Ella's Party - Finally Blogged!

FINALLY I'm getting around to blogging the last month of our lives! I'm sorry, I know there were non-facebook people really dying to see these snaps!

Ella's party was FANTASTIC! Busy busy! So much to make (well, for Mummy to make) and see and do! New things scoured from across the globe! And pretty things for a pretty girl!

In reverse order...

The spesh bracelet from Aunty Mich and Uncle Joe (and Luci and Kiran)

Pretty birthday girl (with Daddy's very distracting foot hanging out of her ear!)

Extra spesh real-live-tea set picked by Mummy, given by Ma and Pa.

Very spesh rag doll from Mummy being opened.

Wooden Ladybug skittles

My Little Pony

Eating Cake

The blow!

SPESH PHOTO ALERT...

Ella and her remaining Great-Grandparents

L-R: Great Grandma Mallin, Oma Gembal, Great Grandpa Mallin and Nanna Bottomley.

The food, mostly prepared by the grandmothers. Thanks guys!!!

The Cookie Jar, with Mummy made little mouse for my "little mouse"

The cupcakes painstakingly crafted by the Mummy.

Ella's Ella-phant cup cake

Op Shop sundae vases.

Ella's baby clothes as decorations

Lavender Tea bags for adult take home.

The kid's take home. Soda/Milkshake cups with an array of drawing products...

A long squiggly pencil, some stickers, a note pad, some crayons and a dress up necklace for good measure!

The prizes for the small games the kids played.

A few little touches. The yummy selection of tea bags, the face washer cupcakes for each guest to take home, the adult take home gifts hanging around the room, Ella's baby clothes as decorations, the photo cubes I made, and the tablecloth I made especially for the occasion.

Whew... looking back... I worked VERY hard to make that all come together!!!

Pat on back for Mummy Mallin!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLA-ROSE!

Oh my!

I CANT NOT BELIEVE SHE IS ONE!!! Where did that time go???

Today is a little bittersweet, it's our last first birthday. Something to be extra specially treasured.

Ella is walking, she's starting to talk, a few half words and appropriate nodding/shaking of the head (she's VERY good at that!) She loves food, but only in small amounts- this is why we call her "Mouse" she would rather sit under the boys at the table and munch on their crumbs over having a bowl of food to herself. She's teeny, not small, just small in comparison to most other 1 year olds. She laughs... not like Jacob or Travis, but this full belly giggle, completely original!

Anyway... I'm off to clear the table so we can have cupcakes after breakfast and open the last little present.

More to come today I'm sure, and no I have not forgotten to post the birthday party... this will come soon.

Fun In The Bath

So, after getting in trouble for not posting enough photos, I figured I should!

Here is a couple of Ella in the bath, she LOVE to splash!

I love to...

... go through this blog looking at the posts of the previous year and check out what we were all doing at "this time last year" but BOY is this a "this time last year" MONTH, I've been reading though all the things that were going on for us in October last year, how on earth did we survive?

But MAN it was a goodie! Action packed! Good times - Good memories, even if it didn't seem quite so good at the time.

- House being ripped apart, new kitchen going in, Biz name registered, and the birth of the baby girl... among other things I'm sure... I'm off to read more 'October 2008'



P.S. 6 sleeps until Ella's party... 10 sleeps until "Bubby La" turns 1!!!!

Blogger Catch-Up

Again, I'm sorry!

We have been busy busy with work and life in general.

Jacob has finished his third term of kindergarten and is all set to start the final countdown, a teeny tiny 9 week term left until he finishes and heads over to being a big grade 1 kid- he's most excited! He's been ok, only having a but of a cold this week (which he lovingly shared with Travis who passed it on to Ella)

Travis is also doing ok, he's been sick with this same cold and we took him (and Ella) to the doctor for a check over. Wise decision!!! Turns out our beautiful little Trazzle has a heart murmur. Now before you all go and get worried and whatnot, you need to read what the doctor said.

Firstly, he assumed we already knew. Then, he said that he is pretty sure that it is no of any significance but that a trip to a pediatrician would be in order, just to check it out and 'better safe than sorry'. After we book in to see our local pediatrician, he will either send us home with a pat on the head (most likely) or send us to a pediatric cardiologist at Nepean or Kids Hospital. This may end in a few tests to check out what's going on in there. Following that... well the probability of it needing much more attention is not likely. Fingers crossed. So the trip to the doctor yesterday morning was a good thing!

Ella is well, she's got the cold, and sleeping HORRIDLY with coughing fits during the night and waking with them during the day, but doing ok otherwise. We are all getting very excited about her birthday party and the whole "Turning 1" thing, and grateful that she is sick THIS week over the week of her party. Her personality is emerging endlessly. We are discovering that while she looks like Travis and her facial expressions are often more similar to his than anyone else - and unfortunately possibly his temper too (of which there is not much), she seems to contain much more of Jacob's personality and it seems she is very much "and old soul" or "switched on" which are comments we always received for Jacob. She is getting a lot of attention for being small (as Travis did) I was even asked if she was born prem at the doctor's surgery yesterday.

Here... on the brink of bubba girl being 1, I have taken another chair set (No, I COULD NOT WAIT for the exact same time of the year!!!). It's so lovely to see them grow from year to year. And while their specific "monthly sets" are a little harder to compile now with being so busy all the time, I am CERTAIN that the chair set will be something that continues as long as I have participants willing to be bribed! And no, I will not be printing them all large again, although it was tempting!

October 2008




September 2009

CONGRATULATIONS! (sorry, late I know!)

A quick shout out to my beautiful friend Kate and her husband Simon, and her two beautiful little boys Zac and Lucas on the arrival of their new little bundle of joy -

Mikayla Jordan

Born 12:13pm on Thursday 17th September

Length: 53cm
Weight: 3.95kg

Uh oh... Neglected! *LONG POST*

So sorry all, I've been so busy that I don't feel like I've had time to do most things, so blogging was the thing that suffered. After many a comment that I'd not updated, I'm set to do it now, despite the mammoth mess sitting behind me beckoning to be cleaned.

Seems I've left you all a little in the dark, so here goes...

THESE are the MOST ADORABLE shoes I've seen, they make me laugh every time I see them. My beautiful friend Jessy sent these for our little Ella a few months back and I promised I would post a photo, so it's finally happened!



Thank you lovely Jess and Libby!

THIS is a photo that I took of my three ubblies before Jacob went back to school for 3rd term.



And HERE is a photo I have planned to blow up MASSIVE on my wall... I can't wait to decide where to put it. There will be a few minor changes around here in the next few months, and so I think I will wait until all that happens before deciding on exactly were it will hang once it's printed. It also signifies Jake's first day back to 3rd term with him in his school uniform.



Then there was our beautiful friends/family that came to visit from Perth, we had a lovely time (as I mentioned in last post) so here are a few quick snaps of the many, and the many many many I have yet to edit!





Jacob - Has had a time! He's been a little emotional and tired lately, very happy at school but seeming exhausted by the evening and on weekends. He had a day this week. He was fast asleep on Sunday night (early Monday morning) as were we all, when Mick and I heard a great big *CRACK* and then Jacob screaming. We went into the boys room to find that Jacob had fallen out of his bed... the top bunk! After a good old cry and a kiss better, he wet back to bed and went to sleep. He woke up late (late in our house anyway) and had some breakfast before conning us into letting him go too school, seeing as he had no symptoms (ie, vomiting and the like) and it had been the recommended 6 hours being watched we thought it would be ok. About an hour (give or take) later I got a phone call saying that he was pale and very unwell. I wasn't too worried until they mentioned the word "vomit" at which I called Mick and told him we were going to the hospital. They looked him over and decided that it was just a concussion but that he should have a CT to be sure it wasn't something more serious. But to our dismay, the scanner was broken at Katoomba and we would need to be transferred to Westmead Children's Hospital as it was the closest with a working CT AND neurosurgeon (just in case!). Anyway, after a VERY scary needle which "Stays in your arm and gives you a drink? How silly!", a VERY exciting, and fun trip in an ambulance, and a VERY long wait for a scan, all was deemed good. He was ordered under watch for 24-48 hours, but only needed the 24 as he was just fine to go back to school on Wednesday. Drama drama!

Jake also had his first book parade this week! Last year, this was his first official (I think) transition event, the book parade!
This year he went as The Very Hungry Caterpillar as it's Travis' favorite book at the moment and it sounded pretty easy and inexpensive to make from Mum's perspective! This is Jacob and one of his mates Liam.



Travis has been well. Enjoying the company of his new friends at play groups all over town. Talking lots now and just enjoying pre-preschool life. He will be going to Katoomba North Preschool next year first term. We had an excursion for Jacob's 3rd birthday, we went to The Train Shed down the mountain, and this being Travis' 3rd birthday coming up, we will be going on a quick trip away for him too. He' also been avoiding me and my requests for a nice photo, so I'm sorry, there isn't really a good one to post of him on his own, so here's another "Munch Bunch" photo.



Ella is doing well too, she's popped her 4th tooth, and while I fully believe that the Amber Necklace worked a treat for tooth 1, 2 and 3, it certainly failed for #4! What a time, sleepless nights, fretful days - lucky it was only a week! We are now in the throws (and when I say "we" I mean "me") of planning Ella's 1st birthday, it's a monumental occasion, not only our first ever girly (of course not too girly - fingers crossed) party, but also our *SNIFF* last ever first birthday party *SNIFF* so we hope it's a good one!



Here is me and the cuddly girl - you rarely see me, so suck it in while you can. Thank you also to Amy for the well earned and long awaited haircut!




Off to clean!

Over and out from Mick, Mell and the Munch Bunch.

WHEW!

A minute to catch my breath!

My... we have been so very very busy!

Just a short note to let you all know that we have not vanished from the face of the earth, we have just been so unbelieveably busy with things that there has been not a second to stop!

Some very very fun things, like school holidays and an EXTRA SPECIAL visit from some of our friends/family in Perth and shopping and some slightly less fun things that just need doing.

So a really super fast update.

Jacob, very glad to be back at school, he enjoyed the holidays, but after day 3 he was set to go back. We had a nice relaxing time while he was off, but he certainly was very excited for term 3!

Travis, a busy beaver all the time, he's been a little off, another bout of some coughing thing, but doing fine at the moment. We will have a doctor's appointment to check a few things out for him soon, so will update more then.

Ella, well I was watching her play, then turned around to see her standing in the midddle of the room alone. Considering there was noone around her and she can only take three teeny steps alone, I am pretty sure she just up and stood by herself! I'm yet to actually see it, but I have found her this way about 6 times since, so I guess she's growing up!

That's it... more soon, when this next step of crazy busy is over!

Early Morning Update

I thought I would just update you on the new events of this morning...

I was sitting on the floor with Ella on my knee putting her dress on when she, without any assistance or guidance, stood up and took two steps alone!!!

Man alive! Way to keep me on my toes El!

Introducing Our New Mate Kiran

What a precious bundle!!!

A cutie patootie who looks like a perfect mixture of our little Luci and his daddy Joe! Like our own children, Little Luci and Baby K certainly look related!



So... for those who have been asking, this is what the little gem looks like... PEEEEEEERRRRRRRFECT!

Bloga Bloga Bloga.

Update time!

Jacob - His black eye is on the mend, it certainly was a shocker, but a week later and we are beginning to look much better, the black is starting to turn yellow and the purple is, well, a little more red now. Jacob received his report late last week and did extraordinarily well. Among receiving the highest marks that his teacher gives, he also got the highest marks in everything for effort also (good to know he's trying and not just resting on his abilities!) and had every "always" ticked in his social skills. As you would know, this is a big relief for Mum as I was very worried about conflicting opinions based on his age. We had our parent/teacher interviews last night, Jacob's teacher recommended that we leave him at home as he was "quite bright and will most certainly understand what it being said about him in comparison." This gave us a good chance to speak with Jacob's teacher without him being around (thanks Pa!). She could only advise that he was "less capable" in the area of extended writing, explaining that it takes him some time to write more than a paragraph but after showing us his work she then said "our year one teacher would be pleased to have some of her students write so capably, sometimes I think because he is so academically able, perhaps I push him too hard"
She then went on to ask us if we had any concerns and we asked how he was doing socially. She told us that all is well in that area also and that he seems to have very many friends and is able to stand up for himself and also respect others. It was nice to hear that. We were certain that sending him to school was the right academic decision, but socially we were a little worried. His general attitude is one of fair maturity (considering he is only just 5) at home and certainly when he is out and about with us and now it seems at school too. It is now clear that he was more than ready for school this year and this was confirmed by talk last night that he may need to be in a comp 1/2 class next year and we should prepare for that despite him being now the youngest in the year.
Finally before leaving, I asked what seemed a valid question of "Are there any things that you are concerned about" to which she replied with a scoffing laugh "oh gosh no!!!" so thumbs up for Jacob! It is at this point that I hope he has a good holiday, you deserve the rest mate!

Travis is doing fine, he has been sick for the last few days, putting him a little off colour, cranky and whinging. We are off to the doctor this afternoon which he is very happy about, he wants her to look in his ears and we will be checking his chest for a horrid bark that he has had the last two nights but seemingly disapears during the day.
He is loving drawing and playing Thomas, he has just started to enjoy watching Dora and frequently asks (yes... finally asks in a SENTENCE!!!) for which DVD he wants. His favorite things to say are Ella-Rose, Tummy-Ache, and Ben 10 and he's enjoying reading "The Hungry Caterpillar" and he loves to read along with "Where Is The Green Sheep" - which is nice as it was one of Jacob's favorites too - Thanks "Anni Mem"

Ella is well, astounding us with her gross motor skills... sit down as you read this...

SHE IS WALKING HOLDING ONTO ONLY ONE HAND!!!

She frequently breaks away from holding on to things to flap her arms about, and is just generally ready to chase after those big brothers! Being only eight and a half months we expect that she will be walking at her 1st birthday (of which naturally is already in the early stages of being planned) and think that she may even win the family early walker trophy, but will see if she beats Jacob. The only problem... finding acceptable coloured, hard sole shoes in a size 2, which is still slightly too big but will do!

So, our tribe (which is starting to feel quite large as we introduce another walker to get keep tabs on) is grand, and all generally doing very well!

XXOO - The Mummy.

Our 5th Bubby Has Arrived!

As you can see by the title, "our" third baby boy has entered our world!

Congratulations to our "other fam" (Mich, Joe and Luci) on the birth of their second child...

Kiran Bartlam David Mascorella

Born: 6:03pm TODAY!!!


TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED FOR YOU GUYS!!!

Jake's Face Update

Just a little snippet of the damage today for those who have been asking.