Dear Alice and Violet - 35 months and 6 months!

Girls - I'm afraid it's been a couple of months! Life is a little more (massive understatement!) hectic now you're both around and want entertaining, so this is the first time I've sat down to write in ages. Coupled with the fact that Alice poured squash on my laptop - accidentally of course - means I'm a little behind.

Dear Violet,

You are 5 months old, and will be 6 months in 2 days! Half a year - where on earth has the time gone? It literally feels like you've been here seconds, but I also can't imagine a time without you.

Last time I wrote your sleep was okay-ish, but for the past few months it really hasn't been! We've been bouncing around between every 45 minutes, every hour, and sometimes every 2 hours. Lack of sleep has hit harder this time, as I can't really have any down time in the day looking after your sister, and I've definitely found it difficult. But, this time I also know that it will get better and you will sleep eventually. For now I'm just trying to at least appreciate some bed snuggles, although my appreciation is a lot lower at 3am ;)

Having said that, you do have a bit of a routine down now, going to bed at 7pm every night and getting up at 5 (urrggggg) every morning, with 2/3 naps a day. Your naps aren't super set as they have to fit round Alice and what we're doing, and I try and sneak a sleepy cuddle when I can!

We have just started food these past few days, and you are literally loving it. We're doing a mix of homemade mush and BLW like last time, and you have really started to get the hang of it - the only time you seem annoyed is when it isn't going into your mouth quick enough! This week you've been trying carrot, sweet potato, cauliflower, broccoli, apple, blueberry, rice cakes, porridge, banana, fromage frais, and toast. Here's hoping perhaps the food will encourage a little better sleep at night!

You are rolling over constantly and get completely frustrated when you get on your front and decide you can't roll back. You're very chilled out, as long as someone is paying you attention. When you're not being occupied by something or someone you grizzle and moan. You loooove the door bouncer, and would spend about 90% of your time in there if I let you. You also love listening to me and your singing (poor you!) and playing peekaboo.

You were Christened on the 9th February, which was a lovely day and we were so lucky to be surrounded by so many people who love you and care for you. It was quite overwhelming to appreciate just how lucky and blessed we are.

You're becoming much more like a little person every day, and Alice completely dotes on you, and you her. She tries anything to make you laugh, and luckily you find her hilarious! I just hope you always enjoy each others company so much.

So, onto your big sister -

Dear Alice,

You are now 34/35 months old - or nearly 3 as I remember it!

Wow how big are you now? Both physically and in person - you are completely my big lovely girl.

You want to be involved in anything and everything that someone else is doing, and always want to be "helpful". You help me do everything, from set the table to wash the pots, and it takes me ten times as long to make lunch now. You're current most said words are "I will do it I will do it" because you get super frustrated if someone tries to help you. This generally means your shoes are on the wrong feet and your hat is on backwards but you're trying.

You love baking and cooking, and you play so nicely now (some of the time!). It's really sweet to see you playing with your animals and making them talk to each other and have different voices. Generally everyone ends up on the toilet because you think that's hilarious but that's fair enough!

You still love singing, but now you like changing the words and making your own words up to songs. You actually have a brilliant ear for a tune and for rhyming words. Current favourites are Ants Went Marching, Found a Peanut, Spaghetti song and Hokey Cokey. We have the radio on a lot in the day and you're forever getting me up and dancing, and you spin till you fall over.

You are now 99% toilet trained in the day, and as a I write this we've not had an accident in weeks - hurrah! You still wear a pull up at night but that's fine. We also have to sing the poo poo song. I'm sure you will be glad to know this when you're 21!

Food-wise you are ace. You help me prepare most things, and you loooove your fruit and veg. Current faves are sweet peppers, raspberries, cheese wrappers (as you call them), rice, and raw carrot.  You also love haribo of course.

You still have a nap once a day for about 90 mins, and go to sleep really nicely at 7pm, although you are up at 6am, although you sometimes sit in your room for a little while playing dolls house.

You can walk for miles, and hate going in the car. This often leads to a massive screaming fit if we have to go somewhere we can't walk to, and you've most definitely mastered the art of the tantrum.

You completely dote on your sister - she is the last thing you talk about at night and the first thing in the morning. You kiss her and hold her and stroke her and are far too rough with her, but I just can't believe how incredibly sweet you can be for her sometimes. Alice you will always be my baby, but to see you look after your little sister just makes you seem so huge to me.

Both of you are amazing, as always, although it's been a tricky few months! Here's hoping for more sleep, more cuddles, and more of the same all round.

With love and light xo