Dear Lola & Maeve,

When the opportunity came up to spend a handful of days in a beautiful house just moments from the heart of Sydney, we graciously & quickly accepted.

Lola, you are at an age where going on holidays is just about the most exciting thing ever. You were literally jumping up and down, and absolutely bursting to hit the road. Your thirst to explore every little detail of all the places we took you & Maeve to was contagious. Darling Harbour was a firm favourite, perhaps because it was home to the giant waffle covered in ice cream, as well as the Darling Quarter playground & other various rides. The dinosaur exhibition at the National Museum also impressed, although the giant replica Stonehenge jumping castle probably took the cake. But, I think you would agree, that nothing quite beat snuggling up with Opi to watch a few movies after a long day of exploring. Toy Story is a new favourite.

Maeve, oh Maeve. I'm often scared we'll take off without you, leaving you on the nature strip strapped into your car seat capsule, as you are just so very chilled. You had but one nap in your basket the whole trip, all others were spent in the pram as we boarded ferries, strolled down Cockle Bay Wharf, enjoyed lunch on the streets of Balmain, explored the Aquarium, stood beneath towering dinosaurs at the museum & shopped at Ikea - (yes that's three Ikea trips in your three short months). You slept, you smiled, you fed everywhere and anywhere (even on the run as we raced to catch a ferry home) and then you slept some more. Barely whinging, and nothing a pick up, look out at the world, and a cuddle couldn't fix.

Here are our holiday snaps.

Sunsets & cold beer

This place is really cool mama.

Breakfast for two

 Day One - Darling Harbour & The Aquarium

Darling Quarter Playground

 Ride time!

  

You nearly jumped out of your pants when morning tea arrived.

You had a love/hate relationship with the glass tunnel... mostly love.

Lazy evenings spent at the house

Day two - Hyde Park & The Museum 

The dinosaurs were a huge hit.

Sydney Festival Village at Hyde Park.

 You couldn't wipe the smile off your face.

Games in the yard - catch me Omi!

 Day 3 - Exploring the parks & foreshore around Balmain. A ferry ride to Circular Quay.

Morning cuddles from a sleepy babe

Exploring Balmain

The ferry ride was a huge hit.

Adding to the lego masterpiece at the Opera House.

Here we go, under the Sydney Harbour Bridge!

 It was a wonderful mini break. If it weren't so hot, we may have also ended up the top of that ferris wheel. But like Lola said as we slowly drifted past on the ferry.. "there's always next time." Indeed there is.

Your mama

Dear Lola & Maeve, 

8. You quite like to pretend you're a knight.
9. Our little trip away was full of whizzing colour & wonder.
10. I could have watched you dance around the squirting water all day long.
11. Smiley pants.
12. We waited an hour for this. Worth every second.
13. Keeping an eye out for Mr Shark.
14. Most often her most favourite place to be.

Your mama

Dear Lola & Maeve,

A week into the new year, and here are my first seven favourite photos.

1. I went to put Maeve to bed and came back to find you here.
2. That little face gets me every time.
3. Maeve, three of your favourite things - being outside - standing on your feet - & your papa.
4. Papa made you your own bat & you play cricket every afternoon. 
5. Lola, you always ask if you can babysit Maeve.
6. Al fresco dining & barbeques at every opportunity.
7. Sunday afternoons see quiet time. Reading. Sleeping baby. Puzzles & Watermelon. 

Your mama

Dear Lola,  

I'm a little late with putting these up, but nevertheless here are the final photos to wrap up a wonderful series.

A photo of you once a week, every week of 2013.

49/52

 I love that you tell me you love me so, so, so much at least a dozen times a day.

50/52

 You have a wild imagination & a great sense of humour.

 51/52

 And I love that when you wear this tiara, you are either the 'Queen'

or the 'Paper Bag Princess'

 52/52

We made it - 52 photos of  our peachy girl. 
And here, the first photo of 2013 compared with the last...

I have really enjoyed photographing your sweet little face each week, and I only have to glance at the 52 photos of you to feel happy to have completed the series. But this year, I'm changing it up a bit, and instead of one photo a week, each Tuesday (which will mark a week since the new year),  I'll be posting seven of my favourite photos taken from that week. A new challenge. And one I'm really looking forward to.

Your mama

Dear Lola & Maeve,

Our journey into the new year has begun! I've never really been one for new year resolutions, but there's just something about entering into a fresh year, that makes me want to set a few goals. For instance,

I want to sew more.  Things for you girls & things to give as gifts.
Bake more. Cakes in particular! 
I would like to start swimming. Of the lap variety...
I want to set up a store at the markets once a month with Jules & mum.
Knit more. A winter scarf for you Lola, would be a good start!  
More date nights at home with papa. Now that you both have respectable bedtimes, this is possible!
More travel. But I'll settle for more day trips and time by the river.

What else? Plenty I'm sure.. but we'll start by searching for those goggles of mine.

And photos... I want to take lots of them.

"Just practicing my piano playing on maeve mama."

52 photos of this face - complete!

The most loveliest Christmas gift made by Jules.

Lola bear

New Years Day rompers. 

 Someone has learnt how to cut... properly.

She calls them snippers, and is pretty proud of herself. As am I. 

The most precious knitted flowers made by mum for maeve.

Say 'I'm a big girl' maeve

 Okay....enough playschool, time to hit the road.

 Spotty

 Here comes Lola...

 Here's to an adventure filled 2014!

Your mama