Mathilda's Market here we come!!

I found out late yesterday that our application to sell immie&ollie at the next Mathilda's Market in Brisbane was successful. It's very exciting.

I've never sold anything at a market before, so am feeling a little anxious about making sure we have enough stock, that it's priced ok, and that we have good signs, business cards, and of course a beautiful display table, enough float, eftpos (should we?), and of course - what to wear!!!

Mum and I are going to have to start a sewing marathon. I have no idea how much stock we should take, so I think it will have to be as much as we can get made in time.

And of course you know what this means....... Fabric shopping!! one of my favourite things to do in the world :)

Easter already??

Where did that come from? I truly can't believe that it's just about April already. The last 6.5 months of my life have been both the longest and the shortest I can ever remember.

I didn't even realise it was Easter this coming weekend until yesterday! I can't wait until the boys are older and I can plan Easter Egg hunts around the house and garden.

We have a 4 day weekend coming up and I didn't even think to organise a little getaway with the four of us. It would have been wonderful: it's certainly overdue.

I am actually desperate for a break. Not from the boys. Everyone always thinks that I must need a break from them, but it's actually all the periferal house/admin junk that I need to get away from. I'd love nothing more than a few days to just sit and cuddle my babies. I feel like I don't get to do that enough. I think partly it's because there are two of them, but also because there is so much to do at home - both for the boys, and generally keeping the house running. If I could just get away from that stuff for a few days I think I'd be a whole new person. I wouldn't have to think about it because it wouldn't be in my face.

It's on its way...

The lovely Shan over at Miss Melly has been incredibly patient with me since winning my first ever giveaway.

I was waiting for my immie&ollie labels to arrive, and they did, finally, yesterday. So here is what is currently bundled up in the post for her as I type.
The etsy shop is getting there. I have lots of photos to take, and then I just need to find a couple of hours (ridiculous wish perhaps) to upload them all. Here's a sneak peek! I'll keep you posted.

Where did I go?

In my 'professional / non-mama' life, I'm the national head of activism for an international NGO. It's a very cool job, a very challenging one, a very frustrating one, and an extremely rewarding one.

I'd spend my days reading breaking news reports, reading case files of people on death row, reading new reports and testimonies from the ground, talking to other charities and activist organisations. I'd be talking to researchers, media workers, victims. I'd reach into my memory to pull out international legal obligations, and pore over domestic legislation to see where the gaps were, so that we could focus our energy on closing them. I'd make decisions about what we needed to do, when, and how. And who needed to be involved.

I was very aware of the awful things that happen in our world. Sometimes too aware probably, given the nightmares I would often have, and how emotionally I would respond to some situations.

What I loved most was the strategy development. You know - we have a problem here. There are a number of solutions available. Which is the one that we should chase. Which one suits our members, our influence, our organisational profile, the resources we have to hand? How can we make it happen. Who is the ultimate person with responsibility to take that decision? Who has their ear? And who has those ears? Let's get moving. Who do we need to mobilise? How can we convince them it's really important that they DO something?

Full steam ahead. All heads down and bums up. We'd turn ideas into campaigns, campaigns into community noise, and it would happen all pretty quickly - especially when it was urgent.

Dynamic, important, critical stuff.

I was convinced that being on maternity leave wouldn't change this. Sure, I wouldn't be going to work everyday, but I would still be keeping up with what's happening in the world, and I'd become a very active e-activist.

But you know what? I haven't. Of course I've been busy, but I literally haven't done anything. I don't even read the paper anymore. I've spent a good while trying to figure out how something that is so intrinsically me - my values, and my beliefs - could so swiftly just fade away.

And I think I've discovered the answer. I just can't bear it. Simple as that. I can't bear that the world my little ones have been born into contains such horror. It makes me cry.

My rational brain instantly says "Yeah, it does, but look at all the pure goodness. You, Jen, of all people, see that goodness all the time. You work with and for people who are shining beacons of hope in this world". And it's true. But I still can't stomach it. It's like I want to erase my memory and create a new one filled with sunshine, butterflies and rainbows. Real head-in-the-sand stuff.

Maybe it will just take a little time. I hope that's all it is. I want to be realistic about this very real world we live in. I want my little ones to know that when they really feel passionately about something then they should stand up. I don't want to wrap them entirely in cotton wool and pretend that everything is roses all the time. I want to show them where the people are who are using every ounce of energy they have to change things.

Maybe I just need to remember what it was that initially ignited that fire.

So this is a plea to the activist inside me. Please come back. You might look slightly different, and that's totally ok. But do come back. I'll love you whatever form you take.

#23 You won't be 100% happy 100% of the time

and you know what? That's ok.

Hamish has his first tooth!

and he's being so amazing. I have been dreading the teething stage. All the books make it sound worse than anything else that goes on with a little baby. But I didn't even know he was getting a tooth until it cut through. He hasn't been whingey, he hasn't been waking up all night long, he doesn't have nappy rash, or red cheeks, or a grumpy attitude. He was off his milk a little bit, and it's only in hindsight that I've realised the tooth must have been the cause. He's such a gorgeous happy little chappy. Love you Mish!!

And we have a winner!!

Congratulations Shan!! You have won an immie&ollie pram liner. Yay!!

This little baby will be on its way to you soon.

Please email me at jenc77@bigpond.net.au to arrange for the delivery of your goodies.

Thank you everyone for entering.

If you are interested in buying a pram liner from me (or two!), then please email me at jenc77@bigpond.net.au I usually sell them for $65 each, but if you order one from me by next Friday (when my etsy store will be up and running - exciting!!) then you can have the special "saw it first on this blog" price of $50. Yep, 15 buckeroos off. (that aussie $$ btw)

Happy half birthday little men

Darling Hamish

Happy half birthday my sweet boy. The last 6 months have been the most interesting, rewarding and love-filled of my life so far.

You are such a gentle kind little thing, with a smile that melts even the hardest heart. You smile at everyone, no matter who they are, wherever we go. You still so rarely ever cry. And you seem to find so much enjoyment in your life. We have such marvellous conversations - you are quiet, but a serious chatterbox! You rolled over last week for the first time, and you absolutely love playing with your feet. They're by far your favourite playthings.

You have bad reflux, but you are so stoic. You don't cry, even when you have vomit streaming out of your nose. You just grin at me as though to say "don't be upset mama, i'll be ok".

And you adore Lachie. You shoot him the most beautiful smiles of all.

You are a beautiful sweet darling boy, and I love you to the most outer limits of the universe - and back!

All the love in the universe
Your Mama


Darling Lachlan

Happy half birthday littlest one. You might be tiny, but you absolutely make up for it in other ways.

You are such a hard worker! You are always pushing yourself to your limits. You insist on holding your own bottle. You engage every muscle in your core to sit up. When you're on your tummy, you try so hard to move about. And you're always reaching out for things and trying your absolute little heart out to get them.

Your smile is like a huge bright light. It's a big slice of watermelon. It's utterly contagious. You're a slightly hyper, cheeky, bright as a button, little monkey, and we absolutely adore you.

You're a very special little boy, my brave tiny one. The last six months have been the best of my life. I love you so much my heart feels like it's going to explode.

All the love in the universe,
Your Mama

GIVEAWAY: Last chance to enter!

Everyone knows someone with a baby right?

My giveaway will be drawn on at lunchtime on Wednesday 10 March so you still have time to enter, or to tell someone you know to enter.

Just comment here, telling me which fabric you like best: http://metomum.blogspot.com/2010/02/its-my-birthday-and-ill-giveaway-if-i.html

Good luck!

It's my birthday and I'll GIVEAWAY if I want to :)

It's my birthday today. And this is my 100th post. There are also 40 of you lovely people following this little blog.

To celebrate these momentous occasions, I've decided to have my very first giveaway.

I'm giving away an immie&ollie designer pram liner!!



I am not going to make it a condition of entry that you have to follow my blog, or post about it on yours, but if you would like to do these things, then thank you very much.

What you do need to do is leave a comment below telling me which fabric you like, and I will use the random generator tool thingy to select a winner on WEDNESDAY 10 MARCH 2010.

Top L-R: birds of paradise, urban leaves, zoology, lava, lotus
Bottom L-R: dotty, all stars, all spots, venetian, kyoto

I've been making these lovely pram liners for a little while now and have decided to set up shop properly. You can expect to see an etsy store very soon.

Pram liners rock. They cushion little bums, but they also give your pram an instant facelift. I can't tell you the number of times people stop me to ask me where I got them or how lovely they look.

The liners are a universal fit, and will fit most 5 point harness prams. I use 100% cotton designer fabrics including Michael Miller, Moda Fabrics, Henry Alexander, Amy Butler, and lots of others.

I hope you are as excited about this giveaway as I am. Enjoy! And good luck.

PS i know, especially for some of you who I follow, 40 isn't a huge number, but it's more than I ever expected or planned for. When I first started this blog I'd never even read a blog - I really didn't know about all this following stuff, and about the wonderful community blogging has created. I was amazed when I got my first follower, and to have 40 now is quite remarkable to me. So thanks you lovely people.


PPS my product photography leaves a lot to be desired! I will get there :)