Hello Baby!

Hello sweet baby!

We are more than a bit slow on the welcoming news, but she is here! Bella Lain Langton born in September 2021.

She is just so perfect, mostly quiet, just taking in the world and watching her big brothers. Her brothers absolutely love her, like really LOVE her. All over her and up in her face every chance they can get.

She’s a long baby who’s always liked to be held upright, never all squished up like a little newborn, even when she was still brand new.

And of course Pat and I just absolutely adore her too. The most perfect and precious addition to our family, sweet baby Bella. <3

Pop, pop!

Meg wears: Soon Maternity Alice Denim Maternity Overalls, Classic Cotton Maternity T-Shirt, Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars

36 weeks and counting! We are on the final countdown for baby to come, and we are ready and waiting :)

I know some people really love being pregnant, like REALLY love it, the feeling, the changes, everything about it. Well, that isn’t me. Sure it’s an amazing thing that the body does, producing a whole human, but for me it’s a means to an end. You do the pregnancy for the beautiful baby at the end.

It’s like going on a holiday, you don’t LOVE the journey there (unless maybe if you are flying first class), you do the travel to get to the beautiful location at the end of the journey. That’s how I see pregnancy!

And what with leg cramps, nerve pain, fatigue, insomnia, feeling like a huge whale, hormonal skin… the list goes on! Really how can anyone LOVE all that? ;)

Only a few weeks to go, and it will be all worth it. Can’t wait!

Oh baby, baby!

Meg wears: Pea in a Pod Ensley Nursing Dress Nursery furniture: Quirky Bubba Cot, Chest of Drawers and Change Mat, Aster and Oak Latte Knit Heirloom Blanket, Happy Go Ducky Wooden Pull Along Car, Hali Rugs Lichi Rug in Beige

Babies room is starting to come together! And can I tell you what, it is a lot of fun using PINK this time around.

We started by looking for a nursery setting that would provide lots of storage while also looking stylish, and I fell in love with this Daisy Package from Quirky Bubba. The package includes the drawers, cot and change table (including the cot mattress and change mat). The double chest of drawers is so perfect for our space as we won’t have any in-built storage for bubba, so lots of drawers to put all the teeny tiny clothes in was a must, and it also has the bonus drawer under the cot (such a good idea!).

Of course I had to go with some pink sheets and blankets (wouldn’t you after two boys!?), and this beautiful heirloom Aster and Oak blanket was from Pat’s mum before she passed away. So special, and something we’ll hold on to forever.

I also did a stock up from Target, including the pom poms on the wall, bunny rug on the cot and they had a really beautiful range of muslin wraps, storage baskets and also the sweet little flower cushion in the cot.

So many more beautiful girly things I have my eye on, but I’m trying to restrain myself (if I can!) and buy things as we need them, as I do have a tincy bit of a tendency to get carried away (lol).

There's a baby a coming!

Meg wears: Legoe Heritage ‘Shift Knit Midi Dress’, Stamp And Shine ‘My Sun, moon and all of my stars’ necklace. Boys wear: Country Road ‘Textured Short’, Target ‘Organic Cotton Tshirt’

6 weeks to go until baby arrives! Unless, of course baby comes earlier, or later, only time will tell. The boys have been super excited for baby to arrive. Must be such a long time for little kids to wait!

Remy is most excited about becoming a ‘big brother’ - mostly because he is obsessed with being BIG! And keeps asking ‘are we going to go get the baby now?’, just as if we can go and pick it up from the shops real quick ;)

Austin was not keen at first about a new baby coming home, but has changed his tune now (phew), and has decided the baby’s nickname should be ‘six’. He is actually so good with little kids and babies, and loves making them laugh, so once we get past those first few weeks when baby has little reaction to the world around, I think they will get on like a house on fire.

We still have enough time left to get all of the last minute organising done - get the car seats fitted, wash all the teeny tiny newborn clothes, make sure everything is all set up but also it won’t be long at all until we are outnumbered!

Back to home schooling

Not a picture of homeschooling….but let’s be real we all need a break now and then, and lego has been our saviour! As has cooking, magnetix, scooting around the block… and some good old fashioned ipad time when we all need a break.

Not sure if any other grade 1 students LOVE home schooling, but Austin is not a fan. So any time spent on “class work” or logged on to a zoom class, or doing anything remotely learning is a HUGE struggle. We try to take lots of breaks throughout the day, to break up the class work, and have little bite size learning sessions instead of big blocks.

Really hoping lockdown 6.0 is short and sweet, as by the end of the last lockdown (5.0) the home schooling just about drove us mad!

A rare weekend between lockdowns

Meg wears: Lack of Colour ‘Juno Boater Hat in Cream’, Reality Eyewear ‘Loren Sunglasses’, Pea in a Pod ‘Felicity Nursing Top’, Soon Maternity ‘Overbelly Skinny Denim Pants’, Wanderers Travel Co ‘The petite parisian bag’

Somewhere between lockdown 5.0 and lockdown 6.0 we managed to get down to St Kilda Pier for a little bit of exploring. We woke up to what looked like a gloomy, chilly day, but after being stuck in the house for over two weeks, we persevered with our plans to head out.

Jackets on, beanies packed and off we headed to the beach. And guess what? When we got there - glorious sunshine, the air completely still, and sunshine as far as the eye could see. Yes, it was Melbourne, yes it was only 14 degrees, but after being in lockdown for 2 weeks and stuck to the house - it felt AMAZING!

Remy had started the day not wanting to leave the house, it took a lot of cajoling (and maybe some bribery) to get him out….but once we were there the kids had so much fun! Spotting fish off the pier (we saw a puffer fish, and lots of star fish), looking at the boats, walking along the beach, and of course getting an ice cream (yes even at 10am on a Melbourne winters day).

Beachcomber on St Kilda Beach had a setup right on the sand, and the lovely maitre d had buckets and spades for the kids to play with. Would definitely recommend, especially as the weather gets warmer!

Summer has arrived

Meg wears Salty Crush Lemnos Maxi Dress and Archer Cardigan.

Melbourne winter has come and gone, and spring has just slipped away but Summer has arrived and the timing couldn’t be better. We are slowly clawing our way out of lockdown, and ‘normal life’ - whatever that may be - is almost upon us.

Lunches out, walking freely and mask-free, catching up with friends and even doing mundane things like ducking to the supermarket with kids in tow, are all on the cards now, and I intend to take full advantage of it!

I’m pretty sure I will be living in this gorgeous Salty Crush Lemnos Maxi Dress, it’s the perfect free flowing cotton dress for a hot summer’s day. Typical Melbourne throwing all of the four seasons at us, I’ve worn it here with the Archer Cardigan in cream, which is oh so delightfully soft and cuddly.

Fingers crossed restrictions keep easing, and we get to have a somewhat normal next few months!

Let's make cake (and eat it too)

Let’s make cake, and eat it too! Or in Austin’s case, let’s eat as much cake mix as we can while mum isn’t looking.

Although Austin hates most foods in general (there are only a handful of foods that he will eat so long as they are cooked to his very strict guidelines), he actually really enjoys cooking! So long as it is something, sweet and chocolatey. And that doesn’t bother me at all, if he is in the kitchen and getting used to mixing, measuring and cracking eggs I think it is all good! And hopefully one day he will expand his horizons a little outside of sweets and try to cook something else (and if he would start eating a wider variety of foods too that would make me oh SO happy). Baby steps!

Austin used the My Little Giggles Learning Tower here to bake this cake, it is the perfect height to get him working at the bench top so that he can see exactly what he is doing (and not accidently fall off a chair). And considering how much he is loving cooking at the moment I think it is going to get a lot of use!

My Little Giggle’s Learning Tower has just launched online and are Australian designed and made using FSC Certified Sustainable timber. They have been created to be a design piece in your home, keeping in mind space for those who have smaller kitchens or live in apartments. Plus it includes a height adjustable top step as well as a removable safety rail so once your little ones no longer require a safety rail you can simply remove and store away until you need it again.

And does it have the kids tick of approval? Well considering how much they fight over who’s turn it is to use it, then YEP, it definitely does!

Review: Dunlopillo Pillows

Two little monkeys jumping on the bed… Ok, it wasn’t two little monkeys jumping on the bed, it was just one and his name is Austin! Don’t you love it when your kids want to ‘help’ with the housework and then everything take 10 times as long to get done.

Well Mr. 5 year old was my little helper making the bed… which meant rolling around in the sheets, making a mountain with the pillows and jumping under the covers every time I pulled them over. Thanks so much for all your help buddy! ;)

We just got new pillows, which are so comfy! They are Dunlopillo, and they have their own online diagnostic tool to help Aussies pick the perfect pillow. And thank goodness for that because I’ve never known what pillow would work best for me… feather, synthetic, latex… too many choices! The tool takes into account what way you prefer to sleep (front, side, back) and any ailments, allergies, back or neck pain.

I’m one week in with the new pillows and I’ve been sleeping like a dream all week. Perfecto!

Review: MiniRoo's Mighty Menu

Turkey sandwich recipe and all fresh ingredients shown in Austin’s yummy lunchbox can be found at Aldi.

The ALDI MiniRoo’s Mighty Menu is packed full of recipes for delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners. I wouldn’t say any of the recipes are ground-breakingly different (and thank god for that because I don’t know how I’d get something like that past Mr-Fussy-Eater-Five-Year-Old), but all the recipes are easy to follow, use fresh ingredients and most importantly are delicious!

Even our Mr. Fussy has tried the oatmeal pancakes and cookies with success and the chicken meatballs were also a big hit at family dinner, especially with Remy.

The menu has been created by the Socceroo’s Chef Martini Capovilla, and has something for everyone including kids recipes, gluten free and back to school recipes in addition the MiniRoo Mighty Menu. Yum!