Where I Stand

My weekdays are spent with the most loveable companion. The time we share together has me wondering just how I will cope when both my boys are in school. And to be honest, I don't like exercising those thoughts a great deal. There are parts of this motherhood journey that get me down. They push me to the brink and challenge me to within an inch of my sanity. But I would not trade this privileged role I have, for anything. This is precisely where I'm meant to be right now and being here feels so good. 

Excursion to the sea side, Thursday morning, last week. Bliss. 

Little Ol' Green Eyes

We are already into week three of big school... and it's like we've always been doing this. Angus' enthusiasm and confidence will surely wane at some point, but for now we're running with it and he's having a top time. All that structure, routine and recognition. Just the kind of stuff he loves. Things such as library, sport, merit certificates and making new friends, have definitely been the highlights to now. Felix and I are enjoying ourselves too. We're constantly busy, between cleaning, cooking, washing, shopping, sewing, socialising and running to and from school. Six hours seems like two and the days are flying by.

Angus brought home a lovely photo of himself and his assigned year four buddy. Because it is the sweetest photo, I placed it on the fridge. Makes me smile each time I look at it. Felix, on the other hand, not so much. I have overheard him muttering at it... "Angus, school, NnnnnnnO!" And on more than a few occasions I've caught him hitting the fridge where the photo sits. Though it took the strategic positioning of one of those magnets, right over Nicholas' face, to confirm it... Felix doesn't want to share his brother, with anyone. 

Loving what I do

After sixteen years, I am finally starting to understand the old saying, 'if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life'. Right now, I love what I do. This year I had an offer to return to the workforce. To the company I worked at for thirteen years. And I considered it, seriously. Actually sent myself a little crazy, attempting to make it all happen. In the end, I just couldn't. So I chose to be home, with my boys, for another year. To be available for lending a hand at the school. To enjoy my baby, before he goes off to preschool next year. I'm also taking the opportunity to invest some time and throw my energy behind my online business, Button Tots.

The thing about starting an online business and working at it from home, is that any spare moment I get, I want to devote to improving it, enhancing it, growing it. So it's busy, around here. Though I wouldn't change it for a second. I delight in creating new looks and designs, working with colours and prints, patterns and of course, my beloved buttons. Because I sew every Singlet, every Onesie and every T-Shirt completely by hand, it is time consuming. But also very relaxing, almost therapeutic. I can whip up as many as eight in a night. All once the boys are tucked up in bed and the house is quiet. Then, there are the finished products. Seeing clothing I designed and made, on gorgeous small people, has to be the greatest reward of all. Yep, love what I do. 

And the photo shoots are always a mixed bag of fun too. This week I experienced both ends of the spectrum, shooting my friend's beautiful girl... and my own rowdy fellows. Olivia certainly has the girly, strike a pose thing down pat. She is just lovely. Felix is a giggling, squirming, barrel of monkeys. I don't think any of them care much for modelling my tees, but I so appreciate that they humour me. 

If you haven't already visited the Button Tots Facebook page and you're interested in seeing some more, I'd love it if you have a moment to pop over and check it out here. I do get a kick out of running the odd giveaway over there too. Thank you lovely ones. 

The next big step

It has been one huge, surreal week around these parts. The emotion hit me as soon as I woke on Monday. And I cried like a big baby. Deep, hearty tears. Just as I expected. But when the time came to take our first stroll to school, I embraced the moment and stood in awe of my boy's enthusiasm and confidence. He literally bounded his way to the classroom and settled himself on the floor with a construction type activity he had eyed off at orientation. The whole business is rather overwhelming. Five days in a row, away from each other, is by far the most we have ever experienced. And by Friday, we were ready for the break. Though the excitable little stories on the way home and those afternoon greeting cuddles are really something else.