Milkshake Thief



Mum

my beautiful mum - Photo a Day, May

Dear Mum,

I now know the depth of your love for me. And I thank you.

xxx

Something That Makes Me Happy

something that makes me happy - Photo a Day, May

My name is Anna and I'm a magazine addict...

but they make me so very, very happy!


Is there anything better on a relaxed weekend afternoon than a hot bubble bath, a glass of sparkling and a crisp, fresh mag to delight the senses? I think not. I love reading gifted writers who can thread words together, like a friendship bracelet for the soul.


The photo above shows my magazine "catch-up" pile, otherwise known as magazines that I have not yet had the chance to read since Sage's arrival. Previously, I would've been able to devour an entire issue in the space of a few hours. These days, I'm lucky to read a page a week!


Here's my list of baby mag must haves-

• Little One Baby
• My Pregnancy by Anne Geddes
• Shop For Kids
• Studio Bambini
• Papier Mache
• Cosmopolitan Pregnancy
• La Petite (online)
• Dear Baby (online)

And some indulgence for myself-

• Marie Claire
• Frankie
• Instyle
• Shop Til You Drop
• Cosmopolitan Bride
• Bride Tasmania (yes I still love wedding magazines despite getting married over a year ago!)

Happy reading!

A Magical Sound {Sage's First Laugh}

 

Yes, the girl can laugh!

I was lucky enough to capture this snippet of Sage's very first 'proper' belly laugh today by balancing the video camera on top of her wipes container beside us {the things we do...!}

We'd had glimpses that a laugh wasn't far off due to a couple of mini chuckles throughout the week, but they were nothing like this! What a wonderful surprise for Daddy when he arrived home from work. I could tell he was slightly chuffed judging by the amount of times he watched it over and over again!

I could listen to this magical sound all day long.

{Sage's first laugh, 15 weeks & 4 days old}

Kitchen

before

before

during

during

work in progress

kitchen - Photo a Day, May

Two Pink Lines {a year ago today}

On this day, one year ago, we found out Sage was going to join our little family.

And we were ecstatic beyond belief!

I know it’s completely ridiculous, looking back now {isn’t hindsight a joy?}, but I was so upset when I didn’t fall pregnant within the first month of trying. It’s a bizarre mind-shift, from doing everything possible not to fall pregnant, to then doing anything possible to fall pregnant.  Once that mind-shift occurred, I think I expected it to happen instantly {silly, I know!}. After all; we were no longer taking contraception, we were in a loving relationship, we were doing the necessary ‘things’ to become pregnant {!}, so why wouldn’t it happen straight away? I realised I was in desperate need of a reality check and promptly decided then and there to get over myself. To let nature be our guide and have belief in my body; that we would be blessed with a baby when we were meant to be, no sooner, no later. I’d lost sight in my own belief that babies choose when to enter the world. Our baby would come to us when he or she decided it was time.

My period had always been fairly regular, so when it didn’t appear over the space of a few days, after a few months of ‘trying', I had an inkling this may be it. I took a test on Tuesday morning and one strong line, plus one faint line appeared. I knew that having a second line at all was a good sign, but as it was dull, I didn’t want to get my hopes up.

Diary entry - Tuesday, May 10^th 2011 – “Two pink lines. Perhaps you’ve arrived? Trying not to get my hopes up, just in case, but I have a feeling, this is it!"

I decided to try another test the next morning, this time choosing a digital version. The words on the screen would tell me for certain. Either PREGNANT or NOT PREGNANT. I had flutters of nervous anticipation for the next 24 hours.

At this stage, Simon was working in Queenstown, and throughout this time he either had to leave very early in the morning or a couple of times a week, he’d stay down there overnight to minimise travel. As tests are more accurate in the mornings with higher urine concentration levels, Simon was unfortunately not with me when it was time to test.

Standing there on my own in the kitchen, the word we’d been hoping for instantly appeared on the test screen …

PREGNANT

Tears pricked my eyes. A lump formed in my throat. I grinned the biggest grin I think I ever had in my whole life. There was really a baby growing in my 'tummy' and I felt so unbelievably, unequivocally LUCKY.

I’d done the test very early (somewhere around  5am) as I was far too excited to sleep. I tried calling Simon instantly, but of course, he was sound asleep! When he woke to his 6.30am alarm, I’m sure he was greeted with close to 50 missed calls! Of course he called back immediately, and was absolutely thrilled with the news!

Diary entry -Wednesday, May 11^th 2011, “ahhhh bliss! I know you’re there. How surreal to actually see the word… PREGNANT! I know you’ll be fine, you’ll make it, and you’ll be perfect.”

All of this happened a year ago today, Little One. And you are fine, you did make it, and you are perfect.

{Photo - my pregnancy confirmation from the doctors surgery a few weeks later. Yes, I kept it!}

A Favourite Word {the naming of Sage}

a favourite word - Photo a Day, May

Sage, the most beautiful word in the world.


Seeing it written or hearing it spoken, makes my heart leap with joy, especially now that she's "real";

"real" as in she's really here... she's really a part of our lives... she's really our baby!

Even now, when others say her name, it gives me little flutters, as, for so long. it was a name that Simon and I were keeping to ourselves until our precious daughter was born. So hearing it uttered from the lips of others still feels a little surreal. As if it's still supposed to be our little secret.

We chose to find out Sage's gender at our 20 week ultrasound. Knowing that she was a 'she' was our way of connecting with her before we could physically see her... smell her...hold her.

To us, knowing her gender, gave her an identity. It made the concept of having a baby less abstract in our minds, as we weren't just having a baby, we were having a daughter.

And as soon as we knew we were being blessed with a little girl, her name was Sage.

Looking back now, we're not quite sure how her name came to be. Although I had my previous blog - "Fields of Sage" {so named for its whimsy connotations}, it was never a name we had short-listed during our 'naming-our-future, not-yet-conceived children' daydreamings over the years.

And because it was a name that we hadn't considered until that 20 week scan, it was as if she named herself with the unveiling of her gender.

I like that thought.


Sage Mila Wren

Sage, meaning 'wise'

Mila {pronounced Mill-Uh} - a shortened version of our sponsor child's name - Camila. Mila means many things, including miracle, pleasant, friendly and gracious.

Wren - an ode to my love of all things bird {hence our wedding theme and Sage's nursery design}. I loved Wren for a potential first name, but Simon was not so keen. Luckily he was happy to include it as an additional middle name.

Wren means 'song bird' which delights me greatly, as 'Songbird' by Eva Cassidy is the song that I walked down the aisle to, on our wedding day. Therefore I feel it represents Simon and I's love, unity and bond, just as Sage herself does.

Our beautiful little miracle, our wise, pleasant song bird, is now the centre of our lives.

Of course Sage is my favourite word. How could it not be? It epitomises my heart and soul.

How did you choose the names of your children? Do they have special or sentimental meanings? I love to hear your stories.


{Photo - We collect any 'sage' garden markers that we come across. This gorgeous one was purchased on our recent trip to Perth}.