April 2011 - Hello Grindstone. Nose here, reporting for duty.

[DairyBeetle]

Plumps comfy pillows, shakes warm fluffy blankets, passes them round, sleeps

Tell us more about the house Jo. When we had our offer accepted on our present house we used to ill up outside and just stare excitedly at the house - luckily it was empty so we didn't have to worry about the owners thinking we were complete nutters!

Love the term faux posh! I left pot noodles behind about 20 years ago, but I still love plastic cheese on my burgers.

Dh has taken it upon himself to cook today He is making roast beef with cabbage, swede, carrots and roast spuds. It will take him hours and the kitchen will be a bloody bomb site. But of course I will agree with him that it is lovely and that it was worth me having to look after the kids on my own while he spends bloody hours in the kitchen (because of course whenever I cook dinner I always have someone looking after the kids - bitter? Moi?)

DP is banned from my kitchen for just those reasons ILTMIMI, ten pans per dish minimum!

Am knackered after an unsettled night. I so wish DP didn't gave to work every weekend, he's up in the loft on the computer and has been pretty much all day again. I just wish we had mire time together all three of us

Jo I would do the same

I loathe Pot Noodles and always have, but I did go through a pop tart phase many years ago - must be about 20 years since I had one though! Plastic cheese on burgers is necessary, because 'nice' cheese melts too much and all falls off!

We have had my brother here for lunch today. We had a huuuge falling out a couple of years ago over him not inviting DS1 to his wedding and didn't speak for over a year. It was good to see him, and I am keen to facilitate a relationship between him and the boys (he is DS1's godfather - a decision taken prior to the falling out). It is better when he is on his own without his wife, who I cannot stand. I find it very difficult to be civil to her.

Now I've had a couple of glasses of champagne and wine, and we are watching a program about dinosaurs with DS1 prior to an early bath. :)

Have to say that DH is pretty good at cooking. We used to split things 50/50 - in fact he probably used to cook more than me. Not any more though because of work and needing to eat on time for the boys. He did most of the roast today, and has said he will clear up while I drink

JKS - that would work, except our phones and computer etc changed to the new time automatically. So 6am was indeed 6am!

I hope it all went well with your db yesterday Ali, family fallouts are horrible and can have a huge impact. Good on you for facilitating a reconciliation.

After right royally slagging dh's cooking abilities yesterday, I take it back. It was lovely and he mostly cleared up as he went along! He also remembered to prepare the veg while the boys (and me!) had a nap, so he was almost organised! So we were all stuffed on roast beef (baby I went mad for it, and the yorkie's) and then sat down and watched How To Train Your Dragon.

There was an indoor car boot sale in the village hall yesterday and I got some lovely 1970's Moomin paperbacks. I love the Moomins! I have never read any of the books though, has anyone else? I also bought a copy of Gerald Durrell's My Family and Other Animals. All three books cost me 50p in total!

No trick or treaters last night, I hope they come tonight because I have bought my body weight in chocolate for them. Ah well, all is not lost if we don't have any

LOL ILike - DS1 is torn, he wants them to come as I've promised him a sweet for each doorbell ring (to make up for us being meanies and not taking him out) but then again he doesn't want to actually give any away [hgrin]

Haven't read any Moomin books, are they any good?

Baby M loves a roast potato & broccoli & DS2 has taken a liking to broccoli too - his only veg atm so we need to stock up.
DS2 also branched out into Maltesers (anything new is a big deal for him, and brown chocolate is a totally new thing for him to accept) so we've stocked up on those !!

A good night last night, though M was up early (for her) at 6 with the boys.

Happy Halloween all, hope everyone got an ok night's sleep?

Happy Halloween Ladies! Day 2 of the hangover from hell [henvy]! I haven't had a 2 day hangover for years! And I wasn't even that drunk to deserve it! Had a fab time though!! Spent my time int he taxi queue telling a bunch of 18 year old lads to enjoy life while you can because when you are old like me you can;t do what you like anymore!! Poor boys were probably terrified! Although they thought i looked 25 not 30!! How they could tell under my witchy make up I don't know, but it made me feel better!!

We're off out this afternoon with my AN mums, babies in fancy dress! So the bat costume if getting another outing!!

We got our images from our photo shoot too! They are so good! DH and I are terrible at getting out photos taken, if I look good DH looks like the undead and vis versa! I'll post some on the FB page. I can't tell my mum about them because we are getting some on canvas for christmas and there are some of elfy B for christmas cards!! Soooooo cute!!

I think we have escaped the clock change unscathed and B seems to have returned to his usual sleep pattern of long morning nap and long afternoon nap, bed by 8! I'm sure it will probably all change next week!!

Now I just have to get through the rest of the day without eating all the trick or treaters sweets!!

That must have been some Saturday night Fizz! I just don't have the stamina for it anymore.

I swear I is going to be the size of a house if he doesn't start crawling soon. He has a huge appetite. For lunch he had half of a cheese, onion and ham muffin, cucumber sticks and a slice of malt loaf. I stopped there but I am sure he would have eaten more if I had offered it. Also over the course or a day he has a whole sippy cup of water, that's quite a lot isn't it? He goes mad every time he see's the cup and he is getting good at doing it himself - he mostly gets the spout straight into his mouth rather than up his nose or bouncing it off of his forehead!

I think we may go to the playground in the village this arvo, ds is like a caged animal today ....

DS1 is back at preschool, Hallelujah!

ILike I'm glad it isn't just T that is eating loads! He had a Weetabix for breakfast, and now a lump of cheese and a big bit of crusty bread and cucumber for his lunch. He will eat half a slice of meat, one piece of potato and some carrots and broccoli for his dinner.
I should get him weighed actually, because he is gigantic. Not fat at all, just really solid. Like a prop

Today has made me realise that I'm fine. With a few hours just T and I life is much, much calmer. DS1 loves preschool and will be doing something interesting and burning some energy, and T gets to roam about without being squashed or having his toys stolen

Happy halloween all, not much trick or treat action around here. I don't think we had a call last year. I think it's a bit too rough and ready for anyone to let their children roam around after dark. I might get some sweets in, just in case.

I used to be a sucker for a Pot Noodle. Dirty.

Fizz, your pictures are so cute. Love the elf! Hope the hangover improves, two days is unfair. I think sausage and mash is the ultimate in hangover comfort. Give that a go.

Clock change not going so well here, I was woken up to the sound of Sophie squeaking at 05.39 this morning. That's earlier than yesterday, little devil. Though I have gone to bed at 10pm the last two nights, so I feel ok. One wake up for a feed last night at around midnight and a bit of action at half three that didn't need me to get up. Notta bad.

Also a Moomins fan, Ilike, but haven't read them.

Stalking at the new house is going well. DH introduced himself to the owners, which is a bit more stalky than I had anticipated. "Hello, we're the people who've been arguing the toss with you over a couple of grand for the past week. Lovely to meet you. I expect we'll fall out over the survey soon. All the best". Jesus. That aside, the house is lovely. Nice big kitchen/diner, which I am really excited about. It's in Hampton, so a bit further out, but my commute should be fine and it's so leafy and quiet and has good schools. The pub does a killer roast too. Mmmm.

I have a question for the experienced weaners: at the moment C is having purees for the most part but I like to give him food that he can feed himself too, he's fine with little rice cakes, those Organix corn snacks, and he does alright with a chunk of banana too. I've tried him with toast a couple of times and he seems to gag and then throw up a bit. I think it's swallowing the bigger lumps. For those who have skippped puree, does that sound normal? He's not sitting up independently but is ok in the high chair, he is 6 months corrected, so quite young, I guess.

BFing so one handed.

Jo that sounds ok - vomit though or just regurgitating his mouthful? The gagging thing is scary, but babies have good choke prevention if yiu just let them get on with it I've found! It won't take him long to get the hang of moving food back to the front of his mouth for another chew using his tongue.

Happy Hallowe'en everyone [hsmile]

Sorry had to post and dash on Friday, I did intend to come back and post more but DP needed the laptop to look up pumpkin designs!!

Thanks to you all for your hugs, [tea] and sympathy, DP has managed to find some work for a few weeks but there are no guarantees it'll take him right up til christmas and the pay is crap but it's better than nothing at all. I'm just so bloody annoyed that this has happened now, with christmas etc coming up. I really wanted it to be a great 1st christmas for R and to get her everything I wanted to and now that's all been taken away from us! I know that's selfish and shallow, as there are people far worse off than we are but it's still annoyed me. I've just got to get my sensible head back on and remember that she's still only little, won't remember it anyway and is far more likely to be happier with a few scrumpled up bits of wrapping paper and bows than she will be with anything we actually get her!!
As for KIT days, I get paid for them next month but did find out today that I am not getting paid for 3 hours of training that I went in for last week so I won't be doing anymore of them! How bloody ridiculous! Have to take time off in lieu instead so I have made a mental note for my return!

As for me, I discovered yesterday I have a ganglion at the base of my index finger! Its been sore for ages, kind of like it was bruised and I just kept dismissing it as nothing, then last night I noticed an actual lump under the skin. Went to Drs today and they can't be sure if it's a cyst or a bone fragment (?!) so have been referred to a hand specialist for review with the likely outcome being a small op to have it removed! Ouch!! I've never had an operation in my life and the thought makes me squeamish! I was hopeless in theatre as a student nurse! My only hope is that the waiting list is long and I have to get it done once I'm back at work so I can have a little sick holiday at the same time, although I can't imagine dealing with a baby with your dominant hand out of action is going to be much fun!!

R started officially rolling like a maniac at the weekend and now she won't bloody stop!! Can't leave her anywhere and she's over, she even tried to roll out of the bouncer this morning!! Only trouble is she can go from back to front but then just gets stuck and then has a little tantrum until someone puts her back over! So hoping that was the cause of the early wake ups and we'll go back to normal now.

Jo I am similarly terrified of the choking thing, I tried R with a piece of apple the other day thinking she would just gum it a bit but oh no, she chomped the end right off it and tried to swallow it whole, cue me panicking like an idiot and pulling it out of her mouth!! She will never learn to chew at this rate! And lol at your DH!!

Fizz the elf pictures are the cutest!! Boo for 2 day hangover though, I was a wee bit ropey myself yesterday!

Glad there are some other hungry babies on the thread ILTMI & Ali! R would cheerfully scoff a 2 course meal, 3 times a day and shun her milk completely!! Trying not to go down that route though as I have "not getting enough milk" paranoia going on She's getting wise to what she does and doesn't like now and porridge seems to be on the way out, she just blows raspberries all over me if she doesn't want it and no amount of cajoling(sp) will make her open her mouth once she's decided she doesn't want something!! Can see she's going to be a diva not unlike myself

Doubt we'll get much in the way of trick or treaters here, I haven't bought anything in as if no-one comes I'll have to eat all the goodies myself and the diet has already slipped a lot a bit in the last 2 weeks. So any kids that come round here will have to make do with a weight watchers biscuit!!

MrsW when I went guising as a kid it was cold hard cash we went for! If we were given sweets it was [hshock].

JoeW heinz tomato soup is my cure all washed down with full fat irn bru !! Beef olives and mash for tea here so almost like bangers! Sounds fine for C gagging. B gags quite a bit and has been sick while gagging, but he gets better every time he eats something.

Dh has just called to say he has to work late so I'm on bedtime duties too. But he has loads to do before we go to Manchester this weekend!

Fizz it is rubbish when you have to do the evening shift alone after a long day! DH has just announced that he won't be home for dinner and possibly baths any more nights this week. Boo.
I often wonder what people without sAHP do in these situations. I guess if you both have that kind of job then you have to have a nanny.

Happy Halloween everyone! I'm loving all the dressed up baby photos. We're collating photos for a book for Christmas so in the past 48hrs S has been a sheep, Father Christmas and a skeleton...what is parenting for if not fancy dress humiliation?! [hgrin]

Jo S gags too, often with sicky bits when eating. But then he's done the same when he's shoved his fingers too far into his mouth when teething!

Fizz 2 day hangover? Impressive! I'm looking for my bed after a glass of wine, don't have the stamina to stay awake to drink enough for a hangover.

Ilike Yay for Moomins! I was obsessed with them as a child and now have the books

MrsW I'm glad to hear your DH has a bit of work for now. It is horrid timing but like you said now is when we can appreciate simple Christmas' before these babies grow up and discover the joy of the Argos catelogue!

My DH is away a lot and we knew when we started having DC that I would be doing most of it on my own and that also I would probably want to get an au pair or similar at some point - just to help with logistics, school runs, swimming lessons, etc.
Then DS2 had his epilepsy, slept all the time, couldn't go anywhere, and we got a nanny.
She still does 2 days a week for us so I cram a lot into those 2 days - maybe too much some weeks! - though she is still officially DS2's 'carer' when she's here. He's at SN school 5 full days so now she only sees him 2 evenings a week. I've changed her hours so she's here for DC bedtime on those 2 days - it's invaluable!

Just place marking

Happy Halloween We've had a busy evening. We live in a clos and have had 20+ trick or treaters tonight. I got a couple of Cadbury's variety bags in as if figured if we're going to eat leftover treats we might as well have something we like [hgrin].

Commiserations on the hangover Fizz. I wasn't feeling to bad after my night out. I went to watch DS at swimming club on Sunday morning and we then all got a couple of hours fresh air in the park.

Chilli An onion! really

Ali Hurrah for preschool. I can't believe DS will be at big school next September, the time's going so quickly. Once DS is at school my house will be tidy and organised. .

Ilike Sorry if this sounds strange since technically we don't 'know' each other, but I was thinking I'd like to give a little donation to charity in memory of your DS1. Just name a charity or put a link to their website if you want.

Wow Gache, I am truly touched. Here is a link to a charity called the Children's Liver Disease Foundation

Ds1 is called Cole and him and his brothers all have a resemblance, especially ds3. He was born a healthy baby then at 8mo he suffered from acute liver failure and within 10 days of spotting the first symptom he went on to have the first of four liver transplants. All four transplants failed (the experts don't really know why) and we don't know what caused the initial liver failure, probably a virus he caught.

This coming Monday will be the 4th anniversary of his death and the last time I got to feel his warm cosy weight in my arms. We miss him dreadfully.

The bereaved mothers thread on here is a great support and has seen me through some dark times and some happy times.

I'm glad I have told you all about him, he was such a gorgeous, loveable and strong little boy.

ILike thank you for telling us about him, he sounds wonderful I'm so sorry you didn't have more time with him
I would like to make a donation too, what a good idea GGF

Morning all!

Thanks for all the advice re the gagging. Ali, it's more of a gag with a bit of milk coming up than a proper vomit so I'm not too worried now. He had a go with some Shredded Wheat Bitesize this morning and seemed to do ok, though he managed to grind most of it into his clothes. Time to get one of those bibs that's actually a full rubber body suit!

I'm lucky as DH works from home, so even when I go back to work I know that he'll be around to do the pick up from nursery and get bathtime started, until I get back. I also think that when you have to leave on time you just do, I want to see C every day before he goes to bed. My days of working all hours to impress the boss are well and truely over.

Wow, JKS, that must have been pretty tough going in the early days. Hope things are good now.

Fizz, feeling better? Tomato soup is a winner, I agree. With loads of buttery toast.

MrsW, you are not being shallow, it must be really tough when you don't know where the work is coming from and for how long - but you are right, this year they won't really understand Christmas. Wait till they are demanding ipods and laptops!

Two night wake ups for us, again. And a very pathetic nap this morning. Devil child. Bless him. I'm off to Fara Kids for a mega haul.

Sorry, Ilike, crossed posts. I would like to make a little donation too. I am in awe of how you cope.

Big hugs iltmi. xxxx

Thanks for the link Ilike. Cole is a beautiful name and although you can never replace him I'm glad you see reminders of him in your other DSs.

Ilike you are obviously an amazing and strong person to go through that and come out the other side able to continue forwards. I'm sure Cole is watching over his brothers and will be forever in your hearts. Thank you for telling us about him.

Thank you ladies, your words and generosity mean a lot. I like to talk about Cole and I love to hear his name.

Joew - don't worry about the gagging. Gagging is not choking and a baby's gag reflex is further forward, so more sensitive, than an adults.

Right, off for some breakfast and then time for I to have his first nap of the day.Hopefully.