Its been a funny week this week, lots of tears from all of us for lots of different reasons. Trinity has a good pair of lungs on her, she is louder than either Brooke or Cameron were as babies. Thats not to say that she cries all the time, only that when she does the whole house knows about it! I think it could be third child syndrome, she knows that in order to be heard over the cacophony* in the house she is going to have to shout, so shout is what she does. Love her.

Cameron has had a week of two year old toddler temper tantrums that frequently end with both him and me in tears. Nothing unusual for a 2 year old boy with a brand new baby sister but still trying when patience is wearing thin for other reasons.

Me? I seem to have cried a fair bit, for both good and reasons. As well as the normal overwhelming baby hormones and settling into being a family of 5 there are moments when I just look at the children and feel like I am going to explode with love for them, tears are quick to come when I see how precious they are and realise just how lucky Wayne and I are to have them. Just to realise how tiny they actually are and how much they rely on us 100% to look after them and show them the right way. Its an overwhelming responsibility, dont you think?

Also this week, Brooke and I have spent a fair bit of time hugging and sharing tears of grief for my grandma who died on Monday, which was the day before we had planned to take her newest great grand-daughter to visit her. This is the first time that Brooke has come into contact with someone she knows dying and I think she is getting through it really well. We have had lots of open conversations about what happens when you die and Wayne and I have let her ask questions, talk about it or just feel sad when she wants to. She doesnt mention it for a couple of days and then I will find a little picture or note written to her great grandma or she will suddenly bring it up over dinner or ask more questions. I hadnt realised the difference between knowledge and understanding before now. Brooke knew what it meant to die but she didnt really understand, and Im not sure that she does now. Really, do any of us? We are all doing OK though, I think.

Totally unconnected with tears, the new banner - did you notice? I decided that I didnt want to look at a picture of the old family of four up there any more and I discovered the fun of Photoshop Brush Tools through a link from somewhere so had a little play and came up with this.

* I learned that word from Emma. Love it!