Gremlin’s Fireside Chat

My daughter Maeve is 2 years 5 months old and is getting bigger, bolder and smarter. I have just heard Maeve recite perfectly the whole ABC song from A through Z perfectly. No too sure she understands what the alphabet is but it is impressive. Not only that Maeves music tastes are evolving; We know this because she deliberately tries to learn the words to tunes so she can sing along. For example she is a big fan of “Lady GaGa” and knows the words of “poker face”. He english comprehension and speech are progressing in leaps and bounds.

There is too much bad news in world today. With the terrible gun rampage in the UK its nice to see something nice.

Here is a heart warming and tribute to modern science – the moment a deaf 8 month baby got to first hear from a set of implanted cochlear implants.

You can see and feel the joy on all sides when he reacts to his moms voice for the first time.

Live long and prosper little one.

I love this You tube video and showed it to my big Iron-Man and Robot fan Maeve aged 2 Years 3 months old.

Her first comment was more… again!!! Her next one one was “its Maeve”.

My Daughter the super smart super hero.

The Irish National Archives have today released the 1901 Irish Census – and I could not help but take a dive and have a look at my mothers side of the Bartleys. I knew that in 1911 they lived in Whistlemount just outside Navan. The census results for 1911 shows :

My Grandfather Joseph (a kindly but tough and pious man) is the 7 year old mentioned and his Parents are Joseph and Jane.

In 1901 in the same place both Joseph and Jane are mentioned:

But Joseph’s parents Pater and Kate are there also along with Joseph’s and Jane’s daughter Eliza aged 2 months. Eliza must have died at a young age (May the Lord have mercy on her soul) but isn’t in the 1911 one.

You will also note that Joseph is in 1911 aged 40 and in 1901 is 25! From the scan of the census record I see that the age entry for Joseph is in a different ink than the rest. I wonder what the story was for this..

Last Night Maeve had her first nightmare – well the first we recognized as such. Maeve has been a bit “clingy” of late because of a couple of instances where she has wandered off in shops. You all know what happens you bend down to pick something up and by the time you stand up the wee one has gone – talk about panic by the parent but it must be much much worse for the baby concerned. You know you are little, not too sure about the world and then mommy and daddy are not there. Anyway Maeve did a disappearing act in a shop for a few seconds yesterday and it really must have spooked her since afterwards she was sullen, quiet and clingy. Maeve would not allow me out of her sight.

Getting her to bed was a real problem and soon after she went to sleep I heard moans and little cries – I went into her bedroom and saw she was asleep but restless turning over frequently. Maeve soon woke up and stood up for a hug. After a hug I took her into bed, Maeve snuggled up for re-assurance. I think Maeve was remembering the feeling of being abandoned. Poor lass.