Erika On The Move, And Other Fun Stuff

Just before Erika turned 10 months, she worked out how to move from one spot to the next. It wasn't a typical crawl - not really a crawl at all, but more of a bottom-shuffle! We've never seen anything like it, so it's a great source of entertainment! (20.12.09 - 10 months)

Some more fun (brief) video's of the kids:

"If you're happy and you know it..." Erika doing her "happy dance" (23.10.09 - 8 months):

Kira, the Tickle-Monster! (8.10.09 - 7.5 months/2 years and 8 months)

"Bwah-bwah-bwah!" (20.9.09 - 7 months)

Kira showing Erika what to do in the Jolly Jumper (7.9.09 - 6.5 months/2 years and 7 months):

Barber's Backyard

We're constantly wanting to do "something" with our yard, especially out the back. We've made several attempts in the past, but something happens (like pregnancy, or just lack of inspiration) and plans go on hold again. We started thinking again about what we could do - Kira loves to play outside, but it's not always practical to take her to the park. So, getting the yard done has become a priority once again. The girls' birthdays are fast approaching, too, and if we're having the party here, we'd better get cracking!!

This is our yard a couple of weeks after the lawn bloke came and sprayed what little lawn we had. He had to kill it off before rolling out the instant turf. You might be able to see little tufts of dead grass in our dirt carpet!



And this is the end result! When he arrived (20.11.09), the lawn bloke had just received a call stating that our turf was not available due to the high temperatures we'd been having (in the 40's, in November!), but he did the ground prep and edging anyway, with view to lay the turf the following week. But we got a call from him that night - he'd been able to get the turf after all (not sure how)!! So he came back at dinner-time to finish the job. Yay! And just in time for Erika's Baptism on Sunday!!!



Our next mission is going to have to be the fence. Not sure if you can see, but the bottom horizontal beams have rotted away - you can see the marks on the fence where the beams should be! Those sticks on the ground aren't from the tree! At this stage, we're not sure if we can just replace the beams, or if we have to redo the whole fence. The vertical posts aren't in the best condition, either.



This is our crazy tomato plant! You can see it in the first picture, not too long after we planted it. We've already put two stakes in to hold it up, and today (2.1.10) we went and bought a trellise for it. We're not terribly successful at gardening, so this plant is a delight for us! And we've already had a few tomotoes from it (they're a "grape" variety), and there's HEAPS more budding now! This plant is sharing a pot with another tomato plant, and some carrots, but I don't think those plants are going to do much unless we move this monster!



We might be a bit ambitious, but we thought we'd try our hand at tending a small vegie patch. At the moment, we have strawberries, parsley, lettuce, chilli, beans and snow-peas. And some pansies in the front, for colour! Kira helped me plant some nasturtium and marigold seeds in the discarded seedling pots too (and watered them in with her new purple "Dora the Explorer" watering can that she got for Christmas from Aunty Jeni and Uncle George!), so hopefully she'll get to see how plants grow, right from the start. She loves to come outside and hunt for new growth on our current plants - new flower spikes, baby leaves sprouting - very exciting!

Christmas 2009

We were visited by Baubles, the Christmas Elf, this year! Can you see him? He's in our tree!

His job is to keep watch over the kids, to make sure they're behaving. He reports back to Santa each night, and returns before dawn each day. He "freezes" like a statue (or a doll!) during the day, only coming to life once everyone's asleep. Sometimes, though, he gets caught out...we've caught him toasting bread cubes on a toothpick by tea-light candle, raiding the cookie jar, and fishing in Daddy's aquarium (using one of Kira's pencils, some kitchen string, and a decoration hook!). He even surprised us with a visit to the apartment we stayed at in Mildura over Christmas, and also at Granny and Gramps' house! Kira thinks "Elf" is silly!

I made Gingerbread Men (and Gingerbread Angels) for the first time ever! Kira helped mix the dough, cut out the shapes, and decorate some of them. Mostly, though, she directed me - "Yellow dress...green eyes, Mummy....". They tasted pretty good, too - Kira wants me to make more! This is our Gingerbread Family - Daddy, Mummy, Kira, and Erika, in our swimwear and thongs!!

We went to Mildura for Christmas. This is the first Christmas the kids have had with their other grandparents (last time we were in Mildura for Christmas was when I was pregnant with Kira!). It was a very special occasion for all of us!

Kira found her beloved Thomas the Tank Engine at Centro Plaza (Mildura). She just wanted to give him a hug and a kiss (she doesn't like rides that go 'round like this one does, just those that go up and down on the spot). Kira loves to sit on Granny's knees as she hoons around in her wheelchair, though! But for now, it's Erika's turn:

Christmas morning in our apartment..... "HE'S BEEN!!!" Favourite gifts included blocks, ball, Doctor's kit, Thomas train, books, Learning Piggy Bank, and Play Dough.

Later, at Gran and Gramps' for Christmas lunch - and MORE presents.... Favourites included the super-soft dogs (the girls got one each - and they're bigger than Erika!), noisy racing chicken and dog cars (they go faster the more you shake them!), books, hair clips, and clothes.

Here's Erika and her favourite toy, her snuggly "Simmy" (Kira's is "Skye"!), and Kira chasing a balloon. My sister, and my Mum....and Erika trying on her Christmas sunnies!

The kiddies with Granny and Gramps, and three generations of girls:

Back home, and the girls are having a tea party on the new Disney table (a gift from Gran and Gramps), and showing off their Disney pj's (also from Granny and Gramps). This is my "tidy" lounge room....still not a lot of space! The kids' toys are taking over! I really need to do a clean-out before their birthdays, or we'll be drowning in toys!

Visiting Santa

We took the girls into the city to visit Santa at David Jones (as we've done with Kira the last 2 years). We had to wait in line for about 1.5 hours - the girls started getting fidgitty in the last half hour. Erika was easy enough to calm (a breastfeed and a cuddle did the trick!), but Kira did not want to stand still, or sit still, or be held for long...it took a lot of coaxing to get her to be patient, and not cry (not good for photo's, and Santa wouldn't be impressed!). Finally, our time came, and Kira was so pleased to see Santa. She had no trouble sitting on his knee, though wasn't too sure what sort of things she should ask him for. Erika wasn't too sure about the whole thing, and it wasn't long before she started to cry (but she does this whenever she's held by someone that's not Mummy!). This was the first, and best, photo taken:




(The kids had to wear cardi's as it was sooo cold in Santa's ice cave! Just kidding - it was unseasonally cool that day, and it was about 5pm in the evening.)

Erika's Baptism

We finally got around to getting Erika baptised on November 22, '09, at 9 months of age. We had hoped to do it much sooner - Kira was baptised at 3 months. It was just too difficult to get organised this time around! We were lucky, though, as despite the age difference, Erika could still fit Kira's gown (it was too big for Kira, but just right for Erika), and the hot weather we had been having had cooled, meaning Erika could wear Kira's gown without cooking in it! Erika had fallen asleep in the car just as we arrived at the church, but she didn't get too grouchy at being woken up. She managed to stay reasonably happy until her "bit" was done, then after a brief grizzle, she fell asleep again until we got in the car to go home. At least she was refreshed for the brunch at our place afterwards!



Her Godparents: Sue and Sean Dickinson (left), and Ewan and Bek Stevens (right). Erika's Aunty Jeni and Uncle George made a special trip over for the occasion!

Some of Erika's special gifts, including the bracelet (with butterfly charm) from the Stevens', and her outfits for her special day.