190 + 86 Weeks

Jeffrey has still been working a lot, so it has been mostly just me and the kids, except for a lovely morning spent at the pirate ship park, after which we walked across the harbour and had hot chips and smoothies.  Carmie has really been missing her dad, and every time she throws a tantrum over anything, it ends with her saying, "Daddy doesn't play with me enough any more".  Carmen has been having some rough days sleep-wise, and I think that I need to go back to letting her nap a couple of days a week.  They said at school that by the afternoon she sits around with her eyes glazed over - poor thing!  When she does nap though, she is up until all hours, so it is really hard finding the balance.  I think that she would sleep a lot longer in the morning if Arley let her.  Instead, he wakes up and starts practising his new words.  He has finally reached the stage where he will repeat words that I ask him to say.  He sounds very garbled, but at least he tries.  He is learning his colours, and his favourite thing to do is to practise his alphabet.  He loves to read books, and can be quite solitary sitting over in their reading corner, looking at his books.  He is definitely maturing, as in, he doesn't run around and trash the playroom any more, he actually pulls toys out and plays with them.  He is very much a boy though, and is into his trains and cars, and when he doesn't get his way, he tends to get pushy and a little physical - so opposite to Carmen who will just tear up.  Carmie is still quite happy to go off to school, and I also try to take Arley there for a bit of a run around, so he can get used to the place before he starts in four months.  He seems to love it there, wish he could start now!

Computer time on Mum's lap.

 Carmie insisted on wearing her "German dress" - thanks Oma and Opa!