**Due May 2009**

Stef, what an awesome birth story!! Thank goodness you didn't hop in the car to go to Birthcare ... it could've been a car birth with no midwife, eek! So pleased it was a quick one for you too. Just what you wanted. My gosh, these 2nd babies are making quick entrances into the world.

Life with a newborn and a toddler is proving very busy and I've hardly left the house since Charlotte arrived. That's great on the bank account though ... I don't have any time to spend money and go to cafe's! Lots of coffee visits from friends though which has been nice.

Well, kiddies sound like they're sleeping so I'm off to do the same

Yup, A home birth!!
KitKat, here are some pics... babies are so cute, but hard work, although at the moment it's so nice to just put Timothy down anywhere, and he stays put. You should have more!
Katrina, you're right, staying at home for a week has had a massive impact on our account. It's a great way to save money haha.

aaaaaaw cutie patootie!

lol- youre right... I think we might- eeeeeeek
Imagine if we get another refluxer- or twins! Thats what scares me the most... and I have a really strong feeling about having twins, I feel Ive always been destined for it, and its in the family... Just when you think it cant be any harder- its twins!

How are the twins going btw? Scarlett and Jack?? hellooo?

Staying at home question: How do you entertain your toddler?? I run out of inspiration. L is quite obsessed with a particular monkey book at the mo, a DK Resource book. Great pictures. His latest word is proboscis. (proboscis monkey).

Yay, Kitkat! Feel the fear and do it anyway! lol

The government used to provide live in Karitane support for a few months after the birth of multiples ... do they still do that? I'm sure after dealing with a reflux/colic baby though, anything you face now will be a breeze!

Entertaining toddlers?! What a mission! We were recently given 3 huge cardboard boxes by a friend and DH constructed an insanely large hut in our lounge for L. It's huge! But L has had hours of play in there. Great for wet weather days too. When C sleeps, L and I have tea parties in there too and eat snacks or read books. It's been fantastic. Annoyingly huge and awkward, but the benefits outweigh all that.



Would love to hear everyone elses ideas too. Some days bedtime just can't come soon enough!!

Hi ladies....congrats on all these new bubbas and others on the way!! I'm just popping in to say hi. I suppose my two will be kicking off the round of 2nd birthdays!!! Yep Jack and Scarlett are two tomorrow. Crazy!!! Miss Molly turned 6 last week...so I am almost partied, caked and presented out (oh, and poor!!).

Matt is still home with the kids. I would say by this time next year he will be pursuing something else. J and S are ratbags and no doubt becoming typical strong willed tantrum throwing toddlers...which is normal but x2 just makes it that little more unbearable. We are going through a face guaging phase at the moment!

It's school holidays for me and I am SO ready for a break. 11 weeks is a hard slog. I cannot imagine how hard the 14 week terms used to be for teachers back when I was a kid.

Here's my little Master Chefs last week...


Miss 6 at her "Hop" party...ready to watch the movie


Here's their cakes all ready for tomorrow...


Take care everyone. I will have a nosey in here over the next few weeks.

XX MM

Awww Stef he is yummy! And MM love your pics, and happy birthday to all your kiddies.

Glad scan went well MrsB! I too resisted finding out and when DD was born and handed too me there was a small drama with the cord rupturing so my ob was busy sorting that out. I couldn't care less, and was like "what is it, what is it", and he goes "what do you mean, it's a BABY!". So I tell him that I KNOW it's a baby, but what is it? He shrugs and tells me that he thinks it's a boy! So then I unwrap little miss and proudly and hysterically announce that it's a girl and ask Dh to double check.

Kat - honestly, the baby is the easy bit! When H is in daycare and I only have little miss it feels like a day off! Although she is already starting trying to get up on her knees, so I think we'll have a crawler soon. I'll let you know how I am getting on with toddler and a crawler! But they do entertain each other, H dances for her and 'reads' her stories, so cute.

entertaining toddlers... I am considering more hours at day care! Seriously I get out of the house at least once, sometimes twice a day - we go to story time at our library, mainly music, to the park or the playground, or meet up with friends. When we have to be at home I just let him watch TV or I put on a kids CD on for him, or let him do drawing. Although he too is a fan of using crayons everywhere but the paper!

Where is everyone?!

Cakes - yikes - I spent all friday baking and decorating a tiger cake for H's jungle party. Have never done anything like it before and it was hard work! Also my recipe may not have been the best... Kat I love the excavation cake! What are you planning for L? Can't believe I have a two year old!! How's everyone going with their little ones? My two have started sharing a room - two cots end on end - going ok so far!

oooh kat, I'd love that recipe - I did a chocolate Victoria sponges sandwiched together with nutella but very crumbly. I'll have to post a pic once I work out how and find the cord for the camera

Sucks about having to wait for #2... hope you get things sorted soon.

Thanks so much for that recipe Kitkat! I was just thinking last night that I need to get onto L's cake sometime and this will be perfect. Looking forward to giving it a whirl. I've never done a fancy birthday cake before so hoping it all goes ok.

Sorry to hear you have to wait a little longer for #2. Hoping it's all easily sorted for you.

L had a tummy bug yesterday. Makes me angry to think someone took their ill child out and passed it on, but I have to remind myself that it's that time of year. Didn't really enjoy the barf all over my bed as a result though. Mental note to self: when a sick child is lying in my bed, place a waterproof mattress cover underneath them.

Parenthood is exhausting, isn't it?! I love my kids to pieces, but some personal space occasionally doesn't go amiss either. I'd love to go to the toilet in peace sometime, or have a drink of juice without hiding around a corner so the toddler doesn't see. Maybe even sit down to a hot coffee instead of one that was made 1.5 hours ago and has gone cold on the bench!

Great! glad it worked! apart from the logistics- I meant to say- 2 people is a bonus, but I ussually just wing it- bit like flipping a pancake- speed is your friend, as is gravity. And using a cooling rack top and bottom. ie- flip onto cooling rack, then flip onto cooling rack again (now is up right way on cooling rack, then repeat till up right way on a board.... clear as mud???

lol
sounds ridiculous doesnt it.

Or- do cupcakes!!!!! hahahaaa.