Corkies

We were invited to a Birthday BBQ this weekend, and as it started early afternoon, children were invited along too. The Birthday Boy was Dave, the local Squash Club manager - and Beer Monster supreme.. A bouncy castle had been set up, and Kristen was on it within minutes of us getting there.  Thirty minutes or so later - a few more children turned up, mainly little boys, who also couldn't wait to get onto the bouncy castle... Within a few minutes, Kristen was out and running up to us, explaing that none of the boys would talk to her... She then started picking some wild flowers, and told Karen that they were for the boys, and that if she gave them all flowers, they might talk to her... Well, as you'd expect then boys had no interest in Kristen or her flowers... Heartbreaking - but I guess one of lifes little lessons....

 

Towards the end of the afternoon, Lauren was starting to get hungry - so we told Kristen that she had 5 more minutes to go and bounce, and then we had to go. She was back 2 minutes later sobbing, as one of the boys had bushed her over, and told her not to move - to which she replied - "but my Dad said I have 5 more minutes" ..... She cried most of the way home, and even now, still tells us about that naughty boy !!...

 

 

Yesterday when I got home from work, Kristen greeted me with a "Daddy, I've been bad". She's very good at owning up when she knows she's been naughty...  Apparently Karen was feeding Lauren, and Kristen kept interfering, which led to several warnings, and then a smacked hand. Well, as soon as Kristen told me this, I told her that she has to do what Mummy tells, her - well the flood gates opened and she started sobbing and sobbing.... I picked her up, and she was shaking, and then she said..

 

Sob... sob... sob... I... sob... sob... can't... sob... sob.. talk... sob... sob... sob... Daddy... Ahhh Bless her....

 

She soon calmed down, and said sorry to Mummy, and everyone was bestest buddies again....

As I was getting dressed for work this morning, Kristen came into the bedroom, and asked if she could go to work with me.  I told her that she wouldn't like it, as there were no toys, book, or crayons for her to play with....

 

As I got on my bike to leave, Kristen appeared at the window with a handful of crayons for me, so that Daddy could have some fun at work....

Well, we're both feeling a little disappointed this morning.... We went out for dinner last night, and (in our opinion) the best restaurant in Bermuda was closed for the week, so we went to the Harbour Front instead...   The food wasn't bad - it just wasn't as good as we'd had in the Newport room.. We still had a nice time - any night out we get is a real bonus - but you can't help feeling that the seven course gourmet chefs sampler, with accompanied wine selection would have been better ....

 

 

OK, OK - it's been months since I've added anything, and I am giving myself a good spank as I type.... Before anyone says anything - this is not a New Years resolution - it's just me deciding to add an update - to what was a very eventful 2006..

 

During the 20 week checkup, we were told that the baby had a Choroid Plexus Cyst - which in essence is a bubble of fluid on the brain.. Although pretty common, this still caused much anxiety as you can imagine, as it can cause brain damage.... This was a classic case of too much information..  Because today's scanning equipment is so detailed and accurate, more and more anomalies are picked up during pregnancy than ever were before. Choroid Plexus Cysts were normally not even mentioned - even if present, as 95% no not cause any problems what so ever, and only did get mentioned if they are still apparent much later in the pregnancy... I know sometimes it's good to know - but sometimes it's not..

 

WELCOME LAUREN.

 

Yes - the Corke household increased by 1 last year.... Lauren Harriet Corke was born on the 4th October, around 11am.

 

The following couple of months were pretty hard to be honest. Unlike Kristen, Lauren wasn't a particularly happy newborn, and she wasn't to keen on sleeping during the day either...  Not only would she not sleep, but she didn't want to do anything, but be held..

 

10 weeks later, she was like a different child, smiling, and happy - the way we remember newborns to be... For the first time in a while, Karen and I stopped thinking "what the hell had we done".... An air of relative peace and harmony had descended over the Corke's household..

 

Today is our 4th wedding anniversary. Three things this morning made me particularly proud:-

 

1. That my wife has put up with me for so long..

2. Lauren woke up, and shouted "Mum"...

3. Kristen asked to go down the pub !!...

 

Happy 2007....

 

 

 

 

 

That is not a reference to 5 years of excess Rum and Sun...

 

It's that time where Madam junior is being taught toilet etiquette... A happy time of wet carpet, and dry potty - but I'm sure we'll look back at this a smile - SOMEDAY !!!!..

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Why do I need to be potty trained? Is it something I'll use later in life? Will it help me to get into a good college? Do chicks dig guys who are potty trained?”

OK, OK after weeks of complaints from the wife, I have finally got around to updating my Blog..

 

Life is very good. Summer is here, and as of last weekend, Karen and I actually bit the bullet, and went for a swim. The water still feels chilly, but at 77 degrees - we couldn't really complain.

 

Kristen is talking.. talking .... talking.... talking ... She seems to have inherited  her mum's jaw muscles...

Potty training is scheduled to start sometime this week - so we could be calling in the carpet cleaners very soon.

 

As summer has arrived, so have the bloody ants... But it was with great pleasure, that I showed Kristen the subtle art of ant-bashing, with my size 10 shoe - the sheer look of enjoyment on her face made me so proud....