Whoop! Whoop! Spring is sooooo ready to spring (1 September officially in New Zealand). Strawberries are in the supermarket (all be it Australian ones), daffodils are blooming in the garden and filling our vases, the buds on the silver birch tree in the garden (one of our few deciduous trees, marker of the seasons and link to our English roots) is budding. Some mornings I’m opening the windows to give the bedrooms an air, as the sunlight warms up the corners of the house.
We are all LOVING playing out in the garden again. Sophie has planted peas, strawberries and filled empty pots with ‘instant’ colour…
Charlotte & Sophie are working hard to give their cubby house a ‘make over’ with a lick of paint…
Alice is trying on some shades for size in preparation of the sunny seasons…
And she’s sitting mighty fine, with her two pearly whites, at six months…
She is loving the warmer weather too and sat out in the garden, jumping in her little play-saucer, giggling at me mowing the lawn today. She’s taken to solids so quickly and LOVES her food. She is enjoying mince-meat, broccoli, Cruskits, toast, baby yoghurt, custard, pear, carrots, crumpets, potatoes, baby museli… she is so easy to feed and taking food off a spoon (and feeding herself – very messily – with one too) as well as enjoying finger food and experimenting with all the new textures. I am NOT loving all the extra cleaning, but quickly adapting and making it a part of my day with as much positivity as I can muster.
I am NOT loving Alice waking up and needing to be resettled every hour some times. She is totally dependent on me to go to sleep. I am what she associates with sleep and I really need my big girls to give me a little time in the evening so I can start putting Alice to sleep at least partially awake (instead of falling asleep on my shoulder whilst I read with my big girls – as cute as this is). I know I need to make a change, but I LOVE reading with my big girls (currently indulging in everything from Roald Dahl & good ‘ole Harry Potter to old fashioned fairy tales and the Railway Children). I am digging out the pearls of wisdom Elizabeth Pantley writes beautifully about in her book, ‘No Cry Sleep Solution’ and introducing sleep aids of music and a baby sleeping bag. I’m not feeding her to sleep all the time, but quite often she just wants to be in my arms. I’m working at laying her down a little more awake and not completely in a deep sleep. It’ll take a while – as I like to do things gradually, but I know (from previous experience) these methods will work…. in a month or so. Meanwhile, I go to bed early each night and manage to survive 🙂 At least she is asleep from around 7pm to 7am – even if she is in my arms. And she does nap well. She doesn’t cry. She is full of smiles and I am convinced she’s started waving – at everyone – even random strangers 10 metres behind me!
LOVING one on one time (when I can get it). Last Friday Charlotte, Alice and I (okay, strictly two on one) had a hot chocolate at Maranui surf cafe (LOVE Maranui & hot chocolates on a Friday afternoon!)…
On the way home we saw the Westpac Trust helicopter doing a training exercise and made an impromptu stop. It was a beautiful evening and Charlotte clambered on the rocks with such free delight, whilst Alice kicked her legs and giggled at the tide gently lapping on the shore.
A Dad from school was down there too – waiting for the helicopter to finish up so that he could row out and retrieve a net he’d left close to shore. His patience was rewarded with a good catch of four large Kahawai, which we were very impressed with. I phoned Frances and she came down with Sophie, before we returned home to cook a home made pizza. LOVE impromptu moments by the beach, with the sun casting a red glow on distant hills.
What are you loving, not loving lately?
(Inspired by Greatfun4kids)
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November 9, 2010 Growing in the spring sunshine: The Gallery, Week 34
August 31, 2010 Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s party!” ~ Robin Williams
Lovely scenes! I am very impressed at your mowing the lawn without the aid of a lawnmower man….LOL.
Hey Sarah… loved this post… wow that cubby house! Love the colourfulness of it!!
Do you think a linky is in order?? he he
thanks for your lovely comments on my blog… I would love to be able to reply to you without having to leave a public comment… do you think you could send me your email address?? Blogger is a bit retarded about replying to comments; we have to have the email address and do it manually.
just drop me a line at greatfun4kids@live.com and then i can reply to you.
Really appreciate your thoughts.
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Luv from Simone
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I love reading Roald Dahl when i was much younger too! I wish i had a cubby house when i was a kid! that looks alot of fun.
I can’t wait to experience Spring in NZ 🙂 It is really hot here in Singapore (as usual).
Whow..what busy bees you are…the garden is looking lovely and excellent flower pots and all.The cubby house looks FANTASTIC…WELL DONE!! Spring is in the air…won’t be long now.
Keep going with the sleep routine love…you always get there in the end. Thanks for the lovely pictures.
Yaye Spring is almost here and then it will be S U M M E R 🙂
Sophie looks so happy in her garden 🙂
LOVE the rainbow cubby house
LOVE the glasses on Alice
Reading to your girls is so important dont stop
Wow, what a playhouse. I hear you on the baby that needs to be constantly resettled. Millie is like this too. Interestingly, on the day I work, she goes to sleep for her Dad like a textbook Plunket baby, but if I am around, she will have none of it!
I can’t believe how much Alice is growing up, sitting and teeth, she is lovely.
6 months already! How time flies. Now you’ve got the summer to look forward to (great sunglasses girls), and I’m sure you’ll get the sleeping sorted soon.
LOVING – the sound of the rain on the conservatory roof.
NOT LOVING – the constant drip from a gutter which I paid a man to fix (husband of one of my TAs, oops).
LOVING – the quiet of the house after most of our guests have left.
NOT LOVING – the thought that I won’t see my sons again until Christmas.
LOVING – being able to get into smaller clothes.
NOT LOVING – the struggle to get back into dieting mode.
I am loving that cubby house – it’s so colourful. They must love it out there. I can’t wait until my daughter is old enough to share books like The Railway Children (sigh) with. I tried it with my son and he didn’t get it.
Not loving – not having a garden
Loving – the sea
These are such great photos 🙂 My dad always read to us before bed, and I loved it – it’s a great memory of him!
Right now, I’m loving that Spring is almost here and that all of my grocery shopping is done, ha ha! I’m not loving this nagging cold that won’t go away!
Hi Tess, thank you! I have to say I was quite impressed with myself too. I’ve been staring at the overgrown lawn for weeks now and with a play-date scheduled for tomorrow (and sunshine forecast) I really had the urge to get to it! Thankfully, Alice was happy to watch! Sarah x
What a wonderful cubby house!! I rather want to live there myself 😉
I’m a huge fan of the no cry sleep solution – Elizabeth Pantley is the only parenting author I can bear, I love it how she affirms that we know what’s best for our kids rather than telling us to change everything we’re doing as it’s wrong. I hope it’s all working out for you 🙂
I have not much time, but I’ve got many useful things
here, love it!