2010 on Planet Baby: our year in photos

Happy New Year, lovely Planetarians, all 217 of you. I wish you and your dear ones the very best of health and happiness for 2011. With the pixies sound asleep, I finally have a moment to look back on our life on Planet Baby in 2010. It’s been one of my most *challenging* (what an understatement), tiring and difficult years yet, particularly on the health front, and in many respects, I crawled to the finish line on my hands and knees. But life being as unpredictable as it is, 2010 also was filled with moments of joy, wonderment, elation and pride. Here’s a selection of PB photos to capture some of the more positive aspects of our year.

January

In January, Mr PB introduced the older pixies to the joys of raspberry picking at our favourite berry farm at Peacehaven, south of Hobart. Here’s Joshie getting into the spirit, picking his first of many. Meanwhile, Miss India ate as many as she picked! The season’s a bit late this year due to the wet weather we’ve been having – we plan on heading down there next week once the raspberries are ripe enough.

February

The middle of February heralded a momentous occasion on PB – Joshua started Kindergarten. A whole new world opened up for us parents, our L-plates hanging around our necks as we took our firstborn to school! Here he is just before leaving for his first day of school. Of course, his best friend, Polo the polar bear, had to bear witness to this auspicious occasion.

March

March brought a precious family occasion for us – Sam’s christening in St David’s Cathedral in Hobart. Family and friends assembled from far and wide to celebrate. Here he after his big moment, in the christening gown we had made for Joshua and now worn by all the pixies.

April

Easter was such a joyous time on PB as you can see. Joshie made his little bunny ears at school.

May

May brought my first Mother’s Day to celebrate with Sammy, my darling little chap.

June

One of the great pleasures of living in Hobart is the interaction the pixies have with their four grandparents. They all accompanied us on an excursion up near New Norfolk, to the north-west of Hobart, where we had a barbecue. Here is Mr PB showing Joshua and India how to toast damper, wound around sticks, over the fire – once it’s toasty golden, you slide it off and fill it with golden syrup. Just the thing for a bitterly cold winter’s day. Look at Grandma in the background, trying to restrain Sammy who wants to leap into the fire!

July

In July, we turned Sam’s car seat around from rear-facing to forward-facing. He loved it! He felt he was ‘one of the big kids’. And they relished it as well – you can see the delight on their faces. Note the car seats squeezed in without a millimetre to spare.

August

August brought my 40th birthday and the Carnival of Jane (COJ) started. Here’s the first lunch and a rare photo of me with the older pixies (I’m always taking the photos!). Sammy was asleep.

September

Here’s an even rarer photo of Mr PB and I together. Probably the first one in at least a year. We’re hosting another birthday celebration with friends as part of the COJ. The theme was French, hence my boa. Ooh la la!

October

October was Mr PB’s time to turn 40. Here he is with three of his greatest admirers.

November

November saw the whole family attend Joshie’s school assembly when he proudly showed the school some of his artwork. Isn’t he as proud as punch!

December

And here’s the big Kindy boy on his last day at school (Polo is still his best mate). He’s changing schools next year so the day was a mixture of sadness and elation after such a full and fun year of learning and making some fabulous friendships.

And that, lovely Planetarians, is a wrap! Time to get my brain into gear to start 2011…Is anyone else feeling like that?!