I've realised (doh!) I've spending way too much brain power on Big Brother and other trivia and have totally forgotten about my children... well, not really... but it's definitely time for another...


KIDDIES' KAPERS

WILL

Will has being going along his merry way the last two months. His 7th birthday party at the beginning of May was huge. I love a kid's birthday party and even though they are always a big logistical exercise I do try to go to some effort because they were such a memorable part of my own childhood and I want the same sorts of memories for my children. Anyway, Will's party was held at one of our local clubs (you know the sort which makes a huge profit enticing little old ladies to put their entire pensions through the pokie machines and then they blather on about how much good they do for the community by providing free meals for pensioners - yeah, well they can't afford to buy their own food 'cos it's all in your bleeding poker machines). This club has a great children's facility (get them in early) where they have birthday parties - first half frantic play in the play centre, then an hour or so in the disco (is there anything funnier than 5 - 8 year old kids gyrating around to that godawful crappola which passes for music these days?).

Apart from the party Will has been busy with school and being a really great big brother. On the whole his good big brother behaviour is on the increase and his bad big brother behaviour is on the decrease. He is really very gentle and loving with Marianna most of the time. He often tells us how much he loves her, which is so sweet.

Last week was a huge week for our little man. Thursday night he spoke to 550 stockbrokers at the annual Stockbrokers Foundation Dinner. The Stockbrokers Foundation have been long term financial supporters of the STaR Association (which did amazing work with Will when he was in day care). STaR was invited to speak at the dinner this year and my friend M (who is the president) asked if Will would go along and speak as a child who has been helped by the Association. She wrote Will a brief speech and he practised a few times. I was a nervous wreck all week wondering how he would go. I knew he would either be fine or he would go really shy and clam up. I needn't had worried. Will is a natural star and obviously destined for a career on the stage. He went up there without a single qualm, sat on his stool, read out his speech and hi-fived the cheering stockbrokers on his way back down. Not only was he a star but he helped raise around $50,000 from the assembled stockbrokers and was very happy to go home with a giant remote control car which was his present on the night.

To follow up from this huge night he then had the opportunity to play Auskick with his team (the Pennant Hills Demons) at Telstra Stadium at half time during the Sydney Swans vs Collingwood Pansies game. Again I worried about how he'd cope. After all, going out in front of 60,000 AFL supporters onto a giant field could be a little intimidating. Again my fears were groundless. He had a fantastic time. Ran out with his team, "played" a reasonable game of Auskick and then waved to the crowd and gave the Swans' players thumbs up on his way off the field. Apart from the "slight" negative of the Swans loosing it was a great night and I'm sure one which Will will always remember.

MARIANNA

Our little princess is growing up fast. Tomorrow she will be 13 months old. She is now walking with a tiny bit of confidence. She can do more than 10 steps and can change direction but she is still not completely balanced and is grappling with tricky areas like standing up from a sitting start and getting distracted by something fun half way through a stroll (resulting in an undignified drop).

She now has four teeth, two top, two bottom - exactly on schedule. I swear this child has been reading the baby development book. She is also a total eating machine. Nothing is safe from those four, sharp chompers. She is even attempting WHOLE apples. In fact baby food is now totally history and she will only eat pretty much what we're eating and preferrably in a form she can feed herself. Her spoon to mouth technique is a work in progress but any type of finger food is a hit. It's the fact that she will actually try and enjoy every type of food which we find so amazing and wonderful. J and I enjoy good food and have a "thing" about people who eat good food while feeding their children an endless diet of sausages and chicken nuggets. Therefore our children have always been encouraged everything we eat - sushi, all types of seafood, anything and everything interesting and delicious. So far Marianna is proving to be a real champ and we couldn't be more proud (she even likes to gnaw on a chicken or chop bone like her mother, aaahhhh!).

The talking tap is just about to be turned on. Just in the last few days she is confidentally yelling out for "daaaadddd" and "Wheeeeeellllll" [Will]. She has been saying "mum" for a little while now. She is also pointing at everything she wants - whether it's something to eat or something she wants to play with. That pointing finger is getting a real work out right now.

Her naming day/1st birthday part at the end of May was a huge event. I'm sure it was a fun day but quite honestly I barely left the kitchen all afternoon (and I'm ever thankful that our renovations included an open plan kitchen which at least left me able to chat with the passing guests as I slaved over a hot stove).

Well, now that the children's updates are complete... back to Big Brother.