Archives: eve

We got to my parents at about 1 or 2 in the morning (I forget). We’ve never been to this house before as they moved last year. When we went in, dad said that our bedroom was to the back. It’s one of these houses that keep going back, & so it gave a good impression of space going to the back bedroom. We got the kids into bed OK. Jack was on the top bunk of a bunk bed. He was up the latest, so he was hardly disturbed by being transported in. Eve woke up & was quite pleased to be put into bed. She had been laying sideways on the back seat & thus pushing into Jack & kicking at Louise. She lay there for quite a while, probably wondering what the heck was gong on, & seemingly quite pleased to have the top bunk above her for some reason.

Up early the next day as usual. Jack claimed he got up in the night to go to the toilet – which is most likely true. He did well; in that case, as he would not have been aware he was in a “bunker bed” (as he called it) or where on earth the toilet might be in a strange new house. He did know that he would be at grandma & grandpa’s tho – so he could not have been unduly worried. Heck he would have let us know if he was worried.

UM… I will continue in less detailed mode about the holiday. Two reasons really; it would take too long, & my brain gets blury about such things anyway.

Another torturous journey back home from picking Jack up. A lot of, “No, don’t do that!” & “Stop that!” He refuses to listen to instruction at the moment & the last straw was his messing about with the rock-salt/grit in the salt bin at the top of the stairs from Harley to Ryod Street. I grabbed him by the back collar & frog marched him home. He was forced to sit inside for 10 minutes. Eve pottered along behind us like there was nothing unusual about me forcing a crying older brother home.
He gets over things very quickly. Oh, & we had another run in later on. He drew on Eve’s hand with a felt tip pen & then denied it. It was plainly obvious that he had. He looked me in the eye & said that he had not, but he was lying, he smirked & leant forward as he looked me in the eye. I took the pen off him for lying, not for drawing on Eve’s hand… He burst into tears. Louise was a bit mad at me for that as she says she would have let that slip, as she thinks he knows that we know he is lying. I do not like lying at all (probably because I’ve never been any good at it). I am not completely convinced this level of complicity exists, but it is the first time he has lied to me like that, & I wanted to ensure that I make it clear that I do not accept such things. I guess I’m much more absolute than Louise. He got the pen back quite quickly as he said that he would be good. He managed to write a nice list of names of name of people to invite to his birthday party.
The kids went off to sleep at a proper time. It’s funny how when they do that you feel so much more enthusiastic about the evening. I managed to get a bit of painting done in the attic & some important clearing up. Small but useful progress.

Was going to do some attic painting last night – but it was 9:30 before I surfaced from the kids room (urg). They were not for sleeping last night. Eve ended up in Jack’s bed & Jack ended up in Eve’s bed. It might have been a coming storm that did it. As I Louise nudged me awake (I’d fallen asleep with them as usual) it was bucketing down outside. You could hear the water sloshing down the back street. It’s difficult to be really certain, but it seems like the attic wall is not getting any wetter – the leak may be cured! I just wish it would actually dry out – then we’d be sure.
Jack called just the once in the night, but I think that was more because he had kicked off the cover & needed it back. He went straight back to sleep.
A week today we’ll hopefully be headed off on holiday.

I forgot to mention last week how well Jack has been sleeping of recent. He went 4 days last week without waking in the night; 5, if you count Saturday. Unfortunately he was reluctant to go to sleep on Saturday night. Not really sure why. He might have rested on the train back from Elaine’s… or something, I dunno. I read to him until I had to take a crying Jude from the room. Jude calmed down, but Jack protested as I calmed him, so Louise came up & read to Jack for a bit. Louise left him just about asleep, but he was not, so he called out again. I went up & stayed with him a bit. He drowsed, & then checked to see if I was there, drowsed some more etc. I eventually fell asleep, so he found there was no need to check on me. I think it was after 10 before I returned from my doze. I often do this falling asleep with him thing. Next day Jack was … challenging. He gave me such a stare when I told him not to do something. A real, ‘how dare you?’ look, to which I replied, “how dare you?”
He was in for playing up, being silly & antagonistic when he was with us. He spent a great deal of the morning out & about playing with Jessie & his big brother Frank. Plants & ants & bikes & trucks. Eve was tagging along merrily as well. On the way back from the supermarket Jack managed to antagonise us enough to get himself ‘grounded’. You are not playing out for the rest of the day – you have to stay inside. And thus the conversation ran, most of the way home:
“Am not.”
“You are.”
“Am not.”
“You are.”
“Am not.”
“You are.”
“Am not.”
“You are.”
etc.
Eventually he realised it was not a game & started crying.
You then feel like a heel, but he would not be in this position if he paid attention to what we said. Due warning was given many times. He asked later in the evening “Why was I grounded?”

Jude is very nearly rolling himself over. He’s rolling himself onto his side, so it’s only a matter of time now. He’s quite a happy vocal boy. He will smile at anyone who smiles at him, usually letting out a little ‘James Brown’ squeal/scream of delight. Another slightly odd thing is that he has on just a couple occasions seemed to ‘parrot’ a word or sound. It’s a bit early for this sort of thing, but Louise & I have noticed it on different occasions, in that you say something & he repeats it. Probably just coincidence, but they are different noises to his usual squeals.

Off to the park after school yesterday. The weather was doing a good imitation of a hot summer’s day & I my skin tingles this morning to let me know I caught the sun. My head also pulses to let me know I’m probably still a bit dehydrated… ug. Eve was in a happy little pottering mood & was playing quite well on her own. Jack had his bike, but hung around as school pals Harvey & Flo (twins) were about. Jack partook of a little tree climbing with Harvey – got stuck once & got told ‘not to’ quite frequently as we were concerned that they would damage the (young) trees.
Right, well, I have a ‘thinking’ problem this morning. I’m stuck in mental 1st gear…. although, some might argue…

Mud
Jack was in a ‘naughty mood’ yesterday. He seemed to concede such later in the evening. I’m not sure why he was, but the admission indicated a definite awareness that he was being so. Getting home from school did not go well again. He wanted to be carried again, & for a near 5 year old, it seems a tad daft.
I have to carry Eve to a certain extent, as I do not usually take her reigns with me when I set off. She often would rather not be carried. Jack sees this as all grossly unfair, I’m sure, & acts accordingly. I refuse & he shouts & bawls. [note from next day: – there was more to say, but I ran out of time.]

Have proper bags under my eyes again this morning. Up to late doing a spot of decorating with Louise.
Well – Jude does not have a cough in his chest – although he sounds wheezy, it’s all ‘in the head’. Eve does not have a heart murmur, but there is no diagnosis as yet as to why she seems to go a little blue-lipped occasionally. The Dr commented that she had dark rings on her eyes – which is something we hadn’t really noticed. She wants to give her a blood test, but being new to the practice (apparently) she wants to check with the health visitor & a pediatrician 1st (I think that’s what Louise said). She took Louise seriously, which was good – Louise did not feel that she was facing skepticism over what we were saying, perhaps because the Health Visitor had assured the Dr that we were not wastrels? We’ve also been given direction if Eve seems to do the same again. All in all a positive step forward.
Everyone was in the park when I got home – which was a bit weird. I didn’t know where anyone was, but I suspected, & went looking. When we got back Jack pestered & pestered to have the stabalisers taken off his bike. I wonder what put it in his head? I was not willing to start with as the brake is in an awful position for him to be able to effectively use it. Andy – our good neighbour adjusted it for us (so now I know how to). Now all I need is a spanner that fits that bolt. Jack woke before I left for work again this morning. The 1st thing he asked was whether I would take the stabalisers off today…

Train home. Train strike day – so not the usual trains. But pleasantly surprised to have a table seat – woo! Typing in comfort.
Feeling relaxed, but then I have not been thrashing myself to get things done. Underlying guilt, but no underlying stress.
Still nothing on whether I can have a holiday at the end of the month – so that I can attend that comics convention – but at least I remembered to chase up about it today.
Voted yesterday. It’s a shame that the Tories aren’t withering away & dying, but then the that would be the only glimmer of joy in the cynical, but grimly determined view I have of all this. I feared Maggie Thatcher might die before these (or any) election as it might bring out sympathy vote – terrifying thought.
Eve seems to be losing the whinging streak she had a bit – which is quite a relief for such a loud lass, & we have avoided mentioning that we are not going to Elaine & Kyle’s tomorrow to Jack – so he might still think we are going. We cannot – due to the train strike.
Jude most certainly seem to be teething. He tries to stuff his fist into his mouth to chew it. 3 months seems a little early, but then Jack cut his 1st teeth at 4 months. It does seem to drive him to distraction sometimes & he has chomped on my finger with such vigor he’s managed to hurt me a couple if times. Oh – & he drools a lot – but then babies do that.