Ups and Downs

Daddy is at home with us today. The work situation is not lookin good. Praise God he is starting with the police in July but i think it may be a rocky road until then... throws a bit of a spanner in the works of our routine too but thats cool, coz the girls love thier Daddy time. The room time went really well with both girls today, grace went from crying the whole half hour nearly to really enjoying her time to herself today setting up a little doll shop and clothes without being raided by the toddler tornado she calls her sister.
Jaeda was a little unimpressed at first but enjoyed her blocks and stacking cups while G painted in peace. Surprisingly they got along so much better when they played together after.
Tomorrow i will try catch so pics of them and work out how to post them.

We all went for dinner last night for my Cousins 20th. It was a good night and all you can eat went down sooo well with the kids! She was born the same year as my brother and i wonder how long her events will be crowded with the thoughts of Joe would be .... too. For my parents the look on their face is less of a realisation of that, more like every time is something else being stolen from them. Last night they were reminded that they will grieve the loss of a son's 20th celebration, as well as the loss of a son this year. Still it was good to see family and eat rediculous amounts of soft serve ice cream covered in chocolate chips.

Carly, so how far away do you think we can get in September. A million miles away sounds good to me... maybe further.

power struggles

so, lately i have noticed my 3 year old daughter has taken over, i mean under the radar so to speak but whatever i say, she says no, i will do this way/have that one/ do it soon... and my 1 year old(jaeda), well there is nothing subtle about how she rules the house. She is in full tanty mode whenever i require something of her and it's a battle to dress/change/feed/anything her. So i am about to open up a can of baby/childwise on them. I used it when they were babies admittedly not as thouroughly with my second, but with great results. Their sleep is still good as a legacy to that, but now miss 3(grace) needs to understand who is in charge and miss 1 CLEARLY needs more boundaries, seeing as she falls apart the minute her freedom is restricted.

I think if i write this it will help me stick to it, i sooo neeed to stick to it... so here is how it goes.

The gate is back on the bedroom door and each wll have half an hour of room time each day (playing on thier own with clear boundaries and a few selected toys), which will allow me to do an age approriate activity with the other. This will make a pleasent change from miss 1 (Jaeda) grabs paint brush and runs with paint flying on walls/clothes, me/her, or ask J show mummy where is the doggy in the book, only to have miss 3 (G) reach over and point, stealing little ones thunder.

Also, less tv, more structured activities and no more answering back-even subtly.

so today (and todays post) is mostly about them, and not me.