Hate Playing Catch Up

Cannot believe it has been just about three months since my last post.  Where has the time gone?  Is it just about December already?  Oh my. 

We had two girls celebrate their birthdays.  I'm now the mother of a nine and a four year old.  Great ages.  

My sister visited for two weeks.  I wish her visit had been longer.

We moved into our own home and are still enjoying it, two months later.

 And lots of other doings in between!

I think I have lots of catch up posts to follow….  Hopefully not so long between drinks posts this time!

The beginning of the Pool season. Already?

All week the girls have been asking if they can go in the pool.  For Lily it has been the past three months of asking most days, but I kept promising that 'this Saturday you can'.  So they did.  

The water was rather cool and they'd be no way I'd be getting in (it has to be hot and humid for me) but with eagerness in their strides, I took them down.  The water was rather coolish and they were both a little hesitant to get in....until Lily decided to push Monet in...

Of course I was sitting up the other end and I actually captured the moment.  Giggling to myself, Monet came out the pool crying and saying she hurt herself and getting cranky at her little sister.  But in the end Monet was thanking Lily as they both had a great time...

When the girls got out a good hour later, Miss Lily caught herself a head cold (seems to have mainly cleared up now) but at least I won't be hassled for a while yet to 'go to the pool'.

It won't be long until these girls gain their own private pool once again and I will probably get in more often than I do in the apartment's complex one.  

A Smokin' Sunday...

With it bound to be a beautiful day we took a drive up to Port Douglas, a 40 minute drive up the picturesque Captain Cook Highway from our place.  It was rather busy (which I expected) with loads of tourists, wandering the market and the streets.  

Our girls just love the Frozen Fruit Salad Icy Poles from a stall, which always keep them both quiet for at least 10 minutes....

After lunch and a Lily meltdown, we headed back in the car for the drive home.  I pointed out to MrL the sky in the distance so we knew we were bound to cross the path of smoke on the way home. Unsure where it was exactly coming from, we figured that it was the forest which was smouldering.  (As we drove up we noticed that it looked like quite a bit of back burning had been happening since our last visit, but there was no smoke nor fire then.)

We did pass some small flames which made Monet all scared in the back seat, but it was nothing to worry about.  We couldn't figure out if it had been deliberately lit again (by authorities) or if it had flared up because of the warm weather.

MrL stopped at the (busy) lookout so I could snap a few photos of the view.  It is a gorgeous view on an equally gorgeous day.

Just down from the lookout, is a tiny hamlet of Wangetti.  We've always talked about stopping at the beach there (not that you can see it from the road, there is only a small road sign pointing the way).  MrL drove the car down the road which was surprisingly (or maybe not surprisingly, considering the weather) busy.

It was a lovely beach and one where I could see more smoke where we would have to pass...

The girls had a great time.

One of the girls (the one who previously had a meltdown) did not want to leave.  She's very much a beach gal that one!

Back on the way home, we did pass more smoke and more little fires....

...but we did make it home in one piece.

Oh Baby, how you've grown!

I found this photo of Lily on a memory card.  Taken a little over 10 months ago (around late September 2012), she was my dummy-sucking, hand-down-top bay-be.  Even in public!

Now she is nearing four.  Kinda makes me sad that those baby days have gone but we have a lot to look forward to in the future.

Lily's Second Ever Haircut...

After months, (yes months!) of talking about it, Lily finally got her wish.  

Her haircut.  And a fringe!  

It changed her look instantly and makes her look older.  But still, just as adorable.

Now, she really is a big girl.

So, at age three years and a fortnight short of six months, Miss Lily gave up the dummy.  It was quite unexpected, truth be told.  We've been mocking her since she turned three about how she still had a dummy and she took it all in her stride.  

People had suggested that we should leave her dummies out for Santa to take.  Umm, no.  I don't want Santa getting a bad rap taking away something she 'loves'.  

I hadn't purchased any dummies in like a year but we had sooo many which were lost and found, lost and found.  Every time a dummy got a hole Lily would pop it in the bin.

We were down to our last two last week.  Saturday we had two floating around and by bed time only one remained, as one was misplaced.  But Lily pointed out at bed time that the one she had, had a big torn hole.  Uh oh.  Bed time, no dummy.  

As per night time routine, I read her a book, turned out the light and lay next to her until she fell asleep.  Usually this might take a good ten minutes but on Saturday night it took over an hour.  With tears.  

No mention of a dummy at all on Sunday.  Bed time, took about twenty minutes to fall asleep.

Monday, Lily announced she found the one lonely lost, final dummy.  

"What are you going to do with that?" I asked her.  

"Put it in the bin!" she announced.

And so she did...  

We're all so proud of her and she's going to sleep very quickly.  She's only mentioned once or twice this week how she misses her dummy but now that is a chapter on her life that has closed.  I never thought I would see the day.

The Perfect Fabric

Ever since I made bunting for Monet's room, I had promised Lily I would make her some too.  That was a while ago now, but it had always been in the back of my mind... ...mustmakebunting... ...mustmakebunting...

On a trip to Spotlight a week or so ago, Monet and I both spotted some mermaid 'fat flats' (roughly pre-cut and folded squares).  Perfect.

It took a little motivation but I did get around to making some bunting for my baby.  And it turned out terrific. 

She loves it but I am sure I love it more.  Perfect for my Mermaid-loving three year old.

Habits

After a few months of not blogging, I can still report that my three year old Lily is still a girl with habits.  

Like dummy sucking.

Like lots of Mummy cuddles.

And the constant putting her hand down my top....

...or up my sleeve.

And if she insists that I sit beside her on the couch, it isn't long before she's lounging and trying to get her foot up my sleeve.

*sigh*

Giggles

I *know* how many times I have blogged before about dress ups but my girls love to dive into the dress up box at least once a week.  I'm not sure who has the most fan, but I would put my money on Monet who loves to dress up her younger sister.  

Part of Lily's birthday parent from MrL's parents was a Dora dress up outfit.  Lily was not too sure at first but lately it has been getting a good run.  I laugh when I see her wear the Dora wig as I imagine that's what she would look like as a brunette. 

Monet does like to get involved too.  However she's growing up so much and those legs of hers are getting longer and longer.  It's getting harder to find outfits to fit such a tall girl...

I am pretty sure that's part of the reason why Monet likes to play 'schools' with her younger sister.  Meet Monet's alter-ego, Miss Lulu.  (A glimpse of the future I imagine...)

And here's a giggle for you all.  My Hawaiian hula girls, cross with a clown...

And The Baby Turned Three...

Can't believe my baby turned three, coming up to three weeks ago.  My parents were still visiting which was nice as they got to spend the day with her, on her birth day, something that had not ever happened before, as we were living in Abu Dhabi.  

One thing Lily wanted to do was visit the local zoo.  So we did.  With Monet at school and MrL at work, the remaining four of us went.  

For some reason or another, Lily has decided that she really likes Dingos.  She was rapt to see them animated at the zoo, giving their howls.  I can only imagine how it must sound across the desert in the outback in the evening.  *scary*

And the birthday girl wanted to feed the kangaroos.  It was a pity they weren't really hungry on our visit.

But all the walking around made our three year old hungry so a bowl of hot fries, washed down with some chocolate milk from the cafe, did the trick.

Later in the afternoon, after school pick up, we popped on our party hats and began celebrating...

There is a few things my girl loves.  Besides Dora The Explorer.  She loves Cheese and Bacon Balls, Chicken nuggets, cocktail frankfurts, teddy bears, balloons, Barbie Dolls and skirts, made by me.  =)

She also is still very partial to sucking on her dummy (urgh!) and sticking her hand down my top! Or up my sleeve!  And if it isn't her hand it is her foot!  (I kid you not.)  And when I am unavailable, she comforts herself by doing the below pose...

A hand down her own top!  Nepolian.  =)  She is still very much a Mummy's girl, who loves to give hugs and kisses and cuddles.  It is very sweet.  She's so funny and has a real little personality of her own.  She was a joyous two year old and I am pretty sure she will continue being a joyous three year old.

And of course, every three year old Dora fan MUST have a Dora Birthday Cake.  *heehee*

A Productive Sewing Week

I never thought I would actually follow through on a project that I found on 'Pinterest' (google if you must), but the double-sided headbands I had pinned onto my board drew me in.  I found the instructions easy to follow (a miracle for me) and gave it a go, using my scrap material.  

All lined up and ready to sew.  Fun!

This was my result!  

Monet loves them and they just fit her (they are aimed at ages 8+) so she's bagged a couple, which she wears proudly.

My other project this week was to make complete outfits for girls.  And of course Miss Lily is my model (and my inspiration).   I spruced up a tshirt adding rosettes and buttons and Lily adored it.  You little ripper.

After a successful showing to my mother and sister-in-law via iPhone I decided to do a complete outfit for my Lily.  The photo below has had 600+ hits on Facebook so I think I could be onto something (or probably because the just-about-3-year-old is impossibly cute!)

I am hoping they are a success, as I have just posted my first available whole outfit on my Page.  =)

Lily and Rainbows

As Miss Lily and I were walking and chatting the other day, she started on about eating a Rainbow Cake.  She *loves* rainbows (especially of the ice cream kind!) and when I suggested that we could make a Rainbow Cake together she got very excited.  

So, true to my word, we did.  And Lily enjoyed every aspect...

Her favourite part was the taste testing (along with the pink icing and 'rainbow sprinkles'.)

My sister and I used to make 'Rainbow Cakes' quite often on cold Saturday afternoons after Netball and Monet and I have baked a few in our time too.   It was nice to be able to do this baking with my baby. =)

Feeding the 'roos.

It has been school holiday here for the past week and the girls and I have done a few things together.  Yesterday, my girlfriend and I thought we'd meet up at the Cairns Tropical Zoo with our children for an hour or so.  (The zoo isn't that big, but entertaining enough for little children who think it is 'the pants'.)

Now Miss Lily has decided that feeding the kangaroos IS the GREATEST thing ever.  I'm pretty sure Monet (now supporting a shorter 'do') thinks the same, and I can see why.  It is a pretty special thing...

There are other (mainly) native animals in the zoo, but I have to admit, the kangaroos are the favourite animals with us.

It is always nice to see joy in your children's faces.  Even if they are posing with their head in a billboard.

Lily has turned into a little terror the last couple of weeks and has really found her feet.  By saying that I mean if she sees a space to run, she runs!  Oh my.  Not long after this photo was taken with her and little A (both born in the same week), she was off!  *sigh*

As I said before, the zoo isn't that big and is easily done in an hour.  I am planning on taking the girls again next week to see the Crocodile Show which runs in the afternoon (we went in the morning yesterday.)  The zoo is home to loads of them so it'll be a change to see them active than the usual lazing about.