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.

Oh yes re stuff to do - ds has no patience with crafty stuff and i am not that bothered either so we never do any. Cooking a little ( like the scones idea will see if he has the patience!), anything that involves getting wet and playing with water popular but mostly we jsut go out to friends or parks or a trip on his bike. And his fave toddler group still on over summer hurrah! I love the paper shoes though will see if that captures his imagination. Oh also we have made play doh which was fun!

Hurrah, my sister has got engaged , so happy for her

ZJ, Gorgeous news about your sister. Congratulations to them :). Totally agree about Potty poos, its a grim task! Mind you DS crapped all over the lounge earlier. It was gross.

Can't remember anything now that I wanted to say....must be my age.

Oh has JJ gone on hols now? Hope you have a lovely time.

Went to the movies with DH last night and watched Super 8. Was a great film, The Goonies meets ET. I loved it.

Morning all. ZJ - that is hilarious about your job share being a fellow preggo! Poor manager! But these things happen!

SL - potty poos are rank because they just stink for some reason. DD1 has pretty solid biggies, so to my delight, they just sort of roll out of the potty into the loo, but I know my friends whose children have "loose" jobbies have real issues with the stench and the cleaning up. Bleugh. I have just had marmite on toast and am making self feel sick!

Inlaws came to stay and look after girls at weekend. Was really lovely to have a weekend off. DH and I slept til 10.10 on Saturday morning!!! Then went to a brilliant wedding, which we had to leave at 10. V sad. DH drove all the way home, and we got back at 1am. Then he had to get up at 5.15 to go and do a triathlon. Nutter. It was the one that was on telly yesterday. He did it in 2hrs 36, which he is incredibly proud of as he hasn't trained much and he wasn't his fittest and was knackered. I am SO proud of him. His PB is 2hrs 24, so not far off. Well done him! Made me think I might sign up for a super sprint one. But not sure I can be arsed.

ZJ - lovely lovely news about your sister - what a delight!

To my horror, I still have my period. Fruitiness with no satisfaction for a week now. I gave DH a spot of hand relief last night, as thought he'd earned it. Hee hee!

I believe Vag is BACK! HURRAH! We've missed you! Come back and see us??!

I'm off to Wales for 2 weeks on Sunday. Oh bliss. I cannot wait! Will have on and off internet, so will try to keep up...

Inlaws did fantastic babysitting skills this weekend. Although FIL is such a grotesque fat man, it's terrible. I think he loves to show off to his grandchildren as they're the only ones who will listen to him. Before we left, Izz was a bit miserable and whiny, he told her to shut up or he'd throw her down the stairs. I was horrified!!! Had a bit of a go and told him not to speak to her like that! Then I found him feeding garlic croutons to Pru - they are pure saturated fat. I had to ask MIL not to let him do that for the rest of the weekend. Wasn't impressed. He gives them so much wrong food. I'm really not fussy like that, but I object to salt and fat contents off the scale - not good!

Hello everyone! Got back from Sweden very late on Friday and have been swamped down in the pits of the laundry ever since. Had a nice time apart from me catching my niece's tummy bug. Haven't had much of a chance for catching up but will try later.

ZJ - congratulations to your sister and her fiance.

Beans - well done to your DH. Grr, to your FIL, what was he thinking?

Potty poos - yuck, another reason why I've been putting it off.

DD has been to day 1 of 5 day swimming course. Goodness, the teacher was a bit scary, picking them up by the buoyancy aid and chucking them into the pool! Good job she didn't try that with DD!

Hi Nolda, how was the trip?

I just lost a really massive post again This keeps happening! I have started copying it before I press post but didn't do that this time...won't even attempt my big post again but will just basically say...

Another busy weekend here - cricket in Windsor on Sat, trip to my storage in London yest (yep, still sorting THAT out) and then off to Sheffield tomorrow to see some friends then straight back down to London for a couple of days! Supposed to be off to Cornwall at the w/e to see a friend of DP's but he has a trial Fri and Mon and I think a five and half hour drive on Sat, then the same on Sun is just madness (and not all that fair on the girls). However, it's the widow of a schoolfriend of his and he doesn't want to let her down. It's all a bit tricky.

Beans, glad you survived the PILs. What's the latest strategy with the house move? Talking of house situations - where is Spot? Indeed, where is Urbs?

ZJ, you are super restrained, not finding out the sex. I was far too weak. Congrats to your sister, how lovely.

Aspa, did you find anyone for the camping? It's right near me (bout 3 or 4 miles away) so if it's any of our lot, if I am not in Cornwall I can some and see you! Enjoy your own trip at the weekend. Didn't you have jury service in Aug? Weight loss - I have been in sensible/diet mode for ages but to no effect - started low-carb about a fortnight ago, and have lost about 1 pound...pathetic. Mind you, whilst I busy about I have not been doing ANY exercise (SL, you mentioned this) so I think I will have to do the two before I go to see anyone about it again. I cannot summon up the mental energy to book a consultation with my endocrinologist. But I feel a bit cheesed off generally. The whole career/isolation gloom engulfs me with ever greater frequency these days, as does the sense of being madly busy all the time yet never achieving! But I didn't intend to offload this indulgent, mini-essay about my travails so will shut up now Anyway, 'try even harder' is the answer to all of it.

SL - no TT here as DD1 still insists she only like nappies and gets v angry about loos and potties. Am vainly hoping I can sort it before she starts pre-school in a month for those 2 mornings, but er, that may be naive.

Right, must dash to book tickets for tomorrow...

Oh Lady - that sounds tough on the old isolation thing. More driving lessons? Might be good after the tax repayment? And re the losing weight thing, it's a pain in the arse isn't it. I find it impossible to lose weight, unless I run like buggery and eat virtually nothing. It's too depressing.

I sat next to a rather handsome man at this wedding on Saturday. Both of us happily married, him with 3 sons and another child on the way, and me with DH and two daughters. SO on that note, I found a good flirt was the way forward, with no danger of any happening on either side. Dear God, it was fun. I haven't done that for ages. Although we did get onto the topic of al fresco biggies and had the most hysterical giggles. Clearly my one came up, as did one that he had to do as he is in the army. He wasn't allowed to leave any trace of himself behind and was living in a dug out hole with a friend. He was on army rations, so he hadn't done a poo for 4 days as they're v dry, so thought doing a poo onto some clingfilm was the sensible way forward. He rolled it out, did his business, but because it was so hard after all the dry food, it just rolled away!!! HAHAHAHA! He had to get out a torch and hunt for it, while his mate was absolutely horrified that there was a biggie in their little hole. It had rolled into the corner, where he did luckily find it. I got such terrible giggles.

Grimbo!

Sorry, I am poo-obsessed!

Very proud as have managed to get both car seats back in the car on my own. Independent woman, me.

Hello a quick Hello from moi!!! We are back home and surprisingly the boys seem ok about being in a property without a pool. I think it has made DH think of going home for good as we all quite liked having our own pool. The gite was just beautiful set on a sunflower farm and surrounded by lavender and fruit trees and some grape vines. Was just too lovely. All very idyllic. Makes coming home to our mountain of holiday washing a bit dull and depressing, along with Dutch weather. Hey Ho. The only downside of the trip was a sprained my ankle running along a tractor path. DH and I managed to get out for our first run together in like forever and had encountered Deer and sunflowers on our lovely run when I rolled my ankle going full pelt down hill. It was so annoying as in the previous week while we staying on the beach on il de Oleron and I had done three long 10 km runs out to a beautiful beach and had really built up my confidence and was running at quite a decent speed. Oh well the good news is the swelling is going down quickly and it feels fine to wqlk on already. I also have a nice juicy cough I picked up whilst but that will settle soon hopefully.

Did I miss anything exciting?

Just popping on quickly to say we are home from Brighton. I love it there so so much.

Hope you all had fab weekends and are all well.

Beans, I am just feeling sorry for myself (again). When DD1 starts pre-school in a month, I expect I will meet some local people then. Also, am contemplating joining the baby group here in the village...which meets in people's houses by turn! So quite full on. I am not sure our house is quite ready for that yet (also, even though I have two small children, it's probably full of hazards) but I might just jump in, I don't know...The career/lack of achievement and, stupidly, the lack of weightloss bothers me more. But, as I said, "try much harder" is the only answer to those...Totally agree flirting does wonders for the self-esteem. But a bit thin on the ground around here lately! Hey, interesting about that 'leaving no trace' thing! I always wondered how they did that...

Welcome back, Vag - your hol sounds utterly gorgeous, I must say. Don't fret about the washing, it'll all be done by this time next week!

I like Brighton as well, Kayz.

Oh, Invis, I meant to say - really sorry your DS's bit of finger didn't take. Poor poppet.

I haven't heard of Super 8, DB - I must start reading the film reviews again!

My sister, who lives about a mile from my Mum but doesn't see her much, is moving to the country (about 30 miles away from where she currently is, I guess). Unlike me, she has always been desperate to move to the country and the village she is moving to looks even more boring than most. Ha! She will probably love it.

Hello everyone,

Welcome back from hols kayz, nolda and vag.

Congrats to your sister ZJ. What lovely news. Very funny that your job share is also clackered. Might be easier for recruitment though offering full time hours or a job share. Although that is NOT your problem!

WG We did BLW. You need to be very relaxed about mess and ensure that you have a washable floor or a big mat. Bibs that cover the arms are also good. We had one of those IKEA highchairs that can just be hosed down outside. One with nooks and crannies might get a bit foul. DD1 got the hang of it straightaway and we didn't do any spoon feeding until she went through a stage of deliberatly throwing food on the floor when we were out and about. I'm happy to pick food off my own floor but not in a cafe! Worked well for us and DD1 would eat pretty much anything when she was small, she is unpredictably faddy now though. 'I love bananas - I hate bananas, I want an apple!'.

Talking of weaning. trace Did you get advised to wean at L's actual age? DD2 is not physically ready, she certainly couldn't sit in a high chair. I'm a bit nervous of having to start in a few weeks when she'll be 6 months . Where did the time go?!

Thanks for the crafty ideas. Will do the paper shoes this week invisible.

DD2 has started napping in DD1's room during the day and is very happy. She often is put in there to look at the mobile while I'm sorting DD1 out and I find her fast asleep. She is a little sweetheart. I was going to wait until DD2 was sleeping through before putting them in together at night but it might be a while and DD2 is starting to fill the moses basket. It would be a hell of a squeeze to put her cot in our room so we might just go for it. Fingers crossed they settle to it well. Thanks for sharing your experience invisible.

ladyT DD1 will not sit on the potty or toilet without her nappy on. I'm trying to be very relaxed about it but feel I want to get on with it really. I asked her the other day whether she might want to do a wee in the potty and get a chocolate button, her most favourite treat, and she said 'no, I don't think so, thanks mummy'. Oh well. She hasn't been at nursery since we moved but she is going to start doing one day a week in September so I thought seeing others TT'ed might make her want to be too. Maybe your DD1 will feel the same?

Right can here DD2 shuffling about. Must dash.

Welcome back, vag, nolda & kayz. I hope the washing and the tummy improve nolda. I think post holiday laundry is the absolute pits! Vag shame about the ankle, sounds like you've been doing some fantastic runs. Hopefully it'll be all better soon enough.

lady I understand the weight issue! I have a couple of good weeks and then fall apart because the scales don't reflect my efforts. I do exercise but that just seems to tone me up, not make me actually lose weight. Arrghhh...

DS was left in a creche for 2.5 hrs this morning, and actually asked twice for the potty. Good boy. Poo's still problematic. He says he will do it on the potty but never seems to get there in time.

Hello all! Am feeling a bit ashamed to poke my head around the door after months of utterly rubbish posting. How is everyone? What have I missed? Twins, triplets, marriage, divorce..??

WG We did BLW with DD. She ate anything: her first proper meal was a black bean quesadilla and spicy guacamole from Wahaca. Now she's a right fusspot but hey, at least she had a healthy start! Main thing is just to relax, not worry if she doesn't appear to be eating anything (babies get far more calories etc from milk than pureed vegetables..) and enjoy it. And buy a small handheld vacuum thingy.

Vag holidays sound ace, hope the ankle mends soon

So, err life a bit complicated Chez Panda. Work is generally a bit rubbish, pregnancy the second time round (why did none of you tell me, eh? EH?) is truly vile (PGP, physios, scans every 4 weeks, blah blah blah) and in 3 1/2 weeks we are homeless. Sort of. We're completing on our house and the one we are buying, the buyers have just been gazumped on their purchase (don't these people KNOW there is a recession on??) so we're back to waiting for them to find somewhere and in the meantime, moving in with my parents. Which is just what you want when you are nearly 35 and about to have DD2.

So we have to put almost all our worldly goods in storage, bring DD1 to stay with her rather useless (in terms of childcare) grandparents, and pack for a baby who may or may not come before we are living somewhere else. AGHHH. To those ends, does anyone have a list of things I need for a) my hospital bag (I'm only 30 weeks but I'll have to pack it soon anyway or everything will disappear to storage) and b) first few weeks/months of baby? I can't remember ANYTHING.

I have nightmares about being in the kitchen having a cup of tea with my dad when it all kicks off. The look on his face would, on the other hand, be priceless. "Dad! My waters have broken. SCREAM!" "Ooo err Panda, um... errr.. another cup of tea?"

Yikes kiwi that all sounds really stressful. Any chance of a short term rental, rather than still be with your parents when baby arrives?

Re first few weeks for a newborn, all they really need is vests, baby-gros & nappies. If you BF, then maybe a few muslins for them to sick on too

Hospital bag take, PJ's/undies/wash stuff/snacks/something for baby to wear/nappies...erm...its a start, mine wasn't the best prepped. Hopefully someone will be along with more of a clue!

Welcome back Nolda and Vaj. Vaj I think you are the only person I know who has a fantastic holiday and lists running in the highlights of the trip , sorry you knackered your ankle though, is it feeling better now?

I actually don?t understand post holiday washing ? when we were away we had a machine and did quite a few loads, so we only came back with a couple of pairs of pants and socks each. And I?d efficiently emptied the washing basket before we went. But still I did 3 loads in the 2 days after getting back. Where did it all come from?

Kiwi it?s lovely to hear from you, even though you?re having a time of it. I don?t know how I managed to be so organised ? but I have a spreadsheet of everything I packed in my hospital bag from DD, and then afterwards I ticked or crossed which items I used so I can streamline it next time. Seriously, when does a new Mum think to do that? I can?t remember doing it, but found the file recently. I must have had some fairies in! Anyhow, if you PM me your email address, I?ll send it over to you

No accidents today ? hurrah! DD has become fiercely independent about going to the loo/sitting on the potty and insists I leave the room to let her undress herself, climb on, do her business, flush it and get dressed again. The only thing I?m allowed to help her with is washing her hands, because she can?t reach the tap. I?m sure it?s just a ruse to pretend she?s done something so she can earn a sweet . However she definitely took herself off for a poo today, because she left skidmarks in the loo [yuck] How can a child pooing cause so me much pleasure? Still hugely proud, even 5 hours later! Summer the potty poo was gross because DD is rather loose, and somehow managed to smear it all round the rim of the potty and her bum, and strangely down the front of her thighs , so I am thrilled she can do that on the loo (Apols to anyone who may be eating). She is quite taken with matching her pants to mine in the morning ? which has been ok on the days when she?s chosen pink, or blue, or even the spotty pair. But anyone know where I can get grown up sized princess pants, or with cute puppies on them?! That day caused a bit of a pant based tantrum

What is going on in London & now Birmingham, and Amy Winehouse is dead!!!! What is going on! I've come back to a Smiths song!

ZJ I couldn't be faffed doing the hanging out washing thing while away, the place we were in was far to beautiful to sully with my DHs manky boxers. When in Australia once DS1 & I stayed in this fabby posh apartment in the two days before flying back and it had a washer and dryer and I did all our clothes before we left. It was lovely when we got home to just put it all away.

I did laugh at your list.

DS2 has just today decided to use the loo rather than the potty. He also likes doing it all himself and as he is, as a rule, naked all day, sorting himself out isn't too hard. However, he requires my services to turn the light on so he will walk to the loo holler at me to turn the light on then, loudly dismiss me while he goes about his business. He likes to then report on what he has deposited and whether or not he wiped.

and about the riots. Honestly, it's shocking.

Has anything happened on Streatham high road? Brixton is a bit of a no go, so I was going to pop to Asda in Clapham today but looks like that's off as well. I feel very sad as I lived off Lavender Hill for most of my 20s, as of course did you. I still go out there and do lots of shopping there. Round by me is fine, but Peckham and E Dulwich are not. My friend who is a GP in E Dul does a late clinic on a Monday and had to drive through Peckham to get home. She was terrified as it was all starting to kick off.

It's just terrible, what are they going to do. It just shows how close to chaos we are. I have a friend on FB who is being quite racist about all this and saying its all the "niggers" doing it. I just responded to a comment he left on one of my status updates and am expecting a barage of rambling from him.

Oh Vag. How difficult. Just descends into a race issue and unnecessary. It's just a bunch of idiots, regardless of race.

Nothing so far in Streatham Sybs, I think the shops are too shit. Noone wants anything from Quality Seconds apart from me!!!

Sybs how scary for your friend. Right now I am hugely grateful for my isolated life in the sticks

My favourite fb status update seen today was 'so and so is doing something, in the hope that I will incite other mindless acts of kindness'. A perfect sentiment I thought. I did at Vaj coming home to a Smiths song!