I didn’t expect to get so much pleasure out of reading what makes up everyone’s “Beauty Full” on a given day.  Thank you :)

So, it seems you all were so enthusiastic about commenting that my wonderful (or not) webhost got cranky and started closing the door on and off last week.  We’ve now got some more space allotted so we have room for everyone, apologies for those few crazy days back there.  While it was just a little frustrating for me, it’s good news for you as I’ve decided to do two draws on the actions giveaway…just to make sure everyone got counted!

One comes from my email notifications which were a more accurate record of the comments left (470 in total after double IP’s taken out) and the other from the comments here..Sooo, here we go!

Draw 1 – Email notifications…Random number 351 – ANGIE BAXTER!

Draw 2 – (blog comments, out of 445) – No 253 – CATHERINE ANN “Springtime”.

Angie and Catherine Ann, email me for your set!

Thanks again to everyone for entering :)

Sx

ps…Well, it seems Angie was really Mindy who wanted to be Mindy but accidentally became Angie for the purpose of her comment and therefore Angie commented twice, unbeknowns to her..Yes, yes, I’m confused too but it really just means we’ll give the Angie/Mindy duo a set each and make it a three way split :)  It’s just that kind of week!  Congrats girls!  S xx

More than ten years ago while I was pregnant with Luca, my obstetrician used to say “boring is good”.  As chirpy first time parents, we’d go in, excitedly waiting to hear something amazing.  But frustratingly,  he’d tell us nothing very amazing at all.  That’s what we’d get.. “boring is good”.

And then, not very long after, I found myself in the depths of PND.  Post natal depression, for those lucky enough to have no idea what I’m talking about.

Here was this gorgeous baby, the one I had been so blessed in being given without so much as a second request.  The one I’d prepared the all white nursery and bought European rompers and bonnets with ears for.   The same one I’d meticulously planned to birth naturally with aromatherapy oil, well rehearsed affirmations and candle-light.  The very one who turned breech and arrived, jaundiced,  via c section in a hospital theater with my husband and nine other people in blue gowns.

Whether it was the Virgo, the first time mother or the perfectionist in me I don’t know but whatever it was, I couldn’t quite come to terms with any of it really.  Not the clinical birth, not the awkward breastfeeding, not the relentless effort that being in charge of a newborn requires.  Nor the fact that a week after his arrival, Crayton had to leave for overseas when his Mum suddenly collapsed with a brain tumor.   I felt totally out of my depth and would sit alone for hours not knowing what to even say to the poor child.   The minute he’d cry, I would too.   The reality just wasn’t matching the picture one little bit.   I hated to admit it but eventually I did.  I had PND.

It was a rough start but I sought good help.  Crayton came home, Luca slept through.  I started to enjoy motherhood.  And to prove the point, I did it three more times over.   I since know a lot more about PND.  I’ve been lucky that it wasn’t a factor with the other three and been blessed to feel the elation that new motherhood can offer too.

As I tucked Luca in tonight, I pondered our early days together.  While I would have liked an easier time back then,  I do appreciate the lessons that came with the journey.   I’ve got a little older, possibly a bit wiser, and discovered along the way that sometimes life just doesn’t go according to the Grand Scheme.  I’ve found out more than once that the best laid plans, well they go rather astray every now and again.

And that my ob was right.  Boring is good.

S x

(I had to share Luca’s portrait – a mix between the Mona Lisa and one of the Gibb brothers, don’t you think?  Oh, and Eye Candy Actions draw will be on Wednesday!)

I love seeing what people do with the Eye Candy actions..gives me a little thrill every time!  I’ve seen so many lovely images over the last month, here’s a few that make my heart flutter!  (Credits for individual photographers underneath).

Today’s a good day to give a set away, just cause :)  Please leave a comment, telling me in one word what makes up your “beauty full” today.  I’ll draw it with one of those fancy number generator things early next week :)

ps..Fran and I have had non stop fun with Ye Olde Spam Filter, sending out Eye Candy Workshop place offers this week.  If you’re waiting on an offer, please do check your Spam folder!
S xx

1. 3-20-09-1441, 2. eye candy, 3. purplehaze, 4. Amalie using Sheye’s awesome actions :), 5. Lucy 75/365, 6. IMG_B6543, 7. Looking for baby fish, 8. Stacy., 9. Anti-gravity.