ChunkyMonkey

Xmas is coming, and I am getting fat

As of today, I am going on a pre-Xmas diet.  The point of this will be to lose a bit of weight, so that I can eat my own body weight in cashew nuts over the Xmas period.  I have taken up running in an attempt to get thinner, but so far the scales have not moved.  Damn them. I even bought proper running shoes, surely that should help to shift my wobbly bits?

Talking of Xmas, Davin has asked me to write down a 'wish-list' of possible gifts for myself.  We do this every year and it works a treat, usually.  Here is a synopsis of our conversation:

Davin: Have you written out that Xmas list yet? I only plan on getting you a few things this year.

Me: That is fine, I have you and Harvey in my life, they are all of the gifts I need.

actually, I didn't say that, but realise now perhaps I should have...what I really said was...

That is fine, the only thing I'd really like is a bag from 'Fat Face' it is pink and woolly, with a flower corsage on it, I saw it when I was shopping with Jane on Saturday.

Davin: No. You can't have any more bags, or shoes, or boots, or jewellery, or cosmetics, or perfume.

Me: Oh.

On a less 'Bah humbug' note, today was much fun as we made Xmas paper with the children.  It was messy. Here is Ben.  Note the vest was once white, but is now painty and sparkly.

As ever, when 4:30 struck, all of the children turned into whining monsters, so we had to put the Sing and Sign DVD on.  This was met with approval and good behaviour was restored.

Stamp, stamp, STAMP!

Harvey seems to have found his temper.  This is not good.  He has been getting into a complete rage over the most minor things.  Having a signing baby is wonderful, but there is only so far it can go in the quest to aid communication.  On Saturday morning, for example, because I am stupid, I could not figure out that Harvey was trying to tell me he wanted to eat two dry Weetabix for his breakfast.  No, he did not want Cheerios.  No he did not want milk.  Both Weetabix were eaten sans any kind of moisture.  The child is clearly nuts.

Yesterday, we attempted Xmas shopping.  Sadly Harv decided to have a complete hissy fit in the middle of a shopping centre.  Davin and I looked around us, fixed false smiles on our faces and eventually rode it out.  The only thing that calmed Harv down was the swift administration of 5 mls of Neurofen.  There was some kind of pain, somewhere. Once the drugs had hit home, Harv then discovered the Disney shop.  He LOVED it.  There was much signing of 'bear' and 'rabbit', as well as manic laughing 'Ha ha ha HA HA HA HA!'.  I am not especially pleased about this as I have a pathological hatred of all things Disney.  I will never forgive what they have done to Pooh.

Here is a photo of me and Harv on Saturday night.  Davin and I were off on a night out, so I had on my glad-rags.  I like anything that sparkles, and it appears that my son does also.

I am grateful to this photo for reminding me I need my roots done.

Cake

This weekend was fun. And productive. More xmas presents have been purchased.  Only 5 squillion to go.  I also found out this weekend that the JCB song is going to be released as a single.  This means I'll never get the flipping tune out of my head.  Ever.

We met Helen, Ian and Rebecca for a drink on Saturday, and suddenly there was Champagne.  I'd like to say this is a common event, but actually the truth is better.  Helen and Ian have asked me to be one of Rebecca's godparents.  I am extremely chuffed.

On Sunday Davin and Harv made a xmas cake.  My husband is a domestic god.  I was in bed snoring at the time here is how it went. Clearly Harvey enjoyed the experience, but I fear quite a bit of dog hair made it into the mix.  If you hear any funny noises on xmas day, it will be us Millers - hacking up fur balls.

Sunday afternoon was spent lunching.  I thought my choice of spaguetti and meatballs was a good one for Harv, but watch his eyes when Davin's meal arrives.

Helen, baby Rebecca, Jev, MadDonna and Leo joined us for lunch.  Here are two of them looking fetching. Helen, Rebecca and Jev managed to escaped being photographed.

Poor Leo managed to gain a rather nasty drinking injury to his nose.  The injury occurred as a result of the following - in no particular order

Me

a taxi

too much wine

hugging

Leo being a nutter

I'd tell you exactly what happened, except the memory of it has me helpless with laughter, and I can barely type due to tears running down my face.  Leo is rapidly becoming one of my favourite people.

Diggers are good at ....dig, dig, digging

Meet Harv's latest obsession

The digger thing has been going for a while. And, don't panic, Super Baby still reigns supreme. However, since last weekend, and courtesy of Mollychicken, Harvey loves tills. And coins. He also loves putting coins into digger buckets.  Why I do not know, but for the past three nights there have been tears and tantrums at bedtime when Davin tries to explain that he cannot take his diggers into the bath/bed with him.

Not a huge amount of new developments this week, except to say that Harv can now say 'purple' and 'turtle' .  He also demonstrated some very neat signing today at Kat's house.

The scene: Kat's living room with Kat handing out strawberry and white chocolate muffin to Tom and Harv.  Harv stuffs huge piece of muffin in mouth, chews once or twice. Swallows.  Signs for 'more' and makes a grab for the muffin.

Kay:  Harvey! No! You must ask Kat for more.  Say 'please'.

Harvey: (signs) 'please' and 'cat' - as in the feline variety.

How cool is that!  We were in stitches.  Clever lad.

Our 'Sunday Times Wine Club' box arrived today, so I am now off to sample a Pinot Grigio which is pale straw in colour, with a floral aroma with light peach and herby notes. I'm looking forward to getting a hint of fresh apple, peach and honey flavours.

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside

Aaaah.  Devon air.  Lovely stuff. 

We three returned from clotted cream central yesterday afternoon.  Harvey had the best time.  He just loves being with his cousins.  And, of course, Fred.  Fred is a black and white cat that looks almost exactly like Jessie cat.  This resemblance made Harvey very happy, and there was a lot of signing of 'cat' this weekend.  I guess I should have known the ending to the friendship may not be a happy one.  Linnie and I were having an early evening glass of wine on Saturday, whilst the boys were watching England win.  Suddenly there was crying.  Followed by running.  Harv appeared in the kitchen wailing loudly and signing 'cat, cat, cat'.  Then we noticed the puncture wounds in his head.  Oops.  Still, no lasting damage.  Here is Harv, Fred and Jessie cat during a happier moment.

Jessie is the stuffed one being hugged by Harv.

On Saturday, there was lunch out

During lunch, my sister told me two rhymes that made me laugh out loud.  Not sure whom the copyright belongs to, but I acknowledge them anyway

Peas

I eat my peas with honey

I've done it all my life

It makes my peas taste funny

But keeps them on the knife

Ha! Ha!

and....

Jelly

If you're eating jelly

And it falls down on the floor

Take your shoes and socks off

And kick it out the door

Ha! Ha! Ha!  I'm telling you, that is my sense of humour.

Lunch and laughter was followed by the beach.  This was a new experience for Harvey.  In true Harvey style, he was a bit of a scaredy cat about the whole waves/sand/freezing air thing.  Molly, on the other hand, came prepared for every eventuality.  Note the coat was bought by me from Saks, Fifth Avenue - New York City.  The girl oozes style.

Here is me, Harv and Molly Chicken herself

My hair was clearly having a holiday.  They boys were a bit more adventurous than us girlies

And then we went home, to see how check out this video.  Clever Ian told me how to do this.  Thanks Ian x

Something for the weekend

I am especially excited about the weekend.  We three are off to visit my side of the family.  There are many, many more of us than there are Millers. We are also much shorter, and much LOUDER.  Poor Davin didn't really know what to make of my lot when we first met.  Particularly as my Mum's first words to him were " Bloody hell! Look at the size of you!".  This can be translated from Devon-speak into "My, aren't you tall?".  We will be staying with my fantasically fun and fabulous sister. Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! Harvey hero-worships Molly, and thinks everything she does is hysterically funny. This is good news.  Molly is a minx and will grow up to be much fun.

I deserve a nice weekend as today was pants.  I did something really embarassing stupid to my car.  I may post about it when I have stopped cringing.  Suffice to say, no-one was hurt and my car is fine.  I had to make panic stricken phone calls to husband and male friend to get me out of the bother I got into.  What a girl.

A week!

Jeepers.  I am sorry, oh mighty www for not posting for a week.  There has been much a happening.  There has been a birthday party...

A themed birthday party, no less.  It was a Thomas the Tank Engine fest!

Note Harvey wore his party shirt.  Little boys just look so handsome in a nice shirt.  Actually, so do big boys.

The reason for the blog silence has been this.  The French have arrived.  They were supposed to be with us on Friday.  However, there is a certain budget airline that does not have state-of-the-art weather instrument thingies.  This means that if there is the slightest hint of drizzle, the planes cannot fly.  Perhaps it is windscreen wipers they lack?  Anyhow, the Friday flight was cancelled and the Millers who smell of garlic arrived on Saturday.  Hoorah!  Harvey is most pleased.  He has fallen head-over-heels in love with his Grandad.  Or his 'Papi' as he calls him.  It was my turn to look after Harv on Sunday morning, but he didn't want me, he wanted 'PAPI! PAPI! PAPI!'

Whilst Harvey has been being looked after by his Grandparents, I have been having some time off.  It has been splendid. I have even purchased some Christmas presents; all things of useless beauty for some of the females in my life. They were a bit expensive, but I don't care, these women deserve lovely things and they are going to jolly well get them.

Whilst of spending, Harvey met his Great Auntie Linda for the first time

Linda works in Richmond, and so the family drove down to meet her for a London lunch

I am told Harv was a very good boy.  Phew.  I guess he was out to impress Auntie Linda.  After lunch Grandma, Papi and Harvey went to Richmond Park where it seemed Harvey got a bit 'Blair Witch' with some sticks

Eeek.

The boys did man-stuff.  They stalked deer.

The deer were too smart for them, so Harv had to make do with riding bare-back on a tree instead.

What a lucky little boy he is.

Yikesarama

Boy, the Halloween party was great.  As Jo has posted, there were a lot of pumpkins.  Initially, Harv was not in his happy place

Ben looked fantastic as a ghost - note the ghoulish expression.  In a home-made costume! Rebecca is sooo good.

Mabel was just adorable

And Harv managed to chipper up a bit when the food arrived. The food.  Oh the food.  There was fondue! There were many pastry thingies! There were dips! It was great! A big thanks to Rebecca and David for hosting the event.

Night, night.  I am off to play 'Ultimate Spiderman' on my PS2. 

That was a lie, by the way.  I don't have a PS2.  I wouldn't play 'Ultimate Spiderman' if I did.  I was just trying to sound cool.

Splishy, splashy, splosh

On Sunday, it was Davin's turn for a lie-in. However, I spent 3 hours in the early hours of Sunday morning reading in the spare room.  I could not sleep. It was a bore.  Being the kind and considerate chap he is, my husband sacrificed his sleep-in so that I could recuperate the lost 3 hours.  When I eventually surfaced, the family and dog were making their way back into the conservatory. I assumed they had all been out for a walk.  I was right.  Kinda.  Harvey apparently decided he wanted to go for a swim.  For some reason, only known to him, Harv decided to throw himself into a huge muddy puddle.  Davin says this was no accident.  It was a deliberate, calculated act of nutterness. So, this is the site that greeted me

note the trousers are not supposed to be brown.  That is mud.  There was also an unholy stench which turned out to be the nappy from hell.  A bath was required.

The lack of sleep for Davin had consequences.  By Sunday afternoon he had lost the plot.

so had Big Ted

Also, hello to Uncle Andy in the north. Get well soon and come and visit us x

FYI, I will right about Harvey's first Halloween on 2 legs tomorrow.  Jo has already blogged about it, should you not be able to wait.