Dear Lola, 

As the days grow colder & we rely on our fireplace to warm us up -
We have a new morning ritual -
Kindling wood collecting in our extended backyard -
Apparently it's "heavy work" and "is going to make papa so happy." -
This morning, we heard a rustling in the bush, explored a little further and spotted a deer -
Hand in hand we stood very still, until the deer finally broke its gaze and ran away -
You weren't at all scared, but I may have been just a little -
It was huge, despite you referring to it as "just a baby."

 If the rain holds off, we hope to head back for more later this afternoon.

Your mama

Dear Lola, 

20/52

On Sunday we had big reason to celebrate. Your beautiful cousin Edie was baptised, and it was such a joyous & special morning. Which brings us to this photo, courtesy of your Auntie Jules. Here you sit, completely & utterly over the photo taking process, instead dreaming of the strawberry shortcake that you have had your eye on since arriving at the delightful little party held in honour of our Edie. (Luckily for you, the aforementioned strawberry shortcake was in your little belly shortly after this photo was taken.)

Your mama

 Dear Lola, 

Life it seems is back to normal. Big sigh of relief all around. I have enough energy to chase you around kindygym, enough strength to move a bookcase down the hall and into your new room, and enough stamina to potter busily around the house during your naptime. And just enough time to share some photos snapped over the last few weeks.

there are always beautiful flowers to admire at our place, picked by my very own papa.

 a crisp afternoon spent barefoot & covered in chalk dust.

 the chicken quarters spied through our jungle, designed and hand built by some very special & talented men in our lives.

 

every night a bath party takes place, and every night we dry little pruned hands & feet

a warmer autumn day, a purple frock & enough glue to keep you happy.

a sneak peek into a room that's coming together slowly but surely.

cinos and carrot & cinnamon cupcakes in the morning sun, because we can.

your coats pressed and ready for blustery days.

a sweet treat for staying still for mama.

Your mama

Dear Lola, 

19/52

It's been rather difficult to capture you this week. You are an energetic little soul, resulting in an awful lot of blurry photos. Although the rainbow knit was your choice, I did bribe you with 1/2 a teaspoon of nutella and the promise of play school, if only you would stay still for a brief moment. Naturally, it worked a treat, and reminded me just how good nutella tastes straight from the jar.

Your mama

Dear Lola,

My mothers day weekend.

There was the river, freshly baked biscuits, morning craft, comforting curries, soup & pies, gardening, soothing mineral baths, chats by a blazing fire, sleep ins, pancakes, specially wrapped gifts, a crochet blanket, a dinner bell & a thick book.
There was appreciation, recognition, holding hands, singing, a sleepy sun-filled car ride, cake with special mamas, grandmas & great grandmas, freshly picked flowers, porridge for two, reading books snuggled in bed, and a sleepy babe & her mama.

 

 

Feeling loved & blessed this mothers day.

 

 Your mama

Dear Lola, 

18/52

This week as your mama slowly regains her energy, you have found added comfort in the simple things. A banana smoothie or two a day. Collecting autumn leaves and firewood with papa. Reading quietly on a chair next to me. As well as letting out energy in all the usual places & with your favourite people, these few slow paced comforts at home have been an added blessing for one and all.

Your mama

Dear Lola, 

We are a few weeks behind my intended schedule... but who's really counting, considering we have 20 weeks of planning, partying & preparing ahead of us.

Creating a new space for you in the 'big' room, and creating babies space are at the top of my list. Most probably because they are by far the most exciting things on my list!

A few things in the works for baby worth sharing...

 some of the sweetest hot air balloons being knitted by a special Oma.

 a pair of the cutest shoes on there way to warm bubs little tooties.

 because you can really never have enough pairs of bloomers (although baby will no doubt inherit quite a collection from you lola)

a project to keep papa busy in his shed - this fits in perfectly with our mountain home.

a spring baby needs enough little leggings to keep him/her kicking!

 because this print was just a little bit too cute.

This mama is having fun shopping for her littlie. There is an old cane chair in the shed, in need of some tlc, that I plan on bringing back to life, throwing on a sheep skin rug (that was mine as a baby) and making a few soft cuddlies to snuggle in with. With a few other surprise projects to come, I better get moving. 

You are already very loved baby in tummy!

Your mama