Coke And Code - Java Games and Games Development - BabyBlog

Pyjama party

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 11:05:27 +0000

I have another 30 minutes of quiet time before the Megster (conjunction of Meggie Monster) is back and all the chaos that she brings. Meg spent the night with my parents last night while Kev and I enjoyed a night in with a takeout and bottle of wine in front of children in need. Oh, why didn't we use their website to donate to children in need before? It was so much easier than going to the bank or trying to get through on the phone lines. Doh!

We had a nice relaxing evening and it was great not to have the bed time battles and constant running up and down the stairs to put little miss back to bed. The night before we went to bed and found Meg asleep on our bedroom floor!! Now she can open doors so doesn't stay in her room. I hope she wasn't the same for my parents, although generally she's better behaved up there. I imagine that they were all tucked up in bed together this morning watching tv while drinking their respective cups of tea or bottle of milk.

Meg has been asking to sleep at Nanny's for the last few weeks. It's not exactly subtle when she climbs up the stairs and tries to get into their bed. That and she creates merry hell when it's time to leave. So as she hadn't stayed for a while I picker her up from nursery early yesterday and after she packed her teddy and Tigger into her overnight bag off we went. Now it's time to have her back. Never mind. Hopefully they have worn her out!!

Watch out Meggie, we're coming to get you! Have a big cwtch ready for Mammy.

She's a little potty

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:20:53 +0000

It's been a wonderful day and it's all down to Meg being amazing. The first thing that made me laugh was driving to work. Both kev and I drive down the same dual carriage way for a bit on the way to work and Meg of course is in the car with Kev. Well this morning we were a bit late and got stuck in traffic. At one point I was alongside kev's car and I looked over to see Meg waving furiously at me from the back of Kev's car. Apparently after I drove on she was shouting 'Daddy! Drive!' and pointing after me. Kev had to explain that the car in front was in the way.

Today was Meg's first day of potty training in nursery. We postponed it for a couple of weeks because she has been really ill but she seems to be really up for it now.

We packed her bag last night with plenty of spare knickers, trousers and socks. She wants to be a big girl now like her friend Charlotte who she's been watching on the potty for a while. Monkey see... and she's certainly a monkey!

Well I wasn't expecting her to use the potty successfully today but she surprised us and actually did it. There were a couple of accidents as well and she didn't manage to hold it in the car on the way home. But hey, it's a lot better than either of us expected on her first day.

Bow down to Meggie.

By this evening though she was tired and couldn't be bothered any more. She wanted her nappy back on and then pretty much took herself to bed.

Happy Birthday Meggie

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 16:28:16 +0000

It was Meg's second birthday last weekend. It 's hard to believe that we have survived 2 years. Actually it's like she's always been here now. I wouldn't know what to do if I had time to myself these days.

This year we had a kids birthday party for her as there are more problems with family than usual. I'm glad we did. Meg loved running wild with all the other kids. She took a particular shine to the daughter of one of my colleagues. I invited friends of mine around who had kids so it was also a bit of a reunion for some of the adults.

We had so much fun. Kev and Uncle Kris were running around the garden playing football with the short ones. They were knackered at the end of it.

Meg had a dinosaur birthday cake and blew out her candles. She did of course demonstrate how a dinosaur would sound by raoring at everyone first! I can't believe how much food kids can put away when they can just help themsleves. Meg filled her plate up twice!

Meg had some lovely presents and I thank everyone for thinking of her. I hope we don't have to wait until her next birthday before we do it again. I was very busy and very tired by the end of it. It's a shame i didn't get to talk to everyone a bit more but i guess that's what kids parties are like. The main thing is that Meg enjoyed it and I think that was evident from the constant laughing and permenant grin on her face.

Happy birthday to my darling little girl.

Embarrassing moments

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 11:41:48 +0000

On the weekend Meg came out with a couple of one liners that really made me laugh, and cringe all at the same time. We were at my parent's place and just getting ready to leave. As I picked Meg up I farted and she giggled cause she knew what I had done. When she put her head on my shoulder to cuddle down she suddenly jumped up and shouted out in disgust, "Aww, Mammy!". Her Nanny asked what was wrong and Meg simply replied, "Mammy stinks!" Well what could I say? She wasn't lying. All I can be thankful for is that were we're in the supermarket or worse still, a church which was were Mark announced that Rob had farted when he was a kid.

Looks like we'll have to start to be more careful from now on.

Walking with Meggy

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:53:08 +0000

My little girl is learning to walk. She's doing really well and for the first time on Sunday morning we went for walk round the block without the push chair. i.e. she walked. We stopped to look at every stone and every plant, but we did get round the block and back again. It was very strange to be walking around holding Meg's hand, especially with Meg screaming "Hiya!" at everyone we passed. She did get a lot of smiles though.

As we ventured around the streets Meg decided quite often that she'd rather not hold my hand and would like to sprint off to examine one landscape feature or other. Every time this happened I'd jump out of skin and run off after her. She's never more than a arm's reach away (she's not that quick yet) but still I'm dumping my load each time she runs.

It's interesting to try and remember what used to scare me about Meg. My brother and his wife are due to have a baby soon, so I've been trying to think of useful things that I learnt to pass on (not that I suppose he'll be interested ;)). However, to be honest I really can't remember what used to worry me. It all seems so par for the course now, the scary bits then fade into normality while the new scary bits continue to terrify me.

Never once did I think being a Dad would be like this, no one can tell you or prepare you for it. No one can tell you how much fun it's really going to be :)

So you've had a bad day, work is pointless, you're not getting any sleep, but then...

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:34:39 +0000

...you get to see this:

Meg has, a year to the day we flew back from the US and at exactly 14 months, decided to get up off her ass and walk! Cath and I couldn't be more excited, we'd been worrying a bit about it and starting to wonder if we'd just been doing too much for her and she didn't see the need to walk. However, tonight in a phase we're referring to as "Nut Meg" where she goes completely insane - throwing her self around the room laughing before getting tired and ready for bed, she just decided to take a step...

Then one more..

Then a few more..

And then she was walking round in circles around the world. We have decided that, like Zoolander, she is not an ambi-turn, i.e. currently she only turns in one direction. The best bit is that all the time she's laughing and giggling, when she falls over thats just more fun! (notice the pillows placed over head butting potentials).

It's hard to explain how much this has lifted my day. Partly because I'm so proud, partly because it's made Cath very happy but more than anything because my little Meg is over the moon!

'No Fun and No Code make Kev Something Something'

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 08:29:25 +0000

'Go Crazy?' - 'Don't mind if I do!!!'

Life is a bit on the lame side at the moment. At least 2 of the three members of my household have been ill for the past month an a half. Work wise I've been sat on the same low priority but critical work for the last 3 months - not really going anywhere fast. No code involved at work and no energy to code at home.

Haven't been out in a while, no pub, no trips, not much fun. Don't have time to play games even though I've had Wii Paper Mario sat on the shelf for the past month. Christmas is coming and I can't begin to get excited. This time last year we were preparing to come home which could have been the worst mistake we've made. Coming back was great from a family perspective but pretty much everything else has been a bit of a read through.

What's more the idiocy of the world at large is begining to annoy me again. Road users - why oh why - just because something is legal doesn't mean it's sensible. Just because something is temporary doesn't mean it's automatically ok. No, there arn't double yellow lines - but parking there will still block the road. Bike users - weaving in and out of traffic is legal, but if it's cold, wet and early it's still dangerous as hell. And as to the woman that parked on the roundabout so she could "just pop in" to McDonalds to get her breakfast - I mean seriously, what sort of brain dead moran are you?

Recieved a phone at work yesterday. This might not seem like a big deal worth blogging about but consider that I've been working for a telecommunications company for 3 years and this is the first time I've had a phone on my deak. It's pretty big news. Now, if it only actually worked it'd almost be a positive aspect of my day.

Meg is still coughing alot, she can't shake this bleady cold any more than anyone of us. However, she is still giggling and trying to walk and falling on her butt alot. Some how she's really into drawing now - she's just over 1, so it seems a bit bizarre - but she loves her crayons that she now takes everywhere with her in a little red handbag. There has to be a game concept in there somewhere.

Talking of which, I've decided to write 4 games in parrallel, the logic being that even if I give up one or two I should still get futher with some. So, the run down seems to be two that have been around for a while, Scorched Turf and Mootox and two new ones currently called Samson and Dumb Bots. Should I ever make it back to the computer at home I'll be pushing on with the golf game first since it's core engine is shared between all 4.

Finally, I've blogged again. Almost feels like normal if a bit random and tangenty. Anyone know of anything gamedev related in the Cardiff area let me know, I need to get motivated again!

One small step...

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:38:56 +0000

Big News! Meg took her first wobbly steps forward yesterday. We're not really sure whether you can call it walking, more a limited control fall. Even so, it's a wonderful feeling to see her getting more confident.

Now we just have to start worrying about how fast she'll be able to move once she can walk.

Meggy, don't eat the crayons

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:07:49 +0000

At the weekend, Meggy, Cath and I decided to have a bit of art session. It started quite simply with Meggy and Me sat in the front room with crayons and bits of white cards. We could only have been in there for 30 minutes or so, but I must have said "Meg, draw with the crayons, don't eat them" 50 times. She did managed finally to get some crayon on the paper, but I'm pretty sure she ate more.

Next Cath decided it was time to go for the big guns, out came the messy play mat and the baby non-toxic paint. Cath decided we should try the Meg with potato prints. Out came some cut potatos and some bits of toilet roll to use as prints. Meg picks up a potato, studies it for a few moments then takes a bite. Getting the picture? Cath and Me started putting paint on spuds, pushing them on the paper, trying to show Meg what to do. Not interested in the slightest :(

So... I picked Meg up and put her feet in the paint then walked her over the paper. That worked :) She was loving it! In the hands went, squidging the paint and printing on the paper - success! That was of course until Meggy needed to know what the paint tasted like. Hands in mouth, green and red everywhere! A quick run to the bath later and we have 3 meggy created pictures, 1 clean baby and a pair of artistic meggy original daddy trousers, which I'm still wearing :)

Most fun I've had in ages!

(photo to follow I think)

A Good Day

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 20:52:20 +0000

Most of the time when I'm at work, I feel out classed. I work with a lot of very talented and able people and alot of days I spend realising how good I'm not at what I do for a living. They're all very diplomatic about it, but heh :) However, some days, just some days, I feel useful - today was one of them. I spent the day knowing the answer to bizarre questions and actually managing to achieve something. Feels like I earner my 10 pieces of silver today.

What's more, when I got to nursery to pick up Meg she had her hair in bunches. Hilarious! She looked the proper little girl and seemed to be thriving on the attention (photos to follow on Cath's blog).

So, a nice easy morning with Meg, followed by a traffic free drive to nursery and work, accompanied by a successful and motivating day at work, topped off with a nice evening with Meg and Cath (including some pizza!) makes for a very nice day. I wonder if I can manage to match it tomorrow?

Oh, and I managed to blog, lots.

The Effect of Children's TV

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 20:09:50 +0000

I used to watch a bit of kid's TV. Just the bit's that interested me really. Now we have Meg, and I'm taking her to nursery each morning, I get to sit and watch little kids TV for an hour or so.

The problem is the theme tunes. Harry and his bucket full of dinosaurs - I mean that's addictive. Worst has to be FiFi and Flowertots tho. I find myself sat at my desk in work humming along to FiFi! FiFi's world.

So far, so good. No one I work with directly is aware of the tune's origin. I'm just waiting to start singing without thinking about it one day... "Make way for Noddy, Noddy, he's coming out to play!"

My daughter

Mon, 28 May 2007 08:45:26 +0000

My daughter is great. She's fun, her giggles warm you up and she can honestly make even the hard hearted get down on the floor and act like an idiot. However, she also characteristics in common with one of my favourite cartoon characters:

She wears a diaper.

She speaks a different language, but definitely a language

She attempts to bite everything, even with extremely limited teeth

She's small and cute

Her simple expression can tell you 10^6 things

She looked liked an alien before she was born (thanks DP)

But most of all, she poops dark matter

Being a Dad...

Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:24:11 +0000

I've been informed recently that I don't blog enough about DRI (daddy related issues) and my little Meg. Mostly this is because I get the feeling that the majority of people that read stuff here are looking for geek-tastic entries or rants about random stuff - rather than my thought's on parenthood. Still, here I am, talking about it.

Being a dad is like learning to drive. Most of the time you spend making mistakes and worrying if you did any damage, but just now and again you feel totally in control and it all seems to make sense. Ok, poor analogy. How about pasta - I'm sure I can relate anything to pasta. Don't worry.. I'm not going to try.

The point being that I don't often think I'm doing well being a Dad. I've been trying to be very good with computer activities - staying off the computer and spending time with my daughter. It's not that tricky to be honest given how much fun playing with Meg is. I spend a lot of time acting the fool, dancing and singing trying to keep the little poop machine under control. I make up 10 songs a day just to keep her smiling - it seems to work but I wonder how much damage I'm doing to her musical ability with my rather off key singing.

So, whats going on with Meg? Well she's just started weening - meaning she's eating more solid food, thought the white paste that passes for rice isn't terribly impressive. It was my honour to be the first one to get her to eat anything - but I'm sure thats forgotten by now. She's also trying really hard to roll over - yeah I know thats not too hard but she's only ickle!

What else? Musically she's really into Mika. Love's the album every song, but like me hates those tracks with big gaps in them :)

In short, she's small, adorable and pukes everywhere everyday. Every day I worry, and every day she makes me laugh. I'm guessing thats how it's meant to be but like everything baby related - you can never be sure.

Someone's happy...

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 10:03:42 +0000

Random happy photo:

It is to be content!

Top Marks UK!

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 00:46:39 +0000

And so the race was over.. the two comptitors had battled long and hand. Now one had completed the task the race was over. Know knew what happened to the second place, when their task was completed it would be appreciated but also second best. The winner, was the UK.

What the hell am I talking about? We applied for both British and US passports for Meg, she entitled to both - and we sat back and waited to see which would come in first. Being that we're in the US and the normal reputation of the UK administration system I'd assumed the USA would win - just like the olympics. They even had a day's head start.

But no! Blighty comes back a trooper! Tears in my eyes, I opened the FedEx package to find the Megster's passport - god save the queen. We will fight them on the beeches.. etc...

Still, if only we could work out how to cook a steak properly the UK could be the best place on the planet :)

Can you tell I want to go home?