Beautiful quilts at 2008 Craft show

I spent a enjoyable day at the Craft show in Darling Harbour with Gabs today. We started at 10am and by 3pm, we were both exhausted! I didn't really buy anything nor did I want to buy anything - I've got enough unfinished craft projects to do! I just felt like a day out to see what was there and hopefully get inspired. It is one of my resolutions to make my own patchwork quilt(s) one day. Hopefully I'm getting closer to that goal.

This is one of my favorite quilts at the show. Looks like the judges liked it too.


This quilt was made by a 7-year old. It also won a prize in the junior quilter category. What a clever seven year old!! This picture encouraged me to make a start soon.


I like the colour of this one, a clever design too.


This looked stunning from afar. I think I should start with a simple square one that doesn't require complicated maneuvers of a sawing machine. I actually saw a quilt at the show that could be my first project. I didn't buy the kit ($150) as it would only fit on top of a single bed. Am I being too ambitious to want to do a quilt for our king-size bed as a first quilt project?

Night cooking

In order to have a decent meal at night, I resorted to a lot of night cooking. I would start cooking after we had dinner for the following night. So far this works well for dishes like stews, pasta sauces etc that require a long cooking time.

I have also stocked the fridge with bread rolls and garlic bread. More soups next week?

Lara's new trick

I don't remember how it first started, but the night Lara found out what she could do, she went around this little 'circuit' many times! Where did she get her energy from after a long day at day care?

This behaviour is now strongly discouraged as it usually ends up in crying - Lara fell or slipped and hurt herself in some way. Besides, we don't really want her doing this while we are not looking. The little side table will have to go soon!

Appreciate life

Life is hectic at least 3 mornings a week when I get Lara ready for daycare (a great deal of patience is required to try to feed breakfast quickly to a kid who is not particularly interested in eating at that hour), and myself ready for work. I honestly don't have time or don't even remember to brush my hair some mornings.

The half-an-hour drive to work is my "me-time" when I think about the day ahead and contemplate life. I was particularly busy, and there were work problems I didn't know how to solve yet. I reminded myself that it is my JOB to solve these problems - if things are always OK, I would not be required at work. However, it didn't do a lot to help me feel less stressed.

One day two weeks ago, while I was thinking about things in the car, I caught myself wishing that time would pass faster and all my little work problems would go away. Then it suddenly hit me. THIS IS LIFE!! Good or bad, I only live this life once! I shouldn’t "wish my life away". I should appreciate life and all it has to offer!! Be grateful that I'm doing exactly what I wanted working 3 days a week!

This feels especially true, two weeks later, after hearing some sad news about a friend's current health situation. It was very sad and unfortunate that this had to happen at all. But looking from a different angle, it was also very lucky that the problem was discovered now rather than later. I have you in my thoughts and hope you get better soon PY.

p.s. I found when I had "gratitude" in my heart, all the little work problems seemed less important and somehow they were all solved magically as the day progressed.

New blinds

Blinds do a good job of making the home feel more cozy!

On antibiotics again

Lara didn't get up as happy as usual on Friday morning. Her nose was a little running (not unusual in the morning) and she didn't want any breakfast either (she is like this sometimes). I didn't think too much about it. Just before I was ready to leave home for a pap test at 11am, I got a call from daycare to say Lara had a temperature (38C).

By the time we saw the doctor at 11.30am (I decided to use my appointment for her), her temperature was over 39C and she looked really unwell (red swollen face/tears in her eyes/very quiet etc). Because things seemed to come on fast, doctor was checking her body for rashes. (for Meningococcal I guess?) It also looked like she might have a slight ear infection. With the accompanying sudden temperature, doctor prescribed antibiotics again to be on the safe side. It was just over a month since the last time she was on antibiotics!


(Lara looking much better sitting on a shopping trolley on Tuesday)

Lara had a temperature throughout the weekend, getting as high as 40C on Saturday night/ Sunday morning. Baby Panadol and Nurofen were both effective in bringing the temperature down. Doctor recommended Nurofen before bed as it lasts longer than Panadol. And if Panadol is not effective, Nurofen can be given after 2 hours of having Panadol. After an unusually long sleep (4 hours) on Sunday afternoon, she woke up looking much better. I knew the worst was over. However, by Sunday night, both Husband and I got the same cold.

Lara and I stayed at home recuperating in our pajamas and tracksuits all day on Monday. There was no schedule, not routine, no place to go, just eat, rest and play. We didn't have a very good day on Tuesday - Lara cried every 10 minutes (not from any obvious sickness I can see but from not getting her way). A quick trip to the shops and some fresh air helped the situation. I am hoping this behaviour is only temporary.

Doctor said her 4-year-old boy also gets sick about every 2 weeks. Apparently on average kids catch colds 10 times a year. That's about one a month!! Doctor’s son is in his second year in daycare but the situation hasn't improved yet, it really takes time for the immune system to build up.

I know all kids go through this phase. However, knowing it and actually going through it (or watch your kids go through it) are two different things. I am getting better at this and hope Lara is too.

Lara drawing

Lara loves to draw. She tries to hold the pen the way we do.


She likes to use the stamper too.


Lara drawing with Daddy. (Daddy did the fish you see previously)

Tuesday night take away

We usually only have take-aways on Friday nights or the weekend when we don't feel like cooking. Having take-away food on a Tuesday is rare. Last week we were both busy. I had no energy or desire to cook anything on Tuesday. We both had "crispy skin chicken with tomato rice" and spring rolls. The owner of the takeaway store greeted me like a friend "we haven't see you for a long time!" she gave me a huge smile. The week could only get better from here.

And it did. Dinners we had rest of the week:
Monday - steak with fried potato, onions, peas and cauliflower.
Wednesday - BBQ chicken (bought) with meshed potato and broccoli and cauliflower.
Thursday - pumpkin soup with garlic bread and bread rolls.

Friday - Japanese beef salad (Jamie Oliver's recipe)

Frightfully bright

I try to call Mum and Dad once a week. But the week sometimes rolls into 2 weeks while I'm busy working, looking after Lara and living our lives. I'm normally freer at night when Lara is asleep, but because of the time difference, Mum and Dad are usually asleep as well.

This Mother's Day, I kept telling myself to call when I have a free minute. I wanted to call in the morning but knew Mum would be at church. By the time we came home from sis-in-law's house and had something to eat, it was after 9pm and too late to call.

I called the next day and Dad picked up the phone. He said Mum was angry with me for not calling on Mother's Day and didn't want to talk to me! And I thought Mum and Dad don't really celebrate birthdays, Christmas or Mother's day. Maybe Mum expected me to call because I'm also a Mum now, but she didn't realise that I wanted to call, but life got in the way on this particular Sunday.

This makes me think about the things parents expect from their kids. Will I one day also want something in return for what I do for Lara now? Will I also get angry with Lara for not calling me on Mother's day? (I hope not.)

This bouquet is called "Frightfully bright". Hopefully by the time Mum receives this, she will not be angry any more!


(photo from Interflora)

Lara's teeth development

Lara's teeth must have read the "tooth timetable", because they all came out on schedule!
All of the incisors are out (8 as shown) and the first molars (4 altogether) are all half way through. That's a lot of baby teeth (12 in total) for a baby girl!!

Mother's Day present

The Friday before Mother's Day, I was talking to Husband on the phone:

I: I'm thinking about going shopping later... I "need" a new bag (I had showed Husband the hole in my handbag and where the stitching came off not long ago. I'm a one-bag person, too lazy to change bag every day. And I had used the old bag for 3-4 years.)
Husband: Don't get a bag (a little too quickly)
I: Why not?
Husband: Ummmm... (thinking and finding things to say) Just don't get a bag.....

That was when I knew what I was getting for Mother's Day!

First 3 months in day care

(Lara reading)

Lara has been going to day care for over 3 months now. She's part of the day-care furniture and "walks around like she owns the place" her teacher told me the other day. Generally speaking, putting Lara in childcare has been a good decision. She's almost always very happy going and afterwards. She learned many new things from daycare, mostly good. She's sociable and seems to like other kids. There are times though, especially when Lara's sick, that I wonder if I indeed made the right decision of sending Lara to childcare as early as one? Should I have waited until she's older? I know that Lara would not get the kind of one-on-one care she receives at home, but the benefits at this stage seem to outweigh the negatives.


(Lara playing with Honey)

Initially, I couldn't get all the days I wanted, so I had to book 2 childcare centres. Since then I found good and bad points in each that I decided to stay with both centres, 2 days each (minimum requirement). Lara adjusted quite quickly to the day-care life. Here's her progress in the last 3 months:

Playing:
I like to read Lara's communication book as soon as we get home to find out what she did on the day. Day care provides more varieties of "play" than I can give her. There seems to be at least one craft activity a day and Lara brings home a lot of crafts/paintings she "supposedly" did. She likes to play in the sandpit, drive cars, climb blocks and cook in the kitchen. I was told she would sit and listen to a story now. The best thing about day care I think is the chance for Lara to interact with other kids. Of course, Lara also seemed to pick up some "not so good" habits, for example, dropping things/food onto the floor purposely and say "uh - oh".

Crying in the morning:
Lara didn't cry at all when I left her in day care in the first 3 weeks. She started clinging to me and crying only after she realised that I would be leaving and not coming back for a long time! The crying didn't last very long (2-3 weeks). Lara doesn't cry at all now. In fact, if it's "toast" time at daycare, she doesn't even care if I'm going or not. Sometimes, she comes over and give me a hug or kiss before I leave.

Sleeping:
This is something I worried the most initially. At first, Lara wouldn't sleep at all. She had to be pushed in the pram to have some rest. Now Lara sleeps for 1-2 hours after lunch. It's still a little short comparing to her 2 sleeps at home. I can always tell when Lara had less than an hour sleep when I pick her up. Luckily it happened less and less. Lara is a light sleeper I am told and I accept that she can get woken up by the sound of other kids crying. Looking at the bright side, she seems to be able to sleep through more noises since going to day care. Since Lara is very attached to her pink blanket, I have to remember to pack it for day care. I had it at the bottom of her bag one day, and her teacher asked worriedly where it was. I could only guess from this that she wouldn't go to sleep without it in day care either.

Eating:
I am told Lara eats very well. They never have problem feeding her. The only problem is the teachers can't feed her fast enough. It's less worrying when I know that Lara eats and sleeps alright at day care.

Feeling tired

I've been feeling very tired lately...

I can think of a few reasons that might have contributed to this: Lara not feeling well almost every other week; Lara did not know that daylight saving has started and got up earlier than usual; I possibly also have the cold Lara has; Work is a little stressful with unclear project requirements; I have not been exercising; Not eating enough meat; to name just a few.

Lara being sick is definitely on top of the list. It's not so much the physical exhaustion, but mentally tiring worrying about her every little coughs and cries. The funny thing is most of the time, I can't even remember why I was so worried the week before. I know some mums around me also constantly feel tired, but somehow I feel I'm different. I do have 3 days full on with work and Lara, but I also have one day to myself every week. I was more surprised than anyone that I could feel this tired.

I realised the main reason I didn't feel rested was because I was not resting on my free day. I was out and about with appointments, doing grocery shopping and house chores that I didn't really do anything for ME. I need to utilise my free day better and do more for myself. Maybe if I satisfy myself first, I will have more to give?

( I wrote the above a couple of weeks ago. Since then I've been eating more red meat (we have steak on Friday nights now, beef fillet steak at the local butcher is beautiful), took vitamins (Berocca is a wonderful thing!) and had a lot of fruit, had a back massage (one hour of bliss!!), went to bed at 10pm for a week, and no turning computer on during weeknights. The suspected cold symptoms disappeared and I am feeling much much better)

Lovely plums

For most of the organic vegetables we get, there's no distinct difference in favour to normal vegetables especially after cooking -organic spinach leaves taste more metallic and organic onion is sweeter (if eaten raw in salad). With fruit, the difference is much easier to spot. Our favorite at the moment is plums. They look smaller (and uglier) than normal plums but feel a lot heavier somehow. The taste is undoubtedly superior, they feel more substantial not just watery. They are Lara’s favorite too; she loves them even more than grapes!

The other thing I noticed is: when organic grapes get a little older, they become wrinkled and they shrunk in size, but they taste super sweet (similar to sultanas as if they are being dried naturally). But when non-organic grapes get older, they get moldy. I suspect it might have something to do with the water content.

Unfortunately, there are only another couple of weeks left for the plums. Maybe I’ll have one more tonight!

I am Wa-wa

This is where you sleep

I read a book on "respecting kids"(can't remember the exact name of the book) when I was pregnant. I remembered well a story the author told in the book - The author went to visit a friend who just had a baby. The friend, a new Mum, fed her baby first; she then took the baby to author room for a nappy change. Not a single word was spoken to the baby during this time. Towards the end of the nappy change, the family dog who followed them around made a sound. The friend turned to the dog and said "Just wait a second, I'll feed you next". The author pointed out the common mistakes we all make - talk to the dog but neglect the baby because we think they don't understand. Telling babies what is going on and what will happen next from the start, before you think they understand is how we respect babies, the author concluded.

Remembering this story might have helped in solving a problem Lara had at day care....


(Lara slept here at Hunter Valley)

For the first 3 weeks, Lara refused to sleep in a cot at day care. The only way to get her to have a short rest was in the pram. By the fourth week, I was quite worried. I decided to try something.

At day care next morning, I took Lara to the room where babies sleep - I never set foot in this room with Lara before that day. Holding Lara, I walked around the room, telling her she would sleep here during the day and she would be very safe here. I also told her the teachers would come and get her when she wakes up and that she would have lots of energy to play after a good sleep, etc. I would never know if this did anything, but Lara slept for the first time in a cot at day care that day.

I tried the same thing while we were away in Lake Macquarie and Hunter Valley. Both times, I showed Lara her new room and told her this is where she sleeps and she would have a good sleep etc (I also let her have a little play in the room sometimes). She slept very well in the new cot/room both times. Lara is older now so she might have gotten better at sleeping in different places anyway. However, this is something I'll keep doing if it means we get a better night of sleep because Lara sleeps better!

[1y 3m] Talking and mimicking

Lara is talking all the time. She's also constantly mimicking everything we say and do. We swear we heard some intelligent words from time to time. She learns something new and understands more and more every day.

Teeth: 4 at the bottom (one half out), 4 on the top.

This month:

* Lara loves the "play kitchen" area at day care. Giving her appetite and love of food, I was not surprised that she likes "kitchen/food" toys. She also loves playing with tea sets. On my days off, we could sit together and play poring and drinking tea for a long time!

(Fortunately, sickness has not made her eat less!)

* Like to "share" things with me. We take turns playing with her toys (Lara will give me the toy to play with and then want it back, then give it to me to play etc). Lara sometimes takes out what she's eating and gives it to me to eat. One of her bad habits is: if she sees another food being offered while she's still chewing, she spits the food in her mouth, so she can put new food in. Food time is quite messy sometimes.

Understanding of words:
* Have clearly said "Ta". She could say "ma-ma" and "da-da". She calls her own name after we call her (it sounds like she's saying "wa -wa").
* Would give me a kiss if I say "kiss Mummy". She also kissed Daddy, Grandma and teddy.
* Husband said "don't drop it" and Lara looked at the floor, so we think she understand the word "drop". When I say "have a bath", she walks to the bathroom. When I say "go to bed", she shakes her head most of the time (even when she's very tired).
* More and more, Lara uses shaking and nodding her head to tell us what she wants. When I ask "More?" for food, she shakes her head when she doesn't want any more. Sometimes, Lara's confused and shakes her head on minute and nods the next or sometimes she shakes her head to things she wants.

* Dislikes having hair washed but likes to pretend to wash her hair. Dislikes having her teeth brushed.
* Still facinated with other kids.
* Like to walk backwards. Able to lift her walker up for steps. Able to run.
* Likes to wipe table with her flannel.


(Play with pebbles at Cypress Lake)

* Lara had her second cold. No temperature just running nose and lots of mucus and coughing. I was debating with myself whether to give her antibiotics (doc said there was a secondary infection and there was a 50/50 chance it would develop into something more serious. I could give her antibiotics straight away or I could wait to see if Lara's immune system could fight it). Luckily I gave her antibiotics (Amoxil) on the Friday night before we left for Hunter Valley, because Saturday was the worst day of her cold. She really was quite sick and not happy at all. By the way, she loved the taste of antibiotics.
* Lara traveled well during our Hunter Valley trip. She slept most of the way there because she was not well and she didn't complain for too long on the way back. She's generally able to sit longer in the car.

* Health concern these two weeks - nappy rash. Generally better on the weekend, but gets worse as Friday approaches. Somtimes it looks like it's all cleared one day but gets very bad again the next day. Pepole say it could be due to teething. I'm trying different cream and ointment at the moment. I don't think it's allergy because she never got nappy rash in her first year and we use the same nappy and wipes, but I'm asking child care if they changed wipes.

* The other big thing this month (or since last month) is her "security" blanket. She wants to hold this particular pink blanket(s) all the time. Luckily I have two so it can be washed. If she sees her blanket, she wants it whether she's at day-care or home. She robs the blanket on her face and she sleeps with it. I'm trying to get her to like another smaller blanket, but so far the bigger pink blanet is still her favorite.

Lara on the phone

One of Lara's favorite activities at the moment.

Cypress Lake resort

(Views from the resort lobby.)

We spent a couple of days at Hunter Valley on the weekend staying at Cypress Lake resort. Parents-in-law and Uncle Pete from England also came with us. The weather was mostly beautiful. Luckily we were having lunch at a restaurant when the worst hailstorm that weekend went past us on the Sunday afternoon.

Accommodation was comfortable enough, pricey too. Buffet breakfast included was sensational; it set us up for the whole day. Unfortunately, we didn't get to use the resort facility. I didn't have any spa treatment either.

Both Lara and Simon were not feeling very well, so we tried not to pack too much in in the day. We went around some wineries (more later); that was nice and relaxing. I love looking at the rolling hills with vines and cattle amongst it. It makes the most beautiful picture that a camera can't capture.

I want to rent a cabin on top of the rolling hills and just look at the views for a week!

More photos of the resort:

Our two bedroom "cabin" is upstairs.


Views from the balcony.


One of the resort pools.

The third culprit

(The 3rd culprit!)

Most of my mint leaves where eating a few weeks ago. It took me a long time to spot 2 caterpillars hiding under the leaves. One of them was very ver "fat"!! There wasn't a huge difference to the leaves after about a week. After another search, I caught a 3rd one.

My mint is thriving again!