Monday seems to be our washing day. Ara loves to ride in the washing basket and help hand me the pegs or the clothes or neither. Poor Griffin (our cat) will often be covered in stones or have his tummy rubbed very roughly.

Today since it was lovely and warm I decided to fold the washing outside as I took it off the line. Ara was much more relaxed and happy.

Ara is now working on learning colours. The other day is was purple…only to a Mothers ear…but she was really copying what I was saying. Then since watching Mr Tumble she’s been saying trousers…so purple trousers was repeated many times while going to sleep the other night.

Today is Blue. I was making more play dough. She kept on saying purple for everything yellow, red, green…ah ha but when we got to blue she gave it ago.

We’ve been working on a great site “Something Special” which I feel is really helping us in many ways. Ara is learning to speak more words but also learning to sign as well which is really wonderful….you guessed it, her main word in sign is Trousers.

Thank you Dad for picking up these finger paints. It took a little while before Ara got into it…don’t think she liked the feeling of the paint on her fingers. But as the “Team Up” web site says its a great way for children to express them selves.

1 Tbsp Oil
8 Sausages (I’ve also used chicken)
1 Medium Onion finely diced
2 cloves of garlic chopped
2 medium carrots chopped
2 sticks of celery chopped
2-3 5cm sprigs of thyme
2 bay leaves
2 x 400g cans brown lentils (washed)
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup of dry white wine
1 tsp salt
pepper
Cook on low for 8-9hours
Cook the onions untill clear add to the pot.
Brown the sausages lightly.
Put all the other stuff in the pot but the onions and mix well…then nestle in the sausages. Pour over the liquid. If its a bit wet turn the cooker up to high for 30mins. 

I was looking for photo’s of animals…and came across this web site of fisher-price

We don’t get the idea that each key is different yet but the mouth was open with a smile.

We’ve had another rough night with teeth again…one has come through but she’s still chewing hard out on her fingers.

2tsp olive oil
1 medium onion finely chopped
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 medium carrot, chopped
250g mushrooms, chopped
100g barley
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp groung cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
Pinch of ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground coriander seed
750ml Herb Stock

Cook oil, onion, garlic for about 5mins. Add carrot, mushrooms and barley cook and stir till mushrooms darken about 5mins. Stir in spices then add stock. Bring to boil then reduce to a simmer. Cook until barley is tender not mushy about 50mins.

This is one of Ara’s best meals (as in she’ll eat heaps of it) It comes from Suzannah Olivier’s book What should I feed my Baby?