FEB 2010 Terrors sometimes, angels at others - yep, they're properly two now...

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

New thread!!

bg and breath. He'll realise at the end of the month that there was a reason and that things will improve

Thanks SB, letting off steam here has already calmed me down

dd2 has suddenly realised that she can undress herself without help and appeared on the landing earlier stark naked (in fairness I had told the girls to please put their pyjamas on, then got distracted when I had meant to help dd2) and singing look at me I am naked.... . Hope she won't copy your ds though SB

dd2 just came to me saying 'My arm is too big for my hand'... Hm? I think she's trying to reach something or reach into a gap.

SB yay on TTC!

BG your DD2 makes me . Hope your DH gets to grips with your finances or simply bows to the highre authority on such matters (you).

survival well done on the mammoth effort on so little sleep. Have the nights improved?

CP how are you doing?

mous glad your DH is OK. Hope your DD1 gets better soon and that the nursery gets used to your DD2!

IC good news on exchanging soon and starting the house move. Very exciting.

bear don't worry about what people think about when your DS should reach certain milestones. When my DD1 was toilet training (of her own volition), one of my antenatal friends got a bit spooked that her DS might get left behind, so decided to go for it even though he (to my eyes) simply wasn't ready. She had a terrible year or so with him, and he still has issues with it. In stark comparison, another one of our group has a very bright DS who simply wasn't bothered and she patiently waited until he wanted to do it and it was a breeze. Yes, he was in nappies for more than a year longer than some of his counterparts, but she didn't have lots of laundry and tears. Remember, it will all naturally happen in time.

Also bear how is the haircut? And glad your dad is well enough to visit, how lovely!

Things here are good. DH really does seem to have sorted out his attitude and is much more engaged with the girls and me than he was. But the major shift is that he isn't flying off the handle anymore, and is actually paying some heed to my feelings and thoughts, rather than getting defensive then angry and it leading to a row.

After a terrible start to the week on Monday morning (both DDs wailing about breakfast and getting dressed for no apparent reason), things have definitely improved :)

Two year olds are not known for being subtle... Dd2 just told her friend off for sucking her thumb: 'You are not a baby anymore!'

BBB glad things are looking a bit better on the home front . My dh is going through a bit of a culture shock at the moment that he is suddenly expected to help (minimally!) to get the girls ready and do the nursery drop off and some pick ups. He's coping fine and not complaining but he did say that he had no idea how expensive nursery is... (Relatively speaking ours is good value at 38 pounds a day)

IC For your sake I am please it's not too hot although I thought of you the other week when it got quite humid. Can't believe it's only a few weeks to go!! I am positive we'll have a beautiful September and October so you can have lots of time sat in the garden cuddling and spend plenty of time outside . And having met your dd I think she will be a wonderful big sister!

survival hat off to you for all the work you do! Hope you get a chance to relax a bit over the holidays before it all starts again next term

mous has your dd1 finished school for the summer? I had to smile at the thought of your gorgeous dd2 in a rigid French school . I am sure she'll win them round with her smile!

SB Have fun trying for another dc

CP Are you okay? So sorry you aren't feeling too good. Did your dh apply for that London post after all? Forgot to reply at the time but did wonder about the logistics of his commute and whether you'd have even more on your hands with two LOs and him going early and coming home late... Also, do you think you find it harder than you thought to be a SAHM? Could you maybe do some tutoring at uni or keep your eyes open for part time opportunities, consultancy work? I found it invaluable to sit on a research ethics committee the last three years to keep my brain ticking over . I think you have done an incredible job to look after two dc who are so close together and are not the best sleepers. Maybe it's time to look after yourself a bit more again and accept all the help you can get

Oh dear, dd2 has read this thread again and now likes to take her nappy off.. She just appeared naked from the waist down looking a bit unsure of herself

BG can I welcome your DD2 to my nappy world? DS went to bed with a back to front nappy yesterday and got up this morning with a front to front (iyswim) nappy Good that I normally know what I'm doing because he could really make me wonder sometimes

CP you're okay?

IC fx you can move in soon and get settle before the arrival of JF

bc great news about your dad visiting

BBB glad to hear your DH is reacting. Fx it lasts

i'm fine thanks, am on logical mode as the ILs are here (but staying in a hotel) until saturday. arrived at 10am this morning. just trying to make the most of it and controlling the situation so certain things don't happen.

Although they still managed to sneak a beef roll into her. we had a discussion about what DD would need to eat after her nap as I was popping out and leaving them to it this afternoon. i explained nothing usually but maybe a piece of fruit, at which she went into detail at all the fruit she had. They got in and MIL announced that DD probably wouldn't be hungry for dinner (i had said to bring them back at X time as i would be serving dinner) and DD had had grapes, banana, a satsuma, beef roll, more grapes and some jelly beans Will explicitly ask for her not to have much tomorrow and also made some reference to it today.

Me and DH are looking into nurseries. We are going to look at one that doesn't have a waiting list to put DCs into initially for 2 afternoon's a week and then down to 1 afternoon a week. we have a bit of savings so it can come from there. Also told my mum and she will visit on her day off next week and in a few weeks my sister is coming to stay for a few nights. At the end of the month we have a three day visit to Notts planned anyway. HV hasn't been back in touch so will ring her tomorrow.

Oh, and it looks like dd2 has now picked up her own imaginary friend called Peaky. dd1 has had several since she was about 18 mths old (or before?) and was getting a little cross because dd2 tried to borrow one . I think it is official, I have strange children!

CP x post. Glad you are planning a little time off for yourself , not so pleased about your MIL

DH has applied for the job, but even if successful we're not sure about taking it

i think sahm has been alright but I have struggled with not knowing what I was doing, so whether to apply for jobs and which ones, the fact DH isnt going back to being a SAHD (he is happy to quit work if we move for a job for me, but would look for work once moved), moving quite pg into a city where i knew no-one and finding having the toddler as well makes it hard to make friends (i am invited to coffee quite a bit but practically not the best thing for us) and of course, ds not going more than 2-3hrs and being tricky to get to sleep and easily unsettled

and your right, the not having a regular exercise thing sorted yet.

thanks bg i am trying to stay detached from them all so it hasn't bothered me that much yet

oh and DS still doesn't take a bottle, going to give that another go at the weekend so

CP you're incredible to have gone through all that and still be upbeat (until now)! I was impressed when you finished a PhD, had a baby, and moved halfway across the world for a postdoc job all in the space of a few months... You managed then, you can do it again!

CP try to ignore ILs and as BG said in her comment above. Have some

Aw BG that's a lovely thing to say about DD (being a good big sister)..! She's pretty enthusiastic about the idea at the moment, let's hope she's as enamoured with her little brother out of the womb as in utero!!
Your DD2 is a scream.
What is it about this clothing removal thing? DD has started doing it too at random moments. Thankfully (apart from the time mentioned above) the nappy usually stays on.

BBB wow, I'm impressed at the continuing improvement in your DH's attitude - here's hoping it's a proper new leaf and not a false dawn.

CP I'm not surprised you're finding it tough to stay cheerful at times, given what you say. And the broken sleep can't be helping, either. And yes, you're an amazingly bright and active woman who could do with more outlets at the moment. The nursery idea sounds good.
Your MIL is so incredibly insensitive I'm not surprised she drives you mad. Bloody woman.

SB blimey, your DS is a bit of a Houdini, especially when it comes to escaping his nappies...!!

Yesterday I heard the sickening sound of DD tumbling down the stairs - we've become more relaxed about leaving the stairgate open, so it was inevitable sooner or later that she would fall...

DD yelled her head off, but was more frightened than hurt - just a small graze to her head, nothing remotely serious. Interestingly, she wanted to "get back inside Mummy's tummy" directly after, achieved by letting her crawl under my (thankfully capacious) maternity wear. It certainly calmed her down, as did the notion that her little baby brother "kissed her better".

This afternoon she's been a bit hot and clingy with that slightly hollow-eyed expression which suggests she's either fighting off something or coming down with something. I'm hoping it's the former. We gave her a precautionary dose of paracetamol before she went into her cot, FX she'll sleep off whatever it is.

Should be

sorry ic but that made me chuckly, bless her. as you say, was going to happen at some point. Are you OK now though?

thanks you all guys, although writing it down it doesn't sound like much to be going through. It's hard having two so i guess it doesn't take much to tip you over. right around the point i wanted to ask for help was when everyone i would have asked were busy (holidays) or going through stuff themselves.

DD had a fever tonight, not sure if it related to the fact she was out in the heat without a hat (mil couldn't find it) or suncream (MIL saw it and decided not to bother) or if she is just coming down with something.

Heat? You have heat CP?

IC I also laughed while having tears in my eyes about your dd trying to climb back in for comfort and her baby brother kissing her better! Awwwwww...
dd2 is still a little alarmed by the thought of having been in my tummy but she gives me the benefit of the doubt...

CP two small children's demands + sleep deprivation = ARGGH!
I'm not looking forward to that aspect being a mum-of-two either. I think that plus the other things you mention are more than enough to get someone on a downer.
Bless you for asking after me post-tumble! I had a little "what if" reaction cry shortly afterwards, then tapped it out before I went to bed, so I feel okay about it now. A little wake-up call regarding complacency, anyway - I probably needed that.
Oh dear that your DD is also feverish. I hope whatever it is passes quickly (nice one MIL, not paying attention to the sun... )

IC glad your dd was fine after her fall and at the kiss it better

CP can she be allergic to her GP? more seriously good luck

Time to go to bed and discover in the morning whatDS has done with his nappy

BG heh, yes even in the midst of my guilty concern, I had to smile about that too...!