River Grace Ellen Wallace

River was born on 23rd December weighing 9pound 6 (she obviously couldn't wait till 09 for a visit from santa :). Mum Taryn was in labour for many hours but finally gave birth to a healthy and beautiful baby girl! Mum, Dad and River are all doing very well! We went to visit the new little family a couple of days ago, I didn't want to leave - River is such an angel! Hopefully her little friend is not too far away (I'm getting wiery)!

Congratulations Brad and Taryn - she is beautiful!

Baby Shower

We had such a great day, it was very hot so we tried to stay inside with AC on! There must have been 25 guests in all, I was amazed we were able to fit in our small living area! I was told to leave for the morning so I went to buy a dress for the occasion while mum, Brooke, Amanda, Deb and Taryn made the house a big baby space! There were so many decorations and the food was beautiful! Thank you girls for making the day so special! It was great that Brooke was home for this occasion too, we missed her at the hen's - it's never the same without her little touches! We drank, ate and played games well in to the afternoon - a great day was had by all! Bub would like to thank everyone for their gifts - you're all so generous, thank you xx

We had american cheesecake (my fav), it had little babies on top, so cute!

Mum and Brooke did an amazing job with all the food! I had to go out for the morning so everything was a bit surprise when I got home. I'm so lucky!

Baby is even more spoilt! These are all the gifts - I couldn't believe how many there were. We got some beautiful and very useful things! I won't make a list I don't want to miss anything out!

The girls did an amazing job on decorating our little house - there were baby themed things everywhere! Once again very spoilt!

Brooke made the nappy cake - she's so cleaver! There were lots of little prezzies poking out everywhere.

We all wore name tags - this one didn't last long :)

These are the beautiful ladies that decorated our house and made the day so special! Taryn, Amanda and Debbie (frm left).

I think we were playing games at this stage - Mum looks like she's having fun! Mum, Janesse and Peta.

I wish I had the shot we were posing for - anyway Brooke and I cutting the cake.


Playing another game! Hopefully I won't have to do that too many times :) The name of the game was to correctly guess what was in the nappies (it's funny to see people smelling nappies and having them that close to their faces!), I think in the end there was a chocolate one, a garlic one, some vegemite (of course) and something I don't remember which is probably why I didn't win!

BRACE YOURSELF!!!

Everyone has been asking for belly photo's so here goes:

Brooke and I enjoying the pool in our backyard - eating chips and drinking soft drink! As you can see I don't see the sun much these days :)

This photo is horrible - Ayden took one while I wasn't watching, but I suppose it shows off the belly! Those PJ's used to fit me!

Newcastle

Hi everyone,
These are just a few pics of our time in Newcastle. We went down about three weeks ago for a post wedding party. Ayden's best man Doug and his wife Eve got married in Fiji and had a party at their home afterwards so we could celebrate with them. Ayden went out on a make-shift bucks night the night before the party and wasn't in best form, but he made a really nice speech and we had a great time! I found something to wear quite easily so I was very happy too!
The following weekend we went to visit mum and dad, they have made some amazing improvements to their house - lots of trees have been removed and it's looking much tidier.
Just this weekend mum and dad came to visit us - we had an interesting weekend! We didn't have anything to do on the Sunday and decided to go for a drive - we ended up out behind Beaudesert. Mum and I were looking forward to lunch at a winery or some sort of boutique hotel (we had passed lots on the way), but by the time we were ready for lunch we arrived at Woodenbong where the only place to eat was the Caltex. I ended up with hot chips and a cornjack and mum refused to eat anything :)
Unfortunately we all arrived home to find Boad (Ayden's best mate (his 12 year old dog)) very unwell. In short Boad is now in doggy heaven - it was very sad to say goodbye and we will miss him a lot!
Hope everyone is well and sorry it's been a while since an update! Brooke and Mehdi will be home in a couple of weeks and we're having a baby shower - so I will update again after that!
Love to all xxx

Ryan and Ayden after their second night on the grog - still looking cheerful!

Doug, Eve and Duke

Amanda, Felicha and I - it's getting dark - Amanda and I retreated shortly after :) I was very happy that there was another pregnant friend there to share the day!

Flick and Juli - saying hello to baby :)

Brooke and Mum Come to Visit

Brooke came in on Thursday and went to mum and dad's for a couple of nights, after her NZ flight mum and I picked Brooke up from her hotel in Brisbane and they came to stay for Saturday and Sunday nights. Sunday Brooke got her hair cut and we went to Saporro for lunch (yum), that night we stayed home for a lovely roast dinner. Monday morning we went down to Fingal after soldiers for breakfast to sit on the beach for a few hours. We had sushi again for lunch and did a little shopping - we had a great weekend - I did my best to convince the two that they should be back to living on the coast (think I still have some work to do!)! Unfortunately dad missed out this time , although I don't think he minded too much - golf, grand final and beer in the spa weekend for him!

At Saporro - not the best photo. Brooke bought me some maternity clothes - I was wearing one of the tops already - very pretty :)

Ayden fixing up the lawn - Brooke and I were showing our support!

In the kitchen - I just got the photo before Ayden could put the "rabbit ears" up - always the joker :)

It was mum and dad's 24th wedding anniversary on Sunday - we helped to celebrate with a bottle of bubbly (in the beautiful crystal flutes mum and dad got us for a wedding gift), cheers dad - love you xx

I'm slowly trying to make a blankie - whenever I get some time to pick it up! Julie taught me how to croshure (don't know how to spell that).

That's all for now - thank you for all you comments it's great to hear from you!! Will keep you up to date on the next event!

Love to all - Liz, Jess (+ belly), Brooke and Ayden xxxxx

Summers Here! Yay!

Ayden and I had a beautiful day at the beach today! I went to water aerobics with Debbie, Jess Sophie and Jo while Ayden went to work in the morning. After he got home we went to Fingal for the afternoon, we made some sandwiches to eat on the way. When we got there Ayden went for a run and I just lazed about in the sun! So great to be getting a bit of a tan now!

Ayden forgot his sunny's :)

Another day in Paradise!
xxx

Not much happening at the moment! I've been keeping an eye on e-bay for bits and pieces, we got a bouncer, a nappy bin and a baby carrier! Have to try and keep the spending under control though - e-bay can get pretty addictive. I've been doing water aerobics with Chaz and some of my girlfriends on Tuesday's, Thursday's and Saturday's it's really great to get some exercise! It's getting hotter up here now, after Saturday aerobics we went to the beach (got a bit burnt), it was really nice to get some sun! Ayden has started to go to the gym - trying to get rid of some of the winter weight I think!

Brooke is coming home next week and mum and Brooke are staying with us for the weekend! Can't wait! Plan to do lots of catching up! Last weekend Uncle Paul and Aunty Christina came up and we went to their unit for dinner on Saturday night, it was really great to see them - we had a seafood and sushi dinner. Mum and dad dropped in on the way home to drop off some more Tinbeerwah eggs (thanks, we love them!).

Below is Ayden after I played dress-ups on him to try out the baby carrier (we tried some cans of dog food for weight and my care bear for reality :), he wasn't very happy)!

Will post again after Brooke and Mum have come to visit!

Love to all xxx

My Favourite Toy So Far...

Mum and Dad took us shopping after our morning at the park for a pram! This is the best pram in the world, it's a Peg Perego!! It does so many great things and looks really comfy, it's Italian made and looks so beautiful! Of course we bought it straight home to set up - so excited!! When mum and dad went home we went straight to show Ayden's parents and test it out in the Polo, it fits perfectly!

It's called Black Bubbles, we got the hippo as a gift from the store - you pull it down and it wriggles back!

Had to try it out around the house (looks silly with no one in it). Mum and I took it outside and tried navigating the steps out front - secretly I think this is mum's favourite toy too! Note the amazing painting in the background!

Mum and Dad got this done for my Birthday, it looks so great! Ayden's uncle Peter painted it in '83' it was given to us when we went to visit Peter and Roz after the wedding. It was in an old original frame that we had restored and framed in Italian gold guilded (lots of Italian happening at the moment), the framer did an amazing job! Dad says it belongs in the Louvre (I think he's right)!
Oh, we got our wedding video too, it's so great I can't wait for everyone to see it!

Father's Day

Dad and his Krispy Cream Doughnuts in the morning!

Ayden had to steal one - yummy!

We went to a park in Biggera Waters, the father's cooked breakfast (Noel said that way they "know what their eating"). We had pancakes and strawberry's, bacon, Tinbeerwah farm eggs, toast, tomato, mushroom, onion and beer - for the boys.

Mum and Dad enjoying the sun, it was a beautiful day - shame the park was so shady.

Just before breakfast - think I have really popped out just this weekend!!

After breakfast we played bocce, then sat in the sun and watched everyone play cricket (we all had a go). Barkiss and Boad had a ball tearing up the park, chasing all the other dogs and birds (Barkiss mainly)! The father's had a few drinks and we all had a really great time!

Donto Sapporo

We had a great night out at Sapporo, photo's aren't very good! Dad ordered too much, and we all complained but ate it all as per usual, it was beautiful! We then ended up at Baskins for desert, stupid idea, we were nearly sick from being so full (nothing unusual there)!

Baby'd Out

Mum and Dad are down this weekend and the boys have gone to golf for the afternoon. Mum and I decided to go and have a look at some baby stores! We had a look at prams, mattress', car seats, basinet's, quilt sets and everything in between! We went all over the coast and ended up returning to the store we originally went to for our final purchases. Mum bought a beautiful Pooh set for the cot and a mattress, I only got a little musical hippo - very cute!! We rushed back to set everything up (it looks great). Maybe a little too much baby shopping for one day though :). Going to the traditional Donto Sapporo for dinner tonight - will take the camera and update!

Lots of Love

Mum and Jess

18 1/2 Weeks

No photo's to post sorry - the scan went really well but the lady didn't print any photo's for us?! Baby was very shy this time and kept hiding from us - it obviously wasn't a photo day, this scan showed that the baby is a week bigger too, it weighs 305grms. Everything looks as it should and we may have an idea on the sex - but we're not sure! Went to meet the obstetrician Dr. I. and she was really good, she told me I can eat tinned tuna and sushi (fresh) so I'm very happy - we went shopping for tuna after the appointment (I was under the assumption you couldn't eat it)! Made my appointment at the hospital for 26th January maybe an Australia Day baby!
Ayden felt baby kicking yesterday, little thing moves all day long! Dr I. said that this was a good thing too - she said for a first baby it's unusual to feel it so early and that baby must be a good kicker (it's not just my insides moving around)!

Love to all
xxx

Baby

This is baby at 12 weeks (waving) - all looking very healthy! Very, very, very active baby (uh-oh), just kept spinning, kicking, waving and showing off the whole time!!

I think I can feel it moving heaps (but then I spoke to the doctor and she thought it could be all my organs moving out of the way (yuk)).

Having 18-20 week scan tomorrow and meeting the lady that is going to deliver the baby. Have decided to go to Pindara, which looks great! I'll post some scan photos and some picks of me looking fat tomorrow!

A Man and His Bar

"Ayden it's not even 12!"

He's very proud of this one! Still to be finished though - it needs to be a bit more appealing to the eye, at the moment when it's closed up it just looks like a big pine box!? Inside are heaps of pics and beer posters along with the badges from an old Kingswood and BMW!?

Close up - also notice talking Boonie men on the bottom left!

This is the roof - when you open up the bar. Lots of coasters collected from all over! Some from Sunshine Beach, Noosa, Bowral, Vanuatu and Bermagui!

Home Improvements

This is just a pic to show you the new carpet! Much better than the lovely blue shade we had before! We got rid of Ayden's Gigantor TV and got a temp from Ryan and Amanda for now - heaps more room and now you don't have a sore neck from watching telly.

This is Ayden's handywork (great to have a cabinetmaker in the family!), in the soon to be study! I was so excited to put it all together!

Ayden again - completely changed the wardrobe in the baby's room. Great for storing lots of goodies and makes the room a lot nicer!!

Close up!

This is our handywork - not finished with the painting yet - have to get motivated again! The cot came from Chaz (Ayden's older sister) - so great!

Hanging over the cot (pram blankie) came from the Spinners and Weavers Exhibition at Berry. Mum and Dad bought this and another beautiful blanket for us when we were on our way down for Jacob's 21st! Note the colour ;)! Also love the turtle light!!