I love that...

I've just celebrated 3 years as a mum this week. Three whole years since I laboured away and welcomed sweet baby Frankie into the world on a fresh Sunday morning in October. I can't believe how much life has changed in the last three years. Sometimes I remenisse back to life before kids. 

I'm sure I'm not the only one. Right? 

Now, while I certainly wouldn't mind a full night of uninterrupted sleep anytime soon or to perhaps do the grocery shopping in the calm serenity of my own thoughts and not while having to negotiate with Frankie like a pro about why she can't have a Barbie from the toy aisle -and use all manner of food bribes to just make it to the checkout. 

Yeah there are things i wouldn't mind a break from. 

But actually, I love my crazy life. I love it when my little Coco cuddles in -  even when it usually involves snot streaks in my clean hair or on my fresh outfit. 

I love that I now confidently just rub little pukes in and don't worry about changing outfits hastily like I did when I was a novice. 

I love that we sit down and eat dinner as early as 5pm and don't think anything of it. Every meal involves carrot in some form as I know it will get eaten! 

I love that we put the kids down at night and then sit in the lounge and whisper our conversations and debrief about our days -hoping not to wake the sleeping darlings from their slumber. 

I love that whenever we have date nights we inevitably end up looking at photos of our girls and talking about how gorgeous they are and how in love with them we are - because it's true and we are! 

I love that we pretty much constantly have the Frozen soundtrack stuck in our heads and that Dan knows the words more than I do! (He's such an amazing dadda)

I love that we do all the parenting things we thought we would never do like bribing with food, driving around the neighbourhood to get kids to sleep, using the television for our own sanities sake ("yes you can watch Frozen for the 7th time this week.. Why not hey!") To name but a few. 

I love our little collection of humans that we are so incredibly blessed to have! They really are amazing - even at 5am when they wake you up with a pounce or a whack in the face. They are just incredible and this journey is wonderfully exhausting but worth it indeed. 

I'm writing this while rocking Coco's pram to keep her asleep in the lounge room. I carried her pram up the stairs earlier and it is just another crazy thing you do as a parent - and again - it's so worth it!!! 

I'm not actually superwoman, but....

I've thought and read the statement "I'm not actually superwoman" a few time lately. For some reason it will just pop into my head or I'll read it on some beautiful mummy type blog and it will remind me to breathe and remember that it is true & it is ok.

However, the other day while I was whipping up a quick dinner before we had to run out the door, with Cosette attached to me feeding, Frankie not screaming the house down, happy full bellies before we left the house, makeup done in two minutes flat (in the car) - I had a thought. I am a kind of super woman. Certainly not everyday, but somedays I achieve things and think - damn I'm a good mum!! 

So let's celebrate these moments more. Let's try not to focus on the horrible days when we do scream at our kids, don't organise the house one little bit and collapse into a heap at the end of it all. Those are the days we can happily etchosketch away. 

Here's my list that I'm compiling of reasons I am actually super - make one yourself. I am pretty sure it will make you smile 😊

•Cooking dinner and breastfeeding. 

•Doing Frankie's hair while breastfeeding.

•Baby wearing and dancing around the house to distract and cheer up toddler and keep baby happy all at once. 

•Showering and washing my hair with a baby in my arms.

•Getting two kids in or out of a car (on any day is a pretty huge accomplishment) but on a busy road is seriously a skill. 

•Being a full time toddler translater. I totally speak Frankie fluently. 

•Dealing with a poo explosion disaster that went all over the car seat in the carpark of the mechanics. (They really choose the best times don't they!!) 

•Most recently - feeding Coco in the sling while blow drying my hair. 

This is my list so far.. I am definitely going to be adding to it. What are your super skills? I'd love to hear your list :) 

I want to hold your hand.

My little Cosette must be having a growth spurt at the moment because I feel like she has been feeding a lot. It's got me thinking, so here are some thoughts... 

It's easy to feel a bit frustrated and tied down when feeding every hour or two (or even more) and even though I love, love, love breast feeding (yes, I'm one of those Mumma's) it is a bit of a challenge while also trying to attend to the other daily demands of being a mum...

•chasing Miss Frankie around

•setting up craft activities that last a whole two and a half minutes

•supplying seemingly endless amounts of food to my 'starving' two year old! (at her request for a third bowl of porridge yesterday morning I just put oats and milk in a bowl as I couldn't be bothered cooking them - she must have been hungry though cause she totally ate the whole bowl!!)

•trying to keep the house semi organised 

•ensuring bottoms are sufficiently wiped and so on. 

Things that I have realised while lying with and holding Coco in my arms have made me smile, reset my brain and enjoy it while it lasts. 

I also remember feeling this way when Frankie was little, but now it feels like an age since she finished feeding at 15 months. Time truly does fly (I cannot remind myself of that enough!). So I'm not going to wish it away but will instead enjoy this snuggling time because soon she will be crawling and running around and might not want to lie so still next to me. 

The other thing I've been thinking of is how proud I am of Coco's little chubby rolls that seem to be increasing by the day. I'm her sole source of food right now - so all of those delicious layers of rolls on her arms, legs and belly are all thanks to me and my milk. It really should be considered a super power if you think about it! I'm so thankful that I can breastfeed and have done it relatively effortlessly. I know it's not always easy for everyone - so for that I am truly grateful.

 When it comes down to it though, the only reason that really matters is that she needs me. I am her Mumma. She wants me. I love that. My little one born in the middle of Queensland summer is totally a snuggler! She loves to be held, loves to be close and loves to hold my hand and suck her thumb simultaneously. It's precious and it doesn't take much for me to be made all gooey and soft for her and her sweet ways! ❤️

Kind words

It's been a rough couple of days in our household. Miss Frankie Dee hasn't been very well :( Watching your kids when they are sick is so awful - I am sure everyone would agree with me on that one. 

Anyway - telling you about snot, vomit, coughing, spluttering & general meltdown all around is not going to make your day... But I'm hoping the following will. 

We've been speaking about being kind a lot lately! It's an ongoing lesson for all of us to learn - not just the two year old. Thankfully I have a sweet spirited little one and she really is genuinely kind and generous (most of the time) but she is also a real two year old! 

This morning I slipped on my dress for the day and she promptly said "you look nice Mumma, I like that dress. It's my favourite!" 

Let me tell you I most certainly went all warm and fuzzy. Compliments and kind words from my sweet girl made me remember that there is always a little bit of good. Always something to be proud of. Always something to smile about. 

I'm very grateful that sickness will soon leave and my regular, happy Frankie will soon return - but for today I am going to revel in those kind words from my girl as they really were the highlight. 

Hope you and your families are healthy and well ❤️

Here's a pic of my girl as she usually is... 

They really are GRAND!

I have the most amazing family - and there are two particularly spectacular folks who sit at the head of us all... My Grandparents! 

Howard & Sybil Baskerville - they are two of the most inspiring and  interesting people I have ever met. 

Thankfully they're still rather generous with their time and I recently had the pleasure of spending a day with them. It was just myself and Coco - a rare treat as while my family are totally wonderful... we are most certainly a rowdy bunch when we get together. Some quiet time to sit and chat while drinking tea and eating Nana's homemade treats was definitely to be savored. 

As I drove away from their house that afternoon I was reminded of just how special they are and how blessed we are to have them and their ongoing input and generous love in our lives. 

Three things in particular stood out to me about how they live life...

One. 

Their enthusiasm for life. These two are 85 and nearly 90 and they are still busy! Planning holidays, volunteering in the community, making meals for people in need. Just inspiring that they still have so much to give. 

Two.

Thankfulness for where they've been. We spoke of times gone by - past homes, past jobs, past travels and experiences. While not all of what they've experienced has been easy or enjoyable - they choose not to complain. They speak matter of factly and know that lessons have been learned - and instead of dwelling on hurts, they focus on the good and know that they are blessed. 

Three. 

Their love for their family is incredible. They spent our time together ooing and ahhing over little Cosette. Happily snuggling her. Enjoying their sixth great grandchild. Though she is one of six - with two more on the way this year. There was no lack of excitement over her arrival into the world and now over seeing her grow and develop. 

They truly love their family and are overflowing with pride as we continue to expand. This makes me so happy and so thankful to be a part of my family!! 

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Thank you kind stranger.

Don't you just love it when random members of society make your day by doing something kind, thoughtful and unexpected. It doesn't have to be a particularly grandiose act or miraculous situation. Sometimes it may simply be a smile on a rough day, a door held open for you when your hands are full or someone allowing you to go ahead in the Aldi checkout line when your kid is absolutely loosing it! 

Sometimes it may be your absolute saving grace and other times it might serve as a simple reminder that there are lovely people in this world! Maybe even a timely nudge to do something thoughtful & kind for someone else too (I know I need these pretty regularly!) 

The other week I was at a cafe and a sweet young waiter asked if we wanted table water. This in itself was kind and my constantly-thirsty-breastfeeding-self said "yes please!" 

He returned a minute later with two glasses for the adults and two plastic cups for the kids. I smiled and said "thankyou", but didn't realise for another minute or so that he had totally given me a cup for both Frankie & Cosette (my newborn!). This still makes me smile. While totally unnecessary he was just being thoughtful. I guess he picked the right Mumma - I truly appreciated his cute & slightly strange act of kindness. So thank you kind man. Thankyou ❤

Explore little one.

I've been watching Frankie's interest in the world around her expand every single day of late. It is just so amazing. She wants to touch everything she walks past (unfortunately including bins & toilet seats), she pull things apart (occasionally she will attempt to put them back together), she asks 'why?' hundreds of times per day (no exaggeration)! I can just see her little brains cogs turning around and around as she attempts to learn and understand this fascinating world around her. 

Today she asked 

"Who made our house?"

Hmmmm...I was stumped. 

I really am not sure who did make our house. Someone. Quite some time ago too. Funny. Why was she thinking about that!? It fascinates me so much. 

I love that a little human being is growing and developing right in front of my eyes.

The other day she was exploring this tree at a park (see photo below). 

I just love the expression on her little face. Mouth slightly open. Enquiring eyes. 

She was watching kids older & braver than her and considering following in their footsteps, then she would loose her footing and decide to holdback, then see them climb or move a little higher or run a little faster and she would be off - chasing them again. 

I love her brave little heart. Willing to give things a go even if it equals scratched knees and little frights. 

I have to remind myself that it is all a part of her learning and exploring the world. It is good. It is normal. Even when she's doing something annoying, repetitive or down right gross... Like asking "why is daddy at work?" for the 30th time in a row or licking the toilet seat (seriously... I was just glad it was at home - somehow knowing it had been cleaned semi-recently made it ok). 

These little ones are designed to explore and I want her to... Be free little one. Explore away. Mumma will bite her tongue and hold herself back from saying 'no' just for the sake of it. Well, I'll try to anyway. Love you my sweet Frankie Dee. 

It's vintage baby!

Anyone who knows me know how much I LOVE op shopping, thrifting, second hand bargains and vintage delights! They truly make my heart sing 🎶

My love for finding second hand treasures - especially amazing vintage ones - has only grown about a thousand fold since being blessed enough to become a mum to girls 💕

Today, as Coco fits into the first of many stunning second hand and vintage outfits of which I am the proud owner. I cannot help but delight in her cuteness (of course!) but also by the fact that this gorgeous little dress once worn by someone else's little precious was purchased by me for a mere 20 cents. 

I wish all my bargain finds were that amazing, but unfortunately such prices are not as common these days. It doesn't mean you can't still bag a bargain though. It is always worth a browse through a thrift shop in my opinion! Most of my purchases are under $5, unless they are simply too spectacular to leave behind in the shop.. and then I am willing to occasionally stretch the budget. 

I also love that I am training Frankie up in the art of op shopping - when I find a dress or something cute for her she will often come home and proudly tell daddy "this was $2!". However $2 is also the only value that she knows how to reference at the moment. So even if something wasn't $2 - she will claim it was! 

Dance in the rain

Pretty regularly I hear other Mum's (who have gone before me on this incredible journey of parenthood) talk about how quickly time passes and how quickly little munchkins grow.  I say it already when I see my big 2 year old princess next to my little newborn one. 

Time does fly and I want to make sure it doesn't fly by without remembering and cherishing the best bits.

Something I am sure of is that worrying, whinging and complaining about the circumstances that we find ourselves in won't actually change them or make them pass any faster. 

So, this blog is all about focusing on the highlights and best bits of every day life. 

Focus on the good. 

Focus on the funny

Focus on the little things that do make you smile - even if you're currently crying.

There is always something to be grateful for - sometimes it simply needs to be refocused to the foreground of our mind! 

Today I cherish my Frankie dancing and jumping in rainy puddles with her amazing daddy. What a precious moment. Carefree and happy :)  

I love firsts ❤

First kiss. First overseas trip. First day of school. First car. First house. So many emotions and so much excitement. 

I'd forgotten how many firsts newborns bring with them. They grow and change so quickly don't they! I'm so excited for the year ahead - and experiencing a year of firsts with Miss Coco. 

I'm thankful that we don't have to wait too long for bubs to start smiling. I feel like God times it perfectly around that time when the postnatal 'happy hormones' are starting to wane. A cute little smirk easily makes dealing with sleep deprivation, poo explosions and vomit in your hair completely worth it! 

*warm and fuzzy*

This week Cosette started smiling (on the day she turned 5 weeks). I thought rather than jumping for my camera too quickly I  would simply enjoyed them and her for a bit... but when Frankie was sitting up and enticing out a series of gorgeous smiles - I couldn't resist capturing this beautiful moment between sisters. 

Wow! My heart explodes for these two sweeties ❤