You're Baptised!

Beautiful Eden

I can't believe we have Christened our second child! It feels amazing and surreal that so much has happened over the last 18 months.
Eden Monica (her new name) was so perfect on Sunday! She didn't even cry and looked absolutely adorable as you can see from the above pic. She looked just like a porcelain doll. It was a lovely day, a beautiful ceremony. We kept it very small - and if it was up to me, it would have been even smaller, but c'est la vie.
The important thing is that my baby is now Christened, and that's all that matters to her dad and I.

I wanna have more babies!

P.S Have started job hunting for a part-time job. I need something to get me out of the house a couple of days a week.

Hypocrisy

My ultimate job would be to work for the ABC's Foreign Correspondent

This top rate current affairs broadcast is one of my all time favourites. Tonight, I caught the tail-end of a segment on the inter-fightings of the Christian Church in Jerusalem. Being a girl of faith and also having the supreme honour of saying my family hails from this most holy of holy places in the world, I was left embarrassed and stupified at the hypocrisy of these supposed ''holy men'' of the Church.

Let me try to simplify the situation.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jersusalem (which is built on the site where it is claimed the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus took place) is divided into sections where the different Christian denominations - Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian, Syrian, Egyptian Coptic and Ethiopian worship. Now it is no secret each believes they are superior to the rest, but the war between the Egyptian and Ethiopian Copts takes the cake.

While, I do not claim to know the reasons behind this feud, what has taken place between these two sects is pathetic. As I was watching the segment, I was burning in shame and anger at how the leaders of these two have carried on. Now, I'm not talking about name calling but physically bashing the brains out of the other. Greyed and long bearded monks (most quite elderly) hitting their ''enemies'' with iron bars, sticks and bricks. One Egyptian monk was saying how an Ethiopian bashed their Bishop while he sat motionless in his chair. Other footage was shown of a bleeding- and now brain damaged Ethiopian monk due to the assault- lying motionless on the hard stone ground, blood oozing from his temples.

For shame, for shame. It made me want to vomit.
And these MEN call themselves HOLY and claim to have devoted their lives to emulating Jesus.
What a Joke. How disgusted must God feel?
What happened to, ''Love one another as I have loved you''?
And the Greek Orthodox ( who own the second largest number of assets in Israel) aren't any better. Their (former) head dude, Patriach Irineos I, sold millions of dollars worth of real estate in Jerusalem to - wait for it - JEWISH SETTLERS!!! He has been deposed and is now just a lowly monk. And this is a holy man??? He's just as bad as Judas. No wonder my dad calls them all crooks.
When did it all become about MONEY? Jesus turned the tables of the merchants in the temple in his day, shouldn't these men who teach his word, do the same?
Whilst it sounds like a script from a bad soap opera, the saddest thing about it is that it's all true. The most embarrassing thing for me, however, is that the Israeli army have to keep law and order at the Church. They must be laughing their heads off at us.
I wish I saw the whole show, maybe I can get a tape from the ABC shop. Mike Willacy, you're a top rate Journo.

Helen Clark - who says you can't have both brains and looks?

Bad, bad teeth


Whilst I claim to know a bit about Australian politics, I must admit I know next to nothing about the politics of our brethern across the Tasman.

I do know this however, NZ PM Helen Clark has really, bad, bad teeth. I was thinking this as I watched her on TV the other day and wondered why on earth people like her (with really, really bad teeth) do not get them fixed? She's in the public eye, has plenty of money and must really scare herself some mornings. Hell, I was scared when she cracked a smile the other day.

On the other hand, I hear she's pretty decent - and she's one of the only women PMs in the world, so I shouldn't be such a picky cow.

Yummy, yummy Abla's

I like sweets. I mean I LOVE sweets. Anything containing sugar - gimme, gimme, gimme.

So, imagine how excited I was when Darp came over today with his beautiful girlfriend with a plate of Arabic-sweets from Abla's. These sugary, nutty, filo pastries hit just the spot - so I proceeded to eat the whole plate without feeling even an ounce of guilt eventhough these delicious tidbits are laden with butter and dripping with calories. My excuse - I'm breastfeeding.

Now, for those who do not know what Abla's is, it is a Lebanese sweet shop in the Western Suburbs of Sydney. It is not unique, but probably the best known. I remember my parents taking me there when I was a child and looking around in awe at the massive trays of every colour, shape and flavour of dessert you can imagine. Think (the original) Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory ''Candy Man'' scene crossed with pictures of Lebanon, hooka pipes and little coffee cups. You get the idea.

Thanks Darpie - kiss kiss kiss

What a relief!

I got back the results of the biopsy today and thank God, the lump is benign.

I can't really explain how relieved I am - it's almost indescribable.

When I got the good news this afternoon, I took a big, long breath and offered up my undying gratitude to the Lord. It wasn't so much that I was scared for myself, but more so for my daughters, husband and family. I didn't want to have to put them through any pain.

Anyway, on a much lighter note, Tara has learned a few more words and was happy to babble all day. She astounds me with her vocabulary every day, but it never ceases to amaze me. She says ''bread'' and ''banana'' and is trying very hard to put words together in sentences by repeating the same word and putting an `a' between them. Its very, very cute.

Not much more to write about. I should really have an early night.

Good night

Lazy, Lazy day

The morning after the night before!

Today, I have done nothing.
Seriously, I have only done the bare minimum one has to do when they have two babies. I have done no housework, no cooking, no getting out of PJ's until I showered the girls and no going out.

We got home pretty late from my brother's 21st party last night and I just wanted to laze all day. It was pretty exciting getting all dolled up - even if it was just for my parent's backyard. To get into some sexy heels and slap on some make up made me feel young and pretty.

I have done one thing though, yell at the people living down stairs. I truly am a really nice person, but get on the wrong side of me and I can turn into a snarling lioness. To cut a long story short, the couple downstairs were banging around all night - as you know my babies are light sleepers - and by 9.30pm I was fuming. Every bang they made startled Tara and Eden and I'd had enough. I wasn't that rude, until the cow said it was OUR fault for not insulating out place properly. The gaul of some people. It's an old unit block and they only moved in 3 months ago and they think they own the place. She even had the hide to say she hears running - i.e Tara playing - but they don't complain.

I was about to smack her.

I basically told them to piss off and walked back up stairs with ``talk to the hand gesture'' held up.
Humph

Anyway, about last night. The party was great, they all seemed to have a good time, but they were all so TAME. I can't understand it. I - and all my friends at 21- were abso-fucken-lutely WILD, especially at parties. But, I suppose you have to understand my dearest brother and his mates. Let me try to explain.

They are the beautiful people you see on billboards, video clips and Diet Coke commercials. And my brother and his best friend Gian-Carlo (yes, I know the name is even super cool) are like walking Calvin Klein posters. They all wear DESIGNER clothes, Versace bling is a must and drive European cars - not fast but super slow so everyone gets a good perve. They also have these stunning girlfriends and chiseled physiques, the envy of many. (I'm jealous). When they are not working they are either:

1) getting a hair cut
2) getting a part of their body waxed
3) sunbaking (a tan shows off their bulging muscles even better)
4) clothes shopping -(only designer)
5) going to the gym.

They only eat protein rich foods, no fat, junk food, cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, sweets or chocolate and their favorite pastime is - wait for it - taking photos of themselves. They have photos of themselves EVERYWHERE.

But, they even do this in style. Posing is a must and smiling is not allowed. Imagine a cross between Zoolander and a P.Diddy music video. You get the idea.
It actually got really funny watching these kids - who were all wearing ITALIAN WHITE LEATHER SHOES, (apparently this is the latest fashion trend) - snap away on the obligatory digital camera, each one has glued to their hand, and strike a pose.

And, of my God the presents! I think each one was trying to out-do the other! In my day ( I sound so lame) we gave bottle of Sambuca and $50 gift vouchers to HMV for 21st gifts. My brother received designer fragrances, diamond jewelry, vintage bottles of Moet (which will never be drunk as they don't do alcohol) and the latest European designer clothes.

I'm just being jealous cos I shop at Target

I think I'm being a bit harsh. They are great kids, really good. They are never in trouble with the cops or mixed up with anything illegal and are always polite and respectful. What more could you ask for? It's hard enough for teenagers these days to stay on track (am I starting to sound like my mum?), so if their only crime is spending every last cent of their pay packets on the latest diamond-encrusted Longines watch, then so be it.

I do love my brother, I adore him.
Happy Birthday Bro.

Chubby-bubby

One of my favourite photo's of Tara

I've got the bloody flu

My husband has been home with some virusy-fluey thing the last two days.
He NEVER chucks sickies, so he was really crook.
Anyway, today, he woke up well enough to go to work, but I feel like I've been hit with a tonne of bricks. He stayed home until midday, but had to go to work.
I feel like shit.
BUT, I'm so excited about my sis coming in like 7 hours, I've got out of bed, fed the babies and am doing some last minute things for the party tomorrow night
AHHH
C'est la vie

Surprisingly, it wasn't too bad

Had the biopsy in the booby today, and surprisingly, it didn't hurt a bit. The doctor and the radiologists were wonderful and made me feel really comfortable. But, I was still shit scared. I won't have the results for a few days, but the doc was pretty confidant it didn't look like a cancer.

Fingers crossed.

I'll just have to keep myself busy this weekend - which will be easy to do.

Saturday night is my little bro's 21st Birthday party. I've been up all night creating a powerpoint presentation of photos from when he was a baby - I'm so buggered. Tomorrow I have to pick up the helium tank for the balloons, the pinata (which will be so fun) and help mum with the cooking. It's only going to be a small one in wog-standards as he's only inviting a handful of friends, not the usual 150 cousins we usually have at these types of occasions. Mum's going mental with the cooking as usual. On top of about 20 different dishes, she's cooking a whole baby lamb, (``only a little one, 10 kilo..'' she said). Anything for her ``little, baby boy.'' She's so cute.

I can't believe 21 years have gone by. It just astounds me. And to think, in a blink of an eye, I will be saying the same about my girls. Time really flies.

But, the most exciting thing about this weekend is that my big sis is arriving tomorrow night from NY. I can't wait to wrap my arms around her and kiss her face and just breath in her smell. I miss her so much! It will be so surreal to see her again. I've changed so much. The last time she saw me , I was prego with Tara, now I have 2 kids!

I'd better get some sleep.
YAWN

She's lumped

Found a lump
Having a needle biopsy done tomorrow
Shitting bricks

My little bubby is already three months old!

It completely astounds me just how fast time flies. And yet, when you're having a bad day, you feel as if you've been stuck in that frustrating moment forever. Trust me, with two little ones, I've had many a hair-pulling frustrating moment the last three months. On the other hand, it has been awesome. Look at those cute dimples, don't you just wanna squeeze those chubber cheeks?

Ohh Shucks, I'm so soppy tonight, someone slap me.

This is what happens when you turn you back on a toddler - with a chocolate bar - to blog

There was a little girl, who had a little curl ...

So, I gave Tara a mini-chocolate bar to keep her quiet the other day as I was blogging. Sue me! Did I commit the biggest crime in the world? Chocolate's good for you anyway.

I had to publish this pic, it was just too cute.

P.S Update on big sis in NY. Arrival has been delayed a few day (damn) I just can't wait, but as long as she arrives safely, it's ok.
CIAO

New Orleans

OH MY GOD! Where the hell is George W Bush???

Too bloody busy killing innocents in Iraq to help his own people who are stranded in their own, horrible war zone.
What I don't understand is how Dubya can deploy the National Guard tout-suite BUT can't seem to get his ass into gear to supply food, water, nappies, etc etc etc. No bloody wonder the masses have deteriorated into a state of animals - it's a fight for survival. And as usual, the biggest group who will suffer are the children and the women. Rape is rampant, killings, bashings, lootings. It's crazy.

What else pisses me off is that this supposed ``greatest country'' has to call on aid from the world - even some of the poorest countries in the world have already put their hands n their pockets - when every single day MILLIONS of dollars are being spent on the war in Iraq.

It's DISGUSTING and UNCONSCIONABLE.

If the media can get in these areas around New Orleans etc, and blast images of the devastation, hungry naked babies, terrified women, the sick, the old, the infirm, why can't the government send aid agencies in? It's not like the hurricane was a surprise, they knew it was coming, why wasn't anything set up a week ago, a fortnight ago?

Pathetic.

If I was an American citizen I would demand my taxes back. What a lame ass excuse for a government.

As you can tell, I'm angry.

Please, whether or not you are religious, offer up a prayer for all the affected people, they need it.

May You Live 2 See The Dawn

The Countdown has begun

IM SO EXCITED!!!
MY BIG SIS IS COMING HOME FROM NY!

With only four days to go until she arrives for a whirlwind holiday, I'm getting really, really excited. I can't wait to see my sis - first because I haven't seen her for nearly two years and secondly because I can't wait for her to to meet my babies. The last time she was here, I was seven months pregnant with Tara.
I only hope that we can convince her to extend her three week trip - it's just going to be too short.

Poor Broggers!

I was close to tears this morning when I heard what happened to John Brogden overnight.
For those who don't know what the hell I'm going on about, I'll do a quick re-cap.
John Brogden - MP for Pittwater and State Liberal Opposition Leader resigned on Monday after it was revealed he called Former Labor Premier Bob Carr's Malaysian born wife Helena a ''Mail Order Bride'' at a boozy night where a number of Journalists were in attendance.
NOW, I'm not excusing him or agreeing with his distateful comments - he puts it down as a stupid joke of sorts - but I honestly felt sorry for him because I know his whole political career is now DEAD.
He was stupid, naive and a complete idiot. He resigned and left the door open for Fatty O'Barrell ooops sorry Barry O'Farrell ( who has now pulled out of the race) and cardboard cut-out Peter Debnam (he really is very cardboardy looking) to take the reigns.
This morning it was revealed he tried to top himself over the scandal.
John, what did you do???
I can personally say that - with my political views aside - Broggers is a likeable, decent bloke.
I dealt with him on a nearly daily basis in my Journo days when I worked at the Manly Daily and as young, ambitious guy who has worked his whole life to get to where he is, I admired his forthrightness and ambition. He does have a familiarity with journalists so I disregard the sexual harassment claims (I'm not calling anyone a liar but some journos do have a penchant for BEATING UP a story). I was pregnant with Tara at the same time his wife Lucy was with their son and Broggers always had a nice word to say to me and asked how I was coming along.
I really, really wish him a speedy recovery and hope he has the drive and faith to overcome this seemingly insurmountable obstacle.
And for those vulture-journos camped outside Royal North Shore Hospital, (I wouldn't put it past some to dress up as an orderly to get closer to him) leave the poor bugger alone.
That said, I know that if I was still working at the local paper, I would have been at RNSH in a lickety-split.
I'm digging myself in a hole here! I'm not meaning to sound contradictory, but there are journalist (e.g the Current Affair type) and then there are Journalists (e.g like me who are moral, seek the truth and want to write a great, newsworthy story)

Get well Broggers!!

It's been a month????

FFFFFAAAAARRRRRKKKKKKK!
I can't believe it's been a month since I blogged! Well, let's see if I can get you all up to speed.
Tara's Mum's Last Month.
I have:
Changed nappies: 300 times
Breastfed: 500 times
Cooked dinner 30 times
Had food thrown at me by Tara: 220 times
Been thrown up on: 1000 times
Burst into tear: 50 times
Headache: 150 times
Laundry: never ending
Picked toys up: 30000000 times
and slept a total of
FIVE HOURS
on top of all this, I have had to endure that bloody, annoying Hi 5 dvd Tara loves three times a day, every day! It has seriously affected my brain, so much so that i sing the songs in my head while doing the dishes, shaving my legs and even cooking. I REALLY, REALLY hate HI 5.

Tara needs to get her chicken pox vaccination tomorrow - the hubby is taking her before work. I hate seeing my girls cop needles, and it's going to be worse than usual because Tara is much older (the last was when she was 12 months) and so much more aware.
She's still driving me crazy with her eating. Would you believe in church today, she picked up a crusty old biscuit from the floor and put it straight in her mouth!! I nearly had a heart seizure. Maybe I should just chuck all her food on my (scrubbed) floor and let her eat it from there.
Today, I put Eden in a tracksuit Tara wore when she was 5 months old - Eden's nearly 3 months old. She's such a michellin baby, I l love the rolls!

Not much to write about

What a boring post this is going to be. But, I have logged onto the net so I might aswell post.
Have done the laundry, the girls are having their avo naps and I'm heading off to my sisters to see my gorgeous niece.
That's about it.
hmmmm
OH, by the way, I have noticed that I have never written a post about my love for the ever amazing Prince. I will soon. I hope my girls have the same love for him and his music when they grow up. When I was pregnant with Tara I went to his fab concert and I always played his music to both girls when they were in utero. Often, Tara and I put on his DVD of music videos and dance around hysterically in the loungeroom - our own mini Prince concerts.
I think our downstairs neighbours hate me.
HE HE HE

Welcome to the Dawn

It's a girl!

MY SISTER HAD A GIRL!
Not only am I super excited for her - she has three gorgeous boys, but I finally have a niece! She is absolutely stunning. I know she will be wearing a lot of hand-me-downs from my girls. As a matter of fact, I have already passed on a few things from Eden - she's such a chubber and has already outgrown a number of clothes.
Ahhhh, I can't wait to see her again. I'm so proud of my sis!
What's really exciting is my girls will have a cousin so close to their ages that they will grow up together, be best friends (hopefully) and have each other to lean on.
I'm getting teary .... school formals, birthday parties, boyfriends, weddings. Okay, I'm jumping ahead of myself just a tad.
It's the hormones.

Ed Phillips - that cheesy grin!