So Sweet

The girls and I have firmly established our own little routine. Evie sleeps on and off all day. If we are out, she can go the entire time in the sling dead asleep. If we aren't doing anything in particular, Tilly and I will walk around, either doing a grocery shop or at our local park, with Evie in the pram - also fast asleep (as long as the pram is moving). Tills and I are having many a great play date at the park. Evie is a little Koala and loves nothing more than to be asleep. Though at home she finds it hard to go to sleep without me. But we get through our days easily and I am loving this time that I have now with my girls. Tilly has grown so much. She loves to walk with me around town holding the pram and being a big responsible girl. I took her to the local market the other day which was a big long walk and she handled it without a second thought. As long as Evie is awake at 5 and until 7 she will then sleep all night, with just one wake up at around 1 or 2. Such is her penchant for sleep. I get Tills into the bath, while she is there I bath Evie, we have dinner and then it's brush teeth time and onto the bed for Tills "Jesus songs". While I was last in Australia I looked online at Koorong and found two great CD's, contemporary Christian songs sung almost like a lullaby. For over a week now I have been singing the songs to Tilly while feeding Evie in Tilly's room. They both fall to sleep to my untrained voice as if it is the sweetest thing they've ever heard. Indeed Tilly runs to the bed to get ready for it. No fussing about whether or not she wants to go to bed (afternoon naps have now been extinguised). It's almost like it's the highlight of her day. There are 15 songs on the CD and by about 6 she's out to it. But I stay there feeding Evie and singing my head off and getting her into a deep sleep. By 15, Evie is totally out to it and ready to put down on her bed. This evening we were a little ahead of ourselves and ready for bed by 7. Which is slightly too early. So Tills and I sat there in the semi dark talking about our day, about the songs, which one was her favourite and which one was mine (each one as it came along apparently). And I told her today that it was Uncle Josh's birthday party, his 40th. And all the family will be gathered together to celebrate the 40 years of his life, everyone except us that is. She saw a water bottle and noted that it was Nanny's and that Nanny had given it to her. I asked did she miss her Nanny and Poppy and she said yes she did. And she said she missed me too. I asked her how that was possible as she spends her every waking hour with me. She said she missed me today while she was sitting in the shopping trolley and I had walked off to get things (she was with her Daddy). My heart just melted. There is a season for everything. We were not able to celebrate with my family my brother's 40th, but I have my little family here and this season of my life might just be my most contented. We won't always be here in Taiwan, that is for certain. And even though I miss my family and my home dearly, what I have here now - this season, is truly precious to me.

In Conversation.....

Tilly: OH! Mummy. Sorry for speak disrespectfull. Me: Why say that? You didn't say anything disrespectfully? Tilly: It was in my mouth. Me: It was in your mouth ready to come out? Tilly: Yes... :)

First signs......

....... of sisterly love: While entertaining friends yesterday (the three ladies, all sisters, who ran the school I used to work at). In Chinese "Can I take little sister home? I'll take her home with me ok?" Tilly in English (and in fear and trepidation): Mama I don't want Evie to go!! ....... of things one day getting easier: Tilly playing playdough this morning on the mat and Evie sitting in her rocker right beside her watching her and falling quietly off to sleep. ...... of not so sisterly love: (Tilly has a baby doll also called Evie) "My Evie is quiet Mama. (Pointing to the real Evie) - This Evie isn't quiet Mama. Just put this Evie in the bedroom okay Mama. Okay?" Pretty tame really because all in all Tilly is proving to be a lovely big sister.

Last few days...

Evie was due for a feed and latched on to the closest thing to her mouth she could find!

Celebrating my birthday, 32 years old ~ !!

Highly recommended

Nanny and Poppy brought this over in their suitcase. It was a big sister present from Tilly's cousins Naima and Ena, Uncle Josh and Auntie Leah. Nanny and Tilly listened to it everyday. The songs are beautifully written and Justine is a top performer. I've been trying to get video footage of Tilly singing along to the songs, she knows all the words, to all the songs. And that's no mean feat, the lyrics are stories, not kiddy stuff. But she acts up in front of the camera. I highly recommend this CD for any parent of young children. Really beautiful music and words.

Count your many blessings!

Sang this song recently. Must have been at BSF? Anyway, I consider myself a truly blessed girl. Mum and Dad have just recently arrived at the Taoyuan Airport and are now awaiting their flight back to Brisbane. How wonderful was this visit of theirs?? Everything was so beautifully planned and orchestrated. Evie's early arrival made the visit seem even longer as they got to see her from the first day they arrived, instead of sitting around waiting for me to give birth. They had such a great time with Tilly too. Their leaving didn't kick in until she went to go to bed this evening and Nanny wasn't there to hold her hand. She put her head down on the pillows on the floor and cried. Which set me off. But as soon as she saw me crying, she got up and was very brave and put her sweet little arms around me and patted my back and said, 'Don't cry Mama'. Oh, but now thanks to Nan, I had to sit with her before she would go to sleep!!! I discovered a lit candle got her in the mood. Five minutes and she was out, (like the candle after I left the room.) Evie was in bed early this evening, she's got a runny nose and is a bit off colour and is on medication. So now it's just us on our own. But I'm so grateful for a wonderful visit from my lovely parents. It's been such a great time together.

Saturday drive, heading east

Jing Tong Station, popular little train stop along the north coast of Taiwan. English train timetable, of which bar the English title, there was not a drop of English....

Trip to I-Lan and new haircut