December 2011: They're one Jim, and highly illogical!

[LittleMissFantabulous]

I went with Gary's suggestion, as it was quite awesome and indeed factual!

:o

Onwards?

Stupid phone app! Just deleted my post...
Cups: nuby stage 3 or 4 (?) they're like water bottles with straws.
Sexy fancy dress - ugh! I'd rather not! Besides, it's February. I want long sleeves, long skirt/trousers...
I saw am amazing homemade fancy dress a couple of years ago. A woman dressed in white, but you couldn't see her. She had covered a transparent domed umbrella with long white rags and fairy lights, to become a rather beautiful jelly fish. I wonder if I could do that....

Ugh Oi, sounds like hell. Although I've never been to Blackpool so I can't really tell, but have consciously avoided going there as it sounds really awful. I love my glasses of wine and (properly made) cocktails but am not into getting so drunk that you puke on the street, which appears to be fashionable in Blackpool from what I have heard! Am not into getting so drunk that you puke at all, obviously, although it has been known to happen occasionally in the past (oops). But not in the street! Classily, in the loo. Ha. I am just so classy! It has been a looooong time though since I was that drunk or even drunk enough to get the spins. I think those days may be over. Babies that wake up at 6.30 am put an effective stop to any of that kind of behaviour! And I just like my early nights too much. Nothing beats the lovely cot.

Minimopsy is having frequent tantrums and hits herself in the face. Is this normal? It is just since her 1st birthday. She calmed down quickly each time today. It can be for simple things like me saying no, or trying to help her, when she doesn't want to be helped. But can also be for no reason that I can see. She is definitely teething, maybe it is just that. But I don't like when she hits herself in the face. She doesn't hurt herself but I find it upsetting. Anyone else experienced this or similar?

Figgy sorry about the car. What a pain :( £600 is horrible, especially in January! And I am having similar probs with minimopsy and milk. She refuses it point blank from her water cups, although she will drink water no problem. In fact, she throws a complete tantrum anytime I try. Might try those nuby cups with a straw you suggest Oi. Any other suggestions, anyone? Want to wean her off bottle if I possibly can.

Air, optional fancy dress sounds good, then parents can choose what they prefer.

Last night was fun... whilst not in MissRee category, DS has come down with croup .
So we spent half the night up phoning NHS Direct and OOH Doc's. I passed him over to DP at about 1.30am ish, and went to bed, the boys got to bed about 3am.
I then got up at 6am after four hours' sleep and did a ten hour working day, but out of the house for 12 hours with the travel.

Thankfully both the boys had the day off at home together- DS has apparently been fine and they've had a lovely day,...and of course all DS wants is his Daddy. So I'm as well as shattered, but they deserved it, bless them, DP was a star last night.

Brief summary of: Blackpool bad (DP's home) Oi, MissRee get better, SNAP easily, hope it's getting better for you!

ROLL ON THE WEEKEND!
except I have to bloody work

Updating in batches, as lounging in a bath with my smartphone (shame it's a bitbtoo glat to be correct phallic imagery):

Oi, you can go as a highwayman and carry a knife, then defend the honour of the other hens (bet they'll be pleased)
MissRee : already in fancy dress, I see, O phlegm zombie!

Well done, AnAir! If you need an extra boost, why not post that on thw FB page of Martin Lewis, of moneysavingexpert.com? They love a good saving, and praise from others is always good, especially when it's motivated by good-natured envy. You are a real doer, you know, so why not reveal your achievements and give yourself the cheering up you really need? And I:m sure Gary's DH will be in the queue of envy if Sky don't give in to him!

aethel, no plans for a magnolia in the garden...?

LMF: oooh, which dinosaurs? Natural History? I wondrr what Octoboy eould make of those! Does anyone else see Them suddenly taking notice of BIG things further away? I first noticed this with DD at Bluewater this xmas: she was captivated by the Christmas lights! When we were at the O2 (former Millennium Dome) last w/end, after dark, her pointy finger was shooting right out like an excited beagle, at the flying chairs ride (dark sky, flashy lights and wheeeee!), and when we then went on the cable car over the sparkly Thames, she was most excited. Mind you, DS was captivated by "sights" mych younger: I used to take him to galleries and exhibitions, and he eould devour the sight of them. I guess DD was preoccupied with her internal problems and wasn't so interested in the world outside the family.

However, sensory over load could be prompting all the tantrums? As well as a desire to exert themselves... they're no longer so passive, are they?

So sorry to hear about croup, NorthermChinchilla, and also thst you feel a bit blue about not being The One. If it makes you feel better, I can attest that the SAHP gets to witness the frustrated longing of the child for his/her absent parent, so there are plenty of signs of love fir you tjat you don't see...

Natural history indeed Plu! We will hopefully do the science too. We love a good museum we do:o

Sorry everyone is having a pants time of it:(

figgy I agree with oi that the cups with straws by nuby are great.

A highwayman is a fabulouso idea.
I've never been to Blackpool on a night out and am dreading it. I'll be able to drink then, at least, as this teetotal month will be over. I had thought about continuing the excuse and staying sober, but that would be much much worse! However, I shall not, as you say mopsy, follow the trend and get hammered and find a friendly gutter to upchuck into. I will have to aim for very giddy drunk though, then I won't really notice the horror around me too much and won't get my head kicked in for "being a snob".
I'm going to visit a childminder and a nursery nearer to home later today.
And yesterday, I realised that my exciting, grand house refurb plans would have to be put on hold if I have another baby. I'm counting on my upcoming bonus to pay for loads of work, but if I get pregnant again, I'd have to use that money to see us through maternity leave to pay the mortgage (shitty shitty SMP!!). Buggeration!
I also realised that when my dad had one of my trees cut down (it was diseased, dead, and branches kept falling off it), rather abruptly before Christmas, the tree surgeon did not carry out any checks and cut down a tree under a conservation order and we could be at the receiving end of a hefty fine should the council find out, which they probably will as I called them to ask about other trees, and the man said, oh where are you, no 29, oh yes, you've got a big larch at the front.
HAD a big larch at the front... HAD. Shit.
And the tree surgeon did not give dad an written quote or receipt. I called him and asked him to send a receipt stating that it was dead, just so I have something in writing if the council would find out. After a 15 min conversation he eventually agreed, but I think it was just to get me off the phone. I can't see him delivering it. I bet he did it for cash too/not declared the work.
I have no photos or anything to show it was dead. Nightmare.
Hey ho.

Oi, have you still got the advert/photo sheet that you saw/were given when you bought the house? Should have a picture of the frontage?
Have you looked on googlemaps to see if the dead tree is on there?
Good luck getting the receipt.

Figgy; Tommee Tippee Tip it Up Beaker (£1.99 in tesco at the moment), he loves them & there is a more bulbous beaker that we use for water (so he knows what drink is in which shape).
They don't leak, unless he throws it across the room, on impact it lets out a dribble.

Northen, sending get well vibes, croup is nasty.

mopsy, it sounds like she's frustrated no idea what you can do about it, but hopefully she'll grow out of it when she's better at communicating.
DS pulls his hair when he gets ratty, but he's doing it less so since he realised he can point & babble to get his way.

He forgot how to sleep last night, DH is being all 'you need rest for the baby' so let me sleep through it but now they're both knackered & slightly grumpy.

Sky has been referred to the Paeds team at Portsmouth Hospital. 6-8 week wait but the GP agreed she needs to be seen by them and specialist in allergies/intolerances.

Haha at "friendly gutter". Does liquid chuckle prettily along it?

You need Tree Fu powers, Oi (c.f. CBeebies passim)

Good news about the referral, Sparkly! BTW, you can make pancakes and muffins with rice milk (DS had milk issues and DD has, so just dusting off the ol' substitutes).

What a nice baby, Gary, saving you from the horrible night of no sleep! Star DH, too!

Hooray for referral, Sparkly :)

We use the Munchkin click-lock straw cup for Freya. It was a godsend when she was in hospital as it meant that I could actually get fluids into her - she's not very good with tip-up cups yet.

I am ridiculously pleased with myself for finding the present I want for Freya's birthday tomorrow for £20 Its the Leapfrop Shapes Picnic Basket and has been discontinued (even though its vair cool). On ebay they are selling for £90!

So... the last of our babies (my beeb) turns 1 tomorrow!

Crapola my £600 bill was before vat so on top of that the new tyre the other car needed last week and the road tax due at the end of the month that's £800+ ......savings depleted

After singing, swimming, picking up car, dog saving and shopping I need a bloody sit down!!

Have a , figgy. Get that depleted blood sugar (from shock) up!

Happy birthday to the "baby"'of the group, then!

Wow! Figgy. You deserve a huge

Thanks. Not nice seeing my baby in pain.

I was told I can't use rice milk for anything until Sky is 5. Something to do with arsenic. We use Kara milk for drinking Oatly milk for cooking. Will be making a nice home made rice pudding with oatly milk on Sunday. It always goes down a treat :)

DH & I are out with some friends for a meal tonight - child free hehe! Looking forward to it as at our local Chinese restaurant and we're not paying :)

Cups we use tommee tippee explorer cup.

Glad you got a referral sparkly. I never did see my GP about Eva's intolerance, not sure it's worth it tbh as I'm sure it's only lactose and nothing else. She seems ok on small amounts now, I haven't found out how much is too much anymore yet, but I'm nervous about upping it too much as I don't want to set her off.

northern sympathies on the croup, DS had it when he was 2, it was horrible. Has he been given anti-b's or steroids?

mopsy Eva has started having tantrums as well, mostly like minim when I say no or she doesn't get her own way. Thankfully she doesn't hit herself (which must be horrible to watch her doing) but throws herself down to sitting on the floor, flaps her arms and screams. If its a bad one she'll bend in half and bang her head on the floor.

Somewhat bad day here, terrible night last night with DS just awake for no reason, so he's been overtired and miserable all day. Coupled with DD teething and being up at 3am or earlier every night for the last week the tiredness is catching up with me and I'm exhausted. Off to bed soon with my new green parent magazine and knitting. One positive though, we've given the builders the go ahead for the garage conversion, they can start as soon as its empty, looks like DH will be busy on his days off next week clearing out all of the junk.

Congratulations on the garage conversion!
And on the referral SAHM.
Bad news about the croup. Hope that clears soon.
Saw a new nursery today, and a childminder. The cm does 24 hours and was lovely. I'm really impressed with their set up, and it's less than 10 mins drive away - a minor detour on my way to/from work. So I need to sign him up, and sign off from nursery.
Whilst chatting, I mentioned that BOi had had a cold from birth practically. She advised to maybe take him off cow's milk and try soya milk. Anyone any ideas why this might work?
Friday night and not a martini in sight. :(. But I'm now 6lb 4oz lighter than I was at NY, so I can retain this willpower!!
Have a great weekend y'all!

Probably something to do with the fact that dairy causes increase in mucous/phlegm? You should always avoid dairy when you have a cough/cold.

Well I never knew that!!

oi didn't you EBF until you went back to work though? Did he have it then or has it been worse since weaning? Presumably if he had an allergy bad enough for you BF whilst consuming dairy to affect him you'd know? And didnt someone (aethel) say that people allergic to dairy are also more likely to be allergic to soya too? Or does she just mean until his cold has gone as it could be stopping him getting rid of it?

I never knew that about dairy increasing phlegm though, nice!

Good work oi on the weightloss I am sitting here stuffing face on toast we never kept bread in house pre DS for this very reason. I also keep the old Kate moss mantra of "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels" but m stomach seems to disagree.