Tahlia Maree Kuenen

Born 4th September 2009, 11.30am, weighing 7lb 5oz.

Missy Moo decided to arrive on Friday after much walking on my behalf. I even went to the gym to walk on a treadmill (don't fret, at a snail pace) as it was the only place cool enough for me to walk. Then Mum dragged me out later that night for a walk around the complex. All of this so I could avoid inducing if I wanted. So of course a few hours later labour began and 10 hours later she arrived!! Of course she is gorgeous. It is my parental right to have that eye removed for such instances. She is doing well, very similar looking to both Sharni and Nait. Obviously they have all come from the same mold. So now we have a little Yankie to take home as a token of our time in Houston. When looking for names we were laughing at having Hugh Stan as a boy name, but obviously thought better of it. Not to mention she didn't look like a Hugh..... Anyway enough with the chit chat I will cut to the chase and just show you some pics. I know that is what you want to see.


Oh I almost forgot, I have no idea how as it was such a lovely homecoming. Sharni, Nait and their friend Sophie (not to mention the adults) had decorated our garage door and our whole house for when Tahlia & I arrived home. It was beautiful, I felt very spoilt.

Waiting, waiting, waiting

Slack I know I haven't been blogging forever and you would think I have all the time in the world with 2 grandmothers in the house. But hey I am 9 months pregnant so you will just have to deal with it and move on.

Honestly not a lot has been happening, well I guess lots of day to day things but no adventures. Which has been quite nice to be honest!

Obviously the grandmothers arrived albeit exhausted from the trip. But are now in Houston time and loving time with the kids. I feel a little guilty that we haven't really taken them anywhere or done a lot. But it is so hot that between myself and them I don't want to leave the house. It seems a bit cooler the past couple of days, but I am not going to get my hopes up too much just yet.

Sharni has just started her new year at school. Thank goodness, we were all looking forward to that, well except for Nait. She has a lovely teacher and has made a new friend as all her old friends are in the other class. She is loving it and comes home full of information to enlighten us mere adults. It is lovely to see her so enthusiastic about school, make the most of that while we can I guess. She looks all grown up in her new kindergarten uniform. The kindergarten here is a bit of a cross between pre-primary and year one at home. But she is now considered part of the 'big kids' so all is good in the world. She comes home with rhymes to remember how to write her numbers so Nana, Sharni & Nait have been doing their number raps.

Nait is going well, although his eczema has gotten no better, so I have taken him to a naturopath. Texas doesn't recognise naturopaths so there are only 2 in all of Houston (population of 4million). I tried to take him to the dermatologist but they just wanted to give him stronger steroid creams with no attempt to treat the cause and his skin pigmentation has already changed colour in the affected areas. The creams just don't keep it away. Anyway the naturopath was good and helpful and hopefully we are onto something as the poor little man is quite bad. She was amazed at the amount of people from Australia she treats and obviously were are a little more open minded to alternative methods for treatments. Unlike the Americans who love their drugs. We love watching the medication TV adds. No exaggeration, 'here is a cream for those minor cuts etc, possible side effects include stroke, paralysis etc....' you get the point. Nait still makes us laugh with all sorts of comments, his latest is 'for real life!'. I think Sharni got this from school and now Nait has adpoted it. So everything is 'for real life, Mum'

Right now we are waiting for this baby to arrive. I had a dousy of a labour pain this evening and everyone went into drill mode. But then nothing. Hence I thought well since the grandmothers have nested for me it was about time I updated this neglected blog. Not to mention I will have to update it soon with some pics of the little addition.

Dene has been teaching Mum, his Mum and myself Texas Hold'm (poker for anyone who has no idea what that is). Funny, firstly watching him watching us trying to make sense of it. Secondly he can completely manipulate the game as we are so busy concentrating on the game that bluffing etc will just have to wait. Thirdly his other lesson for the mothers, is explaining it on TV. It seems to be on TV 24/7. So they have taken on this extra tutorial to understand the game. Anyway it is providing us with lots of laughs and entertainment while there is still nothing decent TV on. I am hanging out for the new seasons to begin, soon it must be soon.

I passed my Texas driving test after almost passing out thinking I was going to fail. I think they just wanted to get rid of the pregnant woman.

Dene and I went to our first American Football game. Really quite good. VERY different to any football games at home. There are seriously about 80 players for each team and they only come on for a couple of minutes and then the whole field changes. Everyone is extremely specifically skilled. And they are slow ass runners and overweight. Absolutely useless and I am saying that from a non runner myself. One guy on the other team got the ball and ran. And I swear the guy who had to try and catch up ran about 20m and then just died (not literally). Too funny. They are definitly not athlete looking men, well some where but not many. Dene was quite happy to see the cheerleaders and there were almost as many of them as there are players. It is just as hyped as the movies make it out to be, even with trailer parties in the car parks. Reminded me a little of 'Grease' when we came out at the end to the parking lot at the end.

Anyway I have to go to bed, better get some rest in case bugalugs decides to come tonight.