The things we do to our kids!

Just a quick catch up to share some photos that I thought were way too funny not to share! Yes these are the dreaded 'show at your 21st birthday' photos'. Taken at mums house, poor Mitchell was the only kid that we could manage to get a photo of in the crazy wig, Tre and Harrison didn't want a bar of it, and I guess rightly so, when your mean old mum posts them on the web!!!

Love you Mitchey!!! xoxox

Easter 2009

What can I say, celebrating Easter with young children has made the holiday so much more exciting and wonderful than what I ever imagined!

Previously I looked forward to Easter, because it meant that I got a 4 day paid holiday from work and it generally meant a road trip to some holiday house, or a trip to see my Melbourne relatives (which I do miss doing I might add). Now with Harrison at the age of 3 1/2, his innocence and excitement at the prospect of some silly rabbit hiding chocolate eggs around our back yard was so amazing to watch.

We got up just before him and scattered some small eggs around the back yard for his own private Easter egg hunt - we didn't hide them too hard, he is only 3 and getting up at 6am does not really put you in the right frame of mind to put them in too many bushes or hidey holes around the back yard.

When Harry got up and came into our room, he knew it was Easter, but did not really know what it entailed! We all got up and took him out side, and that is when the excitement and the hunt began!

Harry was told that once all his eggs were found a special treat was also waiting from him, and was hanging from the clothes line....... We didn't really think that too much chocolate was necessary so we thought he would also like a small gift. Lets face it, I am not going to let him eat very much chocolate at a time, and by the time the grandparents and aunties spread the love we will end up with a fridge full of chocolate eggs that will probably cure late night cravings for myself that is really not needed!!!

Graham provided a helping shoulder ride to help reach the special gift..........

And of course knowing my darling sons obsession with Thomas Trains, he got a new one to add to the collection, this time 'Gordon' Train was provided to perhaps take over the role of favourite train from 'Henry' (only time will tell!)

Oh and it did not take long to realise that mum and dad was actually going to let him eat some of the collected chocolate - this was all before breakfast so he was allowed a few bites, then had to have some cereal before continuing on any type of chocolate binge!

Being a baby unable to eat chocolate did not stop Mitchell from getting his share of eggs either, he wont get to eat any this year, but the pretty paper did occupy his attention for quite awhile as well! Mitchell received a couple of new outfits instead of chocolate, which is a little boring, but I look forward to the next few years of having two innocents to share the experience.

Twinkletoes

I really have not had a chance to update my blog of late, the boys are keeping me very very busy, but I just noticed from my last blog that I promised to post some pictures of the Twinkletoes pictures that I have had done of the boys. These are probably some of the most precious memento's that I own from my babies, the type of items that you usually say 'Hey if there was a fire this is what I would grab first' (after of course the kids, husband and pets).

This first one is the one I had done of Harrison when he was 4 weeks old, luckily at this age we were able to capture almost a half smile, I think it was a lucky shot because I don't think actually smiled until he was about 7 weeks old.


Next is the one that I recently picked up of Mitchell, at the same age of 4 weeks it shows that already his hands and feet are much bigger than what Harrison's were.


I messed up when doing my order for Mitchells and did not get the same color frames, but oh well, what can you do.

A week ago, we ventured out into the Adelaide heat to get our family pictures done. We went to an independent photographer named Jason, who has set up his own studio after working for and being trained by Gainsborough Studios.

Jason was obviously very used to photographing children because he quickly took Harrison's shots, and within 10 minutes of the sitting, Harry was going stir crazy and would not pose for any more photos - Thankfully the ones of him have turned out really well.

Initially I set up the sitting for photos because I needed a good photo for Mitchell's 'Twinkle Toes' portraits, and because we did not get any professional photos of Mitchell in Hospital, I wanted some lovely new born shots.

I am not really ready at this stage to immortalise pictures of myself, not until I kind of recover from having Mitchell, but I did really want to get a good picture of Graham and the boys to put up in my room, so I opted for the below photo, (which Graham hates I should add, but I love).

I know we didn't get Mitchell in the below photo, but it is such a cheeky photo of Graham and Harrison that I could not resist in buying it as well.

Ill add photos of the Twinkle Toes portraits in the next day or two - stay tuned!

Three weeks on.......

I find it really funny when you have a baby, people ask you 'Is he a good baby?' well apart from drinking milk and sleeping at this age, the babies don't really do much more than that. I figure as long as Mr Mitchell is doing that, then he is a good baby! He is on 3 hourly feeds, day and night, so I guess you can say I am not getting too much sleep at the moment. It is hard but this baby stage is so precious and gorgeous and lasts for such a short amount of time, that I am grinning and bearing it!

.

Here are some pictures of my second little treasure - I think already his features are changing and he is developing his own character.

It took nearly two weeks but we finally manged to get a photo of the two boys - Harrison will never make it as a model, because when you tell him to smile this is what you get! LOL

Here I am with my boys - just missing Graham for a family shot, but I figure we will get one eventually!!!!

The Birth Notice......

A copy of the birth notice as it appeared in the Advertiser........ A few words really for a $50 advert!

Mitchell's Special Visitors...... The family and friends shots.....

Well in the two weeks since Mitchell's birth, we have had a lot of special visitors to welcome him to this world. Here are a few of the photos to share of some of the visiting family members and friends to the hospital:

Harrison, Pop, Nan and big cousin Aynsliee

Great Grandma comes for a visit

Tre, Harrison and Nana steal a cuddle

Auntie Amanda gives big hugs

.

Grand dad and Nana Karen give cuddles as well.


Auntie Rachel, Uncle Michael, Courtney and Kayla

Auntie Sharon, Uncle Tony, Sarah and Amy also visit......

I am sorry to my other friends and family that have visited and not had their photo added, I have not always been quick enough to get the camera out for photos. However, every ones best wishes have been very happily received.......

Mitchell Ashley - The First Day.......

Ok well as expected we have a new little addition to our family. Mitchell Ashley was born on the 5th January 2009 at 10:11am weighing 3.95kg or 8lb 11oz.

Labour wise it seemed to be a lot easier 2nd time round. I was given a hormone on the Sunday night, with the expectation that nothing would happen until the next day.

Of course I would have a baby that does the unexpected, because I officially started my labour and contractions at 2:30am. After receiving some much needed pain relief (Pethidine and Epidural) I went through most of the night fairly comfortable, but no sleep. At 8:30am my doctor advised that I was 4cm dilated and would probably not have the baby until after lunch. Again the unexpected, when just about 40 minutes later, the baby moved into position and as mentioned by 10:11am little Mitchell Ashley was born.

Here are a few pictures of Mitchell taken within the hour of his birth

A very proud mum and dad - definately not a glamour shot, but the first one we have.....

Next, sorry if you are squeamish but this is Graham getting to cut the cord for the second time, this is the closer cut to the belly button clamp.

At 53cm long, I guess we have another tall baby on our hands.

3.95kg or if you prefer the old system 8lb 11oz

At least dad could pose for some decent photos - I was not up for it!

These are just a couple of photos of Mitchell I thought I would share of my boys first moments after birth. I will post shortly some photos taken when he has been cleaned up and looking even more spunky!

A Baby Mc Update......

To my lovely friends and family waiting on the news of the arrival of Baby Mc, well all I can say is that the time is nearly here! I am currently 38 weeks pregnant, and have been informed by my doctor that I am having a giant baby and that if bubs does not come by itself within the next week, that I will be induced on the 5 January 2008.


Not that I particularly like my photo taken at the moment, but I thought that this bubs deserved a side view shot, because I never had one taken before Harrison was born - being a month early with Harrison, we never got a chance to have the horrid shot done!!!!

I feel much more exhausted, tired and bigger, than what I ever did with Harrison, but possibly the wonderful festive season has not helped that too much!

So all I can say is watch this space for Baby Mc news, because it seems that it is now less than a week for when baby Mc will enlighten us all with its wonderful presence.

Wish me luck - quick and painless is the words I like to hear!!!!

xox

Christmas Morning - Yes Harrison got Henry.......!

As mentioned in my previous blogs, all Harrison wanted for Christmas was a 'Henry' train from Thomas the Tank Engine, which Santa happily obliged, and honestly no other toy on the morning got a look in!

We possibly made the big mistake of allowing Santa's present to be opened first, because hidden in Santa's loot was not only 'Henry' but 'Molly', 'Skarloey' and 'James'. That is four trains to add to his Thomas the Tank collection!

Not even the lure of a trampoline, a bike, cars, trucks or books could get him away from his new train collection. The below photo was taken when Harry gave his new trampoline about 2 minutes attention. Mind you, a few days after Christmas and we can now not get him off the Trampoline!!!!