my sleeper

Daniel's such a sleeper - he still naps a few days a week, and this is him today after a nap, when he staggered out to the living room, fell asleep on me while I was reading, then crawled/fell onto the floor when I got up from the couch. Just thought it was cute...

Just me and Nicholas

Andrew has D and L out for breakfast and at the park. I'm home with Nicholas, enjoying little smiles.

One month old

Contrary to what my postings look like, we do take photos of Nicholas! He's one month old now, and is now doing a manageable nighttime routine, for which I'm grateful, even if it still only means 3 hours of sleep in a row for me!!! He's doing all the normal stuff - growing, eating, spitting up (which Daniel hates)... I'll spare you all the details and just add photos! he really loves being on his tummy... the stars and stipes boys. who put those pants on you nicholas?!

Looking back

Just having fun looking back at old photos and comparing kids... --- Daniel at 5 days old Laura at one and a half weeks old Nicholas at 3 weeks old And the progression of 'family photos' with each birth.

Daniel's made up story

"Made-up Stories" are a common request from our kids. Andrew tells them brilliantly. Me, I try. Here's Daniel's version this morning. D: "What do you want the story to be about?" M: "Ducks and frogs." D: "Okay. One day there was a brother duck, and he hid from his mom and dad when he was supposed to have a time out. He hid under his sister's bed." M: "And his sister hid with him." (it's okay, we regularly interject into each other's stories) D: "No, his sister was at school. His mom and dad couldn't find him, so they went to get his sister from school. [really, they left him at home?!] When they got back, they looked under his bed and found him and said, 'NO!'. M: "Did he have to have another time out?" D: "No, he got 2 smacks (for the Americans reading this, that's a spanking). The 1st smack didn't hurt and he didn't cry. The 2nd smack was really big and he cried." [and he proceeds to demonstrate on a pillow what the 2nd smack was like] * So much for the ducks and frogs request. * You've no doubt realized that made-up stories have no resemblance AT ALL to anything that happens in this house...

Cheating?

1st day with 3 kids on my own, and no disasters yet. But tell me if you think it's cheating to count today when Andrew went to work at 10.30, Beth came over for an hour over lunchtime, then both older kids went for naps...?? The TV has been on for too long today, I'm still in sweat pants (not an uncommon sight), and my hair has been back in a rubber band since my shower (hey, at least i had a shower!) Might as well ease into it, hey?!

Saying goodbye

Just got home from taking Grandma and Grandpa to the airport... the house is really quiet (was it the grandparents who made all that noise?!). Miss 'em. (yep, it was really early in the morning...)

Coming home...

A bit of a belated post. but nevertheless... The kids have loved Nicholas, and even in just the past 2 days Daniel has taken an increased interest in him. Laura kisses his head all the time. I love it and hope it lasts. Here's a selection of photos from the past 3 weeks: On our last night before leaving the hospital for the reality of home... hands tucked up by his little red newborn face - so cute... Leaving the hospital with all 3 kids... No, this isn't a picture of Laura, it is her sharing her blanket with Nicholas, a high honour that he hasn't the slightest clue about! Nicholas telling Grandma all about the 5 days of his life that she missed - this is us picking them up from the airport... The siblings having a chat... Hey Transformer, can't you transform that baby into one that's not crying? Alice in Wonderland taking a walk to the park with Grandpa, while Daniel the Transformer stayed behind because he didn't want to change out of his Transformer costume... Nicholas at 10 days old Daniel captured Laura's 'mad face'. It can be real or pretend from moment to moment. This one's pretend, I think. 3 kids in the bath! Well, sort of...

Nicholas

Welcome to our family little boy. Nicholas Andrew Sypkes Born 8th October, 2008 (happy shared birthday Oma!) 3.04am 3.7 kgs/8 lbs 2 oz 53 cm long

We're still here...

So 3 weeks without blogging or emailing really does funny things to a person. Kind of makes me like this life without computers and being online all day... I've gotten a lot of other things done! :) But anyway, we have moved in and feel very settled, the kids LOVE having a playroom, and their bedroom has even had a bit of decorating done to it this past weekend (thanks Penny, I never would have done it without you!!). I'm officially due in 3 days, but no sign of anything, and I don't really expect anything to happen until a few days afterwards, but stay tuned. And apologies to EVERYONE who's emailed and wondered if I've already had the baby. I will try my best to get replies written in the next few days provided there are no interruptions of the labour kind!

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Hanging out in the playroom...

Outdoors...

Very popular Buzz and Alice in Wonderland costumes courtesy of Shaz and Stu - much less laundry to do now that they wear these nearly every day!

... and of course Laura has to try out Buzz too!

"Baddie suits" with Ollie (Superhero-Batman-Tranformer-Baddie is very powerful!)

Tigger with a tutu...

Too funny - Laura stayed asleep for ages on my nearly 9-month prego belly yesterday after being brought in, asleep, from the car...

Quick photos yesterday outside our place

Fun times...