baby space

for the newborn : the bednest

2013-05-22T06:30:00.000+10:00

Fancy having the best of both worlds?

Co-sleeping with your wee one without worrying about babe-squishing or bed sharing? Then you will love the Bednest.

I would have loved a Bednest for my babes, especially for the kiddo who was my cuddliest infant. We co-slept for quite a while and he certainly took up more than his fair share of our bed (he was totally that baby in Baby Sleep Positions).

The Bednest is suitable from birth until your babe can sit up (approx 4+ months) and can be positioned next to the bed where the mesh panel can be opened so you can easily scoot your little one over for feeding or comforting.

The stand has 70 + settings and the basket and stand can be folded flat for storage and travel. The Bednest can also use it as a stand-alone bassinet in the nursery. So handy!

If you'd like to secure a Bednest for your little one, they're available online from mid-June at Danish By Design.

bonus for baby space readers : sheet set
Would you like to receive a FREE Bednest bassinet sheet set with your purchase? Just leave the comment 'Baby Space Free Sheet Offer' on your online order. Danish By Design also encourages you to pop a follow up email through to info@danishbydesign to ensure your comment went through.

Sweet dreams :)

room for baby : crimson jewel

2013-05-21T14:00:00.000+10:00

One of our resident interior experts, Nicole from Little Liberty has embraced the trend for jewel tones and strong lines in the nursery, explaining, "Geometrics and trellis wallpaper is all the rage right now and I'm so happy to hop on the bandwagon, I love it!"

"I recently completed this baby room and wanted to give the space a bold splash of colour and I think it worked out really well." But as much as she loved the project, it wasn't without it's challenges.

"It's always a bit tricky when clients like existing pieces of furniture that you need to incorporate into the room, in this case it was the brown wooden cot and a single mattress. I turned the mattress into a daybed filled with lots of cushions and tried to lighten up the space around the cot as much as possible with colour and pattern."

And her favourite part of the room? "The bold geometric wallpaper and the gorgeous dip dyed stool."

Thank you for sharing your latest bright design with us Nicole! You can find more of Nicole's work at Little Liberty.

kidspot village voices 2013 : a masterclass and a party

2013-05-20T15:00:00.000+10:00

Coming up to the Kidspot Village Voices of 2013 masterclass and Top 100 launch party I could not have been more excited. Or nervous.

At one point in my preparations I started to slather moisturiser on my hands only to find it was shampoo. Yep, I was that nervous.

But I needn't have been.

Once I got over the this-has-surely-been-a-mistake-invite state of disbelief, I was super excited. To be in the same room instead of the other side of a monitor as some of the best, mostly women, bloggers in Australia was, in a word, awesome. In two words, awesome and inspiring.

The first class of the year (there will be more, any blogger can go!) was held at The School where around 100 of us listened to the wisdom of seasoned and successful bloggers like Jen from Interiors Addict and Stacey from Veggie Mama. The fabulous blog master Pip asked the panelists questions, such as, 'how can we avoid having an ugly-ass blog?' Good question Pip!

I tried very hard not to stare at people too much. To tell the truth I would definitely have said yes to a reference chart with three columns: blog name, picture of blogger's face and summary of all interactions we'd ever had. (App idea there, am I right?)

After the class I went home, got a bit fancy in a Gorman frock and took a taxi to Darlinghurst. The party space was lined with waiters offering drinks and canapés, and sporting two shiny Fords to play in (the winner of the Top 100 gets to drive a Ford Territory for a year. Lucky!). I had one glass of champers at the party and one more at the after party. That's two whole more glasses than I have had in a veerrry long time.

And it was wonderful -- almost a relief -- to talk shop with other bloggers. Feeling validated for something that is, in many ways, a solitary endeavour and that I struggle to call a job when asked, was priceless.

But the take away advice I loved the most came from Hailey Bartholomew who gave the introductory speech. She spoke to something that has been playing on my mind recently.

If you, my awesome readers, are listening to me I have a responsibility to say something worthwhile. This is such a lovely space for me, I'm happy to be here every single day. But sometimes I worry that there are real problems in the world that I am not addressing by blogging about cute things. Does the world really need more sunshine and rainbows? (Personally I love sunshine and rainbows, but you know what I mean.)

Hailey on the left and Cinti from My Poppet.

Hailey spoke about following your passions even if you don't really know what you're doing or what's going to come from it. She spoke about never giving up and persevering even when people say 'no'. About writing down what you want and prioritising it.

In a way this is kind of obvious, but sometimes we just need to be told. Well, I do. And it didn't hurt at all to be told by Hailey, who relayed her own story of following her dreams with a passion and sincerity that I think we all felt to our bones. She said:

"Don't ask what the world needs, ask what makes you come alive."

I am honoured to be included in the Kidspot Village Voices Top 100. This is my post on the masterclass and launch party. And a special shout out to my preggo event buddies, Patchwork Cactus and Yellow Dandy :)

real kids : humans of new york

2013-05-17T06:30:00.000+10:00

Do you follow Humans Of New York?

Photographer Brandon Stanton has a truly wonderful body of work: portraits upon portraits of people captured on the street, usually accompanied by a poignant quote from the subject. Sometimes fans send in their own take on his pictures, like the cartoon on the right by Johanna Trobough from Paris, France.

* * *

In other news, I'm excited to be attending the Kidspot Village Voices Masterclass and Voices of 2013 launch party tomorrow, I still can't believe this little blog has been included amongst so many amazing others! I'm looking forward to seeing some of the faces behind blogs I've enjoyed over the years, so if you're there, please come and say hi, I'd love to meet you :)

Have a lovely weekend!

19/52

2013-05-16T06:30:00.000+10:00

Portraits of one or more of my children once a week, every week in 2013.

Her: Skylarking off with her Grandma's phone.

Him: Proud as punch climbing trees in the park. This boy and his smiles!

I think one of the ideas behind this 52 week project is to have your photography evolve through the year, but I'm not so sure that is happening with mine.

However I am finding myself notice the passing of time more acutely; despite these sunny snaps autumn is turning cooler; the kiddo has started wearing his winter uniform and last night I wore a woolly scarf to Uni for the first time this year. It's May! That means it's nearly June! That means the year is nearly half over. It's been a very good year so far, I hope yours has too.

Lovely portraits elsewhere this week: fantastic pictures within pictures at typically red, a sweet offering of leaves at teacups too, a giant Miffy and a little Molly at This is Tie.

Joining in with Jodi's 52 week portrait project.

make it mine : the white party

2013-05-14T06:30:00.000+10:00

Belinda from Nest Design Studio found this delightful wee space, saying,"I think this nursery would have to be one of my all time favourite neutral nurseries. The use of textures, timber and soft driftwood colours really create a room that is soothing but also interesting."

Do you love it too? I have a bit of a crush on Lucky Boy Sunday, they make such unusual, quirky characters.

To recreate this look start with: 1. Pale Nulle soft toy by Lucky Boy Sunday 2. Molecule building set by Ferm Living 3. Sparrow Cot by Oeuf 4. Mini library by Oeuf 5. Ludde sheepskin from Ikea.

Original design from Sissy + Marley.

meet the mama : stacey from the veggie mama

2013-05-12T06:30:00.000+10:00

Happy Mother's Day! Today one of our fave foodie mamas is spilling the beans on how her life has changed since becoming a parent. Stacey is mama to two gorgeous ladies, Abby, age two, and Pepper, who is seven months. I think I first saw Stacey on the cover of Peppermint magazine, then pregnant with wee Abby and riding a pink bicycle! This lady has the gift of making motherhood and eating your veggies look good. Here's what she had to say.

What did a normal day look like before you were pregnant?
Before I was pregnant with Abby, a normal day consisted of driving 45 minutes to my hinterland office where I was a newspaper editor. I would write, research and interview for stories, tackle an ever-growing inbox, take and edit photos, chat to people in the community and organise page layouts before driving 45 minutes back home, making dinner (probably blogging about it too) and then watching Masterchef. I was a bit addicted!

What does a normal day look like now?
Nowadays you’ll find me getting up before the sun, squeezing in a few hours of work before the kiddos wake up (usually Pepper is singing to me from her high chair, conducting a pretend orchestra with her Vegemite toast) and then a mix of playing and housework until dinner. Then I try to stop myself falling asleep on the couch at 7pm.

What has surprised you most about becoming a mum?
How much I can actually function on very little sleep.

Is being a mum easier/harder/ very different than what you thought it would be?
Both easier and harder! Some hard things are easier than I thought they would be, some things are much harder than I ever could have anticipated. Feeling like I might have failed my kids in some way is the most difficult thing I have ever experienced. It’s tough when it’s time to make a decision and you are genuinely unsure as to whether what you’ve chosen is right, or if it will harm them in some way further down the track. Being unsure and learning by making mistakes first is agonizing. Making mistakes in parenting is so normal, but so difficult because it is usually the children who bear the brunt of it until you get it right.

What do you wish you’d known before you were pregnant?
That having a network of mums would actually be very important and to try and find some as early as I could. I thought I could survive without support, but it makes life so much nicer to have it.

What is the hardest part of being a new mum?
Apart from learning by mistakes, it would be feeling in those first few months all the overwhelming relentlessness of being a caregiver to a needy newborn. It’s tough going that early on and the first time I walked through it, I didn’t know when it would ease and I could catch a break. As often happens with little babies, it’s all over in the blink of an eye and I felt myself coming to the surface more often. With my second baby, I knew the light at the end of the tunnel was there, and it helped me cope.

What do you love best about being a mum?
Being a nurturer and a comforter. Also how incredibly hilarious my kids are and how much they make me laugh and make me happy in general.

What helps you parent well?
Patience, flexibility and my husband.

Stacey and her mister in their pre-baby days. "I think this really sums up the relationship I have with my husband, and the fun we had. I hope our kids share our goofy sense of humour."

What is the best parenting advice you’ve been given?
Take time out to recharge yourself. You cannot give to others if you are not full yourself. I’m a much happier mum because my needs are met too.

Is there any advice you’d like to give new mums?
This too shall pass. And that is both good and bad. The hard times pass (and they sleep eventually!) but also the baby moments are over before you know it. Savour the good and walk through the bad to the other side.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us Stacey! You can find Stacey over on The Veggie Mama, as well as Twitter and Facebook.

18/52

2013-05-10T06:30:00.001+10:00

Portraits of one or more of my children once a week, every week in 2013.

Him: Having a cuddle with his gogo (grandma) and brand new baby cousin Abigail. Big congratulations to Abbey's mama, papa and big sister Piper, Abbey is divine!

Her: Doesn't she look a wee bit sceptical? I don't think she was thrilled to see me holding little Abbey but she liked her well enough when I wasn't :)

And the three big (!) cousins having a fun time playing house together in Piper's room. Max really got into character. As you can see:

Playful portraits elsewhere this week: Isabelle and Noah playing in the leaves at Mend and Make New, tiny twins Maggie and Elisabeth on The Hut Chronicles and a gorgeous cat girl and her brother on Magical Days.

Joining in with Jodi's 52 week portrait project.

interview with : the kiddo

2013-05-09T06:30:00.000+10:00

A little pre-Mother's Day interview with the kiddo (5) in which he gives me some advice and tells me I might need a headband.

What do you like the most about your mum?
She kisses me.

What do you like the least about your mum?
She gets angry at me.

What do you like doing the most with your mum?
Playing games, like Settlers of Catan. (He does not know how to play this.)

What do you think your mum’s job is?
Blogging.

What do you think your mum’s favourite thing to do is?
Work on the computer.

Do you have any advice for your mum?
She could help me make craft more. Okay, what’s next?

Do you have a favourite food that your mum makes you?
Corn off the cob. (He never asks for this.)

What do you think would be a good present to give your mum?
Um, a headband? Because you don’t have one.

What’s your favourite memory with your mum?
At Christmas. When we decorated the tree with the Christmas balls that Santa gave me and Rose.

What would you like to do with your mum in the future?
Hug her. ( I hug him)
I thought you would do that.

mother's day : to make

2013-05-08T06:30:00.000+10:00

5 fun DIYs perfect for giving or keeping:

Make your own butterfly tote with your little one's handprints.

Design a fancy photo book with your treasured snaps using Blurb.

Get out the porcelain paint and personalise a mug.

Let your little get arty. Photograph the process + frame the painting = super cute.

Wee one an animal lover? They might like to turn their footprint into a penguin for you :)

Do your kiddos bring home gorgeous crafty surprises from school or day care? Why is it so cool to see the sweet things they make? My littles could draw a squiggle and I'd think it was the bees knees ;)

more mothers day : to wear : to give : to do

mother's day : to do

2013-05-07T06:30:00.000+10:00

More the doing type than the gifting type? Here a five fun things you might like to do with your mum or treat yourself to:

1. Catch a movie. Have you seen First Position? I loved it.

2. See a play. True Minds by Joanna Murray-Smith and The Melbourne Theatre Company is on now for Melbournians, it sounds hilarious.

3. Pack a picnic for the park. A classic.

4. Go to the ballet. Symmetries by The Australian Ballet will be playing soon at the Canberra Theatre Centre if you're in the capitol.

5. How can you go wrong with a lovely coffee date catch up?

Myself, I'm waiting until next month and going to the ballet with my mum and the kiddo for a belated celebration -- I can't wait! This weekend I think I'll be studying.

What would your ideal Mother's Day treat be? A day alone in bed perhaps? I'd love to hear!

Movie ticket wall sign on Etsy. True Minds image by Jeff Busby. Basket from Boho Morroco. Kirsty Martin as photographed by Justin Smith. Picnic and coffee images unknown, please contact me if you know the credit.

mother's day : to give

2013-05-06T06:30:00.000+10:00

Looking for some gift ideas? A little collection of goodies for your mum (or yourself!) for Mother's Day.

Note to my family if they are reading: I would be thrilled with any of the above, especially the boots. Or the book. Or the glasses. Or the candle. Oh, go on then, you can give them all ;)

Have you asked for anything this Mother's Day? What kind of gifts do you usually like to give your mum/step-mum/grandma/lady-type-that-brought-you-up? I'd love to hear!

Reflect Mountain Tee from Gorman, Jo Malone Candle, Triple Chevron Chain from Rare Bird on Etsy, Feather print by Louise De Masi on Etsy, Ray Ban Aviators from Vision Direct, Skyward! Arrow Cuff from Molten, The Mountain, by Drusilla Modjeska from Random House Books, Minnetonka boots from The Iconic, Abbey Studded Wallet from Witchery.

mother's day : to wear

17/52

2013-05-03T15:00:00.000+10:00

Portraits of one or more of my children once a week, every week in 2013.

Her: Gimme!

Him and Her: Meeting our friend's brand new baby.

Lovely portraits elsewhere this week: Nona at Fuga's Prism, Janet, otherwise known as Granny, at Harper Leich and Lo rockin' her shades at Melon Pea.

Joining in with Jodi's 52 week portrait project.

mother's day : to wear

2013-05-02T06:30:00.000+10:00

With Mother's Day coming up (but don't panic, we've still got nearly two weeks) I started thinking about some fun gifts that are also practical for everyday.

Further to my self-confessed stripe love, this outfit is fabulously versatile in that it can be dressed up (heels, earrings) or down (chucks, caps), worn by all ages, is perfect for post-baby bods (loose-fit tee!) and is so easy to personalise.

And pregnant mamas can easily steal this look with these bump friendly maternity boyfriend jeans. I wore them when I was pregnant with the lady, and I can recommend. Plus, they're currently on sale. Bonus :)

What would you like to be wearing this Mother's Day? PJ's and an eyemask perhaps? I'd love to hear!

7 for all mankind boyfriend jeans on ASOS, Hunter Wellies on The Iconic, Black leather bag by Asya Malbershtein on Etsy, Striped Tee from American Apparel, Floppy felt hat from Seed Heritage.

Main image of Andreea Diaconu on Citizen Couture.

guest post : a lovely lark

2013-05-01T12:45:00.000+10:00

Do you know Lauren at A Lovely Lark? I featured the stylish nursery she made for her then newborn daughter, Violet, back in 2010. Fast forward three years and she's just given birth to her gorgeous new bundle, Lucy. My how time has flown!

While she's on a bit of blogging mat leave Lauren's featuring a series of fun 'Something to' guest posts including one by yours truly. If you'd like to take a peek at the baby space picks you can see them here.

I especially love the 'make' pick, wouldn't that be cool to create?

Congratulations on the birth of sweet little Lucy, Lauren!

inspired by : six ways to use yellow

2013-04-30T06:30:00.000+10:00

1. On a set of drawers. Like this bold yellow beauty as seen in Vera's nursery on Elle Belle.

2. In layers. Like this yellow locker layered with a cute lion suit and framed with fun golden details at The Woodsfolk.

3. On a chair. And in a print. Like this neon wicker wonder and playful poster art by Camilla Lundsten as seen on Milk magazine.

4. On a vintage dresser. Like this banana yellow armoire revamped by the clever folk on Silver Blue.

5. On a desk. Like this sunny lemon yellow study space seen on Kid's Room Blog.

6. On the wall. Like these Lego yellow playroom walls in this home for rent (if you happen to be travelling to the Netherlands!) on Airbnb.

Embracing the friendliest colour for the nursery has become quite the trend. I know ever since the kiddo declared it his fave I have been on the lookout for yellow in clothes and accessories that suit him, and he enjoyed helping choose yellow fabrics for his room. From rich, golden Lego yellow (as I like to call it) to cool, clean tints of lemon, a coat of sunshiny hues is sure to add instant cheer.

What colours are you loving for your home right now? I'd love to hear!

16/52

2013-04-26T06:30:00.000+10:00

A portrait of one or more of my children once a week, every week in 2013.

Him: Goofing around like the fun lovin' fella he is. We learnt from last week and this week have kept busy with planned outings to the museum, the library and the like.

Her: At last she speaks! New words this week: shoe, teddy, puppy, hi, uh-oh and bap bap (apple), join more, mummeee, daddy, ta, um um (yum) and bubee (baby).

Lovely portraits elsewhere: little old ladies on Living on Love, little lotus on Flourish and big delight on oscarlucinda.

Joining in with Jodi's 52 week portrait project.

meet the mama : caitlin from mother down under

2013-04-25T06:30:00.000+10:00

Have you met Caitlin? Visiting her blog is like hanging out with that mum friend you wished lived next door. Down to earth and informative, I often find myself relating to her perspective and of course she has the added glamour of being an import from the United States. (Aren't foreigners always more interesting? ;) Caitlin does it all -- blogs, studies, works out of the home and in, in Brisbane, Queensland. I asked her how her life has changed since becoming a mama. This is what she told me.

What did a normal day look like before you were pregnant?
"I feel like I lived so many lives before I became a mother! There was the life in New York City where I wore make-up and heels and click clacked along the sidewalk in a rush on my way to work.
There was the life at university in Brisbane where I had time not only to study nursing but also to meet friends for coffees between lectures and for trivia nights at the local pub.
There was the life as a theatre nurse where, if I had a difficult day I could come home, shower, talk to my husband over a glass of wine and then crawl into bed.
I think the part of those lives that I miss the most is the spontaneity and freedom. Yes, I was tied down by work and study, and at the time those commitments felt very demanding, but outside of that I didn't have much responsibility. I had the time to indulge in things I love doing; running, pilates, the occasional pedicure, and spending an afternoon on the couch watching movies and drinking mulled wine."

What does a normal day look like now?
"Busy. Thanks to my toddler's punctual body clock, I am up every day by six. I work Monday, Wednesday and Friday and on those days I am generally up even earlier so I have the family ready to go by the time I leave the house at 6:30. In the evening I pick Toddler C up from child care, he gets to watch 10 minutes of Peppa Pig before the dinner, bath and reading routine begins. Once he is tucked in and sweetly dreaming, I do a few chores and then I generally relax by getting lost in a blog or two. Tuesdays and Thursday are filled with walks to the cafe, swimming lessons, trips to the park and play dates. Toddler C still naps for two hours during the day and as soon as his eyes close, I busy myself cooking dinner, blogging and studying. Most of the household stuff like grocery shopping and cleaning is done on Saturday when Daddy R is around...we divide and conquer!"

What has surprised you most about becoming a mum?
"I am surprised by how much I enjoy it. I don't mean that to sound harsh or as if I went into motherhood expecting to loathe it, not at all. I knew that I would love being a mother but I am constantly surprised and the intensity of my feelings. I would say at least once a day my breath catches in the back of my throat and tears spring to my eyes as I am hit with the realisation of how much I enjoy spending time with my little guy and how much I love him."

Is being a mum easier/harder/very different than what you thought it would be?
"It is faster than I thought it would be. I thought babies were babies for a long time...turns out before you know it, those babies and walking and talking and full of personality. And sometimes I find with this pace comes pressure. You strive to master something and just as you are feeling confident, your baby moves onto the next thing. At the moment I am amazed at how quickly Toddler C is learning...at the ripe old age of almost two he knows his alphabet, his numbers and he is starting to 'read' to me! What comes next? Algebra?"

What do you wish you’d known before you were pregnant?
"I wish I had known that all the baby books in the world wouldn't help me raise my baby.Yes, it is nice to know what is happening during your pregnancy and it is helpful to have some idea of what a generic baby is like over the course of that first year. But none of those books were written about MY baby. I wish I had had more confidence to put the books down and to trust my own instincts."

What is the hardest part of being a new mum?
"I honestly thought the entire first year was extraordinarily challenging. It was a huge awakening.
Everything that I knew about my life and about myself changed. Some people seem to adjust to motherhood easily but I think it took me a full year to come to terms with my new world. Being completely and utterly sleep deprived probably didn't help to make this transition any easier!"

What do you love best about being a mum?
"There are bad days and there are good days and then there are those moments where you think, this is what it is all about! I have always loved reading to Toddler C, I love the cadence of children's book, I love the illustrations and most of all I love any excuse to cuddle him close. Until recently it was always me reading, Toddler C sitting on my lap, holding his Puppy Bunny and sucking his thumb. Now he has started 'reading' to me, his sweet voice repeating the words that I have read night after night after night. I love those moments where my actual life is exactly how I imagined motherhood would be."

What helps you parent well?
"Being organised! I feel that by staying on top of all the little things, I have more time to slow down and enjoy the big things -- being with Daddy R and Toddler C.
I also think that when I look after myself I am a better mother. It is very easy to put all of your energy into caring for your little one, but it is so important to looking after your own wellbeing. For me, eating nourishing foods helps my energy levels stay on par with those of my toddler and taking some time entirely for myself always leaves me feeling refreshed.
And I have to give credit where credit is due, having a supportive and hands on partner helps enormously.

What is the best parenting advice you've been given?
"Whatever works. There is really no right way to bring up children. I believe that as long as your children know that they are absolutely and unconditionally loved, then all of those aspects of parenting that you can't help but agonise over are really irrelevant."

Is there any advice you’d like to give new mums?
"Surround yourself with support, whether your own parents, siblings, mommy friends, blogs -- being a mother is a joyful experience but it is also hard work. Being able to celebrate those highs, to get help through the low periods and to share stories and advice with people you love and trust makes motherhood so much easier and so much more enjoyable.
I also think that being a part of sisterhood of mothers who together have seen it all and done it all and have lived to tell about it, is amazing and humbling."

Thanks for sharing your experiences with us Caitlin! Caitlin blogs at Mother Down Under and her business, HypnoBirthing Brisbane, is set to launch in July. If you're keen to know more about HypnoBirthing, feel free to contact Caitlin for more info.

wee style : paul and paula

2013-04-23T06:30:00.000+10:00

There is nothing I love more than a striped tee with elbow patches unless it's a jumper or tee that says yay! or hooray!

Full of beautifully structured pieces in play-friendly colours with funky motifs, Paul and Paula clothing on Etsy is all handmade in Melbourne by the amazing Kerstin.

You can read more about Paul and Paula in Kerstin's Etsy interview or check out her blog, hello paul and paula, or browse the threads on Etsy.

All clothes pictured from Paul and Paula on Etsy.

toddler : 13-15 months

2013-04-22T06:30:00.000+10:00

I wasn't sure I was going to do any more lady updates, (and I am a little late with this one that has been sitting in the drafts folder because she's coming up to 16 months). But here it is The Lady : The Toddler Series and a letter for an older Rose, if she's curious, about her foray into toddlerhood.

dear lady,
watching you do pretty much anything is still fascinating to me. the way a human body learns to coordinate itself is amazing. you strut your chubby legs forward in a robot-like motion, your pudgy fingers carefully pry apart a toy, or more often than not, something contraband like the tv remote.

I watch you decide how to manoeuvre around the house; you hold your dolly wrapped in an old scarf like it's a baby blanket, but when you get to a step, what to do? you decide to drop your dolly like a rock and clamber down after her.

outside, you peer at our pet guinea pigs in their hutch by leaning your body to the side and hardly bending your legs: an inquisitive little teapot.

you bang your crayons on the paper making lines and dots and swooshes.

you 'do'.

once, your papa and I were upstairs getting ready for the day and you and your brothers were all downstairs. or so we thought.

we heard a rose-like-squeak nearby. someone had left the baby gate open at the bottom and you had climbed right to the top of the stairs (this was before the table climbing incident).

you wave to everyone, everywhere now, just as your brother used to do at the same age. this is a nice age actually. your cute babyness is still present but your toddler capacity to communicate and play is developing.

I will be absolutely treasuring these next few months before you're off and running for good.

you are determined and feisty and charming and sweet.

you are a joy. x

p.s Do you love babywearing? If you fancy winning a beautiful Sakura Bloom sling might like to enter the current baby space giveaway :)

15/52

2013-04-18T06:30:00.000+10:00

A portrait of one or more of my children once a week, every week in 2013.

Him: "Mum, let's be a family of tigers. I'm a kid tiger and Rose is the baby tiger and you are the mum tiger. Mum, actually let's be a family of Saber Tooth Tigers. Actually let's be a family of monkeys but we're all different monkeys. I'm a yellow-tailed wooly monkey and you're a -- Mum? Mum!"

Her: "Muuumee. Mum, mum, mum. Muuumee!"

Contrary to these happy, playful images, by the second day of the hols they already felt like the longest school holidays of my life.

Which I thought was kind of weird (being the mother of a 15 year-old etc) until the switched-on mamas in my Mother's Group pointed out that this is our first term break since the kiddo started big school. Right.

It's been raining. Those pics were taken in the hour or so that it stopped and you know what kids are like when they're cooped up. And now the lady can not be kept down from the dining table where her brother draws, because naturally she wants to do whatever he's doing.

She is so quick that she has a collection of bruises from walking into and off things. And if you tell her to sit down she does that thing where they kind of pretend to sit down down but are actually still standing, you know the one?

As she can't be left alone for a single waking minute I have spent the last three days having my shower with her standing at the shower door saying, "bu!" (she means boo!) and patting my leg. So relaxing.

How are your school hols going?

Eye-catching portraits elsewhere this week: Lu and her teddy on Ambrose Press, A and T on Oyster and Pearl and Zephie, Pippi and the bump on The Beetle Shack.

Joining in with Jodi's 52 week portrait project.

p.s In other news Kidspot Village Voices has named this little baby space in the Top 25 Personal and Parenting Blogs of 2013. Oh My Yay!

make it mine : grey gazelle

2013-04-16T06:30:00.000+10:00

Fancy a little industrial creativity in the nursery? "I think this would have to be one of the most pinned nurseries around!" said Belinda from Nest Design Studio. "It's a beautiful blend of rustic textures and a soft colour palette."
To recreate this on-trend look, try:

1. Faux Antelope Head by White Faux Taxidermy. 2. Ludde sheepskin from Ikea 3. Ouef Sparrow Cot (Grey) from Kido Store 4. Eva Throw from Country Road 5. Antique nickel wall lamp from Interiors Online.

Original design by Sherry Hart from Design Indulgence.

p.s If you love these finds you might like to go in the running to win your very own custom room design by Belinda. Good luck!

sakura bloom sling diaries : win + giveaway {closed}

2013-04-15T06:30:00.000+10:00

Yay! The baby space Sling Diaries were chosen as one of the three winning diaries in Volume II of the Sakura Bloom Sling Diaries Photo-documentary competition, along with the diaries of the beautiful Belle and Love.

As well as seeing all the amazing posts by the other mamas and papas, one of the things I have loved about this six-month project has been having a meaningful theme to write to each month -- it's led me to be more open about my thoughts around parenting and family, and encouraged me to start taking this space in a more personal direction; something that I never set out to do here (I set out to do it over there). It's kinda fun, kinda scary and I'm keen to see how it evolves.

But... none of this would have been possible without you, fabulous readers! So as a thank-you-so-much-for-reading-you're-awesome gesture, we have one Sakura Bloom Sling to give away. Hoorah!

what will you win?
1 x Sakura Bloom sling of your choice.

what do you have to do?
1) Like Sakura Bloom on Facebook.
2) Leave ONE comment on this post telling me you've done so and you will be in the running. Multiple comments will be deleted.

Following baby space on Bloglovin', Facebook, Twitter, or GFC is not one of the conditions, but if you fancy doing so that would very cool.

Good luck!

p.s A small word of advice for those new to sling wearing, I think it is worth taking a squiz at the Sakura Bloom instructional videos to ensure comfy carrying for you and your wee one. Enjoy :)

Huge thank you to all the photographers that took part in this journey with me: Clarissa from The Art of Joy, Belinda from Billy and August and Passport of Poets, Lisa from Lisa Jay Photography and Cara from Cara Loren Photography. Photographs here by Lisa Jay Photography (top) and Cara Loren Photography (middle and bottom).

This giveaway is open internationally. Giveaway closes at midnight, Sydney time on the 29th April 2013. If the winner is not contactable via email within 24 hours the giveaway will be redrawn.

room for kids : on the road

2013-04-12T13:30:00.000+10:00

Finding an original theme for tweens can be tricky -- they might be on the cusp of moving on to more grownup interests but they still hold their play time dear. Our contributor, Nicole, found a cool balance with grey and yellow for an eight-year-old mister.

Nicole said, "I love creating rooms for boys -- a room can be completely revamped by just adding a dramatic colour to the walls which is what I did in this room. The colour I chose was a Dulux colour called 'Raku'. I also love the yellow submarine print I found which is a modern twist on a old classic."

"The mango wood signs above the desk are a great decorative accent and I love the way they look in the room. The large grey marle pinboards will house all of my client's 1st ribbons, invitations and photos; it's a practical yet eye-pleasing solution for displaying all of those important keepsakes."

Thank you for sharing your new space with us Nicole! You can find more of Nicole's design work at Little Liberty.

14/52

2013-04-10T06:30:00.000+10:00

A portrait of one/some/all of my children once a week, every week in 2013.

Him: What are his favourite toys? His plush orangutan, squid, bunny and -- a pinecone. And here I was thinking he might say his colouring markers or Star Wars Lego.
"But my pinecone is my absolute favourite," he clarified.
Why?
"Because I can put glitter on it, and ribbons on it, and make it pretty."

Lovely portraits elsewhere this week: Audrey May taking a little stroll on Being Mumma, snug as a bug on One Bubble Two, and a loving couple on Iliska Dreams.

Joining in with Jodi's 52 week portrait project.