155 + 51 Weeks

We have had a busy week, with trips to the park, a couple of scooter rides, a visit to the Commercial pub where they have a little playground for the kids (and of course, booze!).  We had a quick visit with Hunter and the twins to give Hunter his birthday present, and lots of playing in the back yard.  Carmen had terrible tantrums at dinner time three days in a row, and we determined that not having a nap in the afternoons has caught up with her and is wrecking havoc on our little girl.  She had to go to bed one night at 5:45 because she was screaming and crying for no reason and we couldn't snap her out of it.  And she willingly went to bed, and slept for almost 14 hours.  So, we are back to Carmen having naps again, which leaves us under house arrest once again.  When Arley goes down for one nap instead of two, things will be different.  Anyway, Carmie has been doing really well at her day care, and has a 'best friend' which makes all the difference.  Arley has been clingy and needy, and rightly so, as I discovered he has four teeth coming through on top.  He is getting steadier on his feet, but doesn't seem too close to walking.  He is a crazy fast crawler, so I'm sure he thinks walking is overrated.  It's the kids' birthday next week (unbelievable!), and we are having a little party for them on Sunday.  Carmie is getting very excited.

Here is a video of Carmie being an elephant:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyH0xt3LhFQ&list=UU21-zydO1IYNApoXHx_P8LQ

At the park

 Hunter wearing his birthday present

 At the Commercial

 New birthday hats from Lolo

154 + 50 Weeks

I mentioned last week that I was sick.  Well, here I am a week later, and still sick.  In fact, this virus absolutely kicked my ass.  Sunday and Monday were dreadful, I was miserable, and on Tuesday I was able to spend the day in bed getting some rest.  But it was clearly not enough, as I am still sick, popping pills and coughing my lungs out :(

The kids have been good.  Carmen has been on good behaviour, with only one major tantrum a day, on average.  Arley has started this shrill screaming which is ear piercing and horrible.  He is refusing to stand up when I want him to, but he will stand up to cling to my legs, or stand up to pull something off the table, or stand up to open cupboard doors.  It rained a fair bit this week, so we were trapped inside, and they handled it well.  One day when the rain stopped I took the kids up to Milton so that I could push Arley in the stroller while Carmie rode her scooter (she insisted on wearing her 'princess dress', so she got a few laughs).  Carmie is playing with Arley more, even voluntarily, which is so nice to see.  She doesn't do free play time without me, without kicking up a huge fuss, unless it is bath time which is when she is quite willing to go play on her own.  I'm working on it though - she will be three soon, so I think she should be able to play by herself when asked!

In the rain

 Scooting through Milton

 Cuddles

153 + 49 Weeks

It has been a good week, except that now I am sick :(  And mummies never get a day off when they're sick.  Everyone else can curl up into bed and feel sorry for themselves, but mums are forced to cater to their demanding little kids no matter what!  Luckily my kids have been on their best behaviour, and Carmen takes great pleasure in giving me medicine.  She would totally overdose me if she could.

Carmie had not one but two play dates with Hannah this week.  She also was begging for her to come over today too, and when I told her that I was too sick, she was crying, "I want my Hannah!  I want my Hannah!".  But this quickly turned into "I want Stormy!  I want Stormy!" when we discovered that her fish Stormy had died.  He was actually Stormy # 2, but she doesn't know that.  Apparently I am a fish serial killer.  Carmie got four fish for Christmas, and we are already on Sunny # 3, and as I said, Stormy # 2 died today.  I can't figure out what I am doing wrong, and neither can they at the pet store.  Of course, my sister has four fish living in the greenest, murkiest half-filled tank, and hers have been alive for four years. Go figure.  Anyway, Carmie is still swimming with her Uncle Sting on Wednesdays, and apparently it is working, because she has been moved up to another swim group again.  She is very excited too, because she will now be in Hannah's class.  She is supposed to be in the two years and under class, and then when they turn 3, they go into Courage 1, then Courage 2 and then Courage 3.  She has just been moved up to Courage 3, so she is going to be the youngest in her class by a mile.  I know her listening skills won't be nearly as good, but I know she will swim as well.  She can stay under water for longer than me - it scares me some times!

Arley is great, totally over his cold.  I have this contraption called Walking Wings, which basically straps around the baby's chest and then it has two handles so you can hold them up to help them learn to walk.  Carmen used to LOVE her walking wings, and I used to walk her around the neighbourhood.  I think that is why she learned to walk quite young.  However, Arley refuses to walk.  He lets me put them on, and then he just hangs there like a lump.  He won't even stand, even though he can stand for as long as he wants to without any help.  I end up dragging him around like a sack of potatoes.  I can't wait for him to walk, because he comes up behind me in the kitchen and grabs hold of me from behind so that I can't move, and clings to me for dear life.  If he could walk, he could at least walk along with me.  But apart from that, he is very self-entertained, and spends most of the day getting various toys and taking them onto the hard floor so that he can spin them around.  He is a funny little thing.  Jeff now has every Thursday off work, and then he works every other week-end, so he gets to take care of Arley on Thursdays while I paint.  Arley and Jeffrey had their first Thursday outing together this week - they went down to the park at the beach so that Arley could chase the seagulls.  I am so glad Arley can get out of the house now!

The scarecrow festival was held in Milton this week, so we took the kids up there to see the scarecrows, and then to the pub because they were having a family day.  Carmie loves the scarecrows, so I have since been back there with her.  She scoots through Milton with her red helmet on, and it is very cute to see.  She will be very sad when all of the scarecrows are gone.

Here are some videos from this week:

Carmie swimming:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-LP2Nr4zIw

Carmie being chased by a turkey:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9kZYirprz8

What Carmie and Arley do best:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=261lCcJOPLA

Carmie and Hannah

 Day out with Dad

 Scooting through Milton, she found a puddle.

152 + 48 Weeks

It has been a rainy week rife with injury.  I grabbed Carmie too fast when I picked her up, and I over-extended my thumb and ended up at the hospital getting X-rays done on my hand because I couldn't move it.  I have it in a bandage and have found it quite difficult taking care of the kids.  And poor Carmie fell while she was playing balloon catch with her dad, and she smacked her head on the corner of her red desk, and then proceeded to hit it in the same spot two more times.  But other than that, it has been a good week.  Arley is standing on his own a lot, and loving it, but he has taken to refusing to walk when I hold his hands.  The kids had a play date with Hunter and the twins, and we did lots of playing out in the backyard.  Carmie and Arley are starting to play a little together - mostly because Arley follows Carmie everywhere, and sometimes she deigns to pay him some attention.  Carmie also had two great days at school.  She has a new friend who goes on Tuesdays, and it has made her school experience so much better.  Apparently Carmen and Cassie follow each other everywhere.  Carmen also has decided that she doesn't want to nap anymore - instead she lies down for her quiet time, but usually she doesn't sleep.  This works out quite nicely, because she is still resting, but then we get to put her to bed early because she is so tired. :)  Best of both worlds!

 Bed time