4/52

Ellery: big-rain watching in his Dad's ranger cap

Aubrey: babe in the big wide world

The heatwave, the monsoon.

Beautiful times with the big kid. He is older in the face. I'll try and get a nice close up this week! But those curls!

The smallest. Eleven months. ELEVEN MONTHS! Waay too fast. He is such a delight. Off and crawling, just before he entered his last month as a baby!!

3/52

Ellery: dinner in the lagoon

Aubrey: boy and truck

The golden hour at our favourite beach lagoon, cooling off after a few very hot days in the city.

Dinner is often had in the drink.

Milestones: Ellery using his new (Christmas-gifted) kickboard, feet off the ground! Aubrey, brrmmming, roaring like a dinosaur, and crawling (for the past four days).

2/52

Ellery: I can see the boy

Aubrey: ocean dreaming

We went to the city... then it was back to our regular programming.

1/52

Ellery: little chocolate ice cream mouse

Aubrey: dune mouse

Homemade chocolate ice cream. Two ingredients, unsweetened. I blew both our minds.

The last day of the year he was born. It started pretty sweetly and ended with a beach lagoon swim and two happy sleeping babies in the backseat (holiday miracle right there), the smallest clutching my phone playing this, his favourite bop-along song.

For the record, Aubrey likes sand, but there is way less of it being eaten than his brother did. So much more moderate, in every conceivable way.

52/52

Ellery: ethereal

Aubrey: doe-eyed deliciousness

Fifty two! A few missed portraits along the way, but a record of their year nonetheless.

Thanks to Keiran for the photo of Ellery ... a timeless shot and one I know he won't use. 

I have found it increasingly difficult to drag out my camera this year ... lately because K is often using it. I think the solution for me right now is a more compact camera. Our finances however dictate that this will remain on the wishlist for a while.

51/52

Ellery: music and books ... we must be doing something right

Aubrey: little storm lily elf

These shots, though far from perfect, make me immeasurably happy.

Because, really. One kid at the piano, head in a pile of books? The other ankle-deep in storm lilies? 

Childhood perfection.

50/52

Ellery: revelling in the Christmas lights near Nana's place

Aubrey: my packing assistant

The big fellow: Last year you melted when Santa crossed your path and offered you a toy. This year, after pondering the idea for a while, you approached the big guy for a lolly bag.

The littlest fellow: two teeth, arm-flapping dance moves, music lover, pointing, clapping, standing, the backwards caterpillar shuffle, snuggles forever.

Note to self: use camera. These phone shots are just woeful ... but still, a record for this time-poor mama.