Sat January 28, 2012
My baby turned 5 this week. Another milestone has passed.
I used to always feel sad at each of their birthdays. Lamenting how they were growing too fast. Longing for their chunky babyness to remain. Another year older marked the perfect time for me to drown myself in old video footage from the years before.
I have always referred to Imogen as “my baby”. Calling her “my best baby” to differentiate her from Jaz, who is “my best big girl”.
So at her birthday dinner when I called her “baby girl”, she said, “I’m 5 now, I’m not a baby anymore.” Historically this would have sent me into a weepy decline. Now I would definitely be dragging out baby videos when we got home?? But I felt just fine. I have wanted to get my head around their inevitable growth .. to feel good about it.
For me, the key to this acceptance is not feeling regretful about my parenting. There is no, “I wish I had done more of this… or less of that…” I am an engaged, happy parent most of the time. And for the many times that I am not, I don’t beat myself up about it.
Now Imi is 5 and starts school next week. And I just feel thankful for her 5 glorious baby years and am ready for the next stage. No tears required.
As I tucked her in after a long day of picnicking, bushwalking and celebrating, I tested… “goodnight baby big girl.” She seemed content with the new title, for now…
Jaz and Will pressing a finger in each others back to help them up the hill.
Wed January 18, 2012
A bubby session from a wee while back. Simple and cute. x
Fri January 13, 2012
A little client love — some of my faves… x
Fri January 13, 2012
So, these were the last photos taken in our bed, yesterday morning. Dave got home from the movies last night, hopped into bed… and the whole frame collapsed. While I suggested that was probably one choc-top too many for him, he made arrangements for sleeping on the floor.
The end of an era for our bed of a million years that has housed all our children (I was a lover of co-sleeping when they were small). Let the bed shopping begin (time to hit Pinterest for some ideas I think!)
N.B. That pile of books and magazines on the bed-side table is my current reading material. Does anyone else’s bed-side look like that?
Wed January 11, 2012
Melbourne weather extremes – 40 degrees one minute and 13 the next. This is summer, and yet I just love this wild, wet and windy day. The heating is on. My comfy cosies are on. And I am so drawn to the view from my office.
My toes in socks at the office door facing the balcony. And the rest… from my window.
I hope I can convince Dave to light a fire tonight. I wonder how it looks from where you sit. x
Mon January 9, 2012
My beautiful mummy and darling Tony — known in our house as Grandma and Poppy. They live a good 10 hour drive north, so we always love love love having them stay. They were with us for a week this Christmas and these photos were taken in the garden just before they hit the road for home.
They are so gorgeous, so in love. Tony loves gardening and cooking and makes mum laugh without trying. And Mum loves reading and history and laughing at Tony. Tony bought mum an iPad for Christmas and is calling it her “Toy-Boy” because she’s always hiding off in another room with ‘him’. 
And this photo is my absolute favourite photo of them of all time. x
Tue January 3, 2012
The rain was torrential for the entire day, and not once did this amazing bride and groom mention the weather. Not once. Kate and Mike were just excited, happy, calm, carefree — such a down to earth couple. Dave and I had lots of fun photographing their special day, despite the rain.
Stunning!
The ceremony had to be moved indoors — the room was gorgeously rustic, and dark. Lit only by candles and a few small windows.
Arriving in a downpour, but still cracking jokes and barely any nerves.
Rain stopped for a few minutes.
And just before the light left us and the reception started, the boys had time for some Nerf war.
Thu December 29, 2011
Our days have been so lazy and this morning looked a little like this.
Imogen climbed into Will’s bed so he could read to her (from his Xmas set, Diary of a Wimpy Kid).
Hours and hours are being spent in the water. Their swimming is coming along beautifully – in the last few days Will has learnt to dive and somersault into the pool. Imi has learnt to swim from one end of the spa to the other under water and then scream out, “did you see me, did you see me!” every time she emerges.
What I haven’t photographed are images of them fighting – oh the joy of being together day in, day out. Our strategy at this point is to lock them in a cupboard…, I mean, separate them. The next step will be to record their arguments and then force them to watch it in it’s entirety to see if they find it as annoying as we do
Happy holidays
Sat December 24, 2011
In the tradition of most family photographers, I wanted to get a family photo sorted for Christmas. When time passed for that to be possible this week, I thought, perhaps a last minute shot of just the kids. Nup, I couldn’t manage that either.
Orders were still being collected today – Christmas Eve!
Amongst the work though, I love to do lots of Christmassy (sp?) things with the kids at Christmas. We have our traditions, and always have lots of fun. We also have lots of tired tears and crankiness (please let me know that it’s the same at your place!).
Here are some snippets of what Christmas is looking like at our house on Christmas Eve.
The kids made clove oranges — they smell divine!
The Christmas tree also has some beautiful school-made decorations.
Will made place cards for the table.
And our traditional Christmas cake that we have been making since Jasmine was old enough to put the hazelnuts on top. This is the best fruit cake that has big chunks of chocolate oozing through it. Santa loves it.
And the table is set and ready to go.
I am just so grateful for my beautiful lot in life — thank you for taking the time to stop by. Much love to my family and friends.
Merriest Christmas, Angie xo
Wed December 14, 2011
My mother-in-law came to stay this week (to see Imogen in her dance concert which she never ended up doing due to a bout of gastro… poor chicken), and she bought me a Christmas gift. Something she said she simply COULD NOT walk past.
Isn’t he gorgeous! My very own singing, shuffling, photo-taking Santa. The flash bulb even lights up
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