Kit sleeps in a Cot

Kit has been sleeping in a Leander Cradle until today, thanks to Jane and Angus, who lent it to us. It has been absolutely great and until about a week ago he was sleeping beautifully. Alas he is just too big for it now and so today we moved the cot into our room and moved him into it. I took some tips about making sure he is well wrapped and pinned down by a sheet. Which I didn't do with Tilly. She had a sleeping bag. So let's see how we go with it. I did trap my elbow in the bars, which was very painful, so I hope that doesn't happen to him.

Well the sheet hasn't worked and the wrap seems superfluious as it is in the 30's at the moment. But he is sleeping very well in the cot and Tilly likes her big girls bed too. We are going to do our first trip away over the weekend. I wonder if that will affect their sleeping?

Cornish Fairings

Nick and Sarah have returned to Australia after a number of years in the UK, getting married and working out where they want to live. As with many of us expats, its a tricky decision. One which doesn't sit easily and for us is reviewed on a regular basis to make sure that we are really happy here as we know that it makes those that we love at home sad at times.

Tomorrow I get to see Sarah, for the first time and thought I'd try my hand at Cornish Fairings that Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall talks about in the Guardian today. First lot burnt on the bottom. So I've reduced the heat in the oven and kept a closer watch. Mmmmm second batch not going well either. Wonder what I've done?

http://gu.com/p/2m7fx

Sewing starts again - meet my new bag!

I love my new bag. Its a nice way to get back into sewing as it was an easy kit and I'm very pleased with the results. Next a gift for Grace and Charlie who turn one next week.

Courtney and Tilly Paint and Make Tee Pees

Courtney came to play with Tilly and they had a fabulous time painting. See the creations above. After painting, a picnic (where Tilly scoffed all the cherries) and building a tee pee from three old broom handles and a hospital sheet, Courtney was Tilly's new best friend. Come back and play again soon Courtney!

Tilly and Aarya are 2 - "Happy Birthday Daddy Cake"

Tilly and Aarya have birthdays 2 days apart and so Anisha and I decided that a joint birthday picnic with our fabulous mother's group would be a great way to celebrate. Anisha made amazing playdoh with natural food colouring which went down a real treat and Tilly and I made Oat and Spelt Crackers to give out. We felt that two birthday cakes were necessary so that they each had candles to blow out, but I reckon we could have just lighted them twice on the same cake. And Tilly first understood about birthdays when it was her daddy's birthday and so Happy Birthday always ends in "Daddy Cake".

I can't describe how wonderful my mother's group has been. I was full of intrepidation when I ventured into this world and feel so blessed to have been able to spend the last two years meeting up on tuesday mornings with a group of wonderfully diverse, genuine, generous and funny men and women, always keen to listen. As our first born's grow up and start day care, the group numbers are dwindling but I don't think that will be the end. We have been through so much together I reckon these friendships will last a long time. I severely hope so.

Tilly makes Oat and Spelt Crackers to share with the Mermaids

Ingredients:

160g white spelt flour plus extra for dusting

125g oatmeal (you can food process oats to make oatmeal)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon of rapadura sugar

125g cold unsalted butter, chopped

150ml yoghurt

Combine the flour, oatmeal, baking soda, sugar and pinch of sea salf in a bowl and whisk up to break up any clumps. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. I did this once by hand and once in food processor and couldn't really tell the difference. I had to move the mixture to a bowl after the processing for the next bit so a bit more washing up.

Add the yoghurt. unsing a rounded knife (I used a normal one) cut the yoghurt through the flour mixutre until the dough just comes together into a ball. Shape into a disc, wrap in cling wrap and put in fridge for 1 - 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 180c

Roll out chilled dough on lightly floured surface and roll out to 3mm thick, place on baking tray and refrigerate for 5 - 10 mins til firm.

Using a 4.5 cm cookie cutter ( i used a glass) stamp out rounds and place them on baking trayslined with baking papaer. Put in fridge for 5 min if its really warm before putting in oven.

Bake for 15-20 mins or until lightly golden. Cool slightly on trays and then transfer to wire rack t cool completely. Will store in airtight container for 2 weeks or until scoffed by small hands.

Super Toddler Blueberry Popsicles

Tilly and Isla enjoy a blueberry popsicle

Well its been a while. 2010 turned into a great year. I had Kit Heaney Taylor in October but had 5 months of full on "morning" sickness, which carved a pretty great big whole in the year. Had a fabulous home birth and have been enjoying settling into a family of 4.

Matilda Taylor turned 2 on 16th January 2011. Granny was over for a visit and left on that day so we had a low key birthday on the date. We went to see Wind in the Willows at the botanical gardens in Sydney, the day before. Tilly was enthralled by it. I thought it was a bit too long but she loved it.



I was given Jude Blereau 's Wholefood for Kids cookbook for Christmas and have already enjoyed making things which Tilly either likes; says "Don't want it" (I can try that again soon) or "I don't like it" (probably off the menu for a few months, perhaps forever). I made the blueberry popsicles and she loved them and sounds super cute when she asks for a "popickle, please".

Easy to make and good for them too.

Jude says - yoghurt provides beneficial bacteria, coconut cream offers quality fats and blueberries are packed full of antioxidents - you don't need to be worried about the effects of these healthy frozen pops.

Just don't tell them they are healthy!

Ingredient:

Makes 8 x 100ml popsicles

375 ml yoghurt
125 ml coconut cream
1 banana
1 tablespoon honey
230 g frozen blueberries (this makes them cheaper unless you are using organic)

Place yoghurt, coconut cream, banana and honey into blender and process until smooth and frothy. Pour half into small jug and set aside.

Add blueberries to remaining mixture and blitz to smooth and fluffy.

Divide the plain banana mixture between the popsicle moulds and then fill to the top with the blueberry mixture. Place in freezer until set. Will keep for 4-5 days.

I forgot to separate and just put everything in to the blender and blitzed it. You can see from the photo. It seemed fine, perhaps not as aesthetically pleasing. I didn't have any honey so I used maple syrup and Tilly ate the last one 7 days after I made them and seemed to enjoy it just as much without any dodgy effects. Hope your little ones life them too.