Do you like me Daddy 'cause I like you

A two year olds needs are quite simple.
"Cuddle me Daddy" "Yes yes yes yes"
"Do you like me Daddy cause I like you" " Of course I like you and love you you are my beautiful girl"
"I missed you Daddy" "I missed you too Aoife"
"Can I come Daddy" "yes and sadly sometimes no"
"Do you want some Daddy?" "What is it???"
"Are you proud Daddy" "so proud my head is about to explode, I'm worried my ears will stick to the wall"
"What are you doing Daddy" "I'm changing the batteries in the torch, remember you just asked me to"
A Daddys needs are more complex. I want to live up to her simple needs.

Man crush

I don't know the guy's name. Don't know what he looks like. Don't know if he is funny or if I could even hold a conversation of interest with him. But I do know this. He had the mickey taken out of him by his footy team mates recently. He was wandering around the training ground picking up feathers and sticking them in his socks. They were fluffy owl feathers and very cute. He was collecting them for a little boy he had also never met. When Euey received these feathers from the mans wife who does happen to know my son he was beside himself with joy. He was so proud as he puffed his chest and presented them to me as I walked in from work that night. I only found out tonight the magnificent journey these feathers have had to endure to light up my son's eyes and I still don't know Denise's husbands name. But do know this, I have a man crush. Thanks.

It's Sunday Morning I was sitting on the sofa talking to Euan when I heard a stiring in the kids bedroom, Aoife was on the rise. I went in to meet her but as soon as I came into view she dived two metres under the covers. After the customery 5 minutes of tickles she still wasn't venturing out. So I asked "are you coming out" to which she replied "I want a donut Dad". This was arbutary to say the least. We haven't had donuts since christmas and when we did Aoife was not a great fan in fact she wouldn't touch one. This is a snapshot of Aoife, left field is the norm and the norm is left field. Proud as punch though. Me that is.

Euan, Aoife & Finian

And then there were three. I remember not so long ago walking down an ancient looking street in Hayang, Korea, holding Georgias hand. Ironically we were to on our way to a new age, state of the art, obsteatrician's medical suite. I was feeling a little bit excited about how our future was shaping up. We were on our way, for an ultrasound, to see our child, or a bean sided version of our child at least. From the moment I saw that first movement the love, hopes and fear hit me like a ton of bricks. I really thought I had a handle on what to expect, after all I had five siblings all younger than me. I was wrong. I hadn't brought them into the world. The fears - of that fragile life not making it, of losing that 10 mm of life, of how everything had changed and of how I had been blindsided by once again thinking I knew it all. The hopes - of conversations not had, knowing looks yet to be exchanged, the anticipation of fatherly advice to given and possibly not taken. The Love - so fierce and new, I really didn't know. But do now.
Let the journey continue.
xxx

Sticks and Stones...

....but words will never hurt me. Well maybe they will one day, unless I manage to teach Euey and his loyal sidekick Aoife (who repeats an edited version of Euey's every utterance)the fine art of subtlety. The following mere snippet may well give you an idea of what I'm rambling on about. It may also give you the lovely feeling fingernails down a blackboard might provide.

Euey "Daddy, why is that man so fat?" Aoife "fat man" Daddy - flinch

Euey "Why is that silly woman walking on the road?" Aoife "silly woman" Daddy - cringe

Euey "Why is that man not friendly?" (guy just minding his own business just not smiling) Aoife "not friendly" Daddy - colourless

My favourite skin thickening episode this week has to be when we were standing next to a guy showering in the swimming pool. This dear chap had a big birth mark on his bottom. A really painful red looking one. Euey "Daddy why is that mans bottom bloody" Aoife "bloody bottom" Daddy - undergoing counseling.

Yum

That was great. Just had a Vindaloo. Feeling all warm and cozy just about now. Just finished my great late night paperwork catch up. It was a classic but alas all great things must come to an end. George is all cosy in bed, been there about an hour now. She wanted an early night, said "will go to bed when kids fall asleep". They did, sweetest of dreams by 7.15pm. Looked at George, immediate volte-face. "will go to bed by 9.30". Nah! Went to bed at 10.15 with a hopeful look of early night salvation. Sorry George. Just found out. Clocks go forward an hour tonight. Sweet dreams my lass.

I need a coffee!

I can feel the empathy but all is not as it seems. We were lying in bed this morning with the obligatory wiggling wanderers between us when Aoife decided to slip off on a mission of great importance. I say this because she departed with the purposeful stride that tends to accompany such moments. We heard her rummaging around in the background, in the mean time, we got side tracked by Euey calling me Mommy and Georgia Daddy, to make some point he eventually seemed to believe he had made. Just then Aoife returned into room declaring "I need a coffee' "What did you say Aoife" George said "Oh my god" Euey chipped in. I sat there with my arm propping me up thinking "yep, this truly is a Simpson moment" and wondering if we need to go back to the drawing board.