Happy Hols

Tatie on the loose with the camera again. I've been spending a lot of time on this chair with Mr. on my lap.

Boy clothes! Makes a change from Red's and O's pink Ts and snugglebags.

Have you ever seen anything more distinguished than this 11-day old man? Yes, that is a tie, a black tie.

What have we been doing? Eating, sleeping, playing with Christmas toys. Tatie and Noah have been scooting for an hour or two each day. Photos will be posted shortly. The Christmas spirit seems to have taken them as well--they have been playing together. I mean, sitting on the floor playing a game, not just running like mad things through the house or trying to annoy one another.

Scott and I have not been playing. Scott has been doing housework. We trade off on the dirty nappies/diapers. I've done a load or 2 of dishes. I wake up a few times each night to tend to Aodh and think of reading my book or drinking a glass of water. But then I just collapse back onto the bed, usually forgetting to turn out the lamp. It is a strange way to live but privileged as well.

Now, to bed. I am going to turn out the lamp this time.

Crowns, Gowns and Gifts

A Friend at Quaker meeting said that she is always thrilled to see the dressing gowns and crowns come out. I suppose it is a sign of Christmas. Here's Noah playing his part.

Versatility. After his dramatic work for the day, Noah came home and made this gorgeous necklace for his Kristkindle. Wouldn't you like to be unwrapping this present on Christmas Eve?

Some Photos From O's Week

Tatie a.k.a The Muslin Lady doing her job. The job is getting clean and dry garments for her baby brother's changes. She also uses wipes to clean any surface that isn't moving and some that are. Like my face.

Tatie's best photo of Baby Aodh this week. He does have outstanding hair.

What Scott looks like from O's point of view.

A wee elf on the way to a party with Santa.

Chaplin Bootleg

Noah giggling.




Happy audience.

The Worst Day of Noah's Life

was likely precipitated by the longest week in his life! Here are the things today that contributed to it being the worst day:

1. Octavia accidentally broke a Hallmark snow globe that has been with us since he can remember.
2. The only big event of the day was Quaker meeting family Christmas celebration and the attendant bag of chocolate coins.
   
3. For dinner, we had to have a mixture of baked beans and ordinary haricot sans sugar & salt as there was only 1 tin of baked beans. And broccoli.

You do remember that Noah had 4 singing engagements (I think they call them gigs in the business), a dress rehearsal, a Christmas party, and a carol-singing party this week. He and Octavia also visited Santa. Finally, last night was the long-awaited, much-anticipated CHARLIE CHAPLIN NIGHT with the Ulster Orchestra. If you take a listen to the bootleg audio in the next blog post, you'll get a great sense of the night. It was everything we'd hoped--Aodh slept right through, Octavia and Noah were enthralled. Noah looked set to expire from laughing several times. There was only 1 drawback: the concert/film began at 7.45 pm which means that Noah and Octavia didn't slip into their wee beds until 10.22. Ah, now we see how the let-down of having realised the Chaplin adventure, a late night, and the worst day ever might be connected.

As a follow up to the Sing Out post I must tell you that the show was great, according to Noah, but paled in comparison to the adventure of a late-night trip to the Christmas Market with Christine and Paula where they bought him doughnuts and sweets. If you can imagine two wild aunties with a reckless disregard for the whole foods diet and a healthy appetite for fun, you'll have a good picture of Noah and his 'audience'.

Tonight's the Night!

Noah's big Sing Out is tonight. Five schools, a gigantic hall, and all the hype you can imagine.

Today was dress rehearsal and, according to Noah, "the hall is, like, massive. You could fit 20 of this room right the way up and 10 across."

And there are risers! "We are going to be on a huge stage with levels with the taller people at the back and shorter ones at the front." When asked if he is at the back he said, "Of course. Coincidentally, most of the back row are Rosetta pupils. We are the tallest of the schools."

They might be giants flashed through my postnatal mind. Or maybe we just have better food in our neighbourhood what with being so close to the major supermarket chains as well as the independent greengrocers, butchers, etc. Or is it the water...just a touch of lead pipe here and there until 2010 when Belfast will have 'tunneled toward the future' and done something about the mains and sewers that have sufficed lo these many years.

I digress and insert silliness because I am sad not to be seeing Noah in his big moment. Baby Aodh is a tinsy bit yellow and his belly button needs an airing. The lowliest among us requires my presence so the mightiest voice will have to be celebrated by Cousin Flash and Friend Paula. (Don't worry, they were the fans Noah was hoping to impress anyway).

That's one from Holywood