Laughter

Twas my first day back at work yesterday... so many thoughts and emotions about this...

Both my babies went to nursery.... so SO sad!  Noosh cried her little heart out as I headed for the car having handed her over to her carers.  It was heartbreaking to know that I was the cause for her tears. (She apparently stopped after 1 minute... the slide was too exciting!!).

But... my husband bought me a car... so SO amazing/exciting/overwhelmed... - we've called her Jaffa (I'm pretty sure that is self explanatory!!). Jaffa was purchased in order to transport children to nursery and get me to work without having to negotiate public transport for 4 hours a day (seriously, that is not an exaggeration!!).

I actually really enjoyed my day with my patients... but you know what... I couldn't wait to get in my car and drive (at times pushing the speed limit) to the children's nursery to gather them up in my arms and let them know that they are well and truely loved and desperately missed during the day!!

My most favourite sound in the world is my babies laughing... Tad has been doing little giggles for a while now but yesterday, on my first day of work, once we were home after the long day, he let out a peel of deep laughter and giggles.  (Of course the moment was missed on camera, purely because I was lapping it up myself... it was like balm to my guilt ridden heart!) But just so you know what I'm talking about here are the little treasures doing what I love to hear!!

That is them... in all their cute, awesome, confident glory... and despite the tears when it comes to drop off time at nursery, I know they are cared for and that they have a good time when they are there.  Noosh now needs the stimulation of having other children around and I'm looking forward to seeing her blossom over the coming months as she learns to interact and socialise with different children and adults.  Plus... I just adore those pick up cuddles... the moment that their eyes meet yours across the room and they run full steam ahead to let you know that although they have enjoyed their day... they choose you!!!

Whats in a name?

Hubby wanted me to (at some stage) tell the story of how we came up with the nick names of our children... so what better time than in a rare moment of both children sleeping at the same time!!!

Hubby and I like surprises... there is so much anticipation in not knowing what sex the unborn babe is!! Prior to me being pregnant, a mummy friend informed me that not knowing the sex of the baby is great as it helps you push in the end stages of labour.  Now having been through 2 labours, I concur!!

Anyway, we decided very early on that it was not cool to call our baby 'it', so we agreed we would call it a 'him'... so much more personal.  Then Hubby just started calling 'baby' Bubba Ganoush! Then as time progressed (9 months is an insane amount of time!!!) this was just shortened to Noosh.

There was one evening when we had been calling baby 'Bubba Ganoush' for a few weeks and we wondered what Bubba Ganoush actually was.  Like any good 21 century person, we googled it!! We thought it was hillarious when we found our that it was an aubergine (eggplant) dip!! Many moments of hilarity arose from this!! (I have subsequently eaten Bubba Ganoush - is quite nice really - recommend!!) 

Our wee family was Mumma Noosh, Pappa Noosh and Bubba Noosh!!

Second time around, same thing... called 'it' a 'him'!! And this time around we called 'him' Bubba Tad, due to the fact that we called teeny tiny baby 'tadpole'.

So now our not so wee family is Mummy, Daddy, Noosh and Tad.

But I love these nicknames... it reminds me of the journey to get here... the journey of eagerly anticipating their arrival... not only just to meet them, but also because I got a bit over being pregnant in those last 6 weeks!! They have many other nicknames from relatives, examples being Ginga, Luch, Zebedrool, Wiremu!! Nicknames spells LOVE for me... it's those people that get to know our wee treasures that choose to call them something meaningful, something 'special'.

So Noosh and Tad... you are special, you are loved by family and friends, and you both are definitely meaningful!!

Knitting = Nana???

What you may or may not know about me is that I quite enjoy 'crafting'. 

I have always known how to knit (thanks to my awesome Nana - she made sure I was armed for life with cross stitching, tapestry and knitting skills).  Sadly, the skill of knitting my Nana educated me on, was allowed to lapse over the past 20 years. 

When we were expecting Noosh 2 years ago and I finished work Friday (a week before she was due) and didn't know what to do with my time.  So my Mum turned up on Monday morning with knitting needles and wool in hand.  She sat me down and re-educated me... I was to make a cardigan.  It was awesome - I had purpose!! Sadly, Noosh turned up on the Wednesday, so I became a little preoccupied with actually caring for a child, but I have always had something on the go since.

What became of that first cardigan, I hear you ask?? Well, suffice to say that although it was completed in time for use, it was not really fit for use!! I have kept it however (packed away with other baby goodies) as a marker of where I started.  Also it sends experienced knitters into peals of laughter, so how can I take that away from them??!!

My most favourite thing to knit is winter hats for the little ones.  I think in the move to Australia however I have overlooked the fact that it is unusual to need knitted wares!! So I have moved onto toys...

This is my recent completion... they call it a Retro Dog!! Knitted for christmas (yes... a little late) for my niece... now I have to pop it in the mail!!

I might have to make another one as Noosh is quite taken with it!!

Bittersweet...

I am writing this with my 2 year old on my knee.. but I don't mind.

I'm quite somber at the moment.

I have just found out that a family that we knew from our NZ days has just lost their 5 year old daughter to cancer... also, that a family here in Sydney (whom we know of, friends of friends) with 2 young boys has lost their father to a 2 year long battle with cancer. Both of the families blog and I have been blessed enough to read their blogs over the past few months... I am inspired... I am heart broken... I am in awe... I am angry-sad.

I wish that I had the right words to say... but I don't think there are any.  I watched the wife's eulogy to her husband and I sobbed... yes because it is sad and that family shouldn't have to live without their daddy, but also because that amazing woman stood with such grace and spoke with such eloquence that I was inspired to be that type of woman. Be inspired yourself by following this link:


Wifes tribute to husband

My little people and my husband are so incredibly central in my world and my world would crumble if anything happened to them.  We have been blessed to spend the last 3 weeks with family.  It was so lovely... It seems crazy that we had such a lovely time and then we hear sad news... but nice to get a reality check of how to enjoy the moments of the wee people.  Yes, I have a faith that believes that there is a God and a heaven that I will have the opportunity to see the people that have passed on... but sadly not everyone has that same faith.  I have never been one to push my beliefs on to others but if Noosh and Tad are reading this in years to come (and I am or am not around) I do want them to know that I do have such a faith and that I constantly admire those around me that have and walk through testing times and come out with such an inner strength and faith for all to see.

So the incoveniences of having a 2 year old on ones knee while trying to touch type is not such an inconvenience... cleaning up 'poo's and wee's' from the floor yesterday and today is not such an inconvenience... each and every moment, good and bad... is another moment that I have, another memory made with my little people.  Some are good days, some are bad, but I pray that the bad days make the good days better, and the bad days are looked back on with humour and that each and every moment and minute counts. For me I would happily do without as I'm sure both the families above would do, just to have one more moment, and one more memory with their loved ones.

A bittersweet reality check that my little people are loved beyond description... and all my love to those families at this time.