130+26 Weeks (2.5 Years + 6 Months)

It has been a rather eventful week, with visits here from uncles and cousins, a trip to the ER for Carmen, and her first carnival.  Carmen's uncle Beau (my cousin) came down for a visit with his wife Jenny, and then my cousin Emma came down with her brood as well.  Carmen loved having the kids around to play with, and made me hopeful that she will enjoy school when she starts back again next week (the bullies will no longer be there, so I figure I might try her out there again). 

 As I said, she also had a trip to the ER - it was the evening and just before bed, Jeffrey was at work and I was in the kitchen.  Carmie was in the loungeroom watching her Dora, and she came out running, yelling to me to hurry hurry, and that her nose hurt.  She then told me that she put a piece of dried apricot up there!  I tipped her head back, but couldn't see anything, but she kept crying, begging me to make her feel better.  It must have been pushed up really far!  I called Mum and Geoff to come down, as Arley was sleeping for the night already, and Mum and I took Carmen to the hospital.  While we were in the waiting room, her nose started running.  Then I saw something in her nose, and Mum pulled at it, and what do you know, out popped a piece of dried apricot!  I can't even imagine the relief she felt when the pressure of that in her little nose was gone!  She did say she will never do it again.  Silly twit!

Carmie also went to her first little carnival.  She LOVED it, had an absolute blast.  Her favourite was the little merry-go-round.  She must have gone on it 5 or 6 times.  And somehow she didn't see the giant lollipops and fairy floss (cotton candy), so I was relieved.  She played the clowns, and went on the jumping castle, and was the happiest little girl around.

She is also going through a stage where she wants me to copy her every move.  Her favourite thing is to say, "Do this Mummy" and then I have to copy her exactly.  She is also going through a very annoying stage where she calls me into her bedroom every night after I put her to bed, over and over again.  It's driving me nuts.  I ignored her for 40 minutes tonight, until she got very upset.  Does anyone have any tactics I can use?

Little Arley is doing great.  He has learnt to sleep on his tummy, so we had no cries out last night to flip him over.  He is almost sitting up, and he has found his voice, spending most of his awake time saying, "Gaaaaaaaa gaaaaaaaa gaaaaaa."  It is his only word, besides blowing raspberries.  He is very happy, and eating well.  I have an appointment for him with a pediatrician this week, as he has a raspy throat (he has always had it), so we'll see how that goes.  He just turned 6 months yesterday (Carmen is 2.5 years!), so I feel like we are over the big hurdles.   The first 6 months wasn't as tough as I thought it would be.

All is well here in the Willbanks house.  I hope everyone has had a lovely start to 2014!

At the carnival:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp6dyb2FGmI&feature=youtu.be

Little monster:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKgn10ed23o&feature=youtu.be

 "Do this Mummy."

 The infamous dried apricot

 At the carnival

Little Carmonster

 At Narrawallee Inlet

 Cousins

129 + 25 Weeks, and Christmas!

We had a lovely week leading up to Christmas, with great weather (one day was actually a heat wave), and two kids who only drove me mildly batty.  Arley has started turning onto his tummy as soon as you put him down for a sleep, and then cries in frustration because he can't turn back over nor can he sleep.  It is a game of continually turning him back over again and again until he gives up and conks out.  Carmen went through about three days where she was an absolute devil child - she brought me to tears on many occasions, and then suddenly she is back to normal, which is really just a regular two year old having regular tantrums.  Does anyone know if toddlers goes through 'wonder weeks' too?  I am thinking that perhaps that is what it is.  Either way, her behaviour over the last few days has been great, and hopefully it will stay this way for a while!

Christmas was yesterday.  Carmen has been very excited for Santa to bring her a scooter and an umbrella. He brought her these, and more.  The look on her face when she woke up and I told her that Santa came was priceless.  It was so nice to see her enjoying the 'magic' of Christmas.  Arley on the other hand didn't know what was going on, which was lucky for him because he was outdone by Carmen with presents about 20:1!  After presents we went to the farm to have lunch with my parents and sister, brother-in-law and nephews.  Mum put on a lovely lunch (which Carmen and Arley both napped through!), and we all opened more presents - I don't think Carmen knew it was possible to get so many gifts in one day :)

Anyway, I hope everyone reading had a lovely Christmas!

Short video of Carmie after nap time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lzAsJ54UYc&feature=youtu.be

Carmen opening her stocking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPFTzemH5Ug&feature=youtu.be

Arley in his new Jolly Jumper:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1KSuo__lvQ&feature=youtu.be

 Little Bo Peep again

 At her school's Christmas party.  Carmie was the last man standing, she got the jumping castle all to herself.

 Bath time fun with big sis

 Dressing up, for a change ;)

 Christmas morning

 She LOVES her magnifying glass

 At Lolo and Dida's for lunch (wearing her new dress)

 Trying out her new umbrella