July 2010: It's about time, that we all went back to rhyme!

[Spirael]

Though mutiny is always an option.

Am I the only one not to be having a tree this year with a child this age? Last year it was great, he lay and watched the lights and twinkly bits, and next year he will (hopefully) be big enough to be relied on not to touch, and also to be excited about Christmas. This year, however... we figure we would constantly be telling him not to touch, and he would be trying to pull stuff off it constantly, and would end up pulling it over etc etc... It's not like we're (ever) at home for Christmas so there will be a tree on Christmas Day.

In my family the tree traditionally went up on Christmas EVe anyway! Actually we never had a tree at home anyway as we've always spent Christmas with family elsewhere (grew up in a small flat!).

J still has only 8 teeth but his two outside bottom incisors are just about to cut through - I can see them just below the surface. He'll finally have ten teeth - halfway there! aargh.

We've had to miss our last swimming lesson this morning because of J's conjunctivitis - it's a shame not to be able to say goodbye to the teacher and the other people in the class.

Fingers crossed S reacts OK to the MMR, Chulita. J reacted to it but a week later so you might be OK today!

Just realised this is Fs 4th Xmas which seems weird! Tis the first one he really gets tho as in knowing it's coming and talking about it now.

We save a present to open in the late afternoon so there's a bit of anticipation but not as much as poor SSS used to have!

We've got mil here for Xmas and last time it was awful so really hoping this is much better. She was far more difficult in those days and expected the household traditions etc to run on her terms even tho it's not her house but hopefully she's learnt....

Memphis FC only brings this house small stocking fillers like small books, chocolate coins, bubbles, stickers, and the obligatory satsuma. All the DCs other presents will be from us.

Scuse any crap typing, on hated iPad til I get new mac lead.

Good luck with the mmr chulita. I feel the same about A finally having hers.

SSS should have been wss. Bloody ipad

x post earlier memph, that poor boy :(

Gosh I couldn't imagine Christmas without a tree! E 'helped' me decorate it for the first time this year which started off well then resulted on five or six baubles per brah It's his 4th too cake (although he was only 2 weeks for his first) and agree it's lovely now he 'gets' it.

My friend does it so she 'sends the money to santa' and he bring the presents. That way they're sending lists to santa for the stuff they'd like, but appreciate that their parents paid for them - I think that's quite a good idea.

Genuine question cake but how will you address the kids writing lists to santa when they're a bit older if all he brings is chocolate coins and stickers type stuff? I hate the whole santa concept if I'm totally honest and would rather not lie to my kids (sounds pathetic but it's how I feel)

I'll have my parents, dh's aunt and I'm about to invite dh's cousin but I doubt she'll come. So either 5 adults or 6 plus the boys

Got to go, can hear W destroying something...

I'm going to get new pjs for Xmas eve too. He'll prob be in our bed by the time we wake on Xmas morning. All the main presents are in our room and Dylan's got a stocking but I'll prob only put a couple of small things in it. We'll make a cuppa tea and open the presents in bed.

Then we never know what to do with ourselves til it's time to go to FIL/ my mums house. We've usually opened all our presents in 5 mins! I might do a cooked breakfast and things to pass the time!

This year Xmas day is at FILs house, then boxing day will be split between MIL and my mum.

I meant new pjs for D for Xmas. I've got more than enough they all have a drawer just for them and I can't close it properly!

woodlands I love having a tree so wouldn't want to go without, we found a fireguard in the garage when we moved in, half of which is currently around the xbox/amp but the other half will go round the tree to hopefully stop S from getting it.

mlic I don't 'do' Santa, I have decorations with him on it and stuff because I really like the character, but there's no Santa brings presents thing. My dad used to dress up as Santa when we were young and we obviously knew it was him which made it silly but fun. I don't like lists either as a matter of principle, I've got friends who think they have to buy everything on their child's list and they panic when they ask for a tv/ds/pony etc.

dh my neighbour has bought her, her dh and her two boys 6 and 9 months matching winter onesies She said they're going to chill out all day in their pj's, I'm going to be so tempted to knock on the door and see if her dh will answer!

Hi girlies

I'm still reading but usually have a baby on me and finding it hard typing one handed.

All Christmassy on the thread, hey. I lurrve Xmas and get very excited about it. We've been to a few Xmas markets, just the 4 of us which has been so lovely. M loves the lights and music and twirls around so everybody is adoring her. So cute. She doesn't want to go on the merry go round but she loves to watch it. I've been enjoying a few mulled wines as well. Was pregnant the last two Christmasses so missed out maffissely

We're gonna put the tree up next week. Can't wait for M's face. And F's really, he is very alert already.

Things are OK here. We've got a few colicy problems with F, poor mite. My midwife has just suggested a few more hippie remedies to try. Hopefully something will help him.

M is still in love with him, strokes him all the time, wants to give him his dummy and gets very cross with us if we don't respond to every grizzle immediately

She's still having sleeping problems but I think they are more development related than F related.

Overall we're doing much better than I thought. I have to say though that DP is still with us most of the time (self employed working from home) and we've got lots and lots of help, so I've been ever so lucky to be able to rest as much as possible.

chulita Bloody typical that he's in a good mood on the day of MMR. I would postpone it if I was you and enjoy his good mood while it lasts.

right, f is back on me again so gotta go

Ah, I'm not too worried about the whole santa presents thing mlic. I'm not bothered when they realise he's not real as I'm not going to make too much of a thing of out it anyway. My father is really against the idea - like you, he thinks it's wrong to lie to them about it so he'll probably educate them asap anyway! I just see santa as a makebelieve fun character like Thomas, woody etc - they do exist even tho they're not living breathing things iyswim? They'll work it out to suit them when they're ready.

All sounds lovely there trudy. Could he have reflux? Ridiculously common and yet belately/under diagnosed. Both of mine had it and A was like a different person once I'd 'fixed' the issues. F had colic too and I'm a firm believer that nothing can treat that - some just have it but will outgrow if seconds before you lose your mind (about 12 weeks iirc)

Sounds like everything is great there Trudy, very pleased for you. We told you the anticipation was worse than the reality didn't we

It's sooo nice to meet like-minded people about santa! If I ever tell anyone in rl I get the whole 'But you have to do it for the kids...' shit.

I just hate lies. And as much as it probably seems silly to most, I even hate this type of lie. Hey ho I'll go along with it for hubby's sake

Hello all,
Big boss visit is over with and she was pleased with what she saw, it seems she was checking out how we had done with me being part time and she said she was happy to continue with the current arrangements when I come back, so I'm really pleased. It's my last day tomorrow so defo going out on a high!
our Xmas tradition was to go to my mom and dad's, couldn't do that last year due to d being really poorly and clearly won't be doing it this year so it's time to be all grown up and carve a day out for ourselves now, which is a lovely thing really and will probably go something like wss said, save some presents till after lunch watch queens speach/bond/ shitty xmas film, but who knows i may have to push a baby out yet! I bet he will spoil my dinner! !
Regarding father christmas, i think i am in your camp mylife and cake i dont want to ruin the make believe aspect for him, ie, putting a drink out for fc and a carrot for rudolph, but he can know that its just pretend and it can be just as much fun imo!
Better get on with clearing my desk, oh the joy of leaving it all behind!

Aw trudy I want little baby cuddles again. Sounds like you're doing well then, hope his colic isn't too bad for you.

chulita I def think you should knock on their door! That would be hilarious to see a fully grown man in a onesie! I won't be going as far as buying those for dh and I. He would certainly refuse to wear it!

mlic and cake I got told by my brother ar 4 that FC wasnt real but mum told me if we didnt believe we didnt get anything, my half sister is 11 and at high schoo l and genuinely still believes which I think is bad! I dont mind FC when he is little but it baffles me when my friend spends £40 on her kids but my half sister got a £400 laptop and santa bought both why does one get more? so this is why I asked so from next year small stocking from the fat guy
chulita hope jabs went ok.
woodlands, no tree? we only usually only have a tree but im going for it this year with bunting and 2 trees!
mlic my friend made card bunting with her boys and she cut them out and they glittered and handprinted in christmas colours, may be brave and try it myself!
going shopping in an hour! excited! (to buy my present, dont trust dh tp get the right one!)

Im exhausted! Spent 2 hours Xmas shopping and I only went to asda and a shop called the range which is basically like dunelm mill but more variety. I've got dh some pjs and the blue planet box set but still need to get him something else. Dylan got a couple more books and new sleepsuits.

I've just got 1 more present to get and that needs to be before next thurs as that's when I'm seeing my friend whose ds it's for.

oh no! so sorry to hear that tsc. hope he picks up quickly and you're not in too long.

Bloody hell tsc, poor fong :(

Oh no tsc that must be awful for you and F. Hope he gets better vv soon.

Thinking of you tsc and Fongles, really hoping for both your sake it's not pneumonia.

hope he's OK tsc

thinking of you tsc. hope he's better soon. poor f, poor you.

tsc hope everything's looking up in your neck of the woods.

kkfariy I take it you're getting lots of work by the way you're never on

trudy lovely that your worries have turned out not to be true and that your little family of four is settling all in together.

I got woken up around 3am by the neighbour's 2 day old, I just lay there thinking "great, this'll be us in 3 months" eek! I can't get my head around how we're going to deal with newborn sleep deprivation on top of getting L to nursery for 8.30

Our house is let, hooray! subject to credit checks but they passed them for a house up the road so I can't see any problems. That's a weight off my mind for sure.

That's good chul things are looking up! I'm sure you'll settle into a routine when the baby comes, it'll work itself out.

We're having a slob day today, the weather is rubbish and in so so tired even though D slept from half 11 til half 6. Dh is going to be late tonight, his work had organised a trip to the dog racing. Might go round my mums later depending on how bored I get.

tsc How is it going? Thinking of you!

chulita I second what dh says, by the time the new baby comes, you'll have a routine in place and will find it easier than you think. You are dealing with so many things so amazingly well, I'm sure you'll be great at that too. I'm so pleased that you managed to let the house. Fantastic news for Xmas. Did S get the jabs in the end? How did he take it?

cake I have been wondering whether it could be reflux but the midwife said it isn't. Might check with the doctor again when I next take him next week. not that they would do anything about it as they are also hippies and don't believe in medicine other than homoeopathie I used to be really for all the natural remedies and against medicine but since having children I just hate to see them suffer in the name of "their body knows best". Clearly F's body doesn't know best cos he is in agony most of the time Oh well, I'll see what she says. How did you "fix" the issue with your two?

mlic What did W say to the tree? Does he realise it's something special, yet?

I love reading all your Christmas traditions. We don't really have any yet since we've always been travelling visiting various families everywhere. This year will be the first year we'll all be at home, so time to start traditions. I'm very excited that it will be the four of us here. Makes me feel all grown up and warm inside

viks How is it going? Are you enjoying maternity leave? I'm getting all excited on your behalf and am wondering when your little boy will be here. Will it be on Xmas day? (said in Jim Royle voice). Please remember that the first thing to do after the birth is to let us all know

woodlands I wouldn't want to go without a tree either. We've had to cat proof the tree for several years now, so baby proofing it won't be much different.

wss Does it still feel weird to have Xmas when it's summer or is it completely normal now?

Notice a theme here? I'm obsessed with advent and Christmas and want to talk about little else.

I'll leave you all in peace now. Ho ho ho.