Midweek thought

The world is a very different place when you're not on your own routine. When you're not tied to a desk from 0745 until at least 1830.

You can enjoy the warm autumn mid mornings exploding the streets of your neighbourhood in which you've lived for 2.5 years. You can finish a pot of tea without needing to run out the door and without being interrupted by an urgent email flashing on your blackberry. You can read the paper. You can enjoy the beautiful aroma wafting through the house from the slow cooker. You can nap for 15 minutes with your beautiful infant sleeping on your chest.

Each day is different. Each day is new and unknown. Each is rewarding and enriching in its own way. It's a wonderful surprise.

I'm building up my strength and eagerly awaiting my ability to exercise again. I'm looking forward to some serious training like I've never trained before. I'm not entirely sure how I will fit it into ,y day but I will try. 5am sessions in the midst of winter? Maybe.

Hello neighbour.

It breaks my heart to be so far away from my grandmothers, but thanks to Skype Ari got to meet my mums mum on Sunday night. Magic moment.

Mid morning break. Earl grey and banana bread.

Ari is stubborn like her mother and refused to participate in the foot and hand print inking attempt. The foot we could force, but the fists we could not unclench.

What a baby needs

I've washed my hair today, have thrown things into the slow cooker and have even done a load of washing, all before 2pm.  It's a good day.  Most of the time I have no idea what day it is or what time it is because all I want to do is look at this beautiful face.  It's still surreal to think that it's mine and that I can smother it with kisses whenever I want.

Enough to make you melt even when she wants to play at 5am.

Beautiful vegan cake that my mum's friend made

We love leopard print

A gift from T&Co 

Pink ruffle bum and Tiffany blue socks

Whilst outfits are cute cute cute, they're a pain to coax a baby into!

Next Direct kills me with their cuteness.  Lucky these were only $9.

I became a huge anti consumer during pregnancy.  I barely purchased anything for myself, or the baby. Some may ask if I was even happy or excited, and believe me I was, but I preferred to squirrel my money away and spend it on good pregnancy care, healthy food and activities and memories that A can have when she's older, as opposed to a bombardment of equipment that I supposedly NEED when I have no idea what my baby will like and outfits that are impossible to wrestle them into.  ASOS maternity basics were a lifesaver and I had no qualms about throwing them out when I came home from hospital.  I was fortunate that I could pair my regular clothes with their basic skirts and tanks.

My hospital bag was a small backpack that very well edited.  I didn't want to be wrestling bags of stuff and a baby on the scary first drive home.  I felt VERY hot in hospital, as I think most women do.  For my 4 night stay and labour I found the following useful:

- 6 tanks/singlets - changed daily or more due to severe sweating (noone said birth was glamourous) 

- pair of leggings

- pair of yoga pants (so happy I ordered these at Christmas - they're light as air)

- 2 pairs PJ pants

- 4 PJ tops

- lightweight zip up jumper

- 4 pairs of socks

- slippers

- hair ties

- lip balm

- usual toiletries, including an amazing body wash.  Showers are an amazing relief.

- 5 pack of cheap and nasty grandma undies

- favourite snacks, none of which I touched as I couldn't hold anything down. 

Babies themselves don't need a lot in the early days.  Over the past 2.5 weeks, my favourite can't live without items have been the following:

- Purebaby organic cotton zip up growsuits.  5-6 tiny onesies are more than enough in my opinion.  Purebaby washes and wears so well and can be passed onto friends and saved for siblings.  And the warehouse in Collingwood is dirt cheap.

- Purebaby singlets

- 5-6 muslin wraps

- 3 stretchy wraps (I'm all about the Big W ones here)

- endless supply of nappies (my record is 20 nappies in one day).  Huggies are great, but I've found the Aldi to be just as good and they are a third of the price

- terry towel nappies for just about every purpose - lining the cot/pram/change table to save changing linen 3 times a day, having on your shoulder when burping etc

-bamboo face washers - for baths and cleaning dirty morning faces

- wipes - despite the hefty pricetag, I love the Naty wipes - they're Eco friendly, biodegradable and chemical free

- Sudocrem - it seems to heal all skin issues almost instantly

The above photo is the contents of what I carry in my handbag in a small pouch when I'm out with the baby!  I keep it simple.

As for me, when I'm not passed out from exhaustion, I'm loving my iPad mini, Kindle, lip balm, hand cream (I seem to wash my hands 5000 times a day), endless amounts of water and pen and paper to keep track of feeding schedules and nap times!

LMFF goodie bag giveaway

Apologies for the delay in posting this giveaway.

Leave a comment to enter, it's that easy. Receive the entire contents of this image, plus some surprise items. Lots of Kikki K and L'oreal.

Entries close Sunday 14 April at midnight.

Australian addresses only due to flammable liquids, sorry.

Easter long weekend

I hope everyone had a fantastic Easter long weekend, however and wherever you spent it.  I am grateful that Orthodox Easter isn't for another few weeks, as we only came home from hospital on Thursday and the long weekend at home was just what we needed to settle in without a big holiday to celebrate as well.

That's not to say that a little chocolate wasn't enjoyed.  Little A loves her Kinder chocolate, just like mum and dad even though she maybe waiting a while to have a try.

I spent 9 months hating on sugar and chocolate, as it was the only thing that made me feel sick but my appetite for all things sweet as returned with a mighty bang.

My hospital stay was amazing, so much so that I refused the offer to spend the last two nights at the Hyatt.  I loved the attention and invaluable advise offered by the midwives.  I am the sort of person who needed the help with my confidence and abilities and they were excellent in teaching me and reassuring me that I was doing a great job.  And the delicious meals were a bonus too.  That's the sticky date pudding I had for my lunch dessert every day... yum!

A big thank you to all my virtual and "real life" friends who have sent us their well wishes, cards and very generous gifts.. who have come to visit and bought us meals.  We are eternally grateful for having you in our lives.

Sibling nap time

So far, I am finding it a lot more manageable than I thought I would.  I made a conscious effort whilst pregnant not to set any expectations for myself for what motherhood and pregnancy should look like.  I am the queen of overplanning and overanalysing and I didn't want to set myself up for any disappointments.  No baby is  perfect or entirely comparable to another, so I have made an effort to be as realistic and calm as possible and it's worked well so far.

I am feeling much stronger physically as each day goes by, so we ventured out for a family brunch yesterday and a bit of shopping too.  

I am wearing: Topshop Western Boots, sass & bide 'rats' leggings, Wish Clothing 'deliberate' vest (see myself living in this one!, Witchery striped knit, Alexander Wang Emile bag

And today we had an amazing baby shoot and A was a pro!  Now to shake this postpartum cold and cough I've caught... not fun!