Stills.

1. Garden exploring - he's always on the move.

2. Evidence of Autumn and an impending Winter.

3. The view from our back doors as the sun starts it's afternoon decent - and a little adventurer wanting to climb up for a better view.

4. A lone feather resting on the patio tile.

5. Burnt wrists, mending slowly, after a run-in with some freshly made soup and the blender!

6. Our Love birdy.

7. A gorgeous array of goodies sent from friends on my return from hospital.

8. Ella: "I can balance Mummy. Watch me!" - more garden exploring.

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Reconnecting with my camera again and capturing bits n pieces of us.

Joining in with The Beetleshack's Weekly Stills Project.

snap it {breakfast}

Our kids rise early, so we eat breakfast early. Around 6:30-ish most mornings.

Fairly standard breakfast foods are consumed here. Juice or milo. Yoghurt and toast. Cereal and fruit. Muesli and porridge. Honey usually smothers everything, and large cups of coffee is a must. Sometimes we go the extra mile and make pancakes or bacon & eggs. Sometimes we eat all together, other days we all eat at different times.

However, breakfast is usually a fairly calm part of our day - so I take the time to notice the little things. Like the sun beaming in through the many windows. The reflections coming off the pool. The many birds chirping from the forest out back. And how cute his little podgy feet look, dangling in the high chair.

I love watching his little fingers grip and grasp at his food. Blueberries are the favourite at the moment...

And how his morning hair curls up at the back. So very, very cute...

And then...

Then the day begins..... messes are cleared up, new ones made. Showers had, kids dressed. And away we go....with whatever the day brings us.

Joining in with Sarah over at Faith, Hope & a whole lotta Love's weekly SNAP IT.

Happy Wednesday All x

Same Same. Yet Different.

It seems that when it comes to appearance, the Chadwick gene is much stronger than mine. Even though I have dark eyes & dark hair, both of my babies have their Daddy's crisp clear eyes, facial shape & structure ....and his crappy sleep patterns {haa}. I don't mind though....coz the Chadwicks' are a pretty good lookin' bunch, and I love that our kids have continued on with the 'distinct family look'. 

Soooo many people comment on how freakishly similar Ryder looks to Chris. And it's true. They are so crazily alike, it's almost a bit scary.I rarely get a comment on how much my kids look like me {coz they don't} but I often get told how so alike Ella's mannerisms are to mine....which I like :)

So, we decided to do some comparing. The other day we dug out some of our own baby photos. Not only was it fun to reminisce but it was also cool to see how similar our kids are to us....yet how different they are too.

So alike. Yet so different.

Just the way it should be.

Are your kids anything like you? What traits of yourself do you see in them?

5 reasons why you'll love instagram

The cool thing about technology is that there's always something new coming out....a new gadget, a new app, a new game, a new toy, a new way to document, record or store files etc etc. And when that new thing is FREE....well, even better!!! Instagram isn't so 'new' anymore, but it's very cool & also free!

I've declared my love {and addiction} for Instagram a few times on here, and my love affair with this app is still going strong.

A friend recently asked me what was the big deal with it?....She didn't see the point in taking photos & sharing them with people.....and unknown people too!

So, here is my 5 top reasons why I love Instagram {and why you might too!}.....

1.  Like most social medias, you can choose to make your Instagram profile 'private' or 'public'. So if you don't want everyone in the world to see your pics and you feel a little icky about this.....set it to private. You can then allow access viewing to whoever YOU choose. I have mine set to public, as a lot of my photos are random documentations of my day. I don't put anything too private, personal or inappropriate on there for this reason.
2. There's heaps of awesome filters! Filters are the effects added to an image to make it look a certain way {vintage, coloured, b & w, brightly lit etc}. I love playing with these. They can really change a photo's look, feel & interpretation. A few times I've taken a pretty boring {not so pretty} photo but once putting it into Instagram & adding a filter, the photo takes on a whole new meaning & emotion. COOL!

This photo for example. I took it in the bathroom.....minutes before bathing my baby boy. It was the end of a long day. We were both tired. But the filter gave our skin tones {more so mine....he already has perfectly smooth skin} a smoother, blushed look. And the brightness toned out some of the shadows on our faces.

3. It's an online community. Another way to connect & communicate with people, whether they be family, friends or strangers. Photography & art has always been a way to express & share, and Instagram is just a new-aged way to do this. 

4. You start seeing people, places, objects, situations in a whole different way. Once it became habit for me to use Instagram & use the camera on my iPhone more often, I started to think of things as if I was looking through a lens. This may sound a little airy-fairy {she's sniffing rainbow drops again}.....but it's true. Start looking at 'things' with the concept of making it into a photograph. It changes your perspective....and in my case, in a positive way. A happy baby - CLICK - there's a shot. My morning coffee whilst watching the sunrise over the back deck - CLICK - there's a shot. My daughter's room after she's been playing it in...looks like a bomb hit it....but CLICK - there's a shot. A pretty flower, a good book you're reading, the shoes you're wearing, the funny sign you saw at the shops, the kick-ass dinner you made, the amazing moments of your life......CLICK away, coz they're all opportunities to get a good shot. And another way to document, cherish & journal your life!

5. There's other fun ways to get involved. Lots of creative people have started 'Photo Projects' through the use of Instagram. One I'm particiapting in this month is Fat Mum Slim's March Photo-a-Day Challenge. She's created a list of random things for each day of the month, and you can creatively {or simply} snap those things to share with other playing along. Simple, quick, and I'm finding it kind of fun :)

There you go....my 5 reasons, why I'm loving Instagram at the moment!!!There's also HEAPS of fantastic photographers on there {professional & amateur} who I lurve viewing photos with. It keeps the flow of creativity & inspiration moving!!

I'm clairechadwick on there, if you want to follow the feed.

Are you an Instagram user? Love or Loathe?

ENJOY! Have fun with it.....don't take it so seriously is my advice :)

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 :)

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!