PRETTY SPOUT

 

My plan for today goes something like this:

First up, a walk.  Probably at the mall as it's going to be another STINKIN' HOT DAY.

Then home to finish off a runner I started yesterday.

After that, I am going to be a bloody sloth, and lie in the sun and swim in the pool.  And not much else.

Steve bought my new bath tapware over last night, and I'm really happy with them.

ABOVE: The thing I love about this 'spout' is that it doesn't look like a 'normal' water spout.  The water will flow through and drop into the bath from a height.  A bit like a waterfall, which is exactly what I wanted. 

Steve did the searching for me and found it.  I'm so thrilled with it.  

This weekend (Sunday) Steve will come over and prepare the existing wall, ready for the plumber to do his thing.

All going well, we might have our bath up and running in 2-3 weeks.

BACK LATER...

ABOVE: Chartwell Square nice and early this morning.  I decided to walk around the perimeter of the mall first, I did that twice then went inside.

ABOVE:  Of course being inside the mall meant my walking app didn't record distance or pace... just time.

I was happy with doing an hour today.

ABOVE: Then I remembered my phone records STEPS... so there ya go.  I've done me steps for the day already.

I'd no sooner got all the windows open and about to step in the shower, and I get a call from Bex.

She needs something from the chemist.  So... the clothes go back on, the windows get closed and off I go.

Mission completed, I got to see the kids and Bex again today. *smiles*

ABOVE:  The classic little chicken legs of a newborn.   So many memories from my 6 + 2.

ABOVE:  Let's take this one again in a year shall we.  😊

ABOVE:  The very proud Mummy.  Lily has Bex's dimples.  

AND NOW.. I am gunna get in the sewing room, My Joyful Space, and finish off a runner.

ABOVE:  2 pm: And that's a wrap for the day.  I'm done with sewing until at least Sunday.

I'm tired... and hungry.  Time for lunch.

After lunch I really wanted to swim/lie in the sun.  No such luck.  We had some rain, and since then it's been really cloudy.

So I've been watching a Netflix doco about Tilikum the Killer Whale.  So sad for the whales.

11.03 pm:  Meh.  A very quiet evening here.  Stew went to the pub for a couple of hours.

He found it unbearably hot walking home again, silly bugger should have rung me, I'd have picked him up.  

So, we blobbed out for the rest of the evening.

And now it's ...

NO HIDING, NO FILTER

Some years ago, I discovered my phone had an app on it, that I could use when taking photos of myself, to smooth out the wrinkles.

I quite liked it.

And I've used it pretty much every time I took a photo of myself, or another person.

Yesterday I decided I was NO LONGER going to use it.

It is fake.  My face was 'fake'.

The app hid all my facial imperfections and wrinkles.

I'd seen far too many people use filters to completely alter how they really look.  One girl I know does it so much you would never even recognise her in real life!

I don't want to be like that.

So, today I am going to show you the REAL ME.

Wrinkles and all.

And, you better get used to them, because I've had to!

ABOVE: There ya go.  ME.  No fake, unlined face ever again. p.s.:  The only makeup I have on is eye liner, eye shadow, mascara and lippy.  NO foundation or contouring shit.  I've never used contouring shit btw.

ABOVE:  Hold on!  One more.  I sleep on my left side, so that side of me face is even more wrinkled than the other side.  It does my head in, but meh, nothing I can do about it.

I don't believe in 'anti wrinkle' creams and so on.  If they actually WORKED, no one would have bloody wrinkles would they!

ABOVE:  No wrinkles on this little one.

ABOVE:  She is just so tiny and precious.  AND I've still not seen her with her eyes open!

And ... back to life, as we know it.

I still have to visit the bank for cash for Saturday.

And I want to get a couple more runners made before then as well.

Also, my house needs a bit of dusting and polishing done.  So, that's me jobs for the day.

BACK LATER...

12.23 pm:  I have been out and about all morning!

First up, I went to The Base...

ABOVE:  It was practically deserted.  But then, I was there pretty early.

I got my float, a few toiletries from The Chemist Warehouse, then it was on to Countdown and the local hot bread shop for morning tea supplies.

ABOVE:  Morning tea with Amanda, Liam, Emily and Lacy.  Bit of a yak, then off I went to my next destination.

ABOVE:  I took lunch to Bex and the boys, Lily was quite content with just milk.

Well I say content... but she is still learning how to nurse, so she showed us all she has a temper!

Little red headed spitfire.

ABOVE:  I haven't lost me touch.  She settled down very nicely on me.

An hour there, then finally time to get home, throw open all the windows and do some jobs around the house.

3.53 pm:  I have been doing a little sewing this afternoon.  And responding to messages and emails.  I got me tits in a knot over one email... and was a bit cross.

I will tell you about it once I'm not likely to get flak for it.  But I'll just say this, I'm never taking orders for runners etc again.

I am so hot and sticky, it might be time to jump in the pool and cool off.

7.09 pm:  Steve and his boys arrived for a late afternoon/early evening swim.  It's about the only way to cool off right now.

Now they have left, and Stew and I are just sitting in the family room, fans on, watching the telly.

I think I will probably stay here until...

YEP, THAT'S RED

 

Last night we visited Steve, Bex and THE KIDS.

OMG, I've been dying to say 'THE KIDS' for months.  It's not just the boys now.

So, I got a photo that shows off Lily's red hair:

ABOVE:  Steve and Mike were born with reddish hair, but not as red as Lily's.

Stew said his hair was very red at birth as well, and he didn't go blonde till he was around 1 year old.

Bex's Grandmother also had very red hair, so Lily has inherited it from both sides of her family.

Time will tell what colour Lily's hair ends up.

Because we have had some rain, the temperatures have dropped a bit, so first thing this morning I hope to go for a walk.

I doubt I'll have any company today.  Lacy has Keera with her, and Amanda has been missing in action for a while now.

So I'll be on my own again.  Luckily, I don't actually mind at all.

BACK LATER...

ABOVE:  Well it really was a bright and early walk today.  I wanted to beat the heat, and I almost did.

ABOVE: By the time I got half way around the lake, the sun was breaking through the clouds, and I ended up getting very hot.

ABOVE:  The large building on the left (The Elizabeth Rothwell Building), is where our Lily was born.

I also had our Mike there.

Steve doesn't have many nice words to say about it... imagine the cops having to be called due to unruly, violent thugs being on the wards!  One girl had to be put in a lockable room for her own safety. 

ABOVE:  I certainly worked up a sweat today!  

ABOVE:  My walk stats.  Very, very happy with my time and pace.

I was pushing it though, and might not try and do that again for a while.  

On my way home, I STUPIDLY thought I'd drop in to visit Lacy and Keera, forgetting it was only 7.30 in the morning!

YEAH BAD MOVE.  It was too early for Lacy.  I left pretty smartly ... one look at her face was enough for me to realise I'd made a boo boo.

So, now that I'm home, I'm gunna have me shower then get some jobs done around the house before going to the mall to get a few things.  The float for this Saturday's market being one of them things.

Yaaa, our first market of 2024 is soon.  I have missed doing them.

2.46 pm:  I went to the supermarket after my jobs etc.

I had ONE thing on my list.  Just one thing.  And I spent almost $600 ! 

I don't know how I do that.  

So, after getting it all home and put away, I went over to visit Bex and the kids.   She needed some bread, so I took her a couple of loaves.

Lacy and Keera were visiting as well.

Lily was asleep, so I didn't stay too long.

ABOVE:  The kids think she's just so lovely.  Awww.  Too cute.

When I got home I sat down and had a wrap for my lunch.  And fell asleep !

So, just woke up and plan on getting in the pool, cos it's bloody hot.

11.06 pm:  So the pool was wonderful.  I did some maintenance, swept the bottom, chemicals etc.  Then I went to WW, just attending the meeting right now, now weighing in.  Cos I had a few kilos to lose to get back to where I was before Christmas.  Dammit.

After that I came home and spent the evening in front of the telly and computer.

And now... it's 

MORE BABY SPAM

 

Today, if all is going well with recovery, Bex and Lily will be able to go home today.

Steve is dropping the boys off here bright and early, so he can get to work for a couple of hours.

Then later on this morning he has an appointment at the hospital for his Pancolitis.  His condition is, quite simply, out of control right now.

Going on the Clinical Trial (which was a dud for him), has taken him backwards in a big way.  Now he has to start back on medications to get it under control again.

Hopefully it doesn't take too long, but more likely it will take a couple of months at least.

ABOVE:  This is the 'Name Wall Hanging' I made for Lily.  

At some point I will make her a little quilt as well.  Bex needs to pick the panel, I have at least 12 for her to choose from.  *smiles*

ABOVE:  Another darling girl who has my name, my Mum's name and my Great Grandmother's name.  Keera also has Christina as her middle name and so does Lacy.

ABOVE:  HANDS.  Steve, Dante, Archer and Lily.

ABOVE:  HANDS: Stew, Steve and Lily.

I am going to TRY and limit the number of baby photos I put on here.

Can't have you getting sick to death of them. 😂😅😊

Stew is back to work today, having had three full weeks off.  I am sure he hates the idea of being back in the office.

My day is going to look like this:

Get up ... have the boys here till at least after lunch.

Then they will go home, and if the sun is out, I'll be in and out of the pool for the afternoon.

I will probably, at some point, start another runner.

Not sure what colour combo yet.

This is the one I finished yesterday:

ABOVE:  I'm really happy with this one.  The black and blue is very complimentary.  And it's mostly Kiwiana fabrics, so should appeal to someone.

I feel like I should be making more of my 'free style' runners.  Like Wonky Houses, or Fish... but seriously, the Braid Runners are the clear favourite at markets right now... so might as well make more!

BACK LATER...

1.11 pm.  I've had a lovely, busy morning.

The boys arrived and immediately settled down with a pancake breakfast that Steve got from McDonalds for them.

Then they played on their Chrome Books while I did some jobs.

I watered all the gardens/pots/veges etc.

Then I tended the pool, chemicals in, pump on etc.

After that I went into my sewing room and made this:

ABOVE:  A shorter Bee Braid Runner today.  I really love making this particular colour combo.

Once that was finished, I came into the house and fed the boys.

Then I made them do a quarter of an hour of exercise.

They were just a little surprised!  But they would sit on their butts all day if they could.

ABOVE:  No, they were not begging for mercy.  They were doing 'girly' push ups!  😂😅

I had them doing laps around the house, star jumps, squats, sit ups and so on.  Poor kids might never want to come here again.  

All is well with Steve and Bex.  

Steve is having his first infusion of a new drug that he is approved for, after that he will pick Bex and Lily up, then swing by here to gather the boys and head home.

I am sure Bex can't wait to get home!  There is nothing like your own comfy couch and bed.

Murphy's Law:  I spent an hour watering everything outside.  Now it's raining. 😖😏

ABOVE:  And the anticipation is high... Mum, Dad and Lily are on their way to pick them up.  They get to go home, for the very first time, as a family of 5.  How special.

Stew and I were very surprised, but delighted, to be invited to Steve 'n' Bex's for dinner this evening.

We all had pizza... so no one had to cook.  It was nice to spend some cosy time with them, and have another little cuddle with Lily.

I got a really good photo of Lily, that shows her red hair.  I will put that one up on the blog tomorrow.

It's 7.33 pm now, and we are home and ready to just chill out for the remainder of the evening, until...

VISITING BEX AND BABY

 

Well no one gets a prize for guessing what we will be doing today.

Clearly, we will be taking the boys up to the hospital to visit their Mum, Dad and new sibling.

Sorry I can't share details yet, but it WILL happen soon.

When it comes to guessing baby's weight, I won.  

After we have visited the kids/baby, we will come home and get on with our normal day.

Which for me means sewing.  I'm thrilled to bits with how the Blue Kiwiana Braid Runner is coming along.

For Stew right now, it means watching Dante and Archer, and the telly.  😂😊

BACK LATER...

9.30 am:  We are off to visit the family at the hospital at 11 am.  I'm so excited.  Maybe after that I will have some photos and details to share.

This little baby is JUST GORGEOUS.  

The boys are in awe I think.

Dante was perfectly fine with it, but Archer was overwhelmed.

I'm sure he will get over that once they are all home as a family of 5.

Right.

The moment so many have been waiting for...

We are all proud and happy to introduce ...

LILY

CHRISTINA MAY

HARVEY

Born at 4.29 pm on the 13th of January 2024.

Birth weight 6 pound 12 ounces.

Her hair is RED.  It runs in both families, so we are not surprised in the least.

A precious baby girl to round off Steve and Bex's little family.

ABOVE:  It does not need saying... she is going to be spoilt rotten.  😊

ABOVE:  I do believe THIS man will be wrapped around her tiny fingers like... now!

All going well... Bex and Lily will be able to go home tomorrow.  

Steve is picking the boys up this afternoon and spending the night at home.  The boys will enjoy being home again.

ABOVE: Sorry S & B, I just had to add one more photo to this post. 

4.43 pm:  OMG it's been another hot, sticky day.

I did some sewing this afternoon, and then I ironed a few shirts for Stew.  He's back at work tomorrow, poor bugger.

The boys have finally gone home with Steve, so it's back to just the two of us.

ABOVE: When Steve arrives at our home, he always gets down on the floor to pet Coco and Marley.  

Today was no exception.

Except... Coco was immediately all over him.  SNIFF SNIFF SNIFF... what is that smell?

She could smell Lily.  She is going to LOVE Lily!

Marley on the other hand?  Nah.  She just wanted Steve to throw her toy.

She's never been around a new baby before, so it is going to be so interesting to see her reaction to Lily in a few days.