Firstly, happy birthday to all the lovely 3 year olds who?s birthdays I?ve missed ? Ben, Phoebe, Dylan, Jordi, Edwin, Lucy, Matilda, Sebastian, Lachlan, Thomas and Nina for today, plus this week?s batch of birthdays for Lily, Jacob, Daisy and my own darling Eloise. And then it?s Christmas, and our special Christmas day birthdays. So lovely 
. And I think I?ve missed quite a few Mummies birthdays too, I hope you?ve all had lovely days?
And secondly thank you so much to my secret santa, my gift arrived yesterday and it is the first pressie to be sitting under our tree 
. I am saving it for Christmas day, as I love a surprise
My fabby parents have taken E off my hands this weekend, as I?m struggling with the silly spd and looking after her at the same time, especially with DH working so hard at the moment (6am til midnight most days ? but at least it?ll all be over this time next week). I?m being quite a crappy Mum, as all I do is sit and read stories, watch cbeebies or ask her to pick stuff up from the floor because I can?t reach, and when I am up it?s to make tea/do a load of washing/other boring stuff. As a result E is hugely bored and fed up with me and playing up, and I am being a horror in return ? temper tantrums being thrown all round. Anyway, a couple of days peace, quiet and rest are (I hope) just when I need to become nice Mummy again, at least until Christmas. I?ve had a lovely lie in this morning (woke with DHs alarm at 530 and didn?t get back to sleep, but still blissful just to lie and read. And then I had a bath (complete with my Christmas bubble bath and pink frilly bath hat from my best friend), a steady walk to get the Sunday papers and now here I am to do an epic catch up. I will bore you all senseless, but it?s for the good of my health ? the temptation to rush around doing a million jobs whilst DD is away is strong, but I am fighting it by spending hours on MN 
Congrats on the arrival of BILs new baby Vaj, have you managed to visit and get a scrummy cuddle? It sounds like you?re having an amazing holiday
Hey Verso, lovely to hear your latest
Indith I?m sorry that your Gran passed away last month too. But in a funny way, I?m liking the idea that my Gran, yours and Deids' Nan are all together now, making new friends and having competitions about who?s the oldest (or was it just my Gran who was obsessed with that?! )
Beans, DD is also still in 18-24 mths clothes mostly. I need to get her a school uniform for January, and I have no idea where I will find anything that doesn?t drown her, as I?m sure they won?t do them in her size! Is it this weekend, that you and your Mum and sisters are having your spa break? I hope you are having a lovely time, if it is. My fingers are crossed for your Dad?s scan results tomorrow. Much love to you x
How is feeding going Jolly? I stopped pretty soon after DDs teeth appeared as I didn?t like it, so I am impressed that you are continuing, especially with the biting! I do hope you settle on something that suits you both, be it happy BFing for longer or J growing up and choosing to self wean
Did you get the house shipshape ready for your family?s visit this weekend LadyT? I hope you have a lovely time with them all
Effie, like Summer, I also thought of Hugh FW?s Meat book, no mention of his personal life in there, but lots on his views on meat eating, animal husbandry etc ? so if he?s not yours/DHs cup of tea then maybe not one to get
WG thanks for the tip off about your DHs show. As I was trawling through the Sunday papers earlier (oh, the joy, I love to get the chance to get a load of them and compare their takes on the same dull, stories) I saw in the Mail?s Christmas TV guide that his show has not only got pick of the day for Monday, but also was the feature show on the one page guide to essential viewing next week. I nearly jumped up in excitement for you, until I remember I?m not supposed to jump on my Day Of Rest
Hurrah for completion of your work project Arti (although I see on fb you?ve been called in today 
)
And another hurrah for Invis? sisters pregnancy ? babies agogo in your family next year . And on baby talk, I am really hoping that this isn?t our last, although DH has declared he is not putting up with me through another pregnancy. I just keep telling him ?never say never? 
Sorry, I watched Strictly an hour late last night Sybs, so missed the chance to vote for Jason for you, as he?d gone by the time I caught up. I was gutted as I LOVED his showdance, and I really wanted Kristina to be the winning pro as I thought her choreography has been A. Maz. Ing. My second fave was Chelsee ? see what happens when I get behind someone, I ruin it for them ? but she wasn?t at her best last night, I think the occasion got the better of her. I am such a saddo superfan, I always feel a little down in the dumps the day after the Strictly final, because that means no more dancing or sequins for another year 
I?ve had a busy old week this week. The MW referred me for a scan, as she felt I was measuring small (4 weeks too small, despite being the right size only 3 weeks ago ) and couldn?t tell whether it was small baby or not much fluid (again , every other MW I?ve seen can feel the baby and locate its head, back etc by feel, and she can?t even tell what is baby and what is me??). Anyway, fortunately, after a few dull hours in hospital, the scan showed that baby is bang on size for its due date and there is plenty of fluid. Phew. However I am really quite with her for worrying me, I appreciate that it?s better to be safe than sorry, but 3 times she referred me last pregnancy for being small, even though no one else could find any evidence of it, and I know of at least 3 other mum?s who?ve been referred by her too. I just don?t have any confidence in her abilities. Another thing, the Dr rang me after my last lot of blood tests and prescribed iron, so I asked her if she could check what my actual iron levels were and how much they?d gone down since the last tests ? she couldn?t find the results and I had to point out them out in my notes for her. Does anyone know if I can ask not to see her again? There are only 3 community MWs, who cover all shifts between them, so I don?t see the same one each time. But could I ring up the day before my next appt to ask who is doing the clinic, and if it is her, change the appointment for another day that week?
On a lighter note, DD had her practise afternoon at pre school and LOVED it. She is so excited that she has a big girls uniform and will take a lunch box one day a week and put it with all the other children?s lunch boxes (the teacher showed her the special shelf) and that it will have tuna sandwiches, raisins and yogurt in (she has chosen already). Every time anyone asks if she is looking forward to her birthday/Christmas, she just replies ?I?m going to school with my lunch box and tuna sandwiches when I?m a big girl?. Bless her
A quick question about hospital bags ? we?re going away with friends over New Year, when I?ll be about 33 weeks. Hopefully (incompetent MWs excepting) there is no reason why the babe will arrive early, but I?d like to have a small bag prepared, just in case. I?m guessing if I need to go into hospital at that stage, there?s no point taking any baby stuff, as it will all be too big. Those of you who had early babies, is this right? Shall I just grab an old nightie, pads for everything and my notes? Would that do for now? Fortunately, my friends all have children, so I?d have no worries about sending them to Boots with a shopping list if the need arrives
And one final question I?ve been meaning to ask for ages ? DD isn?t really a meat eater, but does love beans and pulses (and fish too), and would be vegetarian in the blink of an eye if she knew what one was. However DH may inflict pain on me, if I was ever to serve up a dish without meat ? so I?m currently on a repertoire of things like sausage and lentil casserole and chilli (mild for DD) with lots of kidney beans. I do enjoy beans myself, but Mum really dislikes them, so never cooked them when I was a child and I don?t really know where to start on including them in recipes. Does anyone have some good suggestions for dishes that I could try?
Right, that really is all from me, off to do my next restful activity. Ta ra everyone