Feb 2010 They're all walking and talking....and some are even sleeping. The babies are doing okay too.

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Pull up a comfy chair, grab a cuppa and a piece of cake, switch the monitors on low and let's PARTY.....!!!

IC I think your dd likes a more Spanish approach to dinner time.. or she is very smart indeed . Good for you though to give her a second chance if she asked so nicely
Well, talking of meals, dd2 realised she could get quite a comical (to her) reaction out of me by standing/dancing in her Ikea highchair until I turned around and went . Because I was so appreciative yesterday she kept repeating her trick until I disassembled the thing. She's now sitting on a normal chair with a cushion under her. She loves it and to my surprise she's not spilled any food today because her chin is only one or two inches above her plate and there simply is no space to dribble/spill etc. (Made me think that if my plate was at hip height for me I may also need a bib...).

Ha ha, cosmic twins again, BG! DD has started standing up in her Ikea chair too. If she keeps it up, I will certainly go for the booster option.....(or maybe the chin just above tabletop level technique...)

well at least it's taken them this long to do it

Too right, PA! As much as I admire your DD's incredible climbing skills, I'm relieved my DD has been a bit slower to develop hers..

So I had the interview, it went fine (I think), unfortunately, we did the maths with DH and I can't afford to go part-time. So I just have to wait for HR to call with thier decision.

It looks like all our little ones are climbers

So I didn't get the job, I'm not actually that disapointed about it as it would have had to refuse it anyway.

BBB it's good that she's cautious, DS is not, I found him crawling along the window seal in the conservatory at the weekend

DS is testing the boundaries at the moment, which means tantrums, especially relating to the kitchen but also from fustration of not been understood I can guess a lot but sometimes I really need a translator.

I'm hoping that DS is not going to get the hand, foot and mouth which is at nursery (6 toddlers have it in his room), i can't take time of work until 2012...

I'm sorry about the job, SB. I hope your DS doesn't get hand foot and mouth.

My PILs have just left after visiting for 2 days and while on the whole it was good, I have the following moans to make:

1. They have decided that they no longer want to be grandma and grandpa to DS but to be called by their first names. I didn't ask why as too surprised and since have just stopped calling them anything. DH has kept on calling them grandma and grandpa.

1. She simpered 'I love your bump' and went to stroke it. I was so unprepared I flinched out of the way and she managed to stroke my tit instead.

1. When I told her how into brooms and hoovers DS was she said "maybe because he has two such messy parents". (We did used to be messy but we keep a tidy house now so it was a bit unfair).

Anyway they've gone and DS is having a nap so all is well.

I was so unprepared I flinched out of the way and she managed to stroke my tit instead.

Bit weird the first-name grandparents thing, Bc. Do they feel old when they're addressed as Grandma and Grandpa? Would they accept a different handle? My DD calls my mum Nonna and my dad Poppy (their own choices).

Bad luck SB, but maybe it was fate because as you say you couldn't have accepted it. Still, a shame after the effort you put in.

I think DD is getting braver with other children around her own age now. She was very confident at yesterday's toddler group (it was very small with very hands on staff, which helps) and was also braver than usual at the Spanish group today (which was very rowdy because of all the extras we had as a consequence of the strike). FX her confidence continues to grow.

thats good IC

SB I hope you still took a lot away from the experience and that your work appreciate you more as a result about DS

BC MIL changed her name and then complained that she wasn't saying it. I did point out a blended GR was beyond her atm. I'd have been silently fuming at them. All children love brooms.

I think I know what I want to get DD for xmas. Some toy cars as I don't think others will get those.

I think we're all better, will attempt to actually eat 3 meals today. DS in on the tail end of a growth spurt (forgot how intense they can be) and have AF already. Seeing the physio again in three weeks and DD now has a footmuff. I think that's all our exciting news. No wait DH has agreed we can go to Scotland in April (instead of visiting his parents, I might have bribed him ). We've found a lodge (which can house another couple+child if I can convince DH to save the money) and I know what mountains I'll be doing for 2 of the days

Thanks for your support but I'm fine about it.

Been to the GP today... my blood pressure is now 92/60 so still not good

bc what are your ILs doing?

PA great news on the Scotland trip

that's my normal one sb you got much time off at xmas?

DD was adorable today, but I made the mistake of showing her moss after which she pointed to every bit and said 'moss'. There is a lot of moss around and when there's a long stretch it's: step, point, moss repeat . She's getting a lot better walking to and from places now, sticking to pavements and trying to run every drive, patch of grass etc. She put three words together for the first time 'daddy have fox'. I also had to bf fox this afternoon

Really like the stroked tit and breastfeeding the fox BC and PA. I found it very odd last year to be breast feeding Iggle Piggle!! Or when DS1 started doing the same .

Sorry to hear about the job and blood pressure SB. Do try to take it easy when you can.

I tried to post a very well-humoured post at 6a.m this morning when our night's sleep had been prematurely concluded by both DS coughing non-stop from 5a.m (and half 4 yesterday) Unfortunately for you all, the post was rudely interrupted by DS2 announcing that he wanted a poo on the potty and me finding him naked in the cot and ready!! Pressed the wrong button and long post disappeared before my eyes.

Anyway, ready for bed now so won't reply to all others but have been reading on stupid phone.

I did see the gynae bloke tonight who agrees I need surgery-bugger! Have a rectocele and he thinks a front one too (not sure how to spell it!) I never do things by halves! Firstly, I must continue with my exercises for another two months (no doubt to tick some box on his form) and then they will take me in and operate (if they can catch me first). I have also been booked in for an internal scan due to quite significant bleeding between periods. I've mentioned it at smears for the last 10 years so not sure why they are bothered now, but, hey, best to check I guess..

I'm not actually bothered by any of the above now, because I can't think about anything but DS1, (who will see another paed bloke at Birmingham on Friday for me to beg to bring things forward) and am enjoying Snow Patrol's song 'Don't keel over' (I think, if I'm understanding it correctly). I may adopt it as my anthem for the next few weeks and just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Truly, I am okay tonight . Sorry for yet another me, me , me post - more a factual update I hope.

beth you always astound me that you inject humour and lightness into your posts, amazing.

Hopefully the two months will give you time for DSs stuff to start to resolve. Obviously sorry about needing the surgery but long term prospects and all that. I'm struggling with my exercises a bit so glad I'm seeing them again soon.

Good luck for tonight

Just keep exercising PA and thanks for your lovely post. Off to bed to get some hours of sleep in quickly. Taking DS1 to the chiropractor tomorrow to check whether he dislodged anything with his Buzz Lightyear flight down the stairs a couple of months ago. He'll be good as new soon!! Also took some cool pics of DS2 using the nesting tables as a climbing frame this a.m. Will try and post them on FB in the next couple of days. Night all - may it be long and quiet.

bethy big hugs, sorry to hear about the surgery but I'm hoping your appointment tomorrow wil go fine.

bethy you're amazing. Meh at having to have the surgery, but if it puts it right....
You sound so upbeat under what must be at best trying circumstances. Big hug to you and stop worrying about posts being about you! That's what we're here for....

Another good day for DD with other children - she hung out with two other toddlers of her age for a few hours today, including having lunch with them and all was fine. It helped that the other two girls weren't too hectic or overly tactile with her, but I was still pleased with how relaxed DD was and how she actually "chatted" with one quite happily. It was very sweet.

DD's having a bad patch with food again. She almost refused her noodles (which she usually loves) completely tonight and I feared we were going to have another bedtime on little or no food, but she requested some cream cheese to have with her noodles so we compromised and stirred some in and hoorah, she ate most of them. Didn't touch the bits of veg of course, but that's par for the course. She then ate a load of Greek yoghurt, some grapes, some goji berries and two - yes, two! - bananas. So I'm extra relieved she ate some of her main course because she would have been ravenous, clearly. Thank goodness she can now be specific about what she wants. I don't really mind adding cream cheese to her meals if it means she will then eat a reasonable amount of them...

[Hands round mulled wine, Stollen, and Lebkuchen.... and why not )

Ooh, Lebkuchen...!

BG are you online now?

Yep, why?

More Lebkuchen?? Here you go...

beth you are an inspiration to us all. I don't know how you do it. Boo on the surgery.

PA are you OK? Have you got SPD? Sorry, I'm sure you've said and I've just missed it.

I'll PM you!
It's about an eBay item I'm watching.....

I tried to make a Christmas wish list to help dh and the only two items I could come up with were nice dark chocolate pralines and nice wine... Should I be worried about not actually wanting anything else, or is is a good sign?