Emmy's weebles are taking over mermaid's greenhouse!

[barbie1]

....therefore she cant throw us out!

Long may the support continue x

I keep refreshing too... Hope all's okay.

Quickie from me to say have had text from BQ and all is ok!!!!!!

That's great I am so pleased that it has gone well for both of you today. Great that you can both have a lovely weekend, knowing that all is well

Yay for great scan news Louey and Bq!!

Loving all you girlys festive names too!

Oh big YAY to bq, thanks for letting us know louey

yay for louey and bq very welcome news and relieved for both of you

snowed in here in yorkshire, have been working from home - went out for the first time today since monday but as we cant get out in our cars we walked to the end of the village and got a taxi. in doing my good deed for the day and asking the old lady over the road if she needed anything from the shops, i slipped on the ice and am hurting :( my leg has swollen up and i think will be badly bruised

sorry for being awol again, no news my end, ovulating atm so all systems go

Great news #2 BQ - I can go and enjoy my glass of wine

moon - ouch. Have a bath if you can that should ease your ice bruise. What a lovely thing to do helping the old lady. Ovulatin eh? Think the Emmsy's pom poms maybe getting fluffed out big stye soon...

Later lovelies x

best thing about it was that the lady said no thank you my grand daughter has just gone out for me - so my injury was in vain! gotta laugh hey

I'm so relieved that both scans went well today. I was nervous when we didn't hear from bq but so glad all is well :) Big hugs to you and louey

Hey moon is back :) Hope your leg is okay honey and that it doesn't get in the way of any shenanigans. Onward to jumping on df and the two week wait and good news for christmas

Thanks for the ideas for my name vj but now I keep glancing in the mirror checking for stray hairs on my chin so I'm going to adapt it a little Whadya think?! Your AJ sounds so like curlygirl. She just wants to walk and climb but can't do either very well! Poor love she keeps falling on her beautiful little face and breaking my heart.

blue notonthehighstreet is so fab isn't it? I could spend a lot of money on that site. Oh yes I have already I'm very impressed with your organisededness (itsa word!!) and where did you get those pompoms, their fluffedupness is splendiforous

barbie that's brilliant news. I bet you can't wait to get dh home so that you can catch up on some kip :)

qa come back soon and update us on ttc'ing I like your christmas wish xxx

monkey lovely to see you back. Can I not even get a TINY bit excited?! :) sorry, bad curly, I'm just easily excitable. Very impressed with your christmas dinner plans, you domestic goddess xxx

4ever I think it's lovely that you are still getting those bf snuggles :) I am total at you planning to ttc again. How lovely :) we will be there all the way xxx

lbm great to hear that the sleep is improving. Hope you're enjoying the snow days with dcs :)

Great news about dh's job cupcake and that Jude is sleeping better. I never thought I would consider 7am a lie-in but I do :)

mermaid I love your christmas biscuit face. Are you getting excited about xmas? Is your big handsome ds too grownup for santa claus? Liking the idea of cashmere for our slankeys. Nothing but the best for us eh?! I like to think that we bring a bit of sophistication to the greenhouse you and I

sabs lol this place is all chinese whispers. Are you really ttc'ing. That would be so exciting :) I often think of you and Saara too but don't get around to texting because I'm generally rubbish at doing most of the things I mean to do On the bottle / milk thing, I really wouldn't worry too much. Maybe stick with the bottle and gradually decrease the heat over a month or so, then it might be easier to switch to a doidy cup. curlygirl is still on her bottle for her milk and despite what they say, I think we'll stick to that for a while after she is 1. As for taking her into your bed,if it is not interfering with your sleep then why not wait and tackle it when she gets her own room next year. You need to sleep :)

welcome back gracie and big hi to Kate. We've adopted your teethbrushing song and doing it in the bath. Curlygirl decided to clean the sides of the bath with her toothbrush instead. She's very helpful like that.

big waves to neeko. Total heartmelt at you making memories with your girls :)

mls how did the cranial osteopath appointment go? Any improvement with dd2?

Glad lots of people are enjoying miranda too. I thinks she's hilarious. I heard her interviewed on Radio 4 (my new weakness :)) and thought she was very funny in real life too!

Nice to see it get busy on here again but where has jools gone? Was she going on hols? Big hugs and waves to anyone I've missed.

Is anyone interested in an emmsys meetup before Christmas

Oh yes meant to change my name. How do I do that???

hee hee

Sorry to all for not posting about scan earlier but was at work straight after scan but so pleased can go to bed happy tonight just got the weekend to go until proper dating scan love to you all xxxxx

so excited for you bq it's lovely that you can be (a little) more relaxed for your dating scan now xxx

twirls
How do I look?

Only a quickie from me as we're expecting guests but hello...loving all the name changes
I've had a poorly boy last couple of days...seems his night of sleeping through was to prepare us for 2 hellish nights! Bless him though, have felt so sorry for him he just didn't know what to do with himself. Seems to be himself again today.

Amazing news about the scans, so exciting!

monkey, massive hugs to you my lovely. I totally understand your mind taking you to that nasty place of thinking something is really wrong but that is just so unlikely. You ARE going to conceive again and we'll all be there when you do (well not ACTUALLY when you do )
Happy weekends all, barbie hope your dh has made it back!

Yay a big woop woop for the good scans! So happy for you ladies.

Monkey

Curly we had a second osteo appt on Friday & dd2 seems to like sleeping in her car seat now which is a big improvement. I'm still struggling with bedtime though. I'm having to bf her for 2-3 hours so that she goes into a deep enough sleep to take up to her basket. She's not taking a dummy at the moment (will have a look for another kind) have tried jiggling her basket, a bit of v mild cc, the ceiling projector but nothing seems to work. Does anyone have any ideas of any other ways to get her to self-settle? She loves being carried in her sling & will fall asleep in it but if I try & transfer her to her basket from it, she only sleeps for 10 mins.

Will be back later as she's just woken.

Looking forward to fab Saturday night telly - so glad Katie is out of X-factor! Stacey to win I'm a Celebrity!

lol cupcake at your stalking of monkey . That image of all us ladies in her bedroom with pompoms is enough to put anyone off dtd . Hope Jude sleeps better tonight :)

mls curlygirl was a terror for not sleeping too (though once she was down for the night she was ok) and I used to worry so much about snuggling her to sleep! Now I'd kill for one of those snuggles :) I found the babywhisperer methods really good for teaching her to fall asleep in her cot but tbh we still had to rub her back for a few minutes and say SHHHH. In the end when she got to about five / six months this distracted her more than anything and we did CC as we felt she was old enough. It worked amazingly well very quickly which I never would have believed, and it is only a very rare occasion where I have to help her get to sleep :) If you do use the BW stuff, make sure you leave her for the mantra cry, I think this is where we made our mistake.

Loving xfactor :) but I'm trying to avoid celebrity and yet more addictive tv :)

It's going to be nigh on impossible now not to have that image in my head next time we are ing. Thanks for that Cupcake

Am loving all the festive names, think we should have an award from MN in recognition of all our collective creativity

BQ Well done on your scan yesterday, hope you are enjoying a less worrisome weekend, and that you're starting to feel a little more confident about your little bean. What time is your dating scan on Mon?

Barbie did dh make it back okay? Hope the three of you are having a lovely time back together again!

Well, finally my AF started this morning, and although I have to admit to being a bit gutted, I was kind of relieved too. Am still concerned that something's up, but not long before I go for an appt to get Clomid (fingers crossed) so will talk to them then.

We had a lovely day today, went to a little town in Germany with my aunt to visit a gorgeous Christmas market - pics on FB!! Driving conditions were not good, so am shattered this eve!

Did anyone watch X Factor? One Direction were so good in their second song, and Rebecca is just fab! Am off to bed now, but so hope Stacey wins I'm a Celeb... Can't keep my eyes open long enough to watch it.

Have a lovely weekend all xxx

ps Hi Curly

Can't sleep so thought I would catch up on here. Some more great Christmas name changes I see, I agree with monkey we deserve an award from MNHQ, perhaps they could provide us with the cashmere slankeys that the sophisticated mermaid and curly want

moon hope you haven't bruised too much, something lovely should happen to you now in return for your good deed. Have got my pom poms at the ready for you too

How about WishItWasChristmas4Ever for 4ever though VJJ will probably have something much better

Btw blue that picture of your boys on the rug is adorable

cupcake I keep singing 'on the 1st day of Christmas' since seeing your name change, hope you are having a good time with your guests. Sorry that your Ds has been poorly, but glad he is feeling better, especially in time for having to stay.

MLS I am glad the osteopath seems to be helping a little, it sounds like you have got your hands full though at the moment. TBH, at the moment I would say it is such early days (though every night must feel like 10 to you at the mo) that you should just do whatever is necessary to get some sleep and all stay happy. It really won't last for too long. Of the top of my head though, (but will have a proper think too) one thing worth trying is a white noise CD playing while you do the last feed and place a hot water bottle in the basket for a few minutes before you put her in it.

monkey so sorry that AF reared her ugly head, but I can see why you were a little relieved too. How long is your cycle usually and when is your appointment? Hopefully they will be able to reassure you that everything is ok. Don't let the ttc white coat stalkers put you off The Christmas markets sound great, I would love to do that one year. I watched Xfactor,and I think rebecca is amazing too, I hope she wins. I don't watch I'm a celeb as the bugs make me too squeamish!

Quick wave to Louey and BQ who are hopefully enjoying a lovely weekend after their good news.

Right, going to try again going to bed, hope I can get to sleep this time Hope this post makes sense in the morning, haven't got time to check it back as battery about to run out on laptop and, as usual, can't find the charger!

bq just must think that im really rude for not acknowledging your brilliant scan...i just couldnt wait up long enough but rushed down at 6am the next morning, but was to tired to type after the 18 yes 18 wakings from my delightful daughter ..you have all this to look forward too
I did text you (monkey also) but just found out that my text are still in the outbox waiting to be sent
So anyways, congratulations, here's to another fabby scan tomorrow

Dh is back, but is really ill, not putting it on ...so it feels like i have 3 babies to look after now, Dolly, hubby and Freddie!

monkey i just know that you are going to have a much happier to new year, after all you are very deserving of it i will try to resend my text. Not sure if im happy or sad for you re af showing up. Im sure everything is going to work out ok in the end....

Much love to everyone else, not much time here right now, will try harder tomorrow if dh goes to work

Oh and Dolly walked half way across the living room, just clutching her dolly for moral support, im so proud ...she has also found her voice at the same time...everything thing is a baba right now

Hi all,
thanks qa. DS is still off his food which is worrying me slightly :( but he has been smiley and playful again today so hopefully he's ok.

Been meaning to reply to 4ever and others about the bfing issues and have just had a few thingson my mind about it.
Was chatting to one of my nct friends about it the other day, when to stop bfing, whether to stress about night wakings etc because I was getting quite frazzled about it all too.
Then last week my best friend put up a whole album of pics of her new baby boy online and I found myself trying to hold back tears looking through them. I was really surprised by how emotional it made me that Jude isn't tiny anymore and those days were gone in just the quickest of flashes.
All of us know how much we've been through to have these babies (and we know the pain of those of us who haven't completed their journey yet) and it's just been brought home to me that it is really not worth putting ourselves through more stress that they 'should' be sleeping through, or 'shouldn't' be feeding as much or whatever else we worry about. It won't be forever. One day soon our babies will be toddlers, or be at school, or have left home and we'll be nostalgic for these days when they needed us just so much.

So 4ever I just wouldn't put too much pressure on yourself to 'crack down' on the bf and Summer's wakings. From what you've said she seems just the most chilled baby, and your routine with her seems to have just let her thrive, so just enjoy her (I know you do already so much!) and I'm trying to take my own advice too and enjoy my nighttime snuggles with Jude.

I hope this waffle made sense. I'm not saying that when things get to a point where you feel you can't cope that you should just grin & bear it (as I know things got very bleak for you blue) I'm just musing on some stuff that's been on my mind.

Right...back to knitting SIL's christmas pressie while dh is making our Christmas cards...seasonal shenanigans a-go-go in this household! :)

(ps- VJJ & other Strictly fans...I was very chuffed with the result tonight!!)

BQ and Louey - Yaaaaaayyyyyyy!!!! I'm so pleased.

Curly i did laugh about curlygirl cleaning the bath for you! - Happy 10month birthday!

Monkey huge hugs.

Barbie did I read that right - TTC????? I don't have the energy to even think about DTD never mind actually do it!!!! Well done Dolly for walking, Isabelle's still happy crawling, standing and climbing stairs.

Poor GracieBaby is poorly sick, thats where I've been for the past few days. She got a high temp, a cough, sniffs, sore throat and has now lost her voice. Poor little love, her voice does sound a bit funny though - croaking Mama and Dada, and squeaky noises instead of her usual talkative self. So very little sleep in the last few days, as trying to prop her up so she can breathe better. Every time I've tried to give her calpol she just vomits everywhere. Poor little Monster doesn't have the energy to be a Monster.

I need a festive name - any ideas???

Aw poor Graciebaby tis horrid when they are poorly, all most worrying even with a medical mummy and daddy.. Lovely to see you nonetheless! Sure these creative lovelies will come up with a fab festive name for you!

Qa i love what you came up with for me cos 4everdoeswishitwaschristmas4ever Have had a wonderful weekend doing christmasy stuff, out in the snow with Summer and putting up our tree and decorations, inc the cutest my 1st christmas and a personalised stocking on the fireplace! Feeling very festive here and even done photo christmas cards of S in her Santa outfit in the snow, which are just adorable! Talking of which we are off to see Santa on Friday! Highly excitable at this time of year at the best of times but having our little blessing makes the true meaning come alive..!

Talking of which, Cupcake you are so very very right, after the 2yrs of heartache and 4 lost angels, iv also come to that same conclusion, after the week or so of thinking i should break the bed and booby habit soon, that time moves so very fast anyway, dh agrees, and up til now i havent put any emphasis on when or where she 'should' or 'shouldnt' be sleeping, iv just enjoyed her and let her find her own routine, which she has, and she is the happiest little soul she is actually still sleeping now! You are so on the mark though that before we know it they will be starting school, and tbh I just want to enjoy every second of her being a dependent ikkle baby before she inevitably becomes an independent little lady by about 3yrs old as they do! High five to you for that fab and well put point my sweetie!

Ooh yea and happy with Stacy winning the jungle and happy with the final 4 on x factor! Rebecca made me cry singing Amazing grace, rewound it 3 times, was my mum and dads wedding song, and played at my dads funeral, but then dh and I also made it our wedding song and also had it sung for Summers christening!
Oopoutofspace.

Morning

I've had a text from barbie this morning, she has no internet for the next 72 hours , (I think it's a cover cos her dh is back and she's off the pill ), but she says to wish the scan ladies good luck and that she's thinking of you. And the same from me too, bq what time is your scan today?

Loving all the festive names , and cupcake you are so clever to be knitting, my nan taught me when I was little, but I've forgotten it all now. And I loved strictly this weekend it was fab!

blue I did quite well on ebay, I've re-listed what didn't sell so will see how that goes

Sorry not much of a catch up, I did lurk over the weekend.

Afternoon

Whiteout here in central Scotland, made the news headlines and everything! Walked to work, DH on bus DMum at house with boys.. Leaving at 2 to walk home, just hope DH gets home...

Loving all the Christmas prep talks . We have the personalised stockings up on fire and putting tree(s) up on Friday. DH may have to do the traditional pulling it home on a sledge if this weather holds up (we get it from local farmer). I remember getting home from hospital last xmas day and putting B's 'my first christmas' bauble on the tree as he had just snuck in there . This year like ajay he will be trying to climb said tree - aaargh

cupcake your post brought a wee lump to my throat and a wistful look back over my shoulder too. My tuppence worth falls into two camps, having one baby versus having two...

With DS1 I was strict, routine all the way as was terrified of getting into bad habits.. Started self settle training at 5 weeks which looking back was far too young.

With DS2, he would not settle anywhere other than me, sling or me. Couldn't have him waking DS1 so made the decision to co-sleep from day 3 and it was the best decision I ever made. He screamed to begin with (you may remember me posting about having to sing sound of music songs to him) but very quickly was reassured by me lying beside him.. Fast forward to 3 months and he transferred to his cot no problem at all. He sleeps like a log to this day.

MLS - I know I've mentioned the above on FB but wonder if its something you would consider for DD2? Can your DH move to spare room for a few weeks? Rather than 'make a rod for my own back' it actually made DS2 more independent as he was reassured and confident going to his cot when he was ready.. There was many an evening in the first 10 weeks when we would have programmes paused on sky+ for ages as DS2 wouldn't settle unless bf. He was on me at all times other than when I put DS1 to bed when he would be passed to DH to scream for half an hour. Poor DH took him downstairs to pace with him in the sling counting the seconds til I came down..

I unfort. couldn't continue with bf beyond 5 months due to crippling exhaustion leading to possible pnd and this is where it differs between first and subsequent children. You don't have the luxury of catching up on your sleep the next day if you have an older child to take to care of/get to nursery/playgroup so for those of you on your first, cherish it while you can, you will never get these days with your PFB again and they do go in the blink of an eye as mother of a 4 year old I can testify (my baaaaby!!!).

Barbie - hope DH is on the mend. Loving image of D walking chatting to her teddy..

Vjay - well done on e-bay sales - kerching! I relisted two of mine last week and they sold second time around

Questionforsanta - you always come across as a wise Mum . Really hope you can put your wisdom to hands-on effect soon x

Big snowy waves to everyone else x