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.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Not had chance to read everybody's news for the last couple of weeks but hope you're all well & the LOs are having a wonderful time.

I can't get on the internet much as I'm at my mum's for a few days and am not connected at home yet. Can someone please text me if there is any spot news? Don't want to miss it.

Catch up with you all soon x

hello everyone. thank you for all your lovely birthday wishes for the christmas babies - happy birthday eddie and josh as well as our little madam.

we are in wales where the weather is EXTRAORDINARY. well, it is the snow, really. i have quite simply never seen anything like it - as we drove up on the 23rd you could see the sun setting over the river dee, snow everywhere, mist rising off the river and a lone swan on it. it is joke beautiful. am steadily putting photos up on fb. it is crazy beautiful. and it is pretty crazy inside. dh's parents are full of unexpressed hate and loathing and annoyance for eachother, my dad and ladyfriend are wonderful, but full of aimless and amiable bonhomie which is also driving us a bit crazy. it's a strange mix.

dh has received books on cricket and MI5, i have got craig revel horwood's autobiography, so all is well with the world.

tomorrow dad and ladyfriend are going on a daytrip out, the mentalists are going out with madam and poor dh and i am ALL ALONE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS!!! yay yay yay. best present of all.

i sat on the floor, helping to open presents for a couple of hours this morning and am paying for it now. the bump feels really compressed and there isn't a single position which is comfortable, apart from sitting slumped on a sofa, which i know i'm not supposed to do waht with trying to start preparing this baby for a vbac. on the subject - summer, i saw you went on a vbac course - no such thing offered to us, but any tips? anything interesting? invis - i know you had one, too -any good books or things we should prepare for? am thinking of asking my friend who has trained as a doula to come with us when the time is right.

a very happy christmas to all of you lovely ladies.

we are here for another 3 days, so no doubt some mentalist venting will go on... xxx

OH and i forgot to say a humungous thank you to my secret santa who has sent me a WONDERFUL book, which friends of mine have recommended for ages, but which i haven't got round to reading. i am a bit scared of reading it - the type is awfully small - after having done my english degree and having squandered it, i'm used to things a little bit more lightweight, but thank you thank you thank you. i am looking forward to it, although it is coming second to my first love, craig revel horwood, i'm afraid. am intrigued to know who my ss is... great choice, thanks.

Happy Birthday to Eddie, Rosie & Joshua.

Hope you have all had a super day. Lovely here bit mad but the boys were fab today.

Happy Christmas all. And happy birthday to rosie and Joshua too as well as zj's e for earlier in the week and anyone else I've missed.
Lovely day here. Off to sleep now.
Oh and spot hoping t is ok and looking forward to some exciting news soon.

Happy belated birthday to our Christmas babes! Hope they had extra special days. And I hope you all had lovely days yesterday too.

I'm still full from eating too much yesterday. Also a slight headache from too much cherfulness.

Got DH's family for lunch today and then off to my mums as my sis is home with her brood yay! My Nan is doing okay but is very down, last night she told mum that if she ever got out of hospital she was off to Switzerland to commit Euthanasia. She's been through so much in this past year I just hope that things do get better for her.

spot How's things?

I'm sorry your Nan is still in hospital Deids - hopefully she'll feel happier once she is home.

Happy birthday to the Christmas babies :). The boys were so tired from playing with their new toys they slept till 8 am! Result.

Hi folks, still here, still intact, can't quite believe it's now gonna be after Christmas!

I feel a bit about my melodramatic "t has another ear infection" pronouncement. Turns out he's a lot hungrier than we realised and maybe because he's feeling better his appetite has shot up. So we stuffed him to the gills before bed last night and he slept through! Admittedly from 9pm, but don't care, no screamy McTavish in the wee small hours.

Thanks to my SS for the lovely Neals Yard smellies. Makes me feel a lot less of a stinky shapeless old heifer. Well, so long as I close my eyes .

Your Christmas plans sound really nice, Deids, am sorry that your nan's situation is no better. It must be really hard for your mum to hear her talking like that. What are the docs saying prognosis-wise?

i hope everyone had good birthdays/Christmases and are full of mince pies/roasties/cheerfulness/selection boxes. I am sending DP out on a selection box purchasing mission this afternoon. We have practically no filth left in the house .

Oh and WG am v of your CRH book. I got a kindle for my b'day so might have to get that. Hope you're having a nice day with DH, looking forward to MIL updates and general family dynamic chat.

MIL: R's such a happy little thing. (to DH) She really reminds me of you, darling, when you were little. Always holding onto mummy's hand, always happy.

Me: (to DH casually joking) What's gone wrong lately, then?

MIL: Nonsense, he's always happy and smiling. He always smiles when he sees me. Don't you, darling?

Me: (Openly snorts)

Evening ladies, popping on to say hello Spot hope your thinking rose blossoming thoughts right now. I didn't think your comment was melodramatic you've had a tough time lately and its hard not to think the worst when they seem to make the same screamy noises for everything. I'm having trouble with DS2 he is getting better but is seriously sleep deprived as he is really not doing well with sleeping in strange beds. Naps are down to barely an hour and he's having mega melt downs. However when he is happy he is loving playing with our friends kids. There was a whole pack of them today and he really went wild with them.

WG your last post made me snort, but also how is your beautiful location? Still snowy? Does it have a toaster?

Lady how's your mum, is the pain eased with the volterol, make sure she eats with those. Good anti inflammatory but bad on an empty tummy.

Rubes sorry about the 19th not having internet access really threw me.

Deids sorry about your Nan. Do they have a counselling service for her, someone at the hospital or even through one of the cancer charities, she been through a lot and is now going through it without her DH. Thinking of her.

Need your prayers and white light. A lovely friend of mine up in Lincoln has just delivered her baby boy at 28 weeks, so far so good but he's on ventilation and its all quite scary for her and her DH. It's their first baby.

Jam have you heard from your friend?

DH got me a Sony ereader, I'm quite happy about it as it will make it so easy to get English language books and maybe even English language mags, I didn't manage to get him a present so going to do a shop at CW tomorrow. Urbane are you around these days?

Right better go to bed, have had a great day with friends but DS2 had a monumental melt down when I was putting him to bed late and its eaten up my evening do going to give up now and go to bed.

Morning all, I hope you've all been appropriately rewarded for your good behaviour this year? I must have been quite bad at some point, as Santa brought me an evil dose of flu and I've only left my bed to eat. And I've passed it on to DD, so poor DH got barely a wink of sleep last night as she just wanted cuddles.

Right, I'm going to post now, as this is my first attempt from my iPhone. If it works I'll be back in a jiffy

Right that worked, so off I go ...

WG your photos are just beautiful. I am very of your CRH book, which has gone straight onto my birthday. Your MIL is a hoot, did DH keep a straight face?

Deids I'm sorry your Nan is so down, completely understandable, but so out of character for her

Plenty of White light heading to Veg's friends. Can I ask to share the white light please? Our lovely Swedish friends who visited in October have had their son 2 months early. He is an IVF baby, so they've already had such a tough time (actually this is very familiar, hasn't this just happened to friends of LadyT?). They are living in hospital as he needs lots of skin to skin, which must be good sign that he doesn't need a ventilator? I am so ignorant of prem babies needs.

I am feeling much better today so will make a start on my pressies, although I suspect Mum has identified all the chocolate shaped ones already

Morning all, ZJ poor you and dd, hope you're feeling better soon and pressies help cheer you up. Sending hugs from a safe distance...

also prayers for your Swedish friends and Vaggie's friends, every week that passes with this baby I feel so relieved so cannot imagine how scared they must be. DH says not being on a ventilator is definitely a good thing, so really hoping that Vag's friends' baby gets out soon.

wg your holiday looks beautiful even if things aren't quite as peaceful as you'd wish...

spot, gates of life m'love, gates of life! looking forwards to your announcement :)

well we're about to pack up the car and head up to Scotland, roads apparently clear and big family dinner planned for tomorrow. wish us luck, we're staying in a flat rather than with ILs (their heating still buggered! :( ) so will have our own space to return to which is a big relief... catch up with you all over the week :)

Oh can I just put in a quick massive thankyou for my fabby DH, I'd asked for a voucher for a fat preggo massage as we've got a branch of Sanctuary opened up here, they say if you're PG they won't do it beyond 34 weeks unless you have a doctors' letter. I could have got him to do it, but that might look a bit fishy frankly, so he used his medical networking masonic handshake secret skills to write to my GP and get her to do a letter saying Mrs JJ is absolutely fine and there is no reason why she shouldn't have a lurvely 1.5hour massage of bliss

Zoe - you poor thing being so ill over Christmas. There is such a nasty flu bug going round. My FiL has been ill with it for 8 days and looks about 10 years older. Anyway, I'm glad you are on the mend. Enjoy your pressies and I hope E bounces back soon.

Deids - your poor nan. I am trying to think of ideas to cheer her up. She really has had a huge amount to deal with these last few months. I suspect that once she gains strengh and gets back home she will feel a bit better but counselling might also be a good plan.

Veg - glad you are enjoying London. Do you generally feel happier in yourself? How long are you here 'til?

Lady - I hope that your mum is feeling better. Did you end up having a mung bean Christmas or did you secure proper festive rations before the big day? And is the snow melting yet?

We had a good Christmas. My fav moment was getting the girls up on Christmas morning and watching them hold hands as they ran down the hallway looking like they might burst. After presents we went to the in laws
and as FiL had flu there were no annoying comments to contend with. We had a great lunch and the girls were on top form. My cabbage was a great success but I felt my trifle let me down a bit. DD2 sang a very sweet rendition of Away in
A Manager. So all good. We came home last night after a lovely boxing day outing to a snowy KewGardens. But we will return to the in laws today & tomorrow as the cousins have now arrived and that will, quite frankly, be the best bit of the whole week for DD1.

DH has been added to the flu list - he hardly ever gets ill but he has a high temp and is feeling v grotty. Zoe: hope you are feeling better today.

I am enjoying reading about everyone's Christmases, I think two must be the ideal age for Christmas :). DS2 is enjoying his new toys and playing with his big brother. His job is to be rescued from various plights: we have a constant 'Help, Nanoo!' 'I'm coming Maxie!' (we have no idea where Nanoo came from but William is rather hard to say).

Sorry to hear about your DH Effie. I too am loving tales of Christmas. Your boys sound like they play together very nicely.

I just remembered the funniest moment on Christmas morning. DD1 had found one of DH's work ties and was prancing around with it on shouting "I am a gentleman". Not to be outdone DD2 stuck her head through the arm hole of one of DH's tshirts so that her face was just peaking out framed by the material.

DD1 looks at her and exclaims "Mummy, I've found a Muslim". DD2 frowns and grumbles "Im not a Muslim, I'm N" (she does this all the time, if you call her sweetie she shouts "I not sweetie, I N" etc etc). DD1 then states "The Muslim is cross because she doesn't get to celebrate Christmas". So I intervene and say "Yes, but Muslims have other celebrations like Eid so they aren't sad about not having Christmas". To this DD1 twiddles her tie and pronounces "The gentleman is explaining to the Muslim that Eid would be more fun with Jesus and Santa". I think her school's multi-culturism coordinator has some more work to do".

There shouldn't be quotes at the end of that last sentance. Clearly DD1 didn't make the comment abt the multi- culturism coordinator. That wld just be weird.

avo That is so funny I love it.

zj Sorry that you've been struck down with flu. How rubbish. And effie Hope your DH feels better soon too.

Prayers for vag & ZJ friends. My cousin's baby was born at 28 weeks earlier this year. He is a beautiful little boy now, so encouraging news for both of you

lady how is your mum's arm?

jj Drive safe, and your massage sounds divine.

DS ate a sheadload of peanuts yesterday. And this morning has horrid excema everywhere...could it be the nuts? He is prone to a bit of excema and dry skin. I've given him some Piriton, and creamed him yp. Also abit of hydrocortisone cream on the worse bits. He seems well in himself...gosh I feel terrible! He's had them before (not as many though) and been okay.

Hello, glad nice Christmas's were had. Sorry about the friends early born babies hopefully they'll be fighters.
Gosh this year seems to be the worst for flu's and colds. I am still suffering with this cold but didn't slow me down much over Christmas.
A lovely day was had here. never the same without my family but dh's family do a pretty good job. they brought most of the food and did all of the cooking and I just did the table and all the cleaning up.
DS was so excited when he saw his new bike but had a small scare when he got over enthusiastic, got on and then it got really wobbly as we realised his seat was way too high for him on the lowest and he was tippee toeing and very unstable. DH took to it with the saw and made it lower than it can actually go but he's still too frightened to get on it yet and just wheels it around excitedly - oh and thanks SS - he LOVES that bloody bell! (a little too much) very appropriate!
I got some lovely things including a day spa at the very posh place near my house.
Went to mil for boxing day and almost a repeat of the food spread. I've eaten WAY too much but didn't drink too much - no doubt due to my cold lingering. Have now got a touch of the post Christmas anti climax syndrome but I'm sure it'll go with the plans of travel home coming up.
lady what exactly are your plans this weekend? DH is working for sure 2 bloody days but they are messing around with his times so for a moment he might have been working Fri Sat but now may be Sat Sun.
Vag how long are you in town?
DS is currently force feeding DD and she's clearly had enough but he keeps saying "No" when I tell him to put the lid on hte bottle. Oh and he has expanded his vocab. DH crashed a toy he got and ds said "oh shit" quite clearly oh dear.
must come back as have to sort dd right now.

MIL: (entering sitting room carrying small saucepan) we've bought a special saucepan to heat things for R. Do you think will be all right? We chose it specially - it's non-stick. So we can heat her food up in it - we'll keep it only for her food, won't let it be used for anything else. It'll be all right, won't it?

because MIL refuses to have a "micro-oven" in her house, even though we offered to buy her one. consequently madam receives food and milk 20 minutes after she needs it, and it is scorching hot.

we've actually had a lovely delayed birthday party for madam today with MIL's mad extended family - she is one of 5 sisters. nuff said.

thinking of vg and zj's friends and poor you struck down with flu. am telephoning the doctor's tomorrow to ask for an appt for my flu jab - haven't been offered one, but shouldn't i have one?

Hi all,

I hope you all had very merry christmases and are enjoying the break.

Thank you to my secret santa - gift arrived safely and is being enjoyed!

Good job we don't really do Christmas (not really being of the right religion) as ended up spending a good chunk of Christmas Day in A&E. All was well in the end, but DS had us worried for a bit. He'd had a mild fall in the morning, but kept complaining that his leg hurt. By mid morning he really couldn't walk and wouldn't put any weight on his leg. Eventually he was so unsteady on his feet, he managed to crash into a light thing at my parents and break a glass panel on his chin. A&E had a collection of random theories ranging from juvenile arthritis, to sprains or breaks. Of course, by the time he got seen he was sort of OK walking again . Who knows really. Right as rain now, but probably brewing something what with visiting the hospital. There was a poor child with a temp of 40 degrees, which seemed very scary.

Anybody else's DC suddenly showing proper 2 year old behaviour right on cue? He is very cute, but we have been getting a range of bizarre tantrums about what to wear, whether to go out or not, what to eat etc etc etc.

WG - no real vbac tips - I was taken thoroughly by surprise as DS was about 10 days early and my mind was def not on giving birth. So my guess is that a big part of it is sheer blind luck. And of course I wish you bucketloads of it,.

Hello ladies bit late in the evening but have been up.late playing trivial pursuit.

Rubes we leave on the 29th so back in Den Haag for new year.

WG I'm sure I'm not the only one who is really pleased that you have spent Christmas with your in-laws. Also meant to ask how do you do the Christmas birthday thing? Do you open on Christmas eve because of your German mum? Or do you do all presents on the same day.

No change with my friends baby but still a good sign.

Zj sorry about the illness, and your friends bubby.

Invis maybe you need to speak to Avo's DD1 to find out what you need to enjoy your own religious holidays. Glad the leg is ok now.

Ladies can I share a little concern I have DH and I had a little cheeky dabble earlier this month, unsheathed. It was the day after my period finished so I thought it would be ok. However, a friend was telling me about how she accidentally got pregnant with her first child by doing the do, at the same time DH and I did, (I mean the day after her period ended, not literally the sametime that we had sex). I've got myself completely freaked out now and I'm sure I'm imagining symptoms like weird booby feelings and little twinges in my abs. Please tell me I'm imagining it, its too soon isn't it???? We (Miranda style mouthing) had sex around the 10th so I'm sure it would be too early (clutching at straws) wouldn't it?

Right off to bed with me

Oh and JJ that was really lovely of DrJJ, when are you getting the massage?

Ooooo Veg. Would you really be upset if you were clackered? I think it's very unlikely but there is always a chance. If you ovulated very early in your cycle and your DH's sperm survived a few days. I think sperm can't survive for more than about 5 days so if you are clackered then fertilisation would have taken place between 13 and 18 days ago so you might be getting a few symptoms. Remember LadyT noticed symptoms practically before withdrawal. A test should work 13 days after fertilisation so why not put your mind at rest?

Invis - sorry to hear abt your Christmas in A&E. You aren't having much luck keeping celebrations and illnesses seperate at the mo.