Ellyse teaching Ashton the art of breastfeeding

Ellyse's obsession with breastfeeding began long before I had Ashton, but since I have had him she has only become more curious. She just loves to help him feed by squeazing my breast and telling him to come on.

Tonight's bath time just hit an all time high though with her telling him to "feed pooh bear booby please Ashton", then she went on to say "this is how you do it" squeazing her little booby just like I do to attach Ashton. It was just adoerable, all so innocent and loving!

I just had to share the pictures.

Whilst I am at it I will include some studio photos we had taken last week. Not usually my style but got a 'free' sitting and 8x10 so thought why not. Got sucked in and bought a little package....but honestly how could I not? My little baby girl looks so grown up!

Thank you Corrie

I recieved a wonderful package from Corrie yesterday to celebrate the arrival of Ashton. Thanks so much Corrie, I just love everything you chose to send to me.

In the parcel was

a vintage girls pattern

5 pieces of fabric - forgive me for not knowing designer's names, they are just adorable

frog stickers - Ellyse just had to have one right away

little japanese tissues

cute themed sticky tape

little iron on ducks

and a cute embroided all in one for Ashton

I can't wait to get into my sewing again and use the wonderful fabrics. Thanks again. I will post a pic of Ashton in the little suit when he wears it.

Happy Father's Day

We had a lovely day today, we went to Manly and had lunch with Dad (Mum is overseas visiting my sisters, she is in London at the moment). There were markets on and Ellyse had a go on the jumping castle and the monster blow up slide. She asked for a turn but I didn’t really think she would do it, but she did and absolutely loved it, I think she had about 5 goes. I had a 10 minute massage which was just divine!, but not long enough We came home and both Ashton and Ellyse went to bed at the same time so I got a rest too (while Keiran mowed the lawn!!).

I hope you all had a fantastic day with your loved ones.

Here are some photos of our day and some others of little Ashton, 6 weeks today!

Where has the time gone?

Firstly, I cannot believe that I have had this blog for 12 months. I was thinking the other day it must be close and I checked and it was the 26th August. WOW, it feels like yesterday that I started sewing for my sweet little girl and that I met all of you wonderful ladies.

Secondly, Ashton is now 5 and a half weeks old so I thought I would share some new pics of him. Now he is smiling it is so much more fun having him in our family, at least a little reward for all the feeding, nappy changing and getting up at night! Ellyse is becoming more accepting of her new brother and has not intentionally hurt him since Saturday last week, a huge achievement for her! Hopefully that is the result of me going over and over and over with her the nice way to touch babies and role playing, praising etc. I was getting quite over it but maybe it has paid off!

Anyway here are some pics

Wonderful gifts from Novy

It has been said before what a wonderful and special little group we have here. I truely do feel blessed to be part of a lovely little community that makes me feel welcome and cared for.

I had some lovely gifts arrive in the mail yesterday from Novy. A lovely little outfit for Ashton and a gorgeous corduroy skirt for Ellyse. Both were proudly modelled this morning. Ellyse didn't take the skirt off all day - well until nap time where she told me "we don't wear skirts to bed mummy, we wear pants" How old is that girl?

Novy's work is just beautiful, so professionally presented - I know I have said this before when we recieved a swap parcel from her.

Thanks so much Novy for thinking of us and taking the time to make gifts for my children (that sounds weird!)

Lovely gifts from Cass

I came home on Friday to find two packages at my door. One was from the lovely Cass. A beautiful baby rug for Ashton and a beautiful little bag for Ellyse. The fabric on the rug says "I love Mummy" "I love Daddy" it is just adorable. Ellyse just loves the fabric of the bag, asking what all of the little girls are doing.

Thanks Cass, you made us feel very special.

Baby Ashton has arrived!

After a long wait and a terrifying birth experience our beautiful Ashton Ross has blessed our family.
Here are the promised pics of our lovely, not so little, man. I don't think I mentioned the stats but he was 9 lb 6 oz (4370g or thereabouts) and 57cm, yes you read that correctly 57 cms long!

What a beautiful little girl's room!

FROM THIS......

.......TO THIS

WOW it is all finshed, who can believe it? I am really happy with Ellyse's quilt, although if I was to do it again I would change the design a little - I think I would have liked a boader of some type.

I just love the colours and the little accessories I have made to join it all together. I will just put pic after pic, I tried to take them from different angles so you could get some perspective.

More nesting!

Last night at about 8:30 I decided to start some sewing. I had been talking to baby Lochlan's mum and she said that he was a bit of a 'chucker' so I decided to make him a little burp cloth that would match his taggie. It should fit snuggly over Kylie's shoulder. The bunting and burp cloth are in the mail now and should arrive in Mackay on Friday.

Then Keiran was still on the computer so I thought I would start to cut out the bunting for Ellyse's room. I made these a lot smaller than Lochlan's as I didn't have much material. I decided to attach bias binding to the top. I have stitched the underneath, now just need to decide how to keep the top down. I am so happy with how her room is coming together and just can't wai tto get that quilt!

Sneak Peak at Ellyse's quilt

Not sure I made the right decision with the pink thread.

What do you think?

Nesting in the form of sewing

Well I am here, officially one day overdue. This time tomorrow I will have a better idea of what is going on as I see the midwives at 2:30.

Well unlike the conventional mother to be who cleans and cleans and cleans some more, my form of nesting has become crafting, crafting and more crafting! I am so absolutely tired today, but do you think I could rest? No I have spent Ellyse's whole sleep time making gifts. My house looks like a bomb has hit it with fabric, interfacing and associated stuff everywhere! Oh well, maybe tomorrow I will feel like cleaning it??

Firstly I have made Ellyse a 'big sister' shirt. This hand stitching takes so long but I really do like the way it looks. I used some of the cherry print Corrie sent me as part of a prize. I am hoping that the little skirt I had already made Ellyse in this fabric may still fit. Otherwise I have some pants in mind.

Next, my girlfrind Kylie just had her second son Lochlan. i made him some gifts last week, but have been wanting to try some bunting so I had a go. Kylie made this gorgeous cot quilt for him, so when I saw this blue star fabric last week I just knew it was perfect. This was so easy, I haven't stitched the edges or around the lettering, I have just used 'heavy heave' interfacing and vlisoflex.

It has worked out a lot bigger than I thought, so for next time I would change the size of the triangles.

Then lastly today I made a Little Artists Drawing Case from this tutorial at Craft Apple for my friend's daughter's 4th birthday. I realised that she is having her party in just over a weeks time and if I didn't make it soon I could possibly still be in hospital come the party. I am also going to make her some bunting out of the left over fabric. Her name is Maya so it won't take me as long!

What I plan to do tonight is make some more paper chain dolls that fit into a smaller photo frame, these will go just inside Ellyse's door, I have chosen another spot for the mini blocks. I also need to put the other dolls together. Hopefully this can all get done before bub comes, it may even give some time to clean up!

Lastly I thought I would add my full term photo. I hate the way I look full term, my face gets so puffy. I more hate that the first photos we have with the baby I just don't look like me :(. Let's just hope I don't go too far over so it doesn't get any worse. I can't believe how big my little baby Ellyse looks in the photo - I know it will just be worse when bub is here.

Novy's Handtowel

I loved the idea of Novy's Handtowel both for me at home and as a little gift. I have cut out enough to make 6 of them but slowly started with one.

A great gift and a great way to use up little bits of fabric.

Was going to give a sneak peak of my little doll chain but my battery just went flat.

What do you think?
I made these little wall hangings for Ellyse's room. They are just little versions of her quilt blocks. In my mind I thought they would look just wonderful, but now they are done I am worried that they are a little grown up for her.
I am not sure where I am going to place them in her room, whether they will be altogher or in groups of 2. She has a little wall as you walk in and I thought 4 running down would be good??? Now I just don't know.
Honestly, what do you think?

Baby Lochlan, Big Brother Mitchell and Birthday Girl Chloe

I have been busy sewing gifts for a close girlfriend's newest arrival. Here I was thinking I had plenty of time as Kylie went over with Mitchell. I got a phone call on Saturday to say that little Lochlan Grant had arrived on his due date, 7/7/07. Lucky I had already bought what I needed to make his little gift. I had to make Mitchell a 'big brother' shirt too.

It was another friend's little daughter's 2nd birthday last week also and I must admit I completely forgot. I whipped up this little bag yesterday and sent it with some play money for the shop and a lai - I wanted some cute little dress ups but in my rush I left it too late. I am happy with the little bag - it took me way too long - I will blame the pregnancy!

High Tea at Stamford Plaza

I just thought I would share these photos of my recent trip to High Tea at Stamford Plaza. The girls at my Mothers' Group organised it for my baby shower. One of the girls put together these photos.

It was a lovely way to spend a cold and rainy Saturday afternoon.

And just couldn't help but share this pic also - 3 winters on wondersuits!

Who would have thought from that first picture that I would have a blonde, curly haired child?

YAY some sewing

Well I am thinking that maybe I am starting to nest and that this may include some sewing mojo. The plan with this fabric was to make a little pinni to match others I made for my friend's little girls...but I just thought we would get more use out of a skirt.

Last summer I had the little twirly skirt all sorted, I had my own little way of doing it - well that was all forgotten last night and I made things a lot more difficult for myself!

Anyway I am generally very happy with how it turned out, it was the look I was after and I seem to have got the length perfect. It definitely needs a 'lift' though. I was thinking either orange or pink ric rak around each teir - what do you think?

I am looking forward to sewing a bit more now before bub arrives - 2 weeks to go!

And a big thanks to Kim, I couldn't find my wool but used embroidery thread and it worked

beautifully.

37 weeks!

Well I could have just 3 weeks to go, or it could be up to 4 and a half! I am somewhat over it, but at the same time I am enjoying these last few weeks. Keiran and I haven't really decided if this is our last baby or not. I would really like a third, but he is not so keen. If this is it for me then I want to enjoy it.

I really need to get myself organised and set up the nursery for the baby. Everything is in there, it is just not very organised. I am hoping to start nesting soon - hopefully I will get some energy!

I won something!

Corrie held a 1st anniversary competition on her blog and I was the lucky winner. Yesterday afternoon there was this lovely package waiting for me!

Thank you Corrie, I will use all of it! Such a wonderful suprise!

I love to give!

I made these bags this afternoon as gifts for loved ones.

The bag on the left is for MIL who has been on holidays. We don't celebrate Mothers' Day with her, but usually buy her something little. She just loves green, so I hope she loves this bag.

The one on the right is for a frind from my MG. It was her birthday last week, but the bag is more of a thankyou gift for looking after Ellyse so Keiran and I could go away for a night a few weeks ago. It was very generous of her and her DH, we were very appreciative.

I love these bags a whole lot more than the Elvis one - I think that goes without saying!