Dec 08 - tears, tantrums, giggles and piddles - and that's just the mums!

[traceface]

Or maybe piddling whilst giggling is just me?
It's so sunny here I feel Spring has sprung - where's that daffodil emoticon gone? Had a friend round this morning for a natter and cake - muchos snot and tears but all good. Think I might go for a little bike ride now to blow the cobwebs away.
And no vag - not a chance!
rubs don't you dare spend all your time tweeting - your first loyalty is here!

How did it go Spot? Was thinking of you.

Lovely day on the river today. T got hugely splashed from the spray which sent her into a tizzy whereas M walked miles and was hugely jolly. As were we all. A good day in Faulty towers. Have a sodding huge drive tomorrow though and am out for a 40th in a min, so better not get too hammered.

Oh, I've lost 5.5lbs on my dukan diet so far. Low carbing is fab. Only took me 40 odd years to realise it.

Have a nice evening everyone

Kiwi well done my lovely for feeding so long, there aren't many of us long termers, though more than many people think. As the feeds have been getting less you body would have picked up on the fact that she was weaning down and started producing colostrum again. It's a natures way of sending her on her way with a big old boost of protein and antibodies. I was definitely emotional when DS1 decided he'd had enough, irrationally I felt a bit rejected but also a little gooily proud of him. Sad, but oh well I can blame hormones.

Trace I hope that leaky boob thing is just the meds, I'm glad the GP is being cautious.

Grrr I'm having such a hassle getting these boys to bed at a reasonable time, its 9pm and they are only just settling to sleep, with playing after school, usually with another friend coming over to dinner, pudding, bath and bed it just takes forever. And it seriously feels like I'm rounding up unruly sheep sometimes. I really need to sort it out. DH is only just home from work. Ah well, I've made a nice wild mushroom risotto, will be yummy.

Hello Sybs. What's the Dukan diet, I'm limiting carbs but filling up on veg, is that similar. Enjoy your night out.

Wotcha ladies, again I'm not posting (or even keeping up!) as I'd like, as I've been at Mum's for a few days. Lovely as usual. The days fly by so quickly. I love it here but nowadays I find myself pondering too often on what it will be like when she isn't here any more.

I am hoping to do a big catch up on Thurs, (back tomorrow night) but it looks like Thursday is going to be another DIY day! Sat and Sun we are off to MIL's...Anyway, the girls love it here as well.

I keep having to break off as Mum's DP, who is fab, does talk and talk and talk and it does get a little much on occasion.

Spot, I hope The Talk cleared the air a bit. You are both under such an awful strain. I think one of the hardest parts of being in a couple is going down the same destructive roads when it comes to arguments...Breaking the cycle of retreating to familiar battle hardened positions is the key but it's bloody difficult.

Right, oh fabulous girls, I must go for now as posting on on phone does my nut in. Hope you're all having this super weather. Big love to all. I don't feel on top of anything at the moment but hopefully more in a few days!

Yes I am also not keeping up!

Wanted to send love to spot and hope things went ok today.

Well done on the weight loss sybs and vag

beans like the house, are you a big gardener or would you pay a gardener! Glad your dad is doing well, and good news on the crawling, super!! My DD is desperate to crawl she would be jealous. Oh and I ordered Fays family food as i decided I needed yet another cookbook and it does look good.

This weather is wonderful, I am loving it. DS currently obsessed with his bike...hurrah we have finally shifted from boring pants trains to bikes. And he's getting quite good on it too.

kiwi sorry that work is so shit. Sorry don't have any good advice really, I hope it works out. I did like that URL it made me laugh.

jj house sounds good, and hurrah for C Hinton Road, near me.

hello all quickie from me as have to feed but just wanted to say i'm ok and thanks for thinking of me. we actually had The Talk tonight as too tired last night and now lots to process but feeling less hostile and polarised which is good. more manana.

Glad it went ok Spot. Is worth remembering the enormous amount of strain you've both been under. Is tough enough with two small DC never mind the worry about your DS2. How is he doing?

Arti am inspired that you got your house at £300K below asking . Am of your holidays. Sounds so lovely that you get all that family time. And top tip on istanbul. Euro exchange rate is such a pain. Has made our holidays so much more expensive.

Am feeling really sick. Which is a bit of a pain. Nothing like when I was pg with DD though. So am crossing fingers about that too. Am going for early scan tomorrow (am 7/8 weeks) so will see. Is odd being in a kind of limbo because can't really be excited about it. DH is definitely not talking about a baby. Which I can completely understand, but all round a bit odd.

JJ that house sounds great.And glad E is doing better - you sound a bit more chipper.

Kiwi I definitely found the hormonal effect of stopping bfding quite strong. And imagine it's tougher coupled with pg hormones. Am really sorry to hear about your work. Must be very upsetting.

Well done on all this weight loss. I am piling it on from not running and eating weirdly. Oh well. I was of your mushroom risotto vag. One of my favourites.

And yay for bikes SL - DD is similarly getting very keen on the balance bike. V cute. I heart fay's family food - some really lovely easy recipes. The carrot and chicken one was a real hit with the DCs and we spend all summer eating her baked peaches.

Last day at work today. Hurrah! Really can't wait to get out of the place. Sybs I hope your drive isn't too painful. We're doing that tomorrow.

Where is rubes?

I hope everyone is out enjoying all the glorious sunshine.

Happy Easter to all.

Hmmm. Our sunshine has gone off. Very disturbing - come back!

Having a lovely day with DD1 in nursery, just pootling. If anyone is looking for summer dresses for their DDs, I'd highly recommend Asda. I've just got 3 dresses for DD1 for £14. Lovely. They're doing 2 packs of summer dresses for £8. Marvellous!

hola ladies.
It's quiet on here. ladyt I'm glad you and your lovely girls enjoy being at your mum's so much. Precious times
beans I saw some lovely summer dresses in Asda. Bargain! Shame your sun went away - we've had a gorgeous day here - hope it continues!
Where is wg? hope all is ok. And jb and mom...they no doubt all have better things to do!
DH and I are watching Fringe and I'm very confused!
P has started doing this hilarious clenched fist shouty thing when she's frustrated or cross. It's rather funny, but I'm hoping it's not a long phase because she hits whatever or whoever is near her! They had a visit from ZooLab at nursery yesterday, where a lady came and showed loads of animals to the children and let them hold and touch them. Apparently P was quite happy to stroke a snake but got upset when the rabbit went near her

Arsenal are playing Spurs and I am trying to ignore the game, too stressful. It's our 7th anniversary today so it would be nice if we can celebrate with a win.

Kiwi I forgot to say the other day this whole work thing must be so emotionally draining for you not to mention demoralizing. Wouldn't it be nice if your employers actually made you feel as important as you are worth instead of making you feel like your worthless. All in the name of saving a bit of cash.

Spot, thanks for all your advice on FB. You seem happy but cautious after the talk. Did you both get to say your peace. Are you still going back to London?

Beans are you ok you seem a little not your usual happy self lately. The dresses sounds good, as sunny as it is here though I don't think DS2 would be up for them.

The boys went to a Easter party today, yet another Easter egg hunt. Both boys ended up with loads of eggs. DS1 saved all his but DS2 ate all his at once. He's been on a massive sugar high all afternoon then hit a wall just before bedtime and had a major meltdown. He's asleep but we had to bring him out with us because he kept waking up crying. It was keeping DS1 awake so out he is with us, asleep on the coach.

This weather is amazing its tank tops and flip flops weather here so warm. We fly to Sardinia next Tuesday but currently the weather is better here. I think apart when we are with my BIL over the weekend, we'll be spending most of our time at the beach.

Hello there, Trace is right, it is quiet on here. Where is rambling Rubes? Did Jolly say she was going to be without an internet connection during the move?

Thanks all for your advice and kind concern about DD ? after her vomming episode on Sunday she had a really good nap and woke up raring to go. And then slept right through on Sunday night, and eventually I woke her up at quarter to 11 on Monday morning I think she?s turning into a teenager already! She?s nearly all scabbed over and is in good form, so we?ve been fortunate with an easy time of the pox

Spot I am very impressed that you and DP managed to have a productive talk, DH and I are rarely mature and measured enough to achieve that. You have a huge amount on your plate at the moment, yet you are dealing with it brilliantly x

Urbs Paris sounds a fantastic treat, lucky you. Your sickness sounds like a good sign (if unpleasant), was it you who suffered with sickness all the way through with DD?

Lovely to hear that Verso is well Sybs. I remember her being v broody at some point, does she have a DC3 or planning one?

What fab weather for camping Deidre, I?m not surprised you?re in a good mood. Its lovely to hear you?ve got a smile on your face

Your Dad sounds to be making a brill recovery Beans, but at him hanging out. Hurrah for crawling Pru, not a baby any more

Sorry that Leeds lady didn?t put in an offer Trace, but I have my fingers crossed that your latest viewer comes good. Hope the leaky boob turns out to be nothing

And talking of boobs, Kiwi, how are yours feeling? I remember stopping BF being a whole lot more painful than starting. I didn?t feel sad at the time, but even now, every now and then, I get a real yearning to BF DD at random moments. Maybe there is something in the bonding thing, although often at the time when she wouldn?t take a bottle and was demanding milk at all hours of the night I just resented it hugely

Nice to hear you?re having such a gorgeous time at your Mum?s LadyT, I hope you were spoilt rotten on your birthday?

I?m in the mood for a name change but want to stay a ZJ, so trying to come up with another version of ZJ. What do you think? Answers on a postcard please

Urbs - good luck for today's scan. I have my fingers crossed for a healthy little heartbeat. As ZJ said, the sickness is hopefully a good sign.

Kiwi -my hormones made a total mess of me both times I stopped breastfeeding (15 months in both times, congrats to you for going so long). I actually felt very anxious both times. Someone told me when you BF your body releases a relaxing hormone and I think my body missed that. I hope your work situation improves.

Zoe - it's hard thinking of words beginning with Z to start your new title. Zappy... Zonked... Zealous.... Zebra...

JJ - how was the house?

Veg - enjoy Sardinia. I've always wanted to go. Think of all that yummy food. Mmmm. I'm sure the weather will be great too.

We have 10 kids coming round for an Easter Egg hunt this afternoon. Going to be chaos! Especially as our upstairs carpets will be being fitted at the same time. then it's off to Dorset tomorrow. Got to pack. Aaaaggghhh so much to do....

I think you need armed guards to stop all the kids from going anywhere near the new carpets Arti. Have fun in Dorset (sounds like you're in the famous 5!)

So far I've come up with ZanyJewel, ZebraJiminy and ZingJingle. I like Zappy, but fear Zonked is more suitable!

ZingJilla?? I want my DD1 to have the pox now - get it over with!!!

Vag - I'm so sorry I don't sound as upbeat as usual. I promise I am. In fact... We're off househunting tomorrow (as you know) and I'm very very excited! This is the 2nd one we're seeing, which is WAAAAAY out of our budget, but we thought we'd have a beak... here It's been on the market since November, so you never know, they might take a v low offer! So has the other one, so we're going to give it a go!!!

DH experienced one of my sleepless nights last night. DD1 had a sudden massive scream - I think it was a nightmare - and he shot out of bed before I could! So I went back to sleep. Anyway, an hour later, I woke up and he wasn't back in bed. He had an annoying cough and had to go and sit downstairs and watch telly for an hour before he could sleep again! DD2 woke up at 5.45, but unsurprisingly, he didn't shift for that! I did, and she went back to sleep til 7.15. Marvellous. So we all had a bit of a lie in today. DD1 didn't wake up til 7.15 either. Loved it!

I am so looking forward to Easter. Will be so nice. Going to inlaws for a lovely long weekend - yay!

What's everyone else up to?

Rubes - where are you???

Oh my god Beans I WANT that house. Are you moving to Bedfordshire then?? Will be very excited if you are, we're house hunting in St Albans...

ZJ and Arti boobs not too bad at all actually, it's been nearly a week now and no sign of any engorgement or anything like that. Last time I was away from her for 8 days, I had to express after a few days as I was in discomfort but I guess pregnancy alters the chemistry (biology?!) of it all. It's hard to tell whether general depression is added to by this or just the awful work situation, so who knows.. Either way it's going pretty well in that she only now asks for it first thing in the morning, has a brief wail when I say no (actually, I try not to say "No" directly, more brush it aside) and then is fine.

Hey, you ladies with a second one, did you join the talkthread for the other post-natal group? Haven't yet even looked at the October '11 one, god knows how I'd find time for a whole other group of catch ups ;)

I tried very briefly to join another thread, but actually couldn't be bothered to start making new friends, when I had ready made lovelies on here, who'd also been through 2nd ones, or were going through it at a similar time to me. You were all very patient with my boring preggy chat, I seem to remember!

It's a lovely house, isn't it? But we so can't afford it. Not really sure why we're going to look really!

Hello,
beans that house is my favourite so far by a long way. Presumably it's not in Hitchin itself? My friends have a house in hitchin that's probably worth similar and it's not like that! In fact I was surprised by how expensive Hitchin was, they do live walking distance from train station though. Would be ace if you move there, it's only 50 mins from me, I will come and see you (inviting myself shamelessly)

urbs fingers crossed for scan. Sorry you are feeling shite though. Looking forward to Fay's Family food arriving now that you have recommended too!

kp no I never joined the thread for my month I don't think, I lurked for a bit and couldn't get into it. This thread is too good, and I fail to keep up on here anyway! hope you feel better soon.

zj hmmm, zj, something random maybe ZealousJelly? ZingJilla is good but if I didn't know you I would assume your name was Jill. Glad DD over the pox.

arti you are so adventurous with your easter egg hunts at the same time as decorating and packing! Is it in your house or your garden?

Right gotta go DD is grumbling and I also have to pack for going to my parents in Malvern this weekend.

Oh though I did want to say MIL came up to look at houses yesterday and I feel better about us moving nearer now, as she was on good form and really lovely. I forget she can be really lovely and good company sometimes, I should stop being such a bitch. Also feel better about it as the place she is thinking of moving has good horseriding and walking which she will love and the people seem friendly so hopefully she will meet some mates. The negative points are that DH is sick of his job and is considering looking for a job further west between where my parents and she lives now (bristol maybe), also my work has been bought out meaning I get money from share options (one reason that we didn't move location out of Cambridge at last move) and what my job will be like when I return is somewhat up in the air. Hmmm, is very difficult. However MIL knows this and still wants to move this way so that's up to her.

kiwi sorry that hope you feel better soon was meant to be re the hormonal stopping bfing thing i meant to write more but forgot. don't think i was hormonal when i stopped feeding ds but i might have been i have atendency to forget these things. it did really hurt though, but he was still feeding loads.

Oh also a couple of other random questions...

Does anyone trade stocks and shares, was thinking of getting a self select ISA to learn about it?

TVs, we are thinking of getting a new tv, currently we have a massive heavy old style tv, which is unpushoverable, wondering what you do/did about TVs when they are small and like to push everything, is there such a thing as a table you can screw it down onto, or do you just watch them constantly, or do you have it fixed to wall? I am not keen on fitting it to wall above fireplace as don't want it to be the total focus of our living room, but maybe could fix to wall in the corner if that's a solution, on a moving bracket or something. I am worried about DD pushing it over when she's fully mobile more than DS who I think could vaguely be trusted now by the way.

SL - it is gorgeous, but it's WAAAAY out of our budget. Ho hum. Never mind, we can go and have a dribble. Besides, been on market for a bit, so we can try to go lower. Hmmmm.

Re TV we never did anythign with ours and DD didn't ever really try to knock it over. But then she's not that physical. DD2 is much more destructive, I have to say. And that's only at 10 months, so maybe we should think about it for her! We got a 26" one. Wish we'd gone bigger now - but it was about 5 years ago, when flatscreens cost so much more than they do now. If we do get a bigger house, then I think I'll be insisting on another telly in the kitchen or something. DH will hate it and probably won't give in for a few years. But I'll work on him!!!

KP - I also meant to comment on the sore boobs - I didn't really have it or any hormonal sadness because I really wanted to give up with both of them. Perhaps was less accustomed to it than you have become therefore meant less.

To my distress, my fitflops have rubbed off some skin on my big toe and it's bleeding and really sore. I shan't be wearing them for a while. SOB!!

Must dash. DD2 scoffing a piece of paper. Perhaps I should give her some lunch.

Oh no, balls about the fitflops beans. I have some Bloch ballet pumps inspired by a thread on here which are v comfy, and also some red birkenstocks, which I like but I know not everyone does, both from TKMaxx, and some converse style superdry trainers, which I really like as well. They were from TKMaxx too, I am such a scrooge.

Are you going to look at any houses in your budget or can't you see any you like ? Don't forget these massive country piles will be quite a lot of cleaning/maintenance work, will you get a cleaner?

I seem to have done most of the packing, I must have forgotten something!

I want to get a tv in our kitchen eventually as our kitchen is nice and big, I also want a small sofa in there for lounging in. DH not convinved, even though the old owners had this set up.

I want to give up breastfeeding ideally but DD won't take cold milk so I think I will wait until she is only feeding once in the day so I don't have to fanny with finding somewhere to heat it when I'm out.

Hola. So they won't give me a scan until next week as they had more urgent cases. Am ok about it though. I still feel sick which is reassuring on the one hand and worrying on other as yes zj was me that was sick all the way through last time. With very bad timing I have completely gone off chocolate or anything else sweet. I tried to get a sausage hotpot from pret at about 10am this morning. The woman's face was literally this emoticon . so am starting to think this might be different. But who knows.

I think zingjilla is great . glad you're feeling happier about mil summer. And hurrah for share options.
Which remind me Ladyt - where are you with the sodding revenue?

Am going to post now and then catch up more later as am on phone. Hope Easter egg hunt going well arti (and none under new carpet).
Am of new house chat. We won't be able to move until after next summer.

I've just done ironing. Why when it's so nice outside? I am a fool.

That's a bummer urbane but glad you are ok about it.

Beans just realised we have been talking about tim from masterchefs bedroom techniques and downstairs pruning and thinking I have my friends 12 year old on my friends list. Haha I wonder if she's reading. Her mum is one of the people who liked my status though so assume I am not in trouble with her.