Then there were four...

I'm sure you recognise this family, especially the little smiler in the middle...
Well now they've added another one to the mix, this time a little boy, Fletcher.

He was only one week old, and already so chilled throughout the shoot. He protested his hunger a few times quite loudly, which his sister found really amusing. The part I found amusing was her new found interest in my camera that day. Do you think she'd been interested in the camera at any other photo shoot prior to Fletcher's arrival? No. I had to chase her and beg for her to look in my direction.

But not this day. Not the day of her brother's first photo shoot. She was throwing out the smiles, creating works of art to show me, climbing on her mum's back, throwing around kisses to everyone and getting right into each shot. It was hilarious and made the shoot so much fun.

Plenty more obviously, but here's one to give you an idea of the dynamics when a family welcomes a new arrival.

A perfect baby boy. Congrats x

The YaYa Sisterhood...

Given that it's my birthday, I thought I'd take the opportunity to introduce you to the "YaYa Sisterhood Travelling Paper" that's been passing back and forth between my younger sister and I for about 8 years ( I think). It started as a lazy gift wrapping attempt and has, over the years, grown in significance.In fact, it almost doesn't matter what's inside the wrapped parcel anymore, as long as you pass on the YaYa paper.

It all started as a mad rush to wrap my sister's present before heading away for a ski weekend. I grabbed some old pink paper and jazzed it up with some awful cat stickers. I didn't even get her a card, instead, just wrote on the paper. The paper received alot of comments at the lodge that weekend and at the time I felt a bit embarrassed with my crap wrapping attempt.

The following year, to my surprise, I received my birthday present wrapped in the same pink paper covered in tacky cat stickers. I couldn't believe my sister had saved it!

And so a tradition began... the YaYa Sisterhood Travelling Paper. It goes back and forth from NZ to Australia year after year, and each year you have to find a present that will fit inside the paper. It is getting worn in places, so we have to limit the amount of sellotape used, and I've added some stickers to cover up small holes along the way.

One year I heard from Mum following my sister's birthday, that she was really disappointed I hadn't wrapped her present in the YaYa paper. I felt so awful, I had to get her another present just so I could pass the paper back to her.  It's a little bit of a bizarre tradition, but I've become really attached to it. You wouldn't believe the disappointment you feel if you receive your birthday present wrapped in anything else.

This year, inside the YaYa paper was a cat eye mask and some moustache cookie cutters. My sister is so funny.

Love you sis x

Is it really November?

I can't believe how quickly this year has gone by. I'm starting to fret about Christmas shopping, remembering to finish everything before the year end and try to fit everyone in for photos. It's been busy! So many new things to share, but you're going to have to be patient with me...

Let's see what's coming up on the blog roll;

• Girls crafting night.'ll take some pictures of some creations from that night when I've put up my Christmas tree. I still have so many projects to complete.
• A holiday to Sydney to relax for my birthday this coming week, so that may just feature.
• I have weddings, new babies, families to share with you. 
• The completion of the bathroom renovation (hopefully)
• As well as some general summer house preparation bits and pieces. 
• Perhaps a Christmas photo shoot featuring my favourite little person... 

So many things! So sit tight...

x

The little details...

This nursery now has a little baby boy (hopefully) sleeping in it.  A lucky little boy to have a nursery filled with so many special things.

A perfect bassinet with a beautiful Wallace Cotton quilt that I wouldn't mind owning myself... There were a few nice quilts in the nursery that I think will come in handy for the baby photos...

I love this mobile, so simple in the white nursery and the striped owl is gorgeous, made with love by baby's creative mum. I'm sure he will love looking at the stripes and spots for hours.

The bear below belonged to baby's great grandmother as a child if I remember correctly. I love little touches like that, and I love the hat... I'm not sure about bunny, made with love by someone, or given as a gift? My memory has let me down.. woops. 

A classic Fisher-Price toy that belonged to the Dad when he was a little boy. Very cool...
And a great selection of books to be read to him at bedtime for years to come.

I'm sure you agree, it's a room created with a lot of love. I believe Dad had to sacrifice half of his man cave to make way for his little cub, but a sacrifice I'm sure he was more than willing to make.

x

I photographed this little guy a year ago, so it was great catching up with him again as a 2 year old. He didn't stop running until we put toy story on the "TT" for some quiet time. I'd take a photo he would run over to me saying "I thee, I thee" and I'd go to show him, he'd smile and say "more?"... so naturally, I took more...

Here's one for now..

Family History Part II

Another chapter of family history...

When visiting my grandparents a few months ago, they drove me to this beautiful church, where they were married over 50 years ago.

They also showed me where their parents and relatives were buried, in the family burial plot. It is a tad depressing when your Grandparents are showing you where they will be buried... "We are going here and here"... but at the same time, I'm glad Granddad showed me, and told me a little bit about what he does to care for the grave and to see for myself how special this area is to him.

His mother's grave is immaculate. Granddad cares for it with so much love, it looks brand new and really stands apart from the other, more neglected graves. It looks like the headstone was put there only yesterday.  I didn't take a photo of it, because it didn't exactly feel like the right time to get the camera out.  But it made me proud that my family plot was so well cared for and the people there were still loved and remembered.

They drove me around to show me their childhood homes and told me about their "boy meets girl" story, driving past the hall where they had dances together as teenagers. It was so special to hear them talking about their memories and finishing each others sentences.

There was a church service on when we were there, so I didn't get to go inside the Church. I'll be back again soon though for another dose of family time. It's pretty fun visiting as the only Grandchild...

I freaken love...

Fresh lilies... 

Three bunches of pink scented lilies for $10, thank you Ponsonby Road... 

High Tea Sunday

I sit here typing this with a very full stomach...

Some friends and I went along to Cornwall Park today for a high tea to celebrate our friend's birthday. Despite the gloom outdoors, it was a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon, eating treats, sipping on hot cups of tea and enjoying a glass of bubbles.

I chose a lovely pot of caramel and vanilla flavoured tea, which went well with all of the treats served, including lemon meringue tarts, scones with jam and cream, mini madeleines and a range of sandwiches and bite sized savouries. Delish! Hence the VERY full stomach...

Until today I'd never experienced a high tea, and after this one today, I'll definitely be going again. It's such a nice, relaxing way to spend an afternoon with the girls.

New Feet

These feet have never been walked on. 

Girl or Boy?

The past wee while has been pretty busy, so I have fallen behind in blogging world. Sorry readers! I'm in a really indecisive mood and can't make decisions on what to post and post layouts etc... so I have lots of 'drafts' and no posts. My bad...

I'm just going to put a couple of pictures on here now of a lovely bump I photographed the other day,  belonging to this mum-to-be, who is due next Monday. How great does she look at 38 weeks!!!

I'm going to post more on another post as there were so many more photos from the shoot. The nursery was gorgeous as well, all of the little details that have gone into it are so special.

 

More to share soon, so keep watching this space...