Welcome baby Michael DOB 27/08/2008

I can't believe that little Michael will be 4 weeks old tomorrow!! Where does the time go??

Hmmm, well here is me at 7.20am about to walk out the door to the hospital. I was feeling it a bit at this time with contractions comining at about 5mins apart. Went into labour at about 5am and was sure by 6am. Called my sister, Natalie and she came immediately and then we all went to the hospital (Nat wanted to be there too to see what it was like as she is very clucky at the moment).

At 10.29am here is Michael!! 7lb12oz or 3.5kg so he wasn't too big. He came very quick (Greg says about 10mins of pushing). Dr Booker was lovely and our midwife Janine was the best!!!

Proud Dad, Greg. Little Michael is a little bit blue and swollen (as you would be if you were about 2 mins old!!). Natalie wasn't scared either - after it all she said "I can do that - no probs". I'm glad because I didn't want to scare her :-)

As you can see the swelling has gone away and Michael is in his fav spot - on Daddy!!

He is being very good and I am starting to feel a bit more human now. After a very tiring pregnancy, I got the BEST present and am very grateful for that.

Luv Rachaelxxxxxx

Waiting for the baby

Wow, I just checked and I have not posted since 1 June 2008. As I am off work now (waiting for our little baby to arrive) I have a bit more time.

I do have to say it was a little sad leaving work because I do really enjoy my work, however I know that our new lady taking over is very good and I was not operating very well (especially in the last couple of weeks).

This pregnancy has really knocked me about - considering Alex and Jemma were fairly easy, this time round it has been anything but. I wonder if it is an age thing or a baby thing or a gender thing?? Who knows?? I don't think I will have another just to test the theory LOL.

My first half pay is this week, which will be a bit of a shock to the system. I have to admit I had grand plans to stockpile goods, save, get very organised prior to going off work. All this has pretty much gone by the wayside as I have been so tired and feeling yukky. I will get back on track after bubby is born (and I don't really think it will be a matter of choice!!) so I don't need to stress over finances. I am confident we will be ok and still manage to keep ahead in the mortgage (my main focus).

Well, our little man is due 21 August 2008. I think he is due 28 August 2008 and then predict he will be a little bit late. I am hoping that I will not need to be induced or anything like that, so fingers crossed. We are all organised and are just waiting now............... hurry up baby we want to meet you :-)

Getting organised......well sort of

I have had a pretty good week this week. I finally found some acid reflux stuff that works for me so I am not up half the night in agony - thank goodness. Bubby is kicking madly and growing quickly I think - I am now 28 weeks, still huge but the countdown is on. My pelvis has good and bad days - the bad days are bad but all in all going ok.

Here is a photo of my little flower garden as you walk up to my front door. It has beautiful purple pansies on the top and then two tiers of the white little flowers. I love the way they cascade over the pots - very cute :-)

On the work front it was also good news as the person we selected for my maternity leave role accepted the job. We are all happy about that as they are experienced and I'm sure will do a great job whilst I am away.

Here is a photo of me today at 28 weeks. It is not a good shot but I am not really feeling particularly photogenic really :-( Greg took it so I took one of him (below). We are going to a maternity tour at the hospital tonight. As I have not been to that hospital before (other than to visit friends) I thought it would be a good idea (at least we will know where we will be going!!!). I think it is a bit exciting too - things are happening........... I had my Drs appt on Wednesday and he advised I was now ready for fortnightly appts OMG - I think he sensed my shock and said how about we make the next one for 3 weeks - YES PLEASE - I mean I'm in there for about 5 mins and everything is fine, so that will save us a bit of $$$$ and every bit counts.

At last we have had a bit of a downpour, which is great as we really need the rain (so this gives me a chance to do some blog and some cooking). I bought 2kg of mince and have made up a big big pot of Spag Bol. I freeze it when it is done and it is an easy dinner for us all when I don't feel like cooking.

I made a huge batch of tomato/pasta sauce earlier this year (will definitely be doing this again) and am using my stash. Above is a bottle of it. Here is the Spag Bol below.

Greg and I went to some garage sales yesterday and it is always good fun. We got some bargains (well I think). We got:

• A vapouriser (not sure on spelling) for $8 (a friend highly recommends these and I have never seen one until now!!) Jemma had a cold when she was a newborn and I think one of these would have helped. So I am prepared and it can be used for "us" if necessary as winter is coming.....oops here now
• Some baby clothes for $12
• Baby bottles (Avent brand with attachments) $2
• A baby bag (Kapoochi) $2
• Some other stuff which I cant remember off the top of my head

I also got this baby change table from a garage ale a few weeks ago. I have never had a change table before but we kind of need the storage from the drawers so I got it. We also bought a cabinet to put nappies and clothes in too (the white cabinet)- to try and keep it all neat and tidy. We will be having the bubs in our room so I want everything close by.

Well that is the week in a nutshell. Alex is in Bali with her dad and Jemma is at her dad's this week. So it is a quiet week for Greg and I :-)

Bye and take care

Rachaelxxxxxxx

My week

I have had a fairly good week this week. I had Friday off work which was nice because after 9 days of work I am getting tired now.....

I am 27 weeks pregnant - I noticed that I hadn't really disclosed that on the blog before!! I am on the downhill run, thank goodness as this time has not been much fun at all....... I'm too old I think :-P This baby is going to be a boy - so the ultrasound lady said - Jemma and Greg (and everyone else except me) wanted to know........I really didn't care but it is nice to get organised for our new little addition.

I had plans to take some photos of some lovely things around the home, Jemma etc however when I attempted to take photos, our batteries had died - Greg said they just wouldn't hold charge anymore (we have rechargeable ones) so I couldn't take any photos. BUT we went shopping and bought some and they are now charging away, so I will be able to put some photo's up later.

The photo above is of Jemma at Christmas time - I think it is very cute :-0 Jemma had a good week this week but seemed to go downhill over the weekend - oh well as we know with Jem - if she is feeling blue, she makes sure everyone else is too!!! She is now asleep and looks so cute - you would never know the terror that lurks beneath LOL!!!! Shame I can't get a photo :-(

Next week will be quiet as Alex is going to Bali. Her dad is shouting her a trip, so she will have a great time I'm sure. She is off tomorrow and working a half day. Have fun Alex xxxx Jem will be with her dad, so it will just be Greg and I (and the ever kicking baby!!! and all our fur babies). I am going to sort out stuff for the baby and get organised.

Some photo's next week................. Have a fun week everyone.......... Rachxxxx

What a fortnight..........

It has been a bit of a busy fortnight and I haven't really been feeling very well. Last week I was ok but the week before, my pelvis was really giving me grief and I was sleep deprived (which I can't handle). I did have some exciting news that my parents bought a beautiful new home 1 hour from me up on the Central Coast. The house is DEVINE - I wish it was mine!!! I am really happy for them. They have now headed down to the South Coast again before being back in their new place at the end of June. YAY.

Oh well I am feeling a bit better now - I will have to get Greg to take a photo of me - I am HUGE....... someone at work asked me if I had about 5 weeks to go............. umm NO more like 14 weeks aggrrrh. So not much to report for the past 2 weeks. I am going to try and update at least once per week to keep some consistancy.

It's cold and we have the fire going which is wonderful. All the animals are in (see Cody on the scratching post in photo above) and below are the others....

Victor, Squishy and Honey are all curled up on the lounge and Donut and Poppy are in their crate - they are all warm and toasty for the night. We decided to try crating for the dogs as in the night when we let them in, they would run around the lounge room and go to the toilet all over the floor. So, I bought the crate and they only took about a week to get used to it and WOW it is so good - they sleep all night and we let them out in the morning. They love it and we love it. I can highly recommend crating to anyone for their dogs.

For those looking for a cheap and easy dinner here is an idea:

Chicken soup with cheesey scones

Put a leftover roasted chicken carcass into a pot of cold water and boil for say 1 hour. Then strain and pick all the yummy chicken off the carcass and put chicken back in the pot with the strained stock. Discard the bones/carcass. Add any vegies you like (I had celery and carrot) and a bit of soup mix if you have it (I didn't). Maybe some pasta (a handful or so) and boil for say another hour or so. Oh and I added a tablespoon of veggie stock powder I have. YUMMY soup!!!

For the scones, Preheat oven to 220C, put about 2 or 3 heaped cups of SR flour into a bowl, pinch of salt and pepper, some chives/parsley chopped and 3/4 grater full of tasty cheese. Mix up and then add some milk to get it to a dough (not sticky). Turn out and cut rounds and put on tray with baking paper on the bottom so it doesn't stick. Brush with some leftover milk and finely grate some cheese and sprinkle on top. Put in the oven for about 10 - 15mins. YUMMY scones!!! (I made about 16 largish ones with 3cups flour)

We had this for dinner (had the scones for lunch too) and it is cheap, easy and very delish. The soup can be modified any way you like.

Well I hope everyone has a great week and I will post again on Sunday night.

A simple life in Sydney

Today is a beautiful day in Sydney now that all the rain has stopped (briefly??). I decided to go for a drive to the Blue Mountains and it was beautiful. I stopped off at Leura and looked at the shops - I was very good and didn't buy anything (things were just too expensive for my budget) but it was lovely just getting out and looking.

I came home to a beautiful clean house as Greg had spent his time doing washing and vacuuming - thanks Gregxxxxxxx.

Whilst I am writing this I am having a cup of home made coffee from our espresso machine and some banana bread that I made yesterday. This banana bread recipe is as good, if not better than the bought banana bread and my friend Louise gave me the recipe. This would have cost approx $6+ if bought at the coffee shop but it cost me a LOT less than that to have at home.

Here is the recipe - you won't be dissapointed I promise!!!

Melt and Mix Banana Bread

300ml sour cream (or make it with cream and lemon juice)

1 tsp bicarb of soda

125g unsalted butter - melted (I do use the normal butter which has salt in it & it tastes good)

1 cup caster sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 3/4 cups plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon (ground)

2 ripe bananas mashed (or substitute 1 cup berries & 1 or 2 pears chopped)

Preheat oven to 180c (or 160c fan forced). Grease loaf tin (a tin one is better - it is sturdy).

In a large bowl mix together sour cream and bicarb, set aside for 5 mins, then stir in melted butter, sugar & eggs.

In another bowl combine sifted flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Gradually fold in sour cream mixture, followed by bananas (or substitute).

Pour mixture into tin and bake for 1 - 1 1/2 hours or until cooked. Set aside to cool in tin for about 20mins before turning out.

YUM YUM YUM - just finished mine and it was delicious.

Have a great dayxxxxxxxx

A BIG lurker and a bit lazy

My chook pen with passionfruit and jasmine growing over it

Well, I checked my blog yesterday and WOW I haven't posted since October 07. I do have some excuses including I AM LAZY but also because I was arranging our holiday to Tasmania in early December, then Christmas, then I fell pregnant!!! YAY, then BAD morning (noon and night) sickness........ blah blah blah - yeah ok, I am lazy.

I am still a big lurker on Simple Savings and Down to Earth although with the severe sickness I really couldn't do much except go to work and then lay in bed and die but now I am back on track and lurking again!!


Rhonda, from Down to Earth did a request this morning for others to tell a bit about their lifestyle and I thought since I have been so slack, it would be the perfect opportunity to start back at my blogging........... so here goes.......

My story.......................

Greg and myself have been together about 3-4 years. I have two beautiful daughters from previous relationships - Alex (18) and Jemma (7). Greg has no children but we have a little one cooking in my oven at the moment!!! (Due August 2008).


Both Greg and I work full -time and we both enjoy our work. I have always worked (since Alex was about 10 months old) as I was a very young single mum and wanted a future for my child which I felt I wouldn't get living on govt benefits. Thus, I have always been a bit careful with cash but I admit, I did waste a fair bit too. I guess I started to really think about my financial lifestyle seriously when I broke up with Jemma's Dad and went from being pretty financially secure to being single and living only off my wage, renting and wondering how I was going to afford to buy another home when we settled on our other place - hmmmmmmmm. I joined a site called Simple Savings and started packing away some $$ by following some of the advice from there.

As I said, we work full time - Mon - Fri and leave the house at about 8am and back about 5.30 - 6pm. When I have the baby and (hopefully) get into a routine over my maternity leave, I hope to do more - but at the moment...........


What I do is:

• bake cakes, biscuits etc
• take lunch to work
• menu plan
• cook basic meals and when I have a day off I cook and freeze food for later (eg spag bol)
  
• use the washing line
• buy my hand wash/washing power/washing up liquid/spray cleaner etc in bulk
• only have 1 car (plus Greg has a motorbike)
• ask for useful presents for Birthday or Christmas
• buy clothes when there is a sale
• try and stay away from the shops so I'm not tempted to spend
• buy groceries on special (I love marked down meat - into the freezer!!)
• dont get caught up in fashion trends eg I dye my hair at home
• buy second hand where possible - sometimes this works, some times not
• repair our stuff where possible (I am very luck that Greg is handy)
• try and look after our stuff
• pay heaps more off the mortgage to get it down

Some cheese and bacon bread and banana bread I made today YUM!

What I could do better:

• Bake more!!
• Veggie garden - all our veggies were wiped out by a big storm when we were away and I haven't started again
• Menu plan better - sometimes I am slack
• Make more - eg pasta sauce, cordial, soap, washing powder
• Be a bit more organised!!!!!

I have since bought another home (a fair bit smaller than my other one but I love it) still around the area I love. The bank wasn't going to lend me all I needed (about 15k short) but I put on my power suit (lol) and negotiated!! I also negotiated a lower rate of interest too (always ask). When interest rates started going up, I decided to fix half the loan (and negotiated a lower rate for this too :-) - this was a good thing as interest rates have gone up about 5 times since then.

At the back of our home (a bit water logged at the moment!!)

We have chooks, some fruit trees (young), veggie garden (unproductive at the moment) and our cats and dogs. I plan to use cloth nappies for bubby. We have really focused on our mortgage in the past 2 years and have paid off a fair bit - every payrise, overtime, money presents etc goes off it to get it down. We still live pretty well and don't go without however we earn pretty good salaries and are careful with our money.



I believe that if you really want something you will get it. I really wanted my own home, especially when I had my first daughter. I was 16yo, single and had nothing then, but I studied and worked hard (at one time I had 3 jobs plus was studying!!) and was lucky enough to buy a home with my new partner where I wanted to live (I was going to have to buy my first home in a not so convenient area if he didn't go in with me - but that was what I would have done). My career also started going somewhere - all my hard work was finally paying off. After that relationship ended, I had to refocus and although I had a small deposit from the settlement, I still had to get a scary loan for a single person. But I did it!!! And am now the proud owner of a smallish 4 bed cottage which I love (see above).

Anyway that is enough for now. I hope you enjoyed this VERY loooooong post about my life - past and present :-) I will definitely add to my blog on a regular basis now. BYExxxxxx