Anna NO!

Without a doubt the most used phrase in our house is 'Anna NO!' She is always up to something she shouldn't be. Sometimes these words can be heard several times a minute as Anna moves on from one thing she shouldn't do to the next. Despite this you can't help but love her - she has a mischievous scamp kind of thing going on. She is quite simply a lovable rogue. Today our lovable rogue has been indulging in things involving mud, jam sandwiches, lots of water, splashing, sticky hands, running around naked, sun cream, ice lollies and plenty of kisses and cuddles. We have had many tumbles, a near miss off a slide, yesterday she fell a couple of feet of a log and bounced and helping (or hindering) her daddy with the gardening..

The reader and the artist are blooming....

Lucy and Anna definitely have differing talents and interests. Anna's main talent is causing havoc and getting up to things that she should not, however she has recently acquired a joy of books and she is putting together an enjoyment of such classic greats as 'Miffy goes to school', 'Miffy goes to the seaside', 'Room on a broom' and 'The smartest giant in town'. Every time you read her a book, her excitement levels rise and she loves to point out her favourite bits like when the giant's trousers fall down or Miffy splashes her daddy. Lucy on the other hand although dabbles with books, her first love is drawing. Please see her latest creation attached. She simply called it the toy shop. I know I am her dad, but I think it is fantastic. When she draws she is a joy to watch, her concentration is completed by sticking out her tongue and she gets really low to the paper and chortles away to herself while she draws. They do however share a talent at the moment, not doing what their parents ask them to do and they are very skilled, very skilled indeed. This evening for instance: to say I was in control at bath time would be fallacy, no doubt my girls were in control and I struggled. Amy, please don't go to the gym ever again and leave me alone with the terrible two, they have the measure of me that's for sure....

Kids say the funniest things...

It's half term, the weather is miserable, the girls are tired and foul, however there is one saving grace. The comments that Lucy has coming up with in the last few days are fantastic.

Comment one: contents of Jam sandwich on carpet and couch found by daddy. When asked how that got there Lucy replied. 'It was the Jam sandwich, I told it to be tidy and really talked to it and told it off!'

Comment two: as Lucy and I walked through the grave yard yesterday as a short cut home. Lucy stopped, looked upwards, sniffed the air and said ' I can smell baby Jesus and Mary!'

Comment three: 'I am cold but I can't get under the blanket. My babies must go under the blanket. I must be a brave mummy..'

Lucy has discovered her wit, Anna has discovered how to hit. She will not stop belting people this week. Sometimes she hits you as she is singing 'Twinkle, twinkle little star', quite a novel experience I can tell you! I would expect that kind of behaviour from a Quentin Tarantino hit man in one of his films, not a one year old. I remember Lucy going through a toddler hitting phase and it did pass (fingers crossed). So as a consequence Anna is making many visits to the naughty step and not doing much else at the moment. Oh no, apologies she is constantly whinging too!

They don't normally look this clean!

Amy and I go to great lengths to make sure that Lucy and Anna are dressed well and have lovely clothes and have a lovely house to live in. I have only one thing to say - why do we bother! They are both the messiest pups I have ever come across. I spend the whole day running after them as they spill food on the carpets, the couch and their clothes. Anna's activities this week have developed into the 'messier the better' category of enjoyment involving mud, crayons, edible mess, toothpaste and her favourite dipping a cloth in a cup of tea or milk for example in order to wet it, then wiping the table! I am however impressed with her potty progress - this girl is going some! Anyway girls, listen to your neurotically clean daddy and give him a break - keep clean and keep the house clean. Please.

All gone mad in my house...

I don't know what the cause is but the Hammond children have definitely gone a little barmy today! It could be e-numbers, the sudden appearance of the sunshine, associated dehydration, too many bananas, too many toddler parties over the last ten days, television induced psychosis or cottage pie laced with funny juice. All I know is they are simply not right, not right at all. I think the pictures attached say it all. It has been a lovely weekend in the sunshine. Yesterday we spent the day on the beach with our extended family for Matilda's birthday - paddling, sandcastles, cake, ice cream and good company. A fine way to spend the day. Today Anna has turned into a lean, mean, urinating machine. I am amazed as she is not even two and she is really on a role with using the potty. Keep going my girl and soon you will rule the world. Lucy, (pictured once again with Oddball) has fluctuated from mad to grumpy to having a great time all rolled into one wholesome weekend package. P.S thank you for the help in the garden today girls..

There are times when I wonder whether I had anything to do with them genetically...

There are times when I do wonder whether I was part of making my two beautiful girls - they have both inherited their mother's photogenic talents and take beautiful pictures. The picture attached is one of my all time favourites of Lucy at the 'bollywood' birthday party last weekend of her friend Emma. I don't know why by I felt that this picture just captured the beauty that I see in Lucy, her personality and the wonderful girl I feel she is becoming. She is generous in nature, a fabulous big sister and full of life and discovery. I know I am her dad, but I do find her amazing. For example her memory is out of this world. If you say it to Lucy, be very aware, she will quote you about four months later and that promise will come back to bite you! Fob her off at your peril! Anyway that is a distraction from what I was talking about, every time somebody snaps a picture of one of my girls, I am like an excited child in a sweet shop and I can't wait to see the photos...

Rediscovered mojo part 2!

Anna, having rediscovered her mojo last week is now developing some strange, strange habits as indicated by the pictures. As Lucy would say - this girl likes going 'rudey nudey!' She is doing brilliantly as she is learning how to use the potty (five wee wees now accomplished!), the only problem is she is reluctant to put her nappy back on and loves a good naked run around. She escaped the other day into the yard virtually naked in the freezing cold and pouring rain, running around with bottom wobbling having a wail of a time. She is one hardy puppy! She has real mischief about her. If it's messy she wants to get involved. If she is told not to do it she wants to get involved and if it involves a good giggle she wants to be part of it at the moment. Her speech is developing so fast and it is no word of a lie that she can now sing all the 'abcdefg' song and articulate large parts of it. I am finding it so hard to keep up with her; I tell you what though it's great fun to watch her grow and her personality really shine through. You are indeed a mischievous 'wiggle' young lady. Please keep giving us so much to enjoy...