One of the highlights of my day, if not my life, is listening to Tiny Two Legs laugh is head off. There is only one person who can make him laugh like that...his brother, Mister Two Legs. He does stuff that T.T.L thinks is just hilarious. I try to make him laugh too but don't get the same laughs. These two guys, if you can believe, sit together on the floor and play trains and Lego and laugh. Yesterday, I actually made myself a cup of tea and drank it while peaking around the corner and watching them play. I couldn't believe my eyes. I am so happy that I have them and that they have each other and I hope that their friendship grows. I guess they'll eventually fight and that's normal but right now, they get along famously and it is such a joy to watch them interact. It's hard to describe in words.

Tiny Two Legs really enjoyed French library yesterday and listened to the stories really well and tried to sing along with the songs. I wish we could go every week but it is only offered once a month still. We found another library that offers it so now we can go twice a month. The other libraries are too far. I guess one could go every week if one had a car. But anyway we'll find other activities for little ones. We do miss the Beaches though where everything was available within a twenty minute walk, especially we miss Movies4Mommies and coffee afterwards.

Tiny Two Legs, formerly known as Tiny Baby, can bend down, touch his toes and sit back up. I will include two pictures of this wonderful feat, pun intended!

Wait, I made an error. I also had two full days with those two boys way back when the Nonni were still in Italy and we had already come back. Those two days were so hard, I think I tried to forget about them. I would look at my watch and it was 9 am and then I'd look again and it'd be 9:20 am and I thought Daddy would never come home. Finally phoned him at 5 pm and he could figure out that he had to come home immediately! The following day was a bit better but not really. You know, if I could sleep more, all of this would be a piece of cake (yah, right!) Speaking of sleep...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

(to think I used to babysit three kids at age 13 and then other little ones all summer...but I didn't have to contend with sleep deprivation and hormonal swings! And when I admit how challenging it is to other moms around here, the more women seem to admit to me too how hard it is too. So liberating!)

I haven't written for at least three weeks. I really have to get caught up but until I can, I would like to write about Tiny Two Legs! At 5 months old, as of last Friday, he is even more of a sweetie because he reaches out to us literally and figuratively in many ways. Tries to kiss my cheek (just smooshes his wet, super soft lips against my cheek and doesn't move), grabs my nose, touches my face and is now sitting up quite well. Just bought a hire chair for him today so that he can sit with us at the table and so I can eat with two hands!!! What a milestone. T.T.L is really adored still by his brother and tries to play lego with him (mostly chewing on it, of course!) We went to the doctor yesterday for his second vaccination. Doing just great! Getting too big (7 kg approx.) for the snuggly with the snowsuit on so am breaking him gently into the stroller. So far, cannot stand it. Screamed yesterday, had to put him into snuggly on walk. Cried today, second attempt. I will not let him cry for more than 5 minutes. Little by little, Tiny Baby will get used to the stroller, has to, otherwise my shoulders are going to break!

I gotta go but I can tell you all this, I have only had two half days on my own with both boys in this entire 5 month period. Because of all the family help and now with Daddy mostly working from home and Frunty going to school in the mornings (giving me a little quiet time with Tiny Two Legs), I have been able to enjoy this time in my life very much. Yes, it is challenging to say the least. I am just so grateful that I have this support. Otherwise, yes I would survive but I would not be as happy as I am right now...I know this for sure.

Yesterday J came over to help me prepare for Frunty's third birthday party, part one. It was really fun icing the cupcakes which Frunty helped with...well, maybe he just helped with putting the candies on and making a couple disappear! We invited our Asian friends and it was great to catch up with them and to see how all the kids have grown. And they met Tiny Two Legs for the first time too and gave a beautiful, Fisher Price Zonic Boom toy to him. We played two games, hot potato and pin the tail on the donkey, I read a story about Halloween and Daddy helped me read a story by Eric Carle about a spider. I made a spider cake but forgot to tell Daddy that there were coins hidden inside so most of the coins got sliced in two. Oh well! It was funny! Soon it is Halloween and both boys will be pumpkins!

Survived first day as mother of two unaided, sort of. Frunty went to pre-school in morning and said, voluntarily, that it was really fun despite being chased by some bully and falling down and crying. Will see to that tomorrow. I managed to eat lunch and even have a cup of tea while Frunty played with Tiny Two Legs on the floor. Frunty ate too, his usual "sandwich" with butter (Benecol) and fish eggs. Later two bigs bananas after our reading session in bed. (With cleaning lady here we have to stay out of her way so what better place to read then in bed) Went to nearby school, Paradis des Enfants, to feed fish (got in trouble) and goats (permitted). All in all, not a bad day mainly thanks to Daddy getting home at 5 pm (thank goodness) and Nonna having made us meals to last the whole week (thank goodness again!) Gotta get back to making fudgey spiders!