A lot has happened in the first half of this month, and there will be MORE to follow in the second half. We bought Sofia her first bike, an early bday present for her third birthday. I can't believe my lil girl is all grown up now! Her legs can actually touch the pedals and the helmet fits snuggly on her head. 3 years pass by like a blink of an eye. Both me and Fernando stare at each other and can't believe so much has happened. Now Sofia is growing up into a little lady with a BIG personality. She is still learning how to operate the pedals by pushing one foot before the other...so still heading up the learning curve.



It's been 2 weeks since I have stopped work to commence my maternity leave, in that time I have attended a seminar about investing in shares and understanding how to trade in the stock market. The course that was offered at the end of the 2 hour 'free' seminar costs $3K+! I was really keen to enrol on the night, and Fernando thought it would be a good idea too...but the class starts on the 24th, and I am due to give birth on the 23rd! Sooo...after leaving the place and putting a bit more thought into it, it is best to let this course go. Although it has fuelled my interest in investment for financial freedom. I find that through our youth we are not taught how to save and manage money, and I wonder why my parents never worried about finances. It would of helped, so they could pass it onto the next generation! It is a pity that many young people are stuck at home with the parents till they are over 30 because they didn't know how to save and got into debt too quickly. Therefore reducing their chances of entering the housing market. Lucky for F and I we are not big spenders and not lovers of borrowing credit or personal loans...but I know we can do much better to work towards an earlier retirement. Therefore I have begun my research and knowledge into investment and trading shares through books.



I'm not a gambler, so trading shares will be something out of my comfort zone. Hence with all the reading, hopefully I can use the universal principles of successful trading to reduce my risk. It would be cool to earn a share in a company...if only I had invested in Google years ago, that would have been sweet :)

Ever since I stopped working 2 weeks ago, my body clock has been outta whack! I can't sleep at night, I end up going to bed at 2:30am and I wake up at 10:30am. It is a big chunk of my day wasted...but I am not sure why I have become an insomniac. Could be the hormones messing with my cicadian rhythm...who knows! But I am not used it this taking a toll on my mind...my mind is constantly ticking away! Don't you just hate that feeling of tossing and turning in bed and not being able to switch off the thoughts running circles in your head? It's great to stay at home though and not have to wake up and take public transport to work...especially in the freezing cold weather that Perth currently has... (2 degrees!!).

Today was my best friend, Michelle's birthday. We are both 26 years old now! Meaning it has been 20 years since we have been friends. Such an amazing friendship...I love her like a sister. Funny how we have had one of the most stable, committed relationships ever! I don't think we have ever fought, we are too understanding and connected to one another. Respect and care is always the key to an everlasting friendship :) Knowing her for so long...makes me feel so old but so fortunate :) lol

And count down peeps...supposedly 5 days till this baby pops out. ;)

Comment! (1) | Recommend!

The past few weeks, I noticed I have become more immobile as my belly expands and takes on a life of its own (literally speaking)! Only 2 more weeks of work left and then I can concentrate on the task that is ahead...which is how to deal with the pain of childbirth. My poor F is not looking forward to it either, it's a strange feeling, a mix of happiness and fear :/ I keep telling myself 2nd time around shouldn't be too bad.

To occupy my mind of these scary thoughts I have begun on my very first sewing project and that is to make PJ pants. I will need plenty of these soon, as I look forward to lounging around the house, and it is now Winter in Perth...so have snuggy pants is the best feeling. I don't want to completely lose my fashion sense, so during my 8 months off I will start on new projects which will involve wearing some of my creations in public!!

I'm not satisfied with what is on the clothing racks at the moment in the stores...it's so boring. And if I do like something it is usually wayyyyy out of my price range. So why not design and sew my very own stuff? It's the beginning of my childhood dream come true, as I love fashion and clothes. There is a long way to go...but these are the first steps.

In the pic below I have made two PJ pants. One for me and one for Sofia. She didn't want to wear them at the time I took the photo, otherwise I would have a very cute model!

Comment! (0) | Recommend!

I don't know why I feel obliged to help organised my 10 year high school reunion. 2011 will mark 10 years that we graduated. I did not graduate from Lumen Christi but Methodist Ladies College. But I feel I spent most of my years with Lumen Christi and met Fernando there so it I have a soft spot for that school. I even made a facebook page so everyone could keep in touch with each other! Why do I care so much? I tend to be the organiser of a lot of things, I like to be the party planner but I am too shy to take all the credit or to run the show! I hope that if I get some old classmates together we can make it an awesome event. One of my worries is forking out any kinda of money for a venue and then losing out because of low response rate. How many people will actually show up to their 10 year highschool reunion anyway?

I also have other things to look after in my life rather than taking on a big project like a highschool reunion. I definitely don't want to put too much on my plate before the baby comes, my hands will be full! Along with other projects I have in mind when I go on maternity leave...

1) grow an organic vegie patch
2) create a mosaic for the garden
3) sew pjs for Sofia, my mum and me (bought the materials but haven't had the chance to sew!)
4) print photos, frame them and hang them around the house

The school is really useless because they don't really instigate any reunions, you have to make it happen yourself. I know if I do this I may not get any thanks or recognition. Fernando is supportive but he is hesitant because he doesn't want to see many people from highschool. I don't want to catch up with certain people too, I will most probably stick with my usual group who have been loyal to me. Maybe this is all a bad idea...

I should just be looking forward to putting my feet up. Only 6 weeks to go till I leave work....I'm soooo over the early mornings...in Winter it is 10 times as bad because it feels like I am waking up in the middle of the night...it is pitch black outside! Oh yea...one more upcoming project, my baby shower! One week to go and I still haven't got all my invitations out, I can't work with this 'baby brain' of mine!

Comment! (1) | Recommend!

Today marks 3 years from the day Fernando and I said 'I do' and I can't believe it. We have been together for 6 years. And known each other for 13 years. He is my best friend, the one that makes me feel warm and fuzzy and the father to my babies. I really can't believe what we have achieved in these 3 years together that I could not do alone. Raise a beautiful daughter, build a house, graduate together and now expecting a baby boy. It is all too perfect...and I'm thankful for everyday I have with him. We still have our challenges and struggles as a couple as every marriage does, but I can tell him anything and we talk so openly and have lots of laughs which makes life so much easier and we learn about each other. When we struggle we do it together and think of ways to overcome those hurdles...we can both lean on each other for endless support. I look forward to more years of fun times and growing old together :)

Some people follow the tradition of buying anniversary presents, but we are quite content just having a nice quiet night out for dinner. I read online that the 3rd wedding gift is usually leather...I guess you could go with tradition and be creative with the theme, but leather is expensive hehe. We did however go to a posh restaurant in South Perth called Palais where we indulged in gourmet Australian food, eg. lobster, angus beef and dessert that looked more like piece of art on a plate! It has been a while since we 'fine dined', as we usually dine at Nandos for special nights :) I am glad we did it because we had a chance to have 'adult' conversation, as my parents were babysitting Sofia. Grandparents are great, dunno what we would do without their help. That is another thing that keeps a marriage happy, the outer circle of family who support the couple.

It was a work night so we had to eat dinner and then go home and sleep. I'm sure it is the same for every couple with kids hehe...

Comment! (3) | Recommend!

I planned this trip to Margaret River as an escape before the new baby arrives. It is some quiet time away from the city, surrounded by nature and tranquil scenes and fresh air. Fernando, Sofia and I took at least 5 days away from the hustle and bustle to relax. I wish I was back there again! This time I didn't miss going back to surburbia, I loved the country life...and even considered maybe one day buying my own bit of land there amongst the forests.

The trip to Margaret river was shortened with the new Forrest Hwy, our last trip it took us almost 5 hours but now it takes 3. My parents joined us for the first 2 nights then they had to return to the city for work. It was the road trip of all road trips, this time we borrowed F's parents Land Cruiser 4WD...it made such a difference to our comfortability because the last time we were crammed into our Mazda 2. Also we were a bit more adventurous in taking the gravel trails out to the bush, I don't think the hatchback could have taken that terrain. We came across the Cane Break Pools that was a still lake of fresh water, it was beautiful...the sign invited swimmers but it being so cold and the bottom was difficult to see, it was a bit scary actually!

We stayed at Margaret River Hideaway which was a farm stay. It is not your typical farmstay where you live in crappy cottages, but it was more like 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom units with modern interior, bar, barbeque and fireplace. I loved it! The nights were fairly chilly and the days were nice and sunny. We received a complimentary red wine but I was unable to drink... :( We did visit one winery, Xanadu which is well known in the region to sell great wine. So we purchased a bottle of Xanadu fortified wine and Semillion Blanc. Can't wait to crack them open, but it will be 1.5 years from now because of the breastfeeding that will follow! Sofia was enjoying herself immensely, she experienced a lot on the farm and braved the hungry sheep and chickens that followed her when she held food in her hand. She is definitely an outdoorsy girl...

I was sad to leave, I wanted a longer holiday! I didn't like returning to work after reaching the level of relaxation I did...it would just be undone again *sniff*. I ate a bit too much I think and now my belly has increased in size. My OB tells me my baby is going to reach 7 pounds! A big diff from Sofia's 5.7 pounds. Oh well I had prepared myself that second is gonna be a big one...plus boys are bigger? I felt really well on the road trip, I wasn't too tired and was able to walk quite a distance. I am surprised how well this pregnancy is going! I guess I wasn't as stressed out as last time when I had to plan a wedding and all lol.

Comment! (0) | Recommend!

Since being pregnant the second time round I have found myself drawn to organics and alternative therapies for delivery. Last time I had used the gas and felt really light headed and didn't have the strength to 'push', also I felt it had affected my ability to focus mentally on the task at hand and also caused me a lot of anxiety! I hope this time it will be much easier with the help of aromatherapy and meditation or visualisation.

I know it may sound a bit hippy and I should just say yes to the epidural or the drugs...but I really want to have a good experience before and after the birth. A lady at work has kindly put together an 'exhaustion' blend for me which I can use with an oil diffuser. It has grapefruit, mandarin and jasmine essential oils...and smells so yummy! Smells can be so relaxing, calming and in a way it zones you out and takes you to a clearer state of mind. Another blend is the 'delivery' blend which includes lavendar, geranium, neroli and clary sage. I have to stay away from certain oils as some can actually bring on premature labour!



I have also come across the new organics range on the bloom website (http://www.bloomcosmetics.com/PRODUCTS/Organics.aspx). They recently launched an essential oils range, so I am going to purchase a bergamot and geranium one...those are particularly nice. I think I got hooked onto Geranium when I first used the Aesop (http://www.aesop.net.au/odetofourpoets/body_care.html) Geranium Leaf body cleanser. It's fantastic in giving you that uplifting wake up shower in the morning! I find Sofia cuddling up close to me after my shower, just to have a sniff :)



Let's just hope the 'no drugs' technique works...lol! I have also been practising yoga throughout the pregnancy and will probably join a class at the YogaSpace (http://www.yogaspace.com.au) just to see me through. This time I won't be no fool. During Sofia's delivery I was young, naive, pretty easy going, didn't know what to expect...probably thought it was like pushing out a bouncy ball. But it's more like a hard watermelon! hehehe. This time I will be ready ;) Sorry to have scared anyone into going through with pregnancy with my descriptions. But you really don't know what it's like till you go through it!! :)

Comment! (1) | Recommend!