our January and a long overdue life update (we moved!)

^Summer days are for water play!

 Happy February, lovelies!

What do you have planned for this month?

I have started setting small goals each month...

A few days before a new month begins, I sit down with a cup of coffee and review the previous month.

I check off the items I managed to achieve and move things I didn't get around to on to the new month's list.  I also think about any new things I want to do...

Here are a few things I want to do in February...

- Clean out and organise passage cupboard (I am not looking forward to this task...it looks like a haunted house with all the cobwebs!)

- Find and purchase new tyres for Nicholas'pram

- Try a new recipe

- Write out 3 favourite recipes in my recipe book

- Make a baby gift for a friend

And there are quite a few more, but I'll leave it there.  I also have things like publish 1 post a week, have a regular quiet time and journal at least twice a week on my monthly goals list.

~

I can't remember when last I shared what has been going on in our corner of the world...

In December last year we actually moved to a big 1970's style house on a farm about 30 minutes drive away from where we were living...

^This was taken the day before we moved into our new house.

It was such an answer to prayer to be able to rent this house!  My husband now has a double garage which he uses as his workshop (he is a bladesmith and works from home making swords, daggers and some art knives.  If you are curious to see what he does, visit his website here), there is an outside flat which we hope to do up to accommodate students (my husband offers knife making courses from time to time as well), and there is a massive garden for our Border Collie to run around in...

^Misty mornings and playtime with Fletch.  These two are living their best life here on the farm.

There is plenty of space for me to have a vegetable garden at some point, and maybe even keep a flock of chickens.  The house itself is far too big for us, and at the moment we don't even use the lounge and dining room area!

^Honestly, Nicholas would always rather be outside, and a simple stick keeps him occupied much longer than any of his toys!

There are four bedrooms and two bathrooms, a big kitchen with a pantry, and a stoep out the front which overlooks the valley.

^Walking along the gravel road that leads to our house...

We are so happy in our new home and can't get over how blessed we are to live in such a beautiful place.  It is usually very windy here as we are quite high up and close to the mountains, but as a result, it is also usually cooler than anywhere else - a major plus for us as the heat of summer does not agree with us.

^That's our place in the top right hand corner.  See how misty it is...

The views are incredible too...

^Our backyard...

Since moving to our home, my sister, Gabrielle, has been coming over every Tuesday to play with Nicholas for a couple hours and give me time to rest or do something I love to do to, such as blogging.  She is actually here at the moment.

^I love spending my days with this cutie.

I wrote about filling my cup and how I practice "self care" as a mom last week, and one thing we have done that has made a huge difference for me, is to have regular help with Nicholas. 

I feel so refreshed after a couple hours of not having to constantly juggle doing everything with a busy toddler and I get to do something I wouldn't ordinarily be able to do.

^Fresh blackberries...hmmm

We live closer to my family now, which has made it easier to have Gabrielle come over.  Nicholas and I usually visit with my family when I take Gabrielle home.  He is quite comfortable wandering around their house and loves seeing all the animals!

^Nicholas with Judah, my family's pet sheep

I still do arts and crafts classes each week back in the town where we used to live.  Some mornings I have six little ones attending the class, which is so much fun!  These classes are a highlight of my week, and I love planning a new craft and getting everything together for it.  It is so sweet to see the children enjoying the process and being so proud of what they made!  Usually Rucus watches Nicholas while I am busy which is such a blessing.

^This is what happens when Daddy watches the baby so Mama can take a shower in peace!

I feel like I am finally getting my life together after a few years of life being very upside down...  

My family moved out here in 2020, and I moved again shortly after that to work in the next town which is where I met Rucus.  We got married in April 2021 and I fell pregnant with Nicholas shortly after that.  And once he was born, I barely kept my head above water for his first year!

I have started implementing a daily routine and making a weekly meal plan...  

Being intentional about what I hope to achieve each day and not wasting valuable time wondering what to do next or what to cook for supper, has made a big difference in how productive I am each day.  

I also find I have more time to sit and play with Nicholas or do things I enjoy such as writing in my journal or reading a few pages from a book while Nicholas naps.

^Rucus made me coffee and flapjacks for breakfast on my birthday while I enjoyed sitting outside under the trees and (attempted) to journal while Nicholas wandered around the garden.

January saw me turning 26.  It was such a lovely, peaceful birthday.  Gabrielle was here to play with Nicholas and I had a wonderful time going through mementos from our engagement, wedding and Nicholas' first year (I am a hopeless romantic).  I sorted through and organised everything which was really fun to do from start to finish without interruption!  

^How I love this man of mine!

That Saturday we hosted a birthday party/get together for our friends under the trees and it was really lovely!  I absolutely love hosting and it was something I really missed when we were living in our first tiny home.

Nicholas turned one on the 21st of January, and we celebrated his birthday with a tiny party for my family and a few friends.  It was a simple affair, but so special.  I wanted to do something for his birthday as I felt so proud of us for making it through his first year!

And I think that brings us to the end of this little (and pretty picture heavy!) update...

What have you been up to lately, friends?  What are a few of your goals for February?  

Share in the comments below!

With love, Kelly

  Do you follow me on Instagram?  I hop on there fairly often to share a peek into our daily lives...  You can find me @the.handmademama

Celebrating Nicholas' First Birthday (and the last of his monthly milestone updates)

This gorgeous little boy of mine turned one years old on Saturday...

I didn't think I would be as emotional I was this weekend, but it really is surreal to think that his first year is already over, along with so many of his "firsts"...

We celebrated his birthday with a small party for my family and a few friends.  

We wanted to keep it really simple and I love how all the decor and snacks turned out...

I made this delicious blueberry and lemon pound cake with a lemon drizzle icing.  

For a simple and natural looking cake topper, I cut a few little flags from pretty blue scrapbook paper, and hot glued them to hessian twine to make a bunting.  I hot glued each end to a twig and stuck the bunting in each cake.

I made a mini cake for Nicholas and popped a white candle in the middle...

I made some mini chicken mayo tramezzinis which I cut into quarters as a savoury snack...we also had pizza and chips...  I made some lemon and rooibos ice tea as well for the children and the adults that didn't want tea or coffee...

Mama and the birthday boy.

Blowing out the candle...

Getting ready to tuck in...

Hmmm....❤

At 12 months, Nicholas has seven teeth.  He loves looking at and pointing to the pictures and posters on his wall.  He has barely opened his eyes from a nap and he's asking to be taken over to his posters.  He can't bear having his nappy changed, getting dressed, brushing his teeth or any sort of personal hygiene for that matter.  He is just not into books right now and will not sit still for a story.  He suddenly started wanting his stuffed animals this past month.  After a bit of a regression, his sleep has been a bit better...some 6, 7, and 8 hours stretches.  And he actually slept through the night twice this month for some random reason.  He loves visiting Grandpa and Granny and all the aunties and Uncle Caleb.  They have so many animals to play with, including a pet lamb.  Daddy is still his favourite person.  If he is out or we have people over, he doesn't ask for his "milkies", so I don't offer him.  We are starting the weaning process - albiet very slowly.  Being outside is his favourite place to be.  When Nicholas is happy, he is the happiest boy in the world.  But when he is miserable, oh my gosh.  You've got to get the ear plugs out because this boy has a serious pair of lungs on him! In terms of development, he has now learnt to climb down the stairs too which makes me breathe a bit easier.  Nicholas is such a people person and makes everyone smile when we are out.

I am so enjoying having a ONE year old and I am so excited for his second year and being able to do more toddler activities with him, read stories and get to experience life through his eyes...

~

After I had tucked Nicholas' into bed, I sat and wrote him a letter which he can read someday.  I want to treasure all these precious moments in my heart...how I wish I could freeze them in time!

I have a box of all Nicholas' special things from the time I found out I was expecting him till now...  I have also tried to keep a record of all his firsts in the baby journal my mother in law gave me...  I am a bit sentimental, I know...

Thank you for stopping by today, sweet friends...and a big thank you to those of you who took the time to comment on my previous post on my thoughts on the first year of motherhood.  I really appreciate all your kind and encouraging words!

May the week ahead be a lovely one for each of you...

With love, Kelly ❤

Nicholas at eleven months

 Our little boy is less than a month away from his first birthday!

Nicholas is eleven months old...and yes, mama is late in posting this update because 10-11 months was a little rough for us.  We actually moved at the beginning of December, which definitely was quite an upset, and I spent the first few days carrying Nicholas everywhere because he just wouldn't let me put him down.  He weighed 12.6kg at that stage, so my back was killing me by the end of each day!

Nicholas cut three more teeth last month.  He still has a head full of gorgeous blonde hair which we have had to trim twice, and still has his beautiful blue eyes.  He still loves people and is quite the charmer.  I am surprised at how friendly and outgoing he is!

He has started mimicking us more and getting into absolutely everything he shouldn't.  He loves to dance - whenever I put music on, he pops his chubby little arm in the air and starts twirling around clumsily which is hilarious.  He is generally happier to potter about on his own whenever there is music playing.

He is quite a picky eater and some days he just isn't into food.  Or he will love something one day and fling it across the kitchen the next.  He seems to love strawberries, blackberries, roasted beetroot and courgettes right now, though.  And Marmite roast or rusks each morning with mama have become our daily ritual.

Nicholas adores his daddy and keeps toddling to Rucus' workshop and banging on the door and yelling "Dada"at the top of his lungs.  Rucus can't help but open the door!  He gets so excited when Rucus arrives home from work which is so precious.

Sleep has finally improved a bit after weeks of waking every two hours again during the night.  He is still an early bird and usually wakes anywhere from 5am to 6am.  

Now that we have such a wonderful big garden, Nicholas spends most of his time outside.  It is summer here, so he plays with water a lot or wanders around after Fletch who continues to be so gentle with Nicholas.

Having his nappy changed and getting dressed remains Nicholas' worst thing ever and he usually screams the house down.  I try distract him with something interesting, but it only seems to last a few seconds before he throws it on the floor and wriggles and squirms and screams, making it virtually impossible to get the job done!

I love having my little sidekick with me throughout the day.  It is hectic and exhausting, but being Nicholas' mama makes me so happy and I feel incredibly blessed.

My sister has started coming over each Tuesday to watch Nicholas for a few hours just to give me a break...and it has been such a blessing.  Nicholas adores his aunty...and now that we live a bit closer to my family, he is getting to know the rest of his aunties and his grandparents a bit better too.

And I think that bring us to the end of this little eleven month update.  Nicholas is actually due to wake from his first nap any moment, so I had best sign off...  

Happy January, dear friends!

Love, Kelly

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!

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...

in my world ~ October

It would seem that my last in my world update, was in October 2021!

While I was still pregnant with Nicholas, it felt like the days and weeks just d r a g g e d by, but having a little one to care for makes time feel like a blur.

Nicholas is actually taking an early nap right and I am sipping coffee and recovering from (yet another) very early start to the day, and having a now almost nine month old who just wants to have me help him walk everywhere and play with him from the moment he opens his eyes each day.  I may am an early bird, but 5:20 is too early even for me, especially if there is a massive poop diaper involved.

Before I ramble away this precious nap time, let me begin my first in my world post in a whole year...

^Those chins...got to love chubby babies!

^I love everything about these pictures...the glee on his precious little round face, the chubby feet stretched out, and the too tight corduroy pants.  

^Since when did he become such a little man?

^Cappuccino foam mustache.  My heart.

outside my window

Birds and greenery galore.  Spring is in full swing, and my soul delights in how green and vibrant the world around me is right now.

in my cup

As previously mentioned, coffee.  My second cup for the day and it is only 8:30.   Don't judge me, mama life is crazy and sometimes you got to do what you got to do.  {{smiles}}

around the house

I have settled into a good cleaning routine and find it best to just do as much as possible while Nicholas naps, because it is virtually impossible trying to get anything achieved when he's awake.  He is so close to crawling, and will also pull himself up on whatever he is nearest to, so I am realising I need to move things and make our home a bit safer for a baby who is on the move.

reading

I just finished The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery and I think it may be one of my favourite books of all time and perhaps even surpass my love for her Anne books...  I couldn't put it down. 

Before that I read At Home in Thrush Green.  Honestly, all Miss Read's books are delightful and a treasure to get my hands on.

listening to

A lot of 70's soul music...  I find it relaxing at the end of the day and helps slow me down and enjoy our evening routine more.

in the kitchen

Have I ever mentioned how much I love having a man to cook for? Honestly, he is so appreciative and complimentary about pretty much whatever I make, that cooking is an absolute joy.  I have found quite a few new favourite recipes lately which I really need to share.  I tried my hand at making pita bread the other day, and I am obsessed!

in the garden

My poppies are just about blooming!  And there are strawberries and blackberries coming too...I'm hoping the birds don't get to them first, though.  Our peach trees seem to have some sort of disease, so I am going to need to do a bit of research on how to fix that...

out and about

Hubby recently took our little family out to a nearby farm stall for a bite to eat.  They had chickens, rabbits and ducks and a fluffy ginger cat Nicholas wouldn't leave alone.  This boy loves animals - they always make him smile so big!

creating

Do toddler crafts count?  I don't get too much time for being creative at the moment, but I have been trying out crafts for my arts and crafts classes each week which has been fun!

thankful for

Nicholas has been sleeping so much better at night.  Usually he only wakes once for a feed.  It may change again, but I have enjoyed getting a bit more shut eye than usual, even if it means we start our days at just after five.

thinking of

Going away to the seaside for two nights next week.  We are taking my sister along to help with Nicholas so Rucus and I can actually unwind a bit and maybe even go on a date as just the two of us.

hoping

To stop in at a couple second hand stores next week and find one or two books for my collection.  I was so upset when The Blue Castle came to an end...I need a new book to read in the evenings!

one of my favourite things

Art and crafts classes every Thursday morning.  I started doing these classes almost a month ago and have four, sometimes five, 2, 3 and four year olds each week and we are having a blast!

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

~

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!