Marguerite returns to work, Ben's 1st trip to the swing park & Marguerite's 1st Mother's day

So Ben is now nearly 5 months old.  In this post see how Ben copes with Marguerite returning to work following her maternity leave.

He also enjoys his very first ever trip to the swing park and a visit to the Pediatrician.

Here he is having a wee giggle to himself. 


















And here's Ben with his mate Mickey the monkey.


















It's now just a couple of days before Marguerite was due to return to work after using up her maternity leave, and the reality of the situation is settling in for Ben.  Check out the look on his face here.

'How are my Dada and I going to cope, sure what do we know about looking after a 5 month old? is what Ben may have been thinking.








But Marguerite, with the aid of modern technology and her great imagination, was cooking up a cunning plan. 

So what was the plan? Can you guess based on this picture?

Answer in a moment.








To help ease the bump Ben was presented with his new hanging picture thingymabobber.  It was hung above his cot and sure he thought it was the best thing since sliced bread as he laughed away at it.












'Oh how am I going to cope, I'm going to miss my wee man soooo much tomorrow', rambled Marguerite as she contemplated returning to work the following day after having used up her Maternity leave.  From this point forward Marguerite would work in the office a few days and work from home the others and on the days she'd be in the office Jude would take leave he had saved from last year to mind Ben.  Got it?






Just how would Ben cope, never mind Marguerite?


  











So off Marguerite scooted in the snow.  Back to work she trundled with the rubbish bag in hand.  What's the story with the rubbish bag then?  Well this is a daily task normally carried out by Jude who takes the bag with him each morning and then chucks it in the bin at the end of the street.  It's hardly big news but it is part of the daily routine.  It can't be all skiing, partying, relaxing and playing sports you know!






'Naaaiiyy - giv uz a wee bit more soap for me tummy', Ben may have been thinking.

With Mama off to work Ben and Jude just got on with things - firstly, a quick bath for Ben in his new super cool bath.  Loves it he does, just loves it!









'How's me hair.... wha?
















So the answer to the question about Marguerite's cunning plan.  Did you guess?

Well in an effort to avert any bawling / tamtrum, etc from Ben as a result of missing his Mama on her return to work Marguerite had recorded herself on her ipad, and of course when Jude was feeding Ben and he got a little huffy (Ben, not Jude) Jude stuck on the recorded message and BINGO ........ Ben was as happy as a kid in a sweet shop again.  Yet again Marguerite had come up with a stunning, rather cunning, masterstoke of a plan.



Happy as a farmer in a ploughed field he was!

Wha?

 










'See ...... Dada and I are coping just great', Ben may have been thinking.














'Now Ben, let's try out this wee Baby Bjorn thingy again', said Jude. 

You see this winter has seen an awful lot of snowfall and sometimes it's much easier to take Ben out in this wee contraption than in a pram.  Cool wha?









So Ben's first visit to the Pediatrician without his Mama was an also exciting day.  This was the second day after Marguerite returned to work and Ben had to get a couple of injections.  Well let's just say this pic was taken moments before the injections were given!

That's nurse Sleeper, his pediatrician, there with him.






On Marguerite's first day off after going back to work she decided to treat Ben to his first ever visit to the swing park.












Ben could hardly contain himself!














Here he is whizzing down the slide!














And giggling as he went.

'Sure this is magic altogether', he may have been thinking.          











And then it was time for a go on the rocking horse.  Ben is only a few months old but already this was his second spin on a rocking horse!  Loving it!











And then a go on the swings with his Dada.  This swing park is just around the corner on Harvard Street and is part of Devotion School (where a young JFK attended).











And what about a go on the fire engine?














'Here, I sure like this swing park business, I could get used to this alright'.












'An absolutely brilliant idea this is, a park full of fun things to do, for kids to play in all day ..... ohhhh this is amazing'.  












A few days later and it was Mother's Day.  Of course this was a very special Mother's Day as it was Marguerite's first as being a mother.











Happy Mother's Day!

For the special occasion this little family went out to the Village Smokehouse for some nice 'southern' food.










And even though it was Mother's Day Ben was rocking his 'Team Daddy' outfit today.












While Marguerite treated herself to a wee cocktail!














Ben's nosiness was getting the better of him today.  He just loves looking around him, especially when out in a restaurant.











Ben and Jude enjoying the craic.













Ben will have to wait a while before he can tackle this type of yummy food.












A couple of days later and Jude and Ben are off out again.

'Where will we go to today son? Jude asked.










'Ahhhhh bahhhh', replied Ben.

'Oh you want to go to the swing park again, that's great son', replied Jude.











Ben and his Dada all wrapped up and ready to head out.












But because it was so cold today Ben opted to stay all snugged up in his pram.












The following a some random photos of Ben just to provide an update for all on his development.


Ben's cousin Riona brought over a gift from her mum, Clare, of a Glasgow Celtic baby grow.  But when it was tried on him Ben was not impressed at all.  












'Ahhhhhhhhhhh gggrrrrrr .........'.  Sometimes Ben likes a wee sing song.  He's hardly X Factor material yet but it's surely funny.












Take 1 - Ben minding his own business.













Take 2 - Dada or Mama are over saying, 'what are you laughing at Ben', 'what's going on son', or something daft like that.












Take 3 - Ben's thinking, 'what are they on about?














Take 4 - And he laughs away to himself.













Here is another occasion where he is laughing at something his Dada is telling him.  Sometimes Jude thinks that Ben thinks his auld Da is a comedian or maybe just funny looking or something!












Here is a nice pic of Ben chatting with his mate 'Wally' the green monster.

Ben and Wally are good mates.













And they are always having a laugh with Max.















'You'd think my Mama and Dada would give me some gloves instead of socks for my hands', Ben may be thinking here.

Jude and Ben checking out Ben's cool picture that Barry Coulter sent over.  It's a lovely pic of an airplane with Ben's date of birth and birth weight written on it.  Very nice it is too.  Thanks Barry, Ben loves it.











Ben trying out his new chair.

The first two gifts that Jude bought Ben were balls.  Ben loves playing with them of course.

And books .............. he also loves books, especially this one 'The Cat In The Hat'.

So things are moving along nicely.  Ben is now nearly 5 months old and he is discovering some of the great things in life, play things, books, play parks, and the like.

Fun times.