Three years old, Happy Birthday beautifuls!

If I ask them their ages the first response is 5!  I then say are you sure? Then it's 6.  After I press them and say I don't think so, the response is we are 3 with big smiles everywhere.  This is their first birthday where they really grasp the concept of celebration and have they been excited!  If I mention birthday cakes, they look at me like is it now or today because in their world it should happen today or now.  Even though they do throw the names of the days of the week around I'm not sure it really means that much to them.

They are my little conversationalists though and demand a word in each with, "it's my turn now mummy! ". They are the absolute best of friends one minute giggling and planning together and the next they are screaming and yelling at each other and it can be over the silliest things like who got dressed first.
They have both started independent swimming lessons now and love the fact that mummy isn't in the pool with them, but want to make sure I'll be watching them, not too far away.  We do a far bit of traveling in the car to get to our different activities and Sol has taken to asking "Is it just a little far mummy, not a big far?", which always makes me smile.

Safiya is sure to point out if you are not doing something according to the rules/guidelines we have set out and is very happy to tell Papa if he is going too fast in the car!  If I ask her to pull up her pants after she has gone to the potty it's "mummy we have to pull up our undies first silly!"

Sol is an energizer bunny and likes to push the rules a little but is incredibly loving and is always checking if we are okay if one of us gets a booboo.
They bring so much liveliness and fun to every day, Happy birthday!
Mummy and Papa love you lots and lots xoxo

"We are big kids now Mummy"

I have to say from when the kids turned 2 looking after Sol and Safiya has got a little easier for me and I'm guessing this is because they have become more independent and are able to communicate what they like, see or should I say pretty much whatever comes to their minds).

I am loving their ability to absorb everything around them and find their own little anecdotes for things.  They have in the last couple of weeks been into the why phase which is pretty amusing.  Sometimes I feel they are genuinely interested and other times I think they just like hearing themselves say "why".
Sol is a head strong little boy who likes to be first at everything :).  He is impulsive and very expressive in his emotions and although this can sometimes mean he is pushy with Safiya he also is incredibley caring and thoughtful and has a warming smile.  Sol is also protective and quick to back me up and gets upset if Safiya doesn't follow my directions. He is outgoing and is very interactive in a group situation and so fast at picking things up and is definitely Papa's little boy at the moment.  He loves saving things for him for when he gets home.

 Safiya is also really swift at picking up concepts, incredibly observant and is always amazing me with her ability to comprehend what I would like them to do.  She loves routine and is happiest when she knows what is happening that day.   One of her favourite questions is "What are we doing today Mummy, Whats next?".  She is also mischievous and I'm sure has managed to get Sol into trouble a couple of times with her behind the scenes work.  She is generally a very easy going child but if she is having one of her momets, watch out, she can put on a real performance!  I find in those moments no rationale works but some good alone time!

They love each other's company most of the time,  it warms my heart when they chat to each other and tell me either "Sol would like this car Mummy" or "Safiya loves Princess Mermaids Mummy".
They have just started at the Goddard School in Hershey and seem to be really responding well to it.  They are learning so much more there and are singing days of the week Tunes I don't recognise and other songs I haven't taught them at home.  Because of the big spanish influence here they also learn a spanish word every day and I really like their new teacher, Miss Katie.
I am so proud of them and when I observe them at the library singing group they are so well behaved, listen well and seem to really comprehend things compared to kids their same age.
I have to remember to let them do things more independently now like eating, dressing and closing-opening containers, pouring liquid as I know that they get a kick out of it and they are important life skills even though I would like to baby them sometimes :).
Hershey has turned out to be a really great area for kids, with lots of pretty parks, gardens and things to amuse them.  Shammy has had a very steep learning curve with his EP fellowship but seems to settling into it now and has his cardiology boards coming up. I am settling into my part time work routine now and enjoy the company of the group of girls I work with.  Its only 2 days a week and I really look forward to my days off with the kids usually spent outside at the park if the weather permits.
I really have enjoyed this Summer!

Chrissy 2012

Well its been way too long since I toke some time out to reflect on my life!  This year has been moving along at a crazy pace with lots of visitors (Shammy's parents, James,nic and Jude's visit and then mum.).   All very appreciated and it felt quiet and I missed the extra company after they left.

Not to forget either, a beautiful wedding and a gathering of the white family.  It was so good to see sol and Safiya meet their poppy, uncle Ady, Nathan and Jamie and Aunty Nic.  Although the trip was exhausting it was well and truly worth it and the mumbles now has a place in my heart.

The kids are full-on at the moment and there is never a dull moment.  I find some outdoor activity or a way to burn some energy makes everyone's day more peaceful.
They have just started some more swim lessons which they love and I have to give the instructor kudos for how creative she is and the way she makes swimming so fun.  It is hard to drag them away afterwards and even the promise of a treat and a visit to the choo choos only works once we have made it out of the door from the pool.  They sleep like logs afterwards and I find the session exhausting also :).
They are still enjoying day care and seem to like the group of children they are moving up with.  Just recently they have started putting Sol up with the two year olds which he seems to enjoy and it gives Sol and Safiya some time out from each other which they need, since the start of the "mine" and throwing stage.
Safiya really seems to be getting the hang of the potty these days particularly since the treat incentive was introduced.  My concern will now be where to take her that's clean when we are out.  Sol is not quite there yet but I'm sure his competitive streak will mean he won't be far behind when he finds himself the only one still in nappys.

We are all looking forward to Christmas this year with the kids loving the Christmas lights and they are starting to grasp the concept of presents and Santa.

Shammy is heading to Australia in march next year which is a trip I would loved to have join him on, but it is too expensive and exhausting to travel this distance with the kids so it will have to be left until we return to Australia in 2015.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all and lots of love xoxo
Sammy, Shammy, sol and safiya.

Happy Anniversary Shammy!!

It is hard to believe we have only been married 4 years we seem to have packed so much into that time.  (I'm not sure if its a good or a bad thing that it feels longer than this :) ).  With such an intense weekly schedule, it is easy to let time fly by without just taking time for the 2 of us.  Sharing ideas, problem solving and trying to do the best we can for Sol and Safiya as parents definitely makes for some challenging times but we always try to remain open to each other's ideas even if our stubborn streaks show through first :).  And above all still being able to laugh together makes each day that much more fun.
Shammy seems to be playing nurse aid for me a bit at the moment, I was having issues with a blocked ear and a couple of days ago I managed to strain my back so that even walking was an issue and bending down out of the question.  The kids seemed to sense my inability to be able to pick them up and hold them and proceeded to sob uncontrollably making me feel even more helpless.  I ended up consoling them by letting them crawl over my back while I lay on the ground, which had Safiya giggling away.
Thankfully I am on the road to recovery due to a sports masseust at our gym who was able to manipulate and stretch tight muscles so that I could bend again and by keeping her stretches up I am getting more mobile each day.
Our half marathon is a few weeks away now and we have one more week of intense training left, so this another reason why a quick recovery is essential.
Shammy's parents are coming to visit in May and it will be great to have them meet their grandchildren finally and show them around the area we live.  I am also really looking forward to some authentic indian food, yummy!  This will be followed by visits from James, Nic and Jude and Mum and hopefully if all goes according to plan a trip to Wales for the big event.
Sol and Safiya are doing so well and seem to really enjoy their day care once a week and the activities they get to do and the interaction with the other kids.  Safiya is now able to say "car" and has decided that everything should temporarily be called a car until she can give it another label and they both are getting much better at following questions and instructions.  Of course their greatest excitement comes when the words "shoes and socks" and "jacket" are mentioned.  Sol seems to have mastered the word "yes" and will fire this back at you when you ask a question.
I just get so excited with everything new they learn and another skill they pick up

As we headed off last sunday on a perfect winters day, the roads clear of snow and the sun shining with temperatures above 0 degrees celsius, I felt lucky to be out running a 10km again with Shammy beside me. As in previous years the hills took their toll on me but I had Shammy's orange jersey bopping in front of me as motivation. I was surprised at how well I did as I was sure that I was almost moving backwards on the last hill before the finish line. A minute behind my time 2 years ago which is not bad when this time last year just getting out for a walk a day was a challenge :).
The extra luxury of an hour out afterwards to stretch and shower at the gym and sit down for some lunch together and to return home to 2 smiling toddlers made my day.
We have signed up for the half-marathon in April so back to the training schedule again, and an early booking of a new baby sitter we have started using will be a must.

As of next week I'll also be doing another half/full day at work depending on how the kids go at day care. We have a couple of baby sitters up our sleeve now thanks to some connections from the creche at gym. The kids love Marlene and Shaesta who help out along with our regular baby sitter Aleesha.
We wanted to expose Sol and Safiya to some more children and allow them to benefit from different stimuli they provide at day care. It will also give them some time out from being with each other exclusively and I think they will enjoy it as I know how much they love the creche at the gym. This will mean I'll be working 3 days a week and occassionally 4 when I work the Saturday also. I'm hoping this will be a good balance for everyone and if it doesn't work we can always pull them out, I'm lucky to have such a flexible place to work.
Everyone by now has probably also heard that Shammy has accepted the offer of an EP fellowship in Hershey starting from June 2013 so there will be lots of change on the way with that.
Sol and Safiya are enjoying their motility and climbing proes and there daily gabble is starting to sound more word like. Its so cute when you ask for a book and they go and get it for you or head straight for the table when you say 'breakfast is ready'. Shaesta was saying that she was singing some nursery rhymes and Safiya went over and picked up the book on the shelf and opened it to the correct page. Some of the latest words are cwap, cwap when she claps her hands together and 'gook' for book.

Happy birthday Bubbas!!

Its time to reflect on the two best presents I have received;

Safiya; My little giggle pots, thanks for making mummy laugh with your infectious giggle, mischievous eyes and screeches of delight. Your latest efforts at walking started with a running tackle - taking out your brother of course :). To strangers you come across shy but quietly check out the scene and take mental notes for later use. You have a quiet determination and always surprise us with a new skill you seem to have picked up overnight. I love the way u clap with delight and smile when your favorite bedtime story begins.

Sol; my smiley, happy boy with the cute curls. You have such a gentle nature, a love of books and an inquistive mind, quietly checking out the latest object with your index finger. You are forever trailing objects around the house, one in each hand, the latest being a black and red pair of Safiya's stockings. Not to be detered when you trip over them and very protective if anyone in the family should come near your precious goodies! I love our games of chase and catch even if you don't run away very far before coming back to check if we are still near by.

Thanks for making my every day a brighter place, happy birthday to my two rays of sunshine,
love you lots
Mummy

christmas is fast approaching - 10.5 months

Our bubs are progressing along well and getting into more mischief each day. Yesterday they managed to pull all the stacks of Nappies off the shelves then Safiya used them to climb on top of to get to what was on the second shelf in the bathroom. They seem to be really enjoying their new found climbing ability and their new skill of getting on to their tippy toes to pull things off benches. They even managed to pull apart an envelope and DVD yesterday and were trailing a magnet of Henry I didn't even realise I had across the kitchen floor :).
They are fast approaching the walking milestone and Sol took his first tiny steps in the bath tub the other night. Our babysitter commented today that Sol was stomping his feet because he wanted her to help him walk to a bench even though she was occupied changing Safiya's nappy.
They are also starting to wave and Safiya managed a very funny Hello back to mine this morning.
We have had a couple of trying weeks when they both had a cold and Safiya developed some eczema on her back. The colds are gone now however and I have removed eggs and cow's milk from Safiya's diet and her eczema is disappearing. I will try cow's milk again when all the eczema has gone as I have a sneaking suspicion it is just eggs she is currently intolerant to.
We have been spending afternoons at the park when the weather permits and recently had a successful photo shoot with some of the last leaves of Autumn - some of these pics are already up on facebook.
Shammy and I enjoyed one of our few evenings out together last week, something we are trying do more often, it is that much loved quality time and we have signed up to do our annual 10km run together which of course we skipped out on last February. It will be interesting to see how I go in comparison to my previous runs. I'll have the added motivation of getting back in time for our babysitter :).