Friday, January 29, 2010

My little picasso

Miss Holly is proving to be quite the little artist. She loves to draw and spends many hours with her little bucket filled with her crayons and one of her many many colouring books. She carries these around the house and sets to work on her pictures in all corners of the house. She puts alot of effort into her drawings, lifting up her head to show me which colour she will use next. Some times she will invite me to join her only to quickly take the crayon off me again, I guess my colouring is not up to her standard! 

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

My current favorites list

I am making this at the moment

If I ever find the time to get out my sewing machine, I would like to make this

I think this is lovely for a little girl

This is cool but to expensive for me

I would like to make nappies for Isla with this

This site has lots of good ideas

I would like to eat this, yum!

If I had the money, I would buy this

Monday, January 25, 2010

Daddy's girls

This is about him because he is good and he is kind. He was anxious about becoming a father and how he would cope with his physical limitations. Ironically, it is is disability that has allowed him to be a great parent. Unlike many fathers, the gift he has been able to give his girls is his time. He has been able to see so many of the 'firsts' that many fathers miss. Since the little ones arrival, he has taken over Miss Holly's bedtime. He tells me that as she falls asleep, she likes to pull his face close and give him lots of sweet kisses. He has also spent many hours carrying the little one in the evenings when my own arms become too sore and my legs too tired to walk anymore. I probably don't tell him enough but he is a good daddy and his girls love him very much.

Walking the floor boards


The littlest one is suffering from colic. Every night she cries. It is so hard to watch her little face twist in pain. The only thing that seems to ease the tears is walking. The other night as I walked a path around our living room for the umpteenth time, I looked at the floorboards and started to wonder how many other mothers had walked these same floor boards over the hundred years or so that this house has stood here? I decided there must have been at least a couple. In thinking about these babies that have long ago grown up and left this house, I was struck with how fleeting babyhood really is. One day all too soon Isla will be grown up. So for now, I wont will the evenings away but rather hold my little one close and remind myself that one day, I will look back on these nights I walked the floor boards with fondness.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

My big girl


There is a certain irony that this should be my next post after my one about modern cloth nappies but it appears Miss Holly has decided to toilet train herself. We have had a potty in the living room for a while now and Holly has used it a few times when asked but it is not something we have pushed. Well the last few days she has decided that nappies are not for her anymore and she has been taking herself off to use the potty! I am surprised how quick and easy it has come to her. I had imagined I would have to initiate it alot more but so far all I have had to do is get ridiculously excited when she shows me the full potty and give her a chocolate button for every 'deposit' .  I am so proud of her as her nappy days start to come to an end but at the same time there is a tinge of sadness as she throws off the last vestiges of babyhood. My little girl is quickly growing into a big girl.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Demistifying modern cloth nappies


As many of you may of you may know, I have a bit of a 'thing' for modern cloth nappies (MCN). Initially, I chose to use MCN for economic reasons but quickly fell in love with how cute they looked and I have also become increasingly aware of their positive environmental attributes. I thought I might provide you with a bit of a run down on the advantages of MCN as well as an outline of the different types of MCN available today.

Benefits of MCN
  • MCN do not contain the chemicals that disposables do, making them ideal for sensitive skin. 
  • The incidence of nappy rash is reduced as you are able to tell when a nappy is wet and change it more frequently.
  • They are made from soft breathable fabrics making them comfortable for baby to wear.
  • Their shaped to fit well with adjustable closures to allow the fit to be customised to fit your baby.
  • Pocket nappies allow you to adjust absorption to suit your babies needs.
  • You can save thousands of dollars compared to using disposable nappies.
  • MCN are easy to use.
Types of MCN

All In Ones (AIO)
AIO's consist of a lining layer, absorbent inner and a waterproof cover all sewn together. They are trim fitting and very easy to use. The only negative is that drying time is longer due to the fact that the internal layers cannot be separated out.

Pocket Nappies
The most popular choice in MCN. They consist of 2 parts, an outer made from waterproof material and a stay dry  liner. In between these two layers is a pocket opening which allows you to place your absorbent padding. 

Fitted Nappies
Made from absorbent fabrics with sewn in absorbency. They are shaped to create a snug fit around babies legs. This type of nappy requires a waterproof cover.

Nappy cover/wrap
Is a waterproof cover, generally used over a fitted or a prefold nappy. You will need to only change a cover every 3rd or 4th nappy change unless it becomes soiled. Covers come in a variety of fabrics including PUL, fleece or wool.

Prefolds
Is the modern version of a flat nappy. Made from 3 panels, it can be folded different ways to suit your babies needs. Most commonly, they are folded into 3 to form a pad that is then laid inside a cover. This is the most economical nappy system.


Most people that use MCN, quickly become addicted to them. In my opinion, they is nothing cuter than the sight of a little cloth bottom!



 

Monday, January 18, 2010

Sweet dreams


A little girl is sugar and spice and everything nice - especially when she's taking a nap. 
 ~Author Unknown

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Knitting for the little ones


There is something deeply satisfying about seeing your little ones wearing clothing you have made with love and your own two hands. I only learnt how to knit after the birth of my first daughter Holly. These days I love to knit and always have a project on the needles. The fabulous thing about knitting is it is a highly portable hobby that can be taken anywhere. I have spent many an hour sitting on the front steps, knitting, while I watch Holly play in the garden. There are many amazing knitting patterns available off the net. My favorite patterns mostly come from Ravelry (www.ravelry.com), they have a huge selection, many of which are free. 

A couple of examples of recent knits

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Baking day

Today the weather was cold and wet outside, crazy when it is meant to be the middle of summer! Decided it was a good day to teach Miss Holly how to bake. She is such a fabulous little helper, always lending a hand with house cleaning or hanging out the washing so I thought she would enjoy her first foray into the kitchen. For christmas, our family did a homemade present swap. I made cowboy cookie jars as my gifts and had one left spare so we used that today to bake our cookies. For anyone interested, you can get the recipefrom http://www.bakerella.com/mix-things-up/ , they make a fabulous gift idea.
Cowboy cookie jars we made up for christmas gifts
My little baker, standing on a chair to reach the counter top
Mixing the ingredients
She was meant to be helping roll them into balls but preferred to eat the ingredients!
The finished product- very yummy!

Friday, January 15, 2010

Our walks

Most days, I like to take the little ones for a walk. It is something I started doing when Holly was just a newborn and have continued to this day. These days, Holly goes in the pushchair while Isla is cuddled up in the ergo front pack. Both girls seem to love it, Holly sits in quiet contemplation, watching the world go by, while Isla is lulled to sleep by the gentle motion. There are many lovely places to walk near our house but my favorite is along the waterfront. I never get tired of looking at the water, somedays it is calm and peaceful, other days it is rough and moody but always different and interesting.







Wednesday, January 13, 2010

The waiting game

The end of 2009 was marked for us by the birth of our second daughter, Isla. We spent the first half of December awaiting her arrival. I spent days 'nesting', cleaning, washing and pulling out the newborn gear in anticipation. A friend kindly offered to take some photos of 'the bump', they turned out lovely and will be something Isla will be able to enjoy looking at in years to come

Checking if there is a buba in Holly's tummy too


Showing us where her bubba is


Me and my girl ♥


Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Where the flowers grow



At the bottom of my parents property there is a river bed. Most of the year it is dry, rocky and barren. For a few months of the year when the snow on the mountains melts, it fills with fast flowing water. But, at the start of summer, it fills with something else, something far more beautiful.



On one of the long days while we awaited the impending birth of the wee girl we would call Isla, we took a trip to the riverbed. Holly was filled with wonder as she stood looking at the orange flowers that stretched as far as the eye could see.



We picked a bunch to take home and put in a vase, they lasted a few days before they died. But the memory of her wee face as she wondered amongst the flowers will be forever in my memory.


LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails