Fight to the finish

Euey is just about over a really bad dose of flu, bed ridden for days with a fever, delirium included. So I have a mattress on the floor beside his bed as he needed monitoring for rapid breath and high temperature. Won't need to do that tonight. However, I have left the mattress on the floor at Euan's request. Initially he just wanted to sleep on it. Then Aoife wanted to too. Then Euey wanted to sleep on Aoife's bed, but Aoife went all territorial with a resounding no. Then she tried to get into Euey's normal bed which sent him into indignation overdrive. I stepped in Dali Lama style and said "Guys, I'm not getting involved in this, you have to work it out yourselves and both of you need to be happy with what you decide. Call me when you have done that and we will have cuddles and a story"
Yeah, leap of faith, but I had an inkling they had it in them. I went into the living room to get the laptop up and going. For the next 5 minutes I could hear lots of muffled sounds, some high pitched falsetto, thick and creamy baritone, gentle and light soprano and fade in to harmony. Quiet. Giggle. Deafening Dadddddy. I walked back in more than a little curious. They were both in Aoife's bed. I smiled and asked. Well? Euey said "we made a plan and we're happy" just to emphasise the bliss Aoife piped up with " here Euey you can have my Puppy" They lay down with satisfied looks on their faces. I gave them a little bit of praise, followed by a cuddle each and sat down and read them a bedtime story as promised. You know some nights it all just makes sense. I'm happy too.
(p.s. They decided to sleep on Aoife's bed so I could lie next to them on the spare mattress)

Smiley

Finn is at that stage where laughing and smiling at everything is as commonplace in a baby as filling a newly applied nappy. George and I were competing for smiles tonight when one of us asked were the other two this happy? We were both surprised to remember that they were, at specific moments at least, but Finn doesn't seem to ever leave the smiley zone. Even when he wakes up in the morning after 12 hours straight sleep. Not kidding and I do appreciate how amazing that is. Even his wake up call is laid back he oohs and aahs and if he gets really shitty he ba ba's. Don't think this is the calm before the storm either. I think Finn will be the calm within the Aussie Morrissey storm for some time to come. Love it.

Like Frankie?

Was lying in bed with Euey tonight when somehow the conversation turned to why he looked like Mummy and Daddy. "Well because we made you." The head scratching question came.
"like Frankie?". I was a bit confused with that "Aaaah, what do you mean?"
"Like Frankie the monster?"
"Ahh, Frankenstein"
No Mummy and daddy made you...........in a different way. You came from your mummys tummy like Finn did."
"Not from an egg!"
"Correct"
"Why did we get in there?"
"We made you. We became Twitterpatters and then magic happened in your Mums tummy, you started off as an egg in Mummys tummy and then Daddys Twitterpatter with Mummy helped you to grow. Thats why you look like Mummy and Daddy"
"Oh, and Aoife and Finn too?"
"Yes"
silence and thinking face.....a bit more silence
"We did come from eggs!!!"
Checkmate

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