Wednesday 31 July 2013

Day 56.

Willow is so chill, I've just been bringing her in to work lately and pottering around while she sleeps.


Tuesday 30 July 2013

Day 55.


Day 54.









































Me & growing puku, 6 months pregnant.
I basically fell so hard in love with being pregnant.
It's like the night before your birthday, but nine months long & so, so much better.
I remember for the first week after Willow was born I kept expecting to feel little kicks in my belly. Even though I was holding my incredible little Plum in my arms, It felt so strange to no longer be pregnant, I missed it.
All I ever really heard about pregnancy, a lot like motherhood, was all the negative aspects.
I guess it had it's moments of discomfort.
But in the whole, pregnancy made me feel like I was a part of something so much bigger than myself.



Monday 29 July 2013

Day 53.

60 days in this world.



Sunday 28 July 2013

Day 52.

Another beautiful Sunday. We picked up some great stuff at the markets, including some dresses for Willow in a year or two. We made leek, potato & chickpea soup for lunch and spent the afternoon pottering around the house & catching up with friends and family. I love Sundays.














Saturday 27 July 2013

Day 51.

Plum likes...
sleeping on mama and papa
'crawling' adventures on the bed
being nudie
showers
milk
funny faces


Friday 26 July 2013

Day 50.

Half way, and a two month old Willow.


Day 49.

Possibly the worst day ever.
Out of the blue, Willow decided not to sleep today.
If you don't have a kid, you're thinking, yeah, whatever, no biggie.
If you do have a kid, you probably just shed a tear in sympathy. Thank-you.
Babies are supposed to sleep 18 hours a day. I was only able to get Willow to sleep for 20 minutes at a time, every hour or two. The less sleep she got, the more fucked off she got, and understandably so. 
For anyone out there that thought babies just sleep when they are tired, let this be a lesson to you.
I was beside myself, I googled EVERYTHING. Yes, I was that guy. Extremely ashamed to admit it. 
Alas, no answers were found on google. 
Finally, at about 6pm she properly fell asleep. 
Nothing can wash off a bad day like beautiful friends Molly & George bringing around home made soup and raw chocolate. Love love love you guys xx


Thursday 25 July 2013

Day 48.

Sorry for getting behind, the days have been full.
Freya took these photos of us at little Joni's first birthday today x




Wednesday 24 July 2013

Day 47.

We were so unsure about putting this video up, because it makes us look pretty bad, but I swear she loves it !



Monday 22 July 2013

Day 46.


Somewhere along the way, you grew.
It wasn't noticeable at first. A tiny bit, everyday, while we slept at night, I almost didn't see it happening. Almost.
You're gaining strength to match your spirit. Your plump little body wriggles around in my arms, so eager to see everything around you. It's only when you are soft asleep wrapped up in bed with me that I am reminded of the new sleepy little bundle you were such a short time ago. 
I remember that first moment I saw you, you were placed on my chest while we were still in the operating theatre.
I could hardly move my arms, so i just kept kissing your fingers.
My brain was was running miles trying to catch up with what had happened, that I was no longer pregnant, that you were the same person that had been kicking inside of me, that this was the face of my child. Trying to take in every detail of that face, familiarise myself with it. 

I love you more than I have ever loved anything.

Saturday 20 July 2013

Day 45.

Market haul.
The white seal is for my mum, I'm also particularly fond of the mermaid bottle opener. 
The jacket was a dollar !

All the old school market men were congratulating me on taking such a young baby to the markets, because it's important to "teach 'em young".









Day 44.


Last night we got 8 hours sleep in a row ! Followed by another 3 ! I remember in the first few weeks thinking, man, all I want in the entire world is 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I figured that was literally impossible for at least a year. Turns out I only had to wait 7 weeks ! 

One of my closest friends moved to Melbourne 6 months ago, and between our busy schedules and shaky internet connections (glamorous), we hardly ever get to talk. She came for a surprise visit home this weekend for her dad's birthday, and met Willow for the first time.
It was really, really cute. Willow loved her and kept giving her little cheeky smiles. 

Samara has just got such a beautiful spirit. Every time I see her she has grown even more into somebody that I want in my life. She just uplifts me and makes me feel so much more positively about everything in my life. It's so valuable to have friendships like that. 


Friday 19 July 2013

Thursday 18 July 2013

Day 42.

So blessed to be in beautiful Omokoroa with this beautiful man.
Spent the day pouring over old family albums with my mum.
Happy birthday, mum.






Wednesday 17 July 2013

Tuesday 16 July 2013

Day 40.

The feeling of your soft, squishy little face nuzzling into my neck. Baby cuddles are the greatest feeling of all time.
Such a little champ, sleeping for 7 hours in a row at night,  making my part of the deal too easy.






Monday 15 July 2013

Day 39.

Thank-you for everything you have given me.
You shaped me into who I am. You taught me how to sew, to knit. To use my hands.
So much of me is you.

My Granddad slept alone last night for the first time in 65 years.
Rest in peace, Laurel.



Sunday 14 July 2013

Day 38.

Willow waking from a deep slumber..

Saturday 13 July 2013

Day 37.

Growing, growing.

Friday 12 July 2013

Day 36.

This morning we hung out with Hannah and her little one Joni. 

Also, six weeks old today. Keep on with yo swag self, Plummy.









Day 35.

Naomi.


Day 34.

For the last three weeks, I have been lucky enough to get a massage every week (once, again, thank-you mum !). Seriously, it should be the law for pregnant women/new mothers to get massages. During this time, the body is just constantly giving itself. 
If you know a pregnant women, you should book her in for a massage. 

Oh, and some Plum.



Day 33.

The last three days have been harder.
Willow's tongue tie makes it difficult for her to feed properly, so she's sleeping for shorter periods, waking up hungry, getting overtired and fussy. Vicious cycle.
As soon as I see her face in the morning, I forget the pain of losing sleep. But we are all still very fucking tired. I use the word fucking, because I mean it.

So thank-you to mum.
For coming around this morning and going for a walk with us.
For buying me a fresh juice.
For taking her off of my hands for three hours so I could have a nap.
But mostly for losing sleep for me 20 years ago, I appreciate it now.


From our walk this morning.


Day 32.

Plum was born with a tongue tie, an incredibly minor condition where the membrane that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth is abnormally short. This makes the tongue limited in movement, resulting in poor feeding, which in turn means poor sleeping.
We took little one to the doctor today, to get it released.
I can safely say that it is one of the worst feelings , the betrayal of handing your child over to experience pain. Chris and I just looked at each other as she cried and fought back ('atta girl), trying to sooth her with our voices.
Afterwards she looked like a little kitten who'd been left out in the rain.

Sorry :c


Wednesday 10 July 2013

Day 31.

Another not so great market haul;
A poppy embroidery and a turquoise bangle.



We had lunch with Chris's family for his dad's 60th.
First grandchild and 60 in the same year, no biggie. 




Day 30.

Family picnic.




Day 29.

5 weeks of you in my life.
I get to know you more and more every day. Your body is gaining strength, you wriggle in my arms and smile when I kiss your nose.



Day 28.

Throwback Thursday.
The first time Willow ever saw sunlight.

Day 27.

Today was our last meeting with our midwife, Lynden :c
I know that every pregnant woman or new mother says this, along with "I think I should start a kids clothing line", but midwifery is the greatest profession of all time, and I have seriously considered becoming one.

Oh yeah, Plummy got some nature baby treats. Still no pink, but hearts are pretty girly.
I'm finding it really difficult to dress my child like a girl.


Day 26.

“Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.” ― poem by Mary Jean Irion

A day in photos.

The wee hours.


Saying goodbye

Getting ready for a bath

Pretty petals on our walk




Determined tum time

Not so determined.


Lunch.

Therapy.