Nicholas and Friends in Spring and other Spring Ramblings ♥

 

Just a bit obsessed with this little boy....

...And these glorious Spring days..

There is just something about the arrival of spring that fills me with happiness.  Maybe it's the chorus of the frogs at night...a sweet lullaby to drift off to sleep listening to.  

Or the joyful song of the birds during the day.  There are so many different birds inhabiting our garden this year...Weavers, Robins and Sugar birds, to name but a few.  

I love the pretty butterflies fluttering about from flower to flower, looking too lovely and delicate to be so hard at work.  The crisp, cool mornings and the still chilly nights - I love snuggling under a fluffy blanket as long as possible.  

I always feel hopeful in the springtime...the blossoming of the trees remind me of the sweet new life that follows the gloom of winter.  

I want to spend all my time out of doors soaking up the warmth of the still mild sunshine and breathing in the sweet aroma of the clean air.  Nicholas spends many hours each day outside on his playmate or in the same pit.  Or we will go for a walk or practice his standing and crawling on the grass.  These are glorious days, and I am constantly chattering away about this tiny wildflower, or that happy bird.  I stop and pick flowers on almost every walk, or pause to snap a picture.  

One can't help but smile in spring.  

I find springtime so inspiring and my head feels like it may burst with all the ideas that are occupying my thoughts.

This year I have sown flowers in my little garden...poppies, cosmos and flax are just beginning to show their baby leaves, and I have hopes of also planting zinnias and sunflowers and other cheery flowers.

What do you love most about Spring?  

Nicholas' Eight Month Update

 Before yet another month goes by, I thought I should share an update on how little Nicholas is doing...

Nicholas is now eight and a half months old, and I feel like he has changed dramatically in the last six weeks or so...

He is desperately trying to get moving...he will go onto his hands and knees and can scoot backwards, but he's not crawling yet.  He can pull himself up, though, and will "walk" holding our hands, or just stand holding onto something for hours each day.  

I have a feeling this boy is going to skip crawling altogether...

He can now say "Dada", "Mama" and "Baba", but not in context yet.  He also started waving hello last month which is so precious.!

We have started experiencing some separation anxiety...  Even though Nicholas is still a very friendly and smiley little guy, he's not too eager to go to just anyone anymore, and doesn't like it if I hold another baby or do anything which means he doesn't get my full attention.  

He is just fitting into 18-24 month clothing which is crazy.  I have no idea what he weighs, but he's growing, no doubt about that!

He is eating three meals a day with a snack somewhere in between, and usually nursing twice in every wake window.  This boy loves his food and is still breastfed.  Breastfeeding is really not fun anymore as he wriggles and pulls off the whole time, and even though he doesn't have teeth yet, he has bitten me.

Nicholas is very busy...from the moment he opens his eyes in the morning or after a nap, he is on the go, and this mama is struggling to keep up!  I still take him out as often as possible to keep him stimulated, and he is outside for a good few hours each day, whether it be on his play mat with his stacking cups and plastic tea set, or in the sand pit, or in his pram for a walk, he gets lots of sunshine and fresh air.  

He actually had his first swim on Sunday which he absolutely loved!

In terms of sleep, things are still pretty inconsistent.  After we got back from our trip, we started sleep training for night wakings and nap time because we were co-sleeping and he was waking sometimes eight times a night and nursing whenever he wanted to.   I just wasn't coping anymore.

Some nights he will wake at 11pm and cry for an hour (I check in on him every so often), other nights he will sleep till 2 or 3am before waking for a feed.  

And we have even had a few 9, or like last night, ten hour stretches, which has been amazing!  

Nicholas is an early bird, but thankfully summer is coming and we don't really mind getting up early.

Usually he only takes two naps a day, and he will go down by himself which is a game changer for us.  Some days he will do one or two long naps or 1 hour +, other days, like today, he woke after 35 minutes and I had to go in and get him down again.  

His wake windows are about 2 hours and 45 minutes to three hours long now, except between his last nap and bedtime, which can sometimes be four hours, depending on what time he woke from his second nap.

At the moment, Nicholas loves...

Eating raisins.  He can pick them up beautifully and will even transfer a raisin from his left hand to his right hand.  

Having Mommy sing 'Pat-a-Cake' and help him do the actions.

"Walking" with Mommy and Daddy's help.

Playing with Fletch or holding onto him and standing.

Bath time

Riding in his new big boy car seat

I can't believe that our baby is already almost nine months old...

I love having a little boy around and even though I am sad he is growing up, I am enjoying this stage and cherishing each moment.

~

Happy October, dear friends!

How are things in your corner of the world this month?

Nicholas' first flight, a wedding and memory making

Well hello lovely friends...

It is a gorgeous Spring morning, and I am sitting with a cup of hot coffee and soaking up the peace and quiet.  My sweet husband took Nicholas out for an hour or so this morning to give me a little break.  Nicholas loves going out with his daddy.  {{Smiles}}  

We have just come back from almost a week away in Gauteng and Mpumalanga for my dear sister-in-law's wedding.  It was a wonderful time of visiting with my husband's extended family and getting to see a different part of the country, but the non-stop travelling and visiting was exhausting, especially with a baby who just doesn't sleep.  

We also got sick as soon as we arrived home, so we've been blowing our noses and trying to stay cheerful while nourishing our bodies with good food and resting as much as is possible with a busy seven month old baby.  {{smiles}}

Nicholas went on his first ever flight and he was a star!  He loved charming all the people at the airport and on the plane, and gave us no trouble whatsoever.  I am so grateful that he is so social - it made the whole trip so much more enjoyable.

Nicholas was ring bearer for his aunty...Daddy carried him down the aisle.

^The three of us.  How crazy to think that it wasn't too long ago Rucus and I were getting married!

^Nicholas congratulating the bride and groom

^My little wedding date.  

It was so incredibly special being able to go to my sister-in-law's wedding with my husband and son - I love being a family and getting to share special moments with them!

Nicholas got to meet his Oupa (Afrikaans for grandpa - my husband is Afrikaans and he only speaks Afrikaans to Nicholas) and his other two aunties and uncles.  It was wonderful seeing my precious mother-in-law again too!

The day after the wedding, Rucus took me to Dullstroom and Belfast where he spent a good few years of his life.  He showed me the house where he grew up, the school he attended, and where he he worked as an apprentice at Heavin Forge (he is a bladesmith).

^I love being mama to this darling boy!

^And wife to my handsome man!

^Our little family

^Dullstroom Dam

I had been looking forward to this trip for months, and it was even more wonderful than I imagined it would be.  I am so thankful for the time spent with family and for all the sweet memories we made!

I am truly enjoying this season of life...I feel very blessed to living my dream of being a wife and mother.  

kisses for my nicholas

“You may get all grown-up one day but in the heart of your Mama, you will always be the precious little baby I once held in my arms.”

Nicholas at six months

Once again, this update is a bit late.  Things have been pretty crazy around here with my husband preparing for the annual knifemakers guild show.  He is actually in Johannesburg at the moment, and my sisters are staying with me.

Yesterday we managed to do a little photoshoot which I will share soon.  I have been trying to get more photographs with my little guy, and I am so pleased with how they came out!  Thanks goes to Gabrielle for being the photographer.

Nicholas turned six months old on the 21st - I can't believe that he is now closer to his first birthday than to a newborn.  He is such a joy and he makes life so much fun!

Nicholas at six months...

 ♥He loves eating banana and avocado all by himself (the baby-led weaning way).

 ♥He adores Fletch, our Border Collie.  Fletch always makes Nicholas laugh and is currently the best babysitter.

♥Although he still loves being around other people, he isn't so keen on being held by anyone other than Mommy and Daddy and maybe his aunties.

♥He is very eager to get up and walk - he seems so frustrated to be stuck in his baby body!

♥He is very vocal and is especially loud when he's tired.

♥He loves going out with Daddy.

♥The smiles he gives to Mommy are too precious.

♥He is back to napping for only 30-45 minutes at a time, and he is down to three naps a day.  Night time sleep is still all over the place...some nights he wakes every two hours, other nights he will sleep up to 6.5 hours at a time.

♥He loves snuggling with Mommy each morning (I usually pop him in the bed with me around 4 or 5 each morning otherwise he won't go back to sleep and we start our day way too early!).

♥He absolutely loves being in his Jolly Jumper - he starts jumping before I have even got him in properly.

♥His daily walks make him so happy.

♥He still does not enjoy being on his tummy, and would always much rather sit.

♥Although Nicholas is a much happier chap these days, he is still pretty intense, gets bored easily and does not want to be left alone.

I love being mama to this little boy.  My heart is so full.

in the month of july//a chatty update

 We are already over halfway through the month of July.  Having a little one definitely makes me more aware of how quickly the days slip by...  Nicholas will be six months old this week.  I can't believe that my little boy is already sitting up, eating real food and bouncing away in his Jolly Jumper.

Much as I adore tiny babies, I those newborn days were rough, and I am enjoying having him be a bit more independent.  He is so adorable and such a friendly little guy - he has a smile for everyone!  Stay tuned for his six month update coming soon.

^Rucus sent me this photo of Nicholas when they were out on Sunday.

Lately my husband has been taking Nicholas out every now and again to give me some time to rest or catch up on housework without having to stop and play with Nicholas or move him to a different activity.  He started with a few quick trips for milk or bread, and now they're gone for almost an hour at a time.  I love that Nicholas is getting to spend time with his Daddy.  Watching the two of them interact is so precious.  

Rucus has been very busy in the workshop creating special pieces for the annual knifemakers guild show coming up at the end of this month.  He is currently working two jobs to support our little family.  I so appreciate what he does for us and I have really enjoyed watching each beautiful sword and dagger come together...  You can see what he's been up to by visiting his Instagram here.

Now that Nicholas is in a good bedtime routine, we have a date night at home every Wednesday.  Once Nicholas is in bed, we make homemade hamburgers and chips, and sit together and watch a movie.  If you have any good, clean movie recommendations, please share in the comments!  We also try and go out for a coffee once a week, too.  Usually Nicholas is happy to sit on the grass and play with his toys while we chat and sip our coffee.

^Nicholas loves playing in the leaves.

My sister, Gabrielle, has been such a blessing to me the last couple weeks.  She comes to help me with housework, or to keep Nicholas entertained while I do some sewing.  This month she actually stayed over for two nights to keep me company because Rucus needed to spend some extra time in the workshop.  We watched Singin' in the Rain together one evening which was such fun!  

^Reading stories with his aunty.

I recently organised my sewing supplies and hope to work on a few fun projects over the next few weeks.  My sweet sister in law is getting married at the end of August, and I'm really hoping to make a few things for her new home.  Last week I sewed a few velvet cushions for displaying the blades Rucus is taking to the show.

^Gorgeous views...

I am surprised that we have had so little wintry weather this month.  I love these cooler sunshiny days as I like to take Nicholas for one or two walks each day, and we sit outside as much as possible.  

^Someone loves going for a ride in his pram!

When it is cold and rainy, I like to make good comfort food.  I have been making this delicious chicken and gnocchi soup almost every week for the past month or so as it is Rucus' favourite.  I am really enjoying cooking again and it is something I can do even if Nicholas is having a bad day.  I just babywear him and carry on.

^A quick selfie:-)

Nicholas and Fletch, our Border Collie puppy, have become firm friends, and while I make coffee each morning, Nicholas sits on his play mat and Fletch lies next to him and "babysits" him while I'm busy.  

I had best bring this little update to a close. My baby is sleeping and I want to get the floors washed before he wakes up.  I am sure you can tell how much I adore little Nicholas by all the photographs of him in this post!  

I am really enjoying blogging again and have so many ideas for future posts.  I am feeling more and more like myself and inspired to write!

What have you been up to this month?

Blessings on the rest of your week, friends!

when all you can do is rock the baby

Its been a tough week.  Nicholas has been teething and boy, has he been miserable. 

By the time Saturday rolled around, I was fed up with his constant moaning, and feeling pretty grumpy myself from all the night wake ups and crying.

Of course I went and spilled my morning coffee (something I always look forward to each day), and by the time I had made a new cup, Nicholas was already due for a nap, so my second coffee got cold.

Ridiculous as it may sound, I had a good cry and allowed some self pity to creep in...

Too often I catch myself allowing my circumstances to determine my mood.

Don't get me wrong, a cranky baby and tiredness are two very good reasons for a bad mood, but I realise that as a wife and mom, I have a responsibility to set the tone in the home, and if I'm miserable, I'm going to bring those around me right down with me.

"Motherhood is the journey out of our self-centeredness."
~ Kate Marchiniak

After Nicholas woke from his nap, my husband took him for a little drive so I could have a shower in peace, get dressed and even put some make up on.

While getting myself ready for the day, I started praying and asking the Lord for the strength to rise above my feelings and for joy to fill my heart once again.

Yes, life with a teething baby is not fun and I may be frustrated because I'm just too tired to do anything during his nap time besides taking a nap myself, or maybe read a page or two of my book, but I can still be happy and have a good day.

On the days when you all you want do is climb back into bed and grumble because your baby isn't sleeping and just fusses all the time, stop.  Take a deep breath, and ask the Lord for an extra helping of grace and strength.

Choose to be joyful.  I know it seems impossible. But I saw a huge turn around in my day when I took those negative thoughts captive and gave thanks.  I actually ended up having a wonderful day.

"Embrace your calling of motherhood. You live in the glory of who you were created to be when you are nurturing and nourishing your children."

~ Nancy Campbell

Here are six easy ways you can change the direction of your day when things are going rough...

1. Get ready for the day, even if it means the baby has to cry for a few minutes. Take a shower, get dressed in something pretty - what we wear can have a big impact our mood - and put a touch of make up on.

2. Think of three things you are thankful for and write them down. You can do this with the baby in the carrier.

3. Go for a walk, even if it's cold.  Just bundle up.  Fresh air and exercise is bound to lighten your mood.  Wear baby in the carrier if he won't sit in the pram without grumbling.

4. Have a friend who is in a similar stage of life over, or if that isn't possible, call them.  A few good laughs over the challenges of mama life will get those endorphins going!

5. Make a cup of tea, put a picnic blanket down on the grass and just sit with your baby and soak up the sunshine. Vitamin D always lifts the spirits.

6. Make a joyful noise. Listen to uplifting and edifying music or hum a happy tune. Singing always makes me feel good and sets a peaceful tone in the home.

Do you have a small baby? Are you also in the midst of a difficult season?

Share your tips for being joyful in spite of the challenges of motherhood!

With love,

Kelly-Anne

becoming a mom//i am so fulfilled

  “The very first moment I beheld him, my heart was irrevocably gone.” – Jane Austen

I thought I was prepared to be a mom....  I may have been around babies most of my life, having grown up as the eldest in a family of seven and worked as a nanny in my early twenties, but let me tell you, motherhood hit me hard.

I don't think I was really prepared for just how exhausting and all consuming being a mom would be...

In a moment you become everything to this tiny human who screams louder than should be possible for one so small, and demands more from you than you ever thought it possible to give.

Your world becomes a blur as you nurse this hungry little person at your breast and spend hours rocking him to sleep...  Your hormones and emotions seem to spin out of control as you try to process the fact that you just became a MOTHER...

“Along came this precious little boy, and no day was ever ordinary again.” – Anonymous

I never expected to love someone so small that it hurts...

After the difficulty I went though in bringing my son into this world, I feel an incredibly strong bond with him...  He was absolutely worth it.

I want to protect him from all the pain and evil in this world, and would give anything to keep him safe.  

Motherhood is hard, and often completely overwhelming, and yet so wonderful and rewarding at the same time...

 “Heaven on earth is looking at my little boy. The minute he was born, I knew if I never did anything other than being a mom, I’d be fine.” – Jenny McCarthy

Even on the difficult days when Nicholas is fussing and will only be in my arms, there is still no where else I would rather be, or anything I would rather be doing...

I always dreamed of being a wife and mother...

I feel completely and utterly fulfilled as Nicholas'mom...I know I have truly have found my purpose in life.

my blue eyed boy

 

“And suddenly, he was my everything.” – Anonymous

nicholas at five months

Well hello dear friends, where has the time gone?  My sweet boy is five months old...

Nicholas at five months...

♥He is sitting on his own and rolling over.

♥He is eating solid food - pears, avocado and pumpkin are his current favourites.  Most of the time he just eats from Mommy's plate at meal times.

♥He is a real people person and absolutely loves being out and about.

♥He is very vocal and loves singing and squealing and making a big noise.  His high pitched little voice is so darn cute.

♥He loves going for walks in his pram, being outside and bath time.

♥He is now wearing 12-18 month clothing- he is a big squishy boy.

♥He still loves his milk, riding in the baby carrier and early morning snuggles (this boy is an early bird) with Mommy.

♥He is finally sleeping for longer stretches at night, and having regular naps in his cot during the day.

♥He is now in his own room and also goes to sleep all by himself (sometimes he sings a little song before falling asleep) at night.

♥He loves watching Daddy work in his work shop.

Little Nicholas is absolutely adorable and brings us such joy!

Stay tuned for more Nicholas content coming soon...{{smiles}}