Welcome 2012

I am so excited about this year! It has so much promise!!
2012 has 3 weddings (maybe 4) in it already, a new baby in our family, the completion of a diploma in youth min, a special friend at Warrumbui doing internship, 2 visits home to family (God willing), pretty much all our immediate family visiting us in NZ and loads and loads more...
Lee (as per usual) was not keen to make a New Years Resolution when we went out for our 'hot date' on Jan 1 - thanks Granny, Papa and BJ for looking after the kids for us so we could have a night to ourselves!... I usually try to get him to set a goal of some kind, but I don't know if I'm going soft or am just too tired at 30something weeks pregnant, but I haven't held him to anything this year.
I've decided I want to be more hospitable in our home. Seeing as Friday night youth nights and cell group wont be happening anymore, I want to try to invite families and friends over on Friday nights or Saturday lunches a bit more often. I really miss opening our home up to people (although it has been very open to our precious youth girls who are nearly all grown up now already for the past couple of years!).
We have enjoyed some really special moments in the past month, having Mum and Dad and Uncle Beej here, then Kelly and Bentschke as well. The kids have really bonded again with their family and Imogen is back to scouring the photo albums to be looking at pictures of everyone... They can not wait for Nanna and Pop to arrive in 4 and a bit weeks!
Although having said that, they are enjoying the peacefulness of our home with just Mum and O and Gin at home during the day. Owen often says "Mummy, it is just so lovely and peaceful here at home just with you" (this usually happens when Gin is asleep!). He said it the other day at Public Health as we were waiting for his Before School health check up (eye sight and hearing all perfect - 19.5kgs and 111cm tall) - the front desk lady laughed out loud, like she couldn't believe a 4 year old would have such a sense of what peace is and be able to articulate it. It was lovely and quiet in the office, and cool with the air conditioner on. He really summed it up well. Plus, Imogen went home with Daddy after falling asleep in the car so it was just him and I again in the quiet. He really loves quiet time - but with someone. He's a unique soul.
They are exploring all the generous gifts they have been given for Christmas - Imogen especially with the 5 Barbies and 4 Barbie DVD's. Plus the puzzles. These really are her favourite things at the moment. Although the wooden kitchen we gave them get a good workout most days too. Making a new couple of batches of playdough is on the agenda for this week and I am sure with that the pretend baking will resume! They really play together so well these days: outside on the swings, in the sand pit, on their bikes or scooters, cooking with the playdough or even on the computer with Owen helping Imogen - not that Imogen likes to look like she needs help (poor independent fearless thing: she hates it when she can not manage something herself and has to own up to needing help, especially from her brother!).
Lee is back at work: trying to wind up into it. Not sure how successful he's being. Somedays are better than others I think. I'm enjoying him having no evening meetings in Jan and being home in the evenings. Its lovely to have the help with cooking dinner and bathing/storying/bedding kiddies - especially when my ankles are twice the normal size and my left hand is contantly doing weird carpal tunnle things with tingly/going to sleep fingers and arm. Very weird. Not had that one with the other kiddies. At least I don't really have pain with my hand and arm. The Midwife says I'm well on track to have a huge baby, and was willing to send me for a growth scan if I wanted, but she said it wouldn't change anything: they wouldn't induce me early or anything, they'd still just make me push the baby out, so I've decided to not scare myself anymore than necessary and just keep knowing it will be big and hoping it will slide right out?!! Insane much?!
I have 2 weekends of Child Safe training coming up - this weekend in Palmy and next weekend in Auckland. Most days I'd be glad for the baby to come early but with the training happening I guess probably after that would be more convenient! The kids are back to Preschool in 2 weeks, and I will enjoy the daytime naps when that happens, and until then it's just baby steps and lots of resting. I think the kids are ok with that after such a busy Christmas period!