Jan 09: New thread, new babies, new year...our tiny newborns turn two and are full of birthday cheer....

[hackneyzoo]

Hope no one minds....I took an executive decision

gotart, you are quite right to ask for no presents. c's dad's parents completely lose the run of themselves at christmas and then again on her birthday, to the point that i think we are going to have to say something. it's probably exacerbated by them not seeing her that much but they are disablingly generous to their own children so i think it's what they are like. they buy her really nice presents, but i seem to not believe in giving extensive gifts to small children...

and yes, where's moose?

pat - really good to hear about your sister, a good heartbeat at eight weeks is a really good sign. and that sounds like a lovely day, hope it's soon rounded off by two sleeping children and a glass of wine

Oh don't worry stripey, the wine is already being imbibed

Thats the beauty when older children can't sleep you just say 'keep trying my love and maybe look at some books whilst you wait' then shuffle off downstairs to get pissed have a drink or two!

Thankfully Z passed out before his head touched the pillow, I must upload a photo of his new haircut soon, he looks like a proper little boy now!

Aww Pat. Lovely news of heartbeat and new haircut at laid back normal day

I agree stripey. Although dd2 seems to love toys at the moment. The little dolls bed and the huge shop [heirloom, investement, last for years.....blah blah ] I got her haven't arrived so actually I could have done with some gifts from outside world!

Had a panic buy in good old Sainso, the one decent shop in my town it seems. Got her some night garden duplo which she fell in love with [£10 from £20] and a waybuloo thingie that she hasn't opened yet as she really disn't need anymore challenging stimulation today . That was a bargain at £8 instead of £16. Annoyed with myself for spending the extra £20 though, although dd1 was a bit glum at the idea of her gettign nothing. So t'was for her really. really.
Friend sent most lovely little soft doll, a real charmer. Mosse would love it, as it reminded me of her hunt for one. Also lovely hairband, and she also got some white co. pj's from her Godmother - lucky girl!

Guess Moose still snowed under?

DD2 isn't sleeping, isn't going to sleep, sleeping through, napping or in anyway sleeping. It just goes on I guess.

Anyone have a M&S mattress btw? We need opinions on them.

Evening
Pat great news
Hi tree shame about party
Hkz birth storys a great idea. I bought mine on
Hi anyone I hv missed
Regarding mm ~ she sent me a personal message wishing bracken
A happy bday just said she wasn't on here 4 various reaons
Bracken enjoyed party today dhs parents came down from hull
And my parents

happy birthday to b, tink, glad she enjoyed herself

Happy birthday Tinklet

Happy birthday to B and H.

Just had a read before bed but really ought to just go to bed

I went to Ikea with my 2 today for no reason except to mooch. Put DD into Smalland (sp?) where she enjoyed herself whilst I traipsed round with the boy who dozed off. Bought a few little things that were actually unncecessary but couldn't resist in the children's dept, a cute canopy for DD's bed, a little light for DS's bunk bed to go on the wall and little bits like that. Naughty naughty and then we had a cheap bit of lunch in their cafe and came home. Then I ruined what had been a nice day by getting grumpy whilst trying to hang canopy and light as the DCs kept coming through and trying to help see what I was doing and general toddler nonsense and as they wouldn't listen to me I got cross in the end. Now of course I feel guilty for each time today I was grumpy with either of them, about 3 times, but that was too many for me. Booo

Tree Been there, the grumpy, cross, then guilt. We are so tough on ourselves sometimes.

Congrats to your sister again Pat... what great news about heartbeat.

Sending out waves and smiles to Moose. Hope you and family are well.

Things are moving full steam ahead here. Putting together lease offer for gallery/studio space tomorrow. Should be set up by middle of Feb. Now to keep the momentum going. Next will be to get some artwork done.

Going to a Montessori school opening for preschool for DD this Thursday. The cost is only $100 more than regular preschool so if DD gets accepted, could benefit her. We'll see. I hear such mix reviews of Montessori schooled kids. I love the 'free' time to develop and such but structure is good too... and cheaper. We'll try it for preschool, as some of her little friends are on the wait list too.

Damn. No wine in the house. Green tea it is then.

I meant Tea sorry, not Tree... gosh. Still can't get everyone sorted.

Pat, that's brilliant news for your sil, am really happy for her.

Stripey, agree with you about presents. My dad and sis went way ott, and as generous as they are, it's a bit pointless as even DD doesn't get it and she's nearly 4! To put it in perspective she was over the moon with hr own personal jar of marmite from my MIL and equally loved as she was all the toys! As far as ds is concerned, he has no idea!

Happy birthday to H!

Brain is mush...so hello to everyone else...I am sitting here expressing and trying to stay conscious!

Hkz, hope you are feeling better this morning. Glad she is making progress and love the name. Get that bag o guilt out, nothing you can do or have done. Hope you've managed some rest.

Happy birthday to all the babies I've missed. And hapPy house moves 120 and Art.

Good news on your sis Pat. Got your email and not replied but def on for feb half term, will get in touch. Love that photo of the chubsters too.

All good here, work fab except inspection Monday! Baptism of fire!

X posts Hkz, glad you are alright, do you have an electric pump? Is much easier on the wrists. I had an electric double one borrowed from a friend, was fab but felt a little like a milking cow. Am sure the scbu must have them to use there.

You sound your usual together self, hope you get lots of hugs and snuggly feeds today. Thinking of you.

GotArt it probably didn't help that my drill isn't very good. I gave up in the end actually. I shall see if I can beg/ borrow someone at church today to help. I think trying to keep 2 toddlers out of mischief and do DIY is a disaster quite frankly, when I'm already sleep deprived and tired as a lone parent

Hi all.

Good luck for Monday Lenni.
Hope you get some diy sos type body to the rescue Tea. I'd send my mum or dh [mum better] but too far.

Have been ironing for 2 hours. Still 3 loads to get washed, dried, and ironed. Meh. May have to give in and tumble dry. I hate that, I see it as defeat.

Tired and achey today. Also Ironed my little finger which is sore.

HKZ - am impressed at expressing, mumsnetting and your powers to stay awake in touch. Hope you are alright mrs, don't over do it!! You are on hormone driven full throttle, but they do conk out and leave us all on the floor with tiredness.

Be sure to get some rest!!

I went overboard with pressies
How much milk do ur little ones hv?
Dd2 who's 2 has 14 ozs
Dd1 who's 5 has 2 cups
Dhs niece is 6 and takes a pint 2 school still drinks all the tim!
Is it me or is that odd!

DD1 has about pint a day, counting her ready brek/wheetabix in the morning. She would have more if she got it, but has recently switched to warm water for her drink. Odd child.

DD2 has loads. Probably 16 to 24 oz, that's from a bottle. Stuck in baby mode. She is still 'young' in speaking and development, so we let her off for now.

She has been a horror bags this weekend. She won't let dh out of her sight, screams and shouts over everything and is behaving like a hooligan. Terrible twos appear to have landed. I had it so easy with dd1.

Forgot she had a new I am 2 top to wear. God this weekend has been a washout. She can wear in to playschool tomorrow. Can't believe how thoughless I've been and how unspecial it all was.

Hey ho. Maybe this week will be more pleasant.

HKZ I still can't get over the jar of Marmite, personalized or not. Lovely little picture of Hebe. This is terrible, but how do you pronounce it?

I'm thinking of passing around the Herimone, but I don't think it sounds nearly as nice with a Canadian accent as an English one.

Tink DD just weaned last September. She gets no milk to drink. Cow milk does her in, giving her running poos that stink to high heaven! (sick emoticon..I'm surprised there isn't one). I make her oatmeal with goat milk, super high in protein and no antibiotics or hormones. She can eat organic yoghurt and cheese just fine, all sorts of cheese, and salami's even. She devoured all the salami I had with truffles in it. Crazy Chef's daughter.

Tea I'd come over to help... I've got the proper drill bits for just what you need. Hope you find someone at church.

DH had to go into work this morning to do bread. I hate it. Screws up DD and me for that matter. We get him for about 4 hours total through the week than he has to go in at 4am after working till 10.30 the night before cause no one else can do but him and the Chef/Owner. DH told him he has to train someone else but P just hates change and is an incredible procrastinator and typical Italian martyr. I love P, but man, I've worked for him too, so I know what DH has to contend with. DH is also a work-aholic. I said last night that the baker they hired should just do more bread and then freeze it for Sunday and Mondays. Not that big of a deal.

So DD woke up at 5.30... like she knows DH isn't here, crying for him. I eventually brought her back to bed, where for an hour she whined 'mummy, daddy, mummy daddy' to the point I just got fed up trying to console her, put her on DH's side of the bed and rolled over myself. Next thing you know, we woke up at 9.15! Nice little catch up on sleep, thank goodness. She ate an Daddy size portion of oatmeal and we are off to town for a birthday card for her little friend and meeting DH for dim sum. Had to sort of laugh at DH last night. He knows how to offset my being upset with him having to work today by starting the conversation with, "I have to go in to bread in the morning, but I'm only doing bread so come meet me and we'll go for dim sum."... which I can never pass up.

mmmmmm dim sum.

Not something I can get within about 60 miles, I am willling to bet most of this town haven't heard of it. Missing the city lots recently.

Can't believe the hours your dh works, you are very understanding GotArt. I'd be frantic, although that is probably due to dd2 and her sheer work load. I might have been ok when it was just dd1, or if we'd got another dd.

As it is, the H-bomb has gone entirely nuclear this weekend. Although she has eaten some ham, which is a nice development. Seems al long time since she was stuffing salami in the south of france at 8 months old, she's a real fuss pot now. Mainly eats plain rice and pasta.

I guess dhs niece has always drunk milk throughout the day
She has goats milk is allergic 2 cowa
Find it weird how she takes that much 2 school doesn't hv water
Or juice
Drinks the milk throughout the day near 2 meals etc thought
She would be 2 full 4 food
They say she just luvs it

Has really no-one been around today? HZ, how are things going?

Tree sorry to hear about the H-bomb.

Tink, my DD doesn't really like milk other than in cereal, but adores cheese. Think she eats a vast block a week on her own. H loves milk though and drinks great big cupfuls. They are all so different, aren't they!

Meant to say v jealous of your lie-in GA, but not of a DH that goes to make bread at 4am, though Dim Sum are lovely.

DD's friends birthday party yesterday shattered all the parents there. lol. We had great visit but man, so tired. Thank goodness DD still went down at normal time; she was wired and I thought for sure it was going to be hell. DH got up with her this morning, but he was up even before her so got some quiet time on the computer... to do work for work. Then he made a nice breakfast.

Dim sum was good.. love going for it and DD loves the process, seeing the trolleys going around with all the food, and the tea. [bsmile]

Went for a swim today and after about 45 minutes I started asking DD, want to go into the hot tub now, which she usually says yes, but she was playing and playing and playing and it just seemed to go on forever! Finally got the hot tub though by just telling her it was mommy's turn for fun, picked her and a little water can up and off we went. Just got the hydro and cable set up for the new place and didn't have to pay any deposit, thank you universe as it usually is about $200 a piece. [bshock]

Off to attempt a bit of a nap before DD gets up.

Hello all

not been back for a while but can see you all on Facebook (i'm CS for those that can see me!) and lovely to see the new arrivals!!

J is 2 on 4th Feb (he was a week late!!)