Bye Bye Baby…. Stuff

In the spirit of getting organised for our impending move, I spent today sorting out all our baby gear and preparing for a garage sale I am having with a friend next weekend. If we weren't moving I would probably leave it another 6 months but I really do not want to move a whole lot of baby gear which will not be used.

Over the years we have collected baby stuff as we collected babies. I have tried to be pragmatic and only get what we really needed, but even so we have a lot of stuff! The clothes alone take up multiple boxes. And let's face it whilst 3 year olds destroy their clothing, baby clothing generally is still in good condition when they grow out of it.

We had about 10 boxes of girls clothes stored up before Toby was born, but the day I came home from hospital, CB got them all out and sorted them into 2 piles; pink and unisex. He then put the pink stuff into 9 boxes and we sent them to my sister for my niece who is a few months older than Toby. Since then we have filled several boxes of little boy clothes which I now want to get rid of. Every time I go into a room, I find another thing I no longer need - sterilisers, toddler stroller seat, baby play frame, baby bath; they are all joining the pile for the sale.

The girls have joined in my enthusiasm for getting rid of stuff and have ruthlessly gone through all their toys and pulled out the things that they have out grown, or don't use. I think the promise that they could have the money for anything of theirs that sold has motivated them, though they may be disappointed that they don't make the hundreds of dollars they think their old toys are worth.

I am less motivated by the money and more excited about getting rid of things we no longer use ! The less I have to pack into boxes and move 4 hours away, the better. So whilst in some ways it is sad to think that my little one is no longer really a baby, I am very happy to say goodbye to the baby equipment.

Here is my pile of "stuff" (so far)

Have you ever got rid of something you later regretted?

What doesn't kill you....

The other day the Country Boy found half a cockroach in Toby's mouth! Ewww. I know what you are thinking; where is the other half? It's a good question and one which we still haven't answered.

After initially being grossed out (apparently he was making crunch noises and then a leg fell out of his mouth), I got over it and moved on. He is 1, he is still crawling, and if that's the worst thing he eats that’s OK.

Over the year the girls have also done their fair share of disgusting things. Hannah licked the floor of public swimming pool change room when she was 1. It was the last time I sterilised anything for her. Meg went through a phase of wanting to hug and kiss power poles when we went for walks (2 year olds are right at dog pee height).

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of washing hands before eating, after touching animals, and  bathing regularly. I use different chopping boards for meat and vegetables, and a clean cloths every time I clean the bathroom. But lets face it, a little bit of dirt is a good thing. According to experts, a little bit of dirt is good for our immune system, and according to me, a little bit of dirt is good because it means I can justify not chasing my kids around and wiping their faces!

A bit of dirt is a good thing.

Collecting "Junk"

It's official. I have turned into my parents. I always swore I wouldn't, but it is time to face facts.

When I was a kid we lived around the corner from the garbage tip (it's not as bad as it sounds). This was back before recycling was encouraged and it was ok to dump cans of paint, large sheets of asbestos etc. On Saturday mornings Dad would sit out the front drinking his coffee watching trailer loads of junk be driven past. When he saw something "good" go past he would jump in the car and drive after it. One time, just after Christmas he found a box full of gifts  still in their packets. I still remember a grape soap on a rope, and $50 note - which was big money back then.

These days, I no longer live around the corner from the tip, and people no longer just dump surf skis, Lego and other "quality" items. What has replaced it though, is even better!

Instead of going to the dump, people put out their stuff, and the council cleans it up. Lets face it, council clean up is really a community junk swap.  And what rich pickings there are!

My parents are now laughing at me when I tell them all the great stuff I have got. Bikes, a picnic table, hall table, Tonka truck, book case, clam shell swimming pool for the kids (ours was broken and went out) and a box of over 150 books including a lot of recent releases, are just some of this years  haul.

I used to roll my eyes at my parents when they got stuff for free, now my kids can do the same for me.

Do you like council clean up? What are your best finds?

Here's Toby's new ute, courtesy of  council clean up - every farm boy needs a ute!

P.S. Since writing this, the Country Boy has come home with more great finds! A new kitchen bench for the farm (which we really need) and a giant dolls house (which we really don't need and will soon be chucked. See previous post :))

Keepers and Throwers

If the world is divided in to those who keep things  and those who throw, then I am a thrower. I love nothing more than throwing out things I no longer use. I find it strangely liberating. One of the great things about moving house is that it gives you the opportunity to do some serious throwing out.  Even though it is about 4 months till we move, I walk around the house constantly going -"we can chuck this" much to the horror of who ever ''owns" the item.

Recently I went through my wardrobe. Admittedly it's been 18 months since some clothes have been worn (pregnancy and post pregnancy), but even I was surprised at how much stuff I had in there which I had not worn for years. Some clothes I had in there since before I was pregnant with Hannah (7 years ago). What was I thinking???? Even on the slight chance that I would someday return to that size, it is unlikely that I would want to wear them again anyway (hot pants anyone?). Ohhh how liberating it was.  My rule was if I hadn't worn it after Meg was born, it had to go. The pile grew quickly, as holey socks, skirts purchased in the 1990's, and those "what was I thinking" pieces were all added.

I have a bit of a confession though… I couldn't quite bring myself to throw out a couple of dresses that remind me of significant events in my life. Maybe I'm not the thrower I think I am. Maybe I'm a keeper. After all, some things are worth keeping.

(Meg demonstrating a "what was I thinking" fashion piece)

Are you a keeper or a thrower? What do you find hard to throw away?

Birthdays

We are in the midst of a run of birthdays in our family. Toby turned 1 on Friday, and Meg turns 4 on Tuesday.

We celebrated a combined birthday with my family over the weekend, embracing the current enthusiasm for shared birthday parties while it lasts (I can't see a combined 10th and 14th happening somehow).

When we were sitting around with my siblings and parents, it occurred to me that these gatherings are going to become rarer. One of my sisters is planning to return to South East Asia where she and her husband have worked on and off for the past 5 years.

We, of course, are moving 4 hours away at the end of the year.

Whilst I am getting excited about the move, one of my major anxieties is moving so far from my family. Granted 4 hours by car is not as far as 3 flights into rural South East Asia. We see my parents and siblings all on a weekly basis. We have a lot of common interests and friends. I love spending time with them. I know it's not a reason to stay, but it will be quite a change for me.

So in the spirit of embracing what we have right now, everyone is coming back over to our house next weekend. Dad is having a birthday, and whilst we are all together, we should celebrate!

Beginnings

So this is how it began…

My husband, the Country Boy (CB),  grew up on a sheep property in Southern N.S.W.  We met at University and got married a few years later. We settled in the Blue Mountains where I grew up, but CB has always dreamt of returning to the farm, where his parents still live.

In the Easter holidays in 2010 we were riding around the farm on a motor bike when out of my mouth popped "you know we could always try moving here for 12 months and see how it works out". I usually try to think about what I say before it comes out but I swear the thought formed in my mouth. Being 5 months pregnant at the time, I blame the hormones.

We talked it over and did some investigation, and suddenly we are escaping to the country to try a new life.

I confess I feel quite nervous about our tree change. We have a great life here in the Blue Mountains with family and friends close by. How will I cope being so far from my family, will I get used to an hour round trip for milk, does life really exist where there is no mobile phone reception? It's a bit of an experiment.

Have you done something similar? What advice can you give me?