Failed

Okay so have to confess have failed with the whole not reading/writing blog stuff - decided I needed the escape/window on the world too much, not that I don't love my small people, but you can feel pretty trapped sometimes (especially when we are all screamy and tired!)

Thought you might like to see a few more snaps - the first is my jobshare partners' twins - the most gorgeous, born just a week and a half ago.



Then Tom already following his sister's lead of undoing any housework I do manage to get done in a day . . . I was fairly sure he wouldn;t manage to pull the whole airer on him, just the trousers off!



And finally (belatedly) Beth in the snow

Twenty-Four (plus Sixteen)

I'm going dark - it's a lent thing - no blog reading or writing, see you at Easter. Ema

Us!

Here we are

Holiday!

Second try . . . how annoying

Just got back from a rather fab week away at the Vineyard National Leaders' Conference in sunny (and flip it was) Hayling Island. Stayed in a rather swanky hotel which was fab with the small exception that it was a Warner one (no kids). Unfortunatly didn't mean we got to leave Beth and Tom at home, but instead as Vineyard had taken over the whole place they said we could bring them. The downside being we neded to take everything a small person might ever need - high chairs, travel cot, air bed and so on . . .bit like camping in a hotel room really, but we were rewarded with a fantatically large room.

Yes the picture really was taken in January!!

Have to say we were somewhat in trepidation as to how the whole all sleeping in one room would go, but Tom and Beth seemed very happy to sleep through the other ones wakefulness, shame we couldn't!! And actually we did okay on night 2 and 3!!

Beth's first ever photo of me!

Will's bit!!...As for the meetings, they were great. Terry Virgo spoke on grace in the mornings, and Jay Pathak talked about making Jesus relevant in the evenings. One of his challenges that really stood out was 'What would it be like if we treated everyone in our community like they were in our small group?' If you really think that one through, it blows your brains out!!

There were also some 'bonus' talks, such as:

• John Mumford sharing "family news" ('as close as we ever get to an agm'!)
• Eleanor Mumford on our gathered worship (it's all about Him!)
• Rick Williams on where church, work and world collide

There was also loads of time and space to worship together as 500+, and to get prayed for during ministry times. Finally, there were some interesting and thought provoking seminars to dip into in the afternoons. All in all, we had a fab week out with God and each other

Taking it in turns to walk on the beach - they really weren't designed for buggies!!

What's all that up there about??!!

Bye Bye Baby Bye Bye

Well it's all got to go . . . some sadness maybe, well why else the picture, but as much as we love them, that's our contribution to the population!

Best Pals

I am pleased to say Beth is finally coming to terms with the fact the she is no longer the only 'Makower child'. She 'lubs' dad and mum and Tom now ... phew!! She's still a bit miffed that he can't play, but I keep reassuring her that one day he will (although little does she know that's when it will all go wrong - that's my toy, he hit me, I want to play with that and so on!!!). We certainly 'lub' them .. arrr.

Snow, Snow and More Snow ... Well Sort Of!!

It did snow ... honest. Didn't hang around long though, and was much better at 5am when I got up to check on Tom and then couldn't get back to sleep as I had peeked out of the curtains and seen the 'oh so exciting white covering'. Would like to say Beth, (Tom) and I rushed out to make the most of it, but instead Beth had a mega paddy about getting dressed and then it had gone!! Hey ho, maybe more soon.

I'm a Big Girl Now

Beth's first day at pre-school today, which of course she loved . . . it was me that wasn't so keen . . . feels a bit like a slippery slope to the days of starting school . . . help I've turned in to 'one of those' parents. Can't believe how grown up she looks!

Happy New Year, Happy New Year . . . .

(why can't I get the Abba song out of my head??!!)

Thought as I was catching up with Christmas on this of all days I should at least post some reference to the new year. Was thinking about it earlier and wasn't really all that inspired (although I have to say celebrating New Years Eve with Bill Baily was rather fab - even though he was in red . . . have since managed to fix the TV!!).

However, our top and very exciting news (that is if you have ever had to suffer Will or I coming to you for advice sympathy etc re: Beth's lack of food intake) is that Beth has had a fantastic day . . .

• 2 breakfasts,


• bag of Quavers


• ham and cheese 'sandwiches' for lunch (in'' as Beth has just discovered the delights of having a slice of bread, the ham and/or cheese and then another slice of bread . . . we clearly take everyday thing way too much for granted!)


• bag of milky bar buttons


• a banana


• dinner of . . . wait for it . . . scrambled egg, broccoli, pasta and baked beans


• and ice cream

That's pretty much what she would normally eat in 4/5 days!! Excellent, excellent, excellent.

So there you go another exciting day in the crazy Makower shaped world . . . well that and these fab pictures!

Christmas

All in all a splendid time was had by us Makowers, although it did seem to last forever . . . Beth opened her first present on Friday 22nd and then just kept going until the 28th ... scary stuff.

Despite being a whole year older than last year (odd how that happens), she still seems to have no concept of Father Christmas, or why we were giving/receiving presents. I don't think it is because we have failed as parents, but it does seem a bit strange. Maybe she's just blase about the materialism, has already grasped the deeper meaning of Christmas, and we should just count our blessings!

Alan working on the traditional Rhodes family Christmas puzzle . . . finally completed by . . . . Ema!!!! (I'll post the solution if you ask nicely Alien!)

Thomas obviously had a whale of a time at 2 months, ripping open all his pressies and scoffing himself stupid with chocs(!)

Notes to self for next year:

• if staying overnight, take pyjamas for small people;
  
• don't forget presents for important family members;


• church twice in one day isn't necessary (at Christmas);


• it doesn't matter how big your car/house is, it's still always full!


• no amount of camera skill can account for poor subjects!

Ema's Mum and brother (proabably only here for a limited amount of time - that is until my mum sees it! )

Daddy's Girl

What do you think to this then? Have to say these were taken towards the beginning of what turn out to be a very long process - one that unsurprisingly Beth tired of more quickly than Will (or I!)


I guess if we were really clever we would be able to upload the result (Will are you reading this - there must be some software at DPM that can 'covert it' from good old cassette)


Thinking we won't Blog before Christmas so hope you have a fab time - especially all of you with new little people (and believe me there are hundreds of you....you can rest in the knowledge that when you are up at a crazy time in the night, feeding - again, loads of other devoted mums (and dads??) are there with you!) Congrats to you and all your beautiful Little people!
(Does that makes sense to anyone other there??)

Christmas Comes Early

Thought you might like this - really is an early Christmas for the bear, although as she tells everyone - "I don't have them cooked" yep that’s right another Makower delicacy

Long time no speak?

Well doesn't that always happen after saying I had too much free time things have just piled up ... must be Christmas or something! Not sure I actually have any exciting news from all the busy-ness though, just a few more pics for your perusal!! Enjoy :-)

Will's all new myspace artist page!

To check out Will's all new myspace artist page, go to this link:



Check me out!

Blogging Disease

I'm addicted - either that or I have too much free time!!

So far I have survived my first full week of being alone (although still got tomorrow to go!) Actually thinking I have planned too much in . . . no surprise there then, but at least I can admit it! Haven't quite managed to do the shopping . . . normally get milk etc today, but due to heavy rain drove to toddler group and due to huge, new, 'family' car decided I couldn’t risk parking in mini Tesco's car park!!

Thought I'd add another picture to the ever-increasing set - I think I'd like to call it 'The Perfect Children'. Don’t they look peaceful.

Pure Cheese

Thought you might like the latest snaps - can't quite believe the gorgeous people are my family!

All doing ok - getting a bit more used to each other, but also discovering Tom's little foibles - like 3 hour screaming sessions - luckily during the daytime! (You wouldn't think it from the picture would you!)

'Family Time'

Absolutely loving this 'family time' we have been given. Not sure what makes it so different from time off together we have previously had, but it is so unlike weeks we have had before (maybe because there are 4 of us now??!!). Don't know just seems really chilled and a time to catch up and enjoy each other’s company. Obviously the fact that I get to lay in until 9:00/10:00 (although in my defence I am up 1 out of every 3 hours in the night) and the wonderful people from PVC (see www.pottonvineyard.org.uk) who are doing our dinner every night, as well as loads of support from family and friends .... helps. Guess I am just in a really sentimental mood - the calm before the storm of Will going back to work next week - but it is fab and I feel like one of the 'most blessed' people around right now.

Progress Report

Doing good! Obviously fairly sleep deprived, but still feel 100% better than I did while I was pregnant. Also can't quite believe he is here - a bit like with Beth can't get my head round the fact that just a few days ago he was my bump and now he's on the loose!! He's pretty good all in all, feeding well and very gorgeous!

Beth is doing really well, making an excellent big sister - very concerned and helpful. Loving Thomas and Will, but a bit hacked of with me it seems! No bedtime hugs and kisses for mum at the moment.

Thomas photos

See also http://ntlworld.photobox.co.uk/album/4283711

Baby Newsflash...

The headlines in Makower baby world are as follows…

· It's a boy!
· He's called Thomas
· He was born at 1.23 a.m. this very morning (Tuesday 17th October 2006)
· He weighed in at 8 pounds and 5 ounces
· Mum and baby are still recovering from the whole ordeal but doing okay!
· They should both be able to come home this afternoon, once they've been in 12 hours to rule out infection (the waters broke at 6 a.m. Monday morning, quite a long time before he made his appearance, hence the risk of infection)
· Without going into gory details, the early phase of labour seemed to last a lifetime (!), but the most intensive ‘pushing’ phase started whilst Ema was having a bath.
· The midwives and staff just about managed to get her out of the bath and get the baby delivered on the bathroom floor. This phase was excruciating and horrible to have to watch her endure, so heaven (and all the mothers out there!) only knows what it was like to be Ema at this point?!

For photos of baby Thomas and a first hand account of the roller coaster ride from the brave mum herself, watch this space!!!