April 2011 - Babies turning one, shopping to be done, toddling, tantrums and talking to come

[Fraktal]

New stage, new thread!

whatever takes your fancy

I'm so excited about Christmas this year! F's nearly big enough to understand and we're going to start some new family traditions!

So far, we've bought him new waterproofs (dull, but essential here!) and I've got some board book versions of classics on my amazon wishlist (Alice In Wonderland, Romeo & Juliet, etc), and some small foo fighters/nirvana/metallica t-shirts! I'm not planning on actually buying them all though!

Maybe I should look at actual toys...

I've just bought the complete Mr Men books box set (£30!). I've also got loads of stuff on M's amazon wishlist - Bagpuss, Ivor and Clangers DVD, Thomas the Tank Engine books and DVDs, Button Moon - of course none of this is so I can watch and read it ;)

We finally had the first viewing on our house today! They seemed to like it. I want them to make us an offer as we saw a great house yesterday which we think will go quickly...

Fingers crossed chilli

Oooooo mr men library. Perfect. S loves books, ESP ones in box sets

Box sets of books are fab.

We found that DS1 loved train set from this age, and T has taken a real liking to the MegaBlocs and Duplo recently.

Gsy - how did DS's first day go?

JKS the two things I loved were Park Guell (though it's slightly out of the city) and the Sagrada Familia is incredible. Also Gaudi's house is impressive. Just walking along the main street, Las Ramblas, is lovely. Finding tapas bars - not difficult. The bars at the Port are fun and lively, though quite touristy. La Barceloneta beach is good and that area has a few bars and tapas places that feel more authentic.

Kitty is it less than a week? So excited for you. I can't really add anything on c-section recovery. Though agree that decent and regular painkillers is the way to go. And LOADS of fruit!

Ecuse, did you do another test? I also had that fluttering sensation recently, I was half asleep and woke right up with an 'oh my god' moment. Then realised that even if I was pregnant it would be a matter of days so unlikely, then thought it was implantation. Thankfully since then the red fairy has arrived. Phew.

UWB hope all is calm at your house again. My FIL also does my head in. He also drives my DH insane and they just wind each other up. And he always turns up about 40 minutes early, having insisted on arriving at 11am for lunch.

Hope all those starting school are doing ok.

I have a DAY TO MYSELF today (hence massive post, sorry). DH has gone to Russia and I had some holiday to use up so I've sent C to nursery, mean mummy, and I am going shopping!

Time for more tea.

Last midwife update before the big day; kitten is breech, so it's his head I can feel at the top of my bump. Mw not bothered as its a c sec delivery, and he could turn again anyway. And she says he's going to be over 8 1b!! And I'm measuring 40 weeks at 38+1 but that's cos of where he's head is.

Last midwife update before the big day; kitten is breech, so it's his head I can feel at the top of my bump. Mw not bothered as its a c sec delivery, and he could turn again anyway. And she says he's going to be over 8 1b!! And I'm measuring 40 weeks at 38+1 but that's cos of where he's head is.

Back from dropping DS1 at school

Bless him he looked so cute in his uniform, and he was so keen and excited to go - hope he is as enthusiastic tomorrow!

Jo have a lovely day!

kitty - my tips for recovery are - eat plenty of good food, really rest for the first 3-4 days but then potter around gently when you feel ready, keep the pain away (much harder to make it go again once it has set in) with regular painkillers. If you feel like you have overdone it, rest.
I stayed in my house for 10 days, and wore comfy clothes - yoga pants, pyjamas etc. It reminds people you have just had a baby and surgery and they don't start expecting you to do things like make them tea or lunch.

I have lots of these faces for Jo too Hope you had a lovel day.

How did school go Ali?

JKS - I have never been there, but if I did I would go to sagrada familia as it looks amazing.

Ds3 is getting the Happylands pirate ship from my M&D for Xmas. I can recommend the Happylands rocket and I don't know any children who don't like the Little Tikes Cozy Coupee.

B keeps tipping is cozy coupe! But that's because he uses it dukes if hazard style!

I got ours for £30 off amazon, but I'm not sure if the offer is still on.

In other news, I have my interview tomorrow! The post is full time, but I'm hoping there is some wiggle room.

Thanks ali

Good luck fizz

DS enjoyed school. No probs settling in, although I did have a lump in my throat.

I asked him what he did on his first day and I quote.

"First me choosed things, then we played, did singing, had toilet time where I did a wee and a poo and I wiped my bottom all by myself ( sorry if TMI), had snacktime and playtime, Miss Gibson read a story and then it was time to go home and that is now".

I also asked him if he'd made any friends and he said no

I asked him about his day today:
"some things were the same, but some things were different"

Did you play with anyone at playtime?
"Yes, I played 2 games, Superheroes and Spiderman with my 2 new girlfriends, Beth from another class and a girl from my class but I don't know her name".

Seems he's popular with the ladies already

Ali Hope your DS enjoyed himself too.

Kitty Wow, not long now [excited smiley]

Awh too cute gsy

Gsy that is too cute. DS1 is generally pretty unforthcoming about what he has been up to. Today they read a story and he painted a picture of his face. When I picked him up just before lunch, he stopped in the door of the classroom and whispered 'I love school' to himself

We have a Cozy Coupe here, it is a hit. Fizz T is also keen on a Dukes of Hazard entry, often when DS1 is already sitting in it which results in a lot of yelling
The only toys I wouldn't recommend until they are a lot older are the Peppa Pig things. They are fiddly, and break incredibly easily. Even DS1 is too heavy handed for some of them at 4.
Happyland is brilliant and survives being chewed.

We have a very awake baby for this time of night! He is currently flinging himself on DHs stomach and thinks its hilarious!

Interview went well today. I laid the ghost of night mare interview to rest I think! However, the main interviewer, asked me firstly how old B was, then wanted to know how I was likely to manage an increase in working hours, the professional qualification the deem a must have for this role and a young family. I was a bit at that, but pointedly said I did have a husband who has an equally if not more demanding job, who is studying for a qualification far superior to what they want me to do and has a young family. Wtf? That's not an ok question to ask someone is it? Especially as the other 3 interviewing are childless and single. He knows I would like to be on reduced hours, not the 9-5 mon-fri, but I'm willing to go to 4 full days. He also asked how flexible I would be in a drop everything situation. Again, not his problem, I'm the one putting myself upo for this, did he think I've not thought about all that! I was bracing myself for the "are you planning more children" question, thankfully he didn't go there.

Anyway, should hear by the end of the week! I'm not holding my breath!

Fizz I think that is actually illegal, because you are effectively being discriminated against. How shit.
Will you raise it with HR if you don't get the job?

I might. Dh is interviewing for a post tomorrow so he is going to ask his HR bod see what she thinks. It's one of those jobs that is 90%someone else's before it was even advertised iykwim! So I might not rock the boat.

That's terrible fizz

What a horrible situation Fizz. I've gone for internal placements before and during the interview I've already felt like it's gone to someone else. It's tough being a woman at work, and no mistaking.

Another lot of children here who prefer the Dukes of Hazard entry into the Cozy Coupee ds2 doesn't manage to tip it but he dies manage to wedge himself under the steering wheel

Am glad your boys are enjoying school Gsy and Ali. It's going to be me next year

I finally have to give in and get ds3 some closed toe shoes. His little toes have been looking a bit blue during the morning school run

Thanks for the Barcelona tips, esp Jo. I must get on with booking it as MIL has given the go ahead.
Worrying she may only do this once (esp if we go on to have DC4!) so best make the most of it.

Fizz - that isn't ideal, when do you expect to hear?

Well done to school starters. M will start pre-sch this time next year and then i hope to have DC4 after that at some point. Though there are days when I kind of wish 3 was enough!

Been to DS2's SN school this morning to fill in paperwork for free nappies, he's been entitled to them since Jan (when he turned 4) but I've been so disorganised.

Also disorganised is M's MMR, I still haven't got round to it Must try and book it asap. Guessing everyone else has done theirs by now?

Hello everyone!

I have no idea how much I've missed so this will be mostly a Mememe post.

kitty omigosh! So exciting. I've missed so much! You're practically there!

Awww to the school lovers.

JKS Barcelona. We've not done MMR either. I'm procrastinating.

So we've moved, we have half our stuff but not the useful half really. House is a tip, I really need to sell some stuff, or just get rid of things I've carted around which really aren't that important or useful. Shipping container is still pootling round Africa 3 months later. M has started at 2 different creches and flipping loves them. He's talking loads and in both languages with some really funny hybrids - finished and fini have been merged to fishie. I don't really have a job yet, but am putting up private tuition ads. Had my pointless interview with the job centre this morning and just need to send off my dossier to get my unemployment benefit. In theory. I'll have a new job before that happens

So how has everyone been?! What did I miss? Any more bumps?

Good to see you Frak! Where in the world are you now?

Not much happening here. Just the usual!

Still not heard my fate yet re the new job. Lots of speculation at work over who's job it is. I get the feeling me applying for it has broken the unwritten rule that you don't go for someone else's job! However, the post is a brand new one, so I don't see how it can be anyone elses. Urgh, I hate office politics.

Re the childcare question, DHs hr colleague thinks the question was on the cusp of being inappropriate, but she said she thought it would be a question he would only ask if they were seriously considering me, otherwise why risk it? I think though, my possible future boss, is a talk now think later kinda guy. We'll see!

Hey frak great to hear from you. I think there is one more bump? Count scout I think...? I go in Monday.

Fingers crossed fizz

mMonday! wowzers! goodluck kitty!

Hello Frakk, lovely to see you. Glad to hear the move went kinda smoothly for you.

Hold your nerve Fizz, the waiting (and office politics) are horrible.

Good luck Kitty, I will be thinking of you on Monday (might not get on here over the weekend) . A new snuggly baby, awwwwwwwwwwwwww.

No MMR here (or any vac's) here yet.