applehead

outgoing mail...

Packed these up ready to go this morning...part of my "pay it forward" game that I signed up for last year. Lucky for me that I had a year to complete my part of the deal....

And a smile for everyone from baby Grace...

6 weeks...

Already.
A calm,relaxed kind of baby who is starting to round out nicely!

Her big sister, Charlotte adores her...

cute mitts...

I finished Rose's mittens, much to her delight. She was very happy to pose for the camera and show them off...complete with new 'indie' musician girl haircut  and missing front tooth. Rose chose the haircut from a 'looks book" with her hairdresser. I love it and she loves it- but I must admit that several people have asked whether she cut her fringe herself! Or 'butchered her fringe" as one person so sweetly put it!



















These were the mittens I had to make to match the school cardigan I knitted last year. It would seem that Rose only grew lengthwise as it fits beautifully in the body widthwise but is rather short in the length and the sleeves. Not much I can do about the length except insist that the cardigan is meant to be cropped - however the mittens do a good job of making up the shortfall in the sleeves.

Note: stop here if sport of any kind bores you senseless....

And on a less crafty note ( but still rather exciting to me) I put in my first appearance at the gym this evening. Grace will be six weeks old tomorrow so I (almost) have the official all clear to go ahead and return to exercise. I wasn't allowed to do anything remotely strenuous in the last 12 weeks of pregnancy so it's been a long 18 weeks since I've done anything really physically challenging (apart from carry and have a baby that is!). To be honest, the physical limitations were probably one of the hardest parts of this pregnancy - I go a little stir crazy if I can't get out for a run so those last 12 weeks seemed a lot,lot longer. I'm sure it wasn't  much fun for anyone around me either!
A five km walk /run ( well, plod is probably closer) in 40 minutes has made me one very happy camper. I won't be running a marathon any time soon but at least I'm on my way.

just wanted to say....

to all of the mothers, motherly types and  to anyone who has ever stepped up to the plate and filled the role of a mother - enjoy your day!
You are special, you are needed and most of all you are loved!
Happy Mother's Day!

This was my post on  Mother's Day last year....and I can't think of a better way to put it (besides which my brain is mush and I'm half asleep....still getting used to this broken sleep thing!)

Life is good.
Make that great.
Enjoy your day, everyone. I'm off to enjoy mine.

lucky me....

A weekend of celebrations- my birthday( oh and Bono's) today and Mother's Day tomorrow.

Rose made this lovely birthday flower card for me and Damian and the girls gave me this very special present...

Georgie and CJ went shopping together and found this - how well do they know me?!!!

Today we are heading out to do our own version of an Italian food safari ( inspired by this program).

Coffee, cannoli and ricotta cake followed by a lunch back at my sister-in-law's home of whatever looks good in the cheese shop,bakery and delicatessen!

Perfect- family, perfect weather and good food...what more could I wish for on my birthday?!

Lucky me, indeed.

serious business....

being two weeks old.
The beautiful hat is all the way from Chicago, the home of Heidi. Thank you! - such a gorgeous buttery colour and the perfect fit for Grace's little head. (I think I recognise the pattern - I have looked at it a few times but now I've actually seen it knitted up I just have to try one myself. Looks like that crochet blanket will take just a little longer....)

And another photo just because....

besotted....

So small and yet Grace already has us wrapped around her little finger.
Charlie has several pet names for her - "little sleepy pumpkin head, sweetie pie" and her favourite of all "my tiny knuckle head" which she insists means "cute". I'm not sure where Charlie picked this up but I am trying to get her to stick with "pumpkin head".
I know that it is only very early days (and things can change very quickly!) but Grace just seems to be fitting into our life and family so easily. Of course there will be days when I think I must have been crazy to imagine that I could cope with three children but for now I am just enjoying the whole new baby experience. Grace will be the last little one in our family- I'm certain that this is why I seem to be spending a ridiculous amount of time just looking at her- really, you'd think that I'd never seen a newborn baby before!
In between feeding and trying to catch up on a bit of sleep, I have managed to do a little bit of drawing.

Not sure where I am going with this - I have a few dress sketches that might become part of a collage series or might not....we'll see.

(We really have appreciated all of the comments on the last two posts - thank you for  the warm wishes and congratulations. Every proud mama just loves to hear that other people think her family is a lovely as she does!)

Gracie Gracie....

That's what Charlotte calls her new little sister... who has very long, skinny feet just like her big sister Rose (much to Rose's delight.)
It was so lovely to finally return home yesterday (although I will miss the luxury of having morning and afternoon tea and supper  appear without any effort on my part!).
I found a bit of time today to read through all of the comments that have been left- thank you for all of the good wishes and congratulations.

And here she is..... Grace Alice (three days old). She looks just like her sisters when they were born (I have cookie cutter babies) although her hair is the darkest of all three.

and here again with her two doting big sisters just after she was born.

Even though I have just come up from recovery and not yet had a chance to change into something a little more glamorous,do my hair or apply my makeup (just joking- that was the last thing on my mind!) , here is a picture of me with my three ( three!!!) girls.

Grace is doing a wonderful job of modelling this hat (which was a little big but did a great job of keeping her small head warm).
And if you ever wondered what a mama does to distract herself whilst waiting ( and waiting and waiting) to head down to the operating theater....well, she starts another hat,naturally.
(Really you'd think by now that they could come up with something just a little more stylish yet still practical than those blue hospital gowns. And then to top it all of they make you wear a shower cap on your head. Nice.)

I'm off to have a look at my three sleeping beauties and try to get in few hours myself before the night shift begins.
Sweet dreams!

now we are five....

grace alice arrived safely at 1450 on the 21st april
(2.66k 50cm long)

Baby and mama both doing well....pictures soon! ( this is grandma sally,have seen new bub and very cute.lots of dark hair. )

tomorrow's to do list.....

The date has been moved forward by a week, so tomorrow I am off to deliver baby # 3.

Details to follow .....

See you all in a week or so!