christmas and new year 2020

It’s officially no longer 2020. Here’s hoping that is a very good thing for this world of ours. I feel like Tasmania was a little bubble last year, one I was happy to live in, but still felt overwhelmed by anxiety and reading the news. Personally, it was a mix of bloody hard (no sleep, no personal time out, absolutely crappy sinusitis, work stress) but on the other hand, there were my beautiful boys and seeing them grow and learn, play together, and time with Matt who always makes me laugh. 

We had a busy Christmas and new year break, I think we had six days of lunches in a row, three of them at our house! But it was lovely. Our Christmas day didn’t start too early (yay!), and we didn’t have to do too much cooking, but we had such a good lunch with grandparents (pretty sure we now have the menu down pat!) which lasted for most of the afternoon. It was so nice not to have to go anywhere. 

The last four days of the break we had to ourselves, on New Year’s Eve we made crayfish rolls (based on the supernormal lobster rolls), drank sparkling and had pavlova with berries. Elroy stayed up for the 9:30 fire works, danced to Ben Lee singing ‘we’re all in this together’ and then we all went to bed. A very fitting end to the year. We went to one of our favourite beaches the next day, I think it has become an unofficial tradition to go to the beach on new year’s day. Rufus is mad keen on the water and was soaked in no time, and Elroy followed the crabs and dug holes. It made me very happy.

seven things for my boys

It is increasing hard to pick things for my boys, mostly because I feel they just have enough. So I have stuck to the read, need, wear, want theme, with a few extra stocking stuffers so to speak (which is where some of the above fit in). 

Elroy loves his Areawear cubebots (I highly recommend them) and I think the snake puzzle will be equally loved, pullback cars are always fun and I have randomly started a theme of getting Rufus yellow ones. I always find it hard to choose just a few books (they are my weakness) but Lenny the Lobster looks great, and I’ve also chosen Ellie’s Dragon by Bob Graham, Hello Friend by Rebecca Cobb and The Twits for Elroy. It’s going to be fun this year with both of them being that little bit older, our big gift to them is a trampoline and I think they will love it!! I am excited.

1. kappa planks 2. Lenny the Lobster Can't Stay for Dinner 3. Maileg panda 4. taxi friction car 5. crayons 6. honeybee 7. wooden snake puzzle

seven things for christmas - for home

It's december! I love this time of year, I'm glad its finally here. I've been very organised so far, done so much of my shopping and planning, now it's the fun time for crafting, cooking and gift wrapping. I haven't had the energy for blogging lately, but I really wanted to pull together some seven things posts, so I've got three. The first is seven things for home. 

Honestly, all I wanted for christmas was this HK living cupboard, and after some rather consistent hinting Matt said to just order it. So I did. I'm really happy because now it will give me a new place to put nice bits and pieces on away from tiny hands. And of course it is calling out for a lamp, but what colour and what style? Also, I can hide all my boys messy craft things in this cupboard and put nice things in my other glass doored cupboard. Win win. 

1. HK Living storage cupboard 2. Maison Balzac volute candles 3. Ferm Living paper storage boxes    4. &Tradition Flowerpot lamp 5. Rose St Supply banner 6.  Mud sugar bowl 7. Pan Afterx Alice Oehr paper bowl

the first weekend of spring

Finally a weekend without rain or grey skies. We’ve been busy, it feels like we are always busy. But today for Father’s Day we took it slowly, well, as slow as you can when a certain small person thinks 6:15am is a good wake up time (and after waking multiple times in the night - ugh). We gave Matt some gifts including a little handmade one Elroy made at school, had our favourite bake at home croissants from Pigeon Whole bakers. Rufus had a sleep, Matt had a bike ride, Elroy played with the lego and I read the latest editions of my favourite magazines. Then we went to the beach for a picnic. I really love days like this, both boys love being outside (I feel like there hasn’t been enough of that lately). It’s a bit wild at times, neither listen, Rufus was saturated and needs to be a little more wary of the water, but they are playing pretty well together and everyone is happy. 

east coast

This year. Yeah. It’s no one’s friend really. I went back to work in June, and between that, looking after children and some really crappy sinus issues there hasn’t been much left in my tank. Oh and winter. I don’t love winter.

I’m slowly getting my sinus in a better place, settling in to work and figuring out the new routines. It helped that we took a little break to the East coast for three nights, a change of scenery was much needed. It was our first time away since December, I can’t quite believe that. Unfortunately we didn’t get the greatest weather, but we did some exploring. Elroy loved the sand dunes near St Helens, jumping out of them like in one of his favourite books (Greetings from Sandy Beach by Bob Graham). Rufus loved just hanging out on the beach, and climbing everything (oh and switching on every appliance at the air bnb). We visited Freycinet and did a few short walks, we would have done more but the rain made it tricky. We had some great fish and chips from the gulch, and I wanted to try the patisserie in Bicheno but unfortunately didn’t check the opening hours properly and we missed out, so we will have to save that for another time.

One of the things I enjoyed was taking photos again, hence there are a lot here, it reminded me that I should be doing a lot more of that, and all the other things that make me feel more satisfied creatively. Holidays are good for perspective.

one

My baby is one. How did that happen! From the moment he was born I have felt completely besotted. He’s a sweet boy, and even though there have been so so many challenging moments due to reflux/colic and him feeling generally uncomfortable in himself, at some point a few months ago we turned a corner and he is delightful. He makes me happy and I can’t imagine our family without him. He started walking properly a few weeks ago, and now he is most confident and swift on his feet. He loves cuddles and gives kisses, playing with Elroy and climbing over him, rolling around in his blanket, Jerry, music - he’s a great dancer, eating/putting everything he shouldn’t in his mouth, plays beautifully on his own, chats, says mama dada, bubba, and some times ta. Makes elephant noises. Has started to wave, does the open and shut hand movements when we sing that song. Rufus is the messiest eater, still prefers purées, loves his milk, has particular books he likes, enjoys day care, makes it incredibly clear when he wants something and makes a loud fuss when he doesn’t get it. Loves it when people visit. He had the best time at his little birthday party. Oh and importantly for me, just had his first sleep through the night, well 7ish to 4am ish, then back to sleep after a feed. This is huge, not that long ago I was still feeding him up to 4 times a night. He has the sweetest little curls at the back of his head, his quaff-y bit is so long it’s almost a combover, he’s a dumpling and our bubba/honey boy.

eleven months

Eleven months already! That first birthday is coming faster than I think I’m ready for. Rufus has come along so well in the last few months. He’s starting to show us more of his rather strong personality and quirks. He is very sure about what he wants and doesn’t want, and is loud about it too. He talks a lot, says Mammmmmma a lot. He is still quite dependent on me, but when settled is so good with occupying himself. He loves playing the keyboard we have and dancing (bobbing up and down) to music, there are certain songs I can play to calm him when he is upset. He plays more with Elroy now, loves rolling around on the blanket from the sofa, can stand very firmly on his feet and would be able to walk with no problem, but he is cautious and wants to hold on to something. He’s getting better with food, but still wakes for milk three times a night (too much for me - but we have been slow with the sleep training and he is loudly resistant).

Last week Rufus started daycare, he had two nearly full days and I think he will like it once he gets used to it. It’s so hard for me to let go, especially with the world the way it is now, and he’s my baby. But he needs to be able to spend time with other children, and I think it will be good for him to have some independence from me. It’s bittersweet, I can see the shift in him from baby to toddler.