21/52

Ellery: the boy and the sea

Aubrey: small boy, big sky

So much to say about life right now.

It will have to wait. 

Because life speaks for itself. Loudly, relentlessly. 

20/52

Ellery: moody

Aubrey: walking

So much growing around these parts.

Ellery, you are more self aware, more independent. You're doing so much testing. And screaming, hitting, rejecting. Exhibit one: 'You're not my mother!'. Exhibit two: 'I want to buy a new Daddy!'.

Aubrey, you are walking! And becoming more audacious in your climbing.

19/52

Ellery: he has wings to fly

Aubrey: seedpod finding

Ellery, we're keeping tantrums in check with more stimulation ... new audio books ... your appetite for them is insatiable ... you disappear for a very long time into their magical lands. As a consequence, you've been confronting me with requests like this: "Let's pretend I'm a statue made of cheese!"

Aubrey, you've learnt to say no with a shake of your head, and it's your answer to everything, even when the answer is yes! You're on the cusp of walking, it's becoming very fluid for you. You're a snuggly one, volunteering lots of kisses and back patting. Super divine. May it never change.

18/52

Ellery: asking me to tell him jokes

Aubrey: sandpit is a splashpool

A week of big, big rain.

And illness - this time the littlest feller. 

Still much three-and-a-half year old behaviour ... and then quite suddenly, a couple of golden days. Bliss.

17/52

Ellery: riding the Daddy horse

Aubrey: walking! with concentration tongue!

Horsing around on the beach, with a ponytail (!), pre-throat infection.

And walking (!) on the beach, onset throat infection.

The here come the winter lurgies edition...