Party Time

So I've finally downloaded photos of the big occasion for you to see - Tad's first birthday (aka Zebe!!)

Just a small occasion really... a couple of other families who we really like came along to assist us in the eating of the cake and have a BBQ in the park.

It was so nice... nice to see the sun... nice to see friends.... SO SO SO nice to have family here for the special occasion and just oh-so-extremely-nice!

The cake (as always) was a joint effort. Hubby 'engineered' it all creating levels and iced the yellow block.  I baked strawberry, vanilla and chocolate 'layers' and iced the rest of the blocks, cut out icing shapes and letters and did the piping (a skill that I have yet to refine!!).  We are so impressed with how it turned out... I actually think that Hubby and I enjoy the challenge of setting a task and seeing it come to fruition.  (You can all eagerly await the 3rd birthday of our little lady in a few weeks to see what we manage to do!!)

It's a pity you all weren't here to taste the cake... one of my finest might I say... a true neopolitan cake flavour.... mmmmm. Pity there is not any left for afternoon tea today.  But family and friends who didn't make it.... know that you were missed!

Whirlwind

The last fortnight has been particularly chaotic... in a good way...

We moved house last weekend... whew!! Somehow though, I managed to score big time by being in NZ. Sadly though the boxes didn't unpack themselves and we are still working though a few more before I think we can say 'it is finished'!

Noosh and Tad have been in the thick of it for the last 4 weeks, packing boxes and unpacking boxes. We even arrived home on Monday night to have had our power disconnected. Somehow we managed to give the children something to eat and put them to bed before the power was reconnected at 9pm. (Note: This was the power companies oversight, not us not paying our bill - just wanted to be clear!!)

We are now on the ground floor (woo hoo) and I have a clothesline.  I get so much joy from hanging out my washing now!!  So no more clothes horse (have done this for the last 5 years), and no more 6 flights of stairs with a toddler and baby!! Sigh.

I visited NZ for a mere 36 hours.  I knew it wouldn't be long enough but I love that I got to see some of my most favourite people and reconnect... and know that all is well and that we can pick up where ever and when ever.  The reasons for being in NZ were for a baby shower of one of my besties and to meet my newest niece, born in January!  Tad and I went together and left Hubby with Noosh for the weekend.

I got to meet my gorgeous niece.  Tad was also quite taken with her.  It was such a treat to watch my brother interact with his wee girl and finally spend some time with my sister-in-law which is what I've been longing to do since their engagement - sadly the time was but fleeting!!  They are both besotted with their wee girl and I'm pleased to say that she is so good to them! 

It is definitely an interesting season. Tad has decided over the past 8 weeks that sleeping is over rated and with so much going on with moving and different time zones, injections, colds, ingrown toenails and things, Hubby and I gave in to the multiple appearances overnight.  Suffice to say that over the past 8 weeks I have not slept longer than 2 hours continuously.  Believe me, it is a sorry state of affairs when the idea of a 4 hour sleep is luxury!!

So last night we decided that I could not continue so we are attempting to get our wee (adorable) man to sleep through again using the principles from Save our sleep.  I have never been a fan of controlled crying and the Save our sleep idea is that you never leave your child but stay with them until they sleep by your presence.  Sounds lovely right?!!! Well, I wanted to chuck the book away at 3.45am this morning after said baby started crying at 1.45am!! For 2 hours (not continuously as it was far too cold!!) I stood like a dutiful mother at the side of his cot rubbing his back, patting his bottom. He did not get any milk (probably much to his horror) and I WON!! Sleep reigned at 3.45am!! Tonight has to improve doesn't it???

But both children are sleeping soundly now. They are having to share a room at the moment so it is interesting as Noosh gets transferred to Daddy's bed when Tad wakes and sleeps the remainder of the night there - I get relegated to the single bed next to the cot! (Until Friday night when it is Hubby's turn!!! - 4 hours of continuous sleep here I come!!)  The hilarious thing about this is that Noosh has started to sleep talk... the night before last she proclaimed 'Mummy go wees' and last night it was 'No, I do it... I do it'. Too cute!

Anyway, sorry for the silence of late... it has been far more important to make the house livable and now that the computer is out of sight (in its own room) it is more difficult for me to get to.  I'll endeavour to take a few photos of the house so you can see our surroundings.

The filling of my love-tank...

Its been such a full on, soul-resorative, memory-making week... I am oh-so-tired but its a happy tired and my love-tank is full!!

One of my most dearest friends came all the way from London-town to Sydney with her entourage of husband, 2 year old son and little 7 month old son (whom I have never met... until now). Yip... same ages as our kids and it was magic.  I love that we were able to spend time together in spite of jet-lag for everyone and subsequent sleep deprivation because of said jet lag.

This awesome friend and I did so much together in our home of London: buying houses, having our first children together, were off on maternity leave together, were next door neighbours... literally, and shared a love of chatting and tea.  Oh the time that we have spent drinking that tea (and coffee) while solving the worlds problems, and we were able to do it all over again, a year later... and it felt the so right!! (Sadly no photos of the adults together... Doh!!)

I love friendships like this... there is something that will forever remain etched in my heart because of the time we have spent together, the tears that we have shed, the mountains we have climbed, the wounds that have been healed, the journeys begun and ended, and the laughter shared.  I love that there are even more people smattered all over the world that I cherish in exactly the same way... you know who you are lovely ladies!!!

Anyway, Noosh had a friend for the week... they loved one another and there were times of too much loving and territory marking (from one or the other).  I am adamant that they remembered one another (even if only from photos). Just too too sweet!!

Look at the fun they had...

... swimming...

... sleeping... (well obviously not my Noosh)

... trying on hats...

... watching TV...

... baking...

... refining ball skills...

and holding hands.... (oohhhhhhhhhhh).

The little ones babbled to one another... they smiled and oh did they do such devine cuddles.

It was just magic... my love-tank is full... I am soooooo appreciative of good friends.... I am sooooooo appreciative of the cuteness of these wee people.  I can sigh..... (sssssssiiiiiiiiiigggggggggghhhhhhhhh) and take a deep breath, as I am happy and content and full.

(Noosh - Petey was your first baby visitor in the birthing unit a mere 4-5 hours after you make your afternoon appearance. He has seen you through all your first year significant milestones, and you him, long may your friendship continue - albeit long distance).