Elyse Knowles has opened up about the biggest challenges of motherhood, having more kids, and what it’s like to raise a baby in Byron Bay.
WATCH Elyse Knowles gets a real welcome to motherhood!
The Aussie model and her fiance Josh Barker welcomed their first child Sunny in March this year, with Elyse saying becoming a mother has been “a dream”.
“I’m adoring it! I feel like I say this all the time, but things get better and better every day,” she exclusively told WHO.
“Sunny is growing into such a little dude now. He’s so alert and fun, he’s loving, full of smiles and he is so cuddly. I could smooch him all day long.
“Josh and I often look at photos of him in bed. Almost every night the two of us look at each other thinking, “should we get him up for a quick cuddle?” It’s tempting!”
Elyse admits her biggest challenge was coping with Sunny’s interrupted sleep schedule when he was a newborn.
“I guess that’s what comes with these little bundles of joy. Sunny has started to slide into a much more consistent sleep routine nowadays, so I feel far more alive!” the 28-year-old says.
Elyse praised Josh as a “natural, hands-on” father to Sunny, and says the mutual adoration between the father and son is “beautiful” to watch.
“Josh works full time so when he comes home in the afternoon, he takes the reins,” she says.
“Whether it’s cuddles, a bath or a feed, Josh will take care of all that while I make dinner or take a shower.”
The couple, who made the move from Melbourne to Byron Bay in 2019 to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, say the coastal tourist town is the perfect place to raise a child.
“You can create a warm and loving home wherever you are. Personally for Josh and I, we are big outdoors people. We value getting outside as often as we can, going on weekend adventures to beaches and or bushlands,” she says.
“It’s easier to do that in Byron Bay as both the weather and surrounding landscape allows for it.
“Raising Sunny up here is lovely. Daily walks and fresh air blowing is a privilege.”
To make the most of special family time, Elyse and Josh dedicate every Sunday to spending time with Sunny.
“We try not to make plans and instead just spend the whole day together. There is nothing more precious,” Elyse says.
“Between exploring Byron, catching up with friends, work, maintaining the house, the dogs and ducks – the weeks can fly by!”
Elyse says the most surprising thing about motherhood has been how there is “always something left in the tank”.
“A mother’s endless love and energy is incredible! Just when I think I’m about to implode with exhaustion, I surprise myself,” she says.
“My brain has not switched off from the moment Sunny came into this world as I think about his wellbeing every single second.”
The Myer ambassador says five-month-old Sunny’s routine is finally starting to form.
“He’s just started to explore solids, so we can now feed him mashed up veggies for dinner at night,” she explains.
“Filling his belly full of nutrients & goodness is helping to encourage longer, deeper sleeps. Thank the Lordy & hail to the veggies!”
And it’s looking like more kids are on the cards for Elyse and Josh.
“We would love a big family,” she says.
Elyse, who’s been busy juggling modelling work with becoming a new mum, recently collaborated with Fisher Price on a collection of baby items.
“I was so flattered and very excited to have the opportunity to create my own range of baby products under such an iconic name,” she says.
“Sunny’s been using the Fisher Price Infant to Toddler Rocker since he was born. It’s been a real staple in our house.
“It’s the perfect partnership, because I’m a big kid at heart and Fisher Price encourage parents and carers to get on their child’s level and enjoy it.”
While Elyse has worked as a model for years, fronting campaigns for brands including Seafolly and later signing on as Myer ambassador in 2018, she became a household name following her successful stint on The Block in 2017 alongside Josh.
The couple won the series after the house they renovated sold at auction for a whopping $3.067 million. The property was bought by Aussie comedian Dave Hughes.
The huge financial win allowed Elyse and Josh to pay off their own mortgage.
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