4 months old today

Four months old in this world, and growing fast.

Everyone needs a Cuski (yet another sleepless night's creation)

Being a baby
No easy task.
One of life's comforts
Is my snuggly Cuski.
"Don't go away, Mum,
You don't need the loo"
"I'll be back in a minute!" -
And she leaves the room.
I'm feeling abandoned,
Thanks for asking.
My chin is quivering,
I'm chewing my Cuski.
My soothing comforter
I twisted and twirled.
With my soft Cuski
I'll brave the world.
Someone call Social Services,
She's been gone forever.
Don't let her use the loo.
Never-ever.
She's back, my mother,
And she thinks she's funny
"Whatta brave little boy,
A courageous bunny".
For you it's three minutes,
For me an eternity,
Cuski and I -
Function as a fraternity.



Eddie has a selection of comforters, and he chomps on them with enthusiasm.
I think a comforter like Cuski is a great invention, it is soft, soothing and ever so comforting. Sometimes when I am feeling blue, I feel I need a Cuski too.

Ode to a rocking chair

You embraced us both in your rocking rhythm,
You supported my aching back,
You heard me crying - and sympathised,
And lulled my baby to sleep.

My baby was fretful and cried in pain,
Waves of misery crashed through the night.
You saw my despair - and held us tight,
And rocked my baby to sleep.

You witnessed his first confident smile,
His gurgles and cheeky grins,
You saw my delight - and quietly sang,
And danced my baby to sleep.

Every time I sit in my nursing chair with Eddie in my arms, I feel like this has been the best purchase ever. It truly saved my sanity and my aching back for many nights of feeding, with a baby wailing because of colics. We rocked and we rocked and we rocked.

My cake recipe is in print

It all started over a year ago, if not longer than that, when the DK was running a competition to create a recipe using Fairtrade products. I have forgotten all about it, when some time in spring I got a letter from DK, saying that they decided not to publish the Fairtrade recipes book but would like to include my Honey cake recipe into a new Everyday easy Cakes & Cupcakes book and asked my permission to publish my recipe. Of course, I agreed. They sent me a fab food encyclopaedia as a Thank you, and finally my recipe was printed this October in a lovely book full of delicious cake recipes. Sadly my name is not mentioned but hey I am not that ambitious. I know I can cook like Nigella, when I have time (though lately after giving birth to our baby Eddie I discovered a world of ready-made meals, LOL).
I am very happy with a layout and the photo. :)

I think we might be teething

Eddie's been drooling quite a bit recently and tries to chew anything at hand. A comforter, a soft toy, a Nuby ring or his own vest...

Breastfeeding Mum's best friend

After breastfeeding my firstborn for over 2 years, I considered myself a b/f professional, an ace of nursing. But as I was recuperating in the hospital after my c-section, breastfeeding Eddie wasn't an easy sailing. Though he immediately latched as soon as they put him to my breast and was suckling for over an hour, and I thought he was very clever to do that, I didn't really produce any milk at that point. After a couple of days he was getting pretty hungry, and the pediatrics matron insisted that I give my child formula and top up every time I breastfeed him with the formula. I was quite upset about it all but also didn't want to keep my big boy hungry. When we came back home, I was searching the Lactivist website for the tips on how to improve the milk flow and came across a link to get some free samples of the Holle nursing tea. The samples arrived very quickly, and I was worried at first that I wouldn't like it, as tea has aniseed and I am not very keen on it. However, I was pleasantly surprised that aniseed didn't overpower the other flavours, and the balance of aniseed, fennel, caraway seed and lemon balm was perfect. I ordered a few packs of nursing tea, and I noticed the difference in a few days. The milk flow became more established and consistent, and my baby ditched the top up formula. And that's my story about the nursing tea. :)
And here is a link to free samples if anyone wants to try.