About 7pm on January 19, 3 weeks shy of his first birthday, Baby J took his first steps (that mummy and daddy saw).
And basically hasn't stopped!! He often decides that crawling is quicker, but will toddle quite a distance first.
Someone is very pleased with themselves!
Sunday, 22 January 2012
Saturday, 14 January 2012
Little boys and animals
We have a deal with my father and step-mum - for Christmas they pay for a family zoo membership which gets us into the Adelaide and Monarto Zoos all year. Bonus for us is it's a non-cluttering gift - the membership cards sit in Mr Trifectagirl and I's wallets.
Bonus for the givers is the renewal comes due in August, so it technically spreads out their Christmas expenditure.
Baby J and I went in for an hour this afternoon. He enjoyed being out and about in his trike much more than actually being at the zoo, so it was a pretty quick visit. The advantage of membership - we can go as often as we like!! He's really not gotten the whole concept of animals yet, so he didn't get too excited about the whole experience. Except the giraffs (he could see them from his trike - they're much taller than the fence!) and some monkeys - he likes monkeys since he won a spider-monkey toy at the Zoo Christmas Picnic last year (who Mum has named Cuddles as Baby J always give him cuddles).
We need to get into going in far more frequently - it's an easy way of killing a couple of hours, give him some fun and get some excersise for ourselves!
Bonus for the givers is the renewal comes due in August, so it technically spreads out their Christmas expenditure.
Baby J and I went in for an hour this afternoon. He enjoyed being out and about in his trike much more than actually being at the zoo, so it was a pretty quick visit. The advantage of membership - we can go as often as we like!! He's really not gotten the whole concept of animals yet, so he didn't get too excited about the whole experience. Except the giraffs (he could see them from his trike - they're much taller than the fence!) and some monkeys - he likes monkeys since he won a spider-monkey toy at the Zoo Christmas Picnic last year (who Mum has named Cuddles as Baby J always give him cuddles).
We need to get into going in far more frequently - it's an easy way of killing a couple of hours, give him some fun and get some excersise for ourselves!
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
TIBMTD - December Wrap
I did ok this month, and am really glad I did the number one item!!
1 - De-clutter my bathroom cupboards. There's a whole heap of stuff that can just plain go in there. I also need to do the medicine cupboards and clear out all the out of date stuff. Once I got the cupboard cleared, I found a leak that's done some damage to the cupboard. On the list to be repaired. I also got the master bedroom cleared, and part of the kitchen/dining area - all in all, very productive!
2 - Work on my budget for 2012. This seriously slipped this year, so I want to gain control back. I didn't get to a budget, but I've bought a copy of Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover, which should arrive soon. DH's on board, we just need to get our heads around a system. We're working on cash as much as possible.
3 - Sort out freezer, and maybe try a few crock-pot freezer meals from pinterest. One of our two freezers had a problem with keeping it's door closed, so we lost soooo much meat, plus the two remaining layers of our wedding cake. Very miffede about this. So the freezer sort-out is now a dump (we've been doing it gradually). The crock-meals will progress to January.
Ok, probably not so much of a good month - but tasks got done one way or another!
1 - De-clutter my bathroom cupboards. There's a whole heap of stuff that can just plain go in there. I also need to do the medicine cupboards and clear out all the out of date stuff. Once I got the cupboard cleared, I found a leak that's done some damage to the cupboard. On the list to be repaired. I also got the master bedroom cleared, and part of the kitchen/dining area - all in all, very productive!
2 - Work on my budget for 2012. This seriously slipped this year, so I want to gain control back. I didn't get to a budget, but I've bought a copy of Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover, which should arrive soon. DH's on board, we just need to get our heads around a system. We're working on cash as much as possible.
3 - Sort out freezer, and maybe try a few crock-pot freezer meals from pinterest. One of our two freezers had a problem with keeping it's door closed, so we lost soooo much meat, plus the two remaining layers of our wedding cake. Very miffede about this. So the freezer sort-out is now a dump (we've been doing it gradually). The crock-meals will progress to January.
Ok, probably not so much of a good month - but tasks got done one way or another!
Monday, 2 January 2012
Plan of Attack
A whole new year - a new set of short to mid-term goals. I find goal setting far more achievable than resolutions - I've had a perennial resolution of drinking more water, and have failed year after year. But when I set goals and write a plan (and keep reviewing said plan) I get there - often ahead of the target date.
So here we go for goals for 2012.
House: After making sure most of the house was clean and tidy - especially the kitchen table - for January 1 Mr Trifectagirl agreed that it was really nice to get up to a tidy space. As such, Mr Trifectagirl and I have agreed we need to get some systems and routines in place. For a few years I used Flylady, which worked really well for me, but fell over when various people moved in and out of my place and I struggled to keep it going. I plan to educate Mr Trifectagirl on that particular system and put it back in place. The advantage of this system is it's set up to be gradually implemented, rather than an all in. Our biggest issue is a lack of space, and Mr Trifectagirl using our kitchen table as a desk - and boy does he have a paper monster. That is one thing we want to tame this year.
Work: I know I'll need to find a new job early in the year - there are a few up in my old field at the moment I have to get applications written for, so hopefully by the end of the week I'll have applied for about 5 roles, plus I should hear during the week how I went on an initial phone interview for a role just before Christmas.
Mr Trifectagirl has a few assignments to finish on his qualifications, and hopefully he'll find something quickly once he has the bits of paper to support his experience.
Money: We also need to review finances, budgeting and financial goals. I've been investigating Dave Ramsey's system in a bit more detail, having used some of the techniques successfully in the past to deal with utility bill blow-outs, so we may look at implementing that in more detail.
We'd really love to move and do up an older property, so we'll work towards that too. I also need to really push the guy looking after my step-father's estate to get the last of my sister and I's inheritance issued and put a very crappy 2008 finally behind us - the delay is quite frankly ridiculous - and that's taking into account the unique circumstances of this estate! That will give us a good deposit for a new home.
So, here's to a fantastic and successful 2012.
So here we go for goals for 2012.
House: After making sure most of the house was clean and tidy - especially the kitchen table - for January 1 Mr Trifectagirl agreed that it was really nice to get up to a tidy space. As such, Mr Trifectagirl and I have agreed we need to get some systems and routines in place. For a few years I used Flylady, which worked really well for me, but fell over when various people moved in and out of my place and I struggled to keep it going. I plan to educate Mr Trifectagirl on that particular system and put it back in place. The advantage of this system is it's set up to be gradually implemented, rather than an all in. Our biggest issue is a lack of space, and Mr Trifectagirl using our kitchen table as a desk - and boy does he have a paper monster. That is one thing we want to tame this year.
Work: I know I'll need to find a new job early in the year - there are a few up in my old field at the moment I have to get applications written for, so hopefully by the end of the week I'll have applied for about 5 roles, plus I should hear during the week how I went on an initial phone interview for a role just before Christmas.
Mr Trifectagirl has a few assignments to finish on his qualifications, and hopefully he'll find something quickly once he has the bits of paper to support his experience.
Money: We also need to review finances, budgeting and financial goals. I've been investigating Dave Ramsey's system in a bit more detail, having used some of the techniques successfully in the past to deal with utility bill blow-outs, so we may look at implementing that in more detail.
We'd really love to move and do up an older property, so we'll work towards that too. I also need to really push the guy looking after my step-father's estate to get the last of my sister and I's inheritance issued and put a very crappy 2008 finally behind us - the delay is quite frankly ridiculous - and that's taking into account the unique circumstances of this estate! That will give us a good deposit for a new home.
So, here's to a fantastic and successful 2012.
Saturday, 24 December 2011
Adult Assembly Required
I grew up with out any consistant Christmas traditions. I don't think I actually missed out on anything, but they're weren't things that we always did or had that we'd look forward too. I remember my mum made chocolate cherries each year, but there's not much else that sticks out.
I want to do things differently for Baby J. I want to assemble a collection of traditions and practices that will mean Christmas to J and any future children.
So we have "Elf on the Shelf" - still un-named and didn't get up to any mischief this year, but I have photos of J with it for his first Christmas.
We'll go to childrens service at our usual church tonight, and hopefully the Brewery Riverbank Lights on the way home.
I'd like to start stockings, but next year for that.
Tomorrow we have a single family lunch. Mr Trifectagirl's mother is in residential care, so we're springing her from the home and she will join my Dad and Step-mum and us for lunch at Dad's place. And sister dear may well come, too which is most unlike her.
Food wise, I have a couple of types of cookie that I've made regularlly over the last 20 years which I'll keep up, and maybe add a simple sugar cookie or gingerbread man that kids can decorate for family/friends. Plus the last few years I've made "pudding" muffins, which we'll probably have for breakfast since we have a Christmas Cake and a Pudding that Mr Trifectagirl won in a raffle!
My Mum made a variation on Jamie Oliver's Christmas Bombe for a number of years before she passed, and I'd like to start that again, too. I may also re-instate her chocolate cherries - glace cherries (brandy-soaked and 'kidsafe' versions), coated in chocolate.
Oh, and I'll try not to get gifts which have any variation of the phrase '(some/adult) Assembly Required' on the box!!! A BBQ for Mr Trifectagirl - set and ready for use on Boxing Day, a toy box, a bike and a swing/slide set are all on the 'assembly' list this year. Lesson learned - possibly more so later tonight as I get frustrated with constructing the swing/slide!!
I want to do things differently for Baby J. I want to assemble a collection of traditions and practices that will mean Christmas to J and any future children.
So we have "Elf on the Shelf" - still un-named and didn't get up to any mischief this year, but I have photos of J with it for his first Christmas.
We'll go to childrens service at our usual church tonight, and hopefully the Brewery Riverbank Lights on the way home.
I'd like to start stockings, but next year for that.
Tomorrow we have a single family lunch. Mr Trifectagirl's mother is in residential care, so we're springing her from the home and she will join my Dad and Step-mum and us for lunch at Dad's place. And sister dear may well come, too which is most unlike her.
Food wise, I have a couple of types of cookie that I've made regularlly over the last 20 years which I'll keep up, and maybe add a simple sugar cookie or gingerbread man that kids can decorate for family/friends. Plus the last few years I've made "pudding" muffins, which we'll probably have for breakfast since we have a Christmas Cake and a Pudding that Mr Trifectagirl won in a raffle!
My Mum made a variation on Jamie Oliver's Christmas Bombe for a number of years before she passed, and I'd like to start that again, too. I may also re-instate her chocolate cherries - glace cherries (brandy-soaked and 'kidsafe' versions), coated in chocolate.
Oh, and I'll try not to get gifts which have any variation of the phrase '(some/adult) Assembly Required' on the box!!! A BBQ for Mr Trifectagirl - set and ready for use on Boxing Day, a toy box, a bike and a swing/slide set are all on the 'assembly' list this year. Lesson learned - possibly more so later tonight as I get frustrated with constructing the swing/slide!!
Sunday, 11 December 2011
Things I've Been Meaning to Do - December 2011
Since it's a crazy month, and we're already a good week in, I won't set any high bars for Things I've Been Meaning to Do this month!
1 - De-clutter my bathroom cupboards. There's a whole heap of stuff that can just plain go in there. I also need to do the medicine cupboards and clear out all the out of date stuff.
2 - Work on my budget for 2012. This seriously slipped this year, so I want to gain control back.
3 - Sort out freezer, and maybe try a few crock-pot freezer meals from pinterest.
Not a big list, but should be acheivable with the week between Christmas and New Years off work.
1 - De-clutter my bathroom cupboards. There's a whole heap of stuff that can just plain go in there. I also need to do the medicine cupboards and clear out all the out of date stuff.
2 - Work on my budget for 2012. This seriously slipped this year, so I want to gain control back.
3 - Sort out freezer, and maybe try a few crock-pot freezer meals from pinterest.
Not a big list, but should be acheivable with the week between Christmas and New Years off work.
Saturday, 10 December 2011
TIBMTD - November Wrap
How did I go this month...
I need to make my Neurnberger Lebkuchen since I didn't get it done in October. Done!! and they'll be eaten by the end of the month.
We bought some storage cubes that need to be put together so I can keep all the extra stuff Mr Trifectagirl buys!! Done, and slowling filling the shelves.
I still need to get the shelf for Baby J's room painted and up. Grandpa kindly painted the shelf, and we are all surprised at how pale it is. Back to the drawing board!!
My wedding flowers are back from being dried, so I need to arrange to get them framed with a few other momentos from the wedding. All with the framer, should be back mid-January.
A reasonably successful month!
I need to make my Neurnberger Lebkuchen since I didn't get it done in October. Done!! and they'll be eaten by the end of the month.
We bought some storage cubes that need to be put together so I can keep all the extra stuff Mr Trifectagirl buys!! Done, and slowling filling the shelves.
I still need to get the shelf for Baby J's room painted and up. Grandpa kindly painted the shelf, and we are all surprised at how pale it is. Back to the drawing board!!
My wedding flowers are back from being dried, so I need to arrange to get them framed with a few other momentos from the wedding. All with the framer, should be back mid-January.
A reasonably successful month!
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