belgianwaffle

Mr. Waffle

Sleeping Patterns


Posted in: Middle Child, Mr. Waffle, Twins, Youngest Child

Michael will only sleep in a parentÂ’’s arms, preferably mine.  Ideally he likes to sleep with his little gums clenched to my breast.  I feel like an enormous soother.  Last night he wailed until brought into bed with us.  Mr. Waffle had earlier been complaining that the bed was clammy (I refuse to change the sheets more than once a week. Who am I? Jackie Kennedy?*  Did baby vomit ever hurt anyone?) ““Obviously, Michael doesn’Â’t find it clammy,” ” I said. ““HeÂ’’s no judge,”” retorted my loving spouse, ““10 weeks ago he was floating around in amniotic fluid”.”

Daniel loves the mobile that hangs over the cot and whenever it is turned on he laughs with delight.  He tends to wake up once or twice a night, eat and go back to sleep.  One night when I
went to rescue a wailing Michael from the cot (What am I doing here? Take me to the clammy bed this instant! WhereÂ’s my enormous dummy?), I noticed that Daniel was wide awake as well
and instead of wailing he was smiling benignly up at the cot mobile.  Clearly, he’Â’s an easy to please middle child.

* My mother says that she had her sheets changed twice a day.  Well, wouldn’t you, if you were married to JFK?

Comments

Bobble

on 07 December 2005 at 10:28

Waffly you never cease to amaze. If your hubby thinks you are the inimitable Jackie-O it’s time to ask for a bigger dress / spa / sunglasses allowance x

giftofthegab

on 07 December 2005 at 19:17

twice a day????

kristin

(Homepage)

on 08 December 2005 at 02:25

i heard that was when she was with Ari. Which, really, just echoes your point, Waffley, about wouldn’t you want to change the sheets if you were married to jfk — well, all the more so if you’re married to an extremely small, extremely wrinkly greek shipping magnate.

Beth

(Homepage)

on 08 December 2005 at 14:40

I don’t know what you are talking about, my sheets are pristine. The duvet, however, is covered in vomit. I wonder what Jackie O’s policy on duvets was?

belgianwaffle

on 08 December 2005 at 15:11

Beth, I am wild with envy. Cannot say what the policy on duvets was..
Kristin, can’t help feeling that JFK was more likely to have been romping about in the marital bed with third parties, whatcha reckon?
GOTG, see previous.
Bobble, you are so kind, I think this is an outstanding suggestion.
Teverde, SECOND chicken little? You deserve danger money.

beachhutman

on 08 December 2005 at 21:58

Now on THIS one I’m with Mr W.

belgianwaffle

on 09 December 2005 at 08:15

Hmm, what’s everybody’s problem with clammy?

Halting the Cycle of Inter-Generational Trauma


Posted in: Family, Mr. Waffle, Princess

When Mr. Waffle was 7, his parents moved to Venezuela for six months.  I was looking at the pictures from Venezuela with him and his mother one day and there was one of him in a rather twee t-shirt featuring a little boy and girl fishing together.  “Oh yes,” he said bitterly “my ‘gone wishing’ t-shirt”. On closer inspection, the words “gone wishing” did indeed feature in faded letters over the picture on the t-shirt.  It appeared that because they were only in Venezuela for 6 months, his mother had not considered it necessary to get all the kit required by the school and instead of the regulation gym t-shirt, she had issued Mr. Waffle with the “gone wishing” number.  This had obviously scarred his sensitive soul.

Please bear this incident in mind when considering the following piece of dialogue.

Me:  It says on her school list that we have to get her a “tablier”, what the hell is that?

Him: Kind of a smock thing, but we can just cut down one of my old shirts.

Me:  But it gives the name of the shop where we can buy them…

Him:  But there’s no need, one of my old shirts will be fine.

Me: But she won’t have a smock like the other children.

Him: But, for heaven’s sake, it doesn’t matter, it’s only to keep her clothes clean when she’s painting.

You will be delighted to hear that, in defiance of my husband, I went to the authorised supplier and purchased a tablier, pictured below.

Seriously, would a cut down shirt have done?  Please note the pencils and paintbrushes embroidered above the pocket before giving your answer.

UndercoverCookie

on 05 December 2005 at 11:00

but what if she turns out to be only kid in the tablier and all the other kids are in cut down shirts? 0
Sweetie(s) given    

kristin

(Homepage)

on 05 December 2005 at 15:33

ROARING with laughter over cookie’s comment. but you would think that mr. waffle would be more sympathetic, given the Gone Wishing incident.

Friar Tuck

on 05 December 2005 at 15:42

You’ll spoil her rotten, you will. But the smile makes it all worthwhile.

LondonMom

on 05 December 2005 at 21:36

Simply fab!

belgianwaffle

on 06 December 2005 at 15:21

Bobble, right as ever.
UC, you have a very cruel streak and you too Kristin.
Ta, FT, LondonM. 0
Sweetie(s) given    

StarCorner

on 06 December 2005 at 20:20

Nope – Mr W’s old shirt would not have looked as cute as this!! 0
Sweetie(s) given    

belgianwaffle

on 07 December 2005 at 09:28

That’s right Star, excellent comment. 0
Sweetie(s) given    

Peggy

(Homepage)

on 07 December 2005 at 12:25

An old tee-shirt, even in adult size, would not have covered her sleeves as much as this lovely tablier does.

belgianwaffle

on 08 December 2005 at 15:08

And you’re Belgian, Peggy, so your advice is obviously correct, I intend to draw my husband’s attention to this very important point this evening. 0
Sweetie(s) given    

beachhutman

on 08 December 2005 at 21:57

Nope. ALWAYS get the kit the others have, as long as the overdraft can stand it…..
I remember the shame all too well
A. Man. 0
Sweetie(s) given    

belgianwaffle

on 09 December 2005 at 08:16

Yeah, parents can be very cruel. 0
Sweetie(s) given    

Turning into my Husband


Posted in: Mr. Waffle, Princess

The other morning I found that Mr. Waffle had drawn a map of the supermarket and indicated
on it where all the items we needed were to be found.  I scoffed. I chucked it out.

Then on Saturday morning as I traipsed around the supermarket with Little Ms. Cranky and found that I had forgotten to get garlic in the vegetable section and wipes in the baby bit, I began to wish that I had the supermarket map. What on earth is this happening to me?

All quiet on the home front


Posted in: Middle Child, Mr. Waffle, Princess, Twins, Youngest Child

The boys were 2 months old yesterday. They weigh 5.3 and 4 kilos respectively. Daniel only woke up once last night. Michael stayed awake all night muttering darkly about a cold his father has given him. We have received in the post two very nice tops for the boys and a blank card. Was it you? Did you send us these tops?

It snowed over the weekend. The Princess was entranced. Her father took her to the circus which was ok but not as exciting as the light wand thingy L’s father bought her.

I would like to second Negrito’s review of the Belga Queen and add that seeing these toilets for the first time when you are nine months pregnant is enough to give you heart failure.

Comments

Minkleberry

on 28 November 2005 at 17:42

happy 2 months boys! 0
Sweetie(s) given ???

JoJo

on 28 November 2005 at 20:58

would it be really awful of me to claim responsibility for those tops, making myself look, simultaneously, like an amazingly generous, giving woman and a fashion guru for 2-month old boys?
It would?
Damn. 0
Sweetie(s) given ???

belgianwaffle

on 29 November 2005 at 15:49

FT, wise. Ta Minks. Why, Jojo, thank you for your tasteful gift. 0
Sweetie(s) given ???

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Long Night


Posted in: Middle Child, Mr. Waffle, Princess, Twins, Youngest Child

The remainder of the night went as follows:
12.30 FINALLY persuade the boys to go to sleep for the night.
1.30 Well, not for the night, obviously, feed them again and pray.
2.30 Boys wake up again and are anxious to play.
3.30 Boys wake up again and are fed.
4.50 Princess wakes up and demands a bottle and that I lie beside her.  As I am singing “rock a bye baby” hear roaring from our bedroom. Finish “rock a bye baby” and depart.
5.00 Feed the boys AGAIN and hope that they will now sleep.
5.30 Boys are drifting off to sleep.  Realise that I cannot remember the last time I changed them. Change them and wake them up. Castigate myself for extreme idiocy.
6.00 Boys finally go to sleep.
7.00 Princess wakes for the day and promptly prods her brothers awake.

Comments

NorahSplog

on 23 November 2005 at 12:58

I’m tired just reading that.

Minkleberry

on 23 November 2005 at 15:02

Oh lordy. Huge amounts of sympathy.

on 23 November 2005 at 15:57

Gulp. I’m sure you’re fed up with the “how do you do it?” comments but – how do you do it?

poggle

on 23 November 2005 at 17:22

And she still finds the energy to blog. Now that’s true dedication.

kristin

(Homepage)

on 24 November 2005 at 02:21

Oh dear. If i weere a 20six-er, i could give you a bunch of sweeties, but since i’m not, i’ll just hand you a cool cloth for your head. and possibly your bb’s. and i know you don’t celebrate, but it’s thanksgiving day here, tomorrow, so just be glad you won’t be called upon to do all of the above and produce a 20-lb turkey with all the fixins. kisses and sleeping pills for all. ???

belgianwaffle

on 24 November 2005 at 09:12

Wow, a sweetie bonanza. Thank you ladies and, er, ladies. Hunter came home from the neighbouring Grand Duchy last night and was greeted with ecstasy.

Morning Tribulations


Posted in: Mr. Waffle, Princess

Since we got back from holidays, I’Â’ve spent a lot of time at home communing with my couch. Saintly Mr. Waffle has taken the Princess in and out to the creche. This is a bit stressful for him because it means that his working hours are somewhat curtailed. Friday morning was particularly trying. He couldnÂ’’t sleep and arose at 5.15 to do some work (I know, extraordinary and somewhat alarming dedication). Madam woke at 7.15. Following a lengthy breakfast, some story reading, a little drawing, some dancing and some running around the house to get her dressed, she and Mr. Waffle finally left for the creche at 9.00. I thought that he was going to have a heart attack. I may have mentioned that I am married to the only punctual Irish man and he really HATES being late for work. I heaved a sigh of relief. Two minutes later, an upset husband and a serene toddler re-entered the premises. Apparently, no sooner had she sat into the car than she announced “I want to do a poo”. I sat her on the pot with some trepidation; if she doesn’Â’t produce this poo, we could all die horribly. You will be delighted to hear that all was well and at 9.15, a mere four hours after getting up, my loving spouse was able to depart for work.