August Updates...

As usual, a lot has been happening! 

We have signed a contract on our house *sigh* & it is due for settlement in a month.  We will be moving out, though, in January 2013.  So we have a few months to potter & pack.

Mind you, I will be a healthy 38 weeks pregnant come moving day!!! 

Helpful hints/ideas for making the move simpler anyone???

One thing I will miss is our little vegie patch - it has served us well in the last few weeks especially- I will miss having fresh salad & vegies on hand.  It's so lovely to stand and water it in the afternoons with Little Boy playing in the grass with the dogs :)

These closest are our bountiful lettuce crop, then tomato bushes (still a few weeks until ripe to pick), potatoes (we've only just planted these in the past few weeks), then there's cauliflower, broccoli, carrots and beans right up the other end.  Not to mention, our lemon and lime trees, which you can see near Daddy's legs.  Onto more new and exciting things...

Little Boy turned 1 on the 23rd August!!

After breakfast, he got to open his present from Mummy & Daddy before Daddy had to go to work.  Check out the 'squeal' of delight on his face at his new tip truck! 

On the morning of Little Boy's birthday, we had 'Mum's Morning' at our house, and celebrated with yummy food & a cake!  We played outside and inside, opened presents and generally had lots of fun!  Thanks everyone who came and played with me!  Thanks for all the lovely presents too!!

Getting in amongst my presents!

Unwrapping my presents with Mummy...this one's a gorgeous little wooden dog that you can push along as you walk.  It has beads on it's 'legs' (wheels) that tinkle as you push it along.  He loves it!

Playing with my friend Trooper :)  Little A in the background too!

One of Daddy's friends gave me a chocolate with sprinkles lollipop.  I'd never had anything like it before!  So sweet & yummmmmy!  Mummy thought she'd give me a hold & let me have a few bites, then save the rest til later so I didn't spoil my dinner.  But, before she could even blink, I had eaten the WHOLE THING!!!  Clearly, I enjoy my chocolate-sprinkled lollipops!!

And here's just a short video of Little Boy 'driving' Daddy's big car - he LOVES anything with wheels!  Truly!  What is it with boys and their 4-wheeled toys??

Going 'back in time'...here he is opening Daddy's present with Daddy... yes DADDY'S present, because Daddy turned 30 in July!!  It's a big time for birthdays :)

We had a small gathering on our back deck with some friends, to celebrate Daddy turning 30. 

Mummy had some good friends help her set up for the occasion, but forgot to take photos!  Too busy in the kitchen :( But I did pull the camera out the morning after, and here's a few snaps of the deck still set up - very minimal decorations (cause that isn't really a Daddy thing), but ample room for little 'gatherings' of chairs.  It was a fantastic night! (Well, so I've been told...*wink wink)

We're going to miss our back deck too :(  At least we won't be moving until Summer, and we can make full use of it in the warmer months until then!  Fancy a back deck BBQ anyone?  Feel free to invite yourselves around and let us know when! :) 

I LOVE this photo, it's not by any means great photography or anything, in fact Little Boy is pretty blurry (because he's riding the horsey of course!)...but I do love how it captures that moment - the moment between father & son after Daddy gets home from work, and plays a game with Little Boy.  That look of sheer delight on each of their faces.  It's a beauty, isn't it?

What else?

Well, Mummy has loved cooking & creating new things...

How good is a 'fresh from the garden' stir-fry with steamed rice?

A quick sew one night - I was tired of not having a tablecloth and runner which spanned the length of our rather large table - so I whipped one up from some calico I had and blue fabric scraps. 

Much better than 'half' size table cloths! 

Been sewing 'little girl' up-cycled onesies with some fabric scraps, button & ribbon.  Lots of fun - can't wait to get this down pat & be 'neater' at it - I'll be making them for all the baby girls I know!

The first one turned out a larger ruffle front than I would have liked, so I made the second one smaller & I like it better.  I also used my sewing machine to attach the buttons with the second one also.  My only concern is that I made the ruffle, the front panel & then sewed them directly to the onesie (either by hand or machine, depending on thickness).  I also sewed the buttons on AFTER I had attached the ruffle front to the onesie.  Consequently, the inside of the onesie has sewing thread in it, and it doesn't look as neat as I would've hoped.  I would prefer to attach the entired ruffle front to an adhesive backing, that you can iron onto the onsie, and only stitch around the neck line to secure the whole thing (although a curved stitch line is proving tricky!) 

Has anyone used the product I'm talking about?  (Sorry, I don't even know what it is called)

Any hints on 'stream-lining' the design any further?

If you would like to know how I created this look, I'm going to post a tutorial on my blog very soon.  It's an adaptation of a picture I saw, but the picture had no tutorial attached and was a store-bought item.  So I've made up the tutorial myself.  I'm an absolute amateur on the sewing machine (I only got my sewing machine in March this year, so there you go), and if I can do it, anyone can!!

I think this idea works really well if you have a plain coloured onesie with a printed design on the front which, perhaps you don't like, or even if it were a boys suit, and you wanted it to be a girls suit. 

You can buy really cheap onesies at thrift shops, bulk onesies at Kmart/Target/BigW/Best&Less, and upcycle them into something really special!

I have an idea for a boys up-cycle onsie as well, and I'm going to post a blog on this idea later too, but I haven't even sewn it yet, so I won't say anymore.  Only that, I'm going to need lots of boys things come February!!! :)

I sat down at my machine & made a bunch of fabric pocket tissue packs one night as well :)

These worked out really well & I'm very pleased with the finished product.

The top one has the same fabric inside & out, but it looks really neat if you combine two complementing fabrics (I did this for the rest- they look great!)

There's still more though!  In Daddy's corner, the major achievement (besides a steady income, and ongoing work), is the new concreting trailer!  Check out the progress!

It was once an old 'Engine Australia' trailer.  Here is it being prepped for painting the exterior white.

Grandma B giving the floorboards an undercoat, Grandad in the background preparing the trailer for paint.

The trailer now! 

Doesn't it look snazzy?! 

Daddy's current box trailer is loaded up with all sorts of concreting and other equipment, and once the storage shelving & other welded toolboxes etc are fitted to the inside of the trailer, it should be a real breeze to work from!  Not too mention, get rid of having to squish everything onto the box trailer anymore!  Hallelujah!

Signing off for August...

Time flies!

Well, time does certainly fly.  Since March (the last time I posted here), our little family is growing and changing in leaps and bounds. 
Little Boy has a number of teeth now, with a cheesy, cheeky grin showing itself!  He is super active, crawling at 9 months and pulling himself up to standing at 10 months, now he's all of 11 months (nearly 1!!!!)  and is proudly parading himself around the loungeroom coffee table using his walker (not on his own two feet just yet..).  So Mummy's work is still cut out for her, checking what he's into when everything goes quiet, and rescuing him from all sorts of 'I can't fit through here, or I can't get down from here' type-situations!  It's all fun & adventurous in the world of Little Boy :)
Speaking of Little Boy, who has decided feeding himself is much more desirable than being fed with a spoon by somebody else...he is watching Mummy's belly grow & expecting a Little Tiny One (brother or sister) in early February next year.  Exciting stuff!!

So the Barnes family grows :)

Here's a picture of Little Boy after he climbed up onto the dishwasher to 'help' Mummy.

And here's a family pic, Daddy, Little Boy & Mummy at a friends place for lunch in June this year. 

Mummy and Daddy had great fun one weekend in June, planting a veggie patch-very rewarding work! 
We're starting to see the fruits of our labour now, and I'll be sure to post a photo of our first 'reaping'!

Just to give you an idea, the veggie patch runs almost the length of this fence in our backyard.  This is about one tenth of the whole thing, just the beans :)  We planted beans, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, onion, cucumber, tomato, lettuce, not to mention the rose bushes! ;)  Mummy's always wanted to grow roses like her Grandma does :)  They're so beautiful and smell so lovely on the dining room table.

Oh, and here's Little Boy, who found another great spot to hang out in the kitchen...the potato bin!

Hmm...didn't want that shoe on anyway!

Not sure if I've already posted this one, but some very good friends of ours were married in March, and Little Boy was so handsome in his little suit, I just had to post this.

One more cheeky shot of Little Boy, when he first starting rolling over in the pram as he woke up...check out that cheeky face!  Don't worry...we strap him in now ;)

Our business is well underway now, with the creation of business cards & flyers, thanks to some great friends of ours.  Thanks for helping us out guys! 

We're now hopeful that business will keep generating by word-of-mouth, as well as advertising on the web & letter-box drops...here's to the next 3 years in the early business phase! 

Mummy is still working 2 days a week at school, but very much looking forward to what the new year will hold...two little ones and full-time at home Mum :)  (fingers crossed!)  Well, more than that, we're praying that the Lord will bless the work of our hands and that Mummy won't need to work once Little Tiny One comes.  But for now we wait and see, in faith, what the Lord will do in our lives.
Praise God for little miracles :)

March Madness

I'm calling this post 'March Madness' because it really has been a mad month!!
Aside from only just now getting the time to post, I have been working 2 days a week at school and baking, baking, baking, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, washing, washing, washing!  Sometimes I feel that's all there is to life!
But then, there has been the odd lovely day out with family or friends also, or just shopping with Little Boy (which is very nice, too).

Here's a few pics and updates from this month of madness!

In keeping with the M's...this month was Mummy's birthday :)

Lunch @ Abbie Lane with Little Boy, favourite Aunty (Daddy's sister) & Grandma (Mummy's Mum)

We had a lovely, lovely day cruising around a few little shops, drinking coffee, eating scones & sweets, and generally having a girls day out!!  What a way to spend a birthday :)
My absolute favourite place we went to was GottaBee Country @ Abbie Lane...their little shop is just gorgeous!  If you haven't been there, it's a little old timber chapel, been converted to a shabby chic, country homewares boutique store.  A must see :)

  A shop at Abbie Lane - but not GottaBee Country - will have to take a pic, cause I can't seem to find one on the net - strange...

 A cute little 'out house' in the corner garden/dining area @ Abbie Lane. 

  The sweets shop we visited (I bought some Jelly Belly's - my favourite - such a treat on my birthday!)

I especially love their timber ladders (among many, many other things), and would love to hang one above our kitchen bench, for that lovely country hanging pots and pans look.

 This is a sneak peek inside the store (you must visit to see more!) from another blogger's site - girl with a satchel.  So there you have it, a little sneak peek ;)


March has also been the month of open houses, and on one particular Saturday, we had an open house at 12:30pm, I had a hair appointment at 10:30am, for a wedding at 1pm!  Madness!  :)
Here's a pic of Little Boy, Mummy and Aunty J in the carpark, arriving for the wedding...

Doesn't Little Boy look so cute in his little outfit!??  Such a dude...

Daddy and Mummy did some gardening in March, in a sweet little cottage garden, and Little Boy came too.  He watched from his pram, in his hat & shades, as he chewed into a rusk - Yum!

Can you spot Daddy up the tree?  Mummy was collecting the trimmings in the wheel barrow and taking them out to the trailer on the footpath.  Fun times!  (Lovin' those little shades...)


One Saturday in March, we travelled down to Gympie for Daddy's friends 30th birthday.  A lot of Daddy's school friends were there & got together for a photo for old times sake :)

Would you believe these guys are all 30 this year? Time flies...

On Monday's and Friday's Mummy & Little Boy come home pretty tired.  Little Boy has a big day at family day care, playing with his buddies there, and Mummy has a big day at school with the kids!  But Mummy misses Little Boy a lot, and loves cuddles when they see each other again after school. 
So...Mummy & Little Boy often lay down on Mummy & Daddy's bed for an afternoon nap together.  It's quickly becoming a little routine thing that we do! 
Here's a snap of Little Boy & Mummy AFTER a sleep...we've woken up very happy, because we love our afternoon naps & snuggles!

Little Boy LOVES two things:

Mummy's hair

Mummy's necklaces

Recently, he acquired one of these necklaces, and this was the fun he had chewing it...



Little Boy had his 6 months needles in March, too...see I told you this month has been just madness!

After arriving home, Little Boy had a little play on his play gym mat.  Mummy was in the kitchen getting a drink & realised it was really quiet in Little Boy's room (usually, the bell toys are tinkling away as Little Boy shakes, rattles and rolls everything possible on the playgym!)...so Mummy went to inspect, and this is what she found...

The Little guy must've been absolutely ZONKED after his needles!  Poor little fella, he never usually sleeps on his play mat...too much fun to be had!

Speaking of zonked...I think it's time Mummy started getting ready for bed.  It's been a long day! 

Hope you've enjoyed seeing what our little family has been up to this month ;)

       

Firsts...

This blog is all about the 'firsts' for Little Boy, and some for Daddy and Mummy, too!

These are firsts for 2012, with Little Boy being 5/6 months old.

Little Boy's first moments 'sitting' with Scallywag Sister (who lets Little Boy pull her ears and hair, such a sweetie), and Boofhead Brother (who we think may be marginally jealous of Little Boy for all the attention he receives, and responds to this by sooking! hahaha).  We're certain Little Boy will spend many beloved hours with Boofhead Brother and Scallywag Sister as he grows up :)

 

First sleep in my new cot...

First feeding at home in the 'Bumbo'...

First discovery of socks, sitting on the couch...

First home brewing trial for Daddy...



(and if you look closely on the right, Mummy's first time making home made sausage rolls)

First time jumping in my jolly jumper in front of a mirror...so cute!

That's all for now folks :)

A laugh a day keeps the doctor away!

I absolutely love this clip, Little Boy gets a real cackle going!
Mummy and Little Boy were in the kitchen, Little Boy in his bouncer on the bench and Mummy cooking dinner.  (Well, trying too...Little Boy is a bit of a distraction!) 

It's just a shame my video skills aren't as good as Little boy's laughing skills!
Enjoy...

Little Boy's new swing chair...

Little Boy had such a great first christmas.  He got to spend time with his Grandma & Grandpa, Oma, Aunty's, Uncle's and cousins!  So spoilt! 

He got a new cot (yay!  he was fast growing out of the bassinet) from Grandma & Grandpa, toys from Oma, Aunty's and Uncles, and Grandma and Grandad sent through some money for a new swing chair! 
Little Boy just LOVES his new swing chair.
That's not to say he doesn't love his cot...because he does!  He just loves sleeps :)

But here is some favourite 'swing chair moments'...

Unfortunately, the best video of Little Boy laughing on his swing, with Daddy pushing, was too large to attach here!  I will have to take a shorter one & update this blog in future... will keep you posted!


Meanwhile...here's a realy cute video clip of Little Boy's latest trick...  check it out...

Look forward to more updates & catching up with you all!

Our Little Boy is growing up!!

My my Little Boy!  Look how much you've grown! 
My favourites are videos now...they capture the moments that you just can't, with a photo.
But I DO love a cute photo :)
As they say, a picture can tell a thousand words.

Mowing with Daddy.  This will be one of those photos looked back upon in years to come as a fond memory.

My first go on the ride on mower was lots of fun!!  I stayed out mowing with Daddy for half an hour!  I didn't complain once, and had lots of smiles!  I looked intently at everything we passed. 

I forgot to mention that on holidays at Rainbow Beach, I got to pat my first snake.  Creative Kingaroy Aunty found it by the pool, and Daddy picked it up!  We all got to have a good look, a pat, and even a hold of the big carpet snake! (But not me...of course)

I'm eating some solids now, and Mummy and Daddy get a real giggle out of the way I grab the spoon with my left hand.  I think it's cause it goes everywhere and I grab the stuff off the spoon as it's coming towards me.  Well!...what do they expect??!!  It's good stuff!!  I eat it all up :)

Mummy started work this year, just two days a week (Monday & Friday) with the kids at school.  I don't mind that she's gone back to work, cause it means I get to hang with Lovely Aunty at her place, who has lots of new toys!  We have lots of fun together, and I really enjoy it.  I'm no trouble at all!  Such a good boy!

This is me at Lovely Aunty's...see the cool hammer I get to play with?

And I look so grown up in my high chair!  I just love it here :)

 I LOVE books...here's me and Daddy reading a book after a swim in the pool.  I'm just about to go for a nap, so this is my favourite time to sit and read a book.  It's my quiet time.

 This is me sound asleep in my bassinet.  I won't take my dummy anymore, but I do suck my fingers for a little bit before I go to sleep.  You see, I really am still a little boy.  Just a baby boy :)