Husband of the year?

Or should I say Mari de l’annee?

I recently dropped some hints about how I would love a good girly magazine subscription to my husband.  These luxuries are few and far between in our household now, and while it will be sometime before my days call for much else than a pair of jeans and flats, I do still love to pour over the pages of a good fashion magazine and reminisce of times of carefree clothes spending and dressing up for Friday nights.

Husband picked up on the hint and proudly announced one evening that he ‘possibly was husband of the year’ and had ordered me a magazine subscription.  I was thrilled.  He was unsure of the title he ordered but confirmed it was definitely ‘some fashion, girls thing’.  Perfect.

I waited patiently and excitedly for some weeks for the parcel to arrive…my enthusiasm soon quashed when it finally did.  Below are issues 1 and 2 received…..

I don’t mean to be ungrateful, however (if I need to clarify), I don’t speak…or in fact read any French.

Lesson learnt – subtle hints apparently leave far too much open for interpretation - best to be completely overt and absolutely specific…or probably better, just do it yourself.

Post by Guest blogger.

Hanky Panky

During our antenatal course the one question (usually in men’s heads) that always ends up being asked is “When can we have sex again after the baby is born?” Of course I always answer “at least 6 months if not longer!” After watching the colour drain from the men’s faces and an ever so quiet ‘woohoo’ whisper come from the women I own up and tell them that’s just what I told my husband (sorry darling).

But seriously when is it ok to get back in the sack again? Well between catching up on sleep, eating, showering, cleaning, cooking and a screaming, unsettled, pooing, weeing, demanding, burping, windy, ever so precious (I really had to put that in) newborn, there just never seems enough time. The ever so wise words, "whenever you’re ready" (which I might add is very good advice) is all well and good but there are so many other factors to consider...

"when did bub last feed"? "When is she due to feed again? Geez when did I last have a shower? OMG look at the hairs on my legs not to mention the bikini line I’ve not seen in a while! Is this going to hurt? Is it going to be the same? Darn, I just remembered I put child no 2 in our bed to go to sleep…great, I guess the spare bed it is then. Hmmm I best move all the unfolded washing onto the floor then…ok, I’m ready…or maybe not, she’s awake :-), oh I mean :-(!"

The fact is each beautiful addition to your lives brings new interruptions. Take the opportunities whenever they arise (be they ever so quick…I’m sure he won’t mind!) Remember to enjoy each other’s company when you can and always take the time for each other.

Bec xxx

Whos' business is breastfeeding?

Am sure many of you have seen the media lately and the incredible amount of dialogue around the ‘highly controversial’ cover of Time magazine

If you hadn’t, the quick synopsis is – this is a mum, this is her son.  He’s 3.  There have been all sorts of comments about this, one I read even said it was ‘perverse’.   To me, it’s all lunacy and I can’t help but want to scream to all the commentary – ‘what business is it of yours?’  (Ok, so she let herself get onto the cover of Time magazine and the point of course has been to spark the conversation, but the fundamental surely is that it’s actually none of anyone’s business) 

My experience with breast feeding is quite the opposite of the Time mum, in that I wanted to quit very early on – but what is similar is people feeling like they have the right to comment. 

I personally do believe that breast milk is the good stuff and I am currently breast feeding my second child.  But, for me, breastfeeding is not something that comes naturally.  First time around it’s questionable if my babe got more blood or breastmilk, which I persisted with until I had a very hungry baby and a very sad disposition.  I was more concerned about the societal pressure I felt to continue feeding instead of listening to my sensibilities. 

So, there are plenty of reasons why people might continue to feed past what is socially seen as the ‘norm’ or to stop feeding before the recommended guidelines, or  to supplement feeding or not to feed at all – whatever the reason, it’s the business of the mum and it’s the business of her child.  And in my opinion, it’s not up for opinion.

Thank you to our Guest Blogger for the post.

Sauce - The Complete Kitchen Source

Has anyone been into "Sauce" in Toowoomba?  It is the most beautiful kitchen shop with shelves of pots, pans, glassware, crockery, napery and all things related to cooking and dining as well as a range of cooking classes.

Sauce sends out a newsletter with different recipe ideas and the cooking classes that are coming up.  I really like the recipe that was sent out this week (as below), it looks very tasty for a special mothers day treat and simple enough for another member of the household to cook for you!

Have you got any plans for Mother's Day on Sunday?

A quick recipe for Mother's Day. Potato pancakes are easy to make and a wonderful change to accompany bacon & eggs or some smoked salmon and hollandaise sauce.

500g potato, peeled & halved 125ml cream 50 Grams of flour 3 eggs, separated pinch nutmeg butter & olive oil Boil the potatoes in salted water for 15 minutes or until until tender. Drain well and mash very well. Stir in the cream, flour, nutmeg and stir well. Add pepper to taste and leave to cool a little. Whisk the egg yolks and add to the potato mixture. In a clean bowl whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks; a pinch of cream of tartar helps. Fold the egg whites gently through the potato mixture. Melt butter with olive oil in equal parts over a medium heat. Drop in spoonfuls of the batter and cook for 1 to 2 minutes each side. The pancakes can be kept warm in the oven while the remainder of the batter is cooked.

Photograph and recipe from "Sauce".  For more information  or to sign up to their newsletter at http://www.thesaucekitchen.com.au

This photo amazes me!

This is one of the photos on our wall at My Midwives.  The gorgeous woman is one of our Mum's whose bub is now over one!  I love it.

Today

After a long day I sit here at 11:59pm to just capture a few minutes of my day for Makayla to post in the morning.

Today I have been blessed in many ways – to be there at a wonderful birth, to see a woman who had a difficult time in birth transforming into an amazing mother in front of my eyes, to the good fortune to share another pregnancy with a dear client and friend, to have news that I will have a new nanny in the middle of next week (thank goodness!).

However I have also experienced a really sad day.  I cannot work out what we do to make sure that women REALLY know that they have choices in their care.

Today I have experienced the good (above), the bad (women “finding” us well through pregnancy) and the ugly (women experiencing things no one should ever have to experience and “finding” us way down the track).

I really, really respect the choices that women make – seeing a GP, caseload midwifery care, care with us, private obstetrician, elective caesarean, water birth – but I just WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE CHOICES.  The choices may be simple to make – being off the bed when they birth their baby – or complex – having a home birth in many areas in Queensland.  But we all do have the ability and the right to make choices for ourselves and our babies. 

Please take the time today to just pass the information on to a pregnant friend, relative or colleague.  They have choices.  If they don’t feel “right” in their stomach about the choice they have made, they need to get more information and make another choice. 

Liz x

What's right for us.

When I became pregnant I had no idea what was involved, just that i wanted a natural birth. We had private health cover and an obstetrician lined up but something didn’t feel right. We met with My Midwives and knew their model of care was the right choice for us.

Over the pregnancy my husband and I both looked forward to the antenatal visits in their cosy office, which came to feel like a second home. Any concerns or questions we had were met with honesty, up to date information and experience allowing me to make my own decisions, and be supported in whatever decision I made. Having my own midwife allowed me to get to know her over the course of my pregnancy, and her to understand me as an anxious first time mum.   When I went into labour I felt comfortable knowing she was only a phone call away and was there to reassure me, hold my hand, support my husband and greet my little one when she entered the world.

Before I had a baby I didn’t realise how much I needed the post care support service. We don’t have family close by so having someone you trust visit you at home just took one less stress out of those first few days, plus you didn’t have to get dressed and leave the house for a baby clinic. They were available 24/7 and came over any time we needed them to make sure all 3 of us were doing okay. Plus, I couldn’t wait each day to show off the little person we’d seen grow in my belly for so long.

I can’t wait to have another baby!