Sisters in April: Independence, sunshine and big sisterhood...

April: a month that has been marked by a turn in the weather. And a slight turn in these two little ladies too. Month by month I am noticing a steady increase in their independence; in their contentedness to run off out into the garden and spend hours playing together, just the two of them. Heidi is now old enough to join in Ava's imaginative games, and while Ava still calls the shots, Heidi is increasingly spouting her own opinions on how the games will go.

They are little explorers. Opportunities to be out and about more means we have spent many happy hours in the sunshine these past couple of weeks, making the most of our National Trust Membership, and making happy adventures in the little villages that surround our little corner of London. Spring is a stunning time of year, and these two little girls are savouring it all up, examining all that nature has to offer.

Of course, it is not all sunshine and roses. Each of them increasingly have their own opinions about things, and while for the most part they play beautifully together, they do have sibling spats. Heidi is very much the younger sibling, and I've worked hard with Ava to be kind and share well, and I realise now I'm needing to work on developing those traits a bit more in Heidi too. She is gearing up to be a big sister, and needs to be ready for all the changes that will mean for her.

I don't know what the dynamic of three will do to this happy little duo... but I love watching their relationship grow and develop so much, I only hope number three will fit perfectly in with their little friendship. Wishful thinking perhaps? I don't know... we'll see...

But for now, these are my little siblings in April...