zippedy dooo dah!

Lately I've been feeling quite a bit more confident in my sewing abilities.
I thought I'd venture out... and try something with a zip. Yes people... that's right! Not that terrifying once you do it!!

I found a tutorial online and got sewing. I had all the materials minus the zip which only cost me a couple of dollars - yay! The tutorial I used is here. I was also pretty proud of myself for sewing something which required lining. I'm glad I took the time and effort because I think it looks pretty good!!

I even added a little yo yo flower to the front, because I thought it would look good! My my... we are getting fancy now aren't we ?

I did try to sew the flower on so the stitching was hidden, but after a few failed attempts... I decided to use red thread and just make the stitching obvious. I did my best to make it as neat as I could.

(Please ignore the scabby looking edge of the table... it's a work table we moved inside, I'm quite enjoying the extra table space however it will have to go back outside soon!)

Also... I picked up the pillowcase (which the zippered pouch is sitting on) today whilst mooching around the Recycle Mart. I plan on chopping it up to make something.... knowing me it will probably be more bunting!

Things with Pretzel are going well, in my 30th week along now. I think the time goes faster when you aren't the pregnant one LOL. Also, I found out I have gestational diabetes which I'm learning to live with and have to test my blood sugar four times daily. Mr. 4 who is fascinated with all things hospital/doctor/ambulance finds it very interesting.

Thanks for stopping by!!
Dansie



Thoughts on mummyhood....

When I became a Mum, I had no midwives to help me learn to breastfeed. I'd had no birthing classes, no friendly chats with helpful hospital staff. We were in China, I didn't even speak the language. I did force myself to sit through an online clip of a natural birth so I had some  idea of what the heck was going to happen. I religiously read my "What to expect" book, which we had managed to order at a bookstore in Hong Kong while on holiday from mainland China. I was clueless. I had no idea. I did however, have this grand idea in my head that I would have a natural birth  - I had hips, I could push a baby out. No worries.

Wrong!

I ended up having an emergency c-section. Which was scarey... I didn't speak the language and they were sticking a needle in my spine. I did have a teacher from my school (she worked in the nursing department at the college we both taught at) to interpret. She was lovely and so reassuring. Hubby couldn't come in with me... I was exhausted from 12 hours of labour already. A medical person ran a fingernail over my stomach (or something sharp, but not to cut me) and I lost it. I got hysterical... all I could think of was those articles you read "I felt my csection" etc etc... they held a mask over my face and knocked me out.

The reason for this whole spiel was that I felt a bit ripped off. What I expected and what I got were two very very different birth experiences. What followed was 6 days in a chinese hospital, with no shower... 4 days bedridden with a catheter. Once I was released I had to walk the 124 stairs up to our apartment (ouch!).....

A friend of mine found this interview and posted this link on her facebook page.
http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/video/-/watch/28071499/breastapo-under-fire/
I thought I'd share because although my struggle wasn't with breastfeeding, I do understand that many women do struggle with this. My mum had to teach me, based on what she did with us girls. It took a while, it was uncomfy and sometimes yukky. I do understand that when I became a mother I had no idea how competitive it was. So.... I'm sharing this so that we can all see that there are two sides to the story. I wanted a natural birth the first time, and didn't get it. I did get it the second time though. Some women would love to breastfeed, and can't. Others feed for two years with ease. As I enter into the last ten weeks of my pregnancy with Pretzel my plan is for a natural birth, and to breastfeed.... however in the end it does come down to whatever is best for Pretzel and me. Healthy baby, healthy mummy is the end goal.

Thanks for reading!
Dansie

Growing up and counting down.....

The countdown is on. Mr 4 is starting school in eight days. The shoes have been purchased, books on list are done, shorts and hats are ready to be washed... all we need are school shirts and a back pack. He is so excited, so enthusiastic. We started a countdown on the fridge. Mr 3 was feeling a bit left out, so we started one today for when he begins kindy. He was so excited and I was feeling so weary, that we stuck tomorrows stickers on today - woops!

How do I feel about him starting school? I know it is a part of growing up. I feel like I have done all I can to teach him up to this point. I know he will cope fine. But... I also feel a bit sad that my full time at home with him has come to an end. I feel like I need to squash as much as I can into the next week (except I have full on uni intensive this whole week, which saddens me too.) It will be a great chance for Mr 4 to spend some wonderful days playing with his little brother, and having time with Daddy too. Add to these feelings my pregnancy hormones and I'll probably cry.... after saying goodbye to him with a huge smile. It will be quiet at home without him though.

I guess it's all part of him growing up and in a way it's a part of growing up for me too. Growing into what will become the norm over the next 13 years or so, growing into being Mum to a growing family. I have been reminding myself that every other prep mum out there will probably be feeling exactly the same way.

If you have kids starting prep this year, let me know how you feel.

Have a good week!
Dansie

Tis the season to be jolly…

Tuesday 13 December 2011

Merry Christmas!

So much has been happening in our house lately. I’ve completed a few projects over the past few weeks, and even managed to photograph some of them! As I write this my house smells like paint, my amazing husband has been busy painting our kitchen cupboard doors and our new kitchen benches are sitting out in the garage ready to be installed once the doors are all done. I can’t wait to see the finished result and the pressure is on, as we have my family over here for early Christmas lunch this Saturday!

First things first, Mr-almost 3 turned 3!!

(This is his cake, yes it's a Coles cake revamped LOL... it's Luigi and Guido from Cars next to their Leaning Tower of Tyres)

I made some birthday bunting too to help celebrate……

I’ve made some Christmas bunting to go above the window nook the tree sits in………

I made 6 kindy teacher presents. I love giving gifts made in jars, as there is no wrapping which means it’s environmentally savvy! Also, the fabric square, ribbon and jar can be reused (or the jar can be recycled).

Our big son graduated kindy…

And my Hubby graduated with is graduate diploma – half way to his masters degree!

I also made gingerbread for the first time I can remember. It was a simple recipe I found here

My mum came and guided me in finishing this gift for my nephew:

And somewhere in all of this we found time to go and visit my sister in law, her husband and 2 children who are visiting from England. I’ve been mindful to not be too busy as I am pregnant this Christmas and have to have some limitations. Don’t get me wrong… I’m no super Mum. I still have presents to buy. I have to go and do a truckload of grocery shopping. As I write this my kids are perched in front of

Sesame Street

. My kitchen doors are all over my house drying and last night we had takeaway. I’ve been challenged this Christmas to just enjoy the journey. Things will get done. Making memories is more important, and taking the time to do that. Some of our traditions in our house include:

-          everyone helping to set up the tree on December 1. Hubby lifts the boys up to put the star on the top.

       

-A more recent tradition is putting up some Christmas lights outside.

 - This year both sides of the family are doing secret santa for the adults.

-           a new ornament for each child each year to symbolise something which happened during the year. This year each boy got an ornament to remember our big road trip in March/April.

-          Seeing family and celebrating together. Both sides of the family are very understanding with the juggle.

-          Some sort of Christmas baking – this year it has been gingerbread men and fruit cake. I’m sure there will be some more to come – however my kitchen will have to be ready for that to happen.

-          And I’m there are more I’m not thinking of right now……

Merry Christmas everyone! Remember the real reason for the season is Jesus. Happy celebrating, I hope it’s a joyous time!

Dansie.

Simple Play ideas 3

Monday 21 November 2011

Hi there everyone!

The year is winding up, and there are appointments and committments everywhere. Our boys have started swimming lessons once a week, there are doctors appointments, dinner dates..... the list goes on. Christmas is coming, and soon it will be 2012!! Also, in the next week or so, Mr-almost-3 will be turning 3!! He has put in his order for his Luigi and Guido cake (from Cars) and wants Ham and Pineapple pizza for his birthday dinner. It's not his party year... we had a party for each sons first and second birthdays... then we paused and asked "Are we going to do this EVERY year?" We decided no.... parties on even number years. How do you work it at your house? Who do you invite to the parties? Family? Friends? Everyone?

Today's play idea is really simple. Once again it involves simple household objects: empty jars, water, food colouring and spoons.

Fill the jars up with different volumes of water, add food colouring and voila! Home made xylophone. Mr-almost 3 enjoyed clanking and clunking the spoons on the outside, and putting the spoon inside and 'stirring' the water so the spoon clinked on the side of the glass jar.

Add Mr 4 to the picture and the coloured water became a 'mixing experience' - what colour does green and yellow make? blue and red? red and yellow? etc.....

So why do this experience with your children? Here's why:

1. It's cheap and you probably have all the stuff in your house already

2. It can improve musical awareness (the pitch is affected by the volume of water, cause and effect - hit the jar, wait for the sound).

3. Mixing colour is basic science experimentation - what happens when? Encourage your child to guess and predict what may happen

4. It is water play without huge volumes of water.

5. Encourages colour knowledge - encourage your children to name the colours.

6. Basic mathematical language  - more, less, full, too much, not enough, empty. Encourage these words too!

And finally something I really want to share with you - with help and loving guidance I sewed a skirt for my neice's birthday.

An enormous thankyou to my friend Karen from k4j designs for her patience, moral support, guidance and all around sewing guru-ness and help! Here is a link to some of Karen's creations: http://www.facebook.com/#!/k4jDesigns.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!
Dansie x



Simple Play Ideas 2 - Playdough

Thursday 10 November 2011

Playdough. It just drums up images of my childhood and my teaching days. I remember as a young uni student learning to make playdough on one of my pracs and burning it (please don't burn it, the smell is disgusting). There are two types of playdough - cooked and uncooked. Cooked takes a little longer to make, and it lasts longer. Uncooked is a quick fix, but seems to go greasy rather quickly.

Playdough is really great for kids of all ages, and I'd have to say the right age to start your child playing with playdough is when you feel they are ready. Yes, they will eat it, and yes... it will be messy but it will be so much fun for them! Also, playdough is beneficial for fine motor development (and those muscles needed for many things including hand writing), eye hand co-ordination, imagination (who hasn't made a playdough snake?) and other cognitive development such as textural awareness, sensory development and understanding cause and effect (stab the playdough and what happens? A hole!).

Here's the recipe I use. It's from the McKenzies cream of tartar tin:
2 cups plain flour
4 tablespoons cream of tartar
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 cup salt
food colouring
2 cups water.

Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan, stir over medium heat (don't burn it!) for about 3-5 minutes or until mixture begins to stick together. It starts to look doughy.

What I find is a good idea is to make the dough without the colouring, and then poke a hole in the dough and add tiny bits of food colouring into the whole then knead it through.

BE CAREFUL you don't turn your hands blue like I did... I was being careful and as I needed it all the blue squirted out onto my hands. Alternatively, you can add the food colouring as it's cooking, or use gloves to help you mix it through.

The yellow playdough has glitter mixed through it.


Plain dough is great, but there are variations you can add:
 - Rice (for texture)
 - Sand
 - Rolled oats
 - Cous Cous
 - Glitter
 - Vanilla essence (for a lovely smell),
 - Eucalyptus Oil (brilliant for winter)
 - Lemon essence

Possible tools you could use for playdough play:
 - Melon Baller
 - Rolling pin
 - Cookie cutters
 - Knife and fork
 - Toddler scissors for cutting the dough
 - Chop Sticks
 - Garlic press (for tiny worms!)

Be creative and use what you have!

I store my playdough in the fridge, wrapped in plastic wrap in an icecream container. I find it lasts quite a while this way.

Hoping you all have a great day today. It's already feeling warm here today, I think it may be over 30 degrees today. Good day for the boys to start their swimming lessons!

Thanks for stopping by!
Dansie

Simple Play Ideas 1

Friday 4 November 2011

One of my dear friends became a Mum for the first time this week (yay!). I was talking to her a little while ago about playdough. She told me I should blog a recipe and some ideas to extend playdough play. In honour of her entering Mummyhood, I've decided to do a series of 'simple play ideas.' My definition of a simple play idea involved engaging with your child using cheap, everyday household items.

The first idea I will share with you is something that Mr-almost-3 loved when I tried it with him. You will need a bucket or empty icecream container and some clothes pegs. The goal is for your child to place the pegs around the edge of the bucket. We sorted ours into colours also.

This activity is brilliant for developing fine motor skills, categorising/classifying/sorting skills and colour recognition, as well as an abundance of mathematical skills (counting, one-to-one recognition), and cognitive development which comes through process (pick up the peg, squeeze the peg, place the peg on the bucket, repeat). While undertaking this activity here are some questions/interactions to help you engage with your child
1. What colour is your peg? Where are the other pegs the same colour?
2. How many pegs are the same colour as the peg you've got?
3. Show me how you squeeze the peg....
4. Where does that peg go?
5. Tell me what other coloured pegs you can see?

I like the concentration on his face in this picture! Mr-almost-3 sat at this activity for about 20 minutes or so, and even asked for more pegs.

Here is the finished product:

(That's some impressive pegging!)

What simple activities do you like to involve your children in? I'd love to hear what and how you do it.....
Have a great day!
Dansie