The Wagon rolls on, complete with whinging, winding and teething and ever more chocolate brownies!

[Sparklytwinkletoes]

Over here ladies - will post the list in a second...

Morning,

Ses, that does sound strange about your Mum. She invited you so she could have easily said to your Dad "Oh Ses is popping in this afternoon" then he could have decided to stay at home or go to the pub. Hope you get your phone line fixed soon.

I have just done a practice theory test and I passed!!! So I am going to book my actual test for a months time and then I have a month to keep revising in.

DS2 slept all night. From 7pm to 6am when DH's alarm woke the boys up. We didn't have to sit next to his cot for an hour to get him to go to sleep either.

Hope everyone is well.

hi

ses - sorry to hear that you are feeling down!!

is is wrong to spend £300 on boden clothes for dd1 for winter!!

getting :-

3 pairs of trousers
3 dresses
3 tops to go under them
2 pairs of tites
4 logo tops
1 jumper
2 pairs of pjs

go for it Tink, if you have the money, then why not?

I'm in search mode for Winter coats.

Ses, Is there anything I can use to help me calm down and relax before a driving lesson? Someone told me about rescue remedy but not sure what it is really.

my friend used kalms and herbal teabags

I know quite a few people who have used Rescue Remedy for exams, driving test, etc. V popular. Completely natural and made up of a special mix of Bach Flower Remedies.

Still no phone line or internet so trying to catch up via phone.

Went round to friend from NCT this morning with some of the others from our group. DS was the perfect baby - fed well, lots of smiles & chatty noises. Get home and he's now really clingy and won't settle. I'm on my own now for the evening as DH isn't home from work til midnight.

Thanks Ses. My instructor suggested kalms so will try that. He said I am a good driver for my level of exprience but my nerves hold me back. I did drive home along a main road though.

well done kay

Hi guys

Sorry i am in Scotland at the mo. Not had chance to get on. will catch up in a minute. I just saw the reigate dates. The 20th is when GC has his last lot of injections. I am not sure what time they are (the time is written down at home) so i will have to let you know when i get home.

GC was brilliant on plane and then slept through from dream feed to 7.45am so I was very pleased as really needed the sleep!!

Right off to catch up. Hopefully will have time to post again but if I don't I will try and lurk and catch up when possible.

Right...here goes...

Tink - clothes sound fine. I would not personally spend £300 on clothes for GC but then again I am very careful with money and like a bargain However if you want to then I don't see why not. IMO Boden is way overpriced and I would not buy stuff from there unless in the sale. But I know plenty of people who buy from there and are very happy with what they purchase. HTH

Ses - maybe your mum wanted you both to herself? unfortunate for your dad and i agree quite strange! I really hope I can make the meet up. Would be lovely to see you agagin and meet DS for first time!

Kayz - well done on driving. practice makes perfect. my sis used rescue remedy said it didn't work. I think its mind over matter deep breaths work for me.

Sorky - I am on the quest for winter coats too! saw a lovely all in one in the sale in mothercare the other day but it was 9-12 months which for GC would be Jan-April. Not sure what age to get as what about Nov/Dec??Or should I just put him in one thats a bit big and save money

I need a winter coat for myself as I still have alot of baby weight to loose and no coats that fit

Hello IDOB, Star, Kooky, Glask, Gyo, Bumps and anyone else lurking...

I am sure DS2 just said doughnut. DH said it then it sounded like DS2 said it after him. We've tried getting him to say it again to no avail. Was quite funny though.

Hi all,

SES - your Mum's behaviour does sound a bit strange - how would she react if you tackled her about it?

Gruff - sounds like GC was a dream on the flight. Have a great time - I love Scotland.

Kay - sounds like you're doing really well with the driving - I'd recommend Rescue Remedy too!

Tink - clothes sound lovely - am slightly envious! I love buying stuff for DD, but having to watch the pennies. I'm turning into a bit of a bargain hunter!

Really struggling with my back - any advice? Think it's just a muscle strain, but it's really getting me down and making me emotional and weepy. Also had to have crisis talks with DH about DD's behaviour, which is just SO challenging at the moment.... she is often waking 2 or 3 times a night and having some seriously major tantrums during the day. I don't feel like I'm handling things well at all. DH has agreed to take over going in to sort her out during the night as I think she'll be better for him as he's able to be muuch firmer than me. Think I give her very confusing signals and almost at my wits' end. Sorry, for whiney post, but would really appreciate some good old wagon advice.

Kooky, ds1 was awful when I had ds2. He was waking during the night. We used to end up most nights with one or both of them in our bed or dh on ds1's floor. HV suggested putting a gate on ds1's door. When he woke we would go to the gate, tell him it was bedtime now and leave him. Within 3 nights he was sleeping through again. It was amazing and we didn't think it would work. We had to be really firm though. Hope it works out for you.

We have rain rain and lots more rain here.... Moosy you should get mail today!!!!

DS has progressed to having solids at two meals a day now... He has fruit at lunch time and veg at dinner time.... I am allergy weaning him so no dairy until 9 months, no gluton until 10 months and no wheat until 11 months.... just in case...

He loves his food but doesn't like purees. Yesterday he had a pear at lunch time, and mashed butternut squash at dinner time... He loved it...

Right must go and get the little monkeys dressed we are having a lazy day today...

Yay thank you Bumps, I love getting parcels! (am I still 5?)

My monkeys are dressed (well, they've got knickers on but that's all they seem to wear these days!) but I'm still in my jamas, seems to be a regular occurance these days

Has the food changed his sickiness and is he sleeping any better since having it?

Sunshine here today - hooray! DH has a few little bits to do on the barn roof then the scaffolding is going next week

Sorry I have no advice on the sleep KK, but I know what you mean about 'challenging' behaviour, these 2 are a complete nightmare if they can't go outside every day, we all end up climbing the walls

Morning all,

we have our NCT course this Saturday and Sunday plus the midwife might be coming over on Sunday afternoon to talk about what we need for our home birth. The midwife comes over to go through a checklist and make sure there isn't anything 'extreme' in the house - I asked what counts as extreme and the midwife just laughed and said she checks we don't have a rabid dog in the kitchen .

Moosy - I love getting parcels too, actually I just love getting any post except bills.

Bump - enjoy your lazy day! How is he doing now he is on solids? Is dd behaving any better?

KK - sorry you are having a hard time with DD . No advice sorry. Where does your back hurt? I get a sore lower back and feel stiff sometimes but some of my yoga stretches seem to help, I can try to describe them if you think they might be useful. I guess it is hard to find time to see an osteopath or chiropractor?

Kayz - glad the driving lessons are going well.

Gruff - hope you having a lovely time in scotland.

Morning everyone else

cheers for clothes advice

dont usually spend that much usually shop with next

reasons for shopping with boden

look really funky and different

dd1 will be @ school so only need clothes for the weekend have bought leggings and tops for after school

i agree that they are pricey!! my friend luvs them and says that quality is great

thought i would go for it have just about got the money

well off to nurse soon for her 2 look @ dd1s ear

dh is finally better back to work today after a week off

Sickness is still the same, if anything maybe a bit worse but I need to check his dose at dr when I weigh him on Monday as it may need increasing.

Sleep wise is still a bit hit and miss. Last night he woke 4 times but the night before was only 3, but he wouldn't feed very well yesterday due to the heat so think it i$s that.... all in all things feel good at the moment and I am really enjoying things....

I feel like doing something today but dont know what.... I may bake a cake moosy you have inspired me... But would need to buy a cake tin!!!!

Morning

Still all over the place here, can't remember the last time we just sat down and did nothing (and there was me moaning that we never did anything but sit and watch telly after the kid's had gone to bed!) We just don't seem to stop, ever. there is always one more thing to do!

They came to do the inspection thingy for the HIP pack yesterday, EA coming to do the photo's for the sales brochure next week and then I think the house is good to go!

Can't decide what to do about DS1's uniform, the chances are October/November he'll be moving schools, so I'm not paying for 5 lot's of uniform now and then again for his new school, but he could really do with new uniform to go back in, his trousers are starting to get short, and his jumpers a bit too clingy, he's gonna look like no one loves him by October! And he needs new shoes, am sick of buying them, have spent somewhere between £30 and £55 on his last 3 pairs, which wouldn't bother me if they lasted, but those 3 pairs are since February half term this year, so that is averaging a pair every half term, so 6 weeks worth of wear for up to £55? Why can't they either let them wear trainers, or at least let them wear trainers in the playground? It doesn't help that he has quite big feet, and is already about to go into 'adult' sizes. Am moaning a lot bit aren't I? Sorry, but since I've started.....!

Have yet to tell DH that I've spent nearly £500 this week, on absolutely nothing, don't even know where it's gone

Have big monster spider on the stairs

Have my theory test tomorrow

Can't do my Friday night tonight because of test tomorrow

We are watching Cars. Again. Second time today.

DS1's friends have knocked on the door at least 5 times already this morning, so I'm moaning at DS1 to go and get showered and dressed so he can go out, he's sat round in nothing but his boxers moaning he's bored (I think he is approaching the 'typical bloke' stage sooner than he should!), I moan because the door bell is going off every 5 minutes, he's moaning because I keep interupting his computer game

And, to finish off my moaning, I have a sodding headache, can feel it pounding in my ears and my teeth, and if they ring that bloody bell once more I am going to pick DS1 up in his boxers and shove him out of the door. And then lock it. And then hope it bloody rains! Hah, that'll teach him!

Feel better now

Well, we started our new strategy last night. DD woke once at midnight and DH went in, dealt with her clamly but firmly and she went straight back to sleep and slept through til the morning. Hooray! Made a big difference just knowing that I didn't have to get up and go in. Kayz, we've had a stair-gate across her door almost since she went into the big bed. We were so smug for about 5 nights until she worked out that she could get out! It used to freak me out waking up in the night with her little face peering down at me!
DH has also suggested taking over bath-time and offered to take her swimming at the weekends. So, all in all, feeling a lot more positive and supported. DD is at the Childminder today, so I have a day to myself... bliss! Have housework and a food shop to do, but will try to take it easy too.

IDOB - would be grateful if you could explain stretches... my pain is in the middle of my back on one side. Have been using a heat pack in the evening which helps.

Bump - think you've coped amazingly with DS' sickness, it must've been so hard. FWIW the heat def affects DD's appetite.

Moos - the cake pics on FB are incredible! Love the turtle potty! I am utterly hopeless at that kind of thing and always in awe of creative-cakey-types.

Tink - good news about DH!

lightening- do we live in the same house??... we have the boy from nextdoor coming every 10mins to see if the DC's can play, but they've been on the DS this morning and are now on the wii with DH. Plus i dont want them to play with him as he's much older than tham (nearly 10yo) and as he lives nextdoor we've seen a lot of horrible behaviour from him that we dont like- swearing (we dont swear in our house and dont want the DC's to learn them from him) and very naughty behaviour including violently punching his older sister, kicking footballs into the busy main rd we live on, on purpose, pushing some girls who live round the corner off their bikes when they were just riding past- there's no end to it, and we dont feel its right for our 3 & 4yo DC's to be playing with a boy like him.... Opps- got me started there!!

Anyway- Have to wait in for a courier to collect DH's Xbox as he sold it on ebay... has bought himself a ps3 and psp recently so something had to go!! haha!!

DD2 has got back to normal sleep-wise... we're currently on a 3ish feed and a 6ish feed then waking properly at around 8am... not bad!! fingers crossed it will only get better from here.

Morning Kooky, I've tried to describe the stretches below so I hope they make sense. You feel a bit stupid doing some of them (well I do ) but they do seem to help. I don't remember you saying you had SPD but if you do don't do any lunges etc just kneel up. Take it easy and please stop if anything hurts.

1. We usually start off on all fours (try not to collapse down, keep your shoulders lifted and back quite straight) then just wiggle your bum from side to side. As you feel it loosen start to draw circles with your bum then kind of let the movement work it's way up your body to your shoulders so you are gently moving and wriggling your whole spine. This is quite hard to describe and it feels really stupid but loosens all your back.

1. If you can, start on all fours then move your left foot to outside of your left hand (so in a lunge, back leg on floor from knee to foot and front foot down) then straighten up and stretch your arms over your head. Try to relax your shoulders down while reaching up then, once you have your balance, bend slightly from the waist to one side then the other. Swap legs and repeat. You can just kneel for this stretch if that is comfier. You can also do this standing up - don't lock your knees.

1. Sit on a cushion so hips higher than knees and either cross legs or stick legs straight out in front. Twist to left (gently, don't force it) and put left hand on floor behind back and right hand on outside of left leg. As you breath in try to open chest and lift up without pulling shoulders up then as you breath out twist slightly further round, again don't strain. Repeat for 5-6 breathes then change sides.

1. We also do a stretch were you stand facing the wall, place your hands on wall at shoulder height and width apart then shuffle you feet back just a bit. Then you push your bum back and up (she always says try to point your bum at the ceiling). Keep your knees soft and you can move your knees and ankles a bit so it stays comfy then sway bum from side to side. I really like this one - it always makes my back feel relaxed but I think you can arch your back a bit and hurt it so if it's not comfy or you feel any strain on your back then stop.

HTH - sorry to everyone else for the huge post!!!

hi lighting

what r your thoughts on buying dd1s winter clothes from boden @ a cost of £300

uniform and school bits are pricey arent they!!

when shall i buy dd1s school shoes and winter boots?
money goes in a week today shall i get them then

hi kooky

IDOB - thank you! Will print that out and have a go. I did pregnancy yoga when pg with DD but sadly haven't managed to organise it this time. Rememer the wiggling bottom one from last time - brilliant!

No problem kooky, hope it helps. My back has been stiff in the morning recently and DP has taken to laughing saying my first 10 steps are like that monkey to man evolution picture until I can straighten up. Honestly, men!