Due May 2009 - Bring on the Creme Eggs, mooing and choo chooing

[Jennster]

Thought I'd better start this soon.

Oops sorry, massive post!

Night night all xx

Just noticed that our thread is on the 'Most Active' for the day!!!!

Night all..............

Spangle- I would tend to agree with your DH - I managed fine with DD and DS both in car seats facing me in the travel system- I know they are meant to lay flat and all that but if you were in the car they'd be upright, and at least they are facing you so you can see if they are uncomfortable etc. I would favour that rather than lay them facing away, unless I knew it was going to be a very very long push.

Is your dads generous donation only for a pushchair, or would he put it towards anything else you needed?

Better go to bed, as DH went up a while ago as he has to be up at 6am to get the train to london (if they are running of course). A thin layer of snow here in Sheffield but imagine its worse "down south". Night night.

i'm sure you're all in bed by now.
fi, I can't believe your MIL... is she joking? she is really unreal.

have just finished working and listening to the Superbowl and very happy I'm not in the US being made to watch it. I always hated superbowl parties, nowhere near as fun as the World Cup.

about changing bags, I really would like a non-changing-bag bag but a big leather one with pockets that would function as a changing bag. Does that make sense?

would love my £190 to go towards this bag but am afraid I've already spent it.

Well, better get to bed. hope you're all having sweet dreams.

I'm still awake! baby gymnastics and over active brain.. at least i'm in bed though with phone to surf and 2nd hot chocolate

my last word on mil is she's a lovely lady and we get on like she's my 2nd mum.. but she has a habit of saying one thing and doing another. she said she was joining us for ds's 1st xmas, 1st birthday, 2nd birthday.. we priced train and flights.. said we'd pay too. but for one reason or another she then decided she couldn't come & missed them all. she likes the idea of coming but doesn't like travelling.. in the end we used our savings to go up last yr for 2wks so we & ds could spend time with his grandma. she'd love us to travel up with #2 but we don't have enough savings to do it this yr.. mil has a 1 bed flat so we have to book accommodation and hire transport as we currently don't have a car! dh off tomorrow because of super bowl and i'm sure he'll find out what his mum really fancies doing.

Good luck with MIL fikelly

Morning all,

Although DH and I joked about not being able to collect DD from manchester due to snow, i'm a bit anxious about knowing what to do now, especially as DH and I should both be working tomorrow...

Our main route over the peaks is closed, and all other routes are "hazardous" which even with a 4x4 makes me anxious about having an accident or getting stuck with DS in the car.

What would you do? Other option is to take the train with DS and bring her back by train, but again, can imagine a nightmare journey...

Snow coming down thick and fast again. No point going anywhere at the moment

On a more positive note, I'm 24 weeks today, which is a key date in terms of viability of this LO if it decides to come early. It's funny to think that some babies are born now and survive, as my LO just seems so small- i get lots of little wriggly sensations and the odd kick which can be seen/felt on the outside but its all very localised (below my belly botton) so none of this kicking in the ribs or the fanjo business.

Dandy- I would be grumpy if i'd been up til 3am with a DD to entertain when it should have been a "rest day". Let's hope your DD isn't too demanding.

It looks like the motorways are clearer now due to rushhour traffic easing, but its a very long way round to go up the M1 to M62 and across. One A road is "just passable" but guess the risks are by the time i get out (I would need to pack supplies - warm clothes, drinks, food etc) the conditions will have worsened, and if i do make it across, we could all end up stuck in Manchester! DH has gone to London (from Sheffield) today and is probably having a nightmare journey due to train and tube chaos.

Yes, thats true Dandy, my DD was born on 27 Dec and we had a nervous drive to the hospital around 11.30pm as the roads were very icy. Although DSs csection was nearly cancelled due to the severe flooding in June 2007 so you never know!

We are all home on a snow day and its just lovely!!!!

Dandy oh poor you. Don't know what to suggest other than to hope madly that one of your DD's friends mothers phones you up and offers a spur-of-the-moment play date for DD for the afternoon! Or maybe you could invite a nearby friend with child round so you can relax with a cup of tea and DD will be happy too? That would be my plan I'm afraid if I was feeling tired and grumpy. Oh and maybe a spot of light mother and daughter baking (choc cup cakes or similar) to cheer myself up (and stop any potential 'I'm bored' whinging from my DD!) Icing can keep children amused for at least an hour I find!!!
In Scotland where we are there is a light covering of snow but school is open (thank god). Right, better do some work now. Try and have a good day.x

Grr.. wrote long post and lost it!

I'm working from home today, well, meant to be but getting distracted, wanting to make lists of things I still need to get now I know what our friends have v kindly donated. I know (hope!) there's plenty of time yet but I can't help myself, I get over-excited

Pula is there any chance of your DD staying on for a day or two? It might be better than risking a long journey in the snow.

Had a bit of a fraught conversation with DH last night about the pushchair business. What he meant to say was 'I'm really worried about the business/money and would prefer it if we postpone any big purchases until we know they're absolutely necessary' (which is fine) but what he actually did was come out with several (I thought) dismissive comments like 'they're all the same anyway', 'they spent loads of money on it so it must be a good one' and 'we've taken it now, it would be too embarrassing to buy a new one' Grrr... why can't men just say what they mean???

morning all feeling lots brighter today and so far in weston-super-mare we've no serious snow. All that's coming out of the sky is an attempt at dust! It's -1 outside and DS & i are just back from the jump n jiggle class he does on a mon am. Having a hot choc... and maybe one of the last few mini rolls while the washing is going and before I have to think of lunch. DH booked today off as he likes to watch the superbowl... but he didn't get to bed till 5am and is finding it hard to have a nap as DS is so excited he's not at work today... I have to brave the baltic temps outside this afternoon as I've ebay parcels to send out and a visit to our estate agents to do so making the most of the warm while we're in!

Dandy... I agree with frazzle if you just haven't got the oomph to go out then don't. Get DD involved with some rainy day activities or see if one of your other friends with DC needs to join forces for the afternoon...

Pula I would pack the car for al eventualities and if the roads weren't too bad give it a go. If totally treacherous don't risk it... would DD be ok in manchester for a few more days?

I am sat at work watching the snow fall

I got up extra early today to check school closures, saw DD1's school and rushed up to tell her school was closed (thinking 'yippee!! day off for me too). She was chuffed to bits.

20 minutes later, checking to see if DD2's school is open, realise it's the SENIOR school that's shut, not DD1's primary school.

Off she goes to school in tears.......I remember that feeling - my school was never shut for snow.

Afternoon all,

Well I braved the snow and it wasn't too bad - the roads were clear of snow and although visibility wasn't great, the traffic went at a good steady pace so no congestion and it didn't take much longer than usual. I left in a bit of a hurry so had warm coats, blankets, water, food supplies etc, but only once i was driving i thought i should have taken DSs travel cot and sleeping bag in case we couldn't get back. But all was well.

DD was ready to come home and my mum said she kept asking when we were coming for her (we usually find 2 nights is enough for her). We also find that she is very whiney and difficult at first as I think she gets her own way a lot at my mums...looking forward to bedtime already! Hope DH gets back from London OK.

Pula

My 2 are always awful and whiney when they come back from Granny's (lots of yummy chocolate and sweets and crisps and ready meals, going to bed when they want, Granny doing whatever 2 bossy little girls want to) and every time they go, I swear it's the last time they're going for 2 nights but sometimes it's worth it for the possibility of 2 lie-ins (although they went to Granny's last weekend for 2 nights and the dog woke me up by power-yipping at the postman at about 7am - the postman who usually delivers the post around 12.30 )

So glad you got there and back safely though and I bet you're delighted to see DD and have cuddles.....

Now, pushchairs everyone - bear with me, DH is I'm a total cheapskate - anyone know if the Graco travel systems (Mirage, etc) are any good for tall people with long legs? As much as I'd love a Bugathingy or similar, I just cannot work out how to -lie about the cost to DH justify the cost

pula glad the journey went well and you're home safe.

grumpy sorry can't help with the pram question... i'm 5ft 7 and fell in love with the bugaboo when pregnant with DS and was able to persuade dh so didn't need to look very seriously at anything else.

Fi

I've tried explaining to him that's it's an important purchase and not entirely based on aesthetics, but he can be the most appalling tightwad sometimes - I've justified it with the fact that I shall be walking DDs to school, not using the car, etc but he just can't see why we would want to spend a lot - he's forgetting that his mum bought us a pushchair last time (which was crap and kept getting a puncture ). The Graco looks a bit rubbish, but useable.

I have already given in on the cot - Ikea £45 all in cot & mattress - not too bothered as it's what we had for DD2 when we were VERY poor and it was perfectly OK, I will just spend money on gorgeous bedding for the cot instead

I haven't even bought any baby clothes yet, as I know he would get arsey - he runs his own business so is getting fretty about money.....

I've got myself all grumpy again - off to contemplate the secret Aero bar in my drawer to cheer myself up

Grumpy I think Graco are not for tall people.

Have strained between my legs. Did a dance to Hotel Yorba (think Dick Van Dyke doing chimney top sideways scissor kick dance in Mary Poppins) to amuse the children, and shouldn't have.

Oh Jennster

I just laughed so much that I snorted like Daddy Pig in Peppa Pig and got a severe ribbing from colleagues.

Also, woke LO up I think, as I have been given a severe kicking.

I'm sorry to laugh, but it's the Dick Van Dyke thing - are you a luvvuble cockerneeeeee chimney sweeep guvvnor? Also, picturing pregnant lady doing that kick is amusing in my empty little head.

Plus, it's precisely the kind of thing I do, which gets a 'God mum you're so sad and embarassing' from the girls - which is why I do it!!!

Hope you haven't done a real mischief to yourself.