in my world ~ November

^Nicholas and mama posing by the roses...

 How can we already be in the last week of November?  

This time last year we had reached the ten week countdown to Nicholas' due date (he only arrived almost two weeks later, though), and I was feeling pretty big and uncomfortable and so done being pregnant.  

Despite the sleep deprivation and constant running around after a busy tot who is walking all over the place, strangely enough, I still don't feel as exhausted as I did when I was pregnant with Nicholas.

Life has been very full recently, and I have felt pretty overwhelmed with trying to keep on top of everything.  I would rather be busy than bored, though, as I do love feeling productive.  

But before I ramble on any longer, let's begin this month's in my world post...

outside my window

Hubby has a course on this weekend (he is a bladesmith and hosts knifemaking courses from time to time), so the sound of grinding and talking above the sound of the grinder is coming from the workshop.  Nicholas is napping, so there is peace and quiet in the house.

in my cup

Earlier it was coffee.  No surprise there.

around the house

There are changes afoot in the Coetzee household...I am sure I'll share a little update before long.

reading

Nothing at all, I confess. What with the sleep regression we have been going through recently, this mama is exhausted by the time she climbs into bed each night!

listening to

A few songs from Celtic Woman's new album, Christmas Cards from Ireland, as well as some music from Rebecca Winckworth and The Secret Garden.

in the kitchen

I have been so enjoying experimenting with kale salads lately...for some reason, I have been craving kale!  I'll have to share my current favourite recipe in another post very soon...

out and about

Our little family recently did a quick trip to a big town about two-ish hours away.  I enjoyed getting to grab a few things from the larger stores and having lunch at one of our favourite restaurants.

in the garden

My flax is blooming!  And I am harvesting handfuls of blackberries each day which is glorious!  Nicholas and I love smoothies (hubby is not too keen on them so there is more for us!), so it has been fun getting to add our own berries to our smoothies!

creating

I have had almost no time for creating lately, but I did manage to sew a stack of reusable wipes for Nicholas.  I don't use wet wipes for him at home, only when we go out.

thankful for

My little family and new seasons of life.

thinking of

Exciting changes and all that entails.

hoping

To share more regularly on my blog.  I really miss writing and chatting with all my sweet blog friends!

one of my favourite things

Craft mornings with sweet littlies.  I love watching them enjoy the creative process and seeing how happy they are with their finished products!

And there you have it, this is what is happening in my world in November...

~

And how are you, sweet friends?  Drop me a note in the comments below, or pop me an email at kelly.countrydiary@gmail.com.  I would love to hear from you!

Sending love your way!

in which we go to the sea

 I love getting to make memories as a family...

Being the three of us is so much fun!

If you remember from my in my world post last month, I shared that we were planning a little getaway to the sea...

^How precious are sandy baby feet?

My sweet sister came along to help us with Nicholas, so Rucus and I could go out a couple times while she watched him.  We hadn't been on a date as just the two of us since he was born, so that was a real treat!

^I feel so blessed to be this man's wife!  

To be honest, hubby and I were both so tired (and still are, really), that we didn't get to go down to the beach till the morning we left.  We rested and relaxed at the house as much as we could...

^Nicholas loves Aunty Gabrielle.  She is so good with him!

It was lovely to take Nicholas down to the beach for his first proper beach outing.  When he was six weeks old we took a drive to St Francis Bay and spent a few minutes on the beach taking photographs before getting back in the car to escape the wind!

Nicholas was definitely a bit nervous of the crashing waves, and it took him awhile before he would go near the water.  He held his Daddy's hand and enjoyed walking barefoot in the sand, though...

Later we took him to the lagoon, and he sat in the shallow and calm water and splashed about very happily.  This boy really loves water!

I am hoping we will be able to take him to the beach again fairly soon - he enjoys playing in his sandpit and building sandcastles, or rather watching me build sand castles, and then smashing them down, so beach outings should be more enjoyable for him now.

I love watching Nicholas discover the world around him...it is so wonderful seeing him get excited about new things.  Mama life is crazy and exhausting but oh! so wonderful.  

My heart is full.

I hope you're having a lovely week, sweet friends!

~ Kelly-Anne

Nicholas at 9 months (he's walking!!) - the month of milestones!

 Once again, this little update is over two weeks late.  Life in our home has been so busy, and Nicholas has been quite the handful too, and I'll tell you why in a moment...

I can't believe that Nicholas has now been in our family for as long as he was in utero.  I feel like we are really getting to know him now as his little (or should I say, not so little), personality is emerging more as he is getting older.

The big news is...Nicholas cut his first tooth and took his first steps a few days after turning nine months old!  He actually only learned to crawl just two weeks before, so this little guy is hitting his milestones all in one go it would seem.      

I feel quite emotional thinking that the baby stage is officially behind us...  Nicholas is definitely entering toddlerhood, and is even busier and more curious than ever.

He seems to be more sensitive to loud noises all of a sudden - his bottom lip will drop and he will cry inconsolably if he hears a loud or strange noise, even if its in the distance.  Funnily enough, if he falls over or bumps himself, which happens fairly regularly right now, he doesn't seem particularly bothered.

In terms of food, he doesn't seem very interested in eating at the moment.  Perhaps being mobile is just way too thrilling and eating just means he has to sit still.  Or he is cutting another tooth...

As a result, he is waking for an extra feed each night, and feeding more during the day.  Much as I love breastfeeding and am so thankful that it has gone so well for us, I look forward to Nicholas weaning, because he wriggles and squirms and pinches and pulls off so much, I feel so irritated after a nursing session!  I have no idea when he will wean, but I don't see myself being able to keep it up till the age of two as is recommended.

In terms of sleep, Nicholas was doing so well for a good few weeks, but we seem to have hit another regression, because he has been waking every two or so hours again each night, and Rucus and I are absolutely exhausted from all the disturbed sleep.  

For the most part his naps are fairly good and he usually he takes two a day - either a long one in the morning and a short one in the late afternoon, or the other way around.  I have had to extend his wake windows a bit lately as he has been refusing naps and instead standing up or playing in his cot.  

Nicholas is obsessed with animals - he gets so excited when he sees a dog or cat, and recognizes them in books too.  He loves stories, especially one lift the flap book in particular called Dear Zoo, and I have to read it over and over.  He will lift the flaps himself and is generally quite gentle.  Our neighbour has horses, and he squeals with delight when he spots them on our walks.  Fletch continues to be his best friend, and watching the two of them interact is really precious.

Nicholas also gives high fives now and has been waving goodbye each time we say "bye".  He will also sometimes gives me a slobbery kiss which is the best thing ever...that and hearing him say "mama" or "mum" when he sees or wants me.

He thinks his toys are boring, so mommy packed them away.  All he wants to do these days is practice walking or play outside in the dirt or with the hose pipe.  This boy is crazy about water!  I end up bathing or showering him and changing his outfit multiple times a day because he gets so dirty and brings all the dirt into the house.

And I think that brings us to the end of this update...  I am so enjoying my little boy and can't believe he is almost a year old.  I am thankful for being able to spend every waking second with him, even though it can be completely draining, because babies are small for such a short amount of time and they change by the day.

Love and hugs to you, sweet friends...pop by again soon for another in my world post...

~ Kelly-Anne

P.S.  Nicholas did in fact cut another tooth shortly after I wrote this update.  So now he has one bottom and one top tooth which is too sweet and would explain why he wasn't too keen on food for awhile...