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.

Hello Ladies

NJAN - I am glad to hear you are feeling more chipper. I know exactly what you mean re enjoying playing SAHM. I also have 2.5 weeks off over Christmas and shall be relishing acting the same part.

Jolly - I'm glad you are being referred to a real expert. How many weeks are you now?

Sybs - You are AMAZING to manage a run after a bad night and when feeling sick. Seriously super woman. And it's good to hear that things are improving with your DH.

Spot - Nooooo to further illness. You poor, poor lady. You have some great advice here re the first weeks. My best tip is to have a really good sling to carry DC2 while playing with DC1. And be relaxed about your standards slipping with regard to cooking, cleaning and caring for T. Try to babymoon for the first few days. Esp if you are going to give breastfeeding another go. Tuck yourself in bed while DP serves you. Skin to skin with the baby and lots of rest for you.

I want to write a long post about how challenging I am finding DD2 right now. But I don't have the time or energy. She is just soooo sting willed. She has huge public tantrums. She never, ever stops talking. Ever. She provides a running commentary on her every thought. A very loud running commentary. She demands attention ALL the time. She has become a nightmare to settle in the evenings as she calls me back hundreds of times to discuss her birthday cake/her fav DVD/the Gruffalo... She is constantly naughty. I tell her not to wiggle and she'll chant "wiggle, wiggle, wiggle" while laughing and writhing. I tell her not to hit her sister and she shouts "N wants to hit A. N good at hitting A" and laughs some more. I turn by back and she pushes a chair to the kitchen counter and climbs up muttering "N play with kettle, mummy shout Nooooo" and sure enough she's reaching for the kettle. It is so tiring. Everyone remarks on her determination and volume. Even other mothers of toddlers. On the other hand she is bright, funny, affectionate and adorable. She charms people in a way her better behaved sister never has. There are rewards but I am struggling. And I feel sorry for DD1 who never gets a look in because she is quieter and less demanding.

Hmmmm. It seems I did have the energy for that ling post after all!

Oh Avo that does sound hard. And I know exactly what you mean about DD1, as you know our LO's are similar personality wise. I often feel that DS1 gets a raw deal I'm a similar way to your Dd1. Can I just say though that your DD2 sounds like she might be a genius! I know its hard but focus on the good bits if you can. I often get exasperated with DS2 and his decibel level and pushiness with other kids, then someone will point out that he so good natured and funny (he's developed quite a class clown thing lately) and I remember that he does have many likeable characteristics. Though that's probably not helpful for you day to day.

hello all,
Sorry not been on for god knows how long...I am knackered, DH keeps going away with work and I am busy and tired and never seem to get chance to post.

Happy birthday to babyVag and to spot for today. spot I hope you are doing ok it all sounds ridiculously stressful.

you don't want to ask me for tips on managing two at the moment as I am rubbish at the mo. Both screaming and being pains this evening. DS hit DD for no reason (well the reason was he wanted attention), she was screaming, i finally gave up on trying to get the dishwasher to work so was trying to wash up, DD was screaming. After crisis over DS comes up to me, puts his hand on my knee and says "BLOODY, BLOODY, BLOODY". At least I wasn't saying "Fuck". Actually I probably was hope he missed that bit. I managed to persuade him the word he was looking for was "Bubbly".

But anyway I agree with the tips given so far. Erm, I would go for trying to restrict TV a bit so that it can be a treat when you are feeding....so try and play with older one when not, and put tv on when you are as a treat. But this is just a variety of rubes's having toys around they don't know I guess.

Also seconded the tips on the bath thing. This is what I do now, though at the peak of DD's screaminess and DS's violence I bathed them every other day, only one a day!

My main tip would be if you are losing sanity, be lazy. So skip bath, or give sandwiches for tea if you are going up the wall as it won't kill them.

Rubes I can beat your falling down the stairs thing as DS ended up at A*&E at the weekend after diving off the bed onto a bedside cabinet. i wasn't in the room so I don't feel guilty for once, DH does though. Him and his friend were a bit giddy and jumping on the bed, 3 adults round the bed watching but none managed to catch him! I just heard a big thud and lots of screaming, and DH going, "Erm i think we need to ttake him to hospital....What do you think?", there was lots of blood and a gory looking head wound so the answer was yes, and we went to hospital abandoning DD with our friends. He is find though and he just had to have glue to stick it back together, no concussion that we know of or anything. It was quite scary at the time though.

I am meant to be going out to DHs Xmas do on friday but DD is not sleeping very well at the mo. What would you guys do, I have babysitter from nursery booked - but what do I do if she won't settle?? Is it fair to leave her with babysitter and a bottle of formula?? This is what I do if I go out without DH (i.e I leave her with DH) and effectively what happened on Sunday when we took DS to A&E, but with a random babysitter as a non emergency is this reasonable? She is asleep on top of me now but hasn't settled properly in her cot tonight yet. In additino it is black tie and I have nothing to wear. Nothing fits, I think I may have to wear dress I wore to wedding again, even though it is not black tie as I have nothing else smart. There is no way I am splashing out for a dress a size bigger than my normal size for a do imight not even get to go to anyway. Hmm...I would just skip it if I had my way but shall have to persuade DH.

Oh also I wanted to tell you DS's latest cheekiness. After taking longer to say "mummy" than hundreds of other words, his latest trick is as follows:
Me; Do you love Daddy
E: Love Daddy.
Me Do you love Helen?
E: Love HElen
Me: Do you love Grandad?
E: Love Gwandad
Me: Do you love Mummy?
E: Love [pause]....DADDY (or TRAINS or QUACK QUACKS or GWANDAD or something else random)

Charming.

x-posts with Avo. SOrry no good tips from me really. Your DD2 does sound very clever and funny though, but would drive me up the wall too! Especially things like climbing on the counter, that would scare me!

I have caught up but have to go sort out the house before crawling into bed. We went to town today for Dh work childrens Christmas Party and am pooped. Farkin throat is stil hurting 2 wks later. Took DS2 to the Dr's today he has ear infection adn throat infections asked the Doc about me and she said keep taking paracetemol. Surely there is a limit to the amount of painkillers I should be lobbing down my neck.

Will be back properly to do a a big catch up post. But just saw AVO post about her DD2 my DS2 is very similar but without the chatting we have screaming today for example he did his level best to run out of the room we were in for the party. BP are very H&S concious and you can barely breath without having to complete a form. So the fact that my almost 2yr old kept pegging it into the offices was met with some raised eyebrows. He also climbs ontot he wortops all the time I have some incredibly sharp global cooks knives on my worktop which he now reaches. Oh and this mornig he climbed up onto my bathroom windowsill and I found him trying to shave. SO my love you are not alone.

Right really need to go sort out the ;aundry, dishes, a million other things.

Hello all, I miss you! And have missed soooo many second birthdays :( sending belated wishes to babyBeans, babyPD, babyKatie, BabyModern, babyRubes, babyTrace, babyVeggie, babyNolda, Veggie, and of course SuperSpot for today!

Having done a very quick read through the last few weeks [guilt] just wanted to say Avo well done for making your big house/nanny/work decision. SL sorry about poor E's head, hope he learns a lesson about being safe! Rubes you mentioned on FB getting DS a bike for his birthday, did you go for the one you mentioned (as my dad is getting S one the same)?

Could someone sum up everything else that's happened please? I keep trying to sneak a read at work but you're all too chatty!!!

update from us - DD also being quite challenging (not as much as Avo's having to deal with, poor you), she's got very good at the "S want X" reject X when offered game, we've worked out that if I just put a breadstick (or toy or whatever) on the table where she she can get to it, it solves the whole faffing problem and she goes back in her own time. Still no idea how to persuade her to get dressed in the mornings though.

She's also started stuttering - like she's not sure what she wants to say, but kind of "Da da da da da daddy hello" or "ca ca ca ca ca ca careful mummy". Does anyone else do this?! Is she going to be a stutterer?

Am sooo tired at the moment, 2 months to go and am counting down the days. 6 weeks til the end of work, also counting the days on that one...

Ouch lightening that sounds nasty. I'm glad you found my remark amusing on FB in light of the severity of the wound. Re: the wedding, really apart from the hassle of worrying if she'll be unsettled, you sound like you really couldn't be faffed with it. I say dump it.

Wow bathroom windowsill Jam, wow.

I think DS2 is coming down with something he just woke up screaming hysterically, which is not an unusual state for him but usually there is something I cab do to help settle him. I brought him downstairs and held him upright and he settled so I think he has some windy tummy pain. But he's been extra grumpy these last few days and he's a little on the warm side now. He did the most horrendous poo earlier so I hope its not a tummy bug again.

Vag - ds was the only kid to do a runner the other way shouting "Nooooo" when Santa called out his name for a present at the toddlers Christmas party! Does he get a bit ticked off with the lift being a bit stiff as it's new and all?

Glad you like my tree.... If you're not being sarcastic!
Oh another good Idea what Vagooli said - yes I made loads of lasagne and Sheherds pie etc and froze into individual portions - mainly so mil or dh could give to ds quickly for dinners - oh and SLEEP as much as you can.... round up anyone to take DS and rest - I didn't and I wish i had, but knowing me if I did it over (no) I still wouldn't sleep enough beforehand!

JJ I've no idea on the stuttering, I would imagine its a bit early to have concerns about it but might be worth mentioning to her HV. If there is something that needs doing it's always better to be earlier than later. But as I said I'm sure its not too concerning just yet.

Also we've got the "I want ....." then doesn't want it when offered, then does when its taken away. Was at a friends house today and he was doing it with his lunch, said he didnt want it so I took it away, then he wanted it, so brought it back, then didn't want it etc etc. My friend said her daughter did (and still does at 4) a similar thing so she just uses reverse psychology. So I tried it, I said "don't sit up at the table and eat your lunch' & astoundingly be stopped the messing about and just got up to the table and ate.

I am serious Rubes its a thing of beauty. Really. It's not really stiff anymore because DS1 gave it a few practice ups and downs while DS2 was whizzing the cars down the ramp. Those cars are load though, that tow truck is loader than the level I play the Tele volume.

JJ I would have thought the stuttering is likely to just be messing around with language and noises, but I guess you could check with HV.

Wow somehow I missed a whole page!!
Oh no SL poor DS - but at least it's just a one off (hopefully) with them messing about. DS goes up and down the stairs a zillion times a day and thinks it's funny to not hold the railing now since I've made a big deal about him HOLDING the railing!
Avo - at least she's talking! it must be frustrating though. You have more experience than me obviously but with DS he went through a NIGHTMARE stage then became charming again, so hopefully just a stage. DS has perfected saying "no" and likes the sound of his own voice so inbetween his very few other words EVERYTHING is "NO" V annoying!
Jam that was funny (trying shave)
Hi JJ - yes MIL bought him a balance bike for Christmas. it's not the original one we looked at that SL bought her E, but it's a slightly less expensive one that fit's his long-ish legs. Not sure where it's from but DH had measured him and it was almost one of the only ones that will fit him for long enough to make it till Summer!

SL I've been doing a bit of that too - it's usually dd that misses out on the odd bath though as she's less dirty, but sometimes I skip them both and I def do if we are home later than usual.

Gosh - cross tastic!
Awww thanks Vag, I still thoguht you were taking the piss out of me! but if not I'm flattered and if you are I can't half blame you - It's true I'm slightly Deids-like anal about it this year! MIL even took back some decs she brought over to put on when she saw it!
Now if you want something to really take the piss out of me over, I can talk underplates with you (or 'plate chargers' is that what they are called?) LOL - seriously, I saw some in tesco and I might get them. I'm in charge of the table and It's all I've got. MIL is doing all the cooking.

Do you mean the cars are loud when they go down the ramp? or when you push the little person into the seat? that bloody talking toolbox is loud!! And a cross between Mexican and American tools talking AT you over and over while giggling to some music! DS laughs but not sure if he's laughing at its oddness or because he likes it!

When you push them in, that tow truck makes a...well tow truck noise, an all that. [Fgrin] at your MIL taking her deccies back. And the friends we are having Christmas with this year use those under plate things Rubes, I've never understood them but they love them. Oh I should buy them an LED table runner.

Oops

Can I indulge myself with a grump? Finally booked a week off to have at home this week with the DCs and do nice things. Sat night reveals a couple of suspicious looking spots - we now have full blown chickenpox with both DCs, so have been frantically cancelling things, with spotty children hanging off arms and legs. Poor DS's birthday party looks like a casualty of pox which I am feeling particularly bad about.

Will catch up properly soon (and MoM thank you very much for the kind book offer a few pages back - I wouldn't want to put you to the trouble of getting it to me, though would be v interested in what you make of it)

spot happy belated birthday for yesterday. Glad you've got your mum in for a bit of help.

avo Challenging DC's...I feel your pain. DS doesn't sound quite as bad but he can certainly have his moments.

invis That is seriously crap about the Pox. These things always happen when you could really do without it.

rubes Your tree IS fab. Under plates, I'm sure you aren't surprised to hear, I find lovely. You can't beat a well dressed table. What colour are your 'eating' plates? I would get a different colour for the plates to sit on...gosh I take this way to seriously

Oh and DS's bot is a little better...and I have purchased a table runner, sadly not an LED one though

Avo: your DD sounds adorable, if hard work. I'm sure you're dealing with her admirably, esp as she is so confident and aware of when she is being naughty. We get a lot of low-level conflict and 'my chair, no MY chair' but DS2 is just (as in the last few days) getting the idea of taking turns. Not sure how long the novelty will last...

Summer: glad to hear DS has recovered from his trampolining activities.

Invis: oh no! At least you don't have to worry about taking time off unexpectedly. And if they are both spotty now they should be recovered by Xmas :).

Rubes and Deids: chargers?

And with that post, Justin the Snowman appeared on the telly. I concentrated really hard but nope...

You concentrated really hard??? On what exactly Effie?

Invisible you know how if you take annual leave but are then sick you can have it converted back to sick leave, I wonder if you can do the same for parental sick leave.

Well no sooner had I posted that DS2 was sleeping until after 6, you guessed it he was up at 4.30 this morning. He was hungry so I gave him a biscuit. That held him until 5.15 then he was up and perky. At least he didn't wake up screamy. However, we ended up in a fight over his breakfast. He wanted milk and I wanted him to have some porridge first. We argued and he hit so I got shouty and it decended. Finally we settled down and I tried the reverse psychology thing and said "right well whatever you do don't eat that porridge" of course he immediately ate it!

YEEEEEEEEHAHHHHH!!!!

In a really perky mood today. I think because I got the pictures through of the girls and they're much better than I expected - brilliant! Will try and get one on here if I can! But not sure if it's possible...

And DD1 is an angel (one of many) in her nativity today. Think it will be hilarious!!

got one on - I can't get the ones of Whizzy, but there's Pru!

Oh Vag - I'm so sorry you were up so very early. Heinous. Tell him that he really shouldn't be asleep now. Perhaps reverse psychology will work on sleeping too?!!

I'm gonna give that a go tomorrow morning Beans!

Happy Birthday MiniPing!!!

Oh you should definitely buy her an LED table runner Vagster

Deids, nice work on the table runner buyage - can you post a link? I'm gonna need specs please.
And yay to charger talk - my plates are white and square, and I have seen red square chargers would prefer silver though. STILL haven't found a table runner to fit yet. I don't want to spend a packet on this obsession you see.

lovely photo Beans.....

I'm at W'field this arvy kiddie free [yippee]