On The Night You Were Born.

On the night you were born,

the moon smiled with such wonder

that the stars peeked in to see you

and the night wind whispered,

"Life will never be the same."

Because there had never been anyone like you.....

ever in the world.

So enchanted with you were the wind and the rain

that they whispered the sound of your wonderful name.

RYDER NICHOLAS!

Not once had there been such eyes,

such a nose,

such silly, wiggly, wonderful toes.

Heaven blew every trumpet

and played every horn

on the wonderful, marvelous

night you were born.

{Above words taken from the book: On The Night You Were Born, by Nancy Tillman. We were given this book by my brother Spencer, his wife Heidi and their 3 kids, to welcome in our new baby boy. From the moment I read this book, I fell in love with it!}

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Dear Ryder,

You are one! ONE years old already.

We love you so, so much. A love so deep that is just for you and us.

You bring us so much joy, so much happiness, so many laughs and so much love. Together with your sister, we feel like the luckiest parents in the world.

You are everything to us! And what a wonderful year it has been.

On the night you were born in November of 2011; the world changed - it became a better, brighter, more beautiful place. All because of you!

Love Mummy and Daddy x

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You can see Ryder's first birthday celebrations here :)

Happiness Is...

When I did the eBook giveaway [Win Some Happiness], I prompted my readers to tell me what makes them happy. I loved reading their responses. I said I would make my happy list in a post later on.

Here it is :)

At the moment, My Happiness Is....

• Coffee. A simple {good} hot cup of coffee. Lifts my spirits every time.
• Mornings in this new house. We wake early {not so much by my choice haa} and once the haze wears off, I quite like mornings. The sun rises over our back deck, light comes streaming into our big glass windows, and it's kind of magic. It's beautiful. The kids are happy in the mornings and our days usually start calmly.
• Being able to stay at home with my babies. I'm thankful for paid maternity leave, and for a Husband who works hard to provide an opportunity for me to be a stay-at-home Mumma to our 2 little loves.
• Colour. Colour makes me happy.

• Shortbread biscuits. My weakness at the moment.
• Cool mornings. Warm days. Snuggly nights. A chance to dig out leg warmers :)

• Handing over the iPad3 to the winner - the lovely Charmaine from Salon Indulge.

• Hearing my baby boy giggle.
• Picnics with my little family. Being together makes me VERY happy.

• Watching my kids play & interact. Nothing sweeter.
• Ella's love to learn & read & write. I hope this eagerness continues :)

• Grabbing a quiet moment every now & then to read. Read a real book. For grown ups....not a kids one hehehe.
• Playdates with little friends & their Mummas.
• The occasional child-free date night with my gorgeous man. I love him.

• Friends. Who are there no matter what.
• Painted nails.
• Staying up late to write & blog & simply enjoy the peace of the house.
• Reading Ella her first Chapter Book {Matilda by Roald Dahl} I am surprised that each & every night she sits there so contently listening to each word & taking it all in. 
• Fairy Floss {Cotton Candy} at the fair.

• Being a Mum. And having my Mum & Mother-In-Law with me on Mothers Day to celebrate Motherhood.
• Planning parties.
• His sparkly eyes.

• Quiet days at home. In pj's til lunchtime. Nowhere to go, nothing to do.
• Sleep.
• Family who help in more way than one. I am blessed with an amazing, loving family. And I have married into a wonderful family too.

I could keep going & going! But I'll leave it there & save the rest of my happy list for another post :)

I'll ask again, just for fun, What makes you happy?

Wordless Wednesday.......in CANDY Heaven.

This photo truly needs no words:

Awesome Candy Shop @ Mooloolaba :)

Playing along with Faith, Hope & Whole Lotta Love, My Life in Colour & My Little Drummer Boys!

Happy Hump Day All :)

Christmas Day 2011

I have only good memories of Christmas as a kid, I really do. My parents always made Christmas meaningful, memorable & fun. It was never about extravagant gifts or lots of money spent, but it was always about FAMILY! We had traditions that became so natural & habitual, that I now follow & continue a lot of them with my own children, because I want them to also grow up & remember nothing but happiness at Christmas time!

The lead up to Christmas is just as much fun as the actual day.....but the actual day....that my friends, is the icing on the cake :) The gift buying & wrapping & making, the craft & baking, the battling through crowds in shopping malls to get a 1minute photo with Santa, the money spent, the holidays booked, the handmade cards & MANY trips to the post office, the organisation, the plans, the creativity required......it's all hard work & can be very costly.....but all SO WORTH IT in the end! And as the sun sets on the 25th of December each year, I reflect back on not only the day we had, but also the magic & chaos that lead us to that day! And this year was no different.....as we got sleepy children bathed & into bed & then attempted some sort of 'cleanup', I felt a mixture of emotions. So happy & content with the day we had & the memories we made.....but also so sad that Christmas Day had come & gone yet again.....and all too fast....yet again! Relieved in some ways that it's all over for another year......and also excited about how we can make it even bigger & better next year :)

This Christmas was made even more special, as we had Jayden with us! He arrived on the 23rd & is with us for a whole month! Oh my, Ella adores this boy! She loves her big brother & the excitement she had on his arrival was bigger than any Christmas experience. Even though my girl loves Christmas & embraces it for all that it's worth.....I honestly think she would have been 100% just to have him here! Christmas was just a bonus on top of that :)

We had a perfect Christmas Eve night. The 'normal' routine of dinner at home, baths & couch cuddles, followed by Santa preparations. Ella wanted to leave Santa some coke {when we were at the shops, waiting in line to have a photo with Santa, she saw him take a swig from a can of coke, and thought it was the most hilarious thing ever that Santa drinks Coca Cola!!}, some cookies & some drawings she'd done. So.....that;s exactly what we did.....left 2 drawings, a glass of coke, a glass of milk, a cookie, a chocolate ball & a carrot for Rudolph. I lay with her in her bed {well...actually...the mattress on the floor in her room as she's given her bed to her big brother at the moment!} and I cuddled her as we talked about Santa & Christmas & the joys of this time of year. She was buzzing with excitement about the possibility that she may hear Santa's jingling bells during the night :) I lay with her until she fell into a deep sleep & felt good that she was mine....and it was Christmas.....and her big brother was here to share this magical time with us.....and it was her baby brother's 1st Christmas........life is good!

That night.....Santa came!!

He ate the cookie, drank the milk & coke, demolished the chocolate ball and let Rudolph nibble the juicy carrot. He filled their stockings. He took the drawings to share with Mrs Claus & he left a letter for Ella, Jayden & Ryder.

I was up at 4:30am feeding Ryder and was just nuzzling back into bed at 5:20am when I heard the pitter patter of children's feet down our hall way & whispers of excitement. Ella came bounding into our room "Mummy, you really truly have to come & see something! I can't tell you because it's a big surprise, but you HAVE to come & see this!!"

So....we obliged......excitedly, Chris & I followed Ella & Jayden down the hallway whilst pushing Ryder in his bassinet into the lounge! And we enjoyed a morning of bliss! Magical moments of discovery & gifts & giving! It was our baby's first Christmas....and although he won't remember it.....we will.....so special it had to be:

And special it was!

It was nice to sit back & just watch! And something that took me a little by surprise was Ella being more interested in giving other people their gifts & watching their reactions of joy.....as apposed to opening her own presents! She had more fun helping & watching Jayden, then devouring her own wrapped gifts! The girl had true Christmas Spirit!

After a home cooked hot breakfast by Chris and some cookie baking with the kids, we packed up the car & headed down to Chris's Aunty's house to experience some Christmas magic all over again with family! The wine flowed, the food was gooood & the company even better :)

My snoozing Baby {in Christmas nappies of course} & I.

Four generations were there that day :) Above: Chris's paternal Pa; Ken. {or as Ella calls him: Old Pa Ken....to determine the difference between her Pa's....cute}

Daddy & his girl

My 2 littlest loves!

Baby's first Christmas!

And it wouldn't be a complete Australian Christmas without some fun in the sun & swimming pool :) For both the small & big kids :)

As a child, I thought there would be no better feeling than being a kid at Christmas! I didn't want to grow up :)  But, now I'm not so sure....I think seeing & experiencing Christmas through the eyes & heart of my own children may {just may} be sweeter and a little more special! I feel grateful to be a Mum....especially this time of year!

Merry Christmas Everyone! I hope you too had a day of love & joy :)

Recent Happenings....Christmas Cheer & My Dancing Girl.

This December has been a busy one....who am I kidding?.....every December is a busy one :) And it feels like we've been go go go for a little too long now. Don't get me wrong....I love to be busy, I love having places to go, people to see, activities to embrace & fun to be had.....but we're now 2 days from Christmas & I'm looking forward to slowing down & truly enjoying some family time!

For the past 4 years, I've made the lead up to Christmas as magical & as meaningful as possible for my child! I love this time of year & I love living it through a child's mind too!! But, to be honest, this December has been a bit of a blur....probably from the sleep deprivation of having a newborn as well finding the balance....{or flow of a juggling act} of being a Mother of 2. But with that said.....we've still managed to fill our days with shopping {too much shopping}, some Christmas art n craft, Christmas catch-ups & playdates, dancing rehearsals, dinners out with family, more dancing rehearsals, Santa photos, concerts & the usual Christmas Chaos....{umm...I mean Cheer!} It's been fun! It's been tiring! It's been good!

And as Sunday morning rolls around & I see my kid's faces as they discover Santa's trail of gifts & a whole day ahead of joy....I know it'll all be worth it....and then it will be time to simply relax, enjoy, breathe, absorb & love! And love big....is what I plan to do this season!

We put our Christmas tree up at the end of November :) My Mum & Dad were heading off to South Africa for 6 weeks so we had them around for a night of Christmas music, yummy food & the construction of our tree :) It was nice!

Daddy & Ella decorating the tree!

Grampy & Ella putting the STAR up :)

Ella wrote her annual Letter To Santa :) And we posted it off with our 2011 Christmas Cards! 

We caught up with our dear friends for a day of sun, fun, presents & play! Kim, Kirsty & I spent most of the playdate in awe at our 'big kids'....and wondered where the heck time has gone?! They're going to be 4 soon! FOUR....that's crazy!!!!!

Ella had her Christmas 'break-up / disco' at Kindy! She wore her sparkly new Christmas dress that Nanny & Pa brought back from America & she totally rocked out at the disco with her best buddy Hayden & Nanny too :) 

She loves this boy :) When Ella started daycare at 12months old, the teachers told me about another little baby boy who was smitten with Ella...and would crawl around chasing her & kissing her! 3 years on...they're still in LOVE!!! Sweet!!!!!

Nanny came to the Disco to dance with Ella & cuddle with Ryder! LOVE!

And....we saw Santa there too:

And....our first Santa photo with Brother & Sister :) 

My girl had her first ever dance concert last weekend! Oh.My.Goodness!! One of the highlights of my year, that's for sure! I was a little hesitant with how she would go.....at home she's loud & funny & confident.....but in a public setting, she has a shy streak. But let me tell you....THE GIRL DANCED!! She rocked it out bigtime!! Chris, Ryder & I got to watch one of the shows & everytime my girl stepped out on stage....I bawled my eyes out! I was a blubbering mess!! I was filled with so much pride, so much love, so much happiness! She was beautiful!

From graceful ballerina to Hip Hop chick in 2 minutes flat :) The girl has style :)

Ryder is 7 weeks old now! He's such a delight! Typical 2nd child....gets dragged from shop to shop, dance lessons, playdates & day trips out. But he takes it all in his stride. He starting to smile lots. He's sleeping well, feeding lots & bringing us more joy than I could ever imagine!

His blue eyes melt my heart & I feel so complete to have him in my world!

In a bit of a nutshell....that has been snippets of our crazy yet beautiful December! Phew...what a month!

It's Friday evening......we're about to head out for Chris's work dinner party & Jayden has arrived!

It's CHRISTMAS!! And I love it!! 

Goodnight x

On Being A Mother of Two.

Ryder is 6 weeks old today! So, for 6 weeks, I've been a Mother of Two!

{Ella & Ryder ~ December 2011}

Two gorgeous Souls, Two little miracles, Two amazing little creatures who are so dependent on me as their Mumma! That means I've had to share my time, share my love, share my heart & basically share "myself"...all of myself!

I won't lie.....it's been a learning journey with some fails & some successes.....and at times it's been a little hard....but it's also been the most amazing 6 weeks of my life! 

I am blessed with TWO healthy, thriving, beautiful children and for that I'm grateful. I hope I never take that for granted!

And maybe it's because it's the Christmas Season....and everything is so much more sparkly & joyful this time of year.....but I truly LOVE being a Mumma of 2 and all of the trials, tribulations and triumphs it's bringing to our family!

The first week of coming home with Ryder was the most testing. I was trying to find my groove as a new Mumma again. I was adjusting to the severe sleep deprivation again. And I was battling major feelings of guilt towards my little lady; Ella. She in no way was doing anything that triggered my guilts....in fact....she was quite perfect :) She was loving her baby brother, respecting the changes that were happening & adjusting well to another little life who got Mummy's attention during all of the night & most of the day. But it was a little battle I was having within myself! I had gone from giving every ounce of my being, my time, my love, my ideas to Ella. We had an exclusive relationship...just her, Chris & I. Our days were filled with craft & baking & adventures & shopping & movies & day trips out. We traveled the world together. We welcomed her into our bed every night. And we were always at her beckon call no matter what! She was the centre of our attention....the number 1 in this house! But now....that had changed!! We had another little child, who I loved as equally as my first. And to be honest, I felt guilty about the changes Ella was going through! I spoke to a few of my other Mummy friends...and they assured me this was 'normal' & they too had felt these emotions when bringing home their 2nd babies :) And over the past 6 weeks, I've {well...I think I have} started to master the balancing act of having 2 children without beating myself up with guilt about who is getting more attention than the other at each moment! I love them both as much as each other & do everything in power to make them both feel loved, attend to & equally valued! {this mother gig is hard work I tell you lol}. And overall.....it's been a pretty smooth 6 weeks. 

Since having Ryder, Ella seems so big! I look at her....and have to pinch myself that she too was that teeny tiny, not so long ago. I get sad about how fast time flies....and how fast kids grow up! I keep telling her to stop growing & stay 3 forever :) She giggles & says "I can't help it Mummy....I just keep growing....and soon I'll be FOUR!!" 

And then sometimes, I have to take a step back & question my expectations of her....because she is only 3! And although that seems so big.....it's also so small. She's still 'my baby'. 

Ella is so proud of her new baby brother. When we're out, or I drop her at Kindy, or we're at Ballet, she pats him & kisses him and declares to anyone who glances her way "That's my baby brother Ryder!". Or she'll grab someone's hand & tell them "Come & look at my baby brother!!" She loves him!!! Everytime I bath him, she wants to get in with him & 'play'. She helps settle him when he's tired or hungry. She's been great! And although she's starting to push the buttons of behaviour {like most nearly 4 year old girls I'm sure} and see how far she can go in testing her boundaries, she has adjusted well to our new life as a bigger family! I can't wait to see her & Ryder play & interact more as he gets older :) Even now, seeing them look into each other's eyes, or the way she kisses him.....my heart melts & I feel very complete. 

{I love this girl}

{And I love this boy}

I am one lucky Mumma!

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Onto other things....... Ryder is now 5.8kg & 58cm long! Yep....my BIG BOUNCING BOY is in 00 clothes {for up to 6 month olds} and has settled a lot more with his sleeping {as we got pretty much NO sleep in those first 2 weeks}. He feeds twice a night now....usually around midnight & 3:30am. I'm then up at 5:30/6am with Ella {my little night owl} and the day begins all over again :) Am I tired? YES!! Would I change any of it? NO!!! 

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There's 10 days until Christmas....yahooooo!!!!!! Our presents are wrapped & awaiting under the Christmas Tree! Jayden arrives next week & is staying for a month, which we are all SUPER EXCITED about!! Ella can't wait to have her big brother here. Have I mentioned that I love this time of year? LOL!!!

AND.....Ella has her first ever Ballet concert this weekend, and to say I'm excited....is an understatement :) 

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This is my Christmas Photo for 2011 that I placed in our Xmas Cards:

I love photographing my kids! And although natural, candid shots are usually the most memorable....these posed ones are also so much fun! Coz they are real smiles there...and nothing beats that!

Happy Thursday All!

P.S. You can read Ryder's birth story here!