Yummies, Handbags and Words

I am a total porridge addict.  Because I like to make it on the stovetop, with proper oats (I tend to use Carmen's), with a spurtle for stirring, sometimes I don't get the chance in the morning, with Tabby clamouring for my attention (The Daddy and her eat their breakfast together while I lay in bed for a bit, so I eat my breakfast after he leaves for work).

So often I eat porridge for lunch.  I like it with sliced banana on top, with a little extra cold milk and a drizzle of maple syrup.  Sometimes I add chopped dates, shredded coconut and/or chopped nuts while it is cooking.  Sometimes I stir through some poached rhubarb, if there happens to be some in the fridge.  I don't think I could ever get sick of porridge, I've been eating it for nearly 27 years now!  When I was little, we didn't eat dairy, so I used to have soy milk porridge.  I crave that sometimes, I think for nostalgic reasons.

One of my all-time favourite cakes to make and eat is a lemon poppyseed cake.  I love the taste of the mixture (so lemony!), I love the finished product (so moist, tart and buttery!) and I also love the look of the batter - the delightful pale primrose colour, flecked with seeds, seems so cheering.  I use a recipe based on Nigella Lawson's Madeira cake, I wrote it down HERE.

When I leave the house these days, I thankfully no longer need to lug the giant nappy bag full of baby accoutrement - spare clothes, three nappies, muslins, toys, knit hats and the like.

Nowadays, I tend to just take my regular handbag (normally my black Alma) and cram in a nappy and wipes with my other stuff.  A drink bottle goes in the pram, and Tabby is happy to carry her own baby doll.  Sometimes I add a bib.

But often, the day's activities mean that we need to take all sorts of obscure bits and pieces.  Today, for example, we had to bring:

A packed lunch, since we would be rushing home to nap after our morning activities.  I packed vegemite sandwiches and some cheese, since I know she will eat these even if she is distracted:

Something with a scarecrow for Gymbaroo!  This week's 'treasure bag' item was a scarecrow, so I managed to dig out a book about farms with a scarecrow in it:

Some lemon poppyseed cake for my ABA meeting:

So I had this pile to bring with me.  Sadly it did not all fit in the Alma!  So I normally add a cotton or Longchamp tote bag, with the extra bits, if we need to bring other things with us.  I much prefer to carry a regular small handbag and a tote, than lug a giant nappy bag around, digging madly if I need a phone or coins or something like that!

I love reading lists of what is in people's handbags - sometimes they print these in women's magazines, for various celebrities/models/random people.  Here is my list for today:

• Wallet (large, with cards, notes, coins and receipts)
• More cards shoved into the phone holder pocket (this is where I store all the cards that don't fit in the wallet, e.g. kids' shoe store loyalty card, gift cards, store cards)
• 5 coloured lipglosses in shades of pink / apricot
• 2 non-coloured lip balms (8 Hour Cream, Jurlique lip balm tube)
• Aveda small handcream tube
• Dynamo-to-go stain remover pen
• Tom Ford sunnies (loose, naughty me!)
• 3 pens - the beautiful black and gold Mont Blanc one I was given when I graduated from my parents, and two black fine-liners that actually manage to make my writing look nice!
• Car keys, phone
• Bach Rescue Remedy drops
• A little red zip-up pouch containing tissues, bandaids, nail file, glasses cloth, panadol, nurofen, antihisthamines, Panadine Forte (no idea why!), spare hair tie, eye drops, a breastpad)
• $5.35 in loose coins
• A bulldog clip (no idea where that came from!)
• 2 toy fur mouse toys that the cats have hidden in there
• A small plastic baby which decorated the cupcakes at the baby shower in Sydney, which Tabitha snuck home and loves to hold
• A small hand-made felt pig toy
• 9 sultanas
• iPod nano
• A small tin of Badger Baby Balm (great for nappy changes, cuticles, bug bites, lips...)
• Baby wipes
• Cloth nappy (mauve Itti Bitti d'Lish All-in-One)
• 'Emergency' bar of Koko Black very dark chocolate

Whew!  Can you believe that all that fits into my Alma bag?!

Tabitha doesn't need to carry a bag (she has a sherpa) but she does love to carry around a baby doll or teddy at all times.

Here she is with one of her gorgeous teddies (a gift when she was born from one of The Daddy's friends).  She loves rubbing her face against this bear - it is so soft:

This would be such a lovely photo if her fly wasn't undone:

Check out all those teeth!  She has 14 through, with another two coming at the moment:

Warning to all mothers:  Tabitha likes to suck on my keys, and seems to have finally slobbered my key to death.  Despite a new battery, it no longer works, so I have to trek down to the dealership this afternoon for a replacement.  I shudder to think of what it might cost.

Two more days until we leave for Palm Cove!  I cannot wait.  I've been reading novels at a really ridiculous rate lately (a novel every 1-2 days) so I'm taking a copy of Gone With The Wind with me, hoping it will last me for the week.  I've never ever read it, and I adore the film, so I hope I'll enjoy it.  Incidentally, did you know that a 'sequel' to Gone With The Wind was written and published in 2001, called "The Wind Done Gone", told from the point of view of the slaves?  I have been told that if I enjoyed The Help (LOVED it!) I would enjoy reading this, so I might hunt down a copy when we get back.

Oh - and because I don't keep a baby book, using this blog to keep track of Tabitha's milestones etc., I am jotting down the words she says these days.  I don't know if this is below, above or spot on average for 15 months, and I don't care a bit!  I am just including the list to help me remember when she's older.  I once heard that the only milestones worth caring about are a) when they can wipe their own bottom and b) when they can get up and make their own breakfast (so you can sleep in).  This was from a dad (no surprise!) but always makes me smile to think of!

• Mama
• Dada
• Wizz (for lizard)
• Shoo-shoo (for sushi)
• Shooz (for shoes)
• Sheez!!!!  (for cheese.  Said with gusto and a grin)
• Cocococooolololo (or something similar) for cockadoodeldoo
• Tickitickiticki (when tickling my toes, grinning)
• Dat (for cat)
• Dot (for dog)
• Baba (for baby - we hear this a lot, she is baby-obsessed)
• Bo (for water bottle, also for ball)
• Es (for yes, normally with a nod)
• Eyes
• Nose
• Liiii (for light)