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

[Reastie]

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

Yasaayse indeedee my pants sure are sweet!

Blizy don't really have any nice words for your family but very unmumsnetty hugs for you.
Reastie £15!!!!! Freyas nursery will get a card, they already get paid for a job they chose to do so why should they expect extras.
Granny congrats. Its definitely a shock when not planned. I think I'm still getting my head around it and I'm nearly 17 weeks.

Everything here has just been chaotic in the last week. Dp was rushed into hospital Thursday night with pericarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart), thomas and freya have both had strep throat and we found out on monday when dp went back to work he's being made redundant the end of April so we're kind of spinning at the moment. Kind of hoping for some good news soon.

flustered - when it rains it pours! Is your DP ok now (besides the underlying problem of course)? I hope he can find a new job quickly. DH was made redundant at the end of February (last week), spent 6 weeks applying for every job in his field with no responses. He has an interview next week for the same place I work, for a job completely unrelated to his degree (but will probably pay more).

I'm seriously fed up with winter now. It's snowed 3 times since the beginning of the month. I don't know how much more I can take.

Ledkr looking forward to seeing the piccies, don't forget to put them up [impatient]

Goodness me flustered I can't believe the amount of tough times you have been through recently. You are definitely due lots of good times very soon.

Well, got an email from the Mums at nursery, they are now doing a whip around for one of the Mums' 40th birthday for some flowers (I dread to think how much they spend on flowers!). I haven't even met the woman! I sent a message saying I wouldn't join in (in the nicest way) as tbh I don't think I should if I don't know her. I'm going to be known as the tight one aren't I?! Oh well, best be strong now or I'll be forever stuck into money for these things.

oh gah, and can I add. Alice is being exceptionally hard work at the minute. Almost like another child. Very demanding and rude and tantrumy and screams if she doesn't get her own way (which happens alot). Is this a nursery thing? Is it just paying me back to sending her there in a weird way? Please tell me it will get better...

reastie I think it might just be the change for her & the toys old testing of boundaries again... Nate can be a bit like that at times & I think he's finally got used to me being around more...he's in for a shock in a month when he's back in nursery 3 days/week!

My friend did say to me the other day she thought the 3's we're going to be worse than the 2's...I'm praying she's wrong on that front!

flustered yeah I think I'll be the same as you when I'm 17 weeks. But omg...sending healthy & a bit of good fortune vibes your way...your defo due a respite by now surely?!

ledkr I'll take the 'whatever'

Good old =toys old...grr!

reastie - I think it's a three year old thing. Same boat unfortunately. [weeps] He was never much for tantrums but had a full-on meltdown a couple days ago because we wouldn't let him watch tv. And another last night when I said he couldn't have pudding unless he had 2 bites of his dinner - then he tried taking two of the tiniest non-existent bites ever. It's exhausting and I'm very short-tempered with him.

Yes yes yes. Argh, I thought now we were into 3's we'd be past the terrible 2's. Even DM whom she has always been angelic with is finding her demanding. Awful snatching and temper tantrums if she doesn't get her way that second. I'm also finding myself being short tempered american and internally eye rolling an awful lot. Where has my little sweet natured most of the time Alice gone?!

I'm finding freyas behaviour hard. Shes so fierce sometimes, especially to her big brother but then a split second later is the most loving little thing.

Don't worry about us. My dp has an interview next week for the same job at a different centre within the chain but is actually better paid so we're keeping our fingers crossed. We have back up plans, if he can't find anything I will accept BCU for my degree and not move, then he can move up from bristol and work with his dad. Its not what we want but is a back up.
We heard back about dps aneurysm and the mri shows it hasn't grown so no surgery this year.
I need a holiday somewhere warm with a book and copious amounts of ice cream. I think next summer I will be suggesting it.

flustered - fingers crossed for your DP.

How are the threenagers? L is getting quite the attitude. He insisted on wearing underpants yesterday (though not actually using the toilet ). I asked him repeatedly if he needed to go and his response: "I'm FINE." He's also insisting on doing everything himself, reacts badly when he's not able to do it, then reacts even worse when I try to help him.

Hello all, granny congrats! And wow!

My threenager is being very testing at times, lots of stripping and screaming about putting her coat on for example. She definitely wasn't a terrible 2 but about a week before her 3rd birthday I noticed a change (for the worse). We've got a bit tougher with her recently which might have helped a bit, it's rubbish though when you're threatening not to do something like go swimming, because then it's not only her losing her treat it's your afternoon plans gone! (We did go swimming tho, haha).
Dp has had to use his tough shouty teacher voice which, as much as I hate to admit it, does work.
A has also moved up to pre school and is a bit obsessed with an older girl in there, she talks about her all the time and because she played my little pony with this girl, we now have to call her 'pinkie pie' as that's the name of the pony she was

Reastie I think I've said this before, but our nursery wanted £14 for a trip for them once, I refused and complained to them that as we pay them nearly a grand a month, no way am I paying any more for a trip the manager looked quite surprised actually.

Stripping is meant to say stropping though stripping would be apt too, considering she hates wearing most clothes unless it's a dress

Hi all, Sorry long time no see. I had not been able to MN for a while due to new job and work etc. but seem to have crept back. Lovely to read the updates, some of you I obviously read about on FB but nice to catch up with everyone else .

C is fab these days, funny and chatty etc. and interesting. As she was a late talker, I'm still a bit in awe of her now being able to tell me interesting things that I didn't already know. She has a busier social life than me, and had a pirate party for her birthday a couple of weeks ago.

We went to our first soft play the other week which was a party. Have avoided soft play like the plague but it was actually pretty ace, C loved it obviously.

She does have a bit of attitude sometimes (don't they all?) but mostly she's fun to be around. After having been soooooo rubbish at the tiny baby bit, I'm finding toddlerhood much better .

Take care all, hope everybody is well today.
Dx

Deliaskis glad you're both doing so well. It's a lovely age, isn't it. I think 3 onwards is a lovely time. You really get to see their little quirks and mannerisms coming out.

ledkr great news about Ds hearing aids - hope all is going well with them - your thread was lovely - cheered many a poster up.

Anna's a bit of a handful or hellsapoppin' as my dad calls her. She's great fun & extremely affectionate but has a very quick temper. Apparently she's very like Mr W as a child.

Girls were off school yesterday & are off on Monday, so we're taking advantage of the weather - it's not that great but the absence of rain is something to celebrate

Hello everyone! It's been a bit quiet here hasn't it!?

Delia lovely to hear from you, sounds like things are going well. C sounds so cute!

Wiggles 'hellsapoppin' I will have to remember that! Love all the pics of A and her sisters on Facebook, you always look like you're all having such a good time :)

We've had some tough times with A recently which has resulted in dp and myself arguing, and finally compromised a bit recently. She's had a few screaming/tantrumming/shit fits that have been harder to deal with, and I've felt dp has been too harsh, he thinks I'm too soft. Anyway he said last night that as he works with difficult kids everyday in school (who do have behavioural difficulties, but add to that a complete lack of boundaries at home for most of them) he worries about A ending up like that, no respect, manners etc. So we spoke about how she's only 3, we do have boundaries and so on. And I agreed I can be too soft, since then things have been better and we've had a lovely peaceful bedtime tonight.

Also my copy of "how to talk so kids will listen..." Book came today, I've already read it once after borrowing it from a friend but felt I needed my own copy, haha!

A is enjoying pre school, she's still enamoured with the older girl there who is Chinese, she told the staff she was Chinese the other day and they asked me if she is whilst looking a bit confused

Hope everyone is well. We have disney on ice to go to this Sunday, which I very nearly forgot about and would have missed it oops!

It has been quiet here, I assume we're all off living exciting lives. We're just back from a mini-holiday to celebrate my parents' 40th wedding anniversary. My sister took him to Build A Bear and he came back with a bear named Ethan who was dressed almost exactly like him. I came back completely shattered because I can't sleep in a hotel. Back to work for a wee break and a ridiculous amount of coffee.

L is potty training now. His teacher at nursery thought he was ready but was only using his nappy because it was convenient. He wore underpants yesterday, didn't have any accidents at nursery at all, then had 2 at home. He says he has to go but won't actually use the toilet, I literally have to put him on the toilet while he's crying and carrying on. Then he goes and is very excited and asks for some chocolate, like it was his idea in the first place.

Delia - hello!

Ponyo - DH and I disagree about discipline too, though it's not because one of us is more strict. I tend to take things away and he goes straight for a time-out. I think he's using them too much and he thinks I'm not giving consequences.

A friend has just told me she's pregnant and due in August. I'm thrilled for her but it felt like such a slap in the face since we're struggling.

I lost you all! You sneaked off my 'I'm on' threads.

Oh yes american living very exciting times . Great going on the potty training as I know you've been thinking if he was ready or not. Alice is struggling with nursery as she refuses to use the loo there and so is having accidents on the way home where she can't hold it in anymore . We're taking in her loo seat from home in the hope that will entice her to the nursery loo.

Blizy keep forgetting to ask, how was Miranda? Did you enjoy it? Such fun!

DH and I can disagree with discipline too, but hey ho, we're not always going to agree and we're all just bumbling through I guess.. It's frustrating when at work most of the time all I need to do is give the teacher glare and it gets results whereas at home it just gets laughed at by Alice!

ponyo tell me more about this how to talk so kids will listen book - sounds interesting.

Ledkr did you go to the races this year near you?

Well, I joined in with a staff fitness test in front of the school for sports relief on Friday. My Mum asked if she could sponsor me and I told her no, the students have to pay to watch us huff and puff we don't need sponsorship and she . I was so nervous but achieved a 'good' level of fitness and was the second female left in (only to a lady PE teacher who in fairness I could never beat)

Gah, getting ANOTHER blinking cold. Knew my whole 3 weeks of health couldn't last, it's one thing after another with these germy toddlers.

Completely forgot to do a huge to delia . Good to see you back and so glad you're enjoying toddlerdom more than babyhood.

americanexpat sorry, that's very difficult. I hope you have good luck soon xx.

Reastie can you take Alice to the toilet at nursery when you pick her up before you head home? I know in Olivias nursery school lots of people did that. There was public toilets in the foyer/ classroom.

Things all good here, I've had my niece a lot - you don't realise the difference a year makes until you are spending the day with two

I've just been feeling sorry for myself (especially as AF arrived the same day). I really am very happy for them. Their DS is 4 months younger than L and things haven't been easy for them, being students/out of work/etc. They've both found full-time work now so hopefully this baby will be less stressful. They're both really lovely people and I'd be mortified if they knew their happy news made me feel this way.

L has been really challenging lately. He's moved from not listening to purposely doing the opposite of what we ask. He lost pre-bedtime television privileges Sunday and I was regretting it by the end. DH and I both needed a drink after he was in bed.

Potty training has been mixed. He's OK at nursery but still a lot of accidents at home.

American really feel for you, it just sucks doesn't it? My AF has just reared it's ugly face today. I have my HSG booked for the 12th May, I'm totally bricking it! If you ever need a sympathetic ear just message me here or on FB.
I'm having a manic couple of weeks, 13 month old mindee has whooping cough, didn't the weekend disinfecting my house and checking my infection control policy. Monday evening I went to visit my dad (mum was out) he had just collapsed and I had to call for an ambulance. He is still in hospital having loads of tests. I have a cold, chest and sinus infection, so had pretty much zero sleep this week. Roll on the weekend, although I do have Mother's Day to contend with. It's bloody never ending!

Enough of my grumping, how are you all?

blizy - god you've been through the wringer lately, haven't you? How's your dad, it sounds like they may not know what happened? May 12th seems like ages away but it'll be here before you know it. At least 4 people I know have announced pregnancies in the last month. I'm v happy for them of course, but it makes me a bit sad as well. It took nearly a year to conceive L and facing that or longer again is a bit daunting.

Morning all, what twice in two weeks I hear you say!

reastie I would also do what wiggles says and take her to the loo as soon as you get there. Maybe if she starts using it with you there, then whatever the barrier is might stop being an issue?

Also well done you on staff fitness thing! I hate that kind of thing and my only aim would be not to completely embarass yourself, I'm in awe of how well you did! Although I am also actually quite pleased as after losing baby weight through PN anxiety etc. and then piling it all back on and then some, I have started exercising and healthy eating since new year and have lost a stone and a half so am pretty pleased with myself and feel much better .

american sorry you've had a bit of a downer re TTC, it's OK to be happy for someone else but grrrr about your own situation though.

Separately, we do have our ups and downs with discipline too, Claudia loves just shouting 'NO' really loudly when I ask her to do things like put her shoes on, she looooooovvvves testing boundaries...

Can't remember who was asking but C does baby ballet and loves it! Mum takes her and says she tries really hard to do everything right. She won't take her ballet kit off when she gets home though so it always gets yoghurt all down it after tea - not quite the elegant ballerina she would like to be .

blizy sorry to hear about your Dad, it must be really stressful, these things can really knock you sideways can't they? Sometimes I have those scary moments where I realise how old my parents are, I don't think 60 or 70 is what it used to be and I don't think of them as 'elderley' at all, but my Grandma definitely was at that age. Hope you get some answers and he's up and about again soon.

Happy Friday all,
Dx

Just popping by to post some pics of the girls. Couldn't do it earlier for some reason.