365 Photos - Jan 26

A sluggish start to the day for all of us, and another nap before we were all up and moving to celebrate Australia Day. Headed round to a friend's place for a BBQ, Zeke naturally was only interested in the chocolate cake! He had a lovely time playing with the two girls there, although he wasn't quite sure what to make of the older one, she was something of a 'mother hen' and Zeke doesn't really like being told what to do!

Tuesday January 26th 2010



Some patriotic art just for Australia Day. Zeke LOVED the little toothpick flags, and he LOVED the playdough, once he worked out the flags could stand up in the playdough, he was off to find more, gathering them from wherever he could (including stealing them from a very artistically decorated sombrero!) and this is his finished product.

365 Photos - Jan 11

It was hot yesterday, 41.4 C (106F) so there weren't many photos taken, we were all too busy sprawled out melting. Instead, I took a photo of something to show you all.

Monday 11th January 2010



Zeke painted this just before Easter 2009, but it was a long while (almost 6 months) before we hung it up where he could see it. The first time he saw it again and every time since, he says "Oof" which is Zeke-speak for dog. No matter how often we ask him what it is, or how long between questions, his unvarying answer is "Oof!"

Ladies and Gentlemen: Dog, a poster paint on canvas work by Ezekiel Fullerton.

Getting Crafty with Zeke!

There've been so many things I've wanted to blog about recently. Zeke's operation, moving house, him learning to walk properly... and I've been too busy enjoying it all! Well not the operation, that was far too much gut-wrenching stress (it all went marvellously however) but the rest has been so damned awesome I'm having too much fun to want to sit down and blog.

I will try and do a proper update about his operation soon, and fill you all in on what we've been up to.

Anyway, the last few days we've been getting pretty crafty with Zeke. I've made my own fingerpaints, playdough and bought him some pastels to do some drawing, and it has been FUN!

The finger paint is very simple, just cornflour, water and food dye - I gave him too many colours so we ended up with mud, but when I took a sheet of paper and pressed it into the pattern, the end result is still very cool!

Here's Zeke having a go with the finger paints, we made a huge mess but loved it.





The only way to clean him up was to put him in the bath afterwards. (MAKE SURE YOU WASH THE BABY FIRST, if the food dye paint sets on the skin it is hard to clean off!)



The playdough recipe came from the cream of tartar packet, which is in the baking aisle. There are heaps of fun ideas online for cool colours and scents to add to your playdough too. Again, it's very simple to make, I made it plain, and halved the finished playdough to knead in food dye so we had red and blue.

"Oooh, what is this?"



"Hey, it's kinda fun!"



"Zeke SMASH!"



"Some red too!"



"Eeeeeew! Salty!"



And lastly the pastels, Zeke's quite funny about them, very specific which colours he wants, and actually seems to co-ordinate them quite well most of the time. An art prodigy perhaps?

I chose the oil pastels, because you do not have to press very hard (like pencils) you don't have to hold them a certain way (like pens) they are also reasonably hard to break (like crayons) and don't get all over his hands (like textas/markers)

Not sure why but Zeke seems to think that sitting on the paper is best for drawing!



A finished master peice!



So that's some of what we've been up to lately. If I don't blog for ages it's because I'm too busy enjoying my boy!

VBAC poem

Among wonderful my message board friends, there's been a lot of discussions regarding VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Caesarian) lately, who wants one, who's had one, and whether or not they're safe.

Anyhow, this inspired me last night, to write a poem about VBACs. As you probably gathered I am very much of the belief that a woman has the right to choose the way she wants to give birth, and have now dubbed pro-VBAC ladies "VBAC Warriors."

So, all you VBAC hopefuls, successes and advocates this is for you!

We are the VBAC Warriors,
We fight for women's rights.
Doulas, midwifes, mums-to-be
Our heads are screwed on tight.

You won't scare us with all your stats,
Nor bring us down with books.
It's our right to choose the way
We birth the babe we cooked.

A birthing woman is not insane,
Incompetent or ill,
If you won't support my VBAC hopes,
I'll find someone who will!

We'll labour long, through day and night
Although it might be hard,
We've managed fine the last nine months,
Why not the whole nine yards?

We'll turn away your pitocin
Your prostaglandins too,
And as for knives and epidurals,
Why not try them on you?

And when at last we hold our babe,
And we've forgotten all the pain,
You clutch your books and clear your throat
"But you can't do it again."

You can't deny the triumph
In a VBAC mothers' eyes,
And in case you didn't notice
VBAC babes are on the rise

So listen up all you OB's
There's something you should know,
It's MY right, and it's MY choice,
VBAC Warriors - go!

Copyright - Miranda Beattie 2009