Where is the time going???

In a couple of days you will turn TWO! 

I know! When did that happen and who the hell let it creep up so quickly? Over the past few months you have grown up dramatically and you really are quite the little miss now. Scarily, very much like your sister at the same age. The way you turn your head to one side and do that grin ... your sister! 

Kind of like, look at this cheeky face and you'll forget what it was that you were cranky about. Not likely. It doesn't work! I've had plenty of practice with your sister, just so you know.  And looking at me with that frown that expresses so much disapproval, after I've told you not to do something,  doesn't work either.

You are such an easy going kid. Even though you stir your sister like crazy. How is it that a 2 year old can almost always get the better of a 5 year old? I don't know but you do it and she bites. You have her pegged.  And your sense of humour is one of a kind. You find stuff so funny. You and your sister both have a wicked sense of humour.  You can make us laugh even when we're not really in the mood. And not just a little giggle. Oh no! Such hysterical laughter that makes you cry tears of joy.

I can't believe how blessed I have been to receive two such unique human beings to care for and nurture and I hope I serve you both well. You are amazing!

I still can't believe you are almost 2! I really hope your lady bird cake has been worth the wait. It must have been a long month!

Love you baby girl!

Following on ...

From here. 

It would seem that, not only do I have this bizarre love for swing dancing "strolls" but I have managed to pass that on, to not one, but both of my gorgeous little girls.

Schmoo made her debut on the dance floor last night to the Shim Sham and both the girls amazed me with their knowledge of the song. Not so much the dance moves themselves, although they are quite good at the Boogie Back and Shorty George, but more at their knowledge of the song and knowing when the changes take place.

AJ always requests some kind of stroll. Last night it was the Maddison. No idea why she's got this one stuck in her head but for now it's the one she always requests and it gets the ball rolling. Then Schmoo, who was sitting on the sidelines with Daddy, heard the Shim Sham music and came running across to join us. 

The one great thing about having two little people join me for these dances (being that their Daddy doesn't join in), is that I never have to worry about who's going to grab me as a partner at the end. As I've said before, I'm not great at dancing with just anybody so often I'm sent into a state of panic when, half way through the Shim Sham, you have to go back to partner dancing, especially if I've strategically aligned myself with someone I know for the pair up at the end and someone else grabs him instead. :o  

I used to just run off the floor but, these days, I always have AJ and now apparently Schmoo to keep me safe.

I do have so many other things to post about but, right now, I'm just not finding the time for recreational web-surfing pursuits which includes this blog unfortunately.

I am going to try and get in here more often though, I promise.

Silent Fear...

There is a "feeling" for want of a better word and I can't work out whether it is a true instinctual fear or just an irrational fear that comes partly from thinking way too much and mostly from sharing the journey and experiences of others.

And, I have been here before, although it's probably never been quite this bad but I don't even want to write it or speak it for fear it will become my reality. 

And yet, there is a part of me that thinks I'm being totally ridiculous.

So How Did It Go???

Well, we decided to take our chances and brave the park and would you believe it did not rain the whole 2 hours we were there?

The sun even managed to sneak through and it was slightly less than the cyclonic conditions the weatherman had predicted, although Grandma was still adamant she was going to get blown away and chose to stay in the car.  She did manage to tough it out for the first half hour though before her not-so-hasty retreat.  

The wind did manage to progressively get stronger as the day went on and there was no traditional blowing out of the candles. Although AJ handled herself well and there were no tears or tantrums when my brother suggested that she blow each candle out as it was lit. She actually thought that was a bit of fun so hats off to her for that one. 

But, the kids all played at the playground and really didn't get as dirty as you would have expected considering the amount of rain that had fallen before our arrival, and the pinata was a huge success and everybody went home happy.  We did have a pin-the-purse-on-the-girl which we decided not to play because the kids were all just too busy being, well, kids.  They ate about as much as I thought they would so I'm glad I went with my first instinct to not over-cater and just provide chips, lollies and cheerios and, of course, cake.

So there ya go.  All's well that ends well.  And we'd just said our goodbyes to everyone and finished packing the car when the rain came down.  

Gotta be happy with that. :)