Fireworks Night!

You both loved Fireworks Night this year.  We met up with Alex and his parents, Malcolm and Margaret, and wandered up through Brockwell Park.

In all honesty the new ticketing system and big fence were not handled brilliantly, and I felt bad for you having to stay up so late when they said they were delayed (from an intended 8pm start!)

But you both stayed up and were amazed at the crazy sparkles and colours in the sky.  It made us both laugh to see you both reaching up, as if you could touch the twinkles with your fingertips.

Acrobatics with Min

Your sister has learned to do acrobatics with Daddy, almost exactly 2 years after you learned to.  And she also wants to do it again and again and again and again and again ...

Hospital

I am writing this on Friday 21st Nov as Minnie is under general anaesthetic, having her hearing tested as part of an assessment to see whether she is a good candidate for a cochlear implant.  It is not particularly invasive, but she needs to be still for the test, and toddlers rarely stay still.

She has had a few GAs in her time, and I always cry when she goes under.

Coming back into hospital pulls up so many feelings. I feel helpless as a parent as I can't take her place as she goes through all her tests and procedures. I feel frustrated at the whims of fate and the random statistics that landed her with her condition. And I cry. Mostly because there is nothing else I can do to help.

Except try my hardest to be a good parent, and show Minnie that she can thrive and take strength from this adversity.

And know that she is one of the lucky ones.

Coming into the Evelina Children's Hospital, I see children dealing brilliantly with much more debilitating conditions than Minnie's. And when I see them, I am inspired by their strength and quietly grateful that our load is as light as it is.

The NHS is amazing, and Minnie always seems to be looked after by the smartest and most smiley people.

Sometimes I speak to Penny about being a doctor, but maybe Minnie might be so inspired by the amazing people she sees, maybe she might want to be. 

Or not ... and I am grateful that she will hopefully have all those choices open to her.

There are lots of appointments to see if she is a  good candidate for a cochlear implant (or 2!), we should find out what the team recommend early in the new year.

Terrible Twos

Mummy here, to declare that your sister's terrible twos started on Thursday 20th November, at age 21 months and 6 days. Well, they started for me anyway, and I am pretty sure yours started at the same age.

That's what we get for having feisty, wilful, confident girls ... and in the long term I wouldn't have it any other way.

So what happened? Two things ...

1 MY Banana!

M asked for a banana. I started to peel it and offered it to her. She shrieked and pushed it away. I offered her a fresh one, and she happily peeled it herself and ate it herself.

2 You can't take that!

I took something away from Minnie, probably my phone, and she had her first whingy stampy-feet tantrum. Actually stamping her feet, she was so cross.

So we are in that place again, and it will get worse before it gets better. I hope it doesn't last too long though!

Computer Game Nerds

We are, indeed we are.

Although neither Daddy or I play as many as we used to (especially Daddy), we do remember that we developed our relationship under the watchful gaze of Super Mario (on the Nintendo Gamecube?).

Every now and again we plug the Wii in and indulge ourselves in the wonder that is the world's most famous Italian plumber.

Daddy even downloaded a very old game a little while ago, 'Super Metroid', which he enjoyed playing very much.

I wonder when you will be ready to play on the Wii with us ...

Autumn Bowl

We have started a new family tradition, having an autumn bowl.

There is nothing quite so joyous as seeing nature in all its patterns and colours flung around you.  Although Autumn is cold, it is refreshing and crisp, and swooshing your bewellied feet through the fallen leaves is a delight.

So we bring some of Autumn's bounty home, and place the leaves, pinecones, conkers, acorns, wood and other weird and wonderful bits and pieces in a lovely wicker bowl.

The bowl has become bigger and bigger, and even has a couple of bumpy colourful gourds in now.

Occasionally a little spider climbs out of the bowl to investigate, but we don't mind!

From Cargo to Companion

For so many years, I have taken you with me to shops and around on my daily adventures.  As a small child you have been attached to me for your wellbeing and your simple cares, whether nappies or toilet visits, food, drinks and of course to be loved and looked after.

With Min-Min on the journey too, I have found that I have avoided shops, high streets and complexity completely, taking you both out of temptations way.  Instead, we go to parks and places where you can have fun, explore and be yourselves, rather than feel restricted in an adult world of tasks and function.

But things have changed over the past couple of months.

I have realised, my bright sparkling Penny, that you have become the most wonderful companion.  You have always been interesting to talk to and full of genuinely thoughtful insights.  But now, I desperately want to take you out with me if I am going into West Norwood or Brixton, so we can chat and look around shops and learn about the world together.  Daddy is often happy to take Minnie, so we can have some time just the two of us.  Quality time.

Of course, it helps that nappies and tantrums are no longer a factor.  But you are starting to feel more of a like-minded companion to travel through life with me ... and I love it!  One day, your sister will also be big enough to join us on these trips, and we can all explore the world together :)