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!

Oh god, I don't have a kneeler mat, but I fear what I do have is worse ... I have those knee pad things, like skate boarders wear, but soft and comfy. Please still be my friend ladies

I've been at Mum and Dad's since Friday, just DD and I, and have barely lifted a finger. It is bliss, just sitting in their garden being brought cups of tea or glasses of port later in the day. Have already extended my stay one night, but must go home tomorrow as DH is working his socks off and could do with sone TLC himself

Welcome back LadyT

WG I'm thinking strong thoughts for you this weekend, do scribble down the howlers to share

Beans how are the mansion viewings going? You must be planning a big family to fill a house the size of those!

Happy Easter all xx

Oh gosh sorry Pubes, I've no idea why the phone changed you to pubic, I think that its going a touch too far on the Padunda theme, I shall not utter it again. Very interesting on the treadmill. Also answers a question for me. My ankle which I sprained last year hurts if I run but not when I run on the treadmill. I thought it was the impact of the road v treadmill but have just recently started running on the beach and it still hurts. Its obviously the ankle dealing with moving around on uneven surfaces whereas the treadmill is uniform. I guess in the long run the sand will help as low impact but will work those ankle muscles and ligaments.

Nice ZJ.

Hang on my proprioception? How does it improve that?

Vag - becasue on the soft sand, the sand gives way under foot therefore your body has to avoid turning over your ankle, so it works the muscles harder which is why your ankle hurts on the sand.... apparently.... hope I said that right
He also said you should seperatly work on proprioception, so balancing on one leg etc for a 30 secs to a minute at a time then doing it with eye's shut then going up onto tip toe etc doing sets of 10.

Well now that night has hit and dd bad again.... coughing badly, just vommed up her last feed. dh has called to check after hours for tomorrow as he reckons she def has a chest infection ans will need AB's. She sounds horrendous by night then barely coughs in the day and happy as anything. She's also got 3 teeth coming through at once so I just don't know anymore what is making her feel the worst! thatnk God Neurofen / Paraceteml / Tixylix and bonjela covering all bases for now....

sorry, hideous spelling. Moi tired.....

What's hrh?

Drunk again at mates hOuse. All this sunshine is turning me intO a lush.

Poor DD rubes.

Am hoping to catch up soon. This posting by phone while 3 sheets to the wind is not good enough. Will be back to perfect, gym going, organic mothering by Tuesday.

Happy bunny day. Woohoo masses of choccie.

Rubes HRH = His/Her Royal Highness.

oh duh of course.
Jam we must have soon

Happy Easter everyone! Hope you are all out in the sunshine. Have a wonderful day

Happy Easter!

As usual it's been so long I haven't got a hope of catching up but I did want to say a massive congrats to Kiwi & urbane. Hope you are both keeping well. urbane any idea when your scan will be now? Kiwi have you decided on a strategy for when to tell your employers? I had the same situation with you re the job when pg with DD - I decided to keep schtum as long as possible but it was taken out of my hands by some twat of a colleague. All worked out in the end though - I'm sure it will with you. Also felt emotional when DS stopped bfing - as I was pg though it wasn't so bad as I knew it wouldn't be the last ever time, and also I was glad of a break. Will be different this time - having said that I've also been thinking of winding it up with DD as it's often painful these days. I really wanted to wait until she stopped herself though. We'll see.

wg can we have even a teeny tiny MIL snippet? Gwan.

zj/HRH impressed at the pro gardening kit. My idea of gardening is getting the DCs to have a dandelion picking competition or cut the grass with scissors. Can you tell I've never had a garden before? Would love to grow some veggies, herbs and bits and pieces though - any ideas for a lazy arse novice?

Everyone else - hope you're having fun in the sun.

Sorry I've been so crap at posting lately - I thought I'd have more time for MN with the move & new job but it's just meant I've been busy doing other stuff. Good stuff though - lots more time with the DCs. Have been enjoying my weekends much more than before as not so knackered. I'm working longer hours than at my last job though so the last thing I want to do at home is spend time on the PC. I really really want to post sometimes but just can't seem to make myself somehow.

Rubes you're right, we are crap at meeting up. I am always up for a meet but I can only do Fridays (or weekends), which doesn't seem to fit in with most unfortunately. I am planning to go & see spot at some point - maybe we could make it the same day? Hope DD is feeling better btw.

Teeny tiny mil snippet, just for PD. Not from this trip, but told to me by Dad's LF. Must have happened a while ago, but she only told me about it last week now that the gloves are somewhat off between me and mil...

There is some sort of do which we are all going to, everyone getting dressed up. LF comes down wearing a big fat chunky necklace. Mil says: "gosh, LF, I don't have the courage to wear cheap jewellery".

Luckily LF and dad have been laughing about it ever since.

Well, I didn't want to be so blunt PD! But yeah, crap at meeting up thread memebers Not to be taken the wrong way, but tbh it's part reason why I'm scaling back on MN time. Nothing personal, just that I neeeed RL stuff and I was neglecting RL friends. Can't do the cyber only for all my life! I'm getting oooooold.
So glad the jobs working out PD, and YES will certainly come to see Spot on the same day - just say when (and you say when Spot)
Nice day in Richmond park, but major abdominal cramps saw me only doing one measly lap but to be fair, 2 wakings in the night, and major abdominal cramping from Way too hot curry last night plus being majorly unfit were to blame
Finished up with lunch in the park and a couple of drinks on the green at our former local on Wimbledon Common. Lovely.
DD much better this morning and all day but I just know she will go down hill after she goes to sleep later
If another bad night, I will be off to the after hours tomorrow morn.
Hope all had lovely Easter Sundays.
Oh and WG - another -er from the mil. Thanks for sharing tho!

He he much appreciated wg - worra class act.

Rubes it's a deal. I think I can do any Friday in May except the last - shall we set a date before we get all booked up? spot, how are you fixed?

[bushock] at WG's MIL! How can someone be so spiteful. I really have to be riled up at someone to be nasty to them, and usually its complete strangers (annoying rude utilities company customers services phone people that sort of thing), I couldn't do it cold like that, or to someone I know well. I guess she could have come back with "no, it would get caught in the toaster on Saturday morning cleaning day!".

Have had a lovely day, DH went to pick up the inlaws, with the boys. We were supposed to be taking them to the big tulips gardens, but a mess up with pick up times meant that we left it too late to get in there without having bell parking to deal with so we ended up going to a little miniature world type place called Madurodam near to were we live. As the original plan had been the tulip place, and I couldn't fit in the car, I made a cycle training session out of it and rode there. The change of plans meant I had to do the whole ride with no break (not too bad except i'd left home sans coffee and breaky). I did have a few quick stops through the tulip fields to take photos though. In total I did a 71km ride which is the longest in one go, I have ridden except on a cycling holiday. I really enjoyed it, hope I can do some more but it is tricky usually cos it means a longtime away from the boys.

It's been nice having BIL and future SIL to visit, but I have had one complaint. They adored DS1 and fawned over him and played with him loads. They even bought him a really good rasor scooter. But DS2 they kind of ignored most of the time or made comments about how grumpy he was or on his behaviour. He wasn't actually naughty he was just a normal toddler, wandering off and screeching a bit. He also was a little more grumpy than usual but that was mainly due to the heat we've had, waiting in a long line for a canal trip and no nap. Oh and he did a huge face plant a couple of days ago and has a fat lip and an ulcer from it. Anyhoo, compared to DS1 he wasn't much fun and they just didn't try to engage with DS2 and it kind of hurt to see them disregard him and not try to get to know him. DS1 is a really great kid and everyone loves him, I worry though that in comparison DS2 isn't the adorable child and that he is often going to be labeled as naughty or grumpy. He is a really lovely little man.

Oh and I forgot hi PD, nice to 'see' you, glad work is less tiring, I guess with such a tiny commute it helps. I'm the same with the BF, I'm thinking of winding it down but want him to wean himself off. I have to say though he is showing signs of moving towards weaning, well, I guess he is weaning down, just very slowly. He has talked about going to bed with just moo moo milk like his brother also, so that is something.

Right Rubes enough of this moaning about not meeting up. Lets get our arses in gear a plan a night or arvo with or without the DC.

Hi Ladies

Just back from a GORGEOUS few days in Dorset. Totally idyllic. We went with friends who also have two DDs and the four girls just played and played and played. We also found a stunning deserted beach and managed to get the girls to do a steep cliff walk down to it (it was a bit harder getting them back up!). We drove home late last night and DD1 has woken with clinical depression to learn we are no longer there. Seriously, she has sobbed quietly for the last hour. And tomorrow I am back to work. I feel like I am crashing down to earth after a perfect fortnight. Humph.

I'm around on Fridays for meet-ups. I have to fit around the school run though, so make aplan and I will try and fit in.

Urbs - sorry they didn't give you a scan. But I hope you are having a nice break and feeling sick enough for comfort but not too sick for fun.

Rubes - sorry your DD has night illness. I hope she feels better today. And I hope your tum is on the mend too.

Veg - poor DS2. Did he seem to notice? Probably not at his age. It is very hard when people react differently to your two children. I guess all we can do as parents is try and balance things out.

Jam - you seem to have been having a fun few days! Hows the head feeling after the indulgences?

PD - Lovely to hear from you. Its very nice that you get to spend more time with your kids and are less tired for the weekends. The new job sounds great except that its putting you off MN. That is not good at all.

Right, better do and get DD1 some prozac or something... Just kidding. I'll show her photos of her little Dorset friends instead. She strokes the computer when she sees them.

hi all
Happy Easter [busmile]
WG that MIL comment is unbelievable [bushock] I actually can't believe real people would make that kind of comment. Although we once cooked for some friends who are completely up themselves and have few social skills who tolerated the meal and dessert we'd made, then, on leaving, said "maybe we'll get takeaway next time?" !!
vag that's hard, isn't it, having them ignore ds2? I often find people focus on dd2 and neglect poor dd1! Actually we just saw my sister and her partner at the weekend. He has a son who is now 12, and who we have known for about 6 years, but I find it really hard to engage with him, and feel really bad about it. We don't see him that often, because he's often at his mum's when we go to my sister's, but when we do, he's quite quiet and I just don't know what to talk about with him. Hopefully it'll get easier. My sis and her partner got engaged last week [busmile] They've both been married before, but she seems so much happier with him than she ever did with her ex husband.
Rubs I was out painting our garden fence last week and my next door neighbour came round with a kneeling mat for me to use, as he was worried about my knees! I'm impressed by ZJ's pro equipment! Sounds like you've been having a lovely time at your mum's ZJ
PD good to see you Glad the new job is giving you more family time and energy. Hurrah!
Arti your little break sounded lovely, no wonder dd1 is missing it - poor thing!
I'm feeling a bit grumpy with dh today - he's had 2 weeks to do his school work (sounds like he's my son!) and has left it to today. So there have been days where P has been at nursery and I've taken L out, so he's had hours on his own to get stuff done, but instead he's doing it today while I run around after both girls. He's just taken a break to have lunch and has now fallen asleep on the sofa. Grr. L is playing outside and P has just gone for a sleep, so my MN time may come to an abrupt end!
Did I mention that the GP referred me for a mammogram and boob doctor appointment? Well it's on Thursday - and I have to allow 3 hours for he appointment! So having had 8 weeks of work, I now have to ask my boss if I can have more time off for this - I feel so bad! I'd just need to leave an hour early on Thursday but it makes me feel like such a slacker.
Has anyone else's dc turner rather naughty? P just won't do anything I ask, and is really stubborn and quite physical with it - eek! Still very cute, but becoming quite a handful. Hmm.

Greetings from sunny norfolk or rather the half shade of the hotel bedroom. DH has taken the DCs out to find the beach while I technically get some rest but in practice, obviously prat about here.

Arti that weekend sounds blissful. Hope your DD1 has cheered up. Thanks for asking - i am still feeling sick in a good way and am also really fat which I think is a good sign. Is quite obvious though so goodness knows how I'm going to get to 12 week scan without anyone at work noticing. Am already wearing maternity underwear . I told my parents and my Dad said that he knew already because I was "round and calm".

Veggie am very impressed by your cycling. I am really stiff today from playing a family game of rounders yesterday. I had forgotten how competitive i am my family are. was fun. Although so sad to see my sister's dcs so under the kosh. Poor things are really past it. If anyone has any bright ideas about how to support children through this i'd really appreciate them.

And at kneeling pad chat. I rather like the sound of yours ZJ.

On meet ups I was wondering whether we should fix a date for a summer picnic - if we sort out a saturday and then maybe all go to one of the london parks? with apologies to northerners. would be nice and i thought that if we picked a saturday in june/july now there was a chance of us being able to make it. What do you reckon?

Am also v up for an evening meet up even sans booze.

Wg that comment from your MIL is absolutely brilliant.

PD sounds like the move has really worked out for you. I would recommend growing potatoes for novice veg grower. Is really easy - you basically just stick them in and keep covering them over as the shoots show through and then when the raised bit of soil is about 30cms high just leave them. Not to late to shove them in the ground now. Really easy to look after and then like getting treasure at the end of it

Evening ladies, not sure if I will get on tomorrow. Our flight isn't until 5 but there will be the usual last minute packing and I can't leave the house in the usual rushing off on holiday tip state because we have a girl coming to feed the cats each day so needs to be half decent. Is it sad that I am concerned about how much cat hair I'm going go have to vacuum up when we return.

Have had a day at home, apart from popping out for an hour with DS2 to the oncall GP. He has a really nasty red inflamed area over his back left molar that looks like it could be an abcess the GP was very sweet and wasn't completely convinced that it will turn into anything nasty, as am I. But as we are going away I don't want to find out it is the beginnings of an abcess and have him in pain and having to see someone down there. So I convinced him to give me some ABs (no mean feat with a dutch Huisarts) on condition that I would only give them if it got a lot worse. I think it probably will settle itself, but its nice to know we have something just in case.

Arti that holiday sounded wonderful, I love going away with other families. Poor depressed little DD1.

Urbs, Hooray for sickie, fatness. I remember holding out until 14weeks.for my mat jeans and then wondering why I waited so long as they felt so good when I got them on.

Trace, one hour off is ok, could you go in 30 mins earlier for a couple of days? Three hours is a bit much, is that because of the wait, or just how long everything takes? Hope it all goes ok. I might try to pop on, on Friday to see how you get on if I can, I don't have roaming but can try.

Right better go, if I don't get on before we leave, hooroo, and enjoy your extra bank holiday and all the wedding fun.

Happy Easter everyone [bugrin].

Have a lovely time, Vag, I hope DS2's tooth doesn't go nasty. At least with the ABs you can treat it so sod's law will say you'll be fine.

Arti I have holiday envy - sounds perfect! Without wanting to totally wish the time away I can't wait until T and B are older and we can do that sort of thing. Hope your DD1 perks up - will lots of cut price easter choc help?

Urbane a summer picnic sounds lovely and if the park were somewhere southern (say Clapham common) i could almost visualise myself getting on a train with the two DCs without wanting to top myself. Enjoy the rest of your hol.

Trace, yup we have a cute but naughty toddler here. Gin seems to be the only solution. For everyone. And I'm sure your boss will be understanding about the appointment, though HRH's suggestion to minimise the disruption is a good one.

PD, yay please do come down and bring Rubes with you. Friday is T's nursery day so it will just be me and the Billster, but that's maybe not such a bad thing as I have a hope in hell of holding down a convo. Any dates you can think of?

WG, more where that came from , please! Love it.

Rubes sorry DD still poorly, I really hope she turns a corner tonight and you get some zzzs.

Am considering trying this 30 day shred lark. Am I insane? I am hopelessly unfit although not overweight. Need some toneage pronto.

Jam Arse in gear! Poison / Spot Can't do 6 or 13 May - others fine toms in a hanging basket - easy. Vag Bon Voyage - completely normal to stress about cat hair build up.
Meet ups / picnics - will attend!
dd slightly better but still coughed then vommed up tonights feed. Nice

PD: if you are interested in planting out some courgettes, I have seedlings looking for a good home :). I'm doing ok at the seeds to tiny plants but, then we try planting them out and they die off . getting the boys to cut the grass is an ace idea, I've been nagging DH to get the lawnmower out for weeks.

Zoe: MIL got me a sock knitting book with a pattern for knee length gardening socks with knee pads!

We are in the museum. The boys have been in a really bad mood thanks to too much sun and too little sleep (blackouts going up today) so we are out doing stuff. Am fed up with them fighting and shouting all the time.

hello
Still quite quiet around here...
I've been cleaning and entertaining L and her friend, but they're out on their scooters now so I've plonked myself down with a cuppa.
Vag the problem is, because of the BHs, I have to do 12 hours over 2 days this week, and have my parents looking after P on Wed, so going in early might not be an option. Also, annoyingly, you can do 6 hrs straight, but then once you go over 6 hours you have to have a 30 minute break, so coming 30 mins early would gain me nothing, and coming an hour early would gain me 30mins, IYSWIM?! Anyway, I'm ringing my boss in a min to discuss it.
Rubs that last post was disappointingly un-rambly. Far too abridged. You must try harder
effie hope the museum is good - what Museum is it?
Not heard from jolly lately - hope all is well xxx