Jan 2009, baby D0Gs and bumps galore.. lets make room for many more...

[120]

here we are. am going to start a bet on who is next to get broody!

120 Hope that glass of wine is on a intravenous needle.

Well, I have nothing to say. That's a change.

Enjoy you Saturdays everyone.

Oh 120 that's such a shame about the sourdough I hope you gave up and just relaxed with wine.

I'd try writing to the council like Moose did. Worth a try.

Really hope today is a better day for you. Off to a mumsnet meet up from another thread shortly. H is looking after the kids with his dad, whose down this way again.

P.S did I tell you that MIL expected H's OW to be there at Christmas as well as me and the children? Good Lord that woman is mad! NO way on earth I'd subject DCs to seeing this woman with their daddy. Or running in his room in the morning to him and her in bed and besides I haven't seen her since the affair came out, I couldn't be held responsible for my actions Mad mad MIL! Well if FIL brings up visiting again today I shall be being very firm.

Christ tea, that's a bit bloody insensitive. I don't think the kids really mind at this age, they sort of take it into their stride, but there is no way in hell that you should. Ever. I would be ready to kill if someone suggested that to me.

It would confuse the DCs that's for sure. As DD watches Peppa Pig and then sometimes tries to ask why Daddy doesn't live here etc. I'm not ready for her to realise what has really happened iyswim? If MIL had asked me and not H about Christmas there would have been a nuclear missile type explosion you would have heard from yours

afternoon

went to tesco this monring

definetly going for kritter bed from ikea getting next month

poor u 120 with all the probs

Hi all.

Lovely day here. Friend stayed over L.night and went for walk in woods this morning. Nearby woods (hundred Acre woods NR. Wickham, Hampshire incase any of you are nearby, think not though) which has a big childrens play areas with Sand pit, Wooden houses, Teapeas (sp?) etc, then had a walk & Went for light lunch in beautiful Tea room in Wickham, before making a dash home as police were gathering for an Animal rights protest which i didn't fancy getting stuck in the middle of, didn't seem like was going to be v. peaceful given the amount of police Desending on such a small village!

Afraid haven't really red much....

Tink Ikea bed sounds good... bet is cheaper than GLTC too!

Tea What world is MIL living in? Stand your ground!!!

120 Hopefully things will seem better tomorrow, new day & all that! Enjoy the wine in the mean time.

Chef No grumbles = Good thing! :) Happy days.

Going to be a dustbin and order a pizza once DD in bed, and lounge infront of X factor until DH arrives home from up north, at least they won so will be in good mood. Hurrah!

Tea That is incredibly insensitive. What is she thinking. Maybe she just inquired with H what is going to be the Christmas arrangement but H took it as actually suggesting that you and the OW would be there together, battling it in the ring, gloves off, no hold bars...lol ;)

First day of gymnastics today and it was so much fun I love the foam pit... had to get one to the dads to help me out of it. lol. The more you struggle, the worse it gets... I was willing to relinquish to the foam pit, but then I realized I couldn't have a frosty one so I scrambled out. DD loved it, all the kids did.

Sounds like a good day Chef. MIL was serious as she has a friend who does this. Let's not mention they divorced 20 years ago though hey? Why bring logic into this? LOL

Love the sound of that place Ray, is it far to drive from Hertfordshire do you reckon? Quite fancy it sometime.

Evening
Rrary ur day sounds gd and pizza
Yes bed a lot cheaper in ikea
Hi chef
Enjoying xfactor bootcamp and had
A gd day

Evening
Rrary ur day sounds gd and pizza
Yes bed a lot cheaper in ikea
Hi chef
Enjoying xfactor bootcamp and had
A gd day

Tea Your MIL sounds like an insensitive nightmare. Stay strong and stand your ground and do things your way.

Chef, what's a foam pit? Whatever it is it sounds fun and I want to go in one!

Ray sounds like a perfect day and evening, enjoy.

120 Hope you guys enjoyed your pint

Slept really badly last night so decided to go to ikea today DH was working so went solo with the kids, it was actually fine, I bribed them to behave with mini dime bars, and as being in Ikea with small children is like pushing a trolly with a time bomb in it that's about to go off, I didn't hang around and buy loads of unnecessary clutter, which is my usual trick. Anyway, have finally put up curtains, bought duvets adn covers and other little bits for DD and Ds's bedroom and it looks lovely, so am very pleased. Had lots of fun with the power drill and hopefully nothing will fall down over night. Just ate a plateful of meatballs and am sitting here with DD watching Aristocats for the 700th time.

Hope everyone has had a good weekend and Chef and MissJ I've just finished reading Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth and it was excellent, used some of the techniques last time and they all really helped, can't recommend it highly enough if you fancy going down the natural route.

HZ thanks muchly for Ikea good and tea. Loved the bits for L & J's bedroom. Very good pub recommendation. All polished off with a meal at the green papaya. Promise we'll take you with us next time!

today was much better than yesterday, though managed to try and make a vast batch of jam which didn't set in time for us to get out of the house for the viewings so have reboiled tonight. Now tastes of caramel and nowhere near as good as my impromptu 1 punnet jam. oh well. Apparently viewings were good today and there is another one booked for monday. Am a bit peeved as the same estate agent have now put a three bed flat in the same block on their books for the same price. It does overlook a very major road, but has original fire places. Hmm, really not sure about all of this, just hope they ruddy know what they are doing!

night night all.

Yes, that's a lovely book hkz, I read it first time around - wish I could give birth at 'the farm'! Really hoping for a nice easy home birth this time. Am worried the birth pool won't work with our boiler though, it is one of those that fill up a tank, not constant hot water, and I'm not sure how big it is - maybe enough to fill a couple of baths?

Sorry, I have been keeping up with the thread but not managing to post. We've had major drama here with a riding accident, air ambulance, poor lady in hospital with 2 broken hips.

120 sour dough bread sounds just tooooo yummy, is it easy to make? Glad you've had some good viewings, I am sure it won't take long.

tea surely your MIL cannot be serious? Talk about insensitive! What does your ex say about this kind of thing? Sounds like the whole family need to get real. Just remember you hold the cards, ie the kids. Sorry, not a very nice way to think about it, but they should all be making major efforts to keep you on side.

ray sounds like a lovely day, and v jealous of x factor on the sofa and pizza.

After 3 nights of waking up once, N finally did a whole 11 hours straight in his big bed and we thought we had it cracked... but then last night he just wouldn't settle, had no idea what was up with him, but finally he slept in with me and we were all knackered all day. So hoping tonight will go better.

Waves to everyone else, & sorry for crappy catch up.

Hello all

Am reading and keeping up with news.

tea OMG.............your MIL needs to be told that there is no way in this sweet life that you would be within a 1 mile radius of the OW for the next 10 years at least! MissJ is indeed right that you hold the power here and the sooner they realise that the better.

dog keeping up with the scrumptious pictures, I swear that if my marriage wasn't and I wasn't skint then Joss would be making me v.broody. I am so jealous of your milky, pyjamary snuggles with him

missJ He has done really well bless him, lets hope it was just a one off. Z woke up at 4.00am and came in with us which was the first time in weeks. so I am hoping its an oddity.

tink We have the 'dols house bookcase' from GLTC but got it half price from the paper (brand new and in box!!. It is really nice but I am not sure all their furniture is worth it, think IKEA bed better value.

moose sorry to be brief but just wanted to say I was pleased about your positive comments about the incluson meeting/lady

ray I am really getting into X-factor this year.....what is wrong with me???

Anyway, DH's MRI did not go that well as they had to call him back later in the day as the images were not clear. Results and surgery D-day next week.

did 'Day out with Thomas today' have been on about 5 steam train rides, a bus ride and climbed in and out of a fire engine about 20 times. Is it ok to admit that these things really DON'T interest me and only doing it as I have a small boy that is obsessed with stuff that goes!!!! I am shattered!

Domestic goddess boast to keep up with all these cookies/sourdough and whatnots....Just made and eaten a chicken, bacon and leek pie out of leftover roast chicken we had on thursday. Had a thai curry yesterday from it so 3 meals and 4 butties of that bird, it was a good-un!!!

Anyway, thankful for small things. The seemingly ever-snotty Z has now completely learned to go to the toilet and remove tissue from the roll, wipe his own nose and then flush! I am so pleased as saves me having to do it ALL the time. I just point to his nose now and say 'Uh-oh, bit snotty, Z needs a wipe' and he goes and does it, sorted!

Sorry to have ignored anyone, I have read all xx

Pat, you deserve wine after doing a 'Day out with Thomas', in fact its more like a bottle. I took DD to Legoland once and I think I am still recovering. Z sounds very cute, he can come and give J some nose blowing tips, the boy is a snot monster at the moment. Have my fingers crossed for your DH.

120, love the Green Papaya, have you tried Hai Ha or Ha Hai (can't rememeber which way round ) Must book a steak night for sometime next month.. Caramelly strawberry jam sounds lush.

MissJ, hope the rider is ok, how scary. N sounds like he's doing well on the sleeping front. J has slept through on and off for about 6 months, but since we went away in July he has been waking 3 times a night, having a bottle (which I give him..rod..back ..blah bla) and going straight back to sleep. However since new baby is only 3 months (ish) away we have taken action and done a mix of CC and PUPD. Its worked a treat, last night was the third night, he still woke twice, but moaned, had a quick cuddle and nodded off....so fingers crossed. (Now I have posted this it will all go tits up)
I too would love to go to the Farm, or at least hire one of thier midwives (Hold on, you live on a farm...given any thougts to a birthing commune?) Can't remember how much water the pool takes, but it holds it heat very well so once its warm you can top it up with the kettle...I didn't get in it until the last few hours so you can take your time filling it...it's this one so not massive.

Well DH went for an impromptu drink after work and came home three hours later ratted , was and secretly after yet another night sat at home. Am a picture of calmness and serenity this morning though, and he is effectively a SAHD all week...so the opportunity to escape relax is rare.

Looks fab hkz... is it nightmare to clean afterwards though? I am thinking of our paddling pool which is currently scrunched up in a corner by the shed, housing slugs.

pat soooo cute that Z does his own nose - when I'm on the loo, N likes to grab huge wads of loo roll and tries to stuff it down the loo, with me still on it .. all the time gleefully encouraging me to 'peeeeeeeee', 'peeeeeeee'!

Chicken, bacon and leek pie trumps all! Are we allowed to use ready made pastry? I could just about contemplate it if so. What is the actual sauce bit made of? Is it just a cheese sauce with some stock?

And finally, 'came in with us' - does this mean relations between DH are better or am I reading too much into it?!

Still in bed after another crappy night, mostly spent wedged in N's bed. OH is taking him to the farm though and I am going back to sleep after some crumpets.

morning

agree ikea better value

hi miss j - poor lady!!
luv nyes room sounds like he is doing well

hi to everyone else
hkz - sounds like ikea went well and good going on the job front

i cant wait to go to ikea i wish i had some patience but dont have even an ounce

Miss J- Have no idea about the cleaning, DH did it while I cuddled Jude in bed! Think its quite easy to drain or pump it, he just ran a hose into the drain.(After sieving it ) The good thing about it is the sides are strong so you can hold them and lean on them for support...you are more than welcome to it when I am done.

Pat, I too like the sound of your pie...recipe please!

Ok, yes of course its ready-made puff pastry, not enough hours in the day for all that business

*You make a basic white sauce (quite thick) and add half teaspoon of wholegrain mustard and half teaspoon pesto.

*Take off heat and stir in small tin sweetcorn (or frozen or fresh), ground black pepper, 250ml of half-fat creme fraiche and your cooked leftover chicken (roughly chopped).

*fry some finely chopped leeks adn pancetta in some olive oil and then stir into mixture when ready.

*Add some chopped parsley at this stage if your DC's not terrified of herbs like DD (hence the pesto).

*Roll, cut and eggwash the pastry strips for edge and then put big bit of rolled pastry on top. Do some crimping or whatever (I made some little leaves out of leftover pastry and I like to criss-cross mine on the top!) egg-wash and then bung in the oven (180 for fan oven) for 25-30 mins.

Lovely Just had a leftover piece for lunch! I also have done a similar recipe for individual salmon pies but used peas instead of sweetcorn and added some grated lemon rind instead of mustard (also no leeks/bacon!) and made in ramekins. Kids LOVED it, especially with a little pastry fis on the top for some reason!

HKZ laughing at your DH's impromptu drink, I used to love that bck when no DC's, those unplanned piss-ups were always the best Glad to hear that J has responded so well to the sleep intervention, 3 months...crikey!!

MissJ Hope you have had a good lie-in. Z also likes to say weeeee-eeeeee when I am going to the loo, after enquiring if it's a 'poo-poo mummy???' usually very loud, and usually in a public toilet or at someone elses house.

And yes, when DH moved back full-time after my parents went back the other week, we decided to just go back to shared bed. Sleeping in separate beds was just putting distance between us which isn't necessary and makes all this 'sharing' and stuff we are supposed to be doing -for- -the- -counselling- a bit difficult. Plus there is no way with his back he can get up to Z if he wakes in the night, luckily this has not been much in the past few weeks. Things are still up and down although most days more ups than downs IYSWIM so still positive at the moment.

books Sounds a lovely day at Thomasland, can't have been that busy if DS managed 7 goes onthe roller-coaster! Some pics of DOWThomas on my FB profile, please note my pretend enthusiastic look that I had perfected after yet another bloody train!!

120 sorry about your bad day, meant to comment yesterday. Hope viewings went ok.

Right, must get off my arse and do some ironing for tomorrow and then DD wants to bake some Banana-bread when she comes back from playing next-door. well, if I have to!

Oh, forgot to mention that next-door got a new puppy yesterday, she is a tiny Blue Brindle (?) and is so sweet, DD and I were round there cooing over her yesterday evening. Shame I have to work, I would love a dog, maybe when DC's are older.

A pastry fish obviously, my typing gets worse, I blame this ancient laptop!

Also, met my friend on wednesday who had the small DS (incidentally also called Noah!) a few months back and he is doing really well, up to 12lbs now (at 20 weeks) but the paed wants to give him growth hormone injections. I am just wondering why since he has nearly tripled his birthweight, isn't this what babies are meant to do in a year???

Hi lovely ladies.

Flying visit. Pizza and X factor was good, but wish DH had been home, didn't get home until 11.30 by which time i was Sparked out! Zzzzz!

DH had training this morning, so we went to support neighbour in her Cancer coffee morning. baked cupcakes and cookies. Esme had a wail of time with older children on trampoline and in Hot tub (had to run home for swimming nappy, as was only one not going in.... !) Loved it & bubbles.

Will catch up with you all later, Off out for an Early tea. I fancy Sushi, but have been out numbered! :-(

Just a quick Q.. does anyone know what age it suitable to introduce them to sushi? I have never given DD any, have always gone at lunchtime and ensured she was napping to ensure no difficulties. Anyone know?

Will catch up later, hope all having a good weekend!!

HKZ Thanks for the book reference. A foam pit is a pit with big chunks of foam in it, packed. Honestly, I didn't touch the bottom of it. There's a rope to swing into it and a springy jumping launch thingy that you see at gymnastics... not sure what they're called, its lingering in the recesses of my mind. F%$#k it. Who cares what its called, it was fun. The time bomb trolley comment seriously made me laugh out loud.

120 Darn with the jam, eh? It sucks when it doesn't set and seal properly. I just did that with a batch of nectarine jam and had to boil it twice and three jars still didn't set. Don't know why I go to all the trouble of making jam as I don't like it. lol

Pat That's what makes you a good mom; you engage in your children's interest. That is a great example to set for little ones; compromise.

Gotta go... DD and DH need me. Be back later.

Books We start gymnastics at 18 months. Its so great for them. DD learned quickly how to walk on the balance beam... the second time around the circuit, she wouldn't let me hold her hand once she was on it... ok, it was only a foot off the ground, but that's substantial to me. Really, I'm not a helicopter mom.lol

Pat I'm skeptical of the growth hormone injections because, with a few doctors in my family, I know they get recruited by pharmaceutical companies to push their wares. If he is merely suggesting it, then its not necessary and with what we know how damaging growth hormones are in our foods, (cows and chickens) I'm thinking its not needed and as patients, in the end, we are experiments... paed's just want every fricken kid to fit into their box so to speak. OK... that's my conspiracy theory.

Ray DD ate her first sushi at 11 months and hasn't looked back since. We stick with salmon and tuna for the fish but it is mostly californian rolls and the like. Last night she devoured our appy of veal tongue with fennel. Good Chef's daughter.

So I emailed 'Betty' because she asked why I'd taken her off my FB. The gist of it is I said I no longer see the point at my age to force a friendship; if it doesn't happen naturally, then so be it. We can't like everyone we meet. She emailed back and said she didn't feel a part of the group, etc, and wished me the best. So it ended amicably, thank goodness. So I don't think we'll be seeing her around anymore.

Went for dinner last night at the restaurant of friends who are moving to a newer and bigger location and DH is working for now. It was a lovely night out except my friend who I invited to join me for dinner, brought a friend that I don't really like for no other reason than I just don't enjoy her company. She's nice enough, just something really bugs me about her and I can't quite put my finger on it. DH thinks its her accent. She's from NZ... I did get a little "Holy crap is there anyone who is English left west London or is all Aussie's and NZ'ers. Its tongue and cheek but really, it is insane over there in Gloucester/Earl's Court area's. lol. Anyhow, the night turned out nice. Nothing on today but lots of errands. Oh yeah.