an update for you

hi everyone

well archie is a staggering five and a half weeks and is growing every day. He has some major wind/colicky issues which keeps us very busy through the day. He likes to be with us so by the end of the day we are all generally tired and worn out! At the last weigh in, archie was a whisker under 5kg, so the newborn nappies didnt last long! Pete heads back to work tomorrow so we are up for another adjustment with a set of hands gone! It has been wonderful to have him home...and he has been a great help.

The milk pimples have hit archie which makes him look super cute...and he still has his stork mark on his nose and behind his head and neck. I will try and get some pics up over the next couple of weeks...its just trying to find the time with a little person who doesnt sleep much thru the day! poor little bugger... Just like his big brother eli! we finally got our first smilewhich lit up the whole house!

The house is coming along...The plasterer has all but finished and hopefully the kitchen will be in next week! something to look forward too. Pete has finished the drainage for the retaining walls so hopefully it wont get too boggy anymore...next job is to plumb the 2 big tanks we bought, so we can use tankwater for the house where we can.

we should have some news for melons cottage soon - from the legal eagles, and we have our letters of support as well which have been great...

just need to get into the house...we are probably hoping by aug/sept now...will keep u posted!

anyhoo, best fly...archie is begging for a feed!

lots of luv and sunshine

the simpsons

xoxox

Welcome Archie Ray Simpson

pic taken on 14/5/11

Hi guys

sorry its taken a while to write...been busy having a baby! Yep, Archie Ray Simpson finally graced us with his presence in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday 27 April. We were blessed with a very easy birth, 3.5 hours in labour and a few pushes and he arrived! Archie weighed 8lb 10 oz, was 53cm in length and like melon, had a fairly big head (37cm)...so archie is known as the coconut in our house :-)

I have attached a few pics taken off the mobile phone so the quality is not super, but you will get the gist. It has been a wave of emotions welcoming archie to the family...we are super excited with his arrival, but the best way we can describe it is really - bittersweet. Mothers day was hard, and i felt it more so than previous years to be honest...we still have a big hole in our hearts, but take lots of comfort that melon will be looking out for his little brother every step of the way. Because the cottage only has 2 bedrooms, the 'boys' are both in the one room...hopefully eli's bad sleeping habits wont rub off on archie...they really are two very different little souls which is lovely...just take each day as it comes...cry when we feel like it, laugh when we feel like it, and most importantly just 'love' always.

the house is coming along slowly slowly...its at lock up now, and we are just waiting for the plasterer to come (hopefully next week)...then the kitchen (hopefully mid june)...i think our original guess was right...im hoping we will be in by august/sept...see how we go...

anyways...enjoy the pics...

luv, hugs and sunshine

the simpsons

xoxox

about 1 week old

dad and archie in hospital

getting the hearing test done at 2 days of age..passed with flying colours

nawww...first 24 hours of being in the world.

Thoughts towards another angel

Hi guys

its with great sadness that our family said goodbye to our pa - Thomas Raymond Smith (or Ray as he was known to everyone!)...Pa passed away peacefully on 18 March 2011 and we celebrated his life last friday. I would like to acknowledge the brilliant service that my aunty jen and aunty michelle put together to celebrate pa's life...it was a great service for a very humble man. I would like to share one of the readings with you which i think reflect's pa's life beautifully.

That man is a success

That man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and women and the love of children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who leaves the world better than he found it, who has never lacked appreciation of Earth's beauty or failed to express it; who looked for the best in others, and gave the best he had - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I was very lucky to have had pa in my life for 36 years. Pa wasnt just a pa, but rather a dad. Pa always made me feel like i was one of his own, and for that, i feel truly blessed. No judgements, just love.

Pete and i were married on my nan and pa's 55th wedding anniversary - coming up to our 6th year, so the 16 Sept every year we have even more to celebrate now.

One of the most comforting things is that pa is now with his 'porky', my nan who passed away nearly 3 years ago. Another wonderful thought is that Eli now has a wonderful opportunity to be with two people who are going to love him just as much as pete and i do...

With death brings life - one of those ironic things really...I certainly spoke at length to pa about our new bubs, with pa providing plenty of advice and support and comments like "geez, you look like nan when she had uncle john - all boobs and belly and nothing else!"...nothing like a pa to keep you grounded! LOL...

Pa, we are going to miss you every day. Your humility, integrity and grace will forever be a legacy in our lives. Big kisses to nan and melon for us (and go the dee's)...

luv and hugs

the simpsons

xoxox

Not the greatest pic, but one of a few we have with all three of our 'angels'...

and again...taken in early 2008

our pa...just as we all remember him...luv ya heaps pa...

A blast from the past - GO CATS

Hi guys

as i was wading through all the beautiful pics of melon, i came across one of the highlights of our stay in hospital...meeting some geelong players...clearly eli was super excited (as he was being groomed by his mum to be a geelong supporter)..however the simpson side had other ideas - thanks uncle phil for buying eli a 'baby pie' membership...pfffttt. Pete and i have always said, our children can choose their religion, but they cant choose their footy team. I think pete is in denial that eli would have definitely swayed the cat's way...will have to continue the battle when our new bubs arrives.

So...anyways...check out the pic's below of eli with a couple of champions...(Oh, and i couldnt help put one of me and my most fave players!)...

all complete with signatures of course...fancy that...we are the proud owners of signatures from Cam Mooney, Tom Harley, Gary Ablett and Jimmy Bartel (although we couldnt get a pic with Jimmy)...IN HEAVEN...you can see that melon is not too keen on Cam Mooney, but he loved Tom Harley..but who doesnt!

enjoy (and go cats!)

love and hugs

the simpsons

xoxox

The morning of the grandfinal 2008 - Geelong played hawks. Even though the cats lost, it was an awesome experience. Thanks Challenge for making that happen for us (well...me!)

I cant believe melon and i are holding a footy with the pies on it...pfffttt...(picture just there to 'placate' the simpson side :-)

One of the best pics like EVER! love it...see, melon really was a true cat fan..how could he not...he was born the day before geelong whooped port adelaide in the grand final of 2007!

not so keen on cam mooney!

definitely over the whole experience LOL

couldnt resist...ahhh...the picture says a thousand words - HEAVEN!

Time flies when you are having fun!

Hi everyone

well, finally started some maternity leave which has been great. Here i was thinking i can relax a bit, but there is heaps of stuff to get done before bubs is born...you know, like arranging raffle prizes, house stuff and a bit of cooking. Im almost one week down today with about 6 weeks before the big arrival...i think my body will say slow up a bit before my brain engages and tells me to!

The house, well....it started in a blaze of glory then we didnt see the builders for almost 2 weeks! Although they did grace us with their presence a couple of days ago and put the steel beams up (apparently there was a delay in the ordering)...its nice to see it all come together - even if it is slowly!

Ive tried my hand at being a bit high tech...we have had a couple of those digi frame thingy's given to us (almost a couple of xmas's ago)...but ive never really felt the need to get pictures on them! Well, last night i bit the bullet and went through a few of melon's photos (bit emotional really) and got them sorted to put on. So hopefully by the end of the week, we will have at least one of the two up and running! I think i will leave the second one for the new edition...

What i did discover was a few new pic's (or ones i havent seen in a pretty long time)...so i will post them below.

Anyways...better scoot for now...got a few more jobs to do before heading into bairnsdale this arvo.

For those that have asked, Im travelling really well and just clicked over 34 weeks. Amazing to think how fast that time has gone. Still pretty much walking every day and still feeling relatively comfortable. Feeling lots of movement which is great (and comforting)...although the kicks in under the ribs is a tad uncomfortable at times...i think bubs will be born with a few bruises as i sure do alot of poking (especially when he is positioned where he is not supposed to be!).

Anyhoo...take care everyone...and remember, if you would like to get involved with Worlds Greatest Shave, just email me at eli-simpson@hotmail.com

luv and sunshine

the simpsons

xoxoxox

Eli on his first birthday

dad and melon out and about (and proud as punch!)

mmm...mum's glasses...noice

first day after diagnosis...only 15 weeks of age...and we have all lived a lifetime.

Baby steps

Hi guys

i think its been a month or so since i last blogged...again, like many of you, we have all been pretty busy...

First things first though...we have finally had a fair bit of progress on our house...its amazing how things come together so quickly! Within about 3 weeks, we have had bricklayers, plumbers and just yesterday, the slab was finally poured...quite exciting stuff to watch really. Our builder said that he should be around mid next week to finally start putting the frame up...which will be terrific (and apparently definitely no turning back)...due to all the delays with council, we are sure we wont be in before bubs arrives, which is no great distress to us...we have been in the cottage now for nearly 4 years and love it here...even though it really is a little bit tiny! but its home and we have some really great memories here.

So, i will post some pic's as the new house comes to life...and keep you updated.

We cant believe we have just ticked over 31 weeks with our pregnancy. That time has absolutely flown...its hard to imagine that we are going to be a mum and dad again in around 10 weeks time, and eli is going to be a big brother. Its great to know that Eli will always be there for this baby, and he will very much be with the simpson family as we move forward. I feel so proud of all those mums and dads out there who have lost a child and they decide to have another baby. It is one of the hardest decisions i think any parent makes as the experience of losing a child never leaves you. Its remarkable to hear people say "you can finally move on now, you have another baby"...we can never move on, or past the loss of a child. All we can do is take baby steps forward and learn to live with the pain. Its hard for those who have not lost a child to understand that, and i certainly acknowledge that everyone is so different. But pete and i are part of a lucky group who has managed to keep our lives together and add another chapter to it. One that we are really looking fwd too and one that we know eli will continue to be a part of for as long as we live.

Anyways...best fly...there is a break in the weather so i can get some more pictures of the slab.

For those that are interested, please take a look at www.worldsgreatestshave.org under team Melonhead to sponsor us...we have done so well this year, almost $1700 raised...a phenominal effort...

If you would like to be involved in the shave this year, please write to me at

eli-simpson@hotmail.com and let me know...

even if its just to help out with a few raffle ticket sales!

anyways...take care everyone and will write again soon

luv and sunshine

the simpsons

xoxo

the slab! finally...

preparation is the key!

petes retaining wall...stirling job!

rest of slab (eastern side of house) The concrete men...bit blurry but you get the gist

xmas, birthdays and HOUSE!

Hi guys

wow...i cant believe its been 2 months since we last posted. Like everyone, our lives have continued to be extremely busy, with lots of things to do...

Xmas was a fairly low key affair really. We put up our lights again (with no mishaps this time!)...and i reckon they looked great...we had heaps of cars stop and have a peek! I remember how much i loved xmas lights as a girl, so its nice to do something for the local kids! I think our place is on the 'xmas lights map'!

Santa was extremely kind to us both this year...As with every year, pete and i went to kmart - to the wishing tree and bought something for a little boy Eli's age in Eli's memory. Its always a tough gig really, because you never know what 3 year olds are going to like...i just hope whoever received the gift loved it...I think its a tradition we will always carry now...and nice to do something for someone less fortunate at xmas time, as well as remembering melon.

The excavation on the house block FINALLY started just before xmas...it was a real tease actually because then we had to wait until 17 Jan to see some posts go in the ground so the concrete man can lay the concrete. We are very much hoping to see more action this week.

So things are FINALLY moving on the house front. It would be wonderful to see Melon's Cottage open for all and sundry by around October this year...we are both really hopeful it will happen!

Pete and i went to melb on 9th Jan to participate in the City to bay Fun Run which supported Challenge this year...apparently, just over $52,000 was raised at the event...bloody fantastic. It was so lovely to catch up with Micka (who we spent alot of time in hospital with)...I volunteered for bag duties (along with another 8 or so ladies)...and pete did the run. It was so lovely to be a part of...Bit hard with a big pregnant belly, but we got there...and everyone looked after me! Pete was happy with his run (although had never really run with almost 3o00 people, so that was a test for him!)...it was a great weekend away really.

My birthday has come and gone for another year...and we have started getting ready for our new arrival - "nesting" is probably the best word for it! Again, some really difficult decisions to make (as the cottage only has 2 bedrooms, ours and Eli's)...Eli's room has been pretty much left until the last month or so, but the time has come to get some stuff sorted. We bought up some stuff from the shed and repacked the draws with what we could...and we bought a new cot for the new edition...something we wanted to do. There have been many tears over the past 6 weeks, and i really empathise with parents who have lost children...where do you start to pack up memories...what do you hold onto, and what do you let go. I guess i go by my own rule, if it doesnt feel right, or I dont know what to do with it, i wait until the time is right, that way i will have no regrets...boy oh boy its a real test though...making room for number 2, without losing Eli's memory. Anyways, i know we will get there in the end and we will make the right decisions for us as a family.

We are also gearing up once again for World's greatest Shave...so if you would like to sponsor us, just go to

"www.worldsgreatestshave.org" and sponsor a team/individual. Like previous years, we have kept "Melonhead" as our team name, or you can sponsor me - Jodie Simpson from Victoria. I know its a tricky time this year, with so many people needing $ due to the horrendous floods we have experienced. There is absolutely no pressure, just if you can...

If you would like to join team Melonhead and shave, please let me know at eli-simpson@hotmail.com

This year, eli is very lucky to have his 3 cousin's support - Kyle, Blake and Connor. Connor starts school this year, and after speaking with them yesterday, they are all very keen to shave their heads at their school in memory of melon...It should be a ripper day.

We are also running a raffle this year...so if you would like to help us sell raffle tickets, please let us know...the more the merrier...we are just trying to secure our first and third prizes, but they will be rippers...

anyways...best sign off for now...

will try and get some pic's posted, and get some regularity in my postings...i promise!

Thanks all so much for your continued support of the simpson family, and may they year 2011 be a ripper for you all.

love and hugs

the simpsons

xoxox

Our first and only xmas with Eli...

Me and Micka at the City to Bay (Micka is NATURALLY SKINNY)..lol

Always a memory on our tree

Micka from Challenge...great work boss!