and today I endorse...

...these strange things. They work amazingly well and a big thanks to the nice lady at Baban for getting them to me the next day as promised.

We've got a busy few days ahead as we've got friends for dinner tonight and tomorrow and on Sunday Babycake is going to meet his non McMuffin cousins and uncle in York, then on Monday we're carrying on to Scotland so that his McMuffin grandparents, aunts and cousins can get to see his gorgeousness. Fortunately Mr McMuffin's best friend and family live very close to the clan McMuffin, so we are going to stay with them until Wednesday when we return to York and then we're back home on Thursday. Much as I want Babycake to meet his relatives (and for them to say how lovely he is) I'm not actually looking forward to this trip, as I think it's going to be knackering. However, if a change is really as good as a rest, expect me to be very well rested by Friday.

.....

i hate vauxhall

The new car is lovely. I forgot what it was like to drive a new car. It is a bright and lively drive. Very nice. However, the built in stereo is crap. I have been searching for a new stereo and thought I had found one. It turns out that Vauxhall have made it impossible to replace the rubbish stereo that they put in my car. It has something to do with multi-function wires. I can't tell you how angry this has made me. I have been in touch with Vauxhall customer services, which are crap too, by the way, and the best they could do was tell me that they couldn't advise me to adapt the car's wiring because it might invalidate my warranty. I know this sounds a little extreme, but unless they can give me a good reason for locking me into their rubbish, without telling me, I think I might try to return the car to the dealer. Mrs McMuffin doesn't look terrible amused by my ranting. All I can say, who do these people think they are?

the kills

We watched the French film The beat that my heart skipped the other night. Great title, and a pretty good film. Over the end titles they played this. Turns out it is by a group called The Kills. I immediately sought out some more music, and found their last album, No Wow. They make excellent stripped down rock music. The singer sounds a little bit like PJ Harvey, but don't let that put you off. Here is another track from the album, Murdermile.

hug a bub

Mr McMuffin mocked me for my fantasy that this little item would free up my hands and restore some normality to my life. He has had to eat his words, it is truly our salvation and even helps the boy with his (appalling) colic. I wish we had owned one when Babycake first arrived, as it would have made our lives a lot easier from the beginning. Babycake seems to love it too and finds it very relaxing. I'm not on commission or anything, but I can honestly say this is the best baby related thing we own. Even if it is insanely expensive for what is essentially a strip of cotton jersey, it is worth every single penny.

Truthfully, I was a little anxious that I might look a bit like one of those strange women that give the NCT a bad name (you know, the ones that send frozen expressed breastmilk to their children when they go to university and can no longer suckle), but I am pleased to report that it does not seem to be viewed as a statement accessory such as an all terrain travel system or any bugaboo product. While describing carrying your sprog as babywearing really makes me queasy, I can't deny that having him close to me for a large chunk of the day and night hasn't been beneficial for us both.

the new car arrives and mrs mcmuffin messes with my head...again

I picked up the new car today. Needless to say, it is lovely. All bright and shiny, and stain proof, apparently. I paid £250 to have the whole thing sprayed in some kind of Scotchguard stuff. I shall never have to clean it, or at least that is my interpretation of it all. I went for a nice drive in it to pick up a duplicate MOT certificate for the car that has been written off, so that I can make the claim on my insurance. All I can say is that it zoomed, even though it has the same sized engine as the other one. I guess 10 years of technological development really does have a pay off. The only problem with the car is the fact that the stereo is absolutely rubbish. It is tinny with no bass. I suppose this shouldn't come as a surprise to me, but I was hoping that the improvements in technology had seeped through to the audio equipment they put in cars. It has, of course, but this only means that the crap stereos are cheaper to make. I steeled myself before mentioning it to Mrs McMuffin. I told her that I just could not live with the stereo. She said, "I just assumed you'd replace it anyway." I was so shocked that I didn't get her to sign anything, but I think she just gave me permission to get a new car stereo, one that I can plug my iPod into. She suprises me sometimes.

sleeping now

He's had his feed, wash and poo, and is now sleeping soundly. How could anyone punish him for defiling his poor dear mother. I don't want to do it, but it is important that he learns just how wrong it is to poo on people who only want the best for him. No fags for him today.

my son hates me

Given that I am with Babycake 24/7, it's difficult to find anything else to post about. I have therefore avoided posting anything much, as I find it irritating when people tell you the smallest details of their baby's lives (baby poo, Mr McMuffin). However, Babycake surpassed himself today and I think the world needs to know about it.

Usually Babycake has a bath with me every day as he loves the deepness of the water and is particularly fond of a little feed and float and it makes him nice and sleepy. Now I don't have a problem with him weeing in the water as it doesn't smell and doesn't discolour the bathwater, which I'm sure you'll agree are important criteria. I think we all know where this little tale is going. Yes, Babycake, he of the infrequent bowel movements just pooed all over me in the bath. Fortunately Mr McMuffin was around to help with the rather nasty and sticky clear up, but that's the end of me bathing with Babycake when we're alone in the house. On a positive note, my skin has never felt softer.

competition

My brother and his partner came to dinner on Saturday and they brought a lovely, albeit huge, present for Babycake. It's a called a playnest. We set up the thing last night. When we came down this morning, we were greeted with this sight. Poor Slinky. He is so determined to claim anything new that comes into the house, with the possible exception of the baby, who he haughtily ignores. Have I told you that one of Slinky's tricks when he is looking for somewhere comfortable to sleep is to pull off onto the floor any clothes or towels or whatever that we have hung over the radiator to dry to make a little bed for himself. The other day I came downstairs to find him sleeping on top of one of Babycakes tiny vests. The thing is so small that I didn't even notice that he had it under him. I think he needs some extra loving.

that's what daddies do...apparently

My brother is coming over tonight for dinner and to see Babycake for the first time. We have been very lazy this week, and now the house needs a good clean. Mrs McMuffin has gone off shopping with her sister, and the baby, leaving me to do the cleaning. As they were leaving, I was being a bit pathetic, telling them that it was okay for them to leave me at home to do the cleaning. To make matters worse Mrs McMuffin told Babycake that cleaning is what daddies do. I had best get on, although I really have little desire to do any cleaning. Hope you're all having a better Saturday afternoon than I am.

nadir

Writing about baby poo really is a sign that your preoccupations should be held in check. Anyway, Babycakes has filled a nappy today with the liquid mustard gorgeousness that is his poo and continues to be very windy. Oh, the joy.