Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Spring




Muscari (Grape Hyacinth) on the Cemetery Lawn
 Hardenbergia (Happy Wanderer)

Magnolia in full bloom


We had a glorious start to Spring. Then Spring had a day off so we could have the proper Winter we missed out on this year, complete with a dusting of Snow. Spring reappeared on the weekend again and we tentatively unfurled our bodies to bask in the warm sunshine until we were back inside by late afternoon lighting the fire. Today is grey and rainy and I remember now that this is classic Spring weather and is why Tasmania has a reputation for having 4 seasons in one day this time of year.

Despite the changeable weather I'm feeling rather chipper at the moment. Three things have made a huge difference to my mood and energy levels over the past few weeks. Firstly, the arrival of Spring always sees me come out of hibernation with a desire to tackle things that I was completely unmotivated to do over Winter. 

Secondly, I think my efforts to lose the excess baby weight are starting to pay off. Not that there's been a huge change on the scales yet (wouldn't that just rot your socks!), but at 6 weeks in I already feel a lot stronger, healthier and have more energy. The great thing about having a complete break from alcohol for the month of August is that we don't feel like a glass of wine every single night anymore. We are drinking less but enjoying it more when we do, which is quite OK I think. 

Finally, and most importantly, Flynn is sleeping through the night. What a gift. The other 4 slept through between 6 and 8 months. They either just stopped waking or I popped their dummy in instead of giving them a feed and after a night or 2 of doing that they just didn't wake up anymore. I did the same with Flynn at 9 months. It's been 3 weeks now and what a difference it makes having a full night sleep. I hope this isn't considered bragging given we are talking about 9 months and not 6 weeks. I still do the 10pm feed. I stay up a lot later than that anyway. It's my favourite time. The house is quiet, there are no distractions and it is just him and I for those few moments while I breastfeed him.

I must say, all this extra energy has come right when it is needed. Flynn is down to just one lovely long nap a day but I completely forgot how busy having a 9 month old is, particularly one that is physically so active. He is just into everything, pulling himself up, climbing stairs and getting into mischief. I'm either busy keeping the food up to him or chasing him around making sure he isn't harassing the pets or getting himself into a pickle. 

Last week we went for a stroll around Richmond where I could let Flynn loose on the beautifully manicured lawn. Not a single sign of chicken/dog/wallably/duck poo in sight! There were signs of Spring everywhere - a carpet of Muscari covering the Cemetery lawn, the gorgeous Magnolia in full bloom behind the Lolly Shop and the "Happy Wanderer" covering the fence at the park with its delicate purple flowers. In fact the only disturbing sign was the one which featured the "C" word. That's right, Christmas will be on our doorstep before we know it. I'd like to be more organised this year and make some gifts. Which brings me to a question. I've found that Christmas usually sees us opening gifts appropriate to the season, in our case Summer. For this reason, I never seem to be able to knit gifts for extended family members because Christmas is in Summer as are most of their Birthdays. It does feels a bit strange giving Winter things in the height of Summer, but why not? For any of you in the Northern Hemisphere I guess it would be like opening a Bikini for Christmas, knowing you might not use it for another 6 months. What do you think about receiving a hand-knitted gift in the middle of Summer?

Finally, here are a few photos of 9 month-old Flynn. He gets so many compliments on his hat for which I sadly can't take any credit. So in case you were wondering too it is the clever handiwork of my gorgeous friend Greer, who now knits her hats in sizes ranging from newborn to child in the most delicious colours and styles. You can check them out here if you are interested. A cuter hat I don't think you would find!

Have a wonderful week!

Mel xxx




8 teeth already!!!




32 comments :

  1. That boy has a very mischievous grin. Just look at the eyes. He's very pleased with himself.

    At eight months my last child of three boys was a big boy. Bigger than his brothers right from birth. He still wanted at least one night feed. Often two. He didn't really need them.

    My husband was well past the time of hearing the babies and I developed a nasty ear infection. I was quite deaf for a couple of weeks. As my hearing returned, I realised Tim was now sleeping through the night with no ill effects. I couldn't hear him and his father didn't hear.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Glad you are feeling more spritely! I look forward to when the girls sleep through the night, we're going to bed around 8, and they normally wake at 1 and 5. But as they are only 6 months corrected I guess I have a few more months yet.
    Isn't he a dear little guy, I saw the lawn and thought of all that lovely wallaby poo free space.
    I must admit, as much as I'm cheering the girls on, when they both get going I'm going to be one busy Mama!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It will be busy and wonderful Marian, in equal measures x

      Delete
  3. Or a cuter baby! He's gorgeous. Rx

    ReplyDelete
  4. So lovely, all of it, those beautiful flowers and that gorgeous little man ... Bee xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Mel..I've just had a perfectly lovely time reading all of the last half dozen posts here. I've just been preoccupied with other things lately and as you so aptly put it in one of your posts, after doing my 500th post it's not always easy to keep going and find new things to say. I love your flowery pics today and acknowledge that it's not an easy thing to find a lawn for a baby to crawl on!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. With all the space we have outside our home Carol, a little patch of clean grass for a baby to crawl on is hard to find. If the animals haven't made their presence known there are sticks, thistles and jack-jumpers to contend with!! x

      Delete
  6. Oh I remember how exquisite it is to get a full nights sleep! Happy sleeping! Lovely images, he looks very happy too! :) x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ah yes, sleep. Mine are now both for the first time ever sleeping past 6 am and it is heaven on a stick. Enjoy all the extra energy and boast away. That baby is just perfection, you really do make very very very adorable children. mel x

    ReplyDelete
  8. It still fits! What a cutie. Enjoy your sleep, lady xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope to get another year or 2 out of it Greer, it's gloriously stretchy x

      Delete
  9. He is such a gorgeous little chap Mel, with such a cheeky smile! Your photo's are simply wonderful and those grape hyacinths are just beautiful. Wow what a place to rest in peace. I am so happy to hear that little Flynn is sleeping through, it make such a difference to get a full night sleep, I so remember the days and it is funny how you forget after the first, but then I suppose maybe by the fourth, you remember right? Long may the energy last and don't worry about the weight, I am sure it will start to shift at some point. The main aim is that you should feel better and have more energy, but yes, I know how bleeding sock rotting it can be :-). Enjoy beautiful Spring and this gorgeous little chap xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  10. It's wierd to think that you are hitting Spring while we are approaching Winter!!

    I looooove the hat. I always think that one of the perks of having babies is that you can put fabulous hats on their little heads. I've just sorted out some of Olly's old hats for a friend of mine. Flynn is very edible. I remember 9 months. Olly had been walking for about a month, but wasn't sleeping through. A testing time for me - I was exhausted. So pleased that Flynn is sleeping through. It makes a huge difference.

    Leanne xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. Flynn is beautiful. I'm glad you're getting more sleep and feeling healthier. What a great way to ring in springtime. :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beautiful flowers and beautiful Flynn! I'm so glad you are feeling full of energy, Mel!

    Stephanie

    ReplyDelete
  13. Those are wonderful pictures of Flynn, I'm glad he is starting to sleep through the night! It's lovely to see your pictures of spring as we head towards our autumn, it reminds me that there is something to look forward to after the long dark days of autumn and winter!
    Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
  14. Gorgeous photos. And I'm so glad your boy is sleeping through the night. It really does make such a difference to well-being.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I recognised the hat as one of Greer's in your first shot! Flynn looks as delightful as ever. And all that spring!!! While here am I writing about the browns of autumn and winter.

    Oh, and I'm always happy to receive knitted gifts, whatever the season :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. You live in a beautiful part of the world! I am here through a link from Rhonda's - Down to Earth. I can't imagine celebrated Christmas in summer. If you want to knit gifts, they don't have to be hats, mittens, etc., do they? Stuffed animals, handbags, maybe.

    ReplyDelete
  17. So glad your little fellow is sleeping through, mine were all late sleepers (9+ mths)Gorgeous pics of him on the grass. I wouldn't mind getting wintery gifts in summer at all. That hardenbergia and magnolia are on my "to get" list, just beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  18. beautiful flowers mel, and oh your babe, he's gorgeous! so so cute and the hat only makes him cuter. greer is amazing, all her adorable baby bonnets, wish i had someone to buy for! spring is on it's way there and we are turning towards autumn (so excited!), enjoy these beautiful days!

    ReplyDelete
  19. those photos are really beautiful Mel, but the one of the wee fella crawling on the lawn is a real show stopper!
    it is so welcome that burst of spring energy isn't it-wish mine extended to a decent exercise/eating routine like you, it seems two days then a week off is all i can muster!
    have a great, hopefully sunny and spring-like, weekend x

    ReplyDelete
  20. Your photos are gorgeous Mel... but the ones of gorgeous little Flynn are adorable!! He's so cute!! Spring hasn't quite arrived here yet either... we've had a few pockets of sunshine, but mainly wet, windy days that feel much like winter still. Although, like you, I've found in myself I'm feeling more 'spring-like'. Yay for Flynn dropping that early morning feed. I too used to secretly love those quick late night feeds though. I really missed those precious moments with my girls in the still of the night when those feeds stopped xx

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ah, look at Flynn in that hat! He's a cutie, that one. And I'm so glad he's sleeping through now, that is a HUGE blessing. I'm so glad to hear you're feeling chipper, Mel - I think Spring does that, it's the promise of more sunlight. Your photos here are just exquisite, especially that one of the magnolia blossom , just beautiful. And I love the muscari. I bought some more muscari bulbs in the garden centre this week. You've reminded me I must plant them! Have a great weekend. xx

    ReplyDelete
  22. Love Flynn's grin! And all those lovely flowers are so beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh Spring, how I love you. Tassie sure does spoil you Mel. Such divine beauty! And that beanie, and smile. Well, that's so beautiful too! x

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh what a stunning part of the world you live in! I love the magnolia too and thankfully there are plenty in bloom where I am too (Ballarat). Your little boy is just too cute (as is his hat!) but I have to say I'm infinitely jealous his ability to sleep through. I still haven't gotten there with my four or two year old except on the odd occasion. And it's even rarer that they do it on the same night! But I do concur that the house is wonderful late at night.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Such a gorgeous little pixie Mel. I love that we are in Autumn and you are in Spring - though I'd swap the Winter for Summer any day.

    Nina x

    ReplyDelete
  26. Lovely lovely photographs Mel - especially of sweet Flynn in his beanie and ubiquitous Kathmandu vest (Jack had the same one).
    So glad the exercise is starting to pay off - you're a braver spinner than me!
    x

    ReplyDelete
  27. Mel, Your spring images and delightful, complete with cute bub. I'm so thrilled he is sleeping through for you, you can face anything with a decent nights sleep under your belt!
    I hope Spring continues to warm up for you and show you her beauty for another few months xx

    ReplyDelete
  28. I somehow missed this post so I'm a bit late! Doesn't he look the cutest in that hat, so cuddleable (made up word!) And I may not mind if I opened a bikini at Christmas as it may mean the next present was tickets to somewhere hot! Always hoping....

    ReplyDelete