Upon recommendation from the neighbourhood Mums, I have been reading this book to learn about the 5S's as I am pretty sure that if Dylan is anything like his sister, sleep will be a major issue. We didnt swaddle Sash (the first S) because she didnt take to it, although everyone I know seems to swear by it. I suppose we are trying to rectify every mistake we made with Sash, with our accidental parenting. We didnt need to have Sash in a routine, but this second one will have to take on some semblance of a routine to make all our lives easier. Well, mine especially. But as they say, one can only plan...

Someone who reads this blog asked if I felt I was spoiling Sasha with all the material things that seem to be lavished on her ie toys, ballerina dresses, etc. Honestly, I dont think so. I would much rather spend $50 dollars on a toy car that will entertain her and spur her imagination for 2 hours than on a couple of DVDs that she will watch like a zombie for days on end. She is of course allowed to watch TV, as it would be impossible for me to keep her entertained all day and she does need some down time. I think however that at this age it is extremely important that she be mentally stimulated whenever possible. Also, being a stay at home Mum, it is also important for me to be excited or at least interested in her activities so yes, I may spend a bit more on sparkles infused finger paint than the generic flat paint but that is more for my own benefit. And trust me, when I have to keep her away from the TV, which admittedly is THE easy way out, for most of the day, the price of a toy car or a plastic slide is a small small price to pay. And seriously, at this age, I dont think it is possible to spoil a kid with material things as she is as yet unable to comprehend the value of things. She may have loads of toys, but she is also being taught to share (OK, threatened), to say please and thank you. What more can you do with someone who, for at least this morning, thinks she is a ballerina frog and is hopping everywhere looking for her toy lipstick?