June 2009 - terrible twos here we come

[bigcar]

Here we are ladies

Can't believe i forgot to say massive congrats to you zhen - good to hear there's another N on the loose [bugrin]
sympathies with the cluster feeding but sounds like she's doing really well !

ninja - excellent idea, could go with some more of their fab bookcases and a lifetime supply of meatballs wouldn't go amiss! Sorry to hear no real update on bil...

J is being a nightmare with the sling although thankfully she doesn't have to wear it after the weekend. My parents are visiting this weekend too and haven't seen her for almost a year (barring skype) so typical she's in plaster! Potty training at the mo which is going pretty good - she's dry but still has poo accidents which are horrid... Haven't started nights yet but only have about 5 pull ups left so once they're gone, we'll take the plunge - think she's ready!?! Wasn't looking forward to it at all so it's gone better than hoped... And its great not to have 2 in nappies anymore!

Currently enjoying my 1st beer in about a year praying that O stays asleep or he might end up a bit sloshed - tastes sooo good! Have great Easter's all [bugrin]

happy easter!

Wow, I haven't been on the thread for a while and lots happening.
snow I don't know how you cope with everything, there is a lot going on in your life. How's your relationship with dh between arguments?
gauchita how's getting back to work been? How's M doing at nursery?
goose how worrying for your bil :( My trainer just spent a couple of days in hospital after passing out on Thursday, the drs said his heart actually stopped for a bit. (What is a stroke exactly because the way he said it it sounded like a stroke but he didnt actually use that word.) I don't know if he's had tests since then that's quite scary though I haven't thought about anything else this weekend, he's only 35!. He's "fine" and back to work next week apparently though. I hope they get your bil treated x
Good news about dd3, I hope she gets on with with her new 1:1. How's dd1's uni course going?

argh I can't see the recent posts anymore, need to post this and re-read!
it's only showing me the ones from december. We really do need to keep this thread to 1000 :D

We've been ok, went away for a night last weekend and dh got food poisoning so came back the next day and week has been hectic, it was over in a couple of days but still took a lot out of him at the beginning of the week.
We're doing greek easter next weekend so today is actually pretty chilled with just bil over for dinner later. Next week we have a few more people over and roasting a pig on the bbq which should be fun.

What else, well, generally my training is more and more on my mind and I keep thinking I want to qualify as a fitness instructor but obviously I already run a business with dh and I'm looking after C when she's not at nursery so I'm a bit short on time, either for studying or for actually doing another extra job. C's going full time to pre-school from september so I might have more time to think then. (basically about studying to be a part time thing/class instructor that I could teach a couple of times a week in the morning, that kind of thing).

Got plans for our 3yo's bday parties? We're thinking of hiring a softplay. it's £500 but we could share with someone, you can invite up to 40 kids. I've asked some of my friends we'll see what happens.

in the interest of making it to 1000 a quick post before I get on this flight
skillbo poor J, is she ok? Is she in a full cast? Life with two is fun isn't it . Mine have just starting playing together a bit which is so lovely to watch
june mmm Greek easter. What time at yours?
gauchita no my dear, you didn't mis-understand, I was cooking meals for EVERYONE! That has now stopped. Kids only. In face, before I left yesterday, DH was making soup and was going to cook a tagine with the ingredients I had left (so I haven't completely relingquished control, but I'm not slaving over a hot stove as often)
ninja How are things are your place? BIL?
zhen are you in a finished house now? How is the cluster feeding? You surviving?

Right, best get on another plane.

Back later for a catch-up
Snow, have a good flight!

Evenin all - should be.sleeping so just a quick.one...

J has just got her lower arm in plaster but its not the proper fibreglass type yet - she's still in the one from a&e which is a headache... Can't get it wet etc so bathtime is rubbish and its.not very durable (and is looking quite grotty !) she's fine though.

My parents have gone away for a few weeks which is quite a relief... Love them but they're hard work - getting on a bit and very set in their ways! They'll be.back though...

Ridiculous egg hunt by mil - j has over 30.chocolate eggs... Ok, they're mostly small but ffs - 30! suppose me and dh will have to help her out [bugrin]

Right - bed... Night all x

Oh, no more Easter smilies

Sorry for the shocking punctuation etc - on my phone under the covers.. Feel 10 again

Apologies for talking to myself but wanted to share a 'hilarious' moment from today...

I live in southampton and so, as you can imagine, there's lots going on at the moment around the anniversary of the titanic. One of the cooler bits is one of the parks in the centre has had the plan of the ship drawn on it to scale so you can walk the length of it... Its sad actually as they have details on the lifeboats (one left with about 20 people on it instead of 65!)... Walking round, j decides she needs a wee which is fine as we take the potty everywhere. So we bundle behind a suitable tree a little way away but she doesn't go. She's been doing this quite a bit as she's worked out we will always stop what we're doing just in case so great way to get attention... Head back to 'titanic' only for her to say the desperately needs it so get her on it right on deck only to discover its not a wee - it is a huge, gooey poo explosion which has gone everywhere - trousers, socks (from where i've pulled them down), just ghastly. So then have to spend a long 5 minutes with a naked from the waist down, shit covered toddler whilst there are people walking past us reading about the tragedy and there are recordings of survivors families talking about the impact... So so so [blush| answer felt like we were being so disrespectful.. Am scared to check 'am i being unreasonable' in case we're the subject of a thread... Some serious cats bum mouths!

Good news today - off house hunting tomorrow with a couple of viewings - hooray!

skillbo the poonami of titanic proportions . Sorry, terrible humour, it's late and I have been working. Sounds horrific, poor you. J must have been quite a sight with her broken arm and naked bum.when they gotta go what can you do?!I salute you, I am still yet to venture out with the potty. (slack mum emotion)

Hi all,

Allow me to call this post "the joys of toddlerdom"

Skillbo, oh man, you got a Pootanic disaster! I'd have run for the hills and left DH in charge joking not I hope, but expect, to come with some tales next week, as we've decided to do the official potty training as of Monday Not.looking.forward.to.it.at.all. Glad to hear things are going well at the Skillbo household. Good luck househunting! Are you staying local or moving areas as well?

Snow, that was a short trip, hope it wasn't too knackering. When's the next one? Oh man, no no no, don't spend hours on end in the kitchen, I'm sure your DH is pretty capable of cooking while you're away. Did Mary Poppins start? How was she?

And in the interest of getting to 1000 posts, I'll continue the catch up in the next one

June, how's DH now? All better? We've been thinking about birthday parties, yes, as we've been having some since Feb! Up to now none of the venues have amazed us. I think we'll rent a church hall or something like that and have some craft/muffin or cupcake decoration/painting stations, some music and lots of balloons; and food of course I recommend having a look at the MN thread on party tips (it's on active conversations) it's amazing for tips!

So, are you starting the FI training? Hope you manage to squeeze some time for it in your already busy week, as it's obviously something you enjoy very much

Ninja, how, how, how did you manage with 5 children!!!??? Answers in a postcard, please Hats off, woman, hats off to you. How's BIL getting on?

Right, we're currently living in the house of teenage toddler years Meltdowns occur because of shoes, socks, leggings/tights, tops, and don't even get me on jumpers or coats that have a zipper in front Everything is a problem these days, but sometimes she's fine and doesn't complain and then a droplet of water reaches her clothes and it's the end of the world.

Now, we usually give her options, she chooses what to wear etc, but these days she'd go out in a vest as everything either moves, is too loose, or too tight, or too big, or too small Car journeys are turning stressful as she out of the blue will start screaming and wanting to take her shoes off or something else... today it was her tights, she managed to wriggle out of them and when we got home she had them on her ankles.

On a different note, it's the house of cold here for both DC, runny noses and lots of cough!

Hope everyone's having the sunshine we're enjoying here today.

Evening all

Liking both your titanic themed jokes... Have got no j for the weekend so we're going to have a proper look at the park tomorrow - and sign for our new house - woohoo. Few problems shifting our old place but promising mumbles from dh's cousin so could be ok

guachita - totally feel your toddler pain although its not clothes with j, its toys... She has to have, and carry, at least 6 around and its always a different 6 but woe betide me if i can't find one she's decided is one of her crew that day! Totally second hats off to haveninja - am already nervous of o hitting 2

snow - the potty is our new best friend but as mentioned is used as a bit of an attention grabber at the moment. We have no shame and she's done her business all over the city (glad she doesn't know how to be )

Right - once again, up too late. Take it easy juners x

ssshhh, I've escaped the kids and just working eating my way across Paris. Last night, I had a fabulous meal with some dear friends from home. Today, there is the most incredible boulongerie ?sp just next to the hospital. Would be criminal not to call in for some of their treats. God, no wonder I am v v slow to lose weight.
skillbo the house situation sounds a bit stressful.When do you move into the new place
june how was Greek easter celebrations? Any progress on your FI training. I think you would be great, so motivated and motivating.
gauchita thanks for the laughs from your threenager stories. The big tractor was on the back of As shirt. He wanted on the front. It was a button down shirt so I couldn't put it on backwards. 2hrs of on /off meltdown
ninja ooh, screechy game in the car. Double the fun
zhen you ok? is the house sorted? How are you doing with little n? How is the sleep deprivation?

Poor old DH hasn't been shortlisted for the last 2 jobs he applied for. Including the one he is already doing as a locum. We will have to move again in the summer, but fuck knows where until he does get a job. He is being v brave about missing out on the short lisiting, he well and truly met the criteria, but there is some agenda in h' ford. He can't be arsed to take it any further but I know he is pretty pissed off too, although trying to hide it. He has applied for another job this week. Fingers,toes and prayers that this one might get to interview.

Marking place for later!

Hey snow it's 'boulangerie' and you have to try a hot 'pain au chocolat' at 6 am, just out if the oven it's the law, they are so sooooo amazing :D
Fingers crossed for your dh, it's a bit harsh about his current locum job shortlist, prrobably doesn't do his confidence any good :( hopefully he'll find something local so you don't actually have to move again??

Easter was really good, we had everybody over, at different times for mil and fil so they wouldn't bump into eachother. We cooked a pig on the bbq, made loads of differents salads and roast potatoes, a few greek specialities. All very yumy!! it was a lot of preparations and work and tidying up after and it is a shame it's not like the good old times when everybody got on but we had a great time anyway. C had a brilliant time on her new bouncy castle too, they had one for £60 at our local tesco!!
Fitness wise I'm going to ask my trainer what he thinks, I havent had time to look into it properly, i'm not sure where to start. C will be doing full time preschool from september so it would be good to find a course now if it's not too late, that i could start then maybe (part time or evening or e-course or somethig along those lines) i did ask for brochures etc from a couple of different places but not had time to go through them. My trainer, who quite worryingly passed out the other day, is having checks with specialists back home (Poland) and he is going to have an operation to have "something" removed from his head... I'm worried for him but he is playing it down of course and doesn't want to talk about it. (and i guess there isn't any point speculating until they remove it and actually know what it is.) and (sorry for swearing but) ... Fuck! He is back on monday, the op is in a couple of months. Fingers crossed it's nothing, i had a cyst removed and it was nothing, wasn't in my head though...
Aside from that, lots of work on and C doing two full days at nursery tomorrow and Thursday.
Sorry for all the typos am on my phone!

Morning ladies!

A quick one as D is not happy.

June, Easter at the June household sounds fantastic. A food festival, as I told you yesterday Glad it all went well with the ILs. How scary for your PT, hope it's nothing.

Snow, oh a bit there at you being in Paris. I've never been there but DH has and it's one of his favourite cities in the world. Are you back now? Sorry to hear about DH's job. What are the chances of you staying put? Hope he manages to find something fairly local so that you don't have to move again. When does his post finish? As an aside, are you on FB?

Skillbo, sorry to hear you're on the same crazy toddler boat We have something similar with toys, not with the number she wants to take, though. However, if she was thinking of bringing a toy along and suddenly realises she forgot (once we're all in the car, which usually takes 15 blinking mins thanks to all the clothes insanity) then meltdown time starts again How's O doing?

Ninja, hi!

Is everyone waiting to hear from DC's school places? We had put M's name down in one for nursery but are a bit gutted as apparently she will be able to go there for nursery but her chances of getting into reception there are slim to none. We're exactly a mile away but this catchment thing is insane. There are only 2 children in the whole school from our area.

We have to see one more in the area. Unfortunately all the others we've seen are not very good so now we're also looking to private ones. We'll see!

We're potty training this week. Monday was hard, but M went to nursery in the afternoon so that helped Yesterday, however, has even harder as we stayed at home all day I'm finding it hard as I have D to take care of at the same time so we're all sitting in the living room -potty included- all day Fingers crossed it'll be tacked soon. How long did you say it took? Please ladies, don't crush my heart

Waves

morning all

gauchita, how's the potty training going? If she's ready for it, then you can usually be reasonably safe within about a week, although it can take longer before they can hold it for any length of time so if you're going out make sure you know where the nearest toilets are or take the potty along! Black sack and hand towel are good for the car seat and buggy when out but you won't need it for long. As I said before, E's favourite game is saying he needs the toilet especially when the older dcs are home and will run around after him [sigh] it's amazing how much less he needs to go when it's just me at home! We're keeping E at his current preschool next year, the primary we want for him doesn't have a nursery although the second choice ('choice' used in the vaguest of ways) does but we don't want to moving him too often so thought he'd be better off staying put. Just can't wait for the funding to kick in in september so he can go every morning, he can't wait, he keeps telling dh he's been to school everyday, he hasn't started back yet! Tomorrow morning = hot cuppa

june, hope your trainer is ok. FI training sounds interesting, bet you'd be great, you certainly have the motivation to get people moving! Easter sounds fab, have things with mil and fil settled a bit now? The food sounds amazing, you must have worked hard on all that lot

snow, paris sounds great, haven't been for donkies years but I loved it Poor old dh, any more news? Horrible not getting shortlisted and horrible having to move again so soon, hope it doesn't come to that.

skillbo, how's your move going, did you manage to find a new tenant for your old place? Sorry but your titanic story has made me I bet it'll be a while before that is forgotten too! It'll be a great one to bring up with the first serious boyfriend when you get the baby photos out [evil] How's J's arm, long left with the plaster?

no news yet on bil, he's getting rather bored at home but he's not a worrier unlike the rest of us so seems ok so far. He couldn't have his scan completed this week as some piece of equipment was broken but it should be done by the end of the week, fingers crossed. Then apparently its decision day on monday and he should find out what they will do. I'm having to be careful what I say to mil (after my own mums brain tumour) as she's not dealing with it particularly well, not that that's a surprise of course.

E is so looking forward to going back to preschool tomorrow, apparently he's going to play football, he has it all planned! Dd3 has gone back to school today and dd2 and ds1 went back monday so almost back to the usual routine, although it'll be a while before the house looks untrashed

waves to all

Well trainer went to piland to have checks done there. They found a growth in hi head that needs removing and checking, operation is at some point today and I'm actually sick with worry. I spoke to him last night and he was remarkably upbeat. I need to calm down.

oh no june (hugs) you just have to trust they are doing their best for him, sounds like they are

Oh June, how worrying I'm here to do some hand-holding if you want. ((hug))

Ninja, how sweet is E all excited about school every single day M loves it too. Prayers for your BIL this week for things to go well. How's your SIL? I think you said she was pg? How utterly worrying for her during this time

DH a bit poorly at home. So I went to work this morning with D and he stayed at home with M. Two accidents today, both with DH not being quick enough He's learned, though ha!

hello girls,
june thinking of you. Medical care is a good standard in Poland, he will be in safe hands. Doesn't make it any less scary though.
ninja Glad you BIL is not stressed and letting the rest of the you do that. Horrible time all that waiting. Hope there is a plan very soon. Your SIL must be going insane with the pregnancy progressing and still no idea what is going on
gauchita good experience for DH then . TT starts again tomorrow here.

Thanks for the kind wishes about DH. Sadly it will be a move out of this county. Only just finishing moving all our crap out of the flat and might as well not unpack as it will all have to go again soon enough.

Bugger, DD unsettled. Better go

Have just spent ages typing out a reply on my phone for it to just go poof into nowhere so have booted up the laptop so hopefully won't happen again... so frustrating!

Anyways, as I may have mentioned, my parents are over at the moment visiting. They disappeared off about ten days ago to visit some other family but got a call at the start of the week and my mum was rushed into hospital. She was having breathing difficulties and has still to be discharged and they haven't found out what's wrong. She's a heavy smoker though so am really quite worried but with them at the other end of the country, can't really go and see her .. Must be the season, Ninja and June, I hope you get some positive news soon as well!

Snow - another one of your trip to Paris.. it's been years since I was there but it is very beautiful and would love to go back soon! That sucks for your DH about his job - sounds like it's tough on you all though, especially if you have to pack up and move again so soon!

I will admit to being quite excited about moving as we've been in this flat for 5 1/2 years and whilst it was fine when there was two of us, now we've expanded to 4 it's more than a bit snug. We haven't found tenants for it yet though so that's a worry but we had a PPI payment recently so should be ok for a short while provided the landlords (or us!) find someone pretty quickly...

Gauchita - hope potty training is going ok... I know I was DREADING it and it's not been too bad although, 6 weeks in, we're still having accidents although she does seem to be dry. She even managed a poo in the potty at nursery yesterday so we may have cracked it but desperate not to jinx it... We haven't even thought about a school - we're a bit slack and only got the pre-school sorted at the start of this year. Where she currently goes is attached to a school but you don't get any preference so we'll still need to apply in the usual way... we'd quite like for her to go there as it has a good reputation and I think we're in the catchment but I know that's no certainty so perhaps we need to have a good think!

Ninja - J also uses the potty as an attention weapon, it is soooo tiring! Just to add to the Titanic story.. we were wandering there on it's final day as did want to have a good read of the various bits and O demanded food there and then - so he got to have a good much just outside the 1st class smoking lounge! J's exposion was beside one of the collapsible lifeboats which was very sad actually (it was swept off the deck before anyone could get in it although I think some survivors climbed on it from the water).. with most of the crew from here it has been quite a poignant couple of weeks as almost everyone here at the time was effected!

Right - should go and think about packing or organising or something (and not get sucked into the computer game I got for Xmas which I am still trying to complete and which DH is rapidly catching me up on!)... Should grow up really

Oh dear - sucked in! Best go to bed

Just heard that op went well and just waiting for lab report. Small sigh of relief havin heard from him x thank you for your messages I was getting really anxious.

So glad to hear that June. Keeping him in our thoughts.