Australia Day - Mum finally becomes an Aussie!

Congratulations Mum on biting the bullet and becoming an Australian citizen today. Despite appearances, this olive skinned, brown eyed, dark haired beauty was 100% English...until today. Welcome to our shores Mum! Well, it was 57 years ago that you landed on our shores (and that's still not giving her age away!)...but welcome all the same. From one Aussie to another.

Sitting Pretty

This is a hurried pic of Sienna all ready to go out. Outfit on, hair brushed and clip momentarily in place, biscuit to keep her occupied while I plan to (within the next 5 minutes before we leave)...dress, do hair, apply make-up, remember to put shoes on, pack nappy bag and hand bag, throw together Sienna's lunch and snacks that she may desire while we're out, put BBQ chickens on a platter and glad wrap it...and leave the house looking serene. As luck would have it I got there. Serenity perhaps was non existant - but it appeared so by the time we got to our destination.

The Party

We celebrated Sienna's first birthday yesterday and there was much fun to be had. Blowing bubbles was a big hit with the kids of all ages and Sienna looked adorable in her pretty party dress.

I am so enjoying having a little girl. It's like reliving my childhood with girly toys, coordinating outfits for her to wear, clips in her hair (if she'll keep them in), and then there's organising the birthday party. Deciding on a colour theme, picking out balloons, streamers, table decorations and making the party food. Now THAT was fun!

Evidence of the party food are in the pics below. Thanks to mum for the cookie faces and honey joys. Oh the joys of Honey Joys - I was transported back to the childhood bliss of these confectionary delights each time I indulged in one...or five. Yum!

Happy 1st Birthday!

One year ago today I held a baby girl in my tired, shaking arms for the very first time…and fell in love.

Since then I have never been more exhausted, frustrated, emotional, elated, awestruck, playful or happy in my life. It’s been a real rollercoaster for me but the thing that stands out the most over the past year is all the smiles and laughter Sienna has shared with us and the pure joy we’ve felt watching our little girl experience lots of firsts and the joy she got from them.

Happy Birthday Sienna. You are a vibrant, cheeky, happy little girl with a great sense of humour and a deep love for your mum and dad. You are an observer, an explorer and if we can grab you for long enough…a good cuddler too. Continue to thrive. We are enjoying every minute with you and love you more than we ever knew we could.

A new year

Happy new year.

A whole new year.

I'm not really one for resolutions. I usually hope to look back on the year that's passed and feel proud of at least one thing. It's going to be hard to top last year's achievement - bringing new life into the world.

Perhaps this year I'll scale it down to the little things. How about:

Living simply.

Learning to say no.

Making time for things that make me smile.

Figuring out exactly what those things are.

Caring for myself before others (!) so I am better equipped to care for them.

Getting comfortable in my own skin.

Revealing a little more of myself to those that matter to me.

This list is getting long. And I'm starting to scare myself with what my fingers are typing. I'll start at the top of the list and see where it leads. Hopefully to a place I love a little bit more than where I started.