don't puke on your dad

For the first year of his life, Max's dad Toby kept a blog of his experience as a new dad, baby milestones etc. Each post consisted of one of Toby's amazing illustrations. A selection of these illustrations have been published in a book titled 'Don't Puke on Your Dad' published by Beatnik publishers in Auckland. It has gone on sale in time for Father's Day and is an entertaining, informative and moving account of first time fatherhood. Of course I'm a tad biased as Max is my first grandson and I'm in the book! However I think the book is incredibly well written and fills a gap in the market for prospective dads.
Check it out at: http://www.beatnikshop.com/collections/frontpage/products/dont-puke-on-your-dad
and be sure to click the option to watch the invite clip at the bottom.

Baby Number Two

My second grandchild is due at the beginning of October. Apparently this baby does not require any blankets or quilts as there was an over abundance when Max arrived. And although due at the same time of the year, number two will be a summer baby born in the southern hemisphere unlike Max who was a northern hemisphere winter baby. So, Oma is left wondering what she can create?

i spy quilt

The time has come the walrus said... to make an I Spy quilt!
I have to confess to squirrelling away the odd piece of fabric with this in mind over the past 20 years. Time spent with Max recently makes me realise how much he would enjoy such a quilt now that he is beginning to talk.
So I have made a start.  I am making a string quilt, having done a workshop with Sue Western at the Taupo Symposium. It is exciting as there are decisions to be made with every piece of fabric. But it will not be a calm quilt- prepare for busy craziness!!

Busy, busy

Monsters! - Max's dad Toby draws amazing monsters, so I had to have monster fabric. 

beach

Papamoa on a cloudy day.

master max

Max is learning to talk. He loves his digger, his bike, his lawnmower, his guitar, cooking (pretend), puzzles and doing what mum and dad do - taking photos and drawing!

son, brother, uncle

Spent time recently with my two kids, and it wasn't even Christmas!
It may be a while before that happens again, Daniel is off to Shanghai.
Another new perspective is observing your son as an uncle.
He approaches the role as he approaches life generally, loud and fast!

Brother and sister

Uncle and nephew