TTT.....

[AtLongLast]

OTT / self-indulgent I know, but Toddler Twin Tantrums..... aaargh! Just as well they're so cute too. Ds2 was v funny today wiggling his bum singing uh, uh Bobby' in response to me dancing round the kitchen to Bobby's girl'...

Yes, she has asked for it almost non-stop We're about to go out just for the distraction, and to get her a haircut. Not looking forward to lunchtime nap though

Hmm, she has asked for it on and off all morning and cried a LOT before going for lunchtime nap. Hope this gets easier!

Ohh Mucky - that little 'But I don't want to be a big girl mummy' is so sad! :(
Good on you for keeping strong though - it will get easier I promise! They seem to go on for a few days and never forget about it, but with DD1 and DD2 they seemed to wake up one morning and accepted the fact that the dummies are gone. I hope that comes soon for Juliet.

P.s I remember DD1 saying those same words when she'd broken her leg just before DTrips were born. The horrible nurse was being a bit rough with her, clearly, very sore leg and nurse kept saying 'Come on, big girls don't cry! You want to be a big girl don't you?!', DD kept nodding and kept a brave face, and then leg got knocked and she let out a huge sob and looked at me with tears in her eyes and just said 'I don't want to be a big girl any more mummy'. Soo :(

Re. bottles, yep our girls were bottle fed a mixture or prem formula and breastmilk from as soon as they could suck. They were tube fed for a while, but got the hang of sucking quite soon. We planned to bottle feed though, as I certainly wasn't going to breastfeed and do the nightfeeds! Would literally have never have slept! I remember our first few weeks being quite a nightmare as when I was on my own it was just one long cycle of feeding and changing - once #3 had finally been fed, changed and settled, #1 was awake for feeding again..

Anyway, beds, honestly mucky I have no idea with beds - I haven't really looked since I wrote on here about beds last. I just can't seem to find any individual ones - everyone just seems to do the same ones!
Will probably end up with John Lewis or something. I just want to find somewhere that does beds that I've never seen before, rather than having the same ones as every other 3YO in the UK!

P.s anyone seen the Bold advert with the little girls doing gymnasts? Love it sooo much - the little one in the gold leotard reminds me of DD1!

Bed -
maybe ... but they are quite common too.
I don't really know what I want, just something different!

I wish....

Sorry for influx of posts, but what do you all think of this wallpaper for DTri's room? Either #2 or #3 (Duck egg/Linen)
I absolutely love it! Would only have it on 1 feature wall as I think it would be too over powering otherwise.

Take a look at this website if you want to spend a gazillion pounds on a childrens pillowcase. Amazing beds though..

I've probably linked to it before Kate but I think we'll end up just going for the Anna bed from JL. A friend has that bed and it looks great, and her son stayed put in it which is a bonus factor! Have just got off the phone to a friend who said with her kids she thinks it made a big difference having the rails and a 'transitional' toddler size bed, not only to stop them falling out but also because it still felt cosy and 'contained' for them. We shall see!!

I really like that wallpaper, and prefer the duck egg version (although I am a big fan of duck egg in general) although it's all pretty. I'm too lazy to put wallpaper up in their room although I did see this Frames wallpaper which I thought would be cool for when they're a bit older and would work on one wall only. If we do decide to go ahead with the work on our house, the girls will be moving into what is currently our bedroom (a 16' x 13' room, so quite big for them I think) and I wonder what if anything I'll get around to doing for them....

Right... off to bed, shattered after my stupidly early start.

Oh no, hope it gets easier LadyM! You're more than 24hours in though - another couple of days? Is she likely to take E's dummy or are they the sort of thing that only their own will do?

I like the JL bed Kate. I think the other is a bit fancy for me.... just as pleased once I saw the price . Though perhaps such a fancy bed is a necessity if buying bedding from that website! I like the wallpaper. See, I wouldn't even have looked twice at it, but now it's been pointed out I can see it working - definitely something that can grow with a child. I'd probably say the linen, but prob just me being conservative & means the other would work better (always love something being described as `duck egg' though. I have bought clothing purely on that basis a long time ago ). I suppose it depends on the size of the room too?

Oh, that is pretty cool LadyM. We'd need a while longer before going for similar here. Ds2 helpfully pulled a huge bit of wallpaper off the hall walls yesterday. I think he thought he was helping as we had a big spring clean at the weekend so were scrubbing skirtings etc. Was less than chuffed. It needs no help to look scruffy.

E doesn't have one ALL - she spat it out at three months and that was that. Although as an affectation she did decide she wanted one of her own at about 18 months which she would then stick in her mouth much like a cigar; always made us laugh (we don't get out much) All of them were packaged off and put in the postbox.

Actually last night was more of a success - hard to get her to drop off (about 9pm in the end but an improvement on the night before) and she didn't wake at all in the night - result!!! And this morning she was saying much more emphatically that she had given her num nums away to a baby, so hopefully she's feeling stronger about it. It was tough last night because, talking to DH, I did feel a bit guilty about taking it away - I know that it's mainly because it's becoming less socially acceptable for her to have it at this age. Although it's got to go eventually of course, and it was prompted by her suggesting she give it away. Do your boys have a dummy at all?

Agree re. that wallpaper - was looking at it again last night and thinking how great it looked with all the 'picture' holes coloured in so prettily. Not sure even at an older age we'd manage that - would it just look like one big scrawl???

Kate - meant to say last night what a horrible nurse indeed looking after your DD with her leg! How can some people have so little 'bedside manner', especially when looking after kids?!!!

Love on that expensive site they say "Only £xxx" under each price heading! I do like this though - so much storage.

Wonder what you all think of <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.babystar.ch/media/images/zewidecke-ciel-large.jpg&imgrefurl=www.babystar.ch/schlafen-nuggi/zewi-fix-decke/zewi-decke-90x200-cm-ciel-29.html&h=300&w=300&sz=42&tbnid=TKy2oAnlwvgwEM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=90&zoom=1&usg=__6t5dEUQaLI11TRveHhZDeYrysK0=&docid=gu4UE2zRmSBiDM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=VkL9T57RFcyyhAeX0JXRBg&ved=0CHAQ9QEwBQ&dur=622" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">THESE - ZEWI DECKE which are used all the time in Switzerland to help transition toddlers into beds. Basically it's a sleeping bag which is stitched into the sheet of the bed so they can't get out! I think it's a bit shocking but secretly wish it was socially acceptable to use in the UK A friend in Switzerland has just bought it to use in a bed similar to above, having just moved her DD out of a cot. In the case of a cabin bed, you can 'justify' it by being worried about them falling out....

mucky The prices are crazy - for a painted draw knob it is £35!
When you linked that cabin bed, it reminded me of the M&S one here which is virtually identical but about a 1/3 of the price!

I like the JL one too. I know some of you aren't IKEA lovers, but I have just found the Sundvik in white or in greyish which is gorgeous.
Maybe even this cute little thing?

I love love love that frames wallpaper, but agree that ours would end up looking like a total mess! I still think it would look quite cool if you left it plain. Have a feeling that if you only had one wall wallpapered, the other walls may end up getting coloured in too....

Glad you like that wallpaper - when you first look at it, it looks a bit old ladyish but in the flesh the blue is a bit brighter and its so so lovely. I do feel a bit like the DTris are a bit young, so maybe I should put that wallpaper in DD1 and DD2's room and find something else for DTrips.. Any other lovely wallpaper links?

Mucky those stitched up sleeping bags are hilarious !!!! I probably wouldn't say no, does that make me an evil mother?
I'm sure I've told you all a million times how much of a nightmare DD2 was when we put her into a bed, however, I know that if we'd have put her in one of those sleeping bags, she would have got sooo angry and probably ended up hurting herself. Maybe if you'd always put your babies in those gro-bags (we've never used them) then it might make sense to carry on with them so that its not too much of a change.

P.s ALL I love 'duck egg blue' too, just makes it sound that much nicer!

That M&S one looks great! Still a lot of money but I could see my girls LOVING the fact they'd have their own little area to store things in. Plus I could justify the Zewi Decke thing

Girls only just gone down for a nap, having a boring day here - every half an hour there are enormous showers/storms.

PS: the white Ikea one looks good actually - I've seen the grey painted wood effect on bits of their other furniture and always thought it looked shoddy/unfinished in the flesh... this one might be different ?

Yep, I love the M&S one too mucky - we've been tempted a few times with buying it for DD1, however DD2 and DD1 share a room and I have a feeling that DD2 would use it as a 'night time climbing frame' ...

You're right with the IKEA grey stuff, I'm definitely going to go and have a look one night this week - in the picture, personally, I think they grey looks lovely and is a bit different to the classic white - I also think it would look so beautiful with pastel colour bedding..

We're having a boring day too today - DTrips all sound a bit chesty/coldy, so they were in PJ's until about 11! And now just watching DVD's and feeling a bit sorry for themselves!

How has the nap gone? Has Juliet settled? Is there any chance that you could get your friend to send a picture of your GD with some of J's dummies so that she could see they were getting some use? Maybe even a letter saying that GD didn't have any dummies and was very sad until J's dummies turned up and now she is very happy! etc etc!

Have you looked on Kids Love Design for interesting beds? It's expensive but they do have some beautiful items (have linked to beds above which a friend of mine has just bought for her boys in a greyish colour). Let us know what the Ikea ones look like in the flesh!

Good idea re. the dummy - actually she went down okay but insisted on taking over an hour to eat some marmite toast and cherry tomatoes....

Oh muck ... I love that website.

I've fallen in love with this ... but it would be about £400 each...

Maybe even this one..

Seriously, how would I be able to justify spending that much to my husband?

Also, I may, accidentally, be about to buy a http://www.kidslovedesign.com/miffy-kids-lamp-2713457.htm miffy lamp for their room!

Oh damn, I'd forgotten about their toddler beds! Those are absolutely gorgeous.

I'll tell you how you justify it. You tell him that they have great resale value on Ebay. (Which they do, btw)... :) I need to start similar scheming because I'd forgotten that I like those ones too!! Especially the one which converts to a bigger bed and so lasts them until they're 8..

Well apparently these ones last until they are 6, plus the triplets are small so I reckon we could squeeze them in til at least 8.. - is that good justification?

He loves it if we can re-sell on eBay too!

If he likes them, we'll be ordering them tonight, but if he doesn't then it will take a good few days work....

Thing is with those beds - can I mix uber modern beds with lovely laura ashley wall paper and cute boutiquey girly bits or will that just look really stupid?

There is only 2 of the 'OEUF' beds left in stock, but 3 of the round Leander ones....
I'm not sure if they will combine P&P costs though, and it is at least £60 per bed. However, they've said to email if ordering large items to UK... so I'm off to email

Obviously if we get the Leander ones, then you have to buy the mattress protectors and sheets that fit too - extra expense. The side rails are $99 each too
At least then I can slap DH with the exact cost straight away rather than dithering around.

Shit, just done calculations and is far worse than I thought!

Wondered where my earlier post went then remembered I lost it when overwriting on my c&p. V confusing!

Anyway. No, boys don't have dummies LadyM, though we think we all might have had an easier time of it had ds2 had one. They are very interested when they see other children with them though & were quick to nab dd's when they gave her one in hospital that she wouldn't take.

Loving the cabin beds - I can see that might be something we go for in the future cos I'd have loved it for myself. I like the idea of them having their own designated space even if sharing a room. Good luck with the necessary scheming .

Quiet day here too. Neighbour brought some of his grandson's outgrown toys the other day so it's been like Christmas. They haven't even had their own toys out - makes tidying very quick & easy! Once I'd dropped them at nursery I took a few things around to the charity shop. Big thing for me cos I'm a hoarder & feel so guilty & ungrateful for not wanting things people have bought for me. Was good though because a lady snapped up a fairy suncatcher thing for her dh's memorial tree while I was still there & was so grateful. Feel much less guilty now I know it has a much appreciated new home!

Well done ALL - I have got SO much stuff here I don't know what to do with, really need to sort it out into charity shop/Ebay/gumtree/freecycle piles...

Now then Kate - I have found this site for you which is selling the Leander bed for £369 including mattress and delivery. (They are however selling the rails at the rip-off price of £109 EACH so can hopefully be bought cheaper elsewhere!)

I am now tempted to get a couple myself!

Or here for £379 although rails still same price.

mucky you are an absolute star!! Thank you!

What colour do you think I should go for? I was initially going to go for the 'white wash' which is the light coloured wood, but now I'm thinking to go for the actual 'white' ?

I've had an email back from the french company - kidslovedesign - who have said that the cheapest price they can do for postage would be ?200. I calculated that with the extras, the beds would come in at £1820 ish, so plus postage it would be best part of £2000.
I've had a look round for the rails but can't seem to find anywhere that sells them separately. But to be honest, we are saving a huge amount by buying the ones that you've shown me, so I don't mind too much about the extortionate bed rail price. Either that, or we'll just scrimp and DD's can just fall out of bed