Maternity Leave To Do List

Gosh that sounds awfully like a work-related thing doesn't it!!  

But I do have some things I'd like to be able to say I achieved while on leave:

• My Absolute Number One Priority is to enjoy my precious time off with Emily and Chris and not to rush anything - so far so good on this front
• Embrace the Slow Cooker and also try new recipes monthly - I have had disastrous attempts with our slow cooker, and so, this year I'd like to tackle it once and for all and cook something truly yum! In fact more than one something, many yum things! My friend said she would help me with a bacon hock and spilt pea soup sometime, sounds so tasty!  I have so many amazing cookbooks, but it's true, we stick to what is tried and tested (and cheap - these days especially, being on one income) and I don't really use them as much as I should so I'd like to try one new recipe a month.  How hard can it be??
• Bake tasty treats (but not to often!!) - with Chris being a baker, I love to bake for him to give him a rest from his daily grind, but with the more is less approach we are both taking to food from now on, rather than said see-food diet, I should probably limit this goal somewhat!  I have already baked an amazing Annabel Langbein sticky date pud with wicked toffee sauce for my in laws' 40th wedding anniversary lunch which was truly to die for... I would know, as I ate about 4 pieces and loads of sauce.  Check out the recipe here, very quick and easy to make: Sticky Date Pud - delish! 
• Eat less and move more - I love my walking and usually take Emily out in the pram at the end of the day when she can snooze and I can get some fresh air, so I definitely want to keep this up, as well as adding in some Hip Hop Abs and Windsor Pilates.  Surely I can find the time??
• Meet other Mummies - well this one is very well under way, and seems to happen automatically these days!  I am currently attending a free Plunket course, Your Growing Baby to learn more about the upcoming months with Emily, where I have met more lovely mums, and I am also attending SPACE (Supporting Parents alongside Children's Education) and a few of my new mummy friends and Emily's baby friends are attending that which is great.  There is lots of singing and movement at SPACE and Emily loves to sing along, so cute!  Check out more info here if you are keen on these courses: Plunket Courses and SPACE
• Get Emily to pose for many photoshoots - I didn't think it would be quite this easy to get totally carried away with taking baby pics... but it is very easy to do so!  I now need to get cracking on her scrapbook of photos and all her lovely welcome to the world cards.
• Spring Clean (Winter Clean?) the House - I know this is a boring one - yawn - but don't you feel so much better when there isn't so much clutter lurking in your cupboards?  Especially that third drawer in the kitchen.. it's amazing what ends up in there.  Go on, you know you want to check what's in your 3rd drawer now!  I attacked the laundry today and gosh does it look good!  I really need to go through my clothes cupboard now, I am feeling like a fresh new yummy mummy start!

And on that note, time for tea while my angel is sleeping . Wonder if I should get out the duster and polish at the same time - nah, tomorrow's another day :)