Block play

Today Andrew spent about an hour playing with his blocks. It was fascinating to watch, listen and wonder what he was thinking. I thought I'd share some of it with you.

He started with a simple line of blocks. He was saying "Train track, big train track. That one joined together"  (as he was putting the carriages together).

"More train" (disappearing off to his room to get an engine). He then spent ages straightening up the blocks.

Every time he moved the trains the blocks moved. He was getting a little frustrated but not upset. Mummy suggested putting some train tracks on the blocks. Andrew's idea was to try longer blocks, which didn't really work. He then told me he needed "a long bit as track too short" The result is below. I am not sure what was happening with the smaller construction beside the main one.

Then it was dismantled.

Then he started again. He told me "Andrew build big tower, a long tower."

Below is how it was when he went to bed for his afternoon sleep.

Our Christmas tree

Yesterday afternoon we put up our Christmas tree. Andrew enjoyed helping with this activity. Rachel was more interested in the taste of the decoration rather than seeing if she could hang them up.

Andrew needs daddy's help to put the star at the top of the tree.

The tree is now safely on top of the fire, out of reach.

Two and half update

Andrew is now two and half.

Andrew still likes reading, and the other day when we went to the library he wanted to get a book on Trucks out of the library.

We sometimes look at a couple of books on people in the bible, and we find the entry on Rachel, Joseph (there are two different ones) and the disciples. The page on the disciples has a picture of the twelve. We have to identify which one is Andrew and which one is Tom. Today we got a bible out to read about Stephen and Paul.

Andrew's language is improving. He is putting together 4-5 word sentences at times. Some of Andrew's words:

Huggle - is Andrew's word for a cuddle
oki days - somethings not quite right (oopsy-daisy)

He must take after his dad, who likes to make up words too.

When it is dinner time he will go and tell daddy and Rachel that dinner is ready.

Andrew still sleeps most afternoons. Some days it is a battle of wills between mummy and Andrew, that mummy normally wins. He doesn't necessarily sleep in his bed. Yesterday afternoon he slept on the floor.

He recently started getting up and either playing in the lounge or coming up to mummy and daddy very early in the morning. On Monday he and mummy and Rachel went on the train because Andrew had got 7 stickers on his chart for staying in his room until a light on a timer came on at 7am.

Here he is asleep across his bed

Playing with his concrete truck

Andrew is telling me "The concrete is in fire station"

He and Rachel are quite interactive with one another now and Andrew will lie down and play with Rachel. However if Rachel manages to reach one of his toys, he will say "Naughty" and take the toy off her.

seven months old

Rachel is now seven months old. She really enjoys sitting up and playing with her toys, except when Andrew comes along and takes her toys away. She also likes to lie on the floor and try getting around the floor by rolling and wriggling. She is going backwards as well. This results in her getting stuck in awkward places.

In the last week and a bit she has finally slept longer at night. She has done a few nights of 8 hours or more.

She is continuing to love her food. Although I am trying to discourage her from eating newspaper which is what she is about to do in the photo below.

Swimming

Yesterday we went to a swiming birthday party for our friend Joshua. This was Rachel's first time swiming and Andrew's first for a long time. Rachel seemed to enjoy herself.

Andrew went down the slide.

(These are also the first photos on this blog taken with Stephen's new phone.)

Andrew's first playcentre dropoff

Today Andrew went to Playcentre without mummy and Rachel this morning. When we arrived there was a fire engine that had come to visit and talk about fire safety. That was exciting. Andrew got to help hold the hose.

Mummy and Rachel left after the fire engine left. we went to the supermarket and library. Andrew was fine while we were away. When we came back Andrew was helping to wash the dolls. Mummy got a photo of this.

Just some cute photos

I took these photos the other day of Rachel sitting playing with her toys. I thought I'd like to share them with you. She is sometimes really happy to sit and play. I wouldn't leave her sitting without watching her because she is still learning how to cope when she loses balance.

Some other photos from our trip to Blenheim

Andrew enjoyed the yummy meatballs and pasta Grandma made for lunch.

Andrew found some blocks to make a tower with.

Andrew helps Grandma to blow out her candles

Andrew and Rachel with their Grandparents Harris

Here are some photos I took yesterday of the kids with their Grandparents Harris

Our trip on the big boat,

Yesterday Andrew, Rachel and Mummy went on the ferry to visit Grandma and Granddad for the day. Daddy had to go to work. It was Grandma's birthday.

Here is Andrew and Rachel in the buggy on the boat. Both kids were really good on the boat. Rachel had a sleep on both trips. On the way back we had our dinner and Andrew played in the playground and watched cartoons before he lay down and read books. He is really tired today as he didn't have an afternoon sleep and went to bed at 9:30 yesterday. He is in bed asleep at present.

Rachel spent some time on the floor on the boat.

Andrew spent time drawing and sticking stickers in his sticker book

Rachel is Six Months old

Rachel was six months old last week. What does life look like for her?

She still doesn't sleep through over night so mummy is feeling quite tired. She normally sleeps for a couple of hours first thing in the morning and then has another good sleep after lunch. She goes to bed around 7pm and normally sleeps well until mummy wakes her for a feed before she goes to bed. She normally wakes around 3:30am for a feed.

Rachel is now rolling and can make it across the rug if she wants to. She will try and get some of Andrew's toys. His response is to tell her she is "naughty" and to take the toy off her. He will also bring her toys to play with, especially if she is upset and mummy is busy. She can sit up by herself for a few minutes at a time. She enjoys spending time on the floor with her toys.

In the past month she has gotten to like the taste of various different foods. She has solids twice a day at lunch and dinner. She eats about 1/4 a cup at time. She eats apple, banana, kumara, pumpkin, carrot, and potato. In the last couple of days she has had chicken mixed with vegetables.

Rachel likes to try and feed herself with a spoon.

Blockery

One of Andrew's favourite activities at present is playing with his blocks. Here are some phots of Andrew and Daddy constructing an eleborate structure. Andrew likes to try to do the same structures when Daddy is not around. He is not always as successful. He is learning to cope with things not working.