Siblings - May 2016

I haven't done a Siblings post since March - I forgot last month! - and I feel like C and E have grown so much in the space of just two months. E can speak much more now. She picks up every word she hears and sometimes I can't believe that she isn't even two yet. She seems a lot more grown because of C. She learns so much from him and he seems to enjoy teaching her. 

I always write about them bickering and this hasn't stopped but it has lessened. Tiredness plays a big factor in this and also when they both want to play with the same toy. Most of the time, you can find the two of them playing together nicely, doing something silly and in fits of giggles at each other. In the morning whoever wakes up first will wake the other. They don't usually come to wake us - their laughter does that! It is the sweetest way to wake up though.

I always said that I wanted a short age gap because the ten years between myself and my sister was too much and I definitely think I made the right decision. When E was really little and couldn't interact much with C, it was hard for him but now that she's more of a toddler and likes the same things as he does (she now loves Spider-Man, trains, cars and dinosaurs!), he loves spending time with her and even tells me that she is his best friend.

They make me so proud every day. C is the best big brother and really looks after his little sister. E has very firmly planted her bum in the centre of our family and rules the roost but I wouldn't have it any other way. 

 

Siblings: March 2016

For the past few months, I felt like I was kind of repeating myself when it came to these Siblings posts. I did write a lot about how C and E would bicker, fight, push each other over, pull hair and all the rest of it but this month has been an absolute dream. I think they've just discovered a new found love for each other.

E is becoming a bit more chatty and understanding of what others are saying which I think helps. They are always hugging and giving each other kisses. C can be pretty agressive by demanding, "Get me a hug!" which E is more than happy to oblige with most of the time. C loves to grab her hand and tell me that she wants to go for a walk with him, as if he can read her mind! But it's nice that he's so caring towards her. He knows that he's the big brother and she'll learn things from him.

One of my favourite things that I noticed this month is how they look out for each other. E can come to me and ask for juice so when I ask her to go get me her cup she always brings C's too. This goes for snacks and other items too. She always makes sure C has the same and he'll do the same. He watches to make sure E has some of what he has too.

They also just want to spend so much time together. They love cuddling up and watching movies and having little parties. They've been an absolute pleasure to watch and I feel like my heart could burst. I just hope it continues! 

 

Siblings: February 2016

This month has been a tough one with the kids. I don't know if it's a combination of E becoming increasingly independant and C being a total threenager but things are hard. I feel like all I ever do is break up fights or tell one of them off for doing something to the other.

C likes to belly flop or just plain push E onto to the floor when she's walking. Bear in mind that she's only newly walking so she's a bit unsteady on her feet. He'll also hit her over the head with his toy sword which can actually be quite sore - he's done it to me before! If I tell him off he laughs and either later that day or the following day, he'll be back to doing it. 

E isn't all innocent. She can hold her own and can retaliate. My dad has caught her hitting C (obviously she's picked that up from him) and she is beginning to snatch toys too. I do explain that she has to share but at 17 months, I'm not sure how much is going in. I have spoken to Chris about it and he thinks it's something that we just have to live with. Brothers and sister fight all the time. There is a ten year age gap between myself and my sister and I don't remember anything like this. Maybe it just happens with smaller age gaps?

 

I don't want to be a complete Debbie Downer. When they're good, they're really good. If C cries, E comforts her. If C hurts E and she cries, he'll immediately say sorry. They enjoy a cuddle together and C has recently started trying to lift E. It's really cute and he is strong enough to actually get her off the ground! E thinks it's great and laughs so much. When E wakes from her nap now, C will excitedly say, "Yay! The baby's awake! Wakey wakey!" He just loves having her around. We've had a few moments where they'll play nicely together but when they're quiet, they're usually up to mischief like drawing on the living room floor! They have both recently become massive fans of Frozen. C likes to sing Let It Go or Do You Wanna Build a Snowman? and E has started trying to join in. It's super cute hearing them sing their little duet together.

Siblings: January 2016

Yay, we're into another year of Siblings! I loved looking back at all the photos I took of C and E together throughout 2015 and it was so nice seeing them grow. I did miss December's post as the month was so hectic but no harm done, I'm back now so I have double the photos.

This month, the children have been so loving towards each other. C will always share food with E and when E has a toy that he wants to play with, he'll either bring her another to swap or play nicely alongside her - no snatching!

E thinks C is the best person ever. She looks at him with such love and now that she's getting older she is more affectionate. She is always pulling her brother in for a kiss or hug and C does the same back. My favourite thing has to be though, when C is crying, E goes to straight to him, tousles his hair and says "Aww!" to comfort him. It is adorable. He loves her too and always asks me to wake her up when I've put her down for her nap.

I won't lie, it's not all plain sailing. We do have times where C just cannot have E anywhere near him, especially when he's building towers with his blocks. E always has to knock it down and I swear C transforms into Anger from Inside Out and pushes her over. We're working on it!

Siblings: November 2015

Last month I wrote about C being a little selfish when it came to toys. E is much more mobile at 14 months and has just recently taken her first steps. As she is getting older, she much prefers C's "bigger" toys to her baby toys. He still has a hint of that selfishness but when we remind him that if he wants a toy that E has, he must ask her for it and bring her a replacement toy which seems to be working quite well. 

He's been a great little helper with her. If she cries when she's tired he'll always get her dummy and put it in her mouth which is really sweet. 

It's so hard to get photographs of the two of them together which is why most of this months pics are quick snapshots - C will not sit still for a minute!

E has always wanted to play with her big brother but C is a child who enjoys playing by himself. He has embraced his sister lately but he does like to play rough with her with things like wrestling and he doesn't quite understand that she can't do it because she's only little. I am loving that he is actually giving her playtime and hopefully he'll be a little less boisterous! 

Every night when C goes to bed he gives mummy or daddy a kiss (depending on who's taking him to bed) and he will never go upstairs without asking to give the baby a kiss and hug - it's so cute!

Siblings: October 2015

This month has been a bit of a weird month for C and E. E is very much a toddler and no longer a baby. This means that she wants to play more with toys that C would play with but he gets a little selfish and decides that he wants to play with whatever she has. I'm teaching him that he has to share but it's going in one ear and out the other!

They do play nicely together with the same toys which I love! Watching them be nice to each other warms my heart and C does have patience for his little sister - when he feels like it!

First thing in the morning or before bedtime the two of them are very snuggly and cuddly and love making each other laugh by doing silly things. I do get sad when they fight and bicker but seeing them be so sweet to one another really makes me think that we did the right thing by giving C a sibling. 

E is always looking up to C and she is always doing things that he does. She follows him around and she wants to be just like him. She loves him so much.

I've just realised that we have officially been joining in with the Siblings linky for a year! How things change...

Siblings: September 2015

This month has been testing with the siblings. E is becoming more and more active and C gets a little annoyed as he just wants his own space. I think it's just E's age though. When she's a little bigger and can talk to C, maybe it will be better. I do feel a bit sad as I thought having two children close together meant they'd be best friends. There's still time I guess! This is also why I haven't got many photos of the two of them together this month.

He does like to give her kisses and cuddles, especially at bedtime, but they always have to be on his terms. He does share his toys now and will give her her dummy when she cries. I've recently started bathing them together as E us getting bigger and watching the two of them splash and giggle together is the most beautiful thing to watch.

Giving his sister tickles

A little sneaky kiss (knocking her headband off in the process!)

Siblings: August 2015

This month, C has been very frustrated with E. She can crawl quickly and is now pulling herself up on things. When C is playing with toys, E is straight over trying to play too. Sometimes C just isn't in the mood so he'll ask me to feed the baby or put her to bed just because he doesn't want to play.

E is copying everything that C does. A few weeks ago, C thought it would be funny to slide his palms down the patio door at my parents house because it makes a squeaky noise. Two minutes later, E was over doing the exact same thing. 

They do love to have fun together. When E is crying, C lets me know and he always tries to do a funny dance to make her laugh. It works most times! He also loves trying to get her to chase him so he'll run to one side of the room, E will crawl after him then he'll run to the other side. This can go on for quite a while and they both laugh so much. 

C loves his baby sister so much. He always tells me that she's cute and very sweet. They love having cuddles in the morning. 

Siblings: July 2015

I actually forgot all about my Siblings post and I was so sure that I hadn't taken any photographs of C and E this month. After browsing, I realised that I did have a few but nowhere near as many as I normally do. I always like to have natural photos of the kids playing together. They make me feel so happy. 

This month they have been closer than ever. E is crawling very quickly and can pull herself up on anything she finds. This means that she's always over wanting to join in with whatever game her big brother is playing. He enjoys it most of the time but depending on what toys he has, he can get a little annoyed. On one occasion he pushed her the whole way to the other side of the room and whilst she was crawling, he picked up her two feet like she was a wheelbarrow and tried to drag her to her pram because she "had to go in it" as she was annoying him so much. She takes it in her stride, bless her, and just laughs as she thinks he's playing. Sometime C will even go play in another room just to get some peace but I suppose that's the joy of having a little sister. 

It's not all annoyance though. C is very interested now in the fact that she is becoming more mobile. He laughs when E is standing up and his favourite thing to do it hold her sides and try to wiggle her. It must be so strange for him to see her grow and not just be a tiny baby anymore. He loves his morning cuddles with her and still loves to give her tickles. He is learning to share his toys which is beautiful to watch. 

C trying to help his little sister learn to walk