Mother and Sons

Hello,

Well it's been another busy week here. It seems like some weeks the juggle between part time work, setting up a new business, running a household and raising our sons can run really smoothly and other weeks I feel like we are just hanging in there. However this week has actually been a really good week and I'm not sure what has made the difference. There have been 2 major changes in our lives.

The first one, the introduction of a weekly planner.

We did have a weekly planner for our dinners however we have now expanded it to include all aspects of our life on it. We now sit down once a week and discuss what we have on; social, work, family, fitness and business. What this has done is allow us to actual schedule in our fitness time so that I actually am motivated to go and get out of the house. It has also allowed us to separate the time we talk about our business and spend time just as a couple - tools down time. I can't believe the difference it has made, we are both so much more relaxed, have found more time to spend with the kids and I have managed to fit in personal time fore exercise. I highly recommend you spend that little bit of time planning each week.

Secondly Spring has sprung

Perhaps it's the Spring air, the boys have been happy to play at home which is unusual and this has given me time to clean, cook, clean, cook, wash, clean, cook, tidy...you get the idea. I have also continued to do more gardening and tiding there must be some research into spring cleaning because I know I get the feel for it ever year! I just googled spring cleaning history and wiki taught me a thing or two about the history of spring cleaning!

Whatever the reason I'm really glad we have had a good week. The balance between work and family is so important to me. As a couple I don't wont to ever lose touch of my relationship with DH and when it comes to the boys I am forever worried if I play enough with my boys it always seems like I'm racing around the house, there is ALWAYS something to do and I find it hard to stop and just play with the boys for any great length of time. Just curious how much time you spend playing with your boys?

Anyway here is the Low down on the boys:

The photo up the top was taken at my nephew's 19th birthday. It's so nice too see Archie and Zac's relationship developing. I can tell that they would do anything for each other and that their loyalty to each other is already concrete.

Zac's latest thing is extremely anti social behaviour. I'm not sure why but he continues to pull his pants down and take his nappy off, perhaps it's becuase of all the toilet training we have been doing, whatever the reason I hope it stops soon as it can be really embarresing when I'm out and about only to turn around and see Zac standing there pants down!!!

Archie is really getting into his new bike courtesy of nan and pop. We are still waiting for #2's to go in the correct place, talk of toy rewards, chocolate, stickers have not yet convinced him.

Well hope you all have had a nice week, Next week I will be tackling a holiday to my wonderful friends up the coast, it will be interesting as I will be doing it single handed. However if all doesn't go to plan it will just give me something to write about next time.

Till next week,
Sonya

Technorati Tags: Motherhood, siblings

Hi Everyone,

So I have decided to do a weekly blog of what has been happening in our household, the link will go through to facebook/twitter but if you would prefer to receive an email just go the website and click on the subscribe to newsletter on the right hand side.

So what's been happening this week, well actually as it's been a while between posts this time it will be more like a months work.

Toilet Training

First of all Toilet training.....don't you love it!!! For those of you who haven't experienced it yet with your little ones it is one all mighty journey let me tell you. Archie has been a slow learner he is almost 3 and half and still in nappies. We have struggled long and hard with him as he is such a perfectionist and wont try anything unless he knows he can do it properly (nothing like his daddy hmmmm) anyway what this means is that for a long time he wouldn't even try and then when he finally did and couldn't go he was soooo dissappointed with himself and frustrated that even mentioning the potty got both of us really upset. After many talks to the wonderful free support out there like Trissillian and the local community nurse it was decided the best thing for him was just remove the nappies all together give him no choice but to use the toilet.

So for a couple of days it was many changes of clothes but on about the third day it happen wee's in the toilet well I can't express how happy I was, both Paul and I were in tears and Archie wellllll he couldn't have been more proud! So that was that no turning back HOWEVER number 2's well they are another story we are back to square one again the whole fear of failure thing and he wont even try but as my mother in law says he won't be walking down the isle with nappies on!!

Trip to the toyshop

As a reward for toilet training we decided to take Archie to the toystore to pick anything he wanted. Wallets braced we went in, after much pondering, little bro Zac had picked a bouncy ball and Archie was still checking things out. I finally said time to go Archie now what is it your going to pick?Buzz?Woody?A car? anything? well he went over and grabbed Zac's ball out of his hand and said "No Zac all toys stay in the toy shop!!!!" I said it's ok Archie you can take anything you want but No he was fixed on the thought that all toys stay in the toy shop he proceeded to say good bye to all the toys and headed out the front door!!! I asked him if he had fun and he said yes mummy!!! I couldn't believe it we went out empty handed, well I had a screaming Zac under my arm!!!

Grocery Shopping  - Guess who's making a mess !!

I normally don't mind shopping with the boys, they like to look at things and "help" put things in the trolley for me. This week though it just wasn't meant to be. Actually the shopping went well it was just the exiting that wasn't so smooth. I had given Zac a drinking yoghurt to keep him quiet on our rounds. At the checkout I placed the yoghurt to the side of the conveyer belt as I loaded my groceries, then the next thing, I don't know how it happened but I, yes me, somehow swiped the yoghurt and it spilt all through the check out confectionary!!!!!! I couldn't believe it why is it always me making the mess not the kids!! Anyway after many paper towel and embarrassment I exited the grocery store. As I was loading the car I made the HUGE mistake of letting the boys play in the car, Zac, yes zac of course, climbs into the drivers seat and leans his body weight on the steering wheel releasing the Horn and instead of being alarmed and jumping away he proceeded to giggle and lie ontop of it until I managed to get around and pull him out,  much to all the other shoppers disgrace, the ones that just saw me cleaning up the yoghurt mess

Gardening - guess whos' making the mess again?

Spring has sprung and we decided to buy some beautiful pots/plants thanks to our gorgeous brother&sister in law!! I set it all up this morning so that the boys could "help" they were armed ready with shuffles, buckets, dirt and seeds, all went seemingly well until it was my turn to empty the big potting mix bags into the pots and I managed to spill it not once, twice but three times in three separate areas all over the backyard!

Anyway all in all it has been a really lovely week, I went out with some girlfriends last night and we spent a lot of the time talking about our kids, and although this isn't what you are suppose to do - (aren't you suppose to forget about the kids and talking about other...stuff...), I actually really enjoyed being able to share our stories together!

My nephew has just turned 19 and we are celebrating his birthday this weekend. Geez I can't even imagine my boys being that age but I know it will happen way to quickly. Hope you all have a great week

Sonya

Hello Everyone,

Well it's been a long time between posts. As all of you understand, I have been busy with the kids, work, life and NAPPIES!!! In fact I started to punch numbers, perhaps not a wise move and discovered that In the last 3 years I have changed approx 5,475 nappies!!!! AND that's just for one kid add another 1,825 for Zac and then I had better minus a few for the times when the daycare or other loving relatives do the dreaded duty so we are looking at probably 6,000 nappies!!!!!!! OMG! then if we change that into minutes/hours/days spent changing nappies, now this I couldn't believe I have done my calculations over and over again as I was in shock. It works out to be (based on 1minute a nappy change - which is very generous considering I spend at least 3minutes trying to tackle Zac to the ground) it's 6000 minutes which is 100 hours!!!! which works out to be 4.16days spent changing nappies!!!!
....Anyway I digress. What I really want to say today was that I have put some thought into this website. I set this up for two main reasons:
1) To set up an online store selling the fantastic products that I have come across and truly believe are wonderful for mums. Also to sell things that are great for little boys.
2) Telling my story. I have learnt so much from listening and learning from other mums stories that I thought maybe in some small way by hearing my story other mums out there may feel comforted knowing they are not alone.
Now the first reason got me stumped and it hasn't been as easy as I thought which is why there has been a delay in posts. However the second reason has always been there and what I have decided to do is focus on this and start posting more often. I'll Chose a topic as they appear in my life and letting you know about my experience.
So I hope to see you dropping by more often, would love comments but I know now that we are all busy and that all though you may read it maybe hard to find the time to comment.
Until next time, remember happiness comes from looking at what you have not what you don't have. (I'm trying to remind myself this every day)
Sonya

Technorati Tags: nappies

Hi Everyone,

Now is your chance. There is obviously a need for mothers of sons to have a website dedicated to them. What we need to do now is identify what it is you want from this site. I would love to have some feedback so that we can make this the place for you!!! Leave a comment below or answer this poll:

Regards Sonya

How to take photos of little boys (and the occasional little girl!)

Hi, my name is Lauren Walker, from Tiger Lily Photography - im a family portrait photographer, based in Sydney, and working all over NSW.  I take photos of kids of all ages – from squishy newborn babies to smiling 6 month old sitting up for the first time; from 1 year olds learning to walk to 2 year olds learning to say no; from 3 year olds exploring the world to five year olds telling me what to do; and from 6 year olds who just want to please, to 12 year olds who are just ‘too cool’.... and every age inbetween!

Im also the mother of a 16 month old little boy, who is starting to get very determined, runs when he sees the camera – so I know a lot about the word NO!

Here are a few tips to get the best out of photographing your kids.... J

* Play Silly Buggers. This ‘game’ will depend on your kids age, but often I try tickling and playing ‘peek-a-boo’ with the kids first. Or asking them to find Thomas or Dora in the camera. In the photo below I pretended I was sneezing.... little Zac here wouldn’t stop laughing at me!

* Let there be light... natural light. Take your kids outside, turn the flash off your camera, and position your kids so they’re not looking into the sun (to avoid squinting, and to get some gorgeous backlighting).  If outdoors isn’t an option, open the blinds and let some lovely natural light into your house.

* Props, Props, Props. When kids are occupied, they’re normally really still (or at least not running around as much), and therefore easier to photograph. You won’t necessarily get photos of your child looking at the camera, but often they’re the best photos – see below.

* The closer the better. Some of the best photos of children are the ones where the camera has zoomed right in, and focused on the childs eyes (or eye lids, in the below photo!).  And, as you can see from the photo below, even when they’re throwing a tantrum, it can be super cute!

* The rule of thirds. A classic photography ‘rule’, but basically it means don’t always centre your child in the photo – try moving the camera so your child is to one side. These photos always look terrific blown up really big – a lovely lounge room canvas even!

* Belly Baby. As soon as a baby is happy on his or her belly, and starts to lift their head, get the camera ready! This is such a gorgeous age, and not one to miss!

* Get Down. As kids are little, you sometimes need to get down to their level. Lay on the floor, so you’re eye to eye to each other (tip – this one is good exercise, as kids often get up and run when you least expect it!)

* Family Time. For family photos, try positioning your family where you want them to be, shoot a few frames, and when you’re happy, set your camera to your timer setting, and jump in there. Or call me….. please mention this article for 10% off your session fee J

Happy Shooting!

Lauren Walker

Tiger Lily Photography: Simple, Beautiful Photography

m. 0416 006 779

p:  02 8824 7895

f:   02 8824 6266

e. lauren@tigerlilyphotography.com....au

w. www.tigerlilyphotography.com.au

b. www.tigerlilyphotography.com.au/blog

f. www.facebook.com/tigerlilyphotography ** become a fan! **

Technorati Tags: Photographing children