WHY BLOG?
It seems that the old cliche of ‘having a baby totally changed my life’ has occurred for me too. I spend more time at home than I ever have before and when I do go out it is often to buy groceries! Ok, perhaps that is a slight exaggeration… I play netball, go for walks, volunteer, pop into work, visit the Chiropractor, run 2 businesses, eat out (perhaps too often) and go on family outings most weekends. Oh, and we’ve just started renovating our house!
So why not start a blog?
I used to have something written here about blogging being a great way to keep friends and family updated with my life… blah, blah, blah. But who am I kidding? I started a blog because…
a) it seemed like a fun thing to do at the time – seems like all the cool kids are doing it!
b) like most bloggers, I think I have some really, really important stuff to say that I know the whole world are dying to hear 
and c) my audience at home usually consists of just one person and she’s 9 months old. So I can talk to her or I can talk to the internet – in both situations I can do it in my undies if I so desire, and in both situations I don’t really know if anyone is listening. But at least online I still get the occasional feedback!
ABOUT ME
My name is Alexandra. I am 23. I look approximately 12 years old and I get many stares when I walk around carrying a baby. By the way, my baby is beautiful. Definitely no bias here at all. And I’m sure the stares are all because people are so very amazed at how gorgeous she is. And when I get comments like “wow, you look young” or for the more direct people, questions like “how old are you?”, I am sure they really mean to say “wow, you’re baby looks pretty” or “how lucky are you?!”
I live in what we like to call a ‘tree-house’ with my partner Patrick and our baby girl Evangeline (9 months as at September 2011). We also have Patrick’s 4 year old daughter Gracie living with us some of the time. Another very beautiful girl. She is adopted from Taiwan and lives with us 3 days/2 nights a week. Gotta love family dynamics!
I birthed Evie at home with the support of Patrick and our incredible midwife. You can read my birth story here. It was the most wonderful experience of my life and I like to think that this choice is one of the reasons Evie is such a calm, happy and healthy baby (but don’t ask me about her temperament when I’m tired or hungry – you might get a different answer!). I have breastfed her since she was born and plan to do so until she tells me she’s ready to stop. Breastfeeding however, has been the most challenging thing I’ve ever done in my life. Had I not known the benefits of it, I feel I may have chucked in the towel many months ago. Evie isn’t vaccinated, she sleeps in our bed (including day naps, when I sleep – or at least sit – with her), she eats fruit, vegetables and meat – mainly organic (no, she doesn’t have pureed organic food from a jar/packet, she doesn’t have rusks/bread/biscuits/pasta), she gets lots of love, cuddles and play time, she is worn in a wrap when we go out (unless I go for an ‘exercise’ walk, in which case we pram) and she has regular Chiropractic adjustments. Each of these things have been challenging at times but have been choices I’m glad I have made. I also feel fortunate enough to be able to do each of these things without work and finances getting in the way. Something I have to remind myself not to take for granted.
Those are my parenting choices. As far as my personal choices go… I eat similarly to Evie (except the breast milk ), I exercise when I can (although not as much as I should), I love to read, I am not ‘religious’ as far as the common use of the word goes but am spiritual (if you can find a difference), I love my relationship with Patrick and I love eating Chinese food (not the greasy take-away, MSG-filled variety)! I am half way through a Bachelor of Health Science degree (on hold whilst I play mummy) which I plan to couple with a Masters in Chiropractic, I studied Chiropractic in New Zealand (although didn’t complete it – again, I came home to play mummy), I help Patrick to run his practice (he is a Chiropractor), I have started a business for Chiropractic Assistants and in case you hadn’t worked it out… I spend lots of time in Chiropractic circles. And I love it!
I’m passionate about my own lifestyle choices and my parenting choices. But I’m also a self-confessed-walking-contradiction. No, my children cannot have a piece of chocolate – but sure, hit me up! Luckily the 4 year old chooses an apple over a chocolate bar every time, but the 9 month old is now wanting to eat whatever mummy is eating so we don’t eat ‘dumb food’ (as it has now been labelled by our 4 y.o) in front of them.
So that’s me. And my family. And our values. I look forward to hearing from you – it will be very exciting for me… well at least until the baby can talk and comment on what I have to say!
Alexandra
Cavewoman image inspiration source HERE
