We love Elmo!!

The wonderful thing (well one of the wonderful things....) about having an older sister with two beautiful girls:

Is that you get fantastic hand-me-downs!!

It's a bit shameful to admit, however Emily informed me the other day, that her and Offie both had Elmo t-shirts from Portia (yes Cath - she is still number 1!!) I knew they both had t-shirts but I didn't realise that they were the same - Ems kept going on about it, so I told her to show me.... and well hey....she did!

"Say Cheese"

"Eat please Mommy!!!"

2 Sleeps to go!!

Oooooh how exciting - there are only 2 sleeps till the Christmas Weekend Celebration begins - this obviously is prior to the Christmas Day celebrations.... - obviously!

For those of you who have forgotten - here are the rules:

You don’t count the sleep you are about to have ie: tonight – as it is almost over and before you know it you will be awake.
You don’t count the sleep prior to the event ie: Christmas Eve – because let's be honest – who really sleeps?
If the event falls on the Monday or on the weekend, (Christmas day this year is on a Monday) – you don’t count the weekend, as the weekend can be counted as celebration for the event.

Leighleigh the Builder - can she build it?

Leighleigh the Builder - YES SHE CAN!!!

Em's needed a booster seat to sit up at the table - they seemed very expensive, and I thought I could build one.

And you know what - I could!

I am currently coming up with names for my new business - I think

'The Carpenters Daughter' counds very suitable.

Get your orders in quick before Christmas!!

Just in case you were wondering, it still needs a paint, and a wee pillow for Em's to sit on - but even Grant thought I was a legend!!

Tea for four please!

Today Em's had a tea party for some of her friends - Ambee (Amber the Cabbage Patch Kid), Bubba (not a highly original name - but certainly appropriate) and Teddy (Lets not tell her it's a Care Bear, and it's actually Osy's...!!).

They had tea and real biscuits. The others didn't seem that hungry, so Ems helped them out (she is so caring that way...!!)

Let's play Baddeley's Clues

I wonder what we did this afternoon - it's such a beautiful day.

I'll give you a clue.....

Can you guess? No? Do you need another clue?

ok -

How's the guessing going? Need another clue?

ok -

Yup -

Bathurst!

What's that you ask - where am I?

I'm in the bedroom weeping quietly into my pillow, cause I just found out it goes till 8.00PM

"Happy Day to Me" By Emily Baddeley

It was my BIRTHDAY and I turned 2

For my birthday I got a really cool bike, but my favourite part was....

McDonalds for breakfast!

Then we had a party, and some friends came over.

We played pass the parcel...

and had a treasure hunt....

and then I got to open my presents!

WOW!!

Turning 2 was great!

hmmm what happens if I push this button?

It wasn't me - I didn't touch the camera - I don't know what you're talking about!

Tomorrow she's TWO!!!

I can't believe that my precious baby is turning 2 tomorrow. I am sure it was only last month that we spent a weekend in labour, thinking it would never end, and then I held my first born and thought I would do it all again in a moment.

Although I can't believe it has been 2 years - I actually can't believe it is only 2 years - we feel like you have been with us forever!

Emily, you have given us such joy, so many laughs (and a few tears)

We just adore you!

Quote for the day...

Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did – she just did it backwards and in heals.

Waiting for the Bee Bee to dry

Today Mommy washed my Bee Bee. She said that it was dangerous and could be an environmental hazard. The problem is Mommy doesn't have a drier - so because she loves me a lot - she dries it for me with her iron!

What a glorious holiday indeed!

Well we are back from a wonderful 10 days in Mooloolaba

We had a great apartment with stunning views of the ocean

We ate pizza on our deck, with clear blue skies, and views of the waves breaking

But the best part of all:

Was the SPA Bath!!

Come on in the waters boiling...!!!

WOW - what a great holiday, the weather is stunning - I am so brown.....well cream, the water is beautiful and the food is great - what more could you ask for....oh that's right - that the kids don't wake at 5.10am!!!

Unfortunately I have busted our digital camera - BIG unfortunately - so although I took a couple of snaps prior to the incident, the memories are going to be stored in our minds...oh dear!!

Well - we are off to continue our walk - love to you all from the VERY sunny Sunshine coast!!

We're all going on a summer a holiday

Come on sing with me.....

Tomorrow we fly off to the Sunshine Coast where the temperatures are in the late 20 & early 30's - I believe the term was 'unseasonably warm' YAHOO!!!

We are taking our two beautiful girls, and plan to sleep, play, walk, eat, swim, sunbathe for 10 days straight.

("Your Westley is dead, I killed him myself - then why is there fear behind your eyes?" Poor Osy - she just really loves you to bits!)

So from us - we say farewell!

Did I tell you....

we are off to Mooloolaba in 2 days - yup that's right...sorry what was that - where are we staying?......funny you should ask just go to: http://www.rafflesmooloolaba.com/ and check out the Raffles Mooloolaba - our abode for 10 days!!

Out of interest I was just wondering what the weather forecast was in Brisbane (since I was looking out of my office window at pouring rain and a cold blast and I found this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=0287

Brisbane high's for the following 5 days: 27, 30, 27, 27, 33

I think we will be able to bear it - it will be rough though!!

Counting sleeps.....

There are 3 sleeps till we jump on a plane and head to Mooloolaba for 10 days of sunshine, swimming, eating and playing

There are 11 sleeps till Spring!!

There are 41 sleeps till Daylight Saving starts!!!

and there are 126 sleeps till Christmas......oh it's almost here!

If you are a baby - do not feel dismayed - you have about a million sleeps till everything happens, so just sit back and enjoy, cause before you know it you will be 5, and will have homework!

One of my favourite things

One thing I really love, is when Ems goes for her afternoon sleep and Olivia has had her lunch, we lie on the floor and have one on one time - just us, and no noise!
Being a second child myself, I am determined to do lots of the things with Osy that I did with Ems.

Bath time!

I Love my Bath!!

I love playing, splashing, drinking the water and the "ubbles" on my head

I especially love it when Bubba has a bath with me!

To whom it may concern....

I would like to officially advise you of my resignation from the position of Mother. After numerous bad experiences and lack of ability to negotiate with 2 year olds, I have decided that it would be best for my mental sanity to step away from the position.

Thank you for the opportunities I have had while in this role, I have certainly appreciated the chance to change so many dirty nappies, potty train, clean up sick, be sicked on etc, and it has been exciting to discover that I can operate on so little sleep.

My resignation is effective immediately, giving the required 20 years notice period.

Thanks again for the last 2 years, it has been an eye opener!

Kind regards
Mummy

Bless her heart....

It was my birthday 2 weeks ago (only 348 sleeps till my next birthday) and my very dear friend Louise has paid for me to go and get a massage this afternoon -

WHILE SHE LOOKS AFTER THE GIRLS!!

I haven't had a proper massage for about hmmmm....7 years!!

so I am very excited

My Friend 'Arlotte'

This is my friend Arlotte (I am still learning to pronouce "CH"). She comes over to play every week. She is a bit younger than me, but we are good friends. Our favourite thing to do is eat!

One Brilliant Idea!

It soon became clear that sleep was not going to happen, so we decided to visit my favourite place in Auckland....possibly New Zealand...and although not in the world....it certainly would be on the Top 10 list!
A visit to the waterfront was needed, a big walk.....and the all essential COFFEE!

And although it seemed like mid morning...it was only 8am.

A note to any interested readers: If you are going to the waterfront, the BEST (by far) place to visit for coffee (or even better BRUNCH) is "Cafe on Kohe"

It is my favourite - rated 5/5 by the Canvas review, and 5/5 by the Baddeley review - Best Eggs Bene on the island!

There were three in the bed and the little one said...

What a way to start your Saturday....5.45am and the Baddeleys were in full flight!!

First there was Ems and then there was Osy-mi-nosey.

We were all in the bed and Mommy said "please let me roll over and get some sleep"

Daddys BIG helper

Last weekend Daddy and I spent the afternoon washing the car, while Mummy and Livy slept. Daddy thought I was the best cleaner ever - especially when I cleaned the grass and the driveway and him!! - he kept saying something about me being just like Mommy - I guess she is a big helper too!!

My wee Olivia

This is my wee princess.

Although I am sure she was born last week, she has just turned 5 months old, and is eating solids like there is no tomorrow.

She is mellow, and smiley, and puts up with everything her big sister dishes out - but watch out Ems - soon she will be fighting back!!

Just for Kate!!!

Today we sold our car.

This is the car we bought 1 week after we arrive home from the UK - and today it drove away to the "naki"

We are now officially a one car family - we had promised ourselves that we would continue with our walking when we left London - and that lasted for about 1 week!

Things are now different (not only as it costs two arms and one small child to fill your car with gas) and I walk everywhere - well quite a few places anyway....!

The beginning of the Blogs for the Baddeleys!

Ohhh How exciting!! This is the beginning of my very own Blog!!

I am in the office with the purpose of doing a pile of work, have been distracted by these Blogs and decided it was time the Baddeleys had their own one!

So here it is.....I hope you enjoy! This is our life as we know it!