Dear Lola,

We fly Friday.

We are all very excited for the adventure that awaits - 

(this is your excited face... if you can't tell)

We have organised for someone to water the garden - 

(your concern was for your strawberries)

We have someone to pick the fruit & veg before the birds get to it first - 

(especially that cheeky bower bird, who fancies our tomatoes)

We have tested our bags for size and strength -

A part from your concern that Edie may not fit in that bag with you,
   we are pretty much all sorted & ready to go over here!

See y'all soon.

Your mama

Dear Lola,

You sung 'hit the road jack' as you waited anxiously for Auntie Jules to pick you up and take you away for a morning of baking & fun.

Not long later, Jules arrived, and I waved you off. 

I must admit, I got a pretty decent exchange for you!

Nothing like a little 'kid swap' Wednesday.

Your mama

Dear Lola, 

We have exhausted singing all the songs we know about rain over the last few days. I can't seem to get the words 'pitter, patter' out of my mind, and this morning we all snuggled in bed under the covers, watching & listening to the rain. You prayed for the people that all this extra water hadn't been so kind to, and then you pulled us in to your room, where we played this rainy morning away.

It made me realise how much you have come to own this space, your room. I watched as you twirled around and leapt from place to place with ease and pleasure. Propping up a teddy there, putting baby to sleep in her little dollhouse crib, and reaching up for your porcelain tea cup, which you filled with felt balls & served to me, saying "blow on it, it's hot". 

My hope for you, is that your room, your own little piece of the world, can continue to lift you up and make you smile.

Here are a few photos of some bits & pieces that fill your beloved room.

this hangs on your door, lovingly made by your auntie gel.  

crocheted apples strung on your big girl bed head.

a special 1st birthday card from auntie jules & uncle james is framed above your bed, with the bunting from your 1st birthday cake attached.  

I made you this hand stitched hoop that hangs with one of my most favourite sayings.

a sad pear that makes us smile.

 

 

material lanterns hung with fishing line, appear to be floating in mid air.

your beloved puppet that travelled with luke & siany through europe to find a home with you.

fox wood art, made by your aunty and I. 

a  lamp from my mum to me, that i passed on to you. 

a treasured pillow made by ella. 

the Heidi books I read to you when you were growing in my belly.

a special rocking horse from aunty jules & uncle james. 
a heart pillow made by me for you.

your pet rock you made with your papa.

beautiful knitted bunting made by your Oma.

a few of your treasures.

the best blackboard & the best dollhouse.

babar prints all the way from the streets of london from lukey & siany, (hung at your level of course.)

 

some more treasures.

and friends.

sock monkey hitches a free ride with baby edie.

book nook.

blanket stash

 I hope someday that these photos bring back some lovely memories for you little one.

 Your mama

Dear Lola, 

4/52

Lately, a lot of things in your life are being described as "a secret". Everything from a drawing you are doing, to flowers you're picking, to a book you're flicking through, or even a funny dance you're doing. If I walk in to the room during one of these secret times, you hold your finger to your lips, stick your tongue out just a little, and whisper "shhhhhh, it's a secret". At this point I usually tip toe back out of the room giggling. What a funny little peach you are.

*this secret 'shhh' moment was captured by your auntie jules.

Your mama 

Dear Lola, 

A few bits & pieces from our little world.

1. Homemade treats at Auntie Jules' place.
2. Lunch is a casual affair.
3. We've been waiting patiently for these to bloom.
4. Laughter (courtesy of Jules)
5. You two.
6. I'm going to make some pretty things for you.
7. Looking rather suspicious.

Your mama

Dear Lola, 

3/52

"A portrait of you, once a week, every week, in 2013"

You're lounging here. Watching play-school. You have a super high top pony bun & you're nudie no pants, because it happens to be 40 degrees outside, and we have no air con inside. You were violently ill with a tummy bug earlier in the week, so the energy you would usually have to run under the sprinkler outside on a day like today, is non-exsistent. So instead, you lounge. And I lounge with you. Two happy couch potatoes enjoying play-school, with hosts that exude endless energy through song & dance. Energy that we just don't have at the moment, but that will no doubt return given just a little time & a fresh southerly change.

Your mama 

Dear Lola, 

You are all better now. And to celebrate, your hollow belly was treated to pancakes. 
Both yesterday and today. 
Because it's just reeeally hard to say no to your request for pancakes. This morning you already had the mixing bowl out, the milk out, & the wooden spoon was in hand - (you can't reach the flour or eggs quite yet). 
You help with every process, and we even get to cook a good 4 or 5 decent sized pancakes, before the smell becomes all to overwhelming for you, and you begin to do a little happy dance on your stool, your shoulders rise, and I see your dimples form as you look to me for reassurance that you will get to eat one soon... which you do with immense pleasure!
So yes, we had pancakes for lunch yesterday & breakfast today.

And judging from that last photo of you sprawled out on the floor like a starfish, I think it's safe to say, we are all pancaked out!  
Well, for today at least.

Your mama

Dear Lola, 

A handful of conversations with you my little peachy, who yesterday had a nasty little stomach bug.

After a morning of non-stop throwing up.

Lola - "Can I have some milk.... pleaaase?"
Mama - "Sorry, no you can't sweetheart, your tummy needs a rest"
Lola - "Okay, I'll just have a yoghurt then"
Mama - "Oh Lola"
Lola - "How about cheese?"
Lola - "An ice-cream.... anything... pleaaaase!"

When I realised you were feeling a little better.

Lola - "I feel happy now, can we go and check the sunflowers?"
Mama - "Of course"
Lola - "And the strawberries?"
Mama - "Yep"
Lola - "And the chillies?"
Mama - "Yep"
Lola - "Oh yes, that is a good idea!"

When I realised you were feeling much better.

Lola: "I vomit on you mama. And on Oma." "But not on Papa."
Mama: Lucky papa.
Lola: "No, lucky mama!"

And then before bed, out of nowhere.

Lola: "Do flamingo's get sick"
Mama: "Um, yes Lola, I'm sure they do from time to time."
Lola: "Poor little flamingo's."

Thankfully, today you have bounced back and the conversations are flowing & all happy. Sadly, that little nasty bug has found a new home in my belly. Ah well, better me than you.

Your mama

Dear Lola, 

2/52 

  "A portrait of you, once a week, every week, in 2013."

*This is my view of you each morning as you stand at the top of the stairwell on our front porch. Here you are, considering whether to jump down the stairs, hold my hand down the stairs, slide on your bottom down the stairs, or let me carry you down the stairs. Personally, I prefer the latter option.

Your mama

 

Dear Lola,

What a Thursday it  has been! 
You were lucky enough to have your Auntie Jules all to yourself this morning. 
I was lucky enough to go treasure hunting on my very own as a result. 
You were lucky enough to spend the afternoon jumping on the trampoline.
And we were all lucky enough to have a delicious dinner cooked for us, and to spend the evening with family.
That's a whole lot of lucky right there.

A few photos from today.

 

1. You are one lucky peach to have one Auntie Jules.
2. It's summer, but I couldn't leave this knit in the 50c bin.
3. It's January, but I couldn't leave these decorations in the 50c bin.
4. Trampolining
5. Papa & Edie girl.

Your mama