Me Time

So Darling Husband (DH) has been on holidays over the Christmas/New Year break. This isn't anything new. What's new this year is that we are both home together with Darling Daughter (DD). 

Since DD was born, I hadn't had much time to myself, so I organised with a Dear Friend (DF) to have lunch and for DH to watch DD while I was out. 

It was decided that Thursday would be the day. 

I had it carefully planned. I'd be home until just after 9am, at which stage I would go to my usual Body Step class. Then I'd rush home, have a shower and wash my hair and head off for lunch.

DH tried to tell me to take my car, to which I had to point out many times contains the pram and car seat. I told him if we were taking my car, the seat and pram would have to be swapped over. So I got to take "his" car. Awesome! 

I spent about 30min at home with DH and DD before I left to pick up DF. She was suitably impressed that I rocked up in the "big" car - for the record, I have a 4 cylinder car, hubby has a 6 cylinder car. 

Before leaving though, I had to give DH a VERY detailed list about how to feed DD. And how to generally look after her. She's a year old, you'd think he'd know by now.

Off we trundled to a local (almost) Japanese restaurant. The sort of stuff DH will not go near. 

I still had money from my saved Christmas money - no I didn't skimp on gifts, I always get a bit extra out to get some grog. Only this year, I got given grog, so I didn't need to spend money on it.

We decided on a medium "tapas" plate of tuna balls, gyoza, mini yakitori and something else, followed by fresh sushi for 2, at the chef's selection. OMG. I have never, ever had that type of sushi before, because we are limited with culinary choices here. There were 2 really weird looking ones that neither of us could bring ourselves to eat. But we scoffed the rest of it and then went next door to the ice creamery for dessert. I have to admit that I was a little scared about eating such large pieces of raw fish, but it was so fresh and melted in my mouth. Didn't even taste overly fishy. Once I finally rejoin the workforce, I think that I will be using some of my hard earned money to go back there. It's expensive, but the food was that great that I WILL be going back!

The only downside was that as soon as I got home DH took off for a mountain bike ride. It's him who tells me I need to take more time for myself. You see, quite often, 3 - 4 mornings a week and maybe an afternoon on weekends, he goes and rides his mountain bike for 2 - 3 hours at a time. I'm normally lucky to get 2 Step classes a week. It just felt like, "Oh, you're home. She's your responsibility. If you take a few hours, I get even more." Sometimes it feels unfair but then DD gives me a massive, cheeky grin and I know all the time I spend with her is more than worth it.

Done for another year

Wow. What a huge few days. Darling Daughter (DD) turned one on Saturday. It was a great day, but also a bit emotional for me. We woke up before her, but made sure all her presents we had were out before we went to bed. We were very careful to only get her a few things, knowing that our families and friends would spoil her. 

I have a radio station that I listen to, every day, with DD (it's our TV off time) and she loves dancing to the music, so I contacted the host and he added in her details for a birthday announcement. I'm that sentimental, I got out my phone and recorded it. And I got a bit teary. 

We simply spent family time together (except for my two trips to the supermarket for bags of ice) until it was time for her birthday party. The weather was pretty good considering weather reports said we had an 80% chance of rain. 

DD was placed in her playpen, in the middle of all of us, and as people arrived, the circle got bigger and so did the pile of presents. I can say that we know the most generous people! 

We did things a bit different - we didn't have games or nibblies, just sat around for about 30 minutes to allow all of our guests to arrive (my cousin had to work late) and once everyone was here, we cut the cake. 

And it made me sad to do so. Why? Well, DD is obsessed with Giggle and Hoot. Mainly Hoot. We can be anywhere in the house, and if she hears the theme song, she gets so excited and starts trying to say Hoot and dances. 

So the lovely mum of a girl (I can't stop calling us girls, sorry) I went to school with made us a butter cream, chocolate mudcake Hoot. I thought a marzipan icing Hoot might be a bit much for a one year old to handle. Hubby and I ate Hoot's legs, which were wafers. Hoot has been so awesome, that a week after picking him up, we still have a little bit of his head/face! It has lasted so well! We let DD have a bit of cake to mush in her fingers (a normal serving size) and to eat. She even loved sitting up in her "big girl" Disney Princess camp chair, because our other young guests were doing it. 

I cracked a bottle of Chandon Vintage Brut (2008) that I bought on our honeymoon in 2011 and was saving for a special occassion. I figured after everything we had been through DD's first birthday was special enough.

Having Christmas just three days later was huge! Again, family and friends spoilt all three of us rotten. Our house looks like a toy store, with ALL sorts of things, from baby pianos, to walkers and stuffed toys littering our lounge room floor. But you know what? I wouldn't change it for the world. I think inside I like having them so close together because I know I don't have to worry about any of it for another year. 

I do wonder what DD will think when she is older, but if she says anything, I'll just remind her that she was the impatient one who couldn't wait to meet Mummy and Daddy.

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and that you have a safe, happy, healthy and prosperous 2013!

Thank you for sticking by me for the first couple of months!

My Christmas List

In true Christmas Spirit, along with Essentially Jess and Always Josefa I'm doing my Christmas List.

How many items do it get? No, I'm just kidding. There's always a few things that are standard, so here goes:

1. Good health for all of my family. I want my mum's arm and neck to be better.
2. A money tree. Greedy, I know. But if I had a money tree with a never ending supply of money, I'd share it with my family, friends and charities. I wouldn't be so greedy as to keep it all myself, but I just want us to be comfortable without worrying.
3. More creativity. I'm sure you're all getting bored with my posts. I'm not that exciting or interesting.
4. For my family and friends to get their wishes for the rest of their lives - I know what some people want and it's nothing I can help with, so I really, really want them to get it.
5. An RDO for my husband. Having him home that one extra day a week would be wonderful.
6. An open ticket (including travel) to any and all country music concerts in Australia forever. I want to see Big and Rich, Billy Ray Cyrus and all the artists at CMC Rocks the Hunter. I've been lucky enough to see international artists Brooks and Dunn, Tim McGraw, Joe Nichols, Dwight Yoakam and Gary Allan to name a few. I want more. It's an addiction!

I'd share the love, but all my favourite and followed blogs have already been tagged I think.

Tell me in the comments what you want and who you would like to see give their Christmas list.

Countdown to Christmas

So, this year marks our very first Christmas at home as a family. DD and I were both still in-patients over last Christmas. 

Santa Claus even found her. Obviously her Mummy and Daddy were very muchly unprepared for her early (yet still welcome) arrival. We've also got to get through the first birthday party too, which I'm probably over-excited about.

I'm getting antsy to put our Christmas tree up, but thanks to my upbringing, I have to wait until December 1. I just can't bring myself to do it any earlier. Although I have broken with tradition and decided that Christmas carols will be played from DD's 11 month mark. That gives me an extra week and a bit to enjoy the music!

We're currently sussing out the shopping centre Santa's to get our first ever Santa photos done. I took her to look at Santa the other day, and she just stared at him. Quite intently too. I don't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing.

I'm really looking forward to this year. We're all going to be together, and won't have to steal tables from vacant hospital rooms to have Christmas lunch on. Although, I have to admit, my hospital was great and allowed me to pay extra money (out of my own pocket, not my private health insurance) which meant DH and my parents could have Christmas lunch with me. We even got a choice of beer, red wine or softdrink. 

Tomorrow sees DD at her grandparents house and me trying to organise more Christmas presents for my family and friends. This year, I am much more organised.

In fact, my mum will be getting more than just a $50 note shoved into her hand this year. She WILL get a gift. I'm making sure of that. 

This is probably a pointless post, but all these things jumble around in my head and make it hard to function some days unless I get it all out.

What are YOUR tips for getting organised for Christmas??