dec 2008- Who will stonk it in & be crown queen of the thread?

[HRHvagolaJahooli]

He we are ladies though I may need to change my name as royal title may be stripped.

Hello everyone,

Gawd I'm tired. I just typed 'Hello everything' and corrected it .

invisible So awful about your DS. What a brave boy.

summer I bought DD a growbag duvet set thing with zips to stop the duvet from coming off. They are not cheap but I've never had to get up and rearrange it so it works!

LadyT Bleugh at the spider! Our new house is really spidery and I dread to think what it will be like in the autumn when they all want to come in and warm their feet by the fire.

WG Bedtime routines vary if DH is here or not. Baths are only every other day now . With DH. 6ish bath using the Beans or was it Rubes patented bathing two children plan (which is excellent!), small one in bouncy chair, put the big one in, dip the small one, dress them while the big one plays . Then DH takes DD1 downstairs for PJs and half an hour of television, up to bed, two stories, bed. If I'm alone after bath I take both downstairs, dress DD1 PJs, feed DD2 downstairs. When we get upstairs I either put DD2 in her basket (if asleep), or bring her in for stories and take her into our room for more milk. Then downstairs and collapse on sofa.

Re feeding. How often does she feed in the day? If she is a frequent feeder all the time could you try extending the time between the feeds? When DD2 was in special care the nurses kept spacing out her feeds by 15mins each times until she was going 3 then 4 hours. Their attitude was that babies need long stretches of sleep as much as they need milk and needing to feed all the time is excruciating difficult for mums. All easier said than done though and even though DD1 was bottle fed she never went more than 2hrly until she was 3 months old, whereas DD2 who was much smaller and breastfed has always gone (mostly) 3 or 4 hrs. If it is solely a feeding a night thing then I really don't know. Hope you get some good advice on your thread.

Wow that was a ramble. Hope some of that is useful WG.

ZJ We're going to Pembrokeshire in September. Any tips of places to go? When is your scan? Still no potty action here so can't help with the poo problem!

asp Chuckled at not making love.

For years I thought 'lover' meant person I you were in love with not person you have sex with. Had a very embarassing conversation with my mum when I was 17 when I described my bf as my lover. Oh it makes me cringe! I'm oddly less embarassed that I asked her some years ealier what fisting was. It was after Julian Clary said something controversial about Norman Lamont and fisting. For those still unsure it is "something odd men sometimes do with each other" .

Had DD2 weighed last week and she was 12lb 13. Still little but doing really well. DD1 is off colour so we've had a day on the sofa with Peppa Pig and an epic 3 hr nap for her. DD2 fed for ages after DD1 went to bed but then we both fell asleep too and we all woke at 6pm. Oops. Bedtime routine didn't run to time tonight.

Hello all. How was your night last night WG? We have a bedtime routine of supper at 5-5.30ish. Then bath about 15 mins later. Then milk in front of the telly at about 6.15, then quiet play til bedtime at 7. OR if DH is home, then massive revving up and over excitement from suppertime through til bedtime, which can be any time up til 7.30!!! But they still seem to settle well for him. On the getting DD2 to sleep, I don't feel I'm in any position to give advice on that as DD2 is still up 3 or 4 times in the night, which is pretty exhausting. But once she was on solids, I stopped stuffing food into her when she woke in the night and just went in and gave her her blanket to cuddle. Does DD2 have a comforter? My two both have one and it is absolutely what gets them back to sleep in the middle of the night. Would really recommend it. BUT keep it to a bedtime only thing! I also did cc for 3 nights - but went down to my parents' house, who have a big enough place for DD1 not to be able to hear her and I did it when DH wasn't there as he'd have made me go in to her. It actually worked from about 4-7 months!! Then she started waking again. Little beggar.

We've had such a lovely weekend. On Sunday we went to the Hurlingham Club with some other rich friends. Unfortunately DD2 fell down a hole in the floor of this huge play house there and clonked her eyebrow pretty conclusively. She has a massive black bruise there now! But she was fine. Then went onto ILs on Sunday evening and the DDs slept for 2 hours in the car until we got there at 5! Luckily they have a pool, so they swam for about an hour and were exhausted, so still slept at about 7.45, which is great.

Then househunted yesterday - very depressing. I so don't want to move into another rented house. Luckily our landlord has offered us to stay here for as long as we need until he sells this place. And of course, we're going to take him up on it!

DD1 has taken to bawling whenever I leave her at nursery. It's so heartbreaking.

JB - hilarious chats with your mother! I love it! And well done DD2 on the weight gain! Hurrah! Isn't it odd how we spend years wanting them to put on weight, whilst wanting to lose weight ourselves. Ho hum.

Rubes - glad you had some nice day trips. Sounds heavenly. Welcome back!

My two toenails are very very sore. I can't wear my Fitflops at the moment as they're rubbing between my big toes and I can't wear any ballet pumps either as they squish my sore toenails. Which are purple and wobbly. Gross. Fashion dilemma. What shall I wear upon my trotters??!

Morning

Invis I am really sorry about your poor DS. He sounds like he is being a brave boy though. I have no experience of having a nanny, but I don't think I could continue to have her working for me if it happened because she wasn't paying enough attention to the children.

LadyT Ewwwwwww I think I would die if I found one of the boys eating a spider. I can't cope with spiders at all, I am actually considering hypnotherpy or something as I really struggle and now DS1 panics about them too.

WG I hope you can sort out the sleep soon. It seems so unfair that you have to go through it again with DD2. DS2 didn't sleep through until he was 11 months old but he was only waking up once a night and went straight back to sleep once he got a bottle of water. We ended up doing CC with him, I hated the idea of it but it worked brilliantly. I know she is still young but you could maybe give it a go. I hope whatever you decide to do works well for you.

Beans Well done on your run!!! I am in awe of your energy.

Summer DS2 sleeps with no duvet almost every night. He just throws it off while he is asleep. I am considering putting him in socks as he always has freezing feet.

We've been to watch the football this weekend. We drove to London Sunday morning and it only took about 3 hours. We left about quarter past 6 and got there at half 10 which includes 2 stops. I imagine it was the time of day though. I must say I am tempted to drive there once I pass my test. We stayed in a hotel Sunday night and the boys were so excited. They did very well indeed, DS2 slept through some of the football, I have no idea how I think he could sleep through anything.

I hope everyone is well and those on holiday are having a good time.

Routine: well, it's falling apart a bit at the mo. Previously we had tea at around 6, then bath, stories, bed for both at around 7ish. But they started messing about and not sleeping for ages, so now I bath them together, have a story then DS1 heads back downstairs to chill for a while and DS2 goes to bed. Will he stay there? Will he buggery. I've resorted to sitting at the top of the stairs and barking BED whenever he sticks his nose out. Thought he'd settled last night, only to find that he'd annexed our bed, taking off all our pillows, replacing them with his own and curling up in the middle with his teddy. That boy has ideas above his station .

hello
I'm finally here! Sorry for going AWOL. Hsd a busy last week of term, then went to the Lakes for a week, and it's taken me a few days to catch up and do all the post-holiday de-messing! There are so many things that I've not commented on, which are rather out of date now, so please forgive me if it seems like I've ignored your news. But jam I am so sorry about your ds and his finger Was the end reattached successfully?
Things here are fine. Holiday was lovely - gorgeous sunshine and not a drop of rain for the whole week . The girls loved being outdoors so much and we climbed some hills, hired rowing boats, rode on ponies, wandered round towns, played in parks, went to a zoo and generally ate too much ice cream The only down side was that P decided to be more accident prone than normal and ended up whacking her head loads of times (stone wall, bathroom floor...) and also fell out of bed, landing on her face, which resulted in a mega nose bleed and black eye . Anyway, apart from being covered in bruises, she's fine I've taken her to nursery today so we can get the house sorted. She was really clingy and said she didn't want to go, but I think it's just because we're out of routine. I'm sure she'll have a better time there than at home today. We've decided to change estate agent, as we've only had 3 viewings since Feb, so we've got another agent coming on Thursday - hence the urgent tidying!
Ladyt you asked about housework...so as this is an answer to your question, no one is allowed to shout 'unclean unclean' at me and force me off the thread So I vac the house about once a week, but it can go longer. And I only actually move the settee and do behind it about once every couple of months.I won't do this face because I might exhaust the MN supply in this paragraph. I vac the kitchen floor (lino) about once a week and mop it about once a month. I dust when it gets thick enough to write in. I clean the bathroom about once a week (like ZJ I often do the loo wile P is in the bath!). I wipe down the kitchen surfaces whenever I've used them and at the end of the day, but do a proper kitchen clean every 1-2 months. I've washed my curtains 3 times in the 8 years we've lived in this house. I wipe the chairs (leather) when there is muck on them (after most meals). I change bedding, ahem, maybe every 2-3 weeks. I tidy quite a lot because I can't relax in a messy room, so I'll always tidy the lounge and make sure the washing up is done before I sit down in the evening. There. I guess I'm not uber clean, but I know I'm not uber grim either. I'd like to keep everything cleaner, but it just doesn't seem to happen!
Can I ask a question of the dark haired ladies? What do you do with your moustache?!!! I tend to use cream to remove mine, but feel like it comes back quite quickly.
Yesterday was our wedding anniversary - 12 years! Can't believe it's been that long. Anyway, we celebrated by neither of us remembering to get a card for the other, a trip to asda, a trip to family planning (see below) and then me going to choir while dh stayed in! We're so romantic
Family planning...nothing exciting - I just went to see if there was a non-hormonal reliable method, rather than condoms, that we could use. I've started worrying that we're being a bit risky, and I know a dc3 would not be a good thing for us and my mental health, but the pill seemed to trigger my last big blip, so I want to avoid hormones. ANyway, upshot is the copper coil sounds like the best option. It's really effective and is non-hormonal and can stay in 10 years, but it's cheap so they don't mind if you want rid of it after a short while. So I'm booked in to have it fitted on 31st! eek! Has anyone had one? Some work pals have the Mirena coil (which contains a hormone) and think it's great.
Right I ought to do something constructive...
see you soon xxx

effie have fb messaged you, could you see if paris nanny free after all - organiser has just said re babysitter 'you can always teach her to change nappies if she doesn't know, or come and find you in the sessions' ???!! So we're paying for childcare from some random person, not happy at all

Trace! Welcome back! We've missed you! And you're probably in the same cleanliness league as me, if not a bit cleaner! HURRAY for holiday!

JJ at childcare organiser. That is pants.

rubes Sorry to hear that you didn't get away, although sounds like you had some good days out.

trace Lovely to have you back!

JB Your chats with your mums are hilarious. Reminds me of the time my Aunt (when she was about 17) apparently told my GP's that she had been to a 'twats' pub for the evening...she meant Thwaites

TT going very well. I am so proud of him but so at the same time. He no longer naps, can wee on a potty and seems to have started talking in full sentances all at once. My baby boy has gone .

Also I wanted to share with you something that has been bugging me. I suspect IABU, but will only throw it out to you lot as I will be eaten by wolves in the wider MN.

Our close friends, we are godparents also to each other DC's, have twins same age as DD. Over recent months I have arranged umpteen occasions for us all to get together, only for them to accept and then cry off at the eleventh hour over utterly trivial issues. Anyway, they have declined their twins invite to DD's party as they have a swimming lesson. I am really miffed. Last year they never came either as she had arranged for a sofa to be delivered, this was after she recieved the invite. This year, I got a text "Sorry the twins have swimming lessosn that day". Their twins were 5 two months ago, party at soft play. DH almost got it in the neck as he wasn't going to attend but it was pointed out he was their godfather and should be there. I just feel that it us always me/us that makes the running but they are not interested in us or our children, yet we are expected to be there for them.

Sorry that is all a bit rambling, I know I am just being a little sensitive.

DB - that is shit of your mates. I am on your side entirely. SWIMMING LESSON! Seriously? Instead of a party?? So naughty.

JJ That is really bad and very naughty of the organiser. I really wouldn't be happy, I hope you can get something sorted.

Housework routines, mine is roughly dust/hoover throughout once a week, bathroom once a week, kitchen floor once a week, kitchen sides when used. I am useless at hoovering under furniture/behind cabinets etc...maybe twice a year in a good year

Yeah beans that's what I thought. They're DC's went to the same nursery as the children of a well known footballer...DH said they'd cancel the swimming lesson if it was for his kids party!

Yes, sadly it sounds like they would. People are shallow. How disappointing.

I'm so HOT! Think am just going to stay in with Pru this afternoon and practice walking in the garden. Or inside if she doesn't like it out there.

I try and clean each room once a week, but sometimes it's a bit minimal . I'm very bad at tidying though and DH is worse. I've started trying to give the place a quick once over in the morning, just so it's not horrendous for unexpected visitors. It's never spotless, but we have too much stuff (books, CDs, DVDs, toys) for that.

Lovely to hear from you Trace .

Hope you and The Other E can sort something out JJ, or she can offer some useful suggestions. The conf organiser is really taking the piss, isn't he?

DB not sensitive at all, they are acting like spoilt brats.

DB, I don't think you are being unreasonable. I think they are being selfish. Erm, can you bear to point it out to them? Or raise it in some way?

JJ, I am quite dismayed about what the organiser said. That is so crummy! Is that that hard to make it easier for mothers to attend? Again, I would point it out. It's your holiday. Do they want to be helpful or not??

I think I am just too old and stroppy I do like to say what I think though I do try to be tactful. Life's too short to let things rankle, even if it means ruffling a few feathers (imo, my DP would probably disagree).

SO, how is everyone, Rubes? Such a shame about the lack of hol. How is everything? I need more details

WG - sorry you are having such a shocker. I can't offer any helpful advice, just sympathy. Routine for the two smalls - predictably lax. Not always a bath in the evening (sometimes we do it in the day because otherwise bedtime goes ooooooon and on) - solid food for both any time between 6.30 and 7.30, milk at 7.45ish, pyjamas and teeth, then both up to bed as close to 8 as I can get it (sometimes dribbles on towards 8.30, which I hate). DD1 has a couple of stories but again, we do lots of books and songs in the morning when they wake up as it's more relaxed.

Glad you had a good trip to the Big Smoke, Kayz.

Invis, how is is DS? Another big fan of My Naughty Little Sister Books. I used to call DH 'Bad Harry'.

SL - so sorry DS is still a bit down on DD. I wish I could think of a good approach. Hmm, what would Supernanny do? Not that I am a massive fan of J. Frost, I find her quite annoying. DD2 is 29 September so not for ages!

ZJ, so glad you had a nice hol. Welcome back. I liked your housework tip of adding something new and also cleaning the bathroom whilst DD was in the bath. Will check out Flylady!

Thanks to everyone for sharing their housework routine, which I found interesting and helpful. Trace, don't feel bad, I think what you do sounds reasonable and is basically what I do (or try to): house gets cleaned once a week (when I say that, I mean vacuumed, sheets, bit of wiping or dusting) but the kitchen gets wiped over most days. I don't like to leave washing up or stuff hanging around that should be in the dishwasher. And bathrooms probably cleaned (but lightly) more than once a week. It's mess that's more of a problem here - DP and kids are untidy!

Beans, sorry about the toenails, you are being very brave! Can't you wear regular flip flops? They are light. Sorry the househunting is not going well, are you still looking in Outer London/Herts?

JB, that is absolutely smashing about DD2's weight. Off to Windsor Castle on Saturday as I mentioned. For some reason I keep thinking about your tea towel!

Effie, you know about these things. WHAT am I going to do with the apples on my garden floor? They aren't really ripe enough to do anything with (I don't think) and they are just creating a wasps' paradise so I feel I have to bag them up.

Still haven't watched Black Swan, DP was too exhausted last night to give his full attention to dear Natalie. So I think tonight's the night.

Aaaaaargh, this year is flying by. How can it be August? How can I have achieved so little?

Am still doing low-carb (only really used to eat wholemeal toast in the morning, plus Ryvita for lunch and wine in the evening sometimes - evening meals weren't too carby anyway). Not really losing weight (maybe a tiny bit). Craving pasta (which I only used to allow myself about once every 6wks anyway!) And rice! (which was always wholemeal).

Off to eat a small piece of cheese.

I've just given up driving again I was a nervous wreck today and couldn't do anything. Last week I felt great behind the wheel, I was doing paralell(sp) parking etc etc. Then I was ill fri and sat and then away sun and mon.

So now I am thinking I'm going to have a bit of a break and then having lessons weekly instead of doing it in one big go.

Sorry it's a moany post.

Oh dear, Kayz, what a shame. I do sympathise. I need to sort out my driving again. What would give your your confidence back?

Oh, and meant to say hi to Aspa. When are you home??

kayz why were you nervous? Was it just because you'd had a break and lost a bit of confidence? FWIW I had weekly lessons,which may mean longer till your test but might make it easier for you to digest what you have learnt rather than overloading you iyswim.

lady Don't mention diets...I am deperate trying but I fear my metabolism has stopped completely in recent months!

As for the couple in question, I'd love to tell them how unreasonable I think they are. But it would more than likely lead to a massive fallout, which I don't want. They aren't the kind of couple who ever think they are in the wrong (they do have some redeeming qualities, hence our friendship). So I will more than likely seethe in silence. Howver, I have told DH that I am not going to try and arrange any more get togethers and see how long it is before they get in touch.

I do feel more and more removed from some of my 'friends' latetly. Pre DC I was the life and soul, now I fear I have turned into a miserable old bag

I have no idea what it was. I do think it had something to do with having a few days off. I feel so bloody stupid but I think it's for the best.

Kayz Don't knock it on the head just yet. I had weekly lessons and was shockingly rubbish. I stalled and had the drivers behind sitting through several cycles of lights, ditto on a roundabout, got a dangerous fault in my second test... I passed 3rd time! It is all about confidence. Don't do yourself down. You can do it!

Deids rubbish of your friends. I'm finding friendships harder at the mo, feel like I'm not getting much back from some. The ones without children I feel I'm making an effort for not much in return.

LadyT did you go back to your specialist? Your diet sounds meagre.

JJ I'd be hopping mad with the organisers.

Kayz, I think with driving it is all a question of confidence and practice. I passed my test at 17 but didn't drive much other than pottering round our local backwater, and when I moved to London age24 I didn't drive at all! Had a refresher course when I was 37 and have never looked back! Had about 10 2 hour lessons (as I was very nervous) and then hit the road. Now can do motorways, slip roads and even parking! Have not tried to drive abroad but that's next.

I think I am probably the biggest slattern on the thread as I don't clean much at all! My lovely cleaner comes on Fridays and every other monday, and in between I wipe tables, keep kitchen clean, do 4000 loads of washing and occasionally hoover the rug in the sitting room. I get the girls to tidy their room but ours is full of junk which I need to Ebay.

Db, you could never be called a miserable old bag. I do think it is hard to maintain friendships, esp where there are kids, but both sides need to make the effort. I would be furious in your shoes, absolutely boiling, so I agree that a bit of radio silence is in order.

Lady, I agree the year is slipping away. they get quicker as the kids get older it seems.

Beans, so sorry there is nothing to rent but HURRAH that you are going to be around for a bit longer. Are you sure you can't persuade DH to buy your current place????

I feel fat as a house too. I have been low carbing and trying to avoid wine in the week but it's so hard. If only I could be arsed to lose 10lbs. That'd do me and I'd still be fairly substantial but OK. Am running a bit though haven't been since last week.

Went to Catford today - oh, the glamour - to a bathroom shop. am a bit resentful that in our huge works, I am doing all the looking / sorting / agonising while Andrew's only contribution is to criticise. If I were doing all th ework but making all the choices I would mind less but he is insisting on having a say. Does anyone have a HOwden's kitchen? I have spent so long in the Howden's shop that I know all the staff by name. Feel sort of obliged to buy one now!

Right, must say hello to my runnning girls then get back on the great appliance hunt. Have a good evening.

Oh and JJ, that's not even pretending to organise childcare. Can effie's pal help at all?

Sybs - I thought you'd decided on your kitchen??? Men are always like that. You do everything and they think they have a right to get involved. DH often criticises my cooking and yet never lifts a finger to do it himself and I struggle to find inspiration every single day with what to cook! Drives me potty.

Kayz - if you're feeling stressed, then don't give up, but rest it for a bit. Practice makes perfect, but if you're panicking when you're behind the wheel, then you won't enjoy it. Give yourself two weeks then get stuck in. Our car is my lifeline and I would be stuffed without it. And before too long, it becomes like second nature and ou don't even really think about it - it's like breathing!

I, too, am feeling portly. Despite all my running, I have put on 4lbs and am deeply saddened by it. I'm not even looking more toned - my bottom is like an old
lady's. Rank. Never mind. Will have some chocolate in a minute and forget all about it!

Lady: apples are v early this year - I got a bagful of perfectly good ones from a tree on one of our walks. Try cooking them up and see what happens. Apple butter is pretty easy - you don't have to peel or core them. I think there's a recipe sonewhere - will check.