Dear Lola,

Having a new baby in our lives, means ourselves & others often refer to you as the 'big' girl. 
Maeve's age is measured in weeks at the moment. When the heck did yours begin to be measured in years!  

But when I was sorting through our mountain of photos just recently, I looked at your beautiful existence in months. And  there have only been 36 of them.
Truth be told, I'll always see you as my baby girl.
Especially when I can look at a mere seven photos, taken at six month intervals.



0 months

6 months

12 months

18 months

24 months

30 months

36 months

Gosh you bring a smile to my face, my peach, my baby girl, my walking heart.

Your mama

10 things

Dear Lola and Maeve, 

10 things that make me smile.

1# 

You have become a pro at helping yourself to afternoon tea.

2 # 

Craft time & your 'googly eyed santa'

3# 

Your fascination with the sound that the camera makes.

4# 

Your face.

5# 

Your face.

6# 

Warm Spring days spent in cute little dresses.

 (thank you auntie anne)

7# 

The way you look at your papa.

8# 

These three together.

9 & 10# 

When I make a bird sound you usually smile.... apparently not today.

Your mama

Dear Lola, 

It's 7:30pm. 

You and papa just left to attend your first ever music concert.

No, it's not The Wiggles. It's not a Play School concert. 

You're going to see Steve Smyth perform.

You absolutely love his music.

You were so excited you could have burst. 

You packed popcorn, a beanie, your duck umbrella and a cardigan.

I think this will be the first of many concerts you and your papa go to together.

Your mama

Dear Lola, 

42/52

43/52

Lola out for lunch at the  Bondi pop up restaurant.

When ordering
Papa : "Lola what do you feel like for lunch?"
Lola: "I'll order off the menu thanks, I'm sure there's something delicious on there." (looks at menu with a serious gaze)

When lunch arrives
Waitress: "Enjoy guys."
Lola: "Oh we will. May I eat with my hands?"

When we are finished
Lola: "I'll take my plate to the lady"
Papa: "Lola, you don't have to, they will come and get it for us."
Lola: "No papa, it's the very leastest I can do."

You leave us in stitches peachface 

Your mama 

Dear Lola, 

When you wake up on a bright & sunny Saturday morning and papa suggests we hit the road and head into the heart of Bondi to check out the 'Sculpture by the Sea' exhibition, my immediate response was "Sure, let's go, quick pack our bags, Maeve is due for her morning nap... like now!" Within half an hour we were on the road.

I didn't think about the fact that we would be travelling in the car for two hours with a 5 week old & a 3 year old. And then another two hours back home. I didn't think about the traffic jams, the non-existent parking, the 30 degree forecast heat, or the dozens of stairs that would face us as we ventured on the sculpture walk with two prams. 

But you know what? We didn't need to let these minor details worry or consume us, as us Jameson's love a good adventure, in all circumstances. And truth be told, it was a brilliant day, and everything fell into place just perfectly. (Someone sure was looking out for us, big time!)

Maeve, you are so relaxed. You slept the entire car trip, quenched your thirst as you pleased, gazed about the open sky from the comfort of your pram, and slept peacefully.

Lola, you munched on Maccas hotcakes, played eye spy, and requested Elvis Presley, Cloud Control, David Bowie & The Beatles from the back seat. You were so excited to see the sculptures, making countless predictions about what lay ahead of us. And you weren't at all disappointed as you darted ahead pointing out the impressive art, and climbing steep stairs like a champ. (We left your stroller at the start of the walk, and papa & I carried Maeve up the stairs in her pram.)

What a fun day out. We'll let the photos do the talking, 

say 'sculpture'!

Till next time Sydney...

Your mama

Dear Lola,

We are getting into a nice little rhythm around here. 

You both rise at 8am, and we share toast, cereal, scrambled eggs & last nights dreams around the breakfast bar. 

We play, get dressed and farewell papa.

I put Maeve down for a sleep, and we do morning craft. 

We usually head out for a few hours when Maeve wakes. 

Home in time for lunch and naps. (Lunch for me involves juggling making a sandwich whilst settling Maeve in my arms, something I'm getting slightly more efficient at)

Throw in a couple more feeds, a few tears, lots of rocking & plenty of laughter, and just like that it's 3:30pm. At which time you'll find me glancing up at the clock every five minutes, in excited anticipation for papa to arrive home shortly after 4:30.

Other days we'll head out again after your nap, but lately Lola, you have been preferring to stay in and just relax & play with Maeve. By play I mean sing, dance, read and rock her to sleep. You are such a big help.

Our rhythm will no doubt change as you both grow, but I'm loving & cherishing the now, and not wishing it away for one second. Okay, well maybe that time between 3:30 and 4:30 could go a little faster, but who's complaining! 

Average morning scene at our place

You are meant to be sleeping & I'm meant to be eating lunch.

Writing a shopping list

You two are inseparable at home.

Morning craft while Maeve sleeps.

One guess who you are staring up at. Yep, your big sister.

Your mama