Afternoon walks
I am thoroughly enjoying my daily walks with the bub. Other than her first smile of the day, my walks would be a highlight.
She loves her pram. I count my blessings. I have passed many a mum pushing their prams desperately along the path. Bub screaming. Mum's eyes exhausted. We lock eyes as we pass each other.
I suddenly feel guilty about my bub who looks like she is in a trance. For some reason going for walks seems to hypnotise her.
I offer the approaching mum a 'arghhhh, I understand your pain' look as our prams glide past each other. I hope it gives her some comfort!?
Then I think to myself, I may not have a screaming bub when we go for walks but talk to me about reflux. Olive has suffered from severe reflux since she was 6 weeks old. Some days even her medication doesn't seem to help.
Yes I elevate her mattress.
Yes I breastfeed her sitting up.
Yes I hold her up for 30minutes after a feed.
Yes I have tried every other piece of advice from mums, health professionals and the web.
My point?
To every Mother out there. Well done. Well done for getting through each day. Hopefully we are doing it with an abundance of love, patience, care, joy & creativity.
But for those days when we are screaming inside & take the bub for a walk (because their screaming doesn't seem quite so bad outside), make eye contact & give each other a smile. Even better, stop and chat. Ask how the other is going.
Who knows, behind those exhausted eyes coming towards you might be a wonderful friend waiting to be known.
She loves her Dad
I am thoroughly enjoying my daily walks with the bub. Other than her first smile of the day, my walks would be a highlight.
She loves her pram. I count my blessings. I have passed many a mum pushing their prams desperately along the path. Bub screaming. Mum's eyes exhausted. We lock eyes as we pass each other.
I suddenly feel guilty about my bub who looks like she is in a trance. For some reason going for walks seems to hypnotise her.
I offer the approaching mum a 'arghhhh, I understand your pain' look as our prams glide past each other. I hope it gives her some comfort!?
Then I think to myself, I may not have a screaming bub when we go for walks but talk to me about reflux. Olive has suffered from severe reflux since she was 6 weeks old. Some days even her medication doesn't seem to help.
Yes I elevate her mattress.
Yes I breastfeed her sitting up.
Yes I hold her up for 30minutes after a feed.
Yes I have tried every other piece of advice from mums, health professionals and the web.
My point?
To every Mother out there. Well done. Well done for getting through each day. Hopefully we are doing it with an abundance of love, patience, care, joy & creativity.
But for those days when we are screaming inside & take the bub for a walk (because their screaming doesn't seem quite so bad outside), make eye contact & give each other a smile. Even better, stop and chat. Ask how the other is going.
Who knows, behind those exhausted eyes coming towards you might be a wonderful friend waiting to be known.
She loves her Dad
Whenever I am out and about with the husband, bub & my Mum, she often comments about how wonderful it is to see men who are passionately involved in the day to day happenings of their children's lives.
Happy Mothers Day
My Mum was born in England to an English, pipe smoking, red wine drinking language professor & crossed the seas as Grandpa was invited to lecture at various universities around the world. Mum grew up in Hong Kong, West Africa & Gloucester UK. She did a stint in boarding school then chose to complete her midwifery certificate.
Hitchhiking through Britain, painting, writing poetry... she then packed up & moved to Brisbane, Australia.
Here, she met & fell in love with an Aussie farmer who lived with his parents on their large property. He (a.k.a) my Dad, had lived in the same house his whole life & as the eldest male, he took over the family farming business, which he continues to do now (50 years on - amazing!)
Opposites attract?
They got married & built a house. RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO DAD'S PARENTS. And a block away from his Grandmother (Ma). And 2 blocks away from his cousin... shall I continue?
11 months later they had their first baby, my eldest sister. Then 15 months later came the next.
Mum would bundle up her two girls and drive into the local town with her Mother-in-law & her Grandmother-in-law & do the weekly shop. Meat wrapped in newspaper, milk warmed by the time they got home...I can't even imagine.
We lived in a community that was serviced by a service station(which incidentally, all four of us kids eventually worked at during our high school years).
A travelling sales woman would venture down our road occasionally selling bits and pieces. And even Mr Whippy made the long journey for us country folk. This was a long way from trendy London.
"We're not in Kansas any more Toto".
2.5 years later I came along. Another 2 years - my brother arrived. 4 children under 7. Wow.
Mum - you are an amazing woman. Thank you. Thank you for the love. Patience. Dress ups. Incredible birthday parties. Sacrifices. Running me to all my dancing classes. Home cooked meals. Waking me up singing "Good morning, Good morning" - from Singing in the Rain. (A tradition I have carried on for Olive).
Thank you for introducing me to the classic musicals.
Thank you for encouraging me to explore the world.
Thank you for the way you shower Olive with your love and prayers.
You truly are an inspiration.
I love you.
Happy Mothers Day 2012.
Autumn/winter sunsets
Enough said about that.
Black and White
I don't shoot in black and white much (Oh listen to me, 'shoot' - as if I know what Im doing!)
I am going for a walk most evenings at the moment as it keeps Olive calm during the 'witching' hour (5-6pm). The weather has been incredible lately.
Ahhhh. (Deep breath.) Autumn. Im a fan.
