Grief

This morning as the thick fog blanketed Perth, it seemed fitting and significant on a day of sadness.

Last night, my brave Pop lost his battle with life and spread his wings on his journey to a better place.

Pop was an amazing man. Without a doubt, the most intelligent man I've ever known. His presence in a room was felt even when no words were spoken. During the past few years while his health deteriorated, never once did I hear him complain or be demanding in any way.

I am grateful that in the hours before his passing last night, I held his hand at the hospital and told him I loved him and I took handmade cards my girls had made for him. Miss 6 wrote "Get Well Soon Pop, I hope you are ok and you will still be with me". I shed a tear when I passed that card over, knowing chances were that in the very near future he would no longer be with us.

My grandmother should be proud of herself and the care and compassion she gave Pop looking after him every single day. Its not an easy feat but she succeeded in making sure he was comfortable in every way.

My Mum, who was with my Pop as he took his last breath, I know you have lost a big part of your life and I know you loved Pop and treated him with all the respect he deserved in life.

To all my cousins, who I love and adore, my thoughts are with you on this big loss to our family. I will always remember Pop telling us to "Get out of the galley" with fond memories and to Troy and Megan, our annual Carnarvon holidays will always hold a big place in my heart.

To Pop, I know I told you this last night, but I love you and you were always a kind grandfather to me.
Rest in peace now.

xxxxxx

Travelling with kids!

We have been going to Bali annually for the past three years with our kiddies. My second born was 1 year old on her first trip and I regularly get asked by friends for tips and advice on our travel experiences to Bali. It is such a common holiday destination now being so close to Perth and having no time difference. About 3.5 hrs is my personal limit on a plane with young children!!

So....in response to these commonly asked questions, I have put below my Top Ten Tips for Bali travel with an infant!

#1 - I kept my baby on formula until we returned from holiday as I thought it would be easier mixing bottled water and formula. Your other option is to put your little ones on long life milk (Devondale etc) in lieu of introducing them to normal Brownes Cows milk (as they do taste a bit different) - that way you can take enough long life over to last you your holiday. It's pretty easy as the rooms have bar fridges and then its no mixing required.
#2 - I requested with the hotel to have a microwave in my room....random request maybe but they gave me one and it allowed me to heat up my baby's lunch and dinner.
#3 - When we arrived at the hotel, I went straight to the mini mart and bought the biggest bottled water I could find, I think it was either a 5L or a 10L and a bottle of dishwashing liquid.
#4 - I took with me small sample bottles from the chemist of a bottle & vegetable cleaner solution. I would wash baby's bottles in the bathroom basin with their water and the dishwashing liquid and scrub with a bottle brush. I would then thoroughly rinse twice the bottle with the bottled fresh water.
#5 - I requested a cot in the room. But took my own linen.
#6 - I took enough jar food for lunch and dinner each day for my baby. That way I knew what she was eating and that it was fresh and clean. Unfortunately Raffety's wasn't invented then so I had to bubble wrap each jar in my suitcase! Now things are more travel friendly.
#7 - I allowed my baby to eat the fresh fruits etc.
#8 - I took a box of weetbix (or you could take any cereal) and would put it in a small plastic container each morning and take it down to breakfast with us. I would feed her there. Depending on what your hotel provides for breakfast, most stuff would be pretty safe - ie, toast, pastries etc.
#9 - Definitely take a LAY DOWN stroller. As the kids got older I always took the bunky cheapo stroller but at 1 year of age you will find at night they still want to sleep in it if you are out.
#10 - Speak to your chemist about the mosquito repellant, as a lot of them cannot be used on 1yr olds!

Bali is our favourite holiday destination with our girls and they absolutely love going. We would love to hear your travel tips too!

DIY Baby Food

I always made my own baby food for my firstborn and she devoured everything I made.
Then when my second child was born I presumed she would do the same.
When she was around 7 months of age I was having a mental breakdown with trying to get her to eat so off I went to see our GP. He asked me what she would eat and I told him practically nothing. All she really ate was banana and was so constipated due to lack of variety that I was fighting an uphill battle.
He asked me what food I was trying to give her and my reply was homecooked vegetables.
It was then that he told me I may have to "let go" and try jar food.

So off to the supermarket I went. After a few weeks of trying, we managed to get her to eat about 4 vegetable jar food varieties and about 3 fruit varieties.

So about a month ago we started the fun all over again with Bub #3 and SUCCESS! So far so good, she is eating what I make (excluding pumpkin).

After three babies I think I have baby food making down to a fine art.....this baby I have been extra blessed with a Thermomix (if you don't know what a Thermomix is I suggest you do your best to find out as this blog is just not big enough for the amount of praise I can give that machine, oh and if you are looking at buying one I can help you with a contact).....so my baby food making process goes like this;

1. Chop veges or fruit - or chop in Thermomix
2. Steam veges or fruit - or cook in Thermomix
3. Puree veges or fruit - either using hand blender, normal blender or Thermomix

When baby is starting on solids, I always use an ice cube tray to put the puree in. It is just the right amount when they start eating and you can build up the number of cubes. I fill the tray and place it in the freezer.

The following day, I run a small amount of water on the back of the trays and pop the vege or fruit cubes out and place in a resealable sandwich bag labelled with the ingredients of the cubes.

As bub grows I move onto cupcake tins! Weird I know but in the past it has always been the perfect amount....

Then when bub starts eating chicken, beef etc, I use the ice cube trays for these. When reheating the food I use one cupcake portion of veges to 1 x ice cube size portion of protein.

I cook batches about once a week and they stay really nice.

We have just started using the mesh feeder as Miss M is now capable of holding onto it. Tonight, she feasted on avocado and banana and absolutely LOVED it. It keeps her occupied in her rocker while Im trying to cook dinner!

I hope these little tips allow you to easily prepare batches of baby food for your little one.
I'm sorry....but I cannot promise they will eat it!!