Holidays

I'm taking a couple of weeks off the blog over Christmas and new year. I'll be back in January with lots of new projects.

Weekly Wisdom

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The Saturday Update

Today is the first Saturday in a long time with no family or friends round to help. There's still lots to do but Nico took a fall last week - luckily nothing was broken and he recovered well but we did slow things down a little this week.

Tuesday was the big xmas party at baby gym. All three groups went together - Isabella's group being the youngest. It was fun to see her watching the big kids in amazement. I'm really glad we've been able to keep going to group throughout the move.

We also had catch ups with our other mummy and baby friends. We went Christmas shopping in town and got a little more into the spirit of things.

Just now we are focusing on things we have to get done before we fly on Tuesday - anything else is a bonus.

Christmas

My favourite Christmas movie...

Six months!

Somehow, our little girl is six months old today. Just as everyone warns you, it really does fly by. Isabella has changed our lives and we are loving it. Here are some of the things I want to remember from these first precious months.

• That little giggle when we play peekaboo.
• How she eats - eagerly when she likes something and not so when it's new, but equally cute either way.
• How friendly she is with everyone.
• The way she bounces and tries to stand up.
• Her reaction to funny noises and faces.
• The fact that she can't crawl yet but eagerly pushes herself along if she wants to get somewhere.
• Bathtime - or any interaction with water.
• The way she talks to our cat, Pete and how they gang up on us on a morning.
• Our struggles with hats, gloves, coats and suits even though it's cold out.
• Her grip on everything from my hair to the drawstrings on my jumper.
• Her new teeth.
• The way she hugs her sheep.
• How she fights of sleep when she has her night milk.
• Her lack of fear.
• Storytime and her starting to remember bits.

I'm so sorry it's flying by but I'm also excited for the next six months too.

Christmas has arrived

Later than ever before, our Christmas tree is finally up!!  It's been a decidedly unchristmassy year. We've been so busy with the move and rushing around to get ready for England. Many people said not to bother this year but it's Isabella's first Christmas and while she may not remember I would.

So the tree is up, the presents wrapped and under it and various other decorations round about. Now we are ready to celebrate.

Tape Wallet

Following on from my bag last week, I made this little wallet with the fabric tape, using the instructions from the kit. 

It's not perfect and I'm not sure I'll use it but I enjoyed the process and got some more practice with that tricky tape.

It was a fun little project and I'll keep my eye out for future Tchibo projects.

Recipe: Chicken Cordon Bleu

Ingredients:

• Chicken breast
• Bacon
• Gouda cheese
• Salt and pepper
• Sprouts
• Garlic butter

Instructions:

1. Cut the chicken breast almost in half lengthways.
2. Place the gouda into the chicken.
3. Wrap three bacon rashers around each breast.
4. Add salt and pepper and wrap in foil.
5. Put into the oven for around thirty minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
6. Meanwhile, cook the sprouts. Drain them and coat in the butter.

Weekly Wisdom

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The Saturday Update

The weeks are just flying by now. Highlights this week include:

• Getting the living room painted and bringing our beds over from the flat.
• Getting the xmas cards finished and sent out.
• A vert early but good baby group at 8.30!
• Watching Pete meet a neighbouring ginger cat.
• Meeting some of our human neighbours.
• Bringing over and filling the bookcases.
• Lots of Isabella smiles and giggles despite her first tooth breaking through!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

30 things - Start a Savings Plan

This week Isabella and I visited the local bank to set her up a savings account. I want her to be much more financially competent than I am so it makes sense to start early.

While we were there, I finally set up my own savings account. Obviously, I don't get the same benefits as Isabella but it still felt good to finally do something. My main financial goal is still to blitz my debt but at the same time, I can start putting a little aside.

There's something nice about doing something with your child, it's like a second chance and I'm loving it!

A goodbye

Even though it's been spread over a month, this move seems to have progressed rather quickly which is good in a way because I tend to get over-emotional but I just wanted to take a moment to remember what our old flat meant to us in the style of Rachel Jeffcoat.

This is the living room where we've spent so many cosy evenings, enjoyed many game nights, received many guests. It's where our Christmas tree stood for the last three years, where we skyped with friends and family to share news big and small. From this room we saw birds and squirrels up close. This is the room I was sat in when labour started and the first room we brought our baby girl into.

In this kitchen we cooked so many meals together, tried lots of new recipes and learned to live gluten-free.

In this bathroom I discovered I was pregnant!

Here in this bedroom, we brought our 'practice baby' cat home and waited for him to come out of his cage and accept us. This is where he woke us up like Simon's cat many mornings. This is where Nico proposed, where I told him I was pregnant and where our sweet baby girl slept for her first weeks.

This is the office where we both brought work home.

This room started out as a guest room, and we had many people stay there, it became something of a storeroom for our ever shrinking kitchen, then a nursery for tomato plants before finally being the nursery for our little girl - the scene of night feeds and smiley mornings.

Finally, our balconies where plants grew, kebabs were barbecued, quiet time was enjoyed and storks were spotted overhead.

This is the first place we called 'ours', home to our family of two, then three, then four. It's a home I'll never forget but now it's on to new experiences and hopefully lots more wonderful memories like these.

Girl Power

Becoming a homeowner has led to me trying several new things over the last month or so, and while none of those things were on my lists, it's been quite empowering.

Before the move, I had never painted a room before. I've now painted six with help from family. I've learned how to prepare the room and how to clear up afterwards too.  First it has made me very grateful for all the times my dad painted our rooms growing up - thanks Dad! (I'm afraid Isabella may be doing her own when she gets bored of yellow.) It also makes me wonder how my grandad did this as a job. I'm exhausted each Saturday when we are done.

My favourite new thing was building the above log fire. To be honest, I'm a little afraid of things like that and normally leave them to my chemistry teacher husband but he taught me how to do it this week and I felt quite proud of myself.

I'm sure there will be many more things to learn over the next few years as we get the house done and work on the garden and I'm really looking forward to it!

Recipe: Hollandaise Sauce

Ingredients:

• Butter
• 3 egg yolks
• Salt and pepper
• Water
• Lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Melt the butter.
2. Whisk the eggs and add the seasoning, water and lemon juice.
3. Gradually add the butter, mixing constantly.
4. When the sauce thickens, pour over your meal. (We eat it with fish and broccoli.)

Weekly Wisdom

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The Saturday Update

We've had a busy week here. After getting the keys last Friday, we got straight to work on Saturday cleaning, painting and making minor repairs. The kitchen is up and running. 

We camped on the floor in front of the fire on Saturday night which was fun and let us get to work early on Sunday. 

All week we have been driving forward and backward between the house and flat with boxes.

Today family are coming over again to help us paint and clean and hopefully bring our beds over so we can sleep more comfortably after a day's work.

Routines

One of the exciting things about buying  house for me, is starting new family routines and traditions with Isabella. It's already been really nice having breakfast together in the kitchen on a morning with radio and no television.

Something else I want to start next week is reading Isabella a bedtime story. I know she doesn't understand yet but it's never too early to start.

If we manage to get unpacked in time, I'm looking forward to finding a new spot for our Christmas tree and seeing Isabella's reaction to Christmas time.

Also, I'd like to do something as a family on a Friday night. Both Nico and I have fond family memories of marking the start of the weekend.

What family traditions mean the most to you?

Currently...

...packing and unpacking boxes like a machine.
...painting walls.
...enjoying being a homeowner.
...getting cosy in front of the log fire.
...watching Isabella enjoy her advent calendar.
...camping at the new house.
...feeling grateful for helping hands.
...trying to get ready for Christmas.
...being ready for a break.
...drinking hot lemon.
...discovering our new town.

Tape Bag

In amongst moving, painting and unpacking, I managed to fit in this quick little Tchibo project.

It's a bag made from fabric tape. It was a fun and quick project. I don't know what I'll use it for yet but I enjoyed making something again.

I've done Tchibo projects before and I love how simple the instructions are to follow and how nice they look at the end.

There's a little wallet in this kit too so I'm looking forward to that.

December Goals

• Move house.
• Enjoy Christmas with family in England.
• Catch my breath!

Recipe: Mushrooms in Butter

Ingredients:

• Mushrooms
• Butter
• Onions
• Garlic
• Thyme
• Marjoran
• Salt and Pepper
• Bread to serve and dip

Instructions:

1. Fry the mushrooms, onion and garlic in the butter.
2. Add the spices and seasoning.
3. Enjoy!