the Wise Robin

sweet thing

36/365

 

 

oh you are such a sweet, gentle thing. lucky to be your mama.

 

 

waking

36/365

 

 

when we three wake, we spend a good while rolling around on the bed in the morning light.

 

 

outdoors

35/365

 

always, with one eye on her big sister

 

just when i feel that i've embraced the heat and the slow, sedentary habits it brings, a cool breeze blows through. it arrived last night bringing thunder and a little rain with it. i walked in the rain, through the darkness with kaya. she were both in heaven. outdoors at last. the cold drops against my skin were chilly. i had to remind myself how hot it had been, resist the temptation to wrap my arms around me. today the curtains ebbed and flowed with the breeze, ushering fresh air through our home.  my fingers have been itching to bake something, recipes waiting patiently for a day like today...finnish pulla, almond raspberry torte, salted chickpeas...

 

 

summer days

34/365

 

 

today i decided to include the girls' daily photos with some other moments from our day. gentle morning light, a little craft, a new fringe, lingering at the window yet again, longing to be outdoors, scorching heat, friends, the pool, tree climbing. i'm keeping it brief tonight because right now, it is raining and thundering outside... so excuse me while i go breathe it in and cool off.

 

 

whistle

33/365

 

 

the days are long right now. we're right in the middle of another long stretch of scorchers, spending our days in our summer cave. there's only so many visits to the library and games of monopoly one can enjoy then endure. we're being forced to become more and more creative with our time as each new forecast reads another day above 40 degrees. zahra has taken to whistling when she's not reading or asking if it's time to go to the pool or if we can have more ice cream or lamenting how she wishes she could go outside.

 

tender

33/365

 

 

niamh is a girl who is full to the brim with energy. she's not one of those delciously chubby babies that seems content to lie and watch the world go by around her. she never has been. she's lean and busy, busy, busy. always grabbing, pinching, pushing, pulling, poking, tugging, reaching, biting, wriggling and kicking her way through every waking moment. and when she's not doing that she's fighting sleep because she wants to be doing that.

i love nursing. i love settling down with my babes to connect and nourish, spend some time with my feet up, maybe even doze and of course it's a good excuse to have glasses of water brought to me. i nursed zahra until she was 26 months and i hope to nurse niamh for at least two years. but nursing niamh from the very beginning has been, well, different. she feeds super quick so she can get on with whatever she was getting on with, usually phaffing with the curtain or poking her finger up my nose. food seems an afterthought that just gets in the way of her busy-ness. she doesn't settle down next to me and gaze contentedly into my eyes. she becomes a distracted contortionist.

finding moments of quiet, gentle, tenderness with this busy bee are few and far between. that's why i love this photo of niamh gently reaching out for her sisters hand. 

 

 

the river

32/365

 

 

this morning after a big, cooked breakfast we swung by our new local patissier to try out their macaroons. and oh my, we have uncovered a new love. small, sweet, just the right size. after one you don't want or need anymore. vanilla bean, salted caramel, rose, cassis, choc orange, passionfruit, pistachio...a delicious palette of muted colours. after devouring our tasty morsels we made our way down to the river. a quick dip in the icy water then home before the heat set in for the day. i always forget how beautiful the river is. 

 

 

the way you are

32/365

 

 

the softness, the dimples, the curly little toes, the creases, peach fuzz hair. all these things i want to remember. how you play peek-a-boo in the curtain while nursing. the way you giggle and crawl away when you see me coming with a nappy. the way you explore my mouth with your fingers. the way you turn away when you see my camera. the way you touch my nose with yours when i lay you in bed. the way you giggle when someone says achoo. the way you cry when someone laughs too loud. the way you pull on my skirt when you want a drink. the way you ignore old girl kaya and she ignores you. the way you get excited when i run a bath. the way you touch your mouth to the ground, a la pope style. the way you like to suck random toes. the way you love salami. the way your bottom lip drops when i tell you it's not fun to play in the garbage bin or the toilet. the way you always wake happy and smiling. the way you are sweet girl.