29/52

Playing outside on this freezy Sunday morning, she stopped to climb onto the bench and flashed me a gorgeous smile.

Joining in with the 52 Project at Che & Fidel.

You can see the whole series of portraits here.
 

28/52

Jumping on the Big Bed with squeals of delight!

This girl is all about jumping lately - on the couch, on our bed, in her cot, on the floor, anywhere! It all started with a friend who has a trampoline at her house. It's been so wonderful watching Everly learn how to jump - from the little hop and skip action, to now having her two feet planted firmly together. She was so proud of herself when she finally mastered how to jump 'properly'! During the day she will randomly run up to me and start jumping, while shouting, "Look, look, Mummy! Jump! Jump!".

Joining in with the 52 Project at Che & Fidel.

You can see the whole series of portraits here.

27/52

This little bookworm has taken to slinging her 'library bag' (this week it's a blue freezer bag) and her handbag over her shoulder, then running off to the 'library' to stock her bag with books. She disappears for a few minutes then returns to unzip the bag in front of me and show me her loot. She would sit on my lap and read books all day if she could.

Joining in with the 52 Project at Che & Fidel.

You can see the whole series of portraits here.

HALFWAY THERE

I can't believe we're already halfway through the year, and halfway through the 52 Project.

Every now and then I click on the 52 tag and look back on the weekly portraits from the past six months. I can't believe how quickly Everly has grown from a tiny toddler into the beginnings of a little girl. I'm so very grateful for this project because without the gentle reminder every week to pick up the camera and capture a moment I know I wouldn't have as many photos of my beautiful girl as I do now.

Here are my favourite three portraits from this year so far:

that cheeky laugh from Week 3,

standing at the gate of our little holiday house in Daylesford from 12/52,

and my little inquisitive observer from 18/52.

Joining in with the 52 Project at Che & Fidel.

You can see the whole series of portraits here.

26/52 + RAW CHOCOLATE RECIPE

A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, for 2013. 

Evidence of a lazy day at home in pyjamas and dressing gowns, snacking on homemade raw chocolate. 

Joining in with the 52 Project at Che & Fidel.

You can see the whole series of portraits here.

--------------------------

Raw chocolate

130 g (2/3 cup) organic coconut oil

80 g (1/4 cup) organic maple syrup (or raw honey)

60 g (1/2 cup) cacao powder

40 g (1/2 cup) organic shredded coconut

150 g (1 cup) whole organic almonds, chopped

Place coconut oil and maple syrup in a bowl and stand in warm water until melted. (Alternatively, place in a saucepan or bain marie over very low heat.) Add cacao, shredded coconut and chopped almonds and stir to combine. Pour evenly into a dish lined with baking paper, and set in the fridge for 15 minutes (or for 5 minutes in the freezer if you can't wait that long!). Slice into squares and enjoy! 

25/52

A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, for 2013.

At the farmer's market on this chilly Sunday morning, snacking on one of her favourite treats: sulphur-free sun-dried apple rings from our favourite local organic apple farm.

I didn't have much time last week to browse through blogs, but I did enjoy this cute shot of little Penny and her camera!

Joining in with the 52 Project at Che & Fidel.

You can see the whole series of portraits here.

24/52

A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, for 2013. 

At Willunga Farmer's Market on a chilly and wet Saturday morning. We devoured coffee and spelt bread, Everly played with Mark while I rummaged through the local op-shop (I found two lovely dresses for Everly and a crocheted blanket), and we ran through the grass and threw pebbles in the creek. We drove through the streets of Willunga and then on further through the surrounding countryside, pausing at blocks with For Sale signs, admiring the rolling hills, wide green pastures, cows and horses. Then we turned back for the long drive home with a snoozing little one in her carseat, while in hushed voices Mark and I talked about our hopes and dreams for our little family.

Joining in with the 52 Project at Che & Fidel.

You can see the whole series of portraits here.

23/52 {THE BIRTHDAY PARTY EDITION}

This photo pretty much sums up how Everly felt about her second birthday party!

(In case you can't tell, she had an absolute ball!)

We celebrated with close family and friends at a little community centre for a casual morning tea (which turned into lunch!), serving up yummy vegetarian sausage rolls (using this spelt puff pastry recipe), mini quiches, sandwiches, veggies with hummus and dukkah (Thanks Abby!), and a big bowl of popcorn cooked in coconut oil and sea salt. We finished up with blowing out two candles on chocolate cupcakes (vegan using this delicious recipe, with spelt flour, rapadura sugar and coconut oil substitutes). (I was pretty proud of myself for managing to serve up 'healthy' party food to suit Everly's dietary requirements, and many of our friends also eat the same way or are vegetarian/vegan). There were no games or party bags (I will leave that stress to future years!). The kids played, and the adults talked. The sun shone and the weather was perfect. It truly was a beautiful and memorable day. Everly is so blessed to have so many amazing and loving people in her life!

Joining in with the 52 Project at Che & Fidel.

You can see the whole series of portraits here.

22/52

A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, for 2013. 

One of the children from our little Steiner playgroup turned three on Monday, and so Everly experienced her first 'big kid' birthday party. Sitting on the back step, scoffing popcorn, watching all the big kids and adults - she was in her absolute element. 

Joining in with the 52 Project at Che & Fidel.

You can see the whole series of portraits here.

21/52

A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, for 2013.

She is a little bookworm, just like her Mama was (and still is). Everly's favourite this week is The Tale of Peter Rabbit. She listens eagerly as I tell the story of mischievous Peter and is absolutely fascinated by my Scottish accent for Mr McGregor. I secretly hoped at least one of my future children would fall in love with the written word, just as I did when I was a little girl, so I'm just a little bit excited about all the reading we'll do together in the years to come.

Joining in with the 52 Project at Che & Fidel.

You can see the whole series of portraits here.

20/52

A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, for 2013.

Last week we had a few unseasonably hot days where Everly refused to wear a nappy, then all of a sudden she started going on the potty. So apparently we are now toilet training! The Autumn rain and winds have returned, so it's been an indoors and bare bottoms kind of week. On this day we are sharing a little snack of sliced apples and pecans together on the kitchen floor. I don't think I'll ever tire of seeing her traipse around the house, her little bottom poking out from underneath her singlet!

Joining in with the 52 Project at Che & Fidel.

You can see the whole series of portraits here.

19/52 + HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, for 2013.

We stuck pink stickers on our faces and danced around the lounge room to records. It's crazy days like this, when I laugh deep belly laughs until tears run down my face, I absolutely love being a Mum. 

Joining in with the 52 Project at Che & Fidel. You can see the whole series of portraits here.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there - you're amazing!

18/52

A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, for 2013.

You love to climb onto the lounge to look out the front window, the only one that faces the street. I lift the wooden blinds so you can see out clearly. We sit here together many times a day - sometimes we watch the birds on the grass, sometimes we spot cars going past, on Mondays we watch the rubbish truck pick up the bins, and most days we wait for Daddy to come home. Today you heard children walking past on their way home from school, so you clambered up to the window and exclaimed 'Kids!'. You watched them silently and once they were out of sight you turned to me as you always do and asked, 'More?'. And so we watch, and wait.

Joining in the 52 Project with Che & Fidel.

You can see the whole series of portraits here.

17/52

A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, for 2013. 

You are always so excited to help us with whatever we are doing. Today, you observed closely as Daddy filled the pot with soil and planted the succulent shoots, then as he left to fill the watering can you gathered the fallen leaves and pushed them one by one carefully into the soil, gently patting down the dirt with your fingertips and giggling with delight.

Joining in with the 52 Project at Che & Fidel.

You can see the whole series of portraits here.