Late!

Darwin was rummaging around in the kitchen, trying to scoff down his breakfast before running to catch the bus for work. He was muttering about how late he was when Raina asked "What's the time?" Two seconds later, after glancing at the microwave clock, she stated emphatically "It's 10 past late, Daddy!" That got him going :)

Little Bit Scary

Raina was "surfing" in my ugg boots tonight. "Here's a big wave," she yelled. She wasn't wearing anything else, by the way. Such entertainment value! And the other morning when I was brushing my hair, she said to me very earnestly "You're so cute, Mummy." Bring on the compliments.

Chocolate face!

It was Grandpa's birthday last week and Raina and I had a fun time together making a big chocolate birthday cake. Naturally, licking the bowl was the best part. There was no avoiding major chocolate face and chocolate fingers and arms and hair too. She really made me laugh when I propped her up on a wobbly stool to wash up in the kitchen sink - she said nervously: "I'm a little bit scary, Mummy!"

Raina and Lachlan help Grandpa blow out his birthday candles

Back to the Moon

We always tell Raina: "Guess how much I love you? All the way to the moon and back!" (We love the book by Sam McBratney) Well today she said with great relish: "Raina loves Daddy back to the moon!"

This girl is just full of beans. This week she is all into prancing around in her tutu, but really her favourite thing to do is her so-called "nudie-pudie dancing." She struts around in her birthday suit, watching herself in the mirrors on our wardrobe. One morning "Wild Thing" came on the radio during our little nudie-pudie dancing episode and she stamped around yelling "I love it!" It took a while to get dressed after all that excitement.

Daddy's Birthday?

The other day Raina and I were talking about birthdays, and she started singing "Happy Birthday", which she knows quite well now. She told me that Grandpa's birthday is coming soon - which is correct. Then she asked me, "It's daddy's birthday?" I said, "No, daddy's birthday is a long time off". "Tomorrow morning?" she enquired...

Feelings

"I'm frustrated," Raina wailed today as I was making her afternoon tea (she wanted me to carry her). Wow, my baby is already into sharing feelings. One of her favourite lines at the moment is "Raina needs attention," and yesterday she was ordering Darwin to "concentrate Daddy!" It took me a while to figure out where she was taking Dolly when she said "Dolly's going to party class." Pilates class of course!

The Two-Parties

Singing, dancing, pressies, candles and cake, and lots of loving friends and family around - what more could a two-year-old ask for?

Spikey

Tonight, Raina, Mummy and I were having a big hug together. Stroking Mummy’s hair lovingly, Raina said, "Mummy’s long hair". Then she rubbed my head and said, rather ernestly, "Daddy’s hair is spikey. Get more hair".

Subtlety and tact must come a bit later I guess.

She's TWO

Happy Birthday Raina - today at 12:50pm you are exactly two years old.

Unconditional Love (and Boogers)

It was daddy's turn to snuggle with Miss R tonight and help her go to sleep. We read 7 books, turned out the light and listened to some soft music. You know it's unconditional love when your daughter then offers you her booger, like a sticky offering of thanks and love.

Wollongong Weekend

There was a whole lot of nervous shouting and jumping up and down off the couch last Saturday night at the Hinton's until the Swans swooped in with a tremendous 11th-hour victory against West Coast. Go Swannies! We had to re-watch the last 15 minutes of the game the next day just so the boys could re-live the glory. What a perfect birthday present for "Fifi". And all the while that hoopla was going on, the girls were enjoying a wee chickflick. Bewdiful.

Raina had a blast - washing dishes in the bath, jumping on the bed, playing dollies with "S'ita" - and generally keeping tabs on what the "boys [were] doing". We savoured some decent Mexican (by Australian standards), brunched with old friends, and walked the beach mile, stopping for hot chocolates. Great weekend.

Night and Day

It was Friday night and time to do something different, so we decided to go out on the town. There we were sitting in a trendy little Glebe cafe, savouring the most delicious chocolate lasagne and listening to a funky jazz trio. When they started singing one of Darwin's all time favourite songs, Night and Day, we snuggled a bit and Miss R who was sitting on Grandma's lap whispered "Daddy loves Mummy". How sweet is that?

Babycino time with Grandma and Grandpa Leong,
Aunty Fei-Lee and cousins Lachlan and itty bitty Kaylee

Last weekend we spent a lovely day
with Grammie Nonna up in the Mountains

Click go the Shears

Take a look at a sheep getting a hair cut (2mins)... We went to Fairfield Farm for the birthday of one of Raina's little friends: the camel tried to eat her shirt, the kangaroos ignored us, the cow was milked, and this poor sheep lost his wool!

Twangy Tune

I was serving up some yummy chicken rice porridge when Raina made up her first song. It has a bit of a country twang to it..."chicken bone, chicken bone..." At Grandma and Grandpa's place that night we were treated to a roast chicken dinner, and out came the same tune... "chicken bone, chicken bone..." Now Darwin has added some extra lines in his silly version. It has been fascinating to watch the new language coming out in the past few weeks. Miss R is constantly commentating on everything going on around us. She has to count everything, and so far the numbers go like this: "1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, ten! Wow!"

Her absolute favourite thing to do at the moment is to play "cubby bed" when Daddy gets home from work. They pile up all the pillows and blankets around them and giggle and hide away until I come and find them. Her next favourite thing is babycino with Grandpa. I get ordered to "call Papa come, go car babycino!"

Baby Kaylee

My baby sister has had a baby! Gorgeous Kaylee was born Saturday morning to proud parents Fei-Lee and Ernesto. With beautiful black hair, big dark eyes, she weighed in at only 2.75kg/6 pounds. Welcome little Kaylee!

Quick Study

I love getting surprised by my daughter. Last time I did the laundry I got her to help place the clean mat back on the toilet floor. This afternoon, after another clean load was piled up in the basket, she went and took the mat and put it back in its place, unbeknownst to me. What a lovely surprise to see that I've got such a willing house helper! Also today she started putting her hand over her mouth when she coughs. I've only once explained how we do this, to be polite. I think some of the kudos has to go to a new book called "How do Dinosaurs Eat their Food?" The pictures of the dinosaurs doing all the things we shouldn't do at the dinner table are fantastic, and Raina just loves it. We had to read it 3 times today!

Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!

We went to Taronga Zoo last week with our Mums and Bubs group; what a blast. It was Raina's first experience with so many different animals, not to mention the ferry and gondola rides and being out and about most of the day. I think her favourite was Miya the Seal - perhaps because she is really into swimming at the moment. We were lucky to see the usually sleepy lions and tigers because we arrived at dinner time. Thank goodness we weren't part of the menu!

A song dedication for my recently fasting friends...

...written by my marvellously creative sister-in-law

Song for Stew
by Price Melanie
(to the tune of "Song for You" by Elton John)

It’s a little bit hungry,
this feeling inside.
I’m not one of those who eats
Kentucky Fried …
I should eat more breakfast but
I must admit
Dawn just doesn’t feel like a
Banana split

If I had more breakfast, that would have been nice
Or more dinner last night with some
Tadik and rice
I know I’m a poor cook but it’s the best
I can do -oo-oo.
My pot-luck is simple and
This one’s a stew

And you can tell everybody
I'm Fasting all day.
They may show understanding when,
I pig-out this way.
I hope they don't mind,
I hope they don't mind
when I eat quick and run –
I get up for brekkie at
5:41.

The Puddle Tap

This is what happens when a toddler comes across an enticing puddle of water...!

Toes are Hiding

What fun to hear Raina's new sentences rolling out. Today's sentence was "toes are hiding" - she was referring to being all cozy and zipped up in her sleeping bag. Her first sentence ever was "Mummy eat porridge" a few weeks ago. She's already telling us what to do!

When you live on a big island, you've got to learn how to swim, so we've started "Aquatots" classes and Raina is enjoying it immensely. In just a few weeks she has learned some great skills along with lots of singing and splashing. She's still a bit wary of doing the "Humpty Dumpty" though - jumping in and going underwater. Problem is, she goes to scream as she hits the water, and then of course takes a mighty drink!

Entering the "bubble tunnel"

Thank you Auntie Charmie for your wonderful drawing of Bert and Ernie!

Happy Naw-Ruz / Baha'i New Year everyone!

Paper Only Please!

I turned my back on artist Raina for a few moments this morning only to find her happily decorating her pjs with purple crayon. Last time it was the kitchen floor. Oh la la, more cleaning for Mummy!

And here's a cute kitchen clip (1min): Raina making apple juice with Daddy