Today my lovely husband and I have been married 11 years. How quickly time passes. It doesn't seem like 11 years ago we promised to love, honour and keep each other. But it is hard to remember my life before he was in it. My memory seems to have altered somehow to include him in events that happened before I knew him. I sometimes find myself reminiscing to him about times when he wasn' t there. He does the same thing.
We met briefly outside Rascals cafe, April 1994 (perhaps a fitting venue) via a mutual friend. Neither of us were looking for a relationship. We met for a drink a couple of nights later, and were pretty much inseparable after that. We had so much in common. Our engagement followed in October 1994, then our wedding in October 1995. I guess, to quote a dear friend "You just know". We have lived in NZ, England and NZ again. We have enjoyed great times and endured hard ones, together. We have adventured in exotic and not so exotic places.
To say "I love you" seems such a cliche, but it's true. I love you, not just for who you are, but for who I am when I am with you. You complete me, you anchor me. 14 years 'til Venice again baby!

Photo courtesy EvaUppsala - Venice

My baby is ONE!

My precious, longed for, prayed for, hoped for mp has left baby-dom and is now a toddler. I have been composing this post for a week now, and still can't quite believe that the year has passed.
14 October 2005 he was born. We all instantly fell in love. He has grown from a gorgeous, cheeky, chunky little baby into a handsome, curly, blonde boy. He still has rolls on his legs, and is ticklish in all sorts of places. He has 6 teeth, masses of blonde curls that you can almost predict the humidity from the state of their curliness, and a cheeky shy smile. If I could bottle his giggle I am sure that the world would never frown again.
He loves his Tickle Me Elmo Extreme, elephants and pointing saying 'Dere, DERE'. He is a joy, even at 3 am. When he knocks on the wall to let us know he is awake it is funny. When he burrows into my chest he makes my heart swell. When he crawls he does so truly enthusiastically, with his whole body, head swinging.
It is hard to believe I was worried about not having enough love to give another baby. We already had a lovely, precious boy it seemed almost selfish to want more. We are so blessed to have two fabulous, delicious, gorgeous boys. It is hard to remember what life without them was like.
We planted a Pohutukawa tree for him on his birthday, just like we did for his big brother. May it grow strong, tall, and straight, may it provide shelter, may it have a long life.

At last, creativity again! Ok, so I went to another quilting class last night, and right now that seems to be the only way to get anything remotely crafty done. But I did it! I managed to get all the squares cut, quilted through the centre and laid out, and then get two measly blocks sewn together. TWO MEASLY SQUARES! I have no idea what I was doing when the other girls were getting their stuff done. They got more done than I did that is for sure. Not that I am competitive in that way..... Anyway, I took a pic of the lay out cos I had to pick it up and take it home. This wrecked my lay out completely. Hopefully the photo will help me to get it looking the same when I get around to piecing it.



My lovely friend Emily made the same quilt in Amy Butler fabrics - flannels on one side and cottons on the other. It is gorgeous. I dreamed about it last night. I wish I hadn't stocked up on flannels like the world was going to run out over the past few years. Then I could have bought lovely Amy Butlers without major guilts (hence I felt the need to use what I had). Anyway, the finished quilt will look fine in SP's bedroom I am sure. The Amy Butlers are still calling to me though, and there IS a sale on.....

I hate bugs...

the tummy bug type. My poor baby has been sick since the early hours of Friday morning, diarrhoea, vomitting, not eating, generally being limp and listless. His eardrum perforated yesterday (pus coming out of his ear freaked me out), he is cutting two big ugly molars and he has rotavirus. That just seems very unfair somehow. Just one thing at a time would be much easier to cope with surely?
To add further to the general mood in the household, SP is unwell too with the D & V. Me? Im just knackered!
Cuteness - SP said this morning that a tummy bug crawled down his throat in the night, and it's antennae fell off which is why he is sick today. But not as sick as wee M as he has a WHOLE bug in his tummy!
There is incentive to feel much better soon though, the playground with sand pit, play house and platform awaits. As well as the swing for wee m of course.