Kingsley: Last day at 21

6th October 2015

Aw, I am feeling awfully nostalgic at the moment, for our boy tomorrow turns 22 months of age and I literally cannot get enough of his effervescent personality; he is so funny and cheeky and delightful to be with. There is no denying how mentally grounded I am these days, now that life is all about nurturing our family unit. Firstly, this is what I wake to every morning…

K aged 14 months

K aged 14 months

Next, the starving toddler must be fed. This morning it is weetbix and milk, almonds and banana. At some stage mid morning, without fail, our champ finds a quiet corner of the living room…and the silence is telling: he is definitely brewing one. With as much fanfare and ceremony as possible (keeping the boy proud that he is regular and that pooing is a good thing), offending nappy is discarded, and into the bath he goes. Here he plays for as long as he wants. With his wide repertoire of words he likes to use well established, he yells out “φτάνει” (enough) or “πετσέτα” (towel) to indicate that he wants out. Ha ha ah!!

Post bath mandatory towel wrap. Taken in Toronto 2015.

Post bath mandatory towel wrap. Taken in Toronto 2015.

By 11:30am today Erroll came home from training at the gym and with pal Matt coming over for lunch soon, I whip up a smorgasbord for the three lads to enjoy: eggs, avocado, Norlander bread on the griddle, melted cheese, sautéed mushrooms, and cottage cheese. Plus Kingsley got some lamb kofta, which he seems addicted to these days.

The start of a healthy appetite. Taken 20th Feb 2015

The start of a healthy appetite. Taken 20th Feb 2015

Between noon and 1PM the little man must go in for his nap, or else there is not much fun come the afternoon. And even moreso these days, K is addicted to the boob and will only go down with me right there next to him. And I mean still plugged in. It is a running joke in our household that the wee fella will coming home from school soon, throw his bag down after a heavy class of trigonometry, and ask for ‘Mum Mum’…

Just before his midday nap, at Galleries Lafayette. September 2015

Just before his midday nap, at Galleries Lafayette. September 2015

This afternoon Erroll went to headquarters, so K and I went for a playdate. First to lovely Japanese friend and her little boy Hayato’s apartment at U.P Tower, then up to their pool with another Emirates cabin crew pal, Tati. By the pool, Kingsley enjoyed his new found freedom in the water (thanks to brand new, well fitting floaties), and Tati confided that she is undergoing in vitro fertilization in order to overcome her fertility problems. Yay to medical science! Case in point, below…

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17 month old Hayato with K at U.P Tower pool

By 6PM we two are on the road walking to Dubai Mall, and what a headache the traffic is for the thousands of fuming commuters stuck in gridlock around our neighbourhoods, the DIFC and Financial Centre. By the look of thunder/boredom on the drivers’ faces, I am reminded of the sensible decision Erroll and I took exactly seven years ago – not to run a car here; and that our feet (and buggy) would be our chariots.

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Riding the Dubai Metro, at 13 months of age

These days Master Kingsley is demanding. And eloquent. Firstly he insists we go for a walk (he tells me with either a call for “da-da” (walkies in baby talk) or the correctly uttered Greek work “βόλτα”.

And secondly, he has an ever developing ferocious appetite – eating small amounts constantly throughout the day. So a daily shop is actually essential. He eats enough cashews and almonds to put a bodybuilder to shame. Hence the walk to the Mall. There aren’t many places we frequent here: its usually Waitrose (for food), and The Toy Store (for a play). Two birds killed.

It is of course only after our supermarket shop that he gets to play among the model trains at The Toy Store (conveniently located next to Waitrose supermarket)…

At The Toy Store, taken September 2015

At The Toy Store, taken September 2015

Completely exhausted but still capable of eating cashew after almond, K and I chatter all the way home to our awaiting husband/dad, and the final meal of the day. Grilled chicken (Erroll) and beef kofta (child). Then play. Then Youtube. Then more almond snacks. Then literally pass out.

Its been a really beaut day. Again.

Jervis Bay National Park. Taken at 18 months of age

Jervis Bay National Park. Taken at 18 months of age