{Six} Happy Birthday

 I find it very hard to believe that my first baby is now SIX!!  When I consider all her achievements over the past year I am both proud and surprised; school has been wonderful as has watching Possum grow and learn in her extra-curricular activities and at home.  A year makes such a big difference!

We had to buy a new bike to accommodate yet another growth spurt.  We took the training wheels off and while Possum is not always happy about this she is getting the idea and getting better.

We have not had much time for horse riding over the past year but every now and then Peppy gets put through his paces with some pretty handy groundwork given how little practice Possum has had.  They are learning together and of all of us Peppy the Pony has picked his rider as his favourite person.

Two days after her birthday Possum lost her sixth tooth.  Six teeth seems like a lot and I have discovered a love of toothy grins since the first ones fell out last year as shown in the above photo

School this year has been amazing.  Possum was reading before she started and she hit the ground running.  Her teacher has been wonderful and we are grateful for the school we choose.  I have loved that I got to work at the same school all year with her and watch her as she navigated the school environment.

Possum was awarded at the end of school presentation taking out the Kindergarten certificate for 'most consistent achievement'.  It was such a proud parenting moment for us!  All of kindy were given a book at the end of the year and her teacher picked Roald Dahl's The Magic Finger for Possum who read it during the rest of the awards ceremony and then finished it that night at home.  Her head is ALWAYS in a book when she has a quiet moment!

Possum's request for her cake this year was for the Australian Woman's Weekly 'dream time lizard'.  I think it turned out pretty well given we were up to 1am on the morning of her birthday making it!  Possum saw it and said it was just like the one in the book.  Win. 

{Four} Belated Birthday Post

It is hard to believe that my small boy has turned four or that four years can feel like both the blink of an eye and an eternity at the same time.  As is traditional he picked a cake out of one of my Woman's Weekly cake books.  They love this part of the birthday and spend days looking at the cookbooks and thinking about options.

His early childhood teacher Bianca said that she loves Blue because he never fails to teach her something new each day.  I had discussed care options with her at one point and she said I was not allowed to move him and that was that.  Pre-school is his favourite and he loves catching the school bus home on pre-school days.  He NEVER naps during the day even though they all still try.

Blue loves being outside, he is gentle with animals but has started wiping his mouth after you give him a kiss because kisses are 'yucky' but he still happily lets me kiss him and snuggle him so that is ok.

He is starting to read some high frequency words by himself but would prefer to be read to than have to try to decode text himself.  He loves books and 'reads' in bed every night after we have read to him.  He always has a pile of books on his bedside table just like his big sister.

Favourite shows are Thomas and Friends and The Octonauts and his favourite colour is Blue.  He is dinousaur and insect mad and can cite strange facts on random topics at any given point in time.

He is happy to talk to anyone and everyone and is often complimented on his good manners when he answers 'how are you'? with 'well thank you'.  People often say he has an accent but he is just very well spoken.  He still has trouble with his 'r' sounding like a 'w' but this is getting better too and I predict by the end of the year it will be a thing of the past.

Party

Possum recently had her 5th birthday party.  She had not had a party before so she was REALLY looking forward to this day.  10 other children helped her celebrate; it was SO hot, but they did not let that stop them from playing and enjoying themselves.

The Mr's climbing wall got a good workout. 

Between the wall, the orchard and cubby and the trampoline the children all kept busy.  We played pass the parcel and ate.  Everyone had fun; especially Possum.

It was a great day.  I have a couple of years before Blue turns 5 and I have to do it again.

{Three}

Happy third birthday to our little boy, Blue.

How has that time crept up on me already?  Part of me is excited with each new milestone, and part of me is horrified that it is slipping away so quickly; these precious moments.

We have had so much fun watching you grow.  

You have delighted us with your easy smile and easy nature.

A Women's Weekly inspired cake which was very well received on the day!

We have loved you as a two year old, I think three will be even better!

You add 'super' to everything.  Super good.  Super silly.  Super yucky.
If you want me to throw you a ball you say 'catch it to me'.
You adore Thomas and Friends, and the Octonauts.
You love swimming, and the creek; anything water related!
You say 'now we've gots to do...' when you get excited about things.
You toilet trained yourself a couple of months ago.
You love carrot, but not capsicum, mushroom or spinach.

Kisses to you sweet heart. 

xx

{Four}

Happy fourth birthday Possum.  

There is no denying that you are smart, and kind and beautiful.  There is also no denying you like to try to rule the house.  You are so clever that I sometimes feel that even at four, you get the best of me.

You love a joke, and you love to tell stories about everything.  You are almost never silent.  You love craft, and are getting very good at drawing.  You can read some words now and you are good at writing your name.  It won't be long and you will be reading simple books yourself.

For the past couple of months you have had an imaginary friend 'Lucy'. You tell me she is 5 and knows a lot about almost everything.  You love Pre-school, Playgroup, music lessons and Little Athletics and swimming lessons; sometimes Lucy comes along too.

Your favourite colour is red, you think this makes it a girl colour and that you own everything if it happens to be red, even if it is your brothers balloon.  You still love Charlie and Lola, but now we can add The Octonauts to the list of preferred TV viewing.  You don't have any one favourite book, you just love reading and don't mind which book it is being read at any given time.

May this year be as good as the ones we have shared so far.

We love you.

x

{Two}

Somehow another 12 months has flown by and now my baby is two years old.

He is such an easy going happy boy.

We are so lucky to be blessed by his slow smile, bright blue eyes and blonde curls.

You are now talking a lot, although not as much as your sister!  You are so clear in your words and you think about things and your pronunciation is often spot on as a result.  You said 'Ta' for a week, but then moved into 'Thanks' instead.  You love your sister more than anyone and I love watching you play together, it is a blessing to watch you both have fun and learn.

You often have a dirty face and you LOVE being outside.  You enjoy the animals and mud might just be your favourite thing.  You also love reading and always pick a different book to be read each night before bedtime.

You love Playgroup and have just started music lessons at the Conservatorium of Music which you are also enjoying a lot.  I get to sit in on the music lessons as a joint activity with you and I love being a part of your learning and play in this way.  Sunday School is another fun activity you enjoy.

Happy Birthday to my baby, who is turning into a sweet little boy.  We love you so very much and are grateful for the joy and love you bring to our family. Kisses xx

THREE

My little girl is three.  

I am sad, and excited all at once.

The past twelve months have been wonderful. 

Watching you learn and explore.  Watching you grow.

I miss your baby talk, hearing you refer to yourself as Boffer before you could say your own name properly.

You still say 'hairy carpar' instead of  hairy caterpillar and I love 'teletone' instead of telephone but I will have to let go soon because you get better at more words everyday and these will soon be a thing of the past too.

You love glue and craft and you love books.  You love Playgroup and your friends and Story time at the library.  You love the park, but not the swings, you much prefer the slide.  You love Charlie and Lola and Playschool on tv.

We have loved you being two.  Now we get to see what three has in store for us all and I can't wait!

Happy Birthday Possum.

Happy Birthday

It feels like there are no more babies in the house because Little Blue has turned ONE! 

At 1, you are such a cheeky boy, you already look at me with a raised eyebrow if I ask you not to do something. 

You are very happy nearly always and if you are sad it is usually just a case of working out if you want food or sleep.

You love being outside.  You love to sit in the potted mint and the water bowl is always fun.  You crawl through all the garden beds, especially the newly turned ones just to create an extra washing challenge.

You have 8 teeth.  You love to clap and wave and you say Mum, Dad, Ta and Yes.

Happy Birthday :)

Turning 2

My little girl is 2...

You are beautiful and good.

You are stubborn.

You are a strange mix between tom boy and girly girl. 

You want to wear the pretty 'dess' that Mum made so you can go outside and sit on a chicken or play in the grease or mud.

You love reading. 
You love shoes, blocks and crayons.
You love playing in the pantry.

You chat away and are building a good vocabulary.  You can't say your name properly, or your brother's.
You call yourself 'Boff' or 'Boffer' and the small boy is 'Ee Ah'.

Where has the time gone?

Happy Birthday Possum, we love you more than I would have thought possible.