Berry bush / concrete pavement / flowers for a friend / lighting fixture / thriving fern
Today I took Jamie back to the coffee house at Illie for a babycino, a latte and that amazing homemade banana bread. Jamie loved the banana bread so much that he requested a second serving and, you know what, I didn’t say no.
What did you do today?
p.s. Loved all your comments on the last post – thanks so much for sharing!
This is only my second post for this new series, and I can already tell this one will go the distance. There is nothing quite like capturing those tiny, seemingly ordinary moments in everyday life that are, in reality, both magical and beautiful. And my goodness, am I learning to love shade as much as I love light!
This last week has been fraught with stress and anxiety, and just when we thought we could breathe more easily, we’ve since discovered a new health issue in the family for us to worry about. I guess this is the way life goes, especially when life is filled with little children. The up side of all this is that I am getting a little bit better each day at cherishing the present. I am nowhere near accomplished at this yet, but small things like looking at Edward while I’m feeding him instead of reading on my iPhone, or answering Angus’ plethora of questions instead of asking him to wait, or stopping to give my husband a kiss instead of walking right past him, move me one step closer.
How has your week been?
(Linking up with Em.)
p.s. If you’re interested in improving your phone photography skills, have a look at The Phone Photography Project, an online month-long workshop hosted by Big Picture Classes. I’m very excited (and honoured) to be one of the instructors, along with 31 awesome ladies, and the workshop is currently still available for the early bird rate of $39. If you’re keen, register now before the price goes up to $49.
With Jamie’s laryngoscopy behind us, we are now facing colds, sniffles, blocked noses and sleepless nights. It seems that no matter how hard I work to bundle up the boys in warm clothes, colds always get the better of us. Edward has definitely been sounding snuffly for the last few days, and poor Pete has a blocked nose that keeps waking him up and sending him into great distress. Tonight, in fact, I actually had to call Rick while he was in the middle of bible study and ask him to come home early because Pete was so distraught and inconsolable. It was incredibly upsetting to see him like that and by the time Rick got home, I was in tears myself.
On a brighter note, I have been so much more light-hearted now that Jamie’s laryngoscopy is over. I love that I can actually be with Jamie now without worrying myself sick the entire time. Tomorrow I will be sharing morning tea with some other mums from preschool, and then I am looking forward to spending time with the three younger boys for the rest of the day. In the afternoon, I will pick Angus up from preschool and take him to a nearby cafe for a babycino. Then in the evening, I am hopeful that we can all enjoy dinnertime together in a somewhat more relaxed fashion than we did tonight. And so life continues – a mixture of laughter, exhaustion, busyness, joy and tears. And through it all, I am reminding myself every day to simply be present. Because no matter how overwhelming a single day can be, the years pass by all too quickly…
I’ve been a big fan of Dabito’s blog and photography since I first discovered him almost a year and a half ago. His work constantly inspires me, and his fleeting moments are particularly captivating. For some time now, I’ve been wanting to go back to sharing more photography in this space and so, inspired by Dabito’s fleeting moments series, I’ve decided to start my own here on this blog. Basically, it is what it says it is. Moments that are fleeting. As illustrated by light and shade. My hope is that this series will challenge me to look more closely at the world around me.
Tomorrow is Mother’s Day, and though it is bound to be a joyous day for many, it will also be a day of sadness for many. For those who’ve lost their mothers or who’ve lost children or who aren’t able to bear children, tomorrow will surely be a difficult day. I remember all too clearly my first Mother’s Day after Cameron died: it was heart-wrenching. And even five years on, the ache of knowing that one is missing still remains.
And so tomorrow, I shall shed my tears for Cameron.
Tomorrow, I will tell my mum how much I love her.
And tomorrow, I shall hold my four boys a little closer and cherish them all the more.
May your weekend be filled with light and love, my friends.
(Linking up with Em.)
…teapots on a wall / my milkshake drinker / the softest baby hoodie / two amazing cafes
What’s made you smile this week?
p.s. Thanks for all your wonderful response to the workshop! I’m super excited for it. As for my birth story, today didn’t quite go as I’d planned but I’m definitely on the home stretch. I can’t wait to share it with you guys.
Today I’m pretty excited to announce that I’ll be one of the instructors taking part in the The Phone Photography Project, hosted by Big Picture Classes (BPC). Basically, this is a month-long workshop aimed at helping you to take better photos with your iPhone or Android camera. In other words, it’s all about improving your phoneography skills! What’s more, you will also learn strategies to get those photos off your phones and into your memory-keeping workflow more quickly and effectively. A total of 32 awesome instructors are taking part in this online workshop – many of whom you probably already know from the blogging world.
Here’s what you can expect from the workshop:
I’ve said it time and time again – my mobile phone camera is the camera I use the most, and over 98% of the photos I include in my Project Life albums are taken with my iPhone. So it goes without saying how happy I am to be a part of this course, as I think it’s totally worth investing time and energy into learning how to take awesome photos with your mobile. After all, it’s the camera you’re bound to have on you all the time.
If you’re at all interested in registering for The Phone Photography Project, consider doing it sooner rather than later as it’s available now for a special introductory price of US$39.
Happy Thursday, my friends!
p.s. Tomorrow, I’m hoping to share my birth story here on the blog. There, I said it. Hopefully this will actually force me to finish writing it!
Edward: Looking teeny tiny amongst his older brothers.
Jamie: Loves his new dressing robe from Nan.
Pete: Keeps getting bitten by mosquitoes at night, poor thing.
Angus: Increasingly agile when it comes to getting on and off the top bunk.
The boys love their bedtime with daddy. Most of the time, they’re clamouring for his attention as they all want daddy to help with their clothes, their teeth and their block-building. Other times, they like to jump on Rick’s back at the very same time. It’s quite amusing to watch. This was in fact a rare moment of quiet and stillness as they all listened to daddy read from a story book that Pete had chosen. Edward seemed to fit right in. Needless to say, our hearts are full.
You can see all the other posts here.
(Linking up with Jodi.)
When we first got home last Friday, I wasted no time in unpacking and getting myself organised. Between the two of us, Rick and I have managed to work out a pretty good daily routine with the boys over the last week. Without a doubt, being organised and structured in our every day life is one of the main things that helps me cope and stay sane amidst the busyness and the lack of sleep. I love getting up each morning and knowing exactly what needs to be done. Some days I breeze right through. Other days I struggle. Some days I’m patient and gentle with the boys. Other days I’m tired and grouchy. But every day, I am thankful for this family that God has blessed me with.
This last week has been joyful, exhausting, uplifting, stressful, awesome, challenging and most of all – fun. Seriously, there is not a dull moment when you have four little boys at home. Having been away from Angus, Pete and Jamie for almost five entire days, it has been simply wonderful to be back at home with them, and I have been soaking up every tiny moment. Little things like watching Pete play with my animal rubber bands on my studio couch, or sitting next to Jamie at the meals table as he pulls his multitude of cheeky expressions, have reminded me of the joy it is to be a parent, even if sometimes it can feel all-consuming. Next week, our routine will be shaken up once again when Angus and Pete go back to preschool. Part of me feels sad at the thought of not having the four of them together with me, but I guess we will simply adapt and adjust, like we’ve done with everything else.
It’s hard to believe that eleven days ago, it was just the five of us.
And now, we are six.
How has your last week been?
(Linking up with Em.)
There is something utterly precious about those first few days in hospital with a newborn. The alone time with one’s baby. The solitude. The peace. The first bath. The hot meals. The cups of tea (and the mini cupcakes). The bed rest. The freedom to take things slowly. As much as I am loving being back at home with all the boys, I have to admit that a tiny part of me still yearns for the quiet lull of my hospital babymoon…
Do you have fond memories of your hospital stay(s) after birthing your child(ren)?
Edward: All snug in his Phil & Ted’s cocoon.
Jamie: “Oh dear, the baby’s crying mummy! Oh dear!” (In the car on the way home…)
Angus: Has a cold, and has been really great about keeping his distance from baby Edward.
Pete: Gives baby Edward the gentlest of pats and kisses.
This was Friday morning, as we were leaving the hospital with Edward. The boys were so excited and so lovely with him. I’m extremely proud of all three of them. They’ve welcomed Edward so beautifully into the family that sometimes I forget they’re only two, three and four years old. And yes, we are all finally under the one roof. And it is just as I imagined it would be. Simply wonderful. Chaotic, yes. But wonderful nonetheless.
You can see all the other posts here.
(Linking up with Jodi.)
p.s. Thank you all for reading this, and for your heartfelt messages…
My friends call me Ronnie, and you can too. I'm a graphic designer who secretly aspires to be a writer. I live in Sydney with my man, Rick, and four of our five little boys. I love memory keeping, and I'm bit of a neat freak. This year, I'm learning to live more simply. I've been blogging for ten years now, and love how it keeps me sane. Grab a cup of tea, and have a browse. It's lovely to have you here.
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