July

31 July 2006

Last day of Katelyn's birthday month and only one more day till it's Kimberly's birthday month. We had a very nice weekend, the weather is starting to get a little bit warmer and the days are quite sunny even though the wind is still cold, we managed to go on few outings.

On Saturday we took the girls for a picnic in the park, we wanted to feed the ducks but we left our bread at home. This is a really lovely park that we went to for the first time, it's in Glen Iris just one suburb away so we will be visiting this park more often.

Come on ducks, follow me!

Kimberly is getting very confident with climbing.


Katelyn having lunch and watching her sister play.
Two of the three people that I love most in the whole world.

In the afternoon we met up with Uncle Rob, Shirley and Chris at Albert Park for a play. After playing in the park we all went out for dinner together in Richmond. It's really nice now that Katelyn is old enough to eat whatever we're eating, she happily munched on spring rolls and we all enjoyed ourselves.

It's so nice to have a friend to share with.

On Sunday morning we went to the Camberwell market, even though we've been living in Camberwell for 4 years this is the first time we went to the market. Usually we avoid it like the plague because it's hard to find a carpark and crowded. But we got there early and all had a good time. We bought a toy guitar for Kimberly, we had lots of comments while walking through the crowd. I got to look at bits and pieces but didn't buy anything for myself. I always admire other people's vintage finds but for some reason when I look at second hand things, I just can't get past the fact that it's someone elses old stuff.

Kim and David having a look at some seeds.
Me and my girls (I am constantly holding Katelyn so my arms are a bit sore today).
Kim with the guitar, dancing as she walks and plays.

Katelyn is become a bit of a monster, she wants to get into everything. Here are some photos of her trying to climb into the bath.

Yeah, I got it.
No, give it back.
Tantrum Pick me up Mummy, Daddy was mean to me.
Katelyn trying to open the window.
David took the girls outside for a play in the afternoon so I could sew some bags to hold Kimberly's party favours. They took Kimberly's big red car.
My gorgeous girl coming home with some flowers for mum.
Katelyn enjoyed riding in the car more than Kim did.

24 July 2006

We had a really nice weekend, on Saturday we went shopping for some gumboots for Kimberly the ones that I order from the Internet were too big, I bought size 29 (equates to size 11) instead of size 9. Just as well because when Kim went to try them on she fits a size 8.5.

After we finished shopping we went to McDonald's for lunch, I wanted an ElMaco. Kimberly calls it Old MacDonald, now I know why Maccas has been around for so long it really is a nice place for the family. The girls enjoyed their Happy Meals (even Katelyn) and had a play after their lunch - a stress free lunch and we all had fun.

Kimberly putting her new gumboots on.

Having fun at McDonalds.






After the girls sleep we did our grocery shopping and then went to the pool for a swim. Both David and I are very surprised by how good Katie was in the pool. She's only had two swimming lessons but she can now blow bubbles in the water and jumps into the pool on the count fo three when we sit her on the side of the pool.

Kim and I made pizza dough before their sleep and we had pizza for dinner. Kimberly and David rolled the pizza dough out and Kimberly put the toppings on.

On Sunday we went to visit Nana, Kimberly was a bit unsure of the nursing home and wanted to stay close to David but Katie wasn't phased. I think it helped that Gran and Pop were there too. Kim and I made a cake to take with us and we were all very pleased to see that Nana is doing very well.

I included this photo of Kimberly cracking herself up, she talks so fast that sometimes she gets her words mixed up. She's laughing because she called me Dammy (Daddy and Mummy - mixed up).
17 July 2006

We had a really nice weekend, on Saturday we went to Ashburton in the morning. Mt. Buller were doing a promotion and dumped a whole lot of snow in one of the street for the kids to play in so we thought it would be a good chance for Kim to have a play in the snow without driving too far.

We all had a great time so will be planning a trip to the snow as soon as I buy everyone snow suits and thermal underwear.

Saturday afternoon Uncle Rob came to take Kim for a play at Rare Bears with Crsytal. They didn't get back until 7.30 so by this time David and I were camped in the front room looking out the window. They all stayed for dinner and Kimberly went to sleep on her own without us sitting at the door. This is a major break through for us as we often spend over an hour each night sitting outside Kim's door waiting for her to fall asleep.

Sunday morning the girls were both very good so I got a chance to do some sewing. We went to Tai Mah's after the afternoon sleep to celebrate Katelyn's birthday (again). Little Aunty bought Katie a Pooh Bear cake and Katie stuck her hand in it before anyone could stop her. She was very clingy to me so I had to hold her the whole time we were there, my arms are really sore today.

Kimberly and I made chicken nuggets in the morning during Katelyn's nap, I was surprised at how capable she was. I was going to get Kim to help me with the crumbing but she was able everything on her own. She dipped the spoons in water, spooned the chicken mixture into the bread crumbs, roll the mixture in the crumbs (very lightly) and patted the mixture into shape.

I ended up just standing back and watching her, I taped her making the nuggets so that I can look back in a few years when she refuses to help me in the kitchen.
Katelyn's is so adventurous (read mischievous) she is into everything and has no fear. She loves climbing on the chairs we bought her for her birthday. At first she would sit on them but now she climbs up and stands. We have to keep an eye on her all the time because she loves to climbed everything.






12 July 2006

It's my precious baby's birthday today. Oh how quickly she is growing up, too quickly. She is such a perfect little baby and I could not dream of a more perfect child (along with Kimberly of course). I love so many things about Katelyn I don't think I'm able to list them all;

• I love the way she loves "us" especially her big sister,
• her smiles,
• her cheeky grins,
• her little hands and feet and she she can grab even the smallest items,
• the way she sticks her tongue out when she is concentrating,
• her cuddles,
• the jokes we share,
• our special feeding times and giggling when she feeds,
• the way she tries to copy everything Kimberly does,
• the laughter I hear when both girls are in the bath together,
• her determination when she wants something,
• but most of all I love the way she had added to our family.

We haven't given Katelyn her birthday presents yet, we put together the chairs (for her table and chair set on the weekend but we didn't manage to get the table done yet). Kimbelry helped me wrap the other presents; some puzzles and a Fisher Price farm toy. We're going to give these to her tonight and Gran & Pop are also coming for dinner - which will make the girls very happy.
Saturday morning Kimberly and David went to pick up our new washing machine, our old one is still working but sometimes it gets "stuck" so we got a new one. Saturday afternoon we went to Kimberly's friend Charles' 3rd birthday party, we all went and had a terrific time.

Sunday was quiet, we spent the morning wrapping Katelyn's presents and the afternoon doing grocery shopping.

My girls were the only two left at the table, all the other children were more interested in playing but not my girls - they were focused on the food! 5 July 2006

Donna and her family are in Melbourne for the week so they came over today to celebrate Katelyn's birthday. Katelyn was really spoilt she got a wheels on the bus toy, a twinkle twinkle little start book that really does twinkle, Pingu and Pingu DVD and I forget what else. Donna also got a Hungry Caterpillar book for Kim, but good old Kim went straight to her room to get her Hungry Caterpillar book that she already had! But the one Donna got her was different it was a colour in one.

We had pizza and cake (mud cake and ice cream cake) Gran bought over a little chicken figurine made of marzipan to put on top of the cake. All the kids except Katelyn were more interested in playing than in eating. Kimberly had a really nice time and she keeps asking why the boys can't come over more often. We tell her they they live far away and that next time we will go to their house, but it's a long way away so she has to be good.

3 July 2006

The start of Katelyn's birthday month. My baby is going to be one, already. I am starting to notice that I love my two girls (equally but) in very different ways, with my big girl - Kimberly all the experiences are new, parenting Kimberly means doing and seeing things with fresh eyes. But with my baby - Katelyn I am experiencing most things the second time around and to a certain extent I am cherishing all the moments even more because I know how quickly she will grow and how fleeting these moments are.

I am not in as much of a rush to; see her sitting up on her own, crawling, walking, talking... I know these things will all happening soon enough and especialy since we don't plan on having more children this will be my last chance!

Both the girls have a cold so we had a very quiet weekend, on Saturday Kim and David did the grocery shopping and took Jacky to the groomers and they had a play at Old McDonald (this is what Kimberly calls McDonalds). On Sunday we went out for lunch just the four of us but we weren't gone for long. we were going to visiting Tai Mah but when we called her to say that we were coming she told us that she was going yum cha with her friends. The weather has been very cold and wet lately so it's hard to take the girls anywhere.

I think Katelyn has mroe teeth coming, she has been drawling like crazy. I find myself changing her top at least four times a day.

My two girls playing together, watching the two of them makes me wish I had a sister, even if it is only for a fraction of a second.

Katie can now stand up by herself and her little fingers and hands are very clever she can turns pages of books, she can climb in and out of bed and loves climbing up the stairs.

Both girls "fixing" daddy's hair.
Kimberly showing Katie how to comb her hair.

Katie combing her hair.

Deciding whether or not she should but a pink clip into her lovely combed hair - what you can't tell it's been combed!Katie's favourite play area - the pantry!
Katie's second favourite play area the hallway lights, she's standing up trying to reach.