Did you know that twins suck each other’s thumbs? Or noses, or shoulders, or whatever happens to be in range. They weigh nearly12 kilos between them now. That’s a lot of baby to be hefting round.
They are developing personalities. Daniel is a big baby with an amiable grin and relaxed manner who reminds me forcibly of his uncle (my feckless brother – I foresee a lifetime of getting extra keys cut). He looks very like his big sister and moves like she did at his age (why should I hold my head up? No, really, why? I don’t intend to crawl until I reach 11 months).
Michael is a very different child. Unlike the Princess and Daniel,he is not a bald baby (how extraordinary). He loves having his legs bicycled and already puts weight on his legs,an ominous sign that he may walk early. Where did we get an athletic baby from? Unlike his older and bigger brother he believes that sleep is for wimps but he is a lot more amiable on his four hours a night than I suspect Margaret Thatcher ever was. Â I, however, am finding the regime challenging and, of course, the Princess likes to add her mite. I am sure you can imagine the joy in the Waffle household when after a night awake with the boys, the Princess knocked on our bedroom door at 6.02 this morning.
kristin
(Homepage)
on 21 January 2006 at 15:54
look at those contented visages! what happy boys they seem.
on 22 January 2006 at 14:54
Sez – afternoon nap, you say? Ha ha ha (come on, join in waffly) ha ha ha. 
on 23 January 2006 at 01:52
ahhh. So cute!!
on 23 January 2006 at 09:10
Sez, Jojo is right as ever. Kristin, Berry, thank you.
Minus a Buggy, Plus a Hat
Is it any wonder with all this sleep deprivation, that I left the Princess’s buggy behind me at the tram stop this morning? She was a bit distressed but I reassured her that it would be there when we got back. My faith was misplaced. Who the hell takes a 20 euro supermarket buggy from the tram stop? Fortunately, she is not old
enough to be embarrassed by her mother inquiring in neighbouring cafes whether anyone had handed in a buggy. No, nobody had.
However, to restore your faith in human nature, let me tell you the following heart-warming tale. Outside the church we go to, there is a group of regular beggars. The Princess and I have built up a special relationship with one of the beggars, a very nice man, who is always very sweet to our girl. This morning, it was perishing and I had forgotten to bring along a hat for her highness. Our friend was very concerned about this and insisted on giving her his hat. I was against this for a range of reasons, some of them worthy (the poor man will be frozen, we have lots of hats at home, we can afford more hats), some of them distinctly less so (where has that hat been and what is the bizarre smell?). However, my attempts at refusal were scuppered by madam who clutched it in her little hand and clamped it on her head. He says that we can give it back to him next week. You will be relieved to know that he confirms that he has another hat at home.
Comments
kristin
(Homepage)
on 22 January 2006 at 18:13
i sympathize deeply with the cosleeping. we have recently given up on bedtime, as such, because after 3 years, one thing we have learned is that the child will not sleep according to any schedule of our making. the new schedule involves lettting her drop off in a parental bed, where she sleeps like a lamb for 8 hours. yes, it only took us 3 years to just give in.
beachhutman
on 22 January 2006 at 22:38
Alas, it was a seven years stretch in our case. Ultimately disasterous. Get them BACK in that cot! 0
Sweetie(s) given
Friar Tuck
on 22 January 2006 at 23:56
I am imagining a hatless beggar pushing a pram full of his belongings around Bxls.
Berry
on 23 January 2006 at 01:55
I just came across your blog today and you got it going! How you manage so well with 3! I only have one whose sick at the moment and can’t imagine what it must be like.
You’re little ones are too cute!
belgianwaffle
on 23 January 2006 at 09:14
Phoebejo?
Kristin, BHM, I see you give conflicting advice, but I feel that there is something in what the BHM says.
FT, well, yes..
Berry, you are kind, I’d rather have 3 well ones than one sick one,hope that your mite is feeling better. 0
Sweetie(s) given
JoJo
on 23 January 2006 at 14:37
Indeed! Hope you had a better night last night chuck.
Minkleberry
on 23 January 2006 at 19:54
Jimi has taken to swearing in a lullaby voice when Seth snuffles awake in the wee hours. I find it oddly comforting and it sends me right off to sleep.
I wonder the damage to the poor boys psyche..
belgianwaffle
on 25 January 2006 at 08:50
Thanks Jojo. Minks, I LOVE that!
In an effort to persuade the Princess to give Cinderella a little time off, we have
been doing some work with Snow White.
Me: But Snow White wasnÂ’t really dead, it was just that the poisoned apple had stuck in
her throat. When the handsome prince
kissed her, he dislodged the piece of apple and Snow White woke up.
Mr. W (sotto voce): That’Â’s some kiss.
on 23 January 2006 at 16:55
That prince had high aspirations. ���
on 23 January 2006 at 20:43
Just harmless musing… Still, makes a fella wonder… 0
Sweetie(s) given ���
on 27 January 2006 at 09:07
Front of the classroom, pog, where I can keep my eye on you.. 0
Sweetie(s) given ���
on 31 January 2006 at 14:09
And stop chewing that revolting gum. 0
Sweetie(s) given ���
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Sleep Patterns
Update: Met Mr. Waffle for lunch, he says that he hopes, over time, to reach a point where he can hold up his little finger and Daniel will instantly fall asleep.
Comments
Friar Tuck
on 24 January 2006 at 15:39
You forgot to mention that Mr. W. soaks his finger in rum.
Minkleberry
on 25 January 2006 at 08:37
Good old Daniel-thats some magic finger. 0
Sweetie(s) given
belgianwaffle
on 25 January 2006 at 08:51
I know people (though not about the rum FT), fingers crossed and all that. Another full night for young Daniel last night. 0
Sweetie(s) given
Bobble
on 25 January 2006 at 18:58
Hurrah! 0
Sweetie(s) given
belgianwaffle
on 27 January 2006 at 09:07
I know, Bobble, and four days later, he’s still at it. 0
Sweetie(s) given
An Introduction to Social Injustice
When we were down town, we saw a woman and her daughter begging. The Princess wanted to know why they were sitting on the pavement and I said that they were poor and begging for money. I explained that not everybody was as lucky as us with a nice house and plenty of food to eat and nice clothes and toys. The Princess was fascinated. On the tram on the way home, she kept pointing at people and saying, very distinctly (and accurately), ““I think he’Â’s poor Mummy”.” Then she said to me, ““Mummy, you know, there are a lot of poor people at my school”. I
see social death approaching.
Mind you, it’Â’s not like I’Â’ve made friends with a lot of the mothers and fathers. I keep smiling in a hopeful way but they keep ignoring me. Yesterday, this woman was collecting her daughter who is in the PrincessÂ’s class. She has twin boys! Who are four months old! What a coincidence, would you like to chat about all the things we and our daughters have in common? Apparently not. She cut me dead and continued talking to her friends. I was crushed and reduced to thinking bad things about her poor dental work. Also she made having twins and a toddler look very easy and we all know that it is extremely difficult and I am fantastic to be
coping so well. Humph.
Comments
geepeemum
on 25 January 2006 at 11:53
She was probably being rude because she looks at you and wonders how she could ever in her wildest dreams cope as well as you do; clearly you make her feel inferior! (As indeed you should, given that she is a very rude lady)
Sweetie(s) given
Peggy
(Homepage)
on 25 January 2006 at 12:53
I agree with Geepeemum. And she might also think that you are another one of those rich expats.
Most important is that the Princess makes friends in her school.
jackdalton
on 25 January 2006 at 12:54
Don’t be crushed, ‘waf. People who do that sort of thing eventuually get what’s due…. silly old billy old cow.
[Her. Not you.]
Sweetie(s) given
belgianwaffle
on 27 January 2006 at 09:06
Pog, am sure you are right. Oooh, I like that GPM. Peggy, rich expats are people too. Sniff. Still no friends though. I suppose it has only been a fortnight.
JD, am glad you clarified that. 0
Sweetie(s) given
Madam’s teacher told me that she (the Princess) was a genius and miles
ahead of the other children (see, proof that hothousing works) and that
really she should go to the next class up but she wasn’t quite mature
enough.� However, she suggested that our immature genius should
spend a morning a week in the next class up and I basked in her
reflected glory.
When we got out the snow had, alas, got heavier.� The Princess was
beside herself with delight and ran around sticking out her tongue to
catch snowflakes.� While normally I would be charmed by this
behaviour, I was anxious to get home quickly before Michael got
hypothermia (Daniel was safely wrapped in blankets and a rain sheet in
the buggy).� I harried her along with middling success.�
About half way home she said “Mummy, I want to do a wee”.� “Can
you wait until we get home?”� Really I don’t know why I bothered
to ask.� Of course not.� We crouched down between two cars,
exposing the imperial bottom to the snow and also wetting the hem of
the imperial trousers, but better than the alternative, I
suppose.� Unfortunately, while crouching, I crushed Michael’s legs
(you will recall that he was in the sling) and he did not like this and
proceeded to bellow in indignation all the rest of the way home.�
The Princess blithely� ignored his protests and dawdled along.
By the time we finally got into the building, Michael had worked
himself into a state of near apoplexy.�� I put saintly,
sleeping Daniel in the lift and turned to the Princess and asked her to
get in.� I could barely hear her reply above Michael’s indignant
roars but I gathered from her hunched shoulders and the fact that she
was still sitting on the stairs that it was in the negative. �
Apparently she wanted to walk up the stairs.� I pointed out that I
could neither carry both boys up the stairs nor abandon them in the
hall.� “I bet you can” she said sulkily.� A protracted
negotiation session followed, Michael bawling the while and eventually
she consented to get into the lift.
At lunch she tasted and then rejected the following foods:� smoked
salmon, chicken, foie gras (stocks replenished and I know it’s
sub-optimal for the under 3s but I was desperate).� She eventually
consented to have “a little pasta with olive oil, Mummy”� and has
finally just gone for her nap.� Daniel still sleeps and Michael is
attached to me as I type but mercifully looking somnolent.� I
think that I will have a restorative cup of tea.
on 25 January 2006 at 14:03
You are a hero. And I’m slightly scared of the Princess’ wisdom. 0
Sweetie(s) given ���
on 25 January 2006 at 14:25
Would you like to adopt me because I’d love a little bit of foie gras or smoked salmon for lunch. I promise to get in the lift and not to pee in the street. 1
Sweetie(s) given ���
(Homepage)
on 25 January 2006 at 15:22
Oh dear, Waffley, have i told you recently how much i adore you? and the terribly clever princess, as well, of course. and the boys, crushed legs and all. Good luck achieving that cup of tea before another country is heard from. ���
on 26 January 2006 at 14:23
Careful. H is going to pee in the lift. 0
Sweetie(s) given ���
on 27 January 2006 at 09:10
You are kind newshoes and 2 sweeties to boot.
Aw, thanks Chintzy, you’d be even more scared of her, if you saw her dancing on the bed.
HJB, I’m tempted, and, no, pog, I’m sure she won’t pee in the lift, look she gave me a sweetie, nice Heather.
Kristin, ooh, it’s great to be popular on line if not in line at the school gates. Ta. 0
Sweetie(s) given ���
on 05 February 2006 at 23:59
Marvellous. It makes me appreciate my last years of having no children all the more. You rock. 0
Sweetie(s) given ���
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