O Christmas Tree!

I love decorating for Christmas and I love my tree! I collected my decorations over a couple of years and this year is the first I have been able to put them all the way around the tree as I have it up in the corner against two windows. It's behind the couch so it's protected from Ladybug.

Before I added the lights I let her touch the tree. She really liked the way it felt on her fingers and kept rubbing the branch. When I had most of the decorations up she was up again from her nap. I took her into the lounge and she was so excited to see the lights going and the decorations on the tree. Takes after her Mummy! Proud moment!

Here is how I've decorated this year. i would love a wreath for the door, but it's not a priority just yet.

Jim Shore Mr & Mrs Christmas, Advent Calendar, Nutcrackers, Angel's & Santa's

From a friend years ago - looks good when the tealight candle is lit

Santa

My beautiful tree!

Close-up of just some of my favourite decorations: Santa's, Angels, Fairies, and Dancers

How to Clean Your Washing Machine

I have had my washing machine for well over 10 years and it's only been cleaned by my Mum (thanks!). So when I saw this tutorial by Jill of One Good Thing in my Facebook Feed I had to give it a go.

Now, in the tutorial she adds the bleach to hot water - my Janola stated NOT to add to hot water, instead using warm or cold water. I did the warm water. CAUTION: make sure you run your dishwasher and have a shower before you use warm/hot water so you don't run out and get a cold shower! Of course that depends on how big your hot water cylinder is.

I couldn't believe the muck that came out into the water - it looked a little gray. Yuck! I've been washing my clothes in that?! So glad I've done this. She recommends in her tutorial to  clean your machine every three months or at least twice a year.

Here is the tutorial.

Yay for Summer!

I am so glad the weather is heating up as it means I can take Ladybug out. We just went for a walk around the neighbourhood as the sky was so blue and the sun was out. Much better than earlier in the day. 

It's not long now until Christmas and I have worked out how I can safely (I hope!) have my (fake) tree up without it being tipped over as Ladybug is now slowly dragging herself along the ground. It does mean it will be mostly hidden, but I would rather that than not have it at all. Usually I would wait until December 1st to put it up, but we have a Movember BBQ to go to that day and it normally would take me the better part of a day to put up. Now I have a small person I think I'll need to do it over a few days so I'll start in about a week's time I think. I can't wait as I LOVE Christmas!

Do you do real or fake?

Product Review: Ergobaby Swaddler

***UPDATED AT BOTTOM***

Thanks to Mums Review I was selected to review a swaddle by Ergobaby. After some trouble with it getting to me (it came from Asia via Australia!) I finally received it. As with everything new I use on Ladybug I gave it a good wash first off. Because it hasn't been the nicest of weather here it took a little time to dry in the garage, about a day. I was fine with that as I didn't want to risk putting it in the dryer, even though you can put wool in ours.

Ladybug has always been swaddled in one way or another as she has the startle reflex motion that wakes her up, and now, at seven months old, it's a comfort to her.

So what did I think?

The first time I put Ladybug into the Ergobaby Swaddler she slept for about two hours in the morning. Wow! I thought - two hours! That's great and similar to what she has been sleeping in recently. However, her next nap was in the afternoon and she only slept for about 40 minutes. Every time I have put her into this swaddle she has only had short sleeps. There are many reasons for this:

1. she is teething and gets small naps from the pain,
2. afternoon naps have always been short unless she is really tired,
3. she has infant eczema and tries to scratch her face when asleep if not pulling on her ear from teething pains,
4. she is an Houdini baby.

I haven't been brave enough to sleep her in it at night as she is usually a good 10 hour sleeper and I didn't want to lose my sleep to her waking through the night (I know, I know I'm lucky).

Does Ladybug like it?

Yes. She liked moving her arms and loosening it so she could put her hand to her mouth to suck on it. Must have tasted good!

Did I like it?

I liked how her arms were contained within the specially designed wings. These were great to stop her from scratching herself and made getting a grumpy tired baby to settle easily. I would have preferred the velcro tab to be bigger, but they were nice and quiet to undo if needing to reposition. The special piece that folds up to keep the legs and hips in the frog position I found awkward as it didn't seem long enough. The little sack that goes over the legs was a good idea as I can see parents resting their baby's legs on top of this in hotter weather, although it was nice and lose for kick room when baby is awake.

I tried to follow the instructions from the pamphlet but needed to go look at the instructional video. Now I am able to put most things together with minimal instructions so I was surprised at the extra help I needed. One thing I would like added to the instructional video is tips for making the swaddle tighter when wrapping the arms as Miss Houdini was always moving her arms making it hard to get the same snug fit as the baby in the pamphlet. Maybe on a younger baby this would be easier?

Ergobaby in the USA have sent a pictorial "how-to" for do's and don'ts. If this was included with the swaddle it would have made it much easier to use. Go HERE to get your own copy.

Where did the time go?

It's almost October - how did that happen so fast? Super duper quick catch-up:

We found out we were having a girl, then she came four weeks early! Strong enough to not need neo-nates, so that was a relief. Since then I have been playing mum to my very sweet little Ladybug. 

Oh, and we brought a house when she was only tiny (viewed the house at one week old & moved in at six weeks), went away to a funeral at two weeks, and further away to a wedding at four weeks! A well-travelled baby! Ladybug and I went to my parents for two weeks so hubby could paint the inside a more pleasing colour and now he is busy doing the garden.

Little Ladybug is now six months old, is mostly able to sit by herself (still falls over, but that's part of the fun and learning) and has just got her two lower central incisors in over the weekend after a month of being grisly with teething. She can also take her dummy in and out of her mouth and throw things out of her cot when playing in there.

I wish it was winter!

I'm not too keen on the hot weather but right now I really hate it. To add insult to the heat, summer looks to be carrying on well into the year. Then there is my feet. I used to have such lovely small ankles. Used to. Now they are yuck, hurt, feel stiff, and look like I've got a bad case of bee/wasp poison. Especially the right foot - that seems to be the worst.

Only eight weeks to go!

Can someone please send snow?


On a lighter note....

Last week I had a midwife appointment but didn't have my normal midwife. This woman poked and prodded me and I still felt sore afterwards as she tired to find babys head. Then she said baby was a bit small... THAT didn't make me feel too good. So we arranged for a scan for last Friday...

...on Thursday I was in pain - had the heat pack during the wee hours of the morning for my back and hips but didn't take it to work. BAD IDEA THAT! At work I had lots of lower back pain throughout the morning. If I was entitled to sick leave (that comes in next week) I would have gone home. That's how uncomfortable it was. Now I would say a 7/10 for pain but I know that when baby is here it would more likely be a 2 if that! LOL! Then...

...on Friday we went for the scan. The woman there said baby wasn't small (yay!) and that the due date could now possibly be Monday 15th April going by the measurements (one day earlier). Baby was 4 pounds / 1.8 kilograms. Baby had turned - no more breach (hopefully stays that way) - and is facing down. She tried to get a good face picture for us but baby kept raising it's hand. Will post when I can. We found out what we are having... but are keeping it a secret... for now at least. I plan to reveal at baby shower in 5 weeks time.


PS: I wasn't kidding about the snow!

Third Trimester

We have now gone into the final stretch for this pregnancy. 28 weeks down. I wish we were further along and Aaron wishes we had more time! It's been a long hot summer already, and in Palmy the real summer usually comes along from February and into March. Not looking forward to that as I'm so hot now I'm needing naps just to cool down.

Here is a picture from our 23 week scan - baby was in a breach position so we don't know if this little one is a girl or boy, but look at that cute little nose!

Baby is due Tuesday 16th April. Stacy and Ashleigh have their wedding that Saturday. A bit too close for them to come and see bubs and a bit too early to travel to Tauranga! They'll have to come down some other time to visit their niece/nephew after their honeymoon.

Went to New Plymouth last weekend for my mum's 60th and we were fortunate enough that one of my sisters friend's was selling their cot - a Touchwood! It had quite a few bite marks along all four tops, but Aaron spent Wellington Anniversary day sanding it back (took most of the day, poor thing!). Then this weekend he stained and varnished it. It's now just waiting to be assembled in baby's room.

My sister gave us plenty of baby clothes which was very helpful. While Aaron was sanding I was sorting! Got them into containers by size, and today I washed all the newborn and 0-3 month clothes. Still need to do the cute merino clothes, but I ran out of room and pegs on the line! She also gave us some flat nappies and blankets, so those took up a fair bit of room even hung sideways.

Lots of boy clothes. I forgot to do the little socks, but really, I had no room for those. I guess I'll do them next weekend with the merino clothes and other hand-washing clothes. There were so many little socks! I think I need to get one of those round 'delicates' clothes hangers to keep all the socks safe. Did you see the cute little bear outfits (gray and white)? I'll have to show them some other time. They are so nice and soft to cuddle - I can't wait for our little baby to wear them.