Throwback Thursday… Peek-a-boo…

I’ve been going through old posts and I just loved this when I came across it. These photos of H are so much fun and so innocent. He was so little…

“H loves playing Peek-a-boo…

He turns nearly everything into a game of peek-a-boo…behing the couch, the ottoman, the kitchen island, the dining room table, a jumper, his bath towel, his washer, his teddy, a book and the list goes on…

I love seeing him so pleased with himself. I have tried to capture it…”

Wasn’t he the cutest? I love the sweet innocence. So playful and happy… such great and special memories…

Jx

All images copyright Jessica Flett

The face of determination…

When I have a spare moment (these are very rare) I am trying to play catch up with my photo books… and by catch up I mean the only one I have done is of our Wedding… which was nearly 3 years ago…

I have just started to put together one from H’s first year. Wow!!!… what a walk down memory lane. Interesting timing with only 11 weeks before #2 arrives. There are so, so many photos.

I came across this photo and it completely cracked me up. I didn’t appreciate it at the time I took it as I was probably trying to achieve something else in the photo. Just have a look at the complete determination on my little man’s face. He was really getting into his crawling and the look on his face sums it up completely.

To me… this is the face of determination, perseverance and concentration…

Absolutely priceless… Jx

Eyelashes…

These eyelashes make my heart melt… Every time!!…

He is one lucky little man and he has his Daddy to thank!!

Jx

A Boy and his stick…

H is 14 months old today. I am having so much fun with him. Watching him explore and learn everyday is incredible. He is becoming more and more expressive and cheekier by the day. He has also…much to my delight…become a really affectionate little man. There is nothing better than his hugs and kisses.

Yesterday afternoon we were in the park having a play and he found this stick. Well, he played with it for ages…pointing, poking, holding it up in the air, putting it on the ground, looking at it turning it over and over in his hands. Something I would look normally look past is so interesting to him. I am fast learning to see things through his eyes…everything is new with endless possibility for learning and fun!!

Images copyright Jessica Flett

Were you amazed seeing everything again through the eyes of your child/ren too?

Jx

The ‘Uh Oh’…

The ‘Uh Oh’ is H’s new ‘word’. Everything is being dropped over the edge of highchairs, his cot, the neighbours fence and the back of the couch…

After every sleep I hear little chirping through the monitor followed by ‘Uh Oh’ on a loop cycle… I walk into his room to find both teddies and dummy on the floor and H standing in the cot smiling and pointing to said items saying ‘Uh Oh, Uh Oh, Uh Uh Oh’…

On Sunday he was a huge “help” to his Father in the garden. As N was pruning dead wood off a vine H was promptly pushing them through the boundary fence… thank you to our lovely neighbours for finding it endearing.

His latest exploit was to half eat a milk arrowroot, paint the windows and couch with his yummy biscuit then climb up onto the couch, stand at the back of it, look at me, then back to the job at hand where he promptly said ‘Uh Oh’ as he dropped the arrowroot down the back of the couch!!! CHEEKY LITTLE MONKEY!!!

I was on the phone to his Father where I took great delight in telling him what HIS son had done (he is always HIS son when he’s done something cheeky!!) We both had a giggle at how cheeky and cute it was…

When retrieving the biscuit I found his toy mobile and the DVD remote. Ladies and Gentlemen… we have a new hiding spot!!!

IT’S LUCKY HE’S SO CUTE!!

I know this is the tip of the iceberg of what’s to come but I am loving watching him explore and seeing his little personality develop and push his boundaries.

Have your kids/nieces/nephews/babysitting charges ever enjoyed the ‘Uh Oh’ and had hiding spots? I’d love to hear your stories…

Jx

Bath Time…

Bath time here is lots of fun. H loves his bath, especially when Daddy is home for it (Mummy is a huge fan of that too)…

Some of our essentials for bath time are…

Gaia body wash…visit their website here. We were given this in a gift pack and have used it from day one. I love the smell of it and it’s so gentle on H’s skin.

Johnson & Johnson No Tears Shampoo – the smell reminds us of when we were kids. We started using this when H was about 6 months old. My Mother gave me a gift pack to use when we went home to the farm (saving me from carting our supplies home). Once we smelt the shampoo that reminded us all of being children we continued to use it. When he was a newborn we used the Mustela foam shampoo for newborns and it was terrific. It is a foam so is really easy to use and is gentle on their skin… he never had a day of flaky scalp.

Eeni, Meeni, Miini, Moh hooded towel – H looks so cute in it. He has nearly grown out of it sadly but I’m thrilled he got as much use out of it as he did. You can find one here.

Bath toys. H loves his ducks and fish…for similar visit here

All images copyright Jessica Flett

Jx

P.S The dummy doesn’t always accompany H to the bath but just happened to this night…whatever works right!!??…

Our Little Picasso…

I caught up with a close girlfriend and her little girl (she is H’s girlfriend – they are only 3 weeks apart and their Dad’s are best friends…so…no pressure kids!!!) the other day and we were talking about art and craft with the kids. My friend also has a little one about to turn 3 so she has been my sounding board many times on all things kids…

My takeaway from the conversation was…crayon’s are fine but not the best there is…they do not wipe off completely and can be a little hard for the kids to manage. Her advice was Pip-Squeaks markers by Crayola…they are easy for the kids to handle, come in great colours, non toxic and they really do wipe/wash off. There are, apparently, many products out there that claim to wash/wipe off that really don’t.

You don’t know how grateful I am that I have her to discuss all these things and get great tips like this…

Later that same day I was at a local news agency and they happened to have the Pip-Squeaks there so I bought some…

I was sitting at the dining room table the other day and H wandered over and wanted up…he was sitting on my lap and picked up a pen and found one of my notebooks and was trying to use the pen…so I thought I would give the Pip-Squeaks a go… here is the result…

He had such a ball…there was a little trying to eat the markers (the yellow for some reason) so I am pleased they are non toxic…

He got the markers all over his hands…and true to my girlfriends advice they really did wipe off…I was so thrilled!!!

I emailed her that afternoon to let her know it was a success and at the end of her email response back she wrote this…

Here’s to the start of toddler craft fun (and mess!!) 

Thank you S for all your advice and your ability to tell it how it is…I appreciate it so much!!!

What do you think of our budding Picasso’s work…Cute huh!? These are headed straight to the pool room!!…

Jx

P.S..If interested I have found them on line here and here…

Fun with a cardboard box…

Of all the toys at his disposal he was having the best time the other morning with a cardboard box. I sat him in it and dragged him around on the mat in the living room…his squeals of delight had me in fits of laughter.

I couldn’t resist getting the camera out and capturing his fun with it…

All images by Jessica Flett

Jx

The Airport…Happy Homecomings…

Yesterday morning H and I went out to the airport to meet N off the plane…I was very excited to have him home.

I love the airport…whether you’re coming or going it is a hive of activity with such a sense of anticipation and excitement.

It was a zoo out there yesterday…I am told Sunday is their busiest day and in the early morning there are many flights coming in at the same time…this all added to the excitement…and frustration..imagine trying to contain a busy toddler who if you allowed to walk around would surely get squashed. There was lots of dancing on the spot, waving to strangers, chirping and singing.

I loved watching all the happy welcomes and the many tearful homecomings…I couldn’t help but well up a little myself at seeing these happy reunions. There were lots balloons and flowers and lots and lots of hugging, kissing and tears. The whole scene reminded me very much of the ending of Love Actually (This is one of my favourite movies of all times)…

I finally spotted N walking out and when he was close enough I was able to point him out to H…and well…to see both their faces light up brought tears to my eyes…it was so gorgeous. When he reached us H fairly leapt out of my arms into his Daddy’s arm…SO MUCH EXCITEMENT!!!

There were lots of cuddles and chats on the way home…and when H woke from his morning sleep and heard his Dad’s voice…the excitement all over again was so funny and LOUD!

Welcome home honey…we missed you!!

Jx

First Birthday Party…

Hello, hello,

Last Saturday we had a party to celebrate H’s first Birthday. It was so lovely to catch up with friends we hadn’t seen for ages and to see lots of H’s little friends. He is a very lucky boy to have so many lovely friends.

I went for a very classic pale blue and white theme with a little dark blue thrown in.

In all the craziness that was the 2 hours of the party I didn’t take any photos of the hot food. I’m disappointed about it because it was great thanks to all my family and I would have loved to have shown you.

Here are some photos. I will put in some links of where I found them in case you’re interested.

The fairy bread was the biggest hit with the kids…they loved it. I loved that they were little stars…the star cookie cutter is available here.

I found the party hats on line at The Party Parlour. I wasn’t sure how big a hit the hats would be with a bunch of one year olds but you need party hats at a party!!…don’t you think?…and many of the kids were ok to wear them for a moment. The party boy included…

The party bags and ribbon are from Pink Frosting. They come in lots of different colours. I loved using the ribbon. We went to a birthday party a little while ago that used similar bags and on top to hold them together they used a helium balloon which I thought was a terrific idea.

 I sourced the napkins, plates and cups from Pink Frosting too. It really was a great one stop shop for me. There are lots of on line places so please have a look around. A close girlfriend recommended Pink Frosting to me and they had what I needed so I went with them. Their prices were also on par with others that I had a look at.

A local bakery made these cupcakes which were yummy and we used these cupcake toppers for a little something extra.

I love tissue pom poms so was very excited to have an excuse to use them. I bought them from here. A HUGE thank you so my Sister who put them together.

These great little tables are from Ikea…on loan from lovely friends of ours. Needless to say we are off to get one for H. They were so handy and the kids loved them. One table had colouring in and the other had play doh set up on them.

My parents gave H the sand and water play table you can see here. Given it’s winter we just put sand in it. It was such a hit at the party, but be warned…we are still finding sand everywhere!!

A huge thank you to our families for all their help preparing food, setting up and helping on the day with the party. It was a big effort and it’s very much appreciated. H is a very lucky little man.

Jx