The 'stop sucking my thumb' campaign seems to be going rather well. We have had a few nights of 'it's taking a long time to get to sleep' and 'the night is too long', but generally it seems to have happened rather quickly. Might have something to do with the thumb-sucker thinking that he's going to get rabbit teeth if he ever sucks his thumb again - and going into a mild panic whenever he puts his thumb anywhere near his mouth - its amazing how literally children take things!

Had a fab experience on Saturday evening (23rd). Putting my 'nearly' 2 year old to bed, I said 'I love you' as usual and he replied 'lub oo'. Amazing. I can still remember the first time my eldest son said the same thing. We were sitting on my bed in our house in Manchester and he just suddenly said it, plain as day, with absolutely no prompting from me. It was clearer as he was speaking earlier, but the message and feelings it evokes are the same.

This week is a strange one. My eldest has finished at nursery as he starts 'big school' next Thursday. He is going into reception and is really looking forward to it.

The children seem to have an amazing bond between them. I am up at least once every night and usually around 6 every morning - and rarely with both of them. Last night it was the youngest - up at 4am because he had lost his 'cysgu' (comforter) and then up for the day at 5.45. I can deal with it until the two of them get together and then the fireworks start - between all 3 of us. This morning, the eldest got up at 7.00 to find the youngest playing (in his own way) with the Wii. There was immediately a fight and a tantrum because he wanted a go, which resulted in him sitting on the naughty step within 3 minutes of getting out of bed...and so the day goes on...