Jumping for joy

A few months ago Michael and I talked about getting the kids a trampoline for Christmas. We checked out the toy, department store and sporting catalogues and found all the good ones to be out of our budget. I then decided to do what all the modern people of today do - a google search on the information highway, followed by my first look at ebay. I did my research and then did nothing.

A couple of weeks ago I started thinking about Christmas and remembered the idea of a trampoline then logged onto ebay to check out some current trampoline auctions. There was a 10ft trampoline that met our requirements with a low bid, and with only 10 minutes to go I thought I'd place a practice bid to see how ebay works. Surely it must all be a scam, a brand new trampoline couldn't be that cheap (we are talking one third the price of retail outlets). I expected a flurry of bids towards the end that would see the price soar, so I ignored the auction and checked my emails. Not long later a received an email from ebay telling me I had won the auction. Completely surprised and not sure it was for real I called Michael at work and said "I think I've just bought a trampoline on ebay but I'm not sure". More emails followed with payment details and within four days a trampoline had been delivered in boxes awaiting to be assembled.

With baby no.3 almost here we decided to give the kids the trampoline for Christmas early, mainly so it would keep them occupied when I'm busy with the new baby. So far it has been getting a daily workout and it's not just the kids who are enjoying it.

Michael begins the job of putting together the trampoline.

Michael doing some user testing.

Almost ready.

Supervisor in place and the kids give the tramp their seal of approval.

Our trampoline came with an instruction manual that covered the manufacturers for all eventualities. Here are just some of our favourite "important advice for usage":

* Users should have a respectively short jumping time. Longer jumping periods reduce the interest of other users, as they have to wait for their turn to jump.

* Clothing worn must consist of a t-shirt, short trousers, gymnastic shoes and thick socks. Beginners should wear long arm shirts and training trousers.

* In times when supervision is not possible, the trampoline should be dismantled.

* It is not recommended this trampoline be used for children under six years of age.

All completely ridiculous, but I can't wait to get this baby out so I can start jumping for joy too.

Visitors

We have had a succession of visitors over the past few weeks. Since the big move from Sydney I'm not sure who gets more excited about catching up with friends, me and Michael or Henry and Milly. Needless to say it is always fun and we miss our friends greatly.

Catching up the Logan's and meeting their second born Bill - or BLog as we nicknamed him.

Allegra and Henry vamping it up.


Allegra, Milly, Henry and Joe.

Milly, Ivy and Henry.

Ivy, Luka, Milly, Henry and Darcy.

Ivy and Milly making sand cakes.

Apocalypse now

Last week we awoke to a sky of orange. It turned out a dust storm had swept in from as far away as South Australia and was painting the east coast of Australia a colour of burnt henna.

I was so glad I had washed the car only two days prior.

32 weeks

Well, here I am - 32 weeks pregnant. At last we are in the home stretch. I can't say it has been the most wonderful of pregnancies. I had morning sickness up until 20 weeks and then it came back again around 28 weeks. I've been really exhausted, my body is swollen, my ankles are now cankles, and my fuse has been short. I haven't really felt like I've had the chance to enjoy being pregnant when I've felt less than ordinary. But last Friday, I woke up and felt good - my energy levels were back, and I'm less grumpy and tired. And finally I'm excited about the baby and its arrival.

We had an obstetric appointment yesterday and got to see the baby on an ultrasound that our obstetrician did in his rooms. The baby is lying posterior (it's spine against mine) and head down. The baby was blinking and looked like it was smiling. Our obstetrician told us it looked like it was going to be a good-sized baby. That, of course, is no surprise to us as we don't do small babies. I certainly remember when pregnant with Henry and Milly I was over it all by now and really struggling with the extra weight and exhaustion. So now with seven weeks to go I'm hoping this feel good mood stays with me.

Mother's Group party

I was really lucky when we moved to Newcastle to be welcomed into a fantastic mother's group. Recently we had a joint birthday celebration for the four year olds with a highlight being the cupcake tower made by Sandra (super cake baker extraordinaire).

Twice the Father's Day

Last Monday Henry came home from preschool with a Father's Day present he had helped make. It was a cardboard cup that he had painted and it was filled with some lollies and chocolates. He was so excited and proud of it that although it was meant for Father's Day on the coming Sunday he just wanted to give it to Michael straight away. Plus because he knew it contained some sweet treats he was hoping Michael would share them with him. Henry patiently waited for Michael to come home from working in Sydney. We picked up Michael from the train station and he was no sooner in the car when Henry told him all about his Father's Day present waiting for him at home, its contents and would he give some to him. As soon as we arrived home Henry raced to where he had left the present and gave it to Michael begging him to open it and share the lollies and chocolates. I only just managed to get a photo taken of the very proud Henry and his Dad with the present. For the record Michael shared his present with all of us.


When Sunday came around it was time for Father's Day again. The kids helped wrap the presents and as soon as they were wrapped they were being unwrapped again with the excitement kids get when faced with the chance of unwrapping a present - even if it's not for them.

Milly gets a big bed

For the past four months or more Miss Milly has been able to get in and out of her cot on her own and has also been waking between 2.00-4.00am unable to be resettled in her own cot. So we can all get some sleep it has just been easier to let her go back to sleep in our bed with us. Not a long term solution, but at least we are all well rested in the morning. With another baby on the way and Milly's cot antics, we decided to advance Milly to a big bed, after all she seemed to like sleeping in ours and/or Henry's so maybe this would solve her night waking.

Well she has had her big bed for just over a month now and the good news it has increased her midday nap from 1 hour 20 minutes to 2-3 hours. The bad news it hasn't really changed her night waking habits, with only three nights on record of her sleeping through the whole night in her bed. Although it is now usually around 4.00am that we hear her stampeding down the hall to join us.

Yes, we know with a new baby due in 10 weeks time that we can't let Milly keep this up, but it is hard to resist a little cherub face and warm little body snuggling up to you.

Doodle talk

This quote from Milly who was watching Michael take a shower:
"You have a doodle on your vagina."

And this quote from Henry who was doing a wee:
"My doodle is getting taller."

Super Milly

Wearing your undergarments on top of your clothes could only mean one thing - a super hero in the making.

Grandparents come to visit

Michael's parents have just been down to visit us. Milly is certainly her Dadda's girl, but when Grandad comes to stay Michael has to play second fiddle. The kids loved spending time with their GrandJan and Grandad and endlessly produced books for them to be read to. I'm sure it was an exhausting trip for Janet and Peter but they didn't let it show.

The grin says it all - stories with Grandad.

Not quite Harry Potter but could pass as a trainspotter - trying on Grandad's glasses.


Hot chocolates at Nobby's Beach.

The Hobsons at the foreshore.

Lunch at The Brewery.

More stories with Grandad.

More recent random pictures

Rolling out some dough to make gingerbread men.

Showing off some favourite toys.

Dadda's girl.

Recent random photos

One of the great things about living in Newcastle is all the free family friendly/kid activities they have organised. Henry got to enjoy his first pony ride.

Playing pirates with Nanoo.

A rainy day activity. I got the kids to lay down on some paper and traced the outline of their bodies. It was then their job to paint and decorate it.

Our little grub.

Our little angel with his Dadda.

Knock knock jokes

Henry has started taking delight in telling "Knock Knock" jokes. We've managed to teach him a few, but he really still doesn't get the play on words. Instead he has come up with a few non-sensical versions of his own which centre around objects he can see at the time. An example below:

Knock, knock
Who's there?
Window
Window who?
Window light

Not to be outdone, Milly has also come up with her own non-sensical version, of course adding her rude twist.

Knock, knock
Who's there?
Pizza
Pizza who?
Pizza bum bum.

Baby no.3

WARNING: 3D BABY PHOTO BELOW - SOME PEOPLE FIND THEM A BIT FREAKY.

We have just had our 20 week ultrasound for little baby Hobson no.3. It all went very well with all body parts and organs presents and working. Up until a few days before the ultrasound we were going to find out the gender of the baby, but in the lead up I was remembering how exciting it was when Milly was born and not knowing if she would be a boy or a girl - so we decided baby no.3 would also be a surprise.

I have to have another caesarian, as it is the safest thing for for me and the baby to do given Henry and Milly where both born that way. We have tentatively booked with our obstetrician 16 November as the date of birth.

The pregnancy is going well. I had yucky all day sickness for a twice the length of time I had it with Henry and Milly, but pleased I didn't actually vomit. It was just that feeling of something rotting away in my tummy and feeling very green. My energy levels are back and now I'm just starting to struggle with a large tummy getting in the way of putting on my socks, trying to squeeze through doors with a full laundry basket on my hip, or trying to squeeze through doors when someone else is trying to come through too. My body is swelling up with all the fluid and no doubt preparing itself for another biggish baby.

Below is a 3D photo taken at the ultrasound scan. The photo shows the baby's head and one shoulder. I think it looks like a mini Grace Jones - check out those cheekbones.

Winter solstice 2009

We've just been on our annual pilgrimage to Kangaroo Valley for the winter solstice, where we converge on Emma and Dave's property and enjoy a big bonfire night, minus the wicker man. With the kids a year older they are already wise to the dangers of fire, having witnessed last year Emma and Dave almost blow themselves up when they used petrol to help get the fire started. This year there were more of us and more kids, with the adults enjoying some warming beverages and the kids enjoying the mud, toasting marshmallows, and dancing with sparklers and glow sticks.

Getting the bonfire started while the late afternoon mist settles on the valley.

Henry and Milly keeping their distance.

Waiting for their toasted marshmallows, from left to right: Henry, Allegra, Sophie, Milly, Rosie, and Joe.

Towards the end of the night Henry turned into a wild man.

Milly and her glow stick.