Baby brain and I are back after a small hiatus to celebrate Christmas, New Year and visit family (Beach Holiday YAY!) Realistically it has only been three weeks but man it feels like longer so big post today. Soooo because I deal better with plans here is everything in order.
December in Review
Boo is happily careening around, falling and getting up and is totally on board with walking holding your hand which is fantastic. Bean is growing well and I am keeping my size under control so all going well there, currently discussing plans for a small sprinkle for baby number 2 (Bean) which hopefully really low key as we still have everything from Boo.
Christmas Day
Having begun the day with the traditional stockings, presents and breakfast at my parents. We gave Boo a beautiful Glockenspiel by Choroi which I bought from my mum's business
Mercurius Australia (the link goes to the Auris version which is an octave higher). It is fantastic as he can hit any combination of notes and because the scale is pentatonic it never jars your ears or has any off notes.
(I am mentioning this by my own choice as I love the company and their products) Darling hubby also bought me a surpriser gift of a picnic basket with real crockery and glasses something I have always wanted.
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| Can't wait to use it. |
I also received a house warming/Christmas gift from my parents that is just amazing as my dad made the board and mum sourced the hooks, plus as you can see we use it
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| Such a beautiful thing, sorry about the lighting it is night |
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| a close up of the hooks |
Well I got to host my first ever Christmas lunch, and my first Christmas in our house. Lunch went off without a hitch which was nice especially since it was my family (3) plus my mum and dad so nice and small. I served a haloumi, cherry tomato and basil skewer as entree (it seemed appropriately festive in colour). Followed by a main of Roasted Duck breast with a cherry & brandy sauce and accompanying salad of asparagus, zucchini and pistachio, again it seemed festive plus I adore cherries.
Mains were followed by a white chocolate, nougat and vanilla Ice Cream Pudding topped with raspberry sorbet. Yummm! I also baked fruit mince tarts doing all components from scratch as i know they are one of my dads seasonal favourites. Tarts recipe was from
this Coles recipe and fruit mince was based
on this recipe
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| I substituted dried sour cherries for raisins in my fruit mince and topped with raspberry coulis, so even mum was a fan |
Boxing Day - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
On Boxing day morning we had a lovely breakfast of homemade cooked at the table waffles with fruits, cream and Ice Cream at my darling friend Phoebe's house, a perfect start to the day. we then drove the 2 hours to Queenscliff which Boo kindly slept through so impressive effort Boo. We then had a casual lunch at Grandma's house followed by the more formal seated dinner which this year required a table for 34 which Grandma achieved. I am always impressed at how many we can seat, and how smoothly it goes. I feel blessed to be with a family where we do all get together, celebrate and enjoy each others company throughout the year but Christmas is certainly the highlight. MY homemade gifts went down a treat and even my Grandma was excited about her foot scrub, I know this as she thought she had lost it and was seriously disappointed, it was found again so all good now.
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A happy snap of about 3/4 of the table. Photo by Jes
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8 of the 9 dogs who were there ours is the lovely black one near the centre,
they like the family got on well all day too. Photo by Jes |
We then spent a lovely week doing a variety of family gatherings and outings, sadly it was a little cool for the beach overall but we did take Boo in for a quick dip. He was fine until he was on the dry sand which he hates for some reason so we will work on that. Hubby, Boo and I headed home a day early after a wonderful New Years eve at my Aunty's as while we had a fabulous time we were also exhausted. I felt greatly complimented to hear from my Grandmother, via my mum, that she is amazed and proud of little Boo and what a delight he is which certainly made me feel proud of him and our little family. He certainly had a ball with all the people constantly about and my cousins who were all totally taken with him. (I am the oldest cousin the youngest being 3 years, he is slightly less impressed with Boo than the rest)
Finally to the .....
New Year 2015
So in true Melbourne style after a milder Christmas we have started our New Year with about 5 days of 35C or above, not fun if you are pregnant, or small like boo, or generally adverse to being hot all the time, but oh well lots of sleep and rest was had with multiple cool baths to play in for Boo. So as a constant planner and Domestic Goddess in the making I love any excuse to make a plan, set goals or generally assess and improve oneself. so here are my 2015 Goals some of which are refining current practices such as being present at meals and others are stretching myself such as my habit goals. Overall my focus is on creating quality experiences and uses of my time and focusing on my personal well being and being present with my family. So apart from welcoming Bean to our little clan here are my...
2015 Goals
Nutrition
This year in Nutrition I will record my food, focus on whole foods (grows in or on the ground etc.) and drink a glass of water with all meals. This will increase my hydration levels and my accountability about what I eat, i have a friend who is doing this too so that is helping with the accountability too.
Sleep
No Technology in the bedroom, that is no phones, laptops etc. bedrooms are for S's sleep, snuggling and Stories (I had to get reading in there) . I bought darling hubby a wood look alarm clock for Christmas to allow him to leave his phone outside the room and
keep our space calm and natural looking. I am also a chronic offender of phone browsing and list making before I sleep. This is actually a re-establishing of an older rule we have but have fallen out of living in really small spaces prior to this move.
Health & Fitness
Create Habits and a Lifestyle that supports me re-establishing and maintaining a healthy weight. I am feeling pretty proud as I have already got a jump on this by managing my nutrtion and fitness through my pregnancy with goal of minimising my weight gain throughout and then having a plan in place for postpartum health and exercise.
Run 5km 2-3 times a week. I used to be someone who ran regularly then through surgery, moving from school to uni and life generally getting 'busy' (great excuse hey) I fell out of the habit so I am getting a jump on this by walking carrying Boo, and strength training until Bean is born and I am given the all clear to get running. I seriously miss the routine, fresh air and habit of regular running (I was never fast but it makes me happy).
Ways of Being
Sit for all meals whenever I eat and be present without distractions i.e. phones etc. This means no on the go snacking, no standing in the kitchen nibbling and no car eating. This is a Madame Chic habit that I find does wonders for increasing your enjoyment of meals as well as your experience of satiety. Cinema going will be a challenge for me.
I also want to practice being present with Boo and (when he or she arrives) Bean so am working on only answering calls and text and doing all web browsing blogging etc. while they sleep.
Habits
I am taking the year of my 2 biggest time sucks which are Facebook and Candy Crush a real challenge for me but highly refreshing as a goal as these two are also things I unconsciously find myself doing when i have picked up my phone to do something else.
I am also taking 5 minutes first thing to just breath, have a glass of water etc. before I start my day or open my phone.
Household
Concentrate on saving whenever I shop by always taking a detailed list (I love
my shopping list I can be in and out of the supermarket in under 45mins for a weekly shop). I am also taking on asking the question do I need this if I am going off plan and generally researching purchases before I make them to ensure best price and product.
Habitual cleaning which will be working with and adjusting my
cleaning schedule so it works for our household. as a quick update this is so far going well and I am loving how easy it is to stay on top of keeping everything clean, especially my beautiful shiny oven.
So there it is the end of 2014 and the plan for 2015, I would love to know others goals and plans and hope i havent bored you but it really helps with my accountability to have it all written down.
Write again soon Andii
