Ace and the chicken bone

This is a video of Ace's first experience with a chicken bone..... I think he liked it!!!

Ace's first night in his own room....

Ok, so I am the first to admit I am tearing up as I type this. 

Tonight, for the first time in 4 months, Shawn and I went to bed without having to tiptoe past the bassinette at the end of our bed.... Our Ace had gone to bed, for the first time, in his big cot, in his own room. (He has gotten too big for his bassinette and kept waking him self up when his arms hit the sides in his sleep and we couldn't fit his big cot in our bedroom)

As I lay down to sleep there was a huge sense of emptiness in our room, it was horrible. Ace was only on the other side of our bed room wall, but I felt so vulnerable without him in my sight.

Ace on the other hand was relishing his new found space and went to sleep happily- arms spread out like a star fish :D.

it's a bit blurry but it was taken in the dark with a flash

When he woke, for his 12.30am feed, I must have heard him the instant he cried because, by the time I woke up properly I was sitting in my lazy boy chair in his nursery with him happily chowing down on his midnight feast. I can't remember getting up!

Funny, since I had tossed and turned earlier trying to put all the fears to rest. 

"what happens if he wakes and I dont hear him and he gets scared in his new room?"

'What if his arm gets stuck in the slats of his cot?"

"what if he's cold and I don't know?"

"What if his quilt comes lose and he kicks it onto his face and suffocates?"

I am surprised I have slept at all. (Shawn came up with the great idea of using a safety pin to secure the cot quilt to the mattress at the right level, so I felt better about that.)

He has had his feed now and has drifted blissfully back to starfish sleep in his new big bed.... 

I, however, have felt the need to spend precious sleep time debriefing via this blog.... phew.... this being a mum thing is full on... it's like someone cut out my heart and put it to sleep in the next room.

Just a side note, for those who are interested, this whole scenario hasn't bothered Shawn at all - he was asleep as his head hit the pillow and he hasn't stirred at all since!! thank goodness we are not BOTH worryworts! 

Ace meets mashed potatoes!

Daddy says: Mmmm Mashed Potato is made from McDonalds French Fries..... that's why everyone likes it!...

Very creative, imaginative fibbing Daddy 

Bucket Head - sorry Ace LOL

Ace and the chocolate wrapper :)

You think the wrapper is great son - wait till you're allowed to eat what's inside!

Art Deco Gnome Home

Here's another gnome home

No Place Like Gnome

Every now and again, I come up with a kookie, creative idea, this time it was a minature gnome garden. 

Shawn and I whipped up this little gnome home with our ninja construction and gardening skills :) 

I LOVE IT!!!

Cherub

Interview With Ace- 12 Weeks Old

Bath time with Daddy - Ace is 3 months old!

Wow, three months old already!!!! 

Looks like someone is teething!

Mr Dribbly is chowing down on his toys and a gum rub reveals we have a bottom tooth on its way.... far out this growing up stuff is all happening so fast!

omm nom nom nom

It's going to be a LOOOONG day!

Its 8.30 am, and Ace is finally asleep....

He has been awake since 3.30 am with a stuffed up nose... poor baby..... 
Time for double strength coffee for Mummy.... its going to be a long day!

11 weeks old today!

Ace is 11 weeks old today - he's a absolute delight! Here he is, practicing sitting, in his bumbo seat!

Ace updates and keeping in touch- IS ANYONE READING THESE?

Hello one and all :) 
If you are reading this, it is probably because you popped your email in the "follow by email" box at the top of my blog, and for this I am really grateful. 

I have been working hard to keep all my friends and family updated on Ace's progress, without having to revert to having a Facebook page. It's actually been quite a lonely process and I have felt quite a lot of pressure from folks to go back to Facebook as its easier for them to keep up to date. 

Because I would rather have a blog, I have missed getting feedback about what I post (people always commented when I posted on facebook) and often wonder if anyone actually even reads my blog. 

So I pose this question: IS ANYONE READING MY POSTS? and is it worth continuing to spend time posting updates???

I have checked all the settings on this blog - to ensure that you can now post a comment without having to have a blogger profile or fill out one of those letter code security things, so there is no reason why you can't just say hi or leave your comment easily.

Remember, at times its lonely being a stay at home mum and believe it or not, sometimes something as simple as a comment on a blog can make all the difference :) 
Thank you my darling friends.... I hope to hear from you soon!

Love Heather :) 

What a doll

Ace - 11 November 2012

Ace Rolled Over!!!!

Well today Ace rolled over.... 10 weeks old- what a clever boy!!

Ace Update- 10 weeks old today!

Well well well! Our little man is 10 Weeks old today!!! 

This is him napping while I write this.

He's hit a bunch of little milestones in the past week, sleeping 8 hours straight, growing into 00 clothes and his first screaming fit (poor baby)

He's done a lot of sleeping 

(so has daddy!)

He's had lots of cuddles 

Michael and Ace just hanging out.

Ace and the happiest Mummy in the world

He's done lots of playing 

And he's even had a mohawk (its for Movember - hes too young for moustache)

It's been a big week for a iddy biddy baby boy.

Giggling babies always sound gorgeous!!

Aunty Katie came to visit, she found Ace's giggle button!!!

Well Fed Bubba! The Plunket Nurse Visits

We had a visit from the Plunket nurse today. She weighed and measured Ace. Its been 3 weeks since her last visit, in that time Ace has put on two pounds! (900 grams) 

He now weighs 14lb 2 oz (6.4kg) He measures 24 1/2 " (62 cm) long.

The nurse was impressed by how active, alert and vocal he is and said over all he's a bonny healthy thriving baby.... 

of course!!!

Ace's singing debut... a duet with Mummy...

Ace has well and truly found his voice today... singing along with me.... ha ha! He may look like his daddy, but he gets his voice from me! 

Without further ado ..... Ladies and Gentlemen, put your hands together for Ace Monroe, with a rousing rendition of "You Are My Sunshine"

Camera Magnet

It is amazing how easy it is to want to photograph every smile, every little expression when you have a bubba in the house... 

I have given in... 

Here's some more Ace eye candy, after all, every mummy thinks their baby is the cutest in the world, why would I be any different???

Two Months Old

This little man, is now 2 months old!

It's been the longest, fastest, most terrifying yet exhilarating two months of my life..... and we have survived.... more than surviving, we are doing just fine!

Ace really is a treat, he hardly ever cries, he doesn't do a lot of sleeping, but is so engaging while he's awake, his smiles can make you forget the fact you are mooching by on 5 hours broken sleep.

He is very active, and spends most of his time waving his arms and legs, smiling and cooing. 

Bright colors, patterns and people are his favorite things. He will drop everything to have a chat with anyone who takes time to engage him. 

He is beginning to copy Shawn with the word "Hello". Ace always makes me giggle when he tries to copy daddy... he gets such a look of concentration!

I can't begin to tell you what an amazing daddy Shawn is, he truly is fantastic, Ace is already a daddy's boy! 

Shawn is also an amazing support to me, he has made me feel like we are really doing this "together". 

Banana, Coconut and Yogurt Muffins

I needed to use up some bananas and top up the baking tin so I whipped up a batch of these: 

Banana, Coconut and Yogurt Muffins

Dry Ingredients:

½ C Sugar

1 Cup Shredded Coconut

2 C Flour

½ tsp Salt

2 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp ground Ginger

Wet Ingredients:

300g yogurt

1 Egg

¼ C Oil

2 Bananas chopped

½ C Milk

Method:

1. Pre heat oven to 205 deg C

2. Grease muffin tins, or line with cup cake liners

3. Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl

4. In another bowl, combine the wet ingredients.

5. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Don’t over mix.

6. Place batter in the muffin tins

7. Bake for 25 mins or until golden.

YUM!!

49 Star USA flag... finally framed and on the wall!

Shawn got this flag from his teacher, at Thomas Claggett Middle School, Maryland, USA in 1982. 

The reason it's special, is because it only has 49 Stars instead of 50. It was valid for a year between July 4th 1959 and July 4th 1960 when Hawaii was added as the 50th State. 

We finally had it framed, he's been carrying it around all over the world for the last 30 years... now it finally has a home on the wall opposite Shawn's Military Wall of Fame in our hall way!

Ace Monroe Carrigan Arrives!

On the 21st of August 2012, Ace Monroe Carrigan was born by caesarean Section, at Whangarei Base Hospital, weighing 9lb 5oz. (4220g)

When he was born, both Shawn and I cried. 

I cried out of relief that Ace had arrived alive (you never stop worrying about stillbirth once it's already happened to you before) and Shawn cried for joy- he said that the feeling was better than his first flight- and if you know Shawn, you'll know that's a pretty big statement!

He was gorgeous from the second he was born, with a shock of copper coloured hair 

He is such a darling and I love him so much. He's my "beauty for ashes"

(Isaiah 61:3)

9 Months ... the countdown to Ace's arrival

Here are a collection of photos that show my 9 month journey to Ace's arrival. 

25 weeks and 30 weeks

35 weeks and 40 weeks 

 

 20 week scan

 

32 weeks gestation 3D scan

We have a fence!!!!

We have been wanting to fence our yard for some time, so that our dog Mac can run about outside at his leisure, without having to chase him down the road or having to rescue the postman from being licked to death. 

 My little brother is a builder, and so he and Shawn attacked the project with gusto.... 

Here are some photos of the progress.

Its so exciting to finally have the yard enclosed!!!!!

Crochet Adventure

Okay so when I was young I learned a few basic crochet stitches, how to make chain, single crochet, trebles etc but nothing too flash. Well since I have finished work in preparation for having our baby boy in August, I have found myself wanting to pursue some of the old skills and talents I have had stowed away while I have been busy in the work force. 

So I bought some wool (actually it's not wool it's Acrylic) and some crochet hooks (size 4, 5, 6 hooks) while Spotlight had a yarn special and bravely invested $26.99 on a book of patterns. Now I say bravely, as one of the reasons I have put off crocheting for some time is that I have terrible trouble following abbreviated patterns- (I am so not good with instructions - give me a picture and I can make anything) and so spending that much on a book I might not have been able to make head nor tail of was a bit of a punt .... To my delight it was clearly written and the patterns were basic and suitable for a novice like me. 

The book is from Cleckheaton 957 Master Crochet. It contains instructions to make 6 simple and irresistible Baby Designs in 4ply or 8ply - sizes newborn to 12 months.

The first pattern I attempted came together quickly and I didn't have too many problems - and I cannot describe the sense of achievement and satisfaction I felt conquering my fear of trying to use a pattern :D I succeeded!!! 
Here is the project as it is pictured in the book 

Here is my first attempt - made in 8ply acrylic yarn, with a size 4 hook. New born size for my soon to be born baby boy "Ace Monroe" 

The second project I attempted from this book was for my best friend who is due to give birth to a little girl 5 days before I am due... here is the design as pictured in the book, I chose to make for her.

Here is how my attempt turned out ..... pretty!!! I have since made another hat like this one but in a larger size for her 3 year old.

I have since made another set for Ace but in a different colour.

All in all I can highly recommend this pattern book even for a beginner - it was well worth the money and I know I will use its patterns again and again. It's available from spotlight if you want your own copy.