2012

This last year has been a massive one... such a life changing thing it is to bring a being into the world! I hardly feel ready to begin a new one, but begin it we have and so on with the show.

We've just returned from an insanely lovely time at the beach, hanging out with family, introducing Leo to ocean swims, to bicycle rides, to the joy of knocking down towers of blocks, to eating mangos in the pool, to Christmas goodness. And this week, we relish in his papa being home from work for another few days - so many jobs to get done! But also more swims, visits to the museum, picnics and more bike rides. 

And only then shall we get a bit more serious and on to the business of this new year. There are exciting things afoot... a semi return to work, more for Miette Handmade, and an impending first birthday to celebrate! 

Here are a few snaps from these delightful weeks...

 

There's not much going on here at Chez Leo other than sewing sewing sewing.
With a little bit of sunny balcony bathtime thrown in to the mix.



Happy first day of summer to those of us down here in the Southern hemisphere.  To celebrate, we are going camping this weekend - one of my favourite activities in the world, and one which has been rather missed lately.

This is me - well, my belly - one year ago exactly, camping and counting down the weeks till baby's arrival. Will be lovely to go again, this time with the little tyke joining us on the outside!

xx

on the move...

Look mum... one hand!!

Yes, it is a whole new world at our place. A world of crawling, pulling himself to standing on everything,  difficult nappy changes, rolling on the bed ("there were three in the bed, and the little one said, roll over, roll over..."). It's a bit more of a challenge, I must say. Gone are the days of plonking him on the floor to entertain himself for a while. I am in a bit of a quandary of how much to 'child-proof' and how much to just teach him that there are things that are not for touching. Some of both, I guess.
But as well as the challenges, there are new joys as well... more cuddles, more recognition of things and words, more of the personality of this little one emerging. Amazingly, more room in my heart for bigger love...

things are looking up...

Not sure why I am unable to photograph the whole of his head, but anyway.

Hope you have a lovely weekend!!

Nine months

Nine months ago today, a little being, our little son, arrived in the world. He has now been here on the outside for the same amount of time as he was inside my belly. Nine whole months.
He had trouble arriving. We had prepared for a normal physiological birth. ie. no drugs, no obstetricians, just us and the midwives and our doula and lots of breathing and moving. But he had other ideas and three days of labour later, we needed some assistance. But I have been able to accept that that was the path meant for us and to be immensely grateful for modern medical services, without the help of whom I would probably not be here right now. He came to us, healthy and perfect and that is all that matters.
And now, this little boy is the calmest, coolest, happiest little poppet that I've ever met. He is full of joy and giggles and wonderment for the world. And he lights up my life like nothing else.
I am one lucky lady that he is in my life.

getting my craft on

SO. 

After 8 months, I'm getting crafty again. Leo is now (thank god) having better naps during the day and is actually staying asleep once he goes to bed at night (believe me, sleep has not always been our friend in this house). So finally I am actually able to get some things done other than just washing the dishes and getting dinner ready. 

I had a slight meltdown recently which I realised was due to the lack of having any real time to myself and the lack of any creative outlet. And so, I am now making time. While Leo naps or when he goes to bed, I am getting my craft on and producing something. Baby quilts in fact. I may even have myself a stall at a Christmas market come december, just as motivation. But for now it just feels good to be doing something that's not baby related. 

And as an added bonus, what do you know, measuring tapes make good toys... 

this weekend...

'Twas a wild and woolly return to winter this weekend. What better time to visit the beach house and take some long walks, catch up on some newspaper reading, meet the neighbourhood dogs and rug up with a strong red in front of the fire?!

loves his books...

First shopping trolley ride... woo hoo....

new purchases

I'm not much of a shopper. And I have really hardly bought anything for Leo - we've been given so much, and the rest is hand me downs from friends and family and lucky finds and salvages and things I've made.
But this week I couldn't resist a few things...

* the cutest tie-dyed t-shirt from oishi-m (check out their online shop... amazing stuff - I also bought a pair of the skinny jeans for Leo  - on sale - which are awesome)

* cool op-shop finds - quilty blanket thing with alphabet and spots ($4) and DESERT boots, yes desert boots ($1.50). nice.

* AND... I had been seeing this in the window of a nearby shop for AGES (there's a lot of capital letters going on around here) and kept resisting because I thought it was a bit too expensive. But it kept calling me. And seeing as I don't think I'd even bought him a single toy myself yet, I decided I could splurge on this one. Locally made (well, in the state) from recycled wool blankets, this ball was just too beautiful to pass up. I suppose that makes it more for me than for him, but he does seem to like it...

This weekend we:

# went for early morning walks (ok, so when I say 'we' I mean Leo and his papa, while I luxuriously stayed in bed)

# Had a picnic on a sunny sunday with doting grandparents

# Had varying levels of success with new foods

    

# And hung out in a field of daisies!

bloody little chompers

This is the state of affairs at the moment. One moment, all sweetness and giggles. The next, the world is ending. Going by the amount of drool flowing out of his mouth and the seemingly endless stream of teeth breaking through, I'm assuming that teething is the cause of our troubles.

Still, that doesn't help me much. I miss my quiet little bundle of charm. And those 5.30am wake ups are not overly impressing me either...

 As promised, adventures in "baby wed leaning" (just comes out automatically now).
Today: strawberries.

food glorious food

While we were in France, our little Leo had his first solid food. And my goodness did he love it. Hard not to when the food came straight from his grandfather's gardens and orchards. Hubby's mum prepared the vegetables into soup, whizzed up berries and mashed peaches. It was a lovely family thing and it all went swimmingly. But I couldn't help but look forward to being home in my own kitchen and to preparing his food myself.
I was telling this to a couple of friends today who have little ones about a year older than Leo and remarking how special I felt it was to prepare his food and how much I was enjoying it. They laughed at me. Wait until it comes back at your face or gets thrown across the room, they said. Or when you've come home from work and have to do the washing and the tidying and the dusting and then the food preparation wont feel so 'special'. Ok, so they may have a point. And the novelty will no doubt wear off soon.

But in the meantime, I am enjoying it. And there is something special about it. Pears and apples, broccoli and pumpkins. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that for 6 months he has only had my breastmilk, and I know that it has been completely up to me and my body to keep him alive and sustained. And I want to keep that going. Perhaps I am anticipating the end of the breastfeeding. Perhaps I just enjoy the wizz of the food processor. Or perhaps I am just revelling in the novelty while it lasts.

**we are also trying some baby led weaning (or baby wed leaning as I keep calling it - envisioning a baby in white on one foot). Stay tuned for adventures with broccoli stalks.

Home again home again jiggety jig...

Despite coming back to winter and despite the jetlag meaning little bubs is up at all hours, it's lovely to be home...
We had a wonderful time away, and so great for Leo to meet all his French family. Just awful leaving them. More on this later perhaps.
In the meantime, here's a few Frenchy pics...