Monthly Musings: July 2013

An overview of opinions and observations for the month.

Letters to Ilysha #12

 Dear Ilysha,

Your Daddy got to see you again today :'D

I arrived at the Contact Centre and went in to prepare for your arrival. I got the high chair set up ready, and got all the good toys together for you before other children arrived and stole them hehe. I went and located the playmats that had been missing for the last two weekends, I knew they'd be about somewhere - they were tucked away on top of a cupboard but I got them down and sorted them out for us to play with so you wouldn't carpet burn yourself rolling around the floor :)

Mummy and her sister Steph brought you in today, I didn't mind since I knew they wouldn't be staying, plus they were both civil with Daddy - the atmosphere is a lot better when they aren't nasty or rude to Daddy. Mummy got your breakfast out, and told Daddy she was trying you on a new style of teat, a tippee cup - you're really growing up now beautiful :')

Daddy gave you a kiss and cuddle then put you in the high chair for your breakfast, Mummy said goodbye and left us to it :D - you were hungry today, and thirsty too! I fed you your breakfast, but you kept needing a drink - so I helped you with your new tippee cup to stop you wearing more than you drank hehe. You ate up all your breakfast again today, it will help you be a big strong girl, and give you energy for our time together :D - you kept looking over at the big pile of toys I'd prepared grinning with that adorable toothy little smile :)

After your breakfast was finished, Daddy flat packed the high chair carefully whilst holding you on his knee, then we carried it through to the other room. We came back and I threw a big cushion on the floor for you to lie on, and got you some toys to play with. We had some different toys this week, there were some soft padded shapes, a cube with a bell inside that jingled every time I shook it - you kicked your legs enthusiastically and kept grabbing it and waving it around excitedly with wide eyes and a big smile :')

I had found a soft padded shape with a mirror on it, and you were fascinated with your own reflection, I dangled it above you and you couldn't take your eyes off it - well, until you grabbed it and began to eat it that is! :P - I relocated you to the playmat you liked and you rolled about like an expert, you're getting brilliant at it now - proud Daddy moment! We were playing with all the toys, your rattles and teddies, and you kept rolling away off the mat hehe.

You are getting good at standing upright now too, you kept holding my hands and pulling yourself to your feet :) - you would stand wobbling back and forward trying to get your balance - I stood you above my leg that was flat on the floor, and used it to guide you as I helped you shuffle forward towards me :) - I moved some of the toys onto the bench and helped you stand up and hold onto the edge of the bench - but I had to support you because you kept wobbling and falling onto your bum!!

When I changed your nappy today you had a surprise for me... that's right, I knew sooner or later you'd start weeing as I was changing your bum, and today was the first time! I managed to block it with a wet wipe and not get covered, but then had to spend a good few minutes wiping everywhere after haha! You got upset after that and I had to just get your nappy on you sharpish and give you a cuddle to calm you down. I lay you back down to put your trousers back on, and you started getting upset again :( - but it was okay, as soon as I picked you back up and comforted you it was fine :)

We went back in the Contact Centre and played some more, and before long Mummy and Steph reappeared to signal it was time you had to go again :( - I gave you a kiss and cuddle and passed you too Mummy whilst I tidied up all the toys. I told Mummy about the wee incident which she found amusing, and I asked about Zinc Oxide as she didn't bring any this week - Mummy explained it had exploded everywhere previously so she needed to get some more. 

Mummy asked me if we just had two more sessions left at the Contact Centre, and I replied that it was however many were necessary until Court was resolved. Mummy replied it would just be two more then, which makes Daddy very optimistic that at the next Court date we can close the chapter on all this foolishness and Daddy can have proper access to you and take you to meet his family and take you out places :') :') :')

I love you Princess Ilysha, you really are the apple of my eye, and I couldn't live without you <3 - I can't wait to see you again next week my little Angel... love you all the world, and even more.

Daddy x x x

Letters to Ilysha #11

Dear Ilysha,

Guess who got to see his beautiful little Princess again today? :')

I turned up in shorts and a vest top at about half past 9am, it has been really hot the last week - it's unusual in our country, England is usually the victim of really rubbish weather, but I guess with you in my life I better get used to the sunshine :) - it's always clear skies with you in my presence <3

I could hear you giggling and babbling with your Mummy before we went in, I could see you just around the corner sitting clapping your little handies and smiling gorgeously like always... :) - we went through into the Contact Centre at about 10am, you and Mummy were ahead of me but I could see you looking over Mummy's shoulder at me smiling... happy Daddy once more! I came into the same room as you after my delay in the queue, I put my bag down and went to get the high chair - Mummy told me you might still be a bit tired, and you were a bit niggly and restless as Mummy tried give you a kiss goodbye.

I cheered you up, smiling and giggling again before I opened up your food bowl... it looked like the white oaty gloop they eat in the Matrix haha, but you seemed to like it so I won't dwell on it hehe. You were a thirsty girl this morning, I had to keep stopping feeding you to let you drink some water, but after a while you let me feed you the rest of your breakfast without gazing at your water bottle longingly hehe. You kept reaching out and stroking my face and grabbing my lips, putting your fingers in my mouth smiling hehe. You ate all your food today, the last couple of times you'd left a bit but not today no siree! A member of staff took the high chair back for us today so I didn't have to wrestle it through whilst carrying you :)

A member of staff was sat in the room all day today which was a bit annoying, I kept feeling her eyes watching us, it makes Daddy feel uncomfortable - but we still just cracked on and had a good time playing with your toys again that I'd brought with me :) - you showed me how good you were getting at standing up again, and your toothypegs have really come through now! You've got both bottom teeth at the front, and one of the front ones at the top, and the one next to it which is strange to see hehe... you kept reminding me of your Uncle Ricky, he had one front tooth missing... :')

We played rolling around the floor, but Daddy was conscious today that there was no playmat available and the carpet was a bit rough on your mush as you rolled over... I didn't want you getting friction burns on your pretty little face! I chucked you up in the air whilst you giggled, and we played peek-a-boo, and "you can't reach it" hehe.

I changed your nappy again, and I stuck to the wet wipe technique to keep you busy,;) - I managed to not get zinc oxide everywhere this time too haha. You kept trying roll over though which made it awkward to get your nappy on straight! You little active bugger! I told Mummy when she came collect you that if it's not on straight then that's why, and she agreed changing your bum has become hard work now you can try to roll away!

We played for a bit longer with some stackable tubs, but you seemed more focused on eating them! You kept trying eat a rattle too... I think them toothypegs are really coming through, you were a right little drooly pup! At one point I was lying on the floor holding you in the air above me, and you managed to get me right in the eye haha, you found it hilarious! :)

By the time Mummy came to fetch you we could tell you were getting tired, you kept doing huge yawns and seemed disinterested in all the toys preferring to just lay in my arms and drink some water out your bottle. Daddy didn't mind, he likes holding his little Princess :') - when you had to go Daddy gave you a cuddle and kiss and told you he loves you, and then he watched you leave feeling happy and sad at the same time.

I love you my beautiful little Princess, my world - roll on next week when I can see you once more, and definitely roll on all this Court palava being over so I can finally have you in my life properly :')

Daddy x x x

Letters to Ilysha #10

 Dear Ilysha,

Daddy got to see you again today my beautiful Princess :)

It felt like an eternity since the last time I got to hold you - but I made up for it today :) - Mummy brought you in looking all summery in a pretty little flowery dress. I got the high chair ready straight away and fed you your breakfast - you were a bit more focused today and nommed pretty much all your food down without getting distracted by a;; the other children. Daddy's hungry little girl! I brought you a bottle of water with me, it was hot today and Daddy didn't want you getting dehydrated.

We played with all the usual toys, Daddy had bought his bag of tricks for you again. You showed off how good you were getting at rolling over by yourself :) - you like to stand up now too, you keep pushing yourself upright and trying get to your feet! I helped you and supported you; I didn't want let you put too much weight on your legs because I read somewhere about it making children bowlegged if they do it too young. But I let you get away with it a bit hehe.

Daddy changed your nappy for the first time today too, I bought a little toiletries bag with me including wet wipes, nappies, and nappy bags hehe :) - the staff asked if I was going to have a shave cause it looked like a shaving kit in the bag haha. I copied Mummy's trick of keeping you entertained with the packet of wet wipes whilst I changed you. Daddy was worried you were going to wee on him like something off a comedy film! Thankfully you didn't! I had to apply some Zinc Oxide cream for your nappy rash, that stuff was like sand, it went everywhere! I managed get it on you but also on the outside of your nappy, all over my hands, up my arm, and even on my t-shirt! I'll get better at that one hehe.

We cuddled, and we played, and we cuddled some more. I don't need to go into all the details anymore, it's more of the same... we played with teddies, and musical dinosaurs, and rattles, and a few other bits and pieces. And I tickled your tummy and made you giggle your head off, and we talked with you babbling back at me, and I swear somewhere amidst the sounds you said "Da-da" a few times hehe.

Mummy came back and I was laying on the floor playing rolling over with you still, time had flown quicker than expected! Mummy wolf whistled and smiled, and was nice as pie with Daddy. I don't understand her, she's schizophrenic I'm sure... nice one moment, nasty the next... *sigh*

Anywho, I gave you a kiss and a cuddle, and I packed all your toys away, I told you I love you, and then we went our separate ways once more for another week.

I love you my little beautiful Princess; you are the best thing I will ever have, and you were worth every second of fighting for you :') - I'll see you next week angel.

Daddy x x x

Letters to Ilysha #9

 Dear Ilysha,

Daddy didn't get to see you today :(

Mummy sent Daddy a text message last night saying you aren't very well and have a poorly tummy. Daddy wasn't sure if Mummy was just trying to trick Daddy and make him look bad, so he had an early night still and got up early this morning hoping that you would be feeling better, and that I would get to see you. But as you can tell from the first sentence, it wasn't meant to be again this week.

I hope next week comes quickly, because every minute spent without you feels like an eternity, and counting down to seeing you at the weekend is the only thing that keeps me sane in the middle of all the insanity.

I love you Ilysha, you are my everything. I hope you feel better soon Princess.

Daddy x x x