Summer holiday

We recently returned from a quick 1 week escape to Merimbula to meet up with friends from Sydney. We have each had a baby since the last time we saw each other, so we decided to meet halfway, holiday together and meet the newbies.

Sun, surf, sand, poolside, walks, swims, brief book reading, food, wine and more food. Great fun, relaxing...except when Harper and S got tired and started up the 3 year old antics. The funniest/most annoying bit was when you'd try to discipline one, the other would repeat what the parent said. It went a little something like this:

Me: "S, give Harper some space. That's why he's pushing you"

Harper: "Yes! Give me some SPACE!" (while he pushes her away)

...and so on and so forth. They took it in turns. Funny how they know how to share when it comes to being ferrets!

I even got a delicious 40 minutes by the pool on. my. own. I know. By some miracle, both girls were asleep so I ran out the door with my book and towel and went to the adult pool to lay on a sun lounge and relax. After 10 minutes of quiet bliss the wind picked up. The clouds came in. I persisted. Even took a dip in the pool. It started to lightly rain. I sat there...and then gave up.
Strangely, I found that whilst I'm always craving some "me" time, after about 30 minutes of having it I was (dare I say it!) bored. It's more fun swimming when my family is with me. How I've changed my tune. Gone are the days of 3 week holidays by the beach/pool, reading 4 books and getting a tan. Perhaps I'm ok with that more than I realised... x

3 year old kinder

S went to her orientation session at kinder today. Her eyes nearly popped at seeing the painting, pasting and play dough stations. She didn't know which one to do first.

Meanwhile my quiet, placid baby was due for a feed right at the time kinder started. I had to wake her to take S to kinder. I chose to let her sleep as long as possible rather than feed her. Mistake. I had a crying baby as I was introducing myself and S to the teacher. Then I had to sit on a chair and feed while the mums (and dad's!) wandered around looking at everything...and avoiding eye contact with the lady with her breast out feeding. They say first impressions are lasting. Joy.

S thrived and loved every minute of the hour we were there. We have painting and pasting masterpieces to pick up next week. A good start to kinder which makes me a happy mum.

Tres

Three years ago today, with one last big push, I shot out my little girl. The midwife was so caught off-guard she used her reflexes to catch you. I was so happy to see you after 9 long months and a 23 hour labour. I was convinced you were a boy through my whole pregnancy, so was shocked but delighted all the same when the midwife placed you, a baby girl, in my arms.

From that moment to now it's been a roller coaster and a steep learning curve for us both. You learning to live in this world, me learning to put your needs before mine and live off much less sleep.

Cake chosen by S. The fairy house.

You've kicked my butt into shape in so many ways. I'm learning patience, to bite my tongue, to rise above my grumpiness and be kind, to breathe deeply and stay in a calm place while you're "expressing yourself" in public places. You've taught me the intrigue of wee and pooh, the world of imagination in our back yard, to wave to strangers on buses, to speak nicely or pay the consequences of poor expression by having it repeated to friends and family. You have no boundaries, no barriers, no fear. I'm learning to see the world through your innocent eyes and its a beautiful sight.

From birth you have had a flair for drama. You feel everything at full volume. Happiness, sadness, and everything in between. You are so happy to be here and everything is "so essiting!" You're vibrant, energetic, sensitive, kind, smart, mischievious and loving. You love all things fairy, glittery and pink. Lipstick, glitter blush and hair acessories are your favourites, along with a dress up box full of tulle and sequin adorned dresses.

Birthday gift - her first bike.

The best thing about you being 3 is that you can express yourself:

:: I love you mummy.

:: Mum, I so essited!

:: Mum, we're married. I wear a white dress and you wear your white dress.

:: Oh mummy, you look booful in that dress. I love your earrings too!

:: No, I not a monkey. I Senna Grace!

The worst thing about you being 3 is also that you can express yourself:

:: No, I not!

:: Crying, screaming, lashing out (tired girl behaviours)

:: I don't like it!

All in all, it is a privilege to get to see you up close every day. To be loved by you. To have your little arms wrap around my neck as you hone in for a big wet "Cinderella style" kiss. I've seen all your firsts - smile, roll, crawl, walk, run, ride a bike. I get to see you learn your manners, make friends, test your boundaries, discover being a sister - you're so loving to Isabella.

I'm more alive than ever before because you're part of me. Thank you for choosing me to be yours. I love you more than I ever knew I could. Happy birthday, monkey. I know, I know...you're Senna Grace. xx

Handmade love

One of the perks of being friends with a creatively talented woman is that she shares the love around when there's something to celebrate. The birth of my baby girl was no exception.

Being a mother of 3 she is well versed in the sensitivities of the older sibling when a new one arrives. Jo arrived bearing a gift for S and one for Is. Both handmade. Both gorgeous.

Is was given this beautiful grab ball. I love the colours, the softness of it and its shape. Can't wait to see my baby girl playing with it in the near future.

S was treated to a Poppy doll - or dolly as S calls her. Jane dolly to be precise. She loves her. I love her. In fact I think one would be hard pressed to tell which of us loves her more. I found myself confiscating Jane last week because S stripped off her clothes and then dropped her from a great height to see how she'd land. Unperturbed is how she landed. Still, I was moved to take her to higher ground until S could treat her doll kindly.

An over-reaction? Perhaps. But oh, how I love her.

She even made a fuss of S by giving her a little photo shoot with her new doll. I've used her pic to show you Jane.

Thank you my friend for the time and love you put into these gifts. We love them! x

Settling in

Isabella is settling into our family well. Her big sister is delighted to have another family member to love...although she's still coming to terms with the fact that you can love lots of people at once. She told me the other day she loved little Is "instead" of me. Hmmm. She'll get there :)

At the moment we're laying low. Spending time together. Working out how to breastfeed whilst juggling a toddler on my lap. Learning to show love and attention to both our little ones in equal measure. Accepting that sometimes its hard to get that bit right. Starting to let go of toddler adjustment behaviours. Listening to others advice. Taking it on when it resonates. Letting go of other peoples expectations of me. Allowing us to just be.

To be honest, having a newborn again is more wonderful than I expected. I was prepared for the exhaustion after labour, the pain of breastfeeding, the shock of sleep deprivation and then the fog you live in until a routine is established. I know I'm only 2 weeks in...but there seem to be way more wonderful moments than challenging ones. I guess its true what they say - 2nd time is easier.

Thank you for your well wishes on the arrival of our little girl. It means alot to us. x

Baby love...

:: 3.84kg of baby love to be precise

:: a little pink one

:: 2 weeks early according to my gestational measurements. In perfect time according to me

:: She rolls onto her side - already. I may have an active one on my hands

:: introducing the newest member of our family - little Is

I'll show you more photos when I'm ready to share her with you. Until then, I'm cuddling and smelling and soaking up the newborn bliss.

A quilt for Hugo

Hugo was born 10 months ago and he's just received his cot quilt from me. Admittedly, I did give a card and gift on the day he was born...but I think we've all been waiting for the "real" gift. And now it's done. Much to my relief.

My friend dropped by sooner than expected after I finished the quilt, so I hadn't taken any pics of it. These pics are blurry and hurried - I took them before she left my house with it. No time to fuss and make them blog pretty (especially not while she's watching you with a baby on one hip and her toddler clawing at the front door to leave). But you get the drift...

Now to finish my own daughters quilt before our baby arrives. Only two weeks to go. Should be a cinch...?

Summer on its way...

This time last weekend our neighbours had a pool party - with an acoustic band. Two singers, two guitars and a drum kit. Oh, with amplifiers and microphones too. Lots of songs - enough to fill in the hours between 2 and 7pm. Lots and lots of songs.

Thankfully for everyone else in the neighbourhood they were really quite good. So at 4pm we sat out on our deck, filled the clam shell pool with water for S to play in...and soaked up the rays, music and beverages. A lovely way to end the weekend.

I think the Big Fella got the better deal on the drink front. Oh how I'd have loved a beer... :)

When I say I've been out and about...

So I got home from Daylesford on Thursday, went to an OB appoinment that afternoon. Unpacked, washed, repacked...and headed to Cape Paterson on Friday. I know - rest! I'm getting there...

We took advantage of the Melbourne Cup holiday and took a 4 day weekend. We decided to have one last holiday as a family of 3 before we welcome baby number 2. It was a great idea. We spoilt S with lots of time and attention, walks to the local shop for an ice-cream, picking wild flowers, playing in the sand, sitting on the rocks, chasing waves and walking home from the beach (you should have seen the look on the locals faces when I'd pause, grab my stomach and wait for my "stitch" to pass. It was hilarious - as if I was going to drop my baby then and there!). Throw in some bbq dinners and we had ourselves a wonderful time.

I'll let the pics tell the rest.

My view when I look down...I can spy a tiny bit of toe!

Where have I been?

Daylesford Lake

Well, since professing to be dead tired...I've kind of been out and about a bit. I know, what a whinger. If you're tired - rest! I hear you all, I hear you.

Anyhoo. Couple of weeks ago I accompanied a friend and her two little boys on a Thelma and Louise style trip (ie. no husbands, just two girls on the road...with their children) to the Daylesford/Hepburn area.

We stayed in a gorgeous old homestead and I had grand visions of spending our two evenings chatting over a cuppa while I stitched the binding on a cot quilt that is way overdue to be gifted. Not a chance. The kids were all funny about being in a different place, about having their friends there at night time, about the kookaburra's calling in the darkness...etc, etc.

Wasn't as relaxing as we had planned, but it was a lovely trip and the area is so beautiful. An added bonus was that we wore the kids out so they slept the whole 1.5 hour drive home... Bliss.