Having a newborn over the holiday season can be both beautiful and stressful. Lots of family want to see the new baby = stressful BUT lots of family to share baby joy with = beautiful. Celebrating = beautiful; celebrating on 2.5 hours sleep per night = stressful (and exhausting!). Family and friends helping with baby duties = beautiful; feeling a bit disconnected from baby and upsetting what little of routine you may have set in = stressful.
Audrey – seven weeks’ old just after Christmas
I’ve now been through it twice (Hannah was 2 weeks old the Christmas after she was born) and this year I was much more prepared for the emotional roller coaster. For one, it helped my anxiety levels that Audrey was 6 weeks old for Christmas and had her first round of vaccinations that week (whooping cough and all the rest). It also helped that I was armed with my baby wrap (I have a Chekoh) so if ever I felt like baby needed a proper sleep or that she was being a bit ‘pass the parcel’-like I popped her in the wrap for a bit of respite.
Wearing Audrey in the Chekoh stretchy wrap at Southbank
This year it was wonderful to celebrate Christmas with a toddler who really understood much more about the meaning of Christmas. Hannah loved all of the lights, the Christmas trees and even the music. She was so into it, and it was super cute to see her open her gifts with genuine excitement and joy. I have to say it was also super cute to see her give Audrey her presents and ‘help’ her open them (read: open them and play with them as they were her own). Side note here: have you ever witnessed a toddler opening clothes gifts? The FUNNY. Toddlers are so honest (and let’s face it clothes at that age are a really boring present for them to open) – Hannah just ripped them open, took one look and chucked them over her shoulder! Hilarious.
Anyway, what did you get up to for Christmas day? My husband’s family has a Christmas Eve tradition of mass and then opening the presents after midnight, so we did that, and then on Christmas Day did the road trip to see my parents who were at my nan’s house for the day. It was lovely and Hannah really enjoyed seeing all of the family over the two days. Audrey had started to smile at that point which was super cute too.
What did I wear? I always feel you need to wear something polished yet comfortable for family events, and I wore this Ambrosia Maxi dress from St Frock on Christmas Day {gifted; I’m wearing a 10 and I am 158cm tall – there’s other prints in the same style here}.
Wearing St Frock Ambrosia dress
After Christmas we spent those few middle days relaxing and then moved over to our apartment at south Brisbane which would be our home for New Year’s Eve. My hubby works for a property group and we were fortunate enough to stay in an apartment at the Botanica Residences on the border of West End. It’s a walk away from South Bank and the West End restaurants and I really loved the location. The unit was amazing with all the mod cons and lots of copper and black decor. Before baby proofing (removing all the lovely, interesting vases, pot plants and coffee table books from sight of toddler) I took photos so we could put everything back where we found it.
For New Year’s Eve itself Hannah went to stay at her grandparents (Audrey stayed with us – so much easier when you’re breastfeeding!) and we had a few friends over for dinner. We cooked the main (pulled beef burgers by Ben O’Donohue – definitely repeating the recipe – amazing!) and our friends brought along entree and dessert. Over a few glasses of bubbly we played Cards of Humanity and caught up. We then watched the fireworks from the balcony. So grown up! A far cry from days of cocktails, all night partying and super high heels! But I couldn’t imagine anything better, it was very chilled yet we had a great time. I wore another St Frock dress, the Chasing Kate Evelyn lace dress {I’m wearing the size 12 and I am 158cm tall}.
Wearing St Frock Evelyn Dress
New Year’s Eve with friends
Fireworks over South Bank
For the next few days we pretended that we didn’t live 10 minutes away and soaked up the local sights. We had breakfast at Billykart and Habitat (both recommended) went to the museum and walked along South Bank. We were all ready to use the pool however it was unusually cool so we didn’t get around to it.
Checking out the dinosaurs at the Queensland Museum
Breakfast at Billykart
Coffee at Habitat
Babycinos at Billykart
There really is a lot to do over that side of town and if you’re visiting Brisbane I highly recommend it, especially if you have little kids.
(Here’s more about the Botanica Residences if you’d like more info.)
What did you get up to on New Year’s Eve? Are you a party animal or an ‘in bed by 9pm’ type of person? (I’ve totally been both!)
