Life under a Pepper Tree

Week 48 Wow! Week 48?? That just sounds so strange, like maybe its almost the end of year! How crazy to think 2014 is almost done.  Its been a pretty good week so far. I only worked 2 days this week, and took my 3rd working day off to go get some Xmas shopping done minus one weeny boy.  I'd have to call it a mostly successful trip too which is a relief.  And I've been baking a bit this week which is kinda nice. A yummy banana cake with lemon & coconut icing.  Hubby wasn't that keen, oh well, more for me! I also baked and painstakingly iced some gingerbread men.  I've learned a few things too.  1.  Don't try making them more "healthy" by using wholemeal flour. 2.  Buy a decent gingerbread man cookie cutter. The one I used was rubbish. It just didn't cut the dough nicely so we had some really rough edges. 3.  Use a smaller nozzle on the icing piping bag. It was waaay too thick! Just edging the cookies meant there was barely enough room to stick

Today marks exactly 1 year since I had my very first day back at work from maternity leave. I just can't believe its been a whole year, yet it also feels like a lot has happened and a lot has changed since I had that first day back at work.  I feel like I'm in a good routine now. I don't feel quite so lost at work, yet I'm always learning which makes my job pretty darn enjoyable. When I left for work this morning, it was a very different feeling to a year ago.  I still miss my weeny boy, but at least I know he's in good hands at his daycare.  We still have big cuddles and loads of kisses when I say goodbye, but my heart doesn't break quite so much. A year ago , Dylan was just on 11 months old. He had done his first ever commando crawl on the 21st November and then walked by the 10th December. He still seemed like such a baby. He was so wobbly on his feet, but had a determination to get mobile.  The toys he played with were very much baby toys, and now the ones

Week 47 Saturday was super hot, so we filled up his little clam-shell pool and let him kick and splash and have a great time.  It was a much more successful "swim" than earlier in the week where I found that those cute little boy-leg swimming pants are NOT the same as a swim nappy.  Not only was I fishing poo nuggets out of the water, but they were sprinkled all across the grass in the backyard. Lets just say I won't be walking out there barefoot again for a while! Joining in with Jodi and Project 52 . Bel

Week 46 Dylan decided that bath time wasn't just for splashing, or playing with his bath toys.  For some unknown reason he decided to lay right down and fully immerse himself right in the water. Much gulping of water and giggling was the result! A portrait of my son once a week, every week in 2014 Joining in with Jodi and Project 52 . Bel

Week 45 Somebody got into the fridge. Somebody tossed out the salad onto the floor. Somebody found their way to an open packet of chocolate biscuits and helped themselves! Somebody clearly enjoyed it! A portrait of my son, once a week, every week in 2014 Joining in with Jodi and Project 52 . Bel

Week 44 As Dylan's transition from babbling to talking gets better, I guess I also see the downside.  The demanding toddler can now tell me what he wants and I can't just pretend I don't know or can't give it to him.  Today's lunch didn't go down so well.  Not usually a fan of ham, and a lover of avocado, Dylan picked out the ham strips and gobbled them up only to leave the avo untouched.  Then came the "more ham" request, and the "more narny" (banana), and the "more cheese"!  I guess there are worse things he could be eating.  When he did finally go back to eating more of the sandwich there was facial expressions galore!! A portrait of my son, once a week, every week in 2014 Joining in with Jodi and Project 52 . Bel