I Am That Dad

There we were, driving along, I forget where to, and Ellie was crying. Not an unusual occurrence in the car due in part to the fact that she doesn't like the car seat. Doesn't like it at all. But today there is another reason. Noah is making the most unpleasant of screeching sounds at the top of his voice. It went something like this: "yeeaaaaaaaaeeeeeaeeeaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaeeeeaeeaeaeaeeeaecccch" only longer. So much longer. Words cannot convey the sort of noise that he was emitting.  "Enough Noah!" Nikala says.  "yeeaaaaaaaaeeeeeaeeeaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaeeeeaeeaeaeaeeeaecccch" responds Noah "Noah that is enough. You are upsetting Ellie!" Repeats Nikala, trying again. "yeeaaaaaaaaeeeeeaeeeaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaeeeeaeeaeaeaeeeaecccch" "Right, if you don't stop making that noise I am going to take away your fire engine!"  Oh dear, I think to myself, we've reached that bad stage of ne...

One of Noah's favourite games at the moment is Hide and Seek. Mostly his hiding places involve lying face down on the sofa with a cushion over his head, his bum and legs clearly marking his location. But if for some reason that wasn't enough for me to find him, his giggling would certainly give him away anyway. "Daddy... Daaaaaddddy! Hiding daddy!" Giggles. Of course I play up to it for effect: "Well, I cant find Noah anywhere..." barely suppressed giggling ensues... "phew this is hard work, I think I will sit on the sofa for a bit and have a rest while I think..." More giggling. "Gosh this is a lumpy sofa, and why is it making so much noise?" Giggling. "hang on a moment, this sofa has a bottom!" The giggles escalate to full laughter and wriggling. "Hey! It's not a sofa its Noah!" Even from the very beginning I have been impressed with his patience though. He would stay in his "hiding place" for a ver...