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Merry frickin' Christmas
Posted by Webby at December 29, 2008 01:37 PM | Comments (0)It seems to have summed up our Christmas this; Jilly and Kieran were awake at 04:30 this morning, each 'throwing their rings up', while Evelyn was in and out of our bedroom refusing to sleep (as she has done for the whole of the holiday).
Another of Evelyn's Firsts (the first for a while)
Posted by Webby at December 27, 2008 09:24 PM | Comments (0)In what seems to be becoming a non-eventful Christmas, Jilly and I spent most of today feeling under the weather. In an attempt to cheer the proceedings up (particularly for Evelyn), I remembered a little treat that Jilly had bought Evelyn before the Christmas holiday.
Evelyn has been a long time fan, now, of the film 'Aquamarine' (go on, treat yerself!). In the film, the title character is treated to some candy floss at the local fun-fair, and Evelyn immediately showed great interest in it (the candy floss, that is). As there haven't been any fun-fairs in town for some time, and as we haven't visited Blackpool for a long time, we thought it would be a long time before we could treat Evelyn to a little candy floss (goodness only knows what effect it has on even the healthiest of teeth enamel?) but, Jilly found some in the local supermarket (very conveniently packaged in little plastic cups). I gave the candy floss to Evelyn, believing she was going to love it...
"Oh...it is a bit sweet!", she told us, obviously underwhelmed.
Boxing Day
Posted by Webby at December 26, 2008 09:22 PM | Comments (0)Grandma and Grandad join us for a lovely Boxing Day dinner but, once again, I was very remiss in my duties as official photographer (in my defence, the dreaded 'Christmas bug' had a terrible hold on my appetite by this time, and I was largely unable to take photographs, or eat my dinner)...er...but I was able to make frequent visits to the toilet.
Christmas Day
Posted by Webby at December 25, 2008 09:19 PM | Comments (0)
Fantastically, Evelyn awoke at a very reasonable time this morning, and joined Jilly and I in our bed at a little after 08:15. We're only pleased that last nights little upset doesn't seemed to have dampened Evie's Christmas spirit...Yo Ho Ho, indeed!
Evelyn was very pleased to find that Santa had been during the night, leaving her a stocking (filled with goodies) at the bottom of her bed; and seemed quite happy to sit with us in our bed as she sorted through the gifts from Santa.
Soon enough, we all went downstairs, and Evelyn was speechless to see the other presents that had been delivered during the night. Evelyn was especially pleased with her 'Polly Pockets' (which she knew Mummy had bought for someone else), and the dolls house which she had been especially careful to ask Santa for in town recently. In truth, though, I don't know who got the most pleasure out of the dolls' house, Evelyn or mummy!
Nanna and Poppee joined us for Christmas dinner (collecting Kieran from his dad'd on the way), and a lovely time was add by all (except for the fact that, while Evelyn appears to recovered from her 'dicky tummy', I seem to have begun with one...Yo Ho Ho, indeed!) I know Ben took many photographs during the day (while I was very slack in fulfilling my photographic duties), so I hope to be able to secure a load of photographs from Ben too...watch this space!
Artistic Genius
Posted by Webby at December 24, 2008 10:22 PM | Comments (0)I collected Evelyn from her nursery for the very last time today. As I don't believe Evelyn has fully understood that she is leaving now, the occasion wasn't as horrible as it might have been.
Jilly and I intend to take Evelyn in for a visit in the New Year. In the meantime, I thought now was a apt time to post a photograph I took of a family portrait that Evelyn painted and has been hung on the wall of the nursery.
I think it's brilliant. But I would,wouldn't I?
Easily the worst night's sleep, EVER (part 3)
Posted by Webby at December 24, 2008 09:01 PM | Comments (0)Having prepared the living room for Santa's arrival this evening (that is, filled the living room with all the presents), and finally tucking Evelyn into her bed, Jilly and I settled down to a little festive television and a glass of vino. Just as we were settling down, there was the tiny pitter patter of footsteps upstairs...
Afraid that Evie was going to make her way downstairs and discover that 'Santa had already been', I quickly went upstairs to see what she was up to. I found Evelyn struggling to get back into her bed, and looking a little embarrassed/upset about something. It was then that I became aware of a very unpleasant smell. It was clear that Evelyn's upset tummy and sickness had developed into something a little...er...shall we say 'runnier'.
Still half-asleep, Evelyn was trying to get back into bed having had her little accident. I quickly called Jilly upstairs and, between us, we got Evelyn (and her bed) changed and Evelyn settled back down, immediately, to sleep.
Evelyn, the little kitten, was too sleepy to be especially upset about the accident, and went straight back to sleep.
Update - 2008-12-25 21:57:16
Sadly, Evelyn was up, again, at about 23:30, complaining that she had tummy ache, and immediately throw up into the bathroom sink. Neither Jilly or I remember Evelyn being a particularly 'sickly' baby, so this may be the first occasion that Evelyn will remember vomitting herself. That said, Evie was absolutely brilliant; she looked a little upset, and slightly confused about what was going on. It was clear that Evelyn found being sick very unpleasant, but she didn't make any fuss and went straight back to bed where Jilly and I took it in turns to sit with her until 03:00, this morning.
Fortunately, Evie seems to have overcome what must have been a tummy bug, and has seemed fine all day today (except for one small explosion at around 10:00, this morning!). Evelyn ate very little Christmas dinner, and absolutely none of her bumper haul of Christmas Chocs!
Like mother, like daughter!
Posted by Webby at December 24, 2008 08:50 PM | Comments (0)Evelyn came into our bedroom this morning, after a whole night's uninterrupted sleep, and very casually announced that she'd had a lovely dream.
Apparently, Jilly, Evie, Kieran and I were at the fair...er...with Mark Foster (Olympic swimmer and Strictly Come Dancing transparent vest wearing pectoral giant!).
That's it really!
That was the dream!
Jilly agreed that it would have been, indeed, a very lovely dream!
Harrumph!
Easily the worst night's sleep, EVER (part 2)
Posted by Webby at December 23, 2008 10:07 PM | Comments (0)Evelyn was in and out of bed all night last night, getting into bed with Jilly and I on several occasions and being sick on my twice! On the second occasion, Evie threw up on me and Leanne kitty (and was obviously more upset about vomitting on Leanne!)
As we were both afraid to let Evelyn sleep on own after throwing up twice, Jilly slept in Evie's bed with her, where Evelyn asked Jilly,
"Please stroke my hair, Mummy. It will help me sleep!
Evelyn Webster - The Joker
Posted by Webby at December 22, 2008 09:43 PM | Comments (0)So, I arrived home from work this afternoon, to discover that Grandma Hargreaves had allowed Evelyn to apply a little make-up for my return...she looked like Heath Ledger's crazee 'Joker'.
As Evie's make-up seemed to make her resemble her new cuddly 'Leanne-kitty', I'd thought I'd get a snap of the pair of them together!
Beautiful bizarre liddle beaudee!
Easily the worst night's sleep, EVER!
Posted by Webby at December 21, 2008 08:58 PM | Comments (0)Very clearly, Evelyn is devastated by the prospect of leaving 'that new nursery' and, more specifically, her blessed Leanne.
Over the last few Christmases, Jilly and I have had our own little 'Christmas do'. Without the children, and at no great expense, Jilly and I have gone out for a meal, and last night was the night this year...or it would have been had Evelyn not been inconsolable upset about...well...stuff.
Jilly and I had to cut our evening short after enjoying a lovely meal at Balooshi in Huddersfield. Kieran rang to explain that Evelyn was really upset. As I talked to him, Evelyn took the phone and pleaded that Jilly and I ate our meal quickly and returned home to her.
We returned home, at 22:00, to find Evelyn sat up with Kieran and desperate for a cuddle. After some discussion (during which Evelyn made it clear that she is missing Leanne, and all her friends at 'that new nursery') I finally talked Evelun into settling into bed. To cut a long story short, Evelyn finally went to sleep at 01:30 this morning after being put to bed, and getting herself out of bed, on at least FIVE seperate occasions (the truth is that I lost count of the number of times she joined us in our bed). Eventually, Jilly slept in Evelyn's bed, and Evie slept with me in our bed (though I was careful to move her to the far side of the bed as failure to do so may have resulted in my waking up with Evelyn's foot/elbow in my ear/face/arm pit).
Evelyn is absolutely distraught about the prospect of leaving Leanne and the nursery, and it's clear that this doen't seem to be something that Evelyn is likely to 'snap out of' in the near future.
Oh dear!
Christmas Lights
Posted by Webby at December 20, 2008 10:10 PM | Comments (0)Driving through Lindley, Jilly and I regularly treat Evelyn to a visit to this house. These lights were up (in all their glory) last year, and I think we were both secretly hoping they'd be up this year too.
Unfortunately, my mobile phone camera does little justice to the colours.
Genuinely, I quite like them!
Visiting Santa's (not so) grotty Grotto
Posted by Webby at December 18, 2008 10:47 PM | Comments (0)Jilly and I took an unexpected pleasure in taking Evelyn to visit Santa in his Grotto at the Kingsgate Centre tonight. Evelyn was most excited about being outside at night, in the dark (let alone the prospect of seeing Santa).
In my limited experience of Santa and his grottos, the occasions always seem a little tainted by the grotto's 'grubbiness' and Santa's apparent youth, but Jilly and I were both impressed by Santa's 'Ice Palace', and by Santa himself who was (to quote Jilly!) twinkly, beardy and the real Santa. Santa invited Evelyn to sit on a stool next to him and asked what she would like for Christmas. Getting the measure of me immediately, Santa told Evelyn that he wouldn't ask me if she'd been good because, "...Daddy is clearly a push-over!". Evelyn was obviously in awe of Santa and was perfectly well behaved. Evelyn told SAnta that she would like, "...a doll's house for Christmas, please!". When prompted by Santa, Evelyn added that she would quite like some pyjama's and a dressing gown too, "...but that is all, thank you".
The Kinggate Santa was an absolute gentleman, and I know that Jilly is hoping that he will visit Kingsgate again next year.
The Morning After (the Dreadful Nights Sleep)
Posted by Webby at December 17, 2008 08:56 PM | Comments (0)Evelyn slept beautifully last night, after the events surrounding her going to bed. Peculiarly, Evelyn did have a bizarre dream, though it didn't frighten her. Apparently, in her dream, the baby Jesus was in her bedroom and needed the toilet; Evelyn, very kindly, offered him the use of her potty.
Fantastic!
Apparently, "...he had a big poo!"
Dreadful Nights Sleep
Posted by Webby at December 16, 2008 10:13 PM | Comments (0)Evelyn had an absolutely appalling night's sleep last night. I put her to bed at her normal bed-time and everything seemed quite normal. We read a Charlie and Lola ('Snow is my favourite and my best') and I sang four nursery rhymes to Evie before going downstairs. All seemed fine.
Until 00:30, that is, when Evelyn 'stealthily' wandered into our room, clambered over me (as she does) and settled down to sleep between Jilly and I, explaining that she had had a bad dream. After a little while (and because neither Jilly or I can sleep with 'the little starfish' radiating her heat between us) I took Evelyn back to bed where she became quite upset, telling me that she was poorly and needed some medicine ("Can't you tell, Daddy, my throat is croaky" - of course, I told her, her throat was croaky, she'd been in bed, snoring, for the last four hours!). Evelyn insisted that I sang further nursery rhymes to her and I had sung 12 before I finally managed to convince her that I needed to go to bed (I felt quite sick, at the time, and made the mistake of telling Evelyn that!). I returned to bed, only to be followed by Evelyn moments later, claiming that she felt sick herself! Back to bed...and more rhymes! I'm a little embarrassed to say that by this time (it was nearly 03:00) I was beginning to lose my patience with Evie and told her that she had to stay in bed now. Once again, I returned to my bed to be followed, once again, by Evelyn. This time, to save me from having to throttle the little monkey, Jilly let Evie sleep on her side of the bed and went to sleep in Evelyn's bed herself.
As I went to the gym tonight, Jilly gave Evelyn her bath and put her to bed. Before she went to bed, Evelyn told Jilly that last night's dream had been about a wolf eating Evelyn's picnic on the beach, and "chomping her cheese sandwiches", enough to terrify me, I don't mind admitting. Jilly took Evelyn to bed at her bedtime, when Evelyn started sobbing uncontrollably, claiming that she was, "...missing Leanne, missing Daddy, missing Kieran, missing everyone!", and asked Jilly, "What is keeping Daddy so long?". After sobbing for some time, Evelyn tried to negotiate a little bedtime television with Jilly, "I will come downstairs and watch a little bit of telly; that will settle me down". Jilly explained to Evelyn that it was far too late for watching telly, whereupon Evelyn announced that she was poorly, and that she needed medicine, yawning and crying as she did it...she was besides herself!
Jilly noticed that Evelyn seemed a little hot, so gave her some Calpol, and this seemed to appease Evie who eventually settled down to sleep.
On reflection, Jilly and I believe that this recent restlessness and upset is probably down to Evelyn's 'insecurity' about leaving 'that new nursery' and, more significantly, Leanne (who she absolutely adores). We both hope things improve as we hate to see our liddle beaudee quite so upset.
Preparing for Christmas
Posted by Webby at December 14, 2008 07:44 PM | Comments (0)We bought and decorated the Christmas tree today, and Evelyn was lovin' it (but only nearly as much as Jilly), except for the Angels; "...they're rubbish!", but she likes the shepherds and Mary (binters bonters!)
Visiting Arthur and Martha McKay
Posted by Webby at December 7, 2008 09:42 PM | Comments (0)We visited Adam, Sharon, Arthur and Martha today.
Unfortunately, we missed Martha's Christening due to my mum's birthday, so it was lovely to see them all together.
Of course, we made no mention of the rhyming qualities of their off springs names [but fun will be had in years to come...oh yes! (Jilly)]
