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14 - 35 weeks

Happy Monday!

Bump photos for my sweet sister, whose beautiful, neurotic, Houdini staffy I am currently dog-sitting. 

Much to Cohen's delight.

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35 weeks

Ravlery

I've been listening to my body and having as many quiet days as I can lately. Resting my bump and my back, and putting my feet up while I still have the chance. I could surely get used to quiet days like today.

Croissants for breakfast. Walking in the rain in our gumboots and raincoats. Examining each new mushroom discovery with Cohen. Making collages together. Knitting and watching movies with Dave while the little man napped and the rain fell. Catching up with my brother.

A wonderful Sunday indeed, though I am missing my dear sister. Two more weeks before she flies home. Then Cohen and I will be hot on her heels for a catch up before the baby comes. One can never underestimate the bond between identical twins.

Here's to a wonderful week ahead.

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When faced with difficult decisions, knitting surely is a wonderful aid to processing your thoughts. Though I'm yet to come to a final conclusion, I feel more calm about the question at hand. And in the meantime, I have completed my first ever raglan cardigan for Cohen. 

I couldn't be more pleased with it. Modesty aside, I do believe it is the very best thing I have yet knitted. Never did I think myself able to complete something like this. I am truly amazed at how much I have learnt and how my knitting has improved these past twelve months. One step at a time.

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Pattern: 'George' from Jaeger Handknits JB29 by Martin Storey

Yarn: Moda Vera Pure Wool 8 ply in Mustard

Buttons: Thifted, woven leather, metal shanked buttons

(I stitched the spare button to the inside seam of the cardigan, just in case Cohen looses one.)

Ravelry.

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For as long as I can remember I have had a 'Grandma' Doris, who I love dearly. She has been neighbours with my family for over thirty years. And although strictly no relation whatsoever, she has delightfully filled the role of Grandmother and continues to to this day. Proving that sometimes you can indeed choose your family.

In the same way, Cohen and I have adopted an extra Mother in law. Gratefully appropriating my sisters lovely Mother in law, Clare, into our little family. Now, as Doris was to me, Cohen also has an extra Grandmother. And I have a kind, supportive and thoughtful 'Mother in law.'

Above is a little 'thinking of you' package she sent me recently.

Do you have special people in your life you've adopted into your family?

Ten good things

Toddler painting (and the first appearance of hands and feet on his people paintings!)

Planting seeds (lettuce, tomato, carrot, watermelon, sweet corn, peas, beans and poppies)

Trying new recipes (like this and this) and impressing my husband

Completing my first knitted raglan sleeve

Watching a few episodes of River Monsters each night with Dave (and learning weird and wonderful things about fish as a result)

The smell of just washed wooden floors

Climbing into bed with fresh, sun dried sheets

34 week ultrasounds with only good news

Finding new parks to explore with Cohen

Only three weeks remaining until my muchly missed sister comes home

What good things are you noticing these days?

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I'm wondering if this baby doesn't want to come early, given the discomfort I'm already experiencing. Oh back and side pain. It's more than likely to be another big baby.  Cohen was 9 pound 4 (4.19kg) born at full term and this baby was already measuring 34 weeks at my 32 week scan. With another scan at the end of the week to check babies thyroid, we shall just have to wait and see what they have to say. So long as baby waits until it's Aunty is back from her scholarship in Canberra. (Missing you dear sister!)

In the meantime I'm resting and knitting, when my back allows it.

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Ravelry.

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Today we spent the day exploring, crossing things off our Summer list and eating ice cream at a look out, while Cohen picked dandelions for me. A wonderful way to spend the day as a family before Dave goes back to work tomorrow. I do so love our trips to the mountains.

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Oh, three year olds. Sweet, lovely, independent, frustrating, selective hearing three year olds. They surely keep a Mama on her feet. And when this Mama is trying to have a break and rest her sore back, one particular three year old has taken it upon himself to chant "Knit no, knit no, knit no", or "Book no, book no, book no", until he has my undivided attention once more. With Dada's help though, the knitting is growing and the pages are being turned. It's a shame indeed that he goes back to work next week.

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Ravelry.

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Another item has been crossed off our long list of renovations. Tree lopping is complete. Despite starting a little veggie patch in one corner, we were yet to really start on the yard, having concentrated on the house instead. Before we could turn some of our plans into reality we needed to remove the neglected, unwanted and problem trees, giving us a clean slate to build upon. 

The past two days the tree loppers have been hard at work. Gone now are seven huge palm trees and their clusters of nuts. (I've never been a fan of palms, especially when they are taking up perfectly good space that could be used from a more productive plant, like a blueberry.) Gone too the pine tree out the front that had grown so tall and difficult, between two sets of power lines. And gone, the beautiful tree in our back yard that was sadly just too big and too close to the house for comfort. It's such a shame. It was a lovely tree, better suited to a paddock or a park than a suburban yard. Especially given it's habit of first shedding all it's leaves and then shedding all it's bark and dropping large branches. The grass, the gutters, the neighbours pool, none shall miss it I'm afraid. Thankfully the timber from the trunk and branches has been saved for a friend on property with a wood burning fire.

Not without drama, one wrong cut sent a large branch into the neighbours fence, though thankfully it has since been fixed. Sadly, a few stray branches also swiped at my little veggie patch, laying low my corn and tomato plants. I'm yet to fully inspect the damage. Though I'm hoping a little extra love and care will recover some of my first crop.

The yard has been transformed by the removal of the trees and have left us with space and light to begin slowly transforming the space, adding more veggie gardens, a chicken house, a shed, a water tank etc. As well as new trees and shrubs that are more appropriate for the size of our yard. A decision not to be made lightly in light of the cost of making the wrong choice!

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New picture ledge above our bed

Summer reading

Banana bread

And especially hot weather.
Feeling very pregnant indeed.

A Summer List

Eat outside, play outside, read outside

Get in the water

Visit a gallery

Build a fort

Make fruit juice ice blocks

Head for the hills

Build sandcastles

Fly a kite

Visit a national park or Botanical garden

Make the most of Summer fruit

Feed the ducks

What's on your list?