First christmas

The world is a lot more wondrous when you get to experience it through the eyes of your baby. A second chance to relive our firsts. Tissue paper is such a delight that taking it away from her is one of life’s greatest tragedies. Lip drops, tears fall. No need for a gift inside, let alone an expensive one.

Christmas is special again with a bub to spoil and she certainly was the life of the party at our family breakfast in the park. I hope you all had a special day filled with little people and laughter.

Nanny Annie gave Emby a beautiful knitted cardigan that she started making before she was poppy seed sized. 

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Children and grandchildren dogs were part of the morning celebration. Although Charlie, my parents dog had to be sent home in disgrace for barking and general mischief. 

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The Newell Family provided entertainment with their tomfoolery on the playground. Aunty Anna gave the best hugs. 

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Some lovely present giving later in the day and a visit to see Emby’s great grandma Audrey. 

baby shower backdrops

The beautiful warm weather had left the soil parched so we headed to the Farnham Street community garden for some watering on the way home. You know, as you do on Christmas day. 

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Exhausted from the day’s hyper stimulation little babu went to bed. In her honorary place as first grandchild she was spoilt rotten with attention as she deserved. We had one last item on the agenda while she was sleeping, squeezing in my birthday celebration. A lovely chocolate cake made by my dad and a quiet happy birthday chorus from my parents and Dylan was just perfect. 

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First sunrise

If ‘little babu’ had woken us up at 5:30am at home ready to chat and play we would have been horrified. Down the coast however, it was a chance to head down to the beach to catch the sunrise.

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A tiny fishing boat had also set out at first light and was setting anchor as we carefully descended the timber stairs to the beach. They pulled up their pots as Dylan set up his tripod. I sat on a dry rock with Ember on my lap and watched them pull up anchor and sail off into the golden path laid by the rising sun. Then we heard a bark and Nanny Annie and three boisterous dogs signalled the end of contemplation and the start of a fun filled day. 

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Sand through her fingers

Our winding trip down to the ocean Road is longest we’ve taken with bub. We emerged from the forest that she had already experienced when we visited St Erth to a new sight, the ocean. New to us too was the strange pink snaking colour that was circling the coastline from Lorne to Wye, some sort of odd algal bloom. I’ve heard it glow at night, so the world is not completely devoid of mysteries for us yet.

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We waited until the sun was heavy in the sky, the rockpools the perfect temperature for little bottoms. We dug Ember a little hole in the sand so she could sit up. I don’t think it will be long until she can sit up by herself, there is so much to look at for a little bub.

She was fascinated by the sand, the elusive way it ran through her fingers. She had the same serious look of concentration that bath time elicits. The cogs turning trying to understand solid, liquid and liquid like solids.

After a rough night sleep after the hectic Christmas, a relaxing day down at the beach was the perfect balm. Soothed by the ceiling fans whir she slept beautifully. The end of her extended four month sleep regression may be in sight!

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Tiny train adventures: Kyneton

We escape to the country and feel whole again. No screens, no work, no worries.

It was probably brought on by someone’s casual comment that planted a bitter seed in my heart. Its roots growing silently until one hot spring night I awoke to their unbearable pressure. Working mum’s guilt is no new thing, a heady cocktail of baby FOMO and that first day jitters, a schoolgirl throw back that I wish I could shake. I could almost hear the boom of that second-hand ticking down to my return to work next year.

It seems that cabin fever might be taking hold. I needed to get out. I needed to escape the city because when I do time slows, my breaths deepen and my thoughts of the future retract from years and months to minutes. It’s quieter on both sides of my ears.

A while ago, Dylan mentioned Alastair Humphrey’s Microadventures as a refreshing way to get your nature fix in the middle of the work week. Trips so cheap and easy you could take a bag to work and head out into the wilderness for 10 blissful hours. You’d return the next day revitalised, the other cogs oblivious of your micro adventure. A work shower would probably aid the subterfuge.

Inspired by this and Tiny Canal Cottage’s Tiny Adventures with a toddler we decided to take a day trip. Our additional challenge was that we had to go carless and carefree!

That’s why we took our first tiny train adventure to Kyneton, an idyllic country town less 1 hour 45 mins from the inner city on public transport.

Getting there

We took a short metro bus to Footscray station and a cosy V Line train ride on the Echuca Line. Trains might be slower, but they are far more relaxing than car trips. With baby taking turns between pram naps and bouncing on laps, the suburbs turned into paddocks. On the way home we decided as the weather was warm we’d even eschew the bus and walk along the Maribyrnong River. It was such a pleasure and worlds away from the chaos on the roads due to the Spring carnival.

What to do

We timed our visit for the Farmer’s Market which is on every second Saturday of the month. It is nestled in the grounds of one of Kyneton’s many, many beautiful old churches. The vegetarian bao were just as delicious as we remembered and we filled our backpack with some rare and random treats such as vegan halloumi, adorable little tarts and cakes. The flowers were tempting but we thought they might protest on the journey home, as would the handsome rooster.

Stores & ateliers

An atelier is a far more seductive descriptor than a shop. So for those who are not really into the art of mass consumption Rundell & Rundell’s store is a delight for craftsmen and craft fanciers alike. Handmade umbrellas lined with silk float above the walls heavy with hand forged tools. Bespoke Windsor chairs huddle in every corner with all manner of other crafted things.

Piper street is the historical retail strip and hosts other lovely stores. We had a long rifle through The Stockroom which houses an eclectic blend of art gallery and retail.

Eating

We had lunch at Grist Artisan Bakers. It is located in an old 1830s flour mill and we enjoyed vegetarian pasties and milkshakes. We ate in but the milkshakes still came in takeaway cups which was a shame after still feeling raw after watching ABC’s War on Waste. We’ll have to ask if they’ll serve them in cups next time.

Walks & gardens

Then we just wandered through the streets enjoying the trees heavy with blossoms. It was so quiet, even the country chainsaws had taken the afternoon off from their ubiquitous whining.

We eventually found the river and followed it to the Botanic Gardens. It was relaxing and the weather was perfect. There was a new adventure playground in the gardens and Little One had her first swing, her face a mask of serious concentration at the new experience. Perhaps next time she’ll crack a smile for us.

Then lazily killing time until our train ride home, laying on the river bank watching baby ducks swim by. A picnic of cakes in glorious sunshine, planning our next tiny adventure.

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