Reflection

Another new year. So much to be thankful for, so much to learn from, so much to look forward to.

The start to the new year in this household has been snot filled. Munchkin has a cold....again. Munchkin is also teething....again. So you can imagine the fun and games here. Still, Munchkin remain his cheerful self. He still laughs a lot and he still manages to wind us round his little finger with the faintest hint of a smile.

2007 was a very good year. A year filled with blessings, happiness, laughter, about 3 days of excruciating pain and oodles of joy. 2008 me thinks is a year of hope, promise and a little adventure (to Texas perhaps?)

Only 360 days till next Christmas!

It has been a busy week. Here is how it all went.

We were reunited with Chief Oracle and her lovely family on Christmas Eve. The girls looked absolutely beautiful in the Christmas dresses (complete with festive ribbons in their hair!) and Chief Oracle and her lovely man never looked better. A fine feast was prepared by T and a few hours of scoffing later we all slumped back in our chairs, slightly uncomfortable but happy. The boys dissapeared into the cold dark night to partake in a festive cigar (special consessions were made to allow this) and the girls chattered in the warm indoors (spot the clever ones) till it was half past late and it was nearly time for Santa to arrive. Promises were made that the little ones would go straight to sleep when they got back as this would ensure that Santa could go about his work swiftly and efficiently and be on his way. And T and I retired for our long winter's slumber.

Munchkin was gracious (he obviously thinks that the longer he sleeps the more pressies Santa will bring). He granted us a lie in till 0900 which totally threw us. Breakfast had to be postponed to brunch which we eventually had at about lunchtime. We had to have 2 sessions (with a nap interlude in between) of present opening as Santa had been very kind to Munchkin. I guess as Santa knows who is naughty and who is nice and since Munchkin is only 6 months old, he hasn't had the time nor opportunity to be naughty yet (which I am sure he will make up for in the coming months) Toys, books and clothes galore. Munchkin is a lucky boy and I have told him that all his thank you letters are going to have to be in the post by the end of this week. He is working on it....signed in snot....as he is with cold.

Then disaster! Whilst "row row row your boat" ing with Munchkin, I managed to put my back out.....ON CHRISTMAS DAY! So the rest of the day was spent hobbling about like a little old lady with a zimmer. T had to take over bath duties and all activities lifting related. I could only just about carry out Daisy duties. Sitting was painful, standing was impossible. Thank heavens the grands were arriving Boxing Day.

Christmas isn't Christmas...

"Christmas isn't christmas till it happens, in your heart. Somewhere deep inside you, is where Christmas really starts."

Amidst the wave of clever (and in many ways very effective) marketing and commercialism, I decided to take time to reflect on what Christmas really means to me. I have come to the conclusion that for a long time the true meaning of Christmas has taken a back seat, hidden from view perhaps by the piles of presents, the mounds of food and the buckets of fun. This Christmas will be our first Christmas with Munchkin. This is a new beginning, a start, a time to reflect on the greatest gift of all. The gift of unconditional love.

" For God so loved the world, that he sent his only begotten son; that whosever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16. I have heard this verse read Christmas after Christmas over the years but this year it holds a special place. It is all about overwhelming love, the ultimate sacrifice and a gift so priceless that it cannot be bought with all the riches in the world.

So I make a promise. Amidst the stockings, the tree, the presents and the overindulgence I will take time to be thankful for the many blessings that we have received. The blessing of Munchkin, the blessing of happiness and contentment, the blessing of love and true friendship and the blessing of hope - all those gifts that cannot be bought, cannot be wrapped up (well, we could try but I don't think Munchkin would sit still long enough...and imagine the willful retaliation to being stuffed in a box!) and cannot be valued. The best gifts in the world.

Please mummy.....

Don't stick my finger in that socket anymore!

I'll be home for Christmas!

That's what Chief Oracle told me when she left for Merkin land in September and she has kept her word! SHE IS BACK!!! Good thing too else I would have taken a hit out on her very lovely husband. My very stern words to him when he came to dinner in November were "Don't you dare come back without her!"

I am exceedingly excited. We are spending Christmas Eve together this year. It will be an extra special Christmas wot with having Munchkin AND having our nearest and dearest with us too.

It has been a week of Christmas celebrations and the week ended with a bang. Our annual Remote Operations family Christmas dinner. One of the very sage members of our little family summed things up a treat "This is the one Christmas do that I would not miss for the world and I would travel anywhere for. Every year, this is the do I look forward to and this is the one that makes it feel like Christmas is here" We are a very tight knit bunch. We hardly see each other all year, some of us hardly speak but when this special time of year comes around, the importance of being with loved ones brings us all together. We drink, we eat, we catch up, we hug, we laugh and best of all, we come home. There is talk about "home" being somewhere in Texas next year...a bridge too far I hear some cynics cry....not for Remote Ops. If it were in Timbuktu we would all be there, somehow. Such is the spirit of Remote Ops. Long may it continue.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

As you can see, the Munchkin is ready for his first snow. I wonder if we will have a white Christmas. The headgear serves a dual purpose; to keep his little ears warm and to tame the mad muchkin mop. As they would say in Sad land...."it is a win-win situation"

Extreme makeover

What does the public think of my new hairdo?

Tonight! Tonight!

Chief Oracle and her little rudolf's get on the plane tonight.

Me? Excited? Never........

P/S Got a bit ahead of myself there....tis tomorrow night that the Chief Oracle begins her journey home....but it will be "tonight" soon enough.

Par-Tay Monster

Hello there, everyone. Guess who? Tis I, Munchkin the Par-Tay animal. Phew it has been a weekend. Places to go, people to see....all that dressing up.

Today is my Grandee's birthday and I got to give her a nice (sloppy- she seemed to like it) Munchkin Maul on her birthday (all this was AFTER breakfast of course as one has one's priorities straight). You see Grandee and Grandad stayed with us yesterday. On Sunday, we had Sir Prise for Grandee (Who is he by the way? I don't recall being introduced to him on the day. Though I did meet many people...some had strange hair on their faces...called beards). We all huddled in a room and gave her our best smile when she walked in through the door. Our smiles must have been quite bad! Either that or we must need dental work (not me though as I only have two teeth through and they are, if I say so myself, pristine - for now), as Grandee shed a tear or two when she saw us all. It was a relief...as I thought for a while that mummy and daddy and everyone in the know about this little plot were going to burst under the strain of being secret squirrels (what is that all about? How can you be a secret squirrel? You are either a squirrel or you are not in my opinion but who am I to question the quirks of the beautiful language?)

In preparation for Grandee's do though Mummy and Daddy felt it in their duty to read me the riot act on the way to the restaurant. I was a little insulted but they were only doing what they had to do (and also they were getting their own back as they must have been read the same riot act when they were pint sized too and felt the need to "share the pain"). Did they honestly think I would risk my own reputation? Hurumphhh...Parents of little faith. So, I thought for my own sake (and definitely not theirs though they probably think that they were in control - so wrong!) I would be a nice Munchkin. I allowed strangers to give me a cuddle, I sat in my push chair and let the adults have their food before I did and I went to sleep (eventually as the lighting at the venue was not at all condusive to rest - note to self :must have words with the management about this for future reference). I smiled at most people and tried to not sound too similar to a hyena. I saved that till later when I got home (and after GAF and GUR left as I didn't want to give them a bad impression! Got to keep the greats sweet!) My perrogative...after all, my pent up agression had to be released sometime. Better out than in! Not sure what this means but Daddy uses the phrase all the time and Daddy MUST be right.

P/S I am starting to get a complex about my hair and will be shortly, with the aid of a photograph of yours truly be asking for public opinion on the matter. Watch this space!

Let the festivities BEGIN!!

It has been a busy weekend. On Friday, T was in the Brixton academy to watch the Chemical Brothers live. Judging by the bags under his eyes when he got back on Saturday, I would say that I very good time was had. On Saturday, Munchkin attended his first Christmas party. It was a Christmas Tree decorating party, so we picked a decoration and headed off. Munchkin was very, very tired as he had missed his nap (as we had to go and retrieve T from a public car park in Cirencester where he had been dropped off by the coach) but managed to hold it together for long enough so that his parents could enjoy a festive drink and bite to eat.

Sunday was a special day. We have been secret squirrelling for weeks now organising Grandee's surprise birthday party which was to be held on that day. Munchin was read the riot act in the car on the way to the venue. The usual was said (Mama will find these words VERY familiar) i.e. don't scream like a hyena, don't touch anything you shouldn't etc. After a bit of a delay, the proceedings commenced (much to the relief of the chef who had been spotted pacing and biting his nails at the prospect of making adjustments to the timings in the kitchen) and a good time was had by all.

What of Munchkin, you ask (I suspect he will sneak in his point of view shortly)? He did have a short scream like a hyena but once he managed to get himself to sleep for an hour he was fine. So, Mama, I think we won't need to get the purple Kai mou sou (feather duster) out..........just yet.

T-7 and pondering

Next week, by this time, Chief Oracle will be back in the country. Woohooo! I can't wait. It is a very exciting time...but I bet this week will really draaaaaaag.

I have been pondering recently. Feeling very philosophical after some very enlightening conversations with a certain Swiss person (whose house is, presently, covered in snow). Yes, I mean swiss as in chocolates and watches not cloud cuckoo clock land (incidently they didn't invent to cuckoo clock anyway...these were a German invention and I have been taught well not to confuse the Germans and the Swiss by the person in question). My point to ponder this week has been friendship. "A friends is, as it were, a second self". Isn't if funny how true friends can be out of touch for weeks, months and even years, yet when these friends are reunited, conversation flows like it has never taken a holiday.

It is also oh so true that you don't have to see someone all the time for you to have a strong friendship. So what I am trying to say? True friendships (to me, I guess) withstand the test of time, the test of distance, the test of disagreement, the test of busy lives, the test of of the truth(that one sometimes doens't want to hear but needs to) and just STUFF. It is just there and remains there, lying latent, in wait. Then when it is needed, it springs into bloom again, bigger, better and brighter than before.

So, I sit here, on a cold, grey December afternoon, eagerly counting down the days till the reunion with not just Chief Oracle but with our Remote Operations family, a week today. What a special treat!

What ever will they think off next?

This is a bit of an old photo. The toy Munchkin has in his hands is from his Ah Mah. It is called a winkel. I have caught a few people off guard as has T when we remark in a flippant fashion "Munchkin is fine, he is on the mat chewing on his Winkle" I have had funny look before when talking very seriously to Munhckin and asking him if he would like me to get his cold Winkel for him to bite on. I have also been given similar looks when I say things like "Munchkin and his friends have all got winkels and sometimes we get them all mixed up so we don't know whose winkel each child is sucking"

We could argue I guess that it is not what is being said, rather it is in the interpretation of what is said (by sewer like minds). Still, it keeps Munchkin happy though recently joy is acquired by throwing it rather than sucking it. I can see it now. The funny looks when I say "Munchkin! Don't throw your winkel over there! The cat might lick it!" I think I have said enough.

P/S Countdown : 8 days till we are reunited with the Chief Oracle and her family. I have been waiting for this since they left the UK. T-8 and counting.......

Butter wouldn't melt

This week, Munchkin has mainly been practicing the art of being willful. For weeks we have had such an easy time with feeding and the cleaning of teeth in the evening before bed. This week Munchkin has thrown us a challenge. Picture this. Usually Munchkin sees food, Munchkin opens his mouth, food goes into his mouth and dissapears only to be seen in recycled form much later. This week, Munchkin has been choosing to adopt the "I am too busy to eat stance". This is demonstrated by clamping his gums together and welding his lips shut. Munchkin sees food, Munchkin pretends to be preoccupied with something else like his bib or the strap from his harness. He also thinks grabbing the spoon to try and feed himself is fun.

Same goes with bathtime. Munchkin has been very cooperative on the teeth cleaning front. It used to be Munchkin sees toothbrush, Munchkin opens mouth, Mummy cleans teeth, Munchkin babbles. This week Munchkin has clamped his gums together, sealed his lips shut and made "MMmmmmmmm" sounds as soon as toothbrush was in sight.

What Munchkin has discovered is that Mummy is more willful than Munchkin and has had 33 years practice at being a stubborn little madam. And Mummy can be very persuasive when she wants to be. So Munchkin and I have come to a little understanding. He lets me do what he knows I must do and I promise to get it over and done with and leave him be afterwards. Why do I have a sneaky suspicion that this battle of wills will provide for interesting times in the future?

Munchkin returns

It was a bit dark when mummy woke me up yesterday morning. I am not used to this. What am I supposed to do? Every night she and I pray for a peaceful night of deep sleep till the morning when the sun comes out. Correct me if I am wrong but the Sun is that big bright round thing that comes out when the sky is blue, isn't it? Not the big bright thing of changeable shape that is in the sky when the sky is dark...that is the moon. She is obviously addled. The moon was still out when she got me up yesterday

AND I got no breakfast. She gave me my milk then changed me into clothes suitable for public viewing (not the questionable bits and pieces that daddy only allows me to have on at home) and bundled me into my car seat. She was still in her dressing gown at this point. Then daddy whisked me off into the darkness away from mummy. So I chattered away to him until he dropped me of at Mary Poppin's house. I think she is growing on me so I didn't cry and gave her an appeciative cuddle. I grew to like her even more when she gave me my breakfast. Then I went to sleep for a couple of hours. Then I woke up, OUCH!!!! My tummy hurt. So I yelled for Mary Poppins to sort it out. She did. I rewarded her with a loud Belch...Ahhh..that felt better. So I played with Mary till mummy came to get me.

I was very pleased to get home and the kitties must have missed me as they were sitting in the window to welcome me back. I showed my appreciation in the usual way, by giggling all the way to the front door. It felt good to be home.

Munchkin has left the building.

This morning, we had to rouse Munchkin from his slumber. It was half past too early for Munchkin but he had places to go and people to meet. We gave him a bit of a shine and a polish then T bundled him off into the car and drove off into the darkness.

Munchkin is off to his lovely childminder for his second taster session. Last time we came away with no long lasting ill effects (so far). This time we are leaving him for 5 whole hours. So here I am, home alone. T has just rung to say that he left Munchkin cuddling the lovely childminder lady (henceforth to be known as Mary Poppins).

It is a strange independence but a rather enjoyable one. Suddenly I don't really have to think about anyone but myself. I haven't had the luxury for a while. It feels good and almost naughty, almost like bunking off school (not that I ever did that, of course! Ahem!) to enjoy the sunshine. I am looking forward to seeing Munchkin again this afternoon but I am going to savour every moment. Absence makes the heart grown fonder....but for the time being I am just going to sit back and enjoy the silence and the peace of this me time.

Time honoured traditions

"Stir up , we beseech thee O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people" is the opening line of the prayer used on the Sunday before the start of Advent and is the reason why that Sunday is called Stir up Sunday, traditionally the day the Christmas pudding is made.

We have adopted this tradition. Each year, I make a Christmas pudding and we take turns to stir it and make a wish for the coming year. This is going to be Munchkin's first Christmas so, in keeping with tradition, Munchkin got a stir as well.....if you could call it that...well, he sort of held the spoon.

This led me to reminisce about our wishes made last year. Unbeknown to us then , T and I both made the same wish. Our wish came true. He sits here, sort of stirring his first Christmas pudding, perhaps wishing for something for the year ahead. Maybe, just maybe, someday his wish, like ours will come true too.

Ronseal

The advertising slogan for the above product is "It does what it says on the tin"

Munchkin has got the t-shirt and now has illusions of grandeur, me thinks. Those Texans (you know who you are!) have a lot to answer for!!

How you doin'?

It was sunny. Sunglasses seemed like a nice idea. He didn't seem to protest too much so this picture had to be taken if for nothing else, to be shown when he brings his first date home to meet mummy. Ahhh the joys of parenthood!

Do you see what I see?

Being new parents has opened our eyes to many a new experience, most of which are great, a few are less desirable. One which falls into the latter category is the need for some "special" individuals to very kindly share how advanced their little ones are e.g. "My little darling is 3 and do you know he/she has such a flair for art. Look at this, it could be mistaken for a Jackson Pollock" or "Oh! Did you hear that? He/she said floccinaucinihilipilification. Yes, he/she says that ALL the time" Society seems to have bred the necessity to crave over achievement.

I mulled this over with Chief Oracle who seems to be experiencing something very similar over the pond. Pushy parent syndrome seems to be rife. So, here's a picture to ponder. What I see is Munchkin (bored at being left to his own devices) tearing into a magazine, what it could be interpreted as is "Oh look! He really likes the New Scientist. It is his favourite magazine, don't you know". If I EVER come out with phrases like that(and am not being sarcastic), please take this as written permission to put the world out of its misery and shoot me.

N.B. Munchkin is 5 months and 9 days old. He can't talk, he can't read, he can't walk, he can't roll over, he can't sign, he can't do very much really BUT he makes my world a better, brighter place (apart from when he makes really bad smells....in which case my world becomes just a little bit less fragrant...temporarily although the boys seem to be tag team fumigating at the moment so the atmosphere is rather toxic at Chez Munchkin)

Contentment

Recently, I have experienced a bit of a blast from the past. You know how it is...people come and go out of your life and it is always interesting to hear what someone has been up to that you haven't heard from for as long as you can remember a bit like a school reunion if you could call it that. I once had a conversation with Chief Oracle about this. You walk into a room full of professionals dying to tell you how many degrees they have, how they have been jetted around the world, how they are pillars of society, champions of industry and that they have no time to start a family. They have no space in their lives for life's simplest pleasures. If it does not have a huge price tag on it, then it is not worth having...you know the type.

It is funny how parenthood changes you. T and I are going through what is the best life changing experience, the sort that makes you a better person. I guess I am trying to say that I feel complete. We have enough, more than enough. We have each other and we have our boy (and furry girls - who incidently I would like to strangle at the moment as one is yowling downstairs and the other is busy tipping post off the desk, post that I had sorted ready for filing). We look forward to time spent together, a candlelit meal (during a power cut), a chuckle from our Munchkin, a quiet night in front of the TV with our girls. Every night I go to bed counting my blessings and every morning I wait excitedly to hear Munchkin call for me so that I can have my first cuddle and smile for the day. When I hold him, I know I have made it and I know I am holding a great treasure, a blessing in a bundle, joy in an armful!

Temporary abandonment

Phew! I am glad this morning is over. Today I had to do one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I had to leave Munchkin in the care of someone else while he was still wide awake. A first since he was born...apart from being left with T of course but that doens't really count.

I dropped Munchkin off at his childminder's house today. He was all smiles for her. I stayed for a little while just to share insider mummy knowledge on how you can tell when he is tired/is having poo etc etc and I kissed him on the forehead and walked out the door. I couldn't look back. I went off to see my very good friend and her little boy and time passed. I thought of him every second knowing in my heart of hearts that he was going to be OK. When the time came, I got in the car and went back to get him. I was anxious. I hadn't had any messages on my answerphone so all must have been well.

When I got there, all was quite. Munchkin was asleep it seems....all was well.