Dec 08 - three is the new two.

[Vagolajahooli]

Well it seems appropriate you cheeky breeders.

Great idea Vag!

Oh Hons I forgot you asked that about the tall thing. To be honest I struggle. Boden do taller stuff but I usually like their kids stuff and not their grown ups. I'm kind of in between so can usually get into most stuff at regular but do struggle with arm length for coats in winter therefore tend to fall back on Next. With jeans if you get pricier ones then you can dictate length so I just buy 34/36 length. I'm usually ok in Summer tho. Looks like you got some advice anyway.
Right am having a cleaning sesh tonight instead of a run since dh at work!

Hons DS1 was yelling "break him, break his serve", even when Murray was serving. They went mental when he won. It was like when Arsenal score a goal. Something equally as rare as a British Wimbledon champion.

It was like that here Vag. They were hugging each other and DS2 even shed a tear or 2.

Speaking of DS2 and tennis. He will only talk to me if I call him Andy. It is getting slightly tedious now.

Ha! Mine were watching Mike the Knight and other beebies throughout!

Have just given in and bought myself a maternity swimming costume. I have to admit that I am actually properly pregnant now... Have squished myself into a non-maternity tankini to go to a friend's house for a swim and it's just not attractive. Went for this one as thought it was pretty inoffensive. Even nice. But if the summer's going to be this sunny, I may have to squeeze into a cozzie quite often!

After my night of insomnia, I slept from 9.45-6.45 last night. Marvellous. Had to get up for girls twice, which was annoying! But I had a pee while I was at it, so it wasn't wasted awake time!

What's the news on this sunny day, ladies?

Bleugh I've wasted this gorgeous day with a killer migraine. Thankfully DH came home from work to do pick up for me and have taken some bits & it's settling down now. Managed to sit in the garden for a bit while the boys played on the slip'n'slide. Such a gorgeous day. I did manage a work out this morning which is good but I wander if I let myself get dehydrated and that bought it on. I should have maybe gone for a swim at the beach instead.

I like that bikini Beans.

Aargh just remembered I have a dinner thing tonight. Really don't feel like it but it's a farewell so better go.

Hi all

Back from lovely weekend in Devon. We could not have picked a nicer couple of days for a visit & we took full advantage of the weather with picnics and river swimming and letting the girls stay up and outside with us until 10pm each night. They are suitably exhausted and asleep already which is good as the builders are arriving to start work on our loft tomorrow and I have to clear it this evening. What a lovely night for hard physical labour in a hot attic room! DH chose a good night to have to work really late.

Lovely to hear from you SL! Sorry your DS is in a whinging phase. Where did you camp? Would you recommend it? I'm always on the look out for good tips, we are off to a tiny site in Oxfordshire the weekend after next.

I'm glad your migraine is better Veg. It's stiflingly hot to be doing exercise. Surely there is no need in weather like this as the sweat pours out even when you are stationary!

DS crying. So much for the dream of clearing the loft.

Soooo drunk. Migraine fine now, but might have a hangover to replacement it tomorrow.

How you doing, Vag? Throbbing head again? What did you get up to?

DH got up at 6.15, so thought I'd just bite the bullet and do the same. Been ready since 6.30 and the girls are still asleep. Lucky buggers. How come they never sleep this late when I'm knackered and desperate for some sleep???

Demolition on our brown and orange bathroom starts today. Yay! Arti, how did you get on with clearing the attic?

Hello everyone.

Blimey, it's hot already. I went to the Lido yesterday morning and had a lovely, if chilly, swim, but I caught the sun in 1.5 hours! Oh dear. THe kids are also really brown, despite liberal applications of factor 50. Bad mummy.

Beans, we are alos having our shower room retiled today. What have you gone for? Our is boring cream but at least it will be smart without the tiles falling off the wall, as they currently are. Can we come and admire it (and you) over the hols?

Vag hope your head is not too sore.

Am off swimming again today. My redundancy issues have resulted in a small weight gain (all of it wine, natch) and I need to shift it or my clothes won't do up!

Jam, I saw about meeting you DH on FB. Is he American? I am guessing not. I also thought your oldest was 7, but that can't be right either! I am so rubbish. Hope all well with new baby and the bleeding has settled.

Arti, I am planning a raid on the Curtain Exchange in Fulham next Wed. Might you be free afterwards for coffee - or perhaps something more refreshing? Would love to see you and young A.

Kayz, not long now til DH back. How's the jewellery business going? Hang on in there.

Any more news of a meet up date? I had epic fail last time I tried and picked the week when most London folk were away!

Sybs, it isn't going at all. It is flaming impossible as DD is still bloody rubbish at sleeping anywhere that isn't on me. I am hoping that we can get her sleeping in her cot when DH gets home. Only about 2.5 weeks to go.

What holidays are you all going on?

I can not wait to go on holiday. We are staying at Heathrow so DS1 can see the planes and then going to Legoland. Then we are going to PILs for a few days. So not really a holiday but nice to get away. Also having a day trip to Calais at the end of August. Going to buy mountains of cheese, which explains why I look like the Michelin man!!

It's the clearly the week for Dec '08 mums to redesign their bathrooms. We are having our loft redone for an au pair. It requires a new bathroom. Tile wise I am going for white beveled adve metro tiles with black and whites tiles in a chequered pattern on the floor. What are you two going for Beans and Sybs?

Sybs, I would love to meet up next Weds. I can drive down Fulham way. What time are you coming?

Kayz, how nice that your DH will be home so soon. Your holidays sound nice. Our plans are: a weekend camping in Oxforshire with lots of friends, then a week with the outlaws in their cottage in Pembrokeshire, then a week at home, then a week on the coast with friends in Devon (staying in the house where the Dashwoods lived in the film version if Sense and Sensibility (the Emma Thompson/Kate Winslet version)! Then 24 hours at home for DD1's birthday. Then a week in a villa in Provence with a different set of friends. Then a week at home and finally a last weekend of glamping in Kent before school starts. I'm excited about it all!

That should say be beveled EDGE metro tiles. The builders have started and aren't half noisy. Can't see DS napping through the drilling. I'm not sure I thought through the impact of having all this work done.

That sounds nice Arti. I am trying to persuade DH to try camping. He just doesn't see the point of it when there are hotels and caravan parks.

That's sounds lovely Arti.

Hurrah for removal if 70s beige and orange Beans.

Good news on the job front sybs. My 2 also have little tans but am always slapping on the cream.

I did meet DH in NY but he is a London boy. We were both working over there. DS1 is 6. So easy to work out the math. Pregnant 5 mins after meeting. Good job it was love at first sight.

Vag how's the head?

Vag, and other cyclists. Is it better to get a trailer or a seat for DD? We want to start getting out on the bikes and get the boys riding theirs more often. DS2 still has stablisers and DS1 is a bit wobbly too. But not sure what to do about DD.

I also need a new bike. Might have to go to the shop.

Hello lovely ladies! Not had a proper chance to catch up, but can see its all go on the bathroom front!

Just spent a lovely few days camping in Anglesey. Perfect camping weather, including a picnic on the beach listening to the tennis. Back now though to the diet & exercise before we go to Lanzarote next Saturday!

My diary is so full these next two weeks. Got loads of induction events etc for DS starting school and as DD moves up to Juniors I've got lots of 'leaving' things for her.

Vag are you hungover then??

Hello guys
arti we were in Norfolk camping at a place called breck farm near sheringham. It was a fairly basic campsite (though I don't know what campsites have as standard these day, obv it had showers etc). The really nice thing was you were allowed proper campfires and barbies which was lovely. Bad side was we were about 5 mins walk from loo block and forgot the potty. Obviously dd decided she needed a poo in the night. And then failed to actually do one. Little sod.

Kayz re bikes I'd go with the seat option. Basically cos its cheaper. Our seat was 10 quid off eBay. If you could get a deal like that you can try and see if you'd use it. If its for trips with the boys you aren't likely to go miles for now anyway.

Arti v jealous of your holidays that sounds amazing! In fact jealous of holiday chat it general as we have had our main holiday.

Yes, we had our main holiday back in March to Oman, which was a total holiday of a lifetime, so I can't complain!man, it was heaven. Off to North Wales on 2nd August for 10 days, just the girls and me. DH is feeling guilty as he had to spend A LOT of money on his bike at the weekend, so is practically throwing childcare at me while I'm in Wales, which is great. Also I think the guilt is down to not being there as he'll be cycling the wilds of the UK. so, am in the throes of organising someone to come every day from 3-7 to help me and so I can have a snooze and a bit of a break myself. Yay!

We're getting these tiles in the bathroom on the floor and inside the shower. Then a brand new white bathroom suite and beigey/cream (NOT BROWN!) tongue and groove and then a darker beige (not brown!) on the walls around it. Hoping it'll be chic, rather than a bit shit! I saw a bathroom I loved on rightmove, so I took a photo of it. We're also getting a sink inset into a little cupboard, which I think will be quite cool. I suspect I'll be very jealous that it's the kid's bathroom and will end up using it myself.

I am LOVING this weather. Not loving having to do the ironing this afternoon though!

PS Kayz, if you're really struggling with DD's sleep, do give these people a try. I did with DD2 and it worked a treat. Actually until DH bogged it up, but it's not that expensive for 30mins on the phone and they will answer as many emails as you want in that week after. They also helped me a few weeks later for no extra cost! link here

PS it isn't all for newborns either, I called them when DD2 was 2 as I was at the end of my tether and sanity. Hence the big gap between DD2 and this one!

Haha how much is a LOT of money beans? Going back to chat ages ago about how much we spend on clothes - I have been tracking my finances and this year I have spent about 10 quid a month on average on clothes ( just a couple of cheap things all year). Bike spend however, despite being modest by my standards (no actual new bikes) hmm maybe 10 times clothes spend!! Oops!!

A bathroom re-tiling epidemic! No bathroom adjustments here but we're having a new kitchen light fitted and a new tumble dryer delivered this week. The fun never stops!

I need to blow up my kitchen. The washing machine is knackered, fridge is knackered, drawers are shit.

Ooooo DS is going to be famous. A friend is editing a baby care book to be published in conjunction with One Born Every Minute and she needs a baby for photographs and asked if we would let DS have his picture taken and be in the book. I jumped at the chance as its several free sessions with a prof photographers and free discs of all the shots. Brilliant.