Cousins rock!

Here's the Bean with her cousin - he's 10 months older than her and they are the best of friends.  We're loving having playdates regularly now we're living in the country, closer to such wonderful family.  Do you have cousins who rock?

Beautiful stuff (well, apart from our sweet Olive)

A gorgeous & thoughtful gift from a blogging friend, one exhausted & happy Bean, green fingernails ("like frogs Mumma") and the fact that we're seriously contemplating a tree change...

What beautiful things are happening for you?

Bringing Joy

Flowers from dear friends, a Crusty Demon Bean, Olive's darling little fingers (we've taken to calling Liv 'Olive'...in a way it goes with 'Bean')...and the special picture Bean drew for Liv and stuck next to her cot.  Things bringing me joy at the moment.

Bean & Bubba's Mummy

Olivia Eve was born at 1030am on Monday 18th February 2013 (her due date mind you)!
8lb 7oz
We're home, happy, healthy and besotted!

Her big sister is in love...and continuously making us laugh.  She said she will "grow down, so she can drink milk from Mum's boobas too."

Grateful for my Mum

Feeling grateful that Mum is arriving today.  She drives me crazy at times, as I'm sure I do her...but that's pretty normal I think.  I feel lucky to have her around and am so glad she'll be here for the birth of baby 2.  Wonder when that will be?

Summertime

Rejoicing

Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are.  When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.
- Lao Tzu

Baby Cheeses

As Bean stuck the 'card only' stickers onto our cards today she asked me "wat dat baby's name?", referring to the Christmas stamps. "Baby Jesus" I replied...beginning to wonder what on earth I would tell her if she asked for more information.  What are my beliefs?  What are our beliefs as a family?  We aren't religious.  Even if we were...she's 2...how do you explain religion to a 2 year old?  I'm sure we don't need to have the full conversation for a while anyway, but goodness it got me thinking!  Luckily she just went on to tell me "dat baby loves cheeses" and that she "loves cheeses too".  Big laughs all round.  Phew!  Something to think about though...

The pics show what we've been up to this past week.  I'm so tired, but I'm loving every minute of this.  What have you been up to?

Oh Christmas tree

We were on schedule this year with a December 1st tree-decorating ceremony...I'm a little behind with the photo uploads and blogging though, busy busy. I think she might need some tinsel or a garland of some description perhaps...thoughts?  Although once some presents start arriving underneath...might be enough?  Hmmm....fun decisions!  Note there are no snowmen in our house.  I'll be back to explain why later this week. 

Beany things I don't want to forget...

- when we sat at the piano and you asked me to play Twinkle Twinkle over and over, and then you asked me to sing too.  You joined in, with the sweetest little voice and you made the diamond shape with your hands...like a diamond in the sky.

- when I started singing along to Lior in the kitchen as I cleaned up and you were playing in the loungeroom.  The second I began, you came running in, stopped, stared at me and then started to bend at the knees, bopping along.

- watching as you learn to really mimic the instructors at Tiny Tots during the songs with actions, but then break into your own freestyle, twisting and turning and jumping and shaking your maracas (they're always green, you love green and won't allow them to hand you any other colour).

- watching you meticulously paste and sprinkle glitter onto your artwork.

- your amazing patience today as you "helped" me cut up the fruit for the Christmas cakes - you handed me 300g of raisins, one by one, watching as I cut each one in half.

I am super excited about your baby brother or sister joining us in February and us evolving into a new family shape.  I can't help but feel a little sad though.  Of course we will still have these moments darling Bean, but I feel a little bit sad that a chapter will be over for us and you will have to share. 

You are 2 years and 4 months old.  You are growing up so fast it seems.  Every week, you seem much older.  I love you so much precious Bean.

Monkeying around

Hooray for Pic Monkey!  I had been wondering for ages how everyone was coming up with these funky collages....thanks heaps for sharing Kell (visit her gorgeous blog here)!

Here's my first quick go...I'm absolutely addicted!

Skenes Creek Holiday February 2012

More sweet holiday

Delicious time away

Too much Peppa Pig perhaps?

Bean: "Who the Bubba's Dadda?"
Me: ...amazed that at 2, she feels the need to ask..."Your Dadda is the Bubba's Dadda too.  We're a family."
Bean: "We a family of pigs!"

Hmmm....

Nearing the end of hibernation...

I've been hibernating.  Morning sickness and a 2 year old will do that to Bean's Mummy, so it seems.  I'm so grateful for my husband, who does everything as soon as he gets home from his busy day so I can be in bed by 8.30pm.  I am really ready for some warmer weather, more energy and less nausea.  I'm also very excited and filled with joy that Bean will have a little brother or sister in February.  Yaaaay!