a new arrival

Wow, it's been such a long time since I was here. I have missed this space, but life has been so busy, Ena has been so busy that I have just had no time to sit down at the computer.
So much has happened in the 9 months since I last posted, I can't even begin to update you on everything, but the most important, exciting and beautiful news is the arrival of this little man!
Brock McKenzie Barrett was born here at home 2 weeks ago. It was a quick and beautiful birth, he was delivered by Garry and I alone here at home while my mum fielded all the kiddies for breakfast. He is just a delight, peaceful and calm like his birth and pregnancy.
We are adjusting to life as a family of 7, but he is so mousey and quiet that so far it is going well and we are enjoying family life so much.
Everyone is so in love with him and we are all happy and well.
I do hope to be back here more often again, but I won't make any promises (to myself) as we are just taking life moment by moment, day by day, and enjoying every second of it!

yesterday around the house...

flowers from Benny for Mother's Day

Eggs from the 5th

some of my favourite things

messy work table (that is a fake poo by the way!)

knitting

on Joa's bed

minecraft birthday card by Joa for his friend

Happy Mothers Day cake from Rebe

spring knitting

 Looking at these pictures makes me realise how much I have been looking forward to spring. Winter has been a bit of a slog this year, lots of grey skies, lots of wind and lots and lots and lots of rain. But the days are getting longer and we've been getting lots of beautiful days of late.
Crafting is slow here, painfully so at times. Ena does not go to bed in the evenings and is rubbish at napping too unless she is being walked in the buggy (and obviously walking and knitting don't go together) or is in the sling, so my hands are never free to make things for any length of time.
Luckily I knew it would be this way  so everyone waiting for a doll understands how very slow I am this year, so slow in fact that the 2016 waiting list is now full!
Saying that I sometimes get a few minutes here and there to work on some projects.
I had wanted to knit this robin for years, and once we got going it was quick. Last week I made the nest and the kids started to really play with it, so we needed eggs next and Rebe knitted the little robin chick, then of course we needed worms for the mama to bring for the baby. It was lovely watching them play with this little home made set and to hear what an amazing understanding they have of bird life..
Ena's need for a new, bigger sweater gave me permission to make her a bumble bee one. The yarn is a gorgeous soft superwash 100% wool and it made it big enough to last several months at least :-)
The rainbow dungarees you've already seen but people wanted to see an action shot :-)
I am not sure what is going to be on the needles next, I have a really interesting doll project at the moment, but I think I will knit a little something on the side too...any ideas?

a portrait of Ena at 9 months

My baby, my dear Bumble BeEna, my sweet darling.
2 days ago you became 9 months old. How can you only be 9 months, when it feels like you have been here forever?
You are a joy and a delight, a light in our lives.
You are 9 months old,
you have 4 little teeth and more on the way.
Your hair is growing, you have a quiff like your daddy's and tiny little curls that hang over your ears.
You have just learnt to crawl and creep slowly around the room, picking up everything I don't want you to.
You pull up to stand, delighted with yourself and take big, clumsy steps with a grin on your face. You will never hold on with 2 hands, always letting go with one, preferring to feel your own balance.
You say hello to everyone, especially that baby in the mirror. Your little arm outstretched palm open and facing the person.
You love kids and babies. Kissing your older brothers and sister and watching them with concern on your face if they are upset. When we are with other babies you try to get to them, to touch them and coo at them, and if she cries then you cry too.
You love sitting at the dinner table with us all, dropping little bits of what you have to the dogs.
We play a game together, all banging the table with our hands like you do, following your lead, stopping when you do. It makes you laugh.
You like eating. At the moment your favourite things are soup and home-made gingerbread. Yesterday you asked me for a drink of my water from the glass and you learnt to drink, just like a big girl.
Bath time makes you happy, although it drives me nuts as you spend your whole time trying to stand up using the handles on the sides of the bath.
You love music and danced before you could stand or crawl. You shake your head and bounce up and down or if you're in the sling or being held in daddy's arms you kick your legs and wave your arms. Your favourite song is still Uptown Funk.
At night you sleep with us, needing to feel our closeness, often with daddy's finger clenched tightly in your little fist.
When you wake you look for me and snuggle in close for a few minutes before drifting off again. You are pretty rubbish at going to bed though and need comforting every hour or so, which can be tiring, but I know it won't be forever and after all you are only little...but I would really like it if you could stop biting me please.
Darling girl, you are so loved, we are so blessed that you chose us, how we have loved every second of these past 9 months

not dolls...

Even though I took all of December off from making dolls, I didn't of course stop making things.
I have really enjoyed being free to make what I wanted to without feeling guilty that I should be working on people's orders. I am going to try and balance that a bit more this year: doll making and making other things including some more clothes for the kids.
Anyway here are a few of the projects that I worked on...

 A knitted robin, I've had this pattern for several years and never made the time to knit it. There is a little nest to make too and 3 tiny eggs that tuck under the tail feathers.

 

Poor Ena, I have been hankering to knit rainbow dungarees for a long time, too and had the yarn for ages. It is a drops recycled cotton and I love the colours. I made them very bloomer-y and I hope that they will grow with her.

 

Around Christmas time we watched Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium In it there is a little sad sock monkey who sits on a shelf and every time anyone walks past him he holds out his arms for a hug. Well it broke Joa's heart and he asked me to make him one. I was surprised how quick it was, I found a pattern online and made him out of 3 old socks. Rebe and I had fun for several days afterwards making him clothes, she made the trousers for him and I knitted his jumper and hat.

 

 Today, because he needs them, I made Joa a matching pair of trousers complete with 'peekers' another long time request.

The kids are always busy making things too and I am really enjoying listening and watching them play at the moment with what they make.

Benny made an I-pad out of kinetic sand

Rebe made a mask out of an old cereal box

They have made themselves a wonderful minecraft handbook to help them should they ever get a minecraft game

optimistic

painted 1st January 2016

 I have started this year feeling so good. I feel excited and very optimistic about the coming year.
 Last year had some big changes in it: Ena arrived, Garry went back to work, Joa started school and although we have taken all of these changes in our stride, and none of them have been anything but good and positive, change takes time. Adjustment to a new way of being.
But I feel we have now done this, we have learned our new grooves and we are heading into the new year in a safe and happy place.
I feel very strongly that this year will be a year of abundance for us. I feel the universe is going to shower us with everything that we need and more.
Don't get me wrong though, I don't anticipate that life is somehow going to be on hold, I am sure that this year will also bring new challenges and changes. in fact the first card I drew from my 'Crazy, Sexy Love Notes' (a gift to myself for the new year) is this one...

and the last sentence on the flipside:
'The universe always has your back'
Which has been my mantra for several years now.
So, you are welcome 2016 with everything that you bring, and for all of it we are grateful!