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

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

Welcome Aprilites

[JollyShortGiant]

DS sometimes greets people with "Aye aye" and he responds "Nae bad" if asked "foos yer doos?".

Hope things calm down for you soon, seems like you've had a mad time of it recently.

I have a read of this thread every so often. H seems to be fairly typical for his age looking on here! He's nowhere near potty training though. Has no clue when he's peeing. And he moved into a big bed in April. His gro clock has been one of the best things we've bought.

DC2 shall be along on Aug 22nd. ELCS this time so date is pretty firm. Having a section as I punctured my lung when labouring with H so the consultants don't want me to push again. It makes planning childcare easier but the recovery will be a bit of a bugger as we live in a village and I won't be able to drive.

Will continue lurking :)

[TwentiethCenturyGirl]

You punctured your lung [?! That sounds brutal! I think you win the worst labour award - you poor thing. Im not surprised you're taking the doctors advice about not pushing again! Hope you have an easier ride this time round.<br /> <br /> Potty training is going well here (touch wood). She seems to have got it, so I'm hoping we don't have a regression at any point. Still in the cot though - im dreading the switch to the big bed. At what point is it cruel for them to still be penned in at night [ I can't face what I know will be an epic nightly battle...

Roasting here tonight. Is anybody else melting?

[UnderwaterBasketWeaving]

It's HOT here, although cooled to 24C in Fs room this morning.

We put the sides back on the cot after 3 months of craziness. He didn't read the stuff about rapid return.

In the last week we've had "I got poo" followed by a wander up and successful performance on the potty. And last night, After much toddler nudity and false alarms "oh! I got wees!" And subsequent performance!

Early days, and we're not officially training, just providing the opportunity when we can. Need to get the car seat pad & travel potty thing.

Anyway: helloooo all! Hope everyone can stay cool and comfortable today, I imagine its fairly unpleasant being pregnant in this weather! Take it easy.

[GreenFirefly]

My due date is Aug 23rd but like Jolly I'm planning a c-sec - got the consultant appointment in a couple of weeks to request it. I understand they tend to be done in the 39th week so I guess this baby will be a week or so before Jolly's. The idea does make planning childcare easier, as long as we don't get an early arrival!

No potty training happening here either - so much for the idea of re-usables encouraging them to train earlier .

We've had big strops the last couple of mornings about her wanting to put a coat on - not just any coat but a big padded winter coat she has no concept of dressing for the weather - insisted on playing in the garden wearing wellies on Sunday!

[GlaikitFizzog]

The correct response to foos yer doos is, "aye peckin'"

[NomDeClavier]

Aprillites! I have missed you lot. I never see the thread in active convoys and having failed to meet up yesterday thought I should bop along.

News: We probably have the pox or it might be aome weirdy post viral rash. My EDD is Christmas fecking Eve. This heat is bloody unbearable. House move was successful. I'm lurking in England for a couple of weeks.

:( Awful news about your CM fizz. Sorry you had such a shit week.

Can't believe the next round of babies is due so soon!!!

I'm half-heartedly encouraging potty training but he's not sure about the potty so although he can hold his poo til he gets a clean nappy and announces he's doing a wee we're not up for full on training!

[Kittycatcat]

We missed you nom. I hope its nothing nasty.

Yay for move.

Eek for Xmas eve.

[UnderwaterBasketWeaving]

Helloo, hellooo!

Hi Nom, nice to think you're in the UK for a change!

How exciting to have an Xmas baby! Although we're expecting a January baby really, right?!

F's been nappy free all weekend. Saturday was ace, wees in the potty. Sunday not so much, I had to clean up 4 puddles. He's largely been in a nappy with DH today. Not going to go the whole hog for another fortnight really. Then it's a mission to crack it by September.

Any recommended reading?

Oh, and he's not been napping, and is therefore sleeping by 7:30! Except he slept in the car with DH today. So he'll be up for hours again!

Well jel of your meet up. x

[TwentiethCenturyGirl]

Welcome home Nom! Fingers crossed it's just a mild dose if DS is pox ridden. Is he itching much? Porridge baths went down a treat in the TCG house when we were pox ridden.

We seem to be sorted on the potty front. Not had an accident for a couple of weeks now and she seems to have cracked remembering to tell us that she needs the loo, rather than us reminding her all the time. I still haven't risked a nappy free nap yet though, even though she always seems to be dry after her lunch time snooze. We'll see if it lasts. Having read the potty training threads, it doesn't seem to be that uncommon for them to have a regression.

Are you looking for reading for you or F UBW? If it's for F, then DD seemed to like Princess Polly's Potty (well, she liked the sound effect anyway ). I think you can get one for boys called Pirate Pete or something. Might be worth a squizz?

How was the meet up folks? The pictures on facebook were lovely. It looked like a good time was had by all :)

Feels a wee bit cooler here tonight. I don't really mind the hot days but can't stand the sticky nights.

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

Hi everyone :)

We had lovely brunch on Sunday - Fizz and kitty are gorgeous and lovely and baby A is as cute as a button and he was sooo good sitting in his highchair while we gassed away.

We are half-heartedly potty training here too. T is pretty good with sees but won't poo anywhere except a nappy. I'm hoping for lots of nappy free time while we're on holiday and then I want to get it cracked over the summer.

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

Hello everyone. RL has taken over the past few weeks which is why I have been AWOL - nothing particularly interesting, house stuff, committee stuff etc etc

Another one who is well jel of the meet up.

Gawd it is hot here today, there is NO air. Although saying that I think that a breeze is starting up. Hot days fine, hot nights are shite. Ds3 has an aircon unit in his room (his room gets the sun all day and is unbearable) so he's ok, but the rest of us are sleeping fitfully. I have black rings under my eyes - attractive.

I keep umming and ahhing over potty training. It would be nice to have ds dry for pre-school in September, but I really don't have any enthusiasm for it and ds shows no signs of being interested.

Ds3 had his settling in session at pre-school last week and bloody loved it. He loved running around in a feral pack with the other boys, he loved blowing bubbles in the paint, he loved choosing what to eat and drink at snack time, he loved song and dance time. Let's hope it's the case when I actually leave him there in Sept! I also found out who is key worker will be today and she's lovely.

Ds2 has finished his settling in sessions at primary and we know who his teacher is. He enjoyed going there and his teacher is lovely and very experienced in reception, the TA Is lovely too. ( how many times can I say lovely in two paragraphs )

So at the moment I am feeling good about September and the changes that it will bring for all of us

I now have to tackle the summer holiday spreadsheets and get visits and activities booked in. There's a fair bit on there already, but there's always room for more! I'm also going to start a list of things that need tackling around the house from September, I may have to hire a skip for the declutter!

[Kittycatcat]

Thanks Ali so are you :)

Excellent re DS2 and DS3 Ilike

We are toilet training next month. Argh.

S got a place in the pre school i wanted :) Starts 2nd Sept, Thurs ams for now :) SO excited x

[JollyShortGiant]

Has anyone else's child turned into a complete monster? We've had over 1.5 hours of tantrums today. I am tired out. Thankfully he's gone to bed okay so I can get some time to cry relax.

[TwentiethCenturyGirl]

We have days like that JSG - it's exhausting (for everybody concerned) isn't it? When it's particularly bad, I have to roll out the good old this too shall pass mantra and seek out the gin

ILTMIMI - I can't believe you have summer holiday spreadsheets. You must be the most organised person in the world. I'm impressed!

[Daisy17]

Snap, jolly, couldn't have put it better myself. I actually whimpered "I just want my sweet little boy back" to DP earlier on! Everything is NO, and woe betide if his will is crossed.......I feel like a wuss but it leaves me feeling horribly emotionally battered!

Any tips from those who've been here before?!

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

T is just the same, and DS1 actually who is in a state of triple hysteria induced by the heat, the impending end of term and the fact that it is now only 6 days until his birthday

Daisy - I find that just disengaging a bit is the best option. I provide a drink in case thirst is the issue (in a cup with a lid to minimise rage-induced spillages) and then leave him to it. Nothing enrages T more than someone trying to negotiate with him when he is cross, or expect him to be rational in his demands For example this evening 'my want shower' x 100 with screaming. DH turned the shower on 'Noooooooo' x 100 with screaming. And so it went on.
Step away from the toddler

[Daisy17]

Thanks, Ali, it feels so much better when you read of other toddlers doing the same things! S had a massive tantrum about leaving the garden and going upstairs to change his nappy, then when we finally got downstairs again he had an even bigger one about wanting to go upstairs again!! Which at another time wouldn't have been an issue but he was naked in preparation for the paddling pool, he's nowhere near potty training yet and I couldn't get near him to put a nappy on.....Bah..... I do try to step away from the toddler (good phrase!) but it's so hard not to try to stop the wailing with reason - esp as at this age they DO understand so much, it's tempting to conclude that they are fully rational beings!

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

Also distraction can work sometimes. DH was able to diffuse things this evening by proffering his head for T to pat bubbles onto.

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

Triple hysteria? Such fun! . What have you got ds1 for his birthday?

I don't think this heat helps with anyone's mood, or maybe that's just me!

I need the spreadsheet to keep me organised 20th. There are columns for each ds and one for me. It's a military operation to keep us all occupied and amused during the 6 weeks off!

Yy to disengage. I just ignore the behaviour and walk off, otherwise it can blow up out of all proportions. It gives us both time to cool off and get over it. Writing that down I wonder who's the child here

Ds3 interrupted a convo dh and I were having earlier, so dh said 'wait a minute please ds, mummy and I are talking'. He looked at dh, walked off and muttered 'so rude!' Ha ha! Gotta love 'em.

[Daisy17]

Haha, Ilike...... We've been doing lots of encouragement for S to say No thank you to things. Only now I say, right, time to do your nappy now and he says No thank you!

[UnderwaterBasketWeaving]

I'm so glad it's not just us with the ridiculous contrary tantrums ('I want frog hat' 'here you go' 'I NOT WANT FROG HAT!' etc.) although F does seem to bounce from one to another with very little time between!

I've made a list of things to do this summer. We were going to have DH off for all of it too, but he's just accepted some part time work for the hols. Which isn't a bad thing, he gets cash and toys to play with, I get a couple of days of a tidy house!

One more week of school....!

[GreenFirefly]

Mega tantrum here this morning about a magnetic letter lost down the radiator. Fortunately Daddy managed to get it out got another one to become the rescued one
I've just got some bad news that the cafe round the corner is closing on Saturday - it's run by 2 former midwives on the profits from the antenatal classes which the NHS isn't renewing the contract for. Just when i start maternity leave next week too - the cafe runs a breastfeeding peer support group on Wednesday mornings which i was looking forward to getting back to. They are hoping to keep classes and groups running but I'm really as I've made so many friends there and there's nearly always someone you know in there.

[JollyShortGiant]

Oh no firefly, that's rubbish :(

Today has gone better in terms of tantrums. I'm much more in control and am not trying to reason with H when he goes off on one. He's had 2 trips to the naughty blanket (no suitable steps). The first was fine - think he was too shocked to argue. The second time I had to return him to it SIXTY FOUR times before he sat on it for two minutes. But more successful than yesterday because I didn't argue with him at all and by the time we got to him saying sorry he was still well aware of the reason why he'd been put there.

No nap today. He did go into his room and play alone for quite a while so I suppose that's the best I can hope for. I don't feel comfortable working in the garden when he's awake though so not much got done outside.

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

firefly - do you have a local branch of the NCT in your area? They now own the Baby Cafe brand, so they may be interested in the cafe. Although with dc2 on the way you may not be in a position to help get it off the ground.

[Kittycatcat]

Oh no firefly

64 Jolly. Good grief

S has becoming very bossy. He gets it from his big cousin who is 4. He isat inlaws mons and tues. it stops in a few weeks as his parents work in schools tho I expect he will be there at least once a week til sept. the s and a can do more together without the handful influencing them.

A is crawling