Summer 2010 - From Baby to Girl

I should have been writing this blog on a more regular basis over the summer. I had no 'work' but my days were so FULL. There was a slow rise in the morning time where I could linger at sipping a mug of coffee. This was followed by the luxury of putting most things on the long finger so many things got filed under 'forget'. The blog suffered as a consequence.

Anyhow my main priority was settling the family back into a happy security and stress-free time. Under this new regime of coolness, my baby blossomed.

2007 and Jane is just about walking. She was the sunniest baby I ever knew - good-humoured and tolerant (being knocked over several times a day by two elder brothers has the advantage of engendering great placidness in a girl). We got a glimpse of the fieriness in her character on the day of her 1st party. When her meringue was split to share with little Isabella she threw a strop that actually made us laugh. She was raging at the insult of having to share something so delicious. That Autumn, after she severed her finger, Ama bought her a dolly (Anna Rose) and pram. It was a match made in heaven.

2008 - our beauty is now 2 years old

When I look back over our photos, I never tire of the cherubic fabulousness of her. She was such a character even then. When this photo was taken, she only had a few little words. It was to be September '08 when we started to hear her take on the world. Her family of dolls expanded to include Aimee that Christmas. Aimee effectively became my 4th child for she needed a change of clothes and a nappy change as regularly as any real baby. Jane was quite the exacting mother.

By the time she was three, a strong, independent character had fully emerged. She had her own opinions, her own way, her own style. And to my amazement, I was not going to always influence her opinions. No Madam. This little lady had her own ideas. You could pull your hair out with frustration at times, but you couldn't help but admire her determined spirit. This contrasted with the softness in her. This was never more apparent than when she cared for her her latest dolly, Annabell. What a loving little soul she is. While the other dolls were still seen to, Anabell was top dog (or doll). To see her carry that 'baby' on her hip and plant loving kisses on that forehead filled me with joy. A child that can love like that has something very special. During the stressful times we had as a family this year, I consoled myself that the love she showed could only have been learned from us.

Jane is Four Years Old

Through the last year, her language became more sophisticated and she was communicating constantly. Her skills as a 'Mama' continued to flourish but the surprise was a new love of dancing. Santa had added a stocking filler of SingStar (Abba) with the PS3 and to our delight and awe, she started really shaking her stuff. As the music soared, she sang and danced in front of the window reflections in the new kitchen...a little bit of butt here and a little bit of boogie there. We signed her up for ballet after Christmas and a new passion was born. Weeks later, she was put on the stage with the rest of the baby ballet 'troupe' and her earnestness astonished us.

Quote of the night: "Mummy, I don't want that small stage (the class) anymore. I just want the BIG stage (performance)". Holy God! We have a diva on our hands.

In June, when I got my holidays from school, I had a bit of time alone with Jane before we collected the boys. Though I was always cognisant of her good communication skills before, I was bowled over by her effervescent chat. Stream of consciousness, how are you! It never stopped. "....isn't that right, Mummy?" was a particular favourite suffix to her musings. Achievements over the summer include learning to ride a bike without stabilisers (it took one day!), dressing without making a scene ("I DON'T LIKE THAT, MUMMY") and the freedom of being able to call next door to see her pal, Caoimhe, and play contentedly without incident. The latter achievement must be the best one!

The Pals - Jane and Caoimhe: Summer 2010

Jane has become very rooted in her place as a little girl in our family. She is watching me make-up my face; asking for lip-gloss and a lick of cream; commenting on pretty things she sees. The cutest has to be when she says: "sure we are the girls, Mummy". This baby girl who is now a fully-fledged big girl is just burrowing herself deeper and deeper into my heart.

Summer 2010 - Football Crazy

The Robster

There is something about summer days and evenings that is so magical. Sun low in the sky, freckled faces flushed with a rosy glow of over-exertion and ....smiles. Ah yes, smiles are the best and these two little guys are just about as happy as they can be. I think that we must have about 10 different balls in our garden - round, oval, large and small. It does not seem to matter what the shape but as long as my boys feet are making contact with those balls they are smiling and happy. The collective noise that filters from a bevvy of boys chasing one of those balls at a local ' Green' is one of the definitive sounds of summer. To think that my lads are now a part of that happy noise is one of the simplest, but most heart-warming pleasures.

The Rewster

Our Man returns home

July 2010

The Children

After months - 5 months to be precise - the Man of our house is home from his Monday - Friday life away from us. Previous to this stint, he was abroad for 6 months so we have not had a normal life for 15 months. We are a bit war-torn from the struggle without him. I am anyway. The children somehow have got into the habit of always complaining, whinging and bickering with me or with each other. I blame myself. I am a bit whingy and bickery myself. And as I said in the previous post, kids just emulate what they see.

We have been juggling a lot. I would love to have been brave enough to ditch the job for this period. But I wasn't.

Since I finished work in June for the summer, I have made a monumental effort to try and over-ride this unfortunate pattern. I have been calm. I have given good example. Most of the time. But the ease with which we slipped into this habit of living, is a much greater struggle from which to climb.

No3 is responding fairly well. She is young and she wants to be a good girl. In fact, she never loses and opportunity to point out how well she is doing when one of the boys is struggling. No1 can be so nasty to his smaller brother. Yet, when I reason with him he understands why he should not behave in this way. In theory he responds, in practice I find myself reiterating the same thing again and again. I know that some of this is just sharpening their social teeth but it is wearing and sends us on that negative spiral. No2 is the tell-tale, the autocratic dispenser of 'The Rules' (which apply to everyone else except himself) and the howler.

Each one of these children have so many beautiful characteristics. No1: loving, diplomatic and personable. No2: spirited, cuddlesome and thoughtful. No3: sunny, enthusiastic and sociable. There is so much potential between them. We are now finished with the simple days of the *baby bubble* now and on to the challenge and responsibility of the hard stuff.

These past 15 months have been difficult but now we are out of them. It is time to look forward; pour oil on the troubles; put a glint in our eyes and start embracing a fuller life.

Busy June

The Wedding

A sublime few days were had in the South of France 'en famille'. The weather was perfect, the bridal couple were sublime and the company was wonderful. The house we rented easily absorbed the Grand Clan of Egars, with a pool for the boys to frolic in and a large table on which to feed everyone.

A frenzied effort of flower-arranging, booklet binding and decoration of the marquise kept the Bride's family very busy for the days leading to the wedding but it is fair to say that many of the guests lent a hand. Busy hands got to know each other and set the tone for the Special Day.

The wedding day dawned and amongst others, two little flower girls made preparations for their special role.

Jane and Isabella were breath-takingly beautiful when they emerged in a froth of silk in cream and blue. Two deliciously shy little girls, causing a stir already in their lives with the beauty that they are radiating. This photo shows them walking down the road to meet the bride.

The groom waited patiently for a bride that dazzled in ivory lace and silk duchess satin and organza.

Aoife was easily one of the prettiest brides I ever saw.

And what a beautiful couple they made.

The party was uniquely catered for by Olivier Bontemps who created pure theatre with the wedding banquet in Aoife's French home finishing up with the pre-requisite French Crocque en Bouche which made its entrance over the heads of the guests flanked by flames.

It was a party none of us are likely to forget.

Jane is 4: June 21st, 2010

Bunting heralded the day.......

...we cut the fabric and made the invitations....

....made the cake......

and all that was left to do for a 4 year old girl and her party guests was to blow out the candles......

and open the presents....

How I just love this baby girl who has grown into a spirited, energetic and enthusiastic big girl. How I thank God for her and her brothers and the joy they bring to us. How perfect and how loving she is. She opens my eyes every day to the beauty of life, pushes me to my limits and crushes me with how lucky we are to have our children. She amazes me with her perspective and twinkles with the unstoppable zest for living that blesses her.

Jane Marie Therese Egar - your character is this big, beautiful shadow of everything we are. Wow. It is an honour to hold in our hand the daunting task of being an example. To teach you everything we know. We want to raise a beautiful, confident, loving human being and we will do everything we can to try and ensure we can fulfill that goal. Know today and always how much I love you and enjoy you and your brothers. Know that today was an example of a day of when I felt so incredibly lucky and thrilled to be your Mama. xx

Play-date... and don't forget the champagne

The weather did not seem to be able to make up its mind, but the most important thing on our agenda today was the two little boys that we were bringing home. How simple it is to pull off an amazing day for a child ... go to the park, have a picnic in the garden with little friends, play rugby on the green, feed them food they enjoy (help them negotiate the odd disagreement), more play and some more food. One very happy son and two contented little pals.

It took a pal of my own to make a simple point this evening. The sun shone warmly on our backs while catching up on each other's lives. Don't forget the champagne, she said. Dear Hubby is 40 today and having grown up with him, she remembered. I was cataloguing the jobs I needed to get done to arrange a simple celebration for him on Friday night when he gets home from up the country. Such has been the strain of the months of separation that I could only view everything as a 'job to be done' - including a celebration dinner. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY SENSE OF FUN???? The champagne comment stirred within me a feeling of excitement...an alien feeling that I wondered if I would ever get again. Suddenly I could see the scene... his parents, the balloons, champagne flutes, tasty food and my old engine revved up to power what is required to get this gig off the ground.

The good ...and the disappointing

June July and August.

Yeah!!! The three best reasons for teaching... June, July and August. So the cynical muse. And from where I am sitting, I am going along with it. It has been a tough year. And I am glad to see the back of it.

June Weekend

The sun is shining so brightly, the sun cream is thickly applied to fair skin and the beach beckons for Hubby and kids...but sadly, not me. I am enchained to my sewing machine. The family wedding approaches and two flower girl dresses are still in the making. I can't say that I really procrastinated for the past few months ... well, not if a few minutes free time thinking of doing the work is called procrastination.

I had a romantic idea that making the dresses would be fun. But being 10 years out of practice has made the job trickier. Feeling somewhat disappointed with what is emerging is not helping. At least the beauty of the two girls who will wear them on the day, will shine...

whatever about the dresses.

Girls' fashion

I've been known to blow a week's wages on a pair of Jimmy Choos and savour the decadence of such a whimsical purchase while justifying the extravagance with the usual excuses...."I will have them forever!"....."they will go with everything" ..."I bought them in a sale".... and my favourite one, "I will have it for seven years". I adore finding the perfect piece and imagining the scene as I wear it. And of course, I imagine the glamourous life that I have as I wear it (sucker!!). As it is packed onto tissue and a pretty bag, I usually figure that at last, my wardrobe is complete. But of course it never is. I continue to look blankly into the closet while dressing for work or hanging around the house with the children. The perfectly defined wardrobe becomes more elusive with every purchase, yet that quest for those key pieces becomes re-energised with every trip to a clothes shop.

This week I bought a perfect dress for a family wedding in France. I feel French in it. (guffaw!!). It is black with a cream trim. It is a wrap and the skirt flows with a double ruffle....and best of all, I can wear it with my Jimmys. I think I will have it for YEARS. There. Justified.

And do you know what? I just love it.