iRant, iRave

The big storms have reached Pudsey just in time to wake the wee man mid nap so Im in for a fun afternoon.

optical amplifier

Sitting at the table just now chatting with a babbling Duncan who is demolishing his toasty starting with the crusts. Last night was the first night in months he spent all of sound asleep in his cot although he did refuse to go to sleep until 1am. Most of the time it’s a teething related issue that wakes him up so we can’t really complain too much. Numbers 9 and 10 are about half way through with 11 and 12 threatening to make an imminent appearance at the bottom.

It’s rather odd looking at him and definitely seeing a wee boy looking back at us and not so much of a baby anymore. He isn’t walking just yet but there’s no rush and he isn’t far off. On a good day he can hold his balance for few seconds then realises what he’s doing and panics. Everyday he seems to attempt a new sign and it is quite amazing at how much we can see he understands.

We have to go pick up Rob from work sometime between 9 and 10pm and one evening he was running a bit later than he thought he would so we are sat waiting in the car park. I told Duncan (with the signs as well as speech) that we were waiting on daddy and then going home. About 10 minutes later Rob gets into the car and Duncan signs home. Ahhhh parental pride.

And for certain he is a daddy’s boy. All hell breaks loose on a Monday afternoon so I think we will drop the arts and craft class we started going to a couple of weeks ago. Daddy rage mixed with over stimulation from about 15 other kids of varying ages is not fun for either of us. Rest of the week is taken up with baby signing, a music group and swimming. Swimming is probably the activity that sits with him best because he doesn’t get the chance to get bored. Far too busy chasing balls and ducks, playing with the watering cans, flirting with the lifeguards, going under water and trying to crawl away from me before I help him jump in.

Anyway must be off. Time for petits filous so accidental missiles are a distinct possibility as he loads up his own spoon. Take cover!

So we’re getting there – slowly – but still vaguely on track. Bathroom will be finished tomorrow apart from the sanding and varnishing of the floor which can wait (cheers Mum for helping with the painting). Kitchen has a bit left still but is perfectly useable. Just painting to be done before hanging the cabinet doors (thanks Dad for getting the tiling done). Boiler is in, fitted and doing a darn good job of keeping the house toasty. Living room needs painted and the skirting put on but the new gas fire is in. Like I said it’s all getting there.

Duncan on the other hand is asserting his authority already by being difficult and refusing to turn head down so on Thursday morning it’s yet another trip to Leeds General Infirmary to be scanned and they will see if they have enough room and fluid in there to attempt to turn him manually. Success rate at LGI is only about 35% so not a lot I can do but wait and see and certainly no point in getting wound up about it. Rob’s Mum said he only turned days before he was born at 42 weeks so maybe Duncan’s just taking after his Dad.

Otherwise Duncan is fine. His measurements are all now “normal” but they still reckon he’s on the large side (probably the Edie in him)  and of course he spends many a day kicking the cr*p out of me. We’ve got most of what (we think) we need and the rest will be obtained shortly.

And now off we go to the blue tin box of hell (that’s IKEA – the description works for every one) with the intention of only buying what we need and the usual dangers of being sucked into the world of yes I need this weird looking thingamy that does nowt in particular but I must have!

…….or not.

Well on Friday evening we got snow and we got snow in a big way. Must have started around 5 or 6 pm. went to pickup Rob and his brother from work leaving the house about 9.15pm. By then the roads were covered in about an inch and a half of snow with a nice layer of ice underneath and not a single road had been gritted which was great fun considering when you leave my house you have a choice of either uphill or along a bit and uphill or round the corner and uphill. So over to Morley I went at the impressive speed of 20 mph and then down the M621 at 30. Other drivers seemed to be going faster down the motorway but they didn’t have a wee micra with three people inside. Playing spot the gritter provided some irony; the first I saw on the way to Morley but was going in the opposite direction towards Tong/Bradford whilst the second on the way home ended up being behind me.

Earlier that evening got a bit of a surprise after getting an IM from Mike (Niles not Edie) saying Matt was trying to get hold of me. Long story short – after over sleeping due to a blinding headache we bundled ourselves into a freezing cold car and drove down to Cheshire for a birthday dinner at Matt’s mums place. They live in a converted windmill now – totally mad. Dinner was consumed, alcohol drunk, cigars smoked and poker was played (badly by me) at the top of the windmill so a good time was had by all. No photos as we left the camera home but there is always next time.