Date Night Out

Our first night out together, just the two of us, since the Little One's birth.

And it couldn't have gone better. Boring for a blog post, but woots for us.

Saskia had another glorious 2 and a half hour sleep in the arvo (trying not to get attached), so I was able to try on a few outfits, choose some (impractical) accessories, make a special card & book a restaurant. JanMa and Grandfather happily popped over to babysit and she went down after her shower without a hitch.

I sprayed perfume, he wore a new top, we held hands on the walk to the restaurant, I drank red wine, he ordered vegetarian so we could share, we talked about plans for travel in the future, I had fried ice cream for dessert (what am I? 12 years old?), he told me beautiful things about becoming a father and we laughed and really looked at each other.

We came home to find Mum and Dad curled up on the couch. They said there hadn't even been a peep. 10 minutes later we heard a little sound...

Oh it could have all gone differently. But we were so grateful. It was a special night after all.

Happy 6 year anniversary, Meu Amor.

If I know what love is, it is because of you.

- Herman Hesse

*Card in bottom pic given to us by a lovely friend and made by this talented (and oh so witty) lady.

Here comes the train - Part II

After a little break and a taste of stewed pears, the Little One is now digging the solids thing.

I baked some sweet potato the other day and she almost jumped out of the Bumbo to get at the spoon. Bananas are next, and then avocado. Keeping first tastes pure and simple

Oh - and she's just discovered how satisfying it is to blow raspberries with a mouthful of purée. Was funny the first few times...

Thank you so much for all your comments and suggestions on this first food post. For those of you looking to start your little ones on solids soon there are some helpful tips in the comments section. I also quite like this website for interesting fruit and veggie combos and nutritional information.

sunshine

Thank you for the sunshine, Miss Milky and Joanna.

This award is doing the rounds so I'm going to join in and give you a glimpse into some of my favourite things. My blog is rather focused on the Little One at the moment - being a stand-in baby book until I get my act together to record our special memories on paper and paste in the bits and pieces I've collected over the last year - so it feels a little strange to be writing about myself...

Favourite colour?
50s mint green

Favourite animal?
Elephants

Favourite non-alcoholic drink?
I'm a tea kind of girl, and am totally addicted to Dilmah's Rose with French Vanilla at the moment. Is anyone else there with me?! Before this obsession started you would have found Lady Grey tea leaves in my pot.

Facebook or twitter?
Facebook

Favourite number?
8. Love the symmetry. And this was always my number when I played soccer.

Favourite day of the week?
Saturday. Garage sales and crepes for brunch. Plus I get to watch my lover and Little One delight in each other.

My passions?
My Little One, screen-printing, creating a cosy and happy home, yoga, travelling (near and far), early childhood art education and collecting recipes from family and friends with stories.

Getting or giving presents?
Meu Amor will read this so I better be honest and say both. But I really do love planning presents and creating homemade cards.

Favourite pattern?
This was the one I had the most trouble answering...Both Saskia and I have wardrobes full of stripes and polka dots, and I find myself always drawn to bold Scandi patterns...but for it's charm and timelessness, I'd have to say the Liberty Wiltshire print.

Favourite flower?
Poppies, and the gardenias I inherited from my Granny (which live by our front door).

And now I'd like to pass some sunshine onto these ladies:

Claudia

Tania

Becky

Bron

Amanda

Happy Monday x

Hand-me-downs

(I realise this post may make me sound like a loony)

Was anyone else devastated to discover that Amolin discontinued their laundry liquid? (loony)

As soon as found out, I started 'saving' my remaining quarter of a bottle for 'best' washing. (loony)

Yesterday when washing some baby hand-me-downs and woollen cardis, I used some of my stash. The smell was all newborn baby and freshly washed swaddles. I might have cried a little. (loony)

*A lovely neighbour from the Village dropped in with her daughter's old baby clothes she had been saving for years. Her daughter is now 25 years old and most of her clothes were handmade. I was so touched.

Baby massage

Saskia and I enrolled in a baby massage course with one of my dearest friends and her sweet little 6 month old girl. It's been such a lovely thing to do together, and so many benefits for little ones.

The course is run by Jules who has a beautifully calm manner and there are only two other mamas and babies in the class. We sit on Jules' vintage floral sheet in her studio, massage chubby legs and bellies with jojoba oil, giggle at our wriggly babies, share mama stories and drink juice and eat muesli cookies.

Little Saskia, being busy and curious, doesn't often stay on her back for long, preferring to roll over onto her tummy...and chew the massage dolls. So I just let her be. We had success though last week with the tummy massage! Big smiles, bright eyes. Such a beautiful way to bond with your little one.

We try to do a little massage each day at home, even if it's just one leg. Have found that the curve of her change mat entices her to stay on her back, so I generally use this. If the day is warm we throw open the sliding doors and massage in the fresh air. And if she's not feeling it, well, at least it's a good spot for a nudie wiggle.

5 months

5 months and the Little One...

...is always busy busy looking looking and makes us laugh with her Riverdance legs

...ate her first meal...but it appeared to be a false start so everybody is happy to try again later

...sits up happily and blinks at us with her big eyes

...desperately tries to crawl, pulling herself up into cobra pose and shuffling her knees in...almost there

...was in her element - centre of attention - at her first wedding earlier in the month

...has been to the flicks to see My Week with Marilyn (although she couldn't tell you a thing about it as she slept the whole time)

...has progressed to the seated pram and watches the world avidly as it passes by

...is sent to sleep with Granny's lullaby (Mama) or the Lois Lane theme song from the original Superman film (Papa)...

...likes eating her little wooden worm best

...makes her Mama and Papa marvel everyday

*wearing her combie dress from cousins in Brazil and a bow in her hair from the lovely Carla

**...and speaking of milestones...this is post number 100!

Here comes the train.....

Her first meal on the weekend. It was quite an event.

The little bunny set brought out for occasion. Cameras at the ready. Best bib chosen. And she didn't want to disappoint, swallowing spoonfuls and opening her mouth for more. But her expression said, I'm not so sure....

I was reluctant to start solids (she seems so little still) but we noticed her watching and reaching every time we'd lift a fork or glass to our mouths. Since her first two meals though, she's barely swallowed a spoonful. Did we jump the gun? Or is it just that Farex aint the most tasty dish on the menu?