today

Today we baked an olive oil cake, using this recipe. We dressed the baby up as a sailor and took too many photos of her. We went for a walk in the beautiful autumn sun. And I even got a nap. A day well spent.

This weekend I'm looking forward to Finders Keepers market and having the husband at home. What will you get up to?

the rocks

 

 

One of the nicest things about having my mom here is the opportunity to be a tourist in my own city. Every day we manage one trip out of the house - a feat which isn't always easy with a newborn in tow. We pack carriers (alternating between our sakura bloom sling and our moby), spare clothes, nappies, wipes, towels and water. We try to time our trips between feeds and around naps, and then we hope for the best. Sometimes Clementine obliges us with long sleeps and her easy demeanour; other times we have to come home early because she decides that eating and sleeping out of doors just won't do.

On this day we had to go to the Canadian Consulate so we made the most of it with a wander around the rocks. We stopped to admire the Opera House, had a coffee in an old sandstone building and very briefly went to the MCA where a Vancouver photographer, Jeff Wall, has an exhibit. But despite her angelic face in the last picture, Clementine wasn't thrilled so we called it a day and made plans to return. When we do, Vivid will be in full swing, yet another reason to be a tourist!

21/52

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

Clementine: Tiny baby. Big hand. 

I'm really looking forward to taking some time to peruse the dozens of portraits linked from Jodi's site, but for now, managing to post here a couple of times a week feels like a huge achievement. Newborns are a lot of work!

Joining in on Jodi's 52 project.

guest post: easy recipes for new mums by kacie

Hello, This Little Port readers. I can't even tell you how truly thrilled I am for Gaby! Clementine is such a beautiful baby and I'm so excited, as I'm sure you are, to see Gaby thrive and grow in her new role as a Mama. As the mother of one little girl, and another set to arrive any day now, I am truly over the moon for her!

Gaby asked me if I would share a recipe that would be easy for a new mama to make, or for a friend to drop off for a newly expanded family. I know it's heading into winter over in Australia, so I'm including three of my favorite comfort food recipes that would be easy to make at home and drop off for a friend in need, and also easy for a new mom to whip up. Both the soup and the casserole can be easily doubled, with one batch to go in the freezer.

First up, this completely healthy and wonderfully comforting Butternut Squash Soup...

Next up is this gourmet version of Tuna Noodle Casserole, the ultimate comfort food...

 Finally, this is my recipe for Brown Butter Blueberry Muffins! They're so yummy and easy...

I hope this gives you (Gaby) some ideas for easy comfort food, and you (readers) some ideas for ways to support someone in need! 

Gaby, congratulations on the birth of your beautiful daughter. Whether you know it or not, you're already an amazing mom.

Love,

Kacie

* Thanks so much Kacie! If you don't already know Kacie's blog, A Collection of Passions, do yourself a favour and go check it out asap. She takes beautiful photos, features amazing recipes and has the cutest family that's set to expand any day now...  

out and about

First of all, I don't think I can title a post 'out and about' without mentioning that my husband mocks me mercilessly for the way I pronounce this phrase. Damn Canadian accent.

Moving right along... Two weeks after giving birth, I am still mostly taking it easy and spending my days at home. This weekend though, the glorious autumn weather beckoned us outside and so the 4 of us journeyed to Camp Cove. We wandered for a couple of hours, snapping photos and soaking up vitamin D while the little one slept blissfully in her moby wrap. In fact, Clementine slept right through her first beach trip. Oh well, I know there will be plenty more to come.

20/52

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

Clementine: A morning snooze in bed with me. 

Week 2 of my 52 project and I'm already resorting to an iphone photo... What can I say? It's hard to find time to pull out the real camera but my phone is always nearby. I've also been having way too much fun with the new a beautiful mess app.

Joining in on Jodi's 52 project.

a mobile for Clementine

 

Today I finally got around to putting together Clementine's mobile. I was inspired by the beautiful mobiles that Made by Mosey makes, and I used fabric from my favourite, Maze & Vale. It's a little funky (though the husband thinks he can fix the lopsidedness tomorrow) but I think that just adds to the made-my-mum charm. Now I just need to find a place to hang it. For now Clementine sleeps in a bassinet that moves every day, so I need to find some kind of portable hanger. Any tips?

the first week

 

Two days after Clementine was born, the three of us came home and settled in. I don't think it's really sunk in yet that we're a family now, that we have a daughter. That first week my husband and I sat and stared at her for hours. Every twitch, sound and stretch completely captivating to us new parents. We also had many (many) moments of wondering, 'so, what do we do now?' Taking care of a newborn can be so scary, which is why I was extra glad when my mom arrived on Clementine's 6th day of life.

Between her and my husband, the shopping, cooking, cleaning and laundry have been taken care of. My goal has been to stay home as much as possible and let myself recover. Between endless feeds and long nights, I've had time to take a salt bath every day and usually have a nap as well. I am so grateful for all the support I'm getting; it really does take a village.

And our Clementine, sigh... She is just divine. A fairly chilled out little bub, she's happy as long as she's fed, changed and cuddled. When all else fails, a session of swiss ball bouncing with her dad usually does the trick.

Thank you so much for all of your messages of congratulations and well wishes here and on instagram. I'm planning to print them all out and put them in her baby book, beautiful wishes from all around the world. She's a lucky girl.

19/52

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

Clementine: The day after she was born, swaddled up like a little burrito and fast asleep.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms and moms to be out there. I had the most wonderful day. My mom arrived yesterday, and today we had tea with both Clementine's grandmothers, her great grandparents and her great aunts. And all day long, my phone buzzed with the sweetest messages wishing me a happy Mother's Day.

I'm finally joining in on Jodi's 52 project, yay!

my blessingway

 

Before I post about Clementine's birth and first week, I have to rewind a bit to the week before she was born. During my pregnancy I knew I wanted to do something to mark my passage into motherhood and celebrate the journey of pregnancy and birth, but I just couldn't see myself having a baby shower. I can't remember how or where I first heard about blessingways, but when I did I knew instantly that was what I wanted. I ordered myself Mother Rising: The Most Complete Guide to Blessingways and got thinking about the day - who to invite, what we should do, the gift debate etc.

In the end, I chose two friends to help organise the day: one friend helped with all of the planning (making invites, taking RSVP's, buying flowers, cleaning my house and more) while the other would guide the blessingway. I gave each of them a copy of the book so they could plan it without me; the actual elements of the ritual should be a surprise to the mum to be on the day. I was also lucky enough to have the wonderful Belinda snap a few photos on the day. They were truly the perfect friends for the job.

On a Sunday afternoon, at 38 weeks pregnant, we gathered in my home. Friends from yoga, university, blogging, husband's school friends and even my doula came along. My friend Katie guided us through a beautiful ritual that I will always remember. Afterword, we ate some of my favourite foods and sat on the floor and talked about life, babies, pregnancy, and friends. It sounds lame, but my heart felt so full and I felt so supported by my Sydney community. One week later I went into labour and text messages were sent - everyone who had come went home with a candle that they were to light when they heard I was in labour. It made me smile to think of everyones' candles burning away while I worked so hard to have our baby.

All photos by Belinda from Billy & August
p.s. a great article that Jodi wrote on blessingways

oh my darling

Our baby girl arrived on Sunday May 5 (cinco de mayo!) at 7:45 am weighing 6 pounds 13 ounces. Her name is Clementine and we sing her her lullaby at least five times a day.

She's the spitting image of her dad with a mop of dark brown hair and a pouty top lip. We've spent every day since her birth staring at her in wonder and enjoying getting to know her.

Birth story to come but for now I'm going to go snuggle my baby.