July 2005 babies crawl into Spring

[merryberry]

Welcome, welcome!

Thanks MB .

I'm so bored this afternoon that I have just looked up what we were all talking about this time last year - we were discussing knowing the sex of the baby and what to pack in a hospital bag! How things have changed since then . Actually, just for one second, it made me really want another baby.

I'll miss the old thread. Our babies have changed a lot in the three months that thread was active (first post 4th Jan, last 4th April)...

dd has started waving (slightly weirdly). She saw mb's Vin wave once and that was all it took !

I was thinking about this time last year too and I am soooo much happier. The last two Aprils have been utterly hideous and this one is luvverly .

How is the childcare-hunting going, Merryberry?

Hub, I'm sure Wed 13th is fine but will check with DH as he is planning on taking that week off.

Bagpuss, yes, I've had the odd broody moment as well, although they are well outnumbered by non-broody moments . I am postponing thinking about it for a little while longer.

ha ha ha ha ha at being broody bagpuss, no chance here! dd is currently sitting at my feet playing with ds' toys. she is being super-cute as she knows she should have been in bed an hour & a half ago....

we have waving too, very cute. but she just curls her fingers when i try & get her to clap.

errr, not much else to report. still love my orange mountain buggy :o.

The first day I am without a washing machine, DD's nappy leaks and DS2 has an accident in his bed. I will assume that DS1 is about to throw up, so it isn't a horrible surprise when it happens.....

I would just like to clarify that in was only for one second - I am not planning on having another baby or buying a mountian buggy (see, you cannot corrupt me hub ). Anyway, even if I wanted to, dh has put his foot down and we have run out of bedrooms .

mrsd, poor you - have you got anywhere to take the washing, like a friend or neighbour?

I have a terrible feeling now that ds2 is way behind his peers in all sorts of things - he certainly can't wave although he has attempted to clap but can't quite get his hands to meet .

Thanks for the new thread MB.

Bit of a dillema - supposed to be getting ds to eat more but he's got a cold and been unsettled last couple of nights. This morning he did a huge poo - quite OK but looks like most of his food is totally undigested.... don't know if I should give less solids today or maybe different ones - perhaps I've been overdoing it on the parsnip, banana etc...

Are the schools off in England too? Haven't got anything planned for today. Been quite tough so far with either ds1 throwing a wobbly or dd or of course both at the same time fortunately ds2 is usually very good. ds1 can attend a holiday club but only when they have the right number of staff, only certain no. of hours, can't take him on outings etc etc... never mind dh is off work next week.

Oh and we have a new tumble drier so am off to play with that :)

No crawling into Spring here. dd2 is still firmly put. dd1 was crawling by this age.....

No mountain buggies for me. Or other babies. I'm not going to be corrupted.

We're going to be in Liverpool/Wirral on the 14th-17th April, but we're going to be carless so I don't think I can meet up with anyone. Our car is on its last legs so we've decided to go by train. I'm going to be stranded in a village which hasn't even got a pub!!!!!! Not particularly looking forward to it. I'll be totally at the in-laws mercy in terms of getting lifts anywhere.

Hub, we've eaten at the Hope St Hotel restuarant - excellent food. Friends have stayed in the hotel and its lovely. I would prefer to be there than in a publess village .

One thing we're planning on doing when we're up there is going to Port Sunlight - there's going to be an Easter trail/quiz around Lord Levers model village. More for older kids though (like me!.

Sorry, I obviously meant mountain buggy earlier - it was too early on in the morning.

What a bummer about being stranded Belo, it would have been nice to meet up.

Eulalia, I would try something different to eat if he'll tolerate it. ds2 sometimes doesn't have breakfast because he seems satisfied with just milk and I don't like the idea of him stuffing his face for the sake of it really.

Hub, I'm afraid I don't think I can make either of the dates you mentioned for meeting up - sorry.

Mrsd, are you free either the Thursday before Easter or the Tuesday after? If so then so am I - let's do Manchester!

Your messages all read enjoyed and now ignored as I have screen blindness and madness setting in apace. Apart from the local childminders who I start seeing tomorrow I have had 123 yes 123 replies to an ad I put in \link{http://www.gumtree.com/london/69/4317069.html\Gumtree.com} and I have done nothing except ignore my son while he plays at my feet and I sift them. I haven't even communed with the lovely Mr Ocado let alone you lot and I think I might be more than slightly barking now.

I really, really want my mum. To come look after young man. Not an option but I can dream.

Anyway of the 123, 101 were madly unsuitable, 10 are interviewable and the rest had already gone by the time I got my arse in gear. For the 101 dafto's I was cutting and pasting this reply/white lie:

'Thank you for your email. I had over 100 so my apologies for the wait for a reply.
I have found a local nanny now. I wish you good luck looking for a new job.'

It means:

'Well don't bother to put in a subject line or any text or hide the fact you have forwarded this email a dozen times. I had 100 and yours was one of the worst. I will put my child in care before you come anywhere near him. I wish you good luck looking for a new job. You are going to need it desperately.'

I am stressed. I can't wait to start the actual interviews and have a real feel for it all rather than scary scary fears.

In the meantime, woof woof.

Oh MB, poor you. All this when you should be enjoying the last of your maternity leave.

Hope the interviews go well and that your next problem is that you can't decide which of the excellent candidates to go for !

Thank you for the sympathy. Much appreciated. this is stressful in wholly new ways. Saw two women today. Pretty cool. Either would do. Not completely boat floating though.

dd2 is currently obsessed with being hung upside down. She's always trying to twist herself into that position when you're holding her. When you hang her upside down she just laughs and laughs and laughs. She will cry if you won't do it for long enough. Any other babies going through this craze?

ooh yes, ds did until a week ago, and now he hates it. what are babies all about? laugh

Bliss, DD woke up for a feed just before I went to sleep, then slept through till morning . She and DS2 are playing with lego together.

Hub and Bagpuss, yes to both suggestions. I will CAT you. I have just paid my fiver so will be sending CATs to everyone to get my money's worth .

oh do CATs cost now? i keep meaning to subscribe and failing. will try now.

it is magic when they sleep through isn't it! may it be endlessly repeated. ds only manages 1-2 nights a week still.

has anyone's baby dropped their morning nap yet? ds shows some signs of it maybe.

and oh my word he is on an incredible growth spurt this week. i cannot believe how much he is eating and drinking. I estimated the calroies and it seems to be in excess of 1600 a day! every monring I pick him out of his crib he feels like the brick fairy left another brick in him.

OK, just made an offer to a lovely south arfican woma called cassie to be our nanny Mon, Tues and Weds. She stood out from the 6 we interviewed, all of whom would hve done nicely! as she was the kindest, neatest and most genuinely loved kids.

the only downside is she will be back to SA for at last two months after October. But dp and I want to take our first plunge into childcare with her, so that will have to do. Having been through the gumtree route, we know we can do it successfully again.

so i've left an offer for her on her phone and i really hope she takes it this morning.

i'ma also relieved that our number two choice has a chance of some work with another local mum i saw at a party yesterday.

on the edge of me seat...merryberry.

Fingers crossed for you MB .

phew, the ladee from SA, she say yes. Relaaaaaax.

Do not worry about the fact she can only do five months and is early pg herself - seriously. But we are still more than happy to have her as this is our first foray into childcare and she is right for us now.

She is also part of a rich nanny network. If i stay at work. If, if, if...

Great news Merryberry . What a relief for you.

We are packing for Liverpooooool, mrsd !

Will you CAT me a phone number, oh, and a name, with your new found CAT wealth so I don't need to ask Mr. Darcy if I could speak to Mrs. Darcy. LOL... Still highly unsure of Thursday's plans as we are coming up with my folks and they want to get back ASAP as they are going away late Thursday night... but I hope we can maybe do something Thursday AM / brunch / lunch / cofee whatever... sorry I can't yet be more sure of what's going on.

We could maybe do something in one of the Hope Street's funky bistros if it has something, or doubtless there's something nice nearby ? If the timing's no good, or you have other plans, don't worry !

Excellent news mb btw !

Hub, I've sent you my name and phone number! There are loads of nice places round Hope Street and I can get into town quite early - just see how your plans go. I'm probably going to be in town anyway as I'm avoiding my building-site of a home, so don't worry about letting me know last minute.

Excellent news MB!

Our building work started yesterday. We're having another bathroom put in. Our current one is sooo small, and rather yucky. That will evenutally be converted into a shower room. All they were doing yesterday was ripping up floor boards and putting plaster board up yesterday and for some reason we had no hot water last night. Oh dear. Whats it going to be like when the heavy duty stuff starts? MrsD, I really understand your need to get out of the house! I'm glad to be working.

Got dd2s 8 month check tomorrow. She's got horrible eczema behind her ear so am feeling quite pleased that shes going to get the once over.