Stella is two and a half

Well, she was two and half about a month ago, so it must be time for an update. Stella is a bundle of fun at the moment. She talks from the moment she wakes up to the moment she falls asleep. Whether anyone is listening to her or not! Her favourite words are "Why?" and "No!", and she gets one or other of these in just about every sentence she utters. It's amazing to me and Tim how fervent her negativity can be. Consequently we are becoming experts in reverse psychology. "No, don't eat those vegetables!", "No, don't put your coat on!", "No, don't go to bed!" Our success is mixed, and anyone listening in to our conversations might be bewildered, but at least it gives us a laugh or two!

Stella loves to play make believe. She spends hours with her little dolls talking to them, arguing with them, telling them off and generally having fun! She's still a big fan of books. In fact, she would sit all day listening to you read, if you gave her the chance. She also loves CBeebies, but fortunately they only exist at Grandma and Granddad's house at the moment so we don't have to decide just how much TV is healthy! She will happily sit for an hour in front of the computer watching DVDs like Charlie and Lola and Peppa Pig though, and now she's decided that she won't nap during the day this gives me at least a little rest.

Other favourite activities are painting, drawing and going to the park. She seems to love her nursery, Little Buds, where they do plenty of all the above. They tell me she's a bit nervous of outsiders coming into the nursery like Malcolm the dance teacher and George the music man, but she seems to be getting used to them and the other week she stood at the front of everyone when George came and did a dance.

Stella seems to be adapting well to being a big sister. She likes to hold Affy and talk to her and try and make her smile. Sometimes her affection is a bit too violent for the good of her eleven week old sister, but no animosity seems to be intended!