Photo Shoot

I tried to take pictures for my Mum and Dad's Christmas cards this afternoon. Look who made it difficult.

Bathtime

Play Time

I have spent most of the last 7+ months stopping Isla from harassing Leah. Well the tables have turned. Leah now gets a big kick out of bugging her sister. So much so, that Leah is no longer allowed to sit in the back of the double buggy because she won't stop pulling her sister's hair.

Over the last couple of weeks I have noticed they are really beginning to play with each other. I can buy myself 10-15 minutes to grab a shower, start dinner, etc. if I set out some toys that Leah can't swallow. Its nice. Really nice. Current favourite games include making sandwiches and tea and playing blocks and Lego.

This afternoon we took Granny to lunch and the girls got to go on their first ride together.

Isla: 2 years 3 months and 2 weeks

I haven't written an Isla monthly update for the last couple of months for a couple of reasons.

1. While she is most definitely learning new things all the time, it seems like this mostly revolves around her speech. She is turning into a carbon copy of me - American sayings but with a Scottish accent!

2. And this is probably the main reason I haven't written them, her monthly update is due on the same day as Leah's. My PC time has drastically been cut now we have two kids, so I gotta prioritise!

Since Leah is currently changing so dramatically each month I'm going to continue write her monthly update and I will just do random updates for Isla when she does something funny or cool.

Today I have something cool to write about. I should've written about it two months ago when it actually happened.

Isla is now fully potty trained. No nappies at all. Not even at night time! She has been so good that I'm going to chance things and say she hasn't even had an accident in bed since we ran out of nappies :)

I just can't stop loving you

Isla loves Leah.

A LOT.

She cannot leave her sister alone. She is forever poking Leah with her feet, hugging, or squeezing her. Luckily Leah loves being harassed.

Lee-Lee Buchanan

This morning I took portraits of about 20 kids at the toddler group to help raise money for days out, parties etc.

Here are a couple from Leah's session. Isla was either not well or a horrid nightmare. I am giving her the benefit of the doubt and assuming she is getting Leah's bug as she did seem to rally round after a dose of Calpol.

Bath Time

A Walk with the cows

While I went to buy dinner, Craig took the fam up into the deer farm. Sounds like I missed a totally eventful walk.

Dad slipped and fell holding Lee-Lee (she is fine), then the cows charged Ringo and there was a mad scramble to get the kids over the fence while Craig beat them off with sticks, and in the processof jumping over the Angela electrocuted herself!!! Well, this was what I heard from my city folk family when I got home. Craig however made out like it was no big deal. I am sure the truth is somewhere in the middle.

Halloween Party

This is my 10ooth blog posting!! Very appropriate to have a bumper post of pictures from today's Halloween party.

Jake and Ryan

My cousins Angela, David, Ryan and Jake came to visit in time for the girls' Halloween party tomorrow. We spent the day in the park catching up and letting the kids play.This evening we carved pumpkins. Not quite as impressive as Dave's, but Craig did a great Spongebob!

Miracle!

Leah must've been reading this blog. Last night she slept from 7pm to 7.26am!! More importantly, I slept all night too! To make this the perfect trifecta, Isla spent the night at my Mum and Dad's flat so we didn't have to make any night trips to the loo :)

Lets hope it wasn't a fluke.

Chef Isla

I bought this white button down for Isla a while back. When she wore it for the first time she shrieked, "Mummy, look I'm a chef!" Obviously she has watched Ratatouille a bit too much.

Today she was my little helper while I made cupcakes for their upcoming Halloween party. She helped spill water all over the counters, poked at raw meat, took all the cupcake cases out of the tray after I had put them in, and harassed her sister. However, she did a great job licking the bowl :)My Mum also came over today to help me get ready for the Halloween party on Saturday. Isla talked her way into going home with her tonight to see Granddad. I think she was the most excited she had been all day as she was leaving the house!

Leah: 7 Months

I swear Leah, I have the best intentions to write you your monthly updates on time. It shouldn't be too hard because you are a joy to be around, but for some reason I am behind again. I forget what my reason for not doing it last month was. It probably had something to do with me being tired.

So lets catch up.

You and your sister are now best buds. The other morning when you both woke up at 5.30am and made your way into Mummy and Daddy's bed. Normally Isla is the one who starts poking and harassing you, but on this occasion it was you that instigated the hair pulling, poking, and raspberry blowing which Isla just loved. Now, the sight of the two of you giggling and squealing together is too cute to even begin to describe...but at 5.30am?? Your Daddy and I had to separate you for that much needed extra hour of sleep!

Your hair has finally started to grow! You now have a head full of fuzzy, soft, fair hair which I just love rubbing against my face when I cuddle you.

You have pretty much skipped the purée stage of weaning because you only want to eat what ever we have. This means Mummy has been bad and given you things like chips and a slice of cake already. Considering I was a food Nazi with your sister, coupled with the fact that your sister fed you a Play-Doh sausage, I feel pretty bad about this. Luckily it seems to have done you no harm.

You babble all the time and you are starting to sign for milk. Actually, to be honest you sign milk for everything you want to eat. I've given up on trying to get you to take a bottle. You hate them, so we are now working with sippy cups. So far all you want to do is chew on it....teething:*(

The best development this month is that you know who Mummy and Daddy are and you show preference for us, which is the best thing in the world. You always have big smiles for your Daddy however you are a total Mummy's girl. These days I can't even go pee without you having a serious meltdown.

So I think that brings us up to date. Really, we couldn't ask for a better sweeter baby but, if I could make one request?? Perhaps you can learn to sleep through the night this month :)

Duvet Day

I have two sick babies. Well, Leah is sick. She has thrush in her mouth and a fever. Isla just has a cold but she is pretending to be more sick than her sister. We are watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on the couch waiting for Leah's Nurofen to kick in. Today I just do not have enough hands. I hate seeing my baby sick :(

Braehead Toddler Halloween Party

It is Halloween...well nearly.

The week kicked off with a party at the toddler group we go to on Mondays and Fridays. Since Isla and Leah are saving their costumes for their annual Halloween party on Saturday, they got a chance to wear the cute outfits their Aunty Alex sent.Daniel is now officially much bigger than Leah despite being 3+ months younger than her.A totally appropriate costume for Zara. She is a dancer :)Kirsty, Neive's Mum, had a little girl on my birthday. Beth came along to toddlers for the first time this week!

35

Last night I was listening to the radio. The host, Chris Evans, and his team were discussing what age was considered middle aged. They pretty much all agreed on 35.

Well today I am 35 and I hope I am not middle aged just yet.

Its been a great day...breakfast in bed, followed by lunch with a few girlfriends, then my husband cooked me a good dinner and cleaned up. Isla even sung happy birthday to me. That was pretty special.

I've been feeling/looking pretty old lately because I am so, so tired but tonight after 2 glasses of champagne I am feeling good. One plus of being 35?? I am wise enough to stop after 2 glasses so I don't feel miserable tomorrow!Happy birthday me.

Dancing Queen - Feat. Amy MacDonald

Finally got a video of some of Isla's moves.

Mummy HEaven

It is extremely rare that this happens, two kids quiet/sleeping at the same time. Seriously, I can't describe this moment of peace other than I think I've died and gone to Mummy heaven :)Edit at 3.29pm

Its over. At least I got 5 minutes :)

catch up

Its been a while since I last posted so, what have we been up to? Lets just keep it short and polite by saying we've had a week of Isla telling us "I just can't sleep!" for three hours in the middle of the night.

In an attempt to keep Isla busy this is what we have been up to so far today.

Playing Nurse 'Canan with her sister. Lee-Lee is a very good patient. She let Isla take her temperature, check her reflexes which looked kinda painful, and she even wore the nurse's hat.Then Findlay and Gayle came over for an impromptu lunch/play date. Findlay is officially Isla's first boyfriend, she even calls him that. Good thing her Daddy and I like him :)Its now 4pm and we are getting ready for the next part of the busy day. Denise, Gordon, and Amy are coming over for dinner. If she isn't tired after this, tomorrow we are climbing Tinto!!

Hanging out with Granny

Leah's first go on the trampoline...
First time Isla pushed her wee sister...

Daddy's new toy

Craig bought a quad bike. Isla liked pretending to drive it.However, she freaked out when Craig hooked her wagon up to the tow bar with Leah in it. She told her Daddy "No precious cargo!!" and unhooked it :)

Glasgow Science Centre

Today was another busy day. I swear our kids have a social life that puts Craig and I to shame.

After gymnastics we headed to Glasgow to meet Karen and Bethan at the Science Centre. We haven't seen Bethan since Easter and wow had she changed...she is still a total cutie though!
After a rushed dinner at home, we head over to Great Granny Buchanan's house for cake and presents with Granny, Grandpa, Gillian, and Tam.We have literally been out of the house for 12 hours today. If the girls do not sleep all night tonight I don't know what else I can do!

Isla, Zara, and Jay

Leah's always smiling

Movie Night

A few weeks ago Craig bought a couple of old projectors; every Friday since it has been movie night. Popcorn and jelly babies in front of the big screen. This week's showing was Night at the Museum.

Elmo is sad :(

Leah's first trip to the swings

This morning Isla went to her "gymnastics" class. Once that was over we drove across town to see Amy and Denise at Whizzi's soft play place for a play date and lunch. Around 2pm, when I said it was time to go home, Isla shouted "Isla needs to do something else!"

Since it was nice out, we came home, grabbed the camera and Ringo and headed to Lanark Loch to meet Gayle and Findlay. Big day....Leah was going to swing for the first time. Just like her big sister she loves the swings.Ringo had fun too.
We got home just after 5pm in time for dinner. Tonight was a new record, Craig and I managed to get both of the girls fast asleep with NO fuss in less than 15 minutes. I am getting to listen to Bob Harris' country hour on Radio 2 for the first time in a long time :)