Experimentation

T and I have been doing some experimentation on the munchkin. Nothing sinister. Just giving him different things to play with and getting him to nap in various rooms in the house. Munchkin has adapted admirably. He can sleep almost anywhere. The whimpering and pretend crying and coughing doesn't last for very long as he knows full well that we sort of have him sussed and won't come unless he really needs us. This of course only works if we can't see him as one assault using his little pouty bottom lip and pleading big, brown eyes and we are reduced to mush and need to be mopped up off the floor.

Yesterday I was eating a banana. Munchkin seemed interested so I (irresponsibly) gave him the teeniest tiniest bit. He woofed it and opened his mouth for more. I resisted. Today, I made myself a cup of fennel tea. Vile stuff but apparently helps prevent colic in munchkin. He seemed interested again. So, I gave him some.....it dissapeared. 3 teaspoonfuls later he was happily gurgling and smiling away, following me and my cup round the room. At post natal group this week, we discussed weaning. We were shown different types of first foods and asked to taste some to get a feel for what babies like. Munchkin sat quietly on my lap until he saw the food. He then proceeded to drool and follow Roz, the health visitor round the room with his eyes. She was holding lots of different types of food. When she came up to me to offer some apple for tasting, Munchkin gave her the biggest smile and lurched towards the apple puree.

We were told to start munchkin on solids at 17 weeks....I don't know if munchkin will be able to hold out till then. I have left him to ponder this on his playmat and have just gone to check on him as it is quiet down there. He has fallen asleep....with his toys on his chest and his hand clenching a rattle. Bless...I would get a picture but I know better than to wake a sleeping baby!

A dozen weeks and 2 days ago..

We were blessed with the munchkin. Here he is at 12 weeks, all dressed up and ready to go to the Nailsworth Farmer's Market to stock up on sausages (we really know how to show the lad a good time!)

His achievements to date include: laughing to the words naked, feet and poo, discovering he has hands and feet, managing to put his whole fist in his mouth, 4 projectile vomits, 1 monster mustard mess, countless parpppps, multiple fountains and best of all, the gift of settling himself to sleep. He likes tickles, peek-a-boo, baths, being naked (!!), gasseous emmissions and silly faces. He has been an angel, a slug (which leaves snot trails), a grumpy little man and so much more.

We still have moments when we stand back, stare at him and wonder how two very ordinary people could produce such a fine little munchkin (ok he has freaky toes and he is stinky but we love him all the same). Our blessings have been countless and they keep coming and for this, we thank God every second of every minute of every day!

Isn't it romantic?

Munchkin went to sleep on cue on Saturday night and T and I had a candlelit dinner complete with alcoholic beverages to set the scene. What I haven't told you is that true to life in this part of the country, we were experiencing a power cut. This threw me somewhat as I had been very organised that day. All the preparations for dinner had been made in the early evening (witnessed by munchkin in his chair) and all we needed to do was to switch the oven on when Munchkin started feeding and dinner would be ready when munchkin drifted into the land of nod for the evening.

But DISASTER. While munchkin was having a bath (or a good drink of the bath water more like) the power went off. Munchkin had a bath by candle light. I did make sure that he was made aware that posh spas charge good money for a foreign birds to bathe you by candle light. I also made him aware that the nappy change would be extra...loads extra! Anyway, his night time ritual went on without a hitch and I descended the stairs to find T cooking dinner on the hob (as we have an electric oven so all grand plans voided!)

Dinner was served by candle light at the dining table (which we should eat at more often) Midway through the meal I asked if streetlights went off in power cuts as well. I was told they did...so I convinced myself that the light I was seeing outside must be moonlight...ahh..how romantic. Dinner for two by the light of the moon, stars shining down, candles for ambience and the music of the night to serenade us.

We had a really nice time, great conversation and no TV (to distract people that can't multitask). When we stopped conversing to clear away the plates, we both noticed a quiet whirring of what sounded like a pump (this had been going on for a while providing back ground noise - or music of the night). We realised that we had been eating in the dark (well, almost) while the rest of Nailsworth had been with electricity for the past half hour! How time flies when you are having fun!

Bugs and Lergies

For the past few days, Munchkin and I have been ill. I started off coughing and spluttering at the weekend and Munchkin was stricken on Monday.

I must say I am very proud. Despite the fact that he is feeling a little under the weather, can't blow his nose and therefore is a walking snot factory, Munchkin shows no signs of manifesting "man cold" traits. A man cold for those of you who haven't come across it before is, the baddest, worstest cold in the world EVER. It bears pains greater than childbirth. The sufferer is usually weak and very miserable for DAYS on end and usually is very, very grumpy most of the time.

Munchkin is obviously too young to manifest these symptoms. Typically, the above is how we get greeted in the morning. However, he doesn't stay that clean for long. The slug trails soon appear and sometimes we get a bubble or two from the nostrils....charming child...He thinks it is really funny and goes cross eyed trying to focus on said snot bubble. Hmm..the simple things in life!

Angels

Some recent events have made me think very hard about what I hold most dear in life. One such event was the birth of the munchkin. The other is the prospect of being parted from one of my closest and dearest friends.

You see, I believe that sometimes we pick our friends and other times we get picked as friends. Very rarely these events take place simultaneously and the results are very special. I have had a handful of such encounters and consider myself very lucky to have these angels with me through thick and thin. Hence my sadness as one of these angels is soon to depart to pastures anew over the pond.

This special lady and her beautiful family have supported me through trying times over the past 10 years. Not everyone would drive a 70 mile round trip just to help a friend worm her newly acquired cat. I also recall a time when I was stuck in a hotel in Kent feeling lonely and miserable only for this angel to appear for the sole purpose of whisking me off to her favourite Chinese restaurant in Sevenoaks for a meal...what I haven't mentioned is that she was working in Suffolk at the time and drove back the same night! The same angel bought me a Christmas Teddy (called Tennyson) so I wouldn't have to spend Chirstmas on my own following the end of a long term relationship.

Since Munchkin has been born, we have been spending Fridays together as "ladies that lunch". She has been everything from my strength (when I was alone at home with munchkin and he was ill and in tears), to my sanity (I can always count on her to tell me that everything will be fine....eventually!). She is also my source of confidence that we are giving munchkin a good start in life...letting him cry isn't going to cost us lots of dosh in therapists bills and it will all pay off. She tells me "well done!" when I need to hear it and gives me a hug when it is just what I need...even if I don't know it yet. She is the closest thing I have to family in this country, an aunty for Munchkin and sister for me. Her girls, I love as my own.

For this my dearest friend, I thank you. You have and always will be an inspiration. I will miss you dearly and am already planning an expedition to Houston...so watch out...you can run but you can't hide!!!

The eagle, his wife, children etc

You know that eagle that landed on Saturday? Well, he forgot to mention that his wife, his multiple children, their spouses, his grandchildred and some neighbours were arriving on Sunday....all at the same time.

We have been planning a surprise for some dear friends for ages. The surprise was to take place at approximately 1230. At 1130, I thought it would be a good idea to try and put munchkin down for a nap. So, up the wooden steps we went with the hope the Bedfordshire would be nigh. Munchkin played in his cot for a bit cooing and gurgling, then he yawned...yes! The train was approaching Bedfordshire. T had nipped out to get some paper plates and extra charcoal (he likes playing with fire!).

Suddenly, Munchkin SCREAMED! He was inconsolable. I picked him up and noticed a familiar yeasty smell permeating from his person. So, like any responsible parents about to receive company, I decided to change him. EEK! As a removed Munchkin's clothing I noticed mustard all the way up his back and in his hair.....what was I to do? This hadn't happened before. I set to work, trying to get his clothes off. This didn't work as clothes were affixed to his person by said mustard. I decided we would continue to mission in the bathroom....

I picked Munchkin up but the mustardy slick resulted in an eel like munchkin. He slid out of my arms and onto the floor with a little thump. I managed to get him into the bath and decided that he needed to be hosed off. I proceeded to do this only to have our wretched high water pressure get the better of me....the shower found a mind of its own and decided to behave ala a cobra being charmed by a snake charmer.....and resulted in Munchkin being squirted square in the face and the orchids high on the shelf getting a watering (saves T a job later!)

Munchkin was hosed down and bathed when the doorbell went. The first guests had arrived. I composed myself and answered the door (with Munchkin in arms wrapped in a towel - I could have said it was a toga party I suppose!). T arrived home at the same time so I bolted upstairs got munchkin dressed and down for a nap.

I then noticed that the mustard had decorated my previously white top. Ah well, I didn't really want to wear that top anyway.

The eagle has landed

Just a short one today as we are having a bit of a manic weekend (more about that tomorrow).

After a short wait, we were showered with blessings and presents alike. After all that hype, it was a bit disspointing...or so we thought.

As the cliche goes, it is not the quantity, it is the quality that counts. Hmm....if only we had a scratch and sniff option....then and only then would the true sense of quality be appreciated. If I draw parallels to the Malaysian vegetable Petai, some of you would understand. For the others, petai is also known as "stink bean" and known to have very pronounced effects after ingestion. My father has many stories about the affectiveness of petai, he says that eating petai is particularly handy at football matches or indeed any crowded places, when you fancy a bit of personal space.

Still, at least it means that I can stop eating the dried figs...though...I have now acquired quite a taste for the things...they are like fig rolls. without the roll bit...but I guess that is quite obvious.

Patience is a virtue

Being a novice at the mothering lark, I depend on the oracles that surround me to pass down knowledge and also Munchkin Chucky to show me the ropes. We all learn, together.

Munchkin has been a regular little boy since the day he was born.....a few times a day regular. Then this week, it all stopped. I haven't had the blessing of a poo-sode since Tuesday. By Wednesday morning I was panicing. Would I need to administer the juice of prunes (like my evil mother did when I was little!)? Somewhat concerned, I contacted Milkmonster's mum (chief oracle) who assured me that this was normal. The next day (still nothing) I rang the health visitor, she said "Ah....damned if they do and damned if they don't!" She assured me that it was very normal for fully mummy fed babies to not actually have a poo-sode for a whole week!!

I dread what "blessing" will appear when it finally does. His usual "presents" are hideous enough (and I am saying this as his mother wot sees and smells him through rose tinted spectacles and rose scented filters). Yesterday I bought and ingested some figs (I hate figs). Also (mama will be proud), I boiled up a batch of cure all tea (which consists of 4 types of dried dates - it is a chinese witch's brew). And now, we wait............

Chucky

I am fully aware that I see munchkin out of extremely biased mummy spectacles. I think he is the best boy in the world (apart from my other boy). Looking back at photographs when he was first born though, I have to say....eek! He was a funny looking little mite.

I was discussing this with T last night and shared some photographs (which I thought were wonderful) of Munchkin. T went silent for a while. He then said "Munchkin looks demonic" "What DO you mean?" I asked seeing only a little angel complete with halo and radiance. "Well, he looks a bit like Chucky!" said T. I looked closely....to my amusement....T was right. There is a slight Chucky resemblence..EGAD!!!! Ah well, some mothers do 'ave 'em!

Our girls

Here are our girls, Sophie on the left and Chloe on the right. Also know as Mayhem and Chaos at the vets. I had to ring to make an appointment for their annual jabs and checkup this week. We tend to also try to get them wormed at the same time to save a trip into Bristol. The telephone conversation went something like this...."What are the cats' names?" "Chloe and Sophie" Then there was a silence...followed by "Ah! Mayhem and Chaos the Bengals, best make sure we have the right people on hand to make sure those tablets go down then"

Hmm....next week could be interesting. The last time we went, the vet surrendered in defeat. Chloe was sent home unwormed and very, very grumpy.

Still, the girls are lovely. They have been a part of my life for 6 years now and every minute has been very entertaining...like the time Sophie escaped on to the roof and had to be retrieved by T (who was tethered to a radiator with a climbing rope and harness)...but that is another story!

Things that go parppp in the night

Picture this...T and I had retired for the evening. All was calm and quiet. Even the girls had settled down for the evening. As I was drifting off into dreamland (this happens very quickly now as the munchkin wears me out!), the beautiful silence was broken...by a fart unrivalled in duration and volume.

T started to shake with laughter..."Was that you?" he asked. "No! It wasn't me, I thought it was you" was my reply (not that ladies ever need to do that sort of thing and IF they did it wouldn't sound like THAT!). We both shook with laughter as we realised that the foghorn sound had come from the crib. Bless him....the munchkin was making some post parping noises - cooing happily as if to say " Ahhh! That feels much better, thank you!"

All was well......until I went to change munchkin this morning...hmm....now I know why he felt better!!

My boys

These are my boys. This week they have mainly been bonding. T has been taking Munchkin in the afternoons to give me a break so I have only had to do the Daisy moo bit in the usual 3 hoursly intervals. T has also taken it up chef duties for the dinner service and resident sommelier. I am a lucky girl!

Yesterday, we had arranged to meet some lovely friends of ours, who have moved to the dark side of the valley, for breakfast. The agreed time was 1030. At 1000 munchkin was still feeding (greedy little thing) and I had yet to have a shower. I was finally released (literally) from Daisy moo duties at 1010. As I whizzed in for a power shower, munchkin got whizzed off in the opposite direction to get changed into nice, presentable going out clothes (which didn't have 'ick on it and didn't smell of munchkin poo). When I finally emerged, dressed and painted (10 minutes later), I was presented with a very smart looking munchkin.....so I should have been proud and not said "uhm.....his top is on back to front". T spent the next 15 minutes saying that it was more logical to have the buttons fastening at the front and that the design of the top was obviously, seriously flawed.

We survived breakfast, munchkin behaved and my boys spent the afternoon watching the Grand Prix qualifying. They also watched a little of the England vs. Israel match but had this cut short by the fact that munchkin had to get ready for bed.

Today, the boys have been playing peekaboo and horsies (to aviod hanging the washing out and sifting the kitty poo trays). Munchkin lights up when he hears or sees his dad and Daddy is always rewarded with a huge, beaming smile and chuckle (Yes! I think your dad is a bit funny too, munchkin) As I watch them, with a tear or two in my eyes, I know that joy is not in things, it is in my boys....and my two furry girls (a bit more on this later)

Non-Destructive Testing

Lots of NDT takes place in the nuclear industry that T and I work in so we are quite used to this sort of thing...when it applies to plant.

When Munchkin was but a bump we decided to refer to him as "Boo" after the little one in Monster Inc. Hence, when I came across a board book titled Baby Boo! I decided that I had to acquire it for Munchkin. This week we have been looking at the pictures in this book together. Munchkin seems to like looking at the pictures of other babies and smiling and cooing back to them in a friendly fashion. This was exactly the case yesterday....until I managed to drop the book on Munchkin's head. A shocked look followed by a very red face and huge opening of lungs followed. Munchkin had passed the book drop test...and responded ala the late Pavarotti in volume. Not quite Nesun Dorma though, equal in volume. Just not very melodious.

Rubbish parenting at its best......I wonder if the dropped book fulfilled the criteria of standard drop test equipment....after all there exists a calibrated finger to check the width of apertures for cooling...hmmm.....

Sleep, glorious sleep!

Munchkin was 9 weeks old last Saturday. We have been for the last few weeks experimenting with the dark art of loving neglect. Yes, we are cruel and have left him to settle himself for naps and sleep in general. This has meant that there is sometimes the very melodramatic opening of lungs at full volume....just to let us know that he is cross with us and to remind us that he is still there. This goes on for all of 10 minutes....then he falls asleep.

The one essential skill that munchkin's everywhere don't have when they come into the world is the ability to fall asleep on their own. They have to be gently guided into acquiring the skill. Funny seeing that they are able to cry, poo ( oh yes!!), wee (yes again!), belch (yes!yes!yes!), fart (definitely yes!) but not settle themselves to sleep.

In the early hours of Sunday morning I woke with a start. For a start I knew I needed to feed munchkin in my capacity as Daisy moo (the dam had burst and needed containing) but also the birds were starting to break into song outside. I quickly nudged T and asked what the time was. It was 0500 - Munchkin had slept through the night....long may it continue!

Calpol at the ready!

Munchkin had to have his first jabs on Wednesday. I think the experience was worse for me than it was for munchkin. Safety in numbers.....T and I wheeled him down to the surgery to see the "nice nurse". T even had illusions that she would be a lovely young thing with a nice fitting white uniform (it is a boy thing!). He was disappointed. I was a wreck.

The appointment started off with Munchkin's 8 week check. All is well the nice Dr lady told us. We were then herded into nursie's lair. Out came the needle followed by about 30 seconds of wailing then out came the next needle and another 30 seconds wailing (of course 30 seconds felt like 10 hours to me). Then, it all went quiet and munchkin drifted off to sleep (whilst managing to stick his big, fat bottom lip out in a pout that can only be rivalled by his dad's - No dear you are still not getting an X-box 360 for Christmas no matter how much Munchkin might need one!)

We then went to the Health Visitor for a weigh in. Munchkin is 9 and a half weeks old. He now weighs 12 lb 3 oz. As we were leaving he managed to beam the most enormous smile for the health visitor....that's my boy!

Daisy Moo

"Any dignity you have left goes out the window" How very true! First you have to go through being proded and poked by strangers....ok..you get to know your midwife after the first couple of prods but no one prepares you for what comes next.

Having had to have an emergency c-section, that phrase rang out loud and clear..I even remember giggling on the operating table in agreement. Toby was born to an audience of about a dozen. Fine for him but when you have no control over your bodily functions due to medication......

Anyway, a very helpful friend of mine provided me with the ultimate mummy device (stop smiling to yourself, you know who you are!) We decided to give it a test run yesterday. We logged on to the manufacturer's website and read the instructions and ensured that the device was put together as specified. We stepped through the directions...and lo and behold, the river burst its banks and a torrent rushed forth. Not that we noticed. We were both collapsed on the floor, in tears laughing whilst trying not to spill anything. It was one of those cherished moments that a couple share...never to be forgotten! We have decided to park the device for now, at least till I don't collapse in a fit of giggles when I see it.

If you haven't yet guessed, the device was a breast pump.

God couldn't be everywhere so.....

he created Grandmothers!
A wise woman once told me that babies are God's way of introducing more love into the world. She also told me that when I had my own baby I would know, truly how much she loves me. She was and is absolutely right. (As my mother almost always is....sometimes I just don't realise till much later and when I do I can just hear her voice telling me "Mama told you!")

Mama was here, in England for all of 26 days. In that time, I was grumpy from lack of sleep, snappish and not a very nice person to be with (I am generally not very good if I haven't slept enough....4 hours a night was not doing me any favours.) But, she was there, cheerful, helpful (most of the time!) very, very patient and very forgiving. It is so true that you don't know what you have got till you haven't got it any more....boy! Did I miss her when she had gone home to Malaysia! And I still miss her now. But, she calls practically every day "just to hear our voices", and she reminds us that things will only get better and better. Again, she is absolutely right.

I am, who I am because of her love. Now, I understand. So, here is to mothers (and grandmothers everywhere)

Lees and Wicketts

Having little baby boys are very important to the chinese, so Toby's birth was a moment of great rejoicing. I am sure my aunts swear that it is due to the wishes recited during the chinese tea ceremony held in Kuantan to mark our nuptials. I won't repeat the rhyme...for one it is in hokkien and mainly because it is so very rude!

My dad is particularly thrilled. Having had two daughters, he has been long awaiting a little grandson to play cricket with....and now he has his Wickett. He must be very excited....amongst the bags of chinese herbs and Malaysian goodies stashed away in his suitcase, my dad produced a little cricket bat. This bat is 33 years old...it was bought for me and now belongs to Toby. We are all looking forward to summers with grandad and Ah kong in the garden....but for now...a cuddle will have to suffice!

Of Full moons and golden pigs

According to Chinese tradition, when a baby is a month old some ancient rituals have to be observed. This filled me with dread as I did not have a clue where to start or what to do. Fortunately for us, my parents were here for the occasion.

Coincidently, for the first 30 days (day 1 being the day of munchkin's birth) I was required to follow a confinement plan...hmm...this involved not eating red meat (very challenging), not doing outdoors before dawn and after dusk (I was too tired anyway!) and having a ginger and sesame oil fueled diet enhanced with strange chinese herbs which looked quite dodgy (like they had been picked off the forest floor!) - this was all fine as mum was in attendance.

Anyway, Munchkin's full moon was marked by the preparation of hard boiled eggs dyed red and a monster feast for the adults. What is in it for the boy, you ask? Well, he got a lovely necklace from his Great Uncles and Aunts in Kuantan (with a golden pig on it of course). It happens that this year is one of the golden pig. Very auspicious according to the chinese and only comes round once every 60 years! He also got his hair cut by daddy and a boiled egg rolled over his head precided over by his very proud Ah Mah and Ah Kong. The most touching moment was when my dad presented munchkin with the necklace that my grandma gave him 36 years ago on his wedding day...tears all round!