June 08 - 42 days til Christmas, and Deb is coming home!!

[KnittingisbetterthanTherapy]

The old one was taking too long to load!

love the high-chair ktpie!

I'm going to see the school christmas play today. Ds1 is an alien in the choir and dd is a carol singer, should be good fun! I am a fainter due to my low blood pressure and this year the school are reserving me a special seat near the stairs so I can pop out for some air if necessary - I felt very loved when they suggested it!

Dh is coming home this weekend before flying off somewhere else on Monday. I have a full weekend of diy planned for him! I do feel a bit guilty about it to be honest but it needs to be done and he is just going to have to suck it up I'm afraid.

mmmmm dishwasher tablets! The high chair is great! Luke never uses his now so we only need to buy one thankfully. I bet there is such as thing as that table somewhere.

Sybil - good luck with not fainting today!!

I make mac and cheese with hidden cauliflower all the time but yours sounds nicer ktpie. love the double highchair too!!!

sybil DS1 is a king in the school play, he's very excited. I think they are going a more traditional route - but it would be interesting to see how an alien fits in!!! Hope your DH gets home safe today.

The snow here is finally melting off the roads. The back roads are a bit questionable but things are definitely moving. DH will be disappointed though as his ice rink is melting and we've not even really skated on it yet.

Sybil - That happens to my DH all the time, poor man has a full schedule of work to do at the weekends, and most evenings. If he wasn't so anti tradesmen and determined to do everything himself life could be a little easier.
For example a couple of weekends ago I had to help him fit a new radiator in the van, it was freezing out and getting dark and we both agreed that it was one of those occasions when we should have sent it to a garage, but at that point it was too late. We got it sorted in the end, after a bit of cursing.

I hope you don't faint at the play!

Amber - I thought the table looked like it might contain the mess a bit more, I'm almost tempted to cut a hole in the middle of our kitchen table for H! Our kitchen floor is always filthy these days from all the food he drops.

Abdn - I made cauliflower cheese using the same recipe, which worked really well, hadn't thought of combining the macaroni cheese and cauliflower, I might try that. Chorizo is my new secret ingredient, it's cheap, lasts forever in the fridge and you only need a bit to liven something up.
I hope the ice rink survives for long enough for you to have a go.

J in a really restless mood this morning, TV seems to be the only thing that is amusing him.

ktpie, is the high chair real or a spoof? I can't figure it out! First link didn't work what was it? Cute stories about J and H. Distraction and 'helping' work well with T too. It is mostly about attention. The temp shot up here yesterday - it felt lovely and warm and it was only 7C! Your mac cheese sounds lovely - theirs was out of a tin I think!

The dts are getting masses of brio train track and thomas trains and engines for christmas (think I may have said that already!) and we bought two diggers yesterday, they are fab but very noisy! I 'hid' them on top of my wardrobe thinking they'll never see them up there - but Theo saw them in the mirror [doh]. I have covered them up with a towel now and he hasn't mentioned them since! I'm sure it won't have ruined the surprise as they are a bit young to know what's going on aren't they.

Daniel's sleep regressed quite a bit over the last few days (waking 2-3 times a night) so to my shame I got my Gina Ford book out and yest tried to follow the routine... and then he slept 11-6am . I did give him some Calpol too tho cos he was very whingy and chewing hands so that might have been it rather than GF. But trying to stick to the routine again today.

Toilet training going really well now - we don't get many accidents now and they only have nappies on at night (and even then they often shout to use the potty after going to bed). Theo often wakes with a dry nappy - his bladder must be huge! He has started asking for the potty too now which is a big step forward, previously I would have to watch him and stick him on when he looked like he needed to go. Earlier I was on FB when he shouted 'potty!' and when i turned round he had his trousers round his ankles . Then he did a wee in the potty - he loves to press the flush and watch it go down the loo .

Neenz - first link was an offer on Finish dishwasher tablets, a yummy snack for Amber. I think the high chair is real but I am the most gullible person in the world so who knows.

Daniel is sleeping better than my baby Neenz, and my baby is 10 months old now so not so much a baby anymore . I've been bringing him into our bed in the night, partly because it is warmer than sitting in his room, and now I'm paying for it. He woke up at about midnight last night then just after 5am, so a grand total of about 5 hours sleep for me. I need to toughen up on him.

No blooming Tesco wine delivery yet, I'd ring them but after wasting hours trying to speak to them earlier on in the week I'm not too enthusiastic. Plus I don't imagine for one minute they will give me a useful answer.

There has been a fair bit of thawing going on here today, although our drive still has a hefty cover of snow. DH said today was the worst day for cycling in to work so far as there was water on top of the ice so very slippy.

Oh and Neenz, we have a whole routine of saying bye bye to the wees or poos as they go down the loo. After lunch it was "Bye bye big poo"

No fainting, hurrah! I didn't even have to leave which is very very good for me. It was really lovely, especially the really little reception kids doing the nativity bit. One of the shepherds had his sheep in a headlock to make sure he got to the right place on the stage and it was so funny and sweet I almost cried and neither of them were my children!

Oh I would have been bawling. Just the thought of luke ever being in a nativity makes me cry!

Luke is so far away from potty training . He came in this morning at 5.30am with his PJ bottoms off and his nappy off and was holding a clean nappy. He just said change my nappy mummy, this one is soggy!

He will be fine once you start Amber, which of course you wont be doing just yet! If he is telling you when he needs his nappy changing he is ready

ktpie, having them in bed is difficult to crack isn't it. theo is getting quite adventurous with describing his poo. They used to be 'big brown snake' but today we had 'elephant', 'penguin' and 'zebra' I dont know what goes on in that boy's mind.

T sounds great, Neenz . E sounds like a lovely adventurous little thing as well.

Sybil glad you remained vertical! I saw the reception nativity play today, too, and thought it was gorgeous. I dropped T off at nursery and they said that they'd been planning to take the children to see it (tradition to invite local nurseries to see the dress rehearsal) but as so many staff were ill, they couldn't do it. It gave me the excuse I needed to see it - otherwise I wouldn't have done.

I bought 5 dresses and 2 cardies today. I'm so happy. I am usually the world's worst shopper but I was on fire today. I have even waited until DH has approved them before posting. I know that sounds awful but he has a better eye than I do and I trust his judgment more than my own.

C's nativity today - she insisted on standing up rather than sitting with the other reindeers, then half way through saw us, decided she wanted a cuddle, wandered across the stage, climbed on my lap and refused to join back in - it'll all be on the DVD so we'll have to buy it and play it back at her 18th . L's first school one is next week and I'm just holding my breath on that one - anything could happen! Last year at nursery he was the understudy for everyone as they discovered he had learned the whole play by heart during rehearsals, so he played different parts in 3 different performances and was an absolute star. But it could all go the other way if he is overwhelmed by noise / attention ... we'll see!

No toilet training tips here as we've only just got it with the older one, but did recognise the progression from snakes to other animals; since starting school L now poos letters and shapes I'm waiting for a dodecahedron!

Aw, loving the nativity stories and well done for not fainting sybil!

Amber, we're not potty training either - S can't be bothered with it just now and I think it will be so much quicker and easier if we just wait a while, so that's what we're doing [hopeful]

I've not had time to post much lately, lots of skim reading and quick posts.

Delighted to report that we're having a pretty rapid thaw here. I'm amazed by how much snow has thawed in the last 24 hours. Mind you - the temperature has jumped up by 15 degrees or more . I was really pleased (and very that the roads were cleared yesterday! Last year, they didn't get touched. Our local MP/Councillors really complained though - we're in one of the highest residential areas in Edin and usually worse affected by show. I think their efforts got us bumped up the priority list this year for snow clearing.

Annoyingly, we hadn't covered our garden furniture and the paintwork (which we paid someone to redo in the summer) is completely ruined now after the snow and freezing conditions . It's a cheap ikea set, but we paid about what the actual set cost to get it all sanded and painted rather than throw it away.

On the discipline chat, we use a mixture of ignore, distraction, time out etc too. We're quite lucky in that S isn't too bad, so I try and pick my battles carefully. Dinner/tea time is still a complete mare though and has been for well over a year now I think! It always starts with S refusing to want to come to the table and having a complete tantrum. We either ignore him or he goes for a time out. After a complete meltdown he'll come and eat. Have no idea what else to try. I don't want to make mealtimes a battle at all. Once he comes to the table he will eat his meal quite happily.

I think part of the problem is, by the time we come home from work/nursery and get tea organised it's quite late (6.30-7pm) so he's a bit cranky by then. There's nothing we can do about that though. I have thought about doing him something quick and easy when we get in (toddler teas like toast and beans etc) as he gets a hot meal at nursery, but on the other hand, he's very good at eating what we eat, so I don't want to put him on a path of only eating 'child' food IYSWIM (I appreciate he might go down this path all by himself though ).

Spider I can't believe William is a month old! That's gone really quickly. That means you're nearly out of the newborn fog doesn't it? Do you get that fuzzy fog the second time around? I didn't manage to get your book in the post this week, sorry, but shall get it posted to you next week if that's ok?

Mince pies hope all is well through West with you - hopefully we can arrange a catch up in the new year and I can get a wee cuddle with D.

We're all looking forward to Christmas here (no surprise there ). Actually, on discipline, we're finding 'Santa's watching!' quite effective just now. S is loving his advent calendar (it's a truck, and we have to check each day to see if the elves have left a little treat in one of the drawers for him), he had great fun decorating the tree and making cards, and is very excited about Santa coming to visit.

After all my early present wrapping I'm now feeling terribly disorganised. I did a load of Christmas baking and then we ate it , I never got round to ordering Christmas cards so they won't arrive till next week, and I never got round to buying tickets for the Christmas concert that Mince Pies linked to ages ago and now there's only rubbish seats left. Actually Mince Pies is the Glasgow one today? Have a great time!

We are taking S to this park next week though (weather permitting!) to see Santa though so that will be lots of fun.

On the subject of Christmas baking though, I think our next thread should be mince pie related. I read about Puree/Valium baking mince pies on FB, ktpie has turned into a mince pie, Biscuits doesn't want to eat mince pies, and i think everyone should have another mince pie

I think this is a pretty long post now, so to everyone I haven't mentioned!

Hello,

Been meaning to post but not getting the perfect opportunity and so keep putting it off.

Keepcalm yes that will be fine about the book. I wish it had a solution to toddlers waking at 5am but it doesn't! I am definitely out of the newborn fog. I think you have to be second time round as the toddler needs a functioning mummy asap. W will be 5 weeks tomorrow, TBH I am a bit sad it is going so quickly, he is already out of newborn clothes.

Rolf and others thanks for your concerns about W's hearing. I'm not sure whether it is a cause for serious concern, probably not. I am a bit blasé about all his health issues (abdomen still looks odd, and he is cross eyed), it's when/if they find something specific that I will be in bits. He seems like a v normal baby, so I am assuming he is.

Thanks for the compliments on my rationale for middle names. I should also add that the other factor is giving them something a little wacky to offset the v conventional first names. Maya the opposite logic to you . My middle name is Elizabeth and as was the middle name of half the girls in my year, I quite like the idea of a middle name being difficult for someone else to guess. DH's best mate's middle name is the pub where his parents conceived him in the beer garden.

Amber you'd be crazy to even think of potty training Luke at the moment. I think P has handled W's arrival really well but he has still been v unsettled about one or two things. A friend said to me not to do it 3 months either side of a new baby.

DH has gone out on a Christmas do and abandoned me with a bottle of wine. He hardly ever goes out so I can't really complain.

J fell down the toilet last night! After he had gone to bed we heard a scream/shout, DH went up and we had forgotten to put the kiddie seat on and he had tried to sit on the loo and fallen in. I was concerned that he would be put off using the toilet but we woke up this morning to the noise of him in the bathroom, DH rushed in as we had taken the seat off during the night but he had put the seat on himself and was busy having a wee

Amber - I agree with everyone else that knowing they are wet and being bothered by it is a sign that they are starting to get ready to potty train. But I would definitely leave it until you are settled down with the twins first.

Rolf - well done on the shopping. I really could do with some new clothes but I hate clothes shopping.

Mincepie - our mealtimes often start out like that, particularly lunch time. I tend to just ignore him and eventually he settles down and is fine.

The nativity plays all sound really sweet.

Spider - about the beer garden! I think the cross eyed thing is fairly normal in the early days.

The snow has pretty much all gone here. We went to Calke Abbey this afternoon, it was great to get out after being stuck inside, they had a lovely craft show on, one of those ones that aren't too twee and pretty much every stall has a lot of things you would happily buy (if you had enough cash!). We managed to be restrained and I very subtly got DH to buy me a bangle for Christmas

Best get back to the wine.

Aw, poor J ktpie! Great that he doesn't seemed fazed by it though.

I think you're right not to stress out about William's health issues Spider. I think the 'he seems happy and healthy despite x,y,z' approach is a very sensible one S had a squint when he was born - I spoke to my optician who said it was really common and is usually fine by about age 2. They did offer to check him out as they said they might be able to spot if it was likely to be permanent. I didn't bother though and he's ok now. Sounds like the medical professionals are all keeping an eye on the other issues for you.

Oh dear, I've killed the thread!

Extremely quick post as I am feeling dreadful today but re potty training, I need to get Luke on the toilet let alone a potty by April when he starts his pre school.

Typical - after saying the other day that S's behaviour wasn't too bad, he's been a complete demon the last couple of days. Lots of defiance and general wilful behaviour. Have sent him to his room as he's driving me bonkers!

Amber April is a long way off! I'm sure he will be tolilet rrained by then, when he is ready he will have it cracked in just a couple of days!

Oh I hope so Going and Mince pies, Luke is like that all the time - he can be a real monster but MArk thinks it's just him and all other kids are little angels - I will show him this!

Marking spot, hi everyone xx

Also marking spot, will try and post properly soon.

Yep, marking spot too.

J is a little demon, and I say this with all the love in my heart. He can be really lovely and kiss and cuddle you, but he is a whirlwind of energy and sometimes that just cannot be contained nicely in the body of a small boy. I think it is unrealistic to expect them to be really well behaved at this stage. At long as he is not hurting anyone or damaging anything I try not to be too hard on him.

Deb are you going to be at free anytime between 29th and 1st? Against my better judgement looks like we will be visiting Pils over New Year weather permitting... Catching up with you would be a pleasant diversion from MIL .