Nan and Pops December Visit...

It is hard to believe that Nan and Pop's December visit is already over... it seems like we were only waiting for them to arrive!!! and that 2008 is almost over... also and we only have another
17 days remaining here in Darwin before our big move to Sydney...

We didn't do a great deal whilst they were here.. the Darwin heat left them both rather uninspired to do too much. They did a day trip to Katherine... and saw the seasons of the Top End in one day... Pooring WET season rain, and hot muggy Build up Weather the remainder of the day... it hadn't rained 'properly' this wet season until Mum and Dad went on their one and only Day trip... but that is typical for our family...

Other than that... our time in December was mainly spent at home... and largely uneventful. Yes we welcomed Baby Mathew into the world and celebrated Christmas but the days in between were quiet, relaxing... and I 'really' enjoyed mum taking over the washing duties... thanks mum!!!

A photo collage of Mathew with the family members he met shortly after his arrival....

Now for a photo share of December ....

And this shot we took just before the boys went to bed on the night that Nanny and Poppy caught the plane and flew home...

2008 Santa Photo... success!!!

Yesterday... was a day of small 'Christmas' miracles... we decided to brave the shops with all three kiddies.. and get our annual Santa photo...

What I thought might go wrong didn't... in fact it was the opposite.. the outing was a complete success... in a number of ways....

1. travelling in two cars can often be a problem (mum and dad came too) .. but Justin and I both got 2 car parks 'straight away', all the previous outings to the shops, particularly to the great Darwin shopping metropolis of Casuarina... have begun with a longish (not as long as other parts of OZ no doubt) wait for a carpark.. only to finally get one and then have it start to rain!!!!

2. The boys were SOOOO keen to see Santa.. that there was no fear and we got a great 2008 Santa photo.. (Josh was so keen... he went and gave a fat greyhaired man a cuddle whilst waiting for his photo... he was convinced he was a Santa too... but he wasn't!!)

3. We scored table and chairs in the overpacked eatery....

and ...

4. The rain 'stopped' raining just as we wanted to go home! So I could get bubby into the car... and all the shopping without getting saturated... yay...

So all in all it was successful.. Amazing???

Family Photoshoot... 2008

Yesterday afternoon after a swim... I organised the kids and took my annual family photo... for my Christmas cards and Christmas 'scrapbooking' layouts!!! I was completely surprised at how obliging the boys were... and even the Ella wanted to be in the photo jumping up onto the bed and insisting that the kids arrange themselves around her!
And I must say I am REALLY REALLY happy with the way they turned out....

Aidans' last day of 'preschool'

Today Aidan attended his last day of preschool... or school here in Darwin... I dont think he totally comprehended this... and I am sure come next Monday he will be ready to go to school again... His class concluded the school year with a Christmas Party.... and the night before Aidan and Nanny made lolly bags for the kids in his class... for Christmas.

The next morning Aidan was so excited about his school Christmas Party. He was dressed-up in his Batman suit and ready before sunrise ... unfortunately - I didn't get any pics of him dressed up with the basket of lollies.

Aidan's teachers compiled a CD full of photos of Aidan at school throughout the year.... here are some of the pics of my big boys first year of school...

Mathew Alexander Voute

We are proud to announce the safe arrival of our 3rd baby boy ....

Mathew Alexander Voute

Born on the 2nd December .... after a relatively painfree labour (epidurals are wonderful things) at 6.55pm @ Royal Darwin Hospital....

Statistics:

Weight: 3540kg

Length: 50cm

Head: 36cm

Aidan and Josh... two delighted 'big' brothers...

Our First Family Photo at Royal Darwin Hospital

On Friday night we had Aidan's school concert at the Darwin Entertainment Centre... Aidan was so excited. His class had been practicing their routines for weeks and weeks.... Aidan's great performance required him to be part of a circus act... and he was a 'plate spinner'...

Dressed in green.. he pointed his toes and performed wonderfully... The preschoolers were all very cute... but none were as GREAT as my little man....
We bought our concert tickets a little late... so we were sitting up the back... but it worked out to be the best place in the entire concert hall. Joshie was away from the public... we could escape quickly when he suddenly wanted to go to the toilet... and he was able to dance at the side... and cheer Aidan on stage.. he had just a good as time as Aidan..

After the concert... (we left at the interval) the boys had fun running around on the boardwalk at the Entertainment Centre... enjoying the balmy 'hot' Darwin evening....

Well done Aidan...

What a week...???

Well nothing too significant happened this last week... ..... only that I finally finished my Graduate Diploma. ... and I am now only days away from being a registered teacher... yay... I have a little more paper work to submit and $60 to hand over... and then I may be able to work... ... yay.... eventhough I wasn't the most pleasant (Justin says the word 'pleasant' wasnt the right word!!!!) person to be around for a few days...

I worked almost 'non' stop for the entire week on this teachers portfolio... talk about stress... it nearly drove me to insanity. I threatened to kill the teaching portfolio numerous times... (it was a PowerPoint presentation) but realised that that would have been professional suicide...

It still hasn't rained here... not since that first big storm over 3 weeks ago... and that is also sending me troppo (probably moreso than the teaching portfolio)... it is SOOOOOOO HOt.... you cant escape it and even after a few hours in airconditioning ... it feels as though it is making no difference... We did get a wonderful electrical storm last night, but the rain that the meterology department says fell in Darwin didn't come to Farrar... it never comes and rains in Farrar, NT... Australia... Wet Season ... i am sure that it is a myth!!!

I had another ante-natal appointment Friday afternoon... and the inducement day is booked... it will be the 3rd of December! A nice little birthday present to me... so long as it is all over before the 4th!!! So the countdown to baby number 3 is now in full swing. Mum and dad get here on the 28th... Aidan and Josh are really looking forward to them getting here... and have even started playing games where Poppy is actually visiting... but poor Joshie doesn't exactly understand the 'make believe' and keeps going to the front door to let Poppy in... which is very cute but the poor baby is confused....

The Cyclone warnings have started up on TV again now... (not exactly sure why... like I said the Wet Season is a MYTH!!!) and currently there is a Cyclone predicted for Christmas Day.. Wonderful... Happy Christmas... they are talking it all up... saying that current weather patterns are mimicking Cyclone Tracey which was 35 years ago... blah blah blah... so it will be interesting.... so long as the Cyclone doesn't hit December 3rd!!!! that would be too much to contend with???

Well that is all... for this week... I am relieved and excited that I have completed my teaching... my mentor teacher is feeling VERY relieved that no early baby arrivals occurred whilst teaching at school... and I must agree that I am too!!

Have a great week ...

Poor Little Man

This weekend Justin's 'step-brother and nephew' were in Darwin... so they came for dinner tonight, with John and Andrew.... The boys had patiently yet excitedly waited for Uncle Andrew and Lachlan to get here all day... and when they finally did... they were all straight in the pool... having fun..... until disaster struck....

And struck it did!! Joshie swam in front of Andrew (who was swimming butterfly!!) and whack... Andrew fished him out of the water...crying with his face a nice shade of claret. He had blood pooring out his nose and left eye.... he was not happy, and he certainly didn't look happy.

Andrew felt horrible... and Joshie was quick to tell everyone that it was Uncle Andrew that hurt him!!

In the end... Joshie forgave Uncle Andrew... and loved him again... but it did take about an hour!!!

But... other than the blood, crying and a sad looking little man, the evening was lovely. The weather was slightly cooler than it has been... there was not as many mozzies... and there was even a really nice 'cool' breeze. Dinner turned out good... despite being a little later than anticipated and it was really nice to see Mark and Lachlan again after 4 years!!!!

The JOYS of the Build-up!!!

Nothing much has been happening lately... which would explain why we have been missing in action for the past few weeks... one thing is for sure however, and that is IT IS HOT... everyday is 35+ degrees... and the humidity is extreme... (still not as bad as I had imagined... however some days I do find it almost unbearable.... there is something about constantly wiping streams of sweat from your face... that eventually can drive you somewhat MAD!!!) However we are surviving so far... But the airconditioning bill might do us in!!!

We have also had the first of the storms... The first storm was last Thursday night just after midnight and it was a Ripper... I sat up watching the lightening for about 1/2 an hour.. it was incredible... I expected the boys to wake up but to my utter surprise they didn't, even when the thunder was cracking just metres above our house... Justin 'surprisingly' (yeap.. said sarcastically) didn't wake up....

The 2nd storm was the next afternoon... and that was great too... the rain was great... finally cooled everything down (but only for a little while). The boys were swimming in the pool as the storm moved in... The rain drops were huge... and did I mention "it was great"...

However the return of the rain has bought those very 'unwelcome' guests back... and again the Voute household is having to resort to carnage & slaughter!!!
After the morning carnage & slaughter... we went off to Tennis... Aidan is playing pretty well... (a little confusion about which hand to hit the ball with... Both work fine!!) and it seems like his coach is wanting him ot go up to the next class... so he will be training with the big boys... 7 and 8 year olds... Mummy is so proud... ('she has visions of glory... world travel... ??) And Joshie hit the ball at tennis this Saturday too... he is trying... but doesn't have the patience and easily gets frustrated... but he had fun... and was so proud of himself for hitting it Big!!

The day to day life continues to roll on... I now only have 8 days of teaching prac. to go... so we are praying that bubs stays put.... 'touchwood' as it is now only 51/2 - 6 weeks until bubs arrives... ahhh... and Nanny and Poppy fly in to 'do all the hard work???' (hey mum!!). I trully cant believe how quick this year has gone by... ... ... ... ...

And before we know it we will be in Sydney... yeap.. we are on the move again.. Justin is being promoted to Chief Petty Officer and is returning to work at the very picturesque HMAS Watson (had some good nights once at that place at the bar!!) ... so we are packing up, leaving the heat and returning to the city of seasons, traffic and more traffic... Not sure whether i am delighted or not? I am really looking forward to catching up with friends I haven't seen in years... and having mum and dad not so far away... but it will take ALOT of adjusting to the traffic... all I can think of is mayhem and bedlem; but I am sure that it wont be that bad, or I at least hope it wont be.

11 weeks to Go!!!

I am now 'almost' 29 weeks... so only 11 weeks to go... and lucky me is having the baby 2 weeks early again.. so that makes it only 9 weeks... ... yay... OMG!!!!!!

Surprisingly (touchwood) everything is going well... which is fantastic after the staph infection during Joshie's pregnancy... a little carpal tunnel in two of my fingers in my left hand which can cause some issues when it is Really hot is not much of a problem!!!

I haven't gained TOO much weight... probaby too hot here to eat too much... and I am still able to have an 'easy' game of tennis with Aidan...providing he hits it somewhere in my vacinitiy.... and I dont have to run too far or fast!!! hahaha...

Also I am coping with the needles surprisingly well.. and the bruising is pretty non-existent... so that is great... Since I reached the 12week milestone, I have been on 100m/g twice a day... (they are the black syringes... before this, I was on 80m/g twice per day.. they are the brown syringes)

This is just over 6 months worth of needles...

I have another 2 months to go.. that is another 120 odd needles...

ahhh... the fun of it!!!

We have no baby names chosen yet... lots of possibities but nothing confirmed... Justin blames it on 'not knowing' what the baby is .... I blame it on... not having a name!! We should be having another ultrasound soon... and Justin is keen to find out if it is another boy or a girl...

This week I also have to have a glucose test ... (should have been last week... but with my teaching prac... had no time) and an Anti Xa blood test (to measure the level of anti-coagulation)... I just hope I dont forget!!!!

Other than that ... all is going well. ... it the 'buildup' season now here in Darwin and it is hot... but not as bad as I had imagined... everyones descriptions and stories of the 'buildup' are a lot worse than the actual buildup... so I am thankful for that!

It is school holidays here now... yay... a week off... for me and Aidan... my Teaching prac. is going well (well I have been told that it is???) but I am sure glad to have a week off!!!! Nothing much planned.... except relaxation... which sounds just great....

Until next time... some pics.. of me at 29 weeks...

this photo taken by a very talented 4 year old... Aidan

Aidan hugging my belly....

Cheers

Father's Day Weekend

This weekend we went down to Katherine here in the Northern Territory.. to check out Nitmitlik National Park (Katherine Gorge) and the local sites.

After a delayed leaving time... it 'was' going to be 3.30ish on Friday night... we left an hour late...

Why...????

We finally got a new airconditioner... after waiting almost 3 months... and when they were installing this long awaited aircon... they put a hole in the gas pipe... so we had a gas leak... and late on a Friday arvo...we had to get a Gas Plumber out!!! Luckily this Friday the workers at DHA weren't in a meeting (or gone home early!!!) and thankfully Ruth was able to quickly organise a Gas Plumber. I felt like we were living the Yellow Pages Commerical... thankfully we didn't need a VET after Ella wandered off down the street!!!

Andrew came to look after the house and Ella again.. Thanks Andrew!! so ONCE that was fixed and Uncle Andrew was settled...

'Bye Uncle Andrew... See you on Sunday...'

We got on our way. The drive down was approximately 3 hours.....

The next morning we went to Nitmilik National Park to see the famous Katherine Gorge... it was beautiful... the cruise was serene, and picturesque and the 600m walk between the first two Gorges was 'just right' for Joshie and pregnant me!!!

The Main Street of Katherine - The Locals @ Midday outside the Bottleshop!!

In the afternoon we went to the Katherine Thermal Pools... and they were a great way to relax, cool down and have some fun. Water tempreture was approximately 32 degrees... 'NICE and WARM... but still refreshing...
The next morning (Sunday) we headed home.... and on the way we took a 'short' 30 minute detour... into no mans land... to visit Douglas Hot Springs.. and for me this was our weekend highlight... I loved it... It was unlike the other hot or thermal springs we have visited in the past... it was a nice warm river... with cool spots to lie in... Their was birdlife everywhere.. and because it was so secluded there was almost NO oNe there... it was just wonderful... worth the detour and trully worth the 2 hour drive from Darwin for anyone who hasn't been there.

The dusty road to the Douglas Hot Springs...

We had a great weekend... and

HAPPY FATHERS dAY DADDY!!!!!!

Cullen Bay...

This afternoon we decided that we are going to go ... WITH THE KIDS... and eat out.... (what a gamble one might say???) So tonight we went to Cullen Bay here in Darwin for dinner. Seafood Buffet... it was yummy... esp. the Watermelon and Rockmelon for dessert. The Sunset was fabulous (got pictures this time!!!) and the Marina looked lovely at night.. The boys were really well behaved, and now we are looking foward to the next restaurant outing.

HQNORCOM's 20th Birthday Party

Last Saturday night we had the HQNORCOM's 20th Birthday Cocktail Party. Uncle Andrew looked after the boys for us, and the occasion gave me another reason to wear my 'Pregnant Party dress'.... and it gave Justin probably his last reason to wear this particular uniform, before he is promoted in January. .
The Cocktail party was on the promenades at Darwins new Convention Centre, and the weather that evening was just beautiful, the sunset was fantastic (no pictures...ahhhh) and we really enjoyed ourselves.
But whoever organised the party had one objective in mind... to get everyone drunk. At numerous times throughout the night, there were more waitstaff serving Alcohol than there was guests... so you can imagine how the night ended... Justin fell asleep on the way home; but me... I was a good pregnant lady and stayed stone cold sober.

Darwin Rodeo

Tonight we went to the Darwin Rodeo... it was cool. The bucking bulls, and the wild crazy horses were awesome... and funilly enough...unlike nearly every sport currently being competed at the Olympics, the boys didn't want to do any of these tricks when they get big like daddy!!! thankgoodness???

The Lucky Day Wedding

The Chinese believe that the number 8 is a lucky number.... hence... the Olympic Games starting on the 8/8/08... and my brother decided to get married that day... in a hope that he would remember their anniversary in years to come!!!

So this past week we have been chilling out on the Sunshine Coast... (and after Darwin it was Chilly!!) ... in wait for the big day... and the big day finally arrived....And the day proved to be lucky...thankfully the weather was glorious... despite a small breeze making it a little cooler than I would have liked!!... and Todd and Emma's big day was filmed by Channel 7 local news... because it was a local Sunshine Coast Olympic Opening... Lucky Day... wedding..