Addie's Painting

Addie started painting this week. First time was at the Toy Library where they kindly have it all set up - no clean up, woo!

I thought it'd be good for us to do at home still, so I got some paints, found short chubby brushes at the art shop and made an easel from a pice of cardboard propped against her climbing gym and stripped her down to a nappy. I am making her an 'art smock' but until then bare skin works well.

I put the paints out, and the paper and watched to see what Addie would do. At first she decided to paint the climber, but once I put a single dot of paint on the paper she felt free to paint on it. What impressed me was the way in which she thoughtfully but freely put brush to paper, refreshed her paint when the brush ran dry, changed colours and played. It took her a good 15 min to even eat the paint.

It would have been really easy for me to make it a horrible experience by directing her moves, making sure that she didn't paint anything else etc, but she figured the whole game out by herself. I know that probably no one else thinks her painting is special but I see a masterpiece!

Celebs I can relate to.

The Burtons on their way to School

I followed a link from the SMH today to a pile of pictures of celebs picking their kids up from school. Why? Maybe its something to do with my current mini-struggle with body image and fat distribution post baby [I had the same thing after Addie, and while I know its all for a good cause, and its not like I was hot-stuff beforehand it still takes some getting used to and I would like to be able to wear some of my favourite clothes already.] Maybe I was feeling like I needed some extra fodder for some healthy self loathing. 

So anyway, I click, click, clicked through the pictures, wondering how the mums had time to get dressed so pretty, or how on earth they were comfortable in those sky high heels [and learned that tights are really 'in' right now if you have sexy sexy legs]. Suddenly,  boom!! This wonderful, beautiful picture of Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton popped up. Ahhhhh, like a drink of cool water after warm sticky fizzy drinks, this picture was soothing, cleansing and felt good!

Carry that baby!

You know, I'm a BIG fan of my baby carriers. I have several types, and have written about them before now a couple of times, but I'm going to bring the topic up again.

I made a cheery yellow pouch style sling [commonly known as "peanut shell" after a company that sells them for ludicrous prices] which is a really handy sling to have. They are easy to put on, easy to learn to use and babies love them. Their down sides are that they aren't one size fits all, so if your husband, partner, grandma etc wanted to use it, chances are they'd need a different size. Also they are a one shoulder carry, which if used correctly shouldn't be a problem for most people, but can cause issues if you have a back problem or want to use it for hours on end.

If you have a back issue, I recommend you use a mei tai, stretch or woven wrap. For a look at different types being used in different situations, look at this fantastic slide-show by Baby Carriers Downunder.

So anyway, I mentioned to a group of friends who have newborns that I would make them one if they wanted, and I got a bunch of yeses. I've dawdled and gotten distracted along the way, but finally I've finished!

Pretty Pouch Slings

Tiny loves being in a sling. She is as happy as larry in there while I do the shopping,  go to church, chase a toddler, do some washing. Sometimes when I don't even need to walk around but she's unsettled it does the trick of calming her down.  Yesterday Addie needed cuddles at the same time as tiny and I was able to carry the both at once!  Many people of baby boomer vintage and older stop me to comment on how "safe" and comfortable she looks when I'm carrying her, and the women often add " I wish we had those when my children were babies. I can't tell you enough how great these things are. To make one yourself, follow the instructions given by My Karma Baby or if you don't sew, buy one off them. I think their work is excellent, and someone needs to support them bc they so kindly give out the info on how to make them.

Tiny and me

Enid Gilchrist Sunbonnet

I had a sudden desire to dress Addie in a cute bonnet. Her pudgy cheeks would look so cute framed in a bonnet! I dragged out my Enid Gilchrist books [I only have 4, I wish I had more!] and found this pattern in Enid Gilchrist's Baby Book.

At the top right of the collage you can see a diagram with measurements. This is how all the patterns are given in Enid's books. Its called a self drafting pattern, and pretty much you have to draft the pattern using the measurements provided. Its not had, but you have to be careful and it takes some time. For this reason I drafted onto cardboard from Wheet-bix packets this time.

The Sunbonnet is VERY cute! The most sunsmart of all hats too, with a little neck flap and generous brim, I'm very impressed. What I'd like to do now is to use an Enid pattern and make Addie a gingham dress to match the bonnet!  How cute would that be?!!

For more detail, go to my post on Enid Inspired.

Go read this

Sorry I don't have a post of my own - but if you can take time to click once more, follow this link to Emerging Mummy who talks about being a professional at her own life. I like it because it rings loudly with truth.

Pimp my Newborn

Sometimes I get carried away, especially when I read blogs like homemade by jill and just have to copy the cute things that she makes. In particular I was inspired by this headband roundup and all the cute headbands that she made.

I had hot pink felt and half a stick of glue for my glue gun, so a flowering I went. The original design actually comes via homemade by jill from I Am Momma - Hear Me Roar. Its not bad for a first effort.

I also made a smaller one to use as a broach type embellishment for Addie. I am so lame that I like my girls to be matchies. Our family is going to look like one of those weird american family photos - if you know what I mean?

In addition to a ridiculously huge felt flower growing out of her head, Tiny also has a very cute dummy clip that I made her the other day. Together they make for one accessorised baby.

It is a cute textured white satin ribbon, with a pearlish snap fastener. Its the first time I've managed to use one of the pearl ones without cracking it down the middle - presumably the cracking happens because of my enthusiastic banging with a hammer when applying the snaps.

I know the flower is stupid... but it can be so stupid that it is cute... right?

Cooking Fail

I really tried to cook a nice pot roast. I carefully seared the outside of the rolled brisket, and cooked it gently in my cast iron casserole pot, but 40 minutes in BOOM!  The strings the butcher at Woolworths put on it slipped off and it continued cooking as an unrolled brisket. 

Lesson learned: tie your own meat and don't trust the butcher! Still tasted good, but lacking in presentation.