Evie turns 1

Stellas best friend Evie joined her on the toddler brigade last week and has turned the almighty one. Best toddler buddies are even cuter than best baby buddies! We were lucky enough to be invited to her special first birthday party and it was a hoot!

Evies party was the cutest little green and purple owl theme. Ali put together paper buntings and made the most gorgeous owl cupcakes!

Stella and I are both so grateful to have Ali and Evie's friendship...Happy Birthday little Evie darling!

Sweet, sweet friendship

Stella and Evie are beginning to enjoy their playdates more and more each time. They play interactively (I don't care if the books say they can't yet) and show off in front of each other. They copy, they share, they giggle and they chase. The chasing is probably my favourite. Evie crawls behind Stella and Stella crawls at the speed of light whilst giggling to get away from her, looking back every so often to check on her chasers progress.

Its incredible how much their play behaviours have changed. They are a lot more aware of each other and the effect of their actions on one another, this means there is less face poking and hair pulling and more hand holding and shoe touching. They love to pass toys, sharing what their favourites are. But equally as much as they like to take what the other one is holding.

 I look forward to seeing them grow and learn together and experience more and more changes. Ali and I were getting a little nostalgic when we took them back to the play centre where we had our first 'Mama date'. Our babies are now toddlers!
 

Partying baby style

Stella attended her first party this weekend, her cousin Arden turned 1! We travelled near 200km to get to his party, but it was well worth it. I love having Arden's mother Annalese to talk to, our babies being so close in age is such a gift and has bought with it a wonderful friendship.

Little Arden wore pinstriped pants and a spunky shirt with a tie; an outfit fit for a princes birthday. The children wore party hats and nibbled on rusks and rice cakes. There were balloons and the wiggles songs, fairy bread and cake pops. What a party! Thank you Arden for sharing your first birthday celebrations with Stella and I, we partied hard baby style and just loved it!

Annalese did all the cooking and preparation herself including cake pops and blue and green fairy bread. Aren't the tiny teddies driving cars just adorable?

I have only just realised how behind schedule I am running for Stella's first birthday party. The stress and excitement began last night and I'm sure that's why I had trouble sleeping. The 'Save the dates' have been sent and invitations are in the design process by a talented friend. Still on the list are party hats, party favours, cakes and cupcake designs, food decor (Yes, food the food is getting its own decor!), party games, pom pom making, outfit purchasing, music organising... the list goes on! I have been trawling Etsy at the speed of light whilst biting my fingernails and writing and re-writing lists like mad! I have a vision in my head of how party perfect I want it all to be and just can't relax until I know I've got it right. I really haven't left myself enough time, so the mad rush begins.

I will keep you updated with party finds and ideas that I stumble across in my party crazed haze, wish me luck!

A Stella and Evie playdate.

Both Ali and I were in rather grumpy moods Friday morning; our babies wouldn't have their morning sleeps and we were getting nothing done. We are also telepathic, and were both thinking the same thing..."She wont sleep, I'm in a bad mood, wanna go for a walk?" It's indescribably cool to have a friend like that, who is happy to hang out at the last minute and put up with trackies, a messy house and a grumpy mama and baby combo. We bundled up the little protesters and pounded the pavement with our prams.

Exercise, chai latte, gossip. A bad day soon turned into a great day. Ali and Evie stayed the whole afternoon, the babes played, shared crackers (literally from one mouth to the other) and pushed each other along on the trike. They ate dinner together and bathed together.

Friday walks and hangouts with these two are my favourite! 

It was really hard to get good quality photos, when one baby kept still the other would move. And (yes, I've said it before) I am incompetent with a camera. These ones however are my favourite.

Best Baby Buddies.

Stella has a best friend; her name is Evie!

I love watching Stella and Evie play together and its a wonderful bonus that I love Evie's Ma' Ali too! We often have Mama dates, and have enjoyed them so much that we are making them a regular Friday event! Originally, the plan was to join a playgroup or mothers group together...but we are having just as much fun doing our own thing in our own time.

Stella and Evie are only three weeks apart in age and are both the first borns to young mothers. I didn't actually meet Ali until after our babies were born and was introduced via a mutual friend, we really have a lot in common and get along so well. We both love to browse town and window shop, eat cake and drink coffee or just hang out while our babes play.

Stella and Evie are the cutest of B.B.B'S, they like to hold hands while in the car, share splashy baths and investigate toys together! It is seriously the cutest thing to watch ever! Recently they have been sharing tricks; Evie has taught Stella to wave and Stella is encouraging Evie to practice her crawling. It's hard to imagine that these two little girls will be going to school in the same town one day, sharing similar experiences. Perhaps they will be Mama friends like Ali and I when they have their first babies. Oh how sweet!

Does your babe have a 'bestie'? Do you have a 'Mama Bestie'? I will keep updating on Stella and Evie's little friendship adventures and the Mama dates too!