Sept 08 - Our LO's are nearly 2, and they're hiding to do a poo (is it time for potty training, not until it stops this raining)

[ninja]

I started it!! (I'm going away to London with just DD1 tomorrow so I want to know where you all are when we get back.

3 toddler free days!!

carrie I don't watch SCD but I get fringe envy whenever I see her. My hair is too wavy for a fringe.

I've gone cold turkey on reality tv now, I watched XF last year (although lost interest when digi's sister was voted off) but this season it seems to have got too manipulative and head-line grabbing. I do get an urge to watch but I remain strong .

Cant tell you how nice it is to have people to talk about SCD with!!!! My family think its an aberation

My fave professional male dancer is prob Ian Waite. My fave prof female is prob natalie lowe...her choreography is great. She ought to think about wearing a vest under those costumes though...she will be a martyr to lumbago when shes older

Had an awful afternoon today...ds1 is very anxious about starting school on monday (as am I) and is refusing to do any work and just moans all the time. I really lost my cool and then went round asda fighting back tears. I even rang dh and asked him to leave work on time as I felt so upset/shaky.

On the plus side, went to a fire station on a visit with beavers tonight...had a go on the hose Very cool.

sigh....dreading monday

bookmarking...
Been a tough week - seasonal depression hitting big time and very cold office (everyone's in 4 layers and downing coffee to stay warm, muttering about invading the PermSec's office down the corridor). Didn't get the job I wanted although it was a lovely rejection letter saying I'd done a 'very impressive interview' etc.

Other day I got phone call from nursery on my mobile, which no-one is supposed to phone as I can't hear. I made out the words A's-name and 'accident' and fast-female-excited-talk. Told them to call landline number. Fail. They called again. Finally got through on land line (with amplifiers etc).

Turned out A fell over in the room and got a small red mark under his eye. A bruise under 1cm across. When I saw my incredibly-happy bouncy child I did slightly lose it and give them an earful about not bloody terrifying me like that again. They have now confirmed all their details for me are updated, including that MrNC is first contact on 2 of the 3 days A is at nursery. Because he's at home and I'm not. Might need to mutter about sexist expectations again...

Today had lovely trip to posh soft play, although need to write them a little note about their 'Divas and Rock stars' birthday party offering, where girls can have hair colour and glitter and boys can have gel and fake tattoos. I foresee A getting most miffed if anyone tries telling him he can't have pink glitter!

NC how lovely to hear from you!

What muppetish behaviour from the nursery on all counts, glad A is ok though.

bec I agree about Ian, I'd want to dance with him. Now tell me, why do we have Darren but not Lilia this year? Are they in the family way...? My fave female is Erin, I love that she's a bit taller but still brilliant (there's a tall theme going on) and coz she's been there since the first series and represents 'proper' strictly. Karen should soooooo be a judge too. And I'm afraid I haven't warmed to Aliona at all.

More E45 for the burnt face and off to bed for me...

Hi NC Lovely to hear from you x

carrie Lilia refused to be in the professional "troupe" for the show dances AFAIK.

Yes, Karen should be a judge but I prefer Alesha to Arlene.

Dont like Aliona or Katya....what the hell is going on with Alionsa hair???????? ugh.

I quite like Flavia but its because shes short, like me and has short dark bobbed hair, like me. Obviously our figures are very similar too

Lovely to see you NC

Lilia and Darren weren't asked to be pro partners but they were asked to be in the pro troupe. Lilia said she would be a pro partner or nothing, but Darren agreed to be in the pro troupe.

I wasn't a fan of Aliona either, but when I saw her live last year she out danced all of the other female dancers imo.

Is your face cream supposed to do that Carrie? It sounds awful. Any chances your GP will refer you to a dermatologist?

What do you guys think of the new look format this year?

Have to say I am enjoying it....the set is better and the use of props makes things a bit more varied.

I enjoy the pro dances.

Do you think Bruce will still do the show next year???

(I also am secretly in love with claudia although I do wish she would sort her fringe out!)

The set and the lights are amazing and really add to the atmosphere and drama. I'm a bit grumpy like Len and I'm not a fan of the props though

I hope Bruce doesn't do the show next year. I cringe and fast forward everytime he comes on. I really don't understand why people think he's so wonderful.

I heart Claudia too. On ITT yesterday she nearly made me pmsl when she done an impression of Pamela stumbling during her Salsa.

I love the new look, and I love the props, don't care how much it looks like dancing with the stars!

I think its time Brucie enjoyed his retirement

Re: facegate scandal, i now have facial dandruff as all the burnt skin is flaking off . And I still have acne. Oh.My.Word I look a mess...no change there really! My plan, such as it is, is to sit it out til I've had my operation, then go on the pill for a few months to sort the endo and the acne, then start ttc again.

I have never seen the US version so have nothing to compare it to...

Can I ask you knowlegable ladies a question re: pre school/nurseries versus CM???

Now that ds1 is going back to school and - please god!! - will get more settled I am looking into options for Toby.

He gets 5 mornings free nursery from Jan 2012 but I want him to experience a fun atmosphere with other children before that.

So....my friend is a CM - lives round the corner and is happy to have toby 2 mornings per week whenever I want him to start(she gave notice to a couple of children recently so has space).

I like her and Toby has been there before (she looked after both boys so I could go to my uncles funeral) and she has a ds the same age.

But I also wondered about pre school - there are several round here.

IYO, which is better for the child????

I think the pre school would work out cheaper financially but I dont want to base my decision on that, obviously.

hmmmm......never had to go down this route with ds1 so am a bit stuck!!!!

I'm looking for the Sept 08 postnatal thread, does anyone know where it's gone? I seem to have stumbled across a thread full of mad people lusting over sexy men and women

hehehehehe....join us debi!!!

Hello ladies! I have to say that ILTMIMI and Bec look like real hotties in that pic.

Truth is, I've never seen strictly, and like Meglet said, completely lost interest in xfactor when DGsis was voted out. The fact our TV died about a year ago, also means that I am completely oblivious of reality TV, which quite frankly, I don't mind.

Carrie, nice to see you coming back from your downer. Your plan sounds good. I second being referred to

I have been working from home again today, mostly bouncing in the yoga ball. I am bloody ginormous, but feeling a lot better, and have not fainted again. I think the iron tablets are workin, and I can't tell you how relieved I am.

(Feel bad discussing my pregnancy woes, as I don't want to be unkind to our TTC friends. May it be of consolation that I'm older than any of you, which means you have plenty of time. It will happen).

What a ditzy post! I meant to say that I second being referred to a dermatologies, Carrie, as you may benefit from a radical treatment like roacutane. A friend of mine said goodbye forever to acne after doing it.

You
Have
NEVER
Seen
Strictly?

How pg are you now Pacita? Oh, and thanks for the compliment, you obviously noticed I've been working out

I have no idea what's best bec. DS starts pre-school in Jan. I chose pre-school because: it's in the village, it's good, and most of his future classmate will be going to - who he actually knows already via the local toddler group.

ILTMIMI - I have seen exactly one episode of Strictly, which was the final last year. Or the year before. There were sequins and some people with too much makeup dancing... does that narrow it down? :)

Nursery are forgiven for being lovely about me being late today thanks to cancelled train!

pacita you have never seen SCD????

ILTMIMI Toby will go to pre school/nursery in jan 2012 5 mornings per week but I want him to have some experience in a childcare setting before that IYSWIM?

Be kind to me ladies, am quite upset. I am working from home today and C is at MIL as normal. She has run out of nappies and offered to pop up to my house around midday to pick up some more. What a star she is.
Thing is, she's just been and they only stayed about 5 mins but C looked so confused to see me at home and wondered why she couldn't come in and play with her toys.

they've gone to get lunch at MIL's house now and when they went I was in floods of tears (once they'd gone, not before). I miss her so much

Becs I get what you are saying - before 2012 you want Toby to experience some sort of routine time with other children away from you so the 5 mornings a week isn't too much of a shock?
IME, nurseries have their pros and cons but so do childminders. Only you can decide, but if there is a local nursery that you feel good about, I'm sure Toby would be fine going there - just check their policies eg the one C goes to has a minimum placement of 2 days a week (or 4 1/2 days).
Having said that, CM is often a gentler way to childcare with fewer children.

Don't forget, once Toby goes to pre-school in 2012 he doesn't have to go 5 mornings a week every week.

Oh and another confession here - I have never properly watched SCD. It might be on in the background whilst we're cooking but apart from that, we're a TV burp/x factor/I'm a celebrity house here

Hello Pacita never apologise for being pg! I'd love to be pg this month (2ww)but I'd never begrudge anyone else! Enjoy and get as much rest as you can with a toddler. Ah, remember pg No1 - weekends of lazy days, naps ands pregnancy massages....
When are you due?

oh mrsa I can completely understand why you are upset....toby cries when MIL picks him up on friday mornings No idea why...he loves it there!!

I am ringing a couple of pre schools this afternoon to make apps to view...I can go and see my friend/CM anytime to have a chat.

You know what REALLY makes me angry mrsa I was told by my ds1's old HT that he HAD to go to nursery 5 mornings every week and if he didnt she would give his place to someone else....I now realise this was completely incorrect but, trusting as I was, I sent him and he found it incredibly distressing (as did I) He would have been much better going 2-3 days per week.

I didnt sleep last night worrying about ds1 next week I will be a wreck by sunday night!!!

before I forget... I was going to put this as my FB status but figured that some of my more stepford wife-ish friends would think DS was a foul-mouthed tearaway.

Today he was told off for constantly using the words 'willy' and 'wee-wee' (I'm trying to keep them as bathroom words as he does overuse them a bit).

So he then announced that "'willy' and 'wee-wee' both start with the 'W' sound ".

So he seems to be cottoning onto phonics but is going to do it in his own way .

That's genius meglet

DS's quote of the week was at gym club yesterday when he got his trousers caught on something and said "my jeggings are stuck"!!! Hilarious, he's heard his sister talk about her jeggings so much he thinks he's wearning them too

bec my DD wasn't in any childcare til she started her 3+ free place and I've just started with a few two hour sessions and we'll build it up, DS will be the same. I figure that we have play dates and spend time playing with/alongside other children and learning to share toys, and he can start slowly with preschool when he gets to that stage. Perhaps a child minder would be best for you? I guess look round a few and go with your gut instinct as to what your DS would enjoy the most.

AF here today, as predicted.

Good call on the dermatologist. Just not quite sure what order to do things in, op in a month so feel I perhaps I shouldn't pursue any other doc things in that time but wait and see what the suggested route is after that? Must finally pluck up the courage to ring my mum and tell her I'm having an op, prob easier than doing it face to face next week.

Got builders and decorator here today for another little flurry of activity, inching ever closer to having our house back.

Hello again! I'm due on the 18th of January, exactly 6 months before my 40th birthday. Gulp. Will my aged knees buckle under the weight of two smallies?

meglet, sequins really suit you, and it is indeed obvious that ILTMIMI has been pumping iron lately.

I am delighted to announce that the greek MIL has descended upon us, and is currently playing with DS while I doze off in the sofa, blanket over bump and all. This morning, she jumped off her bed the moment Diego said WAH, and DP and I had a lie in till 8 IN THE MORNING! Unknown bliss in the pacita household, and DP got so excited that we even managed (TMI) to SWOI - must have felt like climbing the Himalayas.

It is rather hilarious, as every time she comes, DP has to make a threatening phonecall: "What are you bringing? Please do not bring anything, we'll go shopping. Do NOT bring meat. No. You can buy nice meat in England. No, we don't need 2 kilos of feta cheese. No, please mum, it will go off. No, don't make stuffed cabbage, you can make it here. Ok, bring honey but not too much".

The lady (age 67) arrived bearing: 2 boxes of home made biscuits, one with sirup and walnuts for the grown ups, one with sesame and orange for Diego. One home made cheese pie and one home made spinach pie. 2 kilos of feta cheese. 5 litres of EV olive oil. 3 kg of honey. Fresh mint to plant in a pot. Turns out she begrudgingly left in her freezer god knows how many kilos of meat and the aforementioned stuffed cabbage. LOL!

pacita I love feta cheese, I make myself a big Greek salad every week and it never lasts long .

pacita I'm assuming your dMIL didn't pack any clothes with all that lot in her luggage?! She sounds wonderful, hope you have a great rest :)