birthday

he

 

We woke him at 6.30 am, hours earlier than we usually would, the morning of my birthday. This was RISKY but, thankfully, fine. Phew. We hurried around the corner to meet our neighbourhood friends (Gabba Hill Community Garden group) to plant flowers. He insisted on filling his own watering can from our tank and taking it along pre-filled. Not a drop was allowed to spill. He dug holes, planted and watered diligently and it was gorgeous to watch. He stopped to ponder his work and said - to no one in particular, possibly just to the new flowers - "We're planting a whole world of trees".

Earlier in the week, pre-birthday, he made me giggle:

He: Mummy, you don't know where we hid your birthday present.

Me: You're right, I don't. I wonder where it is.

He: It's under that green pillow.

she

She and her spade made an appearance at the gardening event, before she and I ducked into a friend's place, which just happened to be adjacent to the area we were planting in, so that she could have some milk and I could have a perfectly delicious (that is, incredibly - bordering on ridiculously - frothy, just how I like it) coffee. She also wore her first ever party hat at a friend's 2nd birthday party the day before. BUT her biggest news is that she pushed out her first TWO teeth on my birthday - she was getting uncharacteristically cranky during the afternoon/evening, and I found the sharp little pegs the next morning.

me

A busy and thoroughly lovely birthday! Walnut & banana birthday cake for post-gardening morning tea, thanks to a neighbour friend. Then off to the markets. Home to open presents with my keen little helper. A lovely lazy lunch out the back with visitors. Curry for dinner with other pals followed by tasty fructose-free birthday cake and sparklers. Skype chats over the weekend. Delightful.

we

Last week we had this photo taken for the local paper, with an article about our plans to beautify the traffic islands that are on a major entrance to our neighbourhood. Sunday morning we did the beautifying!

show & tell

he

He was rostered on for his first 'Show & Tell' at kindy yesterday. During the previous weeks, his classmates have shared about gardening, pets, ballet lessons, fishing, travel. Our little guy shared about 'Gobbledy Goo'! It's one of his favourite 'experiments' from his science book, and he and his Daddy made some the previous morning (first photo). I wondered whether he would be too shy when the time came, especially as he only just met the new teacher that morning. He was really happy with how it went, and the teacher's summary agrees (middle photo). He proudly showed me a the big 'Gobbledy Goo' photo/info display on the window (third photo) when I arrived in the afternoon (and then we spent 45 minutes playing with toys and books there before I could convince him to come home - he'd had a good day)!

she

She would like to show everyone how she can sit up without (immediately) falling over! But she would like to tell everyone that she still prefers standing and bouncing and that, if anyone has their hands free at any time, she would be happy to hold them and stand and bounce for as long as you are willing!

me

For my Show & Tell, I've chosen my new haircut. This is the first time I've paid for a haircut, from a proper hairdresser, in 15 years, and only the 3rd time in my life. It wasn't too scary, Tom, the hairdresser lives directly across the road from us, the salon is under his house and he has a sweet dog called Moet who hangs out in the salon.

afternoon op shopping

he

 He and his pal had no problems entertaining themselves, for as long as their mums wanted to shop. And, he's now the kid who chooses to dress in costume for a whole day (including to a birthday party - which was not a dress up party).

she

She loves being moved slowly through the colourful aisles, grabbing at any fabrics that dare to hang low enough for her hopeful fists.

me

I received an irresistible text from my friend: "I have a 50% off voucher for clothes at Glenrosa Salvos that's about to expire, if you fancy an op shop vous this arvo?"

skills

he

His special skill right now is reading sentences! We make magnet messages on the fridge for each other. I love that he doesn't really realise that this (at his age) is particularly clever or interesting - it's all very matter-of-fact.

she

She rolls! Wriggle, wriggle, kick, kick, wriggle, grunt, roll, grunt, get those arms out, big proud smile, all done! Once she realised that she had this skill yesterday, she just kept rolling for the rest of the day, back to front. 

me

Hmmm... I should have thought this through before naming this blog post 'Skills'. What share-worthy skills do I have at the moment? Ummm... Until recently I could definitely get the biggest smile out of our baby. Is that a skill? (Doesn't matter now because her brother has definitely taken over that claim - the two of them spent 5-10 minutes, before bedtime last night, in great hysterics, big belly laughs, egging each other on. She adores him and everything he does is hilarious and wonderful.) Back to my skills... with you, internet, as my witness, I hereby resolve to pick up the ukulele regularly again and develop my very rudimentary skills!

Ipswich

he

 He played at the train museum with his Daddy and Grandparents (as usual, avoiding the scary big trains and preferring the toy trains and activities), followed by a visit to Queen's Park for the big playground and the nature centre (visiting the Aussie animals but particularly interested in the squeaky gate on exit).

she

She spent the morning charming the various op shop ladies, then off to the park to charm her grandparents.

me

As soon as the boys got season passes to the railway museum at the start of the year, I began imagining a future of regular op shopping sessions in Ipswich while they played with trains. I consulted the one person that I knew could give me solid guidance about charity stores in Ipswich (but who actually resides as far away from the place as she could while still calling Australia home), who promptly replied with maps and comments. I finally got to put her expertise to use on Saturday! My little She and I strolled and browsed, spending a total of $3.20 before finding a comfortable cafe (chosen for the fact that it has the same calendar as us) so that we could both have a drink. She then napped while I got stuck into reading 'The Narrow Road to the Deep North', before heading to the park for picnic lunch and wildlife watching.

clean up australia day

he

 

We picked up rubbish near the river in West End, which led to an extended conversation about floods. 

she

She was our independent observer.

me

It was nice to take a Sunday morning stroll with friends, with a purpose. With tasty morning tea afterwards!

how to spend a rainy weekend

he

 Baking muesli bars with his mum.

Making friends with the rain.
Reading to his little sister.
Having tea parties with his friends.
Building rockets at the Lego exhibition at the Ipswich Gallery with his Daddy.

she

Sitting in a dry cafe, calmly watching her brother being ferried from the car, through the (conveniently large) cafe window!

Skyping with Auntie.

Scooching! (She's not yet rolling, which is the physical feat expected anytime now from someone her age, but instead she traverses the entire living room in her own style.)

me

Eating one-handed.

Scouring the neighbourhood (with my special helper) for curbside collection goodies.

Drinking tea with a friend.

looking

he

He tells her "Look!" and, when he has her attention, expertly shows her how to play with different toys. In this video he expertly demonstrates how to play with planes, in particular the noise that they must make as they zoom together.

she

She had her 4-month check-up/injections this week. She's tall - 95th percentile for height, 75th for weight. She did a huge wee (with a huge grin) during the few moments that she was lying naked, nappy-free on the scales. I noticed, a few weeks ago, that her pupils were slightly different sizes. Our GP referred her to an ophthalmologist to check it out, as this is usually fine but could possibly indicate something serious. That appointment was yesterday. The photo shows her in the waiting room, as another bub approached her for a play. After a couple of hours and a few tests, the doctor said she's fine, nothing nasty is causing it. We suspect that it is, instead, indicative of some kind of eye-related super powers. We're yet to confirm which one, but suspect any/all of the following: X-ray vision, night vision, seeing the future, Super Man laser-eyes. Any other suggestions?

me

I'm loving looking out of the windows at the steady rain. I'll like it less when the wind arrives tonight or tomorrow. 

b

Apparently B doesn't have enough time staring at screens every day so he has to capitalise on his screen-time opportunities. I took this picture last night (it's for real!).

garden hour

he

 He sometimes takes some convincing to actually exit the house, with its lego, drums and puzzles, but when he does get out into the yard he's at his very best: relaxed, creative, helpful, curious. And, obviously, he refuses to come inside afterwards.

she

She's enjoying hanging out in the baby-cage, watching the banana trees and clouds above her, then turning to watch the people action around her.

me

Garden hour doesn't happen as often as it once did around here, but when it does, it's lovely. I spend a lot of time in the baby cage, too. And here are our newest residents, the native bees (white hive). We named them the Weasleys (and He named the Queen Bee 'Dorothy'). The worms in the worm farm below them are named Slytherin.

Happy Valentine's Day to those we love!

he

He came home from daycare yesterday with a beautiful pink valentine card that he had made for his dad, me and auntie (who was staying over). He ran inside, "Mummy, I've made something for you! Will you be my vall-ey...ta... What is it again?"

He and I made love heart cookies, and he insisted on also making a love house. That's the door at the front.

While shaping the cookie dough, he caught me sneaking a taste and asked what I was doing. I told him I just had to try a little to make sure it was alright. Of course, he pinched a little off and popped it in his mouth, "Hmmm... it's not alright." Popped a little more in, "Now it's nearly alright." More, "Now it's alright, Mummy!" A minute later, "It's not alright again!" Repeat. Repeat. Whoops.

she

She obligingly modeled the cookies but prefers to share her love through smiles.

me

I spent part of yesterday afternoon mixing a batch of pink cookie dough while listening to Radio National's 'Inside Sleeve' program, a 'red' themed show for Valentine's. I had a lot of fun realising how many songs are about the colour.