project. Together with my dear friend and photography inspriation <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=656963460" href="https://www.facebook.com/christie.nelson12">Christie Nelson</a>,
I will be making a photo collage each week for a year, titled
'Sienna52'. After a lot photographs of Sienna standing in fields of
flowers, this project is about capturing the 'every day' and making some
memories of the things she loves because, as we all know, they change
so quickly!<br />
I will post my images in an album here on Facebook.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.christienelsonphotography.com.au/fred52/" target="_blank">Christie's project</a> followe<span class="text_exposed_show">rs her son Fred and I think you'd thoroughly enjoy her photography if you'd like to check it out. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">To kick off, here is week 1, titled 'Rolling Around'. Sienna and Tom have a ritual every night before bathtime.. she climbs up stairs and excitedly runs to our bedroom and awaits his arrival to pull her up onto the bed for a fest of rolling around, tickles and giggles! </span><br />
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Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-91631151945647011042015-06-11T06:24:00.000+10:002015-06-11T06:24:42.844+10:00Beach Hut Week 2015This week we've had a fantastic three days on the beach at Sandbanks. Sienna is now old enough not to eat the sand, but young enough to be entertained all day by it! With grandparents to dote and lots of photographic opportunities to be had, everyone was a happy camper..<br />
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I had trouble narrowing down the photos, so here's quite a few...<br />
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<br />Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-5007784762606110392015-05-21T22:08:00.000+10:002015-05-21T22:08:27.538+10:00Mastering the stairs...It's not come easily, but after a few Tumble Tots classes Sienna (at 19 months) can now get up and down the stairs on her own!<br />
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<br />Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-49246953639574465422015-05-06T21:25:00.001+10:002015-05-06T21:26:44.841+10:00Exploring the woodland...We are having fun exploring our local area, including the Woodland at Claremont House..<br />
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<br />Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-24147333036272157642015-04-21T05:09:00.000+10:002015-04-21T05:09:20.440+10:00Sienna at 18 months....As predictable as it sounds, I'm not sure where the last 18 months has gone... Sienna is 1 1/2 years old already and the time is flying by. She is becoming more fun and interactive every day - here is a glimpse of Sienna at 18 months...<br />
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- She is is now walking, spinning, almost running and climbing the stairs. She still has not crawled!<br />
- She loves to try and jump by bending her knees and shouting 'djum!'<br />
- Her comprehension is vast, she understands so much, but her language is yet to catch up. She seems to favour words beginning with 'b' and can say 'ball', 'bubbles' and 'blueberries' (three of her favourite things).<br />
- Her favourite time of the week is her ballet lesson, where she smiles and giggles for the full 30 minutes<br />
- She can throw a mean tantrum!<br />
- She enjoys the swings and slides, the beach and playing in the garden.<br />- Her favourite foods are pasta, avocado, babybel cheese, pizza and blueberries! If it needs to be delivered by a spoon, she isn't interested...<br />
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Here are some photos of Sienna exploring the garden today:<br />
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<br />Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-6395217604719921792015-04-01T07:25:00.000+11:002015-04-01T07:27:20.504+11:00Hunting for Easter Bunnies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Three of Sienna's cousins came to stay last weekend, and with Easter just around the corner we wasted no time hunting down some chocolate bunnies at Wisley. Emily celebrated her 12th birthday whilst they were with us - happy birthday Emily!<br />
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Here are some photos of our adventures...<br />
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Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-171811265442325212015-03-11T07:11:00.001+11:002015-03-11T07:11:24.217+11:00Walking in the garden with Grandad...Finally some sunshine! It hit 12 degrees at the weekend and the Brits were out in shorts and t-shirts... blimey!!! We are still in coats but are still enjoying getting out in the garden... <br />
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<br />Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-40259646933935352532015-03-01T00:29:00.000+11:002015-03-01T00:29:53.189+11:00Sienna & Duck [at Wisley]At last Sienna has dropped down to one nap so morning outings are an option (actually a necessity!). Today despite the dreary weather we went to Wisley for a walk through the butterfly house (third visit so far!) and a look at the ducks.<br />
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It was a hit with a nearly-but-not-quite-walking Sienna!<br />
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<br />Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-59245470640265867092015-01-28T21:33:00.000+11:002015-01-28T21:33:51.002+11:00Baking with LynneI'm rather behind on sharing photos here.. there is all of Christmas to catch up with! Whilst I buy some time to sort it all out.. here are some photos of Sienna and my good friend Lynne baking a cake together!<br />
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<br />Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-77390827951039554362014-12-19T23:11:00.002+11:002014-12-19T23:11:38.363+11:00A little update!I thought it was high time for a bit of an update.. since I last wrote we have had three new teeth, two lots of illness, one wedding, multiple frosts, and a lot of work in our home!<br />
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I miss Australia like mad, but the happiness we are getting from being close to family and old friends is immeasurable, and the more 'novelty' perks of being back in the UK are still going strong. The list of small things which make us happy to be 'home' are endless… a cold and festive run up to Christmas, Sky TV, calling friends and family in the same time zone, John Lewis 'Click and Collect' (my goodness, that's dangerous!) ... even Dave Lamb's voiceovers on Come Dine with Me!<br />
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Tom tries not to think about what we have left behind (remarkably positive for him really!), but I can't help missing my mummy friends, easy walks and the favourable climate. We are still awaiting our belongings which have now been absent for three months. I think once they arrive and are situated in our house my brain will finally realise that they aren't still sitting in our old Melbourne apartment!<br />
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There is plenty to do to keep me occupied however. Not a minute of nap time is wasted as aside from all the normal household chores, there have been Christmas presents to buy and wrap, unpacking and sorting to do, and the small matter of re-establishing my photography business here in the UK. I'm totally re-branding my business, making a new website and hope to launch in early 2015.<br />
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Sienna is now approaching 14 months old.. she has tested us with teething and temper tantrums, but most of the time is a happy and delightful little soul. She enjoys walking whilst holding our hands and can pull herself up to her knees, but not quite to her feet. She can stand whilst holding on to something, but hasn't yet gone for a 'cruise'!<br />
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She has four teeth, loves 'round and round the garden' and blowing bubbles.. is happiest in the bath, and could eat the world out of avocados if we'd let her!<br />
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Here are some photos from recent weeks…<br />
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Showing off her new skills in the cot</div>
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Visiting the reindeer at Garson's Farm in Esher</div>
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Giving 'kisses'!</div>
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Playing on mummy and daddy's bed (mattress on the floor still!) and (middle bottom) 'round and round the garden'</div>
<br />Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-58243455425861699922014-11-04T07:21:00.000+11:002014-11-04T07:32:17.196+11:00Is it really October?20 degrees at Branksome Beach... what day of the year is it? Hallowe'en! To have this temperature and a sunny day on 31st October is rather unusual, but we made the most of it with a trip to the beach with Granny Pam and Grandad.<br />
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There were people in t-shirts!! I'm still in shock!<br />
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Sienna enjoyed some laughs on a bench on the prom..<br />
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.. before some walking practice in the sand with Grandad...<br />
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.. and finally a little look at the sea!</div>
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I'm sad to report that the temperature dropped to 9 degrees today, just three days later! Oh well, time to buckle down for our first British winter since 2008... if my fingers do not freeze I shall continue to blog ;-)Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-33582605003697075022014-10-26T07:37:00.000+11:002014-10-26T07:37:56.844+11:00Sienna's first birthday party (lessons learnt and photos taken)...Just like everything else on the parenting spectrum, children's birthday parties are a learning curve. With one down, it's time to compile a list of things I've learnt for next year..<br />
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1. Cake - start earlier.. OR be less ambitious OR outsource to willing grandparent<br />
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2. Decorations - balloons are adored by children, but if buying one three times the size of the birthday girl, give her time to get used to it before attempting a photo shoot!<br />
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3. Food - cater for the number of guests you have attending, not three times the amount!<br />
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4. Venue - definitely hold a children's party in a house that you are about to redecorate - no worrying about the carpets!<br />
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Despite being less than a month after we landed from Australia, in a home with next to no furniture, we had a lovely little celebration for Sienna's first birthday. The theme (due to lack of furniture) was 'teddy bears' picnic', and grandparents and a few close friends with young children gathered to eat food plucked directly from Sainsbury's and onto the plate!<br />
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Here are some photos of the occasion...<br />
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The day before, Sienna's first birthday 'photos' in the gardens in front of our home. I was lucky to get a dry day and lovely sunshine!<br />
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Sienna with her Granny and Bubba (Tom's parents), opening her first gift - a doggie walker! As she can't push it yet, we are using it as a ride-on!<br />
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All dressed up in her party clothes... I still want to eat her up!! Does this feeling ever go away?!<br />
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Granny Pam, Grandad, Sienna, Granny Sue and Bubba</div>
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Time for cake with Mummy and Daddy!</div>
<br />Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-45543447954082881822014-10-21T07:02:00.001+11:002014-10-21T20:57:48.301+11:00Sienna turns ONE...Happy birthday to Sienna!<br />
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Today marks Sienna's first birthday and the first anniversary of Tom and I entering into the crazy world of parenthood... our tiny 3kg bundle of baby has grown into not-quite-9kg of smiles, giggles and cuddles, and we couldn't feel more blessed.<br />
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Sienna marked her first birthday in style by cutting her very first tooth, and in between the party preparations, cake making and present wrapping, I stole a few moments to consider the fact that we have survived a whole year!<br />
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Having a baby is the most wonderful gift, but also the hardest job in the world. The learning curve has been steep and we are still on the incline, but Sienna has taught us so much more than how to look after a baby. She has taught us patience and resilience, shown us that there are more important things in life than work, and filled our hearts with more love than we thought there was space for.<br />
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At 12 months she is a happy little lady who loves to babble (dadada), clap and wave. Her favourite foods are pasta, avocado, Babybel cheese and yoghurt... She can push up to her knees (just!) and bum-shuffle a fair distance. She is learning to walk when we hold her hands and takes adorable giant steps with high knees and stomping feet! <br />
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She has slept through the night precisely 16 times, which means I've had at least 349 broken nights. If you're surprised that I've counted these, your baby sleeps better than mine....<br />
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I've spent the equivalent of 25 solid days nursing (that's 621 hours, give or take a bit). If you're surprised I've counted this, then you need to get to know me better :-)<br />
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Sienna has adjusted well after the huge upheaval of moving from Melbourne to Surrey, and just to record this in writing for my own personal benefit, I do not plan on moving 10,000 miles with a baby ever again. I don't plan on moving even 10 miles with a baby for a while...<br />
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Happy first birthday darling Sienna May, we love you more than we ever imagined possible. With hugs and a million kisses from your Mummy & Daddy xxx<br />
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<i>Pictured above, Sienna's first 12 months.</i>Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-3999592761216252742014-09-19T21:33:00.000+10:002014-09-19T21:33:50.577+10:00Goodbye Melbourne...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been composing this post for several weeks. It's all about us leaving Australia, and it feels like a 'biggie'.<br />
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I've written a few 'big ticket' blog posts in the last five years.. leaving the UK, our wedding, Sienna's arrival... I write mostly for myself, to capture my thoughts for future reflection. I find it therapeutic to write blog entries on the big events in life, but they have also generated a greater response than I ever anticipated.<br />
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So here goes...<br />
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Five years. It's a big chunk of my life, our lives. It's longer than I spent at junior school, at university.. one sixth of my lifetime.. We came to Melbourne for a two year 'fling' and ended up falling madly in love with this wonderful city. It's welcoming, live-able, vibrant, sporty, foodie... a place we will always feel at home.<br />
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We arrived in October 2009, uncommitted and free from responsibilities - me, an accountant, and Tom a management consultant, totally unaware of how our Australian adventure would change our lives forever. We leave as a happily married couple, with our beautiful Aussie girl Sienna, and me, a budding photographer, and Tom, a sports marketer. We didn't just find sun and travel in this land down under, we found things that we are both truly passionate about. Tom took the plunge with a total career change, and has found his happy place in the world of sports marketing. I discovered my overwhelming joy for portrait photography and set up my own business doing something that I truly love.<br />
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Moving to Melbourne was the scariest thing I had ever done, but has turned out to be one of the most rewarding life experiences. It taught me that being a little bit afraid can be a good thing... had we stayed in the UK, I bet we would not have discovered our new passions in life.<br />
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It's not just the place, but the people here that we have to thank for amazing memories that we are taking back to the UK... I want to mention a few people here who have played a huge role in my Australian life, and who I will miss dearly when we leave. I'm taking a risk by naming a few people that there will be others who I've left out.. so sorry if you're not mentioned in person, but I promise I do love you too :-)<br />
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In no particular order..<br />
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<b>Christie...</b> how bittersweet that my closest friend here still lives in a different city. I'm SO glad I found you at the Tamara Lackey workshop back in 2011. We bonded over a passion for photography, and sealed our friendship with a shared struggle over babies that won't sleep through the night (although we love them dearly of course). You are an inspirational photographer and a dear friend who has captured my family in photographs that I will treasure forever (including the image at the top of this post). I expect you will be able to get a bit more done in your days now that we are in opposite time zones and can no longer have a continual day-long conversation via text message. There's nothing quite like an hour of CreativeLive/ClickAway/AIPP viewing with live chat between the two of us! How you juggled two kids and that many messages I will never know. Lets keep the dream alive for another photography workshop before too long..<br />
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<b>Shelley...</b> my mummy-friend from parenting classes... we were destined to cross paths. We have known each other only a year but you have been not only a trusted friend but also an absolute hoot to hang out with! You are eloquent and expressive, passionate and ambitious... an amazing mother to Hugo and oh-so-sweet with Miss Sienna. They shall remain betrothed to one another despite the distance, and I expect many a Skype chat with you in the future to continue the laughter... This is only just the beginning of our friendship..<br />
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<b>Claire...</b> my goodness how I will miss you! Our Tuesday swims, late afternoon meet ups at the park, and chance meetings in the supermaket... you have made the first year of motherhood so much easier with your advice, sympathy and cheerleading. We share a mutual obsession with baby sleep, let's not get started on temperature... We will miss you and Matilda so much, and here's hoping our paths cross again soon and the 'swim twins' can be reunited :-)<br />
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<b>Lou..</b> I first met you nearly five years ago, whilst you were in labour with Ben! I thought that was pretty random at the time, but as I've got to know you I've realised that going to a party whilst in the early stages of labour is just how you roll, and of course I love you for it! You and Sam have been a constant support to my family over the years... always able to provide child models, emergency baby advice, a good talking to, and a great laugh! I will miss seeing your little 'mates' grow up and your new house take shape.. Please keep in touch 'tidylou'... xx<br />
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(Kevin I know you will love that your are photobombing this image!)<br />
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<b>Jac...</b> without you we would not be here. We only found Melbourne because we found you! You hosted us on our 'reccie' back in 2008 and immediately I knew that Melbourne was the city for us. My early education at 80 Strand in the Australian delights of Tim-Tams and Fairy Bread stood me in good stead for what I was letting myself in for! Thank you for the connections and the welcome that have made this experience so fantastic. (Below photo is from 2007!)<br />
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<b>Lisa and Ali..</b> I couldn't have asked for a better work 'family' than you two.. Supportive both professionally and personally, our experience here in Australia would not have been the same without you. You have guided me on my career and given me opportunities i will always be grateful for. Lisa you were the first person to meet baby Sienna, and you've both let me into your lives to photograph your nearest and dearest... If we make the move back Down Under, I will most definitely be in touch... (sorry no photo here!)<br />
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<b>My mother's group..</b> it has been harder than I envisaged to wave you goodbye. Whilst Sienna will sadly not remember her little friends, but I will never forget the friendship, kindness and fun times that we've created as a group. Clea and Ella, Aneta and Lachie, Martina and Felix, Lucy and Claribel, Bree and Isla, Nikki and Makenna, Nicky and Jess, Carla and Harper, Liz and Tyler, Andy and Mason, Claudia and Clara, Tania and Perry, Viktoria and William, Antonio and Salome... we will keep in touch and hope for a reunion one day.<br />
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<b>My fellow YLTers...</b> what an experience. The year we all spent together was inspirational and thought provoking. You supported me through the tougher times of 2012 and inspired me to strive for the things that make me happy in life. In particular.. Lauren.. thanks for being my rock, Ben... your chaos inspires me (embrace it!), and Will, I hope our families paths will cross again because there are more good times to be had!<br />
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<b>Tom..</b> I wonder if he will ever read this? He's not a big reader of this blog, so this message may remain unread for years to come. When you do read it, I want to record how grateful I am to you for this wonderful journey you've brought me on... we both know that I came here for you, and you are leaving here for me. I wouldn't have done this without you, and am so glad we did it!! You'll absolutely HATE this public display of emotion so I'll stop there, other than to say I hope the rest of our life can be as happy as the last five years have been :)<br />
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We leave as not just Brits but Australians too, making a return Down Under one day a realistic opportunity. For now, we bid you farewell. Thank you, Australia, for welcoming us with open arms and changing the course of our lives forever... x<br />
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Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-57658590913676851642014-09-15T21:17:00.001+10:002014-09-15T21:18:33.813+10:00Five very random things we will miss about Australia...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>1. Cheesy music in the supermarket</b><br />
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I love food shopping to music. It makes me feel good. Last week Coles played The Spice Girls, Dirty Dancing and Craig David all in the space of one food shop. They know their audience, and I spent a fortune!</div>
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(Incidentally I think Australia might be the only country still regularly playing Craig David songs in public venues... please let me know if not).</div>
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<b>2. Healthcare freedom</b></div>
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Here we can visit any GP, anytime. Pick whoever you like, no geographical boundaries, get an appointment same day, even shop around for multiple opinions. It's amazing..</div>
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... on the flip side however, I still cannot comprehend a health insurance system that only covers inpatient care. Why oh why can I not get private health insurance that also covers me for outpatient appointments? Somebody please tell me!</div>
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<b>3. Traffic lights without the amber</b></div>
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In Australia, traffic lights do not show amber before green... Only before red.. And Tom LOVES it! (Yup, weird.)<br />
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<b>4. Squeesy tomato sauce</b><br />
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Does this UK have this invention yet? Perfect for applying ketchup to your meat pie with the ultimate precision, the squeesey tomato sauce packets are a feat to behold..<br />
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<b>5. Total ignorance of any type of watershed</b><br />
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The threshold of 'inappropriate' is WAY higher in Australia than in the UK. A number of words that would be 'bleeped' on British television are thrown around casually on Australian family TV shows, and it's not uncommon to listen to a radio phone in about sex, broadcast on a major station during the school run!<br />
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Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-16972234182746958562014-09-12T21:36:00.001+10:002014-09-15T21:19:48.237+10:00Highlights from Down Under...<br />
In the first of a multi-part blog series to mark our departure from Australia, I've decided to look back at some of the highlights of our time here 'Down Under'.<br />
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This is going to be a bit like one of those TV shows that just takes existing footage and re-plays it with new commentary over the top... yup, nothing 'new' here folks but hopefully some fun trips down memory lane...<br />
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<b>Most ill-fated trip: Uluru</b><br />
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This blog entry makes me laugh. We had quite possibly every problem that could have occurred on this trip - illness, lost luggage, cancelled flights, diverted flights, delayed flights.. sensing a theme? We had a great time though! I must have written the blog entry in a fit of rage and it still makes me laugh until this day.. it's worth a read, not just for the gorgeous photos of the most impressive and imposing rock I've ever seen...<br />
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Read it now: <a href="http://tomandkatiedownunder.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/uluru-saga.html" target="_blank">The Uluru Saga</a><br />
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<b>Besties-for life: Richard & Tamara</b><br />
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Our fab Canadian friends Richard and Tamara moved to Melbourne in the same month as us. We spent an awesome 18 months having tonnes of fun and good times until they sadly 'dumped' us during a trip to Adelaide and moved back to Canada! Our parallel lives have been the source of much entertainment.. we got engaged just months apart, married in the same year, and both 'Ramara' and 'TomKat' welcomed a first born with the initials SM in 2013. What's next guys?! We miss you SO much... I'm glad I documented some of these fun times that we had together:... (none of which are linked but they are there somewhere!)<br />
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If you're feeling at bit miffed at not getting a mention.. sit tight.. there are a number of individuals who have made a huge impact on our lives, and I will be expanding upon you guys in a future post...</div>
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<b>Visitors from Afar: Rosie wins the prize</b><br />
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We've been blessed with so many visitors from afar, to share in our fun times and great view. The Woods have visited not just <a href="http://tomandkatiedownunder.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/winter-with-woods.html" target="_blank">once</a>, but <a href="http://tomandkatiedownunder.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/the-woods-have-arrived.html" target="_blank">twice</a> and Tom's parents, <a href="http://tomandkatiedownunder.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/granny-and-bubba-arrive.html" target="_blank">Sue & Peter</a>, have been three times! We've welcomed <a href="http://tomandkatiedownunder.blogspot.co.uk/2009/12/bonza-crimbo-down-under.html" target="_blank">Emma</a>, <a href="http://tomandkatiedownunder.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/october-part-iii-visitors-from-home.html" target="_blank">Katie & Chris & Simon</a>, <a href="http://tomandkatiedownunder.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/christmas-rhymes-mistletoe-and-wine.html" target="_blank">Tush & Andy</a> (honeymooning no less!), <a href="http://tomandkatiedownunder.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/12th-january-2013-yarra-valley.html" target="_blank">Telfy & Ant</a>, Rich (fleeting return, but long enough to meet the real Peter Alexander!).. and possibly more people who we might have forgotten?<br />
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I asked Tom to name his most memorable visitor moment.. and Rosie Wood you have won the accolade! We award you the prize for your absolutely outstanding bravery amongst 'eagles' (known to me and you and cockatoos).. here is the video evidence:<br />
<iframe width="459" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/P_3vWvighRM?list=UUDyartf0XmK9FNdff6VEmJA" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>
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<b>Most-unwelcome visitors: Eight-legged friends</b><br />
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(there is no picture to accompany this 'highlight', because the images are already etched on my brain forever)<br />
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I'm not much of a spider-lover. I have insisted that we live on the seventh floor to minimise the risk of disruption to my daily life (this has succeeded with one week to go), but could not control the 'company' that we would find when travelling around Australia.<br />
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There are three horrific arachnid moments that stand out in my mind. All were met with the type of 'solution' that would probably win <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound_sign" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-decoration: none;" title="Pound sign">£</a>250 on You've Been Framed...<br />
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- Just weeks into our move, we were holidaying at a B&B in the middle of a dense forest (why did I not see this coming) with Tom's parents and a GIANT HUNTSMAN. After the B&B owner attempted to catch it with his hands and dropped it several times in and around our luggage, Tom and his Dad spent a good half hour performing a thorough check of both our rooms! More <a href="http://www.tomandkatiedownunder.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/back-to-blog.html" target="_blank">here</a>...<br />
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- I arrived at a rental cottage in Daylesford for a girly weekend with some work friends, to discover half our group in a flap at yet another giant huntsman on the wall! After decided we couldn't hoover the beast up, two brave souls gassed him with spider-spray. Ugh... if you want photos see: <a href="http://tomandkatiedownunder.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/october-part-ii-spider-alert.html" target="_blank">Daylesford</a> <a href="http://tomandkatiedownunder.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/october-part-ii-spider-alert.html" target="_blank">Spider</a><br />
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- Finally, I picked up a rather nasty species-unknown-but-huge spider on my wing mirror one day at work. After noticing it on the freeway I was pretty proud of myself for not crashing in horror. I refused to park in our garage for fear of polluting it with arachnids and so made tom come out into the road with a long handled broom to brush the offender away! I can't bring myself to link to the photo, it's too yucky.. but it's on the blog somewhere!<br />
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<b>Favourite holiday state: Queensland</b><br />
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We have enjoyed travelling all over Australia, but our favourite state has to be Queensland. It most closely represents stereotypical Australia to us, with gorgeous beaches, tropical weather, koala cuddles and tropical reefs. We've been to the amazing <a href="http://tomandkatiedownunder.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/hamilton-island.html" target="_blank">Whitsunday Islands</a> twice, visited the <a href="http://tomandkatiedownunder.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/arriving-in-tropical-north-queensland.html" target="_blank">tropical North</a>, toured the best of Brisbane and surrounds with Merryl, and spent a day unsuccessfully looking for whales with the <a href="http://tomandkatiedownunder.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/busy-times-october-part-i.html" target="_blank">Sea World</a> crew. We've also worn the obligatory stinger-suits on more than one occassion, in an attempt to convince ourselves that snorkelling is a fun activity (it's not).<br />
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<b>Best sporting moment: Tom's career change</b><br />
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Melbourne is a great place to be for sports. During our stay here we've been to four Australian Opens, four <a href="http://www.tomandkatiedownunder.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/button-brings-victory-for-brits.html" target="_blank">Formula One Grand Prixs</a> (pural spelling?!), three <a href="http://tomandkatiedownunder.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/i-composed-original-opening-paragraph.html" target="_blank">AFL Grand Finals</a>, two Ashes tests, multiple horse races, a million AFL games.. and just one soccer game (A-league is not that great!).<br />
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Perhaps the best sporting moment has to be Tom's career change to the world of sports marketing - a bold move that has proved life-changing for Tom and our family. Such has been his passion and dedication to the Western Bulldogs over the past three years, that his departure warranted 'Lister Week'.. a full week of celebrations, gifts and heartfelt words of appreciation. He received not one but two rather hilarious video presentations, a ginormous signed print (complete with engraved plaque), and some gifts-of-words that brought us to tears. Ever modest, he wouldn't admit to any of this, but I write safe in the knowledge that he won't read this to get embarrassed!<br />
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<b>Milestones for our family</b><br />
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We got engaged in <a href="http://tomandkatiedownunder.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/perth-and-margaret-river.html" target="_blank">Margaret River</a> in May 2010, had an Aussie wedding party by the beach in Port Melbourne in February 2012, and welcomed our best-Australian souvenir Sienna in October 2013. I have lots more to say on these topics but this is a strictly non-emotional post so will save those words for next time!<br />
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Okay.. that was epic and took AGES! I thought this was a quick summary re-hash post? I hope you've enjoyed this trip down memory lane. Nowust go and pack.... </div>
Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-89067528560320534812014-09-06T21:10:00.000+10:002014-09-06T21:10:57.984+10:00A Day with the DaffodilsToday was our last trip to the Mornington Peninsula, a place which has given us many happy memories during our time in Australia. Our good friends Shelley, James & baby Hugo invited us to lunch at the family smallholding. Not only was a delicious lasagne on offer, but the daffodils were in bloom. Marvellous. Where is my camera?!<br />
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As if the daffs didn't provide enough photographic inspriation, Granny Pam had knitted matching jumpers for Sienna and Hugo.The outtakes are cute as cute as the 'successful' photos!!!<br />
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Shelley and James, thank you for such a happy, happy day. The sun shone and a great time was had by all. Good photos, great food, even better memories...<br />
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Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-68187788266049076482014-08-18T20:25:00.000+10:002014-08-18T20:25:41.760+10:00We're moving!After five fantastic years in Melbourne, we've made the difficult decision to pack our bags and head home to the UK. Both incredibly exciting and terribly sad, it is a bittersweet decision which leaves a wrench in our guts but also fills our hearts with happiness.<br />
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We can't wait to see our family and friends back home without the cloud of an upcoming 'goodbye'... we are returning to our old house, will be close to great friends, and equidistant between our families.<br />
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I'm literally overflowing with words about our experiences here in Australia and the friends we've made. Be warned there will be a blog post of epic proportions before we leave.<br />
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We now have five weeks to pack up our life.. wish us (well, me probably!) good luck..<br />
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<br />Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-44309904163706208922014-08-15T20:41:00.001+10:002014-08-15T20:41:16.706+10:00I hate my hat!This little lady does not like to have anything on her head! So... my attempt at a photoshoot with her hot pink sun hat was always doomed to failure!<br />
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(Thanks Granny Pam for the hat, I'm sure she will tolerate more one day...)<br />
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<br />Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-33521004490250382752014-07-20T19:25:00.002+10:002014-07-20T19:25:26.174+10:00Sienna is nine months old...Hello again, thanks for coming back to read :-)<br />
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Sienna has now been 'out' longer than she was 'in'! Today marks her nine month anniversary and it was a beautiful winter's day. I could not resist but take her to the park for some late afternoon photos. The locals seemed rather amused as I rolled around in the grass juggling a rather large camera with a koala puppet to attract her attention...<br />
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Here are some facts about Sienna at nine months (again more for my records than your interest, but feel free to read)...<br />
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- Sienna can shuffle backwards on her tummy at quite a speed and covering a fair distance. She often gets her legs wedged under a piece of furniture!<br />
- She is now very confident at sitting and rarely topples over<br />
- She has (finally!) started sleeping through the night and has done it six times so far.. (when you've waited nine months for this moment, it is not usual to count the number of times the miracle has occurred)<br />
- She has no teeth!<br />
- She loves to eat squares of buttered toast (don't we all)<br />
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... and here are some photos...<br />
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<br />Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-23302801017714315962014-06-21T21:15:00.004+10:002014-06-22T09:54:02.029+10:00Sienna Travels : Part 4 - Family, Friends & PizzaIt's taken a while to write this final entry due to the sheer volume of images that needed editing first! But, with Tom working tonight and Sienna asleep, I'm finally going to complete the series. It's taken nearly a whole packet of KitKat bites (try them!) to complete the editing, but hey-ho, never mind.... Tom would say that's unhealthy but I can guarantee he will not have read this far to find out....!<br />
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Like all good stories, in this final instalment of our 2014 UK blog series, we've ended up back where we started - in Poole. The end is by no means close however, as we have an astonishing number of people still to meet!<br />
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In chronological order....<br />
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Our first guests were Rod and Christine (my Uncle and Auntie), plus my cousin Emma, her husband Marc, and their kids Jake and Daisy. Jake is my godson and we skype with Jake and Daisy from Australia, so they had met Sienna via the computer, if not yet in person. It turns out nine-year-old Jake is a natural with babies, and the oh-so-kind Daisy gave Sienna a cuddly toy elephant which I had given to Daisy when she was a baby. Said elephant has since become a *huge* hit with Sienna, so thank you Daisy :)<br />
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Also visiting on the same day were Uncle Toby and Auntie Melissa!<br />
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In between visitors Sienna enjoyed hanging out (read: taking over) Granny Pam's daybed, and soon also commandeered her iPad and magazine! Grandad, meanwhile, continued educating Sienna in the rules of 'Peepo!'<br />
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We also had lots of family friends visit whilst we were in Poole. Pam and Bob are long-time friends of the family and Pam has knitted some marvellous creations for Sienna (so has my mum, it must be something about the name Pam and being great knitters!). In fact, a hat that Pam knitted for Sienna as a newborn is still worn everyday at eight months old!!<br />
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We hosted an 'open' house one day, and along to visit were Margaret (my Godmother) and Gordon, Roland and Pauline (family friends), and Gully & Mr B (my ballet teacher of many years). It was lovely to have a house full of guests and Sienna enjoyed all the attention.. prior to our visit to the UK she had been a very timid baby, but she was very obliging in giving cuddles to all who requested!<br />
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The next person to meet was Mum's longtime friend Marion! It was a HOOT.. no more explanation required!<br />
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One essential stop-off every time we visit the UK is Pizza Express! Tom and I splurged on two pizzas AND two side salads, because, you know, we only go to Pizza Express once a year or less! It was divine and I cannot wait for the next time....<br />
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Sienna also paid a 'get well' visit to Aubrey and Valerie:<br />
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The final people for Sienna to meet, numbers 62 & 63 on the list but by no means the least important, were Di & Si! We had a fun time catching up with the Tammam family, and neighbour Val popped in for a cuddle too! [I know that sounds random, but it actually isn't - Val's daughter Amy lives in Melbourne and is a friend of ours, so Sienna and Val had already met during a recent trip. Are you following all of this? There will be a quiz at the end.]<br />
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On our final night we had a Hague family get together, which included a joint birthday dinner for Dad/Grandad (who turned 70 this year), Toby (age undisclosed!), and Tom (age undisclosed, but close to mine!). Mum made her legendary rice-krispie cake, and the three men did a great job of looking incredibly awkward as I made them pose for a photograph....<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UkouH2q1kRA/U6Vk1uJwz4I/AAAAAAAABos/J-1zJU5bk_Q/s1600/bday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UkouH2q1kRA/U6Vk1uJwz4I/AAAAAAAABos/J-1zJU5bk_Q/s1600/bday.jpg" /></a><br />
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We also took an updated family photo:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dqNohBtX888/U6VlDrYT33I/AAAAAAAABpI/ygVHeF7T5ig/s1600/hague.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dqNohBtX888/U6VlDrYT33I/AAAAAAAABpI/ygVHeF7T5ig/s1600/hague.jpg" /></a><br />
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On our final day it was all about packing and trying not to dwell on the upcoming goodbyes. We took some gorgeous photos with Uncle Mat, who lives in Bulgaria, and so has aptly been named Uncle Bulgaria (after the character from The Wombles). Mum thought it would be cute to get an Uncle Bulgaria toy. So did Mat. So now we have three Uncle Bulgaria's - two stuffed and one real! Obviously the real one is the best :)<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lqDQ37LCHx4/U6VlPIWGGFI/AAAAAAAABqM/nDf-va9NKJY/s1600/unclebulgaria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lqDQ37LCHx4/U6VlPIWGGFI/AAAAAAAABqM/nDf-va9NKJY/s1600/unclebulgaria.jpg" /></a><br />
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We also took some really sweet photos with Granny Pam and Grandad and I really hope you've all stuck with me and are still reading because these photos just MELT MY HEART! I cannot believe that I have taken this sweet thing away from her grandparents and brought her back to Melbourne because these photos just symbolise a very happy time and will be cherished for ever. Moments like this make the distance, the expense, and the upheaval of travelling 10,000 miles all worth it.... we will be back!!!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m7JMg1pcZjk/U6VlN1h2bUI/AAAAAAAABqE/UR8EsYbUItU/s1600/meltingheart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m7JMg1pcZjk/U6VlN1h2bUI/AAAAAAAABqE/UR8EsYbUItU/s1600/meltingheart.jpg" /></a><br />
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Congratulations if you've read this far! You win 100 points! Points can be redeemed for cuddles with Sienna at your next opportunity :-D<br />
<br />Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7417704549453975097.post-83623620471805758312014-06-20T19:10:00.000+10:002014-06-20T19:10:23.128+10:00Sienna at 8 monthsThe time is really flying now.. our little miss is growing up so quickly, and today marks the 8 month anniversary of her arrival!<br />
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A few snippets that I want to record about Sienna May at 8 months....<br />
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- she is an observant and thoughtful baby, always looking around, rarely making much of a show but taking everything in<br />
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- she now eats three decent meals a day, particular favourites are avocado, cruskits and water<br />
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- she weighs 7.6kgs and measures 67.5cm in length<br />
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- she can sit independently and roll over both ways, but shows no sign of crawling and is generally a very stationary baby<br />
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- her favourite toys are her Jumperoo (a true happy place for Sienna!) and her bead roller coaster (google it!)<br />
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- she is developing a good head of hair, currently in the 'spikey' stage, and very very fair (see image below)<br />
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- she likes to babble away at home (but is generally quiet when we are out), and favourite 'words' are babababa, dadadada, and huh-huh-huh!<br />
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Today we took some photographs to mark her 8 months (of course). Taking a photograph with the milestone cards is becoming near impossible because she just grabs it and eats it! Oh well... :-)<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yh1JvhJoQhg/U6P4enu3E2I/AAAAAAAABoA/bERNm7lOWeQ/s1600/sienna8m_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yh1JvhJoQhg/U6P4enu3E2I/AAAAAAAABoA/bERNm7lOWeQ/s1600/sienna8m_2.jpg" /></a><br />
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Everyone comments on her eyes, if I had a pound...... etc etc!</div>
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Oooh, the spikey hair, I love it!<br />
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My attempt at the milestone card photo:</div>
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Embracing the chubby legs whilst she still can:</div>
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<br />Mrs Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209349040744714877noreply@blogger.com0