48/52

Taking her job of watering the plants oh so seriously.

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

Taking part in Jodi's weekly portrait series

45/52

She ate all the smarties first. Baby-see-nos and treats after a morning running kites on the beach.

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

Taking part in Jodi's weekly portrait series

Memorykeeping: a peek

Memorykeeping has always been important to me. My parents kept a handmade baby album for me, bursting from its binding with cards, drawings, photos and teeny gym certificates. They also kept scrapbooks from every trip they took: Dad collected endless pamphlets and ticket stubs, and Mum wrote the captions for photos. When we were old enough to write, my parents encouraged both my sister and I to keep travel diaries. I'm so pleased that they persisted once the novelty wore off for us - they are priceless keepsakes. The habit took hold, and as a young adult adventuring around the world I found myself collecting ticket stubs, postcards and feathers, and although it sometimes felt like it was becoming a bit of a nuisance to pause and reflect when excitement beckoned, I would stay firm about writing a diary entry and pasting in the day's collection of papers and beautiful things.

The past month or so I have been working on Saskia's baby album. Watching the beautiful leather bound album triple in size. I'm nearly finished sticking in the bits and pieces I've collected over the last few years, but I still need to go back and write on each page. When I'm finished I'd love to post a little about it.

I've always been inspired by Ronnie's memorykeeping process. It's why I was a teeny bit beside myself when she put the call out for the Life:Captured workshop and I signed up straightaway. I've been counting down since early June. I'm travelling to Sydney and I'll spend my first two night's away from Saskia...

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.

33/52

JanMa, Grandfather and I took a photo of Sassy next to a giant sequoia tree at the arboretum. We plan on taking one in the same spot every year.

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

Taking part in Jodi's weekly portrait series

Little One Baby magazine

Oh dear. I've not been here in this space much lately and now when I do post it's a blatant brag!

Saskia's room was featured in the latest issue of Little One Baby magazine. Photos were taken earlier this year by the super sweet Masha of Masha Zaric photography - and words were threaded by that talented creative spirit, Jodi.

It was hard to tell who was most proud about the article, and I think it's a tough call between Vovo (K's mum, who almost shed tears and kept repeating over and over again in Portuguese, oh what a beautiful family) and Grandfather (who managed to hunt down a copy of the magazine hours after it hit the stands). Despite a slighly goofy family portrait (!) I know it will make a treasured keepsake. Thank you Masha and Jodi and Little One Baby.

If you pick up a copy of the magazine, there is also a feature on Otis and Casper's room from How We Montessori. I adore their simple and thoughtfully considered spaces. Just a little in awe of Kylie...

*Photos by Masha Zaric photography for Little One Baby

31/52

Sassy, you've always been an enthusiastic yogurt eater.

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

Taking part in Jodi's weekly portrait series

28/52

The obligatory photo throwing Autumn leaves. (Along with making playdough for the first time, this was another of those Mama milestones I secretly couldn't wait to reach).

While we wait for our Claret Ash to turn, we buried our hands deep in birch leaves and between giggles watched them fall. In a week where I hardly pulled out my camera, this slightly blurry one still made me smile. There is so much delight here. 

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

Taking part in Jodi's weekly portrait series

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. 

26/52

Transfixed. Waiting for her Easter treat to be unwrapped.

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

Taking part in Jodi's weekly portrait series

At the halfway point, looking back, these are our three favourite portraits: this is the photo I imagine will always be framed, on a bedside table, on our sideboard, or perhaps it will just live permanently on the fridge; this one says it all; and K chose this one as his favourite (oh my heart). 

This week I fell for these edible legs. Not much is cuter than tippy toes. And I love that it says so much about her personality.

Return

Today was my first day back at work. I sipped my smoothie from the kitchen bench and couldn't look at you without feeling a tingle of tears. You spent the day with your Dada and visited your little cousins. I spent the day wondering about what games you were playing, if you woke up in a mood to read books in your cot and whether you asked for me, calling my name, mumma, with a question mark.

In truth, I did enjoy the bus ride into work reading a new book, catching up with dear friends who also happen to be work colleagues and inspiring ladies, being surprised with a welcome back card and small gift, and walking out for lunch as soon as the hunger hit. I longed for that cuddle from you at the end of the day.

As you and your Dada walked through the door at the end of the day (I beat you home...that wasn't how I imagined it either), I waited for the look of sweet jubilation to cross your face. Bubbies? Bubbies? You took one look at me and launched yourself at the basket of dolls and dress ups.

Easter: The first real hunt*

Things you loved: the chance to run amok with your three little cousins, wearing fluffy bunny ears and your birthday tutu (you twirled, and twirled and twirled), eating lunch at the littles' table with the TV turned on (you were looking at me like, get out of town...no way), digging up Vovo's garden mid hunt,   the bunny statue you discovered in the courtyard that morning (you knelt down to give him a little kiss)...but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that eating chocolate was probably the highlight.

This year we had a mini hunt at home in the morning. Mum and Dad were at the Blues Festival so K and I hid a small Kinder chocolate from Grandfather in the courtyard, and found a little home for the bunny from JanMa. We went to Vovo's in the afternoon for lunch and the Big Backyard Hunt. Vovo gave you bunny ears and a basket and I watched you swing it round the garden, thinking how grateful and happy I am that you are going to grow up adored by, and adoring these beautiful cousins of yours.

*Last year you slept through the hunt in Vovo's backyard!

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...

Simple pleasures of ordinary days

...some pretties for the balcony
...from the markets, the creamiest yogurt to pass my lips
...we waited for dada at the bottom of the road to greet him on his first day back at work after holidays
...peepo
...my favourite sculpture in town
...box city: oh to be a child again
...golden tiles
...this would be my last supper: cheese and bean papusa with a mountain of chilli sauce
...we took the Little One for a morning out in town; no trip to the city would be complete without a ride on the carousel (her first)...
...and, she couldn't get enough. And I couldn't get enough of her not getting enough. A lovely memory.
...an outtake from the 52 project
...Happy 100 Canberra. Gosh you look good
...there's that dress up bag again
...but yesterday it was all about the wand

Joining Em and creating a collection of weekly images, recording simple pleasures of ordinary days.

Change

In a month's time I return to work. For two days a week Saskia will be looked after by others: one of these days she'll be spend with her JanMa, and on the other she is going to a childcare centre.

I work in gallery education and know I'm lucky to have an arrangement where I can return to work part time. My job is intensely rewarding, varied and the best kind of mix of challenging and familiar. But right now, the return to work countdown is making me feel awfully sad.

I know she'll revel in the attentions of her doting grandparents, cooking pikelets and exploring enchanted gardens; I know she'll learn valuable lessons about sharing spaces with other children and waiting a turn; I know I'll embrace our days together with renewed enthusiasm, and will marvel at how grown up she seems.

All this I know will be true, but I still feel a heavy weight of sadness. Our weeks will soon include days together - and days spent apart. I will juggle paid work, and the glorious and not-so-glorious unpaid work. I will feel torn. I will wonder how you are feeling, whether you ate your yogurt, what you were like when you woke, and whether you have called my name. I will miss you Little One.

*These photos were taken on a recent outing to Sculpture Garden Sunday. Such cleverly crafted outdoor art activities for little ones: tape graffiti on garden walls, sculptures crafted from venetian blinds, bright texta drawings on plastic sheets, etc. The highlight though, was most definitely the musical entertainment, Doctor Stovepipe (an old favourite from way back here!). She twirled and bounced and clapped until we dragged her away.

Simple pleasures of ordinary days

...this week saw the first signs of a moody Autumn. Cool winds whipping in the afternoon mean it's time for Minestrone (K calls it Miiiiiine Strone in his best superhero voice)
...In, and
...Out
...It seems as though all her leggings are morphing into pedal pushers
...We took her to a beautiful toystore in town on one of the last days of K's holidays to choose a small treat: a little animal to add to her collection. She chose a bunny. Like the ones at her new childcare centre (oh, that's another post)
...a handmade bag of tricks for a new baby born near the sea (the son of a good family friend)
...I've started working on Saskia's handbound baby book (I go weak at the sight of that stack of deckled edges).
...Another favourite from Sculpture Garden Sunday
...Finally! A nasturtium bloom!

Joining Em and creating a collection of weekly images, recording simple pleasures of ordinary days.