It’s been a week for big news here at In Search of a Life Less Ordinary.
First of all, I got to the finals of the Best Australian Blogs 2012 competition (by the way, the winner is announced on 10 May).
Now I get to share my biggest news of all.
This journey is about to take an incredible and exciting turn because… we’re having a baby!
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| Photo credit: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net |
I’m as proud as punch to share this news. I’ve been keeping it to myself for what seems like ages.
On 12 November, our small family will grow as a new addition arrives. He or she will emerge to a life we’ve created over here by the ocean and our little Scorpio boy or girl, our very own Australian water baby, will hopefully thrive.
I already have the mini-Speedos lined up, the Malibu surfboard picked out. It’s too soon to go looking for sunnies and board shorts but I’m confident the kid will like my choice of thongs.
I can’t describe how strange it is to patiently wait for the arrival of a baby born to a country not my own, but it’s exciting and quite different and even slightly sublime.
We’ve travelled a long road to get here.
Physically, we’ve covered thousands of kilometres and crossed continents to arrive at this place. To reach a point in time where we feel settled and ready to be good parents.
Emotionally, the road has been just as long.
Fraught with anxiety and fear, the path hasn’t been easy for us but, with an outcome like this, it’s no longer of consequence. We’re here, we’re happy, and we plan to enjoy this tiny creation for all it’s worth.
There will no doubt be challenges ahead.
We’ll be raising a child with parents from opposite sides of this planet. It will be born into a world of uncertain economic times albeit entering into a country that, for now, is safe and still strong.
This new life brings with it great hope and anticipation.
This baby will be loved by its British-Aussie parents. It will be adored by its international family – in the UK, Canada, New Zealand, America and here in Oz. And this ‘little Vegemite’ will share in the immense experiences and joy that we’ve found through travel and on our journey so far.
This week has been a truly great week and I’m so pleased to be able to share my big news with you here today.
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Wonderful news. I am really pleased for you both. I seem to remember it was you who made a comment about traveling with children and how I just needed to “suck it up” when it came to flying with babies and toddlers. I can’t wait to hear how it all goes for you.
That is really really great Russell .CONGRATULATIONS!!
see me about schools!!!!
Congratulations Russell, such wonderful news! It’s cliche to say that children change your lives, but true nonetheless. Wouldn’t trade it for anything. So happy for you and your wife. Can’t wait to hear about the adventures of Baby ISOALLO.
You made me cry Russ. So excited for you both. I’m certain that he or she will be a truly happy little Vegemite. Vix x
Wow! Congratulations! Another third culture kid or global nomad will be born. How exciting.
Mummy in Provence has a nice website with Global differences of having a baby abroad:
http://www.mummyinprovence.com/global-differences-having-baby-abroad
Congratulations on more great news, Russell. I look forward to hearing about your life as an expat dad!
Many congratulations!!!
Thanks Kirsty. Appreciate it.
Yes, I remember that comment too (made in jest of course!) and shall no doubt live to regret it, over and over and over. But I do seem to have your email and twitter address – when I next fly, I may be bringing you along for the ride 😉
Thanks so much, Lesley. I will certainly be coming to you for advice in due course. But first, the birth!
Thanks, Linda. I’m ready and willing for that change in my life now, for sure. We’re both over the moon. And Baby ISOALLO it is (although I’m not sure how that will read on the birth certificate).
Sorry Vix. But I know it was a ‘good’ cry 🙂
I’m certain they’ll be happy too, wherever we are, whatever we’re doing. There’s a lot of love in this house waiting for the little feller or lass.
Thanks so much, Claire.
Thanks, Heather. it’s been a good week and long may it continue. I’ll be sure to share future stories 🙂
Yep, wow indeed – and thanks! We’re still in that ‘dazed and confused’ stage. There’s no big baby belly yet so it’s all a little bit surreal. I’ll be sure to check out that website. Thanks again.
Congratulations! I’ve read your blog but haven’t commented before, but wanted to pop out of the woodwork for such great news. I love “little Vegemite,” what an adorable and appropriate nickname!
Thanks, Edna, and I really appreciate you making the effort to leave a comment. Of course I’m also very pleased you like my news – I’ll be sure to share more about the little Vegemite over time 🙂
More great news, congratulations!
No doubt Russ you’ll have to try and see if the “little Vegemite” might actually prefer to be known as the “little Marmite”?! Congrats to you both again.
Congratulations Russell! Welcome to the world of being a parent of a little Aussie-Brit and know that for Baby ISOALLO Vegemite will always trump Marmite 🙂
What exciting news Russell! Congrats on your little blogger!
Congratulations on your wonderful news – welcome to the start of the rest of your life, you’re about to embark on your greatest journey yet! And I have to say… I’m in the Marmite camp! Really happy for you and Sarah 🙂
Congrats to both of you and welcome on board ! A new life is starting for both you. Enjoy the current one!
Best,
Shouldn’t you be hedging your bets with a cute little pink cossie as well as the speedos? Contratulations to you both, but particularly to your missus as she going to be doing all the hard work!
Lovely news, congratulations!
Congratulations Russell – great news. Wherever you make or have your child remember in essence they’re part of who you are and vice versa 🙂
Congratulations – lovely news! Where ever you bring a child into the world and where ever they go its about the culture they’re brought in at home – one that is about love and being an important part of each other’s worlds 🙂 (I’ve got a November born (due Scorpio ended up Sagittarius) Irish born, Dutch raised English boy of Anglo-Irish-Jewish parentage who was we believe made in France?)
Congratulations! Bringing a child into the world, when the world isn’t necessarily yours, is an enriching experience. Believe me, get ready for the greatest adventure of your life!
This is absolutely wonderful! Yes, clearly now is the time. And probably the place, being so much more stable than many parts of the world… It’s good to have a child when you DO feel settled (it took me so long to settle down that I had a child rather late!) Congratulations to you both. Do you know if it is a boy or girl yet?
Thanks Carrie.
Thanks heaps Vicky 🙂
Cheers, Mark. The jury’s out on that one. Being a Marmite babe myself who semi-converted in later life, it could go either way 😉
Thanks Evelyn. I think I’ll have to do the ‘taste test challenge’ on Baby ISOALLO early on. Two pieces of bread – one lathered in Marmite, the other in Vegemite. Whichever piece ends up on the floor loses.
Thanks Liv. Will try not to drone on too much about the little thing as time goes on but will have to rapidly introduce him/her to the way of the blog!
The plan is to enjoy these next few months and make the most of it being just the two of us, knowing how it will all change very quickly. Thanks for the congrats!
Congrats to you and your family!
Thanks Aisha! Good to see you in the Marmite camp. Can you get that over there in Canada? We’ve found a little place that sells it at a good price. It regularly sits happily next to it’s Commonwealth cousin on the pantry shelf.
You found the flaw in my post, Jack. Although I’d like to think girls and boys can share similar tastes in beach clothing. We’re actually going neutral on everything – we won’t be finding out the sex so it will be a big surprise at the very end.
Thanks for the congrats – and I’ll pass them on to Sarah 🙂
I’d like to think so, Nicola. Thanks 🙂
Less than six months and counting – thanks for the best wishes! Life will definitely be less ordinary very soon!!
Blimey, that is one international kid you have there, Nicola. Good on you.
This baby will be lucky to have family and heritage from so many great places of the world… and, in this day and age, with transport and technology, it won’t be difficult to share those places with him or her. Thanks again.
Hey Emma, thank you so much. It also took us a long time to feel settled and ready – we wanted to travel, explore, do other things – so we’re older in reaching this stage than many of our friends were. But we have unique experiences and adventures under our belt as a result that I would never trade with them.
We don’t yet know whether it’s a boy or girl and have decided not to find out this time. It will be fun to find out on the big day 🙂
Congratulations! I’m also a Brit who settled in Australia, and I had my 2nd baby here in Adelaide. I hope you guys find, as my partner and I did, that having a child in your adopted country helps you to feel bonded to where you are now. As you say, born to a country not your own – yes – and that’s beautiful! Enjoy the journey.
Thanks Emily. Hope you and Rodolfo are well.
Thanks so much, Katy, and for sharing that with me.
Already our Australian friends are reaching out to us with increasing offers of support and my wife (who is Sydney born) feels more relaxed and connected to her home. It can only be good for us and this baby. Looking forward to the coming months!
PS. Good luck today 🙂
Congratulations, fabulous news!
Thanks Judy 🙂
Hi Russel, Congratulations ! Having a child abroad is a great adventure and full of surprises ! You will learn a lot about your own and your spouse’s culture on best practices on expecting and having a baby. You might even fight about drinking a glass of wine when expecting or having baby sleeping in his parent’s bed etc..
Have fun ! Congrats too for having your blog listed as a finalist even If I saw it too late to vote:-(
Hi Anne – thanks! I’m sure it will be a little adventure of its own… and I am currently quite enjoying having a driver on an average weekend evening right now 🙂
Thanks for your comment re. the blog comp. All good fun.
Huge congratulations to you both! Fabulous news! Enjoy the coming months……nay years!!! It will be the most worthwhile journey……with ups and downs……and all surrounded by the most unique, unconditional love. Special – very! We have our very own half Aus – half Eng teenager showing us the way….impossible to imagine life prior…..soooo happy for you…..& well, more CONGRATS! Love love LOVE xXx
Would you believe it’s in Real Canadian Superstore and Metro – but finding it was difficult because they put it with the gravy stuff – like good old HP Brown Sauce, they market it as a marinade for meat!!!
Yep, they do the same here. It’s with the beef stock and stuff – and it’s not called Marmite, it’s actually called OurMate, but it’s exactly the same thing. Lovely stuff 🙂
Thanks Maryjane! That’s a lovely message – thank you for that 🙂
We are both very excited and interested to see how the next few years will pan out. I believe it will broaden our experiences not narrow them. Looking forward to it all!
A Daddy blogger? Ooooh, this is going to be so much fun! Well done you and all the best to your long-suffering missus. Oh, and eeuuw on the baby Speedo.
Okay, we’ll keep the Speedos to me for now. Yes, daddy blogger indeed – is there even such a thing? Daddy expat… Dad after a life less ordinary… Dad on tour… The list goes on. I’ll be sure to keep you posted on it all 🙂
Sorry I am a bit slow in responding, but none the less – Congratulations this is an exciting time for you both. Now following on from your appearance on HGTV – another station TLC has ‘A Baby Story’ could be worth considering – let the little one share the spotlight….All the very best. Cheers SorrentoMoon
Thanks SorrentoMoon. We might need to have a break from these TV shows for a while. House Hunters was a lot of work. But I wonder if they’re casting right now…? 😉
Many congratulations to you and your family. I look forward to reading about your adventures with the new little one 🙂
Nice work buddy! Congrats! Tiger and I will be more than happy to pass on some words of wisdom but my advice is, don’t listen to us!
Thanks mate. I’ll be sure to remember that next time you offer some advice! I’m currently spending my time giving Tiger words of wisdom about not eating quite so much bad food. Three pizzas already this week by all accounts 😉
Thanks Annette. I’m sure there will be plenty to write about. That’s what is so great about blogging and writing. An event like this can create a whole bunch of new material 🙂
Congratulations, that’s wonderful news! Of course, Mum’s gone 2 Aus can help with plenty of practical information when it comes to having a baby and raising children in Australia. For now I’d recommend making the most of your final child free months – go to the cinema, visit fancy restaurants, stay at a nice hotel, spend a whole morning reading the newspapers. Life’s going to be very different once your Aussie ‘bub’ comes along 🙂
That kid is going to LOVE that you are a Brit – ticket to easy visa access for travel! Ha!
Congrats! What a big new adventure you have ahead of you!
Haha, thanks – and I’m sure you’re right. The world just became a whole lot bigger for this kid thanks to our Australian-British passports! Roll on the next stage of the adventure 🙂
Thanks so much, Sarah. I look forward to using (rather than just reading for pleasure) your site when the time comes!
Believe me when I say that, for now, we are wholeheartedly embracing the quiet mornings, evenings spent eating out at a local restaurant, and time for just the two of us (plus Milo of course). I can see that this will all change soon enough 🙂
Congratulations.. Its good to have good news… I am sure the british grandparents will also be pleased to have a Aussie born grandchild … Hope they can make many visits to see their new grandchild
Thanks Pat. It’s been a great couple of weeks and nice to finally be able to share this news. And, yes, they are very pleased and looking forward to coming over at Xmas time (hopefully). This is their first grandchild so it may be a spoiled grandchild!
Don’t forget about your international online family who loves reading about all of your adventures! Congrats 🙂
Never! Thanks for the congrats, Laura 🙂