Feb 2011 - We're 2 - enough said!

[wigglesrock]

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ponyo fingers crossed DM will have Alice for an hour or so a couple of times a week during the hols or I'll go mad but alas the time to myself will be used to do a workout and lots of DIY. We're having the kitchen done imminently and after they finish I need to paint the kitchen, decorate the dining room, repaint the railings outside the front of the house and redecorate the spare room. My holiday is going to be really fun isn't it

blizy glad gym was good fun. Let us know what sort of program they give you.

ledkr when's the op? Glad you've got a date and hopefully it'll help you. Saw your thread on pmt btw.

Re: singing. The other day Alice instructed me to sing a song and when I asked her which one she said 'princey prince' . So I made up a song called princey prince (stupidly simple I'm not that good at these things not many words, to the wheels on the bus tune) and is has become her favourite song and we have to sing it every day .

Haha at princey prince and A loving it reastie! I hope you do get a bit of time to yourself over the summer, sounds like you're not going to be doing much relaxing are you?!

Isn't everyone doing well with gym and exercising, go feb team! I have been managing the gym every other day (but am feeling annoyed I'm not skinny yet, I've only been going 2months!) blizy I had a routine set out by a trainer and found it really useful. Hope you do too.

Debka if you're reading the pic of you and your mum on fb was great, you are soooo slim!

Ledkr sorry if I missed it, what is the op for? Ha at D saying shuddup, made me

Hope everyone has a nice weekend

Loving the song choices of the wee ones!

I didn't make the gym, I have instead spent the day so far in bed and in the toilet. One of my mindees decided to share a tummy bug with me, how thoughtful.

Hope you are all managing to have a good weekend.

That's one way to lose weight I suppose Blizy . Hope you feel better soon, how rubbish.

Oh, and ponyo for got to say wow to every other day in the gym. That's so impressive, well done . I loved the piccie of Anya on fb with her burger and chips, she looked beautiful in it (not that she doesn't always...YKWIM)

Oh blizy, hope you feel better very soon. Bloody germs, I've got a very pathetic cold but have been non stop sneezing, annoying!

Reastie I don't want to jinx myself just yet but I have started to quite enjoy the gym, I found it difficult and boring the first month but then realised it was getting easier, so now like the challenge with the slightly harder weights etc It's early days though so I may still give up

I'm watching 'wild Atlantic' and feeling ready for bed soon, rocknroll hey

ponyo you think you're rock n roll, I'm waiting on my parents ringing me up for a lift home from dinner. Yes, that's right - my parents are out in Belfast on a Saturday night and I'm waiting on them needing a lift . How times have changed

blizy hope you're feeling a bit better x

Thanks Ponyo. I think I will like the gym too, I love "running" now and I'm gutted that I had to cancel my appointment to sort out a programme today. I'm feeling a bit better now, not been in the loo for a few hours, so I'm hoping its ran its course.

I'm watching the expendables in bed, but I will be asleep soon.

Hi taxi diver wiggles .

Wiggles I've had a nice cider at least, you are good on taxi duty!

Blizy I reckon you'll like the session with the trainer, go you you've been on it with gym and diet recently! Really hope you're all recovered by tomo.

Meant to say I'm meeting a nice mum and her daughter me and A met at the park a while ago tomo, I hope it goes well, always nice for A to have some little pals to play with!

Well I can safely say there is nothing more irritating than driving home your drunk parents

They were KISSING in the street, when I picked them up. I might excuse its their 41st wedding anniversary but ye Gods they're 63

Night night x

Oh the shame of it wiggles!

Ha ha wiggs too funny!

blizy hope you feel better real soon. Glad you're getting into the running...I find its just a good release & is easy to just to go for a run from home...changed & then you're off. Tho I like the gym for classes & sometimes just a potter too..

reastie can't say I've noticed the draft thing you me ruin with you windows. Apologies if you've already checked, bit are the windows locked, as that pulls the 2 windows together to seal off any drafts?

Had stupid chest infection... Hoping this is it clearing now. Need to pack hospital bags today as baby was engaged as of last Tuesday (tho now convinced she ain't anymore after all this frogging coughing!).

Nice day down here so will be chucking N in the garden me thinks!

wiggles that's hilarious bet it wasn't for you though

ponyo hope you have a fab time tomorrow with Anya's new friend.

Granny yes they are locked! DH thinks the draught padding bit on the top of the window (if you know what I'm talking about) might have been put on the wrong way round. In any case when it was windy the other day it was blowing a gale through the hole where the rope comes through. It's useful yours don't do that too - must hopefully mean it's fixable. Hope the infection clears quick smart.

One week until operation new kitchen commences. Have been spending today boxing everything up from the kitchen and dining room and wondering where on earth we will put it for the next month.

Oh, and day 3 of insanity today and boy do I ache! This had better be for a greater good. I'm like ponyo and want instant results from my exercises - why haven't I lost any weight in 3 days?!!!

Morning, me again

Spent the morning touring nurseries/preschools for Alice. Now have a decision on my hands. 2 local ones don't have any places likely until at least next September (not this one but next one) and I think she will need to go sooner than that. Looked around a private schools nursery who will have a place for her but tis £££. Think maybe I'll have to send her there for the initial couple of terms at least until a state place becomes available. I need somewhere local as DM/MIL/I will have to drop her off/pick her up so needs to be easy for them to do and living in a village there aren't tons really close to choose from. Alice thinks the private school was the bees knees as they gave her a free pretty handbag and toy teddy with their school logo on worth going just for the freebie

reastie - next September! Is this for her 3yo nursery place?

blizy - I hope you're feeling better. Every time I've had D&V, I haven't been able to eat normally for 5 days or so.

Hello to everyone else (cba to reply to everyone [lazy cow emoticon]).

My eyes were nearly swollen shut this morning. Not sure why but I spent the weekend painting so maybe it's a reaction to that. I managed to get the swelling down with some ice and cream but they're still puffy. I'm hiding in my office today.

Yes american her 3yo place . Btw - 2 of the 3 places we looked at just did free play all the time, no real routine or teaching just helpers sitting in chairs helping at various tables whoever came over to that table. The other place (private) do free play but also structured activities (sitting down together to have a snack/sitting down to listen to a story etc). I found the nurseries a bit like glorified babysitting as opposed to preschools doing things with them and prepping them for school IYKWIM. Is that the norm? (I'm clueless! I don't want her to have strict lessons and ruining her fun but equally I think routine and doing more than free play is good)

american I read your post as getting your eyes better with ice cream! I was at how that would work!

Ice cream solves all problems.

L's nursery here is structured but has a lot of free play as well. They have set times for lunch, snacks, naps, outdoor play, story time, crafts, etc. I think they also review letters and numbers. Are any of the nurseries Montessori? I think they use free play/letting children explore methods.

Thursday is a bank hol here and I've taken Friday off as well so I think we're going to attempt potty training. Any words of wisdom?

Haha reastie, I have broken my gym-ing every other day now, I thought it had been going too well! Not been for a few days now I'm too tiiired
Re: nursery, A goes to bloody expensive private nursery, and they are quite structured there, they do have free play but then set times for activities like painting/outside play/sitting down story time. I think its a good thing, its not too strict but is then preparing them a bit for school. Actually I've just read Americans post and A's nusery sounds very similar.

American no words of wisdom from me, but good luck! A had quite a few accidents but then it did just 'click', everyone told me it would click with her but I didn't believe them until it happened The only other thing A liked was being allowed to flush the wee/poo down the toilet!

blizy how are you feeling?

wiggles I think that was quite sweet of your parents

Play 'date' with A's new pal went well, her mum is very lovely too. Then after we met up A and I went home and had a 2 hour nap together

ponyo (cheeky question) how much is Anya's nursery if you don't mind me asking? You can pm me if you'd prefer. This one is around £3k or so for a year, term time only (and private term time only so shorter than normal term) for 5 sessions a week (a session is half a day). Includes swimming, PE, French and music lessons as part of their curriculum. Glad the play date went well. Ponyo get thee back to the gym tomorrow - it will make you have more energy apparently . I'm on day 5 of insanity now I think. It was hhhhaarrrdddddd today. My new fancy pants scales arrived today and they do body fat, bmi, skeletal muscle and some other type of fat - it's amazing

american enjoy your time off work. Would say but I can talk as I have nearly 2 months off from Friday lunch

reastie - I think 3k for 5 half days sounds reasonable. That's 75 pounds a week assuming 40 weeks, yes? We are paying $1000/month for L's nursery but that's full time.

Ponyo - L uses the toilet sometimes but it's not consistent. He loves to flush though. He now mimics me when flushing: "Just one flush!" Glad your play date was nice and the other mum was lovely. of the nap though.

I'm pleased to boast say that I removed the bathroom light fixture, did the painting then replaced it with a new one without killing myself. My new programmable thermostat is scheduled for delivery tomorrow so I will attempt that later in the week. Who needs a man for DIY?!

Eh reastie that seems really good value! Hope you're sitting down....but We pay £850/month for 3 full days a week (so prob similar to american). Cannot wait til he gets the free 15hours a week...should just work out by the time this next arrival goes into nursery..

I think ponyo uses the same nursery group/company as me, so yes they can be quite structured but good at letting them have free play too...I find his social skills are really good since he's been there (please/thank you/eating dinner at table etc)..

Just trying to shift last of this bloomin chest infection...antib's are done but still have bit if a cough, but headed into work today...3 days left & counting . Tho baby isn't due for another 2 wks, she needs to wait til after 12th July as that's when sis arrives for helping out .

reastie I always get confused re nursery, preschool, private nursery etc .

Anna will start nursery school in September 2014, it's usually the nursery school attached to the primary school she'll attend (although mine switch to a different primary) It's free, 9-1.30 a day, school hours. There is free play, but also circle time, learning to ride a trike, PE, story time, music lessons in school. It's very like the first year of primary but with no homework

By the end of nursery the kids should be able to recognise their name, put their coats on and off, eat hot lunch and help clear up, hold a pencil etc.

When A is 2 years 10 months, she qualifies for her 15 free hours in a childcare setting. I'm still not sure whether to bother with it. Olivia got on great with her Irish language preschool but I don't know if A will fancy it

grannyapple not long now I'll keep my fingers crossed you hang on until the cavalry arrives

americanexpat hope toilet training goes well, I think I'm still holding off for a bit, Anna is just not interested in it at all.

ponyo whens your holiday?

reastie we pay £960 a month for A, that is also full time. I cannot wait until she gets some free hours... Including swimming and FRENCH sounds very good, get those little brains working! I must get myself to the gym soon, I've stuffed myself like a pig today too

granny is it Asquith? They are good, A learnt her alphabet and it sure wasn't me who taught her! She also sings songs they've sung there which is cute. I can't believe you only have 2 weeks left! So exciting. How are feeling about toddler+newborn?

American I'm impressed with the DIY, go you! at "just one flush". A has learnt "3 more minutes" from her older friend (nearly 5yo) so whenever we tell her its time to stop something she says "3 more minutes" with no concept of long that is which I find funny.

wiggles hols is 1st august in lanzarote for a week, we're going with my mum, sis, bil, dp and A (of course!). My lovely mum paid for it bcos no way would we be able to afford it with previously mentioned nursery fees so I'm very grateful. I hope it goes well, think A will like it, hope the plane goes ok...

I am planning on keeping A's dummy until after hols just bcos of plane, my ears can be quite bad on planes and I'm hoping A's aren't but think the dummy could help A doesn't really have it in the day, esp when at nursery, when we get there she puts it in a pot in the fridge then gets it out when I pick her up.
Anyway the other day coming out of nursery she had it, and another mum said "what have got that dummy for, take it out" I was a bit fecked off, AIBU?! I just said "we'll get rid of it eventually" and thought shuttup

american it's more like 36 ish weeks a year than 40 with private school hols. Not sure how un reasonable that makes it now ?? Well done on your DIY effectiveness. I'd have no idea how to do that!

Granny . I should say that that price is after they've taken off the free government money, so actually it would be more.

wiggles they get homework as soon as they start school???? I didn't get any homework until I was in year 5 (apart from spellings) and then it was just maths questions for the week end. Oh, and I'm assuming you're now glued to the TV for a bit of Idris?!

ponyo Anya knows her alphabet? . Alice knows certain letters and what they stand for (like s for snake) but not the whole alphabet. I must try harder! She managed to tell a whole class of 6 year olds she was 2 when the teacher asked her when we went on a tour of the preschool/prep school and also identify a picture of a dolphin on a wall display which I was pleased with as making her look intelligent [easily pleased] . of your hol btw and I don't think YABU at all re: dummy. I'm laissez faire about Alice potty training as we're on holiday in a couple of weeks and I really don't fancy the stress of finding loos etc when we're out for her so am purposefully leaving it until at least when we return. Also still bfing and not stopping until at least we come back from holidays as want an easy life when we go away!

Alice said to me earlier when I was going to read her a story 'hang on a minute, just need to get glasses or can't see otherwise' . She got that one from MIL!