Lilli:
Scooting in the front hallway with Alekos and Celene.
Amelia:
Mummy blowing raspberries on my tummy.
Daddy tickling me with his hair.
Anna:
Enjoying a cup of tea with April while the kids were getting crafty with stickers, glue, buttons and playdough.
Making Amelia giggle so I can examine her gums. Two more teeth (upper left) are on their way, poor thing.
Jon:
Rubbing my head on Amelia's belly and watching her grin and giggle.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Puppies Love Pink Slippers!
Anna:
An impromptu dinner over at The Fordhams (that sounds so proper!).
Snuggling in bed with Lilli, Amelia and Jon this morning.
The Smith's impossibly cute new fluffy puppy, Jessie, who loved Lilli's new pink slippers!
Amelia:
Two blissfully long naps.
Lilli:
Playing with Gemma and the puppy.
Going to Jamie's house.
An impromptu dinner over at The Fordhams (that sounds so proper!).
Snuggling in bed with Lilli, Amelia and Jon this morning.
The Smith's impossibly cute new fluffy puppy, Jessie, who loved Lilli's new pink slippers!
Amelia:
Two blissfully long naps.
Lilli:
Playing with Gemma and the puppy.
Going to Jamie's house.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Pureed Peas!
Amelia:
Pureed peas ... mmmmmm!
Dancing with Daddy made me giggle.
Playing peekaboo with Mummy under my Froggy blanket.
Jon:
Dancing with Lilli and Amelia to Santana.
Playing guitar to the ladies!
Dinner with friends.
Lilli:
Going swimming and playing with my dolls.
Anna:
Listening to Lilli sing Skinamarinkadink in the car.
Knitting quietly and cozily on the couch at nap/quiet time.
Enjoying a delicious dinner (pulled pork with coleslaw and pear and chocolate cake) at home with our friends Eric and Gail.
Pureed peas ... mmmmmm!
Dancing with Daddy made me giggle.
Playing peekaboo with Mummy under my Froggy blanket.
Jon:
Dancing with Lilli and Amelia to Santana.
Playing guitar to the ladies!
Dinner with friends.
Lilli:
Going swimming and playing with my dolls.
Anna:
Listening to Lilli sing Skinamarinkadink in the car.
Knitting quietly and cozily on the couch at nap/quiet time.
Enjoying a delicious dinner (pulled pork with coleslaw and pear and chocolate cake) at home with our friends Eric and Gail.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Bouncing and Crawling
Lilli
Bouncy castles!! (Even though she was trampled by the big kids running around...the place was crazy.)
Going to the playground with Eli.
Amelia
Almost crawling .... So so close .....
Me
Amelia took a lovely long nap this morning so Lilli and I played upstairs in her room. She told me to climb into bed with her because we were playing "Going to Sleep." Nose to nose in bed and snuggled under her covers she tells me with a big smile I am the kid and she is the Mummy. "Go to sleep kid" she instructs as she makes sure I am tucked in with Curious George. With happy eyes she croons a sweet and short lullaby that ends with "I love you Mummy .... Kid!"
Bouncy castles!! (Even though she was trampled by the big kids running around...the place was crazy.)
Going to the playground with Eli.
Amelia
Almost crawling .... So so close .....
Me
Amelia took a lovely long nap this morning so Lilli and I played upstairs in her room. She told me to climb into bed with her because we were playing "Going to Sleep." Nose to nose in bed and snuggled under her covers she tells me with a big smile I am the kid and she is the Mummy. "Go to sleep kid" she instructs as she makes sure I am tucked in with Curious George. With happy eyes she croons a sweet and short lullaby that ends with "I love you Mummy .... Kid!"
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Scooters and Swearing
So many wonderful, amusing, teeth grinding, eyebrow raising events fill my days with my two girls. I wish I had the discipline to record the highlights. Since this is obviously beyond my capabilities I'll try something new. Henceforth I will share each of our highlights from the day. Since the girls are in bed for the day I will only include Jon's and mine.
Amelia's smiles and giggling amusement.
Lilli exclaiming "Oh Jesus ....... Chriiiist" during our lunch together at Microsoft.
Lilli and Jon scootering around MS office corridors.
Amelia's determined efforts to crawl forwards (but instead sliding backwards).
Tooth number 2 for Amelia.
Amelia's smiles and giggling amusement.
Lilli exclaiming "Oh Jesus ....... Chriiiist" during our lunch together at Microsoft.
Lilli and Jon scootering around MS office corridors.
Amelia's determined efforts to crawl forwards (but instead sliding backwards).
Tooth number 2 for Amelia.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Songs and Smiles
Lilli asked if she could listen to her music in the car.
"Who would you like to listen to?" we asked.
"Diaper!" she replied.
Hmmmm, we thought for a while and then Jon understood.
"Caspar Babypants?"
"Des, him."
We listened to her singing along and trying to say the few lyrics she knows as fast as the melody. Basically only singing the last few words of each sentence.
".....blind mice, .... mice, ...... mice"
".......... run"
"...... farmer's wife"
"3 blind mice"
Amelia, little Miss Smiles, smiled, wiggled and gummed her way through our social day. She enjoyed lots of cuddles with Uncle Dave and grinned delightedly at our supper guests, Matt, Anne and Jamie.
"Who would you like to listen to?" we asked.
"Diaper!" she replied.
Hmmmm, we thought for a while and then Jon understood.
"Caspar Babypants?"
"Des, him."
We listened to her singing along and trying to say the few lyrics she knows as fast as the melody. Basically only singing the last few words of each sentence.
".....blind mice, .... mice, ...... mice"
".......... run"
"...... farmer's wife"
"3 blind mice"
Amelia, little Miss Smiles, smiled, wiggled and gummed her way through our social day. She enjoyed lots of cuddles with Uncle Dave and grinned delightedly at our supper guests, Matt, Anne and Jamie.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
My Girls
Lilli sat on the TV bench sweeping a DVD back and forth across the floor with her foot.
"Mummy I am scratching the DVD" she tells me as I take my shoes and coat off. We have just returned from school. I remind her that hurts the DVD and then she will not be able to watch Diego.
"Oh" she replies.
"I thought it was one of yours."
Hmmm, all because I hadn't examined her new scratch and given her a picture band aid the moment we arrived home!
Amelia lives to gnaw on fingers and smile at her big sister. Cuddling her while Jon was cooking supper her exploring fingers found my face and held me still. Her eyes were just inches from mine. Her mouth opened wide. "Mmmm, chin, just need to chew on that chin for a while. Oh, hello Mummy you are here too. Wait a sec, big sis is watching TV. Cool. Is that a fire truck? Chin, where is it? Mmmm, yummy chin. Oh, what's happening now? Fire truck is loud! Chin, must chew on chin. Ahhhhh. That feels good. Can I just hang here on your shoulder and chew this chin and watch Lilli's show at the same time? It feels so good."
"Mummy I am scratching the DVD" she tells me as I take my shoes and coat off. We have just returned from school. I remind her that hurts the DVD and then she will not be able to watch Diego.
"Oh" she replies.
"I thought it was one of yours."
Hmmm, all because I hadn't examined her new scratch and given her a picture band aid the moment we arrived home!
Amelia lives to gnaw on fingers and smile at her big sister. Cuddling her while Jon was cooking supper her exploring fingers found my face and held me still. Her eyes were just inches from mine. Her mouth opened wide. "Mmmm, chin, just need to chew on that chin for a while. Oh, hello Mummy you are here too. Wait a sec, big sis is watching TV. Cool. Is that a fire truck? Chin, where is it? Mmmm, yummy chin. Oh, what's happening now? Fire truck is loud! Chin, must chew on chin. Ahhhhh. That feels good. Can I just hang here on your shoulder and chew this chin and watch Lilli's show at the same time? It feels so good."
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Amelia Rose
Beautiful Amelia Rose was born June 20th 2012. A perfect midsummer baby. Here is the story of her birth.
Just like her sister, Amelia was running late. In the last few days before her birth I felt mild cramps each evening and would go to bed excited and apprehensive, but would wake up in the morning still at home, still pregnant and feeling as healthy and comfortable as can be expected. However on the 20th the mild cramps persisted all day. I was feeling warily hopeful that this might be it, but unsure I suggested that Jon take Lilli to the playground and market while I made supper. True labour contractions started when I was cooking pasta and dinner was made with plenty of rests while I bent myself double, gripping the kitchen counter waiting for a contraction to pass. Pete was called home, Lilli was fed and put to bed and we prepared to go to the hospital. Though painful and strong and regular we stayed at home until 8pm. Then I knew it was time to go. My timing was perfect. On route to the hospital the contractions became more intense and my breathing changed to reflect the increase pain. We encountered my midwife while losing ourselves in the hospital corridors. "I was wondering what had happened to you" she kindly told me, since we had called in around 6pm. She pointed us in the right direction.
I was happy to discover that I was already 5cm dilated. Over the next two hours I struggled through increasingly painful contractions, trying to breathe, trying to stop wailing when the contraction was over. My midwife didn't seem to be interested in checking how dilated I was.
"You'll know when you are ready to push" she told me.
"I didn't get that feeling with Lilli" I worriedly replied.
But that very next contraction I felt an intense desire to push. I was 10cm dilated and ready to go.
We quickly arranged ourselves, the bed stepped into two levels with Jon above me balancing on a birthing ball while I squatted on the lower half of the bed between his legs. With Jon supporting me and my midwife telling me to groan, almost growl, in a low pitch, I pushed hard. I knew what to do this time and 10 minutes later, along with my waters breaking, was born Amelia.
It was wonderful how I could hold her and keep her close to me. Feel her tiny soft naked body against me. Gaze at her scrunched up face and miniature fingers and toes. Those wonderful first hours with Lilli were stolen from me due to my hemorrhage. I feel so lucky, and relieved, that didn't happen again. Those first moments are truly precious. Welcome lovely Amelia to our family.
Just like her sister, Amelia was running late. In the last few days before her birth I felt mild cramps each evening and would go to bed excited and apprehensive, but would wake up in the morning still at home, still pregnant and feeling as healthy and comfortable as can be expected. However on the 20th the mild cramps persisted all day. I was feeling warily hopeful that this might be it, but unsure I suggested that Jon take Lilli to the playground and market while I made supper. True labour contractions started when I was cooking pasta and dinner was made with plenty of rests while I bent myself double, gripping the kitchen counter waiting for a contraction to pass. Pete was called home, Lilli was fed and put to bed and we prepared to go to the hospital. Though painful and strong and regular we stayed at home until 8pm. Then I knew it was time to go. My timing was perfect. On route to the hospital the contractions became more intense and my breathing changed to reflect the increase pain. We encountered my midwife while losing ourselves in the hospital corridors. "I was wondering what had happened to you" she kindly told me, since we had called in around 6pm. She pointed us in the right direction.
I was happy to discover that I was already 5cm dilated. Over the next two hours I struggled through increasingly painful contractions, trying to breathe, trying to stop wailing when the contraction was over. My midwife didn't seem to be interested in checking how dilated I was.
"You'll know when you are ready to push" she told me.
"I didn't get that feeling with Lilli" I worriedly replied.
But that very next contraction I felt an intense desire to push. I was 10cm dilated and ready to go.
We quickly arranged ourselves, the bed stepped into two levels with Jon above me balancing on a birthing ball while I squatted on the lower half of the bed between his legs. With Jon supporting me and my midwife telling me to groan, almost growl, in a low pitch, I pushed hard. I knew what to do this time and 10 minutes later, along with my waters breaking, was born Amelia.
It was wonderful how I could hold her and keep her close to me. Feel her tiny soft naked body against me. Gaze at her scrunched up face and miniature fingers and toes. Those wonderful first hours with Lilli were stolen from me due to my hemorrhage. I feel so lucky, and relieved, that didn't happen again. Those first moments are truly precious. Welcome lovely Amelia to our family.
A Three Year Old
My little Lilli is not so little these days. She has turned a whopping 3 years old and has the attitude to match. "I can do it" is the current mantra. I cherish this fierce independence and encourage it, but find that I can never seem to get it quite right! Though I am sure this will never change and I should better become accustomed to this now. I suggest she puts her shoes on and she whines for me to do it. I automatically help her wash her hands and find myself rudely pushed away. My kisses and cuddles are rejected or rescheduled. "You can kiss me after quiet time" I'm told. Or "only kiss my leg" I'm admonished when I move in to plant a smacker on her lips. Not long into her threes Lilli developed a water-shooting super-hero persona who fiercely brandishes various sticks at anyone and everything. This aggressive streak continues when things don't go quite the way she planned and mother abuse is unfortunately quite common. I'm pushed, smacked and kicked. Yes, I am the dog. Is this a common 3 year old trait? Or is a reaction to the arrival of her baby sister, Amelia. I suspect a little of both.
When she is not infuriated with sharing my attention, this super-hero is super helpful, kind, talkative, caring and sensitive. Lilli is a master story teller and shares her stories with us at supper and in the bath. They all seem to end with poop. Her teddies and toys all have roles in her elaborate imaginary play carried out while sitting on the potty in front of her dolls house. She relishes dirty talk. She cackles loudly at her own jokes. She prances naked around the living room to Tchaikovsky and cries with laughter when watching her wiggling bottom on video. She is a riot and so much fun to be with. So long as I'm not playing Thomas the Tank engine. That has become a little old for me!
One of the wonderful things about spending time with a three year old is getting down to their level and seeing the world anew, though their curious eyes. Why is a constant question and sometimes the most simple ones are the hardest to answer. "Mummy, why is the moon white?" "Mummy, will I grow out of my skin?" During bedtime lullabies after minutes of silence, she will suddenly interrupt with a query that comes out of nowhere or relates to an incident that happened days or months ago. "Mummy, when we move to a new house will I get a new bed?" "Mummy, remember that picture on the wall of the bedroom? In that house we stayed in with Granny." She looks at the world in a very practical and logical way. Her observations make perfect sense. Such as the time when I was pregnant, she asked me to open my mouth wide and peered intently down my throat. She told me she was trying to see the baby.
The other day I was driving home from the grocery store. Just as I pulled out of the car park Lilli announced from her car seat:
"Mummy, you didn't remember the eggs!"
She was right. I had forgotten the eggs, despite Jon's reminder earlier in the morning. I was astounded that she remembered (a little late unfortunately!).
"Oh no! You're right. I did forgot the eggs. Oh shoot. Do you think Daddy will be angry with me?" or something along those lines ...
"Yes" she responded with glee!
"Do you think Daddy will shout at me?"
Giggling with delight and relish at my misfortune "Yes!"
As we push through the front door laden with shopping bags she rushes to tell her Daddy all about the forgotten eggs.
When she is not infuriated with sharing my attention, this super-hero is super helpful, kind, talkative, caring and sensitive. Lilli is a master story teller and shares her stories with us at supper and in the bath. They all seem to end with poop. Her teddies and toys all have roles in her elaborate imaginary play carried out while sitting on the potty in front of her dolls house. She relishes dirty talk. She cackles loudly at her own jokes. She prances naked around the living room to Tchaikovsky and cries with laughter when watching her wiggling bottom on video. She is a riot and so much fun to be with. So long as I'm not playing Thomas the Tank engine. That has become a little old for me!
One of the wonderful things about spending time with a three year old is getting down to their level and seeing the world anew, though their curious eyes. Why is a constant question and sometimes the most simple ones are the hardest to answer. "Mummy, why is the moon white?" "Mummy, will I grow out of my skin?" During bedtime lullabies after minutes of silence, she will suddenly interrupt with a query that comes out of nowhere or relates to an incident that happened days or months ago. "Mummy, when we move to a new house will I get a new bed?" "Mummy, remember that picture on the wall of the bedroom? In that house we stayed in with Granny." She looks at the world in a very practical and logical way. Her observations make perfect sense. Such as the time when I was pregnant, she asked me to open my mouth wide and peered intently down my throat. She told me she was trying to see the baby.
The other day I was driving home from the grocery store. Just as I pulled out of the car park Lilli announced from her car seat:
"Mummy, you didn't remember the eggs!"
She was right. I had forgotten the eggs, despite Jon's reminder earlier in the morning. I was astounded that she remembered (a little late unfortunately!).
"Oh no! You're right. I did forgot the eggs. Oh shoot. Do you think Daddy will be angry with me?" or something along those lines ...
"Yes" she responded with glee!
"Do you think Daddy will shout at me?"
Giggling with delight and relish at my misfortune "Yes!"
As we push through the front door laden with shopping bags she rushes to tell her Daddy all about the forgotten eggs.
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