But, I love it, wouldn’t have it any other way and still cant get the thought of a 4th out of my head much to hubbies disappointment!

I remember my good friend Mel, whom I look up to immensely for motherly tips, telling me that people with 3 children always complain the most (she has 5 and makes it look easy) and I remember thinking I’m sure I can juggle it. Hmmmm, well that smug smile has now been removed from my face! I know why they complain a lot, it is a big change!

Id be lying if I said it wasnt a hard adjustment, were still all adjusting to the juggle. Mama only has two hands, and these three little people each want their needs met, and often all at once. There are moments when I think; what was I thinking, but those moments are passed over by the sweetness of seeing Byron, Mason and Indiana interacting together, the delight, the joy, the admiration in each of their faces for one other.  Having not had brothers or sisters, I feel so happy for them, that they have this blessing that will be with them for life.

Ive learnt that my kiddies take about 4 months to adjust to the new addition. Mason has just started sleeping in his own bed all night again, and I have my bedroom floor back. We had to move Indi out into her own room, and once we did that, he seemed happy that she was out of our room, and so he needn’t need to make his presence known there each morning at 2am. I am very thankful for the advice from my Aunty to move everyone around, and sleep is now occurring here finally.

And I can see that we are getting into the groove of 3, I now have eyes on the side of my head as well as the back, and my multitasking skills are getting upped daily, who knew you can make school lunch while feeding the baby and dealing with suppliers on the phone at the same time!:)  Im reminded when I look at these 3 beautiful kiddies, how quickly time is passing by, how the little daily moments are passing by in a heartbeat, and how important it is to just stop, put everything down, and enjoy them. 

Byron said to me tonight as I was tucking him into bed, ‘Mum, when are we going to have another baby?’ I replied, ‘Not for a while hunny.’ The instant 4 year old response – ‘Why?’ I replied, ‘because babies make mummy tired’. ‘But I want a brother’, he replied. We started talking about other stuff and as I walked out of their bedroom, he yelled out to me ‘Mum, go and eat lots of things and then you can give me my brother!’. Mmmm gotta love the 4 year old mind!!

Im off to pack, but I will still be contactable on my phone, or via email, however just be patient with my reply. Business is back to normal on Wednesday 14th July.

A few photos from the beach the other day. I am SO looking forward to summer, winter is overrated in Australia with no snow.

Although they do fight every now and then, for the most part they play so well together.

Its beautiful watching Mason follow Byron around, and watching them chase each other.

I was an only child, and I remember playing on my own a lot, or I was always with my parents, which was lovely, but I always wanted a sibling. I still do. So I find it so special watching the sibling relationship that my two boys share in.

Although I thought I was a tad insane having them close together in age, I hoped that it would pay off down the track, and they would be really close, and it has, they are so close!

Sunday late afternoon at our favorite spot just down the road.

Definitely a reminder of why living in Perth is wonderful – mid winter and the kids are still able to strip off and jump in the water! (although right now its making me cold just looking at these pictures as its 0 degrees!)

A comment on the blog (which by the way just makes my day!) from a fellow school friend (thankyou Cat), got me thinking about dreams and destiny and fulfillment. Its not unusual for me to think like that, I have always been a huge believer in dreaming big and fate.

She said that I had found my calling in life as a mother and photographer.

And how true she was. How lucky I feel.  I couldn’t have dreamed I would be this happy being a mother, and then from that finding my feet as a photographer. The two go amazingly well together, and I feel so fulfilled doing what I love each day.

I try to think back to what started my belief in dreaming big, and then turning your dreams into reality, but I think it was just a good mix of everything from childhood.

On a cool but warm enough for the children to strip off, winters afternoon, my friend Mel and I met down by the boat shed at the river.

Children dressed in many different colours and costumes, delightful food galore, 3 big black swans and an empty river perfect for children to play made for a beautiful late Friday afternoon.  They explored and chased until it was so dark we could no longer see them and it was time to go home and feed hungry tummies.

It is delightful to watch them all play, delighting in the smallest things. Audrey was fascinated with a crab that she had found. Sydney was at first petrified but then protective of the beautiful black swans that Scarlett and Mason wanted to feed chips to. Mason was scarily enjoying running back and forth along the jetty, unaided and very wobbly and then delighted in throwing all the dry clothes and towels off the jetty. Byron was content with his packet of chips his ‘gun’ and not much else. Scarlett was in love with her new ‘tutu dress’ and sparkly pink shoes.  And Antonia gracefully moved around with you barely knowing she was there. And the eldest Lachlan decided he wasn’t in the mood for the photos, but he made Byron & Masons day by wrestling with them on the grass.

They are all so different, and have such full and complete spirits. They are made happy by such little things, a yummy cupcake, swans in the river and chasey.

It always reminds me of this song, and these lyrics.

(Priscilla Ahn, Dream)

I was a little girl alone in my little world who dreamed of a little home for me.
I played pretend between the trees, and fed my houseguests bark and leaves, and laughed in my pretty bed of green.

I had a dream

I hope that over time, our children continue to dream, and know that they can fulfill those dreams.

Even superheros need food sometimes, or in Masons case, all the time.

I ran into a old school friend while food shopping this afternoon. As we chatted amongst the craziness of the supermarket, she excitedly told me that her and her husband are expecting a baby this December. We chatted some more, and discussed doing a maternity and newborn session for her (I cant wait Amy!) and then parted. As I continued to shop I was filled with such excitement and happiness for her, which is somewhat bizarre and somewhat hard to explain.

The joy that being a parent has brough me, is quite indescribable. I try, often to many people; there are many ups and downs, excretions and mess, noise and a type of business like no other, but above all there is love. Complete unconditional love. And it is a love like no other.

Every Time I look at my boys, every time they talk to me, engage with me or just do there own thing, I find it almost mesmerising.

It is fullfilling, and engaging, and makes you only want to do and be the best you possibly can for them.  And so, that is what I try to explain to each of my friends as they excidedly enter the next, very exciting chapter of their lives.

We spent the weekend in the hills and visited a gorgeous orchard right at the end of their fruit season.

I love being able to follow them and have such a constant memory of all the things we did together in these early years. The main reason I love being a photographer – I am pushed to constantly capture our lives everyday.

We got Dexter as a puppy almost 7 years ago, he was our trial baby, and was very much a Mommas boy, so much so that he became my dog. We should have known we were in for a ride, when he broke his leg at 8 weeks trying to get to me because he had separation anxiety (yes who knew animals do get this!) 6 years later and nothing has changed, he is still my dog and he still howles the whole time Im out (lucky neighbours!) And along with that goes the delightful responsibility of walking him.

You would thing that at almost 7, he would have calmed down by now.  But no, all those years ago, I chose a Boxer dog, and with that came the never ending bounding energy, that still does not falter all these years on.

I complain about having to walk him every day (and yes it must be every day, or else you should hear the yodeling he does!)  but it is actually lovely that it forces us to get out of the house everyday, rain, hail or shine, and go on long walks.

Exploring and discovering, and of course with me capturing it all.

From a walk last week along our favorite place ever.

Tomorrow I will have the sneak peak ready of the most gorgeous Mummy and baby session! It was time for her6 month photos!  Gina, Im sure you are excitedly awaiting them, they will not disappoint!!  Im so glad we did not reschedule, what a perfect session!

But now I best be off to bed. Byron has a date with this gorgeous girl first thing tomorrow morning, ah no its already after 12am so this morning, and I with his mother:) Were off to explore a new ‘play’ spot!

At school there were always mothers day stalls, and mothers day breakfasts, not to mention the constant reminder through the media. I remember feeling left out, but it wasn’t through any one’s fault, its lovely that school’s and the media make a big deal of celebrating the day, and so they should, mothers deserve to be celebrated much more than they ever are!

I adore being a mother, I feel like it was my calling in life, there are many other things that I am so happy I have accomplished, but being a mother is so much more than all of that, it is feeling completely whole.

The boys are at quite delightful ages at the moment, and I am loving the interaction and conversations I get to have with Byron. He gave up the bottle this week, which was a huge milestone because he was so addicted to it, I thought it would be going to school with him! As his reward, I took him to the shops for a milkshake and to choose a toy, just him and me.

He was so excited and delighted in the one on one time. He carefully selected his toy, proudly paid the lady and happily carried his shopping bag around the centre. We then got a milkshake, and as we were waiting for it, he put his arms around me, gave me a huge hug and loudly said ‘I love you Mummy’.

I can tell you that that was the most heart warming and most fulfilling moment I have had in my life so far.

I love that I get to be a mummy to these two beautiful boys. And although I wish every day that my own mum was here to enjoy life and her grandchildren, I know that there are so many parts of her in me and in the boys.

I am the mother I am today, because of the mother she was in the short time she was here. And I am so thankful for that, because I feel more blessed than I could ever have imagined.

Completely out of focus, and untouched but perfect.

Wishing all the mummies out there, a very special day!

They are so uninterested in the camera, and never stay still longer than a moment, so I am literally clicking and chasing, hoping that I get something in focus, usually I dont!!

Yesterday we had really strange light, due to loads of burning off in the hills and so there was a natural golden haze all afternoon.

I enlisted the help of the boys Aunty Amy, and she rallied around doing everything possible to get the boys in one place looking remotely happy and still.

It didnt happen.

But instead I captured something that warms my heart even more. It captures EXACTLY my boys personalities.

Byron my first born, cautious and careful, sensitive and serious. Mason my second born who is so confident and cheeky, free spirited and easy going.

And with their loved Aunty Amy, who now understands why I dont have many photos of the boys together!!

Sometimes the imperfect, is better than the perfect:)

It was tough going through this monumental milestone without my closest friends to go along for the ride. Don’t mistake me girls, you have been here for the ride, and are the best Aunties to the boys, but there is only so many times you really want to hear about what childbirth does to your body, and how you cant possibly be as tired as I am, as I have been up most of the night with a newborn, and then a toddler.

And there steps in this amazing group of friends I have met since having the boys.

Seriously, want new friends, have a baby!

There are my wonderful neighbourhood friends, who meet me just about every day in the park at the end of our street, with their children, and their dogs. The dogs run together, children play together, and we chat about the days events. It is so comforting, and delightful. We have shared the trials and tribulations of this motherhood journey together, raw and beautiful. I am so blessed. Through summer we meet on Fridays early and drink champagne and eat loads of yummy food, while the kids share an early dinner. It is the nicest way to finish the week off.

Then there is the most amazing group of ladies I met on an online forum for mothers. We all joined that group, from houses all around Australia, and even with a few from further afield, while we still had out January 07 babies growing inside, and we chatted daily.  Since then, we have had many meet ups. We’ve shared the birth of our January 07 babies, and then the birth of many more siblings to our ‘family’. We have all come together last year to share in the joy of a wedding in Melbourne and a Sydney get together with just the girls. I never ever could have imagined that I would find such amazing guidance, support and love from a group of women I had yet to meet.

Through that group I met Mel. Mel is Scarlets Mummy, and Mummy to 4 other beautiful children. I remember when I first met her, overwhelmed and exhausted by my 2 month old first born, who refused to sleep more than 2 hours, and thinking your mad, you did this 5 times?! It wasn’t until the next time we met, with all the kids, that I looked at her in a totally different light. I was in awe. She made is look incredible. Not easy, but ever so worth it. Her children are beautiful, they are such incredible individuals and its so wonderful to share the journey with them. And she is the most amazing Mum to those children, so open, so real, so caring. And it showes. Because those children are so open, so real and so caring.

Every Wednesday Mel and I meet up somewhere outdoors, and the kids play, while we chat, cameras in hand ( we mesh so totally) cheese and biccies, iced coffees followed by a coke for her, a diet coke for me and it is the most enjoyable day of the week. Our children share such a close bond now. They are like siblings (and fight like it too!). But it is lovely.

With the kids on school holidays we decided to use this Wednesday to go country, I could move up there, the light, the trees, the peace. I felt relaxed in an instant.