No longer a baby...

Our little girl turned 1 last week. It is a major milestone in any child and any parents life. She is our baby and we don't think there will be any more so we are moving into a new phase in our life as a family. We no longer have a baby in the house. We have two toddlers...

As a newborn you were really good. You fed and slept well. You loved cuddles as all babies do. You felt like an easier baby than H. For two reasons, I wasn't a first time Mother and you didn't suffer from reflux and colic like H did.

H improved at the 10 week mark and if anything you got trickier at that time. You decided you didn't want to feed as well, and you weren't sleeping as well as you were snacking instead of taking a full feed. This was a result of me basically drowning you due to a fast let down. You poor little thing... milk would actually come out of your nose when feeding... even when I was feeding lying down to slow it down.

We got there in the end and you actually slept through the night at 5 months... this was earlier than H but you haven't slept through as consistently as him. H slept through at 6 months and has been brilliant ever since (touch wood)... you are both terrific sleepers. Your teeth give you grief from time to time but you are a happy child most of the despite the pain and discomfort.

Life is amazing with you and your brother. You were sitting at 6 months. You crawled at 8 months and you took your first independent step at 12 months and 2 days exactly...

You are a great eater... you love food as your gorgeous cheeks indicate. You were a very animated baby and are a very animated little girl. We know what you're thinking as like your Mum... you wear your emotions on your face.

You are extremely determined and already throw a good tantrum. You blossomed at the 10 month mark and there is no stopping you. You adore your big brother. The way you look at him, cuddle him and think he is hilarious makes me melt...

He adores you too. He can be a bit of a rough older brother at times but I have no doubt you will hold your own and then some. You are already not backwards in coming forwards when you aren't happy with him for taking a toy or other thing away. I try not to intervene too often and let you work it out as much as you can.

When he is unhappy you get sad too and go over to him and cuddle him. You are very caring and loving.

H is very caring and protective of you too. Since day one he has referred to you as Sissy. He introduces you to everyone as Sissy... 'this is my Sissy' When I pick him up from a day at kindy the first thing he asks for is you if you're not with me. He makes a big deal of telling and showing everyone his Mummy and Sissy are there.

He looks out for you and tells me if you have something in your mouth or are doing something he knows you shouldn't be doing. He is my eyes in the back of my head. He will always be your protector and your loving older Brother.

You have a cheeky side and love to laugh and have fun. You are extremely affectionate which is absolutely heart melting. I got very lucky with two affectionate children and I relish every hug and kiss and cuddle time together.

You are a very wanted, welcome and loved member of the family and we feel so blessed to be your parents.

We love you baby girl... Happy Birthday.

Jx

All images are Copyright of Jessica Flett

Autumn in the garden...

I have been home at Mum and Dad's for over a month and I have seen the colours in the garden change in that time. Autumn is well and truly here. The colours are stunning and I wanted to capture them as best I could...

I love how these photos capture the colour and diversity...

I love how the pets are just chilling and having a morning snooze outside the yard in this photo above.

On a side note... Whilst I was wandering around taking these photos I walked into the Camelia and Citrus garden and found this little vignette... Don't you just love it?! Harry's version of 'Harry was here'...

Are you seeing Autumn where you are?...

Aren't the colours amazing?...

I forget every year just how beautiful the Autumn colours are... Jx

All photos copyright Jessica Flett

Hints for Mother's Day...

1. Chunky Knit, 2. Leather Passport cover from Papier D'Amour, 3. Sleeveless puffer from Witchery,  
4. GO-TO Lips!, 5. Tiffany & Co. bracelet, 6. Laguiole 3-piece cheese set, 
7. Baby Anything Fine Heart Silver Ring, 8. Nike Dunk Sky high Black Wedge Trainers, 
9. Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser & Aesop Rind Concentrate Body Balm, 
10. Boxy Rib Hem Knit

This is what's on my wish list this year…

What's on your wish list?… Jx

Mothers Love...

When Elodie arrived my parents very kindly came to help with Harry. Mum also came back after our first week home to offer an extra pair of hands for a week or so. Mothers really are the best!!

As a thank you we bought Mum a couple of roses for her garden. Ones that were pretty with sentimental names... We gave her Mothers Love and Bonnie Babes from Swanes Nursery.

I was so excited to see that Mothers Love is flowering and raced out to take some photos of her. The scent is beautiful...

Isn't she lovely?...

Don't you just love her name?... (the fact it's a fundraiser for the Australian Breastfeeding Association is an added bonus)

Have you ever given a rose as a present?...

I think she would be a lovely Mother's Day present... click here to have a look...

Jx

All photos copyright Jessica Flett

Fresh Mint Tea...

Mum and Dad have a large patch of Mint here at home. It's so lush and smells amazing. Last week Mum had a big cut back as it tends to get a little overgrown from time to time.

I rescued some of the cut mint and made up a pot of mint tea. We also made a couple of delicious meals that I will share here soon.

Despite being delicious and refreshing, fresh mint tea is also good for stomach pain and indigestion so it's a win win if you're someone like me and suffer from time to time in that area.

It's super easy to make and very enjoyable to drink.

Making the tea is as simple as this;

Separate the leaves from a handful of stems - you need a big handful of mint leaves

Place the fresh mint in your teapot and pour freshly boiled water over them.

Allow the mint and water to steep for several minutes.

Using a strainer, pour yourself a lovely, hot, healthy and delicious cup of mint tea.

Enjoy...

Mum has such a lovely collection of China I couldnt resist getting a pretty cup and saucer out and enjoying my mint tea in that.

On a little side note, the garden of mint dates back to my Grandmother if not my Great Grandmother. I think that's so lovely...

Jx

All photos copyright of Jessica Flett

A rainy day pick me up... Look at the gorgeousness...

I feel in need of some brightening... this weather (it's been raining all day), being inside with two small people all day and dealing with a vomit on natural flooring rug situation at the end of the day has left me feeling a little whacked.

So I'm brightening my evening by looking at some photos and I thought I'd share them here. I picked these Gardenias from my very own garden. I have dreamed of a garden filled with Gardenias for a very long time and I finally have one (well a garden bed anyway). I was able to pick this lovely arrangement and also keep enough in the garden.

I was so excited and grabbed the opportunity to take these photos of the pretties.... aren't they just gorgeous?!

I also love the little bud vases they are in...they look lovely non? They were a gift from my Aunt who found them in Inverell (Country, NSW) whilst there for work. The things you find where you least expect them...

After taking a crazy amount of photos from every angle they finally found a home here and I think they felt right at home. Their scent was out of this world... it was filling the room.

I just wish they had a longer shelf life. Their beauty and fragrance is so fleeting...

Do you love Gardenias as much as I do?... 

How cute are these little vases?!...

What's your favourite flower?...

Jx

In Bathroom Mode...

Hello hello....

It's been such a long time. This little blog of mine was on such a roll.... meaning I was consistent with my posts. Then... I fell pregnant, had horrible morning sickness, we did more renovations, had another baby and well...life was/is busier and this little blog went to the back burner.

I have decided I am going to work harder at posting more frequently. Posting what is relevant to me, things I like...basically all things life and style. It will be for me to look back on and maybe...just maybe...you will find it relevant and helpful too.

So...with that out of the way I turn to the issue at hand.... Our bathrooms and laundry.

It's the final stage of our renovations. Yippppeeeee!! It's going to be the messiest and the hardest seeing as I have two little people, it's the bathrooms and laundry and we're living through it.

Oh the decisions!!! It's our first bathroom and laundry reno so we're feeling a little cautious. We have a wonderful builder who we have worked with from day one with this house....now 2.5yrs ago (where does the time go!!) and N's family are seasoned renovators so are a wealth of knowledge and invaluable sounding boards. Even still, we find ourselves nervous that our selections may not work and may not hit the mark we are aiming for. I have been trawling the web and magazines for inspiration and I will share some of these in a future post. We think we are getting close to a decision and I have a meeting with the builder to go through them this week and identify any issues and make any changes needed (fingers crossed there are none)

I have worked up a little inspiration collage in Polyvore and thought I might share it...

As you can see the colour palate is very neutral with grey's and white. We are going for something that feels large, bright, fresh, classic and warm. Fingers crossed we are on the right track.

Thoughts and feelings you might want to share are more than welcome...

Jx

Bathroom Inspiration by jessflett on Polyvore