Archives: birthday

So – there we were with the newborn… He opens his eyes & looks around a bit, wrapped in his towel, fresh to the world.
Sigh.
It was only when he born that we knew he was a boy by the way. When Louise went to the midwife a week before she said that girls usually have faster heartbeats & that her baby had a good fast heartbeat… but that was proved wrong. Louise was more inclined to think a boy while he was being born.
I nipped off to try Louise’s mum again, but still no answer. I decided to do more phone call stuff later on (it was too early in the morning). We just settled into things. The midwives did the checking up of things, & Louise got herself sorted. You get toast & tea laid on. The toast is nice, but I’m not sure it’s real butter. The tea is in plastic cup that has a space between the internal & external cup – so you don’t get an idea of how hot or tepid it is. We were moved off to another room – the delivery suite would need to be occupied again. Darn – just as we decided to turn on the radio – radio 4 starting with Sailing By. They were expecting us to let them know when we were moving room, but we just moved ourselves. I think that they were thinking Louise would want a wheelchair or something.. No, not really required. Into a room with no radio. We had not much to occupy ourselves. The paediatrician was supposed to be coming round about 10:00 – & after that we could go home – wheee! Never ones for hanging around! We have to be back for the kids as well. I eventually got through to Louise’s mum who sounded thrilled & said she’d set off for our house to take over looking after the kids. Called Andy to let him know what was going on, my parents (my mum admitted that she had been reluctant to call in case she thought we might feel pestered! – noooo – I cannot think we would!). Work – to let them know I won’t be there for a bit. Duties done. Time to sit back.
Louise, Jude & I in a room with a cot, bed, chair, table, lamp, sink, 2 soap dispensers (red alcohol gel – blue foaming soap), orange wallpaper with subtle orange stripes, window, with curtains (orange) & a door to where the shared toilet (shared with another similar room) was. Jude fed on demand & slept a good while. We stared at the soap dispensers a lot. 10:00 took a while to come & went, as did 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, sometime around 14:00 we saw the paediatrician. Jude got a clean bill of health. We waited a good while longer for paperwork, ordered a taxi which arrived about 15:15, & we got home before 16:00. Within 12 hours isn’t so bad. The taxi driver drove noticeably safely – which was much appreciated in our heightened tired state.
Kids & grandma agog & all over the place… The kids seem huge after being in the presence of one so small.

Woke at 1:30, arrived at the hospital at 3:00 & Jude born at 4:04. Mother & baby fine.
More later.. no time atm.

#Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me!
Underlying I feel grotty this morning, stiff neck, headache & cough with sore throat, but hey – it’s me birthday & nowt is gonna dampen that lightness of step this has imbued.
My Digital Camera did arrive yesterday & aside from a good bit of scratching of brain to try to get it working & then putting the batteries in correctly (duh) it was sorted. Only had time to do a couple of ‘test’ snaps – which had to be deleted (boo – well – Louise does not like her picture taken at the moment). I also got myself the Massive Attack videos dvd yesterday – which after a spell of refusing to work (on the mac) as well – suddenly sprang into life – joy – it all works!
I opened my (albeit few) cards last night – which was nice… The really good surprise was a card from Jack that he had made himself though. I was very very happy about that. Apparently he was having trouble doing it as he wanted to do it straight away – but was told that he had to do some sentences 1st. Very nicely coloured in as well – even though I say so myself.
Jack has reading books to bring home & he goes through them with us – as we are supposed to – he reading them to us. He does it in an ‘I’m reading’ voice, “Look – at – me – Mum.” but I’ve noticed that this is a voice he uses to designate the fact that he is ‘reading’ the book to us… he is really remembering the book & running his fingers over the words. Sometimes his ‘tracking’ is off – the finger whizzes past the words before he had ‘read’ them & sometimes he gets things a little wrong… but still… Louise says she thinks that this is all part of the learning process. Whether he is supposed to be setting in the ‘glue’ words like ‘go’ ‘at’ & so forth I’m not entirely sure, but it seems likely from what Louise was saying. She also mentioned (she’s been talking with another mother) that in a lot of cases reading these books they can ‘get’ (surmise) some of the longer words from the pictorial cues, but it’s these ‘glue’ words that can often have trouble sinking in. It just amuses me the way he’s faking us out.

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Eve’s birthday yesterday! She got more presents than I had anticipated & I do believe Jack was a little put out. He had a couple of presents as well, but he was more interested in what Eve had on the whole. There was a lot of wanting what Eve had when she had it… sigh…

All in all though, the day went very well! My parents arrived a little past 7 am – so I managed to get an extra hour in bed before getting up in anticipation (lawks – I even remembered to change my alarm back again so that I would not be late this morning). Dad bought his drill along so that we could put the blind up in the back room .. This unfortunately took a little longer than it should due to unpreparedness. We set off for Skipton at 10:00. I think, if we had realised that dad had to back for a (ahem) Mason’s meet that evening we would not have been so ambitious. Dad had it in his mind that they would have to set off back again at 1:30, & as we got stuck in a traffic jam just outside Keighley (road works) so we never made it to Skipton as we planned. As something to amuse the kids we tried Cliff Castle in Keighley – which is not a castle, but a stately home sort of thing – animals, art, stuffed animals & rocks. Some of the crystal displays were pretty, & uh – the kids ran about a lot. I don’t think they found it very interesting. Then off to a toyshop where Jack was quite keen on a lot of things. We bought some stuff for them both & then had to scarper home again so that Dad could set off… sigh…

Jack nearly coped with the presents that Eve got. He did get some… but he seemed continually more interested in whatever Eve was playing with at the time – which caused a few upsets. We had candles in Ice Cream for Eve, but Jack was crying while we were singing as I wouldn’t let him blow the candles out before Eve had a chance. He got a go the 2nd lighting. I can remember being resentful of my brother’s birthday presents & so forth. Easter was a a bad one especially… I would wolf my eggs but he had the superhuman ability to leave them standing around in his room for days on end! AAArg! The temptation!!
Heh – Eve did enjoy opening her present though.
Jack seems to have learnt to whistle. He cannot do anything like a tune yet, but I noticed that he was whistling the other day as we were doing some tidying (or something inconsequential). I don’t know if anyone at school has been telling him, or he’s just picked it up. I remember I had to be taught by my grandma or something. It certainly have a memory of being at the house she had at the time & someone telling me. It could have been that grandpa – but I don’t even really recall what he looked like…

Louise’s Birthday today!!
I managed to get the pressie that was ‘requested’ – so no surprise there – but I did try to hide the fact that I managed to get it – so that might have been a surprise. Got Jack to write a card from Eve & himself this morning, but he was watching ‘The Hoobs’ yet again, so his mind wasn’t fully on it.

The kids played out last night until it was quite dark & all the others had gone inside for their teas. The new family’s girl is called Kirsty – she must be 8,9 & is a bit rough with the little ones. Well, boisterous… she does not let them play without her input; picks them up & plays with their ball or bike or whatever. Jack likes to be picked up & spun around. Amber & Eve are not at all keen. Eve shrugs her off, but Amber disliked her attention, & she could not see that. Perhaps, as she’s new to the street she is trying to impress… If that be the case, I hope she calms down the sooner.
Went to bed earlier in the hope that I would feel less sleepy today. Partially worked – feel less ragged, but still sleepy.

Sitting waiting for the train to take me home. Brain does not really want to communicate, but then it did not this morning. I should sleep more. I used to sleep a lot, but that was years ago… sigh.

Yeah! – At least the train has started to take me home now.

My brother’s birthday tomorrow, & despite fretting & wondering what the hell to get him, I have to conclude I’m hopeless. No ideas whatsoever – just a list of things not to get him… sigh. I have to conclude that I don’t really know where my brother’s everyday interests lie any more. I’m not even sure if he has time to read… <shrug> I don’t have time to read books any more… comics on the other hand… Hmmm… comics… Maybe there is some salvation there… There have been a few good collected indies released recently… All I have to do is find a decent comics shop (damnation – foiled again: oxymoron).

Louise’s birthday soon – but she has expressed a preference…

Eve’s birthday soon – but what cold she be wanting for? I think she might enjoy this birthday this time… she’s at the age when it is actually starting to mean something. Hopefully Jack will not be left out though…

Eve slept all the way through the night in her own bed last night. She actually fell asleep on me in yesterday evening. She seems reluctant to sleep during the day nowadays, so when she has a busy little day, she can be just plain worn out on an evening.

Jack has taken it upon himself to try to get up early… He dashed out of bed at 5:00 this morning, off down the hall – into the bedroom & came to us to announce that he wanted to get up early. We told him it was way too early, & he fortunately was able to drift off to sleep again (unlike me who worried my 5:30 alarm might wake him again). Still – it was only 6:10 that I heard him descending the steps. I’m not really sure why he want to be up & about. He said that he wanted to be awake before Eve one time, but then this darned programme called ‘The Hoobs’ is on at that hour & he does seem to like watching that as well… If it is for the TV… the TV might mysteriously stop working before a pre-defined time… Hmph – not sure how I could do that one really. I will have to look at the settings on it – there could well be something there.

Heh – was nice to have a 2 day week last week – but back to a full week of toil this week – boo!
Went to Louise Mum’s on Saturday in Bradford. It was for Jack – a sort of picnic party, but, like not quite a picnic, & in terms of ‘party’ – not such a big deal for him as not many of his pals were there or anything… Just Hamish in fact… Oh, & Eve of course… As well as assorted relatives from Louise’s side. Not all could make it, but some did. Louise sister, brother-in law + 1 nephew. Louise’s mums’ sister, her daughter, & her daughter (latter a little younger than us) – so no other kiddies. Hmm.
All went a lot less stressful than worried about. Louise’s cousin bought along some little spades & some crayons & paper – which was very good. Jack & Hamish enjoyed a little of one of their favourite occupation of ‘mud digging’ & then some scribbling. Jack is still too impatient for drawing & enjoys making marks on the paper quite a lot.
Umm… what else… well, the day at the picnic was quite uneventful really – as I said – not as stressful as anticipated, & time passed well enough.
We set off for home late afternoon evening. We were waiting by the bus stop when a new red Corsa (car) stopped just past the bus stop & reversed sharply back to where we were standing. A bloke stuck his head out of the window & asked us if we were going into town…
“Yes…”
“I wouldn’t”
“?”
“There’s a full scale riot”
Merd. There was a BNP (aka racist shitheads) march planned in the city centre today – which was wisely banned. While we were on the way through town on our way to Louise’s mum’s I saw an anti-Nazi league rally in the town centre, which reminded me I saw a small news report in the paper that the BNP had been banned.
There was quite a evident police presence as well – presumably as a deterrent to the BNP…
So what happened during the day for everything to escalate into what turned into a messy, dangerous & uncommonly ferocious (stolen cars driven at police lines!) riot? Who really knows. It’s just tremendously sad – it besmirches the towns reputation. It isa town where the is peaceful interracial society. Tolerance is the norm.
I am at home now on Monday Evening, & Jack would like to write something…
uy8loi65r593e=rly7o u874i654 uypo98r Jack ‘l
waAQ234476-=UO[\U7gdkiahjhdsio
(Jack can pick out his own name on the keyboard when promoted & helped with the caps button)

Sigh…
Back to work today…
Louise was saying while we drifted off to sleep last night that she thinks that Eve will saying, “Where Daddy?” all tomorrow.
‘Where’ & ‘Why’ is something she’s really got into saying the past few days.
Had a lovely holiday. A real good taste of how life could be, but the ugly subject of earning money always seems to come up – so it’s back to work… Sigh…
Jack had a good birthday on Tuesday. Mum & dad came up for one of their flying visits. Arrived at 7am as they said they would. I, fortunately, had decided that it would be a good idea to get up for that time in case they did arrive. Fortunately they had made some error in navigation along the way or they would have caught me asleep.
Not sure Jack will have enjoyed the quick look in at Ikea we sneaked in (heh), but the Toys r Us was great fun for him. There was a section that had ride on bike, trikes, tractor, cars, & – well – al sorts. He was particularly fond of a go-cart which he zoomed around the shop in for quite some time with one of us in pursuit. We spent a good long while there messing about chasing the kids & fraying our nerves a little more, but always just keeping the right side of sanity. In the end we got Jack a few items of junior meccano & a tunnel for his lego/duplo railway. Eve got a tricycle, & they both got a small slide for the garden… And a lolly. We would have liked to have got Jack the go-cart, but we’ve nowhere to keep it other than outside, & then not even in a shed, so, unfortunately it was just not possible. It seems odd, that on Jack’s birthday we got Eve a tricycle, but Jack has just got a new bike, which was for his birthday, & he can still fit on the trike. Eve cannot reach the pedals as yet. She can on Jack’s bike as she uses them to climb up on it, but she cannot do anything other than sit there once she has climbed up onto it, whereas she can push herself along on the trike.
Day at work complete – homeward bound now – phew – another over the top hot day. The office is stuffy as Matt has ‘borrowed’ the office fan, altho he’s also on emergency leave due to family emergency… bah.
Jack was fun yesterday evening… He has a Thomas the Tank Engine helium balloon for his birthday & he & Hamish were playing with it in the house after tea. They had made up a little game hiding & finding it, so I joined in & foxed them a little by hiding it under something (helium balloons float – so they were looking up). Jack thought that this was great fun &was all excited by it. They had a go at hiding it from me, & Jack simply couldn’t contain himself!
“Your turn Paul!” (Jacks started calling me ‘Paul’ – dunno why really, must be as that’s what Louise calls me – I don’t mind)
Jack, gleefully; “We’ve hidden it-“
“Don’t tell me Jack!”
“OK… …It’s in the back room! …It’s in that box!!”
This sort of scenario was repeated several times. No matter what he – just – couldn’t – stop – himself. Hamish would say, “Oowww Jaaaack!” & I’d have to tell the pouting boy that Jack just couldn’t help it. He was trying, but it was too much fun.
Jack & Hamish have been playing well together again. There was a day the other week that Jack was distinctly ‘unkeen’ on Hamish – saying that he was ‘threatening him’. Not sure really what that means as Jack’s understanding of a word we do not really use is curious.
Hamish has helped with the eating of birthday cake over the last couple of days & will be going to what is billed as a ‘picnic’ on Saturday with us at Louise’s mum’s. This was initially going to be a proper picnic in the park near Louise’s mum’s, but has since relocated to the lawn/drive outside the flats where she lives. Not really sure why – it may have been because there are a couple of older members of the family who might have found sitting on the grass in the park a little difficult, but that also may be an expeditious excuse. So, Louise’s extended family will be there, & Jack, Eve & Hamish. No other children… so I can’t really bring myself to call it a children&’s party, as it is really meant to be.
For Jack’s party we were initially hoping to rent a hall in the local Sports Centre – bouncy castle, kiddies climbing area – that sort of thing. We could have just about afforded it if we ‘doubled-up’ the party so that another kid would also be having their birthday party too… but the other parents dad vetoed on the grounds of it being too far from his kids actual birthday. Bah. A shame that the only ‘event’ is the ‘picnic’ but we are too timid & certainly the house is too topsy turvey to hold a party at our house for Jack’s (many) pals. sigh.
I managed to get a wee bit of decorating done over my holiday. Well short of what I would have liked to have done, but that was to be expected. A good start on things – that I can hopefully maintain some form of momentum with. I so needs to be done! There is (typically) too much to do…
Ah, if only I were at home instead of working, I could see me actually being able to get on with it all! Shame, shame…