Our first family weekend away- part 1

Silly I know but I have been looking forward to our first trip away for some time. We headed to Launceston to visit family and take part in our first Walk for Prems. 

These last few weeks the spring weather has been foul, gale force winds and rain. For once the walls of the hut seemed to close in around me. Even on the weekends with Rob home the destructive winds have been making us both a bit tetchy as we watched it play havoc with the garden and trees.

So we headed off on Friday after Rob mowed the lawns and I dyed my hair. Our commodore wagon groaned with it's load. Packed to the gunnels with gear. Poor dogs had to be squished between the pram and suitcase until we got to their dog babysitter. I'm sure we had to pack the same amount of baby gear if we'd been going for a month!

After a quick stop in the city for cheese (for dinner) and sushi for lunch on the run, we drove north, the girls slept peacefully, and Rob and I chatted without  simultaneously amusing a baby. 

We shared our ritual Friday cheese platter with family, before settling in at Rob's parents place. The girls snuggled between us. 

The novelty of curtains meant we all slept in until 8am! We headed down to the local farmer's market, the harvest market. The girls first expedition in the big pram. Maggie slept through most of it, but Elisabeth took in her surroundings keenly.  

After loading up the pram with baked goods, we headed back to feed the babies and let them have some floor time. Elisabeth took advantage of the carpeted hallway and practised her crawling. She has perfected the coordination of diagonal arms and legs, and is starting to move quickly. We spent the afternoon visiting family.

Earlier in the day Rob and I had decided upon dinner out at Smokey Joe's Creole Cafe. We've been meaning to try it for a while now. I admit that about 4pm my enthusiasm was waning a little. The girls were a little grizzly (they had been in and out of the car several times) and I was a bit tired. But we headed back to feed and change them and if they'd been upset after that I would have pulled the plug. But we all rallied and headed out into the lovely evening. We arrived at 6pm, first in the doors. The restaurant were very accommodating of the girls and their pram. Rob and I enjoyed a beer and BBQ oysters while we soaked in the atmosphere of the restaurant. 

At about this stage I had hoped the girls would fall asleep in their pram. But Elisabeth must have been able to smell the pulled pork. She complained until we took her out of the pram. Her mood picked up as she banged her little hands on the table, drank water out of a glass and waved to the waitress.

The mains arrived: mine a ginormous pulled pork sandwich with fries and slaw, and Rob's BBQ ribs. I gave Rob some of my pork to give to Elisabeth, it was very soft, so perfect baby food. Maggie had a taste but wasn't keen, so after a little rocking I was able to put her in the pram to sleep. Rob was juggling his ribs and feeding a demanding baby, there was BBQ sauce everywhere! I quickly finished and then held Elisabeth so Rob could enjoy his ribs properly. Elisabeth was extremely pleased with herself. Giggling and looking around at the other patrons who had begun to fill the room. 

We thought dessert might be pushing our luck, so with a piece of French Silk pie to go, we headed home. Elisabeth was still in a good mood in the car. Chatting away to herself and breaking out in laughter. Obviously she enjoyed her first dinner out.

The best bit was we were home by 7.30, so we changed the girls, I gave them one last feed and they fell asleep (Elisabeth still grinning) between us. I snuck off Nigella like to eat my pie and then we fell asleep. 

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"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013"

This week I'm sharing the portraits with my daughters.

Maggie: she loves morning cuddles in bed. If you kiss her little neck she giggles every time.

Elisabeth: she is changing so quickly. Crawling like a champ. Starting to speak "dadadadada". Thumping her little hands down on the bumbo tray in anticipation of dinner. Taking in everything around her. 

Joining in with Jodi at Che & Fidel. 

Free for a morning

I was given a treat this morning. Rob let me have the morning off to get my hair cut. I think it had been a year since my last hair cut and whilst I had been growing it, I had remembered recently why I haven't had long hair in a while. My hair is very thick and heavy. Combined with zero personal time meant that when I managed a shower I was just putting it up into a pony tail wet. I was a bit over it. I took Nigella in for her summer trim too. So between us we must have left kilos of hair in Hobart. 

It was odd to be on my own. I chatted to my hairdresser (mostly of course about the girls), a novelty to speak with an adult other than Rob! 

Of course he styled my hair and I knew I'd just want to go home and wash it out. But it was nice to sit and be preened.

I drank my tea too milky and too fast, just like I do at home now.

I went into new and glittery shops that have opened in the revitalised city centre. But was overcome with the bright lights, music and choice, so scurried out without a purchase. 

I darted away from anybody with a cough. Not sure when or if I'll lose that habit.

I got a new phone. I don't miss Telstra shops, that's for sure.

The shopping highlight was heading back to the big pharmacy near the hospital to buy hair dye (oh those grey hairs are multiplying), baby QV wash, breastfeeding shields and bottle teats.

I picked up one of my favourite afternoon snacks when I was at the hospital: a caramel milkshake and date scone. 

Even our little city is buzzing after my long babymoon at the hut. I have lost the ability to concentrate in such a noisy, busy environment. I also didn't realise how much I filter what I read and watch as I only have a phone to engage with the wider world. 

I seek beauty. In life. In a bunch of flowers from the garden. In classical music on the radio. In the grey goshawk as it flies across the dam. The rain pouring down my window pane. The pasture grasses starting to flower. Online friendships that are more real to me than some of my real life friends. In the kind and loving gestures of a dear husband I love very much. In the faces of our daughters.

It was fun for a few hours. But I don't really mind that I've stepped off the merry-go-round at the moment. It will help me appreciate our life at home all the more. Both Nigella and I feel lighter, ready for summer, free.

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"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013"

Maggie: practising her crawl position. So she can catch her crawling sister!

Elisabeth: those eyes. She is a little person now: so expressive, so beautiful and so clever.

Joining in (a little late) with Jodi at Che & Fidel. 

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"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013"

It's been a week of sniffles here at the hut. Snotty babies aren't fun, are they? But they seem to be over the worst of it.

We have been taking this monthly portrait over Rob's shoulders since June. Watching the girls change from month to month is pretty amazing. (Maggie is on the left and Elisabeth on the right).

They were weighed and measured this week: Maggie is 5450g and 64cm and Elisabeth is 5810g and 65cm.

We'll keep taking them as long as Rob can pick them both up! 

Joining in with Jodi at Che and Fidel. 

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"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013"

Maggie: being changed into day clothes by Papa.

Elisabeth: (very) early sunlight into the hut, Elisabeth trying to crawl on the mat while I fed Maggie, the dogs looking in, Rob making us our morning coffees.

I tried to take a few photos this week of our morning routine: images to trigger a memory of these spring mornings at the hut with two small babies.

Joining in with Jodi at Che & Fidel.

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"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013"

Maggie: she can be a clown one minute, or super serious the next, or then just like this photo she has the sweetest look and you just can't help but melt.

Elisabeth: I had no idea that babies could express such a wide range of emotions! Elisabeth spied Maggie holding the bug toy! 

Joining in a little late with Jodi at Che & Fidel.