Back in December, I participated in a meme started by Essentially Jess to write my Christmas wishlist.
Five things I wanted over and above everything else.
And here’s how it panned out.
1. A vat of Cankles BeGone.
Apparently this product doesn’t exist. D’oh. But I received foot gel. Foot cream. Lectric Soda Crystals. My husband occasionally massaged my feet. My massage therapist step-sister too, when she was in town. My physio friend. And another friend even gave me a voucher for a luxury foot massage.
And I have, of course, now given birth, and after a brief period of further inflation (which I wouldn’t have thought possible!), the swelling receded.
So we’ll call that a win.
2. A cleaning fairy.
 |
| Ashleigh’s got the fairy part down pat. I’ll just replace the wand with a feather duster… |
Apparently cleaning fairies don’t exist either. D’oh some more. But my nearest and dearest friends pitched in to get me a voucher for FOUR HOURS worth of house cleaning. My mother scrubbed the bathrooms before I went in to hospital. My mother-in-law cleaned while I was in there. Friends who come to visit all seem to do something while here – one vacuumed, another swept, and yet another cleaned the microwave!
So we’ll call that another win.
3. Time to read the books I want to read.
Ha. Not so much. But in the week before the birth, my parents took Ashleigh for a few nights. Friends offered to babysit. And while in hospital, while Mitchell was still happy to sleep when not feeding, I managed to read a little bit (when not injuring myself).
I’ve also managed to, very occasionally, synchronise the children’s naps. So, in the last four months, I’ve managed to get through quite a few of Jeffrey Deaver‘s Kathryn Dance books, Lionel Shriver’s Big Brother, Joyce Carol Oates’s Rape: A Love Story, The Hunger Games trilogy (I’m always ahead of the pack!), and the latest outlandish metaphor-riddled Odd Thomas outing from Dean Koontz. I’ve also re-read perennial favourites April Fools Day and The Surgeon of Crowthorne.
Nothing too long or too heavy, but reading nonetheless. So we’ll call that a draw (and really, considering my current circumstances, we’ll call that a win).
4. A simple birth for bub.
YES! Things actually went according to plan! We went to the hospital on the scheduled date. We checked in. We put clothes away. We put toiletries in the bathroom. We prepared. We marvelled at how much it felt like checking into a hotel instead of attending hospital for a planned medical procedure. We went to theatre. We marvelled at how quickly it stopped feeling like checking into a hotel. We had a baby.
The procedure was faster this time (somewhat ironic, since it was less rushed), took less of a toll on my body, and came without the horrible panic and concern for the health of the child I was carrying. And instead of being stuck in recovery by myself for hours afterwards, clinging to the image of my daughter and the brief hug we’d had before she and Cameron left the theatre, I was back in the company of my husband and son within the hour following his birth. Such a weight (and wait!) off my mind.
Tick. Another win.
5. Family and sibling love.
Absolutely. Ashleigh adores Mitchell. She doesn’t (yet) resent him for the time I no longer get to spend lavishing attention on her. (I’m the one copping the brunt of that. It hurts, but I’d prefer to cop it than to witness it happening to her brother.) She wants to give him cuddles and kisses, and teach him how to do things. She sings him songs, dances for him, and blows raspberries on his chubby little cheeks.
Sure, she wishes he was more active, and there are no doubt the odd moments where she wishes she could put him back in my tummy, but hey, haven’t we all felt that way about our siblings at some stage? (No? Yeah, me neither. Ahem.)
And Mitchell adores Ashleigh. He recognised his sister’s voice very early on. When she’s nearby, his head swivels in her direction. She gets the most smiles, coos, goos and slobbers.
We’ve done more things as a family of four than we’d done as a family of three at this stage of Ashleigh’s life. We’ve been to the park. To parties. Friends’ houses. Music group. The football.
 |
| You’ll never guess which team Cameron and the kids barrack for. |
So, much like the Blues did that day, we’ll call that one a win too.
—-
Not too shabby! Thanks to Essentially Jess for prompting me to write a Christmas wishlist last year. Someone powerful was listening reading. And granting.
What was on your Christmas wishlist? Did your wishes come true?
And if you’ve read Big Brother, tell me what you thought. I’m itching to talk to someone about it.
Yay so many wins!! Love the idea of a cleaning voucher!! I also love the idea of a birth going to plan!! I am glad things are going so well for you!!
Thanks, Ann. Yet to use the cleaning voucher, but getting to the stage where it’s necessary!
I didn’t have a Christmas wishlist but it certainly looks like yours can true !!
Have the best day !
Me
Thank you! Best day now underway.
Cleaning voucher? Love it! Glad so many things have come true for you this year x
YES to the cleaning voucher! YES YES YES!
How lovely to see that Christmas wishes really can come true! I did the Christmas wishlist thing too (redlandcityliving.com/dear-santa-my-christmas-wishlist/) and am very happy to report that all three of my wishes came true too!!!!
Thanks for the link! I’m glad your wishes came true, too.
Woohoo! That’s awesome your baby’s birth went according to plan. Your children sound and look so cute too! Congrats!
Thank you. Yes, it really was such a relief to have something go to plan.
I have to say I LOVE seeing this Em – your boy is growing up so fast, and soon he’ll be like mine – nearly two! I can’t remember my Xmas wish list, probably sleep, less stress, but my three get older, I just crave their love! Em xxx
Aaargh, I know. I was teary the other night thinking about how quickly he’s growing up. Starting to understand why youngest children get babied for so much longer! I don’t want to let the baby stage go!
So great all your wishes came true. I haven’t gone back and had a look at my wishes, I know at least one came true, and I am wondering why it took me so long to embrace the mobile phone!
Once you start, you never look back.
This is a very worthwhile exercise. If we looked back and counted our wins more we’d probably be pleasantly surprised how well things have gone – mostly. 😉
Congratulations, all sounds wonderful.
Too true. Perhaps I should write another one for the rest of the year. Something to look forward to in December – more fist-pumping YES moments!
Hooray!!! Yay for winning! Glad your wishes came true. You have such a beautiful little family xxx
Thanks Jess. And thanks for kicking it all off with the wishlist idea!
Goodness I have no idea what I wished for – But I am starting my next list very soon…I want a lot of things!
Good idea. Now that I have all of these things, I should wish for more things. ALL THE THINGS!
Mitchell is just gorgeous, Em! I should look back and see what came true from my Christmas Wish.
My husband’s a big Blues Fan. Actually, he was at the Swans vs Blues game tonight. Unfortunately the Blues lost but he said it was still a fun night – rain, sloshed feet and all 🙂
P.S Thanks again for my book! xxx
Thanks, Grace. We certainly think so.
I’m from Tigerland, but have been to far more Blues games recently!
P.S. You’re still welcome! x
Hi Emily, your kids are beautiful. Well done on ticking off so many things. I can’t remember what I wished for, if anything, to be honest. Promise to make an effort this year. Cheers Leanne
Thanks, Leanne. I’m pretty happy with how it’s all panned out!
I am printing this out and highlighting the bits about mum, mum in law and friends visiting and cleaning.
I am going to laminate it and mount it near my front door. Just so guests know what is expected in future.
Love it!
Excellent idea!
Barracking for the blues would always be a win 🙂
I wanted a pool for Christmas and on Monday it goes in. That is called saving and hard work but winning!
Oooh, well I have to say I’m always glad when the Blues win, because then hubby’s happy!
Unless they’re playing Richmond. YELLOW AND BLACK!