September 09 - Hello world, we're here to destroy you!

[ChutesTooNarrow]

So the last thread could be used as proof that September 09 (and an August!) parents were kept far too busy by their babies to talk about them very often! Shall we see if we can get this one done before second birthdays (eek, 2 is so big) are upon us?

Anyone dressing their's up for halloween....? DD has a girl pirate costume and J has a babygrow with skeleton bits on!

I figured that since I dressed him as Santa last Christmas I might as well carry on!!

What does that book do, then Kveta? Vaguely recall seeing it in WHSmiths, but don't remember what was in it! Is it the moving pictures one?

Home made fudge sounds yum, bigbang! What is your recipe?

You can pickle walnuts can't you? Not sure what on earth you'd use them for, a fancy cheese board moment maybe?!

The only thing I've liked in Next recently (aside from wellies) is their plain hoodies in bright colours. I may have overindulged the boys with them :o

wtf??!!

Yes, I saw that in the directory! Poor lad! I do wonder what planet the designers at Next are on sometimes!!

I wish I had a walnut tree in the garden , I make a rather fine walnut bread

Oooh let me know if you ever venture down to Southampton to visit your sis kveta, we could meet for coffee and whinging about children that do not sleep.

OMG that outfit is

jeebus, that's horrendous bazza [hshock]. as is the possessed child on the next page.

Ladyem I think I used this one. I did vanilla and a muscavado sugar one which had a deeper flavour, it was nice.

I might pickle them, maybe an apple and walnut chutney too. I hadn't thought of walnut bread- what's your recipe chutes?! I am a bit rubbish at bread, I can't even get our breadmaker to work properly!

People buy these things though, my generous and slightly crazy aunt gave me a bag of clothes when ds was little, it included a full on sailor suit and leather jacket in size 9-12 months. Eeep.

Is that child wearing make-up

I use an old faithful Jamie Oliver recipe bigbang, I find it works in both my breadmaker and if I just mix the dough in the breadmaker and then stick it in the oven.

500g strong white bread flour
300ml warm water
10g dried yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon salt

Chuck in breadmaker and add walnuts when it beeps!

Oh Lord, the possessed child is scary, poor little chap! He also looks like he's been given a Nicky Clarke hair cut :o

Am liking the sound of walnut bread, we need to have some sort of exchange programme over Christmas, I'll trade!

You could make carrot cake with your walnuts too?

I've only tried to use a breadmaker once, and it was a massive fail.

Well it's not raining today, so that's a bonus. Now what to do on day sodding 4 of half term.....

Thanks for the recipe bigbang! Looks yum!

While we're on recipes (and walnuts!) my friend who is a health and fitness fanatic coach and gives dietary advice gave me some recipes as thinks I could do with more energy giving foods ( I told her a lie-in would be nicer! ) and there was one for banana and date cookies. I thought they were a bit meh as I like a proper biscuit, not a healthy snack masquerading as a biscuit, but the DCs loved them and good for snacks/finger foods. I did a big batch and have frozen them and they seem to defrost fine. Here is the recipe:

75g/3oz dried dates, chopped
75g/3oz walnuts, chopped
2 medium bananas, mashed
100ml olive oil
1tsp vanilla essence
1 tsp cinnamon

Just mix it all together an shape into balls, put on a sheet of baking paper, flatten out a bit and bake for 20mins. I didn't put the walnuts in as I couldn't remember the rules about nuts and 1 year olds (is it just no whole nuts now?) so may be that was why they weren't as tasty as they could be! Another use for those walnuts! She also said it's nice to substitute one banana for some blueberries.

Arrrgghhhhhhh!!

DD wants her hair curling for her nursery photographs tomorrow!!! "Mummy, I want curly-curly hair like Cinderella!"

I can straighten hair, but curling?? I tried using a curling iron, but it didn't work. It just made her hair look a bit messy, rather than curly!! She seems to have inherited my unruly hair! It just won't do as it's told! Wonder if I've got any bendy roller anywhere...

Although if the last time she was supposed to have pics done is anything to go by then I don't know why I'm bothering as she just hid in the corner of the room shouting 'NO!'

Use rags, maybe a cut up muslin? I used to do that for fabulous Annie style hair when I was small. It's a bugger to sleep in though...

Oooh, that's a good idea! Just had another go with the irons, but she is such a wriggler I am scared I'll burn her. At least with rags she wouldn't be able to take them out at night!! I remember having an awful nights sleep using bendy roller, only to have to wash my hair in the morning anyway as I looked like I'd put my finger in the electric socket!! Failing all that it'll just be a blow dry and hope for the best!

Rags work really well but beware using too small sections or you'll give DD a 'fro :o

Should I put them in her hair wet or dry? Yes we don't want a 'fro!! Hmmmm, on second thoughts it would make for an interesting photo to bring out when she's 15!!

Baby name stats from last year are out here

I am quite impressed over 800 other boys were also called Gabriel last year - it's number 75.

I used to rag my hair semi-wet ladyem.

Damp hair I'd say Either blast most of wet hair dryish, or spray dry hair, if that makes sense? What you're needing to do is break the bonds in the hair to reset them, which is either with heat or moisture.

oops, I meant semi-dry hair, so yes damp hair

Oliver is number 1 [hsad]

oh well, I like it.

Sorry Coffins, I only read your post after writing mine, wasn't correcting you :o

kveta, Oliver is a lovely name, however many people have it. It's DS1's middle name too :)

Semi-wet does sound quite... rude though! :o

Just the word semi sounds... wrong

Oliver is a lovely name. I feel sorry for some of the names at the bottom of the chart, I would rather be the number one name than some of those.

Gabe and I are just back from a disastrous trip outside where he faceplanted the pavement after 30 seconds and now has a cut nose and a grazed forehead. He is fine it seems, he is ignoring me to carefully place duplo under the sofa atm.

ooo, 3613 Jospehs!! I've not met any others his age, but then I avoid toddler groups and the like!

DD's actual name not even on the list for her year, but there are 2522 of her nn (Which DH hates and insists on calling her by her full name, which she in turn says she doesn't like!! )

at semi-wet!!

Semi! No need :o It's all gone a bit inbetweeners....

I didn't have to get up at all to Mads last night - hurrah!

It must be down to the A&P :)

Sending sleepy vibes to Gabe and Oli. And to Madok actually.

Has anyone been reading that teenaged pregnancy thread? It's horrific, and doesn't make me feel any better having two sons.