Holidays in the air

Painting is fun, as long as you have a clean up plan! lifting the technicolour baby into bath usually works ok, as long as you have 1. old clothes on 2. old towels ready 3. no contact on walls/floors between the courtyard and bathroom mmmm, I tried putting her under the garden tap, even on a hot day this is not so enjoyable. Despite all this, it is great fun!! and i cant see if i ever will be able to throw these art works away.

swimming!

To continue on with the little ones attraction to water we have set up a 'plastic tub' in the backyard as a place for Eva to cool down, but she seems to spend hours out there playing in the water. At the end of the day as it cools down, we often walk down to the beach and see the 'dirbs and dogs' 'birds and dogs', and steve will go for a surf. Some days we just stay in the aircon, which is a sure sign of a hot hot summer on the way. Its only October...

things are warming up

We have settled into a nice routine up here at the bay. Mondays are swimming lessons and a visit to my grandmother, which usually involves tea, biscuits and helping her with her crosswords. She pays little attention to me and is fascinated by Eva's new tricks. This week it was clapping. The cuteness is in the inappropriateness of it all. First thing in the morning she likes to sit up in bed and start clapping. Round of applause for waking up! She also loves to dance, and watching her sway and hum to beastie boys is great fun. I have put up a photo of Eva after her swimming lesson, in her beautiful dressing gown. She looks quite the lady. Also we have started taking trips to the beach as the weather warms up.

9 months in, 9 months out

Back from holidays, and moved from Sydney back to the coast. Days are spent whale watching and joining Steve on his many fishing expeditions. Life is good. Eva and I have joined up for play group and swimming lessons (for Eva..) mainly so the little one has someone else to look at during the day.
I have posted some photos from a recent day at dad's where we planted a beautiful magnolia in memory of my beloved mother. There is something very special in people gardening together, enjoying the earth and sun. Eva loved crawling around the grass and through the garden.

Koh Tao- Thailand

Here we are in beautiful Thailand. took us a few days to find our groove, i.e comfy accom, early nights, eating around baby sleep times... but now we have truley relaxed into the island mode.

We are staying at a swanky eco resort- Charm Churee, Eva has made loads of friends, and the 10min walk into town can take a while due to the ladies from each restaurant coming out to say hello- sawadee! Eva turns to the calling of "Ewaa" as the thais love to call her. The small bay has beautiful clear water and heaps of fish, Eva loves watching them swim around.

Italy- The wedding

Fantastic time in Italy. Eva enjoyed her first overseas trip, and recovered after a few days of jetlag. Despite the mozzie incident and the bump on the head (thats all it was), it was good to introduce Eva to her overseas cousins. We all ate well, and I was lucky enought to spend my 30th at the Barolo region, so we drank well also. Caught up with all our friends and family at Merlo, where we continued in the Italian spirit of long lunches and festive evenings. I only have a few photos from the wedding, as all was a bit frantic.

Easter :)

Went camping for the easter weekend. Always a gamble, or pure madness as it always rains on the easter weekend. Found a lovely spot in a friends cow paddock, away from the trail bikes and cold chisel CDs. Enjoyed the tranqulity for a few nights, then headed up the plateau of Barrington Tops. Thought we were very sneaky finding a vacant camp site right in the middle of the national park- surley we will have wallabies joining us for breakfast around the campfire... But no, the reason the campsites above 1500 mtrs were vacant, because its baltic once the sun sets, and the fog is so thick in the morning you can hardly find your way out of the tent... mmm Poor bub had to wear every piece of clothing I brought for her. At least she was'nt moving anywhere fast..

4 and a bit months

Took a trip away to my aunties beach house. It rained the whole weekend. Lots of reading and for me, cross stitch. Eva was great entertainment for my cousins. I dont think she was out of anyones arms for long. So what were my sister and I to do on such a grey weekend? mmmm of course, shop for baby winter clothes! such cuddly stuff. Dad brought her some sheep skin pants. I would like a pair also...

Once home, got the idea in my head that she would now be ready for some food. I even brought a Jemima Puddleduck Wedgewood bowl for the occasion (the addition of the ceramic bowl would be one lesson learnt..) I was a little on the excited side, so called hubby down to watch and got my little pink spoon and started scooping the daintiest bits of rice cereal into her mouth...

Five seconds later she looked like this;

Youll notice that in all the excitement I forgot to put on a bib... (additional lesson learnt)

I Luv to Knit

OK, I cant work out the rotate thingy, but you get the idea. The temp has dropped below 25 again, so on go the woolies, if only for a photo op. I spent my last month of pregnancy knitting this little green number, and it may not fit her into the winter. A big thanks to Debs mum who put it all together (otherwise it would have been worn with stitch holders attached..) and she knitted the beanie also. Very pleased with myself on this one, and may attempt another, esp if we go travelling again. Love to knit!

Nana

Whos a happy great grandmother then! Finally found my cord for the camera, so can begin uploading photos again. Nana had a great time with Eva. Could not stop thinking Eva what a life would be like when you meet your great grandchild, what a long way to come from 1916, Eva born in 2006, just when you thought you had experienced all phases of life... I luv my nana

visiting

Baby Eva and I headed out west to visit the relos, was nice to get out of the city, a bit of a shock; all the brown hills and dust storms. Went for a walk to the dam that we always swam in on hot days, not much left except some very bewildered looking sheep standing around.

The main part of the mission was to catch up with my grandmother and introduce Eva to her great grandmother. Such a special thing, will get some good family photos.

little girl

Hey everybody! Like my picture of 2 little girls? Had a great Australia day weekend hanging out with one proud auntie!! We were blessed with beautiful weather and stocktake sales, and being in our nations capital... fireworks! Eva is starting to make lots more noise, and will seem to speak to you with such conviction as if of course you understand what she says, then she starts crying in frustration. Am I meant to think this is cute? She looks like her dad when she gets frustrated! I am trying to teach her to sign to ease this problem, but I think she flays her hands about by accident most of the time, maybe its coincidence that she touches her mouth and is hungry.. she is always chewing on her hand, and these days, she is always up for eating (drinking).
Its a cliche, I know, but she is growing like the clappers. I can almost forgive her for waking me up more than a few time a night, as I swear she is bigger in the morning. Sometimes all the growing and new experiences just wears her out and she'll sleep the whole night. But, whether its the 3:30 witching hour in the middle of the night, or meeting dozens of new people, she's always smiling.
I'm in love again.