family photography: Theresa + Mason

Earlier this week, Clementine and I drove up to Terrigal to spend some time with Theresa and Mason. While we were there, we met up with Jodi on the beach early one morning. She took photos of me and the little one for my first sling diaries post (can't wait to share!) and then I got behind the camera to shoot Theresa and her sleeping babe. He did eventually wake up and the babies enjoyed some beach time, which resulted in a few of my favourite photos ever.

In between photo taking the three of us chatted about life and blogging, travel and babies. It's so nice—and so important, I think—to have other mum friends. Both friends who are right at the same stage as you (and can commiserate as well as rejoice in gummy smiles and tiny toes) and friends who are further along in their parenting journey (who can inspire and reassure). Today I'm grateful for friends, old and new.

p.s. the winner of the Love To Dream™ INVENTA Sleep Bag™ is announced here

7 month Clementine

Seven month old Clementine is a cheeky little lady. She's confidently sitting up, though she never stays there for long. She much prefers to spend her time crawling around and exploring. She's been doing a funny commando crawl for a while now, but just in this last week she's figured out how to crawl properly and boy is she ever fast! So fast, in fact, that taking these photos was quite challenging, even though I had Theresa to help me wrangle her. While I was shooting, I let her wander around the beach and she loved it! Eating sand and playing with seaweed was right up her alley, which makes this beach-loving mum pretty happy.

People are constantly amazed at how bright and active she is. She literally does not hold still for a second. She loves to pull herself up, eat paper, play with other babies, sit in her highchair, and go for walks. She continues to adore her dad, saving all of her big belly laughs for him. He sings her all kinds of songs that he makes up, and she goes wild. And we go wild for her, and her big gummy grins.

p.s. these last 2 photos of Clementine and Mason make my swoon

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"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Clementine: This is what it looks like every time she sits down to eat. This particular meal was kumera, broccoli and spinach. When she was done, we had to pick the food out from her nose, ears, hair, eyelashes, neck...

Joining in on Jodi's 52 project.

Love To Dream™ INVENTA Sleep Bag™ review + GIVEAWAY (closed)

Back when Clementine was teeny tiny, Love To Dream™ sent us their Love To Swaddle UP suit, which we used religiously for months. We absolutely loved it, but when our little wriggler became just too active we decided to stop swaddling her. A sleep sack is the next obvious step, so I was delighted to receive their INVENTA Sleep Bag™. We got the 0.5 Tog, perfect for our warm climate, in a neutral colour (in case we have a boy someday).

So far, it's working a treat. It has lots of awesome details like ventilation panels that you can zip or unzip as needed, stretchy fabric so Clementine can move, and a super cute pattern. I also love that it's easy to slide her in without much fuss thanks to shoulder studs and a really long side zipper. It's also easy to buckle her into her pram, without having to take her out of the bag.

If you'd like to know more, there's a great little series of short videos, including a demonstration video of their INVENTA Sleep Bag™ (as well as their other products). There's also a video on why you should swaddle your baby.

Finally, I'm excited to announce that Love to Dream™ has generously offered to do a giveaway! One of my Australian readers will receive a 0.5 Tog INVENTA Sleep Bag™ in the colour of their choice.

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post. For extra entries, you can follow my blog via GFC, Bloglovin' or follow me on Instagram. Please leave a separate comment for each.

Comments will be closed next Thursday at 6 pm, and I'll draw the winner shortly thereafter.

Giveaway open to Australian residents only. Thanks!

Comments are closed! The winner is…

Jessie Lobley! I'll be in touch soon Jessie.

this weekend

This weekend was for relaxing. For puttering and drinking tea. For framing our family photos (finally!) and making pancakes. For listening to podcasts and lying down. For having friends over to dinner and actually baking something. It was perfect.

What did you do this weekend?

48/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Clementine: Our doula came to visit us this week. She hadn't seen Clementine since she was a newborn, so it was awesome to catch up.

Hiring a doula was a decision we made very early on in my pregnancy. Being my first pregnancy and labour, I knew it was likely to be long (it was!) and extra hands would be needed (they were!). I'm so glad we chose Brooke. She was there for us before, during and after my labour offering support, advice and encouragement. She also taught us all kinds of useful things like baby massage and how to bathe Clementine so she felt safe and comfortable. Now I always tell my prenatal students and pregnant friends to seriously consider using a doula.

Joining in on Jodi's 52 project.

happy and calm

I went to a yoga class yesterday. It had been a long time, far too long, since I last made it to someone else's class. While I teach 2 to 3 times a week, the truth is that it's been hard to maintain my own practice. In Vancouver I was able to practice at one of the local studios at least once a week and it felt amazing. To immerse myself in being a student once again was just what I needed.

When I first came to yoga it was at the end of 10 years of competitive gymnastics. I fell in love straight away. It was the opposite of being a gymnast. For the first time I found myself impressed with my body rather than constantly frustrated at its limitations. I was never fit, strong or flexible enough to be a great gymnast and I felt it keenly. At yoga none of that mattered. No one was going to force me into the splits (by sitting on top of me); wherever I was, that was good enough.

It's exactly what I try to teach my students. Yes, we challenge ourselves but we do so with gratitude and respect for our bodies. Not everyone can do the splits, and that's ok. In fact, as my physical practice has deteriorated changed, I've realised that my yoga practice right now is simple. It might be a few rounds of alternate nostril breathing in the morning, or 3 minutes in supta baddha konasana before I teach a class, or a single sound of om. What matters is that I slow down, breathe and find stillness, which is just what I did last night.

Last night, As our teacher guided us through a series of yin poses, a devoted student played the harmonium at the front of the room. We held each pose for 2 to 5 minutes, and as we did, I felt my breath deepen, my body soften and my mind relax. I left happy and calm.

If you have any questions about yoga, I'm happy to answer them (or find the answers for you) in the comments section.

p.s. yoga at home: some tips, the yoga of closet cleaning, some thoughts on teaching yoga 

47/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Clementine: This is her dad's favourite trick. It used to make me nervous but it makes her so. Damn. Happy. 

Joining in on Jodi's 52 project.