dec 2008- the one where they all turn 2...probably.

[VagolaJahooli]

Sorry bit boring I know but I didn't want to make any reference to spot as I don't want to jinx her and have her baby come early, then it would be my fault. Also didn't want the mad rush at the end of the thread. This way we've had plenty of time.

WG it is a new poster who is local to us, the ruined christmas thread. Has quite a lot of posts on our "local" bit too. All getting a bit . I tried ot be nice though

Hope everyone is haivng lovely birthdays! So much better than first birthdays. I washed all the doll house furniture I got off e-bay last night, next job to scrub up my old doll house to put it all in so excited! Planning dd's Shrek cake. It will have to have all the characters on it though, don't hink she'll let me do it any other way "Shrek mummy and the princess, the princess mummy I'm a princess mummy look! and donkey and the drangon! look mummy dragon!

Vag that is bloody early, sounds like your nights away can't happen soon enough!

Dragged dcs through the snow to toddler today and found the church all locked up. Why? The roads are fine now we've had no fresh snow for a few days! Ds went into meltdown, dragged them to post office then went to get gingerbread me to make it all better. Dd kept falling asleep in the sledge on teh way home, waking up and complaining. Don't balme her, not the most comfortable place to sleep is a sledge!

Crikey, if I'd been up since 3 I would be set to murder DS2. No the Netherlands is + 1 hour not -1, so it was actually only 5 am.

DS2 had his 2year developmental check today and passed with flying colours. He has dropped down a teeny bit on the weight chart, below the dutch 50th centile but he's fine. He is 87cm so if you do that double height at 2 years thing he will be 174cm which is about his dads height, so no giant but not too short either. I think DS1 was projected to be closer to 180 so he'll be much taller. Apparently his testicles and foreskin are fine, though he was none to pleased to be having these fiddled with.

After his check up we rode over to a friends for a coffee morning with a bunch of the mums. He fell asleep on the way so I got to chill out while he slept upstairs. The girls had made me a cake and sang happy birthday which was sweet.

Right gotta go sort a bad nappy out.

SL 9.35am Wednesday I'm on that train, in first class Woohoo, bound for Antwerp. Just a teeny bit desperate.

Twice height at 2? Poor ds. In think he is only 75 cm
tall. That will make him shorter than me!! Come on do some
eating boy - no men like being short.

Happy Birthday Vag
Happy Birthday BabyBeans Hope the tooth is ok MumBeans

Happy Birthday Vaggie! (thought it was tom)

So glad we didnt do WW today it is soo cold out.

vag Happy Birthday...you certainly deserve your impending break after all these early starts you've been having

Oh yikes, better not measure DD1 - she is a tiddler and DP has always slightly moaned that my lack of height will give us short children. It's rubbish anyway as I am 5'6" which is above average height.

I too am of the school of 'any old jazzy sentimental crap' on the Christmas tree! We have got some odd ones, like a feather trimmed high heeled mule and a baseball boot! And birds with real feathers on. And some music notes.

Good job we didn't go to WW as I have been a washout all day. Jam, I hope you are feeling better, your throat sounded nasty.

Spot hasn't posted for a couple of days. You do realise, Spot, that if you don't post daily we will suspect you have gone into labour

Vag, re: Christmas visit, I absolutely hate people coming to DP's as it is a tiny cluttered mess (albeit one with lovely views) but that is a stupid reason not to see you all if you are coming all the way from the Netherlands. So of course you would be welcome - was it Mon 20th? Rubes, I would love to get over to yours on the 22nd but unless DP isn't working and can bring me, it's just a bit too much on public transport tbh. Daft really as it's closer than London, just awkward! Maybe I am being a wimp as I do really want to see you.

Avo, did you get home ok in the end? Have you had any further thoughts about the house/au pair etc? What are your Christmas plans, are you and DH off for a good chunk of time?

Urbane, what did you decide about work? Must be so hard. And it's nice about your DSIL but bound to be painful for you. You poor old thing. I hope you have got lots of beacons of things to look forward to.

DB, your sister sounds like such a stalwart. My gosh, she is far away from you. How lovely for her that her DH is back. How is your Nan, by the way?

Hello Indith, nice to see you. I saw that 'Christmas is ruined' thread. I thought the lady was a little unfortunate and annoying but I also thought some people were rather smug and horrid and judgy (not you, obviously). Sigh. She didn't really help herself but it depresses me how uncharitable some people are on the wider MN!

NJAN, you said it felt like people on here were looking out for you. Of course we are looking out for you, silly! Now, have you treated yourself yet? Treats and time to oneself are like medicine. Even if they are something one can only get a tiny bit of, just so important for the soul!

ZJ, did you buy that SS book yet for your colleague? What about a copy of A Christmas Carol? Did somebody say that? Or, Toast, by Nigel Slater, which is his memoir but is really a book about food and love.

Invis, I bought Never Let Me Go yesterday. I think you've read it - any good? Oh, and I bought The Help as well, largely because people on here said it was good. Which books are you hoping to find in your Christmas stocking?

Beans, how is your tooth (or lack of) now?

My weekend away was so nice. And it is wonderful to have a spiffy new mattress in my flat instead of a thin and lumpy one which hurt my back. I missed the girls vv much but racing round town without having to manhandle a buggy and a sling and attend to the needs of two small children was undeniably blissful.

Vag, I hope you have a lovely time in Antwerp. I know of a very nice restaurant that I went to with my friend Nadine who lives there, if you want a tip...He is a Dutch 'celebrity chef', of sorts. I can't remember his name or the name of the restaurant, but could find out.

Vaggie, is it your birthday today? You dark horse! Happy Birthday!

Sorry you didn't all get to ww but glad you didn't get out in the cold.

It is tomorrow jam, we have a reg Monday meet up and I guess as this is the closest one to my birthday I got cake! Thanks Rubes.

SL I really don't know how true it is I only remembered it because a expat lady who was also at the clinic today mentioned it. DS1 actually shot up after 2, I just realised his predicted height is actually based on the UK growth chart prediction not the double at 2. I'm not sure what he was at 2, might check.

lady thanks for asking about my Nan. She's notgreat tbh. Her op has been put back to the 17th Dec. I'm not sure how she'll react if they cancel it again. I went to see her yesterday and came away with a couple of my Grandad's cardigans. May sound a little strange but when i was younger and cold, he always gave me his cardi. Anyway, they make wonderful 'comfy clothes' (basically slob on the sofa in some comy /warm stuff) and its like he's still giving me a hug.

jam how are you feeling btw any better?

Oh and DD is the Angel Gabriel in the school nativity. Can't wait

Gosh crossed posted a bit.

Thanks lady & DB. It's ok lady I completely understand, esp as DS2 is a bit of a raving lunatic at the moment. Let's leave it and if your in London at all from the 22nd to the 29th we'll try meeting up. It's a tricky time of year and the boys will have been confined to a car the day before so might not be a fun meet up.

DS2 just went postal big time not really sure what started him off and thought I might be teeth as he was really upset so I gabe him calpol which he spat back at me. I have to confess I was so frustrated by this and the screaming that I gave him a little smack which I feel terrible about. I found some remedies and threw those at him and the DS1 & I retreated in fear for our hearing, to the kitchen. He settled down soon after and came looking for us for cuddles...poor little pet. He really gets so worked up. Terrible 2's here we come. I think i might start spiking his water with pulsatilla....or tammys!

Oh deids that is so lovely about your GD's cardigans. How lovely.

Hello everyone

I wonder if the height at 2 is very accurate - Matthew is HUGE and I reckon close to a m. He'll be a very tall boy if so. DH and I are both tall though, so it wouldn't be a surprise.

Any more takers for the secret santa? And vaggie, could you email me where you'll be in London as I have singularly failed to get the parcel of goodies over to Den Haag so I might have more luck with canary wharf.

Deids, I thought what you said about your grandad's cardigan was lovely and very moving. I wish I could give you a big hug. Take lots of tissues to the nativity play. It is so adorable to see them all dressed up and to hear them wobble through "away in a manger". I usually sit behind a pillar so I can blub in peace.

AM shattered today and everyone around me seems to be ill. M has just been sick but it now asleep. Girls both snoozing so very early. I am about to make a list whilst watching Miranda. Is anyone else a fan? I LOVE it and think she is hilarious. I have so much to do it is a bit frightening.

Vag, when you are in London town, might you be free for evening drinks? WOuld love to see you. Don't want to crash any other plans though so let me know if you are free and we'll hjook up. You have my number don't you (alas I don't have yours anymore since the sad passing of my mobile last week. If you text me I'd be really grateful).

Lots of love to you all. And happy birhtday to Whizz for today and Vag for tomorrow.

Vag, don't feel terrible, they push and push us and sometimes with the best will in the world we all snap. I've been there darling and I know it's rotten. He won't remember it. Be kind to yourself.

DBs I meant to add earlier your SIS is amazing, again feeling a bit of a lightweight. I hope she gets a little mummy holiday when he gets back.

Lady I would love that restaurant recommendation, I have just downloaded 'the help' to my itouch. I know that is sacrilege but to get English book here I either have to pay over the odds or order in from UK. I wasnt organised enough to get a delivery sorted from amazon so download is best for this trip.

I'm made a easy peasy base for my boys quiche tonight, mash potato, with some fine cornmeal mixed in with an egg, a teeny bit of water and milk then spread on the base of quiche dish then eggy quiche stuff on top. Easy and boys loved it.

Will text you now Sybs with address and number of course.

Evening all, fear not Lady I am not in labour, just had my mum down for the weekend and been busy all day so no chance to post. I promise if I am I will get right on the thread so you can have a (probably undesired) blow by blow account of how things are going.

Had a nice weekend, although I was v ready for mum to leave this morning, she does drive me crackers. But she is so good with T and he really loves her so I shouldn?t moan. I waver between wishing she was nearer and, when she does visit, being relieved she doesn?t.

We did order the pool in the end, one that costs £££ and is only a hire one but it is up for four weeks and you only have to flick a switch and it heats up, so if I have a super fast labour I hope we can seamlessly transfer to the pool rather than faff about with hoses as well as getting T away to friends. We go and collect it this Fri when I?ll be exactly 37 weeks and officially allowed a home birth.

Have tried some perineal massage ? didn?t bother first time but since I had a 2nd degree tear thought I?d give it a go. But ouch and yuck! All it does it make me think of the pain of childbirth. I?d rather cross that bridge when I come to it.

Effie, glad you had a good night out and enjoyed the play. Did you go home that night or have a sneaky assignation in a London hotel?

Vag, sorry for your repeated early mornings, you are handling them a lot better than I would. I can almost deal with them in the summer when it?s light, but whe you have three hours of darkness awaiting you it?s grim grim grim. Hope you have a lovely birthday tomorrow and enjoy your trip away. You really deserve it!

Glad Whizz had a nice birthday, Beans, sounds like you?ve had a fab time. How's the poorly tooth?

Indith I saw that thread last night, was one of those compulsive ones where it?s nada to do with me but I had to keep reading, Hope it?s all calmed down now.
Am v impressed with your Shrek cake plan, you are a braver woman than I. I?d be down Asda faster than you can say ?e number?.

WG how are you doing? What postcode is Bounds Green??? Need to get onto rightmove. Predictably enough, DP is now making noises about staying here .

Interesting about the height thing, would make T over 6ft which is prob about right. He?s just moved up to the toddler room at nursery and has developed some serious attitude to go with it. Plus the inevitable going all floppy and lying down in the middle of the road just to be annoying. Bad at the best of times but not advisable in this weather?

Sorry WW didn?t make it off the ground, hope you can reschedule. Glad you had a nice time at the weekend, Lady, and that you like the new mattress. As you?re so sleep deprived at the moment anyway you might as well get as good quality kip as you can when you get it.

Sorry to hear your nan?s not doing so well, Deids, though I guess it?s to be expected under the circumstances. That?s lovely about the cardis though

Sybs fingers crossed the illness in your household is short-lived. It?s stressful enough at the best of times but when you have loads of stuff to do as well?

How are you feeling now Rubes?

Right, will cease my witterings and get onto the most recent episode of Mad Men on iplayer

I just had a look in DS2's old UK red book and he according to its projected centiles will be 177cm so the double at 2 thing isn't really that accurate. Interesting thing though, the dutch centile charts are based on its own population, and they update them every 5 years.

Spot I drink a lot of coffee and get shouty very easily.

Vag - happy birthday for tomorrow - and have a fabby time in Antwerp, its a great city for a bit of fun! I'm off to Brussels tomorrow so we'll almost cross. For work anyway, but will get an evening with some lovely friends in Belgium so am looking forward to it (if only DD is OK with it).

DS is a shortie - he seems to be about a head shorter than all his buddies, but not surprising as he is sorely lacking in tall genes in the family. I hope he can be sanguine about it when he grows up.

Effie - your night out sounds lovely. Sigh for an evening of theatre.

DB - you and your family always sound so caring and wonderful. I know what you mean about the clothes of someone you care for.

LadyT - Never let me go is v good indeed - stuck with me for a long time and its at least a couple of years since I read it. I'm always a bit rubbish at figuring out what I want to read ahead of time - I tend to impulse buy in the bookshop! I do want to read the new Franzen though. And I caught a snippet of the new Helen Dunmore on the radio (sequel to the seige) which I enjoyed. Really though, I quite like being surprised by the unexpected.

Jam at your facebook post - taking down xmas trees is impressive stuff!

All OK here, except DD is starting to make her views known about me being around less. For the last week or so she has refused to let me put her to bed and if I have tried has ended up having a tantrum about it, insisting that she wants her daddy. Last night i asked her why and she said its because "he doesn't work in an office by a tube station, but works upstairs at home instead" and that's why he is her favourite. I know that goes with the territory, and I should just be grateful that DH is around. What I need to figure out what to do about it. DH is all for insisting that she lets me read her stories etc as I don't get to see her and its not fair. But then it doesn't seem very fair to make her feel guilty about how she feels. I guess it will all come out in the wash over xmas when I am home a bit. DS on the other hand is a simple soul who is just a complete klingon when I am around.

WHere is everyone? Happy birthday Vag.

I'm here but tidying. Happy Birthday Vag! More later.

hello all
I have a quiet moment - P is asleep and dh is out watching L in her school nativity. I watched it this afternoon. She was a narrator and read so well and clearly, but any proud mummy feelings were fairly well squished by embarrassment and shame as she stood on the stage, in full view, sctatching her fanjo for a good few minutes Itch or pant-related difficulty I am not sure, but it didn't go unnoticed. Other parents were laughing and commented to me afterwards about her front bum antics . She's under strict instruction to keep her fingers on her script tonight
Talking of front bums, I have fanny physio tomorrow and I'm due to have the muscle strength measuring probe thing inserted this time - and I'll have Phoebe with me! I'm so glad she can't talk - I dread to think of the tales she'd tell at nursery if she could
invis that's rotten about your dd. I can't remember how old she is? I guess it's her way of punishing you - and it works - but she'll pass through this phase and you'll be number one again (or equal first with dh!). It's so hard when they've no idea about money and work and sacrifice, but she'll understand one day.
syb I LOVE Miranda Missed it last night but have taped Sky +ed it so think I'll watch it tonight.
spot glad you've had some help from your mum. And that's exciting about the birthing pool! Eek not long now
vag hope you've had a good birthday with plenty of cake involved!
Oh - family is back home, bye for now x

Happy birthday Vag!

Well DD was v poorly for her birthday yesterday so we couldn't go on a day out but had a nice little party anyway. We couldn't go anywhere last week either because of the weather (we were supposed to be going up north to have a party for DD there). So I've had all this time off work and been more or less housebound, but it's been nice to chill out with the DCs. Needed a rest though anyway.

Haven't looked at the birthday list but happy birthday to any of the LOs I've missed and any upcoming.

Enjoyed reading the cocktail chat a while back (urbane, we need a league table) - made me think we should have a virtual cocktail party sometime, i.e. arrange to all be online at the same time. Cocktails can be virtual or real of course - I won a bottle of pre-mixed mojito in a raffle today so that's me sorted. Actually it's probably revolting - anybody tried it?

It doesn't sound like we've quite managed to pull off any Christmas meet-ups which I'm secretly pleased about as I'm too busy at the moment (not with the Christmas social whirl you understand, just moving house & new job). Shall we make a big effort and organise something for Jan? I can do Fridays or even a weekend.

New job starts tomorrow. Boo. Busy getting ready so can't hang around and chat unfortunately. Sorry no personals but there is just too too much to catch up on and my brain is too small to remember it all.

Not sure if I'll manage to get on much in the next couple of weeks - we move next Friday and not sure how long it will take to get broadband etc.

bugger and bollocks Syb what happened in the last 2 mins of Miranda my stupid sky plus stopped just as she sat on the sofa saying I do want to move on.?