The sound of silence

During a play date with my dear friend Jo, we were enjoying ourselves, talking animatedly - when we suddenly noticed the silence. Where minutes before the kids could be heard playing on the deck, now there was just the sound of our own voices. The deck was silent.

Our eyes locked in horror because we knew this could only mean one thing. They were up to something.

Poor Jo has a vegie patch that's struggling to get up and running with two curious toddlers. Add Sienna, a wheel barrow with rain water at the bottom and a garden bed to the mix...and we have a mud party.

Jo just laughed. I laughed eventually after getting over the sight of my grotty daughter and wondering how I was going to get her home without a change of clothes in my bag.

Then we got our cameras. Sienna was the only one this messy. Angus and Daisy have learned to play without the mess. Happy days.

Baby's first Babycino

We tried out the new Eastlink freeway today. I decided to celebrate my mum's birthday with coffee and cake at a cafe by the beach in Frankston. It was a really cold wet day, so we warmed our tummies and our hearts with a good coffee and some conversation.

I thought Sienna may be old enough to try her first Babycino (not quite knowing myself what to expect - I'd heard it's just frothed milk). Try again. This cafe serves mini hot chocolates to toddlers.

I've never seen Sienna quite so animated over food. "Yummyyyyy!", "Oh wow! Yummy!", "More pees!" were just a few of her exclamations. Needless to say we drew a bit of attention to ourselves.

What have I started? Happy birthday to my beautiful mum. xxx

Ouuchhh!

Over confident + Over zealous + Under skilled in the running department.

Add parents questionable surveillance = Ouch!!!

There were tears. There were cuddles. There was an icypole to suck on to reduce the swelling...and the crying.

They tell me mouth injuries heal quickly. Hears hoping.

In my shoes

What's mine has become my daughters - especially when we're talking about shoes. Sienna loves shoes.

This is not something I've encouraged - in fact it drives me crazy having to keep cleaning up after her shoe parties in my wardrobe. It must be in the girl genes. Shoes. Or "Shooths" as she puts it.

And yes that is my lingerie she's wearing. At least someone is getting some wear out of it! :)

Schwing

Nearing 18 months old and one of her favourite things in the world is to swing. Particularly high. Higher than most mums in the park push their toddlers...I've noticed the gasps and wary eyes quite a few times. But she likes it high, she likes it scary. Apparently it's just not fun unless your tummy feels funny and you have to grimace.

That's my dare devil girl.

Playing ladies

How much does this look like an actual replica of what goes on at a salon? Here Sienna is doing her best to sit still while her cousins create hair masterpieces one after the other within the restrictions of her little bob cut.

She seems happy with the result:

Oh Sh*t!

So when you have your in-laws staying with you it goes without saying that we are all on our best behaviour...right?

Well not so much when it comes to the toddler of the house. You see she was babysat by Aunty Lise recently who dropped something in front of Sienna. This morning when Sienna dropped what she was holding whilst in the arms of her Grandma, she exclaimed "Oh Shi!"

Perfectly clear. Embarassingly obvious. Halo ever so slightly slipped. Shi happens I guess...hence the face washer in her mouth. I had to wash it out.

Make-up Mishap

Check out that face. This is what happens when Mummy is amazed that she gets 5 quiet minutes to put on her makeup...but hang on, where's my eyeshadow stick? Fast forward to finding Sienna facing a corner in the lounge room madly applying it to her lips.

Too funny!

House guests

Sienna's Papa & Grandma are in town for a couple of months and will be staying with us for just over 2 weeks. She is absolutely delighted to be sharing her home with her grandparents. With all the extra attention and love she's been getting, my little girl is on Cloud 9.

Here's a pic of us celebrating her arrival at Domaine Chandon last year.

Wintry walk

(photos taken 30 mins apart)

I must admit that even the likes of me (being exercise phobic and all) can be enticed outdoors for a walk at the first rays of sunshine that break through the winter gloom. I love winter, but having a toddler and needing to be inside, protected from the unfriendly weather, gets a bit...well...sh*t after a while. If I'm to be completely candid.

I think I was a little too optimistic that the weather would hold, as we just missed more rain thanks to some speed walking!

Sitting up like a big girl

The high chair is so last season. Get me out of that thing and up where the real action is - the kitchen bench.

Preparing dinner will never be peaceful again with all the "More, ta" sample requests amongst discussing the rules of standing on the booster seat. Which is on the stool. Which is up high. So sit on your bottom please.

A lock of hair

Alas the time has come for Sienna's first haircut. Surprisingly it didn't hurt as much as I thought...for me that is!

She sat reasonably still as I did a few quick snips...and now we have a toddler bob, Suri Cruise style. We also have one lonely lock of baby hair that was 17 months in the making. How time is flying.

Autumn leaves

Sienna enjoying the gift of autumn...her leaves!

Mothers Day

We decided to celebrate Mothers Day this year by walking in the Mothers Day Classic, which is 4kms around the botanical gardens. Mum, Alisa, Sienna and I were out bright and early and walking with what seemed like the rest of Melbourne. It felt great to be out with so many in our community.

We were humbled and moved by the tributes many people were wearing in remembrance of their mums/sisters/friends that had died of breast cancer. It is a priviledge to be walking for the fun of supporting the event, and not doing it to honor someone we loved that has passed away.

After our walk we headed to the Carlton Gardens to meet up with more of the family and have some lunch. The cousins had a ball...and I was on chasing duty to ensure non of the little ones ended up in the nearby pond or busy Nicholson Street...as if I hadn't had enough exercise!

Rocking Horse heaven

Sienna's cousins Evelyn and Justina have graciously loaned us their precious rocking horse that Papa made Evelyn for her 1st birthday (12 years ago). It has taken her several months to get the hang of it, but Sienna can now climb onto and ride the rocking horse. She uses it several times a day, and it never fails to get a smile out of her. She even makes "clip, clop" sounds as she rides.

Papa has made one for Sienna's 1st birthday which she'll be getting when they come to Melbourne in May. A precious family heirloom. A tangible piece of love from Papa to Sienna. I will be sure to reveal it to you in good time.

Airing my dirty laundry!

Sienna has discovered our laundry hamper. Since it has been discreetly hidden within a drawer (thanks to a recent laundry renovation) it's taken her a while to discover the delights of dirty laundry.

On any given day I will find my delighted daughter walking around the house proudly sporting a pair of my knickers around her neck. She wears them like a necklace by putting the leg part over her head. Ew! No matter how many times I say "Dirty clothes, lets put them back. They're not for wearing" she insists on finding them and wearing them... Perhaps something to mention at her 21st party?

Shoo-ooo-esth

Shoes. Our child is mad about them. Particularly my shoes...especially if they have a high heel. She tramps around the house in my shoes, dragging it around on one of her feet, stopping to put it back on when the heel gets caught on the carpet. She could be occupied for days if her temper didn't get the better of her after about the 4th shoe drop.

So this week we introduced Sienna to her first very own real pair of shoes. None of this soft soled baby stuff, but a REAL shoe.

And so it is that these are the first and last things Sienna has on each day. She begins her day with wanting her "Shoo-ooo-esth" on. We end the day in tears when we have to take her "Shoo-ooo-esth" off. Notice the lisp? Cute!

All grown up

In an effort to further tire my little dynamite, today we tried walking along the Yarra river after playing at the Warrandyte playground. No hands were to be held...apparently we're too big for that now. That myth will have to be shot to flames another day.

Today it was catch me if you can! And, is that running water I see at the foot of that 2m drop?

PS. Happy 9 year wedding anniversary to my patient, kind, loving, long suffering, funny, romantic...sick husband. Feel better quickly - we have celebrations to enjoy!

Dress Ups

Sienna came out from about 15 mins of quiet play in her room with this delightful Get Up. I say a hat and handbag with shopping list in hand means pretty in any language.

Can You do a Hair Do?

By some miracle cousin Justina managed to get Sienna to stay still long enough for her to put several hair ties and clips in her hair. The double miracle was that she left them in! Wonders will never cease. I have not been able to keep so much as one clip in her hair before this event or any time since.

I'll just have to wait for the stage that she asks me to do her hair and put pretty things in it. Until then, pretty hair is for special cousin play times only.