We've just sold our apartment in Sydney's Surry Hills...
I’ll never forget the place we first brought Olivia home to. Olivia’s room was previously the study and underwent a weekend makeover a couple of months prior to her birth. It’s a tiny space but packs a punch. The Porter’s Paints black and white stripe wallpaper is a bit out there for a baby, but it gives the room a nice point of difference. I love this space. It makes me smile every time I walk in. We’re moving soon and I will miss Olivia’s room most.
I want to teach Olivia to love and respect and to have courage in her convictions...
To be an individual, be kind and thoughtful and to broaden her horizons by travelling to places near and far. My parents always taught me the importance of generosity and being a ‘giver’. Giving your time and energy and making the effort to be there for friends and family, to never arrive at someone’s home empty handed and always be helpful in the kitchen. The small things go a long way and say a great deal about a person. I often find myself summing up a person according to their helpfulness, or lack of.
What continues to surprise me is the depth of love...
My husband and I are blessed to have very supportive parents who look after Olivia one or two days most weeks. As much as I need this time to get things done and do work, I miss her terribly. Olivia is going on 11 months and is such a joy. She’s a gorgeous little person with an enormous personality and a great sense of humour. She’s also super cute. She constantly giggles. It’s still full on and we have frantic moments, but the good times are exceptional good and make those early months worth enduring.
The With Love tag is Paperboat Press...
It was the ‘gift tag’ attached to a present for Olivia from dear friends. I love seeing their message on the back. Friends mean the world to me. I rely on their care and support more than ever.
To seek perfection is as elusive as an entire night of sleep...
I’m still learning to loosen up and keep check of my anxiety levels. Motherhood has taught me to be an exceptionally good multi-tasker.
The sleep deprivation is hard, but you just have to get on with it and try not to dwell...
We still have plenty of restless nights when Olivia is teething. I can’t offer any survival tips. There’s no secret. I’m still absolutely exhausted. Even with a newborn – between feeding, burping, expressing, settling and re-settling, there’s little time to ‘sleep when the baby sleeps’. When Olivia sleeps during the day, I madly try to get work done and do the housework. It’s an exceptionally productive 40 minutes.
There are so many things I love in Olivia's nursery...
The yellow Kalon cot is from Kido Store. My husband and I used to walk past the window of the Surry Hills store and say, “one day when we have a baby…”. It was our first big-ticket baby item. The vintage cupboard from Doug Up on Bourke was such a find. It weighs a tonne! The door doesn’t close properly, the whole thing’s on an angle, but I appreciate its imperfections and will never change it. The LuckyBoySunday knitted toys are treasured items. They’re quirky and interesting and we give them all names. I can’t help but add to the collection. The Oeuf Toy Store was a gorgeous gift from my Godmother and it’s full to the brim with books and toys.
This tutu is from a lovely Brisbane store called Cherche La Femme...
We lived in the country when I was very young and I fondly remember exciting trips to the city where my mother and I would go shopping. Cherche La Femme was a favourite for their linen skirts and blouses. They now make a beautiful line of hand painted silk hankies and tutus for little girls. (www.chercherlafemme.com)
I have a uniform and it rarely changes...
James Perse T-shirts, skinny jeans, Brunello Cuccinelli or J. Crew cashmere jumpers. For shoes, I like white Converse, Hobes lace ups and Prada or Repetto ballet flats. My husband and I go out to dinner either just the two of us or with friends at least once a week, so I make an effort to wear something other than my regular uniform.
We're not up to bedtime stories yet...
We do love reading the Olivia the Pig series, the Babar books, Different Like Coco, Brown Bear Brown Bear, and The Velveteen Rabbit, which makes me cry every time.
I love our early morning outing...
Olivia in the Baby Bjorn, me with a takeaway coffee, walking Freddy in the park. Peace, happiness, fresh air and caffeine. It’s perfect. Our labradoodle Freddy and Olivia adore one another.
The enormity of motherhood surprised me...
During those first four months, I would feel overwhelmed by what needed to be achieved each day and overwhelmed that I was responsible for this tiny little baby’s wellbeing. Even with an incredibly supportive husband, family and friends, I hadn’t prepared myself for the adjustment to becoming a mother. The struggle to breastfeed, being house-bound most of the day, with little to no idea about what I was doing, with little to no sleep and with absolutely no time to cook or eat during the day. I was just trying to survive. I didn’t realise parenthood would be such hard work – in every sense – emotionally and physically, which just goes to show how naive I was.
Being a parent is a real blessing...
I try not to forget that. I feel so lucky to have Olivia in my life. She has given me a real sense of purpose and responsibility. I love seeing how Olivia and Ben interact together – it’s so heartwarming. Having my own little tribe makes life feel full and happy. I am an only child and can now appreciate how my parents feel about me – they inspire me with their enduring love, kindness and compassion.
I often go to Noosa for long weekends...
My parents live on the Sunshine Coast and it’s a joy to visit with Olivia and our dog Freddy. I miss them so much. I also have a great circle of friends up there who are such fun.
My advice? Where do I begin...
In no particular order, prepare yourself for being pushed to the limit – in every sense; Accept help; Ask for help; Laugh; Cry; Don’t compare yourself or your baby with others – everyone is different; Remember to eat; Don’t overanalyse problems – everything is usually fine; Remember to go to the bathroom; If a newborn cries they’re hungry, tired or need burping. It took me ages to work this out.
Photography: Julie Adams Hair: Amanda Kowalevsky from Oscar Oscar Salons Paddington Makeup: Sarina Zoe Words: Georgie Abay
Georgia Macmillan might just have created the most inspiring nursery I’ve ever seen. What’s so wonderful about it, is that it’s completely unisex. Against the graphic backdrop of a black and white wall, Macmillan worked with pops of bright colour (the Kalon yellow cot is heavenly) and filled the space with beautiful toys, many from Danish brand LuckyBoySunday.
Whether it’s collecting small chairs and styling them with classic novels or filling her home with fresh flowers, Macmillan adores interiors. Prior to giving birth to her baby girl, Olivia, back in November 2012, Macmillan specialised in public relations and communications for the food, wine, art and design industries.
“What continues to surprise me is the depth of love,” she says. “My husband and I are blessed to have very supportive parents who look after Olivia one or two days most weeks. As much as I need this time to get things done and do work, I miss her terribly. Olivia is going on eleven months and is such a joy. She’s a gorgeous little person with an enormous personality and a great sense of humour. She’s also super cute. She constantly giggles. It’s still full on and we have frantic moments, but the good times are exceptional good and make those early months worth enduring.”
Georgia’s little list of loves:
The early morning outing. Olivia in the Baby Bjorn, me with a takeaway coffee, walking Freddy in the park. Peace, happiness, fresh air and caffeine. Perfect.
A big glass of wine at the end of the day – I love Olivia but I love it when she’s tucked in bed for the night.
Freddy the labradoodle – She and Olivia adore one another.
Hobes – I recently discovered this fantastic Melbourne shoe brand and can’t get enough of them. The lace ups are SO comfortable.
Fresh flowers in the house – a year round favourite.
Friends – they mean the world to me. I rely on their care and support more than ever.
Sleep – a rare luxury. I wish I had more of it.
Bourke Street Bakery in Sydney’s Surry Hills – I walk here almost daily and always order a croissant. They are heavenly.
Holiday planning – a favourite past time.
Long weekends in Noosa – my parents live on the Sunshine Coast and it’s a joy to visit with Olivia and Freddy. I miss them so much. I also have a great circle of friends up there who are such fun.
May 2013