Cot Share

After we hosted a big family afternoon tea, Eli was begging Nana to stay at our house and even offered to share his bed with her - grand gestures of hospitality!

However, when I heard hysterical laughter coming from his bedroom I still did not quite expect to see this...

(Is there anything grandparents won't do for their grandkids?!)

Just love it!

Catching Raindrops

Back home with my darling kiddos and back into the life we so gratefully call 'Ours'.

The rain started pattering down and the kids giddily and spontaneously started scampering around outside, attempting to catch rain drops on their pink little tongues. Squeals and giggles were heard aplenty!

Yes, these are the magical moments of childhood we are privileged to witness (and even participate in!), that I would not give up for all the world...

Blurry photo of unbridled joy!

Like Dis??!

Catching a few raindrops... for later?!

Hmmmm, I think it's getting a bit damp out there now!

Little Tongue

Ooh, rain drops!

A little while later it was the children's bath time and two little nudie rudie's were reportedly seen doing a crazy rain dance outside.... 

a nice place to visit...

Our last day - Mark woke early and sweetly surprised me with a BBQ Bacon and Egg Breakfast out on the deck....
Oh, I will miss this peaceful view! 

Last stroll on the beautiful beaches by our house...

Just to show I am slowly learning a few things on this fancy camera...
Look and compare this with image above - I managed to change the focus??!!

Me. Happy.

Mark in his element, soaking up some last minute rays on the beach before we drove home.
Happened to capture the shadow of a passing seagull (thankfully no deposits were made, lol!)

After a lovely squeeze-every-ounce-out-of-this-magical-holiday type morning, we made our way eagerly home to our sweet children. I felt ready. Filled up, satiated, rested, reconnected and so very, very grateful for this time away and for the beautiful village of family and friends that made it possible! As for the pre-children life that we revisited after four and half years of busy parenting? Well, I gotta say it's a lovely place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there! Sleep-ins, lazing around and life without routine or other's needs to tend to is a pretty sweet thing but ain't got nothing on the joys and heart-filling satisfaction of family life, even with all its chaos and relentlessness. Glad to say I can safely conclude that I would not trade my little people for all the sleep-ins in the world!

There was extra purposefulness in this trip apart from the time of rest and reconnection. We are eagerly and intentionally about to plunge right back into the swirling, delicious, relentless waters of babyhood again. Oh, it's a swim we feel blessed and excited to take. Well, it's less a quick dip than a marathon, amiright?! We cannot wait to be a family of five, we feel so grateful to be able to add to our family... but I also gotta say, that it sure was nice, before we take that beautiful plunge, for Mark and I to take each other's hands, and remember why we decided to build this family in the first place. Why we chose each other and will continue to every.single.day. Yes, this little getaway felt like a deep, cleansing and slightly indulgent breath we could take together before we submerge into those lovely/hazy/busy baby days and the unknown waters of life with three-under-five. I know it will be one hell of a swim, but bring it on, I say... we have been refreshed and we are as ready as we will ever be!


PS Ok, now I have stretched that swimming analogy as far as it can go... I will just add a postscript for those wondering about how the children fared at Nana and Papa's in our absence! Well, visions I had of greeting my sweet angels in a tender scene with long, lingering, tightly-clenched hugs and whispered sweet-nothings went right out the window! Oh yes, they had an absolute ball with their grandparents and barely had time to even hug us when we arrived... too busy chattering about all the things they did, got and ate, and scampering around the house. I think if we had walked right out for another week they barely would have blinked!! Lol!!  But in all seriousness, nothing made me happier than seeing they were so content and at home while we were away, and in such very capable loving hands. Three cheers for grandparents - so grateful they made it possible!

A Quiet and Cosy Day

The second full day of our getaway dawned grey and rainy and of course commenced with a sleep-in again! Mmmm, I could get used to this?! Mark popped out to get some pastries and we ate them whilst sitting around on the rug, chatting in front of the cosy gas fireplace.  It was really too warm to have it on but it was so romantic and atmospheric, I insisted! Rainy day, croissants, cappuccino, stormy ocean views, books and nothing but glorious time to lay around, talk, read, whatever! Oh yeah, this was what this holiday was all about.

I noticed that for the first day or so, Mark and I hardly talked. Both so worn out and exhausted, rather than chatting a mile a minute as I had sort of expected, instead we were content to comfortably enjoy the quiet together... embracing a rare opportunity for sweet silence for parents of two very chatty little people! We comfortably read side by side, or just sat and ate together, occasionally exchanging happy, quiet, content glances and commenting on how blissful this all was. Just too worn out, the need to rest and recover whilst in relaxed, happy company took precedent. Plus, it's a beautiful thing indeed to hang out with someone who you don't feel the need to fill the silence with!

But today I noticed as we sat by the fireplace, we had recovered enough for the talk to naturally unleash - the casual chit chat that is so hard to find time for as busy parents, the long term planning, the discussion about family goals and directions and baby names (still trying to decide!!) and love languages and the kid's personalities and challenges and marriage and just our life and where we are at, and going, and been, and all that good stuff! Oh, how amazing it was to just have so much time to laze around chit-chatting together.... the ultimate indulgence, I think. So lovely too to have so much time that we didn't need to 'force' the talking while we were still in the exhausted recovery stage but let it unfold naturally when we were ready....

Right in the midst of such relaxed, sweet conversation with my beloved, sprawled in front of the fireplace, sipping cappuccino and nibbling croissants (ok, ok, and cinnamon donuts too!), Mark felt an itch on his leg which I instantly recognised - it was a TICK burrowing into his knee. EEEKK!!! Thankfully (though we frustratingly had no phone reception) we did have some internet access so I quickly googled to ensure the tick removal strategy I vaguely remembered was still recommended - yes it was - just carefully pull it straight on out with tweezers which I thankfully had brought with me. The nasty little creature did NOT want to let go but finally it popped off, followed by a soapy wash and antiseptic on Mark's leg - glad we managed to avoid a hospital trip. Ugh, awful little creature - way to kill the moment!!! Just thankful it wasn't worse and Mark noticed it early!

The perfect rainy view whilst laying on the couch reading the morning away!

Mark chilling and reading...

As the weather cleared in the afternoon - still overcast but warm and grey, we took a little stroll on the beach  nearby. Although I would have loved to have spent more of our little getaway doing long coastal walks and even boating or kayaking, I'm still fairly sick and limited physically, so we had to keep things pretty low-key. Thankfully the beaches were small so we could walk the 'whole thing' but only need to go about 400 metres!

Yes, we are sappy romantic fools, there is no denying it!

Exploring the rock pools at the end of the beach, Mark's boyhood dreams came true when we discovered this
Octopus loping around inside a small pool!!  Amazing creature, so fascinating to watch.

Tentacles stretched out (sorry, it's hard to see!)

My cutie!

Guess it was about time we saw some evidence of this baby, huh?! 30 weeks... 

Hello, little one - we can't wait to meet you!

Just two crazy kids on a little adventure!

Having a Whale of a Time!

Our first full day... of course commenced with a sleep in. Oh so leisurely to wake up and not have any small people to tend to! After lazing around and reading for a while, we decided to drive into town for pancakes.... mmmm, brunch is my favourite meal to dine out for.

Um, when I ordered the buttermilk and ricotta pancakes with caramelised
banana, I expected a few bits of - you know - caramelised banana!
Instead I was surprised to get a jug of caramel sauce with some banana
floating in it.... whoa.... sugar overload!! I did my best though, heehee!

Afterwards we cruised the shopping centre for a while and spontaneously decided to get our wedding rings cleaned - I try to do this each year on our anniversary but pretty sure I forgot last year. The jeweller remarked 'You two look very happy today'! Um yeah, we are on our first child-free holiday... I guess we had that newlyweds glow! We picked up a few bits and pieces - shopping without kids is so relaxed! I even got a pedicure so all in all it was a pretty leisurely and indulgent day... just felt so novel to be able to roam around with no schedule or time-frame to worry about.

Ooh yeah, holiday indulgence is trying out yummy ice-cream!

We had a restful afternoon, I had a bubble-bath then was lying in bed reading my book, when I glanced out the window to see a WHALE! Yes, really!! We raced down to the cliff edge for a closer look and also saw a dolphin gliding about in the cove. The whale had moved around the headland, so while Mark was cooking a steak on the BBQ on the other side of the house, he spotted it again and we watched it spurt water from the blow-hole and flip around. Incredible!!

I wasn't quick enough to get a shot of the whale but this is where it was.... rooly trooly! :)

Dinner with a stunning view of ocean and of course my love!

Totally sold on gas-fire places... so cosy and warm and inviting - without any mess, smoke or hassle!

Such a beautiful, luxuriously long day. Just felt so surreal to be this couple that we used to be, footloose and fancy-free, chilling out, doing whatever we felt like! I love hanging out with my best friend and was thankful to discover he is still my favourite person to be around!! ;) As we told the kids, the best thing we can do for them as parents is to keep our marriage strong. This little escape was such a blessed time of refreshment and re-connection... good for us, good for the family. 

Just You and Me on a Little Getaway!

What kind of husband requests nothing more for his 30th birthday than a getaway with his beloved wife?

Thankfully, my kind!! Back in April, when Mark turned 30, that was his birthday present request - a trip away for just the two of us and none of our precious children! Isn't it great when a gift for your spouse turns out to be one in which you get to benefit too?! Heehee! My lovely Mum super kindly and generously offered to look after the kids as her gift - yes, quite a significant one - which made the wild idea even feasible.

Then... I got pregnant and very sick, Mark's work got crazy busy and so on, so it didn't seem we were going to be able to find time for a trip away before our little one is born in January. Boo!! But then I got quite a bit better, Mark changed work areas and suddenly - miraculously - everything aligned for us to take three whole nights away. As these things often do, it ended up working out beautifully, as this little trip became not only a 30th celebration for Mark, but also a end-of-uni celebration, an almost-anniversary celebration AND a last hurrah trip or babymoon before our 3rd little cherub arrives.

Gotta say, after a challenging year, it felt so amazing to get this little escape after over four and a half busy and amazing years of parenting... before we launch right back into babyland and all the exhausting joys that entails! Yes, we were excited to soak it up. Usually each year we have one night away for our anniversary (just at a hotel in town) but it was our first time away from the kids for more than 24 hours together... eeek!!!

We were unsure where to go and of course considering the the usual budget restraints when I remembered a lovely and generous friend had offered the use of her coast house whenever we wanted... never imagining we would really get the chance to take her up on it! But it turned out to be the perfect time and place. Getting away of course took quite a bit of work to 'get off the ground', what with Mark having the flu, final uni exams and starting a new job all in the week before we left. Meanwhile, I was battling a resurgence of pregnancy sickness and trying to organise the kid's time while I was away. I spent the weekend packing for everyone, writing out routines and cooking up a storm - packing all the kid's food for while I was away plus dinners for them and my parents each night. I figured my parents would be worn out enough from kid-wrangling, the least I could do was make dinner for them all so they didn't have to worry about cooking too!

Ready for the big adventure... child-free holidaying!

Suffice to say, after such a week, Mark and I were counting the seconds till our getaway. However when the moment came to leave them at my parent's house, I found it really hard to go. I was fighting back tears as I didn't want to upset the kids. Oh yeah, the poor kids who could barely find time for a kiss and cuddle for Mama as they excitedly wheeled around their mini-suitcases, and tried to tell Nana all their news in one breath!!  Um yeah... they were not phased at all by us leaving and cheerfully waved us goodbye while Mark waited patiently because I kept making up excuses to go back for one more kiss and cuddle. Finally, I got myself in the car and promptly burst into tears!!

The kids manage to find some time to wave us goodbye... 

They were too excited about their own special holiday at Nana and Papa's to
even care we were going away on ours! But oh, I cried to leave them!
It felt so good though to leave them so happy and in such capable hands. 

We made the drive through the windy mountain ranges to get to the coast. I was already (still) feeling pretty nauseous so of course vomited the whole way through, gasping to Mark to 'just keep driving' as I did so with my trusty bucket, as I just wanted to get through the horrendous windy roads and just get there, rather than dragging it out by stopping every time. It was pretty rough but oh.so.worth.it once we finally arrived.


Wow.

I'd heard the place was nice but it was more like stunning - breathtaking - incredible! Ocean views from every room of the house as it sat out on a headland. The rocky coastline was so intoxicating, the house so peaceful and beautiful...what a slice of paradise and how spoilt we felt getting to stay there!! We arrived, marvelled at the views, laid down our bags, ducked out for a little bit of lunch by the beach and then promptly crawled into bed for a nap! The exhaustion of the past year just hit us both and we were out.

Mark packing away the supplies in the kitchen!

Not usually into nature shots but I just could not get over the stunning views! Such a beautiful coastline...

Footloose and fancy free, enjoying some greasy takeaway on the beautiful beach!

 

That evening we ordered in some Thai and just chilled out. Just the two of us...with no kid's routine to keep to (eat when you get hungry - how novel!) or kids to feed or put to bed -  it felt so weird, yet, oh so very wonderful!

We couldn't stop exchanging incredulous joyful glances and giddily commenting -

'I'm so happy!'

'This is amazing!'

'I'm so relaxed!!'

Yeah.... we sure were ready to enjoy this little break and soak up every precious moment of it!

baby girl loves to twirl...

The only thing she loves more than dresses is twirling around in them!

I quickly captured these shots as Lily was twirling around in her dress after church. I knew they were not 'the best' shots - much of me wanted to keep going and try to get some 'good' or at least 'better' magical twirling shots of my little Dancing Queen - however it was a day when near enough just had to be good enough... so I snapped a couple quickly and made myself put the camera down. After all, the aim of the game is to document the delight of my sweet child and that I have done, even if not 'perfectly' (arggghh, perfection!).

Why?

Because I am learning to accept ever so slowly that there is not time enough for 'all the things' that could be done, that would be nice to be done. For everything there is a season. It's been an  intense week around here, as Mark has been finishing his final (ever!!) exams for his post-grad studies, while he has also had the flu and started this week in a new section at work. Poor guy!

Meanwhile, I have not been feeling too well the last week or so and throwing up a fair bit. I mean, I am still generally not 100% in this pregnancy but the last week or so has been hitting me a bit harder. I am coming to accept that I am going to remain 'a little unwell' for probably the entire remainder of this pregnancy... not bouncing back as I have in previous pregnancies once I got through the roughest patch. To still be a bit sick is totally ok - especially as I can now mostly function (as opposed to being bed-ridden and totally dysfunctional as I was previously!) - so I am not complaining at all as I am so much better than I was!! But I guess I tried to eagerly jump back into life and my body is quickly telling me through nausea, vomiting and exhaustion that I am doing a little too much. Oops.

So, I can do somethings, but just not everything, all the time... but that sure is better than nothing, right!?

Anyway, I think I am just rambling but these are just my collected thoughts on trying to learn the lesson of pacing myself. It is a life-long lesson for me.... my parents used to frequently chastise me for 'burning the candle at both ends' as a teenager! But especially during this pregnancy, I guess I still need to learn to slow down. I really struggle with saying 'no' to others and also to myself (so many bright ideas of things to do, people to see!!). I am my own worst enemy in this regard... but the gift of this child within me is so worth my limited capabilities. So, friends, I will try to slow down and accept this season and my abilities for what they are. I am a slow-learner but I am grateful for grace!