Newborn Photoshoot: 10 days new Master "H"

Perhaps it is because I am pregnant with a boy is the reason why I fell in love with little Master H.  Seriously - he was gorgeous, content and the perfect model.  Only needing the tiniest bit of reassurance when he got upset and then he would settle into a deep sleep.

A big thank you to his lovely parents for giving me the oppurtunity to capture this magical time in their lives....and allowing me a few snuggles!

I am sure he will be a heartbreaker in a few years time!  

'Twas the First Week of Christmas....

I can't believe that it's the 6th December already.  I had huge plans of creating a special advent calendar with an activity for each day - but the time has simply got away from us.  We seem to be creating our own virtual advent calendar and filling our days with memories that will surely last a lifetime.  It's fitting to say we are a tad Christmas-mad here - but hey - I will use the excuse of "Santa is watching" for as long as I can....because for now - it's working!!

Over the last week, we have been crazy - here is a little snippet....

Wet Season has arrived for the summer so we recently spent a good 4 days inside with the rain.  As a result, here is some 'craft' that we did with Daddy.  Yes - Santa looks like he has spent a year with the Simpsons but hey - it's proudly hanging on Macie's door and she loves it.  The most entertaining part was watching Heath do crafts with Macie....a first with paint, glue and all the other little bits and bobs.  Definitely a man who likes to keep his colours within the line and his glue strategically placed....I swear he had a heart attack 10 times over!! 

The Christmas Tree at the Dalli Cottage is proudly up with it's homemade decorations courtesy of Macie.  At first she thought it was a "Jump Jump" (What The?) but thankfully we managed to convince her that everything was precious and we had to be gentle.  I am happy to report the tree still remains standing with no casulties.

We just got home from a few days away at my parents place - and that is where the Christmas magic really happens.  My beautiful mum is secretly Mrs Claus....and creates the most magnificent tree.  It takes nearly a whole day to assemble....but it is so worth it.

But it's at night where the magic really happens with the fairy lights on and each and every ornament twinkling with memories of our childhood.  Macie's reaction was "Oh Wooooow" - and it really is an "oh Wow" moment.  It is seriously magestic.

And we finished the weekend off with a visit to the Christmas Lights Wonderland which was just perfect.  We lost count at the amount of times Macie said "Oh Wow" and it felt like we were over in Europe....not in Toowoomba. 

It's simple.....we love Christmas here and I can't wait to see what the remainder of December brings us!  Lots of laughs, memories and good times....

Our little Bush Christmas Tree

It has been wet, wet, wet here the past few days and in between doing craft with Macie - I decided that I wanted to do something pretty for the front entrance.  I had something in mind & some spare felt....so off I went while Heath and Macie had some quality Daddy/Daughter time.

Here is my little "Bush Christmas" tree....

I decided that I love it too much to place it on the dining table as a centrepiece as Macie is a pro at climbing the chairs and residing on the table first thing in the morning.  I can only imagine what she would do to this beauty!  In her defence - she is in love with the Bush Tree too and keeps on telling me that I need to "Be Gentle & Careful"!!! 

It was so easy to make!  The decorations are just felt cut out into the shapes that you want and decorated as you please.  I used a sewing machine to sew them but you could easily hand-sew them if you didn't feel like pulling the machine out.  I stuffed them with toy stuffing which was fantastic and easy. 

As for the garland - I can see myself making this for my mum as I am in love.  Easiest thing ever!  Simply cut out the circles in colours desired and send them through the sewing machine - leaving a gap between each one.  It is so simple, so cheap....yet so effective!

I have declared tomorrow "Christmas Tree" day as we are planning on being away at my Mums for the 1st December and I don't want to miss the oppurtunity of having Heath home while it's wet.  Will report back with the handmade ornament tree....and all it's beauty I'm sure. 

In the meantime....here is a little snippet of the Christmas Stockings that were designed by my sister Emma and sewn by me!  Love Love Love them....and seriously considering making Heath & I one!!

Thankful

Thanksgiving seems like such a magical holiday over in the States.  A holiday that makes people stop and simply be thankful....maybe we all need a bit more of that in our lives. 

Here are a few things I am thankful for:

1.  My marriage to Heath - which is strong enough to have a good old barney and still love each other at the end of the day.  Where we speak from the heart, love each other for who we are and share the same goals and dreams for our family.  When we get off our road of direction - it never takes long for us to recognise this, rejuvinate and get back on track.  I really am so thankful for this man.

2.  Macie's determination to piece sentences together.  She is so funny and has had Heath & I in hysterics over the past few days.  She is eptimone of our happiness. 

3.  Macie's new way of hugging which is now a "squeezy" hug where she wraps her hands around your neck and squeezes the love out of you.  She will then proceed to tell you how "Yummy" that cuddle was. 

4.  A simple mango smoothie

5.  Our families who love us unconditionally - through thick and thin, good times and bad.  We owe our parents and families so so so much. 

6.  Online shopping - I think I may have an addiction.  My visa is proving this theory but I am definitely still in denial.

7.  My new camera thanks to the genoristy of my father-in-law who sold me his little beauty.  One day I hope to have a camera collection like his....in the meantime, I am loving the images this camera is gifting me with.

8.  Text messages from my lovely friend late at night talking about things as random as "How Hot the Braxton Brothers are on Home & Away" to breastfeeding and steralising bottles!

9.  My midwife who is helping me renew my faith in my body and preparing it for a beautiful birth in February. 

10.  Our humble abode - as much as I talk about paint, new bathrooms, more space and renovations - I am still so thankful to have a warm, cosy home to house my beautiful family.

11.  Facebook - for it's this that keeps me in touch with my friends and family when days on the farm feel a little too lonely and long.

12.  My long-lost sewjo to complete a few Christmas projects.  It feels good to be in front of the sewing machine again.

13.  My life.  I am so thankful for my beautiful, simple and fufilling life.

What are you thankful for?

The Countdown....

I am surprising myself this year with my Festive Season organisation.  In between photoshoots, trips to town, swimming lessons, and general craziness of life - I am actually organised for Christmas.  It is usually it's me running around a few days before Christmas Eve trying to find wrapping paper and Christmas cards - and usually posting the cards after Christmas because I was too slack to sit down and right them.  I don't know what has come over me this year....but I am liking it!

We have these beautiful Christmas decorations designed by Macie to hang on the Christmas tree this weekend.  Beautiful treasure....I know!

I have purchased all my Christmas presents but one, nearly paid off Macie's lay-by (to which I just had a look at the receipt and don't remember purchasing half of those things) and have even sat down at the sewing machine to start/finish on special Christmas stockings for both Archer and Moo.  Yep - I have been bitten by the Christmas bug. 

Since I have been taking so many photos of everyone else lately, I decided it was time to capture some Christmas shots of our own little angel.  There are some beauties that I want to save for some special presents.....but here is a little snippet of our darling girl in between the rain showers yesterday.  Be still my beating heart.

Christmas Craft #1

With Christmas just around the corner - I find myself engrossed with Christmas ideas, wrapping & all the other goodies.  I love Christmas.  Blame it on my mum who is seriously Mrs Claus in disguise as each December of each year she would dress our family home into a beautiful Christmas Wonderland.  It must have rubbed off because I really love Christmas too.

Last year I braved putting the Christmas tree up with my little demolisher child.  We had a few decorations that were casualties - and thankfully managed to keep the family heirloom ornaments safe.  This year, I don't think I will be as lucky.  I liken Macie to an "Elephant in a China Store" - she is busy, inquisitive and rough....and I love her for it.  Christmas is all about the kids - so what kind of a Mum am I not to put up the tree because I am scared what she will do?   So I have come up with a genuis idea to make some decorations to place on the tree and it won't matter if Macie decides to 'look' and consequently break them.   

So, we sat down this morning armed with buttons, felt pens, ribbons and paddle-pop sticks.  Christmas Craft Activity #1 to make Paddle-Pop Star Decorations - designed by Macie.   Very easy thing to make - cheap and tacky which is what Kids Christmas decorations are all about! 

Now - I don't want you to get the wrong idea that everything is always rosey around this cottage.  During the 30 minutes it took to make these darling little ornaments - Macie had 2 time-outs and I ended up finishing them while she went and played with something else.  Apparently in her books, 2 year olds are allowed to use hot glue guns.....but in my books, parents loose their children for doing stupid shit like that.  Try explaining that to a two year old!! 

I seriously find myself wondering if this "Time Out" business works.  Advice anyone?

I appear to have an extremely cheeky girl on my hands today.  With her Daddy working before the rain is due - she is clearly sick of looking at my face.  I really thought a Craft Morning would make it all better.....but with my dog-like barking it appears that I am a bit sick of her face too.  It's as real as it gets at the Dalli Cottage - and not all roses.  But I like real.  Real makes you appreciate the great days and forget about the bad ones. 

And it doesn't take long to forget.....because now I am off to make mini paper mache ornaments for her to paint during the week.   A mothers love knows NO boundaries.  I seriously love this kid so much it makes my heart want to explode even with the tears, tantrums and time-outs! 

{Photoshoot} Lovely Ladies

Over the last few days, we have had my sister and her beautiful family staying with us at the Cottage.  I love spending quality time with her - where we talk about everything that you can't talk about over the phone.  We share our opinions, parenting and then exchange laughs when we realise what a transformation our lives have taken now we are both mums.  It's magical though how an even tighter bond has formed between us now that we are both mothers.  We understand without having to explain and we know what a simple "I'm Fine" means.....

So when I was contacted by two beautiful sisters who wanted to photograph their children together - it only seemed fitting.  I really love to capture the moment and the magic.  I especially loved watching these two sisters together as they dotted on each others children like they were their own. 

Here is a little snippet of the beautiful little girls in their beautiful garden.  Thank you for allowing me to capture your lovely ladies on an even lovelier afternoon.  X