Charlie Dec 24

My second scrapbook page(c:

Cheese cake

My first baked cheesecake, not bad for a first attempt.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (125g) sifted plain flour
• 1/4 cup (65g) white sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 125g butter
• 1 egg yolk, beaten
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 560g cream cheese
• 1/8 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 1/2 tablespoons plain flour
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 5/8 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons thickened cream

Preparation method

1.

Preheat oven to 200C.

2.

To make crust: combine 1 cup of the flour, 1/4 cup of the sugar and 1 teaspoon lemon zest. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the beaten egg yolk and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla. Pat 1/3 of the dough into the bottom of one 20cm springform pan with the sides removed. Bake for 6 minutes. Let cool then butter sides of pan and attach to bottom. Pat the remaining dough evenly on the sides to a height of 5cm.

3.

To make filling: preheat oven to 260C. Stir cream cheese to soften, then beat until fluffy add 1/8 teaspoon vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel.

4.

Mix 1 1/2 tablespoons flour, 1/8 teaspoon salt and the remaining sugar together. Gradually blend this mixture into the cream cheese mixture. Add the eggs and the egg yolk one at a time, beating well after each one. Gently stir in the cream. Pour batter into the prepared crust.

5.

Bake for 5 to 8 minutes or until top edge of crust is golden. Reduce heat to 100C and continue baking for 1 hour. Remove cake from oven and cool in pan for at least 3 hours. Remove sides of pan to serve.

First solids

First Solids
I knew Charlie wasn't ready for solids yet...I try not to compare Jack and Charli- but I do. Jack at the same age was always watching us eat, would move his mouth and try and reach for our food. Charlie couldn't care less! Maybe because he is always asleep when we are eating.
Jack had his first solids at Easter at Coles Bay, he practically grabbed the spoon and put it in his mouth would eat it then open his mouth for more.
Charlie looked at the spoon then looked away!! I would put some in his mouth and it just sat there and Charlie would screw his face up, then eventually move his tongue around it then gag on it!
Tried again the next day and made the rice cereal a bit thicker but was much the same. Then the next day and he seemed to be getting the hang of it. I was going to stop and try again in a week, but I will just keep trying everyday but not force him(c:
I can't believe how different my 2 cheeky monkeys are!

Jack having his first solids Saturday 11th April 2009

Charlie having his first solids Saturday 26th May 2012

Another busy weekend

Thursday 24th May
I took Jack to school, then came home and made a pavlova and tidied the house, then picked Jack up from school, then came home for an hour then dropped Jack and Charlie off at the inlaws shop- Sewknit for 21/2 hours while I went to Sanctum and had my spa treatment that Mr Miller had gotten me for my birthday and Christmas present!! (c: I was really looking forward to it and it was the best 2 and a bit hours ever!! first I had a foot scrub and soak, then an hour and a half hawaiian body massage then 1/2 hour facial, mmm it was bliss and smelled so good!
Nanna Sue came to visit then Poppa came after work and we had pizza for tea, we didn't have the pav for dessert as we were so full.

Friday
I went at 9.00 to the hairdresser to have the black colour stripped from my hair it took ages as they had to do it twice it was that dark then they put a brown/red colour through it and it does look so much better. I got home at 12 and put Charlie to bed as he wouldn't go to sleep for Nanna. We then had to go into town Nanna had an eye appointment at 1.30. The weather was terrible, ry cold, dark and looked like it was going to storm. While Nanna had her appointment Charlie, Jack and I went to Banjos for lunch. While we were sitting there Jack said 'lets have a chat', very cute(c: I said what will we chat about? he said spiders.... I wasn't sure how long Mum would be so we walked to Nanna Rob and Poppa Petes shop as I thought Charlie might need a bottle. As we were walking there Mum rang me to say she had finished so I said said meet me at the shop. When she got there Charlie seemed fine and we didn't have much more to do so I said lets get home and feed him there. I went with Charlie to take a library book back. Mum and Jack went to get some lunch for mum. On the way to the library it started pouring with rain I got drenched and Charlie got a bit wet too, poor thing he was crying:(
The rain didn't look like it was going to stop any time soon so I put a blanket over Charlie's pram, put my hood of my jacket on and ran to Myer and then saw mum and Jack about to cross at the lights. Jack liked getting wet as he crossed the road! We got home and I gave Charlie a bottle and put him to bed then I had to go out near the airport to pick up a parcel and I had to go to the grocery store. It hadn't stopped raining. I was so glad to get home and get dry. But I had to get organised as Poppa and Auntie Bec and Reuben were coming for tea, we had Poppa's fish and veg. I also made an apple crumble as the pav was only small. It was still raining. Mum and Dad were worried about thier place as last time it rained heavy for a long time water flooded into their garrage.

Saturday
We had a lazy morning. I gave Charlie his first solids even though I didn't think he was ready yet. (That was the main reason mum came up to watch him have his solids) and he wasn't ready he couldn't care less about food, he didn't seem to want it, he wouldn't swallow it and kept gagging on it!

Poppa came while I took Jack to swimming lessons. Jack was awesome he has come such a long way. He was swimming a bit by himself, and was happy to go under and to the bottom to get a ring which he has been scared to do do previously. I wa so proud of him, especially since he has only been learning for one term. Next term he will go on a monday morning and will go in without me which I think he is ready for but I'm not sure how he will go without me.
Mum and Dad left after that to go back to St Helens(There place was fine, a little bit of water in the garrage and some ruts in their gravel driveway)
I had to get organised again as we were going to a fire cracker night at Mark and arahs place at Exeter(sarahs parents place). We took Uncle Dougie with us. It was a good night. They had a big fire, and we had some food then they did the foreworks. Charlie slept through the whole thing, Jack was in awe of them he just stared at them with his hands over his ears(they were very loud) then he put Mr Millers hands over his ears. As they were finishing Jack wanted to go home, he was very tired, Doug was going to stay and get a lift with Mark and Sarah. Jack cried and cried cause he wanted Uncle Doug to come "I want him to be in my family!" He kept saying(c: He he very cute. He was so sad on the way home we tried our best to distract him and it would work for a minute then he would start crying again saying I want Uncle Dougie in my family I want him to come home with us! He eventually fell asleep, but woke up when we got home and he perked up and was chatting away, he went to bed easily though at 9.00

Mr Miller-always frowning

Charlie watching the fire

Charlie sleeping through the noisy fireworks

Sunday
We all went to Cube for breakfast at the Aqautic centre. When we got home Mr Miller thoroughly cleaned my car and I did LOADS of washing. Jack and Charlie had a restful day. Charlie had a turn in the jolly jumper-first time.

Phew another busy weekend!!

Morning dew

I was hanging some clothes out on the line this foggy, dewey (is that a word?) morning and I saw a heap of spider webs in this tree. I went to get Jack to show him, I said I had something special to show him...he wasn't that impressed, maybe I talked it up a bit. They were easier to see from the clothesline, maybe because they had a dark backdrop of a roof behind them.

Breast vs Bottle

I had a bit of difficulty breast feeding Jack as I had soo much milk he would practically drown in it!! I had to sort of lie down so he had to work for it. I was preparing to feed Jack until about 1 then he would go on cows milk and not have bottles at all, it's funny how things work out and not how you planned...I have learnt to go with the flow. Jack was a terrible sleeper waking all the time at night and I would just feed him to get him to go back off. But he was probably waking cause he was full and in pain. I gave Jack a formula bottle one evening and it made his night worse. So when he was 7 months we went to walker house to get some help and did control crying, it was horrible at the time but it worked and 3 years later he is an excellent sleeper. I went back to giving him a formula bottle and after that he refused to take the breast and weaned himself, and I was ok with that.

Jack 5 months

I also had difficulty feeding Charlie in the beginning but because I didn't have enough milk!! And Charlie was a 'lazy' drinker, he would latch on and then go back to sleep so my milk wasn't producing more. It got better then he got a cold and would latch on then come off and cry!! It was very frustrating, and I ended up expressing and giving it to him in a bottle, and I loved it!! I don't know why?? You are meant to love breast feeding right? I love how I can look into his eyes, and snuggle/cradle him properly without hurting my back. I love watching him go all sleepy. However I dislike cleaning bottles,and pumping milk it takes a while. If only it was easy!!  I have started giving him some formula before his night sleep to see if he will sleep longer...(he only wakes once though, usually)

This was a few weeks ago now I am trying hard to breast feed again and since his cold has gone it has gotten a bit easier, I should be thankful that I am able to breast feed as I know it doesn't happen at all for some mothers. My plan is to breast feed until Charlie is 1 (or longer) But we will see what happens and I will go with the flow.

Charlie 31/2 months

First page

This is my first scrapbook page of Charlie. It's hard to get any done lately. Hopefully I will get some more done soon.

Mothers day weekend

Thursday when Mr Miller came home we went to the Aquatic Centre, Jack loves going there but doesn't like the big bucket, and prefers to go outside, but the outside part wasn't open. When we say we are going to the pool he says which one? The one with the bucket? Or swimming lesson one? I think he prefers the Aquatic Centre as he gets to 'play' and have fun, though I try and get him to do things that he does at lessons. I took Charlie in for the first time, It was a bit cold for him but he seemed to enjoy it (didn't get any photos though) Looking forward to starting his lessons in 6 weeks. Afterwards Jack and Mr Miller shared a caramel milkshake while Charlie had a little sleep.

Jack enjoying a caramel milkshake

  

Watching the big red bucket

Friday Nanna Sue came up from St Helens, Poppa went on a fishing trip. I got my hair cut and had lots taken off  (it really needed it) then had it straightened. Charlie still recognised me so that was good. I remember when Jack was little if I left my hair out he would cry!!

Saturday we went to swimming lessons I took Jack in while Nanna looked after Charlie. Jack did so well today I noticed a big difference. He has only been about 14 times and I am very pleased how quickly he has picked it up(c:

Sunday Mothers Day. It was nice to have a bit of a sleep in, thanks Mr Miller. It was also lovely to receive a handmade gift from Jack which he had made at school. He did some really good writing in the card too. And had made some chocolate balls. He was so excited to give me his present, and kept telling me since Thursday it's a secret. Nanna woke up and we gave her her presents. We then went to visit Auntie Bec at the market, Jack insisted that he get a huge heavy old book for $2. (He loves it and has been looking at it lots) After that we went to Trevallyn to the Hoo Hoo Hut for a BBQ lunch with Nanna Sue, Poppy Pete, Nanna Rob, Uncle Doug, Janet, Ian, Darren, Annette and Samuel. I forgot my camera :( But it was a fun day...Jack enjoyed riding his bike around with Dadda, and playing ball with Samuel and Darren and went for a walk with Nanna Rob. Charlie had cuddles with both Nanna's and had a little sleep.

It says "To dear Mum, happy mothers day, I love Mummy because she takes me to the grocery store, love Jack

Which is rather funny cause he hates going to the grocery store

Monday we went with Nanna Sue to Deloraine to visit Emma, Anne and baby Matilda. When we got there Archie was also at home from school as he was not feeling well. Jack had a great time playing with Archie and all his toys, they played outside together in the sandpit, on the trampoline, with tonka trucks and in some water in a wheelbarrow. Baby Matilda is just gorgeous with chubby cheeks. She is 8 weeks old, it was cute watching Charlie and her together. Charlie would stare at her and kick his legs and get excited. It was a lovely day(c: (would like to show some photos, but did not get permission)

Jack enjoying playing with Archie's toys

How Charlie fell asleep on the way home

Treasure Island

Monday morning we went to Treasure Island with Cooper, Oliver, Charlotte, Addison and Isabella. This is the 4th time we had been there, the first 2 times Jack cried/screamed and I had to take him home. He has definately come out of his shell since then and loves it now. We got there at 10.30 and there was only one other child there! Jack had lots of fun jumping on the trampoline with Cooper and going down the slide.

Jack and Cooper on the slide

Me taking Addison down the slide

Jack and Cooper on the trampoline

Charlotte tackling Jack

Oops...Jack was running out of the toddler area and slipped on the block and hit his head on the ground, nice big bump and carpet burn, he didn't cry for long and just wanted to go and play

After Treasure Island we went into town to take some library books back and get some more, and we got some lunch and ate it at Nanna Rob and Poppy Petes shop.

Agfest

Agfest time again. We spent the morning as a family going to Agfest, Jack was excited to go saying he wanted to see the sheep and diggers and tractors. When we got there it was sooo muddy, we decided not to take the pram (which was a good decision, as everyones prams were covered with mud) Jack had his gumboots on and did a good job walking the whole thing without complaining. Charlie was in the Baby Bjorn. Jack loved the huge tap water display, and the john deere ride on tractors. We went to Nanna and Poppa's site as they had sewknit there. It was rewarding to see the look on Jack's face when he would see something he liked(c: