Stella at 3.5

It's been way too long between posts and I should really make a little record of how Stella is at this pinnacle of cuteness age, as we call it.

Much to Cal's annoyance we often compare the two kids, because it's endlessly fascinating how different and alike they are at moments. For instance both Stella and Cal are social, confident and happily chat to adults around them, which I really like. At 3.5 Stella's language and pronunciation of words isn't as developed as Cal's was, but she really is learning 2 languages simultaneously, whereas Cal stopped with Dutch when we moved to Oz when he was 3. 

But Stella, like Cal, is her own very unique person. She's a massive night owl, hates going to bed, hates getting up. She's a great eater and sleeper now (also like Cal, both kids stay happily in their beds all night and nobody wakes before 7.30 praise be). Her favourite toys are teddies and vehicles. She's big on adventure imagination games and Paw Patrol is everything at the moment. Along with glitter glue.

She's very opinionated, yet polite. For example if I tell her to come and get in the bath, she'll reply, "No thank you Mummy." A further request might get an index finger waggle, something she's picked up at Kindy.

She's on her last few months of daycare. In January, when school goes back she'll join Cal at school, which she's very excited about. And the month before that her and I will visit Singapore and Sydney to see Dad and Simon, and then Mum, Alex and the rest of family and friends she hasn't met before. By this time Cal had been to Oz 4 times! I wonder how she'll feel about it. Just Mum, a country full of English speakers, all the sunshine, all the new family. I can't wait to take her there.

Cal was altogether a more cuddly and affectionate toddler, Stella's kisses are harder won. She's like a cat, she cuddles for warmth. But sometimes she'll look at me and say the sweetest thing, "I know you're my friend Mummy." <Heart explodes>