12 weeks old today

Freya Lucia... 

Although you have only been in our lives for twleve weeks – you are a great delight and we love you very much...  

We look forward to many more adventures as a family and are very thankful that you are healthy. 

We're also (mostly) happy that you have big strong lungs!

Ollie's activities are BACK!

Then the holidays are over.. back to all of Oliver's activities, but now.. with Freya in tow!

There's Kindygym, Montesorri, Library....

...Music and swimming.

And most importantly, the first outing with just mama and the children – with a free circus in the park.  Followed by coffee at Oliver's request - of course!

A very social January...

January has been very social.

A few special friends visited – to Oliver's great, delight Darryl came for the day!  He and Oliver spent a great amount of time with O's train table, and then was very excited to drop 'uncle Daz' off at the train station.

Amazingly, 6 weeks later... Oliver still mentions "Darryl is wearing a red shirt with a duck and he's going on the train to Sydney".  HE HAS A ONE TERABYTE HARD DRIVE IN HIS HEAD.

Stancea also visited and met Freya – this is becoming a tradition Stancea arriving in time to meet the newborn!

Mama and Daddy even managed a grown up dinner party of sorts– and Oliver stayed up and played (read hyped up!!!!!) with Justin... and Freya met one of her godmothers!

 

Life is busy...

Once Christmas was over, it was back to teaching Freya all she needs to know about life....

Like scooting..

Finger painting (or maybe face painting!)

Coffee milkshakes & stamping...

Going to the circus...

...sand play and watering Megan's garden.

Christmas 2011

Christmas this year was very special – there was Freya of course – and there was family! Oliver was old enough to get excited about some of the things that happen. 

Like the tree...

And presents... 

Like gingerbread men...  and Christmas lunch...

And of course, Freya got some quality flirting time in, with Auntie Marghi...

A special announcement...

We wanted to announce Freya's arrival in a creative way, so we asked Oliver to read Anna Walker's latest book......

And of course there were announcement cards to send out...

Once Freya got home, there was lots to do as Oliver's baby sister..... There was being adored by granny and grandma...

Having a lovely warm bath with daddy...

And of course, drinking coffee...

Okay that was just mama, daddy and Oliver!

It's all pretty tiring...  I need a rest!

A lovely new arrival

Oliver did very well when Mama and Daddy decamped to hospital to prepare for Freya.

There may have been some dodgy dealings with granny and grandpapa –

 "yes granny mama lets me do this all the time!"

Meanwhile at the hospital there were two days of steroids and then our favourite Dr Bailey did another fantastic job and after almost two years of holding our breath Freya arrived healthy and perfect and with a strong set of lungs!

Daddy holding our gorgeous girl

Freya having her first little drink in NICU

 Mama meeting and holding Freya for the first time in NICU

First cuddle the next day - Mama escaped from the nurses on the ward!

Daddy cuddles are the best!

NICU become our home on and off for two weeks

Unfortunately Freya was tubed straight after she was born  and strong a sense of deja vu occured for the first two weeks.

Freya came home briefly and then went back to NICU for a few more days

Of course Freya had the traditional first bath in NICU -

 our home away from home.

Here Freya is meeting her big brother O and her granny for the first time.

Freya gave Oliver a very special present for being a wonderful big brother  - Oliver loves Oliver Jeffers' books especially the ones about the boy and his friend the penguin...Granny and Mama made a boy and a penguin to go with the book!