Pictures

Well I have been a bit slack about posting pictures on here lately, so here are a few of things going on. I have to admit that I haven't been great taking them lately, I guess with not feeling well and everything going on it just hasn't been happening, but hoping to be better now. Tilly is growing and changing so fast, it's amazing watching it happen.
This is Tilly out in our backyard. She is looking a lot like a bogan here, pants to short, not matching :) but she was having fun.

This is Tilly trying to get back in the shed after I closed it. . . just too many spiders for comfort.
Tilly's best friend and the newest addition to the insanity here, Tess.

This is Tilly at Tony Roma's she's addicted to butter. It's pretty hilarious, and kind of scary, but she loves it.


More to come. . . .

SO MUCH GOING ON. . .

Well I think it's been about a month or more since I've last written, but there has been so much going on and I haven't been feeling great, which has kept me away, no excuses I know, but there it is, prepare for something long, just warning you now.

The biggest news, though now it is news to no one. . . we are expecting again!!! We are both so completely excited about the new little nugget, with Tilly the jury is still out :). The new little bub is due to arrive mid-February and I can't wait to see their precious little face. I'm not 13 + weeks along and finally starting to feel better and not SO tired all the time. I think I have felt worse this go round, maybe because I already have a little demanding person to keep up with, who knows. Ed is over the moon with it all and just can't wait either, he says he's even more excited this time around if that is even possible because now he knows how amazing it is. That's a picture of the little nugget with it's hand up by it's mouth.

Other news. . . Tess, the dog, is still crazy but her and Tilly absolutely adore each other. It's hard to keep them apart. They are constantly cuddling and wrestling, it's pretty adorable, too bad they won't stay still long enough to get their pictures made, but maybe one day I'll catch them. We just had Tess desexed (spayed) so had to watch Tilly extra close, she didn't quite understand why she could cuddle and lay on Tessy like usual. Tilly loves getting to walk Tess, which usually doesn't last too long since Tess pulls a bit to hard and gets away, but it is really cute while it last and Tilly thinks she's such a big girl.

Next section will be a bit long and doting on how cute my daughter is and all the new things she is doing since last time I've written, since it's been a while, this is going to take a while.

Tils is ABSOLUTELY adorable. Just when I think she can't get any cuter she does. She is so awesome, I love each and every day I get to spend with her. She is hilarious, weird, serious, silly, SO SMART, and precious. She has turned into such a chatter box and I'm amazed at how many words she knows, compared to all the kids in her play group she talks about 10x plus, I know big surprise right knowing her parents? :) Ed has started getting her "big" animal books (more like animal encyclopedias) from the library because she knew all the animals in all of her books and is obsessed with animals. She also started caring around a purse. It's pretty cute, she does it in the house a lot, but now anytime we go to leave she has to grab "her bag" she goes "mummy mummy bag" it's pretty cute. She has also really gotten into money (isn't this a bit young?) so I bought her some play money which she now carries around in her little purse. She has also taken to taking her babies on a walk in her little pram. She loves going out back and pushing the baby around the yard. **Cute moment (or could be scary): The other day she pushing her baby around in her pram, carrying her purse, talking on her play cellphone, and I ask myself why didn't I have my camera? Tilly has also started giving the best hugs. She has always been a cuddler, but now she will totally wrap her arms around your neck and give you the biggest hug, plus sometime a little pat on the back, it's awesome, the most amazing/precious feeling and I can't get enough of them!!!!

About 4 weeks ago Tilly started swimming classes. She goes once a week and has 2 other kids in her class. The first week wasn't great, she was nervous and it was cold so we had intermittent crying, but each week has gotten better and this week there were no tears at all. I think Ed is going to come with me in a couple of weeks and video it all for the family, I can't since I'm in the water with her. She has really started kicking her legs and moving her little arms. She swims under water under a hoop and has no fear jumping off the mat and going under water.

Ok, my little one is now awake and this has probably already been to much for most of you, but I will try to be better about posting now that I'm feeling better, and next time I'll add more pics.

In case our lives are chaotic enough

We have adopted a little puppy. I can't remember the last time I had a puppy, I think I must have been pretty little, so I had forgotten how much work and time they take. She is REALLY cute. We've had her almost 3 weeks now. She was 8 weeks old when we got her. She pretty small, a Jack Russell cross and full of energy. The first few days were interesting to say the least. See Tilly love animals (form a distance) but she does not like them up in her face and she didn't want to touch them, which is part of our reasoning behind getting the dog. So Tilly loved to watch little Tess at first but Tess wanted to jump and play and Tilly was having no part of that so she would cry any time Tess came close. Luckily that was short lived or I don't think I could have made it. Now Tilly absolutely loves her and is constantly trying to get Tess to come sit in her lap or cuddle her, or she's trying to snuggle with her on Tess's bed (now we have to watch that she doesn't get too close to her). She totally cracks me up when she tries to take Tess around the house on her leash. Another precious moment the other night that I wish I could have gotten on video but she moved as soon as I got up to get it was: Tess was laying on her little blanket by our heater and Tilly went and got a book and sat down next to Tess and put her had on her and started "showing" her the book. It was so cute and sweet. There are still moments where Tess makes Til's cry or she gets a bit too excited but it is so sweet when we are comin g up and Tilly starts saying Tess, Tess.

The cool thing about Oz

I am often reminded of how cool and how different living in Australia is.

There is an American here who is doing some training, it's his second trip here and the first time he stayed 6 months so we got to be pretty close friends during that time and have really enjoyed his second time around. This time his wife got to come for a visit which was absolutely wonderful, while they were here we went to this really cool place that we haven't visited before that is only like 10 minutes from our house, definitely going to put it on the "must do" list for our next visitors. It was one of those places that made you really feel like you were in Australia. We got to sit by a wombat.

Get up close and personal with some kangaroos.

Pet some koala's.


And just enjoy an afternoon out together. So wonderful getting to spend time with friends.

Side not on Tillly things:
- Today was her first day to really play "imaginative" she LOVES butter on her bread, I mean when she sees me getting out the container she gets excited, so today she has this little plastic jar thing and she kept walking around with it saying "butter" and pretending to eat out of it, and then offering Ed and I some.

Oh the funny things she says

I was checking my email this morning when Tilly popped up beside me with the old wallet I let her play with. She looked up at me and said "Money, mommy, money". So I asked if she needed money for her wallet and she said "yes" in her cute little lispy voice, then looked at her daddy and said "money". I figure it's only just begun. My they learn early :)

Other cute little saying:
poffee = coffee (every morning Ed and I have a coffee with breakfast, and Tilly wants her coffee too--don't worry she just gets some herbal tea, but it's pretty funny when we are out and this little 18 month old start asking for poffee)

tome on = sounds sort of like come on, which is what she means she is constantly saying this to all of us (have I mentioned before that she's bossy)

yogi =her yogurt, she usually says this as she is standing outside the fridge knocking on the door

rabbie's =rabbits, it's adorable. we took her to this farm a couple of weeks ago and they had some baby rabbits, all she talked about for the next week were the baby rabbie's

elphy- this is elephant, she is obsessed with animals, her fave videos are the planet earth ones that we are borrowing from a friend, we might have to invest in these

oh I know there are more but my mind is a blank right now, it's hard to think with a little one standing beside me playing with her fake cell phone and trying to call me :)

Our Little Parrot

I am constantly amazed by how much Tilly knows and how fast she learns things. People weren't kidding when they say children are little sponges. It seems like every day she is learning more habits and words. She talks so much now and repeats just about everything you say. This is usually really funny to hear her sweet little voice chirp up from the back seat, or wherever she might be doing her own little impressions of you, but it has also had me thinking how critical it is to be modeling godly behaviour. Am I being the kind of person that I want her to be? Does she hear me use words that are sprinkled with grace and not judgment or negativity? Does she hear my speak about God daily and what He has done in our lives? Am I showing her patience, understanding, selflessness? Does she see through my actions that that people and relationships are what is important and not things that we have or what we wear? Do we live lives of sacrifice and service?

I hope that I am showing her these things, but I know that sometimes I fail, sometimes I let selfishness, tiredness, busyness, or just stubbornness get in the way. But I also have to remember it's not just showing Matilda and what ever other children we may one day may be blessed with how to live righteously but I am called to live that way each and every day. I am grateful for His grace and mercy!!

Slacker

Well I guess I'm not totally a slacker it's just been REALLY busy around here lately (meaning the last few months). We decided to take it easy this week and it has been wonderful just getting to get a few things done, though I still feel like we are really busy.

So I guess I'll back up a bit and then maybe do a few post close together to update on what's going on. The weekend before last we went down to this little town south of Perth called Bridgetown. We drove down on Saturday (since it was a long weekend we stayed until Monday). We went down with one of my absolute favorite families the Harris's (Lindsey, his wife Ruth, and 4 kids--plus their oldest daughter has a little girl that came along) We had such a wonderful time. We went down to visit and study with Lindsey's sister and husband. We took it slow on the way down and met up for lunch in a town called Donnybrook. They have the most amazing playground ever!!!! It is ginormous and totally awesome--seriously I would consider moving down there just for the playground.









Rhonda and Brett's house (the people we stayed with) was beautiful, is sat atop a hill overlooking this beautiful valley that was covered with fog every morning. It was really hilly around there with lots of orchards and it made me feel more like home. It is such a cute little town, I can't wait to go back. We had an awesome visit and all worshiped together that morning I think there were 20 of us including the kids. It was just a great relaxing weekend away.

Alrighty enough for now, will update again soon with all the other stuff going on around these parts.

Randoms. . .

It's so strange. . . in the past few weeks on two different occasions random people have stopped us to take pictures of Matilda. Should I be worried about this? I know it's kind of strange and both times totally took me by surprise. The first time was at the zoo, we were walking around looking at the koala's when I noticed two girls (European--I'm guessing from listening to them speak) snapping a couple of pics of Til's and talking about how cute she was. Then when we were down in Albany a couple of weekends ago another couple with a small child stopped us and took her picture. Strange huh? I thought so too. I mean what are you going to tell people when they are looking at the pictures? Here's this really cute random kid we saw. . . .I don't get it, I mean I know she's cute and I guess it's hard to resist this cute little face, but should I tell people no?

Daddy's shoes

hey sorry this is sideways, still cute :)

The desire to be different. . . .

Although most of the post will be about Matilda, I thought I would also use this blog as a sort of journal for myself. Lately, as in the last several years, I've been torn between 2 ideas of what I want my life to be about. Maybe I've always been torn, who knows, but I for the last several years it has been on my heart and in my thoughts a lot.

How do I want to live? We have talked about it extensively in some of our bible studies here, talked about being different and living different. Living to make a difference. It all sounds good and great when we are sitting their comfortably in houses that are bigger than what we need, surrounded by worldly comforts, never having to worry about food, or being warm, or really anything for that matter. We say we have to watch our budgets, but that is only really so we can "save up" for ourselves and things we may want to do in the future. I say all of this because I am torn, and maybe every one is, or maybe it's just me. I know Paul was talking about sin we he talks of his wrestling with doing what he doesn't want to do and not doing what he knows he should do, but I feel the same as that in this case. I KNOW that things shouldn't matter, that I don't NEED nice things, or for my house to be decorated perfectly, or to always look put together. I know those things, but does that change the way I live. Does that change the fact that I want to live happily and safely tucked away in the suburbs with close friends that are all christians where I don't have to worry about serving others and everything unless I want to. Do I want to live a life where I won't be "inconvenienced" by others in need unless I have the desire to seek them out, in my time, where it fits my schedule. Do I want to sacrifice having the "perfect house" so that I can give to others and maybe open my doors to people who have no where else to go? Do I serve because I want to, or do I do it begrudgingly and can't wait till I can have some "me" time. I know as a mom I sometimes use Tilly as an excuse. Well I don't want to push her, or I just want to the best for her, but isn't living the way Christ lived and opening our lives to others what is best for her. I say all this to say I'm torn. Torn between this world and Christ. Can you really live both ways? Can you really live in the cute little house and only surround yourself with other christians and still be living the way He wants, and ask us to? I know I struggle with this all the time, I struggle with it when we all sit around and talk about wanting to live differently and then go home and live just like everyone else. I don't know what to do, but I do know when I look at the scriptures and wonder, what would God really want me to give up, and it's everything. Sometimes I say, well, that doesn't mean. . . (fill in the blank) I guess it really comes down to two things with me: fear, and selfishness. I'm afraid of what might happen, and I want my life the way I want it.

Sad to admit those things, pray for me and I pray that you are all better with this than I am.

My life. . .

Well this blog isn't JUST about Tilly but our lives here as well. Right now it seems like things stay busy all the time. What's going on:

1-trying to be more proactive about encouraging other christians and looking for people who could use some company/a visit. One of the great benefits of living here in Perth is that I have the chance to not work, and be a stay at home mom, One thing I really want to show Tilly that is important though is spending time with others and so I'm trying to take more time and spend it with people, whether it's just going and visiting at their house, or going for a walk, or having a meal together. This does involve me being a better listener and actually looking for people who could use a little company. Another way that Ed and I are both trying to be better with this, and we've done it for a while, is at least once a month have different people from church over. We like to invite 3-4 couples or 8-10 people (total--including us, sometimes it's more, sometimes less) we really try to invite different aged people who don't really know each other or spend time together. It is so awesome afterwards seeing the different people talking to each other at church and stuff where they wouldn't have before.

2-Trying to become a better cook. I've been working on this for a while, well I don't know if working is the right word. I've always loved to cook, and love to try new recipes and things, but lately I've decided to make a conscious effort to become a better cook. Ed has joined me in this journey, and we've decided to cook together once week. It is great!!!! Also each month (or every other month) we pick a new ethnicity to learn about (cooking wise). We've only just begun and we started with French food. mmm. . . .and I wonder why I'm not losing weight.
This week we haven't cooked anything French, but still have eaten some really yummy stuff.
What's been on the menu:
-Monday Night: Steak with a creamy carmalized onion blue cheese sauce (SO delicious!!!! and thanks to one of my favorite websites: www.thepioneerwoman.com I think I want to be her when I grow up), oven roasted cauliflower (my new favorite way to eat this veggie--thanks to my awesome sister in law), and roasted sweet potato
-Tuesday night: homemade gnocchi --let's just say this was harder than I thought, never made any sort of pasta and well they didn't turn out great looking but I guess they were pretty yummy) You cook those then toss them into a toasted butter sage sauce (not a way I've ever eaten gnocchi before but it was worth the try and except for the calories would definitely do it again, sauted pumpkin, and chicken (the recipe called for quail but I couldn't be bothered driving down to the butcher to get it)
-Tom: (this is pending my oven getting fixed, right now it's out of commisssion) Mexican lasagna
(mainly because I have some leftover spanish rice to use and am really trying to be better about eating all leftovers and not wasting food.

Alrighty: I promise I don't always cook like this, I typically only try to cook 3 meals a week and live on leftovers, but there it is.

That's my life right now besides my adorable little girl that keeps me on my toes constantly :) Gotta love her.


Alrighty for those that mainly come to see her beautiful face here are some more pics of that cute little girl. We went down to a delicious place (also now on of my favorite places for a special night with the hubby or friends) called San Churros. It is a Spanish chocolateria, that specializes in churros which are a mexican style doughnut with little chocolate dipping sauces, but they also have the type of hot chocolate that looks and taste like a warm, delectable, pot of liquid joy (also know as chocolate). . . mmm. .. I wish I were there right now. Anyways, the pics are of our precious little girl getting her first taste of San Churros. At first we just broke her off a little piece of the churros, but when she saw mommy and daddy dipping theirs of course she had to as well. When the chocolate touched her lips you should have seen the look of sheer pleasure. She then tried to just such the chocolate and keep dipping it. hmmmm she is her parents daughter.

Growing so fast. . .

Tilly insist on using a spoon or fork now when we eat. Not only that, she doesn't want to use the little plastic spoons or forks, she wants the big girl metal ones, because that is what mommy and daddy use. Also her favorite person is True. She absolutely love him. As soon as she sees him her face lights up and she is saying "True, True"!!! Only problem is well, they don't exactly share very well yet, and seem to play a little too rough, but they are so cute together.

hard to find good help

Recently I've decided to try my hand again at growing our own herbs for cooking. I tried it here before (during the summer)--which was an utter failure, it was just too HOT they couldnt' survive, so I've learned from the local that you grow things here during the winter, I know that seems backwards, but it's pretty much teh only time you can count on getting rain, and it never really gets cold. Well I went out and got my herbs, and Ed and Tilly planted them for me. She absolutely loved getting to help her daddy get dirty, and she still goes out there and tries to dig around in the pots.

New Resolution

To be better about blogging, I mean I need to keep a record anyways, why not here. So I'm going to try and post at least once a week. . . We'll see :)

Babies love babies

Tilly loves other babies. She has this one thing she does now that I think is absolutely adorable. We have another little boy here named True who is 6 months old, and I guess Tilly witnessed a lot of people going up to him and making silly noises and faces and such because now every time she seems him she does a silly face as she walks up to him and does the baby noises at him, it's so cute. She has also gotten to the stage that she loves her baby doll. She walks around with it and gives it cuddles. A friend of ours got her daughter a little baby stroller to play with and Tilly would not let it go the day we were over there she loved it so much. (Guess what's on the next gift list) It's so cute to watch her with her babies.

The Power of Words

I am constantly amazed at how quickly Matilda learns. It seems like each and every day she is learning new sounds and words, or movements or something. Right now she is a little mimic, copying our expressions and words. Out of the blue she'll repeat something hard that you say. Words that she says and knows the meanings of: hello, bye bye, mama, dada, mum (this is what she calls her dummy or pacifier--it took us a while to figure out this is what she was talking about, at first we thought she was walking around looking for me, but then soon realized it was her dummy which I call "dum" a lot), outside, up, down, water (though she does call most liquids this except for milk), flower, turtle, doll, I'm sure there are more but my mind is running a bit blank, it is late you know ;). Her favorite word right now is "outside" mainly because that is her absolute favorite thing to do right now. She loves walking over to the backdoor and pointing outside and asking to go out there, then practicing going in and out. She has so much fun doing it.

She also knows most of the animal sounds: chicken (this was her first, it did help that we had chickens at the time), dog, cat, horse, cow, monkey, sometimes frog and bee. My personal favorite that she does is the monkey which her dad taught her, it is SO cute. She loves books too, and loves to be read too, and she loves to point out all the things she knows and says them. She has gotten really good to at once you go over things on a page you can ask her where they are and she points them back out. Is she a smarty or what ;)

Toddling

Well now it's been almost a month since Tilly "officially" became a walker. She has been walking around for about 3 months or so before that, holding on to furniture, walls, etc. and taking a few steps here or there. Ed and I laughed at how cautious she was about it all, but I guess after a few pretty big falls and hard head knocks, I can understand why. She slowly found her confidence first walking between the two couches in the living room, or across to her high chair. Then she would venture a little further around the house to where she was eventually walking all the way across the living room. All of this was only happening around the house though, we would tell people at church and then try to show them but the stubborn little girl wouldn't budge. We would set her down, but she would immediately go to her bottom. It didn't take too long though and she found her confidence even more. She started following me all around the house barely having any trouble and only teetering a little here and there, then she finally took off at church. When she did everyone was surprised at how stable she was, I just told them she should be stable she's been walking all around the house for a few weeks. She has an adorable little toddle though, and she prances around like a little princess shaking her bottom. I LOVE IT!! It is great and crazy now that she is walking on her own. Great because she can move all around and entertain herself more. She can come when you call her and walk if you have your arms full, crazy because she is now moving constantly and always wants to be up and about. oh my how the times have changed, she can get anywhere in seconds and you have to keep a constant watch. I can't believe how big she has gotten. I have a feeling I'll be saying that for the rest of my life.