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?

I haven't seen the teenage pregnancy thread. I've been avoiding most of Mumsnet recently as there have been some threads that have been winding me up royally! Those snobby threads were madness!!

Well, no curly hair here as at about 6pm last night DD decided to sample a couple of berries in the garden last night. Cue much panic and questioning from me as to how many she's eaten, phone call the the GP, then A&E and toxicology. Luckily my Dad knew the name of the plant in question so I could tell them exactly what it was. Meanwhile DD was moaning for her tea, which I didn't dare give her until we'd had the all clear that they weren't poisonous. Google was 50/50 on the matter which didn't help my stress levels. But anyway, they turned out to be non-toxic and so DD happily tucked into her sausages while I had a minor breakdown in the kitchen!!

So if you have any of these in your garden, then they are ok! Upset tummy at the worst.

So what with all that we didn't get round to putting the rags in, so I am going to have to hold her down persuade her to have her hair blow dried in about half an hour!

Can someone pass me a stiff drink please...

oh no Ladyem, how grim! have a stiff drink. I thought Oli's ludicrouse desire to eat every stone he can find was bad - but I'm not looking forward to the "is it poisonous?" worries that I'm sure will come soon...

a christmas exchange of cooked goodies sounds lovely :o I make pretty nice biscuits - am making some booby biscuits to sell for our local la leche league at a baby fayre soon not sure how appropriate that is, but will do my best to not be too crude (and make them cracked or bleeding). I am not a fan of walnuts though - but in the states, my colleague had several pecan trees in her garden and let me loose on them one day. I made so much pecan shortbread it was coming out of our ears, but my god, it was yummy.

I did see that thread baz - rather upsetting. I was thinking back to when I was 14, I used to gallop up and down outside my parents house pretending I was a horse. Not sure which is better tbh.

coffins/chutes - I was thinking about coming down to southampton, but my sister annoys me SO much, I doubt we will any time soon. I asked DH if he wanted to go down there and he mentioned a date some time after hell freezes over, and then only if I drug him and kidnap him in the car to get him there. He's not my sister's biggest fan :o I will let you knwo if we do visit though, as I'd much rather see you and Gabe than sis and her tedious fiance!!

Oli is now saying 2 words fairly reliably - "woof!" for dog, and "dat" for cat. He LOVES each peach pear plum, and is always bringing it over to us and pointing out the animals. very cute. I managed to distract him during my conf call yesterday by putting bread out for the local squirrels, and he stood with his nose up at the wondow watching them for ages. occasionally breaking off to wander over and try to insert a building block in my laptop, and occasionally waving frantically at the squirrels going "hiya!", but mainly transfixed.

right, 30 minutes left at work, better get something done.

Actually kveta if you still live where your fb profile says you do then you are in the same town as the majority of my family! I really should be heading up there soon (and would really freaked out if you lived next door to my dad!)

I think we should try and do a meet up next year? I can't think where the most central place is, we are scattered everywhere.

I think I was still playing with barbies when I was 14, that thread is very sad. I had Gabe at 30 and I think I timed it right, I don't think I would have been selfless enough in my early/mid twenties.

I also have really disliked those snobby threads ladyem, they were pretty vile actually. I get the impression that for some posters it wasn't a case of 'oh we're only having a laugh' I sometimes feel judged on here for the most ridiculous things that would never have occurred to me people took issue with.

Am intrigued by the booby biscuits, picture after they are made please!

Ooo I would come to a meet up, I don't live too far from Kveta. I am a bit crap at the online thing- by the time I have read everything and caught up I am being bounced on by small children, it's much easier to chat in person!

I read the teenage pregnancy thing. It is quite shocking really. I would be gutted if ds or dd to become parents as young as we did let alone at 14. It's wonderful and we do an alright job, in fact we decided to do the family thing first and went on to have dd, but if ds hadn't made a surprise appearance it would have been so much easier. We have so much we want to do and we can do it but it's going to take us longer and been 10 times harder to achieve. That poor girl, her life will never be the same again whatever happens. I really feel for the whole family, it must be so heartbreaking.

I didn't see the snobbery threads, and am quite glad I missed those by the sounds of it.

Oh how frightening ladyem. Ds has done something similar- it's such a sickening feeling when you realise what they have eaten, I hope your feeling recovered soon.

Interesting reading the baby name stats. Dds actual name is quite low down and her nickname pretty high. I haven't met another 'dd' or 'ds' of their ages though, just because a name is popular it doesn't mean there will be 10 in their year group.

I am crap at doing hair- I really hope dd doesn't expect hers to be curled! I can just about do a plait- that will have to do!

I will do a chirstmas exchange- and leave of the walnuts for you Kveta . I am meant to be finishing my cousins wedding cake at the moment, the wedding is on Sat. It's virtually there I just need to finish the posy of sugar flowers. It's the first time I have done them and a couple of petals have broken :(. I am so nervous it's going to collapse and be a disaster. Hence why I am here instead as if I avoid it it will do itself and I won't be responsible... Right?!

I think I do have a few more grey hairs since last night! She's been fine today, so thankfully that had no effect on her.

I can't find the teenage thread, but I know that I was a very young 14 and would not have even entertained the idea of boyfriends at that age - unless he was Jason Donovan or Michael J Fox!!

I'd be up for a meet up in the new year! Have been toying with the idea of mentioning it for a while!! I'm in the very middle of England, so I'm sure that we could come up with a central point for us all to meet up!

I did have a boyfriend at 14, but not the sort I'd be dared to do things like that with. Poor family.

Love the idea of 2011 meet up. Why does 2011 look so futuristic? It looks like a made up date. Or am I barking? :o Tis quite possible, I'm a bit frayed round the edges today. Would Bristol be central? I don't mind travelling, I flit out and about from time to time anyway as I have scattered family.

How's the wedding cake coming along bigbang? You must have nerves of steel for sugar craft. My cousin has just set up a new business, she makes cupcakes, normal sized and giant. They are bloody lush, am forseeing weight gain in my future, especially as she keeps giving me her new flavours to try. So far I'm addicted to chocolate orange :o

I seem to have spent my last few days talking about food

Did anyone brave the sainsbos half price toy event today, or am I the only one needing their head examined?

Bristol is easy for me. We used to live there, so I know it well. Couple of hours drive, so do-able for a day trip, or might treat myself to a travel lodge!

Bugger, missed the toy event! Is it on just today?

Is it bad to have chips twice in one day?

No, we went back again today I'd forgotten one of the many children I need to buy for! My cousin overheard the toy manager type person say to someone that they took £180k in toy sales in 3 hours yesterday alone.

I am very cross with myself for having insomnia between 12-4am last night. My beautiful boys both slept through but I, however, did not

I think the toy sale is on for a week. I meant to go today but DP went off to work with Gabe's car seat. I just want Duplo, I'll go on Monday I think.

Imsomnia is awful Baz, the utter despair of insomnia when your non-sleeping child is actually sleeping is well known to me

It is isn't it? Despair is the right word, by 4am I was quite upset, which is hugely irrational. My mum suffers from this quite a lot since having chemo. I hope you don't get too many nights like it Chutes?

Still, nearly bedtime, I'm just cooking barbecue ribs and sterilising my jam jars :o

I've always been a shocking sleeper and this wasn't helped by years of overnight call in a previous job. Still, I did used to think at 3am when I was kicking a server for the 8th or 9th time that at least sleepless nights with a baby would be a more pleasant experience

How is the jam going?

glad I'm not the only insomniac - Oli has had another major sleep regression, and DH and I are totally wiped out, because he's so bloody erratic. We're not sleeping, even when Oli is :(
I've never been a good sleeper either chutes - my parents said I was a nightmare baby for sleep - if I closed my eyes for a second during the day, I would not sleep at night - still like that, sadly, which means daytime naps are wasted on me. I used to do night shifts in a maternity hospital, and it made me swear I'd NEVER have children oops.

Bristol is possible for us too Ladyem - last time I was there, I was 17, broke my wrist, and got banned from the SS Great Britain for life :o

12 jars of Christmas Chutney and 7 jars of chilli jam done so far! Blackberry vodka is...well doing whatever it does (steep?) And I've just put some garlic cloves in olive oil to then decant into little bottles.

Today I'm meant to be making 'Jumbleberry Jam' but am faffing so this may be put off until J goes back to school.

I slept a lot better last night, but am very about the clock change. So what should have been a quite good 7am start for Mads, is now back to being bloody 6am

So Bristol is a potential?

:o at being barred from a boat - you horror!

Kveta, we need more info on this banning from the SS Great Britain!!

We're too a bit fed up with the clock change. My two normally get up at about 7.30, but this morning it was 6am for J. That then woke DD up, but she's good and will sit in her bed and read her books, so managed to get her back into bed for a while. Finally gave in and got them up at about 7am. On the plus side we were all ready to go out for the day at about 9.30!!

Been to see a friend in Bristol this weekend. She has a 20 month old and is expecting number 2. I've been trying to tell myself that I'm not broody ever since!! I just keep trying to remember how bad the morning sickness was and that seems to curb it a bit!

Am now watching 'The Others' and trying not to scare myself as DH has gone up to bed!!

I'm saying nothing :o

Am getting very broody again - 4 friends have had babies in the past week. 4!! And 2 chose names we've got on our shortlist for the next child. I have such common tastes...

Oli had his 1st ever halloween party last night - he was the only child in a home made costume (and, it turned out, I was pretty much the only working mum there, grr!! felt a right prat for wasting what little time I have on making his outfit!!). He stuck out like a sore thumb in his turtle costume in amongst all the hundreds of skeletons and pumpkins. He did look a tad ridiculous too, I'm not very handy with a needle and thread... DH and I were almost tearful though, when we got there, we put him down and expected him to cling on tightly and want to be picked up, but not a bit of it - he disappeared into the throng and was bouncing away to the music. He ate too much chocolate and crisps, spilt other people's drinks, and was generally a nuisance (he started beating up a vampire with a balloon sword at one point) and then conked out in the car before we'd even strapped him into his seat!! Then stayed up all fricking night As Per Usual.

Oh, and my aunt has just been diagnosed with a malignant tumour in her eye, the prospects aren't good, so my cousins and I have to take over Nan-care - my nan is 96 and my aunt was caring for her, so now we've got several journeys up and down england to look forward to. Just hope my aunt is ok, mum will be devastated if anything happens to her, she was more like a mum to her than nan was :( we're all a bit :( at the moment.

:( so sorry to hear about your aunt. This sort of news is such a horrid shock, and a huge strain on families.

:o at you getting broody! I have a huge gooey reaction to babies, but rationality takes over quite quickly when I look at the two I've got. Never say never, but not right now for me. Now I've said it you just watch :o

Kveta - I thought Oli looked fab in the photos and made me think that I really should put my fashion degree to some use and start making their dress-ups instead of buying them from sainsbo's!! Sorry to hear your Aunt is ill. That sounds awful.

I never used to get broody looking at babies or pregnant women, but since having my 2 I'm awful! I think we are done having babies and I really don't think I could hack being pregnant again. I'll just encourage you lot instead!!

Grrrr at the time change. Doing my head in with the early waking and them wanting to eat at the wrong time! Heard on the radio on friday that they are looking at not doing it next year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for that one!

at a fashion degree. I want a fashion degree! :o

I've managed to slice the skin off the knuckle of my mdlle left finger while cutting my dad's hair. It's very painful, can we blame this on the time change too?!

I need to find something to wear to the MN Christmas party, it's getting a bit close now.

Kveta sorry to hear about your Aunt, how sad :( Oli's costume is brilliant! Homemade rocks. Wait till I put a picture of ds's wizard costume on fb- you will see how fab your turtle really is! Poor ds, at least he is too young to be embarrassed

My cake didn't fall over. Phew. So relieved! The wedding was great, the babies where very well behaved which was nice :)

Dd has learnt where her tummy is, its very cute.

Bristol is quite a way from me, could manage if I can book cheap train tickets in advance though. I wouldn't want to do the journey with the children so I guess it depends on if it's a grown-up meeting or a family one!

No broodiness here! My friend is pg and I am so happy for her, can't wait to see her baby but will be pleased to hand him/her back again lol.

Berry - 'tis no use what so ever!! (apart from being able to run up the odd dress) That's why I'm now doing a psychology degree!

Bigbang - Love the photos you've just put on fb! Did you really make that cake?! It's fab!

Where's best for you bigbang? I'll have to drive/ get the train whatever we do as Cornwall isn't near anywhere whatsoever :) Unless we all go camping on the Scillies.

:o

Ladyem, don't hide your light under a bushel, I'd love to able to make clothes! I didn't quite make it to uni, kept deferring my place and doing other things instead. I've been half heartedly working towards an OU degree in humanities but I don't like this way of study really. I'm going to be doing (hopefully) a Patrick Cameron training course in Bridal Hair next year and should probably be devoting my energies to building a business.

Anyway

I'm going to visit a friend now, who I hope is going to tell me she's pregnant. (IVF) If she does I shall be a blubbering wreck :)

bigbang, that cake is amazing - and as for the sugar flowers, wowee! you have some serious talent there!! Love your DDs dress too, very cute :)

berry - good luck with your course, I'd love to be able to tame hair and have the skill to make people look good - I always look like I've been dragged through a bush backwards, except for the day of a haircut, when (in my mind) I look swish and sophisticated. I hope your friend is pregnant, how lovely that would be!

my degree is fairly pointless, but led to a PhD which led to a job, so I can't complain too much. the only problem is, when this contract ends, I'll be next to useless as an employee, unless you want very specific genome-related problems sorted. Dress making skills would be a far better benefit than genome studying!! :o

Oh, and regarding a meet - how about chutes, bigbang and I meet when chutes is next in this area, and we can work out where we can all get to easily after that? I have the added problem of house purchasing, which will put paid to any lengthy journeys next year (we are going to be so broke... but mortgage looks like it's going ahead - we just need the final signed paperwork from the bank, and then the solicitors to fight it out, then the house may be ours, eek!).

So are Kveta, Chutes and Bigbang all near London, then?

Picked up DD from playgroup today only to find her in tears as she wasn't staying for lunch like the others. Then got put on the spot and asked if she can stay for lunch next week. Couldn't really say no as was in front of the other Mums and DD was sobbing on the playgroup leader's lap. Wouldn't mind, but I have to pay and provide her with a packed lunch. And also isn't doing that just teaching her that if she creates a big fuss she'll get what she wants? Angry with them for putting me on the spot and with myself for not standing my ground.

J still being a pain with the time change, but determined to not let him nap until 3pm or else teatime will be a nightmare!

Ooooh, and my lovely Grandad left me a little bit of money in his will so I'm going to book a holiday for next June! Will be the first time we've been on a proper holiday since we had DD. So now instead of studying I'm searching villa websites! I'm not even going to think of the nightmare that will be flying with 2 children, just the cold drinks by the pool......

How lovely Ladyem :)

My friend is carrying TWINS!!!! :o :o I'm so happy for her

To be honest, I can go nearly anywhere for meet ups, as I'm going to have to leave the parish anyway, the actual distance doesn't make that much of a difference. I'll be in London at the end of this month too. (Hoping not to get my wallet stolen again )

Mads had a bit of a meltdown before bedtime yesterday, he really doesn't appreciate my attempts to reset his body clock.

awww! how lovely barry! (although since having Oli I have thought to myself "how the f**k do you cope with twins?!")

are you in london for the mnet meet? we're in Glasgow that weekend, I've got a meeting, and am dragging DH and Oli along to spend some quality time with my mum :o

am very about holidays ladyem, DH and I realised that we have been on 2 holidays since we met - all other trips have been work or visiting family (which REALLY doesn't count!). We did a weekend in Sweden with friends and a weekend in the mountains in America, but that's it! one day... :)