Win a House on FM104

OK, the radio station that I listen to here in Dublin is FM104. They are currently running a competition where you can win a house! WIN A HOUSE!

Of course, if you're not in, you cant win. Therein lies the catch. Its easy to enter. Very easy questions. However, it costs €2 per entry, and to be in with a chance of getting to the grand finale, you would have to enter 3 times a day. Not to mention that they have not announced when the competition is over, or what the finale will be.

All they are doing is waiting until enough people have entered that they have made back (or more!) their €250,000 that they paid for the fully furnished/designed/kitted out house.

Got me thinking... ALL I have to do is get 125,000 people to donate €2 to me, so that I can buy a house. Hmm.. cant be that hard! Right? OK, how about 50,000 people to donate €5. Or, 25,000 people to donate €10. OR 10,000 people to donate €25.

Not going to happen? No, I didn't think so...

The questions remains, should I enter this lottery, I mean competition, or not?

Sunny Weather

Well, the regular September sunny weather eventually showed its face this past week. I really enjoyed it!

I didn't have to go anywhere, or do anything, or plan any elaborate activities. All I had to do was bring the girls and their chairs outside. Add a ball and some food, and its fun fun fun for the day.

I enjoyed it so much, that I would even consider moving to somewhere it is sunny regularly. Somewhere near the beach. Just imagine, walking from your house to the beach, just sitting making sandcastles, playing in the water, eating "sand"wiches. Huff...

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Last night, Stewy and I went to his Aunt's house, to see his cousin off on his deb's. Apparently it's a big thing, and they had invited tons of people and there was tons of food (score, I didn't have to cook dinner!) It was good fun, and I got to chat to another Mom from church and get to know her a little better.

It also got me thinking... It was 6 years, almost to the day, since Stewy and I were the ones going off to Stewy's debs! We even left from his Aunts house. It was so strange. I was so nervous as I didn't know any of the people there, and I was very very shy. I hardly even knew Stewy.

Earlier that day, I was in school, in Cork. During our lunch break one of my best friends did my hair in the school bathroom! She was a pro, there were millions of clips and tons of hair spray. It looked fab! I think she also did my makeup? I then got picked up from school and got a train to Dublin, I have a sneaky feeling that my sister Jenna was there with me? Maybe on her way up to see her Dublin boyfriend (yes, we were suckers for long distance relationships) I put on my fake nails on the train and all that was left to do was put on the dress. We arrived in Dublin, and that's when it started. No, not the debs, but the beginning of Stewy being late to everything, all the time. He was late and I was even more nervous. He finally arrived, his Aunt had brought him to the train station to pick us up. Stewys little cousin was in the car (the younger brother of the cousin that went to his debs last night, are you keeping up?) and he proceeded to tell me embarrassing stories about Stewy. Like about the time that Stewy was playing football (nothing new there) in his brand new WHITE football shirt, and he slipped and landed in a pile of slippery dog poo! His back was covered, so I was told, poor Stewy was very embarrassed.

We got to the house, there wasn't anyone there yet, I was led upstairs to the main bedroom, the main bedroom of a person I'd never met before that day. A strangers house, very nerve racking. I ironed my dress and put it on, This dress was the backup dress for quite a few different debs of different girls! Stewy had invited me about a month before hand, and I didn't have the money to buy a new one and my Mom didn't have enough time to make me one. Then I did the walk, the walk down the stairs, I felt like something out of a movie! Everyone staring at me, (people had arrived) and saying "Oh wow, you look lovey". Mortified! Stewy gave me a corsage and a box of Galaxy Chocolate, how did he know that it was my favourite type of Chocolate? It was meant to be!! He got me a drink, and introduced me to people, it was all a bit strange for me, like I said, I was very very shy. Then the promised "limo" arrived. Not much of a limo if you ask me, sorry Stewy! It was just a fancy car, Stewy had to sit in front, while I sat in the back with the other couple, again, complete strangers.

We arrived at the "Red Cow", this is where the debs were being held, we hung around outside, Stewy chatting to people. Then we went in, and I saw the photographer but Stewy didn't, and I didn't want to be rude and say "Are we going to get a picture taken?", so no formal picture! We were hardly in the door, and Stewy had taken off his jacket and tie, typical!

We had dinner and then moved onto the disco part, fights started to break out, so Stewy and I decided to go and sit somewhere quite. This was the first time we got to chatting properly. This was the first time he asked me "out", as in if we could be exclusive boyfriend and girlfriend. I said "I'm not sure". Hehehe. It was a big decision, a long distance relationship is not something to be taken lightly! He didn't give up though, he kept asking me throughout the night.

We decided to leave and go to the leisure plex. We waited around for a taxi, where Stewy asked me out about a million more times ;). When we got to the leisure plex we played pool and some other computer games. I had a giggle at the pedestrian traffic lights, there was a voice that said "STOP, please wait until the green man shows", well, DUH! Stewy said, isn't that for the blind people? Uh, how are blind people supposed to be able to see when the green man shows?

The sun was up, and it was time to head home, well to his Aunts house. We decided to walk! Stewy later told me that he walked me home the long way! So that we could spend more time together, and so he could ask me a bunch more times to go out with him! I still didn't say yes! Poor guy. We got back and we cuddled on the couch where we continued chatting, and i eventually said yes! We went to (separate) bed and slept for a few hours. Got up, dropped his suit off, went to pizza hut and then I had to get the train home. That was our very first date. :)

A few months of seeing each other on weekends, and Stewy being completely broke, as he was in college and spending all him money traveling to see me, Stewy moved to Cork.

Just 6 years after that night and Stewy and I are married with 2 children. Who would of thought it. Not us, that for sure. Stewy whispered in his cousins ear, "Just think, Cath and I were here just six years ago, now we are married with 2 kids!" Poor guy, at least he didn't let the girl hear!

Sleep and Routine

Well Chloe had her first night in her new bed on Monday night. She didn't really seem to notice the new bed. Or the fact that her cot had mysteriously disappeared while she was out with Daddy. She went to bed as normal and woke up as normal. She hasn't attempted to escape from the bed yet, but I'm sure she will figure it out soon enough that she actually CAN escape! So the switch is going well... on to the next daughter.

Poor Megan, I feel sorry for her, Chloe got a whopping 19 months out of getting a bottle in the middle of the night. Megan is not so lucky. This feeding every 2 hours at night is going to stop! And soon! I was always of the mindset that those babies that sleep through the night have some lucky parents. I was jealous, but those babies only come around once in a blue moon. Well, I am going to change MY luck. It was ME that got Chloe addicted to the bottle, it was ME that got Chloe used to waking in the night for a bottle, so it is going to be ME that gets Megan to sleep a decent amount of hours. Something she is well capable of! So I started the "pick up put down" method yesterday. For those who don't know, this is a method to get baby used to putting themselves to sleep, without any other form of "comfort". You do exactly as it says on the tin, you put baby down, let them cry for a certain amount of time, pick them up and calm them, and repeat until baby is asleep. So far so good, the HARDEST part is doing it during the night, when baby is used to being picked up and fed. Yesterday I also decided that I am going to feed Megan at 4 hour intervals, I figure its not fair to feed on demand during the day and then be strict during the night, too many mixed messages. She did fine with the method during the day, and being put down last night... but during the night was a different story.

Stewy was banished to the spare room (actually he begged me to let him sleep there). Megan was put down at 10pm, no problem. Then it started at 1am, she whinged but put herself back to sleep. At 2am she was now getting cross, as the minutes dragged pass, she got more and more cross. I picked her up, but a few minutes later when she realised I wasn't heading towards the bed, she got very very cross. I offered her a bottle of water (bearing in mind she hates the bottle anyway, never mind water coming out of it!), I wanted her to know that this is all she is getting if she wakes in the night. I put her down, very very very cross baby. I waited about 20 min and picked her up again. Put her down, this time I turned on her mobile which has very soft lights that go around, she switched from concentrating on the lights to crying every so often, and then she drifted off to sleep when the mobile stopped. (3am - not too bad me thinks!) She then woke at 5.40am, and I fed her, I told myself I would feed her after 5am, went straight back to sleep after I put her down awake and she then woke at 8, she went back to sleep and woke at 9.45!!! SUCCESS. Recently she was going to bed at 11pm, feeding every 2 hours and waking up for the day at 6/7am. I will see how the next week goes, I am not such a hard ass and if she doesn't get used to this after a week then I will feed her at night and try again in a month. But no way am I going to have a 19 month old waking at night again, not going to happen! Sorry Megan.

What a Weekend!

Well, my weekend started on Thursday this week. My biggest sis, Keri-Anne came to visit from Seattle. She was coming over for the wedding of her Maid of Honour. She arrived Thursday morning, and left this morning, Sunday. So the trip was short and sweet, well mostly sweet! I picked her up on Thursday morning and we drove straight to Cork from the airport. Megan was not too impressed with the long journey and we stopped twice on the side of the road to calm her. When we got to Cork, we just chilled out with the rest of the family. It was great to have the full set of the “Spear Clan” together all at once. It was strange though to have Keri-Anne here, and not her daughter Emma. Friday, Keri-Anne had the wedding. Jenna and I tried to go out with the kids, but they were all cranky! So the trip was cut short and we went home.

Its Friday night that the “fun” began. A few of us sat up till 1am just chatting, it was nice. Then it was at 4am that Jenna was rudely awoken by shouting and windows smashing just outside. Understandably she was a bit freaked out, especially since there had been a stabbing very close by the night before. She gave her hubby, David, a kick, but he just grunted and rolled over! Typical! She then thought about our little sister who had gone out the night before and she wasn’t sure if she was home yet. Jenna didn’t want her to come home in the middle of what was going on outside, so rang her but it turned out she was already asleep downstairs on the couch. The Garda FINALLY arrived. (The Garda station in one of the biggest suburbs of Cork City is NOT open 24 hours so the Garda had to come from somewhere else, that’s a whole other rant).

It was the next morning that the bad news got to me, MY car, and innocent bystander, shall we say, had its window smashed. Glass everywhere! In the car seat, on the road, ALL over the car! Well, this SUCKS big time. I phoned the Garda, again, not open until 10am, and I reported it. Then got hold of my insurance company. I just renewed my policy with a broker, my insurance before would have covered it, my insurance NOW… of course it doesn’t cover windscreens, that would be too easy. I start ringing around, a new window will cost €160 odd, and I won’t get it for 5/6 days. Well, I’m due to make a 3 hour trip that day! UGH. I start ringing car dismantlers, not a chance, no window for me L. Then one of them says they do have one, for €35! Yippee, the day is turning around. I ring them back to ask when I can pick it up…

I say – I rang about the window for the Citroen Piccasso

He says – No, it was for a Citroen Xsara

I say – Yes, a Citroen Xsara Piccasso like I said to you earlier

He says – no, that’s a people carrier

I say – Yes?

He says- don’t have a window for you then

****beep beep beep***

NOOOOOOOO

Meanwhile, Jenna and my Dad are cleaning out the car, so much glass. In the boot, other side of the car, in the front. My dad then cuts a hard piece of plastic in the shape of my window. Thank you Dad, it was perfect. The car wasn’t cold on the journey to Dublin, it wasn’t noisy, just perfect. But what a way to spend Keri-Anne’s only free day in Ireland. Sorting out my car that was wrecked by completely selfish scum.

I just don’t understand, why oh why do people do these things! It was just a royal pain in my ass (pocket) and it didn’t do them any good to have done it. They don’t even know me, nor I them. Ugh.

Yummy Mummy v's Frumpy Mummy

So I went out today to meet up with a few Moms that I met from rollercoaster.ie. They are all Mums to baba's about the same age as Megan. We met in a Starbucks Cafe. Well, didn't I feel right out of place. They are all dressed so well with their hair and make-up perfect, with the top of the range buggy's, baby bags and baby clothes. I on the other hand have a sports bag as a baby bag, a second hand (top of the range mind you!) double buggy, and baby clothes from Penny's. I am not dressed well, and not a hint of make up on, and hair all scraggly. To top it all off they started talking about the "must-have" baby toys, toys that I can assure you are WAY too expensive for me to even look at! Don't get the wrong idea, they are a lovely bunch of women, and they don't judge me for being frumpy (well at least I don't think they do!?). I did feel right at home when they were talking about things like, sleeping through the night, addicted to the boob/dummy, not eating enough/too much, and hitting milestones. They are all just such yummy Mummies, and I couldn't help but feel a little envious.

Of course there is always the fact that even if I did have a clue of how to apply make-up, I would probably be too lazy to apply it every morning. People at church would be lucky if I decide to apply a little bit of eye make-up. But I would like to think that if I knew how to do my hair, that I would. I like my hair to look good, but really how do women manage to keep their hair down and for it to not get all tangled and look scraggly!? Without it looking like there is a ton of hair products in it? I would also like to think that if I knew how to dress like a yummy Mummy, that I would get good substitute clothing for cheaper in Penny's and Dunnes and still look great. I would love Trinny and Susannah to tell me "What not to Wear" or more importantly, What TO Wear!! Without making a TV appearance of course, how embarrassing.

So I did what I do best when I need a pick me up, I went shopping! Not such a great idea considering the last post, need to save money, not spend it! I bought my very first pair of skinny jeans (although I'm not sure they can be called skinny jeans unless you are a UK size 10 or under, like my skinny sister Jenna!!) They seem to be popular at the moment, and I wanted to feel like I was "in-fashion". They were only €5, so not a huge spend. I then had to buy boots (kind of like Ugg boots, but not) to go with the jeans, but they were only €9. (I'm trying to justify buying them by saying they were a bargain, but in reality I don't really NEED them). Then I noticed that its mostly teens that seem to be wearing the above items. Am I trying to be a teen again? So what if I am! I'm only 23, I deserve to dress young and not like a frumpy Mummy!


On a completely different note, Chloe is biting her nails! She is biting them so short that I'm sure that it's got to hurt. I blame myself, I very rarely cut her nails with a nail clippers because the first time I did, I chopped the tip of her finger off, no joke! So, I bit her nails and now she bites her nails. Even her toe nails!! (not so much her toe nails, but still, I have seen her do it!) So I went to the chemist to get that stuff that you put on kids nails to stop them biting them, but she is too young for it, as I suspected. Have no idea what to do, I want her nails to grow strong like her Daddy's, not weak like mine.

Megan is waking quite a few times at night, I am getting exhausted. She is waking for a suck on the boob, not a drink, just a suck. I have no idea what to do! I put a blue outfit on Megan today (something her Aunty Mel brought her back from America) and it looks lovely! Her eyes are so blue, so it looked really well. Must remember to take a pic.

Saving Money

Yes, we are all at it. Thinking about where we can save, what we can cut down on. It's been on my mind as well, I'm not stressing about it, the thought it just always there, at the back of my mind - "Do we need this, should we spend this, can we get it cheaper somewhere else".

Well I didn't realise how much it was on my mind until yesterday. We were at a shopping centre (I know, not a great place to be when you are trying to cut costs) and I needed to pee. Me being the lazy person I am was thinking "Ugh, the toilets are ALL the way over there, I'll wait till we get home". Then we passed a McDonalds... so in I went thinking "Oh well if I use the toilet here, its saving on using toilet paper at home". WHAT? Did I just think that?? Did that thought seriously just enter my head!!?

OK, we were running out of toilet paper at home, and I had made a mental note that I needed to buy more. But we are certainly not that badly off that I need to use the toilet in public places to save a little bit extra. How much would that save anyway? A few cents? Probably less.

I was also thinking the other day about how much money we are saving since I am breastfeeding. We spent SO much on formula with Chloe. A box of formula that cost €13 would get us just over a week. That's for a whole year! Plus the cost of bottles and the cost of new bottle teats as she got older. Its quite a bit of money added up! Maybe the terrible breastfeeding rates here in Ireland will get better in "the current economic climate". Maybe the formula companies realise this, they have already reduced their prices. That box that cost me €13 a few months ago is now €10!! I was really being ripped off, as were plenty of other Mothers, shame on them!

We have started to see a hole in the "wean Chloe from bottles" plan. She is waking up at 6 or 7am, she hasn't done that in quite a while, but when she used to we would give her a bottle and she would sleep for a few more hours. These last few days she has been wrecked. I lie in bed thinking, should I give her a bottle to go back to sleep? Or is that just going backwards? She is so tired, I don't know what to do! She is also constantly hungry. Always pulling me to the fridge, but I don't know what to feed her. She doesn't like sandwiches, and I don't have much of an imagination, so any suggestions welcome. :)