100th Post!

In recent months Clare's Creative Corner has been rather uncreative and unproductive. Writing this blog and being creative has taken the backseat to things like uni, a prac, a toddler, being pregnant, running a house, etc, etc. The list goes on, but as of today I am going to try and get back into the swing of it. Hopefully, with the change of seasons and the weather finally warming up this will be the inspiration I need to start being creative again and spending more time writing.

During the last few months of not writing a lot has been happening. I finished all my uni subjects, and a few weeks ago I finished my last prac. As of today, I have officially passed everything and so get to graduate in a few weeks time. I am slowly getting used to this lifestyle without study. I sometimes still get this feeling that I should be sitting down, learning something and writing assignments. It's a strange feeling, not studying, after five long years of it. I somehow feel free but also a little bit lost. I spent so long working towards finishing this degree and now that I have it, I am not in the position to go out into the workforce and use it. There is a big part of me that really wants to go out and work, while the other side knows how important it is to be at home with my kids, to watch and guide them as they grow and develop. I don't feel comfortable, at this point, leaving this to someone else, so it all falls to me (which I am fine with). As my children's first teacher, the skills, theory and knowledge that I developed at uni over these past years will definitely not be forgotten or go to waste, as they are certainly transferable to the home. At least for now, my official journey in the world of learning is on hiatus. However, as we all know, learning never really ends.

I am also now in my third trimester of pregnancy and due mid February. I am both excited and apprehensive about having two kids... will I ever sleep again? My first trimester of pregnancy this time round wasn't any worse than with Nicholas. However, I did find the tiredness more difficult to deal with, and food was a little bit more repulsive. I put both these factors down to having a toddler. I only got to sleep when he slept, and I had to cook food so Nicholas wouldn't go hungry. The second trimester went smoothly but rather quickly because I was on prac, and now that I am in the last trimester I feel like time is slipping away from me. Christmas is just around the corner, than it's January with all its birthdays and BBQs, and then all of a sudden it will be February and I will have two 'outside' children to deal with. Arrgghhh...how will I cope?

While I have had the time, I have been trying to be a little more creative. Once a week I go to Frangipani Fabrics for a sewing session, while Nicholas spends time with his grandparents. The freedom it gives me is great, and I get to make things I would never have the time to do at home. I have a few projects on the go at the moment. Firstly, I have almost finished off Nicholas' quilt, which I started making a longgggg time ago. I only have the hand sewing to go and I intend to finish this before Christmas (hopefully) so I can give it to Nicholas as a present. I started a quilt for Daniel and I (based around this quilt), and in the next week or so will begin another quilt for baby girl. The sewing sessions are really informal and the customer service is excellent. Without the help of Briony and Anne there is no way I would be able to make my quilts. If you are in Hobart and you want to learn to quilt, this is a great option.

I was ultimately hoping that my 100th post would be a little more exciting than this, but as an introduction back into the world of blogging I think it will be satisfactory enough :).

Semester 1

I'm not sure that I have mentioned this yet, but I am back at uni for my last semester of study this year (unless I fail something). I am taking two subjects, and only have one adjective to how I feel about the whole situation: apathetic. I have an assignment due this week and it is taking all my motivation to finish it. It is just soooooo boring. Only 7 weeks and 3 assignments to go and it's all over (except for a prac). Can't wait!

Finished!

Uni is now finished for another year. Woot! I studied hard and powered though my exam. I feel pretty good about it actually. I filled in every question, and answered all my questions coherently. I will definitely pass. I have no doubts.

I was nervous though. It had been years since I had done an exam, and as we were driving in the car to the exam I was starting to feel the nervousness take over. Then I remembered my little exam tradition that I used to do in my first degree. In the morning, before the exam, I would listen to Van Morrison's Days Like This. Thankfully, technology allowed me to look it up, on my phone, in the car and listen to it. I don't need to listen to it on a CD player before I leave for the exam anymore! Anyway, as soon as I listened to the song, I felt my whole body relax and I was ready to tackle the exam. It was such an odd feeling. I didn't realise I had such an association with the song. I had listened to it before I took my exams in my first degree, but since then I had only heard the song a few times. I guess the song is just a good reminder to me, that this is just an exam. In the scheme of things it is probably not that significant. Plus, I am not the only one sitting the exam either. The whole activities centre was packed with people sitting the exams, and we are all nervous. So at least I'm not alone in those feelings. I think it is just a nice upbeat song to listen to before an exam :)

Do you have any exam traditions?

Almost finished :)

My last assignment is now finished and handed in. Only a two hour exam to go and I'll be free again. 13 weeks for a semester is not a long time, but with a baby and a life to live, it seems like forever! Can't wait for it to be over :)

Not enough time!

In the last few weeks my life has been taken over with uni work. The house is a mess! The dishes aren't done, the floor isn't vacuumed, the washing isn't put away, or even in the machine for that matter. I certainty don't want visitors at the moment, and sadly, I can't go visit anyone because I have too many assignments to finish.

When Nicholas was about 8 weeks old, not going to bed until midnight some nights and still waking up twice during the night for feeds I decided that I wanted to go back to uni. In retrospect I am not sure why I decided this was a good idea and why I thought I was going to be able to cope with studying and being a mum. The first few weeks were OK, but then assignments needed to be done and I found I was running out of time. The last week has been really intense. I have spent the entire week at home trying to finish two assignments which were due on the same day. I feel like I have no life. Every moment Nicholas is asleep during the day, I am doing uni work. Even sometimes when he is awake, and this makes me feel really guilty, I have been doing uni work. And this is why I haven't been blogging much either.

I honestly didn't think having a child and doing uni was going to be as difficult as it has been. Unlike last year when I worked two jobs and studied three subjects and survived, this semester has been a real challenge. Not only is most of my spare time taken up with readings, and listening to lectures but I have this feeling that my studying is affecting the limited time I have to spend with Nicholas when he is not sleeping. I have this real desire just to spend time with Nicholas without the burden of uni work bearing down on me, and as mentioned above, I have this real sense of guilt when I can't do this. Thankfully, there are only 3 weeks, one assignment and one exam left till it's finished for the year. And I am hoping that maybe next year (I only have two units and a prac left) my Mum can look after him while I spend a day studying.

This is also one reason why I haven't been blogging much either. Just not enough time!