last weekend

I am so behind with blogging at the moment, so many posts I've written in my head and not got around to doing. I figured I'd better post these pictures before the next weekend is upon us! Last weekend we played tourists at home, and by that I mean we took it easy, and did a lot of things we'd usually do on holiday. We went to the beach and as I mentioned Jerry and Elroy ran around like crazies and had a wonderful time, then in the evening we cooked fresh Tasmanian scallops for dinner and treated ourselves to a bottle of sparking. On Sunday we enjoyed a nice long walk together in the morning, then after Elroy's nap visited GASP! (which was pretty cool, and we'd never visited before because we always plan walks with Jerry and dogs aren't allowed there) before having dinner at Local Pizza (so good!).  I'm hoping for a few more weekends like this because they do feel like a better break, I'm trying to get chores done during the week so we can relax and enjoying being together. It makes everyone happier.

17/52

Elroy hanging out at the 'sandpit' at least that's what he has started calling the beach. We visited one of my favourite places on saturday morning and both Elroy and Jerry had the best time running around like crazies. He is not really interested in the water, I think at this stage that is a good thing. Other things to remember from right now: he calls kiwi fruit 'kipi' and loves them, calls dinosaurs 'dor-doors', this morning asked me to kiss and hug Rocky his racoon soft toy and gave me the best smile ever for doing that, has worked out how to unzip his sleeping bag, has discovered guitars, had his first baby chino (not super interested), and will call lots of different seats and tables pianos.

lately

I know I haven't posted for quite a while (other than the 52 posts), the last month has been so incredibly busy. We have had a lot going on, concerts (we saw City Calm Down and this last weekend Paul Dempsey - both so very good), a weekend away in the north of Tasmania, catch ups with friends, busy weekends with early mornings, and I am still getting used to my new job. 

I am really so very tired and running low on energy. I have been trying to get to bed early when I can, fitting in lots of walks, running at the gym again (my exercise regime has been completely neglected over winter as I've had lots of lower back issues) and trying to be more positive and just get things done. But on the flip side though, it's all too easy on my days home with Elroy to sit in the sun and take a break while he sleeps, to watch Netflix, read a book or magazine, or worst of all waste the time on the internet. I wish I could break that habit, but I just feel tired and lazy. 

Fortunately I am taking a week off work in October and I can't wait, hopefully that will give me some time to catch up, and progress some of the rather long to do list I have set for myself. I'll have a few days home on my own while Elroy is at daycare which feels like a luxury. I feel that it is very hard to balance work, parenting and my own personal needs. It is definitely something I need to work on and make sure to do. I feel like I'm letting myself down a bit at the moment.

16/52

Does spring bring out the crazy in babies? The last week has certainly been interesting, maybe it is age related, maybe it is the four or so teeth all coming through, or maybe it is that I have felt a little anxious myself lately and it has been rubbing off. Lots of very early mornings, food refusals and a bit of general craziness, but at the same time he is still so sweet and so lovely to spend time with. I miss him so much when I am at work.

15/52

Elroy at 18 months! It's funny how time can go so quickly, and yet it does feel like he has been our boy for so much longer. At 18 months Elroy is well and truely his own self, he knows what he wants and what he doesn't. He loves being outside, the hose (he always makes a sssshhh noise), riding his bike, running, picking 'fwowers' - flowers, the slide, swimming lessons, books, listening to wekords - records or music, is completely taken with Lah Lah (and that was his first concert on the weekend), he will dance and has devised multiple 'tummow' which is a trombone/trumpet one from duplo blocks, the other is a balloon pump, and will pretend to play them (I have no real idea where that has come from but it is very sweet), reading books, he is great with words, says 'daddy gone' or 'daddy bike' a million times a day, loves fruit and 'yukurt' and 'aig' egg. Still asks for 'cah-gles' and makes my heart melt when I get a stream of 'mummy, mummy, mummy'. He is a good sleeper, and will sleep for nearly three hours in the afternoon, and sleeps through the night, although he is an early bird (5am, is still way to early for me, but at least it's not every day). He can get frustrated and make it hard to strap him in the car or pram sometimes, is becoming slightly fussier with food, and can be rather demanding when he really wants something. He is so confident at home and in environments he knows, but is also cautious and will hold back on occasions. He loves people and always tries to engage them with a smile. He's a happy and lovely boy.

14/52

I am so glad it is spring and the days are just that bit longer and slightly warmer. We have been trying to fit in lots of outside time for Elroy because he loves it so much. We have a sand box (literally a clear plastic tub filled with sand) and he will spend lots of time decanting the sand onto the ground! He also loves the slide at the park, up and down and up and down all the time!!

house inspiration

I have written a bit here about us planning our renovation, but haven't really gone into any detail about it. So I thought I'd share some of my inspiration and a little about what we are doing. Our house is a 1940's brick house, and it still has many of its original features, a copper in the laundry, a very basic kitchen with narrow benches and very little built in storage throughout. It is split level, as we are on a hill, so there are bedrooms and a bathroom on the lower level (and so is the lovely view) and kitchen, living, master bedroom and toilet and laundry on the higher level.

Our plan is to move the kitchen and living space to the lower level, with an extension to give us more space, and have all the bedrooms together with the bathroom on the higher level. Basically the whole house is being turned upside down, our bedroom is the only room that will stay in the same place. It's going to be a big job, and it is exciting and daunting at the same time. Style-wise I am definitely leaning towards rather neutral colours, light grey, white, light timbers, simple tiles. The extension will feature skylights and a big picture window to capture the view. I hope we can start before the end of this year, but I know it is going to a long road to the finish.

bookshelf via the Design Files / kitchen shelf via Country Road
picture window via Apartment Therapy / cupboards via Ikea
bathroom via Inside Out / kitchen via Desire to Inspire