Daddy's Birthday

It was Neil's birthday on Friday.

Grace is very into birthdays, and has talked about "Daddy's party" for a long time. She and I had discussed getting him a handful of helium-filled balloons on the day, but when he was looking after them on Thursday she insisted on getting them then. Hence you can see their loss of altitude in this photo of Neil enjoying a rest on his special day.

Grace and I made a cake (from a packet mix) in a flower tin, because the others are yet to be unpacked! The butter icing melted a bit, because she was so eager to decorate the cake and it was iced while still a little warm. But she had a great time putting on the blue car (representing Daddy's "big blue truck"), random candles, and M&Ms.

We had pancakes together for breakfast, and mid-afternoon all donned our party hats to have cake and sing 'Happy Birthday'.

Neil and I went out for dinner in the evening, and this month the evening was much easier for the babysitter. Hopefully making it a regular thing will help the girls get used to being looked after by someone else.

Happy birthday to a wonderful husband and father. We look forward to sharing many more with you!

Dresses from Grandma

A few weeks ago Grandma sent two beautiful little dresses down with Grandpa. I have to admit that in the flurry of moving house, I had forgotten about them. But today, the girls finally wore them to church.

I'd love to have a shot of the two of them together, but Grace wouldn't cooperate this morning. I should have taken the camera to Sabbath School though - as soon as we got there they were on the floor together smiling and playing happily. It would have made a beautiful photo.

Anyway, here's two individual photos. You'll just have to imagine the sisterly togetherness this time!

Thank you Grandma. You were right - they do look good in navy!

By the way, take note of Grace's guitar. It is a hastily bought substitute for one locked in storage (for which Neil can't currently locate the key!). She is Wiggles mad at the moment, and walks around playing and singing "Play your guitar with Murray" all day!

Negotiation Nightmares

I should have seen it coming.

They don't call it "the terrible two's" for nothing.

We'd been going along well with Grace. Discounting times when she was tired, hungry or both, her behaviour wasn't too hard to manage.

Before.

Now I seem to have suddenly woken up in a nightmare. Everything requires negotiation.

And when I say everything, I mean everything.

Eating, drinking, changing her nappy, getting dressed, getting undressed, sleeping, bathing, what we will buy at the shops, what we will watch on TV, getting into the car, getting out of the car, wearing her seatbelt, going to bed ... you get the idea.

No wonder I feel exhausted!

Those who knew me during my international travelling days will know that I was never that good at driving a hard bargain. As a salesman in Africa once told me, "you're very kind"!

But then Grace will say "I love you very much, Mummy" and give me a big cuddle and kiss, and I'll remember why I do it.

I guess that is the way God designed it to be. Just enough rewarding moments to keep us parents going!

Look Who's Growing Fast!

Charlotte isn't a baby anymore. She's turned into a little girl!

She constantly pulls herself up to standing, and has started to do some furniture walking.

One of her most satisfying recent achievements seems to be climbing into the little pink chair. Whenever she is in the living room she climbs onto it, turns around, and sits beaming at us. She is so pleased with herself!

Don't they grow up fast?!

It's a Girl!

On Tuesday afternoon I had my 20 week ultrasound, and found that our little baby is healthy and well, the correct size ... and another girl! We are all very pleased with the news. As a friend Dianne said, "you make beautiful girls".

Here's the photo:

Isn't it amazing how much detail you can see?

I know that with two daughters I have plenty of clothes to pass down the line. But a little baby needs something new, and not everything survives to the third child. (That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it!). So today the girls and I went shopping! We got a lovely soft peach coloured Bonds wondersuit from Big W, and beautiful pale pink overalls from Pumpkin Patch.

The whole family is looking forward to meeting our new daughter/baby sister.

The next challenge is choosing a name!

6 Days of Creation Posters

This year I volunteered to help decorate the room the girls attend at Sabbath School. I'm not quite sure why I did that at such a busy time in my life, but it was fun!

The theme for this quarter is creation. I've finally finished the last of six posters I've been making depicting the six days of creation. All but the last one are already up on the wall at the Beginners Sabbath School at church. I drew all the outlines freehand, and I'm not a brilliant artist but was quite pleased with the results.

Here they are ...

I'll try to post a picture of them all on the wall (and the rest of the room decor) sometime soon.

Pregnancy Progress

This week I will be 16 weeks pregnant, and will visit the obstetrician again. Only four more weeks until we know if we're having a boy or a girl! Scarier yet, only four more weeks until we're half way there!

I can honestly say I really don't mind what gender this baby is. I'd be very happy to have all girls. A son would be lovely, but also a bit daunting. Boys seem so much more boisterous! Grace is sure though. She wants a baby brother!

We had the 12 week ultrasound on the 7th December, and everything was looking good. "Ollie" was the correct size, and doesn't have Downs Syndrome. The placenta was in a good place, and looking healthy. All up, an excellent report.

Here is the photo:

He/she is looking much more like a little person now, don't you think? Spent the time either waving or picking his/her nose (I prefer the former!).

With all that is going on in our lives at the moment, it is easy to be less mindful of this precious little person in my womb. But he/she is growing beautifully, and I can't wait to meet him/her. What a blessing!