28/52 - a birthday bus ride

It was a big birthday weekend celebrating three years of our little man, Eli. 

We go big on birthdays around here... not so much on gifts as traditions, fun and fuss. We aim to celebrate that person and pile as much birthday love on top of them as we can. And it was fun to do that for our little man who will take any excuse for a good time!

We started with a restaurant dinner on Friday (a last minute plan due to a free meal on offer!) which was a really lovely time, then Saturday we planned to take the kids on a bus ride! They had never been on a bus before and we knew Eli would LOVE the novelty of it as he always shrieks with joy whenever he spots a bus around town. I realise this sounds a bit strange for those whom catching buses is a daily reality, but for them - it was big excitement. We caught the bus down to the lake, popped by a cafe for a babycino (oh, how times have changed when you take your three year old out for a birthday 'coffee' haha), and a stroll around the lake, exploring the shore and greeting every.dog.that.passed. Then a second bus ride home - good times!

A lovely morning out was followed by a family birthday dinner with my parents that evening.  So pretty much the best birthday a three year old could hope for, by all accounts :)

Lily

She love.love.loved the bus ride. Kept exclaiming how fun it was, over and over. Took everything in, asked 1,000 questions, didn't want to get off... and sweetly (and unprompted) said 'Thank you for the bus ride!' to the rather grumpy bus driver as we exited.

Oh - and for Eli's birthday she put together a birthday box with two drawings and a pair of scissors. He has already been using them (while monitored, lest he go on a snipping rampage) but Lily clearly decided three was the age to officially grant her brother licence to use such a 'big kid' implement. A coming of age rite, indeed!

Eli

I expected him to bounce and squeal, want to run all over or at least kneel up on the seat and peer out the window. Instead, enthralled and fascinated, he was happy to quietly sit next to his sister (on the inside row) and peer about, drinking it all in. He assured me he could see just fine, and earnestly asked about every sign and item on the bus, then watched the tree tops whizz by. 

This sweet, quiet moment was taken on the bus trip home.... oh, I love this boy.

Miles

I mean, seriously. His signature furrowed left brow just kills me.

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

More highlights from the week that was...

Friday night out to dinner at a restaurant... super exciting for the kids. Mark dressed
the kids in these adorable outfits and I was pretty impressed with the cute overload!

'How old are you now, Eli?"

The wait for the bus was truly intense. They were NOT going to miss that bus. Eagle eyes trained, no parents
permitted to block their view of the hill, Lily's armed prepared to wave it down with vigour :)

Anticipation is high.

My sweet boy. Love this shot... first moments on the bus, big eyes drinking it all in, safely by his sister's side.

So much to see and explore in this big wide world...

Just hanging around, being three, on the chin up bar by the lake.
(Those smiling half-moon eyes are his calling card).

Daddy and his Mini-Me. *melt*

Miles fascinated with this strange adventure.

Birthday dinner...

Eli's birthday dinner of choice? Home made pizza of course! As you can see, he prefers the 'clumping' method of
pizza topping application, haha.

One of his gifts... a bed side clip on light. He was enthralled to say the least. As we suspected, the lamp will only be
connected for special reading times, otherwise it would be flicking on and off every five seconds All.Night.Long. I
am not even joking or exaggerating!! He looooves buttons, this kid!
(Lily is getting a lamp for her birthday too, but think she may be old enough to have it up there full time). 

We have a little family tradition of when the kids turn three, they get a jelly 'frog pond' cake. I had this cake when I was three, and it was so delightful to make it for Lily when she turned three. Through the mildest power of suggestion from her, Eli eagerly also chose a jelly cake! Miles doesn't know it yet, but that is what he is choosing too, haha! Simple, easy, yummy jelly covered in lollies - what more could a kid want?!

Layered blue and green jelly, red frogs, chocolate bullet 'logs'
and spearmint leaves with blue 'water' sprinkles!

Taking a new perspective of being 'three'
(with his burnt out sparkler)

After happily borrowing his sisters dress ups for so long, we decided to gift our boy with his own costume.
A firefighter outfit had the double blessing of coming with lots of accessories with buttons to press! The firefighting
role play going on around here is hilarious!! (His other gift was the Jesus Storybook Bible).

Firefighter Eli ready to douse any flames and/or cameras.

P.S. Now that Google Reader has sadly abandoned us all, I had to go a'lookin for a new blog reader. I ended up choosing BlogLovin' and what to do you know, I actually prefer it to Google Reader!! I'm sure there is a lesson there ;) It's so easy to navigate, search and find new blogs and it sends you a handy summary of any new blog posts each day. Lovin' it :) 

If you are so inclined, you can follow my blogs by going here  

eli // three at last! three at last!

Upon a child's birthday, it is customary for the mother to proclaim that she simply cannot believe her child is actually that age. I know, because I often do this too! However, this time around, I admit my reaction to my sweet son turning three was more like 'He's only turning three now? It feels like he has been three for months and months!' He just seems so much older to me - I guess cos he is so tall, so chatty and so often conjoined with his big sister. I am sure becoming a big brother himself recently also aided this 'big boy' status in my mind. 

Oh, but he is still little. I must remind myself of this. I admit sometimes I feel my expectations of him have been too high, and it has been shocking to remind myself - he is only two. Two with gusto! :) And now here he is, at the princely age of three. I photographed his annual birthday series and was surprised (aided by a recent haircut) at how much older he looks - the face of a grown boy emerging from those previously so chubby cheeks! He is that tangled mix of big and little, baby and boy.

Forgive the photo overload... but I was so enchanted at the boy emerging, and even the man peeking through. Looking so much like his handsome Daddy! I was pleased to have captured pretty much every expression of this little character - from cheerful to super silly, from curious to  serious... with a few coy smiles and boisterous antics thrown in. And all those crouching ones were taken because he was leaping towards me like a frog holding a sign. Yes, he brings a little something extra to even the most mundane of tasks. This kid... he never ceases to amaze me and I have a feeling he always will. 

 Here is what he was up to a mere year ago, still a curly haired cheeky little toddler... my, how my boy has grown! (I still weep for those lost curls!). But my little E has really transformed this year. He took on his big brother role with aplomb. He is so tender and caring and absolutely besotted with his baby brother. Bringing him toys, smothering him in kisses, singing him songs and always 'interpreting' his cries and coos. Meanwhile, his devotion to his sister has not waned. They play and play and play. He wants to be wherever she is, and though he is not short of opinions, he cooperates with her play ideas so generously. He is 'Eli in the Middle' but he is his very own boy and (especially as a middle child myself!) I will always make sure he does not get lost in the mix... What am I saying? He will take care of that himself! With his boisterous, charming and cheeky personality, he will never be lost in a crowd. 

Eli. He is physical, he is constantly moving, his attention is like a constantly roaming heat-seeking missile. And he is tender, he is sweet, he is affectionate. He is so well mannered and appreciative. He often thanks me for the littlest things, like wiping the table near him, or even a half-asleep 'Fank you, Mummy' when I adjust his blankets late at night. He even thanks me for cleaning him up after he has vomited... and it sure is nice to be appreciated for that, haha! He loves snuggles, he loves wrestles, he loves singing and reading. He is generous, forgiving and always eager to share. He loves to help and flourishes in one-on-one time. 

He challenges me as parent... his sister, he ain't. I am learning to parent him for who he is and step up to that noble task, reaching for every ounce of the consistency and grace he needs. When I fail, he forgives! He forces me to to look deeper and higher for ways to teach, train, love and nurture this dynamic little soul. I want to do my best for him and help him channel all his vigour into good, good things. He is determined, but not obstinate. He is loud, but not ill-tempered. He is a boundary pusher but he is quick to admit his wrongs. He is excitable and energetic and thrilled by every small joy God put in this world.. he seeks it out with relish! He is observant, caring, thoughtful and gentle. He is busy. He is truly funny with a comedic timing that awes me and often causes me to smother smiles at inappropriate timing. He is my son. I am a mother still learning what it means to raise a boy. I am a little bit awed at this child in my care. And I am blessed with the most precious little man to learn with and learn from. He melts my heart with his sweetness, in a way no one else can. He also exhausts me like no-one else too... but I wouldn't change him for the world :)

Oh Eli... the wonderful places you'll go! 

Son, it is a privilege to see you bloom and grow. xx

A snapshot of Eli at Three

Likes

Running outside, watching Playschool, wrestles, reading. Playing with his siblings. Sharing a room with his sister. Jelly. Avocado. Home made pizza, Shopping with Daddy. Pressing buttons on and off and on and off and on and off....

Dislikes

Sitting still. Sudden loud noises (like a timer going off). Waking up from naps (always so fragile!).

An Interview with Eli 

What are you going to be when you grow up?

I'm going to have a big pat of an Elephant

What’s that going to be like?

 
When I'm 33 i'm going to be bigger

What are your favourite toys?

Mummy playing with me. My bee. 

Who are your best friends?

Lily

What makes you happy?

Baby Miles

What makes you sad?

Not having some jelly

When you dream at night, what do you dream about?
I just snore and dream

(At this point he gently informed me 'I want to go to bed now Mummy' 
so I had to continue the interview the next day!!!!)

What do you like to do with Daddy?
Go to Aldi

What do you like to do with Mummy?

 Go to Chifley park

What do you like to do with Lily?

Play mummies and daddies

What do you like to do with Miles?

Play with him

What’s your favourite colour?
Pink (what his sister likes, he likes!)

What’s your favourite book?
Touch and feel Pets

What does Daddy do during the day?
Goes to Aldi. sees the chicken man. (The guy at our local grocer who wears a chicken hat. He is a celebrity in our home!). Goes to work

What does Mummy do during the day? 
Stays home

What do you do during the day?
Just stay home and just play some toys

It's good to be three because.....

It's my birthday... is it my birthday today??

 

And of course... the ongoing collage. My, how he grows...

the family numbers game // on going from two to three kids

When we were thinking 'should we have a third child?', and all through my pregnancy with said child, I would eagerly grab hold of any mother I came across with three kids and ask (with no small note of panic in my voice, I suspect!) 'How do you do it? How do you handle it? Is it impossibly hard and chaotic!?'.

Now here we are - me with three - and I find other mothers often asking me the same - how is it, how is it different, how do I handle it... I guess also because two kiddos seems to be more common these days.

So I thought I would write a bit about my experience thus far (Um....disclaimer: I am less than six months into this 'Mum Of Three Under Five' gig, so not professing to be an expert! Just sharing how the road has been travelling up to here).

And I gotta say... this three kids thing has been.... surprisingly..... fine. Just feels like a natural transition and really, no big deal... Well, that is a pleasant surprise for sure! :)

It might go without saying but I will say it anyway (no word limit on a blog, haha) - adding new members to the family is different for every mother, every family, every baby - with a myriad of factors such as age gaps, genders, temperaments, and whether the baby's name has less than five letters and is born when the moon is in its third phase (haha).

But for us... the transition has been pretty smooth! After the rockiest and yuckiest of pregnancies, I am so grateful for that mercy! I love hearing from other mothers how they found each transition, e.g. from 0 to 1, 1 to 2, 2 to 3. As for three plus ?? You are just assumed to be a Wonder Woman, and I tip my hat to you, dear mother :)

These are some sibling shots from our Kiama holiday a couple months ago. They turned out pretty awkward but
still cute enough to share, I hope! 

For me? The transition to 'one' was just wonderful. Lily was a very happy and calm little baby and she cheerfully got toted around town like the world's most adorable handbag. Playing 'tag-team' with hubby meant plenty of time to get things done in the home, rest, go out, etc. She napped a lot, so that helped too. Generally, thanks to her temperament and a flexible routine we were into from the beginning, it was pretty smooth sailing. We loooooved being a little family, it was just so fun, and we also kept up a pretty busy life as she was just so content and happy to go along with whatever was happening. Yes, life changed but it didn't feel as dramatic a change as we had been told! Honestly, I felt I couldn't really tell many people at the time, but life with our baby girl was a delightful little dream and I kept waiting and wondering when the 'nightmare' everyone foretold would occur!

Transitioning to 'two', for us, was when things suddenly got serious! All of a sudden, we felt like a 'real family', not just a couple with a cute little buddy. There was more juggling, more man-on-man defence, less time for anything else and it was simply so much more organisation and work to go anywhere and do anything! Eli was a bit refluxy so he needed more intensive care, and he was just soooo busy from the very day he was born in such a hurry on my bedroom floor. Not to mention Lily turning two at the same time which is a whole different ballgame to a baby :) This was when we started to focus inwards more onto family life, and home really became our 'home base'. It felt good and right to really slow down after this transition, and acclimatise ourselves to a new pace of 'family life'.

I guess by the time we were blessed with our third child, we were already well adjusted to being constantly busy tending to the needs of little people - fitting in a third really just meant redistributing tasks in a slightly different way (and of course lowering the house-cleanliness standards once again, ha!). We were used to being eternally busy with kids, used to changing clothes, packing nappy/diaper bags, constant laundry, and so on. I had learnt how to divide my time and resources amongst children - so what's another one in the mix!? :) It honestly didn't really feel like it added much to the workload!

Going in for the smooch!

A face full of hair and kisses.

Now I am home with three little people. However, it seems very different from when I had a newborn and a not-quite-two year old - with the big kids being now almost five and three, they are very capable of playing or doing chores together while I feed or care for Miles. It is great to just be able to say 'Ok kids, time for outside play while I feed the baby' and off they trot! Lily can assist Eli if needed - or even assist Miles or me. She and Eli both race to grab a cloth to wipe up any baby spit up or to comfort him if he fusses - bless their hearts. Oh yeah, sometimes he fusses due to their comfort, haha.

It seems a far cry from breastfeeding newborn Eli whilst hoisting toddler Lily onto the toilet (no idea why I was doing that but I know it happened) or out of the highchair!! Plus, at their current ages, L&E are not only old enough to help, but also very much old enough to wait if they want me and I'm busy with baby. And learning to wait ain't a bad thing! Third babies also learn to wait too... and thankfully also learn to happily kick around on a blanket with their toys while I tend to the older kiddos. Yep, everyone gets their turn... including me getting a turn to collapse on the couch when all three of them nap/rest after lunch. Oh yeah, I very much need that down-time in order to make it through the day!!

I promise Miles is actually securely up on her lap even though here it looks like he is about to slide off!

The one thing I was really leery of was shuffling three kids in and out of car seats - especially with Lily starting preschool this year, necessitating school drop-offs and pick-ups 2-3 times a week. One simple school day involves 3 (kids) x 8 sessions of seat belt wrangling! Oh yes, I did sigh and whine a little about the huge physical and time effort required for a simple drop-off and pick-up but by almost two terms in, the buckling and shuffling now just seems par for the course. Mostly ;)

So, all in all, I am pleasantly surprised and very grateful that our transition to three kids has been so delightful and so smooth. Kinda just no big deal. Well, a very big deal, but you know what I mean :) Funny how so quickly you cannot imagine life any other way. What would we do with all our spare time if we didn't have our newest!? ;)

Miles is here to stay and we love, love, love him. Family life just feels so full and complete these days. We are in the thick of it, in the 'trenches' of the little years, we are busy, we are tired, we are stretched... but we are grateful. And we would not change it for the world.

This little series gave me a good chuckle. Eli was a little put out that Lily got to hold Miles for the photos... so as
you can see, managed to get his own piece of his beloved little brother!

27/52 - soup + song

Lily

It was 'Vegetable Soup Day' at Preschool. 

The kids brought in their favourite vegetable  to contribute (she chose potato) and the little horde of preschoolers excitedly peeled and chopped all the vegies to make a soup. I stayed around to assist the group of mini-chefs  in preparing their dish and it was pretty darn cute. A lovely way to encourage healthy eating too.

The end result?

A healthy and hearty winter soup that Lily declared was 'Delicious... but we didn't have to eat it all.'

Eli

In the midst of yet another silly song!

He is an entertainer, no doubt about it. 

Miles

I get lost in those beautiful big eyes. 

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

More highlights from the week that was...

Our friend Amber passed on her gorgeous little wooden table for the kids crafting. Our two were so excited they
begged to eat dinner there the first night. Then decided to set up a restaurant for the whole family which
involved dragging over more chairs and busily laying sheets and cloths over every surface as 'cushions' for sitting.
So we ate dinner there - awkwardly - and they loved it :) 

Setting the table for early morning breakfast guests. Hospitality is a family affair.

Colds and coughs means a quiet day at home, snuggled on the couch.  They both wore their dressing gowns and
insisted that I did too!

Smiling Eyes

His favourite toy. This was the only toy I think I ever actually bought myself for Lily as a baby - and it has been a favourite for each of my kids. Just so fun to grab and squish and gnaw :)

Little hands grasping tight.

Chopping more vegies for the big bowl!

E kicking back on a quiet day to read his favourite book!

Brotherly Hijinks!