#3050 Slowing down to play

I find myself frustrated a lot lately at my inability to do much of anything.

Baby boy needs to be watched, followed, monitored – he is such a curious little boy, and we wouldn’t have him any other way, yet his ways are sometimes driving me up the wall because he is so FULL ON.

But I feel like he is like this to teach me a lesson, to show me I need to in fact slow down.

So I find myself more and more often, leaning into this stage of letting go of my preconceived ideas of being productive and getting stuff done, as I watch him explore the world, learn, discover things around him, and just have a grand old time doing so.

Today after his lunchtime milk feed, we stayed on the couch doing some rough play, I was tickling him and he was rolling about, then he was taking off his sock and I was like “nooo!” but then kissing his feet, and he was laughing, and giggling, and it was OH SO SWEET.

And I thought in that moment, that this slowing down, these moments where nothing is achieved in the ‘to-do list’ scheme of things, that these are really the EVERYTHING moments. For him in this present moment, but for me to remember for always. 💞

#3047 Jar of love

They chose not to do a Mother’s Day stall at baby girl’s primary school this year.

Initially I was like “but I like my little $5-10 presents that break easily!” 🤣

The new principal thought it was a smart idea to not contribute further to landfill with these small, wasteful items, like having one of these stalls would do, and instead get the kids to make something handmade, while enjoying an afternoon with them at school.

So that’s what today was. I was only there about half hour or so, busy running after baby boy, but baby girl gifted me this jar full of nice notes about me. It is such a precious idea, I think I will open up one per day, and I already know they will help me so much in this phase of life. 💖

She also gave me another hand-made gift, much the same premise, these held like poems and messages about me in this small gift box type thing. She said she has more to give me, but that will come on Sunday 🙏

Also in the little box was a little flower, and when I asked if it was for me, she replied she had looked around at lunchtime for a little flower for me. 🌸(Awww!)

I love these things. 😍 I’ve been thinking of Mother’s Day a lot today, and it really has gone a bit out of control. It really should just be things like this – handmade gifts, words of love from your children, your partner, really anyone in your life that appreciates what you do as a mother, and even sweet actions, like let’s say a sleep in, a home-made meal, even like breakfast in bed (hint hint, family lol!)

I really do love the jar idea though, and I know I will keep it forever.

Good job new principal. 👍

#3012 What she said no. 17

I had some really beautiful moments today with my baby girl. 🥰

This morning as we were driving for baby boy’s first nap, she randomly turned to me and said “you’re the best mum in the whole entire world.”

Awww. I didn’t know what I had done to deserve that, and she said the thought had just occurred to her… probably the best type of thoughts, those spontaneous, free, random, true ones. 🙏

Then later on in the day we heard a bird calling outside, and I swear it sounded like Donald Duck… I did an impersonation and asked “why does this bird sound like Donald Duck?” and that set us off, we were literally killing ourselves laughing on the couch, it was the best laugh fest I’ve had in a while. 🤣

Then to round off the day we did a session of Just Dance! It was so much fun, I’m loving jumping around and dancing with her, and although she beats me every time I don’t care, I’m loving the bonding and time spent together.

It’s just the best. 🥰🩷

#3011 Big girls and little boys

I really like the big sister, little brother thing.

I think it suits us, it suits baby boy well.

I was thinking this today since baby girl had a friend over for a playdate. It was so sweet to see her and her friend doting over him, holding his hand and walking him around, playing with him, even setting up an interactive puppet show for him!

It made me think, would the same have happened if it was a big brother, little sister relationship?

Possibly. Each child is their own unique self, so it could happen… but I just felt like seeing baby girl and her friend with him, it drilled home to me the sweetness and innocence of girls, how they can be much more innately caring in their actions towards their younger siblings, even in front of their friends.

It doesn’t become uncool, or their sibling isn’t necessarily embarrassing to them… they become part of the play, the game, the whole afternoon.

It’s very sweet. 🥰🥰

I’m just liking this a lot. 🩷💙

#2979 Turning over

The sweetest thing, after a long day?

Coming into bed thinking your husband is sleeping, but he turns over to give you a big hug and whisper sweet words.

(I was going to call them ‘sweet nothings,’ but they’re far from nothing).🥰❤

#2964 The holiday main event

Saturday. The best day of the week. Also a couple of days before Hubbie goes back to work…

Hence, ‘The Main Event.’

We went to a local market in the morning. Had coffee cart coffee, plus cinnamon-covered doughnut holes.

Bought strawberries and blueberries from local farms, you know the kind that actually smell like berries and are like, BIG.

Our curious eyes led us through stalls amongst the tall trees.

We relaxed at home after midday. Two radios playing, and the TV was playing music too.

Pottering about here, there.

Opened the last of baby boy’s birthday presents.

Did a small outdoor barbeque for dinner.

Took one (or two, or three), shots of the most picturesque sunset.

And now we are content at the end of the day.

Nothing overwhelmingly huge happened. It was just a simple, sweet, relaxing family day.

🥰💖

#2960 What I love about her

Baby girl has so much spunk.

She has real character. I won’t forget her grade 1 teacher telling me how funny she was, and one of her teachers in grade 4 (two teachers shared the role last year) said she was quite the character and had real spunk.

She is in this phase where everything is “bruh” or “oof.” Especially if you try to give her a compliment. You can be trying to say the most sincerest thing, and she will interject quietly with “oof” “oof” “bruh” in her coping mechanism, trying to accept these compliments but finding it awkwardly hard.

She is 10, but she loves us so much, she needs us still, needs me still, so much. She tells off her Dad when he doesn’t follow baby boy’s routine to plan – he has taken to listening to her, true story – and regularly argues with us over everything… dinner, news, the day-to-day, EVERYTHING.

She is always correct, until proven otherwise. 🤣

But she is so sweet. She has apparently organised some little Valentine’s Day surprise for me tomorrow, something completely unexpected for me, and she regularly gives out hugs and kisses throughout the day.

She is happy to go off to bed on her own, but at the same time I still come in before I go to bed to sit by her bed for a few minutes… I must do this, even if she is sleeping.

She still has this beautiful naivety about her, something I hope to nurture and treasure as long as possible.

And she is growing in independence and maturity, making small meals for herself and following a self-prescribed daily routine.

I realise there are lots of changes happening with baby boy in such a short amount of time, but I don’t forget to look at my baby girl, and all the beautiful things that have changed, and stayed the same with her.

My sweetheart. 💖🙏

#2940 Strawberries signal summer

Hubbie has been off work for 8 days now, and only today did it actually feel like we were on holidays.

We’ve been obviously busy with Christening stuff, the period before that was all preparation, and the period after that has been all ‘coming down.’

Today, we finally did something small, but really sweet.

Strawberries. 🥰🍓

We went to the Rocky Creek Strawberry Farm, we indulged in some yummy strawberry dishes with coffee/milkshake, and then we went picking…

Baby girl and I went searching through the bushes as Hubbie and baby boy chilled in the shade. It was the most relaxing and beautiful thing to do on a warm summer’s day, and we have two punnets of delicious strawberries to show for it, just waiting to be consumed. 😋

#2937 Reminiscing the day after

It’s probably the most relief you get, the day after a big occasion.

And as much as the day itself brings you so much joy, you get just as much joy living back the beautiful memories of your special day.

The first half of the day you spend with your other half, remembering tid bits, stories shared with others, dances danced, sweet and heartfelt and crazy and happy moments, all celebrated with people you love.

It’s the happiest feeling. Re-living the happy memories out loud with loved ones, or in your head as you go about your day to day.

The day after is very sweet. That’s what this life is about. Acknowledging what is important, and making the most of those moments with the people in your life who bring you joy.

I’m grateful to all those who make my memories sweet. 🙏🥰

#2928 Soul beach walk

I’ve had one of those days again. I was lamenting how I felt like my soul needed a beach walk, in amongst physical pain, frustration, tears… the lot.

I was telling all this to Hubbie, and he suggested we go out for a walk, or “you go” as he said.

“I can’t.” There was washing up, jobs to do, I couldn’t just desert them and go at the busiest time of the day…

But then it occurred to me. This coincided with one of my three resolutions. I don’t like to call them New Year’s resolutions, because I believe you can make a change for the better whenever you want, but these kinda just popped into my head one day, and I immediately held onto them.

They are simple, short, and sweet. All with S’s, easy to remember, like the first initial of my name.

Speak Up.

Stand Straight.

Think of Self (or be Selfish, which doesn’t sound as lovely as Self).

I am never selfish. The whole reason I believe my physical body is suffering is because I’m always putting everyone else before me, and my body is rebelling drastically because of it. It isn’t being heard, it’s being ignored, and it’s not happy.

This was the time to put my foot down and be selfish.

So I said, “you know what? Let’s go.”

And we went.

There were quite a few people about, being a warm Friday evening during holiday season. We simply walked through the sand and water some distance, before walking back to the car park.

So simple. So short. So sweet.

But it spoke to my soul.

I’m so glad we did it. 🙏💖