Life under a Pepper Tree

Late again, but better than never. Thursday afternoon last week we welcomed a baby boy into the world.  Tristan, you are our little Easter present, and you are beautiful. A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2016 Dylan was so thrilled to finally be a big brother! A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2016 Joining in with Jodi and Project 52 . Bel

Week Twelve of the new year already.  Where has it gone? This week I really tried to spend some quality time with Dylan.  I guess this will be the last chance we get this kind of one on one time before the baby arrives.  We spent hours just playing games, chatting and having good noisy fun.  We've even had some days where the weather was just that bit cooler so we could be outside and not be overheating within minutes!  Dylan ran around the backyard and I attempted very badly to chase him.  There was plenty of waddling on my part, and squealing on his part.  If we weren't pretending to be lions and tigers, it was usually race cars zooming around the pretend race track in the backyard.  And whenever there are race cars, that means there are dreadful, noisy crashes that require every make believe police car and ambulance to attend! A portrait of my son, once a week, every week in 2016 Joining in with Jodi and Projec...

Whoops! There goes another week of maternity leave without much to show for it!  Nothing to report except for the weekly Obstetrician appointment and a play date with Dylan's daycare friends.  A few other jobs crossed off the list, but still haven't really packed my hospital bag.  I'll get there... I was speaking to one of Dylan's daycare educators the other day.  She mentioned that Dylan had been a bit more anxious lately.  He's been more prone to tears and much more sensitive than his usual self.  I guess all the changes that have happened recently and those that are about to happen may be weighing on his mind.  His routine is definitely a bit out of whack, but hopefully will settle before this new baby arrives.  As I tire out more easily, my lack of patience with Dylan's tantrums has certainly become more evident.  I just can't put up with it quite as well as I was, and I'm not sure how it will magically get better with the poor s...

Its my second week of maternity leave and it feels like it's all going by in a blur.  Ask me what I did last week??? Ummm... No idea!  I know I tried to keep cool and stay out of this never-ending heat.  Someone definitely didn't get the memo - it's autumn now, not summer, PLEASE COOL DOWN! I've been doing a few odd jobs around the house, both things for the baby and just some household jobs.  I know this is supposed to be the "nesting" phase, and I can see all the tasks in front of me, but the heat is getting to me and I have a total lack of motivation.  Yes I saw that I should be wiping down the skirting boards, and I noticed the cobwebs and grime on the clothesline even!  I'm slowly ticking off some of the tasks, unaware of just how long before this baby decides to arrive.  Some days I think I'm on top of everything, and others, the lists get longer and longer.  One thing that remains in this new phase; I'm trying to spend quality time with...

Wow we've had some hot days.  As summer draws to a close, I'd really like a few cooler days sprinkled amongst the hot ones.  This past week saw Dylan jumping into the little paddling pool a few times.  So much more satisfying to watch him splash about than just sit indoors in the air conditioning and wanting to watch back to back episodes of Octonauts!  I really do wish we had a full size pool for him to swim properly in, but neither the backyard size or the budget will allow it.  I guess the paddling pool is just one step above running through the sprinkler, and I might have to resort to that for cooling down myself soon.  Baby number 2 is due in less than 4 weeks and I am HOT HOT HOT!!! A portrait of my son, once a week, every week in 2016 Joining in with Jodi and Project 52. Bel

Today I am just a bundle of nerves.  Stupid I know, but I just can't help it. On Saturday hubby listed my old car for sale as the new car arrived from the dealership about 2 weeks ago.  We'd spent a while contemplating the sale, or the idea of my old car becoming hubby's car, and then selling his car, which was my old beetle.   In the end we couldn't part with my beetle, so my little hatchback was to be sold.  We didn't want to do it as soon as the new car arrived, as it would just be doing the usual daycare duties, shopping trips, and of course being left at the train station on the days I worked.  But, with Friday being my last day of work before maternity leave, Saturday afternoon was spent photographing the car and putting the ad online.  Within a hour we'd had 2 enquiries!  Eeek! We really didn't think it would happen so quick!  Sunday morning we had one of the enquiries come to inspect the car and he dropped back in on Sunday afternoo...

Second last week of work done and dusted.  Looking forward to my last 3 days of work this coming week then a chance to try and rest up before this bub makes an entrance.  I'm noticing that I'm becoming more and more drained by just everyday duties, and today, getting down onto the floor to play with Dylan was no exception.  After a very short stint on the floor I just had to get up and move around.  There was definitely no sneaky shots of him from around the corner playing.  I sat his chair up, told him to sit, and that was that!  Of course he thought it was hilarious and wanted to copy everything I did.  So here he is holding his imaginary camera snapping away right back at me.  I even got told to "say cheese mummy"!! A portrait of my son, once a week, every week in 2016 Joining in with Jodi and Project 52 . Bel