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

[Beans33]

Here we are x

Kiwi, I think she'll be sad for a few days, maybe a couple of weeks, but she'll soon move on. Sad, but true. Friendships v transient at that age. I even remember my best friend at primary school moving to Canada when I was 5. I was gutted, but two weeks later, my best friend was someone totally different!

And you'll find another nursery that she'll love. She's such a confident little thing, she'll be happy wherever she is, which is lovely.

Thanks for the encouragement all! Good to remember that screamy evenings are normal and pass of their own accord. We are having a rubbish day as I've just realised that ds1 has impetigo again - I'm 99% sure. He had it back in Jan and it was a nightmare with washing and disinfecting and had to keep him off nursery for a week. Now I have the added worry of not wanting ds2 to get it. Plus it is GROSS and I think ds1 is feeling sad because he can tell that I don't want to touch him! Ugh, ugh, ugh.

How bad is it really to guzzle cheerfulness while BFing???

Zj - very honoured that you remember when I joined the thread! Still obsessed with sleep even now.

Hello loves. I've got a headache, probably because I have just joined Twitter and am wasting a stack of time peering at that. Do I not neglect my children/writing/housework enough as it is?

Mom - the sleep thing is such a monster when they are tiny. I had such a shock when DD2 was born - I thought I remembered how hard it was at first but I hadn't really. I think it eases off a bit after 6 weeks or so...I know that's a long time to wait. I think it's a case of not expecting too much of anything and muddling through somehow. I do feel for you. Effie's suggestions are good.

Beans, so much good luck for tomorrow re: all the results and whatnot. And sorry about the trip to Greece. As to the boobs...er...have you got some good bras? Mine have fared passably well but I still don't like to look at them out of a bra for too long

JB - hooray, you are home! That seems so fast - fantastic.

DB - I am sorry to hear you are feeling rather flat. You know you can always offload on here, whether piffling or serious. You need some beacons of things to look forward to. Any hols planned/possible?

Rubes, it's nice to hear that your DS is in such fine fettle since the trip. I haven't seen him for ages, he is such a sweet little fellow.

Effie, your description of the cafe experience was almost painfully vivid...

Jam, I have never been to Florida. Is it nice? What is there to do apart from the Disney stuff? (Loads, I am sure)

SL, that dress looks nice. I have never had a job where one would wear a grown-up, swish dress like that, though. I'd like some new shoes, everyday ones, but I don't know what to get, and must ignore the urge to buy some more Converse Allstars...Am off to a judge's dinner next Friday and it's black tie, so FARK knows what I will wear to that. I suppose I will go tit-tastic, there's nothing else worth flashing at the moment.

Invis, it was actually I Capture the Castle I read, not Cold Comfort Farm (but similar schtick, though, I reckon) - I thoroughly enjoyed it, after not being keen on the first chapter or so.

Kiwi, St Albans will be nice. That whizzy connection to Kings X is quite something. What's the housing like?

JJ, I think deffo give it a whirl with that note. It sounds like it's the sort of thing that could give you an edge in a competitive market. So sorry the other house didn't work out but am a great believer in fate - you are 'meant' to have another house.

Oh lawks, look at the time, must crack on...

Mom: cheerfulness when bring fine as long as you don't drink so much you drop the baby. V little will pass into breastmilk. Though I found red wi e made DS1's colic worse (boo).

Mom I've been merrily downing glasses of wine for my two years and three months (and counting..) of breastfeeding... DD seems perfectly fine to me, providing you give her her daily glass of sav blanc, of course

Thanks for all the advice guys. Think you are right, she'll be fine. Beans as you say she's a very outgoing, sociable little sausage (though I'm not allowed to call her that now, she says "No Mummy! Not DD Sausage! recites full DD name) and she does seem to make friends pretty easily (as long as she's allowed to boss them round a bit, of course)

Right on the way home to see if I left my brain on the kitchen table or next to the sink - I've been useless today, just forgot I had to leave to pick up DD so am on the later bus willing it to hurry up, after tidying my dirty mug into the fridge!

I think the letter is a good idea Jump, my parents old neighbours offered first refusal on their house (before even putting it on the Market) to a couple they knew vaguely who had once told them how much they loved the house. Wow at 5 viewings, just go out all day tomorrow and then it'll stay tidy

Trace did your manager seem opening to changing the report once she'd seen you in action, so to speak? I suppose she's not seen you in a while so hasn't seen the strides you've made

I love the dress too Summer and think it could work for all occasions except those with children (due to dry clean only)

We have dress down day tomorrow, for comic relief. I hate dress down day and never know what to wear, it takes so much thinking about

Hello lovely ladies
I have been trying to keep up with you all but obviously have failed miserably at managing to post. So firstly, many congratulations to all the mummies with new babies. Fingers crossed for beans for tomorrow. spot I don't really know what to say - poor you, it really is all being thrown at you. rubes and lady glad you had such lovely holidays. JJ and kiwi I think I will be joining you in the house hunting / selling. I was also feeling bad about the prospect of moving DD from nursery but have felt less guilty since I went to look at a couple in Harpendenand put DD on the list for the one I really liked. Also DD has moved to the pre-school room recently and it seems as though a few of her little friends will be leaving over the next year anyway so it won't be the same proposition it was a couple of months ago, say, anyway. Hopefully that makes sense? We have started looking at houses but so far everything is either horrible or eye-wateringly expensive so not for us. Ho hum, it'll all work out in the end, I'm sure.
Other news here is that I am a little bit clackered! Due early September. So am taking special note of how you ladies handle two! Anyway, must go and retrieve DD from nursery....

Congratulations, Pingu! So we WILL have another 2011 Dec 08 Ladies baby, hooray! (although interested parties should note you still have about three weeks to conceive to sneak one in before New Year's Eve )

ZJ - jeans? Mind you, I am a jeansaholic. It's my answer to everything. And white jeans in the summer, a la Elizabeth Hurley, which I know is usually a fashion no no but I really like them.

Congratulations Pingu! How exciting .

Public Service Announcement: Thorntons sell butter tablet. No responsibility will be taken for any cavities or sugar highs which might ensue.

I just won £250 of John Lewis vouchers for filling in an MN survey. How cool is that? Perfect timing with the move.

I only have 3 tube stops to post in so I'm going to have to mention only 3 of you lovely ladies:

First Beans, I am so pleased for you that your MiL pulled through but then sad for you that you have so much worry about your own parents. I hope all goes well with tomorrow's tests.

Jolly - congratulations on bringing J home. And on establishing breast feeding. Just lovely news.

Pingu - yay to being clackered! How are you feeling? Are you also thinking of moving.

Feeling a bit hurt as girl at work had birthday drinks tonight and really seems to have asked every single person on our floor but me. I know this because every single member of my team asked to be able to leave early. I thought I got on well with the birthday girl and am suddenly filled with fear that everyone at work hates me. I couldn't even have gone to the drinks so I am being silly really. Humph.

Completely missed this page of the thread earlier - big congratulations Pingu, that's lovely news. I hope you're feeling ok so far? I knew we couldn't be completely clacker free on the thread, it just felt wrong, but you've managed an overlap!

kiwi by the time you find somewhere and move DD may be ready to start pre school, in which case CM or something else might suit better anyway (or that's what we're thinking, but I love the nursery and don't want to take DD out)

LadyT your comment to Mom and the other new mums made me smile, as just the other day I met up with an AN friend and her DC and we were trying to enjoy a cuppa and get a word out without being interrupted, and we were reminiscing about 2 years ago when they just slept in their prams while we ate cake and talked for hours and how on earth could we have found that hard compared to dealing with toddlers. We managed to block out the bad stuff completely, just like forgetting the pain of giving birth!

Arti had you already mentioned you'd be busy? I'm sure they can't have deliberately left you out (says me, who takes everything personally, but I know I shouldn't). Still it would have been nice to be able to decline (or roll the clock back and be a free spirit for a day)

Where is the Vajster? she's been away from us for longer than usual

Congrats Pingu, how exciting!

Kiwi thanks for the offer on the dress, I am also very excited that you all like it, but on thinking about it the dry clean only is really putting me off! i am always too lazy to get things dry cleaned so it would probably languish in my wardrobe and only get worn once or twice. It didn't look quite like it did in the picture on me , and being much shorter maybe looked less dressy hence thinking I could wear it to work etc. But thinking about it I WOULDN'T wear it to work, what am I thinking! I cycle to work and I would have to crinkle it up in my bag or cycle in it. Duh. so i think being sensible I shouldn't. Sigh.

arti balls to that girl. Strange, maybe she knew you would not be able to come. I would not worry about it, i am sure everyone doesn't hate you!

kiwi I know what you mean about not being sure about moving but now is better than later re kids missing friends, etc. If you are going to want to move out that way at some point I would do it now! A good friend of mine is moving to St Albans next week and she is similarly terrified about moving out of central london...but I am sure she will love it. Can you do what Pingu has done and put DD's name down for a nursery now if you decide you are definitely doing it? And you and Pingu will be able to meet up - beans weren't you thinking of moving there at one point too, or did I dream that?

mom I also drink cheerfulness when BFing. Well not often actually AT THE SAME TIME (though saying that I have done it, even out in the pub once or twice what must I have looked like). I would like to report that my DH now uses the term cheerfulness when referring to booze, which I find very funny.

Hello everyone, and big congrats to Pingu! So pleased.

Kiwi, funny you should mention St A's, that's been on our list of maybe places (that tick enough boxes). I also have the nursery thing, I know they make friends quickly etc, but it feels like such a big and familiar thing to them now. I wouldn't let it totally rule your decision, as I know they're adaptable at this age, but I do sympathise. And let me know what you think of St Albans. Apparently it's the town in the UK where people pay the most income tax. Fascinating, non? Non.

Jolly so pleased you're moving in the right direction. And so fab about the feeding, it's really lovely it's working out.

mom, feeling for you on the sleep refusenik front. One day at a time, me lovely.

Lady, I am impressed at your SAHM activities of the other day, siwftly followed by joining twitter. Are the two connected? . I do have a twitter account as you know, but haven't tweeted in ages. Think Turnip has a good strategy. And interesting things to say, unlike me. And thanks so much for the candles and body scrub, so sweet of you. As exhausted as I was last night I had a bath with candles and wine because i could. And it was lovely.

Arti, I'm sure there must be some mistake, or an email that you were accidentally left off. Can't imagine it would be deliberate, esp as you get on with her.

JJ quick work on the house front! Fingers crossed...

ZJ you sound totally doolally. Are you clackered?!

Beans you and your family have a lot on your plate right now. THinking of you.

On the home front, B been on the NJ feed for 5 days now but had to reintroduce some oral feeds as he was starving and only sleeping a few mins at a time. But this is causing him pain again, despite only having 50mls every 6 hours and being on neocate and top strength reflux drugs. DP is with him now and they're coming home tomorrow until Tues, when he's back ahead of an endoscopy under GA on Weds. I am a bit nervous tbh, from the pov of feeding him properly on the NJ (we were trained yesterday) and also just upsetting T. I am now used to dealing with them completely separately and giving my attention to them when I'm with them, and that'll change. I know it's the same with 2 anyway, but keeping T away from B's feeding tubes and machine will be quite something. Anyway, to take my advice to mom, one day at a time...

Must have a cuppa now and then get to bed, this'll be my last night's sleep before craziness starts again tomorrow.

Well the mil visit is going well then. Here is the email I was going to send dh's cousin to offload:

Listen... Sheila and I had the most almighty row today. They came down today to help look after the girls - she has threatened to go home tomorrow, saying she doesn't feel welcome here. It was all I could do to refrain from telling her that she wasn't even welcome for one night and she should get out of my house now and find a hotel. I didn't, but I was THIS close.

I'm pretty sure she will cast me as the evil daughter in law in all this, but I want you to know, when you hear the story, which I'm sure you will, It wasn't as simple as that and she has behaved pretty badly in all this. She gets away with it because her whole family lets her because everyone knows she wants to be right, never wants to admit bring wrong, or fallible, or ever having behaved less than perfectly. So M and D just let all the pretence, lies and self delusion wash over them.

I wasn't raised that way - I was raised to say what I mean, mean what I say, admit when I don't know something and value being truthful above everything."

full story when I get to a proper computer and am not mid feed.

Oh, spot, my life is so trivial comPared to yours. Sorry.

And pingu-congratulations!

Sorry to miss everyone else off personals.

Cat: B is so lucky to have you fighting his corner. You've pushed and refused to be fobbed off and have been so strong and determined. I hope you have a peaceful weekend with the boys. Is the endoscopy to prepare for another treatment? Or a routine check? I'm thinking of you all xx

WG: did you send it in the end? Must have been very therapeutic to get it all down. I have just heard via my sister that Mum is planning to stay with us next Christmas. Of course she didn't think of actually asking us. It's all 'I want to do this, I want to spend time with MY grandchildren' which I understand but a bit of consideration would be nice... (and no they aren't. We don't do visitors over Christmas).

Oh WG, that all sounds awful. Send the email, it will probably make you feel better. One small point though - she probably hasn't got a clue about her own behaviour. SOme people are very lacking in emotional intelligence and, up to a point, they can't help it. I am sorry you have got this stress though, NOT what you need with a new baby, recovering from a cs etc.

Spot, I hope you can manage the two of them somehow when B comes out - perhaps you could line up some distractions for T and put them close by so everything's ready to keep him busy. (Dvds, sticker books, drawing stuff, Playdough, all that). Twitter seems a lot of fun but already I am thinking it's just another THING in my already overstuffed day. I know that sounds ludicrous. I have been trying to be a better mother all week and we have done SOMETHING every day...Need to start writing again soon, though. I realise it sounds idiotic, moaning I have no time. Need to look at my time management again!

Great on the vouchers, Arti! Wotcha going to get? As to the lady in your office, I simply don't believe for a second she doesn't like you. Perhaps she just assumed you couldn't make it.

Anyone having a flutter on the Cheltenham Gold Cup? Urbane does sometimes, I know...It looks like our freehold purchase has finally been sorted on my flat in London, and we have managed to get the money together. I am probably going to pop to London on Sunday/Monday as I didn't go last week and there are a couple of people I need to see, but it makes me feel a bit sad as I am mindful of probably having to rent it out before the end of the year unless I suddenly have some proper income. It makes me feel very blue, but I need to count my blessings.

Where's Vag?

whoops I noticed this a bit late!
superspot I really hope your days with B at home go well. Will DP be there with you? You are being so strong and will come out the other side. Has T seen B with his NJ or NG tube in? If not maybe it'd be good to take a little pic and show it to T before he sees B, to prepare him a bit for what he sees. IME on the children's ward, LOs are generally very accepting of these things and T will probably be intrigued initially but I'm sure the novelty will wear off.
pingu congratulations Are you keeping well?
WG your MIL seems very involved in herself. What has been happening? Is DH supportive of you on this or is it causing strain? Thinking of you. You could really do without the stress when you want to enjoy your early days with dd2.
vag where are you? Are you alright?
deids if you're lurking I hope you're feeling a bit brighter.
Re potty training, we had a few days of P being completely dry (3 weeks in...) but then 2 days of weeing absolutely everywhere all the time - not a single wee in the right place, so on Wednesday I decided to give her a break, go back to nappies and perhaps re-try in a month. So yesterday she went to nursery with a nappy on, and the staff said they would just keep it really low key and not put any pressure on and see what P wanted. Well - she took her nappy (which remained completely dry) off to go to the toilet several times, then after her sleep refused to have a nappy back on, so they put her in pants and she stayed dry for the whole day! So today she's back in pants! Contrary child!
I have teenage spotty skin at the moment - what's going on? Not nice.
I rang my HV about my leaky nip and she said I should get it checked at the GP but thinks it's probably hormonal and nothing to worry about.
Ladies, we need a new thread...

Trace your not pregnant are you? Your jeans are getting tight, leaky nips, pimples? I'm sorry your boss is not realising how you've improved over the last few weeks but at least she is concerned but also open enough to discuss it all with you. And well done for going into work for a cuppa, you really are a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for. I also think in nursing it can be difficult when returning to the wards after longer sick leave because they are a bit gossipy, but there is something special about nurses who work in the community like SN's CCN's and community MWs. A bit closer nit I think. Wouldn't it be cool if we worked together. Though right now I want to be a community nurse in Brighton so I can check in with Spot and have a cuppa with her.

Sorry for my absence I have been keeping up but whenever I get a chance to post something always comes up. DH is back in London this week so been a single mum again and worst of all with no TV! DS2 is just hilarious at the moment his speech is brilliant and he is making full sentences easily but the sweetest thing is he loves speaking to other people and will speak to my friends calling them by their first names. Today he picked a flower for one of my friends and took it to her and said "here xxxx this pretty flower is for you" my friend just melted. Unfortunately though he has discovered with this increased language that squealing actually is more effective than words.

Pingu Congrats on the clackering & Lady how do you know how much longer left to get a 2011 baby?

WG I agree with Lady, your MIL is mental but the only one suffering is you careful you don't let it put strain on you and DH. Oh but please tell what actually happened.

Rubs DS1 was afraid on sand too at 2, while it worried us as Australians, we also had nice relaxing trips to the seaside as we would make a little island of towels on the sand and sit and relax, knowing that DS1 wouldnt run off. We would even have a bit of fun and roll his ball just out of reach from the towel island and watch him trying to get it without touching the sand. Now we live close to the beach and he can't get enough of it. I think.by the time he was 2.5 he was fine with it because we went to Australia around then and he was on the beach loads.

So exciting all this house buying and selling, I'm missing it all this now we have moved.

Another reason I've not posted is I finally commited to a bookclub. They are meeting on Monday so had to read the book in time. It was actually quite short so needn't have worried. The book is Battle hymn of the tiger mother. Has anyone read it?

It has been gorgeous warm weather up to 17 degrees. The Dutchies have been getting their gear off. Suddenly its 7 degrees and cloudy and feels so cold. The boys and I are stuck in for the afternoon waiting for the satellite and internet installation people to come. They have said they will come between 12 & 5.30, what's the bet they come at 5.25!

Gotta go but will have to tell you about the annoying scary Dutch lady, she has reappeared and is a nightmare.

Hi folks! I've been Twittered / Tweeted / Tweaked! I'm a Twit I think - the lack of concern of my wherabouts has been noted... I see the vagster goes awol for a day or so and alarm bells ring, but oh no, Rubes who? I kind of like it over there. It has a 140 character rambling limit They are hard core over there. Turnip is a pro - I can't keep up, so lady and I are just chattering in the corner

Massive congrats to Pingu!! for you tonight... oh wait, that's every night.... but tonight I cheers to you Pingu!

I've started a new thread - at least I think I have!

Vag, I KNOW because DD1 was conceived on 10 March 2008 and figured it out from that (TMI but you did sort of ask)

Rubes, Twitter is exhausting, don't you think? I can't move at that pace any more!

It has its uses though. Just seen an update from George Michael saying to put the news on as it's all kicking off in Libya (I mean, even more so). George Michael! How surreal is that?