"D'y ever wonder what Paolo would look like in my shower?" <<because I do>> For FG xxx

[largeginandtonic]

How are the pox today HM???

Hi all, our half term is next week as well. I hope I find every one well, how do you all like my new name. Come on now, don't be shy

Our half-term is this week and we've got a busy week planned. But first off, DD1 went to stay with my mum yesterday for a couple of days, leaving me with the DTs. It's been lovely to have some quality time with them - DD1's pre-school is only for 2.5 hours each morning, so we're always rushing around normally. Today I took them on a train for the first time - bit of an expedition because of lots of stairs at the station etc (don't know how disabled people would manage), but they loved it. We went out for lunch to wagamamas, where we wouldn't normally be able to go because of DD1's coeliac disease. Only problem was it rained the whole day - DTs were fine under their rain cover in their buggy, but I got soaked!

On a sad note, one of the mums on TAMBA lost one of her 16 month old twins last week, in similar circumstances to ggglimpopo's daughter. I don't know how you begin to cope with that kind of situation and can't imagine how hard it must be to carry on. It has made me count my blessings at every opportunity the last few days and my girls are getting extra cuddles.

Love the new name overrun - sort of how I feel at the moment, although that's bound to change when I pick up DD1 tomorrow (who is currently being a typical 3.5 going on 13.5 y.o. )

Our half term is also next week. And - dont all throw stuff at me at once - our pre-school has a holiday club, so the DTs will be farmed out for a few hours each day to make a mess with their friends there rather than at home. What a relief - I may actually get to my 6 foot pile of ironing that has been building up since my MIL went home two weeks ago. (Mind you she's back again at the beginning of March, maybe I can stretch it out a bit longer? - hmmmmm)

rosmerrin.... I'd do exactly the same if I could!

DH has been working away so it has just been me and the nearly 3yo DTS. I took them to the shopping centre on Saturday because I needed a few things. I thought I would treat them to a sandwich and some fruit so we sat on seats in the concourse, ate and watched the world go by. At this point they were out of their prams and behaving. When I was ready to go into the shops, I put them in the pram and that is when all hell broke loose. They screamed and screamed and screamed because they did not want to be in the pram and it was a struggle to get them in!

I kept them in the pram until I finished shopping and they screamed constantly for nearly 30 minutes.

I then got them out of them to allow them to walk back to the carpark. That was cue for them to drop to their knees constantly, running off and me constantly threatening to put them back in the pram. As we neared the carpark, DT1 ran off. There was a crowd of people in front of me so as I was screaming at him to stop, I was struggling with a loaded double buggy and dragging DT2. We got round the corner, no sign of DT1. Cue for major panic and fear. Fortunately, he had ran into a small shop and one of the workers had got hold of him.

Moral of the story. DTS will stay in pram until they start school!

Speedymamma, its just as I was saying on another thread, dts end up with less freedom than singletons, but in practice it is often the only way.
I tend to leave mine in the car while I pick ds1 up from nursery. Its a small car park and I am never more than a few yards away. I feel guilty sometimes, but then when I try and walk them in, its a nightmare, and when I put them in the buggy. It is such an effort to get them both out of the car, into pushchair, which they resist, then back into car seats, which they resist.
Needs must
TKb. God thats awful, you really start to think that you are safe when they get past 6 months
Rosmerrin - I'm with you on this, I was negogiating with my Nanny for her to do at least one session with mine next week. It will be a long week otherwise.
I am still not well at all. I can't kick this virus, and inevitably it has turned into a chest infection and severe Asthma Dh has had to take another day off today
Have a funny story to cheer you all up:
My Mums suprise 60th party went really well on Saturday night, the only fly in the ointment so to speak was that this couple were there who had been at my Dads 50th 10 years ago (parents are the only one month apart in age).
Now 10 years ago, I had been staying in my brothers bedroom with my then boyfriend for about a week prior to the party. In order to accommodate guests we had been moved into my old single room on the day of the party. At the party I got completely pissed.
I remember nothing of this, but what must of happened was I must have got up in the night to use the toilet and then got back into bed, but the wrong bed I got into my brothers double bed which was being used by this couple who were at school with my parents.
Apparantly, they then had real difficulty waking me, and then I suddenly woke with a start and rushed out of the room. The next morning my boyfriend and I left early to get back to University. Over the years, I have told this anecdote myself to various friends, in the guise of "you'll never guess what I did......."
On Saturday, this couple would not let it lie. I was dreading seeing them again. They Filled in unwelcome details like I had been naked, got into bed in the middle of them. whe I woke up, I apparantly turned my head to him and said "OH MY GOD" then turned the other way and said "OH MY GOD", and literally lept out of bed. It was so They got quite drunk and every time I went any where near them they just collapsed with laughter.
Felt quite in the end. But I supposed I can hardly blame them for milking it

That's why I take them to the park a lot because they can walk and run as much as they like. DH is paranoid about them walking outside because they could just run into the road. As they are my first children, I did not appreciate that they have less freedom than singletons.

Most of the time I go shopping after work to avoid taking them but because DH has been away and I have no family or friends nearby, I thought I would brave Bluewater in order to get what I needed. Never again!

I thought that I would be able to ditch the double buggy when they turn 4yo but if they play up and do their knees on the ground routine, there is no way I can carry both so what does one do then? I suppose by that age, I should be able to reason with them.

Speedymama - my DTs will be 4 in June and I still have trouble sometimes getting them to and from the car & buildings! They do get better but there are still those days where they just run amok. I usually find now that a firm grip on the wrist and a gentle but unrelenting dragging towards the car works, but it does tend to scuff their shoes! Those with just one child really have no idea. As for freedom, I think mine spent their first 2 and a half years in a very large playpen rather than let them destroy the house and kill or maim themselves in the process. They do get a more sensible as they get older.

Overrun - LOL! Brilliant - sorry.

Great news about the job in Leeds HM! Any progress with the discussions for your job?

Mars - Belated happy birthday to your DTs!!!

Speedymamma - good tip to keep the dts in the pushchair as long as possible, I have been desparate to get ds out of his to make way for the arrival of the dts, can't imagine chasing 2 of them around the way I have to with him although I have made him scared of cars so he is pretty good on the roads(although definitely not doing much chasing at the moment!). My mum keeps telling me how much easier twins are than a single child (she has no experience with twins can you guess), I find it very hard to believe! I'll have to ask her how many 2 year old twins she sees that are not in a pushchair!

Great story Overrun, you have probably been the party story for that couple for the last 10 years!

....and a question. DS's birthday is on 23rd Feb, I will be 37+4 then. how bad will it be for ds if the twins are born on his birthday? I am really worrying that it would spoil every birthday for the rest of his life as it wouldn't ever be his, but he isn't a twin!

leo - yes I imagine that it was their party story as you say, and then we they find themselves actually at a party with the person who started the anecdote, they couldn't believe their luck
Leo - try not to worry about the dts coming on ds1's birthday, there is not much you can do about it. I'm sure that it would be a bit of a pain for them all (and you) to share the same day, but triplets do it

Hi ladies! Can I join you?

Think I tried to in November and then got completely side-tracked and forgot where you are/were...Am 35+2 with twins and have been recommended here by Leo. Already have 2.5 year old son. In true pregnancy form, we have just moved house and am attempting to do all manner of ill-advisable diy before the twins arrive. Constantly thinking about d-day and wondering when it will arrive...

hello Cricket ! Great you are joining us!

Hi Cricket and welcome. My DTs arrived at 34+6 so don't start any long term DIY! Put your feet up woman!!!

@ overun's story.

I took the kids to the farm today. It was bloody freezing! At least we will all sleep well. It has a big playbarn with one of those giant astroglide things and I could not keep the boys off it. They did look funny hauling these giant mats up the stairs, but I am knackered from chasing them. And we saw baby lambs, so cute!

I had a rather moment too. I went to the loos with ds, and he went into the cubicicle next to mine. I came out and washed my hands and he was still in there, so I started yelling thru the door, trying to peek thru a tiny gap and was just about to climb on the loo next door to see what he was doing when out walked a young girl!
ds1 had beaten me and gone outside, something he has never done before!

oh, and welcome to cricket, have a slice of lemon drizzle cake, and pull a chair up.

Kelly - was she a bit scared ? glad you liked my story
Welcome Cricket

love that story overrun and welcome to cricket - glasses of red all round?

I had to go to York today for a meeting, got to drop the DTs off at nursery at a leisurely pace rather than the usual frantic madness, went to meeting, had a wander round the shops afterwards, came back to Darlington and went to the gym, then M&S for nice food then popped in to work (swot) - felt almost like a normal real person again

On the subject of buggies etc, my 2 haven't been in one since before Xmas, I only use it to walk into the village as it is too far for them to walk. They are usually v good, but sometimes decide they want to hold hands, then I go one way, they go another & its chaos - like a drunk snake

Hi ding dong, glad you like it.
Glad you had a nice day as well

You opened the red without me??????? And where's FG hiding? Did she hear me mention the meetup on the phone to Pixi?

Welcome Cricket. It'll be like you've always been here in no time. Now we do realise that once the DTs are born we won't see much of you for the first few months... but fret not.. we'll keep your seat warm because believe me you'll be back.

You will rant about people that stop you and ask "Are they twins?" "Ooh they don't/do like alike" "ooh double trouble" ad nauseum.

But don't worry, lock up the toilet duck and the fizzy ball maker things and don't let them drink at parties with people they will meet in 10 years (PMSL at that overrun.... sorry) and all will be well.

So....... is there any more wine?

passes glass to mars

I was wondering about fg too. FGGGGG, THE MEETUP IS OFF!

Dingdong, it sounds really sweet that your DTs like to hold hands when they are walking! That is exactly how mine will be, except they will follow exactly where I want them to go !

I can't believe that I am so off wine at the moment, stuck to cranberry juice (which almost looks the same) last night just to keep you all company !

Would KILL for a glass of wine with no consequences - had one last night and then had to get up 3 times in the night for the loo. Not fair. At all. Nature is cruel.
I need wine at the moment as all I can think about is the imminent arrival of the dts and therefore have quite bad insomnia!!

There's a story there with that toilet duck reference isn't there?????