Oct 2007 - These little piggies are not so little any more!

[Dalrymps]

Welcome to the thread for ladies who's lo's were born on Oct 2007!

Some of us have been here from the begining and some have joined along the way. New ladies always welcome to join in and chat with us, we're a friendly bunch!

:0)

Hey ladies, here's the new thread, had to start it cause the old one is nearly full and Inzi has been in touch to say she can't post on it as it won't load on her phone. She has been booked in for a section on fri!!!

Hope you are all well, off to bed for now

Sorry it's late but Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone!

Had a lovely Christmas here and went to visit my bros and sil and bf/sil on boxing day.

We now have far too much in our little house thanks to the lovely generous presents we all got! Think we'll have to have a major sort out!

Was great to see my bros etc andit made me' realise how isolated I feel up here away from them all. would like to move to Cornwall where my bro and sil/bf live but not sure if it'll happen...

I think of you all a lot, sorry am so crap at posting lately and even more sorry I keep saying that then still not catching up properly!

Hi Ladies, boy I miss being able to get on here much, sometimes when we're in full flow, it's like we're all in a room together chatting and stuffing our faces with treats, whilst the kids play happily and nicely in another room...okay maybe that bit is a bit far fetched, but you get the idea.
Well, I'm sat up on my own, Rich fell asleep at 7.30, he didn't get here till 5.30, so he's gone to bed, Shannon has been a monster today, including calling me a bad mummy cos I have got her cousin a peppa pig teaset for his birthday and she wants in, she's a right little madam atm so she was in bed as soon as I could get her there and dd1 has finally gone to bed after pratically clinging to me all day because she is going with her dad on holiday tomorrow, so I started watching eastenders, but have paused it to get on here. Have got my back massager chair thing on, it's very firm but hoperfully I'll get used to it as it does shoulders and my neck still hurts quite often from that car going into mine. Don't think I'll be up late tonight, probably watch a bit of tv, then get to bed.

Neeps-Glad you had a nice day, I'll bet it was quite difficult. I'd definately get a new car seat if I was you, me and sil where just saying the other day, sometimes you just can't put a price on easiness and convenience (well you can, bit ykwim), and when you're shattered from little sleep and a demanding toddler, a easy to do car seat will be a godsend, along witrh other things of course. Have you near enough got everything you need from Dareh then?

Dal-Sounds like you had a lovely time with your family :) Glad the weather didn't put an end to it. Is there much chance of you moving? Anything to keep you where you are?

QoL-How are you with Anya being away a week? I bet you are so torn with achinly missing her to loving the freedom! Meeting did not go as hoped, basically I would have too much to make up to incorporate finance into my degree so I can do international business or pretty much the same as I'm already doing either ft or pt which makes me think I'd rather stick at what I'm doing as it's a lot cheaper and a lot less hassle. Will see how I feel Sep time whether I do it or not, I really am aching to get back to work but know if I will regret it if I don't complete a degree in something!

Strawberry-you amaze me that you get time to post! How are you doing? I wish I lived closer so I could help you out now and then.

FT-I've got a bone to pick with you! Well, kind of. After reading your post about homemade bailys I got a craving for it and we've been through 1litre bottle and 170cl bottle, just me and Rich and I'm still craving the homemade one but I just can't be bothered to attempt it.

Oh god, dd1 has come down in tears as she's had a bad dream about her holiday, letting her watch a bit of eastenders now to shush her I really don't know what else I can do but keep reassuring her when I'm worried myself!

Right just quickly then this I better sort her out..

Rich has got a second interview so it is possible we will be moving Bristol/Swindon way and me and Shannon are travelling down with him Mon-Wed to Gloucester while he goes for it, and we'll have a little look round.

Meet up, we need to start thinking about dates if we're having a meet up, how about Aug 7th or 14th? If people can't do it please suggest other dates as I just plucked them out!

Hi to everyone I've missed and wishing you the bestest new year ever, same as Dal, I think of you all often xx

Happy New Year everyone! Hope you all had good fun last night. We were just home but it was nice although I did have a wee cry at one point as I just coulcn't quite believe that I wouldn't be calling my dad at the bells.

Both those dates in August should be fine for me. I don't know if I will be going back to work then but the schools are still off so it won't matter.

That's a shame about your course NC. I admire anyone who studies and manages to have kids, it's all such hard work.

I have decided I am going to get a new car seat, the last one was so awful. I am in a dilema about what to get though. I am either going to get the graco car seat and base which I think I can do for about £100 ish but what I really want is to be able to get an old quinny zapp frame to clip a car seat onto but then I need to get the maxi cosi seat and base and ouch! Not cheap! If I go all out and get a new zapp then I am looking at at least £300 which seems a hell of a lot. Feel like I have to decide fast before vat goes up. Any thoughts wise ladies?

I think I am nearly set for baby. I was worried I didn't have enough clothes for the first stage as we borrowed last time but my sil just gave me all the ones she didn't want so we are looking good for vests and baby suits. Might pick up a couple of fleecy baby suits as it will be cold although it feels really mild here now compared to December!! Still can't find my slings, going to go back to the loft again today once DH decides to drag himself out of bed. They are up there somewhere. I was wondering about getting a wrap this time though, a moby maybe, thought it might make it easier with Dareh - any experiences with it? Worth getting do you think?

Dareh is up the stairs in the same room as his dad and yet still has to shout for me. Why?????

Be back later.

Happy new year ladies!!! Here's hoping we all have a great 2011!

Nc- sorry Shannon is being a bitnof a monster, snap here I'm afraid, Dylan is like a little teenager and answers back to everything I say. The tantrums are out of this world too, over the smallest things.

Sorry Leonies hol is worrying you, I'd be worried too but I suppose if she has to go the best you can do is make sure she has plenty ways of keeping in touch with you.

I admire you studying with your two girls. I'd love to study but can't see how I'd manage at the moment!

Dh's parents and 2 brothers, sils and 2 nieces and 1 nephew live here. So there are reasons to stay although we don't 'hang out' with his bros that often at all so the main thing would be wether we could leave his parents or not. Pil are lovely, they have been a huge support to us and me' with all the stuff with my parents. I feel guilty just thinking about moving away from them but at the same time I really miss my bros and want to be closer to them. I also want to be closer to training oppertunities and better jobs.

Somewhere between Halye and Plymouth might be good as I could study at Plymouth in the future if I wanted. The other option would be to compromise and go half way so to move to Peterborough where my eldest bro is and be a bit closer to my bf who is down on Cornwall (married to other bro). I'd rather live in Cornwall though but it's so far and dh worried we'd hardly ever see his parents as they're not big on travelling.

Neeps - I think quinny Zapps are reduced to 99.99 on the Boots site at the mo (free delivery to store) but not sure how much cheaper that is than normal. If you're going to get a new car seat now is a good time with all the jan sales. Have you checked the mothercare sale? We have the maxi cosi car seat for Miles but don't use it with a base in the car. It can clip on to our Quinny buzz frame too but have never done thins as don't have the adapters.

We actually got the car seat as part of an online deal through halfords. A little tip, if they have a deal online and you order/reserve it online to pick up in store you still get the online deal. So we got an extra 15% off

Off down to pils today for new years buffet, taking a massive sherry trifle I made, can't wait to try it!

Love to you all x

Dalry I don't blame you wanting to move to Cornwall. It is so beautiful down there. I quite fancy living there myself. Also can understand you wanting to be closer to your brothers and friends. I feel really isolated where I am and often wish I could be closer to people.

I was looking at boots actually and I think £100 is pretty good for a zapp. Do you like the maxi cosi? I would want the base as I really want to be able to just clip it in and out of the car and not faff with seat belts etc. Didn't realise you needed to have adaptors for clipping it on though so better check the price of those then I need to see if I can get my hands on a buggy board - arghhhh still a lot to organise!!!

Happy New Year ladies :)

Just waiting for washer to finish then we're off to meadowhall, got a travelodge booked there for 25p so going to use it if we can sneak Shannon in as it is only a twin one, Rich can sleep on the floor

Neeps-Not got time to lookproperly for you but have you checked Kiddicare out? Wherever you use make sure you get cash back Here if you don't already have it Kiddicare has 4% so if you bought £200 from them you'd £8 ish back, not loads but every little helps and it's free to sign up.

I know you'd prefer one that is easily transferred but don't forget you're not meant to have them in a carseat for too long cos of the shape or something, so may be better to invest in an easy to use newborn to 4 years carseat even if it can't be transferred to the pram? It's entirely up to you, but I think thats what I'd prefer if I where to do it again....saying that, it must be really easy to just clip the carseat in...Oh I don't know, not much help am I?! Maybe you need to go and have a look round mothercare or something :)

DD1 has finally gone to her Dads after lots of tears, now I will turn my phone of for the week!!

Right better get hoovered, hope you're all having a fabby day x

Neeps, have you already got a Gracco?

There is a full set here for £189

Or a nice set here

Oh I'm getting broody, off to hoover definately now, may hoover Shannon the terrible monster up!

One more, set for £199
direct.tesco.com/q/R.207-2310.aspx

Thanks NC! I am going to go down to mothercare and play with Graco stuff I think and take it from there.

hello ladies
just quickly saying hello and happy new year as feeding... will post properly tomorrow

neeps - before you buy new things, if you dont mind second hand let me know as poss have a graco travel system (incl seat and base) and also a maxi cosi seat and base we may be selling if you are interested... and assorted other baby things that we're not wanting as had all sorts of things off my sis. just need to check which bits she's happy for us to sell. plus she has loads of other nice pushchairs - no use to me cos of the twins, but could be a good bargain for you????

Happy New Year Dearest Ladies!
My new years resolution is to get on here more often..lets see how long I keep it for eh?
NC I know exactly how you feel about it being like popping in for a coffee when it is busy on here I hope Leonie is ok now she is on holiday and that you are relaxing a bit....oh, and I take no responsibility for your over indulgence in Baileys but if you like I'll just talk about my overindulgence in broccoli and spinach in future to see it that has the same effect
Neeps I have/had a maxicosi +base and zapp(with adaptors)to push it around and just loved its convenience, took it South Africa on our holiday it is so light and easy to use and folds so small (though it takes a bit to convert back to a push chair after it has been used for a car seat base)...I still occasionally use the Zapp as a buggy for Alex now ... I also aquired a Buzz later which was fabulous too and would have been much better in the early days .... I would have loved to offer them all to you but have promised them to my brother and his gf,sorry....but I do hope you have fun looking at your options . I'm glad you had a lovely hogmannay despite everything...first anniversaries/celebrations are the hardest...it isnt that you miss them any less on subsequent events, you just get more resigned/used to it... and I must admit that though this was our 4th Christmas without my Dad, the memories evoked by Ed Stewarts Family Favourites on Radio 2 still reduced me to tears on Christmas morning.
QOL I hope you have had a good week despite, doubtless, missing Anya...and I hope she has had a lovely holiday.
Dal I love Cornwall too and would dearly love to live there, it is a beautiful place and I spent almost every holiday of my childhood there .... I'm sure the 'right' move for you and your family will make itself apparent soon.
Inzi I hope the New Year soon brings good
news.

Our Christmas was lovely in many ways..My Mum and Db came up to ours for breakfast and to watch alex open his pressies...Alex was gorgeous, especially at the beginning when he opened the little sack we left in his room...all wide eyed and utterly thrilled with a jumper, a book, a toy lorry and some candy canes, I genuinely think he would have been perfectly happy with just those...he only got a bit bratish when he was spoiled with the mountain of pressies under the treethough at least the 'leapster' we got him seems to be a big hit...however MIL insisted on hosting dinner at their new (tiny) bungalow and having all their side of the family pressies left under their tree,so it was a bit of a squash and a squeeze..plus Mil put her back out a few days before so couldn't stand at the cooker and Fils cooking leaves something to be desired (some food went cold before being served and other food got burned )worst bit was 13yr old nephew playing on his new PS3 during the meal and having a strop when I insisted it was turned off...but I dont really blame him for his lack of manners but SIL and MIL for even letting him set it up in the room we were eating in...I dont care if they dont require good table manners from him and his 6yr old brother (who kept all the cracker gifts for himself and had a strop because Alex got a yellow paper crown and he wanted yellow [exasperated emoticon]) but I do care about the example it is setting for Alex....but at least there were no rows (apart from sil with her eldest at the end of the day when he wouldnt get off his game to help pack the car...suprise, suprise!)and MIL was happy having all her family around her for the first time in ages.

New Year was...stressful...Mum couldnt face/afford doing her traditional 8 course New Years Eve meal for all 8 of us (including DBs 'new' family) so I offered.....but just a few days before discovered that defacto SIL and her 2 children wouldnt/couldnt eat half of the things we usually cook so I ended up offering alternatives for almost every course...nightmare!...and even then her kids (almost 12yr old girl and 10yr old boy)didnt eat almost anything they had chosen....and having spent more time with them, I can't help but fear that DB has made a monumental mistake..we haven't had a single thank you for our gifts to them and she is such a shallow person, more concerned that the baby might be "a ginge! I'll have to dye its hair!" than kicking her smoking habit ..ho hum..he is a grown man and as our gran would have said "big enough and ugly enough" to know what he is doing but... [shakes head in despair emoticon]

I hope you all have had wonderful holidays and that 2011 is a fantastic year for each and every one of you.

Ah rats strawberry I just ordered stuff yesterday! Mothercare were no help at all so I went on line in the end and got a base from amazon for £67 reduced from £115 andfrom boots a pebble maxi cosi for £108 when it was £150 in mothercare. I should get another 20% off that once I activate my boots card. Another mnetter has offered me her old zapp with bag and basket for £40 Inc delivery so I just said yes as I need to stop looking at prams because I just fall in love with the really expensive ones.

Floria your db's family sound really difficult, I would find that very hard. My brother was once married to this awful girl and it was hellish. They are divorced now so she is long gone thankfully. Think you are very brave to cook for all those people! I don't even like cooking for dh.

Yes special days are hard aren't they. I think there is still an element of shock to it all, especially as my mother is a nightmare and I can't rely on her support at all. I get very jealous of sil who gets lots of support from her family. She pissed me off over Christmas on his issue actually after going on about the laptop she got from her parents my db and I were joking about how we didn't get anything except maybe a need for on going therapy! Dh also has a shit family and started talking about this and how we as a couple have had no family backup at all and that this can be hard etc then sil started going on about how her two aunts don't speak to each other and that it happens in every family as if this is somehow the same as growing up with an alcoholic mother or even worse for dh whose mother committed suicide when he was young.

The other thing that shocked me last year was how my so called friends buggered off after dad died. I have had more support from this thread and everyone on it than from some so called real life friends.

Right enough moaning! Need to get on! Have a good day all x

Awww Neeps I can understand your resentment of your sil who has led such a charmed life that she thinks one little family feud is on a par with the horrors of growing up alcoholism and suicide.. I feel sorry for her when life stops giving her things and starts taking them away and she is relieved of her naivety.
As for your friends..I'm afraid that like them, until I suffered dreadful loss myself, I didn't know or understand how to sympathise and, like most people in this country, I shamefully avoided contact with those touched by deep sorrow .. we don't talk about such things in this country and dont deal with it very well when the inevitable occurs. It is truly a case of 'forgive them, they know not what they do' and they sadly won't until they too are touched by deep loss. I'm just very sorry that you have had to live and learn such things before any of your friends.
I wish we all lived closer to each other ... you would have all the help and support you could ever need ((((hugs))))

Ah I am just jealous of sil and need to stop being so bitter really. She does make me grit my teeth at times though.

I get what you mean about friends, I can deal with people who don't know what to say etc but was really hurt by some people who knew my dad and who I counted as good friends who just didn't bother with me at all. Such is life I suppose.

The zapp deal I had fell through, I am gutted as I was very excited. Currently looking on ebay. Don't really like getting things off ebay though, find it all a bit of a hassle.

Also looking at buggy boards. I don't really get them though - do you have to buy a board and adaptors as well? It all adds up doesn't it!

Can I ask how many of you had pain relief in your labours? I don't know what to write in my birth plan this time. I wanted a natural birth last time and failed, I would like one this time but no clue if I will manage it or not.

Goinna have to be a quicky, hI ALL, CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SO MANY OF OUR PIGGIES HAVE STARTED PROPER NURSERY TODAY!!! Damn caps soz.

Neeps-May be a blessing in disguise that it fell through, may be able to take Strawberries offer up!
Sorry people have been rubbish over your dad, I cannot imagine as I have not been in the situation but I would hope that I would be able to be supportive to any of my friends that it hasppened to.

FT-Glad Alex was so lovely on xmas day :)
@ your brothers partner, why is she worried about ginger hair, has your brother got it or something? Tell her the nicotine tends to put redish tints in their hair
LOL @ broccilli cravings, can't see that happening but feel free to try! Back on the diet on Mon!

We went to Birmingham on Mon night and ate out, I was ill all night and the next day with a stomach bug. Not good when you're in a hotel and having to travel to another one in Gloucester. Was meant to be looking around the area in case Rich gets that job, which second interview was on Wed, which went ok. But we just had to have a drive round. Grr will be back later, Rich has just got here.

Sounds awful NC - was it food poisoning do you think? How do you feel about moving to Birmingham. Only been there once to audition for the drama school there, got in and wish I had gone actually - it seemed like a good city to be in.

I couldn't believe when I saw all the posts about nursary. So scary. I decided to wait with Dareh. He is still not potty trained and I didn't want to send him off just as I was having a baby as I thought it might seem a funny message. Might try for the Easter term although I have to admit I feel really nervous about it. Have to get over that I suppose!

Not sure Neeps, could have been but we all ate near enough the same, it was an eat all you can eat buffet, and we tend to try and have a bit of everything and them two have been more or less ok.

I didn't like Birmingham very much to be honest, it was just so grey, concrete and everything looked so dull and dirty, luckily it'd more near Gloucester, possible Swindon or Cheltenham. I liked Gloucester so would be good! Looking forward to doing something and moving forward, even if this doesn't happen I think we're going to start seeking jobs further afield as opportunites for schools and jobs are pretty dire here. Apart from Leonie's family, there is nothing to really keep us here, and the true realisation of that is quite liberating but bloody scary! Just out of interest, would those of you with boys let your son have one of these?

Oooh Neeps, found this if it's any good?
here

And a buggy board here for £30 ish. I've never used a buggy board, obviously as Leonie would have been too big but I wish they did similar things for adults to use as a scooter, how cool would that be if we could have a bit of a scoot when noone was looking tee hee. Somehow I can just imagine Muppet doing it for some reason! Anyway, not sure about the adapters, I think that they come with the attachy things but you can buy extenders for some models. I have noticed buggy boards being reduced to about £12 in the Tesco baby event after sale, but obv that would be hit and miss.

Actually there are loads on kiddicare with reviews that may help :)

argh! just wrote a big long post and MN lost it! Now I will have to try and remember what I wrote...

NC - i went to uni in Birmingham and loved it, and I was born and lived in Cheltenham for 18 years - would def go back there now, and if you do move there I could meet up with you when I go to see my mum...
Floria - can't believe the lack of manners in some people these days (old lady alert), especially when you have gone to so much trouble with the cooking - you know that we all appreciate your lovely food!
Neeps - i'm a bit rubbish really as can'[t advise on pain relief for labour as I had a spinal and a c-section this time, and i haven't used a buggy board with Olly and the twins, as he is happy to walk (or run when I am running late for appointments poor thing)
Dal - if you move to Peterborough that would be fairly near to me too!

Hello everyone else! Hope you are all well.

I am scoffing my face with choc choc chip haagen dazs at the mo, as i have decided to eat all my nice food and then start slimming world as my friend has lost 3 stone doing that, and I need to lose another couple at least. Apparently they have a thing for people who are breastfeeding, so that would be better than the cambridge diet that i did last time.

What kind of routines do you who are mums at home have for getting housework done, amusing kids etc? I am feeling a bit de-motivated and missing work, could so easily sit on the sofa all day, but then get frustrated that the house looks awful and I have done nothing productive. Tips gratefully received!

Going to bed now I think in preparation for the twins waking for milk. I keep hoping they'll sleep for longer at night, but no such luck yet

Love to you all xxx

Awww Strawberry, I think you're going to be probably muddling through for a few months yet although I know thats not want you want to hear! But maybe if you accept that sitting on the couch all day is expected it may be easier on your concience?? I don't have a routine as such, at one point I was forcing myself to do the upstairs cleaning and hoovering the stairs on a Monday to get it out of the way for the week and then just do the kitchen, washing, downstairs etc in a morning every day or when it needs doing. I'm still trying to get the minimal look to prevent much tidying and cleaning needing being done but the cat, kids and toys keep messing with tat approach tut.

ah, you see NC, that's a good idea, cleaning upstairs on a monday - i could do that on monday mornings as we go to playgroup in the afternoon. Thank you! (whether I do it remains to be seen, but it's a good idea!)
I would love a minimal look at home, but have a hoarder gene that means I find it really difficult to throw things away, just in case they might come in handy one day...
I have re-organised the lounge in anticipation of perhaps getting a new sofa so all Olly's toys are hidden from view, and that looks much better.
I feel the need to write a list so I can tick some things off when they're completed - like i would do at work. a task for the weekend i think!

Yeah I try to do it in a morning as Shannon goes to swimming in the afternoon. I have such a bad hoarder gene and an even worse bargain buyer gene!!! I have boxes of stuff that I buy for 'just in cases'. Am trying very hard not buy any bargains this year!

Just a quick post as am on phone and it's not so easy to type. Thanks for the links will check in morning once on proper computer.

I would get that for Dareh no bother. He has two tea sets already actually and plays with them loads. He also has a baby and did have a buggy but it broke. I try to avoid the gender stuff in toys, want him to feel free to like anything regardless of it's so called gender links. It's hard though as it is everywhere. Getting clothes for baby was nightmare as all pink/blue- what's wrong with all the other colours?!

Hey everyone have been reading along nice to see us all chatting a bit more again!

Nc - I would also deffo get Dylan that. Like neeps I tend to get him what he likes rather than only sticking to boys toys. He currently sleeps with his toy story barbie doll most nights!

Strawberry- I am the worlds worst at motivating myself, especially when it comes to housework! I've tried to make cleaning rotas in the past but just not managed to stick to them.. It's easy to get used to living with a bit of mess and keep think 'i'll do it later', that's the case with me' anyway! To ne honest though I'd rather the kids were happy, fed, played with etc than have a pristine house right now. A lot of the time Miles can be difficult to put down so I might try to start a job but have to postpone it or do it in bits.

Thinking about it, my tip would be to set yourself small goals. That way you're more likely to achieve them and anything else is a bonus. For eg: I might decide to put a load of washing in but once I've started I might fold some washing whilst I'm there and put some clothes away. Sometimes if you just do a little job it gets you in the mood and you do a few others iyswim?

I am still pretty bad though and Ali does his fair share to help. I just keep reminding myself the boys won't be this 'high demand' forever and I will be able to get on top of things once they're a bit older.

My longterm plan at the moment is to find storage solutions for all our cr*p! I think if everything has a place it must be easier to tidy, right?

I can't believe so many of our little ones are starting nursery too! Where has the time gone?! Dylan had a great time at nursery the past few days, I'm so proud of him!! He has regressed a bit with his potty training the past week so had a lot of accidents of his first day. They seemed tomiss this and he was soaking wet when I picked him up my heart sank.. The problem is he's not telling us when he needs a wee(he was) and if we ask he says he doesn't need one then wets himself . Anyway I called them to discuss this and they said they had checked him but maybe he wee'd towards the end when he was playing outside. They were keeping a closer eye on him today and he had two accidents that they changed him for and he let them take him to the loo after that. He was dry when I collected him too.

Hope he gets back on track soon, he was doing so so well