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Sunday May 5th

I started back at work this week. I work Wednesday, Thursday afternoon and Friday. It was very nerve-wracking leaving the house and heading off to work. What a myriad of emotions and I must say that by the end of the day I felt quite depressed but I knew it was to be expected and that it would get better. There has been so much anticipation that it is a natural letdown. It was hard to leave Kate and Aiden however what wonderfully, capable and loving hands they were in! Jackie was absolutely brilliant and Kate and Aiden barely batted an eyelid when I walked out the door. They are so used to Jackie that they played happily for most of the time.

Going back to school really hurt my brain and I almost felt a bit Agrophobic. I found it difficult to sit and talk to staff at Recess time as I was distracted and worried about Kate and Aiden. I decided to stay in my classroom for lunchtime on that first day because I couldn't spare the energy required to interact with staff. When I did venture out to the canteen I was called out to from everywhere in the yard, "Mrs Hendry! Mrs Hendry!" It was a bit like being pelted with rocks! After being at home for a year, with the majority of that being with not many people at all, it took some getting used to. By Friday everyone was used to me and those greetings dwindled to their usual friendly, manageable level. I enjoyed my day on Friday as I was much more relaxed and the stunning sunny weather helped too.

Kate and Aiden have some new swings on the back verandah. They have sooo much fun swinging together. Often they squeal with laughter and they love being so high up. Peekaboo is by far their favourite game and they love to play it with you in the swings. Kate has been so delightful this past week and when she is in the swing she just sparkles with happiness.

Kate has started calling me "Mumumumumum"....well she also uses it for Aaron, the wall, the door...but hey I'll take it!

Aiden has had some moments where he has been unsettled at the first nap time. On Saturday Kate and Aiden slept for 12 hours during the night and didn't get up until 7:30am. Aiden refused to have a morning nap so, after much thought I decided to set the alarm and get them up at 6:30am. They both had a solid morning nap so I think I will continue this as I have to get them up at this time when I work. 

Kate only nurses in the mornings still. Her nursing strike remains for the rest of the day. This is fine and she just loves that bottle. Last Sunday I became quite upset as Aiden seemed to be starting a nursing strike (it's a developmental thing). He also bit me (let's take a moment to reflect on the fact that he has top and bottom teeth). I was so upset to think that he would wean as I knew he wasn't ready. I psyched myself up to thinking and accepting that he would be put on the bottle as I couldn't tolerate being bitten. The next day my darling boy went back to nursing like a champ with no hint of biting. That was his token effort at a nursing strike, now that's out the way he says "bring it on", even crying if I try to take him off too early!

Kate and Aiden are slowing moving away from eating just baby food. This week they had spaghetti bolognaise chopped up into tiny pieces. They also had a creamy chicken pasta. They have learnt to chew a lot more although they often wait to see if it will dissolve first. 

The weather has been divine. Sunny cloudless skies! We have spent lots of time playing outside under the trees.

No crawling still...stay tuned.

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Saturday May 18th

10 months old

Not to be outdone, Miss Kate has decided she had better get her act together in the crawling race. Suddenly she is OK with being on her tummy and she will get herself into crawling position and rock. Aiden and Kate are so close to crawling it is agonising to watch! They will lift arms and then lift legs but never with any coordination. Often they slide backwards. Surely this next week will see them crawling.

Aiden's 7th tooth is almost through. Kate is thoroughly enjoying her 2, no sign of anymore.

We have also started finger food in a moderated form. Kate absolutely loves toast and being able to put things into her mouth. Aiden has no interest whatsoever in feeding himself. He will happily chew on toast if you put it in his mouth but he will not do it himself. He is like this with everything, never puts things into his mouth. You can see in the picture above, how he just sits with the toast sticking out of his mouth. Kate puts everything in her mouth. If she finds a crumb on the floor, in it goes.

Kate is in the middle of a demanding phase. She sits on the floor squealing and screeching with her hands lifted up, "For God's sake will someone pick me up!!" She hates to be left alone. Classic separation anxiety. Happy as anything when someone is paying her attention. She could charm the leg off a chair.

In Coles the other day I was shocked to see the label "Discontinued line" under the swimming nappies. Yeegads! Surely they are joking?? I know other babies can wear just normal bathers with no accidents but what about the Hendry twins? Our babies have at least one blowout in the pool each week. If we didn't have the swimming nappies we would be in trouble. In desperation I bought every last packet they had! Now we could take our whole parent group swimming for a year.

Speaking of our parent group, we are having a get together this public holiday Monday to celebrate a communal 1st Birthday. It is the first time we will be meeting partners and it will be in the country so quite a drive. Of course the weather has changed and suddenly winter has hit so I hope the host has a lot of room indoor.

We are undecided about what to do for Kate and Aiden's first birthday. We really should make the effort to do something.

Kate and Aiden have had a real growth spurt lengthwise. They have moved up a size in clothing. I stop every now and then and look at them in amazement.

My babies are growing up!

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Friday May 24th

10 months

SHE CRAWLS! 

True to form Kate set her mind to it and crawled yesterday. Quite amazing considering a week and a half ago she wouldn't even go on the floor. Today she is crawling with a lot more confidence.

Aiden is crawling on the spot or backwards, still can't go forwards! He's spent weeks on the floor but is in no hurry. Aiden is so happy and content, he loves to roll around. He is very strong on his knees and hopefully soon he will go forward, if only to get away from Kate who can now attack him at her leisure!

We joked that Kate would pip him at the post and she did!

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Monday May 27th

10 (and almost a half) months

HE CRAWLS!

Two days after Kate crawled Aiden took off....in the right direction finally! They are now thoroughly enjoying their new-found independence and our house looks like a toy shop. There are toys from one end of the place to another.

I love that they can move themselves around! They look absolutely adorable as they crawl. Itchy has a look of terror as he is chased around the lounge room...yeegads, not only do they take up all the attention but now they MOVE too. Snitzel took one look and jumped to the top of the couch.

Kate has 4 top teeth coming through THANK GOD because she has been rather feral and we were hoping there was an explanation. As soon as she is dosed up on pain relief she is our happy (albeit demanding) baby girl.

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KATE AND AIDEN ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE BIRTH OF THEIR FIRST COUSIN 

RYAN PATRICK MCCARTHY!

7lbs born at 1pm (Holy round-numbers Batman!) on his Grandpa's (Colin) birthday  - May 29th

Mother and baby doing very well. Annette had NO DRUGS! She ran out of time...what a champ. Kieran got to finish the delivery of Ryan and he cut the cord. Ryan is gorgeous!

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