project gratitude:1006

October 6- Today I am grateful for my catchup and baby shower planning meeting with Jules thus morning. We are efficient! Good plans ahead. :)

What a difference 9 months makes!

Matilda @ 9 months

At 9 months Matilda ...

• was not measured.
• wears crawler nappies... still!
• fits into fewer 00 clothes and more size 0!
• Has had more firsts and new things
• starting sitting from lying down on 6/9/12 and mastered the art VERY quickly!
•  top left incisor tooth #6 (7/9/12)
• pulled up on mum when she was sitting on the floor to stand up (10/9/12)
• standing up (when placed in that position) and beginning to cruise (11/9/12)
• touched nose when told to (12/9/12)
• first swing (22/9/12)
• pulled herself up independently (24/9/12)
• Is a nightmare to put into bed... there's too much sitting and crawling and standing to do for sleep!
• claps her hands all the time. When she is happy. Or sad. Or tired. Or our favourite, when we do something that she likes!
• loves watching us dance and be silly.
• puts her hands up to match the hands on her 10 little fingers and 10 little toes book.
• has been bumping her head too often as she pulls herself up and gets a bit clever- leaning and using one hand!
• was eating some lumpier foods again, but has gone backwards. She still loves to play with food in her mouth but unless it's really smooth, she'll have a chew and then spit it back out again.
• has enjoyed the benefits of pears and prunes lately... ahem.
• is growing much thicker hair. It looks like there might be a wave in there.
• enjoyed a few 5hr sleep stretches almost a month ago but is back to thinking that 2.5hrs at a time overnight and 38mins in the day is quite ok with her. Sadly, her parents don't always share her thoughts! There are 3 in the bed some nights and that works best for us when things are like that.
• says more things- Ba (Bas), Bay (baby), ay, uh-oh and up.
• understands more language- her name, "clap your hands", "where's Bas?"
• is constantly found near Basil. She laughs when he is around, follows him around the house, chases his tail and stands at his scratching post talking to him.
• still loves water, buttons and her books.
• has discovered the TV remotes, phone and how to play with the CD player in her room!
• takes walks to see the ducks and to get daddy from the station at the end of the day.
• loves playing with Anj and Nate, our neighbours. 
• has been out for nearly as long as she was in. AMAZING!

Here's our cheeky bear!

Lemon Butter

It's a rainy afternoon in Melbourne today, a stark contrast to our divine days of late!

With a huge collection of lemons that need using, I decided to try my hand at lemon butter using this recipe.

It was very easy and very quick. Next time I would add a little less sugar and a little more lemon!

Easy microwave lemon butter

Ingredients

4 eggs

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup water

2tsp lemon zest

125g butter (cubed)

Method

1. Sterilise your jars (this quantity filled 3 Barilla pesto jars)
2. To a glass jug add all ingredients
3. Microwave on high for 2 mins and whisk.
4. Microwave on high for a further 2 mins and whisk again.
5. Microwave on high for a further 2 mins.
6. Pour into jars and seal. 

Should keep in fridge for several weeks. Longer if the lid 'pops' closed.

project gratitude:1005

October 5- Today I am grateful for unexpected sleepy cuddles. Tilly had a bonus afternoon sleep an hour after getting up today. She snuggled in for a cuddle and fell asleep. I don't remember the last day time that she fell asleep in my arms. So lovely.

It also made it possible to go out for dinner with our neighbours with a less tired Tilly.

Another grateful moment happened this morning when I caught up with some old BSF friends that I'd not seen for ages- all with our kids. Time marches on!

project gratitude:1004

October 4- Today was a whirlwind (hence the later post). It's a very sad one but I am grateful that Amy's body has been recovered after a canoeing accident. Obviously this is not the outcome that any of us were wishing for, but at least there is some element of closure for Steph's family. Lots of love and prayers for them.

And as the weather warms, please everyone be sure to check water, wear life jackets and do your best to be prepared as Amy and her family did.

project gratitude:1003

October 3- Today I am grateful for my neighbours.

project gratitude: 1002

October 2- Today I am grateful for safety and knowing my family are safe and well.

project gratitude: 1001

October 1- October! Really?!
Today I am grateful for the power of panadol over aches and pains. Also for distractions in the form of Nadja, Greg and Hannah-and for the privilege of being asked to be her godmother.

project gratitude: 0930

September 30- Today I am grateful for our long weekend with mum and dad at the beach and for morning tea with some of our longest family friends in their beautiful home. Tilly scored more hand me downs which is great!