December 2011- <Haddocks> are in the deep freeze as we won't be needing them, no, siree! Grab a <cuppa>.......

[Aethelfleda]

Shiny new thread: we forgot to discuss the title this time!

I am reeling from the poo story - tis just a matter of time before we have an event like that I'm sure...

We just got back from a long weekend in Cornwall with my MIL. Bought DS his first pair of wellies and he loved splashing in the surf, until he tripped himself up and got a mouthful of sand - oops!!

It's half term here so the nanny is off and DH is SAHD for the next three days to keep his hand in.

Gee Great news that your still getting a full nights sleep.

Xiao Did you have a good time In Cornwall?

Joints aren't too bad today. Still hurt tho

gee glad she's still sleeping well, are you feeling better yet?

Can we talk Christmas presents for LO's again? Who said they were thinking about getting a soft doll, and do you have a link please? I've bought a shape sorting activity thing from ELC, other than that I'm stuck. And I need stocking fillers for DD too, I don't even know where to start with what to put in her stocking!

DS has an appointment as Addenbrookes tomorrow, need to get up at 5, to leave by 6.30 to be there for a 9am appointment, still better than heading down to London for GOS though so I shouldn't moan really.

gee have you made them a den yet? DS loves having a den made out of sheets, might even do that here this afternoon!

That was me Seven... linky below :)

www.amazon.co.uk/Manhattan-Toy-122020-Stella-Blonde/dp/B001DZMITW/ref=pd_cp_k_h_b_cs_2

DSM I'm sorry you're in pain and hope painkillers help a bit? We had a lovely time in Cornwall. Lots of nana time for DS and relaxing for us! On Saturday morning my MIL knocked on the door when she heard DS babbling in his cot, took him downstairs and let us have a lie-in while she entertained him

The weather was spectacular as well, I love going to the beach when it's cold and bright with beautiful autumn light and long shadows, and then back to a wood fire, cups of tea and saffron buns dripping with butter, game casserole for dinner, a beef and stilton pasty in town diet starts today

I want get a soft doll for DS - he LOVES playing with DH's old Tintin doll but DH gets so twitchy about poor old Tintin's hands getting chewed. Have yet to find a good one that's not incredibly expensive though. Maybe the Stripy Benjy or Stripy Toddler Doll from here.

Oh and we went to a farming supply warehouse (full of real Cornish farmers!) and got new jackets - I got this one (for a lot cheaper than it's listed on that website) and it's perfect! I love it - not too warm in itself so I can wear layers and a scarf without overheating.

seven we have a homemade peppa pig house! DS's new car seat arrived last week in a huge box, so I made a roof for it, cut out windows and stuck huge peppa pig pictures on the side. DS does love it but his favourite thing to do is to roll around inside so that it tips over. I don't think it will last very long!

Its lovely because DS is now really enjoying playing with DD and brings her toys, makes her laugh, does crawling races with etc and DD absolutely worships him. He just has to walk into the room and her face lights up and she doesn't take her eyes off him. But he's also started trying to pick her up and giving her rough cuddles and making her fall over and accidently kicking her (which can be pretty bad as he wears hard plastic splints on his legs). So I feel like I can't leave them alone for a second at the moment, which is a bit of a pain.

Really hate this dull weather!

Can't remember who was asking about Christmas/birthday presents, but DD isn't getting very much this year. I have got both DCs name plates for their bedroom doors, DD is also getting a doll, some books (especially touchy feely ones that she loves) and I've got her some silly little toys for her stocking. Will probably bulk it out with clothes and maybe wrap up a few of DS's old toys that are being rotated in the loft! I feel a bit mean but she already has so much stuff handed down from DS she really doesn't need anything much.

gee that's partly the trouble I'm having re Christmas presents, she has all of his old toys. When DS turned 1 we bought things like shape sorters etc, she plays with them already, how many shape sorters does a baby need?! Good idea about name plates though, DS has one so I might order one for DDs stocking. ELC do happyland people, I might put some of those in too, they're from 18 months but they're big enough not to be chokable, and I'm sure she'll love slobbering them!

Yes DS has some happyland people and DD likes sucking on them! She also carried them around in her mouth like a cat with kittens

Octoboy loves the happyland posse. Especially the queen:o

The fog is amazingly Dickensian (appropriately for where we are!) round here, you can see how it informed his writing. You do expect a snaggle-toothed villain in a black cape to dash round the corner, concealing a dagger about their person.

Poor little DS- he never sleeps past six, and he was so tired last night that (albeit he was re-dummied at 5.15am) he was still sleeping at 8am, so we were forced to wake him ! We had to get him ready in 15 minutes, which involved contortions as DP dressed him as I bf'ed him, and then gave him to nursery and asked them to give him breakfast.

Box toys are the best aren't they Gee? We have one from DP's beer delivery (sounds worse than it is, promise) which we use to stop DS getting at the vision box and let him play with. Every child should have a cardboard box playhouse at some point

Our lovely, lovely plumber is popping round tomorrow to see if he can sort the dishwasher, will be sooooo delighted if he can!

Have for the new country coat xiao. Very lovely indeed.
I'm really not worrying about BOi's Xmas presents. He won 't have a clue. He'll love the decorations, the tree and twinkly lights. I'll put him a stocking together of bits to unwrap. He'll love the fuss from family and the mountains of discarded wrapping paper - what more could a BOi want?
I'm going to fancy London tomorrow to dine at the Ivy. I planned time to shop too, but I shouldn't spend anymore money. I may just work in the hotel. I have soooo much to do at the minute.

northern, it's long gone now as it was from DD2's car seat, but Here is our old box-wendy-house...have just had DS's car seat delivered in a similar box so may need to get a-sticking....

Oops, DS is wailing. Better go...

Wow aethel you have put my peppa pig house to shame! Although the balloon escaping out of the front door does look rather dodgy! Heehee.

OMG it hurts crying because it hurts

You have my sympathies dsm. Not that it helps you, but I'm going through the same thing. Really painful joints and constantly exhausted. Waiting for a fasting blood test next week to see if they can work out what it is. They'll prob just say I'm unfit and looking after two small children!

On top of that I seem to have caught whatever DS had at the weekend. Feel so awful today I couldn't get out of bed. DH has had to take the day off work to be SAHD

Eeeek dsm sympathy and hugs.
Love the house aethel! Well done! :) I'm going to love this motherhood lark of making things! Get the crayons ready!

Sympathies to kate also.
(Sorry)
On the train to Manc to get the train to London. This am was such a rush that I haven't eaten or drunk anything yet.

• since yesterday lunch actually.

I felt rough last night, and was sick. Still feel a bit dodgey, but hungry at the same time. I can not be ill. It's The Ivy this evening! Tis not a regular occurrence to be invited to fancy London.

Thanks Ladies.

Kate Sending hugs.

Oi enjoy dinner at The Ivy tonight. Will you be celeb watching?

Been to see my GP and have renewed BT forms, although I know they will come back normal. Definite diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, Sciatica, Severe Joint Hypermobility (High end of the scale) & Raynards Syndrome - The last 2 I've had since birth.

Aethel Loving the house. Wish I was that Arty & creative.

Hope you're feeling a bit better dsm and kate and everyone else who's poorly!!

Work is doing my head in somewhat - got home so late last night that even DH had given up and was asleep on the couch with his book on his chest. He had made us a lovely dinner that I ruined by having to work late Looks like maybe another late one tonight. But at least tomorrow is the last day before my long weekend...and then DH and I have booked the nanny to babysit so we can have a date on Friday night to see the new Bond film, hurrah.

But the best of bestest news - I got home last night to find a letter from the UK Border Agency saying my citizenship application was approved!!! Yayyyyyy!!! I now have to go to a ceremony at the Maidenhead town hall, swear allegiance and sing god save the queen, and I will be a newly minted British citizen

Xiao Congrats on becomnig a British Citizen :) Shame about working late. However, we have date night on Friday evening going to see the new Bond film

Ah, jealous of the date nights. We don't have anyone to babysit, although we'll have to get someone or something in place by March, as we've got a posh birthday do to attend.

Glad you're feeling a bit better(?) DSM, I've seen my Mum suffer with rheumatoid arthritis, so I can imagine the joint pain was awful . Funnily enough, both Mum and I have v v hypermobile joints, and when it was investigated the docs reckoned it was Elhers-Danlos (sp?), but at the mild, non-fatal end of the scale, as we both also bruise v easily.

That house rocks aethel, very impressed! My cardboard box house didn't have any decoration sob deprived sob but I still loved it. I will really enjoy doing one for/with DS.

Hope the dinner's going OK Oi, being ill for a night out at the Ivy would be extracting the urine! I want you to reel off what you had and make me

Oooh, Xiao, you'll have to celebrate with a 'quintessentially British weekend'. I think in reality this means you have to hire a caravan for a week's holiday in Bangor, in the rain, in February half term, whilst quietly hating your OH and simmering with social anxieties...but you could just visit a castle and eat cream teas instead !

For those who do not have anything in a large box arriving in the near future, hobbycraft sell cardoard houses in a box that you unfold, construct and decorate...