Gremlin’s Fireside Chat

I have finally shaken what is commonly referred to as “the post holiday blues” and back in the harness of research and development. The memory of days baked in sunshine amongst fantastic mountain views are now but fond memories – although I am far from missing the swarm of mosquito’s who took me as a nice source of food.

Maeve progress has been sustained and steady. New words she understands are coming out thick and fast – yesterday it was “night, night” when she went to bed; and “mine”, “no way” and “go away” are in everyday use. Maeve is an independently spirited girl who loves to do things for herself. For example its almost impossible to put her in her travel seat and strap her in. You have to let her climb into the car and into the seat before she will allow you to strap her in.

Maeve tantrums have increased as expected – especially if she does not get her way.. hopefully the terrible twos won’t last for long. Things have improved somewhat by ensuring that she maintains her old routine by getting to bed by 9pm so she can get a good nights sleep before she awakes at 6am.

We started our family Bavarian holiday by flying out on the Dublin on Wednesday morning at 07:20 and after a couple of hours flight we arrived in Munich. Hiring a VW car from Hertz took an hour and the next time we come we will not use hertz since all the other providers had no queues. We are based in beautiful Bavarian town of Murnau.

Today we visited Neuschwanstein Castle and the beautiful rococo church at wieskirche. The castle is beautiful with fabulous views but is smaller than I expected but the whole thing is a tourist trap. The church is in the middle of no-where, a UNESCO heritage site and absolutely draw dropping.

Maeve is having a great time. One new skill Maeve has learnt is to ‘chink her beaker’ in a toast when our we offer. Civilized is what our daughter has become.

Fortunately Maeve has recovered from her virus and is back in the creche. Every day I notice new things about Maeve – like for example she can feed herself with spoon and fork. Her baby babble has increased a lot both in its range and its diversity; Maeve also tries to copy what you say. Maeve can also hold a pen in the right way for writing – as in how an adult would hold it and not like a crayon in her fist. Fine motor controls there daughter.

Maeve gave me her first “proper” kiss today – any by proper she pursed/puckered up her lips before kissing me good morning. Bernie explained that the creche had told her that Maeve was a part of a group of three girls (all who moved up to a bigger class together) were seen by the creche staff hugging each other and kissing – all very innocent and sweet for the smutty minded amongst you.

Today we spent visiting grandma, my sister and the Aoife the new born baby.

Maeve has contracted some unspecified viral infection (according to the Doctor); Maeve is running a temperature and has started having a rash. Today we know where she contracted it from and that poor baby has had it for a week and still out of the creche; This means that Maeve will be out for the week – causing chaos in her working mom and dads professional lives.

Yesterday her mom worked from home, today I did it.

Maeves has been pretty good. Her temperature varies between hot and normal. When she is “hot” she is thirsty and drinks a lot of fluid then falls asleep for an hour or so. When her temperature decreases she is back to her boisterous self happy and laughing. But its still a lot of work.

This evening, Maeve definitely threw her first temper tantrum. It came about after we gave her some chocolate and as with children it becomes caked all over her face and hands; at this point Maeve went to my wife for some comfort and cuddles – and the lovely lady my wife is, she provided; Only to become covered in chocolate slime. My wife was naturally unhappy at this and put Maeve down. Maeve came over to me and I said “don’t come to be me with that chocolate face” – and which she wailed and howled in an obvious tantrum, in her mind rejected by both her parents; Maeve stomped off into into her toy room and we saw her throwing her toys across the room and upturned her table howling her little head off.

Took ages to calm her down.

I noticed yesterday and today how tall Maeve is growing … I am not too sure exactly how tall Maeve is, but she can now open doors (just), peek over the bed matress, and peek over the fire-guard. What really brought it home was changing Maeves nappy this morning.

The first nappy change of the day is usually undertaken on the changing board that sits on the top of the cot Maeve sleeps in. When we first got the cot 17 months ago Maeve was barely bigger than my hand and was barely an “island” in the “ocean” that was the changing board. Now Maeve fills the board and her legs pops over the end of the board.

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