Last year around this time we were still anxiously awaiting her arrival. Today sheās curled up in my arms and I feel like the luckiest woman alive. Motherhood has been the ultimate learning curve and simultaneously the most instinctive thing Iāve done. Humbling, hilarious, exhausting, exhilarating. Grateful for every second of it. I hope every mother-figure out there, who nurtures, holds, teaches, comforts and loves our little people, had a happy Motherās Day.
UK highlights March ā26 š»
Sunshine, family, malva pudding, trains, cherry blossoms, Josephineās first fever, roseola done and dusted, new towns, new trails, new music, old friends, Sunday roasts, more trains and first stamps in Josephineās passport š
Couple golden days with family last week in Switzerland. Introducing Josephine to her great grandpa and extended family, discovering new forest trails and eating our weight in cheese fondue. š¤¤ Packed for winter but found spring in full swing. Warm sunshine and yellow daffodils sprouting everywhere.
Watching this man become a dad has done things to my heart I canāt neatly explain. Easily the most beautiful thing Iāve seen. You are everything to us. Happy birthday (for yesterday) Papabear ā¤ļø
Up until this past weekend I never imagined Iād be adding to my life experiences: singing a song to 5500 faces in the most magical music venue in the world with the LOML, and our gorgeous, courageous, hilarious 8 month old watching from the wings. Life, what even. š Did I consider running away as the moment approached? I did. Did I run away? I did not. š„¹ Proud of me, and grateful to have a partner who dreams so big. Josephine, we adore you baby girl.
Basically Christmas and I still wanted to post these October highlights š It was my last month of maternity leave and we hit the road one more time with our best friend in tow - sheās a natural roadie. We explored the Garden Route from Greyton to Wilderness and everything in between. Wilderness Heights was a standout, tucked away in the forest with all the Knysna loeries. Josephine would burst into spontaneous laughter at the sheer delight of their calls and the thrill of being surrounded by so much greenery. I got my forest fix and Jeremy got his surf fix at Vic bay just 10 min away. Truly the best-of-both destination. And then of course our ultimate retreat at the Duiwenhoks river to end off a golden and unforgettable season. Best maternity leave ever. š„¹šš¼
The Karoo is surely my all time favourite part of South Africa. Spent the last few days exploring Meiringspoort, De Rust, Prince Albert and the Swartberg mountains. Endless horizons, dramatic passes and tiny towns forgotten by time. Streets lined with spekboom and juicy loquats. My soul is fed. šāØ
In October weāre taking a whole month off to explore some more of South Africa with our baby girl before we both head back to work. Still finalising our route but it will probably include the Karoo, Garden Route, parts of the Eastern Cape, maybe even the Drakensberg. (Weāre looking for quaint accoms, send recommendations if you have!šš¼)
On the topic of roadtripping, itās child passenger safety awareness week this week, so Iād like to make a special shout out to @maxicosisa for helping us turn our family road trips into safe adventures. The only way we could do it with peace of mind is knowing sheās strapped in safely and comfortably. Sheās already learned to love snoozing in her seat (shout out also to The Happy Song, IYKYK), and when she wakes up, to watch treetops and streetlights speed past and listen to our voices up front.
Seeing the world afresh through our sweetie pieās eyes is a trip of a lifetime. Long live the adventure. āØ
7.30am. Dadās still snoozing in the bedroom after his night shift of diaper changes and dancing our precious to sleep, so me, baby, and Maya migrate to the couch in the lounge.
Robe on (the most lush winter robe gifted to me by my girlfriends for this season of hibernation), coffee flask + rusk (home-baked by none other than @izabeldoor ). Josephine is milk drunk, some drops still dribbling down her cheek, passed out on my chest and purring away. Weāre in skin to skin heaven. Winter sun pouring in through the window, nowhere else to be.
Soft and sleepy moments I never want to forget.
