April 2011 - We understand no but we choose to ignore it.

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Welcome Aprilites

I have a feeling ds3's first shoes were a 5! There's not much hope though really, dh and I are both the same height (5'10"), I'm an 8 and dh is 9.

He is tall for his age, but I still think that like ds2 their feet are noticeably big - especially with ds2 because he has very narrow feet and stick like legs!

My friend is a size 2 fizz, I crack up every time I go round her house and see these teeny tiny shoes in her porch. There has never been anything dainty about me!

My house is infested with giant bastard spiders Two massive specimens over the last couple of days and numerous smaller ones.

I'm just recovering from a heart attack after noticing one sprinting across the living room floor while watching Bake Off. Thankfully DH was able to dispatch it using DD's Peppa Pig magazine!

I am truly terrified of them. I hate spider season Sob.

I love spiders! We've got loads of flies around, so I'd welcome a few more flies to keep them in check.

I've been out with my friend's horse this evening! We hadn't got together for ages, even though they live not far from here, but she invited me out to see him a few weeks ago and we've been out for a few rides since! It's brill. I'd forgotten how much I love it.

Oh, and in more relevant news. We've taken the sides off Fs cot again (oh yes, while I was out this evening!), although today he hadn't had a nap so it was a good opportunity. It could still descend into chaos though, so I'm expecting the sides to be back on again by next week!

I think F is about a size 6.5 at the moment. He needs new wellies before the winter...

Anyone else seeing RU sitting in a restaurant opposite a horse using a knife and fork!?

Baby news here! Friend had little girl and work colleague is PG. u fortuaptly she has HG and really uwell (but considering we thought she had some ing more sinister) I'm so happy for her!

I did have cake!

Congrats to your friend and colleague! I'm fully back in the "excited by babies" camp! I think I've finally got over the trauma of The First Year!

I had also got over the dread of the first year but am now remembering it again with increasing regularity. I'm going to miss sleep!

You can pop round and collect my horrid eight legged monsters whenever you want RU. I am being terrorised in my own home

Impressed at all these big feet. Joanna has been in size 4.5s since November. This would be great if we had only had to buy one pair of shoes, howver we've been through three in that time anyway cause she keeps kicking the chuffing things off when sitting in her pushchair. More than once I've had random strangers chasing me in the street yelling "SCUSE ME IS THIS YOUR BABY'S SHOE??". But obviously not quite often enough, as (one each of) two pairs have been lost that way.

I am so far very pleased with the new house having minimal spider action, compared with the last flat which was full of the buggers.

Just met my friends new DD! She is beautiful! Tried to sneak her out under my jumper but they weren't having any of it! :o

Congrats for all the new babies.

S has his first solo settling in session at pre school this morning. He's doing Thursday mornings.

I've got the pnd hv specialist coming today. I said yes to referral in the beginning but have avoided her as my hv has been so supportive.

Hope S enjoyed nursery, and the PNH HV was helpful, Kitty.

F is being an arse. I've put him to bed fairly early because he's tired, hasn't had a nap, etc. and it was only 20 minutes before I gave in and put the side back on the cot. After feigning needing a wee, he kicked and spat at me. Put him in time out. Went to talk to him about it and he continuously spat on me. Time out again. And returned to more spitting. Tried just putting him in his room and shutting the door - he came to the door claiming he'd bumped his head (flailing around on the floor) and then started spitting on me again. I tried telling him off: he laughed and spat on me some more. So amid the shower of saliva I put the sides back on so I could at least safely ignore him.

It's disgusting. He doesn't do this for DH of course. I was so close to doing the "wait till your father gets home" self-undermining nonsense.

I feel better for just offloading that. Any practical suggestions are welcome.

Good lord regaining. Ive no advice unfortunately but xxx

Crikey, RU, I have no idea how I would deal with that but, as kitty says, for you. Are you okay?

It is horrible RU, but quite normal. Ds3 used to do it when he was very excited. Try to remember that what adults associate with spitting (aggressive, antisocial behaviour etc), isnt what F associates it with. For him it's probably about getting attention. I've found that if saying no doesn't work, then ignore - lots of biting of your tongue.

How did per school and the HV go kitty ?

I can't believe that there are only 2 weekdays of the holiday left. On Wednesday ds2 starts primary and ds3 starts preschool

Thanks folks

I felt pretty bad, but F was out like a light immediately after. Obviously over tired.

I felt even better when I saw a woman smack her toddler outside the swimming pool today . I might have growled and manhandled him a bit, but I didn't hit him.

I'm reading the "how to talk so kids will listen" book, so hopefully some of those strategies will help. And going back to school/cm!

DH is back on weds, I'm back on Thurs.

I'll let you know how tonight goes!

Nope. After an hour of messing around (I let DH deal with most of it), I put the side back on his cot. As I was doing so he leant over and started hitting me. We talked about how hitting people makes them sad, and he articulated that mummy is sad (this is at least a daily conversation). He knew he had to say sorry, said it, then reached out and hit me again. To which I shut the door and left.

He was great all day. Just an arse at bedtime again. Not sure if we'll try again tomorrow. He still can't climb out. And I'm not up for this when we're back at work.

Tell me he'll just grow out of this. Or will at least get to a point where he actually understands these things. (DH reckons that although he can articulate very well, and seems capable of making the connections, he's just not really understanding it at all)

RU they do grow out of it, and all of them do so at different times.

T still can't self-settle to sleep, despite us trying everything. He still needs either BF (which tbh I'm feeling ready to stop but he LOVES and will not consider going without) or for DH to rub his back or sometimes rock him still.

Part of our issue is that we just cannot leave him to yell during term time because of DS1, because they share a room. We have tried over the summer and he has just got horribly upset. It is a nightmare, he needs to drop his nap really and then it would be better but he needs to have one about every 2-3 days just to top up and then bedtime goes to hell.
He is up with us now, perfectly cheerful, but just won't sleep.

DS1 on the other hand could just be put to bed from less than a year old. He went through phases of needing someone to sit with him until he fell asleep, but those only lasted a few days, a couple of weeks at the most, and then he was back to settling himself.

The spitting thing I'm sure was horrid for you, but he doesn't understand that it is upsetting for you really - he just knows that he's getting a reaction and so he keeps doing it. Try and ignore. Easier said than done I know!

Ah yes, the over tired thing. Mine turn into shrieking banshee's when overtired, it's truly horrific.

You sound like you're handling it really well, so don't be hard on yourself about it. I've found in parenting that you seem to bounce from one issue to another. Some are fleeting and easy to deal with, others can be utterly baffling.

We are off to spend a few days in a yurt. Beyond excited!

Ooh, Yurt sounds nice!

The over tiredness is so hard to get right. Fs overtiredness is less tantrummy (oddly) more crazy rolling/running around doing silly faces etc. just won't stay still long enough to go to sleep.

I forgot to mention something amusing from yesterday. You know all those loud parenting/mc show off threads? We had lunch at Pizza Hut yesterday (mmm, lunch buffet!) and when the waitress asked F what he'd like to drink he asked for "Mango juice please". I don't know where he's had mango juice before.

Well, that didn't go to plan. Left the sides on, but he finally managed to climb out! So, sides are off, stairgate is on his door, and he's currently standing there rattling the gate. He's thrown his bear out, and I'm expecting the contents of his drawers imminently!

I have , I'm ignoring all as long as he is safe/happy.

Any improvement rc?

Hv was abjt pointless as I'm getting what I need from my one but its got her off my back and she told me well done.

Settling session went ok. Was his last one fri. Starts thurs. he was teary at times app but its all knew. He will get there.

*ru

Shame HV wasn't particularly helpful. Glad S is settling in well. F has his first full day at 'New Nursery' on Thursday too. Except they don't open early enough and since the cm still does the school run, she'll be doing the drop off. He's in a group with friends from baby group days!

F's doing ok with bedtimes. He's a pro at suddenly needing the loo as soon as he's in bed, and then taking 20 minutes over it. He's not back to his old terrible ways yet.

I moved the stairgate back from his door to the stairs so he can come to us himself in the morning! Two more lazy-ish mornings left!

Hello! How self indulgent is it that I've just come on to tell you all I'm labour!! :) 3 days over and hoping today will bring an end to that. Hope everyone else is well and congrats to green amd jolly
See you on the other side

Good luck MrsW!