#Rae Tolane

[natteryaktoad]

Tolane, Day 85, Part 7

Rae: Hi Mummy!

Jett: Daddy, look!

Davy: Honestly, Dad, we haven't thought about who we'll invite to the littlies birthday party. After the drama last time, it might be friends only...

Cleo's found the puppy!

I had directed Dotty to change Kai's diaper when his thumbnail went orange, but Lexi got there first, so I guess she volunteered.

Lexi: He's all changed but I think he needs feeding.

Dotty: Thanks, Lexi; you're a star.

Cleo: Hi! Up me please?

Jude: Hi there. Oh! Are we hugging? Okay... hey it'd be pretty cool to have a little brother or sister...

Next rotation, Cleo and Zoë grow to child and Kai to toddler. After the disaster of the last birthday party that involved family (Davy's relatives, particularly, kept on attacking Dotty and Evangeline after seeing them together and not with Davy), I think this one might be friends only.

[filmnoirsbian]

Hi !! I was wondering if you had any book recs/favorite books? Things that you think of as inspiration or just plain like? Genuinely curious. <3 im in love with your work btw i spent the other day binging your patreon

Some favorites that deeply impacted me from a young age up into teenagedom: the Animorphs series by K. A. Applegate, Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein, Oddly Enough by Bruce Coville, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Little Sister by Kara Dalkey, The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede, The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo, A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander, Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury, the Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage, Piratica by Tanith Lee, the Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke, His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, Holes by Louis Sachar, The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg, Shizuko's Daughter by Kyoko Mori, The Sea-Wolf by Jack London, Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins, Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath, Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan, The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg, The Iliad and Odyssey (allegedly) by Homer, The Táin by many people, Harlem by Walter Dean Myers, Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan, The Wall and the Wing by Laura Ruby, The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkein, The Hainish Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin, Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis, The Ethical Vampire series by Susan Hubbard, The Howl Series by Diana Wynne Jones, the Curseworkers series by Holly Black, The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick, Android Karenina by Ben H. Winters, An Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson, Beloved by Toni Morrison, A Stir of Bones by Nina Kiriki Hoffman, the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson, Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente, World War Z by Max Brooks, This is Not A Drill by K. A. Holt, Fade to Blue by Sean Beaudoin, Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu, The Moth Diaries by Rachel Klein, Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman, Crush by Richard Siken, Hopscotch by Julio Cortázar, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo, Devotions by Mary Oliver, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Some favorites read more recently: The Expanse series by James S. A. Corey, Engine Summer by John Crowley, Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff, The Princess Bride by William Goldman, Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot, My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix, Reprieve by James Han Mattson, House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski, Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, Kindred by Octavia Butler, Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi, Station Eleven by Emily St. John-Mandel, The Crown Ain't Worth Much by Hanif Abdurraqib, The Refrigerator Monologues by Catherynne M. Valente, Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, Tender is the Flesh by Augustina Bazterrica, The Girl with All the Gifts by Mike Carey, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, She had some horses by Joy Harjo, Bright Dead Things by Ada Limón, The King Must Die by Mary Renault, Books of Blood by Clive Barker, Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin, Cassandra by Christa Wolfe

Plays: The Oresteia by Aeschylus, Electra by Sophocles, Los Reyes by Julio Cortázar, Angels in America by Tony Kushner, August: Osage County by Tracy Letts, The Bald Soprano by Eugène Ionesco, The Trojan Women by Euripides, Salome by Oscar Wilde, Girl on an Altar by Marina Carr, Fences by August Wilson, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, M. Butterfly by David Henry Hwang, Our Town by Thornton Wilder, Sweeney Todd by Christopher Bond

Graphic novels: The Crow by James O'Barr, DMZ by Brian Wood and Riccardo Burchielli, Eternals (2021) by Kieron Gillen and Esad Ribić, Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons and John Higgins, My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris, Maus by Art Spiegelman, Tank Girl by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, Through the Woods by Emily Carroll, Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

[mdwatchestv]

Emmy Blog 2k18: Monday’s Revenge

That's right it's that very special time! Except this time that very special time falls on a MONDAY AFTERNOON when I will be at my job working hard to craft non-Emmy nominated television for you all. I feel personally attacked by this scheduling.

Speaking of me, this is my second annual Emmy blog which means I have maintained this blog for over a year now! Yes that is correct I have actually shown commitment and follow-through on a project, I would like to thank the Academy.

Last year I was wildly unprepared for how long it would take to type such a blog so I'm not going to mess around with all the loving analysis of yesteryear. Also last year I simply had no idea how tired I would be this year, because I was too tired to imagine that far into the future. So you will get your analysis up front and then nothing but pure, unadulterated nominee sass.

As always we must mention last week’s Creative Arts Emmys-  Congratulations to the casting winners Nina Gold + Robert Sterne (The Crown), Meredith Tucker, Jeanie Bacharach and Cindy Tolan (The Marvelous Mrs Maisel) and Courtney Bright + Nicole Daniels (The Assassination of Gianni Versace). See these casting names, know them, learn them, love them. Also it's bullshit Megan was not given an Emmy For Megan #justiceformegan

 Last year I commented on how the Emmy's were beginning to reflect the increasing diversity in the television landscape. While progress on that front continues to be frustratingly slow, this year did boast a remarkable number of incredible roles for women! Not only are we seeing roles for women that extend beyond wives, mothers, and girlfriends, we are also seeing more series that STAR women! This year boasts some VERY EXCITING Best Actress categories, and I am HERE FOR IT. In contrast though most of the male categories are a total snooze fest, and the fact that AMC's The Terror wasn't nominated for ANYTHING shows that absolutely no one cracked the seal on their screeners.  With an increasingly populated television landscape, it seems like voters went to old favorites rather than branching out and discovering some new gems. On some level this is to be expected, but at that same time there is an increasing disparity between what is recognized at these kind of events, and what is airing. 

Okay on to the main event! Disclaimer: Once again these predictions are based on nothing but flights of fancy and raw gut instinct. 

Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Sara Bareilles (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert”) Penelope Cruz (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”) Judith Light (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”) Adina Porter (“American Horror Story: Cult”) Merritt Wever (“Godless”) Letitia Wright (“Black Museum” (Black Mirror))

God, wasn't AHS: Cult like six AHS's ago? Letitia Wright should win this because she won't get any other hardware for stealing Black Panther.

Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Jeff Daniels (“Godless”) Brandon Victor Dixon (“Jesus Christ Superstar”) John Leguizamo (“Waco”) Ricky Martin (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”) Edgar Ramirez (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”) Michael Stuhlbarg (“The Looming Tower”) Finn Wittrock (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”)

There are plenty of actors I like, like in life here but.......sorry I fell asleep. 

Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie:

Antonio Banderas (“Genius: Picasso”) Darren Criss (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”) Benedict Cumberbatch (“Patrick Melrose”) Jeff Daniels (“The Looming Tower”) John Legend (“Jesus Christ Superstar”) Jesse Plemons (“USS Callister”)

This category is insane. What do we got, a second Jeff Daniels nomination, a Black Mirror, John Legend for acting, Harry Potter, Benedict Cumberbatch who always seems to sneak into the Emmys, and Antonio Banderas. I am trying really hard to have an opinion about this. I’m going to pick my boyfriend Darren Criss just so I can put a gif of him on this blog. 

Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie:

Laura Dern (“The Tale”) Jessica Biel (“The Sinner”) Michelle Dockery (“Godless”) Edie Falco (“The Menendez Murders”) Regina King (“Seven Seconds”) Sarah Paulson (“American Horror Story: Cult”)

Okay now here we go! Now this is a category! However the Laura Dern rule is in effect here, which is whenever Laura Dern is present in a category the choice MUST be Laura Dern.

Best Limited Series

“The Alienist” “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” “Genius: Picasso” “Godless” “Patrick Melrose”

Can none of the above be an answer?

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Louie Anderson (“Baskets”) Alec Baldwin (“Saturday Night Live”) Tituss Burgess (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”) Brian Tyree Henry (“Atlanta”) Tony Shalhoub (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”) Henry Winkler (“Barry”)

Are we really nominating Alec Baldwin for that Trump impersonation? What a time to be alive. Tony Shalhoub is an Emmy darling, I think if he wins another he gets a free one on his punch card. Henry Winkler was pitch perfect on Barry, Kenan Thompson has been on SNL for a million years, and Brian Tyree Henry's performance on Atlanta is deceivingly effortless. I think Shalhoub, the Academy will likely have missed voting for him, it just comes so naturally to them. 

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Zazie Beetz (“Atlanta”) Alex Borstein (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) Aidy Bryant (“Saturday Night Live”) Betty Gilpin (“GLOW”) Leslie Jones (“Saturday Night Live”) Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”) Laurie Metcalf (“Roseanne”) Megan Mullally (“Will & Grace”)

Yes once again the ladies are LIT, tearing it UP. But no one tore it harder, and more literally, than Betty freakin Gilpin.

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:

Donald Glover (“Atlanta”) Bill Hader (“Barry”) Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”) William H. Macy (“Shameless”) Larry David (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) Ted Danson (“The Good Place”)

This is a tough one, there are a lot of golden oldies here. I was surprised by how much I loved Bill Hader’s performance in Barry, but I think it was too weird and too dark to garner the votes needed. Atlanta had a lot of momentum and buzz last year,  not sure if the Academy is going to pour the same love two years in a row. I’m going to go with Ted Danson, he’s impeccable on The Good Place and he’s also Ted Danson!

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:

Pamela Adlon (“Better Things”) Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”) Allison Janney (“Mom”) Lily Tomlin (“Grace and Frankie”) Issa Rae (“Insecure”)

Ray Bro.

Best Comedy Series

“Atlanta” (FX) “Barry” (HBO) “Black-ish” (ABC) “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO) “GLOW” (Netflix) “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon) “Silicon Valley” (HBO) “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (Netflix)

Unlike the Best Drama Series category, which I am going to drag through the dirt at the end of this post, there is a lot of goodness here. These shows are not only very different, but also compelling in their own ways. (Although The Good Place absolutely deserves to be here). While I fell in love with Barry this year, and think Atlanta has maintained a consistent brilliance for two seasons, I think the delightful confection that is Mrs Maisel has the awards momentum to take this category. 

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (“Game of Thrones”) Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”) Joseph Fiennes (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) David Harbour (“Stranger Things”) Mandy Patinkin (“Homeland”) Matt Smith (“The Crown”)

And just like that my Betty Gilpin high has dissipated. I can't believe Homeland is still on. Do we reward David Harbour for having the perfect dad bod, or Matt Smith for being the perfect fuckboy? Decisions, decisions. If Matt Smith wins he needs to break that trophy in half and give it to Claire Foy. He can keep the globey part, but she gets the body and the stand. 

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Alexis Bledel (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) Millie Bobby Brown (“Stranger Things”) Ann Dowd (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) Lena Headey (“Game of Thrones”) Vanessa Kirby (“The Crown”) Thandie Newton (“Westworld”) Yvonne Strahovski (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)

I had to consciously uncouple from The Handmaid’s Tale this year, but that doesn’t mean those actresses stopped being brilliant in their performances. Ann Dowd is a Laura Dern in the sense that I will usually always pick her in a category, but Thandie Newton did arguably carry season 2 of Westworld almost on her own. There are a lot of good unique performances here, but I am going to say Vanessa Kirby because she crushed on The Crown (and for the last time). 

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Jason Bateman (“Ozark”) Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”) Ed Harris (“Westworld”) Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”) Milo Ventimiglia (“This Is Us”) Jeffrey Wright (“Westworld”)

Guys can we be really, really honest with ourselves, like look in the mirror and come face-to-face with cold hard truths honest? WERE these the best performances this year? I love all these guys, but are they really turning in their best performances on these shows? Truly? The only exception is Matthew Rhys who is in his final year of a tour-de-force role on The Americans so my money is on him. 

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Claire Foy (“The Crown”) Tatiana Maslany (“Orphan Black”) Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”) Keri Russell (“The Americans”) Evan Rachel Wood (“Westworld”)

Now, this, THIS IS A CATEGORY. LOOK AT THESE WOMEN.  I love all of these actresses, and some of these performances are truly among the best I've ever seen on television. That is not a hyperbole, it is a true. I would be happy with almost anyone winning this slot, but I really feel like Sandra Oh is going to take it. I FEEL IT OKAY. 

Best Drama Series

“The Handmaid’s Tale” “Game of Thrones” “This Is Us” “The Crown” “The Americans” “Stranger Things” “Westworld”

KILLING EVE IS THE BEST DRAMA SERIES OF THIS YEAR AND ITS EXCLUSION IS A HORRIBLE MISTAKE!!!!! Like IS Westworld REALLY the Best Drama Series??? IS IT? Is Game of Thrones??? Yes they are highly enjoyable and I watch them both, but are they THE BEST? REALLY? Was Stranger Things season 2 THE BEST, or are we just charmed by the children? Was The Handmaid’s season 2 THE BEST, or did we just vote for it out of habit and a misguided feeling that it’s win would stave off Kavanaugh’s confirmation? The Americans should win. 

Okay I feel good now that that’s off my chest. I have a lot of thoughts of feelings, and please let me know yours! Phoebe Waller-Bridge forever!

xo Martha

[natteryaktoad]

Tolane, Day 85, Part 6

Lexi: Sofie! And where's Teo?

Sofie: I don't know. He said he was coming...

Fixing fun and social bars at the same time!

Sofie: That smells great, Lexi!

Lexi: Hey, you want to come back to my dad's with me after we've eaten? It's starting to rain.

Sofie: Yeah, sure.

Lexi: Right then, Zoë, let's get you some lunch.

Lexi: What's all that noise for, hey?

After school, Davy's daughter Lexi went out to the Park with a few friends (Sofie's brother Teo is in this social group and said he was coming but never turned up) and then brought them home to her Dad's house.

[natteryaktoad]

Tolane, Day 85, Part 5

Once the three littlies were down for naps, Romance sims Davy and Evangeline worked on some of the woohoo wants they're always generating.

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Tolane, Day 85, Part 4

Rae's enjoying croissants for breakfast!

Jett woke up and went straight to join Cleo playing with the garage. They've got a dolls house too, but the garage seems to be the more popular one here.

Rae: Hi Wren! You're so cute!

Rae: Bye Daddy!

Davy: Bye, sweetheart. Have a good day at school!

Davy's home alone for one hour between Dotty leaving for work and Evangeline getting home!

Evangeline: Davy! Do you want to grab Cleo and stick her in too?

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Tolane, Day 85, Part 3

Davy: You, me, big double bed?

Dotty: You, me, little bit of foreplay first?

Davy: Of course! What do you take me for?

Dotty: Where's Evangeline, anyway?

Davy: Asleep. She's got work at some unearthly hour in the morning.

Wren: Woof?

Evangeline: Have you two not been to bed yet?

Dotty: Nope, but we're going.

Davy: Are you off to work now?

Evangeline: Yeah. See you later. You two have fun!

Dotty: It won't be as much fun without you!

Woohoo!

Evangeline, who leaves for work at 4am, put herself to bed early in the single room, leaving the double bed for Dotty and Davy if they wanted a date. Which of course they did.

[natteryaktoad]

Tolane, Day 85, Part 2

Dotty: Kai, I just can't get over how cute you are!

Jett: Ugh. Is that the last bit of new paper?

Nova: No, there's some here, look. You don't need to growl at me!

No one ever has a long chunk of time to teach Cleo and Zoë to talk, but they're getting it, bit by bit.

This table is only just big enough for everyone to eat together, but luckily they don't often want to eat at the same time.

Nova: Cleo! Sing with me!

Dotty: Well, aren't you a hungry boy tonight? You must be going through a growth spurt or something.

Jett had a want to do his homework. I think Davy taught him and the big twins to study last rotation, so they're all set.

Zoë learnt to talk!

[natteryaktoad]

Tolane, Day 85, Part 1

Davy: Evangeline, shall we go pick up the puppy? And maybe stop off at the Motel for that photobooth woohoo beforehand?

Evangeline: How can I say no to that? You be good for Mummy, Zoë. Daddy and Mama have things to do!

Davy: This shouldn't be as arousing as it is...

Evangeline: You don't see me complaining!

Evangeline: You want to get a room... or the sauna?

Davy: I wish. We probably shouldn't leave Dotty that long with all the kids, though.

Evangeline: Ugh... fair enough.

Bear licked her puppy so many times I felt a bit mean taking her away from her.

Rae: Hi Wren! You're gonna be everyone's best friend, okay?

So many people in this household wanted a dog that I caved and got one. On the one hand, we don't need more chaos. On the other hand - toddlers and pets! Wren is one of Josh's dog Bear's puppies, so she'll end up a big dog - and actually it's not long until her birthday now.

[natteryaktoad]

Tolane, Day 84, Part 9

Rae: Gotcha!

Evangeline: Are you alright with the kids if Davy and I go and have a little lie down?

Dotty: Sure, no worries... we're going to wear that man out between us!

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Tolane, Day 84, Part 8

Nova: Daddy, Daddy, look!

I think Widespot needs some more education on appropriate behaviour around skunks. Dory, being five, has some excuse, but Dotty really should know better!

[natteryaktoad]

Tolane, Day 84, Part 7

Dotty: What are you two doing in here?

Cleo and Zoë: *giggle and run away*

Dotty: I'm planning on dragging Davy out to the backseat of the car. Any objections?

Evangeline: Nope. I've warmed him up nicely for you.

Davy: Um, could you quit talking about me like some commodity you're passing off between you? You know you two could woohoo with each other and give me a break?

Dotty: Eh, maybe later. Right now I want you. You're not really annoyed, are you?

Davy: Nope... a little tired maybe, but I'll cope. Let's go!

Lexi: Hi, Kai. You know, Dad didn't really think this through before they named you, did he? Now I've got a brother called Cairo, and a brother called Kai. And sometimes we shorten Cairo to Kai...

Woohoo!

Cleo: Me! Me!

Lexi: It's coming, Cleo.

Lexi: Wow, you ate that quick! You must've been hungry!

Lexi came over after school to meet her newest brother. She also proved herself quite useful with the toddlers.

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Tolane, Day 84, Part 6

Neo, you should definitely go home now!

Davy: Reckon if we start snogging he'll take the hint?

Davy and Evangeline usually have at least one locked woohoo want lying around, waiting for an opportune moment.

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Tolane, Day 84, Part 5

Davy: Uncle! Uncle!

Dotty: Is that Kai crying?

Davy: Maybe... maybe thinking about it, anyway... and that's Eva's carpool - maybe she'll get him.

Dotty: You are taking a risk calling her Eva!

Davy: She can't hear me from out there!

Evangeline: Oh, hi guys. Shall I get Kai?

Dotty: Please. Then come join us?

Evangeline: What's all that noise about, eh? Need a clean nappy? We can do that, can't we?

Dotty: Bedtime?

Evangeline: What a hungry boy!

Dotty wanted another date (a stay-at-home one, obviously, because... small children), and who is Davy to say no?

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Tolane, Day 84, Part 4

Zoë: All gone!

Davy: Good girl, Zoë. One of us will get you out in a minute, okay?

Evangeline: I'm off to work. Have you two still not been to bed?

Dotty: Not yet - still running high on adreneline!

Dotty: There you go, baby - all clean.

Rae woke up with her fun bar still pretty low, and I was about to direct her to play with the toys upstairs when I saw she had a want to play on the roundabout. I forgot they even had a roundabout!

Jett: Bye Daddy! Bye Cleo!

Davy: Have a good day at school, kiddo.

Evangeline went to bed about midnight, as did the three children, but Dotty and Davy (on their dream-date motive boost) and the toddlers (on toddler time) stayed up all night.

In the morning, the children went to school and Evangeline left for work at 4am. Davy and Dotty both had the day off. I forgot to look at who had the least vacation days before Dotty gave birth, so chose to give them to Davy, since I figured Dotty would've had days for maternity leave. It looks like I've done this every time, though, as Davy now has 21 vacation days! Maybe I need to skill him up, send him out a few times to get promotions (even though changing hours will mess with the system they've got going on which has only an hour a day where there's only one parent home) and then let him take those vacation days when he's on a higher wage.

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Tolane, Day 84, Part 3

Jett: Yay! A brother!

Brown hair, like Zoë. This family's managed a decent amount of varation in hair colour. I'm not sure if it's the same with eye colour - I don't often get close enough to look.

Dotty: Look, he matches your pyjamas! Go to Mama

Lexi's gone home, but Neo (her cousin) stayed for dinner.

Time to teach the kids to study!

Dotty feels a bit nostalgic, knowing this is her last baby. If she's feeling like that now, how will she feel when she feeds him for the last time?

Hopefully enough people will have enough snatched moments to teach Cleo and Zoë to talk before the age up the rotation after next, but it's slow going at the moment.