floating world

cloudy top

Last week the weather turned summery, which was a good excuse to make a new top for the girl baby. This is a pattern (Brooke Dress by Brynnberlee) I bought as an Etsy download, made up in one of  Heather Moore's prints for Cloud 9 Fabrics. I really love this fabric - it's organic cotton and is soft and light and perfect for warm weather wear.

I made a size 2, for my almost-1-year old, and it's a good fit. Milla is walking most of the time now, but still crawls on uneven surfaces, so I made it tunic-length; I cut the skirt 10" long instead of the 13" the pattern calls for. The only other modification I made was to sandwich the skirt between the bodice fabric and lining when attaching it - it was a tiny bit more fiddly, because I handsewed the lining in place on the inside, but gives a much nicer finish, and I hate the thought of the seam edge rubbing baby tummy skin. It's a simple pattern, and quick to make, but the pleats and ruffled cap sleeves are sweet details. It doesn't use much fabric either, especially at tunic length. I love the Oliver + S patterns, but with all the details and bias cut hem facings etc. they really gobble yardage. I think there will be a few more of these for summertime, to wear with bloomers when the weather warms up.

(the gorgeous bunny in the top photo was made by Alison)

lots of miscellaneous things

We're out the other side of the birthday whirlwind, the boy child is four and the girl baby is 11 months. The birthday festivities stretched over a week - there was a birthday / Fathers Day afternoon tea for the family on the actual day, then 45 cupcakes to take to preschool the next day, and then the following Saturday we had a the long-awaited* rocket party, complete with  rocket pinata, rocket cake, rocket badges, rocket party bag tags, cupcakes with chocolate ganache and edible gold stars and star-shaped watermelon.

There was, of course, the annual anxiety leading up to the party about whether or not it would rain - we had planned to hold it in a park, but Plan B was our house, which is small and not really suited to hoards of four year olds. I figured we could just manage it if we moved every stick of furniture out of the living room and stashed it in the bedrooms.Luckily the weather was gorgeous, and the party was lots of fun. Especially for the birthday boy. Every time I organise a birthday party I have a moment, usually when I am icing cupcakes at 11pm, thinking "why did I ever think this was a good idea?" but once it is all set up and I can relax and talk to people and watch Ali having fun with his friends I am so glad to have made the effort.

At the same time as all the birthday celebrations we also had a baby shower, a preschool breakfast, a visit from one of the America-based Uncles and associated family catch ups, and then a biannual afternoon tea for the other side of the family. So we have been doing lots of nice things, but very busy. And now that all the celebrations are over it feels good to get back in to a more relaxed routine again. This past weekend, for the first time since we came back from overseas, we didn't have much planned and it was lovely. We went to Balmoral, caught up with friends for a picnic, and just pottered around in the sun. Very nice.

Other things:

- Milla has started to nap for more than 25 minutes during the day, so I'm getting back to doing some "making" activities with the boy child. These egg carton owls from Small magazine were a big hit. We also germinated cress seeds - so fun to see the tiny leaves unfold.

- I am doing the Up & Running 5k course and so far have done the all three runs for the first week. For someone who is as good at avoiding exercise as me, this is a major acheivement. Of course, I use the term "run" loosely, but I was outside and wearing sneakers so that has to count for something.

- I have totally lost any will to cook over the past few weeks, perhaps because I have made so many cupcakes. I want to get back to menu planning and out of the pasta / BLT / cheese on toast / egg on toast / soup with toast rut that I revert to when I don't feel like cooking. Now that the weather has warmed up I can start making some interesting salads-as-meals again, which will hopefully get me enthusastic about making food. Actually, I don't think it is cooking I avoid so much as the supermarket. Going to the supermarket with two children is dire. I get in and out as fast as possible, which doesn't lend itself to creative cooking. I really should investigate Food Connect, or getting fruit and vegetables with our Aussie Farmers order. And try to set up the most boring shopping (nappies, cat food, washing detergent, canned tomatos) online.

- I saw some movies. The Help, Win Win and Beginners were all very different but great. To be honest, it's so exciting to go and see a movie that I'm not that discriminating, but they really were good. I've realised that with Milla starting to walk (eek!) my days of "Babes in Arms" movies are seriously numbered so I have to squeeze them in while I can.

- I'm reading "The Leopard" and after finding it a little bit impenetrable at first, really enjoying it. Next up is the Roald Dahl biography, which I'm looking forward to because I loved Boy and Going Solo (as well as all his fiction books) as a child. And I'm also looking forward to All That I Am by Anna Funder - I really enjoyed Stasiland, and my brother and I went to hear her read some excerpts from and talk about the new book last week and I think I am going to enjoy it. I've also ordered To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out the World? on Kate's recommendation, it looks very interesting (if alarming for those of us who love new clothes) so should be a good read.

- I have been picking away at sewing clothes for me, and will have some finished things to show and tell soon.

*He literally started planning the "Four Party" the day after his "Three Party"

 

4 years

4 years ago was the last night before my life changed forever, and as with so many life-changing events I was completely oblivious. Based on the facts that most first babies are born after 40 weeks, and that my mother had gone overdue with all three of us, I was certain that I would be overdue, and was worried about the cascade of interventions that an induction might lead to (I have a horrendous fear of needles). So to wake up in labour at thirty eight an a half weeks was a pleasant surprise, although I since I am a firm believer in Murphy's Law and generally superstitious about all things pregnancy and baby related I sent Mark to work because I was sure that if he stayed home it would turn out to be false labour and stop. Anyway, the contractions did not stop, and in fact got stronger, and after holding my breath through contractions while a heavily tattooed lady who had been sent by the local council changed all our light bulbs to energy efficient ones (which I later switched back because I couldn't stand the dingy grey light) I called Mark and said I thought things really were happening and perhaps he should come home.

About six hours later we were parents. Ali was born three hours after we got to the hospital... because of all the stories I had heard about long first labours I was fully expecting to be told I was barely dilated and sent home, so we didn't bother to tell anyone that we were going to the hospital. When we arrived and found out it wouldn't be long, we decided to wait and until there was actual news. It was fun to be able to call people out of the blue with news that he was born. And wonderful to have time to ourselves to sit and admire this fabulous little thing who had turned up so suddenly.

The last four years have been amazing and exhausting, and full of love. It is hard to write anything about motherhood that hasn't been said a thousand times already, but I do feel so lucky to have the child that I have. He is healthy and funny and thoughtful and increasingly really good company. Happy birthday, my sweet boy.