rebecca:vavic

Pandora lovin'...

Within an hour of arriving home from the hospital with Benjamin, Nathan handed me a beautifully ribbon wrapped gift box.  Inside was a Pandora bracelet with a baby carriage and a heart charm... he is so sweet & thoughtful, I could not believe it !! A "thank you for having my baby" gift. I felt bad I didn't have one for him :(

Then my SIL, Cassie, got me a few "spacers" which are totally my style... 

There is a ways to go with filling the bracelet up (no hurry, just room)... and the thing I am loving right now with a new baby and a toddler... is online shopping, the kind you can do in your PJs, the kind that delivers straight to your door, the kind that keeps the kidlets home and happy.

Here are a couple of sites for charms that I have found:

• Amante;  
• Adorable Charms  
• Chamilia charms  
• Pandora  

My purse is skinny, so I am not buying any time soon, but it is fun/good to work out what I'd like when I do :)

Or what I'd like to buy my loved ones... it is great for gift buying as lots of my gal pals have these bracelets too... easy peasy!

Speaking of which, Happy Birthday to this beautiful girl. We love you Cass!:

Bxo

Ben is 1 month old today!!! ...

Can you believe it ?? WOW time sure has gone super fast this time... like sand slipping through my fingers...

Ben our little blondie continues to delight us all {aside from when he is screaming and colicy! then just a little less delightful!!}...

You've had quite the first month Mr Benjamin:

• we had a great labour
• we were home 10 hours after you arrived into this big world 
• at 3 days of age we were admitted to hospital as you had Bronchitis, we stayed for 5 nights, 6 days... 
• you are very alert when you are awake... looking about and taking your surrounds in
• you are a smiley babe... you smile at everyone in the family... when you smile at Joshua I think it is particularly cute... 
• Mikaela will hold you pretty much all day if I let her (until you get too heavy, which doesn't take too long!)
• Joshua calls you "my baby"... he won't say Ben or Benjamin, just "my baby" 
• Joshua gives you so many kisses and cuddles each day, and lays down beside you.
• You love to have your head stroked, and you have the most beautiful softest hair.  
• When you are particularly upset, you like me to gently rub your ear lobe, just like your brother did when he was little. 
• I sing this lullaby to you, the very same I sang to Mikaela and Joshua when they were babes... it has a magic soothing effect:  

"My My... Me Oh My
He's as cute as a button
Sweet as pie
I love Him
Oh can't you see
How I love Him
And He loves Me"

• We've tried to stay home and indoors as much as we can since we got home from the hospital.
• We have been to "Paint and Play"... thankfully beautiful Martha was there to help me out (and make me a cuppa, thanks sweets!)   
• Your Dadda is the sweetest with you... he comes home from work every lunch time to see you. 

We just adore you and I think you are the most remarkable little bubba... I stare at you for hours. My favourite time is when we get to relax and just 'be' together alone, which is not very often and so I really savour those moments. Being your Mother is pure magic... I delight in the very thought of you.

Love Mumma & Dadda

xox
  
  

I *heart* cushions...

...they are simply the BEST way to totally makeover a room - give it a whole new look and feel and freshen it up a bit.

ESPECIALLY when the entire room makeover only cost you $65 - yes sireee... I got 9 cushion covers delivered to my door for only $65 AUD. Amazing!

I got these some months ago from this super cool Aussie clearance site, Zen Cart. They have linen as well... not that I am going there!

These new cushions make our living space look ... FRESH! Gives it a much more summery feel than the others I have, which are much more a winter palette of browns, taupe, red and orange. Now we have a summer/winter palette. I feel SO grown up!!

Guess I should change over to the winter cushions about now then? Nah...

Hugs and Love

Bxo 

So absolutely true...

I could not agree with this post of Andrea's more... it is just so true!

An excellent reminder to why my days are very slow now, and I am more than okay with that...

Gives me time to be in the moment... to pay attention:

• to Joshua and all his cute little antics at the moment
• to Mikaela as she reads to me at the end of the day, or tells me excitedly about her day at school, her friends, her teachers, what she learnt... as she tells me stories, or her thoughts as we walk along together....
• to Benjamin, our new little rockin' babe... he had a tough week or so all colicy but is MUCH improved now with me making a change to my diet... paying attention!
• to my husband... paying attention to all that he does for me and our family, giving back to him as much as I can.

Loving this life.

Happy Monday...

Bxo

Slippin' away from Dreams...

You know sometimes when you are really close to realising a dream... you seem to get further away from it, or there are all sorts of obsitcals and red-herrings sent your way to test you...

These are a couple of quotes that I have always really resonated with:

Just before a dream is fulfilled, the Soul of the World decides to test everything that was learned on the journey.
(The Alchemist)
Paulo Coelho

You know the nearer your destination
The more you're slip slidin' away

Paul Simon

I've not felt that way for a while now, but I do remember a few very distinct times in my life when I have...

One where I was expecting a permanent public servant job {the very first job I went back to when Mikaela was a toddler}, which didn't happen and paved the way for me to become a contract Technical Writer... a MUCH better job than the one I cried all day about not getting :) !

Others to do with relationships that were just not meant to be... and the universe has rewarded me immensely with the relationship I have now for not sticking with those previous ones which were not good for me or the life I dreamed of.

Others to do with opportunities such as teaching at CIT or photographic jobs, that would never have been realised if I had of followed the 'red-herring' the universe sent to test me.

So I really love that... I love that the universe, or your "God" or the "Soul of the World" as Paulo puts it will actually conspire to make your dreams come true... you just need to listen to that little voice within you, have confidence and courage and follow your heart {your dreams}...

You ever felt the closer you are to realising a dream, the more you are slipping away from it?

Peace.

Bxo

Sneak Peek...

When Ben was just 3 days old Penny came to take some photos... she is still processing them, but sent a few for us to enjoy in the meantime (two of them I already posted yesterday):

[B is for Ben and Bek]

[Unfortunately the B does not "match" the EN... but that's kewl - such a cute pic]

{This is the kinda photo that makes me want to be a photographer, well MORE of a photographer than I am :)}

Are they not the cutest pics ever? Will share more when we get them :)

Penny is such a talented photographer and SUCH a lovely person.

I totally recommend her. 

Joy in abundance.

Bxo

Things I love about Him...

  

[photo taken by Penny of Paj Photography]

... My one and only... well so many things:

• I love that he is such a hands on Dad and super supportive husband, he does everything for me and the children. From changing nappies in the middle of the night, to running out to get medicine, to doing the groceries & markets (every week), unpacking the dishwasher, putting on a load of washing... pretty much anything and everything that is required to be done, he will do just as much as me, if not more somedays! We are really lucky. 
• I love that he thinks I am gorgeous no matter what state I am in... including just weeks after having a baby;  
• I love that he delights in our children's antics as much as I do... tho he is a little less tolerant of the noise at times (actually I can be quite intolerant at times too!); 
• I love that he is super sporty and active with the children... he is always up to some outdoor fun and is equally into and encouraging of all their activities; 
• I love that he is my best friend and we talk non-stop about everything, anything and nothing;  
• I love that he makes me laugh so much; 
• I love that he is a stylish guy... he always looks good whether he is in a suit or weekend gear... he is a hottie (to Me anyways :)); 
• I love that he used to make me a coffee religiously every morning...(hint hint); 
• I love that he is really passionate about his footy, he loves the Crows and watches them no matter what! what I love the most is that he is happy to tape it so as not to interfere with family activities, and he doesn't get all crabby and grumpy if they lose;  
• I love that he knows exactly what to say to make me feel better. 
• I love that he just gets me.  
• I love that he loves me as he does.  
• I love that he has made my life a dream come true... well Me & Him. 
• I love that he is my "home" always, no matter what I know that we are. 
• I love that he is the love of my life. 
• I love that he understands that even tho I have a fabulous camera and additional bits and pieces... I need a professional photographer to take photos of us annually (or more when we have our babies)...  
• I love that he supports all my creative and artistic endeavors... and is very encouraging too :) 

 

[photo taken by Penny of Paj Photography]

And a thing or two that I don't really love about him:

• our cleaner recently asked me, or did she simply exclaim??!! "your husband, he's much younger than you, no?"... well not MUCH ~15months~ younger to be precise! I blame my mother-in-law who gave him these freakish "age REALLY well" genes... seriously Nath, his Mum and his sister Cass all look like they have baby skin! I am aware that jealousy is a curse, but hey its not the first time people have accused me of hooking up with a toy boy! And I assure you my guy is no toy boy!
• the occasional time that he doesn't shave for a few days; 
• the other thing I don't really LOVE about my guy.... mmmmmm - ah I got nothin' else, I'll get back to you on that in another few years perhaps LOL !   

So what is your random list of "loves" about your most significant other in your life?

Peace.

Bxo  

Expectations of Self...

 

Some days I seriously expect way too much of myself {just like you no doubt}... but I like a certain amount of order and achievement in my days.

Tough order when you have a new babe... and a toddler, and a very activity oriented 8 year old. My great achievement of late (aside from having a shower and getting dressed)... is not to lose my mind as my babe is crying (screeching) with a sore tummy after a huge feed, for about an hour! And my toddler is pulling at my leg for attention at the same time... many of you know what I speak of! Oh and did I mention my 8 year old storming off to her bedroom and slamming the door for lack of motherly lovin'/attention/support {whatever it is at that given moment!}...

So to put my mind at some kinda ease... I created this Download Weekly Family Schedule to laminate and put onto the fridge. I am aware that I probably won't follow it very often... but just having it there makes me feel better, does that make sense?

Another option would be the cloning suggestion by Rummage. I quite like & made me laugh. Again not very practical, but makes me feel better to think of it :)

Oh... on other matters, if you go over here today, you can check out a mini album I created using a Studio Calico kit for entreARTistes Magazine... for my beautiful friend Tanya.

Hugs and loving...

Bxo

Feeling...

Yellow and orange today... 

I don't seem to have the time (or the inclination) to put my thoughts or ideas into words. I do however have time every now and again for a bitta blog surfing, thought I would share a few gems I have come across of late:

• Two and Six - beautiful photography - a visual delight!!
• Maya Made... lots of pretties on this great blog. 
• Little Birdie Secrets - lots of cute skirt patterns and inspiration here. 
• Scrabble tile pendants - I intend to make some of these soon, have to find myself a second hand scrabble game first... or go here! 
• Lil Blue Boo has a great tutorial on making an Art Journal, plus some journaling links.  

As you can see there is no rhyme or rhythm to my blog surfing... I just like what I like.

I hope you enjoy too.

Bxo

Benjamin update...

by way of lots of photos:

He is adorable.

He has been a bit colicy but is improving much these last few days {no jinx} :)

He is very active when awake... Nath thinks he is trying to crawl. Sweet funny man!

He was three weeks old yesterday.

He is loved on so much by everyone in the family... lots of hugs and kisses.

He is a good feeder and continues to gain lots of weight and size.

He hasn't worn "newborn" nappies since he was 5 days old and is now in "infants".

He is wearing a lot of size 00 clothes, or up to 3 months.

He smiles a lot.

He makes lots of cute sounds when he is nursing... so sweet!

He loves snuggles more than anything else... his favourite place to be.

He loves to have his head stroked to sooth him.

He has the softest hair... 

We love him so very much... totally adoring him constantly.

Thanks for being Ben !! The world needs you, and so do we!

Love out

Bxo