Dec 08 - three is the new two.

[Vagolajahooli]

Well it seems appropriate you cheeky breeders.

Oh arti. Bless your DD2. I'm sure it's just all her emotions all over! My DD was weepy on & off for 2 years about all sorts of stuff (inc the friend issue). But always talked so happily about school!

Glad all the others have had good days at school! So exciting to see their pics on FB. I have to admit to getting a little teary when looking at them. I felt like a proud Auntie or something. Will be a wreck on Monday when DS starts though! I'm so tragic!!

Jam SPD sucks. I had it mildly with DS. They have me a ridiculous tubi-grip type bandage to wear round my hips. It went in the bin! Hope it's not too painful for you

Rubes how's the knee?

Oh Arti, just shows what a lovely sensitive little thing she is. Sure it'll all get better. Little bird.

Sybs, are you going to One Small Step. Oh the memories!! Poor you feeling so rotten. Hope you pick up soon. My two are so tired tonight, they were both asleep before 7.30 tonight, which is a first since the holidays started!

Eaten too much spag bol. I forget my stomach is squashed, so still eat big portions, the spend the evening feeling a bit sick. Not very clever!

DH on a bit of a session with work tonight. It's their last year's Christmas party, which they've only just managed to get round to. Wonder if I'll go into labour tonight. That's what happened with DD2 when he got pissed 5 nights before she was due!! I had to drive myself to hospital in the morning!

Well at least you are going for a home birth Beans then if he is drunk he doesnt have to drive

Arti bless your DD. It is just so mentally taxing for them all. DS2 hasnt fallen asleep before 9 all wk as I think his little brain cant switch off.

Dieds I know exactly what you mean am loving seeing them all in their uniforms. Proud Auntie is definitely how I have been feeling.

We are never far from tears here. I expect poor dd2 is just overwhelmed, Arti. . My dd2 is also a sensitive type and had several tears, despite beung a nursety veteran, but got into the swing quite quickly. I suppose its so different from nursery. They actually do have yo sit still and do as told for long periods. 15 mins must be an age when you are 4.

Hugs to you all xx

We've been having a lot of random over-wrought tears here for quite a while, at least once at each end of the day. Stuff that S would never noramlly mind about - E has the toy she wants, normally she'd just find something else but now she wails. Or we ask her to put shoes on in the morning, flings self onto sofa and says "but I caaaaaan't do it!". I think they're all realising that life is changing. Hard to believe they're so grown up now! I know I'm not here much any more but I do love that you're all always about when needed, and the rest of the time just gassing on about silly stuff wish I could join in more...

Beans that is one overdue christmas party!

Man I'm big. Sooooo uncomfortable.

DH's first cousin's wife had her first baby today by c-section because it was breech. She was due 6 days before me and I'm so jealous she's done it already! She had a Florence. Gorgeous!

Ds home from second morning at school. Still loves it. He announced this morning that dd must call him "school boy" and not use his name
Must admit. 12 noon pick up getting old already. Glad I'm trialling dd on those full days! That didn't take long.
2 trips up our hill feels good on the knee tho Deids! Encouraging. Good intro back at it as I jogged it twice now pushing dd too.
Not long now beans.
Exciting re buying in Florida Jam. Would you make much to sell later tho? Or are you just thinking for hols as you go there a lot.
We would do that eventually if possible, either Aust or Spain, but want to extend and do up this house after we first buy it!

Lady how has dds day gone? DS loved it again. Said he made a new friend called Charlie Just cannot believe dd will be there next year. Seems way too teeny.
Also Lady I vaguely remember you had an umbrella type stroller which had quite off road wheels. I remember commenting once. Can you tell me the make of it?

Glad DS had a good day Rubes. Arti, how was Dd2 today? Hope a little more settled.

Thanks Sybs. It's def a weight off that he's settled in well. How is M feeling about starting? School has really knackered him - DH is away tonight, so I've brought their bedtime early for a night of quiet reality TV They are about 10 mins off going up and actually think it's post bedtime already and they are allowed one more episode of Rollie Pollie Ollie but have to go up straight after that! -evil me

Her second day was better thanks Sybs. No tears after drop and she made friends with a Jemima who she is very proud off.

Rubes I often physically change the time on our kitchen clock to con the girls into believing they are getting a late night. Mwah-ha-ha.

Glad to hear the settling in is going well, it's so sweet that they have their little friends already.

S just had her last day at nursery - she's fine, said she's sad and will miss X her key worker - i'm the weepy one... It's suddenly hit me that both she and E are spending most of their waking hours with other people. Yes, they're super people who really do love the girls, but still it's not her family. So we're missing out on lots of the important (and less important) stuff, and they're with us for the shouty bits at getting dressed time and bedtime. They play "you be my baby and I'll be your key worker' games fgs.

I know I would have been a crap sahm (no patience and no imagination) and wish It was possible to make yourself the kind of person with endless energy and bounciness and patience. Just feel that the girls are getting a short straw really. And it's far too late to be wailing about this, made my bed some years ago on this one!

JJ that is quite funny that they play 'babies and key workers'! I think the working mum guilt is just one of those things that never goes away. I totally get what you mean about it being a shame that we are present only for the grumpy parts of the day. I am lucky to have Fridays off and I do relish having some relaxing time with them without bedtime routines and being able to see their friends and teachers. Will you ever get to do pick-up from school?

Oooh you've done well to have Fridays off

Sometimes they ask "Can I have some paper, I need to do my planning"! It's quite sweet really, otherwise they'd be playing "grumpy mum" anyway

I'll be doing drop-off for S in the mornings (nursery is on the way to DHs work) and then pick-up for both of them, except Tuesdays which is my late day and DH will do it as usual. I'll try and get her settled into after school club gradually, which will mean taking afternoons off for a few weeks over and above the settling in period - it seems a bit harsh to go from "2 weeks of 9-1" to "9-5.30" straight away. We've spun it as Play club, rather than ASC, and it's in the church hall that she associates with squash and biscuits on a Sunday :) rather than being associated with school, which is good.

The difficulty with getting out early from work is that we're tied to particular customer service hours of 9-5, it's not really possible to say I'd like to work early (eg 7-3) and then be able to do school pick-ups. I discovered the other day that of the approx. 25 women of professionally-qualified level in my place of work (of about 60, so not a bad start!) only 2 work part time. It's much easier for people at the assistant level to get part time hours, we're less able to. Also my dept has a customer facing role, so have to be available during "core hours" of 9-5. I'm shortening my day by having a shorter lunch break so I can def be out at 5 and do the pick-up, unfortunately for a couple of years it's work-school-nursery-home which are not nearly in a straight line (more of a N shape!), but once E moves to school it's much quicker so I'd be able to shift hours back once again to leave at 5.15.

Gosh that was all rather boring! I'm at work right now for my 1 Saturday in 8. We even get people asking if we're open on Sundays. Erm, not in the current funding situation, sorry!

Beans, are you thinking of a home birth? We have a pool, used once only, if you like had planned to use it as a paddling pool, yeah right, though the pump does come in very handy.

Jam, sorry to hear about the SPD.

I hate all this guilt! If we work we feel guilty with not with the DCs, and the time we do have is the fraugh kind of time; but if we don't, then we feel guilty that we're not bringing in a wage and that we are shouty at the kids and, dare I say it, sometimes find it all a bit boring! I don't think there's any solution, its so annoying!

I've been to look round our local hospital today, just in case I have a last minute terror of homebirth. It was actually lovely, despite being ina really rough area. There's a midwife led bit, for low riskers like me. It was empty! And every room had a birth pool, which is something I haven't really thought of!

JJ, that's a v kind offer of your birth pool, but am generally ok without, so will probably just have a bath or something if I feel I need it. But thank you. How was your HB?

I don't remember feeling this desperate to get on with it with the DDs. Honestly, am so impatient and I've still got 2 weeks to go. Probably because I feel so so enormous and incapable. I hate not physically being able to do stuff with the girls. I haven't even been on the trampoline yet! Although when I finally do, I'll probably wee all over it. Hee hee!

Lady, are you giving number 3 a go then? Ooh, I hope so! Crack on and it'll be In The same school year as Jam and mine! Yay!

Sybs, how are you feeling? Any better?

I'm just listening to the DDs playing with their mermaid Barbies in the bath... Does anyone else's DCs do imaginary play with a terrible American accent? Disney has a lot to answer for in this house! It's hilarious, but appalling all in one go!! I am ashamed of it!

Beans yes mine do the tragicomic Americanese accents but not as much as they used to. It was particularly excruciating when they were going through their Dora phase.

JJ with you on wishing you could post here more often on here and also about the guilt. I've been off this week and DP has mostly been in London so I've been playing at being a SAHM. It's been lovely and I do envy those of you who don't have to go out to work. I can just see how much the DCs get out of having me around more and me being more relaxed (although having said that I've caught myself screaming at the top of my voice at the DCs a couple of times - not the best idea when you've got all your windows and doors open and your new neighbours are in the garden). I find the housework bit just so bloody relentless though I have to admit. It reminded me how much DP has to do and I did have to have a few awkward conversations like what to do with the bins & recycling

Rubes glad DS is enjoying school. Is he still insisting on being called "school boy"? Love it. Have checked & I can't see your fb pages any more but I'm sure he looked a treat. DD is also knackered. Would help if she went to sleep before 10pm occasionally it has to be said.

Jam SPD sounds grim.

Vag how do you advertise your London flat? We normally do it through Gumtree but this time we've hardly had a call. Have you ever tried facebook? I'm toying with the idea as I am way too tight to pay an agent. However fb brings out the paranoiac in me so I'm a bit reluctant. Plus I wouldn't want everyone on my friends list seeing it and I've no idea how to do that. Not to mention that the flat's a bit -ahem - tired and I'd be embarrassed (authentic vintage retro pink bathroom suite anyone?) .

Hello dear hearts. It's been a hectic 'ole week. I'm at Mum's again - her other half is away for a week so we have come up for the weekend and then she is coming back with us for a few days - big news, as she is mildly agoraphobic and doesn't travel much. She has usually just manages one night a year near Christmas!

Anyway, loads to catch up on and I will be back later on (and I really shall).

Brrr, a bit chilly in the Midlands this morn. There's an autumn nip in the air!

DD1's four full days at school last wk seemed to go ok. She claims not to be playing with anyone (a bit of a worry, she is quite quiet and her best pal from pre-school has gone to a different school) but the week ended on a high when she got a certificate of achievement in assembly! One child per class is awarded one every Friday for doing a good piece of work and my little O was the one from her class. She is so proud and it's a confidence booster that she really needed.

How is DD1, Beans? Will she be off to school tomorrow? Sorry about your bump - it must have been v upsetting. Glad DH stepped up to the plate!

Rubes, how did your mortgage stuff go the other day? Sounds like a gruelling sesh. I hate doing all that stuff. Glad DS is happy with school. I'm envious of you lot who have another one off next Sept - DD2 is 3 later this month so she's got a full two more yrs at pre-school. It's too long, she's champing at the bit to go to school already.

I am so sorry you've got mastitis again, Arti. Wot a bummer. I hope it passes quickly. DD2 will deffo settle at school. Are there many people she knows there?

Oh Jam - that's so annoying about the SPD - didn't ZJ have that second time around? I get where you're coming from re: buying a second place. I'd love to buy in Northern Spain (well, anywhere in Spain but we'd have to be practical and get somewhere we could also drive to). Never been to Florida but I'm very curious abou it.

Well done on the essay, Vag! 'Atta girl. Travels all over for the year?

I'm on my phone so I am just going to post this then carry on.

I'd forgotten you'd still got your London pad, PD. Do you own your gaff in Essex? That's quite the property empire! How I wish I was brave enough to rent my flat privately. I'd save a packet. In answer to your questions (and I didn't know you'd lived in Poland - amazing! And hats off about learning some of the language, it's so counterintuitive to us Brits) - the roads were probably better than we though but not great. There were some truly frightening instances of overtaking but we survived. The roads themselves were passable, not too potholey. Basically though, there are slow A roads everywhere at best. Barely any motorways. When we were driving towards Ukraine I'd spotted, in our road map, a lovely new motorway taking us to the border, which our Satnav seemed not to know about. I told DP it was because he'd been too tight to shell out for the satnav updates. But it turned out not to exist Humble pie, and a very long meandering road journey, for me.

In terms of prepping DD1 for school - I've done a bit over the last year or so as she's into it and keen. Not tons. She's reading and writing simple words, doing v basic addition and subtraction. Her school is a bit off the pace academically in my opinion (although frankly I am probably overbothered about this stuff) but the pastoral care is excellent.

JJ - don't beat yourself up, my love. Your girls are happy and bright, are they not? Believe me, there's guilt and anxiety either way. I tell myself I'm not a SAHM because I freelance a bit, but I am really. I have enjoyed being at home, broadly, and the girls have liked it but I have been very wistful about career stuff the whole time. Working mothers get bashed and SAHMs get zero respect. And people can get so self righteous about their choices either way, which I HATE. You just have to do what works best for you and your family, fully cognisant that there are always disadvantages and sacrifices whatever you do and you cannot escape that. I would like to work part time out of the house, ideally, but I can see that would still have its cons. But 0 hate it when people make pronouncements about it, such as when Cherie Blair said that women who stay at home when their kids are small are setting them a bad example (But she is a very crass woman anyway).

Who was asking me about No.3? I haven't cracked on with it yet and still might lose my bottle. So will just give it, er, a whirl for a bit and see what happens. Can't believe I would get upduffed fast again, I am 41.

Amazing female conductor on the Proms last night. Marin something (nice name). She gave a speech and said you should always believe in yourself and never give up, as you will create a future filled with possibilities Inspiring.

I also caught a bit of X Factor, which I don't watch when at home (or just the odd bit). I don't care for Sharon Osbourne. But what I really hate is when they laugh at the contestants. I think it's cruel and rude - if my girls did that to someone, for instance, I'd be really cross.

I've done very little with ds to prepare, mainly as he's very very resistant at home so I kind of gave up trying. Thankful that he was at nursery 3 days a week as they have said he's quite receptive there so hoping it follows suit at school. I go through periods of worrying about it, but his pre-school key worker said he's very good with numbers and will only do letters and things when he knows it perfectly first in his own head. Sadly he can read things on the computer screen which are game related, and knows how to type his name faster than writing it but can still write a bit. I hope he'll be ok, and dh assures me he remembers there were kids who knew way more than he did when he started school, and he's done alright for himself!

Lady so great that your mum is coming back with you!
ooops gotta go....back shortly....

We watched the Proms too. Lady just fabulous. I was a bit saddened that although brilliant to have a female conductor it was a shame she wasnt British and that the lead singer last night was also American. I did love Nigel Kennedy he is amazing.

Funnily enough as much as I love xfactor DH and I also commented on the ribbing of the awful contestants it went too far.

DS1 had his first football match today I couldn't go as DH has the car today so a friend took him. Apparently he and his friend only got 10 mins of play but they won 15-3 so didn't seem to care that they hardly played.

I really need to crack on I have several huge marrows that I need to cook. More chutney and some jam I think. All sorted for the teachers Christmas presents.

In terms of prepping for starting school we have done nothing. DS2 is clued up on numbers can do basic addition and knows most of his letters. What you need to remember is that by the end of reception the goal is that they know their sounds (ruddy phonics) letters and are competent at basic addition and subtraction 0-10. Also that they can read basic sentences. It sounds like lots of our babies are already at that point.

Ok really really need to get a move on DH will be back from his race soon and all I have achieved this morning is a bit of tidying up and had a shower.

Happy Sunday all. Oh and good luck to the school starters this wk.

OH good, dh has just gone mental as ds has closed one of his reports and he's lost a load of work. After he realized it was his own fault (he lets him play on the computer but normally saves stuff when he goes off to work, however today just went to the toilet and ds decided to play for a bit (dh does alarmingly lengthy craps) and "closed a couple of pages as it slows down his game" anyway, ds was in tears, dh realized he was wrong as ds didn't know, so his solution? I think we need to get you your own computer as you'll need it for homework anyway! Dear God....
Anyway, Jam ds is about the same. I also spoke to a couple of reception teachers and they say it's more important to have the self care stuff sorted these days, as sadly a lot of the kids coming in who are ahead with reading / numbers, still can't do up zips and wipe their bums, yet the ones who can, but are not quite the same academically usually catch up fast, and in a lot of cases overtake.
urgh gotta go again.....

Ha LadyT yes property empire or house of cards depending how I look at it! We own the Essex place in that we've got a mortgage on it, but it's interest only. Same with the London place. I'm hoping at some point we'll be able to afford to start repaying them and have them both paid off by retirement age but the mortgage on the London place just gets bigger and bigger (and is about to get even bigger as we've got fork out a fortune extend the leasehold) so I don't know how realistic that is. We do own the place in Spain but that's worth about cinco duros.

Well done to DD on her certificate of achievement! First of many proud moments I'm sure. I'm sure she'll find a playmate soon enough. Did all the children start at the same time? At our school they stagger it into 3 groups.

So you're definitely going for number 3 then! Whoo! Will you really just give it a whirl and see what happens? I tried that for about 2 months with DS then after that it was full on ovulation sticks. And with DD I went straight for ovulation sticks, temperature measuring and even bought a £5 microscope to look at my saliva (which was fascinating). I just felt more relaxed about the whole thing knowing that I had done everything I could and if I wasn't pregnant then it wasn't because we'd mistimed it. It worked anyway! It's been in the news a lot lately that the fall in fertility after age 35 has been massively exaggerated. You'll be knitting bootees by Christmas I bet!