Monday Moonshine.....{week-a-boo}

11 weeks & 4 days ago, Ryder entered our world and has brought nothing but happiness with him....

He's a thriving, chubby little man; already weighing in at 7.5kg, but boy oh boy is he happy! When he smiles his whole face lights up and you can't help but smile & feel joy too! He's contagious! And, he's oh so delicious. I just want to freeze time & keep him this way for a bit longer. I'm really loving this baby stage. His soulful eyes, the way he grips onto his blankie so hard & smothers it into his face. His sweet baby smell. The skin rolls on his ankles and his perfect baby breath. He's such a ticklish little boy....simply touch his neck and he bursts out in a beautiful string of giggles. Oh, I love him.

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Saturday was a mixture of have to do's, must do's, want to do's and love to do's. We had ballet sign ons, housework to attack, the mall to brave & a special friend's 23rd birthday:

An afternoon spent eating cake, sipping tea, surrounded by happy friends & lots of babies; was the perfect end to a busy Saturday ;o)

And seeing my baby fall asleep in my friend's arms as she fed him......lovely:

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This weekend, we also discovered that blowing bubbles in the bathroom can be lots of fun....

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On Sunday, we enjoyed a morning visit from Chris's sister Michelle & her lurvely family. Cousins playing together = happiness. Happy kids, happy memories & happy parents :)

The gorgeous Miss Lily.

Ella & Elina, looking for the last of the gold from the GOLD DIGGIN' activity at Ella's party :)

Outside fun :)

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The rest of the weekend was slow & lazy. We sprawled out over the lounge room floor watching movies & playing with new birthday toys. We simply enjoyed being at home, with our littlest two, and ended the weekend with takeaway pizza & red wine :) Ahhh bliss!

{Awesome new puzzle - a birthday gift - and yes, she completed it....our little puzzle Queen!}

Have a great week all. We have a big week ahead. Someone's turning FOUR & starting pre-prep on Wednesday! Change is happening, whether we're ready or not :)

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 :)

Week-a-Boo....{through my iPhone's lens}

I'm over 40 weeks now.....and utterly & totally "over it"! I have never felt so uncomfortable in my life....every possible part of my body is aching with exhaustion & swelling! I keep getting contractions.....but not the real ones....just trick ones, practice ones!!!

{40 weeks plus 2 days self portrait}

C'Mon Baby....time's up Buddy :) I may sound impatient {and I probably am} but I want to meet this little baby now....I want to see him & hold him & feed him & kiss him & claim him! I really REALLY want to start the next chapter! The bags are packed, the house is clean {for now}, plans are in place......we're ready :)

Ok....enough of my whining......How was your weekend?

I decided to share this week's weekend {week-a-boo} post with photos from my iPhone. It's become me new little addiction & you will regularly find me snapping away with it instead of my big DSLR camera these days {out of convenience I think}. I love love love Instagram.....and here's our weekend in photos....through my iPhone's lens:

Friday evening kicked off with Ella practicing being a BIG SISTER :) She's had Lucy for a while now.....but the new wooden high chair was a gift from Grandma & Grampy on Friday {handmade by my Uncle Martin! Cool hey!}

I think Ella will be a pretty cool big sis!

Saturday morning, Ella had her Orientation Day at her new Kindergarten for 2012! She'll be doing part-time Pre-Prep there next year & we're super excited...that we not only made a decision on where she'll attend school {who would've thought that was such a mission decision??!!!} but also because we feel like we've actually made the RIGHT decision :) Seeing her mingle & play & explore there.....I felt 100% content with our decision! Although we LOVE the daycare she is at....and has been at since she was 12months old....we think it's time to move on next year! And a curriculum-based pre-prep program is what we think will fit best with our busy little girl :)

She painted!

And set the table for a tea party!

She did an obstacle course & swung on swings. She looked at seeds & bugs through a magnifying glass and did some water play! She did crafty collages and wooden puzzles! She danced & dug in the sand! She played with the doll house, the leggo & the dot-to-dot jigsaw puzzles. She blew bubbles, built a tower & basically ROCKED OUT being almost 4......a big 'school' girl soon :)

Chris bought this little baby on Saturday...and it's cool :) It's a wireless speaker system that connects via BlueTooth. So we can pump out our tunes from the iPad's, iPhone's or Computer anywhere, anytime....at home, in the car, at the park....it's cool :) It's super loud & awesome quality! My new best friend for outside this Summer me thinks :)

How gorgeous was this sunset? Saturday evening....as we drove through the cane fields...heading to a quiet little country town's school fete. {visiting Monica's stall} Before we headed out for dinner.....joking {and wishing} that it would be the last meal before the baby was born......no luck :)

Walking into Ella's room on a Sunday morning & seeing my 2 Loves cuddled up together in books.....melts my heart!

Quiet time at home on Sunday morning....consisted of the 1st of this year's Christmas Craft...YAY!!!!! And some cookie baking :)

And then we had an afternoon browsing the shops, enjoyed an Asian lunch & getting excited that lots of Christmas Fun is already in store....

Told you my iPhone gets a camera-workout these days :) And that's not even half the amount of photos I took haaa!!

We 'SHOULD' have a baby this week! I'm off to the hospital tomorrow for a checkup & to book in an induction for the next few days.....let's hope Bub comes on his own though!!!

Wishing you all a FABULOUS week!

Photo of the Week.

The talented photographer {Carly} behind the blog: My Life In Colour has started adding a few 'photography tutorials' to her blog. This excites me! It's no secret I love to take photos :) But half the time....I have no idea what I'm doing :) I just snap away & play with the buttons & hope for the best LOL! So, to have a place where I can access lessons, clarifications & descriptions for FREE makes me smile! Thanks CARLY!!!

This week Carly blogged about 'EXPOSURE'....you can read her tutorial here. And she asked for other bloggers to link up with their favourite photo of the moment!

I must be honest.....I didn't take this photo this week....I took it early this year {not exactly sure when....oops}! But it's still one of my FAVES :) It was an afternoon spent with my girl....a day at home, where we read books in bed, played games & enjoyed long afternoon snuggles! She makes me feel FULL :)

I'll be back tomorrow morning to blog about our weekend {I know I've been VERY slack with week-a-boo the last few months!!} But until then....I recommend you all head over to My Life In Colour for more photo tips, lessons & some delightful, honest reads!!

Goodnight All!

Wordless Wednesday......{Dressing Up}

Ella with 3 of her Cousins @ play - Kansas USA, August 2011.

Super Heroes, Princesses & Fairies + Games = CHILDHOOD HAPPINESS!

Playing along with WORDLESS WEDNESDAY!

Happy Hump Day All :) 

Hakuna Matata ~ It Means No Worries!

Hakuna Matata {a Swahili phrase that is literally translated as "There are no worries".}

I often wonder what it would be like to be inside the mind of a child for a day :) A child like Ella. A child with emotion & good health & imagination & wonder & inquisitiveness & curiosity & love & innocence. 

Would the meaning of the phrase; Hakuna Matata; come as a natural instinct? 

I love seeing the world through the eyes of a child......so many opportunities await & there's so many inconsequential ideas to follow through with :) 

Like, yesterday when Kirsty & I decided to embrace the last official day of the school holidays by pigging out on hot chips for morning tea & basking in the gorgeous winter's sun at our local bayside town! The thought was basic......meet at 9:30....the kids can play on the beach & on the playground....and we can sit & relax & chat :) But....did we think through ALL the logistics? Haaa.....like the fact that taking kid's to a beach & telling them not to go in the water {because it's winter} is like taking a chocoholic to Willy Wonker's Factory & telling them not to sample anything!!!!!!! Lucky Kirsty packed back-up clothes for her boys......

Coz' they knew how to have a good time :) And a good time they had!!!!!

And whilst Kirsty & I were cringing at the sandy, muddy mess her boys were covered in....they were smiling from cheek to cheek with pure innocent joy! They didn't care about the cleaning, the mess, the dirt, the consequences of playing in cold water during the brunt of winter or the broken glass hidden in the sand! They were focused on having FUN & seeping every bit of goodness out of that time on the beach! I say CHEERS to that! If only, we, as adults, could live more wholly like that! Act without thinking so much! React without so much care! HAKUNA MATATA :)

BUT one thing us adults did embrace.....was the blue-ness of the sky, the crisp-ness of the air & the gorgeous place in which we live! Our kids were happy.....and in turn that makes us happy!

On the drive home after a gorgeous {messy} morning of play, Ella said to me "Mummy, I really do hope that Jet will marry me & dance with me when I wear a beautiful dress. But everytime I ask him to marry me, he says No." And she shook her head with severe disapointment!! My response: "Don't worry Bub, you have a whole lifetime in front of you to get married. Jet loves you & he shows you that all the time by holding your hand & being your friend & cuddling you & playing with you & looking after you when you're together! That's more special than a dance, trust me!" Ella replies: "Yes, I spose' so Mum. But I do most certainly love Jet and he loves me too coz he didn't shoot me when we played sticks!" Me: "Yep Darling! That's true love!!" {what else is a Mum to say?? What love story can top that? He didn't shoot her!! TRUE LOVE!} HAKUNA MATATA :)

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Earlier this week, I took Ella to a kid's cupcake class run by Jamosie Sweet. It was fun!!! I was a little worried that Ella, at 3, would be too young for the class. But no, the girl sat there & listened & learned & took it all in! No fear, no stress....just took it in her stride! She cut & lathered & iced & shaped!! She made 6 amazing beach-themed cupcakes & I was one proud Mumma at the end of the lesson :)

{Ella's shirt from Sweet n Sexy Scraps}

If you have kids {big or small} I highly recommend you tag along to one of Janelle's classes! 

HAKUNA MATATA!

HAPPY WEEKENDING!!!!