Art and Craft

Yes, been braving art and craft INDOORS with S&J lately. Made our own playdoh, nice bright green. Any bits that were dropped on the floor had to be picked up quickly so cheeky chops Alex didn't get it. S&J both adore painting and we've used various objects to paint with other than hands and paint brushes...vegetables feature regularly and painting on bubble-wrap is fun for them too.

Can't wait for the warmer months when we can really get messy and be outdoors so there is much less clearing up to do!

And just HOW alike are they?!

OK, so I'm talking about the first photo! Bren and I both got a shock at just how alike S&J when we saw this photo we took of them the other night after bath and hair-wash. To us, they don't like that identical but I know my folks often tell me how alike they think the boys are when I email them photos. They must study them in great detail cos they've said even their ear-lobes look the same! I just think this photo of them is beautiful, particularly with Jacob's arms round Samuel. I tell you, it's not often we get them both to stay still long enough to get a photo...and of them both together.

and of course I couldn't not put one on of this cheeky monkey! He really does make me laugh and I'm sure you can see why. Oh and that's J on the potty in the background...

I feel like I've been in hibernation over the last 6-8 weeks. Here is a very quick update on the boys...
We keep asking ourselves where our little baby has gone as Alex is so grown up now. He's starting to walk and is managing to take 4 or 5steps on his own. He's been crawling for months, which is very different from Samuel who didn't start moving until he was about 14months. Alex is very adventurous and is into everything! He seems to have no fear and has a go at trying to do everything Samuel is. We had them at the local park the other day and he very much enjoyed going down the slide with me sitting him at the top of it and letting him do the sliding and then catching him at the bottom. All the boys are very affectionate and Alex certainly likes his cuddles. He also loves being chased, particularly when I'm in the middle of changing his nappy and he manages to escape!! He loves his food, isn't a fussy eater at all which you can probably see for yourselves. He's a little chubba but I know the weight will drop off him once he's running round and chasing his brothers.
Jacob never ceases to amaze us; he is doing incredible things. He's independently mobile these days as he gets around by shuffling on his bottom. He is trying to find a way of getting up and down one or two steps on his own and his balance is getting so good that he can now sit unaided on a little chair all on his own. He has recently been fitted with ankle-foot orthotics which hold his ankles and feet in a position allowing him to bear weight properly when sitting and standing. The difference these have made is unbelievable and Jacob is now wanting walk and is showing us he certainly has the potential to do so but it will take time. He already has a standing frame which we put him in a couple of times daily (to help him strengthen his whole body muscles) and his physio is now looking at helping us choose a walking frame for him so he can begin practising his walking. I know he will be very happy when he gets one as it will help him more and more to interact with his brothers and friends. We know and see that Jacob is totally unaffected mentally with the cerebral palsy and he is a very clever little boy. He loves reading, doing puzzles and is now beginning to talk as his hearing is so good these days. All in all, we're very excited about how Jacob is doing and love seeing him so happy.
I just can't seem to keep up with Samuel these days! He is incredibly intelligent, a very fast learner and such a mischief maker. He too is very affectionate and is always asking for a cuddle from his mummy – or course I'm making the most of this as I know in a few years time he won't be wanting cuddles! His talking and vocabulary is exceptional and people are always commenting what a good speaker he is. He adores reading books and now likes to read stories to himself. We always make sure the boys have stories read to them before they go to bed though. Samuel is not as much of an adventurer as Alex but certainly likes trying things out and loves going to the park and playing on all the equipment there. He's becoming more independent and leaving my side more often which is great to see as he was quite clingy for a while. He loves his brother Jacob and most of the time looks out for him. He's not as keen on Alex(!) but they do have some beautiful sharing, interactive moments these days.
I am getting glimpses of what it's going to be like as the boys grow older as the three of them love a good wrestle!! These days I always seem to be pulling one off the other so it's never a dull moment in the Carroll household.
Oh, and Brendan and I...well, we're just fine and dandy!!

Happy Birthday Alex

Yes, our youngest turned one today!!

I was going to say, 'our little man' but there's no way Alexander is little. He's a gorgeous chubby, cuddly boy who we reckon is going to be very tall cos he has absolutely massive feet!!!!!

Anyway, we have had a great day today and his brothers loved playing with all his birthday presents...luckily Alex liked the boxes they came in.