Dec 11: Not tonight dear, I've got a haddock.

[PerilousStiletto]

I liked this one. :)

Oh dear voodoo ... I second aethel's advice.

Second two-hour lecture over. Massive phew. Driving today was massive stess also, lashing rain and pitch black ... could barely see the lane markings on the motorway the rain was so heavy and there were masses of lorries sending up huge spray making it worse. I was soooo stressed So drove home after my lecture to work from home and avoid another dark, wet drive. Ugh. When will I get used to it and stop being scared

don't worry mopsy it will probably always be a bit scary driving in those conditions (i would be) but the thing to remember is that it won't often be that bad weather so it shouldn't happen too often.

am feeling generally much more positive about being a better mum and all round person - thanks for the kind comments a few weeks ago. even considering another baby although we just seem to be in the stage where things are getting a bit easier so it does seem a bit crazy to throw it all up in the air and go back to square one but try telling that to my ovaries...

hinky so pleased to hear you feel more positive! As someone who has just introduced another baby into what was feeling like a nice settled little unit of 3, so far (5 days in!) it's amazing to both of us how much calmer it has been with DS2. We know what to expect from him, we're not hovering over him trying to suss out what to do - it's surprisingly easy so far long may it last. I think it will be a lot of work but not twice as much because there isn't as much of an upheaval as there was the first time round. But most importantly I think DH and I know what to expect from each other - our parenting strengths and weaknesses, and also the ones we both hate and need to take turns at doing because neither of us want to do it. It's such a massive weight off our shoulders to know this stuff already and put it into practice again.

mopsy I agree with hinky - that kind of delugeous rain doesn't happen all that often in the UK which really is relatively dry compared to a lot of countries, so it's probably a sensible reaction to leave early, give yourself plenty of time, be very careful and drive more slowly in those conditions! Remember there's a reason women's car insurance rates were historically much lower than men's rates - because statistically women are much better drivers because they are better at evaluating and controlling risk and are more cautious, just like you were today. I bet you a stollen that by the end of term you'll be tootling home without a care in the world.

voodoo I'm sure Aaron will be fine - will be so nice to give him a big cuddle when he gets home but I bet he will have forgotten all about it by then

Lady is it bad that I read your post and my first thought was "oh no poor lady, hope the presentation goes really well in spite of the dress ruination" and then I thought "mmmm...lentil soup..."

aethel (((hugs))) and hope DD2 and DS are feeling better - it's awful when they are sick just as you're getting back to work and you must feel so torn.

Pootling along here, stitches came out today and only one injection of Fragmin left to do thank goodness (DH says he is sad because he really enjoys jabbing me in the thigh ). DS2 was weighed and lost only 140g or 3.5% of his birthweight so all is well. He does have a terrible case of baby acne which look yellow and scabrous, and a little bit of baby jaundice, but he's still adorable. DS1 has been asking to feed a lot more often, and once on the breast is having about 10 times as much milk as he was wanting a week ago and protesting mightily when I try to remove him - but I was expecting this, we just have to manage his need to know that we still care about him and he hasn't been displaced. As a result of feeding two I am FAMISHED all the time and eating every 2 minutes! Also am "back to work" in the sense that when you're starting up your own business you can't have any mat leave, so have had a couple of hours doing the September month-end stats today with Giles asleep in the sling - nice to keep the brain ticking over!

We are still not quite right chez Aethel, but are now nearly a day post last hurl for DS .... Here's hoping... At least DD2 seems better, just in time for us to go to fracture clinic tomorrow. She seems completely fine with it at the moment, so Really really hope they decide it's going to be fine in a cast..... We will have to redraw on the weaponry.....

I'm starting to feel a lot better about driving now Mopsy so I hope you'll find it gets better soon too! I have just developed a thick skin and a don't care if I stall attitude (although thankfully haven't stalled for a good while)! I've also been driving at least 5 days a week which I think has helped.

I'm glad you're finding going from one to two babies easier than none to one Xiao! I felt shell shocked after having DS, it's kind of put me off the baby stage! All going well I think we will start trying sometime next year avoiding March and having another Xmas baby

I've been told I'm ' very sad' today as I've started my Xmas shopping but I don't care! I'd rather spend December doing fun stuff and sorting out DS's birthday than rushing about trying to find Xmas presents!

Positive thoughts to the new drivers, you will be kings of the road in no time!

Glad things are going well Xiao and well done on getting some work done, I think I delivered my brain at the same time as the placenta.

Chip I've already started xmas shopping. I've got 6 nieces and nephews, three of them have birthdays in December, plus DS's Christmas and birthday on Xmas day. I would loose my mind if I tried to leave it till December.

Yeay for no more sick for Aethel

Glad you're feeling more positive now hinkyhonk

I need to get off my fat fat fat arse and get running again. Going to tonight. Don't let me forget! I can't believe how unfit and fat I have let myself get over the past few months. This cannot go on! I have given up chocolate this month (though I had a hot chocolate yesterday, not counting that) so fingers crossed that that plus a general eating healthier attitude and some exercise should help me de-chubb.

My friend had a whopper of a baby this week - 11lb 12oz!! Might get to see them on Friday, hoping it doesn't make me any broodier than I already am. Stupid hormones!

Wow that's some impressive baby Hop, hope the birth went OK? I got my first Xmas present too on Tuesday, and this year's probably going to be crazy if we're moving house as well as trying to sort Xmas...

Hope all's well ref DD2's arm aethel, doesn't sound like there are any major problems or she's in pain.

And so pleased to hear you nailed the lectures mopsy, we all knew you would. It'll be second nature soon !

I had a v v long day yesterday, back in at gone 10pm, and I get to do it all again this evening. Am at least working from home this morning before getting dragged all around the county, but I'm going to be shattered tomorrow...

Funky purple cast for three weeks. Banned from trampolining/scooter til out of cast! Hmm, that will not go down well.... At least it's healing well, apparently. Dr was very nice about it.

Arrived at my parents house at 8pm thought DS might go sleep 9ish he's just gone!! Gonna regret that in the morning

Glad she's doing well aethel and that everyone is on the mend.

xiao sounds like everything is going great, DS will soon settle once he realises that Giles isn't a threat to his attention and be a great brother. I was worried how DD1 would be but she's surprised us by how great she is with DD2, she even tries to help change her nappies.

northern how on earth do you cope with not getting home until 10pm?!

Interesting to see how difficult people have found it from one baby to the next. I found the first hard work, from one to two was easy but two to three was almost impossible and nearly broke us, though that's probably partly the 17 month age gap between the DDs.

Christmas shopping is well under way here, I've got around half of the DCs presents so far, and have listed most of the rest which I'll probably order this week. I'd rather spend December doing Christmas crafty things with the DCs, singing carols and eating mince pies.

Me and DS had flu vaccines yesterday. He had the new nasal spray and has been really stroppy and miserable today, and I'm sporting an enormous angry and itchy lump on my arm.

It's Friday! Yippee!!
Only with this sober-tober, there'll be no booze this weekend. Last night was the hardest so far. Other nights I've not had the slightest urge (and we do drink pretty much most nights). We had a super tasty stir fry, and then watched 'Merican X factor and did lots of exercises - sit ups, lunges,etc - so then we really deserved a treat. But no!
On the plus side, I weighed 65.9kgs on Monday, today I weighed 65.1kgs, so we're going the right way.
Xiao - my cs stitches were dissolvable, I think. I certainly can't remember having any taken out. And what were the injections for?
Aethel - I hope the funky purple cast is liked, and that less physical activity is acceptable!
LadyG - hope you got a lie in this morning. I know you probably didn't. No matter what time they go down, the get up stays the same.
Boi decided to get up at 4:50am today. This was not appreciated. And neither was watching Mr Tumble at 5. Mr Tumble is my new best friend. I luffs him, Boi luffs him, and we both do all the signing bits together.

Marking Place. Shall read & write later, but am trying to lurk!

DS had a dramatic hurl last night after pretending to get better so he was off nursery again .

On the up side we saw a few friends from our old town today and he was utterly lovely to my friend's newly adopted little girl, he did nice sharing and everythink!

Yes thanks oi she is fine with the cast, just getting on wirh it. I'm still in denial about Christmas by the way. Am in awe -and slightly scared by those keen thread-meisters who are being all organised!

Quiet weekend planned. Next week I have a cunning plan to heckle xiao and google at her DS2 briefly...and grt some more work lined up if I can, assuming the bug actually goes away properly this time!

I know i said i wasn't going to mention pregnancy on here.... But OMG I'm starving! I've put loads of weight on already and im only 7 weeks! Toast, chips that's all i want to eat CONSTANTLY! The may 14 thread moved too quickly for me, 96 girls at the last count!

anyway today i showed great restraint. We were at a stay and play when some little shit grabbed Saul by the neck and started attacking him.. I was comforting him and he came and did it again. All i wanted to do was drag him by his snotty nose and push him over!

Xmas shopping will commence after pay day... I know what I'm getting everyone

I know what you mean Kri5ty, i found the first tri the one where I just wanted to EEEEAAT, and sat on the floor of the train station, on the platform, inhaling chips one evening after work, just stuffing them in oblivious and uncaring to the horrified stares... But I'd say go for it, if you're that hungry you need to eat. It's when people are on their 19th Krispy Kreme of the day claiming 'baby's hungry' that it can be a problem..

Managed to get home at 9 last night, so better than expected. Am bloody knackered though, and today was one of those...I had to get a report out, for public publication, but it needed revising and agreeing by various different people, of different organisations, and it was all being done remotely, even with our own staff We only got the final draft at 2, and it had to be out by 4...

Can't believe DS hurled again aethel, hope he wasn't too bad in himself? Seems a pretty tenacious bug he's got there, and just hope he doesn't re-infect the rest of the family.

Hope you're not too knackered and dreaming of Martini Rosso Oi, that is a painfully early get up. I had the dissolvable stitches too Xiao, but did also have the injections to prevent blood clots...lovely Fragmin! I'd had a suspected DVT a year earlier, so thankfully was used to jabbing myself

DF and DStepM's 20th wedding anniversary tomorrow, they're having a Ceilidh so dancing shoes ahoy!

: no more hurling today! Phew....

And well done Kri5ty for showing calm collected behaviour in the face of adversity.

Oi: try boi with Swashbuckle. It be faaaabulous. Arrrrr....

Kri5ty I took DS to a fantastic soft play today they have the traditional slides, ball pit etc then role play areas a cinema, kitchen, vet and supermarket with shopping baskets and trollies he filled up his trolley with his tiny tins of beans plastic bananas and then another child tried to take it OH my god never seen anything like it he went ape screaming crying needless to say he kept hold of it and chased other kid off. When 2 little girls got into a fight and 1 tried to strangle the other we chose to leave but honestly mothers just providing no supervision at all!!

I've been to pub drank wine and gin with my oldest friends makes me hate being 500miles away

Hello?

DD1 done a wee in the potty! Makes up for DD2 being miserable with teething and DS feeling poorly, my front room is over 24 degrees, he's sitting under a duvet saying he's cold.

Oh and elc have 20% off everything this weekend if anyone's thinking about birthdays or Christmas.

Seven I broke the thread clearly
Well done dd1 on the potty DS spent 2 mins nappy free peed all over his socks then big tantrum

Off to malmaison for 60th bday lunch yum yum!!

...Just to prove the thread is not broken! ...well done on potty usage!
We have the odd moment when he might use a toilet, but the next time you try, you get meltdown. We aren't ready.
Boi seems to be bored with his fork these days. He starts, but then just holds it in one hand whilst he eats everything with his fingers of his other hand. I gave him a knife and fork for lunch, to give him something to do with both hands. It pretty much worked. we'll persevere.
We've shopped this weekend. All for Boi. My favourite is a gorgeous dark blue woolly jumper from m&s with a fox's face on. Just delicious!

What lovely weather this weekend. Just got back from a kickabout in the park, had a quiet at-home weekend to let the DCs get back to normal (hopefully!!) and picked up a couple of carpet remnants to temporarily re-floor our little top room, the old carpet was manky beyond belief and hauling it to the tip will be intensely therapeutic!

Still here! Sorry, working most of the weekend

Thanks for the tip about ELC seven. I'd decided what to get DS for his birthday, but hadn't yet bought it. Just got everything 20% off