Tell me about a time…. August 30, 2007

I have an interveiw for a job tomorrow – its a job a really want but is advertised as being based in the next town over from where we want to move.  I oonly want the job if I can be based in my town.    My plan is to impress the socks off them so much that they will concede to all my  demands!!

I am not too worried about the interveiw process as I know what the quetsions will be (behavioural type ones  like – ‘tell me about a time when you had to do somehting you disagreed with inorder to achieve the outcome’)  as I have actually sat on interveiw panels before.  This gives me an advantage I think – alhtough it coudl also work against me as it may mean they will be extra hard on me.

Anyway  my fingers and toes will remain crossed until I find out. too bad if they fall off from lack of circulation!

Working 9 til 5 August 28, 2007

When I was five I used to tell people that when I grew up I wanted to be a clown.  Why I decided I wanted to be a clown I will never know but luckily I outgrew that desire and became more realistic about my carreer choices as I got older.

By the time I was about 15  I knew I wanted to go to University and study pyschology. I  wanted to be a psychologist and ‘examine’ people and work out why they did the things they did.

When I chose my papers for Uni I decided that I would do a double major in Psychology and Education – as a way to mix it up a bit.   Probably by about second semester in my second year I realised that I ‘clicked’ much more with my education papers than my psyc ones – psychology had far more statistics in it than I realised!!

In my last year ast Univeristy I made decision that once I graduated I would go to teachers college. It would give me another year of study as well as a very well defined career path and a way to make a ‘difference’.

As much as I enjoyed being a teacher I struggled to get a job – At the time I wanted to stay in Wellington and there were no positions for beginning teachers.  This caused the first career crisis of my life.  What was I going to do?  There was no way I could carry on doing relief teaching and supplementing my income by working in a bookshop – I was actually beginning to want a real job where I knew how much money I was going to get paid each week. 

So on the advice of a friend I joined a temp agency.  My first assignment was with a government department being an executive assistant.   The role was meant to be for 2 weeks and I ended up there for 2 1/2 years.   After  temping as an executive assistant for 2 months I was asked to fill in for a analyst who was going on maternity leave.  The rest they say is history.    I ended up with a great job and gaining a whole lot of skills that have seen me well.   When the Adman was asked to transfer to Auckland  I was at a point in my career where I  had learnt all I was going to learn in my role and a change was a foot.   This was career crisis number two. As much as I loved my job  in the back of my mind  was the little niggle that  my job wasn’t making a difference to people’s lives and really I was just another cog in the machinery of government. I saw the move to Auckland  as an opportnity to move into a role where I could make a difference to my community.  And as luck would have it I got the type of role that does just that.

Now that we are contemplating another move I am at another cross roads.   While I love my job it is still just a job to me…. I joke to the Adman that if I got paid the same amount of money to iron shirts all day I would happily do that.  I don’t know what type of job would fufill me or if there is even such a thing - but the urge to ‘make a difference’ is still there.  The liklihood of me getting a job similar to my current one is slim and the liklihood of me getting one that pays just as well is even slimmer.  Even getting a job is probably going to be an issue.  So now I have to make a decision – do I try and get a job that gives me that warm fuzzy feeling but won’t pay enough to cover our plans of building our dream home….. or do I get a job that pays well but will probably  do my head in reguarly?

Enter Career Crisis number Three

The old swap-a-roo August 24, 2007

Up until about a month ago the Young Man was exclusively breastfed.  But as he has grown bigger and hungrier I was finding it harder and harder to pump enough milk to feed him for the mornings when he was with his carer.  So I made the decision to switch his mid morning feed to formula.

 It seemed to go off without a hitch and the Young Man was chowing down 220 mls of formula every morning.  Even I was able to feed him and he wasn’t fussed. 

That was until last week. 

All of a sudden he decided that he didn’t want the bottle  anymore and as soon as he saw it he would begin shaking his head vigorously (I still can’t get over the fact that baby seem to know ‘no’ intrisnically).  A couple of times his carer has managed to get him top drink 50 or so mls but it was a struggle.   

 This morning I was determined that he was going to have bottle so I waited until I knew he was really hungry  – but alas as soon as he saw the bottle near him he started grizzling and pushing the bottle away.  So in a flash of brilliance I started to breastfeed him and then unlatched him and chucked the bottle in his mouth.   He looked a little startled but carried on drinking and probably drank about 150mls ( which I was happy with).  

This little activity has led me to believe that the Young Man doesn’t not like the bottle but that he likes the boob a whole lot more and he knows that if he holds out long enough he will eventually get it.  Its nice that he prefers the boob –  but it also makes me realise how determined he his.   I have my fingers crossed that tomorrow he will take the bottle with no issue but somehow I doubt it!!

First Thirteen things August 23, 2007

This weeks T13 is brought to you by the regularity of my mornings.  I can pretty much guarrantee that I do these thirteen things EVERY MORNING.

1. Feed the Young Man – usually between 6 – 6.30- and put him back to bed
2. Pee
3. Go back to bed and listen to the news
4. Get up and pee (again)
5. Put the jug on and look around while wishing that I had done the dishes the night before
6. Make a feeble attempt at tidying the kitchen
7. Pour myself a cup of green tea
8. Get the Young Man up and change his nappy
9. Give the Young Man is breakfast – usually weet bix or porridge with apple
10. Clean up the huge mess that is the Young Man after he has eaten his breakfast
11. Move the exer-saucer into the bathroom so that I can have a shower while still supervising my son (everyday I tell my self I should have a shower before he wakes)
12. Get my self and the Young Man dressed
13. Pick up my work bag, the Young man’s bag, my coat and the Young Man  and struggle down the stairs to the garage only to realise that the car keys are still upstairs.

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To cut or not to cut August 21, 2007

Last week I decided that as part of my whole “look after yourself” campaign I would organise getting my haircut.  At the time I loved my new hair cut – The colour was  brilliant and the cut looked really great – esp since the hairdresser straightened for me – but that’s where the problem began.

My hair is naturally kinky (def not  straight but not curly either) and when I  first let my hair dry naturally it looked like a mop.  After a few days I have managed to get a more in control but I am still not extremely happy with it.  But hey at least it will grow out.

In regards to other hair matters I am having a running debate with my self about whether or not to cut the Young Mans hair.  When he was born  he had alot of hair and everybody told us  that he would lose it – which he didn’t.  Now six months down the track it is getting to the stage where it really should be cut but cutting it will mean he will be that little bit more grown up and I don’t know if I am ready for that.  But in reality it really is time - its probably about 3 1/2 inches long – as shown by the photographic evidence below…..

Its not quite in his eyes -yet!

I like to call this look the “boy band hair style”.  He just needs a white suit now!

Yes… he has a rats tail – they are very cool with the metro-sexual set at the moment- not so cool on a 6 month old though!

The ‘just out of bed look’

Evidence of the huge cowlick that he has at the back of his head – he is going to be a haridressers nightmare

 

We have taken to calling him trumpy as often he looks like he has a Donald trump-esque comb over 

And finally a parting shot of the Young Man in his new back pack -  His hat was knitted by a good friend and is the colours of Admans favourite rugby team.

Gutted August 20, 2007

I haven’t posted for a while because I have been feeling pretty gutted.  Adman heard last week about the job he applied for.  The short story is that he didn’t get it.  The long story is that although they were really impressed with him and they wanted to employ him they were unable to as the union was pressuring them that because the position was advertised for a higher qualified paramedic they had to employ the exact qualification.  This meant that Adman didn’t get the job and 2 advanced paramedics from within the region have been transferred there.    The only light to the whole story is that there may be a position coming up shortly that they want Adman to apply for and they have also said that they really want to get Adman into their region  -so at least there is that.

 I had a phone interview for the position I applied for.  The interview went really well – although I have heard through the grapevine that our general manager is not willing to have the position based in the town where we are wanting to move to (currently its based about 1 hour away but covers both areas).  Although I am doing the exact same role now me wanting it to be in a different location is a big negative.  Adman has been trying to tell me that I should just accept the position anyway.  But I am not willing to travel for up to 2 ½ hours a day.  IF I get the role I would already be working full time and then with travel on top, it would mean long hours of day care for the Young man and I just don’t want that.   

I spent much of last week in tears as I had convinced my self that we were going to be moving and all of a sudden it all came crashing down.    I guess this little hold up has made me even more determined to move out of Auckland.  One of the very few friends that I have in Auckland is about to move to Dubai and she is one  of the few supportive people I have – you know the kind – someone you can ring up and just vent and they will still be your friend!  The kind  who doesn’t care how messy your home is.  The kind that is happy to share a king sized bar of chocolate with you.

 I find it really hard to make friends and when I do meet people who I would like to be friends with  I think that they probably don’t /won’t like me so I don’t pursue friendship.   I know moving home won’t be a solution to this problem but I do have some good friends  there and I will also have the support of my family.So I guess the waiting game begins again – but what ever the case I am determined to be living back home by Christmas.

I said Young Man…. August 15, 2007

The Young Man is now six months old.   I can’t believe that six months ago he was brand new and we were getting used to having a baby in our lives.  The last six months have been in-describable.  How to describe the feeling of being so out of your depth but knowing at the same time that what you are doing is the right thing?  How do you describe the feeling of waking up each day loving your son more than you did the day before?  How do you describe the joy when the first smile at you and the frustration when they won’t go to sleep?

He was so little……

At six months the Young Man …..

• Moves across the lounge with a combination of rolling and shuffling
• Has three feeds of solids a day – he loves marmite on toast
• Tries to feed him self – Mr Independent
• Sleeps through the night (usually 11 -12 hours)
• Has a bottle of formula once a day – but still loves the boob the most
• Sits up all by himself
• Smiles and laughs when ever he sees his dad
• Appears to be ticklish
• Still hasn’t got ant teeth -although I can see one just below his gum so it can’t be too far away
• Loves hummus
• Hardly ever cries

I know that the Adman and I are blessed with a pretty special baby and we are mighty lucky to have child that is happy and healthy.   

When I was about 12 I was given a bible verse by a friend of my Mothers- I don’t remember the actual verse details so can’t quote directly.  But it went something along the lines of  ‘ I know the plans I have for you, declares the lord – plans to prosper and not to harm you’ .  Its a verse the I think of often as it helps me to remember that things will work out right and that someone is looking out for me and my family.  The last six months have definetley been a ride and I know there have been times when I have dispaired and felt that everything was falling apart.  But things have got better and I know that  over the next few months with some pretty big changes in our lives happening there are going to be tough times but it is all part of the greater plan and things will work out – just how they are meant to.

Thursday’s 13 – fave photos August 9, 2007

Carrying on from my ‘favourite things’ last week.  This week I thought I would share some of my favourite photos.

One: This photo was taken when I was about seven.  Our family has gone camping  and I was helping my Dad make dinner.  I love this photo for two reasons.  The look of concentration on my face is priceless and also because its just a great photo of my dad and me.  Our family weren’t really big on taking lots of photos so there aren’t that many of me and my Dad when I was a kid.

Two:  This photo was taken at my Mum’s graduation dinner about ten years ago.  The main reason I like this photo is the look on my mums face.  She seems so happy and proud of herself.  She had studied for 10 years extramurally to complete her Bachelor of Social Work and she topped her class.  I was so proud of her.  – And yes I know we look very alike!!

Three:  This is my favourite wedding photo.  We had lots of photos taken at the beach and this is definitely my favourite.  I love how so much of the beach can be seen and our refelctions on the water .  The boys are wearing their boxer shorts as they decided that they wanted to have a paddle!

Four:  I like this photo because its one of the few photos that I look at and think I look pretty.  I also like that you can see the beading on my wedding dress and the way the setting sun in shining on me.

Five:  This photo was taken at a friend’s wedding a couple of years ago.  That year we had been through a really tough time.  But of course things got sorted and we had lots fun at wedding.  I just like the fact that we seem so happy – it reminds me that there are good times after bad.  Adman likes this photo because he has a mohawk!

Six: This photo was taken just after we found out that I was pregnant.  Its not the most flattering photo of either of us.  But we wanted to record how happy we were about the news.

Seven:  This isn’t really a photo – but I love it because its the first picture we have of the Young Man.  Our 13 week scan was such a surprise to us.  We didn’t realise that we would be able to see so much  and that it would actually look like a baby (goodness knows what we were expecting!!)

Eight:  This photo was taken just minutes after the Young Man was born.  While I was getting stitched up the Adman got to help clean up the Young Man.  I remember Adman calling out to me with a very wavering voice to say “Oh my god he just held my hand – he knows I’m his Dad!”.   

Nine:  When the Young Man was just over a month old we had a blessing ceremony for him.  It was a special day as the Adman’s Mum came over from Australia and my Mum and my Grandma were able to come as well.  I like this photo because we look like the proud parents we are.

Ten: I like this photo because its one of the few ‘nice’ photos that I have with the Young Man.  As I am the photographer of the family  I always seem to miss out on getting in photos.

Eleven:  I just love this photo mainly just because its of the Young Man and my Grandma.  They both seem to be enjoying each others company

 

Twelve: For Mothers day this year we had a little photo shoot of the Young Man ans sent the photos to both my Mum and the Admans mum.  I love this photo because of the sincere look on his face – oh and the little bubbles around his mouth!

Thirteen:  I love this photo because of the look of disdain on the Young Mans face.  Also it reminds me how much he has grown up – already he doens’t like having his photo taken!!

Check out who else has done a Thurdsay 13

Thirteen Things about YOUR NAME1…. Start your list here!Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Growing Up August 8, 2007

When I talk to people about my childhood I joke and say I had an ‘Enid Blyton’ Childhood.  It was full of adventures…bike rides, building huts,  making things and generally having alot of freedom. 

I was lucky enough to grow on a farm.  We had sheep, cattle , pigs, chickens, and several horses (both my Mum and Dad were very good horse riders – I decided to retire from horse riding when I was seven!).   We would walk across the paddocks to get to our school – leaving our gumboots at the fence and putting our sneakers on so nobody would laugh at us.

When we cam e home from school we would play outside, riding our bikes, swimming in the river, and chasing each other all over the farm.  In the school holidays we would build elaborate tree huts (one even had a patio with a homemade bbq!!), make booby traps filled with rotten eggs and help my dad out on the farm. 

And I loved every minute.

I loved having a pet lamb that I would have to get up and feed each morning.  I loved helping my dad feed out to the sheep and cattle.  I loved that in summer we could have our baths in the river and put our pyjamas on to walk back up to our house.

Growing up in the city is a different matter altogther.  Our friends children have a completley different childhood.

They have bikes but can only ride them on the 4 metres of driveway.  They have to be driven to school (even though its only a block up the road) because it is too unsafe for them to walk…. and their afternoons consist of being driven from one activity to another or sitting in front of the TV.  They go swimming but its in a council pool thats inside and artifically heated and has 50 other children swimming in it at the same time.

 Growing up on a farm gives a child invaluable skills like initiative,  common sense,  a pretty clear understanding of the facts of life quite early on, and of course the ability to amuse yourself.    I don’t remember how many times my Mum must have told my brother and I to go outside and find something to do.  The great thing was that we always could find something to do and we would be out of my mums hair until dinner time.

That’s why we want to move home.  We want to give our children the childhood that we had.  The freedom and the opportunities that have proven to be the most useful assets as an adult.  I know that living in the city has its own set of benefits for children but you can always visit the city any time you like. 

Now if only we could borrow Enid Blyton’s  ‘Wishing chair’ and wish that all our dreams will come true and we will be able to move home sooner rather than later.

News August 6, 2007

The Adman just got a letter confirming that he has an interveiw for the position  he has applied for!  eeeek.  Luckily its this Friday and we were already planning on heading down there for a long weekend.  Adman interviews really well so I know that he is in with a good chance so it really just depends on who else is being interviewed.

 So now we just have to wait to here about my job.  Therefor fingers will remain crossed!!