Monday, October 31, 2005

I must scrap today, I must scrap today.

I have to keep telling myself. Else I'll end up at this computer bumming all day. It's easy to do. I'm terrible.

Actually, more card-making than scrapping. Have a party coming up and the girl wants some Christmas craft samples. Better get my butt into gear hey? Christmas cards, christmas cards. Can you believe its only 7 weeks away though. I really *should* be getting stuck into them anyhow. If I'm going to that is.

With money tight this time of year (isn't it for everyone?) - we've got Dad's, Jaidyn's, 2 friends, and Greg's birthdays all within 4 weeks of Christmas, bother - I really do need to make some gifts if I can. Cut down on the costs if I can. Any ideas? What's good for Mum? She usually likes some little album-thing... in fact I don't know if I've ever made her one. Yes, she needs one. Specific ideas anyone?

Nice..... I got a nice long sleep-in today. Could have kept going really. Except its getting hot. Might be another stinker whereby I will hibernate in my air-conditioned room this afternoon. Jaidyn went to Toowoomba with my folks for my cousins 18th party yesterday afternnon. Is missing preschool today - first time ever this year I think. Oh well. No doubt he'll be home before I know it.

Should also get off the net so I can call the doctors. Call some clients. Do the groceries. Blergh... house-wife stuff.... boring... such is my life huh.

Saturday, October 29, 2005

Lazy few days...

The most of my time over the last few days has been spent telling friends about the new baby. It's all very exciting and it's exciting to talk about it. Exciting that this time is very different from last. While I enjoyed my pregnancy last time, I was only 17, young, more naive, unstable and was forever wondering what people would think of me. Now its so different. Now I'm married, I have a degree, I'm stable, have a family already, and a bit older. It's wonderful now, and I intend to enjoy every bit of it!

Have been talking to some of the ASC girls about their scans. The doc told me I'm not due for a scan until 18 weeks which I thought a bit strange. Then I hear (and remembered) that I should have one at about 12 weeks for the Down Syndrome scan. The doc has me scheduled in for bloodtests at this time, but not a scan, but I'll be changing that, that's for sure! For one, I'd like to have that scan (not that it would change anything - I would never ever abort my child) and two, I'm not really sure of my dates, so I'd really like to know and Eck says the earlier the better coz babies can be growing at all different stages by 18 weeks. So Monday I'm going to call for an ultrasound. I hate having to make an appointment just to ask for a referral for one, but I guess it has to be done.

Our lease runs out in early December. In the year we've been living in this house, they've now put the rent up $15. Buggers. So we've decided to move. That, and our main bedroom is too small for our king-size bed and to move around in, AND we'll need an extra room or a bigger house with baby coming along! So now its down to finding somewhere. And its a bit tricky. Now we want a 4-bedroom house, and for our budget, the options are rather slim. We did find one the other day that we half-liked, then they put the rent up another $10 so I don't know if we want it so much anymore. Plus we still don't really know what area to move to. REALLY, we want to be over the northside of Brisbane, near our church community and friends. However, Greg doesn't seem confident about getting posted out there as apparently there's a lot more competition for management positions and promotions that side of town. But then again, our God is bigger than that. I guess what we really need to be doing is praying diligently and trusting God will place us in the best place for our family's wellbeing and spirituality. Hopefully He can give Greg a position on the northside..... please pray for and with us for this move if you will. It's all so up in the air. We don't know where or when Greg will get a home store, and we now have about 4 weeks till we have to move. And the houses we'll be after will go fast. Just pray for us if you will please.

Well, I suppose I better go and spend some time with Jaidyn or do some housework or something.... yuck, housework.

Another big congrats to Eck for your pregnancy darling, and now also for Matt's new promotion! Great opportunities for your family. I wish you all the best in your decisions as to what you will do together.

Nat xx

Thursday, October 27, 2005

P.S. Needs challenge...

Oh yeah, I forgot to add this. I did this after reading Rozzie's blog the other day...

Here's what Natalie needs:

1. Natalie needs a Nightie (apparently this is a play!)
2. Natalie needs more hours.
3. Natalie needs a vehicle (yep, a nice mazda 3 would go down well thanks!)
4. Natalie needs to hit the road.
5. Natalie needs to lighten up.... (geez, I didn't think I was that bad) lol

Good fun... whats yours?

Still gobsmacked...

So I do my morning reading of my friends blogs, and Erica's sounds all regularly normal for her family... (I know Matt and Maddy having golden staph isn't normal, but like Eck said, when it rains at her house, it pours)... until her very last line!! If you haven't checked it out, you must...

Well I was gobsmacked! One because I totally didn't expect Erica to have more kids (SIX!??), and two because I too have news....

I'M PREGNANT TOO!!!!!!!!!!

So you can imagine how excited I was! Of course I called her straight away and we whooped and jumped up and down together coz we are due about 2 weeks apart! We are going to be pregnant totally together!! And I'm soooo excited about it!!

I was going to post it on my blog or send emails to friends today anyway, so the Biatch beat me to it! LOL, love ya Eck! Congratulations sweetie, I'm just so happy for you and your beautiful family. Sure, you're crazy, but I know how much you just love your kids and how much you'll love another.... going for the 'cheaper by the dozen' hey??

So there ya go. I've been quiet lately yes, but my life has been pretty boring otherwise. A little morning sickness, a lot of trying not to tell friends when I really just wanted to!! I so can't keep a secret like this!

We are so very excited! And even telling my Mum and Dad wasn't so bad this time. Bear in mind, last time I told them I was pregnant I was 17 so I had that memory hanging over my shoulder. Now I'm 23 and married and really with Jaidyn going to school next year, the timing is perfect. Oh, except that maybe I should have worked full-time for a while... but anything to get out of working huh?? LOL, that's what my mum said anyway...

So now I have told you, I will have to bore you all with updates and such, and of course photos of my growing belly (which is already quite large to begin with, lol). We don't have a camera at the moment, and don't look like affording my Rebel or something similar for a while, so I think we are going to buy a cheap digital to last for a year or so til we can maybe afford the Rebel. Coz I can't go without a camera now can I?

Nat xx

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Update...

Well, I've been so-so with the 'goals' as specified for this week.

Have exercised twice so far. Went to the gym and did my weights (OMGosh, first time in 2 months I noticed - umm-ahh) and felt really good about that... did aerobics on TV yesterday morning too. Was sweating up a storm too...

Should have gone to gym this morning, but haven't been feeling well the last few days/mornings, so I'll hopefully go for a walk or aerobics tomorrow morning before heading off to the retreat...

Speaking of which, can't WAIT to see the girls! It's been a slow process getting me excited about it this year as I'm a little out of the scrapping loop atm but I really can't wait to see Roz, Eck, Nic, Carol-Lea and the other ASC girls I'll be meeting Finally for the first time! I'm sure it will be a blast! Even if I don't have a whole lot to scrap!! I'll try to rustle together something today, but my camera has been AWOL for a few months now so I'll just have to use old pics, or I might get into some BTPs that I want to do for Xmas pressies or such.

See you all tomorrow girls! Can't wait!!

Oh, and P.S. A HUGE congratulations to Rozzie, Eck and Shell for making the MASTERS!! Woohoooo!! Congrats again too to the girls who got HMs... Brooke, Nic and Carol-Lea come to mind... love all your work girls!!

Natti xxx

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Getting real...

Following Ali's post on 'getting real' I've also decided to set myself some goals and start reaching them too! I watched Oprah the other day and it was about how she lost the weight and has kept it off. Apparently she followed some program that some guy has a book about (Bob someone). She sent 4 of her staff on a 12-week 'boot-camp' to lose some weight and they looked so great afterwards! So I copied down the 6 rules as a part of this program...

1. Exercise vigourously 5-6 times a week (on boot-camp they had to 8 times - yikes that's everyday and then some!)

2. Eat consiously at all times (knowing exactly what you are stuffing into your mouth all the time!)

3. Eat a healthy breakfast (I don't have a problem with this one)

4. Stop eating 2-3 hours before bedtime.

5. No alcohol.

6. 6-8 glasses of water per day.

So, I'm not totally going all gung-ho on this program, but am going to try to apply these principles where I can. I am especially testing out number 4, and am setting myself a 7.30 cut-off time. No eating after 7.30pm. Bob said that you can lose weight just be focussing on this. So I'm going to see if I can make any changes with it.

OK, so my goals for this week.

1. Drink at least 6 glasses of water each day.
2. Eat fruit - at least one piece a day.
3. Only eat at designated snack times. Breakfast-snack-lunch-snack-dinner-snack (if not after 7.30pm)
4. PORTION CONTROL! Watch my dinner plate.
5. Gym. 3-4 times a week. Like Ali, no excuses.

I REALLY want to make a start on this before the retreat. I'd like to have lost at least a kilo before I go, so I am starting to feel a bit more confident again. Not sure what I'm going to plan for the retreat. I'll be interested in hearing from anyone else (Eck!) who's watching their diet what their plan is.... are you going to just enjoy yourself or be good if you can??

I had a great workout this morning and felt really good afterwards. I made it to 15 mins on the bike, where I usually get off at 10 max... I then set 25 mins on the treadmill on the RANDOM program I found which is REALLY good!! I got to 15 mins and was so set to get off, but I just kept telling myself "just one more minute" and I did that all the way to the 25mins! Yay! Feel so good I stuck to it! 5 min cool down on the siting bike made for a good 45min workout. I'm going to go Saturday morning too.

Well, I'm off back to my air-conditioned bedroom where I've been hibernating all day... yucky hot and still not really close to summer! NOT looking forward to summer hey!!!

Nat xx

Saturday, October 01, 2005

Off to Shari's...

I'm off to Shari's for the weekend/night! Yay! Can't wait to catch up with my wonderful friend, play scrapping (hopefully!) and let the boys play together! Will be great! Of course I still haven't packed, so as soon as I'm finished on here, I will have to!

I'm hoping I do well at the demo this arvo. It's my second one, and first with people I don't know (except you Shari!) so I want to do as well as I can. So many products to try to think about and to demonstrate, but I think I have my run-through changed just a little from last time so hopefully I do OK!

Mostly, I'm just looking forward to hanging out with Shari! What fun!

Have a great weekend all, see you next week :)

Nat xx