the first week | babymooning . . .

inspecting tiny fingers and toes. a button nose. rarely venturing far from my bed {there's some healing to be done.} eating meals on a tray. i read. i knit. i sleep. mostly i gaze at my new baby. inhale that heavenly smell. friends drop by with flowers from their garden. a pot of soup. some freshly baked bread. the blind is open slightly. the light is soft. sam works in the garden. two little helpers in tow. they pop in from time to time. kisses for their new brother. a prod and a poke. a cuddle with mum. moments of chaos. moments of calm. there are phone calls and messages. a fridge full of nourishing meals. we shed a few tears. happy and sad. finding our way. a family of five. getting to know our new baby. falling in love.

introducing oscar . . .

oscar napier

born 16th may 2013

at 6:10am

9lb 10oz ~ 4.365kgs

: :

after a long wait, our gorgeous boy made a smooth and swift entrance into the world early on thursday morning.

he is divine. my heart feels full. 

oscar took his first breath just before sunrise and that night my grandfather took his last. 

birth and death. the circle of life. 

may days | around here . . .

we took a drive to a neighbouring town and enjoyed a pub lunch. we've been gardening {i stand and point, he digs and plants}. i've been sitting and knitting. i've been dipping into the leftovers from our mother's day high tea. i'm wondering how the dynamic will go when two become three. i'm enjoying flowers inside and out. there's a $5 garage sale medicine cabinet making me smile. i'm making peace with the prospect of eternal pregnancy. 

19/52 : a portrait project . . .

elliot : he'll turn three next month. the things he says have us laughing constantly.

aila : she has her own unique sense of humour. much more considered and dry.

baby : 41 weeks and the greatest teacher of patience.

a portrait of my people once a week, every week, in 2013 ~

i'm joining with jodi and taking part in the 52 project

: :

{... and a happy mother's day to my wonderful mum and all the mothers i know}

morning time . . .

the sun pops over the horizon. the pink light stretches over the inlet water. the rooster crows. the kids wake. there's a shuffle, thump and patter of feet. doors open and close. their dad makes them breakfast. they are morning people. i am not. i roll over and pull the covers up to my chin. i doze. if i'm lucky, a cup of hot tea is deposited by my bedside. eventually they make their way into my bed. a morning cuddle. a gentle start to the day. it's the ultimate gift for this weary body.

: :

{thank you pia for my little mention in the may issue of country style magazine. 

such a sweet surprise!}

40 weeks | the waiting game . . .

my due date has arrived. physically i'm feeling good. better than i have this entire pregnancy. mentally, it feels like a constant battle. i'm trying hard to surrender. which is easier said than done. i know that this baby will come when it's ready. when the time is right. i just need to trust that my body knows best.

important lessons for the birth ahead. . . 

random thoughts & things . . .

sam made this creamy quinoa and chia porridge for breakfast last week. so tasty and very filling. perfect for these chilly mornings we've been having. {it's a thermomix recipe, but could easily be cooked on the stovetop}. 

a few people asked about the birth affirmations i posted about a little while back. i found this site where you can stream or download them for free. there's also a guided relaxation meditation. 

after six idyllic months scratching around on the hillside, two of these guys are now in the freezer. it was a job we were dreading, but some friends showed us how to approach the task calmly and humanely. it feels like the responsible thing to do as chicken keeping meat eaters.

since picmonkey started charging a fee, my photos have been mostly unedited. but after much searching i've discovered ribbet. their subtle filters are just what i was after. i used 'los angeles' on the photo above, with the strength turned right down.

when i saw this warehouse conversion featured on house nerd, it was almost enough to make me pack up and move back to the city. maya has a knack for finding and featuring some of the coolest houses around. 

apparently i'm a bit slow on the uptake, but i finally bought some dry shampoo and it has revolutionised my world. how did i ever live without it? 

: :

i was worried that these school holidays were going to be a lot of hard work, coinciding with the final weeks of pregnancy. i'm a bit surprised at how wonderful they have been. i really don't want them to end next week.