I am the very model of a modern major mother

On the weekend I went on an adventure to a ghost town with Hubby, Tricky and my Dad - the brochure we read (and we double checked it when we got home) said "free gas BBQs" but when we got there the only thing they had were concrete pits to light a fire in and a cast iron griddle on a pivot. So for the first time in my life (after accosting some passing tourists for some matches) I built a fire with my Dad. It was pretty exciting for a city slicker like me - foraging for sticks and branches that were dry enough, getting that first leaf to catch alight then watching it really take hold (my inner pyromaniac thought it was fab). Because I like my fingers where they are, burning them off while shoving new sticks in to keep the fire going long enough to cook our sausages wasn't quite as fun. My foray in to being a Girl Scout got me thinking. We have it so easy compared to only a few generations ago.

In the kitchen

I don't have to light a fire (even with the latest technological advancement - the cigarette lighter) every time I want to cook something. All I do is turn a switch and my electric oven heats up to the temperature I tell it to then stays there without needing half a tree shoved in to it. And the veges I put in there come from a fridge so sometimes they're not even very mouldy.

In the bathroom

I don't have to go chopping firewood every time I want to bathe Tricky, I just turn the tap and a little plastic tortoise's bum goes white if I make the water too hot. And whilst I do sometimes lament choosing white tiles for our bathroom, I have access to powerful environment destroying cleaners to keep them blindingly shiny with barely any effort.

In the nursery

Oh the joys of a vibrating bouncer! My 21st century knee is too snobby to bounce children, instead I have a machine do it for me. And don't even think about having to carry your child on your hip when Baby Bjorn's and Hug-a-Bub's are here to lighten the load. Even going down the cloth nappy path is easier today - they're shaped to fit and have press studs instead of being a giant square needing pins (just quietly, if my record of injuring Tricky with sharp objects is anything to go by, can you imagine how bad I'd be at pinning a nappy?).

In the laundry

Do I stand there with soap flakes and washing board and rub our family's clothes against it day after day? No. I throw them in to a machine and it does it for me while I go and do something much more exotic like lay by the pool sipping cocktails (OK so I don't even have a pool and am more than likely changing/feeding/rocking Tricky, but at least it makes for a nice mental image). Plus if it's been really cold I schlep down to the shed and throw them in the dryer - those nappies can go from dirty to clean and dry in two hours even in the middle of winter.

So take a minute to think about how easy we all have it now compared to our grandparents and great grandparents. But if you don't mind, could you conveniently forget I've said any of this the next time I complain that I've had a hard day full of washing, cooking and cleaning? Thanks!

Don't forget Where's My Glow will be holding it's first ever competition next month and I can confirm the prize is worth a whopping $275! You must be a follower to enter, so do it now!

A baby shower to remember

This weekend I experienced one of the rights of passage of new motherhood – a baby shower. It consisted of ten women, cupcakes, some wine and a LOT of laughs!

Because I'm a massive control freak I'd already gotten all the games and activities ready weeks ago, much to the disappointment of my best friend who was itching to do it all. But what else is a gal supposed to do when she's finished work and has long days to herself? There is only so many times you can clean the bathroom well enough to eat off every surface (so far I'm up to three times a week). But it made me happy that she could actually participate in the games and have a fun time too. Aunty Penny was the hostess with the most-ess and had everyone introducing each other, getting in to teams, making up team names and ready for action!

We had six rounds that ranged from guessing the nursery rhyme from cryptic clues, naming the animal baby, old wives' tales, a general pregnancy quiz (including the best question ever - what is the name of my blog?) and of course the classic 'Guess the contents of the nappy' game. The looks on some of the women's faces as others actually tasted the contents was priceless! The overall winners of the day were my Mum and a friend from my work who called themselves Team Pub (maybe because that's where they'd rather be than in my lounge room sniffing nappies) and like all good parties the prizes were lolly bags.

Then it was present opening time! I was so amazed at the generosity of my friends - I am so lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful people. From cute little jumpsuits, a nappy cake to books and toys galore! Tricky is going to be the best dressed, most entertained bub around.

Some lovely presents waiting to be unwrapped

The beautiful 'Barnaby Bear' in the awesome alien walker

What a fantastic haul - Tricky is a very lucky bub

Some of the fantastic decorations supplied by Jen at Party In A Box
a fab little party supply business launching this month 

Hippy Bottomus

I was going to wait until I got a chance to use these, but I'm overwhelmed with the gorgeousness and couldn't resist any longer!

Hubby and I have decided to go down the cloth nappy road for a number of reasons;

• better for the environment (even when taking in to consideration the extra washing and detergent used) - because disposable take up to 500 years to decompose
• cheaper in the long run – a set of 24 nappies has cost us $240 whereas disposables for two and a half years cost approximately $4000
• Hubby and his siblings developed very bad skin allergies to disposables when they were babies
• just as easy as disposables if you buy modern cloth nappies (no folding or pinning)

After much research on the types of materials used and the differing styles of modern cloth nappies available I chose to support a small business run by Sharon Moreno from the northern beaches of Sydney. The fact that her company had the coolest name also helped the decision... Hippy Bottomus! Not to mention a super cute logo.

Not only do her nappies come in a range of fibres ranging from organic cotton, hemp and bamboo through to super absorbent and quick drying microfleece, they are also adjustable to fit 3kg-13kg babies! So you buy one lot and that's it! These little gems are waterproof so you don't need those HUGE UGLY plastic pants over the top, they go on and off just as easily as a disposable but most importantly come in a range of super funky colours and patterns! I'll add a few more exclamation marks now because the paragraph just doesn't have enough!!!

The set that awaits Tricky

Even if pretty soon they are not going to be looking so funky (or should that be looking funkier on the inside?), for now they are lined up taking pride of place in Tricky's room, patiently awaiting his arrival.

Please note the above is my opinion and I was not paid or
influenced by the company in any way for writing this.