My children are fully vaccinated but...

...I feel torn and scared even, every time I make the doctors appointment for their scheduled vaccinations.

I worry about what is really in the vaccinations. I think about asthma, allergies, and autism. I don't think my children need everything that goes into them. I believe that if my children do get sick then I have the knowledge and ability to care for them. I believe that children need to build up a natural immunity. I take care of myself and fully breast feed my young ones, therefore provide them with my immunity during their vulnerable newborn days. I also believe that I am not provided with enough information if I ever decided not to vaccinate my children. And let's not forget it is a choice.

Before having children, and even throughout Claudias first year, my opinion was that it was a parents societal duty to vaccinate their children. I had no trouble making doctors appointments and taking Claudia to get her jabs. I thought, that's just what you do as a parent.

Then she got whooping cough after being fully vaccinated against it.

And I started wondering if vaccinations really worked at all...

So I started reading.

And started asking people more questions.

I eventually found out that there are so many people who feel the same way I do.

And now the main reason why I vaccinate our children isn't so much to do with health reasons, it's more to do with the fact that I don't want my girls, or our family to become outcasts, or make to feel bad because we choose not to vaccinate.

That's bad right?

At our last visit to the doctors, I asked a nurse about caring for your children if they were to get the chicken pox as I thought the girls had been exposed to them. She really pushed for me to get them vaccinated if they didn't end up getting them. Which isn't what I asked, I asked for information about caring for my children. I wanted to be educated rather than my children being vaccinated.

The girls didn't get the chicken pox (which I was a little gutted about because I want them to get them!) but I certainly won't be vaccinating them against the disease. To me it makes no sense to vaccinate the girls against the chicken pox.

Why would you vaccinate your child against the chicken pox? (Unless of there were medical reasons.) It eventually wears off and then you have to get jabs for the rest of your life. And then what if you don't continue to keep up-to-date with your vaccinations for whatever reason and you're a male and you get the pox and you become sterile? Or you are female and you are pregnant and don't have immunity to chicken pox? Isn't it worth having it once, then not having to worry about it ever again? To me it makes perfect sense for my children to get a bout of the pox and then they have immunity for life, instead of risking having it as a teen or adult which is much worse. Am I missing something?? (I did try to ask these questions to the nurse but she shut me down.)

So, what are your opinions about vaccinations? I encourage your thoughts and opinions even if they differ to mine. I am not not saying that we shouldn't vaccinate our children, but what I am saying is that we should be asking more questions, we shouldn't be scared to talk about it, and we should be getting more information about our choices.

Wellington Weekend

I can't decide if I have become more emotional, or weddings in general have become more emotional?

I don't know, but each one I go to I seem to cry more!

Wellington was amazing, if only for one night... after a week of snow the weekend was still chilly, but we enjoyed blue skies and even some sunshine.

We missed the girls a lot, but they were very well looked after by their doting grandparents back here in Dunedin.

I did also feel as though I was missing an appendage for the whole 48 hours.

Actually, make that two appendages.

x

Guest Post: Bikram Yoga

The second installment of Annas running journey; Bikram Yoga!

I haven't tried it myself but would love to one day...

This brings me to my next topic Bikram Yoga! I love it! And I think it possibly makes me happier than running. I have never looked forward to doing any other type of physical activity as much as the excitement I feel about going to yoga. Over a couple of months it has improved my injuries , to the point that some are no longer there, and the detox effects make me more awake, positive and full of energy to tackle my day.

The break in running has provided me with other opportunities that I otherwise might not have considered. I have signed up to ride the cycle leg of challenge Wanaka with a friend, and yoga has provided a new hobby and interest. I am still exercising 4-5 times a week, but mainly cycling and yoga.

I am hoping that I have not put you off running (remember I love it, and promote it), and I would hate to think that I have made people think twice about running a marathon (I will definitely be doing another one day!) If your body is strong and injury free, get your running shoes on and go for it! It is such a challenge and source of self-satisfaction – just remember to use your head and keep it smart!

When I get back into running I will be taking a different approach - running wisely is my new philosophy.

o I will run when I feel like it

o I will run for how long I feel like

o If I am tired I will go slow, if I have energy I will go fast

o I will not have a running goal

o I will take more time to run with friends

o If my body is telling me no, I am not going to run

Want to read more about running?

Gemma: Thinking about running a Half Marathon?

Kirsten: The Running Buzz. Part One and Part Two

Ali: Mama Runner

Anna: Part One

Babies on the Brain

Seriously, I am not trying to tell you that I am pregnant, although one would be forgiven for thinking that with all this baby talk going on around here!

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and words of wisdom regarding my last post. I really appreciate each and every single comment.

I have had some fabulous pregnancy news from TWO different friends of mine, which makes me so happy, and mushy inside!! (I am tight-lipped on who for now people, incase you were going to ask!)

My baby name obsession continues, and since we have recently started Play Centre (I got home from a Parent Council Meeting tonight at 9.45pm?!) I have been hearing some fabulous names. Here are my current faves...

Girls:

Lottie

Pearl

Tilly

Ivy

Olive

Poppy

Millie

Boys:

Alby

Winston

Lewie

Hudson

Hag and I are off to Wellington this weekend for a wedding. He is leaving early tomorrow to resume groomsman duties, I am leaving early Saturday morning for an overnighter and the girls are staying here with the grandparents!

I will be sure to take my tissues. One of the many things that motherhood has done to me, is transform me into a complete mushy, cry baby. Especially during grand gestures of love... awwww.

I can't wait!

When is enough enough? (The one that will make my husband nervous.)

I could write a million posts about what an incredible husband I have. He's one of a kind, and I feel very blessed.

But that would be extremely tedious for you all...

Lately he has been encouraging me to write more here. You see I talk a lot. I talk all the time. About anything and everything, and he seems to think that you all out there want to hear what I have to say. (I think it is hilarious that his favourite post of mine is THIS one and that he really pushed for me to write THIS.)

So maybe you all could help me with this lingering question I have.

How do you know when your baby-making days are done?

How many children do you want? And how do you decide?

Now I know that Hag is freaking out right now. And probably my mum too. And rightly so, we do already have a 25 month old and a 7 month old.

Before I had children I really hadn't thought about a number, but I did think that there would be more than 2.

Now, I don' t know.

But this is what I do know:

I do think you could potenially regret not having another, but you could never regret having more.

People say you know when your family is complete, but I don't entirely believe that it hits you like a bolt of lightening. I wonder if we had one more baby, I still wouldn't feel like our family is complete, then what if we had another and I still didn't feel that feeling? You have to draw the line somewhere? Don't you?

I think Hag and are really good at making exceptional babies. (What?! We are. They are amazing.) And I will never forget the words my mother said to me when we told her that Claudia was on her way. "Babies bring joy Belinda."

I don't want to have more children, if it's only what I want.

I do feel that when deciding how many children to have, you shouldn't decide only on financial reasons. However, these days things are getting rather outrageous and every time I come home from the supermarket I find myself in a really bad mood. Not only is dairy and meat expensive, but other basics are too, tomatoes are basically $1 each, red capsicum are $4.99 each?! I refuse to buy them!! Money is a factor.

Physically I would be taking a lot of risks if we decided to have another, and now only have one option when it comes to delivery. We would need a lot of help early doors and I am unsure if we would be willing to put that sort of pressure on our families. And what if something went wrong?

I also know that I don't want any large gaps between children, which is why I am thinking so much about this now. I was pregnant when Claudia was 9 months old, and Sylvie is now 7 months old. Just saying.

I am scared about what they world is going to be like in 10-15 years and what it will be like for our children. Is it better to stress about 2 than 3 or 4??

But what really kicked off all this thinking was when I read this. I don't know Dee but when she announced the news that they were expecting their 5th child, I didn't think "Sheesh, you're mad woman!" I thought "Wow, I would love that."

Well, there it is.

You did encourage me to write more Haggy.

x

(Note: The chances of us have 5 are basically none, unless we have triplets.)

Snow Days

Last month it snowed heavily in Dunedin. It was the first time that Claudia had the opportunity to embrace the fun that is snow...

Claudia has a friend called Esky and I think it's fair to say that they are complete opposites in many ways.

However, one thing that they have in common is that they both feel the same way about snow...

Hag can't quite comprehend what all the fuss is about.

Embrace?? Not quite how I would describe it...

So yesterday, when the snow started falling again, we took a leaf from Angela and Eskys book, and brought the snowman inside...

Guest Post: Running a Marathon

Anna is a good friend of mine, who in this guest post claims not to be a runner, however I am going to have to disagree with her on that one! She is built like a runner, long and lean, and knows how to make it look damn easy. (I'm excellent at making it look excruciating.)

Anna is another of my friends who I am trying to convince to start a blog. She has interests that include running, Bikram Yoga, recipes, alternative diets, natural remedies and I like to call her a closet hippy! So I am hoping the time is nearing that she will cave and give blogging a go!

Until you can read all about Anna on her own blog, then here is Part One of her journey towards running the Motatapu Off Road Marathon...

I have not always been a runner, but I have always needed a challenge and this is what enticed me to begin running. When I ran my first half marathon I was pleasantly surprised with my result - I seemed to be better at it than I thought. This gave me the motivation to keep going, each time with a new goal time to beat. I was never in the races to win (although I did once get a second), but rather to improve my time. In my mind the quicker I was, the fitter I was. The races I began to run kept increasing... 10km, 21km, 23km, 26km, until I decided it was time for a marathon. Sticking with my need to fulfil a challenge, I chose a hard one to start, the Motatapu Off Road Marathon. I had just come off a lower back injury and had not done any running in 5 months. I gave myself a month and a bit to get up to feeling comfortable running over an hour and then I was into the training. Writing this now I seem nuts!! I hadn’t run for 5 months due to a back injury!! Why did I choose a marathon as my first race to get back into running? It all comes back to the challenge and the feeling of self-satisfaction that comes with running. Running made me happy, and it could not be a part of my life!

I didn’t find long training runs as daunting as they seemed. I found breaking the longer runs down into sections really helped. I would run to Ross Creek for about an hour from my house, I would run up the Pineapple Track for an hour and I would then run back home. I would use the time between each hour to have a drink and refuel. When going for a long run I think it is also important to have it well planned out before you go. Knowing the route you are going to follow, how long it will take and when you plan to refuel in advance will help you mentally get through a long run.

I didn’t know what to expect when marathon day arrived. I had never run a marathon (let alone an off road marathon), I had never had to fuel my body while I ran a marathon and I didn’t know what to expect of the terrain. I set myself a reasonable goal of 5 hours. At 25km I hit the wall; I stopped and ate for a few minutes, and was back into it. I thought I had blown all chances of finishing under 5 hours, I knew it would be close, and I was relieved to reached the finish chute and see 4.59 on the clock.

I love running and I promote it, but I have found my attitude towards it changing. I came out of the Motatapu injured (lower back, knee and foot), and due to these injuries I have not really been able to fully get back into it yet. Thinking back now there were many signs for me to stop, my training programme was for 5 days a week, but my legs could only handle three or four and I was going to the chiropractor every fortnight to get my back put in place. These are key signs that there was something wrong and I should have taken some time out. This was not ignorance either! I am a PE teacher! I did know better, but I think some people can get carried away in that desire to fulfil goals.

I think that it is important to run smart, especially when training for longer distances. If you are running often make sure you include some strength and core training a couple of times a week with your training. Also include variety such as some cycling, swimming, yoga or pilates. My only exercise was running, because I loved it, and I didn’t have the desire to do other types of physical activity. This seems like a good philosophy, but the lack of strength work and cross training in my programme most probably was the main source of my injuries. Variety will also provide more motivation to run when it comes to your running days and will also reduce the impact on your joints. Linked in with variety is overload. Progress your runs no more than 10% per week, make sure you have plenty of rest days, and do not run on injuries. I think it is also important to analyse your running gait as poor technique is a big contributor to running injuries. Your legs should move up and down in line with your hips and try to run on the mid of the sole of your foot.

At the moment, I am not running. I was trying to run three times a week for about 30-40 minutes, but my lower back has been playing up and I have decided that until my body is stronger I am not going to do it. This was not a quick decision, but rather a process of acceptance over a few months. Gradually the amount of runs I have been doing a week have decreased from three to zero as I have slowly allowed myself to back off.

Thanks for sharing Anna!

Part Two, includes Annas other love Bikram Yoga!

Friends are the Family You Choose.

I have some good friends here in Dunedin.

We have some really good friends here.

They are the kind of friends we feel like we have known all our lives, the type of friends that you know were meant to be your friends.

We are also so blessed to have amazing families. Families who are our friends too.

Bonus!

They share our lives with us. The big things, the little things, our day-to-day lives.

But it's my oldest friends who I am missing right now.

I think it's because when there is big news to celebrate,

and you can't be there for the moment,

it's hard.

Life happens.

Then

before you know it

your best friends are

living all over the world.

x

Stuff and Things

I have been doing a lot of nothing lately.

Well that's not completely true of course... there always seems to be something going on... and I am keeping on track with my running training... but I seem to have lost my crochet mojo and have been rather absent from my blog space...

But there has been a lot of talk around here about the future, and a few big decisions are being made. Well are going to be made. So there has been a lot of thinking, and talking and thinking some more. All very positive and exciting!

Anyway I am waffling... and being rather vague...

(Image: Pinterest)

So back to what I wanted to say, which was, that while I have been procrastinating all kinds of things I have become addicted to Pinterest. So come and follow me while I brainstorm wedding ideas, tattoos and crochet creations, among other bits and bobs. I am trying to get my crochet mojo back!!

I also thought I would share part of an engagement present I am currently putting together for The Love Birds.

I handed these out at the engagement party for guests to fill in,

and am currently collating them into a guest book.

Oh and here is some marriage advice from us Hags...

(Don't worry the wedding card is when I really come into my own with the romantic, lovey-dovey soppy stuff.)

x

Guest Blog: Photography Tips

One of my best friends Sarah, currently lives in Melbourne and has just started up her own photography business. She has skills this girl and has just launched her own website, Facebook page and with my encouragement I am hoping a blog is to come in the future too!

I asked Sarah to jot down some tips for people like me who love photography but don't really know where to start. I love photographing people, especially my girls, so any tips on how to make my images shine are always welcome!

Guest blog: Portraiture Photography:

When the lovely Bee asked me to do a guest blog on photography I was not really sure where to start. I don’t see myself as a pro, as having the secrets, or coming close to mastering the art in any way, shape or form .... yet ... I am just working dam hard (and expect to be spending the rest of my life) attempting to master it. I am slowly building my business from scratch in Melbourne, sometimes I succeed, sometimes I fail, but I am always in LOVE with what I am doing. Photography fascinates me, it has ever since I picked up a camera with Bee at the age of 16.

People are my favourite thing to photograph – so I thought I would share with you some tips on what I think helps capture a great portrait. Of course once you master each of these suggestions, you should then do the complete opposite and I bet you will capture an even more amazing portrait!

Photography with people is not about what looks good through your lens (although that helps :)) It is about your connection with your subject. Always.

Space
When you are setting up your subject, think about your setting, think about the backdrop and any odd shapes or forms that might be interrupting your space.

Light
Generally (for a traditional portrait) you will want soft natural light falling on your subject. Make sure their eyes are lit well and that there is a nice flow of light across their face (not flooded with light).

Expression/mood
Your connection starts from the second you meet. Relax your subject! 90% of people do NOT enjoy having a lens stuffed in their face! Choose the mood you want them in, for example if you want a really excited, high energy portrait, don’t play Enya and burn incense :) or if you want them relaxed, don’t start stressing and ordering them into place.

Position
Pose your subject in a way you feel suits them and then make small adjustments from there. Leave slight bends in joints (normally 45deg is a good place to start). Watch your subject is not backing off the lens – this is an automatic response and leads straight into double chins and strange looks. Bring them forward. A slight angle of face is great on a female but not on a male as it makes them appear feminine (generally). Work their shoulders back and forth until you find an angle that suits them. One shoulder higher is always nice for a close up shot.

Warm into the shoot
Take some snaps to get them relaxed in front of the lens and then start to perfect your angles and start adjusting their angles and movements slightly. Always remember to look at your subject from every angle, walk right around them and get them to turn back toward you. Does it look good? Shoot it anyway – digital is great for over shooting :) Edit down later!

Expression
Ask them to show the expression you want. Bring their lips together, soften their eyes etc. If you want a laugh say something silly, and shoot all the way through their laugh – this is where you get a more natural expression. Shoot all the way until they stop (there is a soft comfortable moment at the end of a laugh that I love to photograph).

Camera
For a simple portrait use a low aperture to drop your background right out of focus.

A rule that applies to all shoots is relax, know your camera better than the back of your hand, and enjoy it!

Hope that helps! Happy shooting! :)