General Blethering

I am officially the best potty trainer of wee boys in the world, (writes BFS!) We now have only one child in nappies - you little dancer!

Today we found out that MPLST's grandmother is planning a trip to Oz this year because "she wants to do it before she gets too old, and doesn't want to regret not going one day". There's a way to get a bit of perspective - she's 82 and wants to go before she gets too old. I love it. Mind you, she's fitter at 82 than I am at 34.

Talking of being an old man (just for a change), I've been away on a 3 day course this week. How disappointed was I to find that despite a hotel room paid for by the company (and therefore no baby to keep me awake), and a license to drink until drunk on a school night, that I didn't manage a) a full nights sleep or b) to stay out past midnight with the lads? Every day is a school day though - I've never done a course and concentrated on the course content before. Must be my subconscious fatherly responsibility kicking in. Perhaps it's not too late to turn this job I have into a career....

But back to the kids.....SS is doing great. Her mother remarried recently but hasn't deemed it necessary to share such info with me. None of my business I suppose, and SS seems her normal, happy care free self, so why fuss? Aside from wearing big boy pants, BB has now mastered the Likeabike that I mentioned about 5 months ago and constantly refers to it as his motorbike (I can see grandma worrying where that may lead already!), and LL is still scratching himself raw. There will be more to blog about him in the next week or so......first weaning steps are coming, and we (she) really needs to get his room decorated so he can move in - or more to the point, so he can move out of ours!

And a little word for their grandad too. He had a heart attack last week, but thankfully he's home and resting up now. Just because my kids have more than their fair share of grandparents doesn't mean you lot can go bailing out on us just yet! As soon as you are up to babysitting, they'll be coming!!!

Lord Won't You Buy Me....

It's a pity the government and the car industry are working at cross purposes. Gogsy and his cronies want us to keep our kids in booster seats until they start Uni, yet on the other hand, car manufacturers generally don't make a back seat wide enough to take 3 booster seats.

I have acknowledged that I listen to Radio 2. I do my clothes shopping based on necessity rather than style these days (not sure I ever had style right enough), and I'm starting to notice clothes now that were in fashion the first time round. I go to "mother" and toddler groups. I don't do Bebo or Facebook. I watch Question Time and even Andrew Marr on a Sunday morning occasionally. These things make me feel old enough. I don't need a bloody Xsara Picasso or a Renault Scenic to rub the salt in!

I came across this website in my search http://www.multimac.co.uk/home for options. Relatively new on the market, one can now purchase a product that can seat up to 4 kids across the back of some cars - mine being one of them. But then there is the price, I won't share, if you're that keen you'll look for yourself. Bloody expensive! More expensive than a new car? Probably not. But still, I can't see it catching on at these prices. A really expensive car seat, or a people carrier? - that is the question.

Or perhaps not. One of our friends did manage to get 3 boosters across the back of her Volvo. Now there's a choice.....a Volvo or a MPV. Please no!

That's Progress

One week down, three to go - but as I'm not wishing my life away, let's cut to the chase.

LL no longer looks like he's had his head in the deep fat fryer. Things are not perfect, but he's on the right track. Hopefully, by curing his non stop need to itch, the wee shite might sleep all night sometime soon......

Day 3 of the potty training is done. I got a big fat "you were right" from MPLST tonight, who is amazed at BB's progress. Day 1 was tedious to say the least. I thought his bladder was the size of a bloody thimble, but on the whole it went as well as could be expected. On day 2, BB had the realisation that peeing on dad's knee is not an option!
Today has been a tale of two halves. This morning was brilliant, I almost thought he'd cracked it. No accidents, and no reminders from dad. Then, when he's left with his mother, little mishaps mysteriously creep in. Are they genuine I wonder, or perhaps someone trying to prove her point?
MPLST wouldn't use our boy just to prove a point would she?

Who Said Romance is Dead?

It's not quite what it used to be - this Valentine's Day malarkey.

Neither MPLST or I had the energy to do the table for two thing tonight - even though we had the offer of a willing babysitter. Instead, we stopped in and Shaun the chef worked his magic. I've still got it! Either that, or MPLST is very easily pleased. I kinda like it this way though.....no shirt or shave for me, no hair and make up for her. The kids have knocked the effort right out of us. That's right, let's blame the kids!

Some Guys Have All The Luck

Back again. Another massive difference in a 2 week period which has been especially evident due to their young age. BB has mastered the art of jigsaws, and loves them. He's spent all day showing me just how smart he is.....a proper little show off. In a few years, I can see him being that little smart arse kid that every class has, the one with his hand up all the time that all the other kids hate.
LL on the other hand is having a much tougher time of it. His skin has never been right since birth, but it's a fair to say that he now looks like he's been dookin for chips. Watch this space.

On the horizon for me is the old potty training. I've decided now is the time to do it. I've got 4 weeks to work on him, and I've been preparing my positive mental attitude for the last 2 as well. I'm sure there will be a laugh or two along the way, as MPLST doesn't share my enthusiasm, and therefore I assume she secretly wants it all to fall flat on it's face, if for no other reason as to avoid me bragging about how right I was. (It's your duty!)

Lucky me.