2011.

There have been 2 years in my life, where the course I thought I was following has been inexplicably altered though no act of my own doing. The first time was in 2000 when this happened. The second time was this year when the Christchurch earthquakes sent our lives onto yet another, different, unexpected route. 

The earthquake, within a few seconds destroyed a lot of the community in which I lived. It caused grief and anguish to many who lost a lot more than I did. But on a personal level, it caused my girl to become very reclusive, frightened and withdrawn, as her little 3 year old mind tried to come to terms with the situation she found herself in. 

In amongst all this, she turned 3. We had an impromptu party and for that day, everybody smiled. It was beautiful.

Shortly after her birthday, she got her first pair of glasses, teeny tiny glasses. I never knew they made them so small.

In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, we spent serval weeks in Golden Bay, enjoying the idyllic beaches and relative normality of life there. But upon or return to Christchurch, we made a big decision. The right thing for us, for our family, was to move away. Leaving was scary. It had never been in our plans. But as it turned out, it was a good thing.

We found our selves here. Five hours from home in this beautiful alpine lake village. We found ourselves welcomed here. And slowly, we have built a new life here. 

Holly started preschool. I still find myself stunned that my baby is big enough to give me a quick kiss before she rushes off to play with her friends each day.  She started swimming lessons, ballet classes and had her first haircut. This girl of mine is growing up!

And this little girl? Over the course of this year, she has grown from a baby to a toddler. She talks non stop, she loves to dance, she loves to cuddle and she is mad on thomas the tank engine. She has the biggest character. She makes me laugh out loud so many times a day. And as 2011 drew to a close, this littlest girl of mine turned 2. 

Sadly, in 2011, we also said goodbye to a loyal friend. Our lovely old dog Tim died. We had him for 15 years, he was a good gentle pet and we still miss him a lot.

2011, what a year eh?

Bring on 2012. 

Two

The little one turned 2 today!

Hard to believe two whole years have passed since she entered our world. Oh how we love her. Her cheeky smile, her infectious laugh, her boisterous personality. She has bought such joy into our lives. Everyday I am grateful that I am lucky enough to call her my daughter.

Love you little one xxx

Things I Am Loving

This week I am loving just one thing. I am loving her last week as a one year old. Where oh where did the last 2 years go? I feel like it was just a heartbeat ago that she was this tiny baby. But oh my gosh she is so excited to be turning two. I ask her "who's birthday is it next week?" Her prompt reply "ME!".And then I ask "how old will you be?" She tries to hold just 2 of her little fingers up as she relies "TWO!"

And Just Like That.... She Grew Up

I am not sure how it happened so fast, but my little one is growing up. My baby, my little tiny baby, is now a little girl. And so we hit another mile stone... the big girl bed. I knew the end of our cot days where in sight when she preferred to climb into her big sisters bed rather than her cot, much to her big sisters frustration. So we decided it was time to put up bunk beds. Oh how happy it made her, she grinned from ear to ear when she saw her big girl bed. She has taken the transition from cot to bed all in her stride. But when I sneak in at night to check on her, she looks so tiny, curled up in her big girl bed. And as I tuck her back in,  prying all the books out from around her, I understand what people mean when they say "she will always be your baby". 

Enjoying Simple Pleasures

Today has been one of those lovely hot late spring days, the kind of day which fill you with anticipation of the summer to come. I made the most of the beautiful weather to enjoy an impromptu ice cream in town with my girls, followed by picking wild flowers down by the river. Simple pleasures that make for a very happy day with my girls. 

This Little Girl

This week, this little girl learnt to run. She ran round and round the coffee table, she ran across the grass and she ran down the footpath. She tripped on the footpath and cut her sweet cherry lip. Now she is not so keen on running on the footpath but is still happy to run round the coffee table and cross the grass. Bless her, clever girl.

This week, this little girl learn't the joy of drawing with crayons and is immensely pleased with the colourful markings she can make.

This week, this little girl learnt that if she goes backwards on her tummy, she is allowed to go down the staircase herself. What joy she takes in sliding down the stairs just for the fun of it.

This week, this little girl learnt that she can shake her head to let me know she means no. No I don't want to be picked up. No I don't want a drink. No I don't want a bath. So very sure of herself is this little girl.

This week, this little girl learnt to say Nana. Much to her Nana's joy.

This week, this little girl made her Mama's heart happy a million times over, oh how I love her.

And Then She Turned One...

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Not sure how that happened. How did she turn one so quickly? It seems like only yesterday I was holding her tiny new little body in my arms, amazed that she was here. I remember smelling her sweet milky new born breath, stroking her near bald head and staring into her baby blue eyes.

How fast time flies. Today she turned one. I stare at her, amazed at how much she has grown and changed. The head, once sparse of hair is now covered in downey white hair. The baby blue eyes replaced with grey ones. She see's me watching her and a cheeky grin breaks out across her sweet face. She toddles over to me on feet that grow more and more confident at walking with each passing day. When she reaches me, she wraps her little arms around my neck, puckers her little cherry lips and kisses me several times. My heart swells with love for this sweet little girl.

Happy first birthday Isla, oh how we love you.

Isla Rose

Today we celebrated out littlest one with a naming celebration. Mother nature was kind to us as usual,  providing a beautiful hot day. Together with friends and family, we drew together. With the backdrop of the Canterbury plains behind us, we celebrated this beautiful little girl whom I am lucky enough to call my daughter.

Isla Rose.

We chose her name carefully. I find naming a child a huge responsibility and one not to be taken lightly. Isla (pronounced I-la) is a Scottish name derived from the island of Islay. Scotland is my birthplace, so, it just felt right to me to name her after a place with which I have such a strong connection. Rose, was my paternal grandmothers name. Holly took my husbands grandmothers name of Iris. We also found it beautifully appropriate that both our girls had flower names and the connotations that holds for us of nature and beauty.

A perfect name for a perfect girl.

4 Seasons- Spring

Summer. My favorite Season. Spring, my second favorite. 

The other day, I watched my 2 year old kindly share her ice block with her very excited baby sister. They sat in the sun, ice-block dripping over their tiny hands while Holly passed it back and forth between their mouthes. Afterwards, they smelt just like summer, that mix of cool ice block breath and sunscreen. Bliss.

Do you have something to share that personifies the season you are in?

Would love you to link up.

A good reason to not mow your lawn

Mowing is not something I enjoy, in fact it is something I actively avoid. But, since Simon hurt his hip, it has been falling on me to do and I am less than enthusiastic about it. Anyway, I have come up with one very good reason not to... the little one is loving picking all the little daisies that have appeared. 

This Moment

{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

The Wild West

Last week we were lucky enough to be the recipients of a break from the quake, a two night trip to the west coast. It was a wonderful initiative, set up by solid energy to help out the residents of Christchurch following the September 4th Earthquake.

We set off early in the morning on the Tranz-Alpine train, a four and a half hour trip, taking us across the broad expanse of the Canterbury plains, winding through the majestic southern alps before emerging on the rugged west coast. 

The girls has a ball on the train, loving the freedom of being able to move around the carriage, a freedom they do not get in the car. A whole new world of getting up close and personal with the window. 

A two hour bus trip later and we finally arrived at our destination of Carter's beach, just outside Westport. An amazing spot.

It was the perfect place for kids, quiet and peaceful. Lots of room to run and play.

There was also the most amazing beach, but that is a whole other post, so I might just save that one for tomorrow. 

The Definition of Happiness

When you are 10 months old, without a doubt your definition of happiness must be a ride on the swing at the park. 

The little one just adores it. As soon as we get near the swings, the feet start kicking, with that whole body excitement that only little babies do. With a grin from ear to ear, she happily sits while I push her back and forth. Laughing hysterically when I grab her little feet as she comes near. She never tires of it.

That is one of the things I love most about being a mother, getting the opportunity to see the world though their eyes and find pleasure in the simplest things.

Happy weekend.

This Moment

{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Sweet Dreams Little One

This weekend just passed, I finally took a big step and moved the little one out of our room after almost 10 months.

I could have happily kept her in with us for a lot longer but since the earthquakes here a month ago, Holly has been too scared to sleep alone and our bed had become very crowded. So, it made sense to move both girls into a shared bedroom. They are both sleeping well in the new room but it is very odd for me to fall asleep without the gentle rhythm of the little ones breathing close by.

I haven't given up on co-sleeping altogether though, when Isla wakes in the early morning, we all snuggle into Holly's new queen bed, where the little one likes to curl up against me,  just like she has always done- Magic to a Mama's heart.

This Moment

{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

This Moment

A friday ritual (inspired by soulemama). a single photo capturing a moment from the week. a simple, special, extraordinary moment. a moment to pause, savor and remember. 

One Lucky Muma

My little one is cutting her first tooth and lets just say, she is not a very happy girl. There have been lots of tears and grumpyness the last few days. It is not like her, she is normally such a little ray of sunshine. She really is-

A happy

Sweet

bubbly

amazing

Little girl.

Some times I pinch myself and wonder how I got so lucky, not just once, but twice.  I feel like the luckiest Muma in the world. 

A Very Messy Business

I had forgotten just how very messy it is when a little one starts on solids. We started Isla a few weeks ago on homemade sweet potato and pumpkin, what a hit! The little one practically had my hand off trying to get more. It is the sweetest thing, as she eats she goes "mmmmm", so I am thinking she is liking her solids. It's delightful to watch her little face as she experiences these new tastes and textures. What is slightly less fun is cleaning up her seat, the table, the chairs and the floor after she has finished!

This Moment

A friday ritual (inspired by soulemama). a single photo capturing a moment from the week. a simple, special, extraordinary moment. a moment to pause, savor and remember.