
So it's been a while, but here is the latest update on the little lasses:
Evangeline and Mikayla are 22 months old this week. They talk a lot which is often pretty funny.
Mikayla calls herself 'Kippy' (originally named thus by Evangeline) and Evangeline is 'Ebie'. Sunglasses are known as 'coodoos' (cool dudes), the moon (which they are obsessed with, goodness knows why) is 'moo-ky' (moon sky) and their great-grandparents are big grandpa and big grandma (they came up with these explanations themselves. Granny and Grandpa are certainly not big in size, however!).
They like to have cuggles (cuddles) with each other, although these often end in fights if one child is not so keen on being cuggled at the time.Mikayla is very attached to her teddy and increasingly also to her blanket. Both must be present for sleep. Evangeline doesn't get as attached to cuddly toys, but has phases where certain books are toted around all day. At the moment, she likes a very small book with nursery rhymes. Both are very keen on anything when Elmo, Humpty or the moon, cousin Ella, friend Elliot (ET) or Grandparents are involved.
Discipline is challenging with both, (double tantrums are particularly difficult to soothe) but has its funny moments, like a few nights ago when we heard uncharacteristic silence at bedtime, then a giggle. Both were dancing around buck naked in their cot, and we had to leave the room several times for laughing.
Life continues to be a musical for poor John, as like their mother the girls understand that there is a song for any object, situation, time or person's name. Both show signs of creativity: Evangeline's sculpting imagination with playdough is unsurpassed, and Mikayla's colouring in is very creative, as well as showing her mother's somewhat artistic temperament when upset. They love running and moving and climbing and pretty much any sport, like their father. Hopefully this will last past adolescence.Both love to read the Bible and talk to God with us, and we pray that most of all it is this that lasts and develops into a love for Him.


Evie has a brief think before she decides she likes someone or something new. She tends to do physical things later than Mikayla, but does them perfectly the first time. Evie is a real nature girl. She adores all animals and the outdoors. She isn't fussed by getting muddy or crawling in long grass. One of her most favourite things is to cuddle Jack. She has re-nicknamed Jack (which she can say) 'De-de'. She loves being tickled and she dances to anything.
She loves people and has a smile for everyone. She has just started walking and loves to push herself along on her bike. Minky hates grass and anything scratchy or dirty underfoot. She loves to sing and will copy songs and actions we do or she sees on Playschool. She tries everything and practices new skills constantly, which often means she doesn't want to sleep when she's learning something new! Minky loves cuddles with Evie.
Both girls are off their medications! This has been a huge relief and babyhood has begun to resemble something more normal with both girls learning to sleep through the night much more often, and occasionally napping at the same time during the day now. Minky remains our better napper (has about 2 x 1 hour naps) but not such a consistent night sleeper, where Evie is a terrible cat-napper (can only sleep 30 mins before needing resettling) but generally sleeps well at night. They are both much much happier now that their reflux has gone and are putting on weight and growing in height really well.
