I seem to be acquiring a little collection of jugs...isn't it funny how collections have a habit of sneaking up on us.

On the subject of collections, whilst playing house, I've also realised I have a chair collection happening or more like a little obsession...can't seem to go past a lovely old chair without wanting to take it home.

The chair below belonged to my husbands grandfather which I saved from being thrown out.

The chair below was my grandmothers and has a lovely waratah & flannel flowers carved into the top panel.

I would like to be able to say I've been extremely busy thus no updates on the blog however I'll confess I have mostly been sitting around watching Zoe sleep in my arms. What an absolutely wonderful time waster!

Hard to believe she is already a month old.

I did take some photos for you from around the house. Whilst I'm on maternity leave I do have grand plans and have written out my list of things to do...mostly getting stuck into the front gardens which have been neglected of late.

And of course have to include some photos of little Zoe Grace. The second photo is of my Mum (although she will probably kill me...but I love this photo).

So happy to be home! Just thought I'd pop in with some photos of our baby girl Zoe Grace. Everything went really well and Zoe is settling in...and sleeping a lot. The outfit in the photos below was the outfit I wore home from hospital that my Grandmother knitted. My mother made a new bonnet and booties to match. She looks like a living doll don't you think?

Only 1 more sleep to go...and I'm still playing around in the baby's room! My mother made these cushions...aren't they gorgeous? She used up scraps of the fabric that have gone into the cot quilt and the single bed quilt she has almost finished.

And aren't these cute...

Mum's birthday is the same day the baby will be born (8th June) so I had a small family lunch for her yesterday to celebrate and decided to have a go at these cute pom poms. My first one, the white one, actually turned out better than the second one. I followed the Martha Stewart instructions found here.

I've been in such a panic for the past few weeks as nothing seemed to be happening with the baby's room but all of a sudden everything is coming together. I spent all day today (although now can't quiet walk!!) finally trying to set the room up and am quiet happy with how it is turning out. Still need a few more things like the beautiful quilt my Mother is making and the trim to finish off the curtains and maybe a few more things for the walls.

I haven't set the cot up in the room yet, only the bassinet for now until she is ready to be moved into the cot. Saves on space as well. The bassinet was mine that my Mum handed down to me as is the cot I've got.

With only 3 weeks to go I'm getting very excited to meet our new little bundle.

Two of the cushions above were a present from my very talented mother for my birthday in April and the other was a present from my Nan.

The picture over the bed is something that my Mum made for me. She made it in 1977 when I was just 2.

Have been busy, busy, busy and absolutely exhausted! We have almost finished painting the baby's room and I've been busy gathering "baby" things in preparation for our new arrival which should be in 10 weeks time.

I've been on ebay again...this chair is one of my latest purchases and am now on the look out for another similar to go in our front lounge.

This was also another ebay purchase but for the baby's room, a lovely reproduction wrought iron bed. My mother is making the quilt below for the room and I've also been collecting little vintage pieces. Can't wait to put it altogether.

Another project that is almost finished is Ryan's room and am quiet happy with how it is turning out. Although I'm not a fan of themed rooms for kids, we were having some issues in getting him to sleep & stay in his own room so I thought I'd try involving him in the decorating, he of course wanted dinosaurs, dinosaurs & yep you guessed...more dinosaurs. I must say that involving him has worked a treat and he absolutely loves his new room.

With only 4 months to go (and the fact it takes me so long to do anything) I really need to get started on the baby's room instead of looking at all these gorgeous images...or can this qualify as a "fact-finding mission?"

source

source

source

source

source unknown

source unknown

I'm finally back in the land of electricity! We had an absolutely wonderful camping trip with our whole family and friends of the family. We stayed at friends of my parents called Elm Grove Mountain Retreat and it was magic. What I call a real holiday, and I didn't even miss having no electricity (or flushing toilets!!!).

So back to reality...work, preparing Ryan for "big school" on the 2nd February (or should I say - preparing myself for Ryan starting big school!) and for my exciting news that I alluded to in my previous post...

These might give you a small clue...

source for both

Yep...new baby on the way...

So another room to start working on. The following are my inspiration pictures for the babies room.

source unknown sorry

source

I have had the one above in my favourite image file for awhile. Take a look at Katrina's take on this...fantastic.

So there you have it...a very busy year ahead for our little family.

Hope everyone has a fantastic year ahead.