documenting delight

In 2013, the new version of 'pen pals' seems to be stumbling upon friendships in like-minded circles online. It admittedly still sounds pretty bizarre, even in this blogging world, but that is what happened last year when I got myself involved in taking and blogging a photo every single day for a whole year (um, did I really do that?!). I could never have done it without the daily support and inspiration of others participating in the Documenting Delight Project 366 . A crazy-talented bunch of ladies who also happened to be extremely lovely! Most of them are based in Brisbane, so when we were up there on holidays I was lucky enough to meet up with a few of them. It was a little surreal to meet these adorable kids and amazing mothers I 'knew' only virtually. To meet them in real life was so fun - mmmm, kinda like meeting celebrities, heehee!! I have learnt soooo much from all these ladies, though photography-wise I still very much stand in their shadows. I did restrain myself from asking for autographs ;)

I met up with the awesome Tarnya of Get In the Good Light the first week which was such a treat! (Click for a piccie and link to her amazing blog).

In the second week we had a lovely beach meet up with Andrea of HippyHappyMama. It was like meeting a kindred spirit, with our parallel families of 5 year old girls (instant besties, heehee), 3 year old blonde boys (who we kept getting confused with each other) and they even had a precious teeny 4 week old, Daisy... well, Miles is a few months ahead. We had a relaxed afternoon frolicking on the beach (kids) and chatting (parents) which rolled into a pizza dinner back at their place. A sweet family friendship was cemented 'in real life' :) So blessed to meet this lovely little clan! Thanks, Andi! xx

I wish I could capture the sound effects of this gang of four at the beach. (Oh yeah, there is this thing called video, didn't think of that!). The tide was out and this newly formed insta-friendship was blossoming. Wide open beaches released oodles of energy and this little troop just ran. In and out of the water, back and forth on the beach, they just keep running around in a little pack, with constant squealing and drones of  'ahhhhhhhhhh' as they did so. They played and splashed and explored and it was pretty much completely adorable.

Our beach babies, Lily, Hannah, Eli and Blake.

Eli is apparently flying in most of these shots!

She was happy, happy, happy.

I was not quite quick enough to capture this - they all sat down in a perfect row to play in the shallow waters.
It was so precious but they started getting up again before I realised!

Off again!

Awwwww, the Daddies chatting and cuddling their babies! (Boys tearing past!!)

The big group meet up was at New Farm Park by the river with about nine gorgeous families from the Documenting Delight group. Five lazy hours hanging out in the shady park, 'meeting' an amazing group of women and their ridiculously cute gang of kids. Lots of chatting was done amongst the mamas :) Once again, the kids just took to each other instantly and they had a blast roaming around and making their own mischief. It was..... needless to say... delightful. 

Thank you, DD ladies, for coming to meet our crazy little crew. It was honestly a pleasure and privilege to meet you all :)

It is pretty surreal to see these three little faces in a shot together. Tree climbing with Thomas, Eli and Blake

The perfect tree for climbing - kids everywhere!

Group shot of some of the most photographed kids on the planet, haha! Mark got a phone shot of the 'mamarazzi'
all snapping away at this moment!!! (Not all the kids in this shot as families were coming and going)

Crazy Kids

Cuddles!!! (Blake and Eli are like 'Noooo!)

Lining up for a race with their ribbon wands Tarnya helped make on the day - big hit!

Love the 3 littlies on the left who are like 'ummm what are we supposed to be doing?'

We were very honoured to have Tarnya take a family snap for us :)

We managed to sneak in a new family member in this shot!! (Hi T!)

Hannah and Lily. These two clicked in a beautiful way and had so much fun
playing together. They have promised to be pen pals now... well at least till
they can email I guess ;)

Twinsies Eli and Blake 

This world is full of beautiful people and it's a blessing to meet some more of them :)

6/52 - brave new world

Lily -

Her first day of preschool. She was excited, brave and just a little nervous about venturing out to 'big girl' school!

Eli - 

That cheeky look. This sweet little boy channels a mischievous imp rather well...

Miles -

Waking up to the wonderful world around him...

Project 52: A portrait of my children every week, once a week, in 2013.

And a few more highlights from the week that was... 

I actually had two babies on the same day... the day Miles was born, we came home that afternoon to discover
my other baby - a 122 page album of my 366 photos of 2012 on the doorstep. Delivered by postman  - or stork perhaps?!

The essential 'new baby' product I now highly recommend - a 4.5 year old girl!
Best entertainment/entertainer  on the market!!

 

Someone had a bit of a self-hair-cutting incident that resulted in a
fresh new hairdo for preschool - three inches shorter!

Potluck Luncheon at church... always a delicious and delightful time!

We call this the Baby Burrito

When Lily asked how sultanas (raisins) are made and I told her they are grapes dried in the sun  or the oven, she was
eager to try it herself. After a month of leaving some green grapes outside (with eager rotation by Lily each day)
we finally got this amazing result - sultanas!!

Eli's frequent and eager cry is 'Daddy, I help you!!'. Sweet boy is so keen to be his Daddy's sidekick - even with such
tasks as fixing the computer. Daddy is very patient with his overly-enthusiastic young  helper!

our family, our year // 366 slideshow

Ever wondered what a year looks like at a glance?

Well, this is our year....

And  here, at last (for me, after all the kerfuffle in getting the video to work!!) is a slideshow video of the year that was.... 366 days of documenting delight in 2012. 

Although my photography is amateur at best (especially at the start of the year and through the months of sickness), I have to admit my heart catches in my throat when I watch it. A year captured in a way I never imagined - so many beautiful memories, milestones and even just mundane moments - but all precious because they are ours. 

Our little family, just living life and loving each other. 

(This video is loading pretty small, so you may want to go directly to the YouTube link to watch it... on the big screen if you so desire!)

Thanks everyone for sharing in our year...

Ahhhhh..... so satisfying to have this project completed.... and right on time with a new family member due to arrive any moment now!

xx

The End // Project 366

Can you believe it?

Today is my 366th post for this project... 366 days in a row of documenting delight... (not to mention the hours of uploading, editing, writing, blogging). Yowzers, I cannot believe it's here! Hmm... mixed emotions, I must admit. Relief, sadness, nostalgia (already!), excitement, pride... 

A little project I began on a whim at the start of 2012 is now complete. Somehow I have made it through the year and captured hundreds of moments, many big, many more small, that otherwise would perhaps already be forgotten... in fact I know they were forgotten because I flicked back through a little and had no recollection of so many of the little scenes I had captured. 

Much reflection, musings and analysing of this Project is possible... but the thing I feel most of all is that I will only grow more appreciative of this endeavour as time passes... the captured moments will grow richer in my heart, the satisfaction with the end result will continually increase. The children I hope will enjoy this collection to look back on, over and over, and I know it's a year we will remember and treasure in our family history because of the unique way it was recorded - so abundantly!! Who knows if I will ever take it on again but for now I am thankful to say...

It is done.

I made it.

With thanks to my lovely husband for faithfully reading and encouraging me, cheering me on, and even surprising me with a 'fancy' camera!

To everyone who has been reading along... I see the numbers ticking by but have no idea who most of you are (this would be the perfect time to speak up and leave a comment if you haven't before!) - but thanks so much for reading, for commenting, for encouraging me through the sometimes looooong weeks. The public accountability has definitely kept me on track even through ups and downs and I'm always touched that people are taking time to read my ramblings and view my photos. Like, touched and shocked, actually!

Of course - Lily and Eli - my beautiful little muses. Ultimately, this is for you guys - you two and the little one who has been quietly growing inside me, preparing to join our family throughout most of this year! Thanks kiddos, for your patience, your charm, your many funny and sweet interactions and adventures that were so fun (mostly!) to capture. I love all three of you to pieces. Hope you enjoy the end result and feel the love with which this was done.

This lil' blog is a love letter to my family - 366 days of gratitude for the blessings in my heart, my arms, my life. May I never take for granted, may I always seek out the delight and while I may not always document as thoroughly as I have in 2012... 

I will always be thankful!

My Lily - the Sister Bear // Right Now

Following on from yesterday's post about Eli, today I want to capture my little Lily as she is Right Now...

One constant source of delight in my girl is her love of craft and creating. Glancing over to see this common view never ceases to bring a smile to my face... little girl lost in her own world. Any moment of free time, this is where she is. Give this kid a roll of sticky tape and/or glue, scraps of paper and some scissors and she is in her element making all manner of sculptures. Some glitter, stickers or ribbon is an added bonus! Totally self-directed and engaged. Today as well as making a bunch of little paper people, she made me a zigzag paper bracelet and was so pleased when I wore it the rest of the afternoon 'Mummy, I love that you are wearing my bracelet I made' she kept saying with a shyly pleased smile upon her face.

Lily at 4.5 Years Old 

Likes

Crafting, drawing, painting. Dressing up, singing, dancing and swimming. Playing with friends, sleepovers, giggling. Eating ice. The colours pink, purple, silver, gold. 'Horsey wrestles' with Dad.

Dislikes

Wearing jeans and tracksuit pants. Anything mildly 'scary'. Seeing people upset or hurt. 

Who Are You?

Lily, my sweet girl. You are sweetness personified. Full of laughter and love. Everyone you meet is a friend a and you give your heart to everyone. These days you eagerly embrace everything that is 'big girl' - and I am constantly surprised at what you are capable of. Getting drinks, folding and putting away washing and assisting Eli in all manner of tasks. You are soooo excited about the new baby coming soon and I think you feel you will be taking on pretty much all of his care! I have been so moved by your compassion and awareness during my sickness, always checking on me and telling me to rest. You are so tender-hearted in the way you see and care for others around you - remembering details about everyone you come across, and what is happening in their lives. Cheeky, funny, emotional, quirky. You love to make jokes (haven't quite worked out the knock-knock logic but you do try!), love to make up rhymes, love to get wild and silly and crazy. 

You are fiercely loyal and protective. We hear all about the protective Mama-Bear - yet lesser known but just as fierce is the little Sister-Bear. If any harm or sadness should befall any member of your family, your reaction is extreme. You hover over your little brother and make us parents feel almost negligent from the amount of times you caution us to check on him, keep him safe from the edge of a lake (which is 50 metres away), etc. If he is hurt, you are hurt. If he is at the smallest risk of injury, you stand self-appointed guard. If you ever see me cry or hurt, you freak out. Seriously freak out. One rare time I was crying in front of you, you were like a wild-cat - shrieking, clawing, hysterical till you could get to me. We had never seen you like that before... you love and care so fiercely, little girl. Is this all an eldest child thing? Just who you are? I don't know but I just know how passionately you care for those around you in the most raw and vulnerable way... surely the source of joy and pain in coming years... but so very, very brave.

Lily, my sweet hearted girl - you truly inspire me with your compassion, love and open-hearted joy. I marvel at the way friends gather around you, attracted to your kind, friendly and inclusive nature. I am so touched by the way you care and think of others, and the way you eagerly desire to help (I mean, you are a kid, so I'm not saying you always want to do chores all day long or anything!). But kiddo, I think you are wonderful.  I am so proud to have you as my daughter... proud and richly blessed!

Daddy and Baby - the  rest of the family were added later!

My Eli // Right Now

Closely tracking a beetle's journey... with just a little interference!

My Project 366 is almost at a close. In fact, I have just three days left. Yes, this makes me feel strangely emotional...  but I am partially blaming my almost-38-weeks-pregnant hormones... I mean, I should be feeling relieved and not sad, right!? 

Anyway, before I chase down that rabbit  hole - I guess I just feel an urge to sentimentally wrap a few things up and one way to do that is to nab an idea from We Stood Together and do a couple of 'Right Now' posts, capturing the kiddo's current age and stage, at the end of this year-long photographic journey. 

So... here is Eli at 2.5 years old...

Likes

Playing with his sister, reading books, wrestles with Daddy, cuddles, building with blocks, being cheeky/making jokes, riding his scooter, his blue star blanket, his Bumblebee wheatbag, having visitors come over.

Dislikes

Sitting still, very mushy foods. 

Um, I'm sure there are more but just can't think of any... will add more later!

 Who are you?

I often marvel at you, little man. You are so wild and yet so tender. Such a crazy, kooky, excitable and loud boy and yet you show so many gentle characteristics too. You make a Mama's heart melt with your doting ways. You have the most adorable manners, saying a charming 'Fankchoo, Mummy!' for things I would never even think to expect a thanks for - like wiping your face after a meal (you little messpot!) or after I strap you into or out of your car seat. I love to hear your genuine thanks popping up even in these mundane tasks. I come out of my room wearing a dress and your eyes light up as you shriek 'Mummy, love your beyoooful dress!!'. You will win some lucky girl's heart one (faraway) day with that kinda talk, young man! Yesterday over dinner you even kindly pronounced out of nowhere 'Mummy, you got beyooful brown hair.' *melt*
You watch over me so tenderly, my dearest boy. After witnessing so many months of this pregnancy sickness, sadly you are accustomed to me not being at full capacity (perhaps it is all you recall? Ohhhh, that makes me sad). The slightest sigh or weary movement from me as I lug myself around and you pipe up 'You ok, Mummy? You sick? You frow up? You tired?' If I say yes to any of the above, I get a pat on the leg 'You rest, Mummy. Have good sweep (sleep)'. Truly. Who is this considerate kid?! 

One gesture I'm not sure I will be able to capture on camera but want to record is that when we sit together on the couch or snuggle into bed and I put my arm around those precious little shoulders of yours, you have started pulling away. 'Sit up, Mama' you order and the first time I eventually did lean forward with much confusion. You then put your teeny little matchstick arm against the pillow and pulled me back down. Yes, you wanted to put your arm around me. And so I am forced to gingerly lie against your little arm, trying not to snap it's twiggy little bone as you proudly clutch my shoulder - a boy caring for his mama as surely you have seen your Daddy do. Ok, (blaming hormones) the tears come to my eyes now... yes, you know how to melt my heart into puddles!

Eli, my man of wild emotions. You can go from 'bery, bery, sad' to a cheeky cackle in seconds. You cry big, you laugh big, you love big. You get so excited you have to throw your body around the room in a wild expression of the joy in your soul.... one minute a tough little man wrestling Daddy, the next minute happily dancing around the room with your sister whilst wearing one of her many fairy skirt!

You have a little bit of everything in you and with all that passion and charisma, will surely lead a wildly wonderful life. God bless you, son.

xx

It's the final countdown! // Musings on Blogging and Project 366

Less than a month to go!! Yes, somehow, miraculously throughout this roller coaster year, I have blogged a photo (or more!) every.single.day. I don't even know how I have done it!! I have 20 days to go (I think), as I didn't begin till January 12th, whereas many other lovely Project 366 participants have only till December 31st. An amazing milestone for all of us. It has been a really rewarding, challenging and inspiring project, I must say!

Surprisingly, I haven't found it too hard to post a picture a day... in fact I often found myself torn on what moment to share. It has become a ritual, I guess... to sit down at the end of the day after kids are in bed, downloading photos, editing, writing a few (or many!) words... even on my most exhausted days, it has been a quiet way to reflect on the day that has passed, to see a delight captured that perhaps otherwise would have gone unnoticed. In this way, this project has made me so much more aware of my blessings, so much more open-eyed to the quirky little charms of my children (even on their most 'making Mummy crazy' days!), and thankful to be able to notice, capture, and then reflect on the rich treasures found every day in the heart of my little family. 

It now seems almost impossible to not document the delight before me!

A little morning visit to Amber's house, and Eli cruises around on Finn's scooter.
Little does he know he is getting one for Christmas! Shhh.......

Although I started the year almost afraid to put my camera down (why take one photo when I could take 47?!), scared to miss a moment and always trying to capture a 'better' moment or version of events, I quickly learnt that I did not want to live that way every day. I am grateful to be my family's memory maker and documenter, but I do not only want to be an observer - I want to fully participate in our little adventures in life! I do not want the kids to only remember me documenting their lives, always hidden behind the viewfinder. So before too long, I would try to discipline myself - to capture the essence of a moment (even if it was not perfectly, the idea or event is still recorded) then put the camera down and re-enter the moment more fully. I would force myself to leave the camera at home for certain outings, to check off the photo for the day then put the camera aside. It was admittedly hard to turn off my 'oooh, this would make a great photo' mindset at times!! But I really wanted to be deliberate about not only witnessing my world through a camera lense but also to be interactive, present, fully conscious and involved. It is soooo tempting, I discovered, to otherwise pretty much view every moment as a photographic opportunity instead of, you know, real life! As much as I am now passionate about recording moments both big and small, I still believe there is a lot to be said for memories that live only in our hearts...

Scooter Negotiations.Oh, this makes me laugh!! Finn patiently instructing Eli on how to do a loop
around the house (he is a whizz on the scooter!) and rather perplexed when
Eli instead happily just crawls along on the grass and pavement!

This year has been loooong in many ways, and often a blur due to my pregnancy sickness. I am not quite sure how through that haze I still managed to post a photo a day.... although I know many of them were pretty uncreative to say the least! I guess when countless days ticked by with nothing to do but lie in bed feeling miserable, this project encouraged (forced?!) me to look for small moments of joy, and a small sense of accomplishment to at least be able to snap something and upload it whilst lying in bed. Although I can hardly remember those months, I am glad they are not all lost!

As for where to from here... well, with a new little family member soon to arrive - and no telling how three kids under five is going to go - I am not exactly sure! Although I would like to do Project 365 again one day, it won't be next year - I will need to free up some time for this new arrival! ;) And it will be nice to be free to take photos when I feel inspired rather than every day, no matter what. I have to say I have enjoyed having the blog and being able to write ramble about various thoughts... so I think I will try to keep going, perhaps less constrained by posting photos and able  to write more about things on my mind. I am currently thinking I will make a goal to post photos/writings twice a week - but I don't want to be too strict on myself in 2013! Who knows without my Documenting Delight cheer squad if anyone will keep reading (hellooooo... anyone out there?!) but it is mildly therapeutic to have this little online diary, I must say!

For those who have followed along this year (seriously, who ARE you wonderful people?!) I am so grateful! It has been a learning process, sometimes inspiring and often nerve-wracking, but all in all - a surprisingly rich blessing to my life. I am so thankful for this record to look back and reflect on - both for myself and for the kids - and I do plan to make a mega-photo book of this year for concrete evidence of my madness :)

Anyway, I really better calm down, after all, I still have twenty days to go!! Hope I can cross that finish line...

There is great gain...

We recently had a month off over the Christmas season - travelling up to Queensland and Sydney and all around for a month - yes, that including logging many hours on the road with our two cherubs! I thought it could have been a stressful time but instead it was FANTASTIC! I won't rehash the entire trip but suffice to say Mark and I both found it (largely) very relaxing and fun! Now Mark is back at work and I am amazed at how refreshed I feel! Staying home with two kids sure takes a lot out of you (although it also puts a lot more back in!)... but by the end of last year I was wrecked. Really wrecked.... 2011 was just a massive year involving selling a house, buying a house, renovating, major work projects and uni for Mark, etc etc. I think we were all worn out, but coming into this new year, I truly feel rejuvenated and ready to launch into 2012 - although I am going to try and keep the pace a little slower this year! (hahahahahaah, says my internal self, knowing this will never happen!)

Anyhoo.... this week at home has been quiet. Calm. Peaceful. I have felt so relaxed and purposeful just spending time with my kids. Happy to just be home with them. Not meaning I used to wish I was working (as I just know I am in the right place for this season of our lives), but meaning I am often keeping us all so busy out of the house most days, doing doing doing! But this week I have felt content just pottering at home. Playing games and hanging out, cleaning of course but not toooo much! We have visited a lady from church with a chronic illness, we have popped by the local library, oh yes and I did host mother's group on Monday but apart from that... just chilling at home. I have felt really content.... relaxed... did I mention calm?! A simple sense that all is well in our little world - and  feeling so grateful for that. Reflecting on that, I think a month away has done our family a world of good! Not only that but I have been praying lately for God to give me a greater sense of peace and contentment in my home life - rather than that low-level buzz of anxiety that I should always be doing/cleaning/crafting/cooking/achieving/busy. It felt right this week to just push that aside and I hope I can continue to, in order to be more in the moment and enjoy it more with my kids.

And so today I took the kids for a stroll around the block - nothing special, just a mission to look for things that were 'Amazing'.... and well, look what we found along a path behind a house...

A field of dandelions!! Along with plenty of 'dandelion clocks' to blow (Eli thought they were bubbles!). It was a really sweet time running around and discovering things and the kids loved it.... and you know what, so did I!

Oh  yes - in the spirit of jumping in where I am (thanks Flylady!), I am not going to try and dredge up past photos to fill in the past days but instead just go from here...  Loving the idea of this being something the kids can look back on one day!

'Godliness with contentment is great gain' 1 Timothy 6.6