Lovely sister

Zac was crying in his high chair this evening while I was getting his dinner ready.  Without me saying anything, Holly came close to him to sing him "Twinkle Twinkle" to cheer him up.  She then went to get some of his toys to hand to him, and also got a music one that he particularly likes and pressed the buttons while holding it up for him.  I said to her "Holly, how did you become so lovely, who did you learn it from?".  She paused a moment, before answering "ah, God".  Wow, I was blown away.  I'm not sure what her understanding is, but what an answer!!

Playing with Daddy

This video is pretty long, but cute!  Holly exploring a hand-me-down train set we were given bya  family at church... and Zac trying to grab everything vaguely within reach.

one more

One I meant to add to the below list... Holly passing me one of her toys, saying "here you go my darling".

Bottle-able moments

There are some moments that are just so sweet I want to bottle them away in my heart forever.  Like when Stefan came home from work yesterday evening, and Holly says "I love Daddy".  And Zac practically leaping out of anyone else's arms back into my arms.  Holly on the phone to my Mum the other day "Happy Birthday Nanna.  I love Nanna".  Zac laughing hysterically at Holly trying to entertain him.  Holly ever-so-gently kissing my knee better when I said it was sore.  Zac reaching out his little arm to touch my face while I am breastfeeding him.  These are the things I want to remember always.

Time out

We've been giving Holly a bit more freedom with her textas lately.  Too much freedom it seems.  While I was finishing the washing up the other day, she took her yellow (thankfully!) texta, and decided to do a bit of artwork on the walls.

We've started "time-out" with her lately, so to the time out chair she went.

Not sure if she really sees time out as a deterrent yet though.  She sometimes offers to give herself a time out if she thinks she's done something wrong, and once she even said that Zac should have a time out (for kicking in the bath)!

Trampoline

Tap dancing

Videos

I have just learnt how to post videos on here, so will try to put up the best ones from the last couple of months over the next few days.  They may only be interesting to family overseas (who have specially requested it)... but feel free to watch anyway if you want! :)

Reading "together"

A video of Holly reading with her cousin... she is not so keen on sharing books, but does love reading to whoever will sit and listen.

Keeping busy

It's quite a challenge to occupy both kids with something that is interesting and developmentally appropriate for each of them, but this morning (for a brief time!) we had a win.  Zac loved the buttons and music on this walker toy.

And Holly loved gluing patty pans onto paper.

My little helper

Holly has become really interested in helping us lately.  She's actually getting pretty good at some things too, like taking the washing out of the machine, and hanging up things like socks and bibs on the line.  Very sweet.

Sleep!

We have been working on a new routine with Zac for about 10 days, and I'm so thrilled to say that he's now sleeping through the night.  He occasionally makes noise during the night, but he's learnt to settle himself without needing me!  Wakes at about 6 and makes (mostly) happy noise til around 6:30.  We're still working on day sleep, but I'm not too worried about that given he's sleeping well at night. :)  I feel like a new person!

Our little Dutch girl

So there is this gross Dutch lolly called "double zout" - double salt licorice.  It is completely disgusting.  Basically as soon as anyone gets it in their mouth, they want to spit it out straight away.  (I realise a few members of Stefan's family may disagree with me on that... but I think it is, objectively, a fair description of this revolting lolly.)

Anyway, the other day Stefan decided to feed it to Holly.  I objected, but he insisted, and I figured she'd probably spit it out straight away anyway, so I relented, but had some water close by for her to wash her mouth out with.  He cut a tiny piece off her her (cause even he figured she wouldn't like it)...

and in her mouth it went...

I was close by with the water, ready to cuddle and console her after this ordeal.

BUT... much to my horror... she liked it!

And ate several pieces. Seems we have a real little Dutch girl.

Sibling love

One of my favourite times of the day is just after both kids have woken up from their middle of the day sleep. I take one of them into the other's room (usually Zac into Holly's) and they have some time together in the cot.

They are so sweet together.  They're always delighted to see each other (much more excited than to see me!).  They lie or sit together, Holly trying to hold Zac's hand, Zac trying to get it free to pull on her hair or touch her face...

It makes me smile every day, and thank God for our two beautiful children.

Little Houdini

We recently bought Holly a sleeping bag in the next size up, which is supposed to be kid proof in terms of them getting out of it.  The zip is up the size with some tight press studs just under her left arm, and then there are press studs on the shoulders too.  So I was a little surprised when I came into her room after her sleep one day to fine her just in her shirt and nappy, gleefully jumping on the sleeping bag!

Fathers Day

I think Stefan got the best present on Fathers Day - a snuggle with both kids in bed. Holly has basically never come in to our bed before (far too active) so it was all the more special when, totally unprompted, she asked Stefan if she could come in.