Chatterbox

Awful night's sleep in my "crime-ridden neighbourhood" as my Dad has taken to calling it. One of the neighbours got burgled and as their alarm was triggered I looked out and saw the "perp" fleeing the scene and got a good look at him. It was the early hours, I was shattered but I knew I had to do the right thing and call the police. They came round and I had to give a description but it took ages and they were patrolling the street for ages afterwards. Their torches and diesel-engine'd vans kept me awake until gone 3am and then to top it off Angus woke me up coming home. Great!

So was shattered today. Audrey was in a weird mood. Very prone to falling over and lots of tantrums (particularly for her dummy which we don't let her have in the house any more). I really can't do anything when she's in this type of mood. She is so damn needy! At one stage I was simply trying to write an address on an envelope but she kept trying to grab the pen and when I wouldn't let her have it she threw the letter on the floor and started pounding her fists on the sofa. I wondered if all Mums have this? This inability to even make a cup of tea when their toddlers are cranky. It's so draining.

Had planned tea with my friend this afternoon in Didsbury but was all set to cancel. Just couldn't think of anything worse than some tantrums in public and had visions of us walking out half way through our meal. But I decided to go anyway as thought the long walk there in the pram might do her good. Sent my friend a warning text so she knew what to expect though!

Of course Audrey was charm personified for her, making me out to look like a total fibber about Audrey's mood today. I remember my Mum saying that she could imagine Audrey growing up to be one of those "lovely children in public or at school but a real handful behind closed doors at home" (or something like that). Well so can I after today!

My friend and I had a lovely catch up, fish and chips and a glass of wine. I was so glad I went in the end.

Then Audrey and I chatted all the way home. She wanted to talk about everything that had just happened and kept saying words to describe our afternoon "Dinner", "chair", "chips", "dip dip" (ketchup) etc. She has started doing this recently. Little reviews of experiences we've just had. I start her off by saying something like "Did you have a nice dinner?" and she'll mention something that happened, often something quite specific. It's such a delight as it feels like a real conversation.

As we approached home we talked about what was going to happen when we got in:

Me: "We'll make up some milk", Audrey: "Hot"
Me: "Then you'll have a bath", Audrey: "Nemo" (her toy fish in the bath)
Me: "Then we'll read a book" Audrey: "Charlie" (her teddy that reads the book with us every night)
Me: "Then Audrey will go to sleep in the cot", Audrey: "Audrey cot, Mummy nanite"

It seems small, but it's so wonderful. She understands everything and responds in kind with the words she associates with what I'm saying. Isn't their development incredible? How has this crying, newborn got to this stage in under two years? It's such a marvel.