How to help your toddler love reading!

How do you get a toddler to love books? Or enjoy looking at them? How do you introduce toddlers to books? Or sit still for longer than 3 seconds? Let's share some easy ways to help your toddler fall in love with reading.

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It's no secret that I am a bookworm. Before having Jensen, I'd read over 100 books each and every year without fail (let's not talk about how many i've had time to read post-Jensen) and it seems that perhaps that bookworm trait is genetic because I know have a little bookworm of my own. 

However, every time I post a photo or video of Jensen reading books on Instagram, I get a bunch of messages from other toddler Mums asking how I've gotten him to read/like/be interested in books.... and to be honest, it hasn't ever really been a conscious thing I've taught him, but there are quite a few things we do that have helped that.

So let's chat all things toddlers and books >> 

Our (smallest) BIGGEST News Yet!

We've been keeping a secret! 

Whilst our kitchen renovations have stopped me from creating recipes for the last few months, there's been something else stopping me from cooking...

A sweet baby boy!

We'll be adding a new little guy to the Southern In Law fam in early December and cannot wait.

If you've been following me for a while, you'd know I don't like surprises... so naturally we had to find out if we were expecting a little girl or boy ASAP so we could start planning the nursery!

My head is now a flurry of woodland creatures and mood boards and I can't wait to get started.

Our kitchen may be almost complete, but we have a whole new set of renovations to plan now... and a whole lot of baking to do so I can share some new posts with you!

Don't worry, a kitchen reveal will be coming soon too!

IMPORTANT NOTE! 

Friends who are struggling to fall pregnant, have lost a baby or don't have the chance to become pregnant please know I have been in your shoes. If this news hurts you, please don't hesitate to unfollow me, hide my posts or ignore them. Your mental and emotional health is more important than blog views or Instagram comments. 

   

   

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Happy 18th Birthday, Katrina!

Today my not so baby sister turns 18 and it is totally weird for Jesse and I to have her reach this milestone. Despite often bickering and fighting, we are sisters who are incredibly close - and we've always been that way. We have a close family who does everything together, so naturally we spend a lot of time together.

Apparently I was a really cool nineties
 kid with my post bath hair style

Once we got home from Bali Katrina even said how odd it was to not have me around and maybe she's changed her mind about wanting me out of the house ASAP as she missed having me around. I'm the one she comes to talk to about everything (even if I'm working and mmm... yuh... uh-huh-ing and not really listening - sorry!) and someone who has always been there. 

Katrina was born when I was 3 years old - so naturally, having a real baby doll in my life, I wanted to be Mummy's little helper. Even though I had to give up PlayDoh (I was only allowed to colour or play with playdoh in my room as Katrina would eat everything) and didn't get quite so much attention, I loved her and as I got older, I got more and more protective of her. 

Us with our dog Gizmo in a hammock at home (that's little Kristy on the right)

I've watched her changed from a little baby into now a young woman - though I'm still not accepting that yet (that makes me too old :P) and I've seen her conquer challenges that none of us should have to face. 

One and four - the winners of a baby photo competition

Sure a lot of the time her attitude drives me nuts, but I love her more than anything - and I won't let anything hurt her. Sisters have a bond that no one without a sister can understand - you can think you hate each other's guts whilst still loving them more than anything in the world.

In the PhotoSocial Photobooth
at our wedding

She witnesses me at my weirdest - my doody dances (and that sounds awful, but "doody" is just a sound that you do whilst doing the doody dance - a happy dance on steroids), Jesse and my randomness, my made up songs, my hysteric laughing over nothing and my absolute inability to take a photo without pulling hideous faces... case in point, above.

And the best thing of all? I've been able to see my husband develop a relationship with my sister (as well as my entire family) and even though they sometimes bicker like a real brother and sister - they are really close and it makes my heart super happy.

We are a true family and I don't think there's much more you can ask than that. My parents have done an incredible job in ensuring we're all happy together as a family unit and I wouldn't change our family for the world.

So, my baby sister, on your eighteenth birthday I only have a few pieces of advice.... 

• Be careful with everything in your life - don't be overcautious but realise that every action has a reaction. The decisions you make in your life alter your future, so it's important that you're always thinking ahead, rather than looking behind. 
• Don't hold grudges this is one that will be the hardest for you, but the most important. People make mistakes - but people also change. The only thing holding a grudge does is make us bitter, so be a bigger person and forget about it. Only think about how you can better yourself. 
• Never say never you've watched me conquer so many things everyone said I could never do and I want you to be able to do the same. When someone says you can't, think about how you can - there are always going to be challenges in life, but there's nothing to say you can't overcome them. 
• Marry your best friend and don't settle for anything less. Your husband needs to be someone who makes you impossibly happy and who you're happy doing absolutely nothing with. Plus, your future husband needs to be lectured by your brother in law first - as he's told you a million times. 
• Don't be like me it's not that I've done anything wrong, it's that you're not me - and you need to remember that. There is no comparison between people who are totally different. What I achieve is different from what Jesse achieves - just as what you achieve is different too. Be your own person and achieve your own goals - that is what makes you happy. 

Do you have any advice for Katrina on her 18th birthday? 

What do you wish someone had told you?

Congratulations, Katrina!

Hi loves! I know things have been a little quiet here lately - but it's all for good reason! We're 21 days out from the wedding so things are hectic - but we're taking time to focus on family, because that's what's really important. 

Yesterday I took the day off work to head to Town Hall with my family to see my baby sister graduate. It was a three hour long ceremony but it was worth it to be there for her. 

Katrina graduated high school and also received a special award for coming first in her class in ceramics (my sister is crazy talented when it comes to all things arty). 

If you've followed the blog for a while, you'll know that this ceramics award is a huge deal as Katrina actually had her work stolen from her school and she had to start all over again with only a few weeks left before her deadlines. She managed to recreate her work even better than the original and in less than half the time - she didn't quit, she didn't give up, she kept on going and I am so incredibly proud of her for that.

Katrina, you have overcome so many challenges and I know you've struggled - but you've gotten through them all. I am so incredibly proud of you and I know that you will achieve so much throughout your life. Stay true to yourself because that's how you succeed in life. 

This weekend is very much a family weekend - today we're heading to a family reunion for my Mum's side of the family and tomorrow will be a day at home to finish off wedding projects and tidy up around home. Jesse finally got Grand Theft Auto 5 (and is as happy as a pig in mud) and instead of being cranky that he's playing games, I've had my own fun driving up mountains (Kristy is pretty pro behind the virtual wheel! ;P).

So this weekend, make sure you take some time out for your own family and your partner or maybe even your best friend. It's okay to take a day off - in fact, you totally need it. 

So tell me, how are you going to make time to spend time with your family this weekend? 

Happy Birthday Mum!

A quick post to wish a Happy Birthday to the greatest Mum there is - mine! 

An oldie, but a very silly goodie.

I'm lucky to have a Mum who is also my best friend. She is one of the best people to spend time with and I am ever so grateful to have her in my life. 

Not only does she read every single blog post I write. She is often my +1 for media events and anything blog-related and doesn't complain when I have to take a picture of something before it gets eaten. 

So, Mum - Happy Birthday! I love you very, very much! 

So tell me, dear reader - do you have a close relationship with your Mum/Dad?