Toothbrush...

Last photo of the month. Mine and James' toothbrushes. Thanks for sharing some the trivial images that go through my day!

Surprise...

In my July PAIL post about Family Building, I wrote about how our FS had advised to try, the old fashioned way, for six months before coming back for Frostie 2. Well two months in and I'm pregnant! "How the fu*k did that happen" are some of the first words that I said. After crying, kissing and hugging BJ and James, of course. Like an urban myth, how do you try for two years have one failed fresh IVF cycle and never get pregnant, not once. Than have a positive FET and pregnancy and two months into the trying/not trying get pregnant??? Who the hell knows but I'm sure glad it did!!!

I have held off telling people for a couple of reasons until I saw my OB for the 'how did that happen' appointment and when I could see Trout (BJ has called it Trout because it must be a strong swimmer! Gross and cute) on an ultrasound. The main reason was I just couldn't believe it. Three HPT tests wasn't enough convincing for me, I wanted to see it with my own eyes. Secondly I wanted the surprise announcement. As most of you know when you're going through fertility treatments all your friends and family are waiting on every result so we never got the 'surprise we're pregnant' announcement which, for some reason, I really wanted.

After my appointment with Dr J, my due date is the 27th March 2013, which will be confirmed in a couple of weeks. It was amazing seeing this little person on the screen without needing any fertility assistance. I'll admit it was daunting realizing my kids will only be seventeen months apart but I hope all the things I've learnt with James will make the second time around easier. But for the time being I'm just glad to be feeling better, the last few weeks I've been feeling yuck. Not physically sick but not good. Like a hangover without the good time.

Lastly I wanted to thank you for all the PAIL comments after my original post. Sometimes being an IF'er does feel lonely and you think you are the only one who is going through these things. It's so comforting to know there are others out there going through the same situations, thoughts and feelings.

Calm...

Little man snoozing! Makes for one calm Mummy!

Last thing I brought...

Pink lady apples! Yum yum!

Cup...

The cutest cup around!

On the road...

I took this photo on the way down to my local supermarket from Mum's and Dad's. As you can see Mum and Dad live a bit out of town. It's sugar cane crushing time here so you can see the cane on the right and the baskets (that transfer the cane to the mills) to the left. Hope you all have a good weekend!

Sunshine...

Keeping cool in the sun.

Heart...

My heart belongs to this little guy!

Stranger...

Taking a photo of a stranger is a daunting experience. So I've decided to use a photo that I took a couple of weeks ago on our big weekend at the V8 Supercars. I took this in the pits where you can get up and personal with the cars, their trucks and drivers. A bit like Lighting McQueen and Mack from the movie Cars! Check out all these strangers!

Mirror...

This photo is my little guy and I, first up in the morning. We are both a little doughy eyed. Love my little guy first up in the morning.

Upside down...

I was going to take a photo of me upside down and after a few attempts I realized it's not a good look! So I got one of James' toys instead!

9 o'clock...

There are two 9 o'clocks so I've got two photos today of 9am and 9pm. James was too interested in BJ mowing to eat his breakfast this morning at 9am. And we had dinner over at my parents-in-law and since it's winter here, a lovely night for a fire.

Eyes...

I'm a brown eyed girl and my little man is a blue eyed boy.

Baby brain...

Have you ever been accused of baby/pregnancy brain. Where for the life of you, you can't remember where you put your keys, let alone your purse/wedding ring/glasses/baby. Therefore making you late every time you leave the house?

Lately I've found myself turning the keys to start my car and then having to make two or three trips back into the house to get things I've forgotten. No matter how much I prepare before we head out I always seem to forget something and I think I know the reason.

I believe everyone can remember a list of around eight things, maximum, at one time. Before you had a baby the list may have looked like this:

Keys
Handbag
Sunglasses
Purse
Phone
Shoes
Wedding ring
Earrings

Now since James comes with me everywhere, I have to remember all his things before I can start to think about my list. Now my list looks like this:

Baby snacks
Nappy (diaper) stuff
Drink bottle
Lunch (if we are going out for longer)
Bib
Spoons
Facecloths
Toys
Trolley seat
As well as all my stuff!

No wonder I can't remember my keys!

Pet...

This is Ralph and James playing. Ralph is still getting use to James being around. He usually doesn't pay James much attention but every once in a while he'll come over for a pat.

Plate...

Last nights dinner, chicken enchiladas. With extra salsa of course! Delicious!

Your addiction...

I have two at the moment. The first is taking photos of James pulling funny faces and the second is chocolate!

Sign...

I've been trying to use Auslan (Australian sign language) for basic everyday tasks to teach James. I haven't had any success yet but who knows his first sign might be tomorrow!

Family building PAIL Monthly Post...

Before BJ and I got married we had talked several times about how many children we wanted. From a young age I always wanted only one child. But as I grew up, I become to really value my relationships with my siblings and couldn't imagine denying any children we had of this special relationship that you have with a brother or sister. So we compensated and then agreed to two children.

So after nearly eighteen months of marriage we were ready to become parents! Only for it to take three years to finally have a baby in our arms. Luckily enough we still have one frozen embryo left which will hopefully complete our family! So it's not really the "when are you having another baby?" question that we get but the "when are you going to get Frosty Two transferred?".

Well that was my first question at my six week check up with Dr J. And his recommendation was to start trying the old fashion way after nine months, for six months and then come back and see him. So we are planning, if there isn't a miracle conception, on a February 2013 transfer. We have been trying but not trying for the past couple of months without any luck (that's a whole other post) so no doubt we'll be heading back to Dr J next year. On a side note, after seeing Dr J (who's our FS and OB) constantly for nearly two years, BJ said to me last week that he was missing Dr J!

On 'optimal' spacing between children, I go back to my own family. My siblings and I are approximately 20 months apart which I thought was ideal. This of course is what infertility affects. No matter what spacing we have in mind, this is nearly out of our control. There are no guarantees with fertility treatments. Just because a FET has brought a wonderful little boy into our lives doesn't mean it will work again. Which means we will have to decide if our drive to have another baby is strong enough for more treatments.

Of course I am emotionally guarded when it comes to extending our family. Even though we have only started trying again, the negative what ifs have sprung up and I've starting thinking about James being an only child. I am hoping this won't be the case but am truly thankful to be James' mother and what will be, will be.

This is a part of the PAIL Monthly post for July. To learn more about PAIL please click on the PAIL icon at the side of my home page.

Finger...

Here is my ring finger, with my engagement and wedding rings.

Building...

For James' first birthday, BJ is building this pedal car!

Open...

If you open our back door this is the view. Have a good weekend!

Favourite texture...

Wood. I love the feel and look of wood.

Favourite letter...

The letter 'K' of course!

Favourite colour...

My favourite colour is red. A couple of days before James was born I made this wall hanging for the nursery. Since we didn't know the sex of the baby I used red as the backing as it would suit either a boy or a girl.

Big...

These are the tickets and lanyards from my big weekend. Once a year the V8 supercars (the cars are kind of like NAS.CAR but they race on similar tracks as Indy and Formula One) come to our city and have a couple of races. We have a whole group of people that we go with ever year. So this year (after much debating with myself) I decided to leave James with willing babysitters (his Grandparents) and BJ had a couple of days enjoying the racing. I'll admit it was hard leaving him for eight hours a day but it was nice doing something we enjoy together.

Hope you all had a good weekend!

Lunch...

Every once in a while I treat myself to a Maccas cheese burger. Mmmmmmm!

Garden...

Our front garden.

Chair...

It's not really a chair but he is sitting down so I think it counts.

Happy Friday!

On the floor...

Today you get four photos of "on the floor" since James' favourite activity at the moment is commando crawling all over the house.

Fun...

Having lunch with my two guys. James was more interested in the window than getting his photo taken!

Best part of my day...

Getting a wake up call from my boys. Who won't want to wake to this face.

Sorry for the grainy, dark photo.

Busy...

Monday is washing day and as you can see I'm pretty busy with my washing and folding. Hope you all had a good weekend!