The Cute Beach House

Morning, written on Saturday

THIS morning I woke-up feeling good. Hallelujah, a good night’s sleep – perhaps the best I’ve had since before the last slow months of being pregnant. 

I had spent most of yesterday packing for our first family weekend getaway – stopping to sing, dance and entertain my three-month-old baby girl to keep her smiling as she watched from her rocker, patiently. I must have done something right as Lila laughed the day away and by the time we were on the road to Rosebud in the early evening, she was fast asleep.

My bare feet feel light as they tap across the rustic wooden floorboards despite the cold middle of a winter’s morning. But inside, my heart feels warm and full. 

Having woken-up to Lila’s late cry, after her morning feed, with her father beside me, the three of us huddle in bed oblivious to anything but the love and warmth in the room. 

One of the things I love about the Cute Beach House is it’s simplicity in design and understated charm. There are no distractions and it’s oh so quiet – even with our baby girl with us. It’s the perfect place to read, write and enjoy the company of the most important people in my life – my family. 

The other thing I really like is not knowing the time, therefore not being rushed to get up, wash and change, make breakfast, do housework, (insert usual Saturday morning ritual here) and the list goes on. Instead, we laze the morning away playing with Lila, slowly making breakfast, reading all the favourite bits of the Saturday paper. 

And here I am now writing again after a few weeks’ break sitting in the sun room looking out at the verdant green landscape of trees before me, as I soak-up the sunshine glistening through the window. This becomes our marker for time and it’s time for a walk to the beach before winter’s grey blanket covers the sky.  

Afternoon

Back from our beach walk feeling refreshed, having put Lila down to bed as she had fallen asleep in the pram, we put together a decadent platter of cheese, dips and crisp bread crackers to go with a glass of fine red wine (for me) and beer (for B). 

I’m writing this on the couch in front of the fireplace while B sits beside me reading the latest issue of National Geographic magazine, a gift subscription I bought him for our anniversary back in February. That was when I was pregnant with Lila, three months before she came into the world and changed our lives for the better forever. 

It still amazes me each day how much having a baby changes the way you live your life but also your perspective on everything – for me it is and continues to be a discovery of what truly matters in life from the small moments like spending a Saturday morning in bed with your family to thinking about the future and where we’ll settle down and buy a house, one day. Perhaps it will be near the beach or in Europe or on Australian shores.

Evening

     

With the fireplace roaring romantically, I can hear the bathwater running and can smell the pure lavender from the bath salts, too. The sun has set and the evening is here slowing us down; everything feels calm, quiet and relaxed. I don’t have a care in the world right now. This is what weekends should always feel like. 


For those inspired to visit the beautiful Mornington Peninsula, I highly recommend staying at the Cute Beach House in Rosebud. Aside from the great location, it's really affordable and perfect for families.