She should learn that dirt is not food

Whenever someone opens then closes the front door, she throws a wobbly. She loves going outside and acts like we’re the meanest people in the world when someone leaves and she can’t go too, or even if we’re just coming back inside! She acts the same way when we end her backyard explorations.

Anything in there I can eat?

She’s decided that the coffee table and her chair make a great jungle gym to practice climbing on. It’s harmless (except if she were to fall off onto the hard floor), but it’s not a habit we want to form – thus, another reason to scream and shout at her mean parents.

Just fiddling, mum

Another reason for her behaviour might be because she’s not feeling the best lately. Her temperature has been lingering around 37.5-38 so she’s a little warmer than usual. We’ve also noticed those omnious spots collectively labelled a “viral rash” by GPs that pretty much equate to a cold of some sort. On top of that she’s dribbling lots and it looks like she’s teething yet again.

It’s great that the husband still has a week of leave left. I really appreciate the extra pair of hands and eyes, especially now that I’m getting big and heavy, making most everyday things a bit of an effort. And dealing with a grumpy, tantrum-throwing baby at the moment is hard work!

This should be easy, right?

Abby’s starting to learn more words. When we tell her it’s “teeth time” she says “tee, tee”. She can also say “nahnah” to mean banana – she even pointed to them at the supermarket and said “nahnah” without any prompting. Super impressed mum. She still knows “shoe” or “ball” too.

Walking to find more trouble

She’s getting really confident with herself. Her walking is coming along nicely. She can crawl down the deck steps backwards. She rocks on her horse Neigh-neigh without help. She loves her paddling pool and climbs in and out to take “exploration” breaks on the deck. She pushes her wagon and gets on her car by herself. She drinks from straws, sipper bottles and cups, and the dog bowl when we’re not paying attention.

Abby is turning into a little girl, a Terrible-Two perhaps – argh! In saying that, I hope she grows up a bit faster before her brother comes along, maybe drop the tantrums for starters?

I promise to be a good girl - promise.

I can’t believe this is Abby’s second Christmas! At least this year she’s not a newborn so will be able to actually enjoy the presents, food and company like everyone else (unlike her first Christmas where she just slept).

Abby on Neigh-neigh and her mini sock monkey in a stocking

Abby got to open some of her Chrissie presents early, one of them being a paddling pool gifted from a friend. It was so nice last Saturday that I thought she might like a paddle on the deck. And she did – lots.

She lurrrves water, playing and drinking it too (at least it was just plain tap water and not chlorinated public pool water).

Mum and dad got Abby a play oven for Christmas, which she was allowed to open last week also. She’s not quite figured out how to turn the hob dials though, but can press the “timer” button for the oven so it ticks and dings.

The random stuff in my oven are done!

Then she spends the rest of the time putting things in and taking things out of the oven. She also pretends to fry up what I like to think is bacon and eggs for mum’s breakfast.

Breakfast in bed for mum please

She’s such a clever cookie. She’s walking more by herself now. She can climb on, and backwards to get off, the sofa/bed or out the back door (another thing I have to watch out for!)

She’s learnt to say “ball” and “shoe” but they come out as “brr” and “shuhr”. (In the video below, at 1:04 I ask her “What is that?” and she starts to say “ball” but I correct her – I then notice that Fez had dropped his ball at her feet. Way to confuse the poor child.)

She’s starting to repeat what we say so I have to watch my potty mouth around her just in case!

Have a merry Christmas and a great break from the norm everyone!

If you were a gangsta, you’d play hacky like this:

Gangsta hacky

And if you were the Karate Kid you’d do it like this (with your Karate Friend doing the moves on the side):

Karate Kid hacky

Whoa, that animation is making me a little motion sick. I apologise for the wonky camera angles – I didn’t intend on making this series an animation.

Charcoal bbqs all the way

The Barbecue

Preferably a charcoal one because after all, a gas bbq is just a big frying pan isn’t it? You can’t beat the taste of char-grilled meat (or vegies for those strange folk). If you must use a gas bbq, then at least leave some burnt bits so we can pretend that you’ve used a real bbq…

Meat

Must – have – meat. That is a rule at our bbqs :)

Nibbles

Let’s face it – everything is always running behind time at bbqs. There’s too much drink, sun and friends around to distract you from cooking at the planned time.

To avoid having a bunch of guests trollied before sun down, have some nibbles available. Favourites are cheese and crackers, chips, vegetables and dip, fruit, peanuts, pistachios and pretzels.

Drinks

It’s pretty common in the Kiwi culture to BYO drinks to a bbq. It’s nice though to provide a few complimentaries, especially some non-alcoholic ones for those who have drawn the short straw to drive. And don’t forget to have a good supply of ice (for cocktails most importantly).

Salads

Manly men (”men, men, men, men, manly men, ooohoo ooo ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh, oooo ooooh, aaaa haaaaa“) might grumble at the thought of having salads at such a primitive occasion as cooking on a fire. None the less, salads are good for you, and your bowels will be thankful especially after you assault it with a large quantity of meat (no dirty puns intended).

Dessert

You cannot forget desserts at a bbq! Pavlova, banoffee pie, cheesecake, chocolate mousse and any other desserts that I have failed to mention :) I will gladly provide the cupcakes.

Good Company

Ensure you invite good friends. They make all the difference to a successful bbq – and they’re less likely to nick your stuff.

Thursday 15 January 2009

I finally wear a skirt to work today – first time for years. Usually it’s too cold inside with the air conditioning, but we’ve fixed that so hooray! Awful photo.

Yay for skirts and warm weather

Friday 16 January 2009

The four of us take off after work to Napier for the weekend. I make the husband stop the car when we spot some miniature horses. This one reminds me of Kurt Cobain.

If Kurt Cobain came back as a mini horse

Saturday 17 January 2009

The weather is fantastic in Napier today.

We go shopping in town, have lunch at a pub (where I am asked for ID, boo!), and visit Hastings where the shops we want to visit are unfortunately closed.

In between Buck’s Fizzes (and beer for the boys) there is some hacky sacking – the most exercise I’ve had in a while!

One of the good old summer sports

Sunday 18 January 2009

The weather is not so fantastic in Napier today.

In between the intermittent downpours we get some lunch that includes some fresh cream donuts and lamingtons – yummy!

Too hot for tea, but not for tea cakes

Monday 19 January 2009

We harvest some peas, courgettes and beans from our garden when we get back from Napier.

A little reward from nature

Tuesday 20 January 2009

Hubby reminds me I need to use up the cream in the fridge.

I make some chocolate cupcakes and ice them with Malibu lemon icing.

Delicious, yes.

Wednesday 21 January 2009

There is a power cut this morning and I have to take a cold shower.

I get to work and find I can’t take any lifts up from Lambton Quay to the Terrace. I walk up Plimmer Steps and notice crowds of people unable to get inside and up to their buildings. The power cut is more wide spread than I first thought.

The power is back by the time I arrive at work, about an hour and a half since the cut began.

Traffic lights out at the intersection of Wellington Road, Kilbirnie Terrace and Hamilton Road