Siblings - January 2017

I love to see how much these three love each other. B and M still fight, but things seem to be settling down somewhat, and the periods of playing happily together are increasing, while the hugs and lovely conversations are more free-flowing. A's face lights up when he sees or hears his sisters, especially M, even though she spends a great deal of time poking his face!

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Siblings - November 2016

So, my two beautiful girls have been joined by a lovely little boy. 

They adore him. 

I think he could be the most kissed baby ever. 

They've had three weeks together - well, just shy of that due to him and me having to go back into hospital for a couple of days. 

Siblings - October 2016

No baby yet, so these girls are still a twosome. And you know you'll get a third sibling in my next Siblings Project post. 

Siblings - September 2016

Look at these two. They're playing a lot better together recently, which is wonderful. There are still fights, but they seem happy to help each other with problems, to work together, and to interact more pleasantly. M wants very much to be like B, which has resulted in her toilet training herself  and trying to write her own name. They enjoy dressing up together, especially as Wonder Woman and Supergirl, and competing against each other in just about anything that can be competitive.

I think they're going to be amazing big sisters. They're so excited about the baby, and often talk about what they're going to do to help out. The baby could be here before my next Siblings post. The sibling dynamics will change, and I'm looking forward to seeing the new relationships forming.

Siblings - August 2016

Siblings - July 2016

 

As we get closer to the new baby's arrival, I look at these two and see them getting bigger and bigger. The age gap doesn't seem as great as it has before. They can play make-believe games together, and M can join in properly. It makes me all the more aware how different life will be with a baby in the house again, and how old the girls will both seem.

With M's speech and language so clear and developed, I often find myself forgetting that she is still so young. 2 years and 8 months. But because she can hold her own in a conversation I often expect her to understand much more. I think B finds that difficult too. She doesn't always understand why M isn't behaving the way she wants her to, and I have to remind her that M is still so little.

Siblings - June 2016

Parenting these beautiful girls is not the easiest job in the world at the moment. Two completely different individuals, each  determined to be their own person. Gone are the cuddles and affection of previous months, and in their place is rivalry. Competition has entered the arena. We have battles and tears. Others assure me it's a mix of their ages and the fact that they know they have a sibling on its way. My girls are unsettled, and wanting to mark their place, their territory. It's hard work. 

And then, at other times, I find myself in peace and I realise that they're playing beautifully together. I have to resist the urge to burst in and tell them how wonderful it is to witness them enjoying each other's company. 

They're strong and stubborn and they know their own worth. Difficult to parent, but one day they will be women who know what they want and will have the character to go out and get it. And I know they will be each other's biggest supporter. 

Siblings - April 2016

This month these two found out they were going to get a new brother or sister. B was beyond excited at the news; M asked for more yoghurt. They've talked about the baby every day since they found out, and keep kissing my tummy. It will be so interesting to see how the sibling dynamic changes come October. 

As ever, their days are full of playing nicely together and winding each other up something chronic. They can go from helping each other to fisticuffs in the blink of an eye, and back again just as quick. They love each other's company. M misses her big sister dreadfully when B goes off to jiu jitsu. They cuddle and they laugh. B reads to M; M shares ill-gotten snacks with B. They're both completely bonkers, from dawn til dusk, and despite that - or, perhaps, because - we've still decided to have another!

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Siblings - March 2016

It's been almost impossible to get these two to stay still for long enough to take a photo this month. Two of these photos are stills from videos! I must make a more concerted effort next month. 

Still a great deal of playing together, loudly, and with plenty of disagreements. They seem to argue more, as M gets bigger and more confident - though she's never been the shy, retiring type! - but they're quick to apologise, reconcile and forgive, leaving me with the headache, while they return to their games. 

I love to see them doing yoga together, and to hear B reading to M. They do care a great deal for each other. M even refers to her big sister as, "My best friend called B." Heart melting, right!

Siblings - February 2016

So many funny games they play together now - weddings, light sabre fights, weddings with light sabre fights, doctors, families, and untitled games that basically consist of lots of screaming and pushing each other. And their current favourite, "Trapped," where one of them stands against the wall, saying, "I'm trapped," and the other comes to rescue them, and then they swap. It's delightful to hear them playing so happily together, or to hear nothing and then discover them sat side by side, looking at books. B's leaps forward in reading mean that she can read stories to M now too, which makes me smile. 

Of course, as with all siblings, there are fights. Sharing is still a tough one for them both, and M has worked out exactly how to wind up her sister, as do all younger siblings, the world over! They can't sit next to each other at meal times, because of swinging legs and irritating hands, but sitting opposite one another they make each other laugh so much. They're learning empathy and sympathy, and how to be patient and generous, and to take turns. 

They are such good friends. 

The Extra Mile

The rule in our house is that everyone must stay at the table until everyone has finished their meal. This has worked pretty well until recently, when M started to sit on a grown up chair instead of her booster seat. She gets down and wanders. She's only 2 years 2 months, so we give a little leeway, a couple of chances to return, but we've explained that if someone leaves the table, then we presume that they have finished and won't be wanting anything else to eat, including pudding.

Yesterday, she got down from the table and, despite three reminders that if she chose to leave she would be finished and would not be joining us for dessert, she chose to leave the kitchen and was gone for about 10 minutes. The rest of us were just starting to eat our pudding, when she turned up and demanded cake. We explained again that she had chosen to leave the meal, so she was finished. Of course, she cried. We empathised. She was still cross.

A voice piped up from next to me. B told me, "Oh, just let her have some!" The loyalty of sisters! But I explained to her too. She's had the same happen to her before, so she nodded and went back to her cake. But, I should have noticed the funny little smile on her face.

Siblings - January 2016

Four and two - both interesting ages, with their challenges and delights. These two are the best of friends, and mortal enemies. One minute hugging and kissing, the next screaming and hitting. They play all sorts of make believe, though B's imagination is much wilder than M's, and they can't always agree on who should be Cinderella. 

M adores her big sister, wants to do everything B does, and is desperate to help her, finding her shoes and offering her toys. B thinks M is cute, but struggles with their differing levels of ability, speech and understanding. Having a little sister can be very frustrating. 

B's reading is coming along amazingly, and it's lovely to find her reading books to M, snuggled up on the settee. M's speech has taken a massive leap over Christmas, and I frequently hear her talking about "my sister," and having conversations with B. 

I'm looking forward to another year of taking part in the siblings project, seeing how these two grow and change together. 

Siblings - December 2015

Siblings - November 2015

  

Siblings - October 2015

 

Siblings - September 2015

Siblings - August 2015

So many cuddles this past month. These two so enjoy each other's company. They still  love to see each other first thing in the morning, kissing and hugging and shouting for joy. M is getting so much more interested in what B is up to, which is resulting in shouting and tears. B is as patient as a nearly 4 year old can be; M is getting more and more frustrated with what she's not allowed to do. They are both quick to say sorry though - our behaviour and modelling for B has paid off, and M has learned how to apologise already, though I'm not entirely sure she needs to say sorry quite so often as she does.

 

 B has learned a few of her books off by heart, and I have caught her "reading" them to M a few times now. It's incredibly touching to see. They play together with the Duplo, but B's penchant for pretending the bricks are cakes is not so easily understood by M, who just wants to build. They've been enjoying singing and dancing to Barbara Ann by the Beach Boys, and especially singing it whilst jumping up and down on mattress in the spare room. They chat to each other, and it's so wonderful to see how good friends they are.

Siblings - July 2015

This has been a tough month for these two. I've been ill for nearly all of it, and they have struggled with being stuck at home most of the time, with a poorly mum who hasn't been much fun. They've watched a lot of telly, because I've found everything difficult with the constant dizziness, and I haven't been able to play or run around after them. And the weather has either been too hot or raining, so outside hasn't always been the better option. Add in a couple of wasp nests in the garden, and you can see why cabin fever set in, and why there aren't so many photos this month. 

M is much more forceful now. She knows when she wants to join in and she makes it known. B is finding it hard, because she makes up games and M doesn't play properly. But they both try really hard. Dressing up works well. They both enjoy it and there are no rules to follow. M is quite happy to be dressed and undressed, though she's quite adept at picking out her own outfits too! There are still plenty of good morning kisses, and hand-holding if we're out, but the screaming and crying is continuing too. M will tell me when B has done something to stop her playing - "push" seems to be a well used word, unfortunately. But generally they get on well, and I know what it's like to be the big sister!

Siblings - June 2015

These girls are gorgeous. I'm biased, but I'm pretty sure they are the most beautiful little girls I've ever seen. They are still great friends, though I see B's frustration with M at times. Both strong willed and knowing what they want, they clash frequently, but more often I find them sat reading together or looking after each other's dollies. 

Siblings - May 2015

In the last month, I've been so moved by how much these two love each other. They are just delighted by each other's company. They cuddle in the day time and snuggle close when sleeping; they kiss and hold hands; they share their food without being prompted. I'm so glad that I've been lucky enough to have the camera at hand to grab so many of these moments; I rarely have to stage photos anymore, because they do so much together that is photoworthy.