Mammarazzi Monday: {Yellow} and some thoughts

With all the drama we have experienced with Ellie ending up, and spending the whole weekend, in hospital I didn't get a chance to get out and take any photos for this week's Mammarazzi Monday, so I suppose it was lucky I had taken some piccies of a lily at my Father-in-law's the weekend before.

Editing the photo and adding the thought really did manage to lighten my day as I struggled with Ellie's growing attitude and tantrums. Being stuck inside and, even worse, in bed drove her nuts and she woke this morning in quite a mood and fought me at every turn. I could feel the eyes of the other people in the ward; I'm pretty sure that they were pretty sure I had raised one hell of a brat. She really put it on, I've not ever seen her like that and while I understand it was circumstantial I still felt the pressure of her actions; to the point where I started to seriously feel the need to apologise to each and every person there. I didn't, but still.

In the quiet moments - which were few and far between - I would sit and watch my baby, thinking how lucky I was that she wasn't there for something serious and wondering how parents with seriously ill children do what they do. Especially if they are juggling a hospitalised child and children at home. Truly, these people must be the epitome of Super Parents and I am humbled, awed and inspired by them.

Before I go, I just want to say a huge thank you for all the supportive comments. Your words really helped me through the night and remind me that the negative thoughts telling me I am a bad parent are just thoughts and not truth. You guys rock.






Oh and P.S. We are home :)

Change of Plans

George, Garry and Matt are back to cheer us up

Today's post was going to be my {52 Week} photo and about how much I love Autumn, instead I am sitting in the Paediatric Ward watching Master Chef with Ellie Belly. It always amazes me how fast things can change with kids, although it probably shouldn't by now.

Friday night started well enough, we grabbed some Pizza for dinner and settled in to watch the Royal Wedding. James, Mum and I had spectacular fun commentating on the affair and I was involved in the Three Li'l Princesses Royal Wedding Par-tay where we chatted up a storm (thanks Kel).

Ellie had been feeling a little under the weather, a bit of a cough and after watching Kate get out of her car in her beautiful dress, fell asleep on the couch next to me.

Just before the long (long, long) awaited kiss Ellie woke up, her breathing was shallow and way too fast and soon enough her heart was racing. I had visions of when Kahlei had bronciolitis and kind of freaked out, that was such a horrible experience.

I called a hot line and described her symptoms and was told to take her to the hospital. We spent the night in the ER. Ellie was given Ventolin and when her saturation levels didn't stay up after two lots of twenty minute intervals over an hour, she was put on oxygen and hourly Ventolin for 'asthma symptoms'.

Ellie was amazing. So well behaved and didn't even flinch when they attempted to put a cannula in her hand 3 times!! Considering she was quite freaked out by the mask, she did so well. Every time it started to slip she made sure I fixed it as she knew it was there for a reason.

Every time she started to settle down and looked like she might sleep it was time for another lot of Ventolin which hyped her up. She was awake until 5am! At about 6.30, I crawled into the little space on the single fold out chair next to James and used his hip as a pillow. Not the most comfortable sleep ever, nor the longest as at 7.30 I was awake again and trying to figure out what the doctor was telling me.

Cutest stickfigures ever

Passing the time, secretly I just like to hear her sing "I'm a letter 'p'" (ie L M N O P)

Over night her OBs hadn't improved enough to go home and so we were transferred to the ward, where we still are. Yesterday it was "she'll be in most of today" until we didn't go home and then it was "tomorrow morning" until today when the doctor didn't even come around before it was practically afternoon. Right now we're at "tomorrow morning, best case".

The view from here

 Poor Ellie is bored and getting quite upset about still being here. She is starting to get a little difficult. Not that I blame her. I know what it's been like for me being stuck in bed after my c-sections and I wasn't an energetic 3 year old. Plus, it's kind of torture for her as from her bed she has a clear view of all the toys they have and a playground outside - all she wants to do is go play. She did get to go out for a little while this afternoon, thankfully.

The worst thing is she isn't the kind of sick that just wants to lie in bed and sleep. I don't think she has ever watched so much TV and that, along with simply being stuck somewhere she doesn't want to be has really affected her mood.

Grumpy Patient

I am hoping tomorrow morning they will let her go home. Tomorrow James and Nanna are back at work, so Jasper will be coming her for the day and Kahlei is having a few hours with Pa before coming to me. I am quite stressed. About tomorrow but also just because this is tough. I am being bombarded with guilt from all sides.

When I am here with Ellie I feel like I am neglecting Kahlei and Jasper. When I go home to shower, see the kids and feed Jasper I am conscious of not being with Ellie, especially given that every time I leave her she screams the ward down and mostly only wants me.

When I am near Kahlei she wants me to do everything and carry her at all times, which can be difficult when all I want to do is feed the baby so my chest doesn't explode...

I understand that they both want to be close to me but at the same time it is completely wearing and I think I am coping with it in a less than mother-of-the-year fashion and I can't say I am looking forward to tomorrow when there won't be anyone to take any of the pressure off. Although, everyone will probably be glad to get to work to get a 'break'!

Anyway, the girl is asleep so I should be too.

How was your weekend? 

A Hospital Visit

We have been here for a week and already we've all been crippled by a terrible stomach bug and taken a child to the ER. I am a worrier, as all mother's are but I am not a dash to the ER kind of Mum. I follow my gut on these things and only ever take them when I KNOW there's something wrong.

So, yesterday when Ellie woke from her nap grumpy, pale and hot I knew she was off. We had no food in the house and so James and I went shopping, leaving Ellie cuddled up with Nanna and on our return found she was burning up, barely able to keep her eyes open, lethargic, with her heart beating a million miles an hour. Seeing her I could have burst into tears, especially given we'd left her.We bundled her up and took her down to the hospital.

We didn't wait long and soon she'd been weighed, had her temp taken and was on a monitor for her bp/heart rate/saturation. She was highly unresponsive, clinging to James, shaking and NOT herself at all. We couldn't get her to eat or drink, even after hours of having not had anything.

The doctor kept saying "So, she's just woken up quiet." And, in hindsight he doesn't know my daughter and wouldn't know just how different the pale little girl in front of him was to my daughter but his interpretation of the situation was somewhat frustrating. If my child "just wakes up quiet" I do a happy dance, not rush them to hospital.

We sat in the Paed room and only got her drinking and eating a hydrolite by explaining we couldn't go home until she'd had something to drink and done a wee for them to test. After some panadol and more rest she started perking up.

By the time the doctor came back she was in high spirits and being completely charming:

I was starting to wonder if I could leave at this point and pretend she wasn't my child. We got the all clear to take her home, as long as we kept an eye on her as the Dr could only assume she was coming down with another virus.

As we left she noticed the play equipment in the waiting room and that she was out with no shoes - showing just how out of it she had been when we arrived. Given that she is still not herself, still clingy and lethargic, emotional and 'off' I do not feel silly for taking her in (even if she ended up burping and giggling).

What did you do over the weekend?
Playing along with Fat Mum Slim's Point and Shoot.

Perfectly Pink

A week or so ago Sarah of Ah, the possibilities! shared what she has in her bag in her What's in yours? post. I love a good sticky beak and I have always loved those 'articles' in magazines where they tell you what's in a celebrities handbag and from time to time I have thought about posting the same type of thing here, only to look in my handbag and realise it was full of nappies, rash cream, breast pads, changes of clothes, sultanas and various little things to entertain little people.

Once my bag was a reflection of me, but for three and a bit years it has simply said "Mum". Since getting my long awaited, desperately wanted DSLR I have been working a two bag operation. Depending on where I'm going, who I'm taking and how long we might be I either pop my wallet, phone and a camera in the baby bag or put nappies and snacks in the camera bag. And when we might be a long while with the possibility of needing to photograph something I take both.

During the weekend I dumped the contents of my camera bag to see what I was actually carting around (not for a post, just because I am one of those people who ends up carrying around everything + the kitchen sink as I am forever putting things in that I never take out);

 

Here's the rundown: Canon 550D + lens, tripod, wallet, puffer, usb, earphones, iPhone, Rennie (left over from my pregnancy),  micro fibre cloth, spare camera battery, pen, drawing Ellie did for me, lip gloss, cables, the mask James wore when I had Jasper (?) and 5 cents (I'm officially rich!)

Boring. But, it gave me the chance to reassess what I had packed. I put the five cent piece in my wallet and repacked everything. 

Ellie was involved in all this, we talked about what I had and why I had it and while I repacked she disappeared, only to arrive back with her "Spark-a-lee Pink Bag" which Nanna bought her before Christmas. She has many, many bags but this one is by far her favourite. It will often come shopping with us and she loves the 'disco' it makes when the sun shines on the sparkly disks.

"My turn!" She announced before dumping her contents. I love her bag. It's perfectly girly, which is just perfect for my pink, frilly girl. And the contents were equally as perfect.

In her bag, Ellie had: a wallet, two phones (one which she calls her iPhone, but is actually an old PDA we gave her), keys, a Smiggle rubber, sunnies, a hair band, one of my old driver's licences (from the dress up box) and a little notepad. 

I love this insight into her. I often watch her pack and unpack it, but we've never been through it like this before. We talked about the contents of her bag, obviously most are straight forward but I was curious about the notepad. 

When I asked she replied "For my research." But, of course! Since then I have seen her toting around her pad with a crayon, making notes and 'researching'. It makes me sigh with content.

She's such a little lady.

Playing along with Fat Mum Slim's Point and Shoot

So Grown Up...

This past weekend has really opened my eyes to just how grown up Ellie is. From her switching the lights on and off without a stool, to getting up and letting the cat out every morning and getting herself drinks of water. Then there are things like how she calls Kahlei "Sweetheart" in a soft, motherly tone or how she cuddles and soothes Jasper.

It's amazing to me that not even three and a half years ago this Little Lady was just like Jasper. Tiny, helpless and totally reliant on me. Just another reminder of how fast time really goes.

For some time now, I have been thinking about interviewing her and posting her answers and this seems like the perfect time for such a post;

Hi Ellie!
Good morning Mumma.
Do you want to answer some questions for me? Yea
What's your favourite colour? Pink
What's your favourite food? P'sketti, Mum. What's your favourite colour? Green
What's your favourtie song? Funhouse
What book do you love to read? Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
Why is Hairy Maclary your favourite book? 'Coz it is z
Can you tell me a joke? Okaaay, I can tell you.... Cat Bom (bum)
What's the bet thing that's happened this year? Um, if I have a good sleep I can have a star (our new behaviour chart)
What do you want to be when you grow up? A mon... A bunny
Why do you want to be a bunny when you grow up? So I can so some hopping
What is your favourite toy? My iPhone (an old PDA we gave her)
What is your favourite shape? A star
What animal do you love? An ele-phant
What are you looking forward to this year? Doing some gluing and some painting too 
What do you love to do most? Some painting
Can you tell me a story? Kahlei bumped her head on the blinds and she hurt herself and she cried. That's a story.
Is there anything else you'd like to tell me? I like to watch the telly all day (they don't) and uhm, I falled over last night while I helped Daddy (said while sadly looking at her grazed knee from the incident)
Thank you! Can we do this again next year? Yep

What question would you ask your 3 year old?

Joining in with Fat Mum Slim's Point and Shoot

This is also my Blog This: Challenge 67 post

Wordless Wednesday: 36 Weeks, 5 Days

 Me: Are you excited about having a baby brother soon?

Ellie: Nah... You can have mine.

Today I am Grateful for Dandelions

The way Ellie lights up at the sight of a Dandelion growing in our lawn is something I never get tired of. They may be weeds, but for my 3 year old they're fun, magic and beautiful. After feeling sick all day and wanting to do nothing more than sleep, even when I couldn't, going outside to sit with the sun warming my back and watch Ellie's joy at having not one but three Dandelion's to wish on gave the day a much brighter outlook.

What are you grateful for today? 

Visit Maxabella's Blog to see what others are being grateful for today.

Ready. Set. PANIC

My grown up girl

Last Wednesday I was having a very bad day, I was plagued with a terrible headache (bordering on migraine) and was barely able to walk. The girls were busy, constantly wanting to climb all over me or have me doing one thing or another, which is perfectly normal - I just didn't have the energy for it.

Worrying about my inability to do all the things I want to with the girls, all the things they want me to as well as stressing about the remainder of my pregnancy and whether I would end up on bed rest or simply insane and grumpy pushed me to contact a few Child Care services about immediate placement for both girls. Only for a day a week, just to get us through. I knew it would be a long shot getting a place, but I was desperate.

Mostly my responses were as expected "Sorry, we have no current placements, but things change around here quickly. If you'd like to put your children on the waiting list..." and so on. Until, the director of our local Family Day Cares replied to say one of her carer's had a single spot available, if we would like to take that.

And, now here we are. This morning, we took Ellie to meet the carer and children where she will be spending Wednesdays until Phoenix arrives and possibly after, we'll see how things go.

The 'meeting' went well, both girls played. Ellie managed to take one little boy's fancy - he was constantly asking the carer "Can I show Ellie how I..." it was quite cute.

Neither girl wanted to leave, luckily I was able to convince Ellie to come happily by promising we would do some gluing, however Kahlei screamed and carried on. She wanted to "pay" (play) with the "baybee", funnily enough she was playing alone.... Poor darling doesn't even get to go next time :(

I know she will love it, I know it will be good for her to get some socialisation and spend a little time away from Kahlei and I, but I am in a panic.

What if she doesn't enjoy it? What if something goes wrong? What if she doesn't get along with the other children? What if she's naughty?  What if she doesn't get the care she needs? What if something terrible happens? This is just the tip of the iceberg of thoughts that attack me, swirling around until they cause my chest to tighten in panic. It's the first time I have had a panic attack in many, many years.

This has made me realise I have never wanted them to go to any type of school. I have talked about my wish to homeschool/unschool and I have previously looked into becoming a Day Care mum, myself. I am feeling so disappointed that I seem unable to be that kind of mother, though. I am putting her in Day Care to get a break, so how does that work for a homeschooling family? Am I simply not strong enough to be the kind of parent I want to be?

So, this is the path we've chosen currently. It could be tough the first few weeks, as Ellie wanted to stay, but didn't want me or James to leave. I just keep telling myself it will be good for her...

It will, right?

{52 Weeks} Week 7: Glossing It Over

This morning I awoke with a horrid head cold, my eyes were heavy and felt full of sand, my throat burned, my ears and brain felt as if someone had spent the night stuffing me full of cotton wool. When I got the energy to get out of bed, I looked as bad as I felt. Dark bags under my eyes, pale and just yuck.

After breakfast, Ellie got out my lip gloss and said "Mummy, face me. Face me!" She explained that I needed some gloss and proceeded to fix me up. Once she was done she announced "All done! Now you're beautiful."

{52 Weeks} Week 6: Zoo!

This week's pic was taken at Mogo Zoo, where we celebrated Ellie's 3rd birthday. We had a lovely day, although it was long and painful! I'm not sure why I look so shocked as I knew the photo was going to be taken since... you know, I took it!

I will post some more photos of our zoo fun tomorrow and leave you with a happy shot of the birthday girl.

It Goes Like This

Ellie (as we drive past a park): I want to go that park tomorrow
Me: Not tomorrow, because you broke the no crying rule at the playground today. You also made it very hard for mummy by whinging and carrying on for me to pick you up. Remember, it hurts me.
Ellie: Well. Don't pick me up then.
Me: But, it's hard for me when you're so upset and crying for me to cuddle you (which means 'pick me up' when we're out)
Ellie: I know you're sick
Me: It's not that I am sick, but that I am in pain from Phoenix growing
Ellie: I know
Me: I am just trying to explain to you ....
Ellie: I know!

We Play: Rolls

With me trying to rest a little more I had made a stockpile of play dough to take to Pa's for our days there this week. Unfortunately, somehow I ended up making the worst batch ever. It's crumbly and horrible. There's not a lot that can be done with it, unless you happen to be Kahlei and you're happy to throw bits all over Pa's floor.

After Kahlei had done some 're-decorating' of Pa's carpet, Ellie asked me to get her ball to stay together and after holding it in my hand for awhile it did. I rolled it to her and she thought that was great, so we started rolling it to each other.

She has amazing hand-eye coordination, which she does not get from me.

What have you been playing?

Come play at the Childhood 101 We Play link up.

Success, At Last!

I might have mentioned once or twice about our trials with toilet training. It's been a struggle to say the least. We've gone round and round in circles, she would start doing well and then start to carry on at the mere thought of using the potty.

At the start of August, I got serious and started making her wear undies during the days and pull ups for nap and bed times. While, she was managing to stay mostly dry, the problem was that she would simply hold it until I put a pull up on her, or in extreme cases she would wait until the very last moment to declare "I need to go potty!" and she would make it all the way to the potty and wee in front of it.

Both Ellie and I were getting more and more frustrated. I read so many books, websites, blogs... The consensus seemed to be to not force the issue. If I made her sit on the potty when she was fussing, then it will just put the training back, so this is how I worked it. I put her in undies but tried not to force the issue, I tried to let her work it out for herself.

Obviously, that was a big fat failure.

So, here we are, visiting my mum and somehow Ellie's got the whole toilet thing going on. On Friday, when mum was home with the girls while I rested she started Ellie wearing undies and would make her go to the toilet when it'd been a few hours since the last time. There were tantrums, tears and carrying-ons.

Two and a half days later and Ellie's telling us when she need to go, being excited about being a big girl and even happily doing poos, which I could never, ever get her to do in anything but a nappy or pull up (except for those few times when she went on the floor, but lets not talk about that). She's enjoying being able to wash her hands in the little basin after flushing the loo, she's thrilled and I am very proud of her.

How this will translate at home is a worry for me, but I am hopeful she will be too far gone, so to speak.

And while I am thrilled that we're finally, finally getting somewhere with this and I am no longer imagining having three in nappies, or having Kahlei toilet trained first (yes, at moments that was a real thought), I am a little disappointed that I have had so much trouble with her and in mere days Nanna's got it figured out. Gah!

On the upside, Kahlei seems interested in getting herself trained, too. She's never actually done a wee on the toilet but she gets excited about going and will happily sit there and then come and tell who will listen that she tried to do a wee. Maybe we'll have two toilet trained toddlers before Phoenix arrives.

{52 Weeks}: Nap Time

Currently, one of my favourite times of the day is nap time. I can barely get through the day without having a sleep and I certainly can't get through the day without the girl's having a nap! Kahlei has never been one to happily sleep in our bed - the two times she's ended up in our bed have been a nightmare for all concerned, so she happily goes to bed with Tigger.

Ellie has slept in our bed for naps since she was a baby and will happily sleep with me during the day. We have a little chat, she tells me a story and then we have a cuddle until we fall asleep.

Other than the fact that I love when my children sleep and I love having a sleep myself, I really enjoy that special quiet time Ellie and I share in that time.

A Hard Day's Work

It's a tough life

You know those days when work is just hectic, you simply don't have time for anything but work? There's no time for lunch, barely a second for a sip of coffee (or milo) and definitely no time for a toilet break.

Apparently, these hard days are starting earlier and earlier for younger generations. Only yesterday, Ellie couldn't take a moment to eat her lunch or drink her milo, "I'm working" was her exasperated cry when I asked her to eat up.

Only once I'd promised to 'do her the favour' and pick up the slack was she able to take a gulp of her drink and a bite of her lunch while she diligently overlooked my attempt to keep up the pace. Soon enough, she was back at it... working away.

Potty Training

We're trying to potty train Ellie again. She's been doing well, but then we'll have a moment where she just doesn't want to go potty. She will start crying to have a nappy on instead of wearing undies. It is getting just a little frustrating. But, at the same time I am proud of her. I just wish she wouldn't have these little hissy fits!!

As she's getting to three she is getting more and more defiant. Today we went shopping and she really was just a pain. At one point she sat herself down in the middle of the isle, hands in lap and wouldn't budge. I had to hide around the corner and laugh because it was so darn cute. I wanted to whip out the camera and take a photo but I thought that might over-ride my 'stern mum' voice I used when I told her to stop being silly and get up. All this because she couldn't have a lollypop.

At the end, as we were leaving she dug her heals in and told me she wasn't coming home with me. I tried to get her to come with a bit of counting but she stomped her foot and repeated that she was not coming home with me. So, I went to get her and she dodged me a few times before I grabbed her. Then she wacked me in the face. I think I have a fat lip, it was hard. Then she kicked, hit and screamed her way out of the shop. Charming.

*Sigh* Where is my lovely little girl??

"Kiss Me""

After we came home from our time away with my family James and I noticed Ellie had started saying "Kiss me." It was so adorable, neither one of us could resist giving her a smooch on the cheek whenever she said it, and really, who could? Then, one day I noticed that, while she was quite happy (or maybe the word I want is reserved) to let us give her a kiss, she did seem somewhat annoyed at the same time. I gave her a quick kiss and then asked her if that was what she wanted. She shook her head and said no, so I asked her to repeat what she was saying so I could try and translate.

Eventually, I realised her "Kiss me" was, infact, "Excuse me". How cute is that? I sometimes still laugh when I think about the poor thing saying excuse me and getting kisses - I wonder what she thought? Probably something along the lines of  'Silly Mum/Dad' with an appropriate sigh, of course!!!

I think it's beautiful that she has manners. I remember reading somewhere that children don't use or understand manners until they're older, but I disagree. Ellie understands manners are the nice way to say something/ask for something. She's even started saying "Your welcon" to James and I when we say thank you to her. It warms my heart :)

And Kahlei said Ta that other day! It was some unnatural time of morning and she was in our bed, meant to be sleeping and she took out her dummy and gave it to me, saying "Ta" and then she took it back and said it again. Ahh, I love manners!

Not that they don't have they're moments - Ellie loves to tell me "Give me it. Now!" when she's in a mood. Thankfully, that's not the only way she speaks! She understands that I will not respond when she speaks like this, but that doesn't stop her trying it!

Before I go, I created a template today for a tutorial on using them, so I thought I would share it.



You can download it here. Please leave some love if you grab it and I would love to see how you use it!

I meant to post these the other day. Ellie got a camera for her birthday, the other day she ran out of memory and, apparently, had some urgent shots to take as she swiftly got mine and was snapping away. When I put all my photos on the laptop I had a look and found her perspective very interesting. Maybe we have a Photographer in the making...



The second and fourth ones are my faves.

Kahlei's really trying to stand. Today, I watched her trying to pull herself up against our coffee table. She was so intent on doing it, she had her bottom up off the floor, her little face was red with the exurtion. She was so focused. I don't think it will be long until she's pulling herself up on everything. She loves to chase Ellie around and I think she's wanting a more even playing field!

Update!

My promise of being a better blogger ended up being a lie!! Oops. So, I thought I would come and do an update on life. Firstly - James turned 26 last Wednesday, I had actually written a Happy Birthday post, which I thought I had published but musn't have... So - Happy belated Birthday to my love.

Kahlei is meeting milestones in leaps and bounds now that she is mobile. Last Thursday she said "Mumma" for the very first time - I was sooo thrilled as I've been hearing Dadda for quite some time. She also says hello, mostly in reply to Ellie and I swear I have heard her say Ellie, too.

That same day she started pulling herself up onto her knees, trying to stand up and cut her third tooth. It was a big day! Today, she has finally started crawling on her on her knees - before she looked like she was swimming, she would reach out with her hands, put them together and pull her body towards them. It was a very effective way to crawl, as she was so fast!

Unlike Ellie, Kahlei is happy to show off her newest skills on command. If I say wave, she will. If I ask her to clap she obliges. Very cute.

Ellie's growing up fast, too. She is forever telling us stories. While this is not new in itself it is new that she's actually telling us things she remembers ... and sometimes elaborating on that memory. Her favourite story is from when my mum and brothers came to visit for her party. She loves to talk about the 'Pileww' (pillow, ie jumping pillow). She will tell us about people jumping on it. Joshy, Max, Caleb, Nanna and Casey. At the start of these stories she would tell us 'a bit scary' but these days she is also jumping on the pileww. As is Kahlei. Sometimes, Daddy's on there and even more amazingly, sometimes Grandpa's having a jump (he didn't come). Once we've discussed this in detail we move onto the pool.

She's not been swimming in a pool before, but she saw Ethan and Caleb doing so. She'll tell us about the 'mawter' (water) and about swimming and splashing while making very convincing swimming actions for someone who has never actually swum.

Ellie is also treading very close to the Terrible Two line. She sure has some attitude and can often be heard saying no, mine, give me it, no, no and no. We've started using the naughty chair, which actually worked like a charm the first few times we did it, however she is now pushing the boundaries. The other day she didn't want to stay on it, I had to put her back on numerous times.

As for me, I am enjoying watching my girls grow up and the way they interact with each other.  I have been working on a full kit, which I hope will be ready in the not too distant future and have recently joined two more awesome CTs. One for Honey Designs and as a Pixie at Enchanted Studio Scraps. I am loving all the kits I have been able to work with recently. Honestly, I have not had one I've struggled with ideas. They've all spoken to me in different ways and I have been so happy with what I have come up with. I honestly can say that I work with some of the most amazing designers.

Speaking of which, if you're interested in going into the draw to win one of four cluster frames pop over to my CT Blog and leave a comment to go into the running! While you're there check out my newest LOs ;)

This is just one of the frames you could win.

Made by Holly - check out her blog here.

Right, I must be off now. I will try and be back sooner rather than later. If you leave me some love I'm sure I'll find the motivation ;)

What My Kids Have Taught Me This Week

The only things better than nakie painting are...





Sitting nakie in paint while painting





And painting your sister's hair and face.