Lil' Miss Busy Pants

Well, things are getting interesting around here with our sweet-little-precious-baby full-on into toddlerhood at 19 months old! Naps are getting pretty tricky since she got a huge bout of confidence in her climbing ability just the other week. Every day this week has gone like the video below. Yes, we have tried many things to try and help her understand that we are in charge, not her, and when we say it's nap time, it's nap time my tired little one. Even going so far as to sit beside her bed and not let her climb out....for almost 2 hours. Did I mention she was screaming and crying that whole time? Yep. Oh and yes, we did try a make-shift "toddler bed" by putting her mattress on the floor and laying with her for a bit. Nope. Too busy, she says. Because we are living in Australia for 1 more month (where did the time go!) and then off to Europe, the real toddler bed will have to wait....and I (mommy talking) have to let go of control for a few months and let her take naps in the stroller or car. She obviously is more strong-willed than me!

On the up-side...she is trying out new words every day. Her favourites : "dee" (dates), "yo-yo" (yogurt), "co co" (cacoa, she helps me bake), "na-owww" (no), "me-mo" (Nemo), and "mo Bee-Ba" (more Simba from Lion King). Oh and "mo baw" (more park).

On to the video! Hopefully the [tiny bit of] crying doesn't get to you!

April 2011 : Nana and Gramps' Visit and Fraser Island

We all had a really nice time with Nana and Gramps when they came to visit us in Australia last month. We went to a few different places - Caloundra, Noosa, Fraser Island, Sanctuary Cove (on the Gold Coast), and of course our Mudjimba Beach. Fraser Island was a fun, 4-day adventure on the largest sand island....lots and lots of 4WD on the beach and throughout the Island. We went to a number of neat spots including Indian Head, the Maheno Shipwreck, Eli Creek, Lake Mackenzie, and Lake Waddy. Aubrey and Daddy enjoyed their 6 am swims in the resort pool while I slept in.

Aubrey still talks about Nana and Gramps, and often brings up their names and says "bye bye", realizing that they have gone back home.

Our time in Australia is quickly coming to an end! It is bittersweet...we are excited for all that is next, but sad about leaving one of our favourite spots to live!











You'll have to jump over to my photography site to see the rest :)

Family Photos!!!! YAY!

We were so blessed to have another family photo session...Aubrey at 19 months old this time..such a little lady :)

The photographer is Gemma Troy. I met her at our playgroup here on the Sunshine Coast, and photography aside, we really just click as friends. That is always a huge blessing when you move to a new place! What is also a huge blessing is swapping photography services for family sessions ;) Awesome! I did her family back in March, you can see them here.

Check out our preview from the session we did with her last night! Don't giggle too much at the first photo...we giggled enough for everyone ;) Aubrey looks the best in that one for sure!!

OUR PHOTOS!

19 Months Old : A Video

Well, we have both been really behind in updating our blog, so hopefully a video will do for now!

Lately Ben has been working really hard during his last semester at School Of Biblical Studies. This week the students are working hard to complete one of their longest books : Isaiah. Last night Ben briefly summed up a theme of Isaiah for me that I will try and reiterate : Who will you place your trust in? Other nations, yourself or God? The book of Isaiah brings with it judgment on nations, but also the restoration for all people (not just Israel) through the Messiah.

oh and one last thing. If you haven't heard of bloglovin you should check it out. It is a free website that allows you to view all of the blogs you enjoy reading from one easy to navigate site. So you don't need to visit your blogs each day, you just go to bloglovin and they will update it for you with who has new posts! This will save you so much time in your already busy schedule. So go to bloglovin, sign up, and begin following this blog, Emerging Eden and Chelsa's photography website.

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Point Cartwright : Another Day

I am so sorry for being so back-logged with my blog updates! We have had a couple really busy months. I had the opportunity to do some sweet maternity and newborn sessions here on the Sunshine Coast. We also had an awesome visit from my mom and dad a few weeks ago...Aubrey still can't stop "talking" about "Nana and Baba" and freaks out at the opportunity to chat with them on Skype.

The photos from their time here in Australia will come later...I promise! But for now, I am still getting caught up. Although Aubrey is well into her 18th Month of her beautiful life, here are a few photos from March...so 17 Months Old. Enjoying another awesome day at Point Cartwright.

I won't even make you click over to my photography blog to see these ones ;)

Remember Japan

A blog that I enjoy (thanks to Johnni's reccomendation) recently posted about her friend. Jessica's Little Shop of Illustration is donating 35% of each purchase to relief efforts in Japan (through the Red Cross) until April 17th. I originally checked out her work because of a "giveaway" blog post...but now I really am interested in her Art. It is unique and really beautiful! I have always loved using art to add to my home decor. Especially when there is a special story behind it all. Because we are planning a trip to France for Lindsay and Dav's wedding this July, I am excited about her Paris illustrations!

This one reminds me of my girlfriend - Lily. A lover of Peacock feathers! Because of her I now also love them, and always think of her :)


They are all beautiful, but these two have a little significance for me right now!

17 Months Old : Family Time

We had a wonderful Sabbath day together last weekend. It was much needed and super restful. Sometimes our "rest" days tend to not be so restful. Ben is wanting to just rest from a long week of studying and working, and I am wanting to get out and explore the Sunshine Coast together, to do something fun. Sometimes this results in tension between us, especially if we think our expectations aren't being reciprocated, and it is SO hot out that our tiny flat is a sauna making us feel at times irritable as we try to get out the door to a pool or the ocean to cool off. But this week wasn't like that. It was a super calm, super restful day, and we still went out and discovered a new place that we hadn't gotten to yet. The weather was really cool, and that was a nice change actually. We went 25 min down the coast to Point Cartwright. A place we hadn't been yet. Aubrey walked about 1 km, refusing to go in her stroller. It was fun, I had time to take pictures that way and enjoy photography.

Oh, and Aubrey is 17 months old now!!

One of Mommy and Aubrey....because we don't get too many of those!


This one is for Grandma Jane. Aubrey was so excited to wear her new monkey pj's for the first time. She looked adorable!


If you haven't seen them already, the rest of the story is on my photography blog.

Little Mermaid

Yesterday Aubrey and I both got a cold, yuck. So we are taking it easy, and I youtubed "Little Mermaid 2" for us to watch together. She loved it....and actually, so did I! She could only sit for about 10 minutes, and I am seriously considering finishing it on my own. Thank you Ariel for having baby Melody to continue the adventure.

Anyway, Aubrey is our little Mermaid! I started her in swim lessons back in October, and they have proven to be quite beneficial for us. Mostly it gives me ideas of games to play with her in the water. The lessons themselves are a bit stimulating for her, there is a lot going on in 30 minutes, a lot of kids to observe (she is a people watcher), and she has a mind of her own. She can do everything the teacher asks...but never when the teacher watches. So the teacher always comes over to give me more instruction....I smile and nod. Aubrey knows what to do, she just chooses to only try it for a few seconds then she is ready to do the next thing. BUT, she LOVES the mat-run! Too bad they only get 2 turns each. She would do that all day.

We improvise the mat-run-fun with a bodyboard...not quite as good, but she still has fun for a while.





Secondly, you might have noticed all of my "little camera" uploads on Facebook from our 2 day trip down the coast. Well, on the way back, we stopped at the YWAM Brisbane base. This is where Ben and I met back in 2003 on the Beach To Bush DTS.

The dorms we stayed in on DTS:




In the Courtyard




More snaps on my photography blog : www.chelsaschaefer.com

Cheers!

16 months : coolest playground ever!

At least the coolest playground we have ever been to! We discovered it on our day trip to Maleny and Gardner Falls. It was a learning playground with different stations to discover. We got quite excited about the swing-carousel that had seats large enough for adults to sit it....that is until we both felt so stinkin nauseous after. Wow our stomachs have gotten weak! We also really enjoyed the zip-line! We have taken Aubrey to a few playground that have ziplines, but we have to hold her onto the tiny seat and just run her back and forth (very tiring). THIS one had a perfect seat and harness for her! Amazing fun if viewed from a child's eyes!



Sweet Zipline




Making Music



Getting very nauseous!


Mommy Time


Daddy-kisses

Cyclone in Aus! We are safe, pray for Cairns and Townsville and all QLD