Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Gorwing up fast

You have changed so much in a year Rebecca. 

On Friday you had a wonderful time playing with the Christmas decorations Mummy and Daddy put up. Of special interest are the balls and stars on the Christmas tree. What fun they are. You get a big fright when one falls off onto the ground and run away. Not to worry - Daddy is here to put them back. No harm done.

We brought you to see Santa on Saturday last in Galway. You were full of awe and Mummy picked you up so you could see him while we were in the queue. 

When we got in to Santa's cabin you were a bit scared, and clung to my leg. But soon enough you were fine and told Santa what you wanted for Christmas (a different toy and a trike). Santa gave you a gift bag with some bubbles we will play with outside when the weather is better and a big bouncy ball that has glitter inside that swirls about when you move it. One of the elves who were helping Santa took a photo of Santa with you, Mummy and Daddy. It was seeing this and when we got home seeing the photo of us with Santa last year that reminded me how much you've grown. You were only starting to walk a little this time last year.

After visiting Santa we walked around Galway and looked at all the lights and crowds. Then we came back nearer home and had lunch out. For the first time in the Anglers Rest you sat up on the seat beside Daddy instead of in a high chair. My, how you are getting so grown up.


Monday, December 10, 2012

Hip-hip hip-hip horray! Santa's on his way!

"Hip-hip hip-hip horray! Santa's on his way!"

We started chanting this tonight as we zoomed around the kitchen on your 'princess' buggy. You had Mummy's santa hat on and looked super cute in your Dora the Explorer jammies. The best part of every day is playing with you.


Monday, November 12, 2012

Watching Elmo in Daddies office

As a treat when I'm working late and Rebecca comes to look for me for supper, she will come into my office (I work from home) and I'll let her climb up on my lap and from there she will demand Elmo on the computer, while we draw a picture of elmo on my desk. I'd love if that was how I spent every day. 





Saturday, November 10, 2012

When I finish work

I love how excited you get when I finish work. You start screaming and running around in circles. Run up to me and hug me and then run away with excitement. Pull me to show me the toys you are playing with, one room to another, and round and round the room. I am worried sometimes you will hit your head off something but it is still wonderful to receive so much love. Thank you Rebecca.

Friday, November 9, 2012

It's the little things you say

It is the little things Rebecca says that make me smile every day. We communicate together more and more now. But it is how you pick up phrases, like this morning taking myself and Mummy by the hand in the kitchen and saying "Let's go in the sitting room. Follow me".

"oops a daisy. uh-oh!" when I drop something.

"I'll see you later Daddy. At dinner time" when I go into the office to work.

Or the best so far, when I was in work you had this exchange with Mummy -
R: "Where's Daddy?"
Mummy: "I don't know."
R: "Probably in the toilet."



Friday, August 17, 2012

Daddy's cereal

Over the last few weeks we've started doing a lovely thing together. 

Rebecca watches 'Sooty & Sweep' on CITV at 8.58am, and I make myself a bowl of bran flakes for breakfast and we both sit on the sofa watching the show. I remember the old version when I was a kid myself, although I think that was on a black and white telly.

There is nothing like breakfast with my arm around Rebecca to cheer me up for the day, while she reaches over every few minutes and picks some of daddy's cereal and shoves it in her mouth.

I thought it was just me who loved this time together, but the last few days Rebecca comes over to me screaming "Daddy's cereal!" and this morning while I was turning on the telly to be ready she came in from the kitchen with the cereal packet (that had been in the press) saying "Put in the bowl - daddy's cereal!". 

You can't beat the happiness being a Dad brings.

Monday, July 23, 2012

You talkin to me?

Yesterday Rebecca was 21 months old, and she is talking away to us. Sometimes it's the sort of talk that anyone but a parent would hear as "Dawawa sada caaat baabaanabalawa ona tawah" but we hear as "Daddy said the cat isn't allowed on the table".

The happiness it brings to me hearing her pick up a new phrase is momentous. And I am so proud to hear her tell me about the fly on the floor, the green tractor that has gone missing in the field, or even just that she wants to have a 'snack and a drink'.

It also gives me some insight into how she is recognising things that look similar, like when we are in the supermarket and she sees a grey haired man with his back to us and shouts "helllloooo gwandad!". Also in the supermarket we walk down the veg isle and Rebecca names off all the fruits and veg. It turns grocery shopping from a chore into a delight.


Thursday, April 19, 2012

Em, yes, I am still a Daddy

You'd wonder really, wouldn't you? What with the mega long gaps between posts.

I've kept a few blogs over the years and some have died a death because i have forgotten to post or been too lazy. I don't have the same feeling about this one - I have just been too bush being a Daddy to write about it.

Rebecca is now 1 1/2 years old (in 3 days). Wow, that really flew.

Walking, Wobbling, Bumping


Back just before Christmas 2011 she took her first steps. I was out doing the grocery shopping and my wife rang me ecstatic while I was at the till. I was scared something had happened to one of them but it was just to tell me Rebecca was walking (well, had taken a few steps).
I was so filled with joy. A small feeling of 'I wish I'd been there', but I packed the shopping into the car and zoomed the 20 minute drive home. And lo and behold - she did it again.

We were really worried, as we have hardwood floors throughout our home and they are awfully sore to fall down on, especially if you are only just learning to walk and haven't perfected the hands in front of us instinct we all have later in life. This became apparent when we'd visit Grandma and Granddad who have carpet and Rebecca would be far more confident moving about.

For the first month or so Mummy and Daddy had very sore backs from leaning over with supportive hands behind her as she wobbled about the place.

There were a lot of bruises for those first few weeks but they became further and further apart. As far as February we still had a daily cry at least once over some fall.  But a big hug and a kiss from Mummy or Daddy was always enough to sort things out. Some of the time it was Mummy and Daddy who got the bigger fright.