Dec 08 Mums - Snot Beards, Farty Boos and Willy Milk (not how it sounds!) - let the fun continue!

[Beans33]

Here we are x

And now the child is waking every 2 hours or so and because a feed is taking shout 1.5 hours, that leaves me with not v much time to sleep at all this too will pass... And it cd be a whole lot worse...

Hello everyone

Just popping on to say so sorry Jolly, but I've not had a chance to post your parcel. I think I have got some sort of tummy bug as I am very shivery and need to be near the loo so leaving the house is a problem. I'll post it as soon as I can.

Hope everyone else is well.

Poor you, Sybs. Meant to say thank you for your card.

Well, hello Topcats! We actually got home at 4am yesterday but then we nipped up to Birmingham as DP needed a new suit, and then went to see my Mum as I was missing her. I am such a sap. Also, frankly I think DP couldn't wait to show them the holiday pics of the girls

I have read, but my brain has turned to soft cheese so I need to go back later as there were things over the last two or three weeks that I didn't really get a chance to respond to. However. for now I am just going to prattle on about meeeeee to wrok myself back in. I have really missed you all.

It really was a good break. I feel so refreshed. My mind feels as clear as the waters of the Red Sea and I have a lovely mental energy which I haven't had for months. It was so good for DP as well and I know the girls got so much out of it...I am covered in foul mosquito bites (about 40) that I got at the el posho hotel we went to on our last night (huh) and I react badly to them so am having to mainline the antihistamines. Maybe that's why I feel a bit daffy in the head.

I can't believe all those lovely babes were born whilst I was away! Have some cards and bits to send to the relevant parties. Hope you are all ok. I know the first few weeks are REALLY hard but I look at my (enormous) DD2, now just over 5 months, and I don't want her to get any older as I am really enjoying her babydom and it does go so fast...

Glad you are settled in, Arti and Vag (Arti, are you staying an Arti for now?) Yep, moving is a big drag. We were supposed to be moving this week but DP has had a lot of work come in and also has to prep a very serious trial for next week so yet another delay. We don't know if the heating works yet either, the plumber was in whilst we were away.

Those getting wistful about the baby stuff (and Urbane, I think it's perfectly natural that you should do so. Sorry you've been blue...how is your DS this week?) I can't bloody face getting rid of any of it just yet. Heaven knows why. Think it's not quite wanting to accept that baby days are drawing to a close...

Sybs: sorry you aren't feeling good. Love to you. As to those base ingrates who knowcked you back for the job, well, the loss is all theirs, my dear.

Beans - how was Barca? I meant to recommend a bar to you, dash it.

Welome back Rubes! So glad you had a good trip, illnesses and small ruckuses notwithstanding! Lookin' forward to hearing all about it. I have come back from hols 1kg lighter! Ok, it's not much but a small mercy for which I am hugely grateful.

Oh, Kayz, if you are reading - many congrats on your nice news.

Invis, I read The Finkler Question on hols and had so many things to say to you about it so I will come back later on that one. Oh, and I think it's adorable that your DD piped up about getting a party bag for her bro.

Mom, glad you spotted the TT quickly. To you and all the other new Mothers of Two I know it's bloody impossible with two kids at first but I absolutely promise you will adjust. Beans, told me I would (I can remember how on top of things she seemed and I felt that I would never be like that, but I am now.

The girls were supergood on both plane journeys. I was v impressed. However, the spaghetti eating seems to have been a false dwan

Spot, every time I think things can't possibly get worse for you, something else crops up. I can't quite believe how you have all suffered, and now a hiatus hernia? My life. On the other hand, diagnoses, and plans (even if it's tubefeeding at home) have to be a positive step, right?

So much more to say but so much to do here. See you later!

Quite a few typos and punctuation errors in all that. A false DWAN, I ask you!

Welcome back Lady, did you read 'The Slap'? I've just finished it and am interested what you thought. I personally didn't enjoy it, but I think that's because I'm Australian. The writing itself was fine but it reminded me so much, of what I don't like about Australia.

Oh sorry can't post more DS2 is needing so much attention lately, I think my MN long post days might be drawing to a close.

Hello all,
This will be rather a lacklustre post as I am tired. Naughty DD up screaming in the night for no discernable reason. Argh, you think they are sleeping ok and then they just switch it all about don't they little pests.
Lady glad you are back...I like your photos. You look particularly glam in the one on the sofa with the two of them.
wg hope it gets easier soon. It will I am sure. Those first weeks are v hard, and I second that it is doable with two even when it seems like it won't be. Though today I just have H. Easier! Though less easy now with miss rolly poly nosy parker. She is so cheeky and really likes attention these days! Noooo....don't grow up.... I have given away no baby stuff yet. Oh actually yes I did give away some boy stuff to my friend but none of DD's.
Oh and I love the MILisms. She sounds quite entertaining though maybe not quite what you need with a newborn around. And the "is that fr the pain" comment is the sort of stupid thing I would say and then think...DUH!
spot I never know what to say... you are having such a hard time...I hope the tube feeding at home is the solution, poor little boy. How is your DP and DS1 coping with it all?

In other news, I left DD in the dining room in her bumbo and there was a thud. I thought she had knocked over the salt cellar or something stupid I had left to near miss Grabby Grabby but no....she had got out. She was on her front on the table...quite happy. Bloody scary. I think the bumbo will be relegated now.

My diet is going well by the way I am now 9st 7.5 lbs (yes that's what the scales say, that damn half pound). So I have lost 13.5 lbs this year. It has felt like slow going but that's quite good! Hurrah. Only 3lbs to go. Ace news on the 1kg LadyT that is fab for being on hols! Have you much more to lose?

I must go DD now on my lap and slapping the keyboard, its getting tricky and have to give her lunch.

Love to all, jolly and mom hope all is well with you too.

Ladies we are back... Landed 6 am and I don't feel as bad as I thought I would. Kids pretty good on the last 2 flights (especially the overnighters) although I did get thrown up on courtesy of dd in Hong Kong! Flights started off terrible as I mentioned with dd being sick then it changed to ds sick, and then they both got very used to it. Poor buggers. I had them on 5 long haul flights within the last 2.5 weeks bloody pro's now
Anyway, this high energy dog I just picked up from the kennel isn't ideal as I'm a bit tired! dh has gone to work bless him. His choice though to stay on, but I'm very glad we did as the argument with db was pretty insignificant, and we had a lovely time over the weekend.
The wedding was great too, however a bit dampened by ds being ill the whole time we were in NZ, as i was quite worried about him. But I'm so glad we went. Came very close to spending the whole hols in the US when dd was ill, but then decided we would only go to NZ if we also got to see my family, so they came up and it was great.
Anyway, just wanted to say hi, and will try to catch up and back later as dh is on call till later (nutter)
Will try and get some of the pics up on FB too today after we get unpacked.

meaning my family came up to my brothers - hello Summer! Back soon....

I really liked it, Vag, but I don't think anyone I know who has read it has liked it as much as I did. I know the characters were all rather flawed folk but I really admired the writing and as rather an ignoramus about Australia, I found it riveting (if indeed it gave a reasonably accurate sense of modern Australia, I wouldn't know, of course). I thought he was so insightful about the less savoury aspects of people's inner lives. But I looked on the fiction board on here and most people seemed to hate it.

Apart from The Finkler Question, which I will come back to later, I only read Stewart Lee's How I Escaped my Certain Fate (eloquent, infurating, indulgent, funny) and The Help (predictable, yes, but a terrific read, really enjoyed it) and half of I Capture The Castle which I had never read (still enjoying it).

Cross posted! SL, your DD sounds so busy now! Sorry about the bumbo. I have never had one, I always thought they looked smashing...maybe not. That's brill on the weight loss! It must be great. Oh crumbs, I have a good 12kg still to go but even though I have only lost another kg I just feel a bit inspired and I am going to knuckle down over the next few weeks.

Welcome back Rubes! So sorry the trip has been marred a bit by ills but it sounds very good overall. Can you keep the dog busy with a very large bone or something whilst you gather yourself together after the travelling?

Yeah the bumbo is ace, apart from the getting out, as I can put her on the table and if she drops food it goes on the table rather than the floor. Also she is kind of swamped in the high chair. The bumbo has a tray actually and if that's on theres no way she can get out so I will use that with it. I am just worried that DH won't take my warnings seriously and will leave her in the bumbo without the tray!

12kg is not that much....you will be super glam when you have lost it. It is nice to lose weight but I still feel scruffy and a bit crap. I feel a shopping trip coming on.

Am heartened your trip was good rubes. Gives me hope that our canada trip won't be totally stressful!

I have read not such good things about the Finkler Question on wider mumsnet but I will of course take yours and invis and mom's opinions over those muppets - or is that not the new J Franzen one? Sorry am tired and confused and can't be bothered to look it up!

Oh, I am glad you think 12kg is not that much Seems bloody loads to me, but, hey, am really gonna do it this time. The Finkler Question is by Howard Jacobson and won the last Booker. The new Jonathan Franzen is called summat else, forget what. I know you and Vag have read The Help, what did you think of it?

Oh, and I seriously, seriously need a wardrobe rejuvenation. Dunno what to get, though. However, as I lose weight I have some quite good clothes which will become available to me again.

Maybe a well fitting pair of midpriced jeans Lady? I really need some new trousers most as I think my old trousers are a) v uncool and knackered now b) I am probably a different shape and they probably don't quite fit. My big post baby jeans are too big and not v flattering any more.
12Kg is about 2 stone no? It is quite a lot but I seem to remember you having about 20kg to lose after DD1 so really not that bad. I know you have difficulties losing weight though (well more than your average, losing weight is bloody hard work anyway imo without extra problems)
I need to get into a book at the mo, I am half way through something crap that was recommended on singletrackworld.com (serves me right for taking recommendations from moutnain bike websites!) that was meant to be v readable like Steig Larsson, but it is rubbish! Must bin it. And maybe start on my secret santa - which I saw recommended by someone on here in response to "If there is one book you could recommend what would it be". My secret santa book is Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome for those of you who don't know, which is all of you - minus one
Anyway I have v low concentration span at the mo and have read v few books since DD born. The Steig Larssons being three - they will always remind me of the height of sleep deprivation.
Oh and yes I loved the Help. Quite cheesy but also so so readable, I really really enjoyed it and couldn't put it down. I think Beans has read it too?
Anyway I am totally waffling. As I don't want to do anything useful!

welcome back rubs and ladyt. You sound so refreshed lady, and so positive and happy with your girls, and rubs it must have been soooooo nice to see your family - I really can't imagine being that far from parents and siblings. Sometimes I think mine are so far away, and they're only over the penines! Hope it has boosted you up
SL well done on the weight loss - that sounds like a lot in 2 months. I weigh something similar to my pre-baby days but my shape is and dress size are different in lots of ways, so I have a large selection of ill-fitting clothes! maybe we should do a Thread Clothes Swap - perhaps at our mega meet-up?!
vag how are the cats? Has the shy one come out of her shell at all yet?
I've just been to see the consultant at the psych hospital - the one whose covering for my usual-but-currently-broken-legged-consultant. Anyway, the verdict is increase my tablets but I can go back to work She suggested another 2 weeks off but I said I'd really like to try going back, so she said as long as I do some kind of phased return and continue to see CPN every week, then she's happy for me to give it a go. Hurrah! I feel pleased that I can get back to normal life - although rather nervous too...I think it'll be next week by the time I've seen Occ Health etc, so I've got my last few days of freedom now {smile] I'm suddenly thinking of all the things to do which I should have done over the past 6 weeks, but which were too overwhelming and required motivation for, and now I'll not have time! Doh.

Omg I just wrote a huge post and lost it!!!! Lady I had given a long critique of both books and now...gone Aaargh!

On the book chat...loved The Help, predictable but page turner. Really liked The Slap though also disturbed by it. The new Franzen is called Freedom and I loved loved it. Also read a good one by Rose Tremain called A Long Road Home or something which I enjoyed. All very readable as I haven't had the brain space for anything literary lately! And SL I just read Three Men In A Boat last month. Hilarious!

Welcome back chatty ladies! I need you to provide me with lots of posts to catch up on during the long and frequent night feeds!

Welcome back LadyT & Rubes. We are expecting loads of posts to make up for your absences. I'm pleased you both had such fab hols (not withstanding Rubes littles' ills and LadyT's tum).

I had so many points I wanted to respond to but I'm so tired that my brain has gone blank. All I remember is Urbane dreading her work yesterday. How did it go Urbs? Not as bad as you feared I hope. And is your DS better.

On books, I enjoyed The Slap despite hating the characters. I found the observations of the different cultures interacting v interesting. I thought all the stories were cleverly interwoven and being a parent I found the different approaches to child rearing quite thought provoking.

I have also recently read Room which was sort if trashy but again a v interesting premise and contained interesting reflections on parenthood and what children really need.

I'm now on Rose Tremain's Trespass which is promising so far but then I always love her books.

Feck, just failed to notice my Tube stop and went sailing past. Must. Get. Some. Rest. And. Regain. My. Brain.

welcome back LadyT! glad you're feeling so lively. and welcome back Rubes!

trace, you're sounding very positive which is fantastic, hope the return to work goes well :)

MoM am very impressed you're reading proper books at all in the circumstances, I'm on the dodgy detective fiction that is my guilty habit - David Hewson, they're all set in Italy so at least a vaguely cultured setting :)

So ladies, we went back to look at the house again and are very keen... take a look and tell me the potential pitfalls. The price is actually very good for what you get in this city, and we're keen to stay in this area - close to friends, cycling distance rom work, would get the girls into the school we want, etc etc.

possible new house
NB the floor plan fails to show that there's an opening from end of the family room into the kitchen... where the window shows at the end of the family room, they've left the sash window in place so there's a lot of light at the back of the room and you can see from living room to dining table. We're thinking of putting both girls in the big front bedroom, or otherwise there would be one in the really big room and one in the little one, are envisioning this being our house for at least 10 years so sleepovers etc would be happening there!

Pluses:

• bigger garden than ours, longer and less overlooked
• living/family room a lot wider than ours, more space for running about, could have the family room half as playroom area
• big kitchen/diner (bigger than the photos make it look)
• two bathrooms
• loo on same floor as girls' bedrooms!!!
• big big loft bedroom for us, with Ong Suite (as MIL says it)
• little study room for DH's crap music
• on a much quieter road than we are at the moment, not a rat run
• pretty much 'move in' condition

Minuses:

• no fireplace (though we could open it up, have done this here)
• majority of storage (ie fitted wardrobes) are in what would probably be girls' room, so where do suitcases etc live? Currently in the loft, where do you put the things that are there?!
• the bath is up in the loft - but then at the moment I have to take them from the downstairs bathroom upstairs at bedtime
• kitchen storage isn't as goos as we have at the moment (baskets etc rather than our brilliant drawers and corner cupboard...)
• despite the windows business, the downstairs is still a bit dark, and the knocked-thrugh arch is only a few inches above DH's head
• access to the garden is via a path through the neighbours' garden - might feel weird if they've got people round...

so, what do you think...? We're planning on getting the EA round to give us a valuation this week and then go from there.

ooh jj I like that house! What an amazing garden! We have storage issues in our current place and I'd love somewhere to store things like the vac and the ironing board, which just live in the lounge here. It looks from the photo like there's some eves storage in the top bedroom - don't know how big a space that would be but in our dormer we have eves storage which fits suitcases (not that we ever go away!), and quite a lot of other things which never see the light of day. It seems like it ticks a lot of boxes for your family.

I shall reply to myself! Basically our house has the same layout as the new one, just a tiny kitchen downstairs and bathroom off it, the upstairs is essentially the same if you imagine the middle bedroom being where bed4 and shower room are in the new one. Having just been up putting S to bed, I notice that our back bedroom has a flat high ceiling whereas this one is sloping, making it feel a bit smaller. It is also actually smaller by a foot each way. So we'd be getting two much bigger bedrooms, and two smaller ones. Also, the upstairs landing, having the extra staircase added, feels a lot darker and a little bit claustrophobic (as I look at our nice 'airy' landing?!).

Key questions - is it vital to be on the same floor as your kids? Does it matter that there are two tiny bedrooms, given that we spend most of our time downstairs and that is definitely bigger?

sorry trace, wasn't ignoring you there, just took ages to type one handed! good point re ironing board etc, the under stairs cup'd did look smaller than ours (!)

Hello and a very belated congrats to MoM. He sounds like a smasher. Did you get the tt snipped today and can you feel a difference yet? I sympathise totally as my 2 were tongue tied as well - it's the pits isn't it?

Actually on painful bfing Vag & Kiwi (& anyone else) are you still feeding? DD seems to have lost the knack of latching on and it's really quite uncomfortable. It's often like that for a while when she's getting a tooth but this seems to be more painful than usual and seems to have lasted ages. I've read they grow out of being able to bf eventually, but I thought that was much older. Have you 2 had anything similar?

spot time things started looking up for you lady. Are you in the hossie now? Thinking of you. Let me know nearer the time if you are still up for a visit on Friday 18th.

trace you are sounding much perkier at the prospect of getting back to work - lovely to hear it. Hope the meds help you turn a corner.

jj house looks great. Didn't clock if there is a shed but could that be a solution for storage? I don't think you need to be on the same floor as the DCs. The tiny bedrooms will presumably be for guests and/or office so it would be a waste of good space to have them huge at the expense of the rooms you'll use daily.

Rubes & LadyT good to have you back.

Arti congrats on the move. Are the girls excited? We moved nearly 3 months ago & my 2 are still beside themselves when they get to show visitors around.

SL shocked to hear of your loss. I think we should all rally round and have a collection for you. I have a couple of pounds on each thigh I can easily spare.

Beans hope you had great time in BCN. Which bar were you going to recommend LadyT? I used to live there but it's been such a long time that I'm totally out of touch.

Invis/Beans any news on the MILs?

wg you sound very happy at the moment (despite tiredness and MIL-induced weariness). Good to hear you sounding positive.

Congrats to kayz. When's the big day?

urbane yay for crappy day being over. How is your new job going in general? Can't imagine there is much fun to be had at the moment. Are there lots of people leaving? We all got letters today saying whether our jobs are at risk (mine's okay, being a new post) so much wailing & gnashing of teeth there. A lot of people from my old job are leaving this week as well.

Vag you were asking about the job and house (as were you ages ago I think LadyT). House is great - much the same as before as I have actually now banned DP from doing any decorating since he decided to surprise me by painting the bathroom walls a kind of sludge colour he found in the shed and the paintwork in a hideous poor quality plasticky paint without even sanding down the crappy paintwork that was already there. Bless his cotton socks. Job is going well - definitely a good move for me. Too busy at the moment though. I don't do busy very well.

Enjoying the book talk and making notes for my hols in a couple of weeks (Lanzarote again - adventurous!). Any more suggestions? I enjoyed The Slap too but then I do quite enjoy the darker side of things. Also found it instructive in the ways of Australia that you don't see on Neighbours (by the way has anyone seen that new fillum with Guy Pearce in ... Animal Kingdom maybe? Looks promising) but I know what you mean Vag. If it had been set in the UK and populated with the equivalent types from over here I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much. Can't say The Help grabs me. What am I missing? Am reading a book by a Japanese author at the moment and it is bloody hard work. Have been reading it for ever and ever.

Our bloody Internet us up the spout again. So am sitting in the lounge hanging out the window to get signal on my phone.

So a super quickie.

Lady & Rubes great to see you back and sounding so relaxed. Lady lovely pics of you all on FB.

Trace my love you seem so much more positive. Good luck getting all those bits and bobs done.

So ARTi what was the outcome morning after pill or sort of cross your fingers and wait and see.

JJ will look at house porn when I can get to the laptop.

Vag how's the footie.

SL cute pic of Helen.

Loads more to say but have forgotten everything. Hope we get our router sorted soon makes me want to vom posting from phone.

Oh and happy pancake day. I ate them with the boys and again when I came home from the gym with DH. Yum yum.