Thank you.

I just want to use this opportunity to say thank you to everyone - it's really everyone that reads this blog.

I'm just looking around my house, looking at photos of Anna and seeing support from my amazing family in some shape or form. The gifts, the stuff a new family need and wouldn't have even thought of, clothes, toys, advice, the nights off, a shoulder to cry on, but most importantly, the love. Anna is a very loved baby girl, loved by many, and I think it shows. She's such a happy little girl, always happy to see you all.

I wish there were better ways of expressing our appreciation than a 'thank you' but the unconditional love, support, patience and understanding Adam and I have received is simply outstanding and invaluable.

Thank you all so much.

Ashleigh, Adam and Anna. x

Our Newest Addition

Since Adam started working nights, I've felt very insecure and a bit scared so I've been looking for a good companion to keep me company and to make me feel safe when Adam's working. And after many weeks of looking, we have finally found our dog!

His name is Cruze. He's a pure bred chocolate Labrador, he's 3 years old, and he's just awesome. He's borderline obese so he's on a strict diet with plenty of exercise which suits us just fine. And he's grown up with kids and other animals so there's no behavioural issues there. We feel very lucky to have found him, and we think it's fate that we now own him as the interest he received was overwhelming.

I found him on the RSPCA website last week, and it had noted 'on hold' which didn't surprise me at all. I was so certain he'd been adopted. But I called up and was told that he hadn't been picked up as yet. I got to the RSPCA as quickly as I could, and when I turned up, there were two families eyeing him off. Instead of standing there and pondering like the other families had appeared to be doing, I rushed over to the admin and put him on hold! I took him for a walk and had a bit of a play, and when we returned back to the shelter there were a further three families waiting to see him. If I had turned up 1 minute later, we'd still be looking for the perfect dog.


So we went to pick him up today. Adam absolutely adores him which is fabulous! And we brought Anna along to meet him too, just to make sure that she was ok with dogs. And she reacted as I had imagined - she squealed with excitement. She was laughing at him and watching his every move. So we felt comfortable to go ahead.

I had done a lot of research on dogs with babies and which sort of dog would be ideal for our family, and Labrador just kept popping up. So I wasn't going to settle for anything less. And we just so happened to find a 3yo (ideal as it's past that boisterous stage) chocolate lab. That sort of thing is just unheard of.

So here he is. We're pleased to introduce Cruze!

We were a tad worried about a few things, dogs can be pretty smelly, and they eat a lot, and labs can shed a lot of hair. But so far he's not too smelly despite not being washed for a while, and he doesn't appear to shed at all. Shedding is based on the individual dog, so he seems to be alright. But out main concern was of course Anna - will she be ok with a dog, what if he knocks her over, growls at her or bites her? These will always be major concerns for us. We've done a lot of reading and have spoken to many dog owners, and we've got a few strategies to protect Anna. Judging by Cruze's temperament I do feel comfortable having him live with us, but I'm never letting my guard down. It's those that do that end up having their children mauled by the family dog. We're also getting some professional help just to make her extra safe.

Anna is going great with him. We're not letting them go near each other, I'm not taking any risks, no matter how placid he is. And he now knows who's boss, I growled at him for going into Anna's room. He wont be going in there again.

We're only one day in but so far so good. I'm looking forward to watching Anna grow up with him. I think dogs are great pets if you find the right one and I really think she'll benefit from it.

Welcome to the family Cruze!

Fun In The Sun.

You've got to love sunny days like these. This winter has felt like it's been a year. So we're soaking up every opportunity to soak up some Vitamin D.

 But you can see how much she loves the outdoors!

Anna experienced her first 'fairy'. She wasn't overly enthused by it. Maybe next year.

Summer's Coming!

Found Mummy's Purse.

Anna found my purse.

See, I Do Exist.

I just have some shots of Anna and I. Because I'm hardly ever in any photos. Kort will vouch for me, she's in the same boat. So whenever I visit we're sure to pick up the camera and just keep taking heaps of photos of us and our kids.

I think I'm a good mum. I hope so anyway. My mum was awesome so I've got a pretty high bench mark to work from. My parents are awesome. You know when you talk about your parents and you say 'when I have kids I wont do this' referring to something you thought your parents did wrong? Whenever I think about that, I can't come up with anything. In fact, I just hope I can raise my kids as they did me.

P.S. Actually, I have thought of something. If Anna wants to pluck her eyebrows, the day she asks for it I'll be taking her to the beauty salon. Anna has, for starters, my genes, and then Adam's family genes with Indian in the blood, so I think this issue is inevitable. My mother wouldn't let me pluck my eyebrows or shave my legs until I was 15, and I was absolutely traumatised by it. However I have to hand it to her, I don't think she could have ever envisaged dealing with eyebrows of that magnitude, so I'm cutting her some slack. I love you mum.

Milestones

Anna is sort of getting to the age now where she really starts doing things, reaching milestones and really growing, real quick.


She's mastered crawling, she's zipping down the hallway now, and we'll play chasey around the house. She's standing up and cruising around the furniture and walls, and can confidently sit back down again. She also stood up on her own for the first time today. I was so proud :)

She's clearly saying 'mumum' and 'dadad'. Whenever she crawls into a dark room she'll say 'dadadada' because Adam sleeps during the day. And when she wants me (which is pretty much all the time) she'll say 'mumumum'. Oh it feels so good to hear that.

Shes's walking if you hold her hands, she'll walk at any opportunity you give her. And she's now sleeping really well. She has her off nights but it's generally better.

And I think the biggest milestone to date is eating solids. She's now refusing the bottle and is eating so much yummy food! And she's drinking happily from a sipper cup. It's just amazing watching her eating like an adult, she takes a bite, swallows and then goes for some more; this is opposed to spitting it out everywhere. She's having at least 3 meals a day, a full cup of water and 2 or 3 crackers. This is such a relief. Now I know she'll not go hungry when she goes into childcare in November.

She's changing so much every day. I just cannot believe how quick this year has gone, I'm planning her 1st birthday party and I have to pinch myself. She's growing up to be such a beautiful, spirited little girl. This is what it's all about. This is why we have children. Nothing quite beats watching your little girl growing up. Days like these make it all worth it.

Daniel and Chrissy's Wedding

Uncle Daniel got married to Chrissy the other weekend, and the wedding was absolutely insane. It was so much fun, so different and as Adam put it 'electric'. And Anna was such a beautiful little girl. She wore the dress that Kortnye and I had chosen when we were in Adelaide. And I stepped out of my comfort zone and didn't wear black, for a change I wore cream with flowers. This is a big milestone for me.

Unfortunately I didn't get any photos of Anna in her little dress, just some shots in the pram. It's hard to get any shots if you have to hold the baby and take the photos at the same time.

Here's some shots of the wedding. I went a little over-kill with the photos, I took 450.

 Adam scrubs up good in a suit!


Anna attended the ceremony but stayed with Pa and Tiff while Adam and I had a well deserved night out. Thanks so much for having Anna.

What a fabulous night. Congratulations Daniel and Chrissy.

Because She's Just So Adorable

I can't help it. I am totally in love with Anna. She's is THE most beautiful baby in the history of babies. No question. No doubt.

Even if she wasn't my daughter I'd still think she was the most beautiful baby ever. Seriously.