FANCY PANTS: ATTITUDE MUCH.

Madison is showing just a little bit of attitude today. He usually is happy for me to snap away (let's face it, the boys are so used to me having a camera permanently attached to my hand), but today he was a bit grumpy about it. "Mummy, I'm hungry!" he said.

"Okay then, let's take some quick photos and then we can have lunch," I replied.

He looks less than thrilled in the photos, but at least he stood still. (Which is more than I can say for the other child.)

And Noah's shirt - how I LOVE this shirt. It was a gift from my Dad and step mum who bought it when they were holidaying in Thailand. It so cute, so country, and it never needs ironing. Gotta love a shirt that makes me work less (and makes him look like he's about to jump on a horse).

Not to mention how good he looks in this colour.

Madison wears: SINGLET, Bonds. SHIRT, Cotton On Kids (on sale now!). SKINNY JEANS, Milkshake (gift - thanks Mum!). SHOES, Walnut Melbourne. Noah wears: LONG-SLEEVED ONESIE, Carter's (on loan from Jen). SHIRT, Levi's copy (gift - thanks Dad & Ria!). JEANS, Pumpkin Patch. SHOES, AirFlex (pre-loved by Madison).

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I'm inspired by:

Fancy Pants is the way I record my boys and their cute little outfits . Goodness knows, they'll grow out of these clothes before they're worn out!

hand-me-downs are cool. i know this to be true.

One thing I've noticed since looking closely at my boys' wardrobe during this month's Toddler Fashion theme, is that there are so many things that are pre-loved, handed down or on loan.

The cycle of love has gone round full circle.

You know how it goes: you have a baby. You are overwhelmed with gifts from family and friends - so much clothing that your little one won't ever be able to wear it all. The clothes are still brand new when your baby outgrows them or the seasons don't quite match. It's too much to keep. And so you pass it on to a friend who's due to have a baby soon. Sometimes it's a gift. Sometimes it's a loan (if you plan on having more children). Sometimes, it's both.

Not only have I given. I have also (or more exact, my children) have received.

Some of my firstborn's outfits have passed by three or four children before seeing my second boy's back. And that's value for money!

In fact, the reputation of pre-loved clothing is better than I remember it to be. It's trendy to go op-shopping, pre-loved clothing saves you a heap of dough, your wardrobe is full of lovely options, it opens your mind to possibilities you wouldn't normally dress your child in, and it's brand new - to you.

My son Madison can't wait to put on a shirt that was Ethan's or Joshua's, simply because he thinks that person is so cool. And the giver also gets a little buzz seeing his shirt on a smaller friend. Same goes for Madison's clothes on his little brother. "Oh Mummy, I use to wear that when I was a baby!" It's true, he did.

Thank you friends and family who have given the boys clothes or passed onto them something gorgeous that's on loan. I'm forever grateful.

And those gifts? They're being used (and used) too.

Noah wears: TSHIRT, VEST & SHORTS, Sprout (pre-loved by Madison, gift from Mum - thanks Mum!). SHOES, Birkenstock Australia (on sale, and pre-loved by Madison). Madison wears: TSHIRT, HOODIE VEST & SHORTS, Target (gift from brother Stephen & sister-in-law Lee - thanks guys!).

I promise they will also be passed onto someone else.

this saturday i'm grateful for... sleeping like a baby, whatever that means

Saturdays are the days where our household comes to a grinding halt. (Except sleeping and eating, perhaps). And because it's the last day of the week, I often reflect on the six past days and remember all the things I'm grateful for...

1. Working like a man and sleeping like a baby. Renovating makes me oh, so very awfully tired. But what I love is that I'm so tired at the end of the day, I sleep like a, er... baby. (Just quietly, once I actually had a baby, I wasn't sure what the saying meant anymore. Did it mean that you slept well, or didn't? Sorry, I'm digressing.) What I do know is that for three nights this week I was out like a light and don't remember anything until it was morning. (Thank you little lads for sleeping too.) I'm even feeling quite perky right now. And yes. That is paint on my face.
2. Ticking all the boxes. How good is it to look back at all your hard work and sigh? A good sigh, of course. The back extension finished (tick). The picket fence painted (tick). The picket fence up (tick).
3. And while I'm ticking off lists... the house we live in is finally clean. For any poor soul visiting our place before yesterday, I affectionately called our place The House of Feral. But now it smells nice. And it might even stay that way for another day now that we're finished renovating (for now anyway).

This Saturday I'm Grateful For... is inspired by Maxabella Loves... and you're welcome to join in too (Maxabella and I would love that)!

toddlers are fashion aware. i dare you to lay money on it.

Today Madison pulled out from his bedroom cupboard his Shrinking Cap inspired by the ABCKids show Grandpa In My Pocket. When hubby was making his debut European trip earlier this year, we hunted around for a warm coat. In one shop were these caps. Madison pleaded to have one, because it was "just like Grandpa's in Grandpa in my pocket," he said.

This same child at the age of two wanted a bike helmet long before he rode a two-wheeler, because Elmo from Sesame Street had one. Good marketing? A few weeks after the bike helmet lust he had (yes, it starts young), he was asking for sunglasses (just like Daddy).

I think it may be fair to say that from a very early stage we covet.

And although I monitor everything this boy reads and watches on television, he is already hooked by those clever marketing people. And even though I've been focusing on toddler fashion this month, there's a big part of me that feels funny about it. I mean, while I think that my boys looks handsome and smart, I don't want them to think it's more important than being a good person. How do we find a healthy balance?

Before I was a mother, we did a bunch of international travel. And one day while perusing the airport book shop, I came across a book called Branded: the buying and selling of teenagers. And even though I have studied the process of marketing, reading this book scared the hell out of me. There are some very manipulative people out there who are selling directly to my child right this minute. And they have been since he was born.

And it doesn't help that from a very young age, they are feeding his natural appetite for it.

Noah, who is just 1 year old puts on my sunglasses and grabs Madison's baseball cap and puts it on sideways. How observant. He is his big brother's shadow and seems aware so much earlier.

But is that a good thing?

Madison wears: LONG-SLEEVED TSHIRT, Cotton On Kids (sale). HOODIE VEST, Target (thanks Mum!). DENIM JACKET, Cotton On Kids. JEANS, Pumpkin Patch. SHOES, OshKosh. CAP, Picadilly Circus.

more about matching outfits

 

I know, I know. This is probably as cheesy as putting my boys in the same outfits.

But my boy just loved it when I bought the same shoes as his Daddy. Daddy didn't really mind either. This was a little while back, but I just love this photo of Daddy and Maddy.

And their matching shoes.

Daddy and Madison both wear: Converse sneakers.

clothes maketh the man

 

  

Lately I've been looking at Noah and wondering where my baby went. When did he get to be so big?

It doesn't help that the minute any baby grows out of size 0 clothes, that there aren't any baby clothes to choose from. When this 17 month old is in his jeans, shoes and hoodies, it makes him look like a little lad. How I long for those cute little baby clothes to make my little boy look like a baby once more.

But the other day it was warm enough for just a nappy. Oh, and my baby become a baby all over again.

these boots are made for walkin'

 

 

We've just come home after three more days of renovating up country, and I've just dumped my bags at the door, jumped on the computer to download and share these pictures.

There's clothing for every occasion, and gumboots fit pretty much most of them.

Muddy terrain? Gumboots. Farming? Gumboots. A spot of gardening? Gumboots. Going fishing? Gumboots. Renovating? Yep, you guessed it.

Those lovely rubber boots.

In fact, they're so versatile, that when we're not going anywhere, the boys have them on.

And they always look adorable.

Now, where was I? Oh, that's right... unpacking. Better get back to it!

Both Madison and Noah wear: GUMBOOTS, Cotton On Kids.

HOW COOL ARE THESE?

 

 

Looky looky here. Guess what I discovered this morning?

Now, anyone who knows me knows that I pack a lunchbox for my boys every day. They don't even go to school yet. I like boxes with compartments so I don't have to use plastic (and I buy in bulk too). The boys love to open up their lunch boxes and see what's in it. It's usually a little different each time.

Aren't these divine for school lunches? Far too cute not to share!

For more information, visit PlanetBox.

READ: I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT

Back in September, Mamamia promoted this book as their first book club recommendation. In the excitement of joining a book club, I visited Amazon and purchased the book immediately.

It's now almost November, and I've only just finished it. The reason why? It was so hard to read. Not that it was long, or full of wordy words. It was just soooo... busy. I read books to relax, and this book is just not... well, relaxing.

On the first chapter of the book, I met our heroine Kate Reddy - working super mum - distressing (not hitting) mince pies with a rolling pin to make them look home made so she could take them to her daughter's school Christmas party. It lost me about here.

In fact, as I kept trying to read it, I found it unsettling and couldn't work out why.

boys fashion vs girls fashion

This morning while surrounded by gorgeous toddlers in their Saturday best, I took note of what each little lovely was wearing.

The girls danced around in stripey tights, flowing dresses, funky shorts, pretty shoes, puffy sleeves and stunning jackets. Their hair styles included lovely 'up' do's complete with butterfly clips, bows, ribbons, headbands and hats... I could go on and on. And on.

It was all so frilly, pretty, unusual, darling and funky.

The boys looked dashing in their little shirts, vests, pants and shoes.

It was business as usual.

As a parent, you'd have to walk around with your eyes shut not to notice

this saturday i'm grateful for... sunshine, spring cleaning and no night nappies

Saturdays are the days where our household comes to a grinding halt. (Except sleeping and eating, perhaps). And because it's the last day of the week, I often reflect on the six past days and remember all the things I'm grateful for...

1. A burst of spring. Although we've had a Blink And Miss It spring so far, it seems that it might actually decide to stay from here on in (and yes, I'm ignoring last night's rain - total denial). Although I feel much happier with sunshine and outdoor days, I will be sad to put away those cute little hooded dressing gowns for my boys.
2. Spring cleaning. What is it with a day of sunshine that makes me want to wash every piece of linen in the house and place every pillow and doona out on the line to air?
3. Farewell night nappies. Another milestone in our home this week: Madison doesn't need you anymore.

This Saturday I'm Grateful For... is inspired by Maxabella Loves... 

too cute not to post

There's this face that my son Noah pulls just before he cries. And it looks exactly like this.

Today it was captured after I told him repeatedly not to go in the mud. And looking at this shirt, do you think he did as he was told? (Probably best to explain that this was his third outfit for the day!)

the new 'do. what do you think?

 

 

 

 

Blogging is so good. For many reasons.

First of all, topics of all sorts are addressed, discussed, and considered. Like last weeks' blog entry here about my boy Madison's long hair and him being mistaken continuously for a girl.

I'd been thinking about what to do about this situation for some time. Then I blogged about it, which got me thinking more, and after all your lovely comments, I made up my mind: it had to go.

So, yesterday, off we went after a super relaxing day with five children buzzing around my home and an old, old friend. We discussed her son's hair too and decided to make a last minute phone call to the hairdressers for the abovementioned shear. I gulped as this was a big step, and I was a little nervous. Firstly, because the decision was a hasty, and hubby was in Perth. He was going to hate it.

And we hadn't even cut his son's hair yet.

Voila, here is the result. It's shorter than I thought it would end up being - especially at the back. There are no waves to speak of, and now Madison's elfin features are even more on display. I suspect he now looks like a girl with short hair. And his little brother now has longer hair than him.

As soon as it was done two of my friends like it immediately. I confess that I'm still getting use to it (after all, he's always had long hair).

And I'm dreading when hubby gets home today...

missing those anti-fashion days

So, I've failed my mission.

It was to take pictures of my children all dirty from all the renovating we've been doing. But I confess, I've been so busy, I haven't had a chance to take any photos. On the day it was raining. On the day it was muddy. And the days where you couldn't see those cute chubby cheeks from the dirt, sand, food and grot.

And this is the last day of this week's renovating. It was a sunshiney day. The grass was dry and there was lots of roof activity (hence the attraction to climb the ladder). But that was about it.

But, note the lovely freshly painted extension done by me (and those cute gumboots)...

More about them later.

FANCY PANTS [MINI DENIM ON DENIM]

We made the most of the brief sunshine this afternoon after rain, rain, and yet more rain.

The boys had a quick play after church, before lunch. I'm thinking they looked a little cute in their denim on denim. (And yes, I've gone all matching again. It seems to be a Saturday thing!)

Hope you had a great day. This afternoon the boys both slept for three hours (as did Mummy). Was a teeny bit of bliss: I almost feel like a new woman. One more thing to be grateful for today.

Noah wears:
LONG-SLEEVED TSHIRT, Cotton On Kids.
SHIRT, Seed (on sale).
JEANS WITH BELT, Pumpkin Patch (on sale).
SHOES, AirFlex.

Madison wears:
LONG-SLEEVED TSHIRT, Cotton On Kids (sale).
SHIRT, Seed (on sale).
JEANS, Levi's (gift - thanks Dad and Ria).
SHOES, Walnut Melbourne.