Bread, Chutney & Childcare

I stumbled across the easiest bread recipe here and decided to try it out...
I can't believe how easy it was!! 

 ^ flour, yeast + salt sifted together.



 > added water, mixed and left on the bench overnight.

.

This morning whilst I was getting OB ready (and the oven was pre-heating) I let the dough 'rest' on the counter.

OB LOVED watching the oven (especially when the light was on!). 

 We played a few games whilst the bread was cooking (took about 30 mins)

Having a peek!

 <<Ta DA! Finished product.

 Because I didn't finish the bread in time for Josh to make a sandwich for lunch, I decided to bring him his lunch later in the day. I had some left over tomatoes and decided to make some chutney to have with a roast beef and fresh bread sandwich!

Now on to the more important matters!

This morning we walked past the childcare centre and I was seriously thinking about finishing my prac (for teaching) and possibly going back to work. I was getting keener and keener as we walked home - thinking about the logistics of putting OB in care and going back to work and how helpful the extra money would be. 

When we got home I was making chutney and OB was playing on the floor. He crawled over to me and started banging on my leg, I looked down and he had "the face". THIS is what i've been working for over the last few weeks!! I took him to the potty and he did a poo (and a wee). This might be too much information, however it made me realise that: 1) I LOVE seeing him "get" things. 2) I LOVE teaching him things. 3) Daycare would not put the time + effort it takes to implement EC (elimination communication - which I'll explain in a minute). 4) There is no way I want to go back to work when I could be at home with OB (obviously only as long as we can afford for me to do so).

Elimination Communication is a method that a friend brought to my attention since moving to Gunnedah. Basically its about communicating with your child (from a young age) - and having them communicate with you when they need to go to the toilet. We have modified it to suit us AND would you believe I have not had to change a poo nappy at home since we have started it (August I think) - we have still had to change a few poo's when out because obviously there isn't a potty to put him on when he needs to go. At home, its amazing the way he just signals that he needs to go, we strip him off and sit him on the potty, and he goes! Its sooooooo cool. I was SO sceptical of this. One day my friend Ruth mentioned it (OB was about 8 months old), I went home, OB looked like he needed to do a poo, so I put him on the potty and he did one. It was really amazing. And SO much less cleaning up. And seemed so much easier for him (plus he didn't have to sit in it, AND he could push it all out - which actually looked like a normal formed poo, not just the mush you see in a nappy!).

I need to clarify that its NOT toilet training. Its just about making life easier for both OB and I - no poopey nappies for me, and no sitting in poo for him. Win Win. Plus it improves our communication, which I love. And if it does make potty training easier then thats just a bonus...