Ella at 20 months

Ella is now 20 months old. Don't worry, I don't plan to document every single month of my children's lives. But, I have a minute, and I'm learning to seize them. Besides, Ella is really taking off is so many ways recently.

Teeth: Not to be outdone by her younger cousin Jackson, Ella kicked the teething process up a notch or two in the past month or so. Ella had just two teeth for about four months. Then cut her four top teeth in less than three weeks. We hadn't seen a new tooth since July last year. Teeth #7 and #8 are through and a molar is on its way. Its been a reasonably pleasant process so far but Ella won't let us anywhere near her mouth to check these new teeth out.

Potty Training: Not really into it. We have a potty, some underwear (currently worn as hats or purses) and a favorite book to read while on the potty. Its a start. I might have to pull out our infamous Japanese potty training book, "Hitori de unchi dekiru" to get her a little more inspired. I figure it will happen when it happens and I am certainly not about to lose sleep over it!

Words: WOW! More and more words and expressions by the hour, literally. The most recent is "no" and to date is used in the sweetest manner. :) "Wassat?" "Whosat?" "Yep" and "k" are some other cute ones. "Huuuuh?" . . . not as cute. Can't imagine where she picks these things up. She can say her first and middle name and is working on how to spell "Ella". It sure is a lot of fun to see her language skills develop. It brings out her personality even more.

Play: Ella has always loved being outside. Now that we're into full blown toddlerhood, we spend a lot of time at the park. Wollongong has some awesome parks. Ella loves to slide, swing and climb. The climbing isn't just at the park though. Ella climbs on everything. Jason thinks she'll be ready for the climbing gym in no time and nothing would surprise me.



Climbing up to the table . . .



Ella LOVES to sing. Her grandparents gave her a praise DVD that she can't get enough of. She asks for it by saying "dance" and wiggling her hips and raising her hands. Hysterical. Its so neat to watch her do the actions to words like "pray" "Christian" "love" and so on.

Another favourite play activity is drawing and so far we've managed to preserve the white walls of our rental house. Ella holds her pencils perfectly and draws with so much care. Her favourite things to draw are "stars" and she always wants us to draw a lizard, a whale and a face (with a hat). I so wish you could see her making these requests. She is a character and knows EXACTLY what she wants at all times.

And of course, play time with her brother. She does so well with him . . .]



I keep telling myself that a growing child is something to be very thankful for. I just can't get my mind around how she went from being a baby to being this walking-talking little girl.

Mischevious . . .


But beautiful . . .

Noah Kai is 5 months old

. . . you know what that means? Time to have another baby. Do I have your attention yet? Good. But I am JUST KIDDING. Soooo kidding! Promise. Noah is simply five months old today. And like all good modern mums, I wanted to record Noah at five months in his baby book (aka "the blog"). Please tell me I'm not the only mamma that has a virtual baby book?



Noah is doing great. He eats well, sleeps well and plays hard. He is an extremely vocal baby. Lots of squeals and long coo-ing stories. The biggest developmental milestone is getting up on all fours, rocking and then face planting. Since Ella didn't crawl until she was 9 months and one week old, (thank you blog archives for this trivia), its a little shocking for me to see Noah so keen and able on all fours. Of course it could be some time before he officially crawls, but still . . . wow! He's probably decided its in his best interest to become mobile asap and keep up with his big sister.







While very content and happy during the day, Noah tends to get a little angry each night when we put him to bed. I'm not sure what that's all about and have tried a number of different tactics to avoid the scream show. Rocking, singing, more nursing don't seem to have an effect on him. It seems to be his way of "winding down" (though its more like winding up than down). I guess as he grows we'll just help him channel that fire and will he has in a good direction.

He is sleeping through the night bar the past couple of nights. Noah has been waking anywhere between 2am and 4am. The strange thing is he's happy when he wakes. Not mad. Not hungry. He just starts talking and laughing away. Is he really mine??? He usually rolls on to his back so I go flip him back on to his belly and he will put himself back to sleep.

I'm so thankful to God for a healthy and happy boy. I am absolutely loving being being mum to this little guy.

Noah being loved on by his big sister




And for your viewing pleasure . . . (won't work through facebook - you'll have to visit our website - see link on profile page)
">

About this time last year I was a little, what shall I say, panicked, (possible understatement) at the thought of having another baby so soon. But I'm more happy than I have words for to have this little guy in our family. And hair pulling aside, his sister is, too.

Highlights

March, already! How did that happen? We're currently hosting Jason's Mom, Dad and sister for the week. They flew all the way here for a week of fun with the two sweetest kids on the block. Ella is in her element. The first night she ran back and forth from the living room to the kitchen, yelling "weeeeeee". With three extra people to read her stories, hold her, sing to her and ask "how high" when she says, "jump!" . . . what more could a 19 month old ask for? Noah doesn't have a whole lot to complain about this week, either. And us? We went to the chiropractor and the grocery store sans kids. We're the happiest parents on the block! Pictures soon to come.

And, some updates . . .

Ella: is now 19 months old. I've been more emotional about her recent growth and development the past couple of months than I was during her first year. What's not to be emotional about a daughter's first pigtails and her first attempt at saying "love you"? New words, two new teeth and new things to love every single day! Ella loves to sing "This little light of mine", any song about a cockatoo, and loves to hold hands while we pray. Instead of saying "amen", she says "more! more! more!" She is busy, helpful and de-ter-mined! Where oh where does that come from??? Love this girl.



Love the pigtails, dig the smile . . .




Potty training gets off to a slow start . . . :)


Noah: is 4 months old, a healthy 6.26 kilos (approx 13lbs) and thriving. He is sleeping through the night (bless him!) and well during the day. He finally mastered the sucking of two fingers on his right hand and now sports a blister on his middle finger because of this. He has the cutest laugh, beautiful eyes and boy does he talk. He can roll back-to-front and front-to-back. Noah loves his sister. He is just plain adorable. And on top of being adorable and sweet, he is now the laid-back-second-child that everyone talks about when you're with child and trying to envision life with two.







February Highlight: A visit from my two sisters, their families and our friend Kylie. We took in a musical, a day in Sydney including Manly Beach and Luna Park, and relaxed at home. I so enjoyed sharing our home with them for the first time in our married life. Its great to see the six cousins together. Their names are still written on our front steps with sidewalk chalk which makes me smile each time I go out the door.

Ella loves on her cousin Jack . . .


My sisters, Melissa (with Jack) and Michelle . . .


Ministry Highlights: I'm journeying through the book of Esther with two other women. I'm enjoying learning, growth and time with other women. Jason continues working with the Pt. Kembla Men's group. This month he served the community with them at the North Wollongong Food Swap and Clean Up Australia Day. We're prayerfully waiting on a response from an advertisement offering FriendSpeak classes. We have enjoyed several visitors who have joined us for worship on Sunday evenings. And we were greatly encouraged by spending a day with Christians out at Cataract River Ranch on their annual retreat. A great day of fellowship and creative activities focusing on Praising God.

Sharing with each other how "our cup overflows" . . .


I still have news from January, including our fun visit with Kari from Memphis (the post is still in my drafts file. . . ) That's all for now.