Feb 2011. Now they are (nearly) 3 <gulp>

[Reastie]

Just starting a new thread as noticed old on nearly full up.

Just posting so you don't drop off my threads. I've finally signed L up for swimming lessons starting in September to one-up Borg.

Ha ha American, finally persuaded nate onto a bike. He pedalled backwards for a bit, then made us push him round. Then managed to fall off despite the stabilisers. He also has no understanding of steering whatsoever and kept complaining that bushes were in the way. I am obviously beaming with pride

He does like a girl at nursery though, and explained that she is "a little bit pretty and wears dresses". I quite like his criteria, it's not good to be too fussy

V impressed with your running mizk. I have been a bit but tragically have injured by knee via the daredevil act of running down a hill with Nate. I've realised I now need to warm up before playing with my child, how decrepit am I?!

Morning

Can confirm meet up was great, really enjoyed it.

Alice does swimming lessons from September at her nursery all included as nursery standard, do I beat you borg and american

borg how did the mushroom free vegetarian meal go? Alice is the same with steering on her scooter, she can't work it out.

Princess how are you feeling ATM? Has any ms hit you yet?

flustered huge congrats, what a huge change having another baby and moving. Your new garden looks lovely though. I just keep thinking remember the Doctors who said you couldn't have another pg, and look now where you are.

mizk how's the orthotics going? I've heard of a few people here recently (adults) who have recently started with them.

Things ticking along here. Less than 2 weeks left of the holidays :( Still redecorating the bathroom with various issues with tradesmen as always . Hopefully in a weeks time we'll be pretty much done though.

Am fed up with Alice refusing anything for breakfast except for awful cereal which looks like it's been through a radioactive sugar oven, so am trying new things, we've had breakfast pancakes with strawberries, drop scones with blueberries and plain yoghurt, eggy bread, and egg on toast (home made bread dont'cha know [domestic goddess] ) but if anyone has any other ideas I would be very grateful. I've tried breakfast muffins in the past too but with little success.

Reastie - hope bathroom moves a bit quicker for you now . I have intermittent success with Anna and breakfast - she will usually take porridge but isn't really that bothered. Sofia was dreadful with breakfast for a long time - she used to have some fruit if you cajoled her. I think she went through a stage of having cheese and cucumber and banana

Blizy - hope you're well rested from your holiday and things are ticking along nicely with the bean.

Strangely Anna took to a bike really well, with much more ease than the other two, she has really good co-ordination, kicking a ball, using a bat, swiping an iPad etc . We can take no credit for it!

Sofia and Liv are back to school next week - very excited. Anna then starts nursery the second week in September, she's still a bit non plussed about it. I may have to reintroduce the idea of her having to wear jogging bottoms as her uniform, sadly the uniform is not pink, but she can complain to her teacher about that.

reastie - L eats very random stuff for breakfast - peanut butter on a tortilla this morning, sometimes loads of fruit or toast or a bagel with cream cheese - but they have "breakfast" at 9am at nursery so I don't worry too much. Dinner is a completely different story though.

L doesn't have a bike, only a tricycle and he doesn't understand the nuances of steering yet. He's either in the middle of the street or running into the kerb (no pavements in our neighbourhood ).

Hello everyone, well guess what, dp and A are off to his parents for 4 days, I'm not going so I will be child free at home all weekend planning on sleeping in, going to the gym and eating nice food, oh and maybe a tiny bit of socialising if I can be bothered

I can also agree the meet up was a success, reastie and cunk are lovely and the small ones seemed to get on well, it always takes them a while to come out of their shells doesn't it, usually near the time we're leaving

Reastie hope you're ok after your experience with horrible electrician. I feel so angry on your behalf.

Mizk at anyone thinking I'm cool! Did C enjoy the cinema?

A has been some what challenging of late, in fact I'm going to go and do her bath and come back and post about it later... Howpfully it's not just us!

reastie hope you're okay x. Yes forgot to say, I made a potato, goats cheese and thyme pie which was suggested at the bottom of one of your links ( was going to do the tomato one but then I don't think she eats them either). I did a carb heavy pudding as well just to piss everyone off.

Nate is the same, will eat bowl after bowl of cereal, and is then starving about an hour later. Won't have porridge/ wee rabid. I tried breakfast muffins too ( no added sugar ones), he liked them but then wanted cereal too. Only other successful thing has been fry ups! Was thinking of trying a healthy ish flapjack type bar next but he's pretty wedded to bra flakes.

wiggles ah the cheese banana and cucumber perfect breakfast. Jonah is a fan too.

american and reastie you'll be impressed at my competitive parenting for now I too have enrolled my disinterested son onto swimming lessons.

Awaiting ponyips update

Hmm I don't feed my child bra flakes, I meant bran flakes.

Wee rabid = weetabix

wee rabid and bra flakes for breakfast, mmmmmmm yum

I'm still shaken here tbh. Hopefully an early night and watching that new series about pg women on iplayer which I can't remember the name of (anyone else watching?) will cheer me up a bit.

ponyo Alice goes through challenging phases yes. She can be a minx.

I don't think my update will be that exciting Borg ;) just to say that we have had some horrible crying bedtimes because A hasn't been listening (grr) an example is asking her to do something, she won't do it, repeat ten times we end up making her do it/shouting and A ends up crying. Also lots of attitude from her, including saying "I can do what I want" and sticking her tongue out, which she says other children do at pre school but it doesn't really matter.

That doesn't sound too bad now I've written it down, also we had a nice bedtime this evening because she was good! We had some major melt downs on holiday (inc on the way back on the train, poor fellow passengers). Dp and I have been disagreeing a bit as he feels she's spoiled, also a bit of an issue. Aaaaagh. Anyone else want to chip in with annoying children stories to make me feel better?!

Borg I love wee rabid, I thought you were describing N

Reastie did you watch gbbo? Hope you're ok x

Reastie - I'm watching it too, is it in the Club? I'd report the phone call to the police - see if you can log it as an incident. Just for future reference, have you a station near you?, just pop in, see what they say. You should write everything down now, while it's fresh, exactly what was said, just as far as you can remember word for word. Just write it down, then put it away, you don't need to think about it, just have a nice clear record of it. As Mr W would say, this is his mantra "just to keep yourself right", incase it ever goes any further.

Ponyo - we have that loads with Anna , I didn't think kids actually stamped their feet, until Anna did it repeatedly. If we don't let her do something that she wants, she stamps her feet and indignantly cries "but I want to" or my personal favourite "it's not fair!". She then says "if you won't let me, I'm going upstairs" and she stomps out and sits on the stairs bemoaning the fact that her life won't be complete until she has a custard cream/ new dog/ access to the iPad/ the ability to jump off the table without breaking a bone. I honestly don't remember the other two doing it. I won't cajole her at all, she can sit on the stairs all day long if she wants, she usually manages about 10 minutes and then she breezes in as if she's just went to get something.

Oh I had a horrid day at work yesterday with nightmare children, three under three and each taking it in turn to tantrum all bloody day long! The most dramatic is from the 2yr old girl, she majorly kicked off because I tied another lo's shoe lace (she wanted to do it,obv can't do it yet) just before we left on the school run. Of course she kicked and screamed the whole there and back.

Much easier day today, I only have the twins (1 yr) who are an absolute dream, they are sleeping just now. Best get some lunch, whie I van eat in peace!

Ha blizy, how dare you tie another child's shoe laces? Glad today was better for you though!

Reastie I agree with wiggles for the millionth time, please report to the police, just in case.

Right, so you want annoying children stories ponyo? Weeelllll, B is okay a lot of the time BUT, he still wakes up Every Single Night and shouts at me:

"I am going to get into your bed NOW."
"It isn't fair."
"You're not a good mummy."
"I don't care."
"You need to go into the hall* mummy."

*this is his thinking space as we don't have any stairs.

etc.

He's also the queen of the melodrama. Seriously, he didn't walk properly for A WEEK when he grazed his knee and no, I am exaggerating.

Oh, and he does a good Anna in taking himself into his room and slamming the door when he can't get his own way.

Three year olds are very expressive aren't they?

Hi all and thanks for the congratulations. Baby Cariad was born on 8/8/14 at 11.30 via csec weighing a fair 8lb 4oz. She has the biggest feet I have seen on a baby and hair!! (Tom and freya were bald).
At the moment she seems a very content little girl and I'm totally in love again. Her dad is amazing with her and so unlike how my ex was.
Those of you with middle children how do you deal with attention seeking behaviour? as sometimes freya will wet herself if she has been told off or asked to do something like pick up her toys.
I am giving her lots of cuddles and kisses and setting time aside for just her but I have no clue what or how to react when she does it and tend to just ignore it.
We move next weekend and I finally got to see the house and I love it though its a scary thought that I have to pack up a flat on my own with a newborn and the older 2 as dp goes back to work in gloucs tomorrow and I won't see him till Saturday when we're in the new house. I see plenty of red bull in my immediate future!
I also have had my confirmation letters from UWE making it official that I met all the criteria and am a student again. All my hardwork paid off and it looks like I have picked the perfect degree to do around the kids as I'm only in lectures 4 hours a week.

I hope everyone else is ok and I'm off to catch up properly now whilst I'm stuck under a sleeping baby and dp is cooking me bacon and eggs.
Xx

Hi all

flustered are you OK doing all of that packing so soon after your csection? Don't over do it.

ponyo keep forgetting to ask, aside from the emergency evacuation at the museum, how did London go? Did you take the buggy?

Cunk to 'you need to go to the hall mummy' . Alice said at dinner yesterday 'you MUST do as you are told Daddy or I'll throw a pea at you' . It's very hard to keep a straight face. We don't threaten to throw peas (or anything else) at her obv, incase you were worried! She takes her doll out shopping with me but said doll always has to be strapped into it's carried/car seat 'as she might be naughty so she MUST be strapped in' . I'm not quite sure what naughty things she does, but Alice seems a little obsessed at parenting this stray doll whose behaviour is so terrible.

blizy hope you're having a better week end after that nightmare day.

granny feel better soon. You've had rotten luck with being poorly this pg haven't you . Not long now...

wiggles yes, 'in the club' . I'm really enjoying it but so much of it annoys me as it would never happen in RL. And I'm not even talking about storylines like a father robbing a bank to buy pizza for his children, I'm talking about the AN and PN ward apparently being the same tiny room etc etc.

Things good here, aside from being on last week of holidays . I think I might have got through the sugar withdrawl now

Waving hello from early pregnancy despair. Some of your stories have really cheered me up! R is a monkey when she doesn't get her own way and really quite spoilt at the moment. She's going to have a shock when this baby arrives (especially as she'll have to share a room).

I'm feeling bloody awful now and wish I was actually being sick instead of just feeling it constantly. I'm waking up in the night feeling sick, getting up in the morning, feeling I'll while eating. God, it's worse this time definitely.

We're off on hols next week too so I'm desperate to find some coping techniques before then otherwise I'll be dry retching my way round Paris and Disneyland!

Flustered Congrats on Cariad. I'm not sure about middle child stuff but I would almost ignore the attention seeking where possible. So clear up but don't make a fuss.

Reastie Your house pics look amazing. Where do you find your wallpaper?!

Ah god. Got to go, garage on phone.

Princess - that's a bit shite, I was actually sick every day, all day with mine and it definitely got worse each time, although I was told that one of the main reasons is tiredness and low iron if it continues well into the pregnancy. But I'd have rather actually been sick than just felt it! Fanta helped me.

Hope Paris goes well, Sofia and Liv were in Disney earlier in the year with my parents. It's a small world was the biggest hit, if R is going to dress up, bring the costume with you. My parents said the prices weren't too bad but the costumes really were extortionate. Mr W and I are off to Paris in early October sans enfants (see what I did there ). He's already counting the days, he informed me this morning we are going in 40 days exactly!

Hello strangers.
Sorry I've been busy with school hols etc.

Congrats to all the new announcements and babies.
Bit jealous if the meetup tho, we go to Brighton once a year for a piss up long weekend, ilove it.

mizk Ella loves Panic at the disco too. She wanted to go and see them but we weren't sure she'd get in at 12 even with one if us to embarrass her.
She is pretty grown up now but very difficult narcissistic and lazy.
My friend the lovely getorf helps me by telling me it's normal as her dd is now 18 and lovely.

No such exciting news here as some of you but we had an amazing holiday albeit peppered with injury, d hurt her foot on a bike and e fell down an 8ft drop and had to have an emergency french ambulance and stitches in her leg. Campsite totally negligent so I am seeking legal advice.

D is a very physical child and is now swimming front crawl widths with no aids and rides a bike with no stabilisers she isn't great with speech though and is certainly no academic.
They all have different strengths and weaknesses.

I've had some trouble with my gallstones so am waiting for yet another operation and in the meantime have to eat an almost fat free diet.
reastie any suggestions welcome! I'm rather bored with quark now.

Anyway, now I'm back I might have more chance of keeping in touch.

Hello all,

Reaching you all through a mountain of sick as ALice has had her first proper tummy bug. Started on Saturday afternoon and she's only just perking up now and keeping food and water down . Some of you may remember I'm emetophobic so without sounding overdramatic, this really is an absolute nightmare for me. I'm now on a countdown to see if DH and I come down with it.

princess how are you feeling now? I really sympathise as I had pg nausea awfully, so much so that's why I've not had another! It's like you're permanently on a rocky boat only you can't get off. Hope you get some restbite from it soon and it doesn't ruin the eurodisney holiday. Trying to think of things that helped me cope (other than anti sickness medication). Have you tried those travel sickness arm bands? I've got a DC called 'nevasic' somewhere (no idea where though), google it and see what you think. Not sure how much it helped me but I got to the point where anything was worth a go. Also did ms hypnosis cd, inhaled fresh lemons as much as I could, ate all the time. You're very kind re: my wallpaper. The new bathroom wallpaper is a sanderson paper with a William Morris design. It's very Victorian but then the room and the bath suite is very victorian, so I went with a theme! The spare room you might have seen a photo of last year (?) is Laura Ashley. Everywhere else we've decorated we've just painted. I have ideas for the landing, but that won't be for some months.

Hello stranger Ledkr . Your holiday certainly sounds...eventful. Fat free diet? That sounds fun not . Not really sure on ideas as I actually have quite fatty foods (like peanut butter). I love quinoa, I imagine that's not too fatty, or tofu. Can you have sugary foods? As often low fat stuff is high sugar (sugar doesn't have any fat). If you can have sugar you could do a meringue with low fat yoghurt and fresh fruit, yum. What about getting one of those funny machines which fry things but using no oil (I'm not explaining this very well am I). So you can make chips in them and they are like fried chips but it uses no oil, that might be good to get you through until the op. Rice cakes?! Have you got that cooking spray that's one cal a spray? That's really good and you might be able to make roasties with that. not sure how strict you have to be.

Well hello there

reastie poor you! hope Alice is feeling better and you didn't get it. It's bad enough anyway, but yes must be an absolute nightmare for you

ledkr hope Ella's leg is better, rubbish re campsite. Good luck for gallstones op.

Hope princess is feeling better. How are the other bumps granny and blizy?

wiggles ah how romantic!

I now cannot for the life of me remember what I came on here to post, and am also starving after reading reastie list of suggestions for ledkr so am off to the fridge

Hello everyone :)

Reastie how is A ? Hope she is better now. Also hope you and dh haven't caught it. In answer to your question ages ago London was good! We took the buggy, definitely worth while. A is not much of a walker and she's getting heavier now, I did not fancy carrying her around! I thought of you when dp and I were heaving the buggy off the underground/up stairs, wondering if I was on my own would anyone help :) hamleys was nice, bit smaller than I expected?

Ledkr glad your hol was good but what a nightmare with the injuries, hope you get some refund/compensation from the campsite. Love that D is riding her bike with no stabilisers, A can't even pedal on hers yet! She's very stubborn and refuses all offers of assistance which makes it difficult to help her pedal I don't think if be much help with fat free diet, I've been trying to eat 'clean' as much as possible so lots more fruit and veg than usual, that's stating the obvious though isn't it ;)

Princess thanks to you I have been googling holidays to disneyland Paris! Hope the sickness improved? Please come back and tell us all about it, I can imagine dp hating it but tough luck!

All is well here. A is a bit under the weather and emotional at the moment. At her pre school she played with a lot of the older ones, who have now left to start proper school, and I think it's hit her a bit that they're not coming back. She refuses to play with the younger ones and wants to play on her own a lot (which is fine, I don't mind her playing on her own but keep telling her to be nice to the younger ones). She's getting good at writing and drawing though, although again refusing all offers of help to hold a pen therefore holding it in a claw like fashion.

Oh and it's my birthday on Monday! Woo! I'm spending it... At work

Gah. Just did a huge post and lost it. Basically I said hi to all and thanks for MS tips. I'm going to try the lemon thing. I've been wearing the seasickness bands but don't really want to at work as they're hard to hide.

Disney was fab. Totally recommend and staying in Paris and doing stuff there worked well too. It's expensive though - our main spends went on food. And crap in Disney - R's much longed for Anna dress was 60 euro. But she's saved for it so her choice. Got some lovely Christmas Decs, including an Elsa snow globe which is fab. No spending for the next six months!

Right. Hope everyone's good. X

Ledkr, poor Ella hope her leg is better now. Wow at dilly riding her bike and swimming, that really is fab!

Reastie, I hope Alice is better and you or dh haven't came down with the bug.

Princess, I had awful sickness and nausea this time for the first 11 weeks. I had seasick bands, they didn't work. Eating salty foods helped though, I lived on Heinz chicken soup and ready salted hula hoops. Peppermint helped a bit too. Hope you are feeling better soon. How far along are you now?

Ponyo, London sounds fab, loved your pics on FB. Happy birthday for tomorrow.

I'm 20 weeks now, I have my anomaly scan on the 17th, very scared about that. I haven't been doing anything interesting, just working, sleeping and eating!

Hope you are all well.