Jayden has never been one for toys. Instead he goes for the weirdest objects. With the birth of Kathlene, we sometimes think he sees her as a huge toy. Just for him. His sister tries to tolerate him when he is in that ’state of mind(set)’ but when things get a little too much to bear, she lets out a bloodcurling yell indicating we better rescue her pronto, lest she throws a major fit.

This little one has her moods. When she is in a good mood, she joins me in the workroom as I craft new accessories. She sits in her baby rocker and coos away. Occasionally she demands a ‘rock’ and together, we’d pass the time quite pleasantly. She coos, I talk. A little tete-a-tete.

We spend mornings together. With grandma asleep and daddy out to work. She loves the interaction after her 6am *groan* feed. She typically gets all wide-eyed, eager to make the most of the day, oblivious to my eye-bags and incessant pleas for her to nap a bit more and spare this night owl. We spend the time lazing in bed, talking and smiling. Sometimes taking photos because she is all alert right now. And after everything’s done, some tummytime to exercise her muscles. By 11, she gets tired and then she nurses before a midday nap.

Which is just about time to go care for her older brother. No rest. Just a continuous stream of activities. Jayden eats quite ‘continuously’. He’s a snacker in my opinion. Not quite the sort who eats one full meal and lasts till the next, but the kind that nibbles endlessly such that it is a mindless blur of food. His day is peppered with random requests for food amidst his tricycle riding. Oh, he is getting quite the pro at navigating that tricycle. Even with the obstacle course we have in our crowded living room. Occasionally he gets to bring the tricycle down to the void deck to paddle away… and he spews out his commands to himself, “turn right!” “parking…” “go behind and pick up toys”. Amusing to some extent. Not when it occurs too frequently.

Both are growing in their own rights. And at their own pace. Kathlene is no longer the wee thing that popped out some 10 weeks ago. Jayden is turning into the pre-schooler that has left babyhood behind. Sometimes you think that time passes too fast. Amidst all the diaper changes, temper tantrums, disciplining, these two have found time to grow. However did they do that?