Boxing Day 2007...

Boxing Day turned out to be the hottest Perth December day EVER!!!! It hit 44.3 degrees by 1:30pm. We had planned to go to the beach, as we weren't expected anywhere else, so we were down there and in the water soon after 8am!!! It was absoulte bliss for me floating around in the crystal clear Indian Ocean. Very much needed after a hectic lead up and Christmas Day. It got hot very quickly though, so we headed home by 10.30am. The rest of the day was spent trying to stay cool in the airconditioned lounge room. A good chance for Charlotte to play with her stash of toys...

Now just New Year in a few days (quiet for us), early celebrations for Charlotte's 3rd birthday in February, and then the new arrival....... Aaaaarrrrgggh!!

Christmas Lunch...

We had Christmas lunch with Brett's family at his brother Scott and partner Jill's place in Harvey. Charlotte was again inundated with presents, and enjoyed playing Santa, giving out our gifts to everyone else.

I was very slack with taking photos at the Christmas lunch, as the heat was starting to get to me, and I couldn't be bothered. And as you can see from the shots below, Charlotte was hot and bothered too. I managed to get these few of her Christmas Day outfit (from my mum) before she stripped off to her knickers and jumped in the wading pool...

Nice pose Charlie...

And that was Christmas...

Cass xoxo

Christmas Morning...

Charlotte gave us a little bit of a sleep-in and rose at 7am. Mind you Brett and I had been lying awake since 5am waiting for her to get up. Present openeing was frenetic...

No time for photos mum...

A very cheesy grin...

Bringing Mummy (the beached whale) her gift...

Daddy reading his card from Mummy

Last minute card writing...

Charlotte was most disappointed when she ran out of parcels to unwrap. Never fear, mum was soon to arrive...


The later start ended up throwing us out as we had to be leaving our place at 10am to head down to Brett's brother Scott and his partner Jill's place for lunch. We were out the door by 10.30ish...

Thank you to all those who sent Charlotte (and us) gifts. She absolutely had a ball opening them all!!! She was very spoilt!!

Christmas Eve...

Brett worked Christmas Eve day, so Charlotte and I did a bit of last minute grocery shopping first thing and then had a quiet day at home. On Christmas Eve we went to mum's place for dinner. Mum made a lovely meal, and she and Brett scoffed down about a dozen oysters each. She catered well for the non-dairy/non-fructose eating Charlotte and the pregnant one, with lots of nibblies. Charlotte wasn't too keen for photos (at this point she was starting to get a cold... typical)...

Enjoying nibblies with Omi (my mum)

The tongue poked out helps with concentration...

My christmas angel...

Relaxing with Daddy on the hammock

I was feeling a little sick and uncomfortable so we headed home about 9.30 and all fell into bed...

The Christmas Festivities Begin...

I'll start with last Saturday 22nd December. Our neighbours across the road Peta, Gav and Mia invited us out on their boat to view the Christmas Lights of the houses on the Mandurah Canals. Boy, I wish I had taken my camera. I have never seen anything like it!!! It was a perfect evening for it, and the owners of the huge houses had spared no expense in decorating their places. Charlotte spent the whole time alternating between looking like a stunned mullet and yelling out "Merry Christmas" to everyone. She had a ball.

Sunday 23rd December, Charlotte and I went to see Santa's Great Big Wonderful Christmas Show in Perth, with my good friend Diana and her daughter Aimee. It was great show with The Fairies, Bananas in pyjamas, Postman Pat, Fireman Sam, Fifi & Bumble, The Koala Brothers and Spot. Apart from a minor meltdown on the way home from myself, that involved stopping on the side of the freeway and moving Charlotte's car seat from the middle to the window seat, so she and Aimee wouldn't kill each other, it was a nice way to celebrate the start of Christmas!!!

Charlotte practising her Fairy Dancing prior to leaving for the show...

Christmas Baking

Charlotte and I baked shortbread for her two carers at daycare - Elise and Candice. I can't actually be in the kitchen at the moment without Charlotte insisting that she help. So with very little patience at this time of year, on both our parts, it was an interesting process...

December 20th - Happy Birthday Little Bro

Happy 29th Birthday to my brother Morgan. Hope Nat and Hamish spoilt you rotten.

Much love,

Cass, Brett & Charlie xoxo

Santa photo 2007

We took Charlotte to see Santa on Monday at Myer. Last year she was more than happy to hop on his lap for a photo, this year she wasn't so sure. Check out the forced smile on her face...

I guess I should be grateful she even agreed to sit with him!!!

C xoxo

Santa's Little Helper...

Mum brought this outfit round for Charlotte this morning...
C xox

What else do you do on a cold and bleak supposedly Summer's day???

You take your three year old to see this...

It was quite good! Not as entertainig as some of the other animated movies I've seen. Charlotte enjoyed it though. About half way through she needed a wee stop and upon returning to the theatre with Brett announced at the top of her lungs, to me and everyone else, that she had in fact done a wee!! Too cute!

C xoxo

How to build a cubby house - Part 2

Here are a few more progress shots of the Cubby House...

Charlotte is always keen to lend a hand

Cass xoxo

My poor baby's been sick again...

Charlotte seems to have had a run of bad luck with illness in the last couple of months. First it was a double ear infection with tonsillitis, and then she had a nasty infected nailbed, that required some pretty strong antibiotics. The last round of sickness, was actually associated with the antibiotics prescribed for the finger. I was warned by the pharmacist that Charlotte may have an upset stomach from these particular antibiotics, but after 7 days of multiple completely liquid poos a day (sorry for the graphics), I figured this was more than a drug side effect or Gastro. So back to the doctor we go. I was only seconds into explaining that she had been on the antibiotics and describing her symptoms to the doc when she said she thought it was a bug called Clostridium, and could I get a stool sample??? I had never heard of this bug, but apparently it occurs when strong antibiotics strip the gastrointestinal system of all of the bacteria, both good and bad. The doctor went on to inform me that her own 20 month old daughter had had it for 3 MONTHS!!! Aaaarrrghhhh!

Whilst we are waiting on the results of the stool sample she is to be on a completely dairy and fructose (fruit) free diet. Two of her favourite food groups, I might add. Try telling a nearly 3 year old that "No you can't have milk, or icecream, or a banana (her favourite), or even an apple". Apparently dairy and fruit only aggravate the problem. She has been living on noodles/pasts, potatoes, vegemite toast and plain crackers. Boring!!

But she has been a trooper. Poor bugger has had to go back into Nappies full time after a series of accidents and us having to change the bed clothes at llpm at night on a couple of occasions. Needless to say the whole thing has thrown out the toilet training completely. My only hope is that we can get it back on track before the new bub arrives!! (Although, she will probably go backwards a bit anyway with such a big upheaval!).

So hopefully the results of the tests will be back early this week, and if it is in fact this Clostridium then she will have to have another round of antibiotics to knock it on the head. I am unsure of how contagious the bug is, so have taken all precautions and we have stayed home all week. She has missed out on a couple of end of year/Christmas parties which is a shame, but she couldn't have eaten anything anyway! I am only hoping that she will back to a normal diet before Christmas Day, or like me she will be really restricted on what she can have! (No prawns, ham or cold meats for me this year!!!).

Anyway, all is going well otherwise. I am 30 weeks pregnant now, so on the downhill run. I am feeling really good. No aches and pains as yet. A little tired by the end of the day, but my last lot of blood test showed low iron levels, so I am on a tonic for it now and hopefully it will improve. My midwife is more than happy with my progress. It is wonderful that she comes to our house for all my check ups, as it is far less stressful than sitting in a waiting room with a million other women at the doctor's office. She comes and has a cuppa with Brett and I and we talk about labour and birth, she checks my blood pressure and has a feel of the baby, and then we chat some more. It is just so relaxed. Sooooo different from my antenatal visits with my doctor when I was pregnant with Charlie.

We are taking it pretty easy over Christmas as Brett is saving up his leave for the new arrival, so apart from Christmas Day itself we will be sticking close to home. We have booked tickets to see John Butler Trio and The Waifs down at a winery in Margaret River for the day after Australia Day. I will be 36 weeks by then, and Brett thinks I am mad. But it is an outdoor concert where I can walk (or dance) around with Charlotte. I won't be confined to a seat in a theatre and worst case scenario, if I am not up for it, I'm sure I can offload the tickets. I just wanted one last day out as just the three of us, before our little one makes it's entrance.

Anyway, there is my catch up for this week. So much for my grand plans to take a photo, and hopefully blog most days of December. Only so many photos of Charlotte doing craft/drawing that I can take. Oh well...

Hope you are all well,
Love Cass xoxo

Craft days...

Charlotte and I have been having a few quiet days (which I must say is a nice change) at home due to her needing to be quarantined. But I can only be so entertaining, so the the craft activities have come out a bit this week.

Brett's Work Christmas Party...

Last Sunday, the three of us went to Brett's work Christmas Party. It was at an amusement park here called Adventure World. Brett and I have taken to calling it "Ye Olde Pissweeke Worlde" (for those of you that have ever seen "The Late Show"). It certainly isn't Dreamworld or even Australia's Wonderland, but Charlotte seemed to enjoy herself all the same. As you can see from the photo above, she had her first encounter this year with Santa. All went well, and when asked what she wanted for Christmas, she replied "lollies!!!". Poor deprived child. The two boys before her asked for Transformers and a Quad Bike (apparently a very popular choice this year according to Santa), and our poppet wants lollies. Makes for a very inexpensive Christmas then!!

About the only ride suitable for her age group was this little boat ride. She looks less than impressed, huh??? Check out the forced smile.

They had free Fairy floss available, and everytime we walked past it she said she wanted some "Fluff". So just before leaving Brett lined up in the huge queue with her to get some "fluff", only for her to freak out completely and refuse to even try it. I think she thought it was pretty and just wanted to look at it!!!

Some artwork...

Because we have been housebound with this yucky bug, Charlotte has spent alot of time at her little table drawing. I stuck a couple of her masterpieces on the fridge, mainly so she wouldn't destroy them and we would have a record of them. She has taken to drawing heaps of faces and sticking them all over the fridge with lots of magnets, and as a result every time we open the door they all fall off. I have managed to save a few...

This is Daddy (bottom right), Denim (the potato-looking one in the centre) and Troy the cat (the one with the very long tail). I asked if that was mummy bottom left and she said "NO!!". Not sure who it is!!

Welcome to the World Baby Ruby...

Congratulations to my wonderful friend Stacey and her partner Andrew on the arrival of baby Ruby yesterday morning. Here is a blurry phone pic she just emailed me...

I am so happy for you sweetheart!!! Charlotte and I can't wait to meet her tomorrow.

Cass xoxo

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY JANE!!!!!!!!!!

A huge Happy 30th Birthday to this girl....
I am so sorry I couldn't be over there in Sydney to help celebrate. We'll catch up soon!!

And while I'm here, since the secret is out - CONGRATULATIONS on your pregnancy news!!! You know we are super excited for the three of you.

Lots of Love,
Cass. Brett & Charlie xoxo

December 8th - Introducing Baby Jake...

Here are some pics of my newest nephew Jake. He is soooo cute. I have just got off the phone to his Mummy Arianna, who is knackered but absolutely overjoyed.

December 7th - Welcome Baby Jake Cooper Matthews...

My gorgeous step-sister Arianna and her hubby Brett welcomed baby Jake Cooper into the world this morning. Huge Congratulations to you both.
Sending all our love, hugs and kisses. Can't wait to see some photos.
Much love,
Cass, Brett & Charlie xoxo

December 6th - It's WIGGLE Time...

Today the three of us went up to Perth for the Wiggles Concert. It was fantastic!!! I don't think Charlotte blinked once - she was completely star struck. She kept turning to us and saying "Dorothy waved to ME!!", "Santa waved to ME!!". She was sure they were all there just for her!!

Charlotte's Favourite song - "Rock-a-bye your Bear"