right now, today, exactly

(taken 5 min ago on my lap, curled around his newest sibling)

today is this little boys half birthday. 2 and a half. I cant believe it. He is such a beautiful person. He is polite and charming, gentle and kind. He has a gift of being able to pick the person in the room who might be feeling a little uncomfortable or low and lifting them up a little. It might be through extra attention, a little smile, a cuddle. oh hes magic. and so funny.
He still has a sleep most days and sleeps in our family bed, even after an attempt to move both boys to their room. He greets the people he loves in the most enthusiastic way. He is starting to want to be just the same as his brother. He loves lawn mowers (lawnlawnlawn) and golf. He is so good at sports (lucky Jimmy is their father!) and loves to draw. He has a sweet tooth and can usually get whatever he wants from his Da.
Arlo brings something so special to our family and we are very very grateful to have him.
We love you bubbading.

back?

There are alot of reasons for my latest absence,


There are the 2 amazing boys I spend each day with


The editing of SO MANY photos that leaves me tired of sitting at the computer


The Christmas crafting (which is really fun!)


The little person who will be joining us oh so soon has me not so comfortable and questioning my on line presence. I go through stages of wanting to protect my family's privacy so will remove a few facebook 'friends' who I never hear from, let my blogging go for a while but I find myself missing the journal side of blogging, I started when Kaya was 6 months old and LOVE reading back over my old posts.... so here I am again, we shall see what happens from here ;)

While on my break we celebrated Advent at our schools annual fair the doll from a few posts down found a new home and Kaya was thrill to find these socks we chose for our baby at the craft stall 'are just the same as the ones in our book', our book being our favourite story of the moment, a gorgeous home birth story that I catch my boys sneaking peaks of, especially the birth pages.

This week of advent we are adding plants to our nature table and the boys have been peeling a walnut off each morning in their countdown.

so a happy advent to you all, Id love to hear how you celebrate

astute

The story begins last Friday when I took Arlo to the library. I told him he was allowed to choose 1 children's dvd. he made his choice then followed me to the adult section. While I was choosing my books he chatted away about his dvd excitedly. Next we went to the adult dvd section, Jimmy and I have been watching movies some evenings because theres nothing on tv worth watching.. anyway Arlo saw an instructional golf dvd. Have I mentioned he is obsessed with golf? He immediately abandoned the children's one in favour of the golf one and was beside himself with excitement.
Since Thursday he has watched it a few times, not all at once.
Skip to yesterday.....
I had just got home and Jimmy was outside with the boys, he came down to my craft room and told me to come and have a look at Arlo. He told me that on the golf dvd the 'instructor' recommends wearing a glove to help with your grip. Arlo had disappeared inside and come back out moments later to continue his 'putting'. Like this.

'Got Glove Mama. golf glove'
Bless his little heart. We found it later tucked into the side pocket of Jimmys golf bag.

Around here

We've been eating cinnamon buns

lots of them.

WE had a lovely guest to stay, maybe my oldest friend in the world.

We've been playing dress ups. Steiner Cat.

We've hung out with cousins

and obsessed about golf. His Grandad gave him this ball. he slept with it. We did a few sparklers

and we have been getting ready for advent!

I made this sweet boy for our schools advent fair, he will be sold for our craft group. it is quite hard to let them go ;)

in other news Kaya fancies the name Mint if our baby is a boy. Mint Miller. Nice.

On the way home from visiting my Nana today Kaya told me 'the thing Arlo is best at is shooting flames out of him'. Awesome!

I have more crafting to get to, theres so many lovely things to make!

in the mood

This last weekend I was lucky enough to photograph this new baby girl. Ooooh she is gorgeous!

It is such a privilege for me to be able to be able to capture tiny moments that are so important. In almost every image she is staring intently into her parents eyes or she was looking around towards the sound of their voices

oh yes, this little one is going to chub up nicely

and let me tell you there is nothing like photographing a newborn to get you in the mood for having your own. thank goodness mines not too far away!

So pleased with myself!

For over a year I have been on the hunt for the right sunhat for my boys. I wanted full coverage for their pale Scottish skin. I tried, last summer to make one sans pattern for Kaya and while it was quite wearable it wasn't just what I wanted. I caved and bought a pattern (in a rare child free trip to spotlight, they dont have the patience for me to look in pattern books). IT was a little girls pattern complete with ruffled trim and all kinds of fancy. I made a few of my own tweeks and busted out this 'test hat'
The car fabric I have had sitting around for quite awhile, I widened the brim and for a first go its not too bad. From here I worked out a few more adjustments, including lengthening the actual hat and making the brim even wider... and made my sweet boy this

Adorable no? The fabric is 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' an Etsy purchase. I realise you can see the interfacing but only because the sun is right behind him.

I think my next attempt will be in a slightly heavier fabric, perhaps a cute Japanese linen....

... Also, Kayas is lined with calico and fully reversible, Im thinking of making a few of these babies for my shop.. or maybe just a good selection for my children ;)

Wishing you

a relaxing Labour Day! We are spending a quiet, much needed day at home. Ive been catching up on some crafting and making a start on some new bits I'm feeling excited about.
What have you been doing this fine Monday?

* I have reduced the papooses in my shop to make way for new lovelies and have and will have some wonderful guest crafters listing their wares in my shop over the next little while. I do love to help a fellow maker and share my friends talents with the world!