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HoneybunsMa 
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Joined: 01 February 2009
Location: NZ
Points: 1724
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 Posted: 10 September 2009 at 9:12pm |
I don't have much advise as mine is only 8weeks and there is only one I do do the nights on my own though.
For meals however I would invest in a rice cooker if you don't already have one. Easy meals like butter chicken etc you brown the chicken for 5mins and then chuck it on simmer the rice cooks itself and you can always chuck vege in. Frozen vege are the go in this house. Just tonight I have made a chuck together dinner, chicken thighs diced browned can of tomatoes and frozen vege to simmer for abit rice in the cooker and done easy as. Casseroles that are cooked in the oven and don't need much monitoring are always good too. Oh and cheat and cook chicken in the microwave if your going to use chicken legs etc that way you know they are going to be cooked through. Frozen chips, squid rings for you, frozen fish cakes, nuggets all that sorta stuff is good too. Toasties, pies, frozen pizzas. I'm a fan of frozen can you tell lol. Because its only me it makes more sense for me to have frozen as half the time I can't be bothered cooking for just me. 2min noodles with a can of tuna, or salmon in it is all good too.
As part of the bedtime routine you could say goodnight to a picture of DH for the kids as well so that they always remember he's there for them. Speaking to him on the phone, if he can do little videos that you can play for Jack when he's missing him, even a video of him saying good night and telling him he loves him and blowing a kiss that way you can get Jack to blow him a kiss back.
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emz
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Joined: 25 November 2006
Location: Christchurch
Points: 5321
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Posted: 10 September 2009 at 10:00pm |
Thanks for all the great advice ladies 
The lovely Kakapo has offered to lend me a wrap so that'll be good. Have never thought about one because I have a bad back, but figure if I'm carrying Ava all day anyway I might as well have free hands!
Haha meals in our house have been pretty shocking for a while - Jack refuses to eat anything I cook unless someone else (not just me) is eating it, so he often has Weetbix or sandwiches for tea  I can't eat crockpot food (well anything casserole-like or too saucy) so that sucks. Have a tiny freezer so can't freeze much but have had a couple of offers for meals being brought around so hopefully they'll follow through with that 
Unfortunately DH doesn't have an address or internet access and can't talk until about 9ish each night so no contact with Jack while he's away. It's not usually a problem, but after him not being around all year Jack has become quite clingy.
Mum's shouting me a membership to the toy library so am going to join that this weekend and get some more outdoor toys, and go and get some more sand for the sandpit. We're still continuing our Sunday night dinner routine at mums and going to coffee group every fortnight so we're getting out, and Jack does go to daycare for 2x 6 hour lots a week so that's enough time to get a bit of housework done, go and do my sisters cleaning and do the groceries etc.
I know it's early days but I'm finding it very hard being an army wife at the moment as DH is always away (at least if he was in Afghan or something we'd be getting mega money and I could hire a nanny lol). But if all else fails I just found out Ava starts daycare on the 28th just in time for me to go back to work so at least I can go to work for a break and some adult convo 
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LittleBug
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Joined: 29 July 2007
Location: Dunedin
Points: 4277
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Posted: 10 September 2009 at 10:32pm |
Haha emz, it IS a bit of a break to leave the kidlets at daycare while you work, huh.
There is heaps of great advice here.
Cous cous is another thing I was going to suggest... there is that instant Continental stuff which is ready in minutes. But if you make an extra big portion of dinner then you will only have to cook every second nite!
Another thing I do is go home after uni, get Chloe's dinner heating in the microwave and then go get her from daycare, so that when we get home at 5.30-6ish her dinner has cooled enough and is ready to eat. But our daycare is quite close to home so don't know if it would be practical for you to do that. I just find it easier to get her dinner stuff ready without lugging a baby around with a toddler attached to my leg, hehe.
Chloe won't eat unless I have some of what she's having as well.
big hugs, emz, wish I lived in the same town so I could bring you some meals or something!
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Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years).
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SpecialK
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Joined: 29 August 2008
Location: New Zealand
Points: 1082
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Posted: 11 September 2009 at 8:35am |
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emz, no advice on the two kids, but my no fail quick dinner is cous cous salad and roast chicken. You can even cheat and pick up the roast chicken from the supermarket or chuck it in the crockpot in the morning. You can even put it in frozen. Cous cous is literally 10 min from start to finish, although could be very messy for Jack...?
I also quite often do 1 pot dinners in the oven - chop a whole lots of vege, oil, herbs, salt and peper and put either lamb chops, sausages, chicken legs, or bits if fish on top and bake.
Could you put food you make into jars and pretend that you've bought them to get Jack to eat it?
Good luck, sounds like you are doing an amazing job. I find it hard enough with bub and DH home most nights!
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emz
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Joined: 25 November 2006
Location: Christchurch
Points: 5321
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Posted: 11 September 2009 at 12:04pm |
Haha LB you've got enough on your plate without thinking about dinners for me lol
SpecialK thanks for the advice about putting my food into jars. Never thought of that  Couscous - Jack loves it at daycare (always has 2-3 helpings) but won't eat it at home? Same with mince. He's a strange chap.
Think I'm going to have to get more inventive with my slow cooker - I've only ever cooked casseroles for DS in there but seeing as I can't eat them that doesn't help me. Chicken in there sounds good though.
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fattartsrock
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Joined: 01 January 1900
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Posted: 11 September 2009 at 3:16pm |
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Do you have a slow cooker recipie book or know someone who has one you can borrow? I have one I am most happy to lend you if you like, I am happy to post it to you! Let me know. You can do heaps of stuff in there, even macoroni cheese!
The only other advice I would have is seconding/thirding etc the front pack/sling thing. I had a front pack as I have back issues and found it distributed babies weight better.
Oh and for bathing I found was this towling seat/mat thing that I could lie Charly on when I was bathing Jake, hold onto her and get him to help wash himself, then wash her. about $10 form baby city, warehouse etc. It was a lifesaver.
And call in those offers of meals!
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The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P
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peanut butter
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Joined: 20 February 2007
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Posted: 11 September 2009 at 3:29pm |
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Tom survives on omlettes, spaghetti on toast or sandwiches when I am in a rush.
I used to do the same thing as cuppatea with bathing.....baby bath on floor with James in it and Tom in big bath. Then James out, dried, dressed and into bouncer while I got Tom out. He ran riot!!!
TV or DVDs are your friend!!!! Especially while they are a novelty. In the night garden used to mesmorise Tom long enough for me to have a shower and wash my hair, shave my legs!!! bummer it doesnt now.
Toy libraries rock!
And I second the suggestion of coffee groups, preschool activiities. If I didnt get out of the house I felt worse. Getting out in the morning meant Tom was stimulated and exhausted so he slept in the adfternoon.
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emz
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Joined: 25 November 2006
Location: Christchurch
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Posted: 11 September 2009 at 8:45pm |
Slowcooker recipe book - getting one from my sis: check
Joing the toy library tomorrow!
We have one of those cloth things for the bath for Ava, just got to figure out how to keep Jack off her is the main problem (he wants to cuddle all the time and gets angry at me for getting in the way)
Dh is bringing home heaps of movies on the hard-drive for Jack so that'll keep him occupied, plus I just discovered that TVNZ6 Kidzone thing on our new freeview thingy (wow, super technical) so that's cool.
Thanks for all the advice! you guys rock 
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Dealing with the kids on my own - help!
