~* My Maternity Leave Mayhem: An Update *~

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January:

• We eventually set up Winter's clothing wardrobe - which incidentally is almost completely full of clothing already and she is only 9 months old! Where shall I put all her new clothes? We are running out of room for all her toys and books too. I need another house to store all of this stuff.
• I enjoy listening to Marilyn Manson while attempting to get through the huge pile of ironing and laundry. Oh how I loathe the ironing!
• I recently cut Winter*'s sharp nails for the first time ever - they are now lovely, neat and trimmed! No more scratching of her face and my arms!
• I decorated yet another new hat recently - it is a sparkly micro-mini top hat (very tiny indeed).
• My tarot readings have been extra comforting lately - a good sign I can feel it in my bones...
• Lately I have been full of anguish from migrainey ickiness...
• We saw Burlesque: not too bad, costumes were lacklustre, no vintage corsetry, not truly Burlesque-y enough. But Cam Gigandet is cute!
• I often had "Addams Family Values" playing in the background while sewing & sipping my tea & Winter* in her rocker - what splendid days!
• I read "Monsters Inc." to Winter* recently. She likes Monstropolis, especially Mike Wazowski.
• We went to Lily's first birthday party and had a splendid time - Winter stayed in the pram most of the party though! The cake was simply gorgeous - with stars on it and all sparkly etc.

February:

• I was out walking Winter & received 2 different comments from complete strangers (as usual, about the way I look): One was cruel & negative & one was extremely positive! Okay, so some people feel the need to let me know what they think of me. But please keep it to yourself if you have nothing pleasant to say. That is all.
• The weather and the floods are just a nightmare! Roads were all blocked: it took us over 1 hr to get home (cars were bumper to bumper)! Phew!
• I enjoy listening to The Mission UK while doing sewing projects, the never-ending laundry and imminent ironing...
• Recent Cooking Adventures: luscious roasted Moroccan chicken with green beans: 'Twas very flavorsome! :) Plus herb & tomato roasted chicken with homegrown organic potato from our backyard - plus chocolate bliss soy ice-cream for dessert!
• I think the Baby Bjorn is partly to blame for my shoulder, neck and back pain.
• Winter* is wearing a dress for the first time recently, she looks stunning... Must remember to bend my knees when picking her up off the floor!
• I enjoy watching "the Witches" while copy editing / proofreading with my cup of tea in hand... Enchanted evening. I am currently doing freelance work for an Aussie gothy magazine.
• I recently watched "Animal Kingdom" - what an intense, disturbing film... Brilliant acting...
• What does a 4 month old dream about? Winter* had a nightmare last night - yelling, grunting & groaning in her sleep..
• The Pretty Little Bug (that's Winter*) met Skelanimals "Diego the Bat"... Recently we purchased a Skelanimal plush toy that also converts into a pillow! Also an opulent top hat for her to wear in her hair.
• Feeling enraptured because guess who got a copy of the latest Gothic Beauty Magazine in the mail? This was a Valentine's Day present from The Husband - Looking forward to reading it later tonight!
• We had a fantabulous time at Sammi's 16th birthday party - Winter was such a social butterfly - I think at least a dozen people held her who were complete strangers to Winter and she was absolutely fine and didn't cry once. Gilly always puts on a superb party and we all really enjoyed the positive atmosphere and amazing gluten-free cakes. Loved it!
• I managed to sell our old couches on Gumtree - it took a while but it did happen! I was thrilled to get rid of them.
• We went to Zig's 29th get together that was during the day thankfully so we were able to bring along Winter*. Cool company, cool food, what more can I say? Zig and Kana are the coolest!
• We went out for dinner for Valentine's Day: so exciting for me to go back to Chapel St were we had our first date. A lovely evening. Date nights are even more awesome when you have a child. You cherish them more.

March:

• Wow, I waited over 2 hours in the "waiting room" to see the GP, in that time I almost finished re-reading my entire Dracula novel... :)
• My favourite sound in the entire world is definitely Winter's laughter!
• It took me awhile to recover from the Vamp merriment I had this month (Gothy nightclub that I adore)... :)
• Winter started solids this month - she's doing well so far! :o)
• A stranger came up to us in the street the other day and said "Winter, make it a better world!" I replied to him, "She already has." :o)
• Looks like I am more of a cliche` than I thought: just read that Winter is one of the most popular names Goths name their babies. Oh well!
• I attempted a daggy dance aerobics session recently - complete with leg warmers etc! 80s forever!
• Recent Cooking Adventures: delicious home-made gluten-free pizza bases & pizzas... Too tasty! :) Gluten-free bread is yummy!
• Wow, I survived the first six months of motherhood mayhem... Winter*, I love you eternally & you are a pleasure to look after...
• Winter was vaccinated and is vommiting! Seems to always have this affect on her. That liquid drink they give her does it :o(
• My new corsets are awesome - I am so in love with corsetry right now. They certainly changed my life for the better. I wore my Voller's black satin corset for the first time to Jacob's first birthday party and it felt unusual yet incredible! It was lovely to see all my cousins, Aunts and Uncles there and introduce everyone to Winter again. The food there was pretty and delicious!
• I finally met up with Judy for a piece of cake and tea at Tiramisu (I gave a birthday present to her and she responded with a quaint gift for Winter - how thoughtful and wonderful is Judy) and we enjoyed catching up and browsing in shops - I did not bring Winter along as I wanted to enjoy some "me" time and also my mother-in-law offered to look after her for a few hours and who am I to turn down such an offer? As much as I love my daughter I do need time away from parenting now and again.
• We went to Ari's get together to farewell him and Mel before they went to Indonesia! It was also great because we were able to catch up with Sarah and Jono there and introduce them to Winter*! I really think highly of them both and I spoke to Sarah about a few issues and she was very understanding and insightful. Great to bid Ari and Mel Adieu - they are having many adventures at the moment.
• I made sure I visited work to introduce everyone to Winter*. Sadly most people I used to work with no longer work there so I struggled to find more than a handfull of people to introduce the baby to. Oh well! But it was interesting to see everyone again and see what the place & the publications look like these days (there have been so many changes to everything)!

April:

• Recent Cooking Adventures: a delightful honey soy roast chicken with roast potato and carrots.. Time for tea & my new obsession: chocolate bliss soy ice-cream!
• I am, with great difficulty, attempting to be a Gluten-Free Girl! I've recently been diagnosed with gluten intolerance so just starting to work out how to live like this! It's not easy!
• I suffered the most excruciating migraine pain recently and felt like the brain was fried... I have since started taking iron tablets and drinking more fluids and it seems to help the situation. :(
• We had a sublimely splendid weekend recently: we saw the Absolutely Live Doors tribute band perform and then the following day we relished the spectacular shopping escapades at the The Black Market - simply the best market I've ever been to. Loved it! What a gleeful weekend.
• I recently cleaned the bathroom, did all the vacuuming / housework and I then enjoyed a well-earned quaint cup of tea and Ginger Cookie.
• Even though I do not like Kirsten Dunst I really loved the eye candy of the film Marie Antoinette (just finished watching it recently) - the script was rather dreadful but I adored the costumes and cupcake-cuteness of it all. And it has a masquerade ball with a Siouxsie & the Banshees song in the background. Lots of modern music in the film to appeal to teenagers I assume.
• I had a delightful day with Avril recently: splendid shopping adventures, tea, cake & quaint conversation... Divine!
• Recently watched the special features of my Queen of The Damned DVD - which, in some ways, is more captivating than watching the film itself.
• We finally managed to put the gallery systems throughout the house - I am really happy with how they turned out - I can change the frames that hang on the walls whenever I want without having to make holes in the walls - I can also reposition the frames anyway I like so that they are either lower or higher etc. It's hard to explain but the system is phenomenal in my opinion. We had to go to a wholesaler to buy it all because it's not available at Bunnings or anything like that.
• Mum's 60th birthday party was a women-only party -a casual buffet luncheon - a crazy, zany, thrilling afternoon of fun, games and mayhem (that is a direct quote from the invitation). Winter had a splendid time also and she wore her Metallica outfit for the first time.
• Sold two of my hats on Gumtree but it really takes too long to sell things on Gumtree and Ebay have too many fees so I've decided to just give all my odds and ends to the Salvo's and other opp shops as I simply do not have the time or energy to sell things online or have garage sales etc. I am happy with this decision as it is giving to charity anyway so that is a reward in itself.

May:

• Winter*'s first Passover Seders were a superb success as she read her Haggadah!
• I recently injured my Achilles tendon (sheer agony) and could not walk without a slight limp.
• I certainly feel like a laundrymaid since I do a load of washing almost daily...
• I've been feeling creative and crafty lately - relishing my new spectacular self-healing rotary mat and rotary cutter!
• Wow, Winter* won the Collingwood "best dressed" prize yesterday & met Peter Daicos, Andrew Karouker, Shae McNamara, a rookie, Mike Brady & was photographed with the Magpies Mascot! What a lucky darkling!
• I definitely enjoyed celebrating my first ever Mother's Day as a Mum this month! An enchanting, luxurious Mum's Day at Tea & Rice and plenty of chilling out!
• I unintentionally dressed Winter* as little red riding hood recently...
• Recent sewing projects: a brooch made from tapestry and lace, and a fleecy "Emily the Strange" brooch (with lace trim)!
• Winter* loves to dance to Madonna songs!
• I enjoyed indulging in the latest issue of Gothic Beauty Magazine with my cup of rosehip tea!
• ^v^ ? We are jubilant that our gothling?'s first tooth has begun to emerge! Naturally it is sharp and pointy, that's how we like it... ? ^v^
• I went into the city recently for a two day workshop - it was pretty full on because it was a 9-5 thing on both days so it took a great deal out of me to do it but I am really proud of myself for doing it as I feel it has really changed me and improved my confidence and especially since I'm going back to work soon I think it was important to get a bit of a refresher course on professionalism. I also enjoyed it very much!
• Elisa's wedding was phenomenal! I really, truly enjoyed it. Not only did I get to wear my new waist cincher and get all gothed up but I also got to experience a wedding with Winter and she was definitely the most elegant wedding guest - with such poise and manners. Also enjoyed the festivities - the ceremony was lovely and I almost had tears in my eyes - Elisa looks beautiful. The reception was nice too - Brett and I also danced the night away - and the food was yum!
• Lana and Nick visited our humble abode this month - I cooked cupcakes and other treats for the guests! They got to meet Winter for the first time also which they seemed to enjoy. I was overwhelmed when Lana gave me the most amazing pair of Jack Skellington gloves from their recent trip to Disneyland - love love love them!

June:

• I recently picked up some darkling-friendly reading material from the opp-shop (including a book about bats and an ABC book about spiders)!
• I've enjoyed dazzling days scrapbooking, crafting and unwinding!
• Unfortunately I've also been disheartened by all my awful ailments... Extreme migraines, TMJ, nausea, pain, fatigue etc...
• I recently had an enchanting afternoon at the movies - "Bridesmaids" was thoroughly entertaining and humorous! 2.5 stars! Laughing is good medicine! :)
• I found a couple of Emily the Strange books at the library the other week (I read a bit of them to Winter* of course)! I liked the front cover art (& some art inside the book too)!
• My GP says I need to lose 11kg & stop eating chocolate & sweets (even on the weekend!): This is going to be difficult but I am keen to try!
• I have begun sewing classes this month and I am totally loving it at the moment - the teacher is absolutely awesome and a dressmaker herself (a total expert at all things crafty and sewing), and the people in the class that I have met so far are very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable!
• I've been going every week to the library for "Baby Time" sessions - I meet up with other mums from our initial mum group and it is really mainly reciting of nursery rhymes and hand gestures etc but Winter really enjoys it - she especially enjoys all the interactions with other babies and children. She also enjoys it when I read her the library books afterwards. Also we all usually get a drink and feed the babies afterwards at the library café there. It's heaps of fun!
• I'm slowly in the process of organising everything for Winter's first birthday party. I hope it all goes smoothly. I can't believe she will be one year old soon. The time sure flies.
• I've been trying to celebrate all the Wiccan and Jewish festivals although I do struggle with it while also looking after Winter and doing everything else I need to do. But I am trying and that's the main thing here!
• Suzi came over to visit us the other day and we all went to the shopping centre and met up with Lee for a coffee at Gloria Jeans - it was loads of fun! Suzi and Lee are amazing people - I certainly think highly of them.
• I am trying to sort out different issues and problems that I am facing in my life at the moment - slowly, step by step, I am sure I will be able to resolve things. It will take time but I will get there in the end.
• I went to Jen's baby shower the other day and I managed to drive there with Winter in the car and it was a very long way away - it took me over one hour to get there (one hour and 15 minutes I believe) and I am really proud of myself for doing it as I usually chicken out of driving long distances and also I had never been there before, in fact I didn't know anyone who was going to be at the baby shower so I was a little freaked out about going so I really am praising myself for doing it. Yay!

Other Significant Notations:

• I've been trying to follow a daily routine as much as possible and it's been really successful in terms of getting things done during the day. I manage to do my exercise videos and skipping every day as well as get dressed and gothed up and packed to go out the door. It sounds easier than it is, believe me. I've also been following an eating regime very well too and I've lost quite a bit of weight so far, although I have not achieved my ideal weight just yet. I have 9 more kilos to go. So far ,so good!
• I've also been listening to a great deal of gothy music, focussing on my writings, books and Midnight Enterprises stuff, reading lots of books such as the first twilight book (it was rather bland and not dark or scary enough for my liking), the first vampire chronicles book (I simply adore it although it is a bit wordy), the dracula novel that is based on the movie (not the bram stoker original) which I thoroughly adore as well plus heaps of other books. 
• I have also completed a great deal of homework too and I have only 7 assignments left to do before I achieve my diploma. I also read to Winter every day which I believe is important. She certainly enjoys it.
• I have also been watching gothy youtube clips and online craft/sewing/decorating tutorials. Youtube is such a fantastic resource.