One day.

Anyone who has spent more than a few seconds with me this week would know there has been a fair bit of bridal chitty chat going on.  Unfortunately I am no longer a bridesmaid for a friends wedding..the Ninja budget just couldn't keep up.  It got my little nostalgic brain ticking over..and thinking about our wedding day. So, join me while I reminisce on that day.  Our wedding.

  For you, there'll be no more crying,

For you, the sun will be shining,

And I feel that when I'm with you,

It's alright, I know it's right

To you, I'll give the world

to you, I'll never be cold

'Cause I feel that when I'm with you,

It's alright, I know it's right.

And the songbirds are singing,

Like they know the score,

And I love you, I love you, I love you,

Like never before.

And I wish you all the love in the world,

But most of all, I wish it from myself.

And the songbirds keep singing,

Like they know the score,

And I love you, I love you, I love you,

Like never before, like never before.

The sounds of Fleetwood Mac around me and my amazing parents by my side..I was full of nervous laughter and absolute joy.  Two years in the planning and our day was finally here. The sun was shining, my shoes un-comfy and I was ready to sign my name on the dotted line.  I hate public speaking..I speak far too fast and I usually mumble.  At one point I could hardly breathe I was rushing the vows..add too the fact I was crying and was trying very hard to stop the snot running all over my face.  I also had the passing thought...geez I hope the eyelash glue is strong!

Chris stopped me.  Held my hands.  Slow down.  It's okay.

I loved the little extras we had on the day, bottles of pelligrino water..lotus flowers in the champagne and the oh so yummy melon balls! How gorgeous is the pen?  Chris' mum made it for us..I loved that it added that touch of elegance!

The ring box was made by Chris, we gave it as a gift to his beautiful Granma who couldn't be with us to celebrate.  Although..lucky we had a very tech savvy groomsmen..she could watch the whole ceremony in the comfort of her house..via the web-cam!

For the first time..we were alone.  We walked up Collins Street and just breathed in the beautiful day Melbourne was putting on.  You couldn't wipe the smiles off our faces.  After a quick shoe change..ballet flats were my saviour! We admired the new sparkle adorning our left hands.

We headed to different parts of the city and took some pics and then headed for a few bubbles at the Sofitel.  We have booked a penthouse suite and were making the most of it!  We paid a gazillion dollars for sandwiches..but it gave us some time just to soak up the day. 

Time flies while you are having fun!  Time to make way to the reception..We had a cocktail party with so much yummy food and bubbles.  My sister had made our wedding cupcakes..and Chris had made the stand!

I have so many more photo's I want to share..but my laptop has already frozen three times!

I loved our wedding day.  But as groan worthy as it sounds..I love my marriage more.  Our book is empty and we are slowly filling the pages with our own story.  We don't live up to any expectations only our own. 

I love my husband.  I love our family. 

Date Night.

Okay. I admit it.  I admit, that I may have had a few digs at Chris over the last few days.  Made a few comments on his new found obsession.  Made a mockery of his new gadget that graces our kitchen bench.  I may have even rolled my eyes on Saturday when he triumphantly held the box above his head. I am a big enough person to admit when I have seen the errors of my ways. Okay..here goes. I admit: The $15 Aldi pasta machine is a good buy.  I even have the full pasta belly to prove it.

Since moving to the new Ninja Towers, it means two things.  1.  We are 3 hours from the closest grandparent to give us a night off and 2.  Take-away here consists of million dollar pizza's or fish and chips.  Throw into the mix that we are counting every last penny..we have to be creative.

Friday nights has traditionally become: Date Night.  We usually wait until the last "sleepy noise" wafts from the Emily-room, crack open the vino..dish up the latest from my "must try" list and flick over to 7two where we watch two of the dodgiest home-makeover shows known to man.  One is a tree-change kinda show and the other is called 60min makeover.  High brow viewing let me tell you.

Now, to most people..date night would mean candles..eyes meeting over the table..restaurants.  To us..it means time out.  Dishes can wait.  No early nights.  No deep and meaningfuls.  Just Loz and Chris. Yes..I am wearing my flannie jarmies and ugg boots..but it means I am relaxed.  It's time for us to catch up, to listen to Chris' next grand plan, to discuss when did that host get a boob job?  To see how we both are tracking. What's next? Why is Emily so hyper?  Sometimes we need to just take those sacred 5mins and give ourselves a pat on the back.

Well.  Date Night was moved from it's traditional home of Friday to last night.  A little note welcomed me on the bench to say that all would be revealed later that day.  Now I have a love-hate relationship with surprises.  I am a need-to-know kinda person.  I need-to-know now, kinda person.

So Chris of the husband variety gets home and I am a tad giddy on the surprise stakes.  Pasta Night! With wine! and a jigsaw puzzle. Yep..we know how to rock it.

The best part of it all?  I am ordered to the sacred space of the bathroom and all..ALL..the members of the Ninja clan vacate these four walls and leave me in peace..and quiet.  Oh..let me relive that moment again.  Oh peace and quiet.  Ahhhhhh. Bliss.

Then the fun begins! After all the leg-pulling about the thrifty pasta machine..I can tell you..it's brilliant!  Miss Emily watched on as we kneaded the mixture and lay out the pasta to dry:

So yes..we did break the "rules" and have candle light.  But every last mouthful of the pasta was beautiful.  It was such lovely night where we actually had conversation..actually had a few giggles and remembered the times when we went out for meals..after 6pm.  I wouldn't change the life we have..I like the crazy bath/feed/sleep chaos that each night brings..I laugh after picking up the carrot that has been thrown from the highchair and smeared into the tiles..I like that Chris realises I need a break too.  I like he thought of me..of us.  So in the oddest date night..that included a very AWAKE 8 month old.  I wouldn't trade it for any swanky restaurant out there.

Snots A'hoy!

I stood there and for a split second I wish the earth could just swallow me up.  I was covered in vomit.  She was covered in vomit.  Oh feck..even her cot was covered in vomit. 

We had tried everything..the cot was nearly on right angles..there was not an inch on her skin that wasn't dripping with baby vick's vapour tub.  But nothing would stop the snot-induced-coughing-turned-puking.  So there I was..1am and covered in vomit.  Now..in my younger days that would have been cool and probably would have been a result of one vodka-sunrise too many.  No. Not this time.  I was woken by the frantic come get me noooooow wails from the Ninja monitor.  I flew into her room, frantically picked her up..she took one look at me..projectile vomited on the very last of our clean clothes..and promptly fell asleep on my shoulder.

So I did what every mum shudders in doing..I woke her up.  I rummaged around until I found clean sheets and new jarmies..while being all "No, it's not play time" and "Let's not play with the vomit in Mummy's hair"  I kept the light off in a bid to keep some sort of sleepy-ness to it..and contemplated whether Posh Spice has to do any of this.

A few texts later and I had news that a brilliant contraption was heading my way for a lend. When it arrived the next day, I opened the bag and found a glorious machine...a vapouriser.. and all the kit and kaboodle that  you need when you have lost the will to live and need the snot to stop interfering with the joys of dreaming of Curtis Stone sleeping.

I love everything about this machine.  Mostly the fact that it keeps my wee one asleep..we had a last coughing hurrah and since then..the sounds of silence.  We promptly packed up our borrowed machine and dragged our high-on-eucalyptus selves to our shopping centre and purchased a brand-spanking-new machine for ourselves and it sits proudly in Emily's room where it has been running none stop for 2 nights now.

So the snots have buggered off to annoy someone else..We are one night 2 of good sleep and I have a husband that won't stop banging on about the merits of his new pasta maker and why everyone should have Mr Euky Bear in their house.  Awesome..we used to have intellectual conversations..but now are all Aldi and Vapouriser's.

Awesome.

Warm wipe..anyone?

I swear I am running on 99% caffeine and 1% hope...hope that the antibiotics will kick in and it will be the weekend pronto.  I am doing my all not to fall into that mighty pit of mumbles..but when your sinuses feel like they are about to implode and your 8 month old has puked on every sleep suit she owns..I am kinda past the smiling stakes. I am sick..Emily is sick..and we are all pointing our snotty tissues at Chris for bringing the lurg home.  I asked for chocolate..not a throat and sinus infection.. thankyouverymuch.


I asked the mum's of the facebook world their trusty snot-freeing tips for babies...and armed Chris with this information and sent him to the chemist.  Uh-oh.  I mean all he had to do was get some Nurofen for babies and some Vick's vapour rub (the baby stuff)  What I didn't anticipate was the eager-beaver-I'm-a-mum-I-know-best sales assistant.


"So...what do you have at home already?"
"Baby Panadol"
"That's it?"
"Yup"


Apparently that isn't enough.  We need a whole baby-gonna-get-sick kit.  Why don't we have a vapouriser?  Why isn't Emily taking Inner Health plus?  (!!!!!) and why why why...WHY would even contemplate buying that brand it's bad for babies.  Have you not read the ingredients? Then why..do you freaking SELL IT.  To say my husband came home in a bit of a tid..would be putting it politely.  Someone, somewhere has a Inner Health Plus brochure shoved up their nose.


So, it got me thinking while I was rocking a snotty Ninja to sleep why, as parents do we get the instant guilt's if we don't have all the right...kit?  Why do companies pray on our insecurities?  Why is it..that we have to wrap our kids in cotton wool to be seen as good parents?


Perusing the shelves at a local baby store the other day with a friend..We had a good chuckle at the baby-wipes-warmer they were selling.  Tehehehe, we thought..how funny.  Until we wiped the smiles off our faces when someone was actually at the counter shelling out good money for them.  I was dumb-founded.  I mean, what happens when this kid gets to 2 and is all "Mum..why is my toilet paper..cold?"


Have you heard of the slobber stopper?  Oh...This little invention is stop all those nasty germs getting sprayed all over your beautiful germ free bday cake.  I mean honestly..really?  Am I the only one who finds this a bit ridiculous? How much spit can one kid produce?  Have you seen what kids eat?  Spitty cake..is the least of our worries.


Now, I have been there done that..got the baby.  I was that new-expectant Mum..like a rabbit in head lights contemplating whether I really need to sell a kidney to buy that cot.  I have gone a bit glass-eyed at the chemist looking at all the nappy-rash creams..I have googled till I can google no more whether you really can do anything for a baby cough.  I have gazed at other parents with the snazzy baby clothes and their well-stocked nappy bag.  I have looked longingly at all the brilliant toys out there. 


But it comes down to:  Emily's favourite toy right now..is an egg carton.  She plays the "drums" on an old tin..she has an obsession with a yellow ball..she finds sitting in the washing hamper in the shed watching dad..freaking brilliant.  I have her cot propped up with a couple of Matthew Riley novels (Yay to fancy-pants husband who likes the hardcovers better) I have miss-matched cot sheets..as they are the only puke-free ones.  I gave her brekkie out of an tea cup..as all her dishes are in the dishwasher.  We both stayed in our jarmies till 2pm yesterday.  Her wipes are *shock* cold.  Her food isn't organic..neither is mine.  Her nappies are from Aldi.  I let her wipe her nose on my shirt. 


As parents..it's natural to compare.  We all do it, don't lie.  How many prams go passed you and the mum gives you the once over?  I have to check to make sure Emily isn't drinking a red bull some of the looks I get...or am I being super sensitive?  Are they just like me? seeing how another mum does it?  What clothes is my baby wearing?  What does she haul with her to the shops?  How come I didn't buy that pram?  When does she have time to put make-up on?  There is a fine line between comparisons and judgements.  Play nice..we all have our own battles.


So, in a world where you can buy  a protective baby hat or  baby knee pads for crawling babies..where do you draw the line at being a parent?  How much is too much?  Do we buy them because we want them?  Or were we guilted into it?  Maybe..just like me they have no idea.


In the meantime..while the Ninja snores in the next room..I hear the faint calls of "Lauren...you must have another coffee..go one...one more"  coming from the the kitchen.  Gee..these antibiotics are GREAT!

Stickers & Statistics.

Hand me a tissue.  Hand me another packet of Cold & Flu.  Hand me another lemoney-honey tea.  Do we have softer tissues?  My dinner tastes like cardboard.  Do we have any more lemons?  Why does there feel like there is a small army of minors chipping away at my cheek bones?

If that little paragraph didn't give you a clue: I am sick.  I don't have my uber super pregnancy powers to fend of illnesses this winter..and I don't even have the convenience of calling in sick..I have joined the snot brigade and have been given a big raggedy snotty tissue to prance around with.  Oh-hum.  Only bonus is that, because I am not pregnant I can take glorious pain killers.  And coffee.

On Friday my fabulous sister, being the organised one she is, had finished all her reports and came to hang with the cool dudes of the Ninja mansion.  I may or may not have been in a bit of a tizz when she had arrived..I mean there was crap from here to Monday.  I was a tad tired..emotional..and showing the beginnings of the pain that would become death-by-sinusitis.  Being a fabulous baker, my sister, I thought I would try and make some glorious shortbread to be all grown up and offer it with tea.  For we are laaaaadies.

The freaking dog ate the lot. 

You know when you have hours to get ready but still find yourself scrambling for your shoes running late?  I swear the day I popped out Emily I lost about 2 hours of my day..magically.  Anyway, we were nattering away catching up on the news and gossip..when I realised we were running late for our 8 month check up with the health care nurse.

All piled into the car..raced to the Community centre and made the appointment..just.  Little did I know, only a few mere blocks away a little terrier-cross-schnauzer was munching into a fresh batch of shortbread. And the rest of my crinkle cut chips.  She slept a lot that day.

So, Emily seems to have been given the tick of approval from the nurse and I must have answered all her questions correctly because she didn't make any notes of lost the plot..needs help ASAP on her files.  So we piled back into the car, got back home..shook my fist at the dog..and figured out where on earth I was going to hang the 2 massive loads of washing I had done because it WAS sunny.

Emily..

Birth

Weight: 4254g

Length: 50cm

Head Circ: 34cm

Four Months

Weight: 7074g

Length: 63cm

Head Circ: 43cm

Six Months

Weight: 8810g

Length: 67cm

Head Circ: 44cm

Eight Months

Weight: 9500g

Length: 70cm

Head Circ: 45cm

So there you have it...my nearly 10kg baby.  Is she even classified a baby anymore?  No, I think we have entered the little person stakes.  I did have a slight giggle at Pumpkin Patch the other day (coat...bargain!) when Miss Shouty-pants was a tad over the Loz-shopping-experience she chucked a tanty.  Anywhoo's the lady offered Emily a sticker.  Lady..she is 8 months old..all she will do with that sticker is eat it.  Then I'll forget and rush her to the doctor thinking she has some horrible tummy bug.  A glittery tummy bug.

Itchy Feet.

Mmph. Hands up who hates winter? I am already officially over it. I hate the endless rain. I hate the bitter cold. I hate the mud that is permanently stuck to my shoes. I hate that every time I let the dog out; she comes back in 4 inches taller due to our non-existent-garden-just-a-clay-pit. I hate shoes and socks..and winter rudely makes me wear them. I hate frizzy hair..but the rain has other plans. I hate being indoors..something that the torrential rain makes even funner. I hate the winter blues.


Now, you would think having a baby and building a house would be enough to fill anyone’s excitement quota..but the peeps of Ninja Tower's are having a case of the itchy feets. After knowing my husband the 8-ish years I have..I have learnt quickly to glaze over any grand plans he has while he is popping antibiotics and sneezing into his kleenex. When Chris gets sick..so does his life. Team that with winter..he had world domination planned by lunchtime.

All butter-menthol chewing aside..we have dredged out the drawing board and are brain-storming like a group of highlighter crazed teenagers. I think with the excitement of the last year, we have come to an earth-shattering-grinding-halt. What goes up..must come down. It's all a bit confusing. We've gone from a couple who spent every hour of the waking day running, now we are so domesticated that it's quite suffocating.

I don't know any new mum or new parent that hasn't come across this scenario. The initial newborn phase has worn off and you have found your parenting mojo and toddle along quite nicely thankyouverymuch. The sleepless nights are few and far between (fingers crossed) and you may even be graced with some sort of routine. Well..I made it through the wilderness (Oh..I made it throooooouuugh!) and came out with my make-up intact (not on my face..untouched in my box of treasures) and a head full of the “What’s nexts?”

I have gone from a city working environment where it wouldn’t be uncommon to come across a few people in my day...I had lists of lists..I had..stuff..to do. Yes..I will admit..some days were monotonous..and I never had the opportunity to watch Dr Phil in my jarmies..but I had the social and mental interaction I crave.

So what is next in Ninja-Land? Your guess is as good as mine. No drastic changes, mind you (4 Grandparents across the state..collectively just breathed a sigh of relief) but in the words of Carrie Bradshaw...we need our sparkle back.

I have a lovely Mum’s group that I love hanging out with..I am driving Tina Barina more..Friday night is official date night..I have applied for a casual weekend job..I have plans for 1st bdays..I am planning.

Maybe it’s the winter blues. Maybe changes need to happen. Maybe I should have hidden the $20 alphabet mural I bought before Mr but we are broke..BROKE found it. Wait until he sees the baby bunting I have planned...

Maybe. Just maybe.

8 Months.

Its like a bad dream..sometimes I just get snippets of what happened..then I wonder if it's really a recollection..or just what I had been filled in on.  Sometimes something will just grab my attention and take me back to that day.  I found my hospital notes and poured all over them searching for answers...wondering what made me so different to everyone else.

I look at the clock now..and wonder what I was doing a whole 8 months ago.  Was I still coping okay? Was I screeching at Chris to get his stinky chicken chip breath away from me?  Was I cursing my drug-free birth plan?  I was most likely clinging onto one of the midwives and scaring the pants off the poor student who was lumped with me.

8 Months and a whole lot has changed.  I am beyond proud of the the 3 people under this roof. Heck, I am even proud of Tessa-dog who puts up with a whole world of beard and tail pulling.  I hold her in my arms and can't believe that she is here.  I am healing..memories fade and are being replaced with much more satisfying and smile worthy ones.

She is such a happy character..I can't even believe she was ever that baby that never settled.  I can't even believe I was that person holding onto the side of the cot begging sleep and wiping the umpteenth tear from my cheek.  Each day has it's trials and I am by no means wearing my super-mum cape..but I am wearing my big girl pants and have ownership on what I want to change.

We are in a much different place than I ever imagined..but we are beginning to make sense of it all.  We are learning a better way of life..and planning more to the future. I am doing my all not to look back, we will never be in that dark, lonesome, hectic situation again.

I love her.  It's a love more than I can describe.  It's the kinda feeling that Hallmark have been trying to capture in their soppy cards for yonks..the feeling that make other people roll their eyes..the feeling that I am so happy that can only get better and better.

I love making her laugh.  I love her chunky legs.  I love her ability to steal other baby's socks.  I love her love for me.  I love hearing her sing herself to sleep. I love her big ol' noggin. I love her determination.  I love her.

I love that 8 months on I can move on from those notes.  I can shelve them away.  I still have no idea what they actually mean.  They are just words.  I have so much more than that.  I have my daughter. A family.  A life.

Admitted 09/10/2009 Ward 4s Bed 32
Delivered 10/10/09 1.41 am
42 weeks
Induced labour
Induced by oxytoxics, ARM, Induction indication - Post Maturity, Liquor Blood Stained.
1st Stage 11hrs 15 mins

2nd Stage 2hrs 26 mins

3rd Stage 4 mins

Total observed labour: 13 hrs 45 mins

Presentation- Cephalic

Anaesthesia - Nitrous oxide

Drugs for 3rd Stage: IV Syntocinon

Local anaesthetic to perineum, Pudendal

Episiotomy

Blood loss - 200 mls.

Birth weight: 4254g

Length: 50cm

Head Circ: 34cm

Shopped Out.

4 Hours.  4-freaking-hours.  I am so ready for bed.  Why am I here then?  Why am I not tucked up into bed with the electric blanket on high?  Why am I not pouring over my well-worn chick-lit book?  What consumed 4 hours of  lovely, precious Sunday?

Grocery Shopping.

I used to love our weekly shuffle up and down the aisles of our local.  I used to catch the train home and Chris would be waiting for me at the station, always on a Monday..couldn't be wasting any precious weekend time.  I usually had some sort of meal-plan in mind..usually some sort of budget..but that was just a guide not a necessity.

In a sad supermarket world..we were regulars.  The deli girls saw me each week waddle on by while Chris ordered his 250g of ham.  When Emily came along..she had hugs between the bbq chooks and sundried tomatoes. A worker even exclaimed "Finally..I was wondering when you would have her!"  The lovely check-out boy who was studying engineering always waved us over to his check out.  Don't even mention, that a poor 15 year old fruit and veg boy who still has nightmares about the day he didn't order enough red capsicum..  I think Chris may have had a few words with him about his stock levels.

We even got staff discount once. 

Then we moved.  I don't get the warm and fuzzies when I walk into our local.  We have been in search for a good supermarket for a while now.  We have finally settled on a local shopping centre..has an Aldi, Woolies & Coles.  Even has a brilliant section for Meat, Fish, Fruit & Veg. So, each week we pile into the car and drag our heels up the aisles and lose the will to live by about 3pm.  Each week we say..why does it take so long?  Why do I feel like I should have brought my sleeping bag?  Why?  Why? WHY?

Brainwave. 

I put pen to paper this morning and planned four weeks of meals.  Yes..Four whole weeks.  I am one meal-planning-QUEEN!  We piled our trolley high..bought kilos of mince..chicken..bags of pasta..boxes of shapes..bottles and bottles of soda water..you name it, we have it in bulk in our freezer or pantry. To say I am knackered is an understatement.  All we have to do now is a quick duck into the supermarket each week to grab the fresh stuff.. but we have reclaimed 3 whole hours each week.  Oh. That makes my tired self very happy.  Very happy indeed.

Tough Love.

What does that statement mean to you?

I think in a world of parenting books, magazines and just the judgemental eyes of the shopper's at the supermarket's..there comes a time where you have to question what parenting style you will have.  Is it something that comes natural?  something that you plan and execute?  something that you just do?

I joined an online forum many moons ago when we were planning our wedding..and have remained a member when I became pregnant with the Ninja.  It is a fountain of information...it's like having your mum..x 100!  So many questions are asked and answered, that you don't feel like the noob sitting at home with a squarky one that won't settle.  Someone..out there has experienced the same and can offer help.

Anyway.  Someone posted the question on tough love as a parenting tool.  This sparked my interest as I am pondering what angle I should go with my oh-so-determined-gonna-cause-YOU-some-sleepness-nights girl. As parents you have to be a united front on what you decide, because as soon as they are old enough they are going to find the weak links and pounce!

Tough love.  Can be interpreted so many ways.  Some parents would see it as a neglective phrase, like telling a kid who has fallen over to "Suck it up, Princess" others would see it as "Oh well, bit of an ouchie..we're ok!"  What approach would you take?  Or would you gather your kid up, rush them home and vow never to return to the park again and then ring the council and threaten negligence on uneven paths? 

I guess I don't want to be an extreme parent, where somewhere along the way you have forgotten the joys of childhood.  Where you spent hours climbing trees and proudly showing off your band-aid at primary school, hiding your chewing gum behind your ear so your mum has to cut it out of your hair or playing cowboy's and indian's in the bush until the street lights come on.

I want Emily to learn limits.  To learn the value of hard work.  To learn that sometimes you can't always win.  To learn that tears are ok.  To know what is right and wrong.  That she has a voice.

How will I achieve this? Oh fecked if I know.  I just want the whole Ninja-rearing process one to be full of love, support and boundaries. I can't control her environment 110% of the time, of course I want to make it a safe one, but I don't want her going through her childhood never experiencing downfalls.  How am I equipping her for life?  If she has never known what failure feels like?  I can't buy her first boyfriends love back.  I can't go in gun's a blazing forcing her boss to give her a pay  rise.  But with this, must come balance.  I don't want her to live in fear on not reaching our "Expectations" or too scared to ring and ask for help.

I want to give her confidence.  Confidence where she can meet a bully in the eye and tell them she's not standing for it, where she can speak up for herself, where she knows if she falls..that mum will be there to kiss it better but it won't be the end of the world.  I want her to play at the park, by herself, walk to school, by herself.  A childhood we had. 

I don't want her to be the spoilt brat that has never been told no.  Who has been wrapped up in so much cotton wool all her life that she falls at the first hurdle.  Of course, as a parent we think our child is number one.  I don't want anything bad to ever happen to her. I will make it a huge priority not to leave handles facing out on the stove, to close pool gates, to not leave her alone in the bath.  I will make her safety number one priority..but we will also learn that there are no-nos but if you keep pulling that book on the shelve it will fall.  It will hurt.  We will learn.

Now in my biggest contradictory statement yet..I will be purchasing a Play-pen aka Baby Prison very soon.  Until Emily learns words..I don't think its even on my radar to discipline a 8 month old!!

So will I be a tough love parent?  A helicopter-hover parent?

I don't want to be seen as neglectful..or uncaring. Our Emily is the biggest love of our lives..but I need to prepare her for that big bad world out there..and also find time to make play-doh.

What kind of expectations as a parent do you have or plan to have?

Food Glorious Food.

Two things I am hearting right now:  Curtis Stone & Fried Rice.  Yep.  An unusual combination I admit, but one I am totally digging.  Have you seen the ad's?  Oh, be still my beating heart.  I have a big old school girl crush on Mr Curtis Stone.  Yes. Yes I do. I may or may not have been drawn by his little smiling face on the recent marketing ploy Coles are plugging this week.  You know the one..he is standing there with a smile that says "For 10 bucks..look at the nommy foods you can make"  Curtis.  I will make anything you tell me to.

Moving on.

So, we were doing the same old dance on what we were going to eat this week.  I swear, I have to nail Chris to the couch and make him come up with 2 ideas.  I hate trying to find new things to cook.  Don't get me wrong, I love cooking but I have my favourites..so when something needs more than 3 ingredients my attention is lost and I am back to browsing Facebook.  When I get uber stuck and feel like I have ingested enough stodge for one week..I usually turn to: taste.com.au.  But!  I remembered I had tucked the said Curtis-sold-his-soul-to-coles Recipe Booklet  in the depths of my cooking book cupboard.  Saved.  Fried Rice it was.

You know when you are eating something, it's so delicious that you are already wanting more and it's not even finished yet? No? Just me? Ok.

I made the Chicken Fried Rice.  A whole world of YUM.  How good does it look?  I took this photo..as I wanted to share with you the world of rice yum-ness.  I mean honestly, so yum.

I mean honestly

Ingredients
1 cup long grain white rice, rinsed, drained (I think I used waaay more)
⅓ cup canola oil
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
4 Coles chicken thigh fillets, skin removed, cut into bite size pieces (I used breast fillets)
½ medium brown onion, thinly sliced (Didn't use this..makes a certain husband slightly...stinky)
1 large carrot, peeled and finely diced (used 2)
½ x 400g can Coles corn kernels, drained  (used frozen peas & corn)
½ bunch buk choy  (spent a gazzillion years searching for it and even longer working out how to use it)
2 tbsp Coles soy souce  (or even cheaper Aldi stuff)
1 tsp Yeos sesame oil
¼ bunch coriander leaves, to serve (Pffttt..we're not gour-met)
salt and pepper.

I also added bean sprouts..just cause.  Oh and beans..they were on special.

 Method

1. Cook rice in rice cooker or according to packet directions with approximately 1 ½ cups water (375ml) until tender. Transfer to a baking paper lined tray, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold.
2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large wok over medium-high heat. Add the eggs and stir with a wooden spoon for about 30 seconds or until just cooked. Remove from the wok and set aside on a plate.

3. Return the wok to the heat and add another tbsp of oil, season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook for 4-5 mins, or until golden and cooked through. Remove cooked chicken to a plate. ( I seasoned with the Sesame Oil too..cause I freaking LOVE the stuff)

4. Heat the remaining oil in the wok over medium-high heat. Add the onion and carrot to the hot wok and stir-fry for 2-3 mins to soften. Add the cold rice and stir-fry for 2 mins or until heated through. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the eggs, chicken, corn and buk choy.

5Add the soy sauce and sesame oil and continue to stir-fry for 1 minute. Transfer the rice to a large serving platter, sprinkle with the coriander

   YUM.

Till we meet again..I'm off to google more Curtis Stone images....

Loz

Emily's Space.

The day you bring home your little bundle of joy already they require more space that you had ever imagined.  Not only do fluffy toys pop up from no where, you are also scrambling for space for cards, flowers, empty cups of tea and lets not forget all the paraphernalia the baby shop conned you into buying because you really really care for your baby.

So in your little neat world you hope to contain all the random baby stuff to one room.  Oh, excuse me..I just had a little laugh at that last sentence.  Are you kidding me?  One room? The little munchkins almost need a whole wing to themselves.  *sigh*

We brought our 9lb 6oz wide eyed Ninja home to a place not far from where we are now.  We were in the process of building Ninja-Towers so we did the best with what we had.  I miss that room.  It was the typical, lets turn this study/spare room/dumping ground into a lovely nursery. I couldn't wait to get into our new home, I had massive plans for wallpaper, decals, shelves, toys, mobiles and all the other things that make my credit card inch closer into my purse.

I am apprehensive in showing anyone her room.  It's personal.  It doesn't scream I'm a nursery.  I still haven't found the perfect decal, I still haven't found that perfect floor rug.  But it occurred to me..each piece in her room has it's special place.  It's still a work in progress, but I love her room.  I remember when I had a lady come and help with sleep..she mentioned it was the perfect mellow room for a very easily stimulated baby. 

So, when the house doesn't look like it has imploded on itself, I will slowly show you each space of Ninja Towers.  Basically, when I have vacuumed and Emily hasn't smeared porridge all over the floor.  Ah yes.  Not only do we have toys..we have smeary wet mess.  Yum.

Warning:  pic overload.

 

You may distracted by the oh-so-flattering look on my face..but I am actually standing in Emily's room.  I look at these pic's and think...I got bigger? I actually miss my bump.  Chris lives in hope that we'll have another.  I tell him..well something about a watermelon and a small hole.

So there she is.  2 months old and we made our usual sunday drive out to the house to check on the progress.  Usually it ended with Chris ringing the builder and saying a few choice words..but it was a relatively smooth process.  Until we decided that we would move 23rd December.  Yes, that is 2 days before Christmas.  Yes, suckers for punishment.

There she is!

Standing in her doorway..A room fit for a Ninja :)

We have a gorgeous trunk that I think has followed from every house!  In it is some gorgeous crochet blankets that are being stored away from grotty fingers!  On top is my teddy from my childhood, a gorgeous frame that was made especially for Emily.  It is so carefully made, I love it!  Also can't forget the crocodile..from Nanna and Granda's trip up top!

How gorgeous is the teddy blanket?  I got it in the mail yesterday..made by a family friend.  Its was an unexpected gift and really lifted my grumpy mood.

Do you like the chair?  I love it :) Has lovely Kangaroo's and Emu's carved into it's back.  I love putting Emily's old baby clothes on her toys..especially ones that were gifts or she wore in the early days.  Also a very special crochet blanket made from a gorgeous girl I worked with.

Emily's change station!  The nappy stacker was an impulse purchase one night in Big W..heavily pregnant and on a mission to buy baby stuff.

Snuggly.  Everyone meet snuggly.  He helps certain Ninja's go to sleep.

good night!