MY LIFE (or something like it)

cracks me up!

So I’m extremely excited to report that Shortly after my last post, as I sat at my work computer, I felt a repeated poke just on my lower belly. This was one of the weirdest yet most exhilarating moments as I felt my little bubs give me a good ol’ nudge. I felt as though this little one was in a way say “Hello Mum” (don’t know why I totally heard that in a british accent in my head) and a big fat smile spread across my face.

The next night I was adamant that Regan got to share in this experience and feel Cletus doing his wicked dance moves in there. So every time I felt a prod or a butterfly in there I would say to Regan “QUICK QUICK”  and would place his hand where I had previously felt it. It wasn’t common that Cletus would kick the same spot in quick succession but I took a chance and it paid off! When Regan finally felt it you could just feel the happiness in the room.

In the past week I feel the bubs moving every now and then and it still feels great, I find it is when I am sitting at my desk or laying down to relax which confirms all that I have been told. In fact as I type this I can feel a bit of movement 🙂 I have also been told that they don’t stop bothering you at the moments when you want to relax for the rest of their life.

I am truly loving all of these new firsts in our life together and I have never been more grateful to have a loving, supportive, handsome, funny and clucky husband. I’m starting to think I’m going to have to pry the baby out of his arms most of the time after the birth but that makes me happy to know how much he wants this new little spirit. I love how he talks to my belly most mornings and nights and I gotta say that life is good!

So I know I have been slack with belly pics and I will get better at doing that! For now I leave you with some inspiring photo shoots of expecting mothers 🙂

Mermaid Chic?

ummmm ...?

Me, Regan and Ella??

One word … classy!

just chillin ...

So I know that my blogging has been incredibly substandard of late … but it is only as of yesterday that we now have a new laptop and the internet at our house. So things have changed quite considerably since my last post! I am still working full-time and still loving my life as wifey to my sweet Reginald and mummy to pretty little Ella to but now we get to add to this little family of ours and if you didn’t already know … which I highly doubt … I am 19 weeks Pregnant 🙂

I have had many people ask me if I am pregnant with twins (some just blatently tell me that I’m huge which makes me feel soooo pretty – not) and then several more say that I look really small for 19 weeks so it was with much anticipation that Regan and I went to my first ultrasound yesterday. Regan has been scaring me with his dream about twins and his constant suggestion that we are gonna have to maybe buy the double pram.

The man who was doing my ultrasound looked as excited as though he were looking at the bus time-table. I mean COME ON …  get excited! it’s a human living inside of me. but that didn’t stop the awesome excitement that we were feeling!! I didn’t get to see the screen as he took all of the necessary snap shots and measurements so I got to live vicariously through my hubby who looked like he might burst with joy and then finally he turned the screen to me and showed me my gorgeous little bubs who I’m pretty sure was sucking its thumb (just like it’s aunty.)

So it is now safe to say that we are having one baby and not twins … not that I’m against twins but I’m thinking of my mental health here!

So here are just a few little snap shots of Cletus the Fetus and the cuteness that is to come!

waving to all of the people we love

"feeling a little claustrophobic"

On a side note, Mama and Papa Soininen have left today to go serve a mission in Lapland, Finland for 18 months (in the Arctic Circle.) We got to hang out when I came down for Errie’s wedding and cried like a baby when I got on the plane to go back to Sydney. I am so proud of them and for the awesome example they are to me. Plus Mum has been working hardcore to learn the language and been doing awesomely. Hopefully their absence will make me more of a faithful photo taker and blogger, otherwise there is always Skype! We love you and miss you already!! xoxo

Hi guys … Sorry I haven’t posted as regularly but I have been working fulltime and then trying to spend time with friends and make our home look really Christmassy … This is my first married Christmas and I want to make it a memorable one !

I will put up pictures soon of what I have been working on but for now watch these amazing videos specially selected for the 2 people that will read my blog.

If you’re keen for a laugh!

And In the spirit of the ‘holidays’ enjoy this particular gem…

I used to be a massive music junkie … “serioushly” I was the person who couldn’t stand silence even when I slept. As of late I have lost a little bit of that part of me to other equally important parts of my life. I still find so much joy in it and particularly this song.

Adios 🙂

Today I’m home sick. No, not homesick but I’m at home because of a very annoying and dizzying inner-ear infection. I also found out yesterday from the prosthedontist that my TMJ dysfunction (locked up jaw) will most probably never fully go away and my jaw will probably click forever (that’s if it ever unlocks). The thing that truly sucks is that he told me that I should avoid opening my mouth wide which means no proper singing. I’m only allowed to sing if I keep my teeth open less than 2 cm. No steak, or chewy or hard food no eating an apple the normal way, no rolls, sandwiches or wraps unless I cut them up first and no big yawns.  Oh and I don’t floss enough haha.

I must admit that in a world of quick fixes that his answer was to rest it. What??? no surgery? no tablet? no acupuncture? I had heard of all of these options but apparently for my particular condition, my medication is time. This means no instant gratification people. This means cutting up apples every time!

It is at this time that I must remember all of the wonderful blessings I have in my life and to ‘suck it up princess.’ Wish me luck!

On an awesome note … Both my parents are retired!! CONGRATS! This means 2 weddings and then off on a mission which must be super exciting for them (us kids are gonna miss them a tonne!) Miss and love you guys.

I have seen lots of silhouettes on the blogosphere and I really wanted to try it. It’s a little dodgy ’cause i took the photo and had to change a couple of things on it but I did this really quickly and I think it looks pretty cool.

Me and my hubby

So that’s just a dodgy quick try at it … I think I might do something for our house and frame it 🙂

Image

This is the question that I find myself posing frequently. Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad or have I failed indeed? I found this on a great Etsy shop persimmon and pink. Go check it out even if it’s for some inspiration. I think I’m gonna frame similar phrases in my own house and when I do I will ‘show and tell.’ If you like that then you also might like this.

So if you are reading this maybe ask yourself this same question and show some extra love to those you love and even those you don’t know … ok don’t go huggin’ randoms now … and have a FANTASTIC day 🙂

at the MTC weekend

So I told you all about the MTC weekend a few weeks ago that we put on for the youth where I had my first stint as choir director. The spirit hit! boy did it hit … so much that the Stake President asked that they sing in 3 weeks time at the stake conference and then on the same night at a YSA and youth fireside.

It would have been awesome except for the fact that the decision to do so was last-minute and we were scrambling to organise the kids right up to the prelude item by the stake choir. This meant NO practice.

This also meant that I got up to conduct and I was nervous as heck. I start conducting and the kids are almost ready to sing and I get a few odd looks when I realise I haven’t even motioned for the kids to stand up so seconds before they are meant to sing … so I motion to them to stand just in time (PHEW!) I then proceed to turn to the boys too early and realise that it’s still the girls turn to sing (I turned back to the girls and hope no one noticed …they did… they told me.) Then I skip a whole section of the song as I turn to the boys too early AGAIN and there is a silence as the pianist is confused but thank goodness he is quick and apart from a short pause he covers it well.The kids are singing quietly and we have an entire chapel and hall to fill with music while they face the front of the chapel and despite my “loud” sign to them … they don’t seem to be watching me.

I seriously sat down and wanted to fall in a hole in the floor. this was my second time conducting a choir in public and I stuffed it up and BAD. I was so embarrassed that I didn’t even wanna look at the speakers cause of the pitiful job I’d just done.

You can imagine my anxiety and sickness to my stomach when I heard that they still wanted the kids to sing at the fireside. I think I could feel my face tighten and my heart almost knocked me out. Despite this I had to get up and so I did.To my horror I almost forgot to get them to stand AGAIN. NOOOO!! But them something happened, I felt my confidence come back. I felt that spirit and I felt the strength of the choir rise. They sung out with such vibrance and I felt that pride and confidence return.

I had my bounce back (kinda like George on Masterchef) and I felt like even though it was to a very small audience, that I had redeemed myself. I guess its like getting back into the car after your first and second car crash (sorry Mum and Dad) you just gotta keep driving.

Life is for learning … and sometimes that learning is welcomed. You know … like learning you are loved, or learning that our  families can be together forever or that Santa Claus is gonna bring you a sweet as present pile regardless of me being naughty or nice. Those are the teaching moments that make you feel good and warm inside. But lately life has been throwing me big fat unwanted learning experiences. They are the ones that you don’t see as growing experiences but you feel like there is one big weight pulling you down into the sea and you don’t see how any amount of paddling is going to let you breathe again. OK maybe a little dramatic in my wording but poetry sounds better when it’s dramatic … ok I digress …

I must admit that I am a worrier … I wish I was more of a warrior but I am guilty of being the former. I try the positive thinking technique where you think of all of the good in your life, my family, friends, home etc, and I even try looking at people who are worse off than me and are living really happy lives. I just can’t seem to get myself out of this ‘funk’ sometimes. This is when I am thankful for my hubby. One word and he is there for a cuddle and a venting session and he knows exactly what things to say … like “oh Ellen … everything is going to be fine” and “Ellen, there is no one cooler than you on the whole planet, not even Dave Grohl” ok no he doesn’t say that second one but you get the gist. Thanks hubby for helping me to stop feeling sorry for myself and help get me out of this ‘funk’ I’m in.

...love...

So we have been really loving having our own little vege patch at the moment and it gives us a whole lots of pride and joy eating the finished project. We planted carrots, brussel sprouts, spinach, butter lettuce, leeks, broccoli, snow peas, spring onion and herbs (rosemary, coriander, parsley.) I took some photos about a months ago and since then the garden has gone berserk so I will posts some more photos when I stop being slack but for now here is a few shots when it was all fairly new.

And one photo to brighten up your day … it sure brightened up mine!

Sarah and Dane

Continuing on the with the cute theme … This weekend while Regan was working (and subsequently injured his back) Ella and I hung out for most of Saturday. She was so cute and kept telling me all day long that she loved me. I’m talking every 2 minutes or less she was professing her massive love for me which I promptly returned. Then she came up to me and said “I love you SOOOOO much … I just wanna eat you” I had to have a laugh because usually its the adults saying that to the kids. Motherhood is good to me.

So I’m doing an advance birthday post as I’m not quite sure if I’ll have internet access tomorrow on her ACTUAL day.

The McCappin Fam

My sister Kelly is the second eldest of the seven of us. In my younger years she was also more of a mother figure or baby sitter to me because of the big age gap. I remember her having me over to her place to have sleep overs and feeding me lollies and watching movies. I loved going to her house and being able to love her kiddies and have fun.

As I got older she has become a real example to me. She is an amazing mother and the proof is in the pudding. Her 6 beautiful sons are such a wonderful bunch of kids who I left behind in Adelaide and I miss very dearly. I would see Kelly push her way through a million nappies and tantrums and countless loads of washing and find the time to teach and love and to cook wonderful meals.

She has an infectious smile and is hard working and I think we can all attest to her patience (6 sons comeon!!) She is also beautiful inside and out and I sometimes wonder how I would look after 6 kids (I’m sure not half as good!). I love her heaps and as with the rest of my family I can’t wait to see Kelly and give her and her boys a big bear hug.

I love you Kelly and I hope you have an amazing day … make sure you get the biggest slice of cake! xoxo

Behold Wilbur (the cutest thing EVER)