Home Girl

help

2007-06-18T21:35:00.000+10:00

around 5pm children tend to turn feral. arsenic hour. tonight Winter and Baxter cracked it the same time (this is not unusual) they both want to be held and its very hard to get their dinner made. rich was running late. this kind of fun & games happens all the time and tonight i decided to try to get some pics. it bothers me that we only tend to share the glossy shinny smiley isn't family life great moments. being a mum is tuff.

note half empty glass of wine in background

luckily all the flash seemed to chill them out for a moment (where they get their love of the spotlight i don't know!)

double emergency over time to get on with 1 handed cooking - if only Winter would stop undoing my shoelaces...!

late night

2007-06-18T21:21:00.000+10:00

Dad came home at 6pm with a v exciting new toy last night (note dinner is at 6)

6.15 i'm holding the baby taking photos of the children playing rather than eating

mmm time for a glass of wine and some deep breaths mum

Beach

2007-06-14T22:23:00.000+10:00

Winter pelting down a sand dune

sandy

Baxter

2007-06-14T22:19:00.000+10:00

Hanging out with mum

and Dad

sussing out the 70's beach house decor

pulling off some cute moves

On your marks

2007-06-14T22:08:00.000+10:00

get set GO! Baxi is up on all fours and getting ready to get going. We took these photos last weekend down at Mum & Dad's place in Sorrento (Mornington Penninsula).

Winter was crawling early at 7.5 mths. At this rate Baxter will be on the move well before then (6 mths in a week)

Cars

2007-06-14T22:02:00.000+10:00

Lucky Winter was given a box of cars last week. They belonged to Claire's brother and going by the warning on the box they were once highly treasured.

Winter is delighted with his windfall. These cars arn't just any old cars, they are quality favorites; a police car, an ambulances, a dump truck, a concrete truck, diggers, a big car transporter, vans, a double decker bus, hotted up race cars etc etc. (note mum's expanding vocab).

Cars come everywhere - the playground the bath, bed etc etc. He gets very attached to one for a couple of days then moves on to another. They get put in his pockets and turn up in strange spots. Lots of crashing and brrrrrrummming.

My Goddaughter

2007-05-29T13:50:00.000+10:00

Here is gorgeous Manon born on 9th May (she is now nearly 4 weeks). Sam & Lou have asked me to be Godmother! I am thrilled and bursting to get started. I have been itching to get my fingers on a little girl and am already planning outfits and outings.

Her hair is nearly long enough for clips!

Sam and I became friends when we were teenagers. We were both lucky enough to have beach houses at Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula. We have been on many adventures together both during our summers at the beach and back in town. We were part of a tight gang of cool kids and shared a crush on the dodgy heart-breaker ring-leader! We hung out in bubble/ruffle skirts in underage b-boy clubs, had a brief but memorable fling with the new-romantic scene, then later did some time in the rave scene. We regularly wrote to each other all through school (Sam was at boarding school with my brother and kept an eye on him for me). More recently we both moved to London and shared the problem of being split between two counties. Our adventure continues back home in Aus (Sam is in Sydney) as we undertake the parenting leg of our journey. I am very proud and honoured to be asked to be Manon's Godmother.

2007-06-04T20:17:00.000+10:00

chubby action!

daddy's boy

Chub Chub

2007-06-04T20:12:00.000+10:00

Made by Mum! Thought I should take a record of what I produced prior to putting him on solid food.

Toot Toot

2007-06-04T20:02:00.000+10:00

It has been wonderful to observe Winter increasingly engage in imaginative play. Today I came across him making this big long train.

It was great to see him so focused.

Most car/train games have the same ending...

CRASH!!

Star

2007-06-04T19:43:00.000+10:00

I had to take a picture of Claire simultaneuosly doing the housework & looking after grizzly Baxi. She comes on Friday for three hours to help me get sorted.

Its a welcome relief to get some help.

Outfits

2007-05-28T21:12:00.000+10:00

Thought I'd get Rich to do some photos of my b-day outfits. Im worried that I'm getting too old to pull off these silly fashion looks. Problem I'm addicted to the edge - makes my pulse race!

Cute accessory!

After working the dropped waist here I've moved on to the high waist. Does it work with the struggling toddler?

Rear view

Park

2007-05-27T20:24:00.000+10:00

Met up with the Northcote posse yesterday for a sunny but chilly Autum evening frolick.

Baby Bjiorn Buddys Baxter & Hugo above hang'n

Daisy and Winter ran around deleriously as per usual

After all the silliness things got serious with an improptu bike riding session. Daisy had brought her bike and is in the process of graduating from training wheels. She practiced getting her balance (bravely rocketing down grassy hills unaided). Winter has never ridden a bike before so he had his first peddling lesson. Above is a little video of Winter getting into gear. He is very excited about bikes and wants one (maybe with a slightly butcher paint job!).

Romantic

2007-05-26T21:21:00.000+10:00

Last night Rich made me dinner

Pitching in

2007-05-23T12:45:00.000+10:00

On the weekends we have a good shopping routine going on. We put the boys to bed at lunchtime, then I fly out and tear round the aisles whilst Rich babysits. This means I can concentrate on what we need without juggling the boys. Rich and Baxter then do their bit by bringing in the shopping.

Very helpful with his grabby hands.

Spoilt!

2007-05-23T21:30:00.000+10:00

It was my birthday yesterday. Had been shopping the day before down glorious Brunswick St and managed to do a quick but substantial wardrob boost compliments of Rich. Am wondering how old I will get before I start to go a little more sophistocated with my look, but for the meantime its drop-waisted 80's throwback sweatshirts all the way to the playground! Also on proud display above is some new CD's from Winter and some make-up from mum & dad (who also popped in with some vintage champers).

Gorgeous gerberas arrived in the morning in a massive box that also had choccies and lush rose oil from Kate & Tanc all the way from Spain.

As if that wasn't enough in the afternoon I was gobsmacked when this piece of art arrived from Rich's mum & dad! I felt so special!

Steiner Playgroup

2007-05-23T13:35:00.000+10:00

Winter Baxter and I have been regularly going to a Steiner Playgroup. Steiner philosophy creates a warm and magical environment that the kids love and look forward to each week. It is structured so that we do the same things every visit. We start by playing outdoors (its held at Thornbury Primary which has a Steiner stream), then go upstairs to the playgroup room where we sing songs, wash our hands and prepare fruit together, then play & craft, then a story and finish with more songs. Each component becomes like a ritual that the children can anticipate.

The picture shows the candle that is lit before story time. Winter brought the yellow roses on the left for Robyn the leader.

Here is Robyn washing up the dishes. We all bring fruit for the kids to chop up (suposed to be organic) & take it in turns to bake something savory each week. Today we had pumpkin scones. The mums drink camomile tea. Note the prevalence of pinky hues in the room. Steiner wants to create a soft womb-like environment, creating a calm space so childen dont get overwhelmed. There are no lary colours or patterns (I stick out like a sore thumb with my polka dots and red lippy etc!).

This pic shows the craft activity that the mums do each week. I dont get time to participate with this bit as I have my hands full with Baxter.

Knitted fruit (note Winter in the background being busy)

More Steiner Playgroup

2007-05-23T13:26:00.000+10:00

Winter playing firetrucks (this was a popular idea and the other boys tried to join in too - they are all still learing how to play together successfully and there is often passionate 'negotiations' overseen by the mums about who gets to have a turn of what).

The toys are all carefully selected to inspire imaginative play, mostly hand carved or knitted.

playing with Baxter is another popular activity (appropriately handcrafted by mum!)

The toys are all thoughfully set out on the shelves when we arrive but most are on the floor by the time we pack up at the end. Winter enthusiastically spends most of his time playing. He is slowly staring to join in on the stories etc, following the lead of the other children. Its a very good exercise for him and its the highlight of our week.

Giddyup!

2007-05-12T19:51:00.000+10:00

Baxi is nearly 5 mths old. Ready for his first riding lesson!

Must have inherited mum's penchant for the gee gees.

Baxi went riding this morning at local cafe Birdie Num Num's with big boys Benji and Winter

Winter going for a gallop

Magic Moment

2007-05-11T21:13:00.000+10:00

I had a special moment yesterday. Rich had to go to Sydney unexpectedly the night before so I was doing the morning shift on my own. This is hard work, a relentless stream of urgent requests for bapple juice, breastfeeds, thunderbirds, looook mum, cuddle mum, punctuated with wipping up bums and weetbix then battles over getting dressed, who's turn it is with anything Baxter has, drawing on the couch, running with a pen in mouth, switching off the washing machine mid cycle and on and on and etc and etc. I was trying to relax and let it all wash over me and reminded myself that it didn't matter if I didn't get dressed we would just get through the morning and try to have fun. I has just put Baxter down for a sleep and was fulfilling Winter's request for honey toast. It was just the two of hanging out in our pj's. He was standing next to me waiting for his toast. He suddenly wrapped himself around my leg with a little jump and said 'I love you mummy!' It was the first time he had said that to me. It was so spontaneous & lovely & unexpected. One of those rewarding parenting moments that make me feel so lucky & get me through.

Idol

2007-05-11T21:11:00.000+10:00

Baxter enthralled with Winter's antics

Baxter thinks Winter is the Ant's Pants. He lights up whenever he is around despite the smother cuddles and wresling moves. Winter treated him to a special jumping performance in his bedroom today. Full tilt for a good 20mins featuring plenty of very impressive spinning jumps.

Footprints

2007-05-11T20:43:00.000+10:00

Winter had great fun with this activity.

We put paint into pots and did footpainting!

The big roll of paper has been a great buy (Ikea).

Fun

2007-05-04T19:47:00.000+10:00

I went out with the girls last night whilst Rich babysat

It was fun to get dressed up

had to spend all day preparing (hair at 3, lipstick at 4 etc) but it was worth the effort - ace to hang with the girl gang.

Blokey

2007-05-04T07:25:00.000+10:00

Reading a book about trucks

Kick'n back infront of the box

photos

2007-05-03T13:21:00.000+10:00

Tried to get some cute pics of the boys the other morning. I wanted to get a shot of Winter's new Pirate hoody.

Note Polar Bear - treasured all the more of late

Baxi striking a pose

Assistant pirate