belgianwaffle

Middle Child

Put Upon


Posted in: Middle Child, Princess, Twins, Youngest Child

Parent 1: I’m going to clean the kitchen.
Parent 2: Yes, why don’t you have a little break?

Other things that now constitute a little break: putting out the bins, washing teeth, having a shower.

Comments
If you want a holiday, I have a lot of housework to be done…

Bobble
Waffly, you have my utmost respect and admiration x

giftofthegab
and he’s still alive? mine politely suggested i tend to some laundry of his this morning. i am plotting his downfall as we speak.
Diva
Men are barking mad! ;o)

belgianwaffle
A number of you are making sexist assumptions in relation to who said what..

poggle
But are they right?

belgianwaffle
Um, yeah, but he does the laundry..

poggle
Gotcha. Hee hee.

sarcastic journalist
(Homepage)
Break in my house also constitutes going to the grocery store.

belgianwaffle
Smart pog.
SJ, that IS a break.

Lilo
I’m the same – and I’d add having a pee to my ‘having a little break’ list.

belgianwaffle
You get to go on your own???

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.

Telephone Etiquette


Posted in: Middle Child, Siblings, Twins, Youngest Child

My sister and I spoke on the phone during the week.

Round I

Me:  You’re on speaker and the phone is on my knee.

Her: Why?

Me (triumphantly): Because I have a baby on each breast – Oh God!

Her: What? What?

Me: I dropped Michael.

Her: Oh God!

Me: Not very far and on to the sofa, he didn’t like it much though.

Daniel poos.

Me:  Did you hear that?

Her:  I was trying to ignore it.

Me: That was your nephew doing a poo.

Her: Too much information.

Me: But my life is full of poo at the moment.

Her (tartly): But mine doesn’t have to be.

Me (grudgingly):  Fair point.

Round II

Me:  I was watching “What Not to Wear” the other night; they say that your sister is the only person who will tell you what your clothes are really like (though I must say on the evidence presented in the programme, I believe Trinny and Susannah will as well). So tell me…

Her: No.

Me: Why not?

Her (crabbily):  I haven’t seen you much since you were pregnant with the Princess and I criticised one thing then and I got my nose bitten off.

Me (even more crabbily):  Have you any idea how hard it is to get nice maternity clothes?

Her (hastily): Anyway, I haven’t seen your non-maternity wardrobe in years.

Me: It’s still all the same.

Her: Pregnant silence.

Me: Oh I see.

Knock out

Her: Anyway, I’ve got to go, I have a meeting.

Me: But you can’t go, I’m stuck under two feeding babies.

Her: Sorry.

Me (desperately): But I havenÂ’t got a book or the TV remote to hand and the radio is off.

Her: Gotta go, bye, talk to you soon.

I spend the next while muttering darkly and listening to the telephone beeping while trying to manouevre myself into a position to switch off the speaker button.

Comments

Friar Tuck

on 21 November 2005 at 17:58

I’m trying, unsuccessfully, to work myself up to the expected level of indignation toward sis.

belgianwaffle

on 22 November 2005 at 09:19

Yes, Minks and to add insult to injury a parcel arrived from her in the post yesterday for the Princess and the boys and now I feel guilty as well…
FT, wouldn’t worry, she has plenty of indignation for everyone. 0
Sweetie(s) given    

A Visit


Posted in: Family, Middle Child, Princess, Twins, Youngest Child

The in-laws are coming on Thursday. Great excitement. I received an email from my father-in-law as follows, comments are in italics:

Hello there

Reading between the pixels, things may be more than a little hectic, even with help. It may be a Freudian slip, but the lack of a mention of Princess might mean that she is becoming more attuned to the new arrivals (or just spending time at the crèche). Au contraire, madam continues to regard the new arrivals with
disdain. Yesterday I spoke to my brother and he asked after her and her views on the new arrivals. I said that she liked them. Later when I reported this conversation to herself she said in tones of great disgust “But Mummy, I DON’T like the babies.

Anyway, for what it is worth, grandma and I are getting measured for our cavalry uniforms, practicing the bugle, buying prezzies and the like. We will be ready for our gallop to the relief of the Fort, way out in the Belgian desert. Really looking forward to the visit, to do good works and drink a few beers. Beer, beer?
He thinks there will be beer? I doubt it, it will be constant baby and toddler minding duty for the royal
grandparents here at baby bootcamp.

Comments

Locotes
on 24 October 2005 at 12:58
Surely even a little beer during babysitting duty can be allowed? Have a heart…

Minkleberry
on 24 October 2005 at 20:48
make sure you sit down a lot!
belgianwaffle
on 25 October 2005 at 11:52
HJB, their sufferings are about to begin. Loc, under no circumstances, they are here to work. No beer on the chain gang. Minks, most certainly.

poggle
on 25 October 2005 at 13:20
Go girl – head for tham thar hills!

Two stars are born


Posted in: Belgium, Middle Child, Twins, Youngest Child

A number of people asked me whether I had a “natural birth” with the boys. Did I have a caesarian section? No. On the other hand, does the picture below look natural to you?

My epidural arrived before my first contraction – the doctor was summoned from his bed at 6 in the morning, and proper order too. Labour was painless and took place between 9.00 and 3.00. It made me vomit though and vomitting as you lie on your back being wheeled along hospital corridors towards the delivery room is suboptimal. Daniel was born at 3.15 a strapping 3.03 kilos and, in what I fear may well be a pattern for life, nobody worried about him. Michael was delighted with the extra space available and turned sideways. Two burly midwives grabbed his little person and from the outside manoeuvered him into head down position while I looked on in horror and my doctor grabbed for his head (she had a lovely time in Croatia, thanks for asking).

She told me later that she thought that she’d have to an emergency caesarian and she had asked the nurses to call the anaesthetist without mentioning his name – in case I gathered that that was why he was being called. I am touched by her faith in my intelligence and powers of concentration. Anyhow, Michael was born at 15.39 and though on the light side at 2.2 kilos, he was absolutely fine. The potential caesarian, also explains why the anaesthetist turned up immediately after Michael was born and chatted away to myself and Mr. Waffle for no reason we could understand at the time. As I threw up into my little kidney bowl, I did wonder vaguely whether it was some kind of revenge for getting him up at 6 in the morning. He’s Lebanese and we were talking about the situation in the Middle East between vomits, and it was a little challenging. “Syria is not good” was about all I could summon to mind at that precise moment and even I knew that to be inadequate. I wouldn’t mind but I’d struggled through a long article in the LRB only recently not to mention having read “Pity the Nation” by Robert Fisk when I was in college.

To summarise, the stay in hospital was for a full week and despite constant interruptions (meals, nurses, obstetrician, paediatrician, physio, woman to throw out dead flowers, cleaner, tea lady morning and afternoon, water delivering lady, the odd visitor etc.), I felt pretty well. I think this was partly because, as a bad mother, I roomed out and mixed breast and bottle. Doubtless I will be chucked out of the Brussels Childbirth Trust.

It is very nice to be home though. Delighted with kind bloggers’ reactions, also flowers, cards, presents, emails and a beautiful new watch from my loving husband. Also lovely to see a bit more of my little girl (not too much more, mind, she’s still going to the creche every day). My mother has, alas, decamped to Cork where she deemed that my father’s need was greater than ours. I suppose she knows – she’s been married to him a while; in fact the boys were born on my parents’ 38th wedding anniversary.

Comments

StarCorner

on 06 October 2005 at 15:33

Oh I know I shouldn’t have but that made me laugh!!! Glad you’re well and congratulations the boys look absolutely adorable. Take Care xxxx 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

Locotes

on 06 October 2005 at 16:42

Well I did warn you about your father – he could have left the emersion on or something – disastrous. Your mother couldn’t take that kind of risk…

Glad all is well – good to see you’re back blogging a week later – jolly good show.
Am I reading the clocks right in that the 2nd wee lad decided to join us a full 12 hours later? Poor you. All’s well…etc, though. 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

jackdalton

on 06 October 2005 at 22:48

The youngster says it all above…. well done, ‘waf and welcome back. 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

Sarcastic Journalist

(Homepage)

on 07 October 2005 at 05:15

I can only hope, after I give birth, that someone will come and discuss the middle east with me.
I’m glad you’re back! I can’t believe you have twins now! ���

Minkleberry

on 07 October 2005 at 07:15

I was born on my parents first anniversary! You’re my hero- I can’t believe you’re breastfeeding two babies. And blogging. That is hardcore. Hearty Congrats from us all xxx 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

poggle

on 07 October 2005 at 13:38

That looks like the bridge of the Starship Enterprise.
Well done Mrs Waffle …. 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

Beso

on 07 October 2005 at 16:24

Just looking at that photograph terrifies the life out of me, some of those things look like medieval implements of torture. You’re my hero.
Your new boys are so handsome, congratulations to all the Waffles. 2
Sweetie(s) given ���

roach

on 07 October 2005 at 16:36

congratulations and well done 🙂 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

Beth

(Homepage)

on 07 October 2005 at 20:44

Congratulations on your gorgeous boys! ���

negrito

on 07 October 2005 at 23:38

BRAVO !!! that is wonderful… Oh, by the way, I am in Brussels now 🙂 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

belgianwaffle

on 10 October 2005 at 08:56

Amerly, a sweetie is winging its way to you.
Star, indeed you should not! Thanks for congrats.
Loc, no, no, second joined about half an hour after the first – clearly my mastery of the 24 hour clock isn’t all it could be.
SJ, that would make two of us.
Well, Minks, somewhat guiltily, I am mixing breast and bottle, cos I just can’t manage to breastfeed them both at the same time and doing them sequentially would mean that I would have to spend all my time under a baby…
Pog, I know, but great stuff the old epidural all the same.
Beso, many thanks, and thanks for the sweeties also.
Roach, thank you.
Beth, thank you – am impressed that you are taking time out to check on other blogs!
Negrito – for good or for the weekend? 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

negrito

on 10 October 2005 at 21:45

for good, Gritoland is now located in Ixelles, near Place du chatelain 🙂 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

Locotes

on 11 October 2005 at 16:46

ah. well then. that would make all the difference I’d imagaine. for your physical well-being as well as your sanity. you can work on the whole 24hour thing over the next few months in-between nappy changes… 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

belgianwaffle

on 12 October 2005 at 09:48

Yes, I look forward to that… 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

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First Contact


Posted in: Middle Child, Princess, Twins, Youngest Child

Waffle Palace tonight announced that the Princess had paid a courtesy call on her new subjects. She prononced herself pleased, and deigned to kiss them on leaving. Although only 36 hours old, the
new princes have caught on to court etiquette quickly: they have given her a number of presents every day, which may have helped them gain acceptance. A diplomatic incident theatened when the Princess attempted to retake possession of her turtle-shaped bath thermometer, but courtiers were able to smooth
things over…

Mrs W was pleased with the way it went, and also very grateful for all the kind comments and sweeties.

Comments

Bobble
on 28 September 2005 at 22:10
Ooh I have just received some sweetie largess to give to our 20Six new Mums! But it won’t let me give it to you. Be back later *shakes fist at system*
Minkleberry
on 29 September 2005 at 07:55
what a gracious princess
poggle
on 29 September 2005 at 11:05

Just make sure you hide the dolls’ pram – we used to steal my baby sister when Mum wasn’t looking ….. mind you, we always brought her back eventually.

Jordana
(Homepage)
on 29 September 2005 at 13:26
Congratulations!!! My Internet goes down for a day, and look what I miss. 🙂 I have no sweeties to give, but if I did, I would give them all to you for judicious dispersal among the Princess and her subjects.
May you have joyful days and restful nights.

Locotes
on 29 September 2005 at 14:50
Serves me right for not spending every waking hour on 20six waiting for updates – I go and miss the main event. Well many many congratulations, you seem to have done a fine job there.
(and congrats to Mr. W as well – ignore whatever herself might say, your role in this was just as important!)
😉

Looking forward to weary posts about sleepless nights…

Lilo
on 29 September 2005 at 21:52
Congratulations to the Waffle family. I hope you’re getting enough sleep.

Bobble
on 29 September 2005 at 23:16
At last I can give a sweetie x

gracehart
on 30 September 2005 at 02:32
Lots of blessings to the royal family!! ^^

belgianwaffle
on 06 October 2005 at 14:18
Thank you kindly for sweeties and good wishes. I feel exceptionally popular!