We all love pics, don't we?

OK... PICS! lots of!

The tree we will marry under


The gazebo for wet weather


Photo locations
Permewans Sheds - this is a possible one...


Private residence


Another of the residence


The Local Cemetary - it was pissing rain and I was not getting out of the car


What mum is wearing


What the bridesmaids are wearing (sort of)


The cars - a citroen circa 1930s..


or a Riley circa 1950s... (this is the one I love)


A dodgy make up pic


and another one...


The jewellery and a sneak of the dress


A detail of mum's veil


My $10 shoes


The ring I am in love with


The outfit I made Tara


Hair pics






I am starting to lean towards this at the back though instead of the first pic


Mum's house Bethany, and where I will get ready




and what you have all been waiting to see....

for those coming to the wedding, and who don't want to see my mug, don't click the link!

Here is the front of the dress
Here is the back of the dress
And this is how it will look at the reception over my wrist

wooooot! 85 days to go... argh

Will do another photo post later on thanks to our wonderful photographer!

Oh... the ring!

I found the perfect ring. I forgot to blog it before.

It is adorable, I love it... but it is out of our budget. I have to work something out because it is the ONLY ring I am 110% happy with. the other option is a plain band... and it looks great, but this other ring is perfect!

Of Course it could not be seamless!

I sent out most of my invites last week

I found out two days ago that the URL for our wedding website was wrong.

ARGH!!!

It is now fixed for anyone who cares.

ARGH!!!

Stuff always has to happen, doesn't it?! LOL


We get to meet Anjella tomorrow! WHOOT. I am so excited. bounce bounce

Going to put my dress on again today. Mum found her veil and I think, after all the dramas associated with my purchases, I might just wear it. Another part of my Something Olds.

Something Olds: Nanna's Hanky - which will be embroidered with our wedding date and stitched into the back of my dress. Mum's veil which is a scalloped edged and embroidered two tiered veil (actually, it is three tiered but I want two so will get rid of the blusher...
Something News: My dress, Shoes, Jewellery....
Something Borrowed: oooh.... maybe this should be the veil... will think about that.
Something Blue: My undies... :) And my stripey socks if I change into my second shoes at the reception...

So... have been at mum's for the last two weeks. We leave tomorrow to head back to Sydney. There are 86 days until the wedding. Well, actually there are 85 because that counter is based for the states I think. One way or the other, there is limited time left!!

Tara's dress is 90% made. I Need to put interface netting in the bow, and possibly make a cape for her. She is going to be adorable. Need to get her shoes. And we need to pray that her chest size does not change between now and the wedding because I became a little excited with my overlocker and taking in the seams....

I have wedding shoes! $10 bargain from the south melbourne markets. OMG... I loved that market. Much smaller than queen vic... hardly any people and some funky bargains. I soooo would have bought a fur stole, however Ally does not like them.

Which reminds me. Need to find a shawl to match my dress.

My dress is living at Mum's until the wedding. I don't need it in sydney (other than to look at)... so it can live here. If I loose weight the dress will need to be taken in. My sister has the name for a lady in Cobden who can apparently do alterations in a day.... so if I do mysteriously loose weight instead of putting it on, we are covered!

The Fans have all been ribboned... so have the parasols. I need to find myself an extra parasol, because I am a little over all brides having the chinese ones... as lovely as they are.

We have photo locations worked out! The Gardens, The Cemetary, A private residence with the most amazing gum trees... and if we need one more there are some old metal sheds that would be a cool backdrop... will see how it goes with time, and what the Magic Anjella thinks of them/thinks of the time factor.

I had a hair Trial... It looked great. Not as much like the one that I wanted but apparently I have more hair than I needed for that particular style, and also not enough hair for another style. I have holes in my hair so it is going to be interesting. it will be out mainly with lots of waves, and bird-nesty at the back with twirls pulling it off my head. Photos will come. I have lots of photos.

I had a makeup trial with Napoleon Perdis in melbourne. Lovely stuff - the eyes are going to be dramatic - as will the lips when I can find a different brand of lippy. The colour was nice, but the lippy bled everywhere... blergh. I need kiss proof stuff as ally Hates makeup. That is the one thing I really need to get in Sydney when we get back. The mascara from NP was shocking - non waterproof (who gives a bride non-waterproof mascara?!) and it aggrivated my eyes and started burning them. I took it back (I bought it after the trial) and got another eyeshadow. I have some funky eyeshadows now. They'd want to be great for the cost!! haha.

We went and looked at cars yesterday too. I want to arrive in the Riley that we looked at. OMG. it is a beautiful car. That or the Citroen... the Riley is a 1950s, and the Citroen is a 1930s.. they had a 19something Dodge, which is what I was going to go in originally until the guy decided to sell it... so now I get to choose some funky cars. We need to decide on one or two and if we can afford them...

um.. what else...

I got a new pair of boots. nothing to do with the wedding. THey are red, fake leather, scrunchie and flat.. and I love them $40...

My sister got a new pair of boots... Spanish Leather, Leather Soles, Almost kneehigh style, from Midas. Purple. $20. Can we say bitch. She loves me though - I found them for her. Isn't she lucky I love purple and did not pick up the black or brown pairs that were $250. The original price tag was $360.... and she got them for 20.

need to take pics of mum in her dress.

got lots of stuff I need to do today.. not going to do it all.

right now I have to go and save mum's vintage vase.... Tara has found it.

toodles

I know it should not bug me, but it does.

I usually don't about where Tara fits in the world of averages or peers. She's her own little person with her own schedule. I understand that, but I am getting antsy... anxious even, that Tara is not talking.

I wish I did not compare, but when you have kids around you all the time talking, then it happens I am afraid. And it's getting to me more and more.

Her Carer and TinySteps says she says "Hello Daddy". I am yet to hear it... I don't deny it, but I feel she is probably just making her noises and people are assigning words. That happens A LOT.

She says ME a lot. But I think that is just HER sound. A noise. Not a word. She uses it in context, but the intent is not there.

She follows instruction like no tomorrow. She understands LOTS.

When talking to someone about this yesterday they said "Oh, but she can say 'Water' and 'more' and 'up' and things, right?" and I just shook my head. Nope. She does not say any of those. She understands the word, but does not say it.

She does not mimic any sounds/words from books - like animal noises.

I thought she was perhaps saying Puppy occasionally, but I think that was my wishful thinking and projection.

She whinges and whines and grunts with pointing for asking for things and getting her point across.

She only says mummy if waking from a deep sleep and being upset.

She said Hi. That's about the most consistant and clear thing that she says.

So my question is. At what point do I get worried?

A final Goodbye

To my dearest Ladies

Oh to be young again! How wonderful it is be be to frolic through the meadows. To stop and smell the flowers, and to actually see them again! I have dreamt of it, longed for it, and prayed for it and tonight my wish was granted!

My frail body was failing me – I could no longer see, shivered as winter crept through my bones, and I was cranky with how horribly stiff I was. My legs could barely stretch in the morning and I cursed having to move. Curled up on my woolen blankie, snuggled to Miss Mika and that dreaded cat Monte, I willed the heat towards me.

Winter was a curse! Why could it not be summer all year ‘round? Summer on the farm! What a blessed time it was! How I loved that final trip! Galavanting down the main strip as Miss Mika and Master Apollo showed the way. Chasing cows, pottering in the garden – it was a magical time for me! I am glad I had that final trip. It was wonderful!

My last few years have been wonderful. It was so dreary when Jacq found me, but being the little bugger of a chap that I am – I wagged a tail, winked an eye and was saved. She saw something in me. Then she suckered that family into having me “for a little while”. Well, that Little while lasted a few years! I got a good deal, I reckon. Been a little lucky this old codger has. I got to cuddle up to a young lass every night, and got a mountain of treats! I even learnt how to sit!.

This old dog learnt a few good tricks. Best of all, I learnt about a lot of love.

So my legion of fans. I bid you all adieu from the other side. I have hung up my lead, crossed the bridge and am basking in the sun of my youth. Not a pain in my body, not a cloud in my eye. And with that, I say, Goodnight.

Mr Gilbert

Bottom's Up!

Today I got to meet Nicholas. He was born a couple of weeks ago. With a tussel of hair and a quiet disposition, he slept as his mamma, R* told me how he came into this world.

He came fast. After waters breaking, R* was pushing within 30 mins. That's when the midwife said "It's not often I can do this, but - you're having a boy! He's coming out bottom first!"

This midwife is apparently known for her breech delieveries. The universe was smiling on this labouring mamma - as he was head down at last appointment. Yet when she turned up to the Birthing Centre, the midwife who can do Breech Births is on staff, just as her baby had turned.

R* tells me how her body moved her baby into place, and worked with the contractions the way Nicholas needed them. He was out under 2 hours. R* glows telling me her story. Although it was not planned as such, her little boy Thomas was in the room as Nicholas came into the world. Thomas is a couple of weeks younger than Tara, and such a beautiful little boy.

I was with R* today to show her how to use the ring sling with a newborn. SHe was a natural! Nicholas curled up in the foetal position, chest to chest with his head listening to his mamma's heart. It was beautiful, peaceful, natural, calming. He feeds wonderfully, and now his mamma can feed in the sling (hopefully!) and have hands free to help Thomas when needed.

R* looks amazing! And says she feels so great.

R* you beautiful birthing goddess, you!

The joys of retail therapy.

Today I went to a big ol' shopping centre for some retail therapy after my weekend on the couch. I took a risk hoping I was still not contageous with my non-disclosed bug.

Anyways, I have been searching everywhere for a pair of gumboots for Tara, and a raincoat. One, for going to the farm, but two, for going to TinySteps.

I have been to probably 50 plus stores in the last week (not to mention braving the markets on a saturday!) to find a child's raincoat that is under $30 - not pink - and in her size....

Apparently every Mary, Sue and Jane decided their Tom Dick and Harry kids needed raincoats in the last shower because NO WHERE has had them!!

Well today I got one! Granted, I had to crawl over the dark side and get a disney licensed merchandise, but I got a winnie raincoat for $20!

And gumboots that are purple funky ones for $17.

Then an pair of jeans for $28!! FOR ME!! Little Miss did not get them! whoot!!

Retail therapy is the best.

Now I need to lie down

Blegh

Gastro/tummy bugs are horrible



'nuff said

Just desserts

At what age would you expect your child to be offered cake at a wedding? Or would icecream and such be sufficient for dessert instead?

Is it rude to suggest kids have fruit salad instead? Provided they are still rocking at the party...?

7 kids invited. 1 has a non-dairy diet. Two are over two (plus the nodairy - so three), and the others are under two.

Thoughts?

Done!

The invitations are done - and ready to be stuffed into an envelope! THere are the info cards to go in yet, and I have to do them yet, but that is ok - I can do that while mum writes all the addresses on.

I have a couple of invites I need to redo, and I don't think I bought enough card - but who knows. I might have enough.

Whoot!

I have to finish getting ready for the trip home to mum's. Lots to do and plan.

We need to Get Tara some gumboots! ANd a rain coat.

I need to finish a fantastic website today ;) It is almost done _ just have to finalise the images. They are talking longer than expected. I cannot wait to launch this site though!!

Brrrrr.. it is soooooo cold! Like really really.

Questions:

If I keep my surname, can I still call myself Mrs Tatton? Even if Ally's surname is different?

If I change my name to be Kristie Kate Tatton Newsurname, would it be odd for Tara to stay as she is (Tara Kate Luke Tatton) if I then get called Mrs Newsurname?

Is it cheap to expect my guests to use their own envelope and stamp for RSVP cards?