Four and a quarter

Milla at a four and a quarter.

Still runs to bed.
Had another haircut, but she wants it longer.
Is starting to enjoy maths ideas.
Has borrowed a bigger bike from a six year old friend, with a basket, still on training wheels.
Almost always will share her special thing with you.
Loves to take doll in for repeated show and tell.
Swimming lessons on Sundays and Chinese lessons Thursdays. But not regular.
Told the dentist her favourite food is broccoli. Is bragging to everyone about her upcoming trip to Scotland.
Occasionally pesters for a sibling.
Lots of new words that surprise us.
When she's really really excited or happy, her eyes start to turn up at the sides.
Getting better at the idea of practice. 

35/52 Poser

Sweet pea.

25 months

Cleaning the bricks. 

Zoo trip after a sleepover at our place with uncle and aunt. Funtimes apart from the senseless night wakings. Random.

Started to amass critters for bedtime... Used to just be Alpi, then doll, then rabbit, then baby, sloth, rat, more rabbits, a duck... Referred to as 'everyone, everyone!'.

Riding the balance bike around the block with skyrocketing confidence. Great for lighter evenings as winter begins to wane.

Hasn't done swimming lessons for maybe six months, maybe start again this week.

Hard to describe but seems strange to call her my daughter as she feels like she is her own person, Milla, an independent member of our family.

Did two year check in at the nurse and she's mid-range for height and top of range for weight. Speaking in sentences of six or seven words, sings her whole alphabet, can sometimes count to seven.

Life at two

Life at two is us writing lists of her impressive sentences and great imaginative interactions. Great at playing by herself, very caring and interested in others. Can sing forever, medleys of favourite and the occasional new composition. Great at recall, people's names, my mentions of things in past and future. Hilarious. Eats well, sleeps well, though started skipping naps. Takes an increasing cast of cuddly friends to bed with her. Said 'happy birthday, Paul!' to her grandfather on the phone. Helped spoon muffin mixture into tiny cases. Rides on my shoulder. Tantrums. Loves to say 'I did it!' though latest catch-cry is 'what are you doing there?!'. Favourite colour is orange.

Morning ponder in the garden.

19/52

Listening to story of the caterpillar. 

"I funny!" she says from the back seat of the car, cracking herself up. This is after childcare calling to say she may be crook, wasn't herself... Um, I think she's ok.

Found a baby tomato plant and rapidly got a trowel to dig it up... wanted to relocate it... Somewhere.

14/52

Fat curls. 

Hometime, after riding, to backyard to draw with chalk, refill bird bath and play bikes.

19 months

"The days are long but the years are short." True indeed, Gretchen Rubin.

Tomato harvesting. 

Milla at 19 months. Says 'bridge' as we pass under the West Gate. Goes to get a fresh nappy from the shelf, want to put the dirty one in the laundry bucket. Is still driving me crazy picking green tomatoes when I'm not looking.

Milla is pretty awesome. Pretends to drink from empty cups. And shares it. Gives Alpi first sip of her beloved milk. Kissed Charlie's scab very gently. We have her old cot set up in Ballroom and she lies there and takes Alpi and Doll with her.

Captured 'snow goose' being said on video. Very affectionate, curious, learning all the time. Can point 'up' and 'down' and say the words. Started to say 'please'! Says 'tuddle' for 'cuddle' with arms outstretched and 'tum' for 'come', with hand outstretched.

Is looking longer and sharper. Doesn't like sweet things, including my Dad's amazing chocolate ice-cream. Would rather eat olives.

Enjoys screen time! Play School and How to Train Your Dragon and Attenborough documentaries.

4/52

Good morning face. 

Wakes so happy. Going to bed earlier. Tomato harvesting gets her out of bed. Both Alpi and doll into bed with her. Still those big lips. More of a neck everyday.

Camping on the weekend, back near the Howqua where we'd taken tiny baby Milla at nine weeks old, Charlie's first Father's Day. She was one of many kids in the busy holiday weekend campground. Something we would have hated in the past as camping snobs... Horses camped nearby, noisy cockatoos waking us early, ducks in a brace parading.

We had two helpers, Charlie decided a ratio of 4:1 is perfect. Milla slept well both nights, we arrived Friday night to camp at 10pm. Hiked both days, Charlie rode up Buller twice and the weather was insanely good, much better than the forecast had me thinking. I should have brought swimmers.

3/52

Back out for another turn around the tomatoes. Milla says 'tomatoes' so that it sounds the same as 'mummy' and 'monkey'. She was allowed to pick a big one today. I'm belatedly trying to stake.

Tipped cold water down her pajamas.

She can say the 'l's in her name now. Can say my name too. Can identify one colour - pink!