Monday, December 2, 2013

One







Flynn is one. Boy, has that gone quick!

It's been such a wonderful year and I think the decision to add number 5 to the family has been our best decision yet. When we decided to have Flynn I wasn't worried about too much really. I knew there would be enough love to go around. I was sure the others would adjust well. I was quietly confident that I'd cope OK because there would be just one baby and I had already 'survived' Twins and the '4 under 4' shebang. We had already been embracing chaos for a while so surely an extra bit of that would be business as usual. The only thing I was worried about was that, with a 4 year gap, the baby would be left out as the others had formed such a tight bond. Turns out I needn't have worried about that either. In fact, I hardly get a look in when his brothers and sister are around and I've come to love the days when the other Kids are off at school as I can finally have him all to my greedy self. He has made it clear that he is very much part of the sibling gang.

I've managed to soak up every minute of his first year. Not just because he will be my last but because I actually had the opportunity to do so. When there was 4 under 4 it was just a completely different experience compared to now where I only have 1 in that same age bracket. I wouldn't do a single thing differently because having the children close together worked well for us at the time and as intense as it was, the hard work is certainly paying off now as they all get on so well together. However, it has been lovely to be able to do many things now that I wasn't able to do with the same amount of ease when there were 4 little ones. For example, I used to enter the grocery store with 4 in tow and it was like the 'parting of the red sea'. I'd whizz around getting things done as quickly as possible. Everyone gave way to the frazzled Mum on a shopping mission and there was the occasional sympathetic smile or standard "you've got your hands full!" statement. There was no time for leisurely chit chats. Conversations may have started with strangers but they were invariably interrupted or cut off completely before one of the children decided to do a 'runner'. 

My shopping of going out with Flynn is the complete opposite. Everyone smiles at us and the world just seems like a happier place. It was the first thing I noticed on our first outing a year ago. There's less rushing and plenty of time to talk to people. And I do love chatting to strangers. I feel like I've reconnected with the community in a way that was different a few years ago where much of the time I felt a bit invisible when I was out and about. Of course there is heaps to do at home with 5 Kids but I have purposely let a lot of things slide knowing that I will have more time next year when I will have all 4 kids at school full-time.

One of my favourite things to do with Flynn is to go for walks along the beach together. I take all the kids to the beach regularly but aside from when my first was born 9 years ago and I could carry her in a pouch, I haven't been able to go for long, brisk walks with Kids in over 7 years. When my second was born, I had a toddler in tow and it's near impossible to carry twins along with 2 others. But Flynn sits nicely in the backpack and loves our walks and then we muck around on the sand afterwards.

With his love of the Sea in mind, I knitted him an Octopus for his Birthday. Her name is Octavia and I may need to fix her left eye. I used this pattern and my ravelry notes can be here.  I love the way it turned out, especially the textures "suckers", but I think Flynn may have to grow into his new friend - she is a lot bigger than I thought!






We celebrated his Birthday with a simple dinner of Pizza and Pink Lemonade at the beach yesterday. Nice and simple just the way we like it. 




Happy First Birthday Flynn! 
xxxx 

27 comments :

  1. He is so precious - as they are all. What a great team. Happy Birthday Flynn you happy toddler!. cheers Wendy

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  2. He is just so delicious! Your children are beautiful Mel. I'm feeling sorry for your daughter. Can you imagine how terrified her future admirers will be at having 4 brothers to contend with. She will always be in safe hands though xo

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  3. What a wonderful event and I love the last shot of all the kids together: smile! :-)

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  4. Love the photo of Flynn in his backpack. Beautiful!

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  5. Yes the more children you have the more the 'baby' just feels the love oozing onto him. Happy B'day to your Flynn:)

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  7. Happy Birthday, Flynn! How they grow! And Octavia is fantastic, Mel! I'm very impressed. Need to get me some knitting needles and learn a trick or two :-) You & the troops look so happy and well - lovely to see. xx

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  8. What a lovely post. Happy birthday sweet boy! Xx

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  9. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FLYNN!! It looks as though it was a wonderful first birthday. Octavia is beautiful, I love the way that you have used the different textures. So nice that you are able to enjoy these precious times with Flynn. xx

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  10. What a lovely post. I think you are amazing. Your family all look so happy and content. The octopus is gorgeous. Well done. And I'm loving that green chair. We just painted one in a very similar colour ( posted on my Instagram site). Happy birthday to your lovely little boy xx

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  11. Omg he is just the cutest! Happy birthday Flynn xx

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  12. oh happy birthday Flynn! what a gorgeous selection of photos to enjoy! xx

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  13. Happy Birthday Flinn and what a beautiful post for him to look on back one day. I love Octavia and also your simple birthday celebrations. We did the same for both of ours when they were one and some days I wish it was still just as simple as that. Enjoy the next year, it most certainly sounds like you are soaking up all the goodness from motherhood! Sending you much love xoxo PS your children are ALL gorgeous!! xoxo

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  14. Oh what a handsome boy Flynn is! It is just wonderful how you are able to enjoy the baby so much. All the best luck for the following year.
    I am must put the Octopus in my Ravelry queue. Amazing! Cx

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  15. Happy Birthday to Flynn! I think it's so nice you are able to savour every moment with him. And I love the fact your other kids have " taken him under their wings."

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  16. The joy you exude fills me with happiness too, what a wonderful peek into your world. Thank you

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  17. Happy birthday to Flynn. It looks like he loves being by the sea. One of my treasured toys as a child was a knitted octopus, the one you made for Flynn looks lovely.
    Sarah x

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  18. OK Mel, I'm going to gush again about YOUR CHILDREN! You must be so very proud of each and everyone of them. It's pretty clear from those pictures that they are a happy bunch; well done you! And Master Flynn? Oh, a very happy birthday to you, handsome boy.

    Stephanie

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  19. Happy birthday, Flynn! He is such a beautiful baby. He looks thrilled with the octopus! What a sweetheart.

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  20. Ah, so lovely! He is the happiest, smiliest looking boy, he really is. Octavia is a triumph, what an excellent gift. You seem to have such a lovely family. I liked what you said about enjoying his babyhood in a way you didn't with your others - when Bella was a baby I was terrified, then when she was a toddler I was pregnant, then when Angus was a baby and toddler I was running around after Bella. I think it would be fun to enjoy motherhood again with two at school - what a luxury! x

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  21. NO! Really? Already? Where did this year go?
    I get everything you say about the fifth. When Maya was born my 4 under 4 were all just at school and the novelty of having one baby was completely surprising. Having started with twins, I had no idea what it was to be home with one alone. Even when Fin came I had two one year old toddlers and barely time to feed him as I chased them in always opposite directions! It is the sheer joy of going places with one baby at a serene pace that makes it feel like playing dollies after 4 previous. Everything is relative and I had always kind of envied that experience with friends that started with one. Five is a magic number but I can safely say we won't be seeing six!

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  22. Happy birthday Flynn - I love your octopus :-) You have such a gorgeous family Mel! x

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  23. oh my gosh mel! i feel a little teary eyed can't help reminicing. look at darling flynn! he is an absolute doll, all your babies are. happy birthday to you too mama, must have been emotional, knowing he is your last. and oh how perfect his little (big) octopus is!! the photo of him sitting beside Octavia is priceless!! well done, a perfect first birthday!! (and you can do colorwork, easy peasy). :)
    xxxxxxxxxxxx lori

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  24. Happy birthday Flynn. He is so adorable. X

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  25. Good grief ... 1 already! Where did that year go?! He always looks like such a happy chap. Sending him a squishy birthday hug.

    I love the octopus!

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