March 2010. A lesson for much of life: Shut the door. Find the corkscrew.

[Arcadie]

Happy Christmas MMMs. This is my gift to you!

Wow siamese I can't believe your DSis hasn't given birth yet. 40+15, I'd be going crazy; how's she doing? And Poor DD, sounds like she's been through the mill. I hope the sleep training works quickly again. Isobel got conjunctivitis last time she had a cold too; I think from rubbing snot into her eyes On the napping front, I cuddle and sing Isobel to sleep. Rod, back, etc, but when we've got the sleep training sorted for night time, maybe I'll start trying the same for naps too.

scooby I can't believe how shitty your bosses are being That's really not on, I hope you manage to get it sorted. And I hope you managed to relax and enjoy your holiday nonetheless. DH and I went to Cancun for part of our honeymoon, it was gorgeous. We didn't leave the hotel though (it was quite a big complex, with 3 restaurants, pools and its own stretch of beach, AND we'd just spent 10 days travelling round California, so it was lovely to just relax).

Pixie that is so cute that the twins are 'talking' to eachother.

Hooray for all the new teeth! And Arcadie, how is the Davina DVD going? If you need some encouragement I can do my best Jillian Michaels (of 30 Day Shred) impression and shout at you: "These results don't come for free. I want you to feel like you're going to die!" Yes, she really does say those things.

Isobel is quite close to walking now. She's been taking steps, but so far only ever one at a time! She also keeps bringing me books, then climbing onto my lap so I can read them to her. Bless.

And, for scooby:

1. Evitas ? DS ? 6th February
2. ValiummyMummy ? DD#2 ? A V G ? 17th February
3. squiggleywriggler ? DD#1 ? S A ? 19th February
4. slimmingsarahandco ?DS#3 ? E J ?19th February
5. Summer2008 ? DS ? E ? 24th February
6. Scooby26 ? DS ? B ? 28th February
7. skidd ? DS ? M ? 2nd March
8. Smac ? DD#2 ? 2nd March
9. Itwascertainlyasurprise ? DS ? R E ? 7th March

10. BusyMissIzzy ? DD ? I D ? 7th March 11. BlueyDragon ? DS ? A J ? 8th March 12. Sariska ? DD ? J A ? 9th March 13. PacificDogwood ? DS#4 ? J C S ?10th March 14. Siamesecatwoman ? DD ? C S ? 11th March 15. MandaHugNKiss ? DS#3 ? J ? 11th March 16. Angfirsttimer ? DS ? T ? 12th March 17. Flisspaps ? DD ? R E ? 13th March 18. Hecklephone ? DD#2 ? R S ? 15th March 19. FlipFantasia ? DS ? R W ? 16th March 20. PixieOnaLeaf ? DDs#4 G A and O R ? 18th March 21. Annamama ? DD#2 ? I F ? 18th March 22. Donttrythisathome ? DD ? B A ? 18th March 23. MummyElk ? DD#2 ? T E ? 19th March 24. Dalrymps - DS#2 - M E - 20th March 25. DizziDoll - DS - Y M F - 23rd March 26. Rindercella ? DD#2 ? J A ? 26th March 27. Shroomer ? DS ? B ? 30th March 28. AfriBaby ? DD ? L I ? 31st March 29. BlessedAssurance DD - I N - 31st March 30. Arcadie ? DS#3 ? S D ? 1st April

I've lost you !

I'll come back later to post if we don't get blown away by gales or drowned by what must be a monsson that got lost or summat ...

BMI thanks for that.

SIAMESE. So sorry DD is poorly. Crap innit. Pleased you were impressed with my sandman skills! Works a dream sometimes ;-). For sleep in his cot he generally goes down awake and cuddles said bear while whinging for up to ten mins and drops off fairly happy. Bear only comes out of his cot if we are out for nap time- then he only gets bear at said nap time hence he associates it with sleep. X

monsoon even, for goodness sake...

Siamese Your poor sister, DD was finally evicted at 40+16 (induced at 40+15) and I too had my hopes pinned on a HB.

DD is still fed to sleep. Bottle, then dummy and throughout she holds Bunbun (some flat rabbitty thing from H&M). Think I'll probably be going through the same rigmarole with her when she's about 11, but I can't leave her and PUPD is a pain in the arse, she doesn't seem to start to settle at all.

However, my mindee will have her dummy and her bear and will fall asleep in my arms. Not sure if she is put down in her cot with the bear and left to her own devices at home, will ask tomorrow.

Pixie Congrats on the Thread of the Day btw!

siamese oh,,your poor sister. They wpuld never allow you to go over 40 plus 14 days in Norway, how is she holding up, i wasw so tired after 10 days that i can't begin to imagine what its like when its 15, crossing fingers for baby showing up soon.
On the napping and sleeping, i have nothing to say other than cuddling and singing.I sing to DD during the day, keep her so busy that by the time she goes for her nap, she will be fed up with me and will be desperate for her bed,

scooby ouch, sorry you are having a terrible time, lets hope it all get sorted and that things will get better for you, bad bosses.

pixie :o at your twins making conversation, how lovely, its amazing isn't it? not too long ago they were just pink little dolls but now they can actually chat, DD had 8 teeth and now has a few words, excluding mam,, which is not nice,but i believe she will be calling me mum soon instead of papa..congratulations on the thread,,

FLISS such a talented DD, watch out for the next star...

BMI regarding reading books, does she listen to you when you do? i have tries so mant times to read to Bella but she is not interested, how do you train them to actually want you to read to them? very impressed by Isobel by the way..

????
Why is not working?
I got my weekly MN email and they had on it!!!!
RL very busy - as well as nappy stuff, self catering stuff, accounts blah blah blah I have started volunteering at my local family centre. In order to get match funding for a new project they needed someone to volunteer 4 hours a week as 'project manager' ha ha that's me!!!!
It is nice to be giving a bit back to a facility that has kept me nearly sane since the arrival of the DDs.
Anyway no time for shout outs sorry I just wanted .
We are off to Stratford for the weekend to see DH's extended family and I have lots to do before then.

Wow, DH and I have just been outside to chase DS3's playhouse down the road - it had been trying to excape, I think. Or the storm had something to do with it - scary stuff out there!

Dalrymps, well done on your course. Midwifery is NOT something I every fancied - faaaaar too scary emotional .

Arcadie, congratulations on Tardis cake, 1st tooth and other assorted fabulousness!

BMI, glad to hear Isobel is all better. And I am so impressed she is walking - phantastic; she was an early mover from the v start, wasn't she? I can still remember when I first met the 2 of you how much more 'grown-up' than Joe she seemed. Oh where have our little babies gone??

Hi, DizziDoll, nice to 'see' you again .

Manda, soooo funny about J's walking at the clinic . Hope you are doing well and MS is not too terrible.
Hope your ?niece/?cousin (I am confused) is ok and that her tiny little DS continues to do well.
Re travel vaccs for littlies: no idea what to advise, but is there a travel clinic you could phone for advice?
We went to the South of France when DS1 was 3 months old and it was HOT! Bit too much for me to be honest - maybe you could consider something like that and would not require vaccs at all?

heckle, DS2 required a slave parent to walk around with him from about 9 months onwards, then he learnt to walk at exactly 1 year - yet still required an assisstant for a further 3 months - just.... because he could, I suppose, demand it .
Congrats on 'proper' bras .
Hope you get on well with Nexplanon as it must now be known as - it is very popular and I liked it in the past.

scooby, glad to hear you had a nice holiday, but what utter, utter crap from your bosses!! Who is our resident lawyer again? So, so unnecessary. And Wrong. I very much hope you can get it sorted. I suppose, telling them to stuff their job is not a possibility for you? And not v professional, I know - I have been known to throw my toys out of the pram ...

Pixie, awwwww re twin's conversations - that is so cute! Do you think they are going to develop a special 'twin language' like some twins do?? And glad to hear DD2's spirits are up - that's really good. Surely she is owed a break.

siamese, sorry to hear DD is poorly - earinfections are the pits. Hope she is better soon.
Naps: Dummy. And a short cuddle. I have not fed to sleep for a couple of months now.
Sympathies to your sister - I went to T+15 with DS1 AND was induced, but it was all fine in the end. Even her pregnancy will not go on forever even if it feel like it !

Blessed, Joe only likes books for chewing on I am afraid - IME they acutally listen to a story or even just talking about pictures after 2 years or so. Although DS2 went through a stage during which he liked carrying books around .

Phew! Another epic post, sorry! I felt the need to properly catch up. I am sure I missed lots of you. Oh, Melk, I hope RL is not too worrying and you are doing ok.

I won't be able to make the Brum MMMMMMMM as I will hopefully be skiing although nothing is booked yet.

Joe slept 13 hours last night . He needed to be cuddled x2 in the middle of the night, but was in his cot from 8pm to 9am - only possible because (don't tell anybody) DS1 and DS2 have been walking to school together without me for the last couple of weeks - yeah! FREEDOM

Over and Out.

marking my spot. Want to shout out but have to go to bed.

Quick wave to say hi before going off to lurk again - RL is all consuming just now. Alex is much better thanks, fingers crossed he remains so as we are off skiing on Sunday (and there is no blardy snow but who cares, someone else is cooking cleaning and washing up for a week!). See you all when I get back.

Just listening to the story about the baby being born in the evacuation centre in Cairns. Yes, I'm in tears again... (pathetic emoticon)

DSis still pg..

Juusssssst checking. Mmmmm

DID you guys see on the OBEM thread that the sexy astonishingly competent Male MW Christian was on the thread as midhusband.

Nooooo. Really? I missed that. Will have to stalk him check out the thread later. Were all the MNers swooning over him?

I think I'm very much in the minority here, rkd, with regards to that male midwife Oh, no, it's not that I'd feel inhibited with a male midwife (te world and his dog could be in the room and I probably wouldn't care...) it's that he seemed a bit wet and, well, patronising. I hate 'it'll al be worth it when you give your baby a cuddle' platitudes.

'It hurts!'
'Yes, but just think of your lovely little baby'
'Argh, it really hurts!'
'But you can give your baby a cuddle soon'
'No, your patronising tone of voice and wishy washy comments - they hurt!'

Oh, probably ignore me. I'm grumpy pants today after spending the morning feeling particularly grim...

PD If it were europe, I'd go in a flash. My main reason for really looking into it is that going with the inlaws means two extra pairs of hands meaning we have a shot at a few days/evenings that would actually be relaxing! Not sure they'd be up for something less exotic in a few months.

Ah, I'd better try and eat. Ick.

I did Arcadie, they should get him on for a webchat as was suggested - Manda You could let him know how you feel then!

What's with the , do MNHQ not know I've given it up for February And where has the gone?

Ooh, is still there, just not on the list.

+ =

MN Maths!

fliss . But who gives up wine for february?? it's beer o'clock here

I, apparently, have given up wine for an unspecified amount of time that started in late june 2009 and I forsee lasting at least another year and a half...

We need a emotion.

THe only saving grace of ms is that even though I know I shouldn't be drinking wine the thought of it turns my stomach anyway. However, suddenly started feeling ravenous about 20mins ago - but only for tomato based pasta with a chili kick and lots of melted cheese on top. Naturally, I do not have all the necessary ingredients but even if I did, I wouldn't have the energy to make it. Can't even rope DP in as he's not here this weekend. Woe!

heckle It's a post-Christmas 'detox'. February is shorter than January

Poor Manda :( Is there not a kindly friend who can supply you with the required ingredients?

Take away Italian manda ?

o'clock here hic!!

DH out with NCT lads tonight I have an M&S pizza and a bottle of rather nice Chardonnay for company

Loving the wine - on MN and in RL, but feel discriminated against as I Do Not Do red wine - not worth the sore head. Where is the white wine glass?? Eh, MNHQ, where is it?? 'Tis wine-ist!

Have fun away, snow or no snow, bluey - who knows the wheather seems to be turning wintery again...

Ah, Manda, I understand, more hands on board, that makes sense - our first holiday with DS1 was with my parents (said 3 weeks in the South of France) and I cannot remember a single thing about the first 2 weeks because all I did was hand the blessed child to my mum in the morning after having been up with him really most of the night and go back to bed. By week 3 I must have caught up on enough sleep to actually have been able to put some memories down ...

Arcadie and all other Christian fans: you sad, sad people ! Just ignore me, I've not been watching OBEM, so what do I know.

Fliss, detox, pah! I need alcohol, chocolate and stodgy food to get through the winter

In the words of DS2 'night-night, don't bite the bedbugs'