being a dad

Everything seems to have taken on a meaning for Zoë. It's been quite sudden, over the period of just a couple of weeks. Her soft toys now have personality to her - she won't even go to bed without 'Ti', 'Snorey Ti', 'Gee', her music, 'baby' - and 'Toc Toe' - a Pro-Star Paul Scholes the Manchester United player.

Getting all her toys in her bed has become her way of delaying Nino or I leaving the room when she goes to bed - along with scratching her back, switching on her 'Sea Urchin' light and picking up whatever she throws on the floor out of her bed. It doesn't seem to matter at all how tired she is, she just wants to delay being left to sleep as long as she can.

I guess I was the same when I was around her age - in fact I remember telling my Mum one night when I was around two that I couldn't close my eyes and go to sleep because I slept with my eyes open. Why? Because I had to watch out for lions and tigers of course!!!

Zoë told me she loved me tonight. It was very nice to hear - although I'm not sure if she quite understands what she was saying.

We were putting Zoë to bed - well at least we were all sitting on our bed after I'd just cleaned Zoë's teeth. Nino sometimes says to Zoë " tell daddy - I love you" and Zoë mumbles "love oo". But tonight she said it on her own.

Makes being a dad so worthwhile