That really sucks. Is there a building Ombudsman or something who can assist you?

I think Aidan is like his Mummy and hates Summer Bring on winter!!!!

Katie, how'd you go today, did you manage to get the cleaning, washing and shopping done? Hate it when all the chores pile up. Did hubby get the shed put up today? Wahoo to the dishwasher, that is MEGA exciting! I only got one for the very first time in April last year when our new kitchen went in and I absolutely LOVE it. Best invention ever I reckon! Katie good on you for the walking, hope you managed to get out again tonight. Frankie is not interested in dvd's whatsoever. Dinner turned out yum. And tonight I gave some to Frankie and she ate it! I was amazed cos every other time I've tried to give her mince type dish she wouldn't eat it.

Sam, you poor honey, that other night with Zoe and Isabelle would have been so tough. Glad to hear you had a better night last night though. Glad you have a good friend too that could help you out and take you out for a coffee! Yep it was me that got that shirt...you mean the free one from ages ago? I also had a navel piercing, but I took mine out at 30 weeks. I haven't had it put back in yet either, don't know if I'll bother...don't really wanting to be showing off my belly now. I also made a belly cast, but can't recall who else did.

Mel, you cook dinner at one of your jobs? What did you cook them? Or do they get it all organised and tell you what to cook? I hope you don't get a 5am wake up call as well! This morning Frankie slept til 6:30 which was much better than 5:50am. Yep, Frankie loves corn on the cob, that was a good suggestion, thanks. Plus she loved the shepherds pie tonight as well! So that was good.

Channy, awww poor little Aidan bubba in the heat and being tired sucks too. Frakie has been exhausted the last two days at daycare. The changes have finaly happened and almost all the kiddies that were in her room have moved up to the next room, and new bubbas have started, so I think it's just all a bit unsettling for her at the moment. I'm home with her Thursday so hopefully she might get a chance to get a good sleep in. It's been pretty warm up our way, it cooled down last night a little.

Made blueberrie muffins tonight, yummy. I have already eaten four... but they are only the little mini ones. I should probably head up to the shed and do pilates...

Anyhow, am off here to do something at any rate.

Great night last night! Bed at 7, then she woke at 7.30am! Yay!

Leigh I only work at the one job now, 2 days a week. Yep, I cook for them each night. Usually my boss will say there is mince in the frige, or chicken breasts etc, so cook whatever you like! I usually make lasagne, or bolognese pasta, fried rice, stir fry, etc. Simple things. I enjoy it but don't like coming home to cook dinner again!

Had to sit the kids down and speak with them yesterday, their Mum lets them graze on food ALL DAY. They say Im hungry! And they get whtever they want. So every 5 mins they were saying it to me, so I told them no more. That Mummy might let you have what you want, but I don't. When Im in charge you will have morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. They were NOT happy, to the point of nearly crying! But honestly! I'm not going to slave after them all day, I have enough running around to do. Do you guys think that's fair? I do feed them enough at meal times, they arent hungry!


Ohhh Leigh now I want to make blueberry muffins! Tonight Im going to make homemade hamurgers, might make some mini ones for Mia and she can have them with a salad. Interesting to see how she goes with them!

hi girls. am a bit m.i.a as the kids are both sick and chris is just back from seeing his bro.

hope you are all well.

leigh did you have a party and have your friends paint the body cast?


gotta go - can hear zoe crying.

s

Augh, had a crappy day at work. My work is driving me nuts and I am getting no support from my manager. She is moody and just snaps. My branch manager called me. He is great. He wants to help fix things, sort out the issues etc. I had a cry. I hate crying at work with a passion...it is so humiliating!!!

Nice day off tomorrow with Aidan. Catching up with some girlfriends for lunch and a swim.

Sam - hope the girls get some rest tonight. Thinking of you xx

Mel - I think the kids shouldn't be eating all day! Sucks that you have to cook 2 dinners at night. Can you get hubby to cook some night? He could BBQ or something? Maybe make extra on the weekends and just have leftovers on those nights.

Leigh - are there any blueberry muffins left

Katie - how are you doing?

Off to have an early night!

Channy aww you poor thing Your manager sounds like a roya biach! I'd hate to work for rude people. She should have a bit of respect.
Re the dinner, Ive worked out a system which is I "usually" throw something in the slow cooker that morning, and hubby can serve it up at night. So it usually works out ok, when I remember. Or else we have some pasta and sauce, very easy.

How are you feeling today?

Sam- how are the girls? Do they have colds/ temps? Hope you got some rest last night.

Katie and Leigh helloooo! How are you girls!

I'm off to meet two friends today, at Gloria Jeans (yuck, hate their coffee). Im sure Mia will sit nice and still...NOT. Oh well.

Does anyone know where I can buy child proof locks? Like for drawers and cupboards? Bunnings maybe? Might go and check it out.

morning - feeling better, cause I'm at home!!!
Having nice day today with friends for lunch and a swim.

You can get baby locks from Big W, that is where most of ours are from. Karl just secured our loo today as Aidan keeps pulling with the water...ewwww

I'm sure Mia will be an angel for you...he he

hi girls..quick visit.

channy sorry to hear your boss is a witch. nothing worse than work crap to have to deal with. didi you speak with the boss above her about the probs?? hope today you can have a nice relaxing day.

just cooking some sweet potato and cous cous for zoe.

isabelle fevers overnight and off daycare today. blah.

wish nanna wasnt 5 hours away!

Channy we went to big W yesterday and they had NOTHING! So we just went to bunnings and they had a fantastic range, stocked up.
Have a great lunch and swim you lucky thing.

Sam hope Isabelle feels better soon. You are a good Mummy for keeping her home though, lots of parents would have sent her to DC anyway!

Ok, Mia in bed so Im going to clean up this tornado she has caused and then relax!

Mel, great sleeps from Mia! Night before last Frankie went to bed at 7 then woke crying at around 2. Hubby and I got up, gave her some cuddles, gave her Nurofen (didn't know what else to do) offered her a drink of water but she didn't want it, then put her back to bed, and she went back to sleep, but woke at 5:30 grizzling, but we left her and she fell back to sleep around 6, for another 40 mins. Last night, put her to bed at 7, then she woke up crying at 9, did the same thing as the night before, and she went back to sleep, but woke at 5:30am again, this time grizzling for nearly an hour before dozing off again til 7:15am. So I'm a bit tired. She's got a little bit of a cold now I've noticed this morning, so not sure if that's it, or what on earth is wrong. It's good of you to make dinner, guess if you don't mind cooking is ok. It would be a bit of a drag cooking twice. I don't blame you on the eating thing, I think getting them to have set meal times is good. Did you make any blueberry muffins? How'd the hamburgers go? That's great that Mia eats salad, Frankie won't. Hubby bought some child locks from the hardware store recently, so Bunnings should definitely have something.

Sam, oh no sorry to hear kiddies are sick, hope they are all better soon and that you all don't get it. Frankie's come down with a cold, got the whole sneezy runny nose thing happening today. Yep, I had friends paint my belly cast at my baby shower. Frankie also loves sweet pot and cous cous.

Channy oh no hun, sorry to hear your manager is causing you grief. It's so important to have a positive working environment. I've worked in places before where my in line supervisor was just awful, and it just made it all so miserable. I really hope your branch manager is able to help sort things out for you. Your lunch date and swim sounds great today, hope you have a lovely time. It's certainly hot enough for it! Yep, blueberry muffins are left, I put them into the freezer. I offered one to Frankie last night and she only ate about half. I've been trying to limit the ones I have. I had one yesterday arvy, plus the half that Frankie wouldn't eat. Then I had two this morning for morno's. Don't feel alone Channy, Frankie fascinated with the toilet bowl also. I keep having to remember to shut the door. Plus if you go in there to do your business she wants to come watch.

Today is my day off in lieu of working Saturday, and it worked out well as hubby has a big job on, and so he is able to work today as well. Am a bit tired due to the wakings of Frankie the last couple of nights. Went for a run with her in the jogging pram this morning, which I haven't done in ages. She didn't really say much the whole trip, but just sat looking at the scenery and sucking her thumb. It was hot hot hot though, even though I went from 8-9. Then we both jumped in the shower so that was good. She's down for her sleep now, and hoping that she has a good sleep seeing as she's not feeling well, and also thinking that will probably help her sleeping overnight as well. I know daycare has been particularly full on this week with all new kids in her room and her not sleeping well etc so that could be contributing to it as well. But, at the end of the day who knows. I see Tizzie Hall has a Save our Sleep toddlers book out now...am considering buying it. Heading out later this arvy to do the grocery shopping and pop to the shops, but other than that, nothing really very exciting to do. I can't really go visit anyone either (ie friends with littlies) cos of Frankie's cold.

Ok, well I'm off.

mel i prefer the set meal times too. i know when i have been slack for a few days and let isabelle snack then the proper meals go out the window and its painful. much better to have proper meals i think. but i suppose its also difficult when the mum does things one way and you another. does those type of issues come up much?

isabelle still getting hot when the panadol wears off and she may be getting a rash. keeping an eye on her closely.

other news... my sister is the new parenting columnist for pp mag. i gave her the christmas issue that said for people to submit applications and she scored the job out of 250 people. great for her as she is just about to put her youngest into fdc so that she can start pitching articles and writing one day a week. this means she will have some regular work as well as whatever else she can generate so cc fees are covered from the start.

ok ladies. things still gloomy here but i suppose that is how they will stay. bil is off the trial and has just started radiotherapy to be followed by chemo.

Hi Girls!

I had such a lovely day! Caught up with 4 friends..we all work/have worked for my company over the years - and still friends The 2 babies were really good!!
Aidan was such a piggy today. Had lunch and yoghurt and the grazed ALL afternoon and our lunch (chicken, salad, breadrolls and fruit). He just kept on wanting more!!! He has most certainly stacked on weight this month. I think he'd be around 12kg now...he is just feeling so heavy to carry around. We think that he'll be 15-16months before he walks by himself....I'll need chiro to help me out

What is everyone feeding the babies for dinner? I have been giving him alot of Rafferty's stuff for dinner since I went back to work...I didn't seem to get the piece size right for him awhile ago and he kept spitting my stuff out. I made some salmon mornay for him recently and he ate that..so my confidence is back. Karl made cottage pie tonight - so yum - so we have frozen some portions for Aidan. I have the new Women's Weekly Babies and Kids Cookbook, so I am going to jot down some ingredients for my grocery shop. I think I need more small/medium containers for the freezer.

We are having a date night on Saturday night! We are going to a winery for dinner at Mt Mee (slightly north/west of Brisbane). We have had lunch there and it's lovely. What to wear??? Aughh - I need new clothes!

Sam - how are the girls now? I know what you mean about having your Mum far away When I was anxiety attacks my Mum was in Townsville and MIL in Toowoomba. I love having my Mum 15min away! I often pop over on my days off just for a cuppa. My parents are loving seeing Aidan all the time! I am hoping that the treatments work for you brother in law. Has he had to quit working?

Leigh - Go Frankie! Her toddling is sooo cute. What a proud Mummy moment. Does she have walker shoes?

Mel - How did Mia go at Gloria Jeans? Hope you had a fun day with your friends!

Katie - what's happening? Good to see you have Cohen trained nice and young..he he

Night Night girls - I am going to try to have an early one..I haven't been sleeping that well of late...uh-oh

channy your day sounds great. hope you did some therapeutic venting. aidan def sounds like a big unit to carry aroumd. zoe was 10kg at 12 months and i struggle with that.

someone from here had wedding shots from mt mee and it was beautiful. have a nice date. and you missy have a wardrobe full of new maxi dresses! i will allow a new pair of earrings only!

dinner here doesnt vary that much. its usually a bowl of home made vegie and pulses (either chick peas or baked beans etc which lately i have been adding grated cheese to) and a bowl of yoghurt and some finger food like toast with hommous or cream cheese.

mel i hate gloria jeans coffee too. nasty stuff.

must go to bed... hubby back to work tomorrow for 7 days in a row so i really need to get my sleep.

Hi Girls!

Just a day at home for us. Had one painter come this morning and another this afternoon to get quotes to finish painting our house. Karl just can't find the time and if we want to sell soon, it just needs to get finished!

Had a week of Aidan waking before 6am....yawn!!! No matter what we do with the blinds etc it is still alot lighter. Just one more reason I hate summer! Especially here in Brisbane being so easternly - it can be light here from 4:30am!! It seems all my friends are having early wake-ups too at the moment. Bring on winter!!!

Took Aidan to the clinic to get weighed before lunch - he is smack on 12kg. So he gained 900g this month! I am really glad as when I took him at 12months they wanted to see some weight gain this month. He has been eating alot, so it's all good.

Started to see some toddler attitude coming out. Gets very snotty if he doesn't get his way etc. No full blown tanties just yet, just whinging when I take something away etc. Also got my first cheeky moment today, where I told him not to touch this fan we have on the ground. He usually stops and doesn't continue. Today is laughed at me and kept going!!!

What's everyone doing today?

hi channy. toddler behaviour here too. its hilarious. we moved the couch to block off one end of the lounge room - basically to stop zoe getting to two of her favourite hang outs - the ensuite and the night light in the hall. there was a small gap and she managed to work out how to wiggle her body thru. chris moved it further a few days ago so there was no gap and now she tries to get thru and grunts and huffs and tries to force her way thru. she even climbed up on a chair the other night. it was a low cane armchair of isabelles and in a flash she was standing up on it and then hanging on to the arms and rocking on it. go zoe! now... how about some walking??!!

no night bf for zoe last night. its was nice though to not get up to her. unfortunately isabelle rolled out of bed at two and then wanted a glass of milk.

not much for us here today. its hot again so we have been inside all morning. pretty painful as isabelle is still a bit hot and cranky and all she wants to do is watch tv. total mummy guilts as i have been letting her. she even spoke with an american accent after watching dora, telling me about the "baby burrrd" in the show. think we will do a quick visit to the library this arvo - mainly for my sanity.

Sam - I use In The Night Garden to keep the grizzles at bay after 5:30pm, I feel bad about having the telly on, but it helps

Aidan bit me today Big chomp mark on my hand. It wasn't a tantie-agressive thing, just my hand was in front of his mouth on the lounge - so chomp. I said very firmly "Do not bite Mummy" and put him down and ignored him for a few minutes. Hope it passes...soon!

Going to have a shower and hit the hay..Night Night

Ahhhh finally have a computer today to post. I missed you guys

Well we've had a very full on week. Hubby put the dishwasher in but not without problems. Because we put in floor boards it wouldn't slide under the counter so we had to unscrew the counter top and then hold it up while the other slide the dishwasher in. Then the hose wouldn't fit so then we had to go to bunnings to get attachements. So what should've been a hour job turned into a 3hr job! The shed went up fine thankfully and now the corner of the decking is cleared of tools and stuff. Halle's climbing has gotten worse. We have a couch that is near the kitchen bench and she decided she was big enough now to climb on the bench So she's really keeping us on our toes. No rest for the wicked here. Earlier in the week she also put her tooth through her bottom lip when she tripped and smashed her face into the mop bucket. Blood everywhere and trust me to be wearing white when it happens. Thank god for bleach She's all good now, nothing a bit of panadol didn't fix. We called her our little Angelina (jolie) for the night cos she had massive lips

Mmmmm what else? Oh yeah yesterday I dyed my hair brown I know. Full on but I'm loving the change. I was blonde for 6yrs and was a bit over the up-keep of it all. So for at least this year I'll be brown. Kids were a bit shocked at first but as soon as I spoke they were cool. It took a bit for hubby to get used to but he loves it too now. Nothing like a new wife he said

Not much planned today was going to go to my sisters but she's had to cancel so it looks like a day of stuff around the house. Might go to the dvd store and see what movies are out. It's our 6yr wedding anniversary tomorrow. Scott and I were going to go out for lunch by ourselves but my parents forgot and are going to Broken Hill for the weekend so now it looks like it will be a family lunch instead. We are thinking of going to Glenelg (bench subburb), should be nice it's meant to be in the low 30s. I just can't believe we've been married for 6yrs. Boy time flys!

Okay now to attempt to catch up on everyone else

Channy - I've been using the night garden at 5.30pm to combat the grizzles as well. Maybe they are all going through a stage. At least its not an in your face sort of show like Yo Gabba Gabba. God I can't stand that show. Ouch to Aiden biting you. Hopefully it's not a habit and just the one of thing here and there. Cohen isn't a bitten but I do remember him biting me maybe twice. Hopefully those kids that bite him didn't teach him anything! Yay to the big weight gain. You must be happy with that. How was the quotes with the painter? Do they charge heaps? 6am starts hey! Yuk. I've been lucky for awhile now and Halle's been waking between 6.30 and 7am. Alot better than her early starts before. How was the dinner?

Sam - Sounds like you had a really tough week babe. How are you doing? It's definitely hard doing it by yourself especially when they are sick. It's so horrible when one wakes the other too. Has Isabelle's temp gone now? Did you get out the house and to the library? I've often thought about going to the library but I'm scared Cohen or Halle would ruin the books. There is no way I could borrow a book and only read it to them. Cohen would have to flip through it at least 100 times Congrats to your sister! Wow that must be really exciting! How was hubby after returning from being with his brother?

Mel - You're such a mean nanny! Just kidding I'd be exactly the same. Are they big kids? It definitely sounds like they are getting plenty of meals so should be far from hungry. Couldn't it be that they are bored? I know when I'm occupied I forget about eating. God I wish I was occupied so more it might help me drop a few more kgs You just reminded me I need to go back to bunnings and get another safety lock. We also need to get one for the toilet as well. Halle loves playing with the water and cleaning it with my toothbrush Did you see whether they had the toilet ones there?

Leigh - Sounds like you had a few rough nights too. How's Frankie today? Did she end up coming down with a cold? My girlfriend just got that SOS book for toddlers. She only just started reading it last night so I'll let you know what she thinks. If it's as good as the first one it's probably worth getting I'd assume.

Sorry I've missed heaps but I've got to cruise. Hopefully I'll be able to pop in here a bit more often over the next few days. I wish my computer would hurry up

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

katie we missed you! good to have you back. funny that you have dyed your hair brown when i have just gone blonde and am now dealing with roots...this morning i was trying to do my hair in a way that didnt look too bad... must book in to have hair done! are you doing it yourself?
yay to getting the dishwasher in after a struggle. nothing is ever easy is it? poor halle with the split lip. zoe doofed her head on the corner of the door yesterday and has a bruise shaped like a line. i think isabelle may be involved somehow as i didnt see what happend but she quickly said "i didnt puish zoe mum" hmmm guilty methinks.

chris sort of ok since visit with bro. very short fuse which is hard for me. he talks about us just living our lives and moving forward and tries not to dwell too much on what is happening as if he does he just goes to pieces. so i suppose he is dealing with it by not dealing with it. he is really flat and sad most of the time.

i cant stand yo gabba gabba either but i know some kids love it. i watched an early episode with isabelle where they were talking about being afraid of the dark. i thought that was so dumb as it is def not something isabelle has a fear of but telling them about it being scary could create one. stoopid!

we watch tv in the morning while having breaky and getting dressed (usually today show and sometimes isabelles stuff) then playschool at 9.30. it goes off and then on again at maybe 3ish then off for dinner at 4.30/5. sounds like heaps when i write it but if we are at home all day then i just struggle to fill in the rest with activities. would be nice if the girls just played with their toys in their room but they just dont. well isabelle doesnt anyway. thats why i need to get out of the house a lot but this weather and being sick hasnt allowed us to and it makes me a bit loopy...just ask my hubby!

no bf last night again so i guess it really is over. she went to bed at 6.30pm. had the usual milk guzzle at 9pmish and then sleep until 7.30am which is fantastic.

leigh i remember your painted belly cast. what have you done with it? i wish i did one. if only to remember my boobs before they were windsocks! hope frankie is feeling better. we are pretty much all better now.

mel do you have holes where the belly ring was?

Hi girls!

At home day today. We were meant to go to a festival which is around the corner from us tonight, Shannon Noll is singing.... might go for a perve....just kidding! Not really a fan. I think we will head out for dinner instead.
Still having awesome sleeps from Mia, she is sleeping all night, but going down a bit later, at 7.30. I don't mind at all!

Katie- woooot you are back! We did miss you. The dishwasher sounds like a royal PITA but you won't look back now! Poor little Angelina these kids sure keep us on our toes don't they! I can't believe how much Halle is climbing! Omg. I would die if I found Mia on the bench!
Yep I got a toilet latch thing from Bunnings, they are really great actually. Easy to apply, open and close and she definitely wont be able to get in there Your hair sounbds great, brown would really suit you.

Sam Zoe sounds so cute and cheeky! Lol, little monkey. Did you go to the library? You must be sad about the weaning. But it sounds like she is sleeping for longer periods now.
We also have TV on a bit in the day if we are home. I try not to but if she's really ratty and I have things to do I just put it on. Saves my sanity.
Yes I have ugly holes from the belly ring Not my best decision. Silly teenager I was.

Channy ouch to the bite. Mia has bitten me 3 times. Once on my leg, and twice on my shoulder when I was holding her! As you said, not from a tanty or anything, she was just playing I think. It really hurt too. That's the right thing to do, put them down and ignore. That's all you can do at this age.
Yay to the big weight gain. It does sound like Aidan is a great eater.

Leigh no I didnt make muffins lol. Too lazy. How was your day off and how was work today? Hope you arent working too hard. Did Frankie end up getting a cold?

Mia's eating has gone downhill. She isnt eating that much anymore. Is it true their eating slows in the second year? Eg just then for lunch she ate half a slice of bread and a few bites of fruit. Not much at all. She would usually polish off alot more. And last night I made a nice lasagne and she didnt want a bar of it She's certainly not fading away though


Anyone else dealing with the throwing food off the highchair thing? It's SO frustrating. I just take her out and cllean her up and that's it.

Oh, I have the best quote I want to share with you. It's from facebook. One girl wrote this as her status update: "Bianca is having breakfast in bed made by my wonderful boyfriend."

And some guy wrote: "It's only cause it's new - In 2 years the closest he will do to cooking will be a Saturday morning dutch oven"

Haha! How funny is that!

Ok, better go and play with this cheeky girl.

mel could i interest you in the purchase of a high chair food catcher? only $ 1000 000 000 plus some free steak knives?? yes still food throwing here. actually in the last few days zoe has cracked it in the chair and arched her back and freaked out so i havent been using it. very annoying.

bit sad about the weaning.. a lot sad actually but getting over it fast. i really enjoyed bf and will miss it a lot.

zoe had a big bite on my shoulder a few weeks ago and it killed! i yelled ouch and she got such a rude shock from my reaction that she hasnt done it again. you can see the attraction in wanting to use their strong choppers though.

went to the library this morning and it was great. would have stayed longer but daddy phoned and organised to meet us for a coffee. was v. nice. isabelle put a little tambourine in zoes hand (from the cafe toybox) and held her hand and banged on it for her. when she walked away zoe started banging it herself. was very cute.

tv saves my sanity too mel which i think is quite important! the shows are actually pretty good too - not just random cartoons. edumacational? roight?

Well all day I have been on the search for Scott's house keys that Halle has kindly put somewhere. I've been crawling around trying to be at her height and look at all the spots she could've put them but I've had no luck. Where the hell could she have put them???

They are being very cute at the moment though the house is filled with bubba laughter They are playing a mixture of hide and seek and chasey. All I can hear is giggles God I love them.

Sam - No I didn't do it myself. Because I have been blonde for 6yrs they had to do a filler and then do the colour. If I had attempted to do it myself I would've had green or orange hair. Not an attractive look. It needed to be colour corrected before I could attempt the colour. The regrowth drives you nuts doesn't it! Mine was really blonde so by the time 4-5weeks came around I could really notice the regrowth. If I had the money I would've been getting it done every 3 weeks so I had perfect hair all the time. Cohen's done the "I didn't push either" sounds very guilty to me. Hard to do anything about it though when you don't actually witness it. Wait until Zoe and Halle are old enough to talk then they'll be in trouble. Your coffee trip sounds lovely and very cute of Zoe Musician maybe??

Mel - Shannon Noll hey Dinner definitely sounds better!! Do you know where you are going? Yes Halle's climbing is driving me nuts. Why is it always mine Going to make a stop into bunnings tomorrow. The toilet latch is a must! Both my kids are hit and miss with food. I'd say Cohen is the worse but then again it's only tea I really struggle with him. Give him 10yrs and he'll be eating me out of house and home

God tv is on all day at my house, not necessarily with kids shows on but if I turn it off Cohen cracks it. So when they are playing I just put something else on like the tennis, which I'm lovingat the moment. I don't know why he has to have it on maybe he likes the oise when he's in another room playing?? Today we've had the movie UP on 3 times, not because he's watching it though. He's been playing in his room and Halle's room but insists on having it and because I'm trying to do stuff I'm leaving it on to avoid the tantrum. My bad

And with that I'm off to clean the toilets

Dinner was a kind of success, we went to an Italian restaurant, a family one, not a fancy one! lol.
Mia sat nicely in her chair, and we gave her a bread roll to occupy her while the food was being prepared....garlic bread came first and she scoffed it! Then my pasta came, and she just loved the penne, I put some on her tray and she ate the lot. Tried her with some pizza but she didnt like it.
I couldnt believe her eating, she was shoving it all in like I hadnt fed her for years.
Then she looked like she was choking or something (I thought) so I got her out of the highchair, and saw her face and realised (you know the look) that she was going to vomit! So I rushed her outside and held her over the bushes Oh my god, I think she ate too much! She didnt vomit much at all though, and polished off her bottle at home.
But next time, I wont give her as much food!

Sam I got excited when I read that there was a food catcher for sale... til I saw the price! We should invent one, I tell ya! I have a plastic bag attatched to the side of the highchair to make it easier to dump scraps into. She made such a mess at the restaurant last night, I was glad I didnt have to clean it up!
The library sounds great and sooo cute about the tambourine. Sounds very musical. I bought Mia one of those xylophone things, it's a fisher price crocodile one, and she loves it! Loves banging things.

Katie- I know it sounds obvious but have you tipped out the toy box, looked in your handbag, in your wardrobe (if she can get in there)? I caught Mia dropping the keys into the toybox the other day.
They sound so cute playing together. I tell you, the other day when I minded 3 kids I came home and told hubby we should have 3 they really play well together sometimes and when they do its really lovely, and I can see why people have a smaller gap. But even if I wanted another soon hubby would say no, because the job he has now is a contract job, and finishes soon, so unless they extend it, he wont have a job again.
But Im really thinking a smaller gap would be nice now. Just thinking. A little.
Hubby and I watched UP last night, it was a great movie, something a bit different! I know, Im crazy watching kids movies with no kids around!

Hey chicky babes.

Sam, hope Isabelle is much better now. What was it they had? So exciting about your sister and PP! Big hugs to you guys going through such tough times. Wow, sounds like Zoe has dropped the night feed huh? Yay to more sleep! But sad too bf'ing over. Cast is currently sitting up on my chest of drawers in the bedroom. It was hanging on the wall above the chest of drawers, but I noticed the wire was pulling through the cast a bit on one side, as it just didn't seem to get as thick with the plaster there. So I need to do some more plastering to it to reinforce it, then it can hang back up on the wall again. My round the corner neighbour did one when she was pregnant with her twin boys and she did mosaic tiling to decorate hers...am very jealous as it looks sooooo cool. She's got hers on a stand in their living room. She's preggers again, due late next month, and I asked her if she's going to do another, but she said nah...thinks she'll get a nude drawing this time as she has a friend who is an artist. Hope she does as I just think that's the coolest idea. I know what you mean about windsock boobs. Hubby told me the other night he thinks they are smaller now than they were before I got preggers etc.

Channy, that is great that Aidan is such a great eater, and sounding positive as your were hoping he'd put on a fair bit of weight this month. Dinner always seems to be a bit of a problem in our household. Frankie won't really eat much except mashed sweet pot, pumpkin, or potato. She'll eat corn on the cob as well. Then usually I just put pasta or cous cous or something with it. She doesn't really eat any fruit except banana, oh and sultanas. Then she may eat some yoghurt, just depending, and then it's usually a mini muffin I've made...currently zucchini ones I've made. Hope your date last night was lovely...sounded very romantic. As for something to wear...was thinking same as Sam...what about those maxi dresses girl! I have a pair of little dunlop volleys that I got handed down, and a little pair of great sandals my aunt got her for christmas from an asian shoe shop in Brissie somewhere and they have a proper sole. I'm hearing ya re the painting...definitely good to get the painter in...sooooo great when we had our kitchen, lounge, dining done. I did the toilet, laundry, bathroom and of course now Frankie's room. When the time comes though to have our bedroom & walk in robe, spare room, two hallways, and office done I'm definitely saving up for the painter again. We've had an early waking bubba this last week as well. I know what you mean about the light. Frankie's roman blind is full block out, but we're still just hanging up a cotton blanket over it also to keep light that gets in around the corners to stop her waking early. It usually works, but I think this week early waking has been to her having a cold, her day sleeps seeming to be all mucked up, and well...just another one of those 'phases'. Yep, definitely having some 'toddler moments' here as well. Aidan bit you...naughty little monkey...hasn't he heard the saying 'don't bite the hand that feeds you'....

Katie, great to hear from you! Your dishwasher job sounds like what happens with jobs in our house! Oh, poor little Halle with her lip...ouchy! Sounds like she's quite the climber though! Was Cohen a climber? Yay to the shed going up and being able to clear the clutter...gotta love that feeling! You've dyed your hair brown, FB pics please! Happy 6 year anniversary! Yep, we have snotsville here. *sigh* She hasn't been as bad as some times previously though. Think I'm going to have to keep her home from daycare tomorrow though. I'd love to hear what your gf thinks of the sos toddler book.

Mel, we've got Damien Leith performing in town here soon. Not a fan of Shannon Noll either really. Thursday day off was pretty good. Had a nice day with Frankie. Yesterday was pretty full on interviewing constantly between 9 and 3:15 with only 2 x 15 min breaks. Went out to hubby's bro's farm for an early oz day bbq dinner. Got home just after midnight last night. Was pretty fun. Surprisingly I'm not feeling as tired as I thought I would today. Frankie's eating isn't as good as it was either, so I don't think it's just you. She eats a lot less now than she did plus she's WAY more fussy.

Anyhow must go, got to get ready to head out to work, doing some overtime this arvy...ick!

Leigh yeah Mia is getting pretty fussy here also. It is a pain. She just refuses vegies, I give it to her as a finger food and they go straight over the side of the highchair.
Tonight I did slow cooker sausages and she LOVED them but she didnt eat the vegies, just a few mouthfuls of mashed potatoes. She drank all her bottle of course.
What kind of interviewing do you do? Sorry if you have already said.
Those belly casts sound awesome. I know what you mean about boobs. Mine have really changed! I cant believe how different they are. I used to love them. Now. Nope!


Also, has anyone been finding bedtime getting later? Mia used to be in bed at 7pm sharp. Even 6.45 some nights. Now it is closer to 7.30pm. If I put her in at 7 she plays around til 7.30.

Anyone like scrabble? Im getting addicted to playing it on FB. Im so crap at it though!

We are just cooking dinner (homemade pizza and apple & berry crumble yummmmmy) so I thought I'd pop in. Our dinner last night was really nice!! It was so yum and just a beautiful setting out on the verandah. I would like to go there for a family lunch for my birthday in June.

We just went to bunnings today and beacon lighting and got 4 new lights to replace the yucko batton lights that we have the toilet, laundry etc. They look good and $16 each

We are booking the painter - $1450, which is really good price for the work being done. He is a friend's cousin. He can do it March/April, so that gives us time to get a few other house things sorted, then paint and then put on market.

Aidan has a mysterious rash on his back and tummy. Mum had a look and we are all puzzled. Combined with a heavy cold that he developed yesterday - me thinks no daycare tomorrow. I'll stay home with him and take him to Dr. Which means no work - not feeling bad about it though after my sh*t week last week. He slept for 45min this morning (he 99% of the time sleep at least 1.5-2.5hrs) and awoke coughing and crying. We both tried our hand and settling him as he was so tired, but he wouldn't have it. So we dragged him out to bunnings and he crashed for 2hrs when we came home.

Sam- how are you feeling about the weaning today? I know I was sad when I weaned Aidan at 4months. I laughed at your 'windsocks'..yup, having babies is not kind to boobies. I used to really like more boobs...now that have deflated and I feel yicky if I don't wear a bra. Hubby has asked me if I'll get fake boobs after #2. I'm not really into fake boobs, so at this stage it's no!

Katie - how is Angelina today? he he. Poor chook, it must of really hurt. Congrats on 6 years!! Did you enjoy your day? Time does fly, we are up to 6 years this year too. Were you on I-do planning your wedding? Would love to see some pics of your new 'do as well!!!

Mel - your Italian night out sounds great! What a good little girl eating all her food. It must have been yummy!! what time did you get home? I've been thinking lately it would be nice to take A to dinner...but he is a grumpy mess by 6-6:30pm and does not sleep in pram...hmmm..maybe a few more months for us.

Leigh - has Frankie just turned fussy or been like that for awhile? Could you puree up some mixed vegies and use it as a sauce with pasta or rice...sneak it in..he he. That's my plan if Aidan turns fussy. When you go out at night to BBQ etc, do you take Frankie? Does she sleep and then you transfer to car??

Morning Girls!

Aidan is home with me today, we are off to GPs at 10:30am. He is snotty nosed, bit whingey and has this mysterious rash on him...so we'll see what it is. He did sleep til 6:15am, so okay with that.

Karl's work gave them the option to take a sick day today and have a 4 day weekend (his company is pretty cool sometimes!)...but he has a big tender due on Friday, so has gone into work - wearing boardies and all!! I hope he is home early.

We are supposed to be going to a 1st birthday today, but if Aidan is contagious, I'll leave the boys at home and go to the party for awhile. I want to see my friend!!

I have the new Women's Weekly Healthy Babies Cookbook - it all looks so good! There is a big section on family meals, so we have done our weekly dinner plan and shopping based on that. Tonight is Lamb Stew with Buttermilk mash. It says to do on the stove, but I'll whack it in the slow cooker at lunchtime. Worth buying (I got my copy at Coles) if you get stuck for dinner ideas that all the family can eat.

What is everyone doing for Oz day tomorrow?

Hi guys

on my phone at work so can't type much.


Channy my friends bub had a rash when he was sick a while back a d the dr said it was a virus. Hope its nothing too serious.

Re going out for dinner we have never taken Mia out, because she is also very grumpy by 6.30. So we went there at 6 and were home by 7... Then she went straight to bed.. Maybe u could try that?


Ok better go these kids are fighting!

I'm guessing I'll get 'just a virus'..ha ha. He's not super dooper sick, so I am not worried.

I think we might try to take him out soon. Maybe head out to a Hotel near here on the water at 5pm, eat early and come home for bath and bed. Will give it a try..soon

How did Aidan go at the Dr Channy? Hope he is ok.


P.s was going to say would you rather be called Channy or Chantelle? Would be weird calling you Chantelle now...lol


Oh and when I said we have never taken Mia out, I mean, never just the 3 of us, but we have gone places at night like for christmas, to my Dads etc and she has had a sleep there. But never just out to a restaurant then home to bed...

Having some wine now. Mmm

Thanks Mel How was your day?

He is okay. He has yet another virus - nonspecific. He had a temp of 38.1, glands up on neck, red throat and cold symptoms. He was a pain in the a$$ this arvo. Was very tired, but big crys when I tried to put him down. Tried patting him and them holding him - but he hates it and just struggled to get out of my arms. So we lay on the bed and he just rolled around and around and around. He has no clue how to go to sleep unless it's in a cot. So he got up and stayed up then from 10:30am til bedtime. He was buggered. Karl fed him dinner while watching Night Garden and he was doing big blinks and just on auto-pilot. Shot of panadol, so I hope he just stays down all night.

I'm tired, I have a little cold thing going on too. Bed will be soon. Night Night

hi girls

well the lurgy stuck me down yesterday. throat like little knives and sore body that just.wanted.to .lie.down. it was a very long day. i rang chris at 6.10pm to make sure he was on his was home and thankfully he was. he was all - lets take the kids for a swim in the river, its really hot" and i was -please just get home i am dying. so thankfully he came home, fed me dinner, put me in bed and did all the kids bed and bath stuff. usually they are bathed and ready for bed when he gets home but i only managed to fill the bath.

much better today after a big morning sleep but still nasty throat. can see why zoe was so miserable. no cold just areally sore throat.

channy hope aidan is on the mend. isabelle had a full body rash once and that was from avirus.
how much is aidan sleeping these days?we seem to be in a new routine (touch wood) of waking at 7ish, lunch at 11.15 then bed at 11.30 for a good 2.5hours. it is GREAT! then bed at 6.30.
unfortunately we are also on day 3 of isabelle refusing a day sleep - no!!!!!!!! she just watches tv and potters about quietly so it hasnt been too bad, i have told her it is quiet time if she wont sleep. it is also night two tonight of no dummy. i had decided not to worry about getting rid of the dummy with all the stress around us but after reading pp mag saying after 3 its really hard to change these habits i decided it has to go. we made a big deal out of sending them to the fairy babies who needed them more, she was a big girl now blah blah and last night it went ok. she booed a bit but was just so tired without the day sleep that she crashed. she said to daddy "i know my dummies have to go to the fairy babies but it makes me sad" awwwwwwwwwwww today we wrapped the dummy up and posted it in the letter box. for a girl who is very attached to her "dummers" and often went to bed clutching 3 of them I am very happy with how it is going so far.

hmmm what else... i locked the kids in the car yesterday morning. met chris for a coffee yesterday morning before the lurgy kicked in and somehow after putting the kids in the car and my bag and keys on the front seat i pressed the button again and locked the car. aaaaaaaaargg hot day and two little ones strapped in. both chris and i had calm save the panic for later voices on while chris tried to coax isabelle into opening the window. lately she has been turning the handle with her foot - and i have been telling her not to- and here we were saying bubby just turn the handle for mummy please thats it a bit more.. anyway she turned it a bit and then couldnr do any more. i couldnt get my arm in far enough/ chris went to call work to see about a coathanger or hook or who knows and i tried to get isabelle to try again. trying to not sound too desparate and have the 3 year old know she holds the balance of power! i asked her to try again and if she could do it i'd give her 2 musk sticks. well... she slid her arms thru the straps (something else i have been trying to get her not to do) and turned the handle in a flash. crises over.

nothing is ever boring with kidlets. .

bit crap with my personals girls - we have too much to talk about!

channy will you sell your house and hope to find something after its sold or will you build? i laughed at your decription of aidan eating his dinner on auti pilot with heavy eyes. last week when zoe was sick and wouldnt sleep she was sitting on the floor and holding my hand when i was on the phone. when i hung up she was asleep sitting up. I just lay her back and she slept on the floor of my bedroom.

mel - hmmm feeling clucky for number two just a little bit hey. that maternal instinct is incredibly strong. I fell pregnant right about now with number two. will hubby be able to get similar contract work when this one is finished?

i know i have missed loads of news so apologies for that. sorry also for my bad punctuation. i write so fast and this keyboard sticks a bit.

Oh Sam - you poor thing..it must of been a huge day. It is the worst when you are sick and have to look after a baby or 2!!! Isabelle is so cute about loosing her dummy. Did she only have it for sleeps or all the time? I have read that lots keep them til 4 years etc..but few want them after they start school as they are a big kid then!!

Aidan on a 'normal day' will go to bed at 6:30pm and wake around 6:30am. Go to sleep around 8:30-9am for around 2hrs. Could be more. Then go down again in the afternoon around 3pm or so for about 1-1.5hrs. So normally around 15-16hrs per day, just depends really on what's happening and how he is feeling. He has been staying awake longer in the middle part of the day lately and on days like today when he is sick and just painful he really should of had a long sleep this arvo, but he got all out of sorts. He fell asleep briefly in the car when we were nearly home and then I tried to put him into his cot and he just lost it. Game over!

Just took 2 nighttime codarals - my nose is running out of control

dummy was just for sleeps but...if she found one she would hide under a blanket or a pile of pillows and have a good suck or run off to her room for a fix. she just feels like such a big girl now thats its time to let go of the baby things. i have considered though that if things are really sad and stressy down the track that it could be brought out as a comfort thing. just not an every night thing.

so aidan doesnt look like going to one day sleep then? - you must be loving the two sleeps.


hope the codral does the trick.

no plans for australia day tomorrow. c has to work. the girls have special t shirts from nanny carol to wear - thats about our only plan!

Evening ladies,

Well this is my 4th attempt on writing a post. Lets see how I go

Yesterday was great thanks. We just went out for lunch and had a walk around nothing special but non the less nice. Today I haven't been up to much just pottering around the house doing jobs. You know the boring stuff. Hubby is at a dinner with his mates tonight as it's been a year since our friend took his life Such a waste of life. I often wonder whether he's up there looking down thinking what did I do? Wish he was still here.

Channy - Good to hear its nothing serious with Aiden and just a virus. Not that a virus isn't serious but you know what I mean, I hope. Not good that you are getting sick At least you don't have to work tomorrow. Did you take off Wednesday too? Did you end up going to the 1st birthday party today? That's not a bad price for a painter. I've heard they can cost around $5k or more to paint a house. Is it just a few rooms? Any feature walls or anything? I suppose why would you bother if you are going to sell. Silly question. So what did you wear for your dinner, did you end up wearing a maxi? Glad you had a nice time. It's nice to be able to take your time eating a meal

Sam - Sorry to hear you are sick babe. You're not having much luck at the moment. It's good that hubby was home to help do everything for you. I hope you feel better soon x Zoe seems to be in a nice routine now. I hope it lasts for you. When we are home Halle is in a great routine but when we are out and about it gets a bit stuffed. Oh well can't stay home all the time. Cohen still has his dummy too but only at night when he's getting ready for bed. We've barred him from having during the day for about 6mths now. Occassionally he'll sneak and find one of Halle's dummies but he's quick to give it back when we notice. Kids I tell you will try anything.

Mel - You sound like us when we go out to eat, which we rarely do now. We pretty much sit, order, stuff our faces and leave And the whole time you are trying to entertain the kids. So much fun!! Halle's bedtime has been later too. I'm hoping when daylight saving finishes it might move back again. I miss her going to be early. Now days it's between 7.30 and 8pm. We have searched everywhere for the keys, toy boxes, cupboards, bins, shoes, bags, pots, speakers you name it and we still haven't found them. I'm starting to think she ate them Okay so that's impossible but either that or she's magic

Leigh - How's Frankie today? I saw the pics you uploaded onto fb and wow Frankie is really growing up. She looks such like a little girl now. No Cohen wasn't a climber. This is all so new to me! Mind you he does climb now but I don't get on edge as he's bigger and more coordinated. Halle just thinks she can do everything! I forgot you did that belly cast. Did you paint it? I have a terrible memory.

Well should go. We dropped Scott off to the dinner and Halle fell asleep in the car but woke as soon as we got home and is still awake and that's with me trying to resettle her for and hour too. Time to try again she's starting to grizzle.

Hope everyone has a good Australia Day! We are having a bbq at my parents.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swIYEgnjJxY

really not sure if this link will work. was taken at isabelles pool party

Mel, sausages are a fave here too, although she hasn't had them in a while. Tonight she had a cheerio, then sweet pot/pot mash with cous cous in it, nearly a whole tub of yogie, and that was it. She hadn't eaten much during the day today though. We were interviewing all our current volunteers, bit of a review type thing I suppose, and then interviewed 3 potential newbies as well. Bedtime still 7pm here, but I guess sleep times have changed though. Frankie slept from 10:30 til 1 today, but then up til bed at 7. So she is well and truly ready for bed at 7. We don't have scrabble...would love to get it though. Hey, been meaning to ask you too, did you sort out the pedal thing on the trike? Go the wine! Am kicking back with champers myself.

Channy, great news re the painter! I guess Frankie turned a bit 'fussy' at the 12 month mark, which is pretty 'textbook' from what I read. I do still get some vegies into her, but not the 'green' variety. The dr just told me when I went for her 1 yr vacc to get some Incremin (iron and vitamin b supp) so I've been giving her that. We didn't take Frankie Sat night, my dad stayed at my place with her. Normally we take her though, but cos she had the cold etc I didn't want to. So usually we take her portacot and just put her to bed at 7pm like normal at home and she goes to sleep, then we just get her up when we leave as quickly and quietly as possible, put her straight into the car, then straight to bed when we get home. She wakes up for the car ride home, but resettles into bed at home no worries *touch wood*. That's great re Karl's work. I actually had today off as carer's leave for Frankie because of her cold. I wasn't going to send her to daycare all snotty nosed. Bummer to Aidan having another virus, I hope he gets better quickly! I had a bit of a look at our local council's web site tonight to see what our town and little surrounding ones have on for tomorrow. We'll probably head out to check out some stuff after Frankie wakes from her sleep just after lunch. Sorry to hear you have a cold as well, hope you are better soon. Hubby feels like he's caught Frankie's cold, I'm hoping I don't get it.

Sam, oh no, sorry to hear you are sick! Sounds god awful too you poor chicky! Oh no to the car locking episode. Thank goodness for Isabelle to the rescue! See those bad habits of hers in the car have payed off after all! Never mind the punctuation and personals, just great to hear from ya!

Had a pretty good day with the bubba. We played inside then outside til sleep time at 10:30, and she went down for 2.5 hrs. I did the mowing whilst my dad cleaned inside for me, and then I just had enough time to do a pilates workout and then she was up and had some lunch and we ducked out to do a few groceries. Came home and put a little water in her shell for her and she paddled about and we mucked around til 5 when I brought her inside and gave her dinner. Then it was more play in the lounge, then back outside again and dada came home, more play outside, then inside for a shower with her dada and milk, book and cuddle time and bed at 7. Hubby and I had lovely dinner for baked fish and salad and a couple of glasses of champers. Figured with pilates and mowing today and going for a mid-week run tomorrow with my running buddy I could get away with some champers.

Anyhow, nearly time to shower and bed seeing as I'll be up just after 5:30!

Night night girls.

Hmmm, another quick pop in as I see I've been posting at the same time as Katie and Sam...

Sam, I couldn't get the youtube link to work.

Katie, I know she's growing up so fast! As you can see she likes to climb too. Hope Halle resettles for you soon. I painted my entire cast silver, then had it at my baby shower for friends to help decorate by painting. It turned out lovely.

Happy Australia Day girls!

Sam - how are you feeling today, get in a good sleep? I tried your link too and it didn't work..I'd love to see it though!

Mel - ha ha to your late bill from the hospital. Gees, $41, you would think it wouldn't be worth the time and money pursuing it!

Leigh - Some champers sounds nice! You do plenty of exercise, so I am sure it won't hurt. Well maybe your head if you have too much

Katie - Halle has done a great job on those keys!! They turn up one day for sure!!! Have fun at your BBQ today!

Aidan I have have runny noses, but slept well over night. We have the 1st birthday today. We'll go - he does seems alot better. I also have a friend dropping in today. She is moving back to Ireland and is dropping off a stack of her son's toys. Some brand new like a Black and Decker toy work bench etc!

hi my girls


Mia has been asleep for 2.5 hours and counting! She woke at 8 this morning too. Good girl. The in laws just "dropped in" and expected lunch. So I had to throw something together. Frozen pizza, potato wedges and salad anyone?

Leigh- No I didn't work out the pedal, and infact, Mia got her foot caught in the pedal again and it was bleeding. Can you explain it again pls? Sorry to be a pain! You sound like you got loads done while Frankie slept! I usually put my feet up!

Sam so sorry you are sick how are you today? I couldnt get the link to work either How is your day going with the girls today?

Katie so sorry to hear about your friend. How awful. Did he have depression? How is/ was the bbq at your parents?
Lol @ the stuffing your face and leaving, that's just how it was! We werent there long at all.

Channy sounds like you are going to get some great new toys for Aidan! Hope you guys are feeling ok today and have a great time at the party.

Ok, back later

How was Australia Day for everyone? Hot here - yeeech.

The party was really good! Aidan had fun playing and we took his trike so he had a ride too.

I have been feeling crappy today, my nose has run and run. So Karl entertained Aidan and I napped on the couch.

please go to sleep!!!!!!!!!!! isabelle is so tired after no day sleep and she keeps coming out of her room. has been 10mins since last time so fingers crossed she is down. zoe has been crying on and off. just gave her some milk and now she is quiet. please stay asleep!!!!!!!!!!

funny about the drop in lunch mel. it would have been cheese and vegemite saos if it was here. they need a few hobbies.

feeling a bit better today but still very crap when the panadol wears off. pretty annoyed this am. zoe was up at 5.30am and i had to do the first shift as chris was out at work most of the night. did manage a small nap today but not much of an australia day. hope you feel better tomorrow channy.


katie - i'm sorry too about your friend. i think i remember you posting about it last year. so sad when people feel like they are alone and have no options.

yes leigh - -what mel said!- i do a bit of running around cleaning when the girls sleep but often like mel its sitting on my butt.

i have a climber too. we went to the maccas playgym this arvy and zoe climbed the 6 steps. we have no steps here but she has been clambering onto isabelles chair a fair bit. we watched her do one then she just kept going. she was grinning away. very cute. she has also been climbing onto isabelles bed and jumping on it so i have to sit at the side of it in case she falls. to her this means she can just launch herself off the edge into my arms with a big smile on her face.


how annoying that the link wont work. it works when i check it thru my page. if you want to see it do a search for "zoe and belle swimming" and my page is called maxderek123

ok laydeez. my kids are asleep way later than i had hoped so i am off to crash in front of the tv for a bit.

I hope those 2 stay down for you. Good to bed and have an early night and get better.

Aidan only had 1 x 1.5hr nap today, so he was cactus tonight. He did okay though and ate a big dinner..watching Night Garden..he he

Just waiting for our dinner to come out of oven. Mango Chicken Curry and Rice - another recipe from my Healthy Kids book by Women's Weekly. A will have this for dinner tomorrow night.

sounds yum channy. can you post recipe??

both still asleep. yay! now its off for chocolate and tv.

Mango Chicken Curry

1 medium mango chopped coarsely
8 skinless chicken thigh cutlets
1/4 cup plain flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium brown onion chopped finely
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 cup chicken stock
3/4 cup jasmine rice
1 tablespoon coarsely chopped fresh flat leafed parsely

Preheat oven to 180 fanforced
Puree Mango until smooth
Toss Chicken in flour in a bag
Heat half oil in a large flameproof dish, cook chicken in batches til brown
Add remaining oil to same dish cook onion, garlic, coriander and cumin stirring until onion is soft. Add chicken, stock and mango puree, bring to boil. Cover and transfer to oven and bake 25minutes. Uncover, bake about 20minutes or til chicken is cooked.
Cut some of the chicken into toddler sized pieces and put aside.
Season remaining chicken to taste
Serve with rice and chopped parsely

YUM!

Channy, yeah I think I am doing enough exercise to burn off what I'm eating/drinking, but just not enough to start burning off those fat stores. I had basically two glasses as hubby and I shared the bottle. Hope you and Aidan are better from your colds real soon. What's happening re work/daycare tomorrow for you two? I'm heading into work tomorrow and I think Frankie is well enough to go to daycare. How'd the 1st birthday go? Yay to hand me downs...I love 'em! Sounds like the party was good, but geez it was stinking hot today huh. We went out to Goombungee to check out their Oz day festivities this arvy for a couple of hours. Was good fun. Other than that, didn't get up to anything special.

Mel, yay to big sleeps from Mia! Pizza, wedges and salad sounds good to me! The plastic bit where the metal rod part of the pedal goes in, in the centre of the wheel, if you grab this part on both sides of the metal bit and pull outwards, it should pop out a bit. The pedals will still be attached but it should 'disengage' them, so that if she gets her foot in the way, they won't keep spinning, they just stop. I try to get bits and pieces done while she sleeps. Today I went up to the shed and finished sanding the other side of the bathroom door that I had started yesterday in her sleep time. I even got a coat of undercoat on one side. I don't think that I would have prioritised the bathroom door...yep, we haven't had one basically since Frankie was born... But now she's in the bathroom, I can keep her out of everything else, except the shower itself, which she loves getting into, so the door has to be finished and go on.

Sam, I do often sit on my butt as well too! Especially of an evening after dinner when I come in on here. Love your description of Zoe climbing and doing the bed jumping. This evening after Frankie had her bath and before I gave her milk, I was at the kitchen bench making salad to go with steak that hubby was cooking on the bbq. He had gone outside, and we always close the child gate which is at the top of 3 little wooden steps to outside, as our house is up on stumps. I noticed the time and called to Frankie about her milk time before bed, and then walked out to the back (only one room away from where the back steps are) and the gate was open! I straight away walk quickly to the top of the stairs, and there's little miss at the bottom stair, climbing down onto the ground! Just at the same moment hubby comes around the corner from the bbq and so I figure he hasn't opened it and been there with her, and he is shocked also, saying he mustn't have shut it properly! Can't believe she navigated them without falling down them! Searched youtube and still can't find your video! I searched your user name too, but it only comes up with two vids that says were uploaded a year ago. Enjoy your choccie and tv.

Got my gluten free friend and her hubby coming for dinner Thurs night, so trawling taste.com to try and find something suitable. Hubby said a roast but it's just so damned hot at the moment, don't think roast will be very appealing. Something I can cook and then have a salad to go with I think will be the go.

Anyhow, best be off, try and finish some ironing and head to bed as I'm pretty stuffed after being up since 5:30 this morning (went for a run). Nighty night girls.

I think he should be okay for daycare tomorrow..well we'll roll the dice. I am sicker than him now..Off to bed real soon

leigh what about thai beef salad??

shocker about frankie getting away to the steps. its amazing how fast they are. it really is a second that you do something and they have got away. cool that she managed the steps though! it is such a lovely exciting age for them now with all this exploring going on.

will have a look at youtube. maybe i have some weird setting on. how annoying. why is this technology all so hard for me? I'm not that much of a luddite. or at least i didnt think i was.

channy recipe looks fab. thanks.

have just checked vid and i had it set to private. have changed it so that link would work now hopefully. leigh those other two movies are zoe as a tiny baby.

Went to work...I am feeling really crappy
Hubby is making dinner tonight. I just have to pop our to Coles soon to grab some milk and things for Aidan. Then early night, drugged up on Codrals

Augh

Hope everyone had a good day

Awww Sam, the video made me smile! What two beautiful happy girls you have! Looks like they love the water.

Leigh you are so good getting up at 5.30 for a run! My lord. How about a gluten free frittata? I have my bro coming for dinner tonight and Im going to make grilled beef, noodle bake and salad. The noodle bake is more for Mia. I gave her 2 min noodles to try last night and she LOVED them! It was fun to watch...not fun to clean up

Channy hope you are feeling better today you poor thing. That recipe sounds great! Pity I can't make it tonight because my bro just got back from Thailand and while there got severe food poisoning, so he is off any curries, etc.


Mia slept til 8 this morning, I actually went and woke her! Because we have Mother's group at 2 and I want her to sleep before then. We are having it at a Mums house and the kids can swim in the paddling pool, looking forward to it!

sounds like a good day mel. i wish i had a good mothers group. i love my playgroup but another thing like that in the week would be good. might have to see whats around.

isabelle at day care today so a nice little mummy and zoe day. i have already vacced and tidied the lounge room, done 2 loads of washing, tidied the kitchen and there is still loads more for me to do. zoe is following me around while i do it.

still got a sore throat - its really hanging on and i am feeling really tired so am happy to have a nice quiet day at home.

the girls has some noodles too for dinner last night. loved them.

girllllllllllllllsssssssssss where are you?

we just had a call from c's aunty. his grandmother is unwell and they think she might pass away. so we are driving to sydney tomorrow for a few days. chris has just gone for a drive on his own... i couldnt get him to stay here and talk. he already feels like his bucket is full and now this. he is very close to her. he used to live with her when he first moved to syd for ambulance training and was her main carer when she developed early onset dementia. this is just horrible.