Dress Ups

Stella is slowly overcoming her aversion to dressing up, this fairy dress was a birthday pressie from Aunty Linda and family. I had the bright idea of folding down the top half so it was more of a skirt, Stella happily stepped into it and danced around. She'd hi-jacked Nana's lipstick just prior hence the red mouth. She is very much into lotions and lipsticks and spends ages at Nana's house dipping her fingers into various things and applying them to her (and our) hair, arms, legs etc... our purses are another source of great interest and I often find my credit cards moved around into different compartments.

Our biggest milestone of late is that Stella has started attending a morning and afternoon session at the local community creche. Three sessions in and so far so good, she's been ok with me leaving and happy to see me back, not in a rush to go home. I did have to sign the accident register earlier in the week when she apparently tripped on the deck and hurt her lip. She talks about how "Rose (the teacher) gave me a cuddle and put on a cold flannel".

Keeping Busy

Mark has always loved reading to Stella. She now loves climbing into our bed and looking through some of her favourite books. This first shot was taken during the week, depending on how I am feeling, Mark will get ready for work then occupy Stella while I have a shower and prepare breakfast. Given Mark's love for bed, it is not a hard task getting to lie back down and have a read!

We paid a visit to the Museum this morning, my first time there in ages, the area they have set up for kids is fantastic, live cockroaches and other creepy crawlies, interactive activities, real stuffed animals, books, puzzles... the list goes on. A great way to spend a few hours on a cold, cloudy morning.

Birthday #2 (& Mothers Day) - Afternoon

After a wee nap, we ventured to Aunty Linda's house for a combined birthday and Mothers Day afternoon tea. Granny and Grandpa were there along with Great Aunty Shirley as well as Nana and Aunties Kath & Claire. Deanna, Lenny and baby Rosie provided great entertainment for Stella and there were even more presents to open and a lovely spread of afternoon tea. Have included a video of Stella's second Happy Birthday To You ceremony. Unfortunately she had just swiped a rice cracker off the table so chewing on it impeded her ability to blow out the candles! Stella's cousin Nicky made an awesome toy for her as a school project, depending on whether you stack the blocks by numbers or letters, on the other side you get a dog or a giraffe.

Birthday #2 (& Mothers Day) - Morning

Stella's actual birthday fell on Mothers Day this year. We had a quiet start to the day, Mark got Stella up while I had a little sleep in then we opened some pressies. Nana popped in for more present opening. We got Stella a doctor's kit as the last time she went to the doctor she wasn't too impressed, she was also very unhappy when she came along to my last specialist appointment to check up on the new baby. There has been lots of role play with the kit, listening to her chest, our chests, my tummy, administering medicine, taking temperatures etc. The tea set from Nana has been a great hit, for some reason Stella is very taken with the saucers and they had to go in the car with her to the park yesterday. Mark chose her a lovely wooden train with carriages, animals and fences. For the past week the fences have followed us all around the house, and again on many a car trip... hard to figure out what the appeal is of these things sometimes...

Birthday #1

Stella gets two birthday celebrations this year. The first was with a small group of friends last weekend, I managed to make a reasonably good tasting dairy/egg/milk free chocolate birthday cake that catered to Stella's dietary requirements and my own. She has been to a few parties lately so knows more about presents and blowing out candles. There are some pics of Stella, Jack and Charlie enjoying the birthday food. And one taken yesterday of Stella wearing the top I bought her to wear to the party which she initially took a strong dislike to ("don't like the pretty top Mummy") so on the party day she stayed her old hand-me-downs but decided she'd wear her tutu over the top... the joys of being 2!

Cricket

Nana and Mark are both cricket fans so we recently purchased a cheap cricket set off Trademe along with a mini bat for Stella from the Warehouse. Stella's favourite activity is squeezing through the wickets (often on her bike!) She is slowly getting the idea of bowling, sometimes she throws both the ball and her bat at you but usually it is just the ball. Often she tires of the game before us but it is a nice outdoor activity that we can manage on our small patch of grass.