It has been wild and windy here lately, with lashings of rain.

Sunday dawned clear and bright, so Baba took us on a drive up the coast to see waves crash on rocks.

We found a fenced-off spot with ramps and grass . The kids ran and played and studied a few brave flowers .

Then Baba chased them down and scooped them up at the end of a fun-filled afternoon .

On Ben’s last day of holiday during his parents’ visit, we hit Cottesloe Beach. Thanks to Phil for this family photo of Ben and me holding hands and babywearing.

Afterwards, the children shared a cheese plate while the adults enjoyed hot drinks and dessert at the Indiana Tea House with views over the Indian Ocean. A bonus was that we were seated on sofas for our tea, providing me with an opportunity for Nikki tickles (and another photo by Phil!).

To follow up my post celebrating my first full year of tandem nursing, I will not hesitate to say that appropriate, attractive, and discrete nursing clothing has been and continues to be essential to my happiness as a breastfeeding mother.

I have shared before my love of Glamourmom tops. I wear them every single day. A Glamourmom combined with a regular shirt and I am good to go.

I am also delighted to share with you another online shop I recently found.  Motherwear sells attractive dresses and swimsuits for the nursing mother. What I love about them is that they are not obviously nursing clothing. My favorite Motherwear item (so far!) is my halter tankini.

I know many of you have been or are breastfeeding mamas. What are your favorite places to shop for nursing clothing? What items have you found essential to your nursing wardrobe?

Taking advantage of the cloudless sky and bright sunshine, we made our first excursion to the beach today. Nikki and Michael have outgrown their swimsuits, so we stayed just long enough to get our feet wet.

We couldn’t resist fish ‘n’ chips for lunch, and then it was time to visit AQWA – the Aquarium of Western Australia.

We spent time with seals, sharks, sting rays, and starfish. Most impressive was the walk-through aquarium – it was enormous and so were the creatures swimming above and beside us. Incredibly, the aquarium also enables small groups of snorklers and SCUBA divers to swim in the tank .

This weekend we beat the Cairo heat by escaping it completely – three hours away at Moon Beach . I think Moon Beach is my favourite spot in all of Egypt. Not because of the amenities – the accommodation is basic – but because of the totally chilled atmosphere. Add to that a sandy pebbly beach, the beautiful Red Sea , a windsurfing lesson, and my fantastic husband and beautiful kids – it was a marvelous four-day birthday weekend!

 
 

We just got back from a few nights away at the Stella Grand Hotel , where we enjoyed a Red Sea beach at Ain Soukhna, just an hour and a half drive from Cairo.

My parents quickly warmed to life on the beach. They took walks along the shore and out on a pier . Grandma and Grandpa   also took turns holding Michael in the shade.

Michael enjoyed a number of firsts during the beach break – his first trip to a beach, his first thirst for fresh lemon juice (he had to settle for fresh lemon juice numnums), and his first time rolling over .

Nikki took full advantage of the amenities – sand , water , and playground equipment , including a small swing . I was astonished when she walked right up to a ladder on the playground and climbed the rungs without any assistance from me .

Ben and I played with Nikki out in the water quite a bit , and one time Ben took both kids and one shovel out to a sandbar so that I could catch a nap. Bliss!

Did we have a great time? You’d better believe it !