COULD YOU? WOULD YOU?

Could you? Would you? Could you become a surrogate mother? Could you carry another couple's baby?

Surrogacy is when a woman carries and gives birth to a baby for another person or couple. In Australia, gestational surrogacy is the most common form. This means that the surrogate’s egg is not used in conception, and so she is not the biological mother. The embryo may be created using the sperm and egg of the intended parents, or donor embryos may be used.

I am watching my daughter go through some issues with her pregnancy, because of her medical history with Guillain-Barre. Any grandmother would be happy to hold their grandbaby if the Mum was struggling. Is not being a surrogate just an extended form of holding a baby?

If only, it was not too late at 22 weeks to take over and help my Bubby carry her baby to full term. 

PEOPLE I MEET: EVIE

Meet my newest great niece, Miss Evie. Evie was born yesterday morning weighing a healthy 4090grams, or in old school measurement, over 9 pounds. She is a funny little thing who chatted the whole time we were up at the hospital visiting her.

DES VACANCES EN FRANCE: PREMIÈRE PARTIE

DES VACANCES EN FRANCE: PREMIÈRE PARTIE/ HOLIDAYS IN FRANCE: PART I. One Hotel room at a time.

We have been home over week. A hard week filled with holiday come down, and illness. But the holiday to France is still filling my mind. Before we went, I was so worried about how Jarvis would travel. Taking a 10 month old out of his environment, and asking him to adapt to a lot of change, that included huge chunks of time traveling on planes and in car, is a huge ask. However, from the beginning Jarvis showed signs of being the best little traveler. Winning hearts where ever we went. 

After nine hours plus on a plane, we landed at Incheon International Airport, in Korea. Where we were lucky enough to have a stopover and stay at the amazing Hyatt Regency. Once we got off the plane and got into the airport, it was easier than we thought. The Hyatt makes it stress free, with a complimentary bus that picks you up at the airport and takes you to the hotel.

The art work in the lobby was enough to make the Art historian in me happy; but who cannot love white bed sheets on a king size bed; a light filled view; shower/bath so big  it could fit all three of us in; and the food at Three Signature Experiences at restaurant 8? It was a happy start to our holiday. Even the tea set the complimentary tea came in was cute!

This post is not sponsored by the Hyatt, but they are welcome to sponsor me at any time.

11 MONTHS OLD

The month has flown by; Jarvis is already 11 months old. We have really noted a change in him this month; he has become Mr. Personality Plus. I know his story began before he was even born, however, it feels as if this month Jarvis is beginning to narrate us his tale.

There has been adventure, three weeks traveling France; and confinement, one week at home sick in bed. Together it has added up to a massive growth in Jarvis, in size and maturity. I am not sure if it is the travel or the illness, but it is as if he suddenly has developed a heightened sense of awareness. Jarvis is stepping out of the cloak of babyhood that wrapped him, into the independent role of a child.

I feel oh so sad, my baby is disappearing; but excited as this little independent soul is emerging.

10 MONTHS OLD

I could write for ever about the things that Jarvis does, however, this month I will write about all of the things Jarvis does not do. Jarvis still does not roll over or crawl. He gets stuck like a turtle on his back, until you stand him up. Then he is off, shimming against walls or hanging onto stuff for support. Jarvis does not walk slowly; he is always in a hurry.

Jarvis does not like to wear clothes; it is a struggle every time to get him dressed. If he cannot be naked, he will settle for no pants.

Jarvis will have a bath and stay in until he is a wrinkled prune. But he will not get out of the bath without tears. The same thing happens when we take him swimming.

But the main thing that Jarvis does not do, ever, is sleep alone. He will sleep in the car. He will always sleep in my arms, or curled up against me. Or he will sleep beside Justin.

At first he slept in the bassinet in our room, but now every night he sleeps with us. Jarvis has never slept in his own room. He has not even slept in his cot in our room. Even after I went to so much effort to make or refurbish everything in his room. We even painted his room and it is a rental!

Cots are just for playing in.

Jarvis has not got two upper teeth, just the one, so he looks like a hillbilly.

OK, so that is not Jarvis and it is not my photo (cannot find original source to give credit to), but I cannot get a photo of Jarvis's tooth.

So all of these things that Jarvis does not do, but I would not change a thing from his sweaty sleep head to his smelly feet. Alright I would change his stinky feet, but I just love him more and more each day I will take those feet, even when I wake up with them in my face each morning.

THE LITTLE THINGS

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” ~Robert Brault

NINE MONTHS OLD

I am a couple days late, but it has been a busy week with my birthday lasting from Saturday through to Monday, and Father's Day on Sunday.

Jarvis seems to have gotten so tall in the last month; with big chubby feet, that no longer fit in any of the shoes he owns.

Two teeth have made an appearance, one on the 21st of August and one on the 25th. They did not come out with ease; there were tears and sleepless nights. We tried the Amber necklace theory... doesn't work, no success. Tried frozen teething rings and cold sugar peas...limited success. Resorted to Panadol and Nurofen...success!

Jarvis still cannot roll over or crawl, but is taking his first steps holding on to furniture. In fact, I think I need a back massage, as he loves to walk holding hands. All Day!

He is fascinated with men, especially men with beards. But, is such a flirt with the ladies, his favourite type of girl is 20 plus with long hair. Hmm sounds like Jarvis's older sister, I wonder what Freud would say about that?

Hands have come into play this month, with waving hello and good-bye, and clumsy attempts at clapping hands.

The "Man Cold" t-shirt

It has been a hard week, Jarvis not only got his first tooth, he also got his father’s “Man Cold”. So with two sick grumpy boys in the house not much sewing got done.

I did manage to recycle one of Justin’s t-shirts

Into a t-shirt for Jarvis

I cut up Justin’s t-shirt along the seams and used one of Jarvis’s t-shirts as a guide. I cut the shirt a bit big as I wanted to keep as much as the pattern as possible.

Everything was a bit of a guess; and I have not hemmed the edges of the neckline or the bottom of the shirt. It has been through the wash once and seems to be holding up ok.

But not bad, considering my fear of stretch sewing and lack of pattern.

Jarvis is in his "Beetlejuice" chair which I recovered as part of his whole room make over.

Tiretain Sarouels, Punker Than You Punk

For week two, of the sewing challenge that I have set myself, I wanted to re-visited the Baby Sarouels from Sophie’s blog Cirque du bebe. Because of my fear of stretch I thought I would try the sarousels in a plain cotton. So with the two inspirations of Sophie’s sarouels (image on the left), and (the image on the right) I found under goggle search, I set to work on a piece of fabric I have had in my sewing basket for years.

I cut the pants from the same pattern as last weeks, I just allowed a little more for each seam. This time I opted not to do a separate waist band, I just did an elastic waist and included belt hoops.

Jarvis looks gorgeous rocking the pants and his Dad’s hat.

For some extra detail I included and angled back pocket and a belt loop from this pocket to the side seams. As most “punk” pants I looked at on the internet had chains and extra belt details.

All that was needed was a belt to finish them off. After searching everywhere for a belt in Jarvis’s size and having no luck; I ended up making one; after a trip to the local spotlight. I bought one set of D-rings and some black binding, after less than five minutes, Jarvis had a black belt to go with his new Tartan punk sarouels.

Overall much happier with this weeks sarouels than last weeks. A tad too big, as I over-estimated what was needed in lieu of the stretch, but at the rate Jarvis is growing it may be a good thing.

Baby Sarouels Sewing 1.

                                                             

Not so long ago I made a promise to myself for more “me” time. Things I included in more “me” time was to start blogging; to take more photos; and another, was to sew more. So I have set myself a challenge of sewing at least one item per week. 

Where to start was obvious, that being Jarvis’s wardrobe. I got a major dose of inspiration from Sophie on her amazing blog Cirque du bebe. Sophie’s sewing is really good, I am more than a little envious of her skill, so I thought I would start with one of her projects, the Baby Sarouels.

So I raided Justin’s wardrobe and found this t-shirt.

Drafted a pattern

Then I half followed Sophie’s directions and half made it up as I went along. I didn’t include the pockets, but I did make a waist band to encase the elastic and the draw cord.

Because my model is not good at sitting or laying still, here are a couple of shots of the sarouels on the line.

Instead of using draw cord, I should have followed Sophie’s recommend and made it out of left over t-shirt, because after two washes the cord looks ragged.

But for my very first attempt at sewing a stretch fabric overall I am happy with them. Already started on next weeks improved version! Thanks Sophie for the inspiration and the great ideas in your blog, Cirque du bebe.

p.s. It it Sophie's birthday today, make sure you go over to her blog and wish her Happy Birthday.