belgianwaffle

Christening


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

My sons will be baptised in Cork over Christmas thus ensuring for my mother a lifetime of retrieving ecclesiastical paperwork for her grandchildren.

We’re hoping to be more prepared than we were for the PrincessÂ’’s christening. We didn’Â’t know that you needed a candle.  When the crucial moment arrived, I hissed at my aunt, ““You’Â’re very religious, why didn’Â’t you tell us we needed a candle?””  ““I thought you knew”,” she hissed
back. Her highness was christened under a night light retrieved from a side altar. Your baptismal candle is supposed to enjoy further outings at your communion and confirmation.  That’Â’s probably why they donÂ’t use night lights. We knew that she needed a white garment alright and proudly produced a white cot blanket.  We were somewhat abashed to see that the little overachiever being christened at the same time as the Princess had an elaborate lacy number with her name embroidered on it.  It was probably vomit free too.

My religious aunt is to be godmother to Daniel. I phoned her the other day to confirm dates
and times and she told me tartly that she has purchased two christening candles. Now, who will buy lacy garments and embroider their names on them?

Comments

Manboobs

on 09 December 2005 at 15:22

Dirty Nappy; Clean Soul. Congratulations

Minkleberry

on 09 December 2005 at 19:13

Bobble, that’s such a relief- my poor Nanny has been so worried about mine and my sisters’ eternity in limbo.

Friar Tuck

on 09 December 2005 at 19:28

Minkle, only infants get a pass. Unless you are a precocious two year-old, your Nanny should continue worrying, not about Limbo, but worse!  But back to the baptismal garment, I know someone who makes their living selling handmade ones. It’s too late for flapjack and pancake, but I can put you in touch for any subsequent progeny.

kristin

(Homepage)

on 09 December 2005 at 23:06

My daughter was christened in a haze of high, high episcopalian incense, and my poor baptist mother still hasn’t recovered. She only stood the christening dress because lucy looked so adorable in it, but once the recitation of the saints started, she looked very pale. the event was particularly memorable because my sister’s hair caught fire from the candle she was holding during the procession to the font. the mom of the other baby who was being baptised that day offered to give us the videotape of kera on fire, for posterity. i think she was just jealous that lucy was such a cutie.

beachhutman

on 11 December 2005 at 10:36

If you think THAT’s a palaver, wait for first communions !

belgianwaffle

on 14 December 2005 at 09:13

Bob, Minks, MB, aren’t you glad that we have FT to sort these things out for us? FT, start your own blog in the new year or face dire consequences.
Kristin, that’s hilarious, superb story.
BHM, I know, I know.

Corrections and Clarifications


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

“Dear sibling,

Either you misunderstood me or are being liberal with the truth for literary purposes. If it’s the latter fine (never let the truth interfere with a good story) – if it’s the former I think you should remember I said I would give them 5 minutes of crying before I pick them up – usually babies cry more when I hold them. 5 minutes or until I get frustrated with Sudoku!

Anyway if they know what’s good for them they will not get into a battle of wills with me (for I never lose such battles).”[Editor’s note: this is, in fact, correct].

Comments

KateEvans

on 14 December 2005 at 16:36

This is precisely why I never write stuff about my brother on my blog.

belgianwaffle

on 15 December 2005 at 12:27

Siblings. Blah.

Tough School


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

My sister has volunteered to babysit while we’Â’re in Cork.

“Just so long as you don’t expect me to pick them up when they cry”.

Comments

giftofthegab

on 08 December 2005 at 19:47

sure, cos like being the only adult alone in a room with 2 screaming babies is so much better than having to pick them up.

formerfilmexpert

on 08 December 2005 at 19:57

well they must stop crying eventually!

belgianwaffle

on 09 December 2005 at 07:58

Sez, Gotg, please note corrections and clarifications.

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?

Logistics


Posted in: Dublin, Ireland, Travel

This came from my father-in-law: “Trust all well: [logistics for getting from Dublin airport to the in-laws’ house at Christmas] have gotten a bit complicated as, on the day, Granny is working and brother/sister-in-law are at a christening, of all things. Granny and I have come up with the following. I go to airport with the Opel, with room for all luggage, Parent A and 3 kiddies securely strapped in rear, In the meanwhile whilst car is heading back to Monkstown, Parent B (sans luggage) takes the Aircoach to a south-side destination (say the Raddisson) where said Parent B will be picked up by me after depositing Parent A and threesome in Monkstown. If this seems workable, all you need to do is decide on who A and B are.”

At present, we are trying to persuade my poor father-in-law that it might be appropriate for us to get a cab.

Comments

worcesterpark

on 06 December 2005 at 15:40

From the sound of it, one cab each would be the best bet. 0

Friar Tuck

on 06 December 2005 at 16:16

Charter a coach. It will impress the hell out of the neighbors.

kristin

(Homepage)

on 06 December 2005 at 16:32

I hate to ask, but are car seats a concern? Good Lord, three car seats. I can barely manage Lucy’s, let alone those for two infants and a princess.

belgianwaffle

on 07 December 2005 at 09:28

Oh yes, Kristin, car seats are a serious concern. I’d rather not discuss,it’s just too complex.
FT, good thought.
WP, or maybe 3?
HJB, quite. 0

formerfilmexpert

on 07 December 2005 at 15:39

or grandparents can take all 3 children and parents A and B go off gallavanting!!

belgianwaffle

on 08 December 2005 at 15:09

Hmm, is that a bit overoptimistic?

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