Gremlin’s Fireside Chat

Potty training at the creche has paid off. Although my daughter has been dragging me to the toilet help her “turn on the light” and “lift her” onto the baby toilet seat cover for a while now; but yesterday was the first time the call for “wee wee” actually resulted in some of the afore mentioned stuff. The funny thing was she was so proud at doing it – as well she should.

I am continuously amazed at how fast she picks things up like words and phrases and has figured out that when I pick up my wallet it usually means I am leaving the house – so she rushes off to put on her shoes and coat (which she can do at 2 years 1 month old) so she can come along.

Its the end of February and my wife is off on her usual monthly business trip to Germany. Naturally this means I do the crèche run – no problem.

Well today on the way home Maeve showed off her new comprehension skills regarding what people say. I know that the crèche have been undertaking word-and-picture flash cards recently because my wife mentioned it and Maeve has been using more and more words like “shower”,”bath”,”fish” and so on recently. Well as I said we were driving on the way home – Maeve in the back – and I said “What is Maeve doing?” to which she replied in clear English “Picking Nose”. True enough when I was looking in the mirror she was well engrossed with that task. A little while later my 2 year old said “Where’s Mommy?” to which I replied “Mommies in Germany for a few days”. A few seconds later Maeve used for the first time the one word that can cause no end of problems – “Why”. “Why” she said … “Because mommy works for a German company” …. “Why” …. “Because she needs to meet people in Germany” … “why” …. and so on. It’s fantastic Maeve understands the meaning of the word “why” and has an inquisitive mind; but I can see that there are going to be some long conversations as she gets older that I need to do some planning for – especially for those uncomfortable questions about why she cannot do something (drink, drive etc) whilst we can.

The clock is ticking and the ticks are getting louder.

I had intended when I started out this blog to talk about more “professional” and technical things about life as an independent software developer contractor, but as my wife pointed out recently my blog is more of an adoration site about our daughter Maeve and her growing up. This is of course true, and I make no apologies for this turn of events. I just love being a father. I know its “not manly” and seems to go against modern “post feminist” thinking, but the truth is I love my daughter and feel no shame about showing it.

Well today we will be off to visit my mom and sister in Meath. Mom has just been released from hospital after a nasty chest infection – TBTG – and its time we made a visit. No doubt Maeve will show them her new verbal skills (more and longer sentences), her ability to put on her own shoes and something which has struck me as odd. Maeve has been trying to write. OK all kids like trying to scribble with a pen on any piece of paper (or surface) she can find. Maeve this week has obviously been writing along the lines of a note pad (just above like when you write) with squiggles small enough not to cross the line above and in groups with space between them. The squiggles are just that – no written words – but they obviously are Maeve’s attempts in that a lot of the “words” in the squiggles are circular joined up shapes and look like some foreign language if you did not know better. The other odd thing is she is writing all this in a right-to-left fashion. Don’t know what that means, but I do remember as a child when I was learning to “write proper” thinking that writing right-to-left was so much more natural and easier than left-to-right.

Okay its time to sign off and enjoy a love hot mug of coffee and a slice of meat loaf I made last night.

The First Cuppa
—————–

Black Liquid Gold, Slowly cooling on the table top.
Whispy tendrels of pungent aroma waft through the morning air.
Warmth Leeches into my soul, as I watch a world awakening to another day.
Life Feels Good.

Maeve, as readers of this blog will know is a little charmer and smart. When I went to pick her up from the creche on Friday she insisted in carrying her own (and fairly heavy day bag); every time I tried to help she slapped my wrist with a curt “No Daddy”. Its nice to know she is such an independent little girl who warms my heart because everytime I collect her at the creche I hear her squeal with delight shouting “Daddy” as she runs over into my arms and wraps her arms around my neck and planting her cheek firmly against mine. Sometimes if I am really lucky she will grab my ears and pulls me close for a wet kiss on my cheeks – she has picked up this continental kissing of both cheeks from somewhere. Anyway I am content with life.

Here is a picture of Maeve at the creche in a Jacket we picked up in New York a couple of years ago and everyone seems to like – I have been stopped in the street and asked about it even.

Saturday, my wife being away on business, Maeve and I met up with Will in toen. Will was one of the grooms-man at my wedding, and although we talk fairly frequently – usually via IM – we have not met face-to-face for at least a year (maybe two); Will splits his living between Fermoy and Dublin, and whilst in Dublin its at the other end of the city from from us in Donabate. Yes, I KNOW that is NO EXCUSE but life is life and matching our schedules and children is well problematical at the best of times. I digress. We arranged to meet up in the excellent Yammamori Noodles in Dublin Maeve in tow. Will and I shared various parts of our meal with Maeve – who in copying me – insisted on using chop sticks. To both Will and my amazement she managed to use them – something that took me a while to master – although I will admit she used the chopsticks to impale the chicken fragments and carrots before moving to her mouth, Maeve did however use two chopsticks to “shovel” rice from the plate to her mouth. Not bad for a two year old. Here is a picture of Maeve just after she has shovelled some food into her mouth with the chopsticks.