175-177 & 71-73 Weeks

This is three blog posts in one, as not only have we been very busy with the move, but good old Telstra has completely stuffed up our phone and internet connection (again), and we have had no internet.  They have given us a mobile hotspot to use now, until our internet gets fixed on Friday.  They are absolutely bloody hopeless.

In the meantime, we have been unpacking in our new house, and getting used to the new surroundings.  Carmie says she misses her old house, but I think she is happy here.  It is amazing how adaptable kids are.  They have a great big playroom in this house, with a little 'art studio' attached, and an enormous back yard, and four sheep in the neighbouring paddock.  Although we have more room now, we still find that we need to get the kids out at least once a day, or they go stir crazy.  We have had beach trips, park trips, pub trips and farm trips.  The weather is getting really lovely, and downright hot some days.  On our last trip to the beach we realised we will most likely have to forgo the beach this summer and stick with the inlet instead, as it is too stressful.  Arley likes to run headfirst into the water, with no fear of the waves at all.  Carmen went through the same thing at the same age.  He is just too slippery when he is wet from head to toe, and it is really stressful to play goalie to him running into the waves.  He is going through a really difficult stage at the moment.  He is doing lots of crying and throwing himself on the floor having tantrums.  He is also doing this dreadful high-pitched ear-piercing screaming still.  It is fairly constant, when he is annoyed or wants attention.  He eats like a horse - there is only 5 lbs difference between him and Carmie.  He is saying a few random words here and there.  Today he said, "Cheese" while I was taking his photo, and he nows says "Ooosh" when he wants to put his shoes on.  Sadly he also says "Pad!!!" for iPad, and tonight I even got, "More pad!"  

Carmie has made huge progress as far as her monkey is concerned.  About a week ago, I convinced her to dip his feet in white vinegar so that she wouldn't suck on them.  Well, she did, and that progressed to vinegar and mustard, then we added horse radish cream, and now Tobasco.  She has gone  6 nights without sleeping with him in her mouth.  We have had lots of tears, and the first night I had to stay with her and rub her back for almost 2 hours, but every night gets a bit easier, and she is very proud of herself.  I don't know if her teeth are beyond the point of no return, but we are hoping they improve.

I am sure I have skipped lots of stuff that happened over the past few weeks, but hopefully I can get this blog, and our sanity, back on track.  Who knew that life would be so tough without the internet?!

Packing

At Mollymook Beach park

At Burrill Lake

New hair cut.  At the pub.

Teaching Arley to jump

I hate Movember

The view from our front patio

At Mollymook Beach

Siblings with their beloved 'Pad!'

At King's Point park

Love this picture - it's all about Carmie, but look at Arley

The kids' new playroom

When Arley is not allowed to play with dish soap

At Mummy's computer, in his sister's hat

Fairy