Today I know:

That winter is over. Spring has arrived. Sure we may still get the occasional cold day, but the longer days, the wattle blossom, the frogs chirping, the garden coming to life, the almonds flowering, are all heralding a new season.

Never walk away and leave a rice pudding to cook in a rice cooker. Hot cream inside all the drawers as it overflowed on the way to the kitchen floor is not fun to clean up.

Sleep is precious. Very precious.

Elisabeth loves food. Despite the early intervention guys saying to wait until 6 months corrected, (our paediatrician did admit premmies can go early), Elisabeth is ready now at 5 months corrected. She lunges for our food, drools while she watches us eat, and looks longingly at my water bottle (she thinks it's a giant milk bottle). The other night Rob was eating some home made coffee ice cream, and she kept trying to swipe it! He had to hold it above his head. We are combining purée with baby led weaning, as she prefers her own spoon or hands but will happily accept rice cereal or mashed banana from me at the same time. I haven't noticed any great difference in her breastfeeding yet!

Maggie is such a dear. Elisabeth will only sleep during the day if we hold her, so Maggie waits patiently beside me. She talks in this cute breathy way, starting off quietly but getting louder as she gets going. She loves my silly ditties and smiles every time I sing her favourite one.  I have been coaching her on rolling, so she can catch up to Elisabeth. She humours me but I suspect she will do it when she is ready.

Nigella and Claudia are still hiding out in the breezeway, snuggling each other when they think no one is watching. If they didn't eat so much wallaby poop I may let them lick the babies as much as they'd like! 

Rob is looking after all of us so well. Shopping, cooking, cleaning, washing, working, gardening, nappy changing. Most importantly,  he is the best baby cuddler, a skill most needed here at the moment. Both girls are lulled to sleep in his arms, a smile twitching at their lips.

I love our little hut. It has been the perfect place for our babymoon. I return to work part time in late January, so I still have five months to make the most of. I am so lucky to call the hut home. 

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"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013"

Maggie: so peacefully asleep.

Elisabeth: love their gummy smiles with their little tongues poking out.

Joining in with Jodi at Che & Fidel.

Friday Flowers

I haven't had many flowers to post recently, but finally spring is on it's way. 

I picked a selection of white flowers for the table last Sunday.

The white garden has stock, candy tuft, honeymoon tulips, gerberas, snowflakes, anemones and poppies. Also daffodils and jonquils but they are too smelly to pick.

Our yellow bed has daffodils in large and miniature size. The blue bed is awash with anemones. There are also orange and yellow poppies and marigolds. 

Speaking of yellow the valley has turned golden with the flowering wattles. A stunning sight in late winter. 

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"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013"

Maggie: enjoying the winter sun in my lap.

Elisabeth: such clever little hands now.

Joining in with Che & Fidel.

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"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013"

Maggie: the NICU dummy has returned for both girls. Maggie falls asleep with it in and as she relaxes it slowly slips out.

Elisabeth: a rare photo of her sleeping. She seems to think she doesn't need to during the day anymore. So when she fell asleep on the floor mat I just draped a rug over her and let her sleep. 

A lovely quiet weekend here, woke up in bed after two feeds (4.30am and then 6am!!) with the girls looking at me and Rob bringing me blueberry pancakes with apple.

Joining in with Jodi at Che and Fidel.