Dear Hugo: Eleven months old

Dearest Hugo,

Wow, they say the early days are fleeting with a baby and i've never felt it to be more true than now, as I reflect on this past year. You're crawling around and pulling up onto everything, exploring your world with gusto. You love music and 'dancing', using me as a climbing frame, Bronco the labrador, 'birdies' and my boobs when it's sleep time. 

You like playing with food just as much as eating it, and the high chair 'car ride' to the sink to cleanup is the highlight of mealtimes; you squeal with excitement! Your favourite books are 'Noni the pony' and 'Moo, Baa, La La La'. At bedtime we read 'Kissed by the moon'. 

So far you've been in an aeroplane twice, to Western Australia and Tasmania, and you've camped in a tent and campervan. You adapt really well to new environments and you give a beaming smile to just about everyone. 

You clearly recognise the 'light', 'fan', 'dog' and 'water', and your dad thinks you've got 'mum' down pat too. Or rather, 'mum-mum-mum-mum'! You like pinching your dad, giving open mouth 'kisses', standing in the bath, putting everything in your mouth and keys. You don't like going to sleep, having your nappy changed or getting dressed.  

You're a determined, sweet and funny little person who fills our home and hearts with love and laughter every day. Raising you is our greatest privilege and our greatest responsibility and we feel so incredibly blessed to have you in our lives.

xxx

Dear Hugo: One month old

Dearest Hugo,

At this very moment you are nestled on my lap feeding - you're such a big boy I don't even need to cradle you now! You are just on five weeks old and while the transition into parenthood was difficult in the early weeks, we're now relaxing into a gentle rhythm with you and better understanding how we can best meet your needs (plus your mum has surrendered to the sleep deprivation!) It really is a lesson in savoring the moment, you are growing and changing so quickly.

You entered the world after a (mostly) calm, 12 hour labour, where we utilized the techniques taught to us in the Calmbirth course - you worked with me every step of the way and showed no signs of distress - I really couldn't have asked for a better birthing experience. I won't lie though, pushing out all 9 pounds 7 oz of you was no walk in the park! 

We've nicknamed you 'The Guzzler' since you love to breast feed so much - you regained your birth weight very quickly and you're now in the 90th percentile on all measures. It's very satisfying to see you thriving solely from the food my body provides you. Every day we take Bronco for a long walk and you fall asleep to the motion and sounds of the gravel crunching underfoot. You don't enjoy the car as much, as your grandma and I found out when you cried all the way from St Kilda to Chelsea on the way home from a wedding.

In the last two weeks you've become so much more alert, you become transfixed at looking at the wall or ceiling, and now you're even focusing on a wooden book of animals. You're more content to lay on the lamb skin or change table just taking things in, rather than needing to be held - though we still love to have you fall asleep on us like a little koala bear. Watching you bob your head on my chest as you try and hold yourself up and focus on my face is so lovely, and you seem to enjoy it too, making little excited sounds which we mimic back to you. You also love bath time - we think you'll be a strong little swimmer as you love to kick against the outside of the bath to propel yourself forward. 

You've met so many people already - your grandma (who was there when you were born) and grandad, poppy, nan and poppy pete, your great pop, uncles and aunts and many of your mum and dad's good friends. And there's still so many more people who can't wait to meet you!

We're amazed at how you're changing before our eyes which gets us thinking about how we can bear facilitate your development and build a fun and happy family life. Your Daddy can't wait to take you to the football and already had your MCC application underway when you were three days old! 

Hugo Charlie, thank you for coming into our lives little man xxx

Slow

saltbush, succulent and rosemary from the garden

farmers market treats with the husband and peppermint tea

parisian holiday planning 

the perfect kind of relaxing winter weekend x

Sushi

I have a pretty broad palate these days but I can't say i've ever been a huge fan of sushi. Even in Japan i'd devour a salmon steak or a plate full of gyoza before I'd choose the sushi or sashimi. I know it's probably akin to sacrilege.  

Tonight we took my family to a Japanese restaurant we near home, the place which challenged my ambivalence with the freshest sushi, sashimi, wasabi and ginger combo you've ever tasted. Okay slight exaggeration, but you get my drift. We were there for my mum's birthday and i'm very pleased to say she's sushi's newest convert too! We're a sad lot, I know.

 

90th birthday: a life well lived

This is my grandmother holidaying on the island of Giglio, Italy in 1972. She was 50 then, the same age as my mum is now. At the time, my mum was only ten years old, the youngest of twelve (!) children, and so was sent to stay with an older brother and his wife for a while. It may seem a bit cruel these days, but back then families were large, resilient, and everyone just had to get on with it. And no one talked about their feelings, of course. 


My grandmother became a widow at age 40, when my mum was just one year old. She never remarried. I love this photo because she looks happy and relaxed...I imagine she didn't get to indulge much with all those kids to feed and a small business to run. 


Yesterday we celebrated her 90th birthday, and while she didn't remember who we were (there are 36 grandchildren, after all!), she was as lucid as ever and quite chuffed that we we'd come to visit her with cakes, wine, balloons and nice things to celebrate her incredible life.

Here are the three generations at our wedding in November 2010. I feel very blessed to have a mum I can call my best friend and a grandmother whose story, and strength, still leaves me in awe.