Blueberry, I Love You!

I had a pretty hectic weekend (as much as can be hectic when you're 8 1/2 months pregnant and can't move a lot due to various niggles!). I really enjoyed it all, as we got to witness two great friends marry, had a girl-only shopping trip and a hair appointment (always nice)..BUT I overdid it.
Siiiiigh...
Sunday afternoon, I was exhausted beyond belief, in loads of pain (sciatica & SPD...fun!) and had that getting-a-cold-achey-body-sore-throat-swollen-glands thing. And all because I am run down, immunity has dropped, and body desperately trying to sort itself out. What to do? Superfoods!! (By the way, does it mean you're weird if your 4 year old daughter can list Superfoods...?Just wondering...)
I have had two spirulina tablets (magic from the sea!) an apple, kiwi and lime smoothie, and now have plans for...
Berry and Buttermilk Cake, Adapted from "Apples for Jam" by Tessa Kiros.
1.5 cups unbleached flour
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
freshly ground nutmeg - a few grinds
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
4 Tablespoons butter, melted
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 Tablespoon grated lemon zest
1 cup fresh berries
2 Tablespoons brown sugar (for topping)
Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Whisk eggs until fluffy in another bowl, then add all wet ingredients. Mix dry and wet gently until combined. Spoon mixture into a 12x8x2 inch pan. Sprinkle blueberries on top. Bake for 25 minutes at 400 degrees. Cool in pan before cutting.
**This adaptation courtesy of the amazing Soulemama :)

Yummy yummerson...blueberries are by far my fave Superfood!! What do you do when you're feeling a bit under the weather? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Like a Kid in a Candy Store..

Ohhh....too cute! I opened the post today to receive the first lot of my nappies for Baby To Be. They are candy pink, and just fluff, fluff, fluff :-) More colours to come, which funnily enough gets me quite excited. Maybe it's because they're not plain, chemical-smelling white things. Maybe it's because they are so soft to the touch, so well made, and so good for baby's new skin. Heavenly..now we just need Baby D to arrive, though she is making her presence known and seems to be preparing to pack her bags for departure from her uterine-home!! Aches, shooting pains and all the last-few-weeks-of-pregnancy symptoms I had first time round are here. 6 1/2 weeks to go! :-)

A Hungarian Doula...

Hello Everyone!
For all that don't know this about me, I'm the Membership Coordinator for the National Childbirth Trust in our area. This is a cause very dear to my heart, as choice in childbirth and support during this time and the time surrounding it are, to me, vital.
I am originally from Hungary (though born in Australia).
I received an e-mail today from an old friend back home in Hungary asking for help. For a little background info, Hungary was a communist-bloc country up until 1989 and has been striving ferociously ever since to regain some of it's economical status that was depleted to almost nothing during the Communist years. So finances, although better than they were then, are still very thin on the ground (part of the reason I moved countries years ago-there was absolutely no way of making a living at the time).
A lot of what we call 'western' ideas had been unknown to anyone in communist-bloc countries so the thought of any choice in childbirth was-and for the huge part-still is unknown. I have heard many a horror story (to my 'western' ears anyway!) about childbirth at home from cousins, aunts etc. So when my friend told me his wife is one of the very few women in Hungary wanting choice, and change, and training as an actual Doula, my heart jumped for joy.
Reka Dezsi has a blog where she details her experiences-although in Hungarian (google translator does big chunks at a time if you're interested :)) called Holdanya (MoonMother).
Reka has been invited to the USA (Albuquerque)for a huge Doula training event (by DONA International) in the beginning of August, but obviously, needs to be able to fund this in order to make the trip (international travel is a huge deal from Hungary to most people). She & her husband have asked for my help, in order to possibly see if anyone could make a donation to Reka's travel fund. Any,any little would help (I'm talking even £1 here!). The details to make a direct transfer (account details) are posted at the top of her blog. If there's anything further I personally can help with in regard to this worthy cause, please let me know. For now-thank you for reading, and thank you even more if you pass this on to otehrs or are moved to help with a donation. I will keep you updated on Reka's progress! Much love! :))

The Turning Of The Tides

And here we are with less than 8 weeks to go before our new baby's birth...time has flown by unbelievably. In the past months, transformations have taken place in every part of our lives. Our business has a very healthy waiting list in place for our future childcare enrollments, thank the universe. We have had to look more realistically than ever at expansion and full private day nursery registration (and all that involves--eek! so much work!). We have had to realise that the only "baby" in our little family until now-Mini D-is actually old enough and mature enough to start school in August (so emotional for me). That whilst our families are part of us genetically, we do not actually have to force a relationship with them if it is clearly to our detriment emotionally or mentally. That being on the same page as your spouse is the nicest feeling in the world. That health is everything. That there is more to the world and the universe than we think. That rest is vital. That we need time out as a family to recharge, rather than just always trying to catch up on "jobs". That "this moment only once" is something very important to remember.
That we are so lucky to have what we have, this loving family unit of 3 (soon to be 4!).

Us, 2006....stayed tuned for the new version!

Whirlwind Winter!!

Well, I have not visited Blog Domain in over a month, but it has really and truly been a crazy, outta this world beginning to the year! I think the most notable was around Mini D's 4th birthday when I realised I felt like absolute c**p and it was NOT going away. Some calculating and testing later, realised we were going to have a Tiny D by the autumn. You think that's ages away? It is!! But I knew, knew from possibly conception that this little peanut was on it's way-which is how we have known since I was 4 1/2 weeks along...a long time until we get to meet Tiny D, but one day at a time.
Meantime, very first Midwife appointment today-Mr D can't get out of work, so Mini D & my Bestie, Di are coming with me (Di is hopefully going to be at the delivery with Mr D).
I am sick as a dog with this little one, and feel/look awful compared to Pregnancy Number 1 where I was all aglow and energetic and well, relaxed..now it's more along the lines of greasy hair, lethargy, constant nausea and hormonal moodswings. Isn't my husband a lucky man???
More to come as I get more used to my current state-and hopefully more info on the Twin Rumours.'Cos there's a chance it's twins...

Hogmanay!

The last day of the year has arrived..I still have lots of Last Year left to do, including posting our Christmas on here before 2010!! But I think it's time to breathe, step back, and just let the New Year unfold, rather than frantically trying to Get It All Done. We'll see how it goes!

The Most memorable Childhood Christmas Gift!

Just reminiscing a bit...

I practically cried with happiness when I received my long-ago, shop-chosen Cabbage Patch Doll (red curly hair, green eyes..named Timothy Corey! Great ole names these guys had..). My younger sister (mother to Cara Marigold the 'preemie' Cabbage Patch) & I had been sneaking out to try to feel the boxes to check if we both had the chosen dolls..until we actually FOUND the right size & shape boxes, and one of us knocked over a photo frame on a shelf by the tree..waking mum who roared out of the bedroom “get back to b****y bed or Santa will take it all back!!!” Oh, the excitement of it all..!! Australia, 1985.

What was your most memorable gift??