Struts and giggles

I keep planning to finish Maisie's dress. I made it during two nap-times, and all it requires are buttons, but fun things keep getting in the way. Yesterday Maisie visited her wee little cousin and spend a good deal of time trying to figure him out. It's rare that she finds someone smaller than her that squeaks and wriggles like she does. Then today she became the fascination for a bigger bub, the delightful Mia, who, at a tender 18 months has developed a fetish for shoes and does a hilarious little bum-out strut when she catches her own reflection. Next we lay under the clothesline in the backyard watching the sheets flapping in the breeze while Maisie squealed and giggled for an hour. Seriously. What a cheap way to get laughs.

Ice-cream Sunday

It was such glorious weather on the weekend. We had our first Spring picnic in the park and I reverted to a 5-year-old when Mr Whippy came trawling past luring us into buying some chocolate-dipped soft serve cones. Maisie, meanwhile has taken a lead from the scandalous Royals and discovered the art of toe sucking. Every chance she gets, in go the toes. Toes, squealing and getting nude are her favourite past-times.

It's looking like great weather again in Melbourne next weekend, we're heading down the coast for the Red Hill market and will be dragging out the picnic rug for sunny Sunday. Little Miss might be able to wear the new dress I am making her today. I'll post pics once I'm done.

Road trip

The Spring sun has finally emerged, so Maisie and I took a bit of a road trip to hunt for treasures. I was hoping I might stumble across a vintage highchair, but alas no luck. I did, however find a little jug for moi, and a fun 1950s basket that is perfect for a toy trove for Miss Marple. No road trip is complete without a trip to the bakery and how excited was I to discover the return of the egg flip Big M?! Happy days.

Extermination and creation

I am so sick of being sick! Grotty little germs have infested our house and infected us one by one, repeatedly. Thankfully Maisie seems to have escaped the latest outbreak and I'm hoping there will be no round three.

I haven't made anything since snazzing up a couple of little singlets for Maisie's Fiji wardrobe. So, inspired by some vintage dress patterns from Maisie's nana, I bought some lovely fabrics on the weekend from Amitie. They have such a great selection, I could have easily bought the entire store, but I settled for fabrics for a dress for Maisie, a cushion for me and some other, yet-to-be-thought-of creation. We also had breakfast at St Ali on Sunday....great coffee and mmmm those corn fritters with haloumi..

Viva la giraffe

Maisie has started showing a major interest in food, intently watching each mouthful we take and reaching for things on our plate. I plan to start her on solids next month, but for the moment, sucking face with Sophie la giraffe will have to suffice. I'm also on the hunt for a nice old-school highchair. Her cot and changetable are relics from another era, so why start buying new things now? Hmmm...I feel an op-shopping adventure coming on...

We just had a lovely lunch at The Little Ox with my good mate Strunksy, now I'm all inspired to get back into the craft projects I've put on hold. Might start sewing again on the weekend, I'll keep you posted!

Chickpeas and babies

So sad the weekend is over!! We had a nice and relaxing, yet quite productive weekend. It was certainly more productive for my sister though...Maisie scored herself a brand new cousin with little Harvey born in a hurry last night, just one day after his due date. Very cute.

We went to a first birthday party, caught up with some friends and got a lot done around the yard (not that I had much to do with that..) As promised Lucy, here is the Kylie Kwong recipe from Friday night. Yummo...and a pic of two little monkeys playing..

Stir-fried chickpeas with black bean & chilli

1 cup (200g)

3 tbsp peanut oil

2cm piece ginger, finely shredded

2 cloves garlic, roughly diced

2 tbsp salted black beans

1 small red onion, finely sliced

3 tbsp shao hsing wine

2 tbsp tamari

1 tbsp brown rice vinegar

1/2 tsp sesame oil

2 spring onions, finely sliced

1 long red chilli, finely sliced

Soak chickpeas in plenty of cold water overnight. The next day, drain chickpeas, place in a pan and cover with water. Bring to the boil, then simmer over a low-to-moderate heat for approx. 45 minutes or until tender. Allow the chickpeas to cool in their cooking water, then drain. Set aside. Heat peanut oil in a wok until surface shimmers slightly. Stir-fry ginger, garlic, black beans and onion for 2 mins or until fragrant. Add chickpeas and stir-fry for 2 mins. Pour in wine, drizzling it around the sides of the wok in a circular motion, then add sugar, tamari, vinegar and sesame oil and stir-fry for 3 mins to create a rich sauce. Toss in spring onion and chilli, then serve immediately.

New arrivals

Maisie caught up with her aunty yesterday and her yet to be born little cousin. Any day now she'll have someone smaller than her to poke and prod and attempt to put in her mouth. Let's hope that baby is a little less theatrical than Maisie. We now have the nightly joy of bedtime screaming sessions lasting around 40 minutes. When I say screaming, I don't mean the sweet, newborn type cries, I mean absolute inconsolable screams of terror. Honestly, she is so dramatic...she has been fed, burped, changed and is at the right stage of tired - not too much that she is overtired, but not awake enough to want to keep playing. In other words, there is no reason for her to cry, but right on cue the wails commence. It is so exhausting, the second after she falls asleep, I start craving a nice big glass of something alcoholic..

Daddy's day

Maisie had a lovely father's day with her daddy and thanked him for all the fun things they do together. He taught her a new dance that prompted fits of giggles and her breakfast to resurface. She also sat in a high chair for the first time. Guess I'll need to buy one for her soon....

Bula!

We just got back from a lovely week long trip in Fiji where Maisie experienced warm weather for the first time. She discovered she had toes under the thick tights she's been wearing and loved going sans nappy on the beach. Poor little tacker got very thirsty in the heat, so I spent most of the holiday feeding her. From planes, cars and ferries to a glass bottom tinny...it felt like one big advertisement for the convenience of breastfeeding. At least it negated the copious amount of food I ate!! Maisie had naptimes in a hammock under the palm trees and enjoyed her first ocean swim. She also learnt to roll from front to back..now I just have to get her back into home routine without all the willing babysitters..hmmm..