Baldrick

In a previous post, I suggested that one day we might see some small Muppets and Biggles. Well, it has happened. Six months ago, Baldrick arrived.

When Muppet and Biggles announced that they were in the family way, Mother Superior (AKA Super Granny), and I were very pleased. As you know, Spiderman and Petal have already given us two absolutely gorgeous granddaughters, Blossom and Dewdrop, so this was going to be the icing on the cake. Mother Superior was also looking forward to her daughter having child; not that this makes any difference to our relationship with Blossom and Dewdrop.

After giving us the good news, Muppet and Biggles swore us to silence because it was early days and, of course, anything could happen. Muppet had already more or less given the game away because she had declined a beer the day before – and we all know how much Muppet enjoys her beer.

Muppet finally announced to the world that Baldrick was on his way by posting the ultrasound images on Facebook and proclaiming that she had a ‘belly monster’. When she had a further ultrasound, she and Biggles opted to know the gender. Looking at the pictures, it was very obvious that the ‘belly monster’ was Baldrick and not Barbara!

Muppet then announced that she was not going to use disposable nappies, but she was going to make her own cloth ones. I confess I was very skeptical, especially after a work colleague told me her daughter had the same idea, but it only lasted a month after her grandchild was born. Undaunted, Muppet scoured the Internet for information, and ended up buying a device that put poppers on the nappies. She pulled out her sewing machine that we gave her for her eighteenth birthday and started making prototypes out of any material she could lay her hands on. She has since become a licenced seamstress for a design called La Di Da Diapers, and she is selling nappies that she makes. She has also bought a new sewing machine. I must note that these napppies are nothing like the old terry towling ones we used in our days. These are form fitted and made from modern fabrics like bamboo. There are also nappy forums on the Internet where members discuss different nappy designs like wine connoisseurs. They use terms like “bulk”. “leakage”, “absorbency” etc.

Muppet literally bounced through her pregnancy much like her mother did.  She spent many hours on the Internet researching nappies and parenthood techniques. When Muppet gets a bee in her bonnet, there is no stopping her. She also kept her Facebook status up to date by posting ultrasound images.

When Baldrick finally arrived, Muppet and Biggles asked Mother Superior if she wanted to be present at the delivery.  She was ecstatic, and was with them for the birth. I understand she was a big help – considering she is a trained midwife (albeit a long time ago) and she works at the hospital as a Registered Nurse.

I arrived at the hospital soon after the birth. Mother Superior met me in the carpark to show me the way to the labour word. She was very emotional, and expressed her supreme gratitude for Muppet and Biggles allowing her to share this very private and special time. She felt very privileged. In the ward, predictably, Muppet and Biggles were looking somewhat shell-shocked. As usual with me, I was too emotional to speak as I looked at my first grandson.  There was definitely no doubt of the parentage. He was a clone of Biggles. He was magnificent.

Because Muppet works at the hospital, she was moved to a private ward down the corridor from where Mother Superior works. Mother Superior  could not contain herself , and carried the precious bundle to show her colleagues.  They made the obligatory noises of congratulations and headed off to continue with things that nurses do.

When Blossom and Dewdrop were born, Spiderman and Petal were at a private hospital and stayed for a few days after the birth in a ward that was more like a hotel room – complete with a queen size bed. It gave them valuable time to rest and prepare for the future. Muppet was a public patient, she was only in the hospital for two days.  I had previously suggested to Mother Superior that we make our guest room downstairs into a ward for a few days, so that Muppet and Biggles could gain the same benefits as Spiderman and Petal had at the private hospital.  So, for a few days, Muppet , Biggles, Baldrick and Beagle, their dog, moved into our ‘hospital ward’. It ws very special to have Baldrick with us for the first few days of his life. Mother Superior was very very pleased.  Every morning, she would take Baldrick from them so that they could have a nice sleep in, and so she could have a cuddle. It was indeed a very special time.

Since his birth, we have had a very close relationship with Baldrick because they live quite close to us. Muppet does not drive, so she often requires us to take her and Baldrick ( and Beagle) to important places like doctors’ appointments and work. Also Biggles’s work takes him out of town for a week at a time, so Muppet, Baldrick and Beagle come and stay with us for the week. We are indeed very fortunate to have such a close relationship with our grandson, to the extent that I miss him when he is not around. He can be a challenge at times – especially if he is missing his mum. He will change from a delightful happy child to a screaming wreck in the blink of an eye.

Every alternate Thursday, we also have Blossom and Dewdrop around.  Muppet and Baldrick are also there until I take Muppet to work. We than have about an hour when all three grandchildren are with us.  That is also a very special time for us.

Muppet has been very active in preaching the gospel of cloth nappies. She contributes to many online forums and belongs to a mothers group that, very sensibly, meets in a pub. As I mentioned before, she makes and sells nappies, and has also converted many of the mothers group to using baby slings rather than prams, which can be awkward to maneuver between bar stools.

I am very proud of Muppet for doing this. However, when she announced that she would start Baldrick on the potty when he was a few weeks old, I thought she had lost it. She ordered a book and a small potty and, I kid you not, Baldrick actually uses it. I even ended up buying a a bigger potty from Ikea for us to use. On Saturday, I was alone with Baldrick when he started grumbling. In a flash of inspiration, I removed his designer nappy and sat him on the potty – and he did a big wee. I am not sure why, but I was so proud of myself.

Baldrick’s baptism was a very happy affair. Muppet was not going to let Baldrick wear a gown, so Mother Superior sewed him a white satin (at least I think it was satin) waist coat. Muppet had a bespoke white embroidered nappy made. He looked very smart. We all celebrated afterwards at our place with Sangria and sparkling wine. I even did a roast carvery, which was very well received.

Mother Superior and I really love little Baldrick, and feel especially blessed to have our three lovely grandchildren with their wonderful parents so close by.

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