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.....!!!

Scones listen to PA This is a really tough time and things will fall into place very soon! You are doing absolutely fine with your two gorgeous dds (and you too, PA, with your dd and ds)

Yes, echoing what the others said, Scones.

PA Hope that DS is feeling better today. Poor love.

Mous Hope the move goes smoothly.

Well we had a knock at the door from a police officer at about 10.45 last night. Someone had climbed up the back of our neighbour 2 doors down's house and smashed her 1st floor window with a spade!!! Luckily she had a male relative staying as she's an elderly lady who lives alone. Very scary and it's most likely they climbed through our garden to get to her (we are the end of the terrace and on the other side there's the disused pub garden - so one assumes they climbed from the pub garden into ours and then onwards - whilst I was sitting in the kitchen on my laptop. They must have seen I was in and moved on). We need to get a burglar alarm pronto.

What with the falling down-ness, smallness and now this I am not feeling entirely positive about this house. Also the broken-ish lock on the back door has seized up completely and we can't open it at all now (probably a good thing with opportunistic burglars everywhere).

Eek, Bc - not surprised you're feeling a bit edgy about the house. I hope you can get yourselves out of there not too far into next year (and preferably before the new arrival...?)

Scones I'm not surprised you're exhausted. Can anyone come and help at all?

PA doesn't sound like you're having a barrel of laughs at the moment either. I hope your two are back on form before too much longer.

DD was a bit clingy again this morning - I'm wondering if we're about to get hit with another cold or something.
She didn't get to sleep last night until 21.00....but didn't wake up until 08.00. I actually wish she'd shift her sleeping pattern one hour back, although I should be grateful, really!! Maybe I'll repeat the clock change trick on her and get her doing 20.00 - 07.00...

scones big hugs, but look at how much you are achieving, it'll get better (I think our mum's of 2 will agree).

IC I hope your DD will not get under the weather again.

bc oh poor you, you don't need that stress around. I hope you can get your house sorted soon.

Well I'm now on HOLIDAYS!!!!!! (sorry I'm excited!) Back to work on 3 January. Tonight should have been my work Christmas party but I pull out as I wasn't that bothered. Where is the party girl gone? I'm now home watching tv and drinking a G&T I think one of the reason I've decided not to go is the expenses (the venue is out of town so it would have meant 2 taxis, plus drinks (knowing me = a lot) ) and I can't face a hangover tomorrow as we have too many things to do for the trip.

Sorry very me me post

Just need to have a rant

We have a local FB page where people sell baby stuff.
A woman is looking for a little weight pushchair.
Other woman said 'I got one'
1st woman: 'which colour'
2nd woman: 'blue'
1st woman: 'oh no, it's for a girl'

Since when girls can't be in a blue pushchair?!?

idiot

I realised that DS had all the blue nappies and DD had all the pink (amongst other colours). Since DD tells me what colour they are at nappy changes, I mixed them up. I still also reverse sexes and roles (e.g. mummy/daddy) in her books

Completely agree on the gender specific colours, and for that matter clothes! We were shopping last weekend for clothes for DD and somehow girls clothes seem to cover less, are thinner, are less practical. So in the end we got her the boys chinos and thermals. And what's the issue with Strictly these days, why are all the female dancers more skimpily dressed than the male ones. Am certainly noticing the gender biases and subliminal messages much more since DD.

Sorry had to drop out after a short update last week. Thought I'd at least be able to give a more complete one. We're trying to expose DD to stronger female role models, or at least neutral ones. So if that works out then less fairy tales as they're all about some passive female waiting for a male rescuer, and more stories like Mulan, or even Joan of Arc though she didn't get a good end. Sorry, SB and PA your rants got me going...

DD doing well though sleep routine seems all over the place atm. Last night she slept at 12 midnight, and the other day woke up at 11.30am after a close to 14 hour sleep. BC understand the feeling about burglars, our old house was broken into 7 years ago now, and I never felt safe until we moved to a new place. IC DD also gets more clingy when ill, hungry or tired. In fact has been so recently as she's been getting more teeth - happy to report tooth no 8 on the way!

Unmumsnetty hugs to scones and PA. a spot of eastern philosophy, don't worry about the lack of sleep or even wish for more sleep. Just enjoy the cuddles with your babies and toddler! Think in a year's time you'll be looking fondly back and actually missing this time. . Or at least have very selective memories!

rainbow welcome back. Have you watch Walt disney Tangled? The female role is quite dynamic, and the male less prince charming. Also the Princess and the Frog is a good one as the 'princess' is working hard to get what she wants (can you notice I like my Walt Disney? ) If her 8th tooth is on the way, it's probably why she's not sleeping well + (at the risk to repeat myslef) last weekend was full moon (acting a few nights before and after)

I've post on AIBU about that sex colour coding...

I totally agree with all the anti-gender-specific rants. But you knew I would, didn't you?!
PINK IS JUST A FRICKING COLOUR - AND IT IS NOT THE ONLY COLOUR (WHERE GIRLS ARE CONCERNED).
Pah.
Funny how having a child makes you so much more aware of all that guff...

Well, DD was in a better mood this afternoon. I took her to a little Xmas party and she seemed to enjoy herself - mainly hanging out with me and nagging for biscuits, but hey! She relaxed with the people (and indeed, animals) around her as it went on, so I was quite pleased. Not the most nutritionally-rich suppers, but at least she ate a clementine as a sort of damage limitation exercise

IC glad to hear your DD is feeling better. DS is clingy when surrounded by people he doesn't know or doesn't remember (he hold on me so tight last Sunday when we saw one of my SIL who he last saw in May) and get annoyed if they go to face on him (I can't think of a better way to say it in English so I hope you'll see what i mean)

DD keeps having tantrums because I won't let her have MORE satsuma's

agree with rainbow about the fact that girls clothes not only being more gendered in colour but lacking in function. I'd like to be able to buy DD clothes with vehicles on without buying boy clothes (which I'm started to get as annoyed about ) DD's favourite things are helicopters and fire engines atm (and of course fruit)

DD has pretty much recovered and is in bog standard cold territory. I think DS is over his post jab fever but seems to getting ill. He is coughing, has a hoarse voice and is definitely feeding less (dryer nappies and I have engorged breasts). He hasn't been sick in a while though and his temperature is normal

rainbow I had a look on the high needs baby support thread and got nostalgic

DH is getting annoyed I'm not sleeping so I better run before I start ranting about gender issues regarding INTG

Although SB I have to admit DD is in pink a lot simply because I lurve pink and have gone into pink in a big way in my old age. In my teens and twenties (nods to PA ) would never have touched the colour. What do you think about shrek?

Apologies in advance for multiple posts. My memory also has gone and I can't face losing a long post, not to mention can't remember what I wanted to say without going back several times to check. Good luck with the move mous and echo what the others say about your DD2. She will pick up the language in no time when she's ready (think of how your DD1 has adjusted!)

bethy how are your DSs?

The theory is desire is the root of unhappiness. So if you don't wish for something (e.g. Sleep) or get upset that you're not getting it, then you can be more content with the present!

In fact am also now feeling nostalgic over DD's first few months, including the 3 month period when reflux seemed to be a problem so had to always keep upright after feeding.

And would love to be ale to get DD a pink outfit with trains and aeroplanes on! And ferocious dinosaurs for that matter.

It makes sense. I remember bethy saying similar, but this time around I don't care with him, I have no expectations and just accept what happens. I honestly couldn't tell you how many times in the night he feeds/wakes or even in the day when he feeds.

Development and behaviour wise, DD has taken to telling us to go away by waving and saying bye-bye when she 's having fun and we ask her to stop, e.g. In a bath, time to come out now.... "Bye-bye," or if she's in the garden, or engrossed playing, then if we go away she'll happily entertain herself for a while, then call out for us when she's ready to go. In the morning when she wants to get us out of bed and she's fed up of lounging in bed having "mummy milk", then she'll ask for her "bottle" as then we'll go downstairs. This occasionally happens when she doesn't want to sleep at night, then we have to figure out whether it's a real request! She's also dancing to music, and singing some nursery rhymes with actions. Twinkle star, Indy wincy spider are favourites. Also trying to jump a few times. Loves pointing to and naming pictures of things in books. Haven't yet stopped BF as the last time when my milk ran low after some travel I had to wake up a couple of times at night to give DD her "bottle" so now thinking after she's 2 years as I'm weak and will do anything for a good night's sleep.

Exactly PA I remember I kept track of DD's poo, sleep, activy constantly and stresses about routine in the beginning, then when I decided I would no longer look at the time when I woke, it suddenly all got easier. And I found i even managed to get back to sleep easier too.

rainbow princess fiona is the anti-princess so definetaly to be added onto your movies list.

Anybody knows how to detox DS of Oui-Oui (Noddy)?

Also have a theory that as the teeth are still coming in more sleepless nights could be on the way unless I have a magic panacea (I.e feeding her to sleep) dreading the molar experience. Ok now I hAe to go and do some housework. The laundry has been piling up for the past week.... . Merry Christmas and a fab new year!

Counter oui-oui with something even worse say pepa pig

Hello everyone. Just popping in for one of my infrequent posts.

rainbowweaver Have you read www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Pirates-Peter-Harris/dp/140521161X? No pink princesses in sight in this book.

Thanks chocolate! Btw, just came cross this what causes strain on marriage after children http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/dec/16/work-men-women-children

www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/dec/16/work-men-women-children. Trying again....

Thread is quiet today! Where is everybody?

DS has a new trick down his sleeves as you can see on the FB page. He's been in a very good mood today and very chatty - I've realised that he isn't bilingual but trilingual as he speaks English, French and giberich currently. But I think that proper language is not far. It'll be an interesting 500 miles drive if he doesn't shed up

Weather is improving over here, we only had rain once this morning with hale and the wind has calmed down too.