FEB 2010 Two and a half to three...the "contrary age" (no it isn't! yes it is!)

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Come in, sit down, fresh coffee is brewing, Prosecco's in the fridge for later and there's a bumper box of Lindt chocolates for all....

Stoof Old wooden single glazed badly fitted window trying to withstand torrential Welsh rain... Should have seen it coming I guess.

ah? you've got it sussed then

Hello!! Where is everybody?
Are you all enjoying the last day before the end of the world?

We've driven 5 hours non stop to a cottage in the Lake District. Owner has put up and decorated a Christmas tree and there was also a card, bottle of wine and mince pies. What a lovely touch! Also enjoying a kitchen considerably better equipped than our own at home (note to self, must buy new plates etc). Now relaxing with coffee and mince pies. Feeling much more festive already.

forgot where I was for a minute then BG I spent about a minute trying to 'like' your post!!!!!!! durr

Tehehe..stoof

stoof

will you be there for the whole holiday period?

I have just cooked 5 nights worth of dinners for the freezer

CP Just a few days. We have no family to visit/ fall out with over the holidays so thought it might be nice to have a change of scenery. Mind you, left the sledge at home. Forecast would suggest diving suit, not ski suit... Now happily tucked up in bed with cough medicine (romantic, eh?) hoping I'll get some sleep tonight. Dd2 and I coughed so much last night that between us we hardly slept at all.

Sounds lovely, BG - sorry about the cough though.

DS has been poorly since Wednesday - I went along to nursery to see Santa give out the kids' presents then we left early and he cried all the way home. I thought it might be because he does get a bit unsettled when things don't run to their usual routine (the time I went into nursery to do baking - he went a bit mental) but he was still crying at home and then just conked out on my lap on the sofa and slept there for an hour. He was really hot when he woke up and not himself at all. He slept for ages that night and last night - he didn't get up until gone 8am. Both nights he woke in the middle of the night and came in with me. This morning he was stroking DD's head while I fed her. It was really sweet.

He's still hot this morning but much more chatty and like himself. I think we might go out for a bit.

My mum came to help yesterday - she sat with him for a couple of hours while I did some food shopping.

DH back from Germany today - think his trip went well, he's explained to his bosses that he has a lot more work and they've said they will def pay him more and possibly get him an admin person in London.

I've done most of my Christmas shopping. Need something for DS's godfather and a few more things for the stocking. Got most of the food but have to pick up goose on Christmas eve.

The saga of the wine society delivery ended with us getting two intact deliveries rather than one - I guess they replaced the order both times the bottles were broken. I am NOT owning up.

Sorry to hear about all the poorly ones!
BG how is DD2?
Sotu poor DS, very grown up in a sad way!

I have everything ready but I really needed to buy on sales or when I found something nice and cheap, I only do the girls and DH, so quite easy (I also buy 1 for me to be sure santa doesn't forget me!). I do have to buy for the 3 sets of GPs for the girls though (at least 4 presents each)... I made a mistake and counted FIL (so 5th set of presents)... so spoilt girls and left over for the birthdays next month.

I also tracked a mile in the snow with a tree on my back to surprise DD1. The sparkles in her eyes and her smile were worth it (we weren't going to get one, but I worked hard an could afford the cheapest... not the taxi home though!) It was lighter than DD2... (well, that is my logic anyway). DD2 wasn't impressed and didn't want a tree in the house. It is on the balcony and coming in tomorrow for decoration. I hope she will be swoon then.

I am so fed up with the winter wonderland already (just 3 months to go... ) I look like a the Michelin man most of the time, and the boots I found which are not slippery are fugly even worse than uggs (no wait! they look better and only 10 euros, but still!) I have a big bruise on my bum for wearing my mountain boots.

DH cooked diner (it is quite usual since is demise) and it is served so ....
[wave to all]

I hope all the unwell LOs are on the mend!

Sorry I haven't been on much - nights still hit or miss (mostly miss) so computer time has been sacrificed to Xmas prep time and early nights. DS is very wakeful, or at least very fidgety which keeps me awake - then once in a while we have a better night, which revives me somewhat.
Other than that, he remains adorable (just as well!!)

DD has been in a great mood lately - the daily clearouts continue to keep her happier and more energetic. It's great that she will walk much more when we go out and about as it means I can put DS in the rear-facing travel system, which usually keeps him happier.

DD is also having far fewer melt-downs and being altogether sweeter in general now. A combination of The Movicol Effect/getting used to baby brother/Tough Love I suspect. It's made life much more pleasant, though.

BG still off the garlic/coffee etc....?!! Interesting....

CP sounds promising on the sleep front! Here's hoping DD gets with the programme too.

Ah....DS awakes, better go. Love to all!

I have to say my DS is also absolutely adorable atm, especially as he is happy not being attached to me It's so interesting seeing the differences. He also really likes animals but also has some fear, something DD never had. At my mums he would do venture out a few steps, then run back to me getting more and more bold. One time the dogs came bounding through and I could see the terror in his face as he made for me. DD, I just had to keep up with and stop her escaping out the doors at playgroups, getting in the music teachers face etc. I think he will be quite a more needy emotional boy, a few times I have spoken with a firm voice (e.g. biting during a feed) and he cries with such a heartbroken cry.

IC hope this sleep phase passes and it's just related to sleep regression.

I've posted about DD imagination on fb but I had to stay with her when she went to sleep (Which after some impressive hysterics was quite quick once she calmed down). Funny, one stops physically needing you and the other one starts.

Happy holidays folks. Loving the picture on FB Mous and your tales above about the tree. You are amazing!

BC Hope DS is better soon. The virus here is a lengthy, nasty one. DS1 seemed a lot better today but at 5pm he regressed and is asleep really hot and restless. Time for his next dose of Calpol me thinks.

Got to go - he's woken for it. Have a lovely weekend all.

Thanks - he seems fine this morning but we ended up at the GPs yesterday. He was ok during the morning and ate lunch then we went to my friend's around 3 - he cried on the way there then was all flushed and wouldn't talk or do much there. She took his temp and it was 39.7

He was really quiet and said "my head" in the waiting room so I was starting to panic but he perked up in the doctor's office and had a bit of soup at home. He was still pretty hot at bedtime but no temp to speak of/bouncing off the walls this morning.

We are going to risk the drive down to Kent as we've tickets to see santa on the steam train in tenterden. Will be taking paracetamol/ibuprofen just in case.

Doc said winter virus. Really hope I haven't passed it in to friend's little girl - I am usually so careful about not exposing others but I was convinced he was better.

BC We've all had the fever bug and it can go on for about 10 days! Dd1 went to school a few times absolutely fine, only to have a really high temperature again in the afternoon. Poor dd2 had it alongside chickenpox.
Keep a close eye on him and use calpol late afternoon, would be my advice.

We're on day 4 with ds1 and he's still very up and down. Have friends over from Canada so the boys have played outside to say hi, as have never met them, and dh has taken friends to town for lunch. Just didn't want to give it to their 6 month old. Hope all poorly ones are better soon and hi to everyone else from me on my phone.

I hope all the unwell LO are goimg to be better for Christmas

My mum arrived yesterday on the last ferry before 28 Dec ( as today's were cancelled) so I'm now waiting to see how much DS behaviour changes but on the other hand our aim is to get him to speak more French (as I have no issues about his understanding)

It's going to be an interesting evening . We are invited for dinner and overnight stay with friends (who have no children). I let dh discuss details... Bad mistake. Found out a few days ago that apparently the girls are having a guest room upstairs while dh and I get the en suite guest room downstairs. Doesn't seem sensible to pack off two young children on their own, in a strange house, with one of them coughing so much she needs her inhaler...
It gets better though. Mentioned dinner earlier and told dd1 she has to at least try new things, only for dh to say us adults will eat after the girls go to bed. Asked about what the girls will eat and dh said he didn't think friends will provide dinner for the children !? Sent a text to ask and it's true, children won't be fed.
How can you invite people over for dinner and overnight stay and forget to make some sort of provision for a 2 and 5 year old??? I can understand they want us to have a meal after the girls go to bed, but do they really think the children should go to bed without dinner?
Sorry, rambling on now but I'm totally perplexed.

BG

It's ok actually, typical lack of communication by dh.

Spectacularly clueless BG even for people with no kids of their own...!

Sorry to hear about more illness....I hope all the LOs are back on form for Christmas.

Keeping my FX that DD's cold/cough seems to have subsided and DS seems to be okay with the mild head cold he picked up.....

We're off to the PILs tomorrow, which should be lovely as they are splendid people, FIL won't hear of anyone helping in the kitchen and MIL is excellent with DD especially....hoorah!

Merry Christmas everyone, hope it's magical

bedtime still a mess, but we're learning to deal with it.

we're jealous of the lake district bg next year we're staying at home but we have the money we will go somewhere.

Ironing done, cleaning done, dh has cleaned the oven ready for MIL's inspection (as I can't, due to the fumes setting off my asthma-great excuse, but true) recycling done, towels washed, dh has braved sainsburys... All good, apart from boys still being under the weather. This is an improvement on yesterday's properly poorly, but I assumed last Wednesday that they'd easily be well by Christmas!

Hope you are all well now and will have a lovely Christmas with your families.

Science you are in my thoughts and I seriously hope that your 'story' has a happy ending this festive season. We're here either way. Do talk to us.

BG words fail me re.the friends and dh. That is why I always do communications, or at least write dh a list, having learnt from early errors!!