June 08 - 79 days (and counting) til Christmas, has Deb started her shopping yet?!

[KnittingisbetterthanTherapy]

Thought we should update the thread!

Amber, you're right on that - I'm sure it did have something to do with farming too. There are loads of issues around it. There's been a report out very recently advocating a move to Central European time, but the Scottish Govt and Rural leaders are opposed.

Biscuits - thanks for that. An Edinburgh show would be perfect. Will look into that.

don't look into it now, go and do some studying!

Ktpie according to my mil DH was potty trained by 12 months and could return serve with a badminton racquet by the time he was 18 months. I think, like labour, your mind honestly blocks out the crappy bits Although having said that my mum cheerfully tells anyone who will listen what a brat I was and how I would tantrum in supermarkets

Where is Dewin with that other test!

I need to pack up for dinner (if that's ok with you? ).

oh OK, but I'm only telling you for your own good...

Sorry sorry no test done! No time to get it. It would be fab to have managed 6 weeks pg without knowing it, though! (In a way - although I've been drinking booze and ate a raw egg (practically) yesterday...

Thanks for the comments on the easel. If there's going to be chalk dust then I'll go for another one - and also, Iestyn is rather short so the IKEA one won't do. Is the GLTC one the same as the LetterBox one??

Quick post for biscuits, we love the Nipper in so many ways - really lightweight and easy to push/turn, etc. Goes over rough ground, through shop doorways. However, we have fallen out of love with it a little as the reclined position of the seats is now becoming a problem for our inquisitive toddler. He really doesn't like lying back all the time.

One of our friends has now given us a double Mclaren but it is sooo heavy and cumbersome in comparision.

I think the MB is the best, but I really couldn't justify that expense with a 2 1/2 yr old who won't get that much use out of it (A walks more and more now but we've already had a solid year's use out of our Nipper).

HTH!

(Just ordered my easel ).

Oh and DG, in answer to your question re: my friend, sadly I wasn't surprised . He is one of those v childish men who gets v moody and if he is in one of those moods everyone has to know about it. He has not adjusted at all well to being a dad and has toddler tantrums about his sleep/amount of attention he gets/baby crying etc. I can't say I was hugely shocked that his verbal unpleasantness has progressed to another level .

Right off to watch The Event - anyone else watching? Recorded from Friday night.

Pssst, Dewin, over here....

GLTC easel is here - different (and cheaper) than letter box and you can get 15% off with free deliver here.

your friend has such a f*ckwit of a DH Knitting.

1. yeah deb!!!!
2. yeah going!!!!
3. yeah dewin!!!!

Thanks Knitting - we've gone ahead and ordered one after looking at both it and the BJCM over the weekend. I really liked the fold on the BJCM and it was more upright, but it was very big, in a vertical kind of way IYSWIM, and DN preferred the nipper. Also, and this may have been due to the time of day more than anything else, C wouldn't even sit in the BJCM whereas she quite liked the nipper! We've ordered it from boots, as by being in the parenting club we have earned 44 pounds of advantage card points. A friend offered to lend us a double maclaren, but it seemed so heavy as you say. I also felt that this poor baby was getting nothing new did you have the newborn insert for the nipper - reviews seem to suggest it's very small and not necessary?

Next on the agenda, can people please recommend a new change bag for me? (and a website to get it from) I had a bababing last time, which was good but disintegrated after a year's heavy use. I then had an oioi one from TKMaxx, but it doesn't hand on a buggy well and is almost too big, so need some new suggestions please. I seem to remember that dewin was an afficionado of the change bag...

interesting easel chat. we went to IKEA yesterday with the intention of buying one for my friend's daughter for her 2nd birthday, but we didn't have room for it in the car so will have to go back another day. it is quite tall. We are going to get one for C as we'll keep it in our 'conservatory' (which is a total cowboy job put up by the last owners and has no lighting or heating and should by rights be called a lean-to) so chalk dust won't be an issue really.

dewin are you going to take another test today?

Thanks again everyone! Was a really happy day - never thouight I would enjoy my wedding as couldn't stand the thought of people watching so eloping was fantastic and it was a very relaxed happy day! Amber - I loved the colour of the dress too, was so pleased when I found it in the sale after eying it up for ages!

Knitting - your friends dh sounds awful and much like my fil. He sulks like a child, as far as I know he hasn't been physically agressive but I really couldn't put up with his sulking.

Debs - not long until you move now, you must be pleased to be comming to the end of a very long process.

biscuits, we have a newborn insert you could borrow if you want? As M was teeny tiny we absolutely did need it, but I would imagine most normal size babies would be fine! You're welcome to the loan rather than buying one.

As for change bags, we also had the babababa bing which I never really liked. We now have the skip hop duo which is designed for twins - absolutely brilliant! Loads and loads of room, pockets etc and easily hangs over the handles of the nippper.

HTH .

Oooh skip hop duo - knitting I must remember that as I need a biggun now. Still undecided as to nipper or mountain buggy.

Easels - can't remember if I have said but we have the elc one - £30. Has a blackboard on one said e and magnetic thing on the other with a clip for paper. Also has a tray to catch dust and put the chalks. Luke loves it!

Just had an acupuncture treatment and he used moxa for the first time (smoking herbs). I now smell like I have a weed habit and have to go and collect P from preschool in an hour

Spider I had Moxa when I had accupuncture - it stinks but it's so lovely all that heat on your back.

Is anyone's toddler driving them bonkers at the moment. DH is just home for lunch with S and he's so shouty and wilful and just throws himself around so is always knocking things over or bumping into things. All normal stuff I'm sure but really irritating!

Changing bags - DH had the same bababing one that you had Biscuits but it always seemed to big and bulky for me. I have a storksak bag which I like because it doesn't actually look like a changing bag but still has the features you need. They're not the biggest inside though. There are a lot of cross-body satchel/bigger bags around just now - do you definitely need a 'changing' bag. Might be worth checking out what handbags are around that might suit your needs? Check out buggy clip options too? My bugaboo is a bugger to hang bags on, but I know that you can buy clips that fit it to hang bags off (I have just never got round to it).

Fab on getting £44 back from the Boots parenting club Biscuits. The parenting club is so much better now and you get points on all their baby stuff rather than just specific brands I think. Have you re-registered with number 2? Right, have finished lunch, so back to the books!

Amber - being on my stomach is not an option at the moment so it was on my shins. I can imagine the back would be good though. It's the first time I have used acupuncture and I think the theory behind it is fascinating and confusing at the same time. Apparently I have a "yang deficiency" .No idea if it's doing any good though - only time will tell if this baby makes a timely appearance through the normal exit!

I am also interested in the changing bag chat as mine is rather small for two sets of stuff.

knitting that would fab if you are sure? thank you so much! shall I send you my address on fb?

domestic I have a big caribiner type clip on my bugaboo so can hang things from that, but the bababing hung off it really well with no clips. Am hoping to get something that will hang off the nipper in the same way! I like the storksak ones but look a bit small for me, C was a vomit-tastic baby and needed to take a couple of changes of clothes everywhere, so am expecting the same again! Re: parenting club, Yes, have re-registered with no 2 as it expires when your LO turns 2 (and they don't tell you that except in the small print!)(amber, spider had you realised this?))

*Deb how's the packing going?

going to go and have a look at the skip hop duo now!

Going sorry, kept forgetting to say congratulations. Your wedding pictures are gorgeous and you look like a lovely family

Should be signing now but our solicitor seems to have disappeared. The estate agent thought he(solicitor) should be able to meet us this afternoon to sign. Yesterday was a bank holiday and so I sent e-mails so that he's get them 1st thing and would call to arrange the meeting. I have spoken to the office twice and they say they don't know where he is AARGH Hi mobile goes straight through to the office, give me strength, and get me back to the UK soon.

Packing going slowly, just off to the tip(again)

Can I add my congratulations belatedly too going - I did 'like' your pics on FB but feel I should send congrats here too! Eloping such a fantastic thing to do!! (Don't tell my mum people can still get married after 3rd child though - she has finally given up on us, and I don't want her getting any ideas! )

Deb by the end of our house moving process I would have paid good money to strip the fingernails out of one particular solicitors' firm in our chain. Slowly. You must be so frustrated - hope he turns up post-haste!!

I realise now I am a bit of a failure on the changing bags front - we are still very happily using a Samsonite rucksack I had years before having children, four years in and counting and it's still doing the job!

systems - I am using the one that came free with Boots stuff!!! I like that skip hop duo Knitting although I need the skip hop duo double which is wide enough for the double buggy.

Biscuits let me know how the Nipper goes as I am massively leaning towards this one. Read a which review of the Mountain Buggy which talks about how cumbersome it is and doesn't have too much of a good thing to say about it!

Deb - how frustrating!!!!

One for Essie if Iestyn is still wanting a buggy - Bugaboo have launched a double buggy out in April called the Bugaboo Donkey - it's really nice! Bit like the City Twin though but probably will be about 10 x more expensive!

Yes, FB me Biscuits. Amber I have the double one and it fits perfectly on my nipper.

thanks knitting - will fb you now. I love our thread!

Bugaboo Donkey - what a name. Amber I will keep you posted on my nipper progress - certainly a lot cheaper than the MB, a colleague is due twins in Dec, and he ahd is wife are going with a nipper.