Do I expect too much?

When I was growing up I have fond memories of my dad being very involved in mine and my brothers lives.

I remember him making us breakfast every morning before school. I remember him making us lunch too (hence the reason I now can't eat butter on my bread...yuuuuuugh.) but bless his heart..he really did try.

I remember him helping with getting myself and my brother to school.

I remember him, every morning without fail, checking my mothers car in the morning - the water, oil. Even up to pulling her car out of the driveway. I remember him always taking my moms car to be filled with petrol.

This has shaped my opinions and beliefs as to what the role of the husband and father should be in the home.

I expect J NOT to sleep until 6.20 when I have to leave by 6.30
I expect help getting my children ready in the mornings.

I expect J to NOT play tennis for two hours every evening during suicide hour when bathing both kids, homework and dinner and is on the agenda for that time.

I expect J to help me with the transporting of the kids too and from school and not to be asked "why must I make sacrifices by helping to drop the kids off"

Am I expecting too much???

Rewrite

I started off this post angry. I was really angry at DH as well as one other person..but I realised that that is too often my problem. I focus too much on the negative - so I decided to rather write about what good I had experienced today!!

You know my dilemma with the whole school transport thing? Well, today I got to the school at 6.40 - I waited till just before 7 before I left as there was no one else in her class there that early.
AND I still got to work on time!!! Ok granted, should there be any traffic issues I will be late..but I spoke to my boss and I think she kind of understands that that will happen from time to time. We will see how it pans out though. But I feel loads better about the whole situation!!

Then, helping Lem with her homework tonight. It gave me so much pleasure to see how much she had learned in one day! Ok I had a niggly tired baby on my hip but I was able to devote a lot of time to Lem and when she read her first sentence (actually READ - not recite) my heart just swelled with pride! She knew all the letters phonetically and KNEW what she was reading!

We had to cut out pictures in magazines of things beginning with "S" - and she really got it! Previously she just guessed.

My baby Saige cut her second tooth today..it has been coming for a while but today it actually came through.

Lol I got the cutest video of her using one of our stools as a walker..I will have to figure out how to get it off my camera to here..but it is the cutest thing ever!!

So all in all both my girls made great strides today and I am going to bed a very happy mommy!!

A busy week

So my little angel started Grade 1 on Wednesday. She was so excited and looks SO grown up in her uniform! In the mornings before we leave I often just watch her getting her things together wondering where my baby went.

The 1st day wasn't as full of Drama as I expected :) Ok..one small hiccup..I underestimated how much traffic there would be at the school itself..I parked virtually in Jeanette's driveway lol. She lives in the same road as the school - and then had to walk up to the school.

We got to the class and I showed Lem her place. As we walked in about 5/6 kids shouted "LEMON!" and ran up to her and gave her a hug..then one of the girls she had met the day before ran up to her and gave her a picture she had drawn of the two of them holding hands.
I can't explain it, but it was a really proud moment for me :)

So Lemmie seems to have settled in really well - I am so excited to be taking this journey with her!

There is however one damper on this whole experience.

The whole transport thing.

Last year Lem and Saige went to the same school which is on the next block. I left home at 6.30am - dropped them off, dropped J off at work by 7 and I would get to work around 7.45am.

Now, I can not drop Lemon off before 7am. So, I will have to drop Saige, drive 5 km's in the opposite direction to drop Lem off at 7am - that is peak hour traffic.

I do not know how on earth I am going to get J to work and then get me to work by 8am. It's not going to happen.

My only alternative really is to approach my boss about me starting work at 8.30.

My boss is not the easiest of people to approach - as it is when I get a call at work that one of my children are sick it takes me about 20 mins to muster the guts to ask her if I can leave, javascript:void(0)lol.

This is going to be a real challenge for me - Its going to be the case of 1...2..3...JUMP ! lol.

So tomorrow is THE day

That my baby start Grade 1! I really can not believe how fast the time has flown!

I have finally finished marking all the stationery and uniforms - that was a job and a half!

We had a induction meeting at the school today where Lemmie got to meet her teachers and see her classroom. We had a short talk from the Principal and if today is anything to go by I am 100% happy that I have chosen the right school.

She is so excited - she could barely contain herself! I truly hope this excitement continues and she enjoys school as much as I think she will.

She helped me pack her first lunch box - I put in some dried fruit, strawberries and Cheese, ham and may sarmies cut in the shape of a flower. Thanks Jeanette :) :)

My only wish was that I could be there more for her - that I didn't have to work full day so I could be a tuck shop mom and be there for her homework in the afternoons.

She is a really bright little thing and I am so confident that she is going to do so well!

Good luck for tomorrow my baby - Mommy is so proud of you!!

Heres one more..

A sneak peek

Kim thanks so much for asking me to photograph Xavier, he is truly a gorgeous little boy..I just adore him!!

Here are two sneak peeks so long - will get them to you ASAP.

Nervous for tomorrow..

As I mentioned previously I am photographing a friends baby tomorrow and I am rather nervous.
I've been reading alot of online tips though and I feel a leeeeeetle bit better :)

I did find a nifty new gadget though..I'm going to ask my brother in Perth to see what his price is. The Ozzie Dollar is better for us then the US :)

I am on leave for the next week and I am totally thrilled! I did want this past week as well but my boss felt it would be "too long and I would have too much to catch up" Blugh!!

Its going to be a busy one though..my eldest daughter starts Primary school and I still need to finish off shopping for her. But - I am looking forward to some me time - its been way too long since I had any!!

OMG look at the time...need to get some shut eye!

Love,
T

HUH??

That's so weird..I was just reading my post now..half of its gone?? Lol I remember what I typed but half of its not there??

Yay I have a ticker ..

So its time to start getting going on one of my Resolutions. I placed the ticker right at the top so I can't get away from it :)

I was shocked when I climbed on the scale this evening..I knew I was heavy but gawd not that big!!

For a second I wondered if the scale was faulty, lol as a year ago our house was flooded and as the scale was on the floor it was submerged...but..when I actually LOOK at myself I can believe that that's how much I weigh!!

I haven't really decided what diet I am going to go on.
I am still breastfeeding so that limits me somewhat.

For now I will start by watching what I eat and making healthy choices. Not that my choices have always been unhealthy - I always use Low Fat / No Fat as far as I can and our meals are grilled / baked, very seldom fried.

The trick is I need to start moving my a$$ - I do very little exercise. Many moons ago I was a body builder - I still have loads of that muscle left..so..start exercising - the muscles kick into fat burning mode.

I'm a bit nervous..

I have a friend whose baby is now just on 4 months old. She knows I have a keen interest in photography and as she doesn't own her own camera has asked me to take a few pics of her baby boy.

Now I am quite excited..but really nervous at the same time. I don't want her expectations to be too high (she has seen some of my landscape/macro shots - but my people shots leave a lot to be desired) that she is let down. I by no means claim to be anywhere near a professional's standard..heck I don't even watermark my photos! Its just a hobby I've grown to love.

I do have photographers that I greatly admire; Jeanette, Des and Natasha being my absolute favourites as well as good friends.

They all have very different styles but are all greatly skilled with great eyes for composition and I can only dream of taking photos like they do one day.

I will admit thought that I do think my skills have improved somewhat..but I still have a long way to go to take photographs like the ladies mentioned above.

Off I go to read some online tips re photographing babies - I just hope the nerves settle enough for me to stay in focus! lol

Good night!

So its 2009...

And what a party we had!! A few of us got together at a friends house in Hartebeespoort and had the most amazing evening! Natasha was the most gracious host and I can truly say I saw the New Year in with Pizazz!!

2009 is also the year my baby starts Primary school - Grade 1. Today we went uniform shopping. It really was a bitter sweet moment when I saw her with her uniform on. I had tears of joy - I really am SO proud of her! She really is a bright little thing..ok she's not writing story books or anything but she really is perceptive - not much gets by her. She astounds me every day with things she says and her interpretation of things . And as luck would have it I can't think of anything right now..lol !!

Another little milestone for me...
Saige was at the other end of the room today..and I called her. She crawled over to me as fast as her little legs and arms could and all the while going MA MA MA MA MA...ok it was probably just a random sound but to me it sounded like Mama and I'm taking it..thanks very much ! :)

After re-reading this thread I have to add another "resolution" to my list. I really need to take more time out for Lemon. She is honestly a gem of a child and because I am so busy with Saige all the time (she is a very needy baby..or maybe I'm a needy mom?) that Lem is growing up in front of my eyes and I feel I am missing it.