Meeting Molly the Guinea Pig...

On a recent play date at Aiden's house, his mum Sara took these great photos of Charlotte meeting their guinea pig Molly.

For a week there we tossed up getting one for Charlotte, but didn't think the dogs would be so taken with the idea...

Our weekly get-togethers with Mum...

Charlotte and I have been meeting my mum once a week at the local Gloria Jeans for a coffee and then we head to the playground for a play. Although the weather is getting colder (and windier) it is so nice to have a couple of hours of fresh air.

Mum brings her dog Roxie with her, and Charlotte is the chief dog walker.

Poor Roxie is usually dragged along the footpath, with little time for a sniff or a wee!!!

Then Charlotte whizzes down this slide at least 50 times!!! We have the same routine every week. But it is nice that way!

An arvo at Stretch Festival

A few Sundays ago I took Charlotte down to the Mandurah foreshore to be part of the annual Stretch Festival Parade. Each year the group of families with children with disabilities that I used to work with at Fairbridge, are part of the parade. It is always a little chaotic or mad (Brett's words), but that is not at all suprising as it is organised by my great friend (and Charlotte's guardian/godmother) Diana.

Aimee, Diana and Charlotte

Off we go...

I'm not sure of this year's theme, but they were all dressed in beautiful costumes with butterfly wings that they have spent months making. I took along Charlotte's fairy wings (thanks Mel), and she joined in, dancing and parading with the fantastic drumming/percussion group, The Sambanistas. Charlotte loves a good beat, and danced and giggled her way along the foreshore. For once the weather was nice to us and we had a great crowd who followed us too.

Clapping and dancing

It was great to catch up with some of the families and kids I used to work with. I miss the kids, but not the work so much!!!

This is Glen, one of my favourite blokes who was a regular on the F.A.I.R camps when I was still working. Like Charlotte, he loves a dance!!

Aimee & Charlotte

Happy Birthday Mum!!!

Today is my mum's birthday! And although she doesn't have a computer, and therefore doesn't get to read the blog, I just wanted to wish her a super Happy Birthday!

Charlotte and I were supposed to take her for breakfast this morning, but the weather was a lttle wild, so mum came over to our place.

Here is Charlotte and Mum blowing out the candle on Mum's Mud Cake slice.

Love Cass xoxo

Charlotte's new favourite past time

These are photos of Charlotte talking to Brett on the phone. She has hit that stage where everytime the phone rings it is a race to get there before her, and if I do she then screams at me to let her talk. She does actually talk to Brett, but as some of you have experienced first hand she prefers to just listen.

Brett says she has my telephone manner - complete with the wandering round the house as I chat. I do not, however, do so in my knickers, nor do I dance as Charlotte does. Sorry to disappoint you all!!

Cass xoxo

CONGRATULATIONS to all those expecting....

Firstly to my wonderful step-sister Arianna and her equally wonderful hubby Brett on the announcement that they are expecting their first bubba!! Soooo happy for the two of you. I know I haven't managed to catch up with you on the phone yet, but Charlotte and I are looking forward to seeing you soon in Sydney.

Next, to my amazing chickee Stace, and partner Andrew who are expecting a little one too. You two truly deserve every happiness in the world. So, so, so super excited for you both.

Thirdly, (yes there is a baby boom going on...), Sharon and Rob in Sydney are pregnant with their third bub. Congratulations you two.

Is there anyone else who has something they want to tell me?? I have lost count of the number of friends and family who are having a baby. All the more bubbas for me to shop for. Gotta love shopping for baby clothes!!

Sara, Georgie, Deb and Lisa (who are all at various stages in their pregnancies) sending you warm fuzzies. We're looking forward to meeting your little ones when they get here.

Lots of love to you all,
Cass xoxo

Some photos....

Still trying to catch up...

My current favourite of Charlotte -

A couple from ANZAC Day...

Finally into winter clothes - (I love this vest she is wearing)

No more photos please Mummy

That's it I'm off to bed!!

Love Cass xoxo

WOO HOO Brett!!

I am the worst wife in the world for not telling you all that Brett has got the new job he went for. Same place (Alcoa) just higher up, more responsibility, more money (yay!!) etc, etc.

He starts in three weeks, so he won't be coming to Sydney with us. Bummer!! But he'll be so busy he won't have time to miss us!! Yeah right!!!

Congratulations baby. Charlotte and I are very proud, and love you heaps!

Cass & Charlotte xoxo

GUESS WHAT????

Nope we're not pregnant!

Here's a clue......... Yep, Charlotte and I are getting on a plane or "air-pwane" as she calls them......

"Where to??" you ask......

SYDNEY!!!! Woo hoo!!!! And we'll be there soon!!

We arrive on Thursday the 7th of June for another whirlwind trip. We fly back on the 13th June!!

Can't wait to catch up with everyone!

Cass xoxo

Belated Happy Mother's Day...

... to all the amazing Mummies, and mummies-to-be out there. Hope you had a wonderful day and were spoilt by your loved ones. Charlotte and I had a quiet one as Brett had to work. We met up with my mum for an early lunch at a new restaurant here in Mandurah, and then headed home for the arvo.
Charlotte (with the help of Daddy) chose a beautiful inspirational book called Mother Wisdom, the Pink CD and a warm pair of slippers for my Mother's Day gift! I felt very spoilt!!

So, I will leave you with a quote from "Mother Wisdom",

"Remember that your children choose you long before you meet them face to face. They choose the parents that will best give them the lessons that they need to fulfil the life that they have to live. So have no fear, because your children will one day be very proud of the choice they made in making you their mum"

... and I liked this one too...

"Parenthood is a lot of hard work punctuated by moments of sheer joy"

Love Cass xoxo

A Scrapbook Page...

These are really old photos (as you can see), from Easter 2006. I loved so many of the shots I got that day, I decided to include them all.
I haven't scrapped a page in ages!! I really, really enjoy the process, but find I have very little time to do it at the moment. And when I do get the chance, it takes me ages to finish just one layout!!! Very Frustrating!!!
I have taken nearly 2000 photos of Charlotte since she was born, most of which are on the computer and not printed. I have given up on the idea of scrapbooking them all, and will only do my favourites!! The rest I will eventually print and put in a regular album.

Love to you all,
Cass xoxo

Some Recent Photos

Planting seeds with Daddy


Charlotte with best buddy Aiden


At Gloria Jeans - our coffee spot!!


Biker chick

Time for a change... How about a new uplifting song...

You may have noticed I have added a new song to the blog... Thought it was time for a bit of an inspirational uplifting one, as I try and get my head around the last few months with miscarrying our bub and all that!

When this song originally came out on the radio a couple of years back, I thought it was OK, but nothing special. It wasn't until I went to a conference about a year ago for National Caesarean Awareness Day that I actually listened to the lyrics. They are pretty powerful!!

Most of you know I had Charlotte via C-section and wasn't very happy at all about it (for a million reasons that I won't go into here). Since her birth I have had some contact with a support group called Birthrites: Healing After Caesarean (the conference organisers). I know, I know, it sounds like some hippy, airy fairy, tree hugging kind of group - it is anything but that. It is run by a group of amazingly supportive women who have each had at least one C-section, and many have since had a Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC).

(Gosh, I really am digressing, I promise I will get back to the significance of the song... bear with me).

I went to the Birthrites group meeting yesterday. It was the first time I had been since losing our baby. In fact, the last time I went in February I was announcing our new pregnancy. I walked in there dreading the inevitable questions about the pregnancy as most were unaware of the miscarriage. Thankfully I was running late, so I missed the usual casual chat before group. I sat down in the circle of women just as they were announcing the day's topic, which was "How has having a caesarean changed you for the better or worse?". I wasn't looking forward to it coming round to me. And I was tempted to speak about how it had affected me negatively. However, when it was my turn I told the group that I had unfortunately miscarried our baby. I shared that I feel that having a unwanted c-section has made me a lot stronger and assertive when it comes to me and my body. And that as a result of this I chose not to have medical intervention when losing the baby, instead trusting my body and the baby to do what it was supposed to do. This was a positive thing - even though it doesn't sound like it. I am sure I wouldn't have felt this way a couple of years back.

When I was driving home from the Birthrites meeting yesterday this song came on the radio and it reminded me of sitting with my wonderful, supportive friend Chris at that conference listening to the words, and watching the most amazing slideshow of beautiful birth, baby and family photos. The music was up loud and the images of women, all of which were VBACing, was the most inspiring thing to watch. I was bawling my eyes out as I watched, as was half of the room, and I remembered thinking that this song was a perfect theme song for me!!! Not only in regards to birth, but also generally in life!

So there it is... the longest and probably most personal post I have written on the blog, and you were probably hoping just for some Charlotte photos. But I needed to get it down on paper, and wanted to let you know the significence of the song. Thanks for hanging in there!!! And I promise I'll post some Charlotte photos tomorrow.

Love & Hugs
Cass xoxo