Jan 09: Summer is here, the sun is shining and now they&#146;re early rising <sob>

[Teaandcakeplease]

Shiney new thread.

Hope your day out was nice moose.

Waves to everyone

Just getting ready for Halloween here. We went to a pumpkin patch yesterday to hunt for pumpkins, got four. Oh ya, they are corresponding in size with DH, myself, DD1&2. lol Gutted them all today and got two, mine and DD1, (much to her pleasure) carved out. DD is going to go as a ladybug of sorts and although I bought the costume, I've picked up some other bits to attach to the costume. I have to dress up too so I'm going as Zombie Mum. Pretty easy... Lululemon, runners, hair in a pony, largest of the largest Starbucks coffee and pasty white face with dark circles around the eyes. lol I've got a cheesy headband thingy with jack-o-lanterns on the ends of springs... (you know) and a wand thing with matching jack-o-lantern... I thought it was pretty creative. lol

DD2 is proving to be the exact opposite of DD1. She has soothers, formula, (no BF now... ) looks great in pink, (i stayed away from the vast swathes of pink with DD1), sleeps great through the night, not so with naps... the list could go on. She has sucked on some apple slice the other day and loved it. Guess its that time.

Had midterm critique... I have a couple of students that really took the assignment somewhere, most were pretty standard, and one, I was thinking, 'WTF were you thinking bringing that in?' It was just... extremely mediocre. I struggled for something to say. Thank goodness she had some good drawings from previous classes.

Maybe we need a new thread now I was thinking "windy weather and falling leaves our little ones will soon be three" or similar

I tried DS with pants this week again (second try) He cannot produce anything on the potty at all, he'll sit on it every 30 mins and I'll talk about trying to do a wee wee or poo etc. But he has as yet done nothing on it. But invariably 10 mins after sitting on the potty wets his pants I'm not convinced he even knows when he needs to wee you know.

I loved the pumpkin pics on fb GA. Sounds fun. At least DD2 sleeps at night, that's a bonus

Thanks GotArt, we had a lovely, but really loooong day. Only got home at 1.00 am and we're all still exhausted.

We were in a crawling traffic jam through the lights from 7.00 pm until 9.45 pm and dd fell asleep after the first 45 minutes, as she was exhausted after careering around on the beach with the dogs for an hour. She was the only one wearing wellies, dh had her and I was ahead with the boys and dogs. He took his eyes off her for a second and she waded out into the middle of a big (but relatively shallow) pool and refused to come out! The boys and I were wetting ourselves laughing as dh stood there and tried to reason with a two year old, then tried bribery, then threatening and when that didn't work, eventually had to wade in in his shoes and socks! Hilarious! Of course I very sympathetically told him it serves him right for not watching her properly!

Ds1 is ill (its a cold, so obviously he's dying - manflu at the age of 9 ) so he's absolutely vile and none of us is getting any sleep. He had us up no fewer than six times last night and in between kept us all awake with his exaggerated coughing. Let's just say he's not my favourite person this morning. Not least of all because I had to get up with the other two, whilst he's gone back to bed and is snoring away with no hint of a blooming cough!

Tea, it does sounds like your ds isn't quite ready yet, so I wouldn't stress about it, both my boys were 3 years 2 months and it was a breeze. Honestly, it really isn't worth putting yourself through all the stress if they just aren't getting it, I've learned that the hard way with dd - she did it when she was ready. Someone on the potty training threads reccomended the Gina Ford potty trained in a week book to me, not to follow the plan, but to find out whether or not dd was ready and it really helped, as she clearly wasn't. I don't need it now, so can post it to you if you'd like it? Just PM me your address and I'll get dh to post it from work tomorow.

hi gotart going to a pumpkin patch to get pumpkins sounds great
the costumes sound great 2!
my girls r so different 2!! in every way

mm - beach sounds fun
sorry for traffic jam

Have you seen the Telegraph article? I've put a link in the news section of mumsnet on it.

Very quiet on here ladies.

I had a quick look at that article Tea, I've never co-slept purely because I find it really hard to get comfortable and fall asleep, without adding a small person into the mix.

I did love having a bedsibe crib with dd though - so easy to just slide her across for a feed and her cot has always been butted up against my side of the bed, so I guess its the closest thing to co-sleeping without actually co-sleeping, iyswim. Dd loves it and I love how she always puts her arm through the bars, strokes my face and says "Good Morning Mummy!" in a lovely cheery voice when she wakes up in the morning.

She's finally going into her own room in a couple of weeks though and whilst I will appreciate not being disturbed by her sleep talking and snoring, I am really going to miss having her next to me as well.

Had ds1's IEP review at school this morning and for once it was really positive and he seems to be doing really well. All down to the lovely team we have this year - his class teacher in particular is fantastic - I wish we could keep her!

His Statutory Assessment Request should be going in next week. Its pretty much done, but just needs a bit of tweaking here and there.

i am with moose on this one and till age 3 years
sex life would be out of window !!
i cant get to sleep with another in the bed too much fidgeting!!
had both in a moses next to the bed till they were four months old
dd1 made too many noises and moved around too much
dd2 grew too long for moses

great news mm

Sex life what's that?

Dd is really only still in with us because we are crap at DIY. Her room still isn't ready, but I think still being in with us on her third birthday is pushing it - just a bit!

I have to say Moose the thought of having to share a room with either of mine in a cot or mose basket for 3 years, let alone co sleeping does not fill my heart with enthusiasism I like reading a book before bed, my PC is in my bedroom too. But obviously being single there is no sex here I also find I wake at every noise, but DS has clambered into bed with me twice this week so far, half way through the night and I've let him

I'm pretty much at that point now Tea.

I was swearing under my breath when I tripped over the dehumidifier in the dark last night when I was trying to get ready for bed in the dark and then again, when it woke dd up and she was demanding a drink with menaces. (She's got a cold.)

I was saying to dh at the weekend that I would seriously love just to be able to read a book without a booklight before I go to sleep and was jealous of some people on the SN board who were MNetting sat up in bed - with chocolate!

Some undisturbed sleep wouldn't go amiss either, but then again ds1 has other ideas on that at the moment.

mm - must be hard still sharing a room with dd!!

we read in bed lots before bed and its nice to chat
we r opposite as our bedroom is downstairs next to loundge, girls sleep upstairs

Hello, hope all is good. Am bming and getting ready for a catch up. Life's been a bit hectic of late so not had much mning time (and not had much very interesting to post!)
Moose How is DS1 going? Any news on his assessment? Hope school is going well for both the boys.
We are both desperately in need of work. DH has a few classes at uni, bit thats it, so we are super skint and in need of more work.
Stripey, how's it all going? Hope the last few weeks of pregnancy are not too tedious...I don't remember them fondly, largely due to my piles
Tea how is it all with you, is DD enjoying school?
MissJ, how is your DD?

Hello to everyone else! DD2 is wailing in the background so has put a stop to my mning...for now

Hi HKZ

Ds1 is having a great year at school so far, thanks. All down to some amazing teachers, who have really taken to him - one even told me she thinks he's fantastic and would be so sad if he wasn't in her class and actually had tears in her eyes when telling me how proud she was of him for the work he produced in class that day.

SA request is going in next week! Been busy preparing a huge Parental Advice Tome, complete with a million examples and samples of his work and that just needs a bit of tweaking. Am emailing it to the inclusion leader and SENCO for their comments on Monday and the plan is to have it sent off by the end of the week.

Sorry to hear work is a problem for you and dh. Hope something turns up soon.

How are things with your dcs? Everything still OK with ds?

Moose, thatrs excellent news about ds1, hope the sa request goes through. Sounds like everyone is on the case and can see what a good lad DS is, must be good to have everyone on side this year.

All is good up here. Am pretty optomistic work will come through. DH got his MA results today and got a distinction, so we are off out tonight to celebrate, going to see the Fall and then have a pint or too...I am slightly over excited, haven't seen the fall or the inside of a pub for a while

DD1 is loving new school and making friends. DD2 is crawling and just the most cuddly, smiley laid back baby every. DS is...a toddler! The terrible twos seem to have hit. He is very sweet, but very infuriating at the same time. He seems to be developing rather an evil sense of humour! He is seeing the Oncologist next week, so hopefully things will be much the same and just an Mri and more monitoring. The tumour has caused a curve in the top of his spine so we are also seeing an orthopedic surgeon, for more monitoring! Because we've moved we are seeing a new oncologist, so will be interesting to see his take on things.

Now, what to cook for tea.....

Yup, its lovely to be able to breathe for a while, but I'm under no illusions that next year will be the same - unless we can get a statement in place.

Congratulations to your dh on his results - have a fantastic evening's celebrations.

Good to hear dd1 is loving school - it makes all the difference if they actually want to be there. Ds2 is like that, just loves the place.

Dd2 crawling already - where on earth does the time get to?

We have the terrible twos here as well. Dd is such a character, so funny and sweet, but like your ds, with a truly evil sense of humour. Yesterday we had this conversation:

DD "Mummy, what's that smell?"

Me "I don't know dd, is it the dog?"
DD "No ... its not the dogs."
Me "Well what does it smell like?"
DD "Really stinky! Pooo ... eeeeee!"
Me "Well I don't know what it is if its not the dogs, I can't smell anything."
DD "I know what it is."
Me "Do you dd, what is it then?"
DD "Its ..... YOU! You're stinky, stinky Mummy ... POOOO EEEE!"
ME

I won't relate the rest of the conversation - but suffice to say it involved her being put straight and reminded of her manners!

What a little madam - I suppose it was inevitable with two big brothers to copy - but honestly!

We are also going through the lovely "No!" stage at the moment - which is fun!

Good luck with ds's appointments, it still sounds positive if they are happy to continue monitoring.

Right, we have a rainy school bonfire to get to, so I'd better shift my backside. It was lovely and sunny here all day, until bang on school pick-up and has been chucking it down ever since. Typical!

bkmg

Just thought I'd bump the thread, because I couldn't even find it when I went looking.

Rotten, busy and stressful week that I won't bore you all with here.

Hoping everyone else is ok.

Hey moose, was hoping you were around as I had a question for you...I need to borrow some of your deep shopping knowledge! We have an uber posh wedding to go to next month with the dcs. I have the dds sorted, but am struggling with ds. I want him to look smart/presentable, but am not a fan of kids in mini suits/mini adult style clothes...any ideas? At the moment am thinking a smart pair of cords, shirt and tank top....but am in need of inspiration!

Why are you having a tough week? How is Ds's assessment going, it must be super stressful. Have a and feel free to have a moan, I'm around!

Hi HKZ. I used to agonize over posh do's when my boys were little for exactly the same reason. I'm not really one for little boys in suits etc either.

I always liked my boys in smart cords/trousers with a nice grandad collar shirt either with or without a waistcoat for special occasions. Ds1 had a couple of really nice dress-type shirts from Next that always got lots of appreciative comments. In particular a plain white one with light brown embroidery down the front panels, worn with the cuffs turned back and the collar open.

Verbaudet usually have some nice ideas: here and here and here?

Little Linens have some grandad shirts here and here

Ebay here and here.

Hope that helps.

Had my brain and spine MRI yesterday and it was horrible, much worse than the first time around.

Ds1 has had a couple of run ins with our old neighbour/dinner lady at his school and she ended up forcing him to eat some sandwiches he'd found as she wouldn't believe he wasn't trying to throw away his own lunch. Gluten obviously - so he's been really ill as a result. He's going to a sleepover for his best friend's birthday tomorrow and hasn't slept all week due to anxiety, but really wants to go. Unfortunately, gluten inflames his bowel and the knock on effect is wetting the bed, so now he's even more worried.

Have spent half the week trying to finish his SA request, but keep finding more that needs to be done on it (16 pages of report, plus tonnes of appendices and counting!

AND my family all seem to have fallen out with each other, most notably my two sisters, who were both supposed to be coming home for Mum's birthday next weekend but are now refusing to come.

On a more positive note, it was parent's evening tonight and it was all positive for both boys. Which after the past couple of years with ds1 is huge. So lovely to go to parent's evening and be told by his teacher that she thinks he's great and loves having him in her class - ds2's teacher said the same about him as well!

hi mm

sorry for all the stress this week and especially ds :( how rubbish !!!!!
poor thing !!!!

have been good here

received dd2s elc kitchen yest and a few other bits for her bday

have bought most things now!!

mum was here mon and tues so that was nice

have been doing betterware have orders

not keen on all this cold murky weather

Moose thank you my comp is buffered at the mo so will have to wait for Dh to get off his so I can have a kook.
Sorry it's been a tough week, at least parents evening was positive. When do you Detroit MRI results?

excusetypos am using my phone

Great typos HKZ, cheered me right up!

Results will be at least 3 weeks apparently, possibly longer.

Tink, you are so organised with your Christmas and birthday shopping habits - I am hopelessly disorganised this year and getting quite panicky about it all now. Glad the Betterware thing is still going well for you.

Ds1 is at his sleepover. He was so scared and anxious this morning, I had to peel him off me in the playground. I've been jumping at the phone all evening, but I guess I have to think no news is good news.

Bookmarking...

Waves to all!

hi all ladies
very quiet!!

mm - hope ds enjoyed sleep over
is a pain that test results take so long

betteware has been stressful this week!!
boss was meant to turn up on mon to collect orders etc
didnt turn up!!
tried emailing all wk nothing
got an email last night finally
found out she has left and should have been contacted
annoyed as have orders sitting around waiting to be ordered

have been ordering girls clothes from next