haven't fallen off the face of the earth... just busy snuggling...

Thankyou to all for your lovely warm wishes and welcome to our little pickles, Liam.

All is going well... we have been having some tricky times with breastfeeding but we are persevering and all is improving each day, so we take it as a good sign that we will get there. I am surviving on anywhere from 2-5 hours of sleep over a 24 hour period (including the day naps), so things like cleaning, baking, sewing etc have really gone out the window... instead my days look a lot like this photo... add in changing nappies, feeding, calming an unhappy little boy and training a very unsettled dog, and you probably get the picture.

It is by far the hardest thing I have ever had to do but it is wonderful.

Thankyou again for all of your warm thoughts and wishes, and I will keep you posted! Oh, and I also have some gorgeous gifts I want to show and tell, but that will have to wait to another time (just stealing in this post between feeds). I have selected the pattern for my baby swap, just haven't started sewing yet, but once I have I will show and tell here, of course.

Hope you and those you love are all well and happy. I won't make it to the craft fair this year - disappointing as I had planned to catch up with Diana Chalk and Bethan Short again - but those of you who get there, enjoy every second!

Have fun xo

ps. Oh! and hooray for 30 years of IVF... I think they are celebrating this milestone today. Without ART we would never have had our darling little man Liam. Hooray for modern medicine. Have a lovely week everyone! x

pps. Oh, and h&b - yes, you were right, Liam measured 53cm, not 5cm! ;)

He's a boy!

liam birth with mum and dad
Originally uploaded by summer pickles

Baby Pickles has arrived safely!

Born 3rd July 12.12pm
Weighing a "robust" 4.31kg
Measuring 5cm
Head circumference a healthy 38.5cm

We are so incredibly thrilled (excepting James Brown the Pug who is completely confused and not entirely over the moon)

Will update you all a bit later, once we get a moment that we aren;t feeding, settling, expressing or catnapping...

Thanks to all of you for your warm wishes and share eager anticipation of his arrival.

Hugs from all of the Pickles clan xo

a date for your diaries...

Good morning!

Received this reminder via email this morning and had to share... and realised that I had neglected to tell you about my recent visit to this market! The first sisters' market I attended was with my mum in law around I think the ?end of May and I loved it... there were some terrific new designers/artists/crafters there who I had not met or encountered before, which was very exciting! And just down the road from home. It would be worth popping this one into your diary for 2nd August... let me know if you plan on being there - depending on how I am going with bub, I might be heading there again, and it would be lovely to catch up!

One of my very favourite finds at this market was the lovely Carla from emotional baggage . I honestly don't intend to turn this blog into a how-to-shop-locally-and-find-gorgeous-things guide, but I had to show and tell. Carla has one of the neatest websites I have seen in a long time, where you can design your own bag, by selecting the style, fabric, leather etc...and then you get a picture of what it will all look like once together! Love it.

This is my brand new, arrived last night carry all bag, for keeping all of the baby stuff together when out and about, in theory, but also just because I really really love it and will get loads of use out of it!). And the lining is striped, which is just gorgeous, with multiple pockets... I would have taken a photo of the inside except that I have packed the bag now with gear for the hospital.

Thanks Carla for making this in time for bub's arrival, and for dropping it off last night... it was lovely to have another brief chat with you, and in case I didn't say this enough last night, I really love this bag!!!

oh my... the postie came today with a parcel...

parcel in the post.... thankyou!
Originally uploaded by summer pickles

I was so excited to see the return address on the back belonged to Martine from greenolive. Martine is a fabulous Melbourne crafter and flickr/blog friend who does some of the most beautiful work... if you haven't checked out her work as yet, you should - you can take more of a peek here , here and here.

Martine knitted our soon to arrive Baby Pickles the most divine baby blanket in gorgeous colours which complement the new teal wall in bub's room beautifully!

Thankyou so much Martine, it is just so soft and gorgeous, beautiful and lovely - all things a baby blanket should be! I can't imagine our little one ever wanting to let it go! (I hope it was ok to open it before bub arrives... I couldn't wait!)

Hugs from all of the Pickles clan xo

ps. and thankyou again to lovely Deb at work, who surprised me with this lovely little dog (in the background)!