Dreams

Well, I can say that 2 of my dreams (hopes) have come true this year!

Firstly, the most obvious is the birth of our beautiful daughter, Amy, in August.

And just today, a second dream came true... I finally got to meet Guy Sebastian! I've loved him since I followed him through the first season of Australian Idol and this morning he was a special guest on the Sunrise morning show. While he was signing autographs, I took Amy up with me and asked him to hold her while I took a picture... and he obliged!

Sunrise in Adelaide

I think my dream quota is used up for the year... but there are a few weeks left so who knows!

PS I got my sign and face on the show a couple of times!

Obviously Not Your First

Normally Vaughn fills my car with petrol as it's easier than me trying to do it with Amy. However, yesterday I needed to as I knew I wouldn't make it to my friend's and back without stopping at the servo. I filled up while leaving Amy in the car, but when it came time to pay, I took her out... it increased my time there (i.e. not a quick in and out to pay) but here are my reasons for not leaving her in the car:

- on a hot day, it doesn't take long for babies to suffocate and pass away
- someone could steal the car, and Amy would then be kidnapped, intended or not (I've heard a number of cases like this in the news in the last few months)
- an emergency could arise in the short time that I'm in paying (in a volatile place with petrol, it could happen, well has the potential to happen)
- if I lock the car, with all the electronics that are involved in car manufacturing these days, I may not be able to get the car unlocked and have to call the auto club for assistance... therefore see point one

However, that's not why I decided to blog today. The reason I'm blogging is to tell you about the conversation I had with the lovely service station attendant. While my credit card was been processed:

Attendant: So, obviously not your first?
Me: Sorry?
Attendant: She's [Amy's] not your first child?
Me: Why would you say that?
Attendant: Because you look like you know what you are doing.
Me: No, she's my first, so thank you!

Wow! After pleasantries of goodbyes, I walked back to my car, so chuffed and proud! I know it was something very little, but that guy made my day. Seriously, who wouldn't love being called a good mum and by a stranger who really didn't have to say anything!

Thank you service station attendant!

My Not So Little, Amy!

My little girl is growing up very quickly! At 3 months of age (!!) and 6kg, she is about to start the next size up in nappies, called "Crawler"! She's now 61.5cm long (she was 49.5cm when she was born!). Some highlights of our little angel:

- She now smiles all the time and gives us the biggest, most heart-melting smiles when she sees us!
- She learned quite early to roll from her tummy to her back and she has now mastered the reverse already.
- She has already out-grown her bassinet and now sleeps in the cot.
- Just this morning I heard a hint of her laugh. I hadn't realised until then that she hadn't been laughing! She's always cooed and ahhed when she was happy, but it wasn't actually a laugh. I can't wait to hear it actually develop!
- We have many wonderful conversations with Amy now. Of course, we can't understand each other, but she mimics me and I her and she responds when you talk to her. When she turns 4 months old, I will start using some basic sign language with her, so it will be wonderful when she can start to communicate in that way.

I think that's all her main accomplishments for the moment, so I'll stop gloating and give you the link to some more photos:

Amy Ellen - More Random

Travels with my Aunt

While my Aunty was here in Australia, we kept very busy (perhaps too busy), but it was so very wonderful to spend time with her, and for her to be able to spend time with us, especially Amy, during the precious first few weeks of her life.

One of the places we went to was the Cleland Wildlife park. My godmother, Judy, also joined us on the gorgeous day (the weather was perfect and Amy was a little angel the whole day... I had my first 'public' feeding sitting on the grass in the park!). I think the highlight of the day, was the photo with Clover, the koala. Click on the photo to take you to the web album for more photos.

Cleland Park

We also met Vaughn for lunch at Hahndorf another day. Hahndorf is a German settlement (aparently the most visited town in South Australia), which is located in the Adelaide Hills, near where Vaughn is doing his Vicarage. Another nice day, where we also met Vaughn's parents and strolled around the town.

The next day we drove out to Maggie Beer, which is a quaint little restaurant type establishment. Maggie, until very recently, had her own cooking show called "The Cook and the Chef", and the studio is out where we visited. We were able to sit down and sample some of her delicious food. Well worth the effort to drive out to Nurioopta, in the Barossa Valley.

Maggie Beer's

On Friday, we visited Ikea for lunch, and of course, as per any Ikea visit, didn't walk away empty handed!

Unfortunately the next day, we had to say goodbye to Aunty Ellen as she headed back to the States. She hopes to return next year for Vaughn's ordination, so that's something to look forward to!

Reborn

Sorry that once again I have been silent on my blog page. I always had good intentions of keeping it updated, but that falls by the way-side each day!

We were very excited to celebrate the rebirth of Amy through the waters of Baptism on 27th September at St Mark's Lutheran Church, Mt Barker (where Vaughn is doing his Vicarage). It was a beautiful day and it was wonderful to see Amy become a part of God's family.

Some very good friends of ours, Bec and Michael, accepted our invitation to be Amy's godparents, so they flew over from Melbourne. It was great to see them, even for a short, busy time while they were here. We also had my Aunty (Ellen, Amy's namesake) fly over from the USA, just to witness the special occasion. She stayed for a week, so we got to spend some quality time with her.

It was definitely a busy time for us over the weekend of the baptism, as Vaughn's parents drove over from Melbourne with their caravan, my parents drove from Hamilton and my brothers flew from Melbourne. People everywhere, but I loved it!

Click on the album below to take you to some photos of the day:

Amy's Baptism

Random Amy

No, Amy's not random, but this blog entry is random things of Amy... could also be called "Gloating Parent"!

I got very excited a few days ago, because Amy nearly rolled over (tummy to back). My excitement then mounted when Vaughn told me last night that she actually achieved the roll over! I missed it, but am so very proud of her. She has very strong neck muscles as well... she can hold her head up and support herself very well. And I am very sure that she smiled at me the other day and has randomly since. "If your baby's smile is in response to yours, and she is looking at you, it is not 'wind', however young she is." (quote from a parenting magazine published by Children's & Youth Health Services), so I'm convinced! Apparently my younger brother smiled when he was quite young as well, so more evidence that I did witness a smile!

If you click on the first picture below, it will take you to some more photos of Amy uploaded to our web album, but following that, there are some other pictures with explanation:

Amy Ellen - Random

My little darling is losing her hair. She was born with a full head of dark hair, just like me. However, unlike me, she is not keeping her hair. She doesn't have 'cradle cap', but instead lost a lot of the hair on the front of her head, after Vaughn bathed her a couple nights back. I was quite shocked when I saw how much she had lost! I now affectionately call her my little "Ron Howard"! She still has all her hair at the back of her head - it hasn't been rubbing off as she sleeps in her bassinet, hence why she looks like Ron Howard (she doesn't really, but that's the first thing I thought of when I saw her after she lost her first bit of hair!).


Sorry that this photo is sideways... the computer randomly decides which photos to put portrait and landscape, no matter how I save it! Anyway, I could take a million pictures of her when she sleeps. She is just so beautiful and peaceful and adorable and... so many other adjectives! I have to use all my will power not to pick her up and cuddle her and smother her with kisses when she looks like this! Vaughn has the same problem! I love that this particular photo captured her with a slight smile on her lips... I know this isn't actually a smile, like I was talking about above, but it's cute all the same!


Okay, well I guess that's enough gloating for the moment... I'm sorry that I've turned into one of those parents who think that everything their child does is just amazing and feels they have to share it with everyone... I hope it doesn't bother you too much and you can find some enjoyment in my gloating of my wonderful, amazing, angelic daugher, Amy! :o)

3 Weeks Old Today!

It's hard to believe that we now have a 3 week old daughter! The time has passed so quickly and we have had our ups and downs over that time. It has obviously been a learning curve for Vaughn and me and of course, it will continue to be so. No matter what, however, she will remain our little angel!

I neglected to mention in an earlier post, the origin of her name, so here it is:

Amy: Doesn't have a special significance. It was just a pretty name that Vaughn and I both liked. I think it fits her very well, as she is a pretty little girl (we aren't bias in any way, of course!)

Ellen: Named after my mum's sister in the states, as well as their mom. I liked the idea of Ellen being a family name, but it skipped my generation. I was going to be named Ellen, but after deliberations, Ellen was dropped for Janelle Renay (there's a story behind it, but that's for another day!). However, I like to think that Amy Ellen is a fourth generation Ellen as "Nelle", a common nickname for me, is actually "Ellen" spelt backwards! How's that for spooky!

Almost 2 Weeks Old

Last Monday when Amy was almost 2 weeks old, a good friend who was a photograher in a previous life (now studying at the sem), took some beautiful shots of us as our new family. They turned out wonderfully and I am so excited to share some of my favourite shots with you... there are a few as it was hard just picking a couple!

Amy Ellen - almost 2 weeks old

Welcome to the World, Amy Ellen Spring

Very important update, indeed! Our beautiful, gorgeous daughter, Amy Ellen Spring was born at 7:27pm on Tuesday 18th August 2009. If you click on the album below, you can have a look at some photos taken in her first few days of life:

Amy Ellen Spring

Other information:
Weight: 7lb, 7oz (3.37kg)
Length: 49.5cm
Labor: 9.5 hours - natural (was using gas at one point, but the midwife turned it down/off after I started hallucinating (!)
Colourings: Deep blue eyes, full head of very dark hair, skin tone was pink from the moment she came out

Vicarage

I obviously haven't updated the blog for a while... sorry! There are a few things to update you on, so I thought I should do separate headings instead of lumping it all in together.

First update... Vaughn is now on his "Vicarage". This is like a church placement for 9 months, where he will be working full time in a church setting and won't be attending any classes. He has been assigned to Mount Barker, which is a beautiful spot in the Adelaide Hills. Unfortunately it's a fair drive each day for him (about 35 or so minutes), but he loves his Vicar Father (the pastor of the church) and he really enjoys the hands on experience as opposed to studying books/theory, so the drive doesn't seem as bad. It's against all the peak hour traffic as well, or else that would have added so much more time to the drive.

The congregation are so lovely and have welcomed us with open arms. We both feel very loved there.

Vaughn started his placement on 24 August, was installed on 30 August and will be there until May 2010.

It is still under construction, but here is the link to their website, so you can see a little bit more about the church: http://www.stmarksmtbarker.org.au/.

Missing

Well, it seems we have finally finished the nursery! However, there is one more thing that is needed for it to be complete. Can you figure out what it is that is missing?




I don't know if I look like I only have a week left before Bubs is due, but I certainly don't feel like it, which is certainly a blessing! I have been having problems with sleeping, but not from being uncomfortable, and because I'm not working, it means I can have some wonderful naps in the afternoon to make up for it.

My Baby Shower

As promised, here are pictures of my baby shower! Click on the album, which will take you to all the pictures.

My Baby Shower

Thanks to Mum for taking the pictures!

Life is still going well... the count down continues at 4 weeks left today! Vaughn and I are both in good spirits - we are excited about the pending birth and ready (emotionally and in regards to preparation) should Bubs come early (but hopefully at least not for another week, as Bubs will be full term next week). However, I'm not all that uncomfortable, so I'm not just wanting to "get this baby out" as I know many women are like at this stage. So, I'm thankful and feel blessed to be in this position.

Each day, it sinks in more and more that Vaughn and I could be parents any day now! We both can't wait to meet him/her - Vaughn especially is so excited; he can't wait to be a daddy! I know that once Bubs is born, I am going to love actually holding and cuddling our child, but I think part of me is definitely going to miss feeling Bubs move inside. I've loved that feeling, so I think it will be weird for a little while and something I'll miss! But obviously a whole new world is about to open up and I'm sure that won't last too long!