JAN 06 - so what's THAT you're eating mummy?

[loomer]

Here we go then... I've also updated my album of photos on the \link{http://health.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/mumsnetpix/photos\Yahoo site}, it'd be great to see recent pics of all our angels on there!

Hi there everyone

Lise - so sorry to hear about poor lola and her croup. Bloody frightening isn't it. Moo had it when she was about 10/11 months old. Glad she's back to her lovely self. But bet she'll miss her daddy when he's gone. Least you've got some good friends that you can call on for tea and sympathy (plus the odd choc Hob Nob )if you need to.

Tickle - Do you have a great costume with cape and matching knickers? . because as far as I'm concerned you are a goddess. You do make me feel very selfish when I moan about having a hard day with my 2.

Iris - Yippee for Dom's skin. Booo for his sleeping. Babe you must be on your last legs with tiredness. And you and DH don't even get to sleep in same bed. Hope it resolves itself soon. But sod that, he's talking . What a star.

BR - good on you girl for being so positive about the grog. One day at a time. And really hope you get bumped up the list real quick. Can't even imagine how uncomfortable you must be feeling.

SK - how's things honey?

Rach - how's work? Is it great to be using yuor brain again? or was it a real strain to get back into that mind set?

NG - how's the building work going? Will be in the same boat as you next year. Not relishing thought of havinh hairy ass builders in my house for months on end.

We've decided to takew the house off the market. Got messed around so badly that we thought, sod ya. I made excutive decision that we're staying in Wimbeldon and are going to do a HUGE extension - gulp. We're talking to architects and should be able to start work Spring 07. Will prob take 9 months by which time I will be a gibbering wreck, buit know a lot about interior design, bathroom fittings and god knows what else .

Libby is crawling and pushing her baby walker around. She LOVES walking. She's do it all day hanging onto my fingers if she could. She's pulling herself up and cruising around the furniture. She's got loads of bruises from falling over (must develop eyes in back of my head again ) and she's a real stroppy madame when she can't get her own way. She's also, rather hilariously, taken to suruptiously pulling Moo's hair . She's still only got 2 bottom teeth. Think top two have been threatening to come thru for about 3 months now. No new noises. Just rarara. And something that sounds like, hello.

Well, thats it from me.

Kisses to all, sorry if I missed anyone.

G xx

Oooh Lisa - I just checked out Lola's website - that girl has such a twinkle in her eye in those recent piccies She's gorgeous. I had never clicked that she shared a birthday with Theo

And Georgie - good to hear from you. Know what you mean about eyes in back of head... found Theo at the top of the stairs today - GULP! He was playing in the big kiddies' bedroom with them, which is on the ground floor, and I had forgotten to latch the stairgate Luckily no bruises from that one!

Don't envy you the actual building work, but envy you the planning bit! Do you know the Building Centre? www.buildingcentre.co.uk/ Really fab place for info... got to know them when I worked for an architectural imaging co.

First day back at school tomorrow! Everyone out the door at 8am - aaagh! A neighbour has taken pity on me and will come in to watch Theo, so I can take a faster bike with the others!

Hope everyone is happy and healthy

T
xx

Hey Tickle, thanks for the info. Will take a look on there. Must do all the homeowrk I can so don't get fleeced by crafty Essex builder types!

Have also just ordered a stair gate

And, forgot to say that Libster now 20lbs 8oz . Which would explain the appaling pain in my back and 77cm long. She's completely off the chart for length. HV said she's be at least 5'8" plus. Will have to stop calling her, 'Sumo' . She'll have last laugh when she's a tall, willowy, blonde beauty!!!

Hi all, have had a quick read through and can I echo what Georgie's just said please!

We have all just had the most revolting D&V episode. Thank god the kids are old enough to readch the loo/bucket now although dp has ruined my bedroom bin... (sorry tmi!) Luckily Finn was only a tiny bit sick and (touch wood) is eating well etc.

By the way he only has his 2 bottom teeth too (ds2 only had these 2 until he was over a year old) and still pretty bald (the back of his head/neck is my absolute favourite thing ) he is not crawling at all really (a little backwards maybe but he doesn't like being on his front so much now) I have to say it's great him just sitting in the middle of a heap of toys/in bed with us etc, I really am going to have to clean more when he is crawling! Dp didn't walk till he was 18 months (and he is v.sporty person) so it doesn't worry me.

Work is ok thanks, it is nice to get out and about but next month I have 3 consecutive weeks in Liverpool and then one in Bradford which is taking the p....

I've had a scan on my bad ankle and it turns out I have a neuroma (stop me if you've heard this before) and I have to have an op in the new year to get it removed, no idea how I will cope with crutches, whack kids with the sharp end I expect!

Will try to keep up again!

Love to all

hi all I'm still alive our pc has died a death and I cannot get online talk about withdrawal symptoms!

Am down the library having a quick session whilst DP has the girls.

T is fine four teeth now, crawling like a mad woman getting so angry she cannot walk yet. Still doesn't sleep much but is waking less and taling less time to drop back to sleep so fingers crossed we are getting there.

Hope everyone else and their LOs are doing OK hopefully will get back online soon, take care

SK x

surviving here, with all 4 of them, about to start wk3 of dh in England.
As you know we live on a small island, so buses run every hour or so...
Today took bus with them to next village for milk & other essentials at 2.30pm (had to get dd2 up from snooze to catch bus). Arrived at shop in next village to find they have moved onto winter timetable and close at 2pm on weekends.

Picture me and 4 smalls, walking back to our village (approx 25mins adult speed) on a windy blustery day, with dd1 pushing Theo's buggy as I had to give dd2 a piggy back. Aaargh.

Shall be repeating the bus trip tomorrow, in the morning, and making sure we can catch a bus back again. Or taking the bikes!!
just had to share that with you
love to all

T xx

Hellooooo - bloody hell you can almost hear the tumbleweed between postings here (and we used to be so chatty!! - or have nothing better to do back then )
As you can see, I've moved to the twilight world of insomnia tonight for some strange reason. So thought I'd sit & catch up with you all over a nice cuppa (decaf - obviously) DH looked after DS all night last night so I could get some decent sleep and I think my body's rebelling He's still not sleeping particularly well but is back in his cot again, after a few weeks co-sleeping & bf all night, and napping better during the day so I'm sure it's just a matter of time, and perseverence with the "No Cry Sleep Solution" (yup, we're still doing it)

Tickle - oh what a nightmare about the timetables!!! You must be mega fit now with all the cycling & racing round after 4 LOs - especially with 1/2 term too!!

Sweetkitty - so pleased you are still around (I was starting to worry!!) and that T is waking less. Bummer about the computer though (thank goodness for libraries!!!)

Wherethewildthingsare - I remember you mentioning your ankle when we were all pg - neuroma sounds very painful (what is it, exactly?) Hope they can get your op done sooner rather than later (and hopefully work wont be able to send you away so much for a while!- PMSL over images of you wielding a big pointy crutch!!)
I know just what you mean about the back of the head/neck thing - it's my favourite place too - with the little ears sticking out..awwww

Georgie - lol at "sumo". DD was like a beached whale at 9 mths (could just about roll - with help!) She's now tall, willowy, blonde, gorgeous....

Lisa - how's it going without DH? Hope you're able to speak to him regularly and have lots of support. I do sympathise and (if it's any help) the time will fly (faster, the longer he's away for some strange reason).

Barrelrider - How are you doing lovely? - hope you're still feeling positive

Nothing new to report here really. My brain is still mushy (I even forgot I had a client booked last week - well, it was on a day i wouldn't normally work) & she arrived just as I'd got DS out of his high chair covered in yoghurt - we'd been playing with spoons! I was totally embarassed - so unprofessional - I couldn't honour the booking either as I had nobody to have Dom so told her I'd rebook & added that she could have the treatment 1/2 price!! (me & my big mouth - such generosity will make me a pauper!!)

Anway best go & try to catch a bit more sleep before himself wakes (this post has taken me aaaaages to write !!) Hope you're all well x

Hello One and all, hope you are enjoying your Halloween (enter scary noises and faces galore!!). I've been at my mums for the last week, so have been away from the computer! It's nice to be home but I do miss the company and the support having my mum and sisters about offered!

Tickle - How are you fairing with the four of them? You brave woman! Love the image of you and your little army of children/animals! Can't believe the shop was closed tho', what a bloody nightmare! Theo sounds like a star, thank goodness for placid babies ay! I know how lucky I am to have Bee who is mostly so laid back she's horizontal. I don't think it's terrible that you find it easier without DH, I was surprised that I didn't really miss my DP whilst away for the week, I feel a bit guilty because I'm struggling to get back into it being the three of us, I've been snapping a bit with him this morning, but that may well be related to AF as well!

Barrelrider - I hope that appointment gets things sorted, I can't believe you are still in pain either, how awful! Have to say I have SO much respect for you with regards to the drinking, I hope you can stay strong, it is an amazingly difficult thing and I know it may sound a little crass, but I wanted to say congratulations, I think you are doing a brilliant thing and I really do believe you can overcome such things! Alcohol is something my mum and I feel passionately about, it is such a powerful drug but it is completely legal and acceptable, so yes, good luck!!

Iris - How is the insomnia fairing? God, I remember my insomnia days, I was younger and didn't have a baby so I can't imagine how you are feeling, hopefully it'll disappear soon (mine just seemed to cure itself one day!). I am currently a sleep fiend, have been falling asleep at 8-30 and sleeping until 7am.. no idea what that's about but it is ruining my time with DP. Glad the no cry sleep solution is beginning to work for you, fingers crossed he soon starts sleeping through and you can join him!

Lisa - Hope you are alright without your DP, have you managed to start the cleaning mission yet? I too relate to the whole cleaning thing being easier when you're on your own! Men just seem to do things in an illogical manner. Am pleased to hear Lola is recovering, poor mite, I'd never heard of croup so googled it, eek it sounds awful! She's such a cutie, I love her little outfits!

GeorgieGirl - Wow at your house plans!! Am very , it all sounds amazing. It's a nuisance that you had such a hard time selling, but perhaps it's for the best, my friend made a similar decision recently and now her house is amazing and she's in the home she really loves! Libby sounds like Bee, always on the go, how is your back holding up? Mine is beginning to curl I'm sure of it Bee just loves walking, she pulled herself up in her cot the other day, I had no idea she could do it until I went through to check on her , definitely need eyes everywhere!!

Wildthing - I can't believe your work are sending you away so much! That must be rather infuriating, I'm sure people don't realise what it is to have a baby, sometimes even when they have children themselves! I hope I don't forget when Bee gets older. Love the image of you clouting the kids around the head with your crutches, eek! At least they can do something to hopefully help the situation, still it'll be an interesting challenge! Let us know how you get on!

SK - boo at the death of your computer, blooming unreliable things! Glad to hear Talia is getting better with her sleep, it seems to take ages and then one day they just start sleeping better, fingers crossed that day will come sooner rather than later!

Not much else to report, Bee had her first encounter with an overactive over-enthusiastic puppy last week, she loved her! She's signing a bit more, and is still really talkative (she says something that sounds like hello, bless you and bye!) Still a happy little sausage and completely toothless, much to everyone else's amusement!

Right, I best get on, am going to my friends house today, have dressed Bee in the obligatory Halloween outfit (I thought I was rather restrained, she just has an orange top that says "I love my mummy", I was tempted by the pumpkin outfits but realised I want to do that when she is older just to double the cringe worthy moments when I whip out the pictures on her 18th birthday).

Love and pumpkins to all xxx

Tickle - I really feel for you on that bus! You are a star. I had my car stolen when dd about 8 months old and for a year or so had to trudge everywhere with a double buggy and ds1 dawdling behind. I think I tried the bus once... luckily we could walk to most places or just waited til dad got home.

Iris - I think I sprained my ankle badly a few years ago (I say think because I believe lots of vodka and some high heels were involved in a post-divorce night out) and the neuroma has been caused by scar tissue, only a few mm but there's not much room in your ankle!

Lilstarry - I bought a little devil outfit for Finn in Wilkinsons on sale for £2! included horns and wings... we had a raucous night at a friends. Halloween is great for kids aged about 5-12 - peak dressing up and ghost story age. Finn had a chicken drumstick, 2 bits of pizza and 2 fairy cakes, his first party!

Anyone else started the dreaded xmas shop yet? I have really got cracking with amazon, the red house and ELC today. I have to get stuff for my mum to give the kids in 2 weeks before she goes to NZ.

By the way I have a 20% off code for ELC it's 'bagpipe' (expires end of NOV) and works online. Delivery is £5, however I'm sure you can all manage to spend more than £100 to get free delivery! I have got stuff for mum and his birthday present as well (Fisher price bouncing zebra from us, animal train from Granny and a garage for his birthday)

Sorry, it's a bit late, so just skimmed the posts.

But ooh Christmas shopping... feeling organised as I've ordered a playstation2 for dd1 and ds1 - dd1 has been talking about friends' gameboys with a hopeful glint, but I want to put that off for as long as poss - I'd rather have something a bit interactive, so this will have the eyetoy thing.

DH still in Cornwall, but have just booked him on Eurotunnel for Tues night, so he will stay with our friends in Holland and be with us by Wed eve. Yay!! Adult conversation here we come It's been a long 3 wks, but I'm much fitter. Not much slimmer tho, as it has been open season on comfort foods!

I phoned the hospital on Wednes to remind them that we still hadn't had a referral apptmt for Theo & his ickle bottom. Bam - today a referral appointment letter lands on the doormat. I'm kind of wishing I hadn't reminded them, as he has to be admitted Nov 16 for investigation under general anaesthetic the following day But it's something we have to get sorted, and it may just be a simple procedure they can sort there and then.

Feel quite nervous about it, as none of mine have ever had a general. Any advice?

Txx

Alert the media : I think Bee may actually have a tooth coming!!
There's definitely something there.
Can you tell I'm excited how sad!

Hope you all had lovely weekends, hasn't it turned cold? Brrr, although I think our little ones all look SO cute snuggled up in their buggies/slings. I love this time of year - especially when the sun is shining!

Best get on, hope those of you at work are having a good day, and those of you at home with children aren't feeling those Monday blues!

xx

Think we may have fixed the pc yes!!

It's been very quiet in here thought I would have had loads to catch up on. T is doing great such a little character I always know she is tired as it's the only time she stops smiling. Crawling everywhere great guns now. She seems to crawl after me constantly and of course Abbie has regressed to crawling too so they are both crawling around after me. Tooth 3 and 4 has appeared too. Sleeping is still totally hit and miss though. She has a brilliant appetite though which I find really strange a baby that eats anything put in front of her. She eats much more than Abbie does too.

I'm feeling a bit out of sorts right now with one thing and another feel a bit deflated and down am sure things will pick up soon though.

lilstarry - congrats to Bee on her tooth you will probaly find she gets about 8 all at once now.

tickle - poor little Theo I'm sure he will be fine and you will be the one worrying the most, babies are resilient little things and he will take it all in his stride I'm certain. I love hearing of your stories your life sounds utterly amazing with the children/animals/cafe/island etc

Iris - fingers crossed on the sleeping front keep us posted on the NCSS thread.

Rach - ouch about your ankle, don't worry about Finn not crawling yet, all I seem to do is spend the day moving things out of T's reach and moving her back to "go" so to speak, wish she would stay in the one place for 5 minutes, it just gets better when they start walking too

well I had better go big hello to everyone else

hi SK - nice to hear from you! Hope you are feeling a bit better now. It is tough with a crawler and a toddler - if they are anything like mine, they are rarely asleep at the same time during the day, so you don't get a proper break. I'm lucky enough that dd2 is at a childminder, but it's still full-on. Can you leave them with DP and get out to do something you like, even if it's just the cinema with a girlfriend? {hugs}

and lilstarry - teeth bursting out all over

Theo still gummy (other 3 have been 11mths+) but crawling and standing all over the place. Also really really mumsy - fine sitting with eg my SIL, unless he catches a glimpse of me or hears my voice in another room. Then he turns purple and screams the place down

Really looking forward to DH coming home - he leaves Cornwall tomorrow morning, and will be on the last ferry here Wednes evening And he has bought me a Sunday paper

Talking to my mother tonight, and she was saying how I must be looking forward to having DH home. But her advice was: 'don't get pregnant!' Ha bloody ha

Better let the dogs out for a late night wee, then into bed to recharge for the early morning chorus - ahem - chaos.

Nighty night

Hiya girls, Just a quickie I'm afraid. Sorry not been around much but Lola's ill again! This time it's a chest infection. On antibiotics so hoping we'll see an improvement soon. It's really tiring without DH here. I really don't know how single parents cope. Would be so much easier if the family were nearby but thats just one of the joys of army life, miles from home and hubby away for months! Hope you're all well, will try to catch up soon as madam gives me a bit more time!
L x

P.S. Have updated lola's page with her halloween pumpkin pics

hey nice to her from you Lisa! Know what you mean about single parents... buckets of admiration going out to them from Tickle Towers. So glad all mine were well while DH has been away.
Hope Lola feels better when the antibiotics kick in.

Lisa - aww poor wee Lola she's having a time of it isn't she? My two seem to have the constant snots right now, T detests having her nose wiped and screams the minute go near her.

Tickle - I'm in admiration for you having 4 littlies, having two one crawling one potty training is bad enough. Going anywhere is an expedition in itself.

Think I'm trying to take stock of my life and where I see things going. I was a food safety expert/microbiologist pre DD1 and one of the reasons we moved down South in the first place was so I could get a decent job. When DD1 came along we decided we wanted to move back to Scotland/couldn't afford London house prices so that meant me giving up work. But now I could do with something part time but am only qualified in one area and theres virtually no chance of me getting anything part time in that field so it's retraining which is fine but hard with two to go to nursery. Have thought about doing a PGCE in Primary teaching but don't know about the 2 of them full time at nursery also we had planned to have another baby and I would like to hve one sooner rather than later so I'm a bit all over the place right now as what to do. Part of me wants to go for the PCGE and get back into work and earning yet part of me really wants another baby. Argh. Sorry for the waffle there thigns are never easy for us mums are they?

Hey everybody, back and all is well after our long journey to UK and spain from NZ. ds wasn't that great on the flight as it is such a hard age to entertain for so long being still, all he wanted to do was move which he wasn't really allowed to.
We had a great time travelling and feel that I needed the break from the 'routine' so to speak even though we didn't stop while away.
ds has suddenly grown which is great, all those naturapath appt's seem to be doing the trick, and his excema is almost all gone just trying to deal with it from the 'inside out'. ds still only has 2 teeth and some more have been coming in now for almost 2 mths so who knows when they will arrive.
SK totally know what you are feeling, we're also thinking no. 3 sooner rather than later but I would like a bit of extra cash and don't fancy full time nursery now either it would defeat the purpose for working.
Tickle how on earth are you coping, I can barely cope for an evening without dh coming home if he is delayed by going windsurfing or something. 3 wks is ages!
So overall things are good ds loves the beach and we are glad that summer is finally coming back and it is so hard to believe that ds will be 1 on xmas day have I slept through the year where did it go?

Hi all

Grabbing the opportunity for a quick mail, Dominic crawling around my ankles grabbing all the paper he can find (dh is really really messy and leaves piles of stuff everywhere!)

How is everyone?

SK - good to hear from you, are you feeling any better? Sounded cute with the 2 of them crawling around after you I'm sure it's not so cute for you though!

Any more ideas on the work/baby dilemma? It's not easy is it. When are you thinking of having baby 3?

Tickle - hubby is home now I guess so expect won't hear from you for a while ;)

Lisa how is Lola? Any better? hope so. Lovely pictures- what a sweetie. and doesn't she stand well! where did you get the pink hat? I want one, it's gorgeous.. will get one in case baby 2 is a girl.

Chuffed, so jealous of you! Summer there when it's getting cold and frosty here. Glad the eczema getting better, that's great news.

All going fine here - I had the op and it hurt! but hopefully will sort it out. Also actually had sex, first time this year !!! (Before the op I mean, things all on hold again now due to soreness..) It didn't hurt either Was lovely to feel intimate again. Hope there's more of that to come.

Drinking under control again now, have given myself a firm telling off and started Slimming World to sort out the weight and get some self respect back! Friend is doing it with me so it should do the trick! Not felt bozze cravings for about a week so I think the worst is over now.

Must dash d is wailing for his nap!

Love to allxxxx

Hi all

Grabbing the opportunity for a quick mail, Dominic crawling around my ankles grabbing all the paper he can find (dh is really really messy and leaves piles of stuff everywhere!)

How is everyone?

SK - good to hear from you, are you feeling any better? Sounded cute with the 2 of them crawling around after you I'm sure it's not so cute for you though!

Any more ideas on the work/baby dilemma? It's not easy is it. When are you thinking of having baby 3?

Tickle - hubby is home now I guess so expect won't hear from you for a while ;)

Lisa how is Lola? Any better? hope so. Lovely pictures- what a sweetie. and doesn't she stand well! where did you get the pink hat? I want one, it's gorgeous.. will get one in case baby 2 is a girl.

Chuffed, so jealous of you! Summer there when it's getting cold and frosty here. Glad the eczema getting better, that's great news.

All going fine here - I had the op and it hurt! but hopefully will sort it out. Also actually had sex, first time this year !!! (Before the op I mean, things all on hold again now due to soreness..) It didn't hurt either Was lovely to feel intimate again. Hope there's more of that to come.

Drinking under control again now, have given myself a firm telling off and started Slimming World to sort out the weight and get some self respect back! Friend is doing it with me so it should do the trick! Not felt booze cravings for about a week so I think the worst is over now.

Must dash d is wailing for his nap!

Love to allxxxx

BR - do you mind me asking what they did as I'm still sore and def sore during sex - can't believe it still so sore this far along.
They told me that the only thing they could do for me was to put me under general and 'stretch' out the scar tissue but that sounds 'expensive' as it isn't life threatening would be at least a 1-2yr wait to get on the 'free' gynae list so would have to go private.

Hi all

Tickle ? you are an amazing woman coping with the kids on your own, I think I divorced my ex-h for less!

I hope all goes well with Theo next week, my ds1 had to have an operation when he was about 18 months (I?ll always remember it was the day of the OJ Simpson verdict). He was born without a testicle (it was re-absorbed whilst I was pregnant) and also had an inguinal hernia on the other side of his groin. He had to have an op to repair the hernia and check that his testicle wasn?t stuck in his abdomen (1 in 2 chance of cancer if it was, luckily it wasn?t). I was very nervous about his GA (not least because I was 8 wks pregnant with ds2 and felt really sick and awful). This was about 11 years ago so things might have changed but I was able to go into the theatre with him whilst they put him to sleep. Lucky ex-mil was with me (dunno where his father was) and we sat in the hospital café trying to distract ourselves till they called me back. The hardest parts were starving him beforehand (from midnight) he should have been first down to theatre at 8.30am but due to various other emergencies he wasn?t done till lunchtime. It was very hard to explain to him that he couldn?t eat or drink. He was very sleepy afterwards (they weighed him for the anaesthetic on a chair on an adult scales!) and it was difficult to make him drink. As soon as they felt a slightly damp nappy they sent us home! I think we were on the ward for 12 hrs, I couldn?t believe that they didn?t keep in him overnight, I felt rather overwhelmed with the responsibility! He became very constipated afterwards due to being a bit dehydrated and we had an awful stuck poo situation (he had stitches across both sides of his tummy so it hurt him to push). Apart from that he was fine and healed quickly. Much more traumatic for me!

Barrelrider & Chuffed, hope you get sorted out, how awful for you after all this time.

Love to everyone else, we're going down to my mum's and my sister's for xmas this weekend! Mum is going to NZ in a couple of weeks.

Goodness me, can I just proclaim my admiration for anyone going into hospital with a tiny person... and also add my wishes to Rach's for Theo's op next week. Hope it's something simple and straightforward to sort out, Tickle.

I've never spent a night in hospital before, but last night DD was admitted to the children's ward, having launched herself head first off of the changing unit in the swimming pool changing rooms yesterday lunchtime. The impact was face first from about four foot up, straight onto concrete (tiled) floor. I was mortified, but fortunately she doesn't seem to have suffered much more than a cut lip. She had a huge lump on her forehead initially, but that went down after a couple of hours, and by this morning even the red/purple bruising seemed to have faded. Nobody would ever guess. Babies are such amazingly resilient little things... not that that stops me from feeling incredibly guilty in allowing it to happen.

DH was telling a friend of Scarlett's ordeal this morning, and he said that recently his BIL's wife and 6mo baby were both thrown out of their car during a serious collision, and the baby came away with not a scratch - incredible.

SK & Iris - hope your sleep issues are starting to get better (it does take some time doesn't it?!). Have you found the No-Cry to be helpful or effective?

Lisa - hope Lola's feeling better, she's really had a time of it eh? Hope you're coping OK also without DH, it must be so hard, you need the will and motivation of two. Lola's pics are fab, I'm just loving those dimples!

Barrelrider, glad your op was successful, and well done with the drinking. You sound like you're really on the right road now, with a craving-free week.

Rach - enjoy your early christmas! Are you having turkey and all the trimmings? I'm very impressed/intimidated by your shopping organisation. I have no idea what to get Scarlett as a pressie - and I think the motivaiton isn't there for me because in the back of my mind I know she'll be completely oblivious... what's everyone else got lined up for their wee ones?

Hiya Girls
Lola's doing much better, the antibiotic syrup has worked a treat, but gawd it hasn't half changed the consistency & frequency of her dirty nappies! I'm gettin an average of 4 seriously explosive nappies a day. Am really hoping that is just the effects of the antibiotics and not a side-effect of teething. She finishes the course today so hoping to get a return to normal soon!

BR- The pink hat was from mothercare, part of a hat/gloves set. It's age 2-3 yrs but didn't look that big, I guess Lola's just got a big head like her mum!

Loomer - how terrifying. I've used those changing thingys at the swimming with Lola before and they're far from secure, so glad Scarlett's ok. I remember babysitting my baby cousin when I was about 13 and he was about 7 or 8 mths. I sat him on the kitchen worktop and turned round for a second to grab something and he fell face first onto the floor! He screeched for a while but had not a single visible bump. I never told my auntie and was racked with guilt every time I saw her for years! Don't let the guilt get to you too much, we all make silly mistakes. Lola almost choked in Tesco this morning. I put a poppy on her jumper - purely because we were gonna be in Tesco for the 11am silence - and as she's a soldier's daughter I thought it only right. Theres me browing the shelves when I hear her spluttering from the buggy. I stuck my fingers in her mouth and was able to retreive the red paper bit, but no sign of the green paper! The plastic stalk was in her lap. Thank gawd it wasn't one with a pin!

BR/Chuffed - I can't begin to imagine how you're coping with those problems. Despite having a cs in the end, I was left pretty traumatised by the forceps etc and still find it really hard to contemplate getting jiggy. Can't imagine how I'd have coped if she'd actually come out the main entrance. We've only successfully managed it twice since Lola was born, which isn't really conducive to our ttc!

Lola finally started crawling about 10 days ago, just in time for Andy to miss it! I reckon she'll be walking before he gets home . Have any of our January babies taken their first unaided steps yet?

hi all well I've gone and got myself a job, just a temp Xmas contract with Next on Saturdays but I'm looking forward to it, was wierd getting the work clothes down from the attic and they are all size 12 and I'm an 8 now (smug emoticon). I'll be working in the childrenswear dept so will probably spend what I earn. In a way nice to have a break from the kids and I know DP will be fine with them. Will just leave a bottle of EBM for T. Think it will be good for DP and T to bond more too. DP isn't a baby person he loves her and everything but he's much better with toddlers. Think as T gets older and more interactive they will be as close as he is with Abbie. I have to admit I prefer toddlers too, babies are cute and snuggly but they don't do much. I love it when they start to walk and talk (well most of the time).

Strange to think some babies walk at 9-10 months. T's not steady enough yet still walks on her tip toes but wants to be upright and walking constantly (sore back time). She's trying to climb up on the furniture now too but not making much progress and wailing instead. Sleeps still a nightmare think ncss has worked a bit but I can't implement it fully as for the daytime naps you are supposed to lie with them and nurse them back to sleep which I can't do with Abbie about and also at night when you nurse them you are supposed to use a gentle pull off technique (remove boob whilst they are sleepy but not sleeping) so you have gentle gradual boob withdrawal but I'm rubbish because usually I fall back asleep whilst she's nursing. Thanks for all the messages of support too

Lisa - so glad Lola is on the mend and hope your not missing Andy too much, what date is he due to return?

Loomer - I'm pretty sure every baby has rolled off of something my two have, I was downstairs on Thursday morning and both babies were still asleep and it was all quiet so I would hear them stirring next thing thump T had crawled out her cot (it's a bedside one with 3 sides pushed against my bed) crawled in her sleeping bag across the bed and fallen out bad bad mummy, fourth side is going up this weekend.

Rach - hi good to hear from you too

barrelrider - hi good to hear you are doing well too, having a crawling/walking baby means you have to reorganise your house no more pretty vases on the floor etc things of nay value just get higher and higher or put away completely. Wait til Dom has mashed/ripped a few important papers that will make DH tidy up more.

Chuffed - we have always wanted at least 3 children (now I have said 3 is the absolute limit) if we do go for number 3 would want to pretty soon as I only have 18 months gap between DDs as you know so think it would be unfair to have 2 so close then wait another few years then have another also quite fancy getting all the pregnancy/birth/newborn stage over with sooner rather than later. Who knows???

love to everyone else xxx