cookies and other ramblings.

Well I'm now well and truly settled in our new place-I've MADE myself go out and explore the town a little bit, and I have more plans up my sleeve to start integrating myself into this new place a little more.

Number one starts today- we have loads of lovely neighbours around us, one couple are in a house just across from us, the wife looks only a couple of years older than me, and they have a 2 year old girl and a baby boy about 3 month old. We actually met them briefly when we moved in and she seemed lovely, but since then I've been a little people-shy....so I have decided today I would do something about it, and I'm going to take over some cookies that I baked last night.

I only made about 100 cookies-seriously. I decided I would bake some for G seeing as I'm going away this weekend and I got a little too excited on my mission and ended up doing 3 batches worth, chocolate chunk and ginger, and chocolate and cherry. I guess I just thought I may as save on electricity using the oven, and as a bonus only have to clean up my baking mess once-instead of 3 times.
 I'm not known for my tidy cooking, G thinks it's very funny (and perhaps a little frustrating but he doesn't complain too much-not if he wants to be chief sampler and bowl scraper anyway...) He calls me 'The mess-maker', and as hard as I try to keep things tidy while I'm baking, I just can't do it. I tell myself it's a sign of a creative cook, but actually I think it's just sheer clumsiness and terrible flour-pouring skills- It's simply impossible for me to pour a cup of flour without ending up with half of it on the bench, and more than a few spoonfuls in my hair.
But despite the carnage in the kitchen afterwards, I generally manage to produce some pretty nice eats if I do say so myself!

I'm heading home this Friday and then being driven up to Auckland with my parents for the weekend. Mum and I are going to a pregnancy/baby/children's event. Tons of different stalls and products and specials on things, so should be a fun (and possibly expensive) day! And we're staying with my 91 year old Grandad, who I love to bits and haven't seen for a couple of months so I'm looking forward to that too.
It's my second weekend away in fact, last weekend I went back home for a friend's 30th and stayed 2 nights with mum&dad. I missed G but let me tell you-there's nothing like being at home sometimes. It's so cosy and in a way I feel like a little girl again sometimes. My dad even brought me breakfast in bed on the morning I left!

Otherwise apart from growing a baby I haven't been doing too much else lately-although I've had some sewing work from friends and family and also have a job to make chair covers next week so that will keep me busy. And in between I've been making bags and cushion covers, trying to build up a collection to do a craft market at the end of the year, I have 4 covers and 2 bags so far-not much but they're fairly labour intensive with gathers, linings, zip closures etc so I figure it's a good start.

And 26 weeks pregnant now- pepe is doing well and still moving around constantly- I love it, although some of the kicks *ahem* 'down low' can feel a little strange sometimes! I see an OB in 2 weeks time and then another scan at 32 week- and after that I'm imagining time is going to start moving verrry quickly.
We're slowly building up a collection of baby gear,some new things, but a lot of it's second-hand and in good condition, and mum has been a top bargain hunter at charity shops-bringing home some gorgeous little outfits for between $1-$4 each! And much more shopping to come at the baby show this weekend I think :)

Well I know this has been a weird rambling sort of post that goes nowhere, but that's where I'm at at the moment. Hopefully will have a bump shot to come soon too!