September 2014

 Things to remember from this month:

- How Annick says 'bonnah petit, tout le monde!" at the beginning of the meal
- How Luca wailed in despair, "Pauvre Annick!  Ma pauvre petite soeur!" as he heard her cry from her time out in the bedroom for playing up at the table
- Telephone conversations that go:
   Mama: hello darling, do you have something to tell me?
   Annick: I did a caca!
   (muffled prompting)
   Annick: In da potty!
   (more muffled prompting)
   Annick: It was a big one!
   All said with great pride and delight.
- How mama can be absent-mindedly singing Stevie Wonder's 'Ma Cherie Amour' in the bathroom while the kids are in the bath, only to have Luca join in with a cheerful, "ma cherie amour, mon camion vidange d'amoooooourrrr..."
- How they call out, "bonne nuit maman!" after I close their door at bedtime, just to hear me call it back to them.  Or more lately, "je t'aime!"
- How Luca's preferred breakfast pastry is 'un croissant nature', but Annick's is the chocolaty 'croissant-natine'.
- How we still cannot convince them that the French for 'to lick' is really not 'licker'
- How they both currently love to dance
- How they will say to me on the phone from Ah Ma's house, 'lu ho bo?'
- How I went to get some cream for some bruises on Luca's leg and told him, "look, here's some arnica for your bruises" and he replied instantly, "no mama, it's luca-a".
- How Annick calls bacon 'ban-con'
- How they love to watch Toc Toc Toc and pretend to be Youï and Alia - they will pretend to go to bed and call out to each other, "bonne nuit Alia!"  "Bonne nuit Youï!"

Exploring the Moreton Bay figs in the Carlton Gardens.

Luca is still all about the duplo and the towers.

He is also very interested in climbing these days.

Annick makes a beautiful card for papa for Fathers Day.

Cards and wine for papa!

Annick kept asking for "des trous mama, des trous!" and eventually I worked out she wanted a colander.

Learning fast on the balance bike - it helps to have a big brother to observe and learn from.

Park football.

"Papa voudrait quoi pour la fete des peres, Luca?"
"Une grosse boite!  Pleine de bouteilles de vin!"
So we went to the wine shop and Luca picked this $7 bottle of Lindemans merlot all by himself, because it had a blue label and had an 'L' on it.

Annick-in-a-basket.

Bouncing on the bouncy castle at the Finbar community fete - we got there early so they stayed on as long as they liked!

Face painting at Finbar - Luca got a shark and Annick was initially going to get a shark too but then all the girls before her in the queue got butterflies and she decided she had to have one too.

I have a photo of Luca with his ball pregnancy too, but he wasn't wearing a sombrero so it wasn't as funny.

The Royal Melbourne Show!  Luca got to meet Dusty!  This is the photo I got when I asked them to stand in front of Dusty and smile.

The best bit of the Melbourne Show wasn't the rides or the animals or the games or the food or the music or the show, but the umbrella that Annick got in her Peppa Pig showbag at the end.

Luca gets to grips with a proper sharp knife for cutting beans.  Good work Luca!

Annick shows off her fine motor skills building a tower.

First shorts day!  September 27.  Last year it was September 1, but that was freakishly early and then the weather turned cold.  

Making pasta with Papa and Ping Ping the Panda from daycare.

Months have passed

So much has happened, the kids have done so much growing!

Things to not forget about right now:

- how when you go in to check on Luca at night, he has tucked in his two bears under his Montreal Canadiens blanket on top of the duvet, so they are comfortable
- how Annick sings 'North Star' from Peppa Pig
- how Annick will call, "yoo 'oo!  Je suis là!" when she wants your attention
- how Luca still cannot say his English Rs and says things like 'owwinge bear', 'wun!  Wun faster!' and 'turn awound and awound'.
- how Annick will give you a squeeze and say, "squeeeeeze!"
- how Luca makes fantastical vehicles and large-scale operational buildings out of duplo
- how they both still love the post-bath nudie run and subsequent tickle
- how they only want to help in the kitchen so they can lick the utensils ("je peux licker le bol maintenant, mama")
- how Luca quietly talks to himself when he's playing, narrating the events
- how Annick puts her little dollies to bed and gives them bisous and sings them songs
- how both of them ROAR when you mention dinosaurs (Luca's favourite still being the "dinosaur rex")

Enjoying the winter sun in St Kilda.

Port Phillip Bay in winter.  Probably still warmer than Lake Ontario in summer.

Definitely not a little baby any more :(

Watching Sam le Pompier with great intensity.  I don't let them watch it any more, the stupidity of the 11 people who live in Sam's town was making me crazy.  How are they not all dead from fire by now?

Annick puts a selection of toutous (including Stephen Harper) to bed.

In the park, well protected from head injury.

Luca has decided it is time for him to start climbing the rope ladder and coming down the fireman's pole.  Some practise still required.

At the Pastello children's art exhibition in NGV.  They drew with their heads in perfect synchronisation, it was very entertaining.

Unnervingly fascinated by this ridiculous video art installation of a man dropping small things through a hole in his pocket so they came out his trouser leg.

The awesome feathered bears currently in the NGV foyer!

At the NGV Kids Club, doing le bricolage.

Getting to grips with a glue stick.

One expert balance biker, one novice, one human training wheel.

Vroom!

She sat under this stool for a good half hour, wrapping the telephone wire around the legs.  Who knows how two year old brains work.

Bringing the bricolage home!

Luca tries out some phonics programs.  He's great at recognising his letters (has been for a long time!) but still grappling with the idea that letters correspond to sounds.

 Great helpers, expert bibine hunters.

Luca - 4 years old

Luca at 4
- Nicknames: garçonnet, ti-gars, mini-beau, mini-gars, cheeky monkey, honeybun
- Personality: a squishy little bundle of oddity, punnery, vehicles, contrariness, smartarsery, affection, reservedness, self-control, no self-control (depending on what for), laughter, imagination
- Favourite books: Tintin, Dr Seuss, books about vehicles, Maisy, Put Me In the Zoo, Rapido dans la ville, SamSam
- Favourite things to watch: documentaries about vehicles, Peppa Pig, Toc Toc Toc, Bananas in Pyjamas, Caillou
- Favourite toys: Duplo/Lego, trucks, planes, groceries
- Favourite things to do: build things out of duplo or Lego, cook, organise, make the shopping/faire l'epicerie, deliver things, watch the rubbish trucks

Luca is a boy of imagination, who creates worlds to play in that you can almost see as he goes about (and narrates) his business with whatever tools and toys he has to hand, and the infinite resources of his ordered little brain.  He especially likes to play the grown-up - shopkeeper, construction manager, homeowner.

He prefers to do things only when he is ready.  He might LOOK like he needs to go for a wee, wiggling about on his bottom like a hyperactive beetle, but actually "I'm just warming my bundt mama" and he will tell you when he needs a wee when he's ready (which is generally at the very last minute).

He is brave even though he tells you things are scary, although he'll run to the other side of the room with a cheeky smile when the dark bits of storybooks come up (or when a tickle is about to happen).  He is stoic in the face of scary things such as needles, and understands that scary things sometimes have to be endured.

His grasp of both of his languages is improving exponentially, although he is still mixing them up (probably mama's fault) and comes up with sentences like "Annick va sleeper chez nous Nonna?" or "Nonna va sitter là Papa?"  A month in Montreal has done amazing things though.

He is quick to tears and easily frustrated, but easily comforted and distracted with nicer things.  He loves to help and to take responsibility, but equally likes to have things done for him and would rather have someone put on his shoes than put them on himself.

He likes to get his little sister into trouble - if he is told not to do something, he sneakily tells Annick that maybe she should have a go at the forbidden action.  He LOVES to read stories and ask questions that he already knows the answer to.  He says he doesn't love Papa, but boy does he love Papa.  He also adores his little sister and especially his Mama.

Bonne fête ti-gars - on t'aime, toi aussi!

Annick - 2 years old

Annick at 2

- Nicknames: babylady, minibelle, mini-fille, Madame Pet, fillette, sweet banana, tiny one
- Personality: a whirlwind of energy, giggles, sulks, jokes, tantrums, artistry, stubborn independence, moist affection, shrieking hilarity, pouting diva-dom, heart-melting cuddles.
- Favourite books: Hairy Maclary, Maisy, Hooray for Fish, Very Little Red Riding Hood
- Favourite things to watch: Peppa Pig, Toc Toc Toc, Play School
- Favourite toys: dolls, vehicles, stickers
- Favourite things to do: draw, sing, investigate

Annick is the smallest member of the family but probably the loudest, always eager to dive head first into laughter and play, always quick to dissolve into indignant tears (less quick to emerge from them), always ready to play the little clown, not always ready to give affection when asked for but will generally give in after a few minutes and cover you with joyful kisses and proper squeeeeeezes.

She talks and talks and talks and talks, a little mimic and a persistent questioner.  Favourite phrases are "what's that?/c'est quoi ca?", "why?", "where [insert name here] gone?" and a ingratiating "pleeease?"  She loves to sing and where Luca will chat away to himself while he plays, Annick carols her little heart out, current favourite soundtracks include Row Row Row Your Boat and The Wheels on the Bus.

She has a strong grasp of her adorableness and likes to dress up, look pretty and check herself out in the mirror.  She also likes getting covered in dirt, tangling her hair and roaring like a dinosaur.  She will wear what she wants, thank you, not what you give her and is happiest in a 'petite robette' with 'couettines' in her hair, or alternatively, shorts and a t-shirt with an animal on it.

She still needs a sleep at lunchtime and cuddles at frequent periods during the day.  She loves to ride on papa's shoulders or wrapped up in mama's arms.  She also, at times, cries "I walk myself!" and won't even hold your hand, preferring to throw a tantrum if you try to grab her while crossing the road, so often crosses the road upside down in a pique.  She is always on the lookout for animals and has a sharp eye for planes in the heavens, or the moon in the daytime sky. 

She is serious in new company but doesn't take too long to thaw.  She will on occasion immediately take to someone, such as Uncle Kevin or mononcle Roberto, without the designated thawing period.  Her serious face is adorable, as is her joyous face.

Bonne fete Annick - nous t'aimons!

April 2014 - Annick 23 months, Luca 3y11m

 NEARLY 2 & 4!

Annick:
- stubborn as an ox, crafty as a fox
- Is very into pink, although sometimes I think her concept of what pink is might be a little dubious. 
- Mama: I got your blue dress out for you today Annick.
  Annick: I WANT PINK
  Mama: It's a nice dress!
  Annick: I WANT PINK
  Mama: It's got frills, like Nonna's dress, you'll like it.
  Annick: I WANT PINK
  Mama: (sighs) OK, we'll go and see if there is something pink.
  Annick: (disappears into bedroom, re-emerges clutching aforementioned blue dress) I found a pink one mama!
- When she says words in French and Ah Ma asks her, what does that mean Annick?, Ah Ma gets an airy "iss Fwench" in response, in a tone that suggests Ah Ma doesn't need to know any more than that.

Luca:
- loves to paint, is very good at doing flowers (one big long stem, a swirly top)
- getting quite interested in his letters and numbers and can count up to 20 now without missing any numbers, in both languages.  OK, he can count up to 19.  The concept of 20 seems to elude him a little at present.
- knows exactly how to push everyone's buttons
- still loves his duplo, still OBSESSED with rubbish trucks
- one of his favourite games at the moment is 'Delivery Man', where he delivers things in whatever vehicle he happens to be playing things, zooming along calling, "Livree man, livree man!"
- will not call people by their proper name if possible, usually goes with "Mr Moo Moo Ma", although also fond of calling his favourite people "super".  Super mama, super papa, super 6 kim poh.  Ends a phone conversation with mama with a cheery, "bye bye I love you super mama!" before dissolving into hysterical giggles.

A lovely little lady.

Cooperating in Mei Ling Ee's garden.

Taking Clara out in a kangaroo carry.

This does not appear to be a particularly secure prison.

Mmmmmmm... bread dough...

Say cheese!

Aunty Jess reads in French.  Luca and Annick are in hysterics.

Keeps the flies off.

Coffee time with Ah Koo.

Annick helps load the washing machine.

Watching the Stanley Cup playoffs.

March 2014 - Annick 22 months, Luca 3y10m

Miam, les macarons!

Annick:
- quite likes swimming lessons most of the time, is learning how to go underwater
- not eating very much these days, except for tamarillos and cheese
- talking up a storm, sentences, conversations, questions, everything!
- sings all the time, and like Luca when he was little, is a great fan of Baa Baa Black Sheep and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
- tantrums and screaming, ohmygod
- does not take kindly to being teasingly told off on the tram by strangers for pressing the next stop button when she shouldn't - overdramatises about it ALL THE WAY HOME
- still the little artist, drawing all the time
- Luca is now 'Luca' instead of 'Tootar'
- a devoted mama to her little baby Clara (or 'Clahwa'), although which dolly is Clara seems to depend on which dolly is closest to hand.

Luca:
- singing!  Makes up all these ridiculous songs, probably because he can't remember the words of the song he is trying to sing, so just fills in the gaps with whatever he feels like.
- dancing!  We thought Annick was the tiny dancer in the family, but Luca has really pulled out all the stops this month.
- really knows how to push Annick's buttons and takes great delight in doing so.  Has spent much of March in time out.
- loves to watch 'C'est pas sorcier' on youtube with papa, especially the one about les vieux avions.
- is steadfastly denying the concept of grammatical gender - Papa: LE marmalade est un garcon, et LA confiture est une fille.  Luca: NON!  Le marmalade est le marmalade et la confiture est la confiture!

Annick brushes Clara's, erm... feet.

Luca likes his new blue hoodie!  It has POCKETS.

Annick's hair is beautiful but untamed.

MWAH.

A rare day of adorable sartorial coordination.

Two of Luca's absolute favourite things: vehicles and arrangement.

Ah koo gets kisses these days instead of hysterical screaming.

Luca and mama go to Moomba and eat an ice cream.

Annick in her stripey top, spotty skirt, wellies and towel dress.

Mama bought Luca a dressing gown with a rubbish truck on it - no better gift was ever received.

Papa is sad because Annick is mocking him.

What happens when Papa gets Annick dressed for the day.

Annick loves to draw on her little drawing plane.  Draw, erase.  Draw, erase.  Draw, erase!

 Luca is a dancing machine.

She's an easy lover