Chatting, ranting and some stepping! Come in and have a brew with us.

[carrotsandcelery]

A place to have a blether, and a . All chatters are welcome, stepping or otherwise.

Come inside and settle down on the sofa.

Hello again - just whizzing in before prepping lesson 2.

"Hello all"

Hello!

Took TS to a lovely toy shop on the outskirts of YOUT. Shouldn't have, really, as it ate up two hours of time (travel, playing and selecting toys) and more money than I intended on spending but I we had a lovely time. He's now added the tunnel to his train track and is happily playing (we got a train as well but I haven't put that out yet) and dinner is on the stove. MrScout's not home again tonight so TS and I will eat together (though we have been lately anyway) then, when he goes to bed, I'll pack up all of the clothes for the weekend and load his trains and the clothes into the car. It's such a pain trying to load the car myself when Toddler's awake.

That sounds lovely Scout.

Ds and I have finally got to a supermarket so we now have bread and cheese etc again.

He made my heart lurch a bit as he was determined to manage the trolley on his own so he put the coin in himself etc but his head was barely above the handle as he was pushing it and he suddenly looked really young.

Passes bessie a I hope you haven't overdone it. I ached a bit after my gardening on Monday but it may have had more to do with spending half the night on the bathroom floor

Toddler hasn't got out of bed once in 15 minutes and even though he's still awake I snuck downstairs. Fingers crossed everyone!

Fingers are firmly crossed Scout.

I am just about to put Ds to bed.

Dd is doing homework. It appears to just be colouring in. When questioned about it she say her teacher said to do the colouring in first. I think not! We clearly have to work on trust some more.

I've just snuck 1/3 of the way up the stairs, so I could see his door, and it's still in the same position it was when I came down and I couldn't hear anything so I snuck back down.

I have the TV on but low so I can hear if he gets up -- I didn't secure the gate as it can be loud and the last time I tried to come down before he was out he heard the noise and came out to see what was going on.

Approximately an hour since I came down, two trips upstairs to listen in, and he's still down.

YAY!!!!

Fingers are still firmly crossed Scout

Whispers, "I have another commission!" Yay! A paying one this time too. Yay!

A friend I made a necklace for phoned me up tonight and asked if I would make her a few necklaces for her to give as Christmas gifts. She offered to pay me for the beads and the time. I won't charge her for the time - I will sell them to her cost price - but I am still really, really chuffed. Yay!

YAY for carrots jewellery commission!

Double YAY for sleeping Toddler! I've just peaked in and he's out. From the look of his blankets he didn't fuss much before drifting off.

Him staying in bed even though he was awake and chattering (I left him looking at a book) was a first.

That is what you are aiming for Scout - she shoots, she scores!

I love that I can leave ds now with the room really dark, with a very, very low night light, and he will drift off without any "stuff" to help him (he has books) and even if he wakes early, he will try to stay in bed and if he can't, he will try really hard to be quiet. It has been a long road but it has been worth it.

Toddler does come in and climb into bed with me every morning but I don't really mind that. It's usually between 6 & 7, which is when he was waking up in his cot. He's funny, though, because he closes his door to the click behind him every morning when he gets up.

I do miss the morning snuggles but they both do come and climb in at the weekend if I lie longer, once they are sure I am awake.

You have done so well Scout. It is a really difficult process but you have stuck to your guns and it is paying off. Massive pats on the back!!

I have just had an ex-pupil ring my doorbell. He is doing a survey. He was half way through his spiel when he stopped and said, "Were you my English teacher?" He is a student and doing the surveys to help with his student debt.

He has made me

Thanks, carrots. I know it's a right of passage for every Toddler and every parent but it's hard when you're going through it. Shame we're going to the in-laws for the weekend and it's all going to go to pot. Then we'll be home for a few days then back down there again (wedding on the south coast next weekend and PiL are going to babysit for us).

5:30 a.m. is just not a civilized hour.

Oh Scout, I'm in that early morning club today as well.

Dds confiscated phone woke me up from my bedside table reminding her it is my birthday!
I am now officially an old gimmer it seems. I have lots of cards from friends a few weeks or months younger hoping it is not too painful or traumatic it feels pretty good so far! Infact it feels like it has nothing to do with me (denial)!
All of dhs side of the family have got together and given me a bridge camera (half way to an slr) and a course to go on to learn to use it. It is charging now! (excited)

It wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't been up to nearly midnight watching bad television thinking about the weekend and what needed to be packed.

Oh, Happy Birthday carrots!

Happy Birthday carrots!

Happy birthday carrots!!!

Thanks everyone!