It's a bit chilly!

I remember as a child we would sometimes stay at Grandma's house and on those cold, chilly Winter nights, she would tuck us into a warm bed that had been heated with a hot water bottle covered with a beautifully hand knitted covering with the coziest of wools.

In Winter time, Mum would make our beds with the snugness and warmth of flanelette sheets and extra layers of blankets. 

Nowadays, I still have our bed and Miss Twinkle Toes' cot made up with flanelette sheets,

but the warmth of the coziest hot water bottles have been replaced with

the coziest litlte hot water bottles of all,

and they never go cold!!

So Winston & Max pay their way through life again and are continuing to earn their keep.

I wonder which one will want to sleep with Miss Twinkle Toes when she is in her own little bed?

Fur Baby Max celebrates his 3rd birthday!

Max.

Today is his birthday. He is 3 human years old.

We didn't think he would make it past his 1st birthday so we are so happy that he is celebrating being 3.

I like to celebrate my fur babies birthdays with their favourite meal. They get a special birthday dinner and celebrate their day with their best mates.

Max's 1st Birthday

Max's 2nd Birthday. Celebrated with Winston & Ashlyn.

Dinner- 2 steak cupcakes each (not for 3mth old Ashlyn though)

Max's 3rd Birthday! Celebrated with Winston & Ashlyn

Main course: Steak all round!

And yes my fur babies are that well trained that they will not touch their food until they are given the go ahead.

The Birthday Fur Boy - Max.

Check out these fur babies birthday celebrations.

How do you celebrate your fur babies birthdays?

Maybe you don't at all. That's okay. I am sure they know they are loved.

Please share by leaving a comment.I love comments.

Mummy... Mum... Mum.... MUUUUUUUUUUMMMMM!

So this Sunday is Mother's Day! I wonder what I will get? Hopefully a day off changing nappies, a sleep in and lots of cuddles! I heart cuddles! What does everyone else hope for?

I honestly can not wait until Miss Twinkle Toes is old enough to make me something. I love handmade things and take much delight in making them with the children at school for their mums. It is such a nice feeling to know how special a mum will feel when she opens up a gift from her special little one/s.

I have been thinking back on just how much my world has changed since becoming a mummy over the last 14 months. The biggest change can be summed up in one simple yet powerful word.

Love.

Definition:

n.      1. A deep, tender, ineffitable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from a kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.

        2. An intense emotional attatchment as for a pet or a treasured object.

I have so much more appreciation fo rmy own mum now that I am a mother. I always loved my mum and knew that she loved me unconditionally but until I became a mum myself, I never understood just how much I could love.

It is hard to find the words for how much I love my daughter...

So instead I will share with you these captured moments....

 My first Mother's Day. What an honour to be 'her' mum. xoxo

Yes I love her so much that I smother her with cuddles.

We love to play.

Life is good and I can't wait for more!

Cuddles!

Aren't they just the best!
OKAY...
WARNING!!!!! MUMMY MOMENT AHEAD...

I remember the first time I cuddled my newborn baby... breathing in that intoxicating scent of her skin, the scent that sent shock waves of love right through my mind, body and soul...

I knew I was in love.
Just like the Huggies commercial had told me in all those months of pregnancy;
"Must be love...love...love..."
This was my Huggies cuddle momentDuring those precious moments when Ashlyn would just snuggle in, falling asleep in my arms; I imagined all the amazing times ahead for our family.
I can remember telling my partner that I just simply could not wait until my precious little girl would walk up to me with arms wide open and give me a big cuddle with arms wide open.

Well today I said to my little one,
"Mummy wants a cuddle".
I opened up my arms. She looked up with those amazing blue eyes, smiled and came toddling up to me with arms wide open. With that, she wrapped those little arms around me as far they would go.
Two words to describe that feeling...."PURE HEAVEN!"My heart crumbled into a million pieces. I think the only thing that could possibly top that will be the day that she utters 4 magical little words...
"I love you mummy"

Good times. Good times.

We spent some time outside today.

On a blanket in the backyard, we took our favourite toy Shaun the Sheep along with some other random things to amuse us and we were set for some fun in the sun.

We are absolutely loving these Autumn days where the sun is just enough to warm your skin and the air is fresh.

The dogs were never too far away.

Winston had quickly stolen a ball from Ashlyn's ball pit on the back verandah and was out running a muck. Max chose to soak up some of the suns rays whilst having a snooze. Ashlyn started exploring her basket of goodies and I got snap happy!Enjoying a French baguette!

"Mmmm...You smell like sunshine!"

Several studies have shown that regular, unstructured playtime in nature makes kids smarter, calmer, more self-disciplined, more cooperative, and happier. As a child, I loved going outdoors. Sometimes it would be to play with my sisters on the trampoline, explore the reserve that backed onto our property, practice throwing netball passes, ride our bikes on the driveway and footpath or my number one favourite; to play with our dog Laddie. Miss you mate.

I want to make sure my daughter experiences that as well. I want to cuddle her on the lounge at the end of the day and inhale her beautiful scent and whisper to her "Mmmm, you smell like sunshine."

This afternoon Ashlyn, Winston, Max & I headed off to the park for some much needed sunshine. At the mere mention of the word 'walkies', the residents of our home were in a state of uncontrollable excitement to be heading out the door. Leads, drinks, baby bag, pram, camera and if Winston had a baby bag, his most important must have item to be packed would be a ball, so that was also included.

On arrival at the park, there was a race to see whose feet could touch the ground first.

The grass is just amazing at this time of year. Soccer season is just about to start so the grass is in pristine condition. It is a lush shade of green that is soft underfoot and I am sure the boys loved it under their paw pads.

There were many good times to be had.
Grass to run like the wind on...
New play equipment to explore...
Slippery Dips to slide on...
And at the end of the day, someone needed a ride home. It's a tough life!

Magical Moments from the past

It is hard to start a blog about Ashlyn, Winston & Max when so many magical moments have already occured.

Like when Max first came home, only to get very sick with Parvo Virus. I honestly believe if he hadn't come into our home filled with love,met his big brother Winston and his new human mummy & daddy, then maybe he sadly wouldn't have been with us today.

Lucky for us he is a real fighter and made it through those tough early days.

When I was 9 months pregnant with Ashlyn and 10 days overdue, Winston cuddled up to my huge baby bump and showed me a love for his new little sister and a protective instinct that words can not describe.
He knew that she was soon to be here... maybe even before we did...

When bringing Ashlyn home, Angus & I had no fear about how Winston & Max would interact and accept her into our family.

We had made 'pack life' pretty cruisy for our two fur babies but there has always been a definite heirarchy and no discrepencies over the order of our pack. Angus made sure that as leader, the dogs knew that Ashlyn was above them.

Ashlyn bought new meaning to the dogs life. At first glance there were inquisitive eyes from all parties and then some accepting licks placed on Ashlyn's feet. It was then that our pack became five.

Ashlyn became of great importance to Winston & Max. They would watch over her like she was a puppy of their own and would soon learn that she would become a fantastic food source!

On the day that this photo was taken in December 2009, Winston, Ashlyn & Max were
discovering and taking joy in the most simple thing....

A blade of grass...just magic!

To describe each and every moment of interaction between these three beautiful friends and their lives so far would be far more difficult than you could possibly imagine.

I hope over time I can add in lots of details about their lives, how they happen to come into our lives and the journeys and adventures that each one has been on so far.

In the mean time, I am hoping pictures will speak volumes...

The grass is always greener...

Ashlyn, Winston & Max love going to the park. Now that Ashlyn is walking she is keen to get out of the pram and explore the park with Winston & Max. Here is a list of parks in the Hills District of Sydney if you are interested in getting out into the great outdoors. We are keen to explore some of these over the coming weeks and months.

http://www.mylocalguide.net.au/Children/parks.htm

Introducing you to Ashlyn..

Name: Ashlyn Elizabeth
DOB: 9th March 2009
Legs: 2
Description: A beautiful little girl who is cute as a button
Likes: Winston, Max, playing with friends, baths, the outdoors, books, shopping, sleeping (sometimes) and her mummy, daddy & family.
Dislikes: Doing nothing.