March 2010

From the top:

1. Annabelle painting with 'ezy squeezy paint' that we made - it was like really runny playdough - fun!!

2. Both girls painting, Matilda in pink

3. Matilda

4. Craft day - Matilda on the left

5. All three girls - Annabelle, Matilda in the middle and Olivia

Its been a really big week or two for Olivia -

Following the 'crawling', or more accurately 'army crawling', she can now move quite quickly across the floor and even across the door frame, outside to the deck. She is a very determined little girl and if she sees something she wants she will drag herself a long way to get it. She has also started reaching up for things - eg something on a shelf, or the top of her cot. Everynow and then I catch her rocking on her knees, so no doubt it wont be long until she is crawling properly.

She is getting much better at sitting up and can sit for a fair while before toppling over. I was really looking forward to that stage when she could sit but not move (that the other two went through for a few weeks) ie when I could put her somewhere and she be quite happy, but I knew she wouldnt get to anything dangerous. Guess I miss out on that stage though! She almost sits up from lying on her back - like doing a big stomach crunch.

And finally, she pushed through a tooth last week. Bottom right. I am really hoping there is another one coming as she has been sleeping terribly of an evening and I am hoping once the second tooth comes through she will be more settled at night time.

She is still a contented little girl who smiles lots and lots, she does this funny thing where she smiles so hard it looks like she is straining - very cute.

As for Annabelle and Matilda, they seem to have their first imaginary friends, and I say 'they' because they both seem to have the same ones........

they are - 'my coochiman' - I think this comes from 'my choo choo train', but not entirely sure.

and 'my okey pokey' - pretty sure this is from 'the hokey pokey' song. But having said that, I dont know where the link is, I cant remember singing it and it being a big hit, or even which came first, me singing it, or the imaginary friends.

But, they will be talking to each other about something they can do and then I will hear.... 'my coochiman is not scared of that'..... and from the other child ..... 'my coochiman is not scared too'. So, they both have a coochiman, who, suprisingly has very similar likes, dislikes, abilities etc. Its almost like the coochimans are in competition.