Life under a Pepper Tree

Late again. Its been a blur these past couple of weeks.  Sleep deprivation seems to have killed off my memory and badly.  I dropped Dylan off at daycare only this morning and his teacher asked me what he had done over the weekend.  I just looked at her blankly and said "I don't remember!". We have Grandma to thank for her contribution to this week's (ok last weeks) pics with the beautiful matching cardigans for the boys.  So lovely and warm and cosy! Tristan looking just a tad stunned!  A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2016 Dylan looking a little more mellow. A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2016 Joining in with Jodi and Project 52 . Bel

Its been a pretty awful week for us.  Both Dylan and I have been sick, and I've been desperately trying to avoid passing on our germs to little Tristan.  Daytime naps have been mostly of the 40 mins maximum variety, and night time sleep has been ok, but never long enough to really feel rested. The other day I managed to get Dylan down for a nap, then feed time for Tristan went on and on.  He dozed and fed, and dozed and fed, until there was no more feeding, just dozing on my lap.  It was warm in front of the fire, so I stayed there for quite some time until my phone battery started to die, and the urge to go to the bathroom became a little more urgent.  Eventually I just had to make a move and attempted to slide him off my lap and onto the lounge beside me.  Success! Not only had he slept on me for around 1.5 hours, but he continued to snooze on the lounge for about another 30-40 mins.   A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2016 This week hubby decid

The past week since my Father's funeral has been tough.  Dylan has been sick and I have come down sick too.  Tristan has been cranky and not sleeping as much as I'd like him to.  So really just a pretty crappy time.  On Friday I decided I wouldn't let the opportunity pass me by and get a little comparison shot of Tristan.  I took a photo of Dylan during his very first Easter in 2013 wearing a lovely comfy onesie and his bunny ears beanie.  I absolutely adore that photo as he is the happiest lil bunny ever.  Tristan has been wearing the onesie too, but now his little toes are pushing at the ends of the feet of the suit, so I don't think we can get any more wear out of it.  Such a shame as I love the colour on him.  I tried to get him to smile, which he happily did, but as soon as the camera was in front of my face the smile disappeared! Dylan - 2013 Tristan - 2016   Some days I can see the exact same expressions and look on Tristan's face as what Dylan ha

There was just so much running around during the last week with making arrangements for my Dad's funeral that I really didn't spend any significant time with the boys and getting photos of them.  I thought about taking photos of them on the morning of the funeral in their little outfits ready to go say "goodbye" to Poppy, but I don't know if I would have wanted to look at those photos much.  The boys have been dragged all over Sydney and everyone has been tired and grumpy and not getting enough sleep.  Dylan has come down with a horrid cold and ended up being sent home from daycare last Friday with a raised temperature.  I feel like I could sleep for a week given half a chance, but little Tristan just isn't very settled and won't get into any long stretches of sleep, day or night, at the moment. It's a tough time all round, but I'm sure we'll get there. Tristan having some playtime and enjoying the noises of a crinkly toy . A portrait o

Late. Late. Late. I feel as though I could pour my heart out right here, but it's not the right time for me.  On the 22nd June, early on that Wednesday morning my father passed away. Such a shock for us all.  Took my breath away.  Somehow we managed to fumble our way through that week and into the next.  Life continues but not in the way we want.  This new normal without my Dad, the boys "Poppy", is going to take a lot of time to feel secure again. In the week or so before it happened, Tristan "found" his fists.  They really are tasty, wriggly little things apparently. A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2016 In the days after it happened, if we were at home, I tried to get some quiet time for each of us.  Some days I'll admit it meant giving Dylan some time on the iPad to watch his favourite episodes of Octonauts or whatever other children's programs were available.  A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2