The adventures of Sophia.

One day, when the sister had appointments, appointments that little baby girls like to disrupt with a combination of cute little baby faces, or evil - can't wait another millisecond for milk - screams; Sophia went to play at her favourite Auntie's house. 

Now, this was the first time that Sophia had been to play at anyone else's house, so naturally, she was pretty sad when she had to say goodbye to her mum. She's a bit clingy like that.

See the devastation?


Once Sophia had calmed down, she asked to see what cousin Darcy was doing. She was suitably impressed by his game playing skills, and secretly planned to one day surpass his ability in playing Mario Brothers.

Then, Uncle Adam decided to take advantage of the situation and began the indoctrination of a small young mind to all things cricket. Sophia, who isn't as vague as she may seem to most, assumed the sleep position almost immediately in an attempt to stop the man from talking. It seemed that Sophia was on to something, for he did indeed stop. And there was no offence taken, because sleeping babies are generally considered good babies. So Adam was happy. And Sophia was happier.

See? Instant sleeping baby.

But, Sophia, being the intelligent one that she is, knows an opportunity when she sees one, and she wasn't about to let a bit of cricket propaganda get in the way of a formal introduction to Littlest Pet Shops.

It was a Tilly Alice introduction. And, once again, Sophia was suitably impressed. So far, this was shaping up to be the best play date she had ever had.

At one stage, there was mass confusion when Auntie Rach went back to the big large screen which had only just previously been the source of the cricket brainwashing session. But instead this time, it was a farm. Some might know it as farmville. It was all too much for Sophia who slipped quickly into a coma to alleviate the sensory overload.

The coma lead to Sophia being wrapped like a pea in a pod. And sleeping followed. It was hard stuff learning all these new things.

And then something happened. There was a rumble in the tummy. And the clock ticked over to three hours. And we all know what that means.

A hungry baby. Which in Sophia land means 'Yo bitches, food, now!'.

But Auntie Rach's boobs were broken - and there is a whole world of inappropriateness in breastfeeding another's baby anyway, so crisis started.

And Auntie Rach did a bit of this. Before she quickly realised that if warm, liquid gold wasn't available inside the flesh of a mother, it would come in the form of a silver tap in ceramic heaven. In other words. A bath. And a warm one at that.

And it worked. And Sophia was happy once more. Even if she did have an audience - which now is ok, but not so much in twenty years time. We hope.

And when Sophia went home, all wrapped snug in her mothers arms, she looked back to the house of her first adventure and thought zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

The end.

xx

I am a little bit chuffed with today's sewing project. I made a layer cake skirt, thanks to the online tutorial posted by Prudent Baby.

Here's the end result of a couple of hours sewing this afternoon:

A fun little skirt and one happy kid! You should totally try and make one. If I can make it, you totally can!

Happy Australia Day!

Or happy Invasion Day. Which ever helps you to sleep at night. Without getting all political and heavy, we mainly throw our annual party to celebrate a great year of music by voting in and listening to Triple J's Hottest 100 and enjoying the company of great family and friends who are united by living in a country that provides amazing opportunities. 

For most people. 

I haven't forgotten what this day means to the Indigenous population of Australia. And it's something that is important to me too.

The beginning of the celebrations usually satrts about a fortnight before, with me and Adam putting in our votes for the hottest 100. We like to make a night of it coupled with a few beers and some nice takeaway - once the kids are in bed of course. This year my list looked like this:

Angus And Julia Stone - Big Jet Plane

Kid Cudi, Rostam Batmanglij from Vampire Weekend & Best Coast - All Summer

Mark Ronson & The Business Intl - Somebody To Love Me {Ft. Boy George & Andrew Wyatt}

Kele - Everything You Wanted

Birds Of Tokyo - Plans

Yeasayer - O.N.E

Tame Impala - Solitude Is Bliss

Gorillaz - On Melancholy Hill

Gotye - Eyes Wide Open

Little Red - Rock It

And look closely people..I had 3 in the top 10 - which includes two in position one, and two.

Excellent.

The day is always great fun, with plenty of good food and plenty to drink. We were blessed with amazing weather, 29 degrees and sunny. This was just enough for the compulsory slip and slide action that this day wouldn't be complete with out. 

Side note: After slip and slide action, Tilly dressed herself - I think it was time to get physical...

On another side note. How good are mums? I asked my mum to help out by bringing a couple of salads. Check out what she made - anyone want to invite her to your BBQ?

Too bad. She's mine.

The day is held in the backyard which is also the home to Robbie's Bar. What is Robbie's Bar I hear you ask? Well, a little story for you.

My grandfather was the best bloke ever. And I mean it when I say bloke. He was a sailor in the war, he was a sailor after the war. He was the Commodore of their local yacht club and he liked his beer. He was a brutally honest man, but when he said he loved you - you knew he meant it. He was so much fun and even had his own happy hour at his place. Every day. How many of you could say that you truly partied with your grandfather? 

Everyday. 

He died a few years ago. And not long after his wife sent us some money. Adam and I were still pretty upset and wanted to use the money for something that we didn't need, but that would remind us of him. So we turned our rumpus room into a bar. Robbie's Bar (he was knows as Robbie) and started hosting our own Friday night happy hour for family and friends.

I couldn't keep up with every day...Could you?

And it's one of the best things we ever did.

One of the main Australia Day events is the Annual Robbie's Bar Pool Competition. It's for all who wish to take part, which means some games are nail biters which are over fairly quickly, and others (mine included) last 45 minutes and get cheers if balls are actually hit, rather than pocketed. Yep - all skill levels included in this competition.

Names are randomly pulled from a pot. This years first prize was a Sturt's Desert Pea...very Australian don't you think?

And the other highlight for regulars to the Annual Australia Day Festivities?

Mini Fillet Mignons. Looks closely - little steak squares, wrapped in bacon and cooked on the barbie. 

Drool factor 2000.

Funnily enough for me Australia day feels more like my New Year. I put so much into it and build it up to one of our most favourite days of the year, but unlike New Year - it never disappoints. It always lives up to expectations, but it's nothing Adam or I do - it's because we have such amazing family and friends who are always up for a good time, who will welcome strangers with open arms and make the feel at home. 

And then check out this sunset we had - now that's the sign I needed that this is going to be a great year. Because we're going to make it great.

Aren't we? YES!

xx

The pillow that won't shut up.

I made this pillow case tonight. I got the fabric for $5 a metre at Ikea.

And I went to Ikea and only spent $28.50, which if you knew me, is a minor miracle.

It took me about half and hour, from start to finish. I am really chuffed with it, but may have to readjust the size I cut the fabric to. Because I accidentally made a talking pillow.

It won't shut up, and it keeps smiling at me.

I can't like it.

Total random post about cricket, birthdays and babies.

Now there's a title for a blog post. Doesn't it just reek of a photo heavy, subject changing, sentence hopping, seque filled fun?

I thought so.

So, it's official. I am 28. And it's ok internets. I'm ok - both physically and emotionally. In fact - I almost like the new found responsibility of adultness that being 28 brings. I feel important now.

Our little family after one of two birthday dinners.

Kind of.

Did I mention I'm lucky enough to share my birthday with my niece? She turned seven. So work that out - she totally crashed my twenty-first birthday.

See, two cakes!

Best present ever.

And now we get to have two cakes at our birthday celebration each year. How lucky is that? This year the choice was strawberry sponge, or chocolate mud with blueberries and raspberries. Fresh ones. How spoilt is that?

What made it extra special and exciting though was being able to share it with my Great Uncle Stewart, and Great Aunty Rosemary. They are both from England and picked the best time of year to visit Australia (my birthday and everything). It was the first time I had met them, and within hours I was deeply deeply sad. Like black hole, pit in the stomach sadness. Because I love them. To pieces - and they are not staying.

How sad is that?

The thing is, my dad's dad left them when they were teenagers. After immigrating to Australia from the UK. And they haven't seen him since (except a few, small months in the 80's when I was just a baby). I've never met him. I've never known my dad's side of the family except his mother and his brother. But that's it.

Do you know how honestly weird it is to see another man, so much like my dad? Like SO much like my dad? It's bloody scary, that's what it is. They have similar mannerisms, they look the same, they have such similar tastes (ok, well Stewart has very quickly told me that he doesn't share the science fiction obsession...which, is fair enough. Not many do.). I think my dad is the best person in the world. The nicest person in the world. Even Adam said that (which is saying something because he's quite a bitch really).

Sometimes I wonder if it's because he was hurt so deeply by his own dad, maybe that's why he's such a good dad. But then I think, No Way. You can't try to be that good, you just are. It's in your DNA. So to meet someone like Stewart and his beautiful wife - well, I was blown away. Possibly the second nicest man in the world.

(disclaimer: I think Adam is nice, but he's not the nicest man in the world. He makes up for it in sex appeal, humour and his ability to gossip like a woman).

So I felt completely privileged to share my day with them. AND - they totally got me a present - and they picked perfectly a lace scarf for someone they have never met. See? Told you they were awesome.

Stewart and My brother Ash...comparing cuteness..

Speaking of awesome

Seque

We took the kids to a 20-20 match at Adelaide Oval. I have never been to one, and - well I did go to one day of the Ashes. And 20-20 is SO much more fun.

If you haven't been to one, it's like a toned down version of Football because

A. you can breathe - no holding your breath till the siren
B. You can drink in your seats and it doesn't have to be West End. That's important, even if you are designated driver and have one light beer the whole night.
C. It's hot, which is why B is important. How fabulous is watching sport in the heat! Love it.
D. They play music at every bowl. Like every time they send that roundness down the pitch they play a different song. Admittedly only about 20 seconds of each, but hey - it's like a jukebox of memories, each one reminding me of songs I hadn't heard for years and downloaded off Itunes when we made it home.

Speaking of songs, they threw a couple of nursery rhyme type affairs in there. I love how an entire stadium will sing 'If you are happy and you know it clap your hands'. Do you know how stoked the kids were?

Then they played "hokey pokey". Less awesome.

Tilly continued singing it for the ENTIRE GAME. Really loudly. And even got down to singing 'You put your eye in, you put your eye out... '  well...you get the gist. Cute for the first five minutes. Mind numbingly irritating for the next two hours.

This is her eye 'shaking all about'.

 Complete subject change...last night I had dinner at my sisters place (cooked by me, because Im a lovely sister like that. Sometimes.) We had so much fun playing with my shopping basket, and Sophie. Because she's the easiest baby in the world and let's us do all sorts of stupid things with her, and she doesn't even bat an eyelid.

Didn't I talk about responsibility and twenty-eight and all that?

Trying to carry her on my head - well pretending too.

So yeah, that's me. I am loving this summer holiday. I have been sewing up a storm, which, by the way is made totally exciting when you get Spotlight vouchers...what to buy! I've been beaching and visiting and sleeping and catching up on Packed to the Rafters on DVD. All the fun, lazy things in life. Love it.

Happy Summer days x

My last day of 27.

Tomorrow, I turn 28. Yep - it's my birthday! Funny thing is though, really I have felt 28 for the past couple of months, but only because when people ask my age, I'll say 'almost 28'. Sadly, now I am about to say 'ta ta' to 27, I kind of wish I had shown it a bit more love before it was gone.

Forever.

Most years I have felt fine about turning another year older. In fact, I've looked forward to it. It probably doesn't hurt that Adam is 8 1/2 years older than me. Whatever age I am, I still feel young!

But this year. It's different. And I can't tell you why!

I think it's something to do with feeling as the 28 year olds should know more than what I feel I know. That they are responsible, don't do stupid things in public and are the picture of maturity. I feel like all my excuses of being young are now over.

I would understand if I felt this way about a 30th birthday - but a 28th? It's a bit random really.

Twenty - eight. 

Do you know I've all but planned my thirtieth? Now THAT will be a post and a half.

But, I get presents tomorrow. So that's the main thing, right?

xx

The visit where I drooled on her carpet. And other things.

I went to visit my long time friend today. We met in Sunday School. Could that be any cuter?

Probably yes.. But shutup.

Anyway, the point of the visit was for a few reasons. One - to catch up. It's been months and several reschedules due to, well, we have kids. And families.

No explanation needed.

Two - she's a photographer, and she's taking photos of our family. Which, by the way, I am completely and utterly stoked about. I think she's amazing - and she asked to make our family look amazing.

Can I get a hell yeah? Yes. Yes you can.

So we finally got together to chat all things photos and families and pretty little things. And just when my attention was all hers..she plopped this little baby in my lap.

And I totally drooled on her carpet. I mean, I was in I just got a sewing machine for christmas heaven. Heav. En. And I really tried to listen to her after that, but I couldn't. You know - the book and things.

I'm not plugging the book, by the way. I'm plugging my drool. Different.

So the next few days will consist of a bit of this:

Adam and the kids on the beach.

Me, dreaming of sewing machines. Because I'm cool like that. And I have heaps of friends. Heaps. And then crying a bowl of tears because I am still learning how to sew and there's awesomemess in that book that I'll destroy before perfecting.

Dreaming.

Tilly not dreaming. But looking ultra cute.

So thanks Mel. You are a doll (and sorry about your carpet). Much love xx

A stamp on my life.

As much as we all have moments in our lives that stand out, whether they be happy, sad, or angry times - there aren't many that stamp your life, leaving an imprint and changing you forever.

I had one of those moments this week.

me in the moment.

I have written about my sister, who was due with her third baby, before now. But did I ever mention that she asked me to attend her birth?

Honestly, is there any bigger honor? Not for me there isn't. I am so lucky.

I asked if she wanted me to film it, which she did. I hope she still feels that way once she's seen it. I think it would be quite confronting to view that - but empowering at the same time. To be able to watch something that powerful and to know by seeing it that I DID THAT! Amazing.

And amazing - just doesn't quite cut it. I've said it before, I'll say it again. That woman is a machine! The birth was so controlled, so peaceful, so beautiful. I would keep going but I would run out of adjectives for what it was and it still wouldn't describe it.

Breathtaking. Incredible.

Extraordinary. Amazing.

Even the midwife thanked her. She had her faith restored in births that can be called beautiful.

And look what she made! Look at her! 6lb 13oz of beautiful baby. Sophia Jane. Sophie.

Isn't she clever.

I love you Sarah. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to be a part of one of the most amazing things you have ever done, and will ever do. You, to me, are amazing.

xx

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!! I can't believe we have finally made it to 2011. Finally you ask? Well, this year - I finish my degree. The one I started six years ago.

I finish it.

This time next year, all going well of course, I'll be a fully fledged Registered Nurse. Do you know how truly bizzarre that even feels writing that? It's become such a big part of my life, uni, that I can't even imagine what life will be like without it.

And if that's one thing that's happening this year, imagine all the other exciting things that could be going on. Like my sister delivering her third baby, and turning 30. My dad turning 50. My brother getting married.

2011? Big exciting stuff! Can't wait.

Our last few days of 2010 were spent like this:

Walking with our friends to the new gelati shop around the corner. Did your read that? 

Around the corner.

I mean honestly, how dangerous is that?? Gelati bum here I come eh?

Tilly ran too fast and landed on her face. It wasn't fun for her. It was kind of cute for me to watch her snuggling in to her daddy though.

And if Daddies don't fix everything, gelati cones certainly do.

Doesn't that face just say it all?

Darcy hated the gelati shop.

And then New Year's Eve found us nestled in our back corner, sipping Orange, Apple and Ginger punch (and yes they all needed capitals) - with a splash of vodka and strawberries and ice to serve. Nice. And a perfect refreshing start to the evening.

Adam did the mozzy dance (this is an Australian thing, all Aussies know that you have to do this dance, aeroguard in hand or there will be sleepless nights with itchy, mozzy bitten feet. Not cool).

Earlier in the night we had New Year, take one. With sparklers to boot. I love that a 99 cent pack of sparklers can light up a face like this.

Darcy was happy, but about a millisecond after this he stepped on a rogue piece of sparkler and it all came crashing down. We didn't believe him for awhile, but then we did - when we saw the burn.

It's this little thing called "The boy who cried wolf". Let's just say, if the sparkler was a wolf, he would have been eaten.

Sorry kid. We still love you.

Once the kids were sleeping soundly, we got stuck into the prawns. Check out the size of these babies! More like big mumma's! And they were tasty.

This one had it's revenge on Poor Adam. Sucks to be him.

Happy New Year everyone! Here's to big, bright and happy things for you all in 2011. xxx