Finally, Erika's Room!!

I've FINALLY finished Erika's mural! It's only taken me a couple of months!! I finished it on Saturday (6.6.09), and Erika is 16wks today (Monday, 8.6.09). The final result is different to my original plans, though the concept is the same. Little details, like the beach and the open archway to the castle, are spur-of-the-moment additions. Hope you like it!

A close-up of the castle:

And the courtyard.... I was originally going to paint a wooden draw-bridge door, but thought that would look too dark. I was also going to paint the windows darker (windows are usually dark in the daylight!), but against a grey castle that too would've looked to gloomy. The arched rose bushes were an after-thought, too. They were originally going to be a creeping ivy, but I wasn't sure if I could pull it off, without it looking like a green mess on the castle. Most of the colours used are hand-mixed, so colour-matching to paint over any errors is nearly impossible, so I stuck with the safer rose-bush option. Besides, there's already a LOT of green!! I don't think you can see it on here, but the path leads to a stairway and double-doors. Also, the princess has gold trim on her dress, a gold tiara, and is carrying a basket of flowers. A lot of time-consuming details!!

It's not too clear, but there's lavender bushes beside the bridge, and a field of yellow flowers that go from the bridge to the hill's horizon. I think I probably should paint more of these...

I was originally going to leave this as blue water right up to the base of the hill, but then decided that looked boring and "wrong", so I added the beach with the weeping willows and a little boat. It might've worked out better if it was part of the original plan, but I think it turned out ok.

I found this super-soft Disney Princess ("Sleeping Beauty") blanket, for a bargain price! I think Kira's upset that she doesn't have one... (She's right into her Disney Princesses at the moment!)
Erika's room at a glance...

Look Familiar?

Kira Eve, 3 months:

Erika Skye, 3 months:Scary!!!

"Nigh-Nigh's, Girls"

Night time in our household can be a bit chaotic, though it helps that both Neal and I are home to manage it. After dinner, it's bath-time for the girls. Here's Kira helping Daddy give Erika a bath. Erika is so long now, that her head and feet touch the ends of the bath! She's even wearing clothes to fit a 6mth old, just for the length!


Kira used to prefer a shower, but now favours baths - probably because Erika gets one. Here's "Princess Kira" at bath-time - Mummy put bubbles on Kira's head, and pulled her hair up onto them to create the "up" 'do, then put more bubbles in the front for the tiara, and some on her ears for earrings. Kira thought it was hilarious!!
After the bath, it's story time. Here's Kira reading "Dumbo" to Daddy and Erika!

And then it's "nigh-nigh's time".... Here's Erika after her first daytime nap in her cot, at 4mths.

Play Time With Erika

For a long time, Erika only liked to be held. I think she liked to be propped upright as she was a bit refluxy. She still likes to be upright so she can be in on all the action, but she's tolerating more floor-time now, too.

Erika likes to be near us at meal times. Usually I'm trying to feed her whilst feeding myself, but on the rare occasions where I get to eat using both hands, Erika sits in her rocker. Here she is, playing with her toys. You can see she likes to get her whole body involved!!

Silly Kira!

Kira always finds a way to get a laugh! Here are some of her recent antics....

"Pear o' teeth":
Running around with a singlet on her head (I was trying to get her dressed!) - Kira says "Let's look!" (She wants to look at "Kira in the mirror"!)

Sitting in Erika's "Bumbo" chair...

And wearing Daddy's socks and Mummy's shoes - great look! (And yes, she put them on herself!)

Kira's First Pair Of Heels

Kira loves to wear shoes, but tends to associate wearing them with going out somewhere - when we don't go out, she starts crying! So we have this rule, "No shoes inside", but it seems the exception to this rule is if you're wearing someone else's shoes! Kira LOVES to plod around the house in her Mummy or Daddy's shoes - mine seem to get the most attention, as Neal's boots are too big and heavy!

Neal and I had a "Date Night" on Friday, 8.5.09 - our first night out since Erika was born. We went to see Wayne Brady (American comedian - awesome show!!). While I was giving Erika a breastfeed before we left, Kira found my high-heels, and started parading around in them. She walks better in them than I do!! And don't they look great with her pink love-heart jammies?!

Mother's Day '09

This Mother's Day (10.5.09) was my 3rd, but my first as a mum of two. Neal was on duty at church, and I'd planned to go too, but since we'd had a rough night with Erika, I chose to stay home with the girls. Neal got them into bed with me, where I fed Erika and got cuddles from Kira. Kira also gave me a card from them (with Daddy's help!). Later, we went to Neal's brother's house to see Neal's parents, as well as to celebrate our nephew's 9th birthday. But best of all, I got some photo's taken of myself with the kids, as well as some of the four of us. We don't have many photo's of me with Erika, or with both the girls, and I don't think we have any of the four of us, either - since Erika's birth it seems I'm the one behind the camera!