Brisbane, QLD


Friday, January 13, 2017

A BUNDLE OF JOY ARRIVES

Continuing "My Story"


Bill and I wanted children but we waited until we had a home of our own. We worked to save for a deposit and mortgage and in September 1971 we moved into our new house. Carol–Ann was born in June 1972, so we were lucky that we didn’t have to wait long for our bundle of joy.
I worked until the end of the year at Mansfield State School having to dash from the classroom to throw up nearly everyday but I made it until December. Then I had time to get the nursery ready but now money was not so plentiful with only one of us working. We made do with second hand stuff and planks and bricks for a bookshelf.
We only had one car, which Bill drove to work so I stayed home most of the time. There was a corner shop about one kilometer away but we did our weekly shopping on a Saturday in the car. I did a lot of gardening, making curtains and baby clothes. Because I had a lot of adventures and travel beforehand, I was happy to be a homebody. Although I suffered badly with morning (all day) sickness for the first five months, I was very happy. I was going to keep this baby and love it to death. (That is another story you can read here).

Bill’s Mum and Dad had to return to Switzerland to claim their new apartment so they just missed out seeing their first grand child. It was a long time before they did. My Mum and Dad came from Sydney to be with me before and after the baby was born. In those days we didn’t know the sex of the baby until it was born.
Proud Mum

Proud Grandma

A proud dad and an inquisitive dog, Ricky, who was very gentle and protective.


Proud grandparents


 Carol-Ann, one week old. I was quite nervous as I wasn't sure what to do with a new baby but a mobile baby clinic came to Springwood once a month. However, it was a kilometre walk from home but I didn't mind the outing.


26 comments:

  1. Beautiful baby was Carol, bless her :)
    Life was very different back then. Imagine going to the supermarket once a week, or even monthly like I used to back then...not like today, many go most days..

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  2. A happy time for everyone to become parents and grandparents. I also read your link, very brave of you to share it.

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  3. Hello, Diane! Wonderful memories of your daughter Carol Ann. She was a pretty baby. Love the family photos. Happy Friday, enjoy your weekend!

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  4. beautiful memories captured in your photos.. good idea to plan the first one after the home.

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  5. Hi Diane, that beautiful baby girl is the same beautiful woman who sent you that amazing painting in the post today. I read your link with tears choking me all the way. What a brave lady you were and are. And what amazing parents.

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  6. What a wonderful time in your life! And the proud grandparents' as well. After the events in your earlier life I can only imagine how precious this baby was to you and how lovely and important to have the event celebrated.

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  7. A wonderful new chapter, the beginning of a whole new adventure.

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  8. Such sweet and happy memories! Carol-Ann is so cute and such a pretty head of hair... bet she loves seeing that little cow-lick curl ;D) I can remember doing that to our sweeties too!
    Beautiful photos full of love and happiness, just the best times.
    Our lounge-room also boasted the old brick and plant bookcase - cool!
    Thanks too for sharing your missing page Diane - an incredible story. Hugs xx

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  9. What a beautiful baby and what joy she must have brought you.

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  10. Carol-Ann had a great head of hair at that age.

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  11. Carol_Ann was a gorgeous baby Diane and as Andrew said, what a lot of hair, did you have a lot of indigestion, or is that just an old wives tale 😊 Sad times followed by much happiness!

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  12. Ah----love reading your story... Carol Ann was an adorable baby --and a beautiful and TALENTED young lady now.. I know you are proud of her (and of both of your girls). My first baby came when hubby and I were still in college... I don't know how I did it back then --but I did manage to finish college, have a baby ---and not even be 21 years old yet... YIPES... ha ha

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  13. The pictures of your bundle of joy are absolutely adorable.

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  14. Great post and so glad that all was well. Bet you are still proud Mum. T'other Diane

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  15. What lovely memories. You have some cute pucs too. Our family stared out in a similar way but house and baby came in '73.

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  16. Diane, thank you so much for your recent comment. This was such a sweet chapter to your story! Loved the pictures. I had lost any way to comment on your blog posts because of the recent changes to blogging (ie change of http to https, the Google+ issues etc) and found you via and old post comment from a few months ago. I want to add you to my sidebar but don't know your actual url (I tried https://adventurebeforedementia.html but that didn't work) Don't want to lose you again, so please send me the address so I can add you to my Favorites list. Have a great day!

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    Replies
    1. https://diane-adventurebeforedementia.blogspot.com.au

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  17. Carol Ann was a beautiful baby and I know you were a wonderful mother, Diane. She has grown up to be a beautiful woman and I know your love for each other is even stronger. I began my motherhood journey in 1979. It seems to short yet so long ago. Treasured times in life.

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  18. A mobile baby clinic. Perfect. I love socialized medicine. Mother's have to get out and drive somewhere for advice in the U.S.

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  19. Lovely memories -- it was great that both sets of grandparents could know her (and vice-versa of course) and good for you too.

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  20. what a lovely post. the photos are so nice to look back on. staying happily at home readying for a new baby and making do is so different from a lot of young people these days. oh, listen to me. i sound so old lol

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  21. Beautiful baby, beautiful family :) and I remember having our own bricks and planks of wood for a bookshelf :). Happy New Year to you all.

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