i think i was a mermaid in my past life.

this place.
we need to go to it to feed our souls.
how i was born so landlocked is beyond me, somehow i found my way to the ocean.
our place.

are you a land or sea lover {perhaps both}?

♡ ashley

stills.

1:: beads and dry cereal for breakfast. the perfect start to a sunday.

2:: fabrik cushion. love.

3:: wings. always wings.

4:: morning calm in your room.

5:: when asked how you wanted your face painted, you chose to be a rainbow.

6:: llamas ALWAYS make me smile.

7:: in the bunny cage. you got down on your tummy and said "it's okay, i'm piper" looks like you are also a superhero!

linking up with em.

♡ ashley

30/52

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

Piper:: At the animal farm. You were trying to scrape the last of the veggie scraps out of the bucket after generously sharing most of it with a single kangaroo. Lucky fella.

Poppy:: You are a chatty lady. Filled with smiles and a sparkle of cheekiness in your eyes. Part of me can't wait for you to show more and part of me wants to freeze time, and keep your tiny little hand wrapped around mine.

linking up with Jodi.

29/52

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

Poppy:: Your mohawk never fails to make us smile.

Piper:: Beach time. I miss our 1:1s and am finally getting them back. 

linking up with Jodi.

love to swaddle up...layer on merino- a review.

Despite her expression, Poppy was truly pleased with her sleep gear. How bout that hair?!

I am a huge fan of Love To Dream’s Love To Swaddle UP™. It keeps bubba cozy and allows them to access their hands to help soothe and calm them. It helps ward off the startle reflex and keep bub calm and centred. The problem is that in a cold and wet place layering blankets on top of a swaddle is annoying. Cue the clever folks at Love To Dream who came up with a sweet and natural solution. The Love To Layer ON™ Merino.

I was given a Love To Layer ON™ Merino to review. Poppy is 5 months and technically no longer needs to be swaddled but she still startles between sleep cycles and is more content when wrapped. Designed in line with Sids and Kids, this extra layer is made from soft merino wool. It is less bulky than blankets and breathes better helping regulate her temperature. It zips up easily over the swaddle she is so used to. 

There is a clever guide on the back to help decide what to wear under the swaddle and layer on and three sizes to follow your little one to 11 kgs (6 months).

The first nap with this lovely addition saw her sleep for nearly two hours {unheard of around these parts}. Merino is said to help your baby sleep better for longer. What a blessing that this was the case for us! 

The Love To Layer ON™ Merino is available in Small, Medium and Large to fit perfectly over the Love To Swaddle UP™ range. It comes in Grey and is sold for RRP $59.95.

♡ ashley

28/52

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

Piper & Poppy: Sisters. I kept trying to get you to both hold still at the same moment. Then I realised the magic between you is in the movement.

linking up with Jodi.

stills. {my baby is three edition}.

1:: nothing makes this canadian smile more than seeing you next to a kangaroo- cause we all know that's what aussies do all day, feed kangaroos.
2:: fwends.
3:: my little joey.
4:: tiny fairies.
5:: birthday girl.
6:: tummy surfer.
7:: gifts. rapunzel was the hit, thanks to your clever friends for knowing you were ready for barbies.
8:: eyes on daddy. adoration in it's purest form.
9:: wispy.
10:: ten little fingers & ten little toes.
11:: cuddles and tinkerbell {daddy's favourite}.
12:: your birthday muffin. with a side of marshmallows, of course.

♡ ashley

27/52

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

Piper: your third birthday party was a fairy paradise. happy birthday beautiful girl.

Poppy: we had to snap that silky, downy hair of yours. like a white dandelion waiting to be blown on and float away.

linking up with Jodi.

stills. life is bubbling over edition.

Being a parent is like being bipolar. 

One day I feel like something has got to give. You know, I can't keep up, exhausted and hanging on by just a thread. The next, my cup runneth over with catching the million tiny morsels of joy that these little people carry with them. 

Taking my job seriously in the home and getting down on the mat to play. 

Nothing but play. 

Those are the times I "get it." Not the days I manage to cook a good dinner and clean but the ones where the pot bubbled over and so did the happiness on their tiny faces as I spend my time on them, only them. 

This is my current focus. Bubbling over.

The week that was...

1:: morning milo.
2:: heavy bottom. yup, still not on the potty full time. we will get there.
3:: a rare plastic fantastic toy. secondhand and a fast favourite.
4:: party girl.
5:: washing up in the morning, tookie the chicken is not meant to be on that fence...
6-9:: we found a fairy in our garden.
10-15:: her first {hand-me-down} bike. he is the best dad and she is the best toddler. also proof of teething. my poor possum.
16:: pie. num.

off you go, bubble over.
♡ ashley