There's going to be a baby

Thank you for all the sweet comments on our announcement. It feels exciting and all very real now that the nausea is behind me. There's going to be a baby...in just over 4 months.

Of course there is much to look forward to about having a new baby, but I find myself constantly focusing on what it will feel like to watch a relationship develop between Saskia and this new little one. Already Saskia is quite fascinated by babies; besotted with her dearest cousin, Baby Bea, and new little friend, Baby Elle, and inclined to kiss baby strangers on the head (cute but a tad embarrassing at times). I'm under no illusion that this is certain to pave the way for a strong, instant and unwavering bond, but I'm grateful and happy that the interest is there.

We've been reading a lot of books lately about new babies in the family, being a big sister, and books that illustrate the ways of babies in gentle and subtle ways. Here are some of our favourites:

There's a House Inside my Mummy ... Giles Andreae and Vanessa Cabban
There's Going to be a Baby ... John Burningham and Helen Oxenbury (I fell truly madly deeply for the illustrations in the bookstore)
Rosie's Babies ... Martin Waddell, Penny Dale
101 Things to do with a Baby ... Jan Ormerod (I rave briefly about this beautiful classic here)
Ellen and Penguin and the New Baby ... Clara Vulliamy
I'm a Big Sister ... Joanna Cole

Please let me know if you and your little ones have any favourites. I'd love to hear.

27/52

She hands anyone who comes over a book* from her basket and waits expectantly. Watching these two I notice how much like my mother I've become. 

A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, as a one year old.

Taking part in Jodi's weekly portrait series

*I picked up this book (the 1984 version) at a preschool fete knowing Jan Ormerod is a bit of a genius. It quickly became her favourite book. You just never know. I'm not sure what it is about this book that Sassy is so intrigued by. She recognises the rhythm of the daily routine depicted? The book feeds her fascination with babies (bebes)? The comic style format or perhaps just the simplicity of the hand drawn illustrations? If you spot any of Jan's books on your adventures I recommend you snap them up. 

17 months

17 months and the Little One...
...has discovered the magical world of dress ups
...pulls her mama and dada out of bed in the mornings (off, off) and spends the day grabbing our hands, guiding us to whatever is next on her agenda
...rode a bus and a carousel for the first time (all in the same weekend)
...had her first full(ish) day at childcare (she slept for an hour, played fearlessly on the play equipment and practically high-fived the carers on her way out...mama nursed a headache for most of the morning from crying so hard in the car park)
...will read any book put in front of her, but some clear favourites at the moment are We're Going on a Bear Hunt, Hairy Maclary (K does a mean Scarface Claaaaaw), Good Night Sleep Tight, and If You're Happy and You Know It
...bids her farewells ever so cheerfully (ta ta taaaa with a few flicks of the wrist)
...fetches her bowl and spoon and helps to make her weetbix every morning (before putting the weetbix in the bowl she can't help herself and takes a bite - every time!)
...sings her mama the most beautiful tunes on their nature walks
...surprises her parents by showing them how much much joy they can feel in just one day

*The girl is ice cream mad, so in an effort to use that to my advantage I made some creamy coconut, banana and blueberry ice blocks. Needless to say, they were a Big Hit and Super Easy. Blend one banana, 1/4 cup of coconut cream, 1/4 frozen berries, 3/4 cup of yogurt and a good healthy drizzle of honey. Freeze in 4 small ice block moulds. Recipe from this little gem (I halve it to fit in this old guy). They don't last long as K and I eat them for dessert too. I'm a little sad I came to the ice block party so late in the season though...

15/52

A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, as a one year old.

I often find this one with her nose in a book*. She'll choose books over toys almost every time...(and this makes my heart burst with happiness).

Taking part in Jodi's weekly portrait series

*and if you follow me on Instagram you'll have noticed that the basket is fast becoming her favourite little reading nook.

Peepo

It makes my heart so happy that the Little One just l-o-v-e-s books. When she wakes from her nap I hear her calling out. I find her standing up in her cot, leaning on the rails and facing the books. As soon as the door opens her little arm shoots up and she points at the shelves. Look, look*.

...

We transitioned Saskia to the cot for day naps (and for the first sleep of the night) a few weeks ago. It had become a little risky to have her napping in our bed during the day and for various (logistical) reasons we weren't able to alter our bedding in line with bed-sharing suggestions. I still feed to sleep so the transition was fairly smooth.

She now sleeps once a day and will often wake after 45 minutes (eek). Most of the time I will lay her against my chest and rock her on the rocking chair and she'll drift off again and have another 45 minutes back in the cot. I realise this isn't forever so I treasure this time. It's a lovely way for me to slow down and be quiet. I'm not picking up toys, or preparing lunch, or tapping on the keyboard. Just closing my eyes, rocking, patting, and breathing in that precious baby (almost a toddler) scent.

Moving to a cot is made a little easier when you are sleeping on dreamy muslin sheets I suppose.

*I'd love to do a few posts of some special books we've been reading lately. I've built up a lovely little collection over the years. This book is of course, the classic Peepo by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. According to my Mum every baby should own a copy. In fact, you can't go past any of their books.

Outside again

    

It feels good to be having outings outside again. We've been having those fresh, sunny winter days that Canberrans rave about. Making the mornings in the minuses seem worth it.

Mum and I rugged up the Little One in her woollens and went for a walk around the Botanical Gardens. She loved touching all the spiky banksias and crawling about amongst the towering eucalypts. We ate hummus on the lawns and Saskia tried desperately to pat the birds. My parents are headed to the States for a 6 week holiday so we've been making the most of hanging out with JanMa and Grandfather lately.

I am appreciating the beauty of the native Australian landscape more and more these days. Being amongst the banksias took me back to family summer holidays at Jervis Bay, and I kept thinking about how much I will enjoy reading these Australian tales to my daughter one day.

We'll be coming back here again very soon. It's one of those places that you never grow tired of.

Prioritise

I feel like a have a lot to write about in this space, and would love to try out a few little ideas...but here's that same old tired excuse coming...no time.

At night I am trying to keep up with sew school, or reading a book. Now that I can read in bed at night I find I'm more likely to do so, much cosier or something? We've moved the Little One to the cot for the first sleep of the night (more on that later), so it's a bit of a novelty to have the bedside light on. And on Monday nights K and I watch this on TV. It has me itching to read the papers. But I find myself making crepes, or spying on Sassy and her Papa at play on a weekend morning instead.

During the day, Sassy is having two short naps so I just get enough time for a cuppa, a quick blog trawl or some emails, and maybe a spot of gardening if I'm lucky.

So there's time. I just find that I'm prioritising other things at the moment. And that's fine. A tricky (but ultimately rewarding) side of mamahood.

*A little lined zipper purse I made from a beautiful embroidered doily from the oppie. Broke my heart to chop it up. But it is enjoying a new life as my sewing bits and pieces bag.

Tricks

All of a sudden the Little One is pulling out all kinds of tricks..seemingly out of nowhere. But I guess she's been watching and waiting for her time. A little like the first crawl.

Up until now the Fun Factory (above - I am just calling it as it is folks, it's written there on the wood) was purely for chewing on and pushing over. Just the other day I watched her pull it from the bottom of the tea trolley, inspect and chew the rings (as usual), and then, full of purpose, place a ring over the spoke. I watched her do it again. And again. Wanting K to see her new skills, I grabbed the camera, but by then she was ready to move on. Fun Factory was old news. Next trick.

We've been reading books almost everyday. Her choice. She'll pull them from the trolley and pass them up to me. She sits (still - the only time she does) on my lap and I read into her ear. We read the same handful of books. One of her favourites is Goodnight Moon, which was my favourite as a little girl. The other day she handed me the book and I read into her ear, Goodnight clocks, and goodnight socks. Goodnight little house, and goodnight mouse. She pointed to her mouth.

I'll count that as a trick. Then I asked her, Where is your nose, Saskia, and she pointed that chubby little finger slowly up to her nose. Beaming. Both Little One and mama.

Sew, Craft

A while back I won an online sewing course on Cintia's fun little blog, and started Sew School last week. Jodie uploads weekly notes, videos and projects, and is around on the school's website or facebook page to answer any questions. It's such a great idea. We made nifty little drawstring bags (shoe bags for travel?) for our first project. I was a wee bit proud. (Baby steps, folks, baby steps).

I think I've been stuck on cushions for way too long, so it'll be a good chance to learn some new tricks. I have a stack of sweet books with lovely projects (this one was a present for my birthday and this one I've just borrowed from the library) - and a growing stash of new and vintage fabric.

Now that I've finished hand sewing the Little One's quilt (hours of love in that thing, I tell you), I'm working on a few other little crafty projects before I begin the next (and final!) stage, the binding process...

Because you're never too young to read...

I think she's got a favourite book already.

If a baby drops out of your tummy when you're shopping...

Will do.

When I was 10 years old our family went to live in England for a year. Most weekends, we would head out for a walk in the countryside somewhere, visit a castle or ruins and have a Sunday meal at the pub. Along the way we would often duck into charity shops or stumble across a car boot sale. It was on one of these trips that I picked up a series of books of children's sayings compiled by Nanette Newman. They are total classics.

I came across them when we were unpacking books for the nursery and had a good old giggle.

Read on for a chuckle.

33 weeks

Another late belly post.

Even if the nursery isn't organised, at least the bassinet and the little one's corner of our bedroom is almost ready. The drawing in the frame is a beautiful sketch by one of the girls I work with - although it's hard to see in this pic so maybe I'll take a close up shot later. It's a whimsical, fantastical, winged vessel-like creature...somethings that could be at home in a Shaun Tan book. Hanging above, out of the frame, is another gift from a friend at work - a crafted mobile of hand painted discs featuring the words of 10 Little Fingers by Mem Fox. There are just a few more things I have planned for this space but it's still so lovely to lie in bed and look over imagining that a little being will soon be tucked up in the bassinet. Amazing.

This last week at the gallery has been the most challenging. I'm feeling tired when I wake in the morning as I haven't been sleeping soundly (mostly due to hip pain - and grunting as I attempt to flip myself over) and the days have been long. Although the work has been rewarding, I'm definitely ready to slow down and start to turn my focus towards the home and little one.

(I think I even surprise myself at how round I look now).

imp'ish: inclined to do slightly naughty things for fun

How you you resist a little piece this cute...especially when it has an equally sweet tagline? Just a quick peek at one of the 'slightly naughty' internet purchases I've made for the little one. Quick stats on imp'ish: designed in NZ, handmade in India using organic cotton, created by people who receive a fair wage and work in a healthy safe environment. Good for you clothing.

This was purchased from the beautifully curated 'online shoppe', I Ran the Wrong Way, a thoughtful and considered array of good finds. (As well as charming clothes for little babes they stock another of my favourite children's books, The Black Book of Colours, and lovely goodies for the home.)

This isn't an advertisement! Just a recommendation for a beautiful range of clothing for the little ones and a great spot for online shopping...I've picked up so many beautiful goodies thanks to other blogs so I'm just sharing the love.

Press Here

As I've mentioned before, I have a large collection of childen's books which is very precious to me. I suppose my primary teacher mum influenced me in this respect, and now working in gallery eduaction with early childhood audiences I am continually exposed to many beautiful and unusual books.

Press Here is my latest favourite and my first choice for a child's birthday present. If you haven't seen it yet, I promise you it's a pretty magical number and worth seeking out...wonderfully interactive and a very clever and subtle way to learn about colour.

(last two images appear further along in the book)

Buys for baby

Slowly adding to the pile of baby clothes. Found some beautiful organic cotton tees at Target with a sweet star detail for a bargain $6.40 so snaffled a few of those up. Still find it hard to find unisex outfits. Why won't baby stores stock more soft or strong greens, eggshell blues and cherry reds?

Also picked up a few bright pairs of leggings at a school fete and couldn't go past the children's book section without selecting a couple to add to the (rapidly expanding) collection. Janet and Allan Ahlberg are my mum's favourites and Each Peach is such a beautiful book. I remembered the Saggy Baggy Elephant from my childhood and who can resist a Little Golden Book?


I've been collecting children's books for years now. As a trained English teacher I'm passionate about the importance of books in children's lives and tend to gravitate towards the children's section when in a bookstore. I'd love to include a beautiful reading corner in the little one's room. I've been inspired by these images at Hank and Lucy.

Never Let Me Go

Finished this amazing, heartbreaking book in a few days. It's bound to be a story that stays with you, that keeps you thinking. Kazuo Ishiguro is a genius. I loved the conversational tone of first person narration and the way the story of the donors unfolded. I felt the most for dear old Tommy and his drawings of animals.

Trying to decide whether I want to see the movie adaption. David and Margaret didn't find it 'terribly affecting'...