Monday 29 April 2013

17/52

The warm, sunny spot on the stairs is a favourite haunt on chilly mornings.

Taking part in Jodi's weekly portrait series for 2013.

decisions, decisions



Life took me seriously by surprise this week, my head is still spinning in fact...

For months now our family has been cruising along peacefully...We'd managed at last to coordinate and polish our weekly routine - navigating almost seamlessly the balance of my time at home with Matilda with a couple of days work (split between a weekly day in the office doing admin, and weekend work at the Flower Shop).
I have been happy, Tilly has been happy, and all those adoring-and-ever-keen-to-babysit Grandparents have been happy.  In a nutshell, this little old life of ours has felt pretty easy of late...

But then something happens, something out of the blue, something both exciting, challenging and terrifying all at the same time... An unexpected opportunity presents itself, and you have to decide (rather quickly) if you should give up all that new found effortless routine, and dive in to a messy, chaotic kind of life for a little while..

That happened to me on Thursday.

I have built this up a tad, but in all honesty, I have really struggled - hours and hours of sleep have been lost these past few days, lying awake at night trying to coordinate childcare, office handovers, travel logistics, resignation spiels and the like... to say I am spent is an understatement.

But the decision has been made, and those resignation speeches recited... As of Friday, I will be putting my Florist hat back on more permanently - joining the most delicious, sassy, creative pair of florists in town, in my opinion!.  I am not going to name names yet (don't want to jinx it), but needless to say I've admired them for quite some time now, and am over-the-moon-flattered they have asked me aboard!

So we'll battle through as a family these next few weeks - Tilly will be making the transition in to Day Care one day a week, the Boy and I will be doing a fare bit of tag-teaming between shifts, and the Grandparents will be putting in some serious overtime. 
Three weeks of tying up loose ends in current roles, easing Matilda in to a new environment as gently as possible despite the limited time, and the certain mayhem of Mothers Day next week in a brand new flower shop - wowsers.

But I'm going to buck up and look forward, as I'm sure it'll all be worth it.  I'm an everything happens for a reason kinda girl, so will go with my gut, all the while keeping my fingers firmly crossed. Wish me luck!



Sunday 21 April 2013

16/52


Soggy bottom, strawberry stains, sunshine and sultanas - one from last week's Epic-Arboretum-Parent-Fail-Adventure...She doesn't seem bothered one little bit does she?

Taking part in Jodi's portrait series for 2013.

Wednesday 17 April 2013

Poppy



Tuesday we piled in to the car, drove to the airport and waved goodbye to my Dad, Tilly's Poppy, after a week long visit from FNQ.

The last time Dad came to stay, Tilly was only 4 months old - a wriggling, happy bundle who was yet not even able to sit up by herself.  Needless to say he was blown away by the difference!

It was a lovely, albeit hectic week - trying to get out and about  whilst maintaining the toddler sleeping schedule is a challenge.  Tilly was in her element though, lapping up all that undivided attention and affection from her doting Poppy.

A day trip planned exploring the Arboretum quickly ended up a ... Within half an hour of arriving, Tilly was drenched to the bone.  Like a moth to a flame, she couldn't resist the dancing fountains in the Discovery Garden - before we knew it she was flat on her back, soaked from head to toe.
Thankfully the weather was on our side - soggy clothes were strung on fences to dry, while we basked in the sun, Tilly stripped down to her delicates.
Not quite the excursion I had planned, but enjoyable all the same.

Our remaining days were spent hitting up favourite parks, strolling the shops for only-grandchild-inspired-gifts, family BBQs at Aunty's house, and endless Babycinos. 

Matilda was spoilt rotten with treats, love and adoring attention all week Poppy...you'll be welcomed back with much delight in October, of that I'm sure.

Saturday 13 April 2013

15/52



"Horsey, horsey don't you stop,
let your hooves go clippity-clop.
Make those wheels turn round and round,
giddyup we're homeward bound"

We sang this until she could bounce no more...the swings never got a look in!

Taking part in Jodi's weekly portrait series for 2013.


Monday 8 April 2013

14/52

Oh so snug in her favourite spot at Aunty's house...This chair is the perfect combination of playpen+swing+highchair+bed - may have to 'borrow' it next time round!

Taking part in Jodi's portrait series for 2013

Wednesday 3 April 2013

choc.a.block


We shared a beautiful Easter this year - days spent with dear friends and family, gathered for meals and a glass or two.

The luxury of a long, long weekend is that you can enjoy many a lively get-together or adventure, while still having ample time for rest and unwinding, time to potter and catch up. 

So that is what we did, and here are the highlights...

*no doubt in Tillys mind that hunting for treats Easter Sunday was top of the list... her little eyes scoured the garden intently for glimpses of coloured foil, placing each treasure in her basket carefully.  Her haul of eggs, bunnies, chicks and beetles were sorted and counted eagerly for the remainder of the morning - I think she actually enjoyed playing with them more than eating the unlucky few!

*koala cuddles from the sweetest 3 month old little girl, the daughter of dear friends we hosted for lunch on Saturday.  That delicious baby smell, and the glow of new parents got me cluck, cluck, clucking...even Tilly was intrigued by this tiny person, albeit a little miffed to see her mama swooning over another.

*a banquet sized BBQ at my sister and husband-to-be's house on Easter Sunday...with only 6 months to their wedding, the count down is on, and final planning is well underway.  While Tilly was enthralled watching the fish in the pond, we shared ideas for final planning - a few more boxes ticked off the list...if only we could figure out the best way to lure Tilly down the aisle incident free?

*time at home was spent in the garden, planting bulbs in and around garden beds - daffodils, ranunculas, freesias, tulips and many more pretty pickings should be ready come Spring, and I can't wait!  We also managed to re-paint a feature wall in our bedroom - from a horrid peach to a dreamy, 'deep water' blue...Lusting for this quilt to complete the boudoir make-over - gone right to the top of the Wishlist, where it will no doubt remain for a good while longer...

All in all, a wonderfully relaxing and productive Easter break, leaving me eager for the next long weekend in late April... Plans are already sparking for some more home DIY, and a little mama-dadda project in the pipeline for Tilly's birthday present this year - yes, it's still 6 months off yet, but you can't fight it when inspiration hits, so we'll make a start to satisfy the itch...no doubt I'll be posting about our progress over the coming month or two.

Now to settle down with a cuppa, and another treat from the Easter stash - I've discovered I have zero will power when it comes to those velvety smooth, deliciously creamy red Lindt Balls ... I just need them to be all gone, so they will stop calling me from the pantry please!