March 2013 - we're gonna need a bigger wine rack

[Plonkysaurus]

Ta da!

Banana, Rice, Apple sauce, Toast stormy. Good for sore tums. eco hope yours is better ASAP. DBs are mandatory!

Yep hoping the lie ins continue 8.40 this morning it's bizarre- this is the child who thinks 5.30 is an acceptable start time to the day! Will be relining those crap blackout curtains when I get home .

plonk I didn't see it . What channel? I love that kind of programme. for you about the registrar!

doli enjoy the sleep! Hope you got out in the sun afterwards.

Stormy I'm so glad you asked that. I had no clue either, and having already had to google Plonky's ttfn and ttfg I was beginning to wonder if I spoke the same language!

Shattered the nap was much appreciated and sufficiently short that I have hopes of getting her into bed by 9.30 tonight. We were outside from 3pm-4pm, and busy (well dolitoddle was) rearranging toys from 4-5pm, so in theory she should be tired now clutches desperately at straws

DH arrived home this evening, early, and promptly went out again to the pub. On a scale of 1-10 how annoyed should I be? I have revised my 6 down to a 2 on the basis it is genuine business schmoozing, but still, grrr

Stormy that's the kind of accident that has my heart lurching into my mouth. How do these small people think of these things? So glad she's ok. Also glad Dolitoddle hasn't thought of that trick.

Right, I am about to start the bedtime routine. Deep breath and off I go....

eco how is the tummy now? I would have thought apple sauce would make you go more because it is sweet. I have gone off the wagon with the food. Yes you are right I do watch what I eat, just before it goes in my gob.

plonky go for the course. It sounds fun. I want to do a course but not sure what.

shattered i am very of your lie ins but you deserve it.

stormy i put 9-12mth jacket on ds and he was bursting out the seams. Dm has done well with ds putting on weight since he lost loads with that horrid bug. I am stuck in between sizes at the moment. 12-18 trousers is short but 18-24 is too long.aghh!

i get to have a sneaky day off tomorrow and go back to work friday. Yay.

Ds is an absolute star and pleasure to be with at the moment. He is funny and i am amazed at how much he is copying. I really do need to stop him following me to the toilet though as he is copying some behaviour that i am too embarrassed to say.

doli the bitch in me would be fuming if my dh came and left but you are a lot more wise and understanding than me.

Stormy according to the secret baby world programme (itv, to my shame shattered) our young uns don't yet have kneecaps. Explains a lot. Ds was playing by the back door last week while I was hanging out the washing. He pulled the door over his shoe and twisted his foot right round - if you or I did this there'd be lots of screaming, torn ligaments etc. he whimpered. I checked him over after very gently freeing him. Not a mark. Amazing.

Doli you mean you don't speak Tigger? I am shocked! I'd also be very miffed with dh. That sort of thing happens here with work schmoozing, and I feel rather 'her indoors', but it's the only way he can forge a career as a captain of industry I wish

Yummy they bounce back nicely, don't they? Glad to hear ds is his usual self and eating well again. On a toilet related note, I recently had to change a full mooncup and felt a little pair of eyes watching me. He had been playing with his trains until then but apparently I'm far more interesting. Poor kid.

We now have full on crotch grabbing in manner of uncouth rapper. He's discovered his willy (again) and I doubt he'll forget it this time.

Shattered it's you! It's you that stole my sleeping baby! On DD's birthday, I eventually woke her up at 8.30 because I was too excited. This had been the norm since Christmas, up until mid April ish, along with sleeping for 4 hours during the day. To be fair we still get decent day time naps like I care about that when I don't benefit as I'm at work anyway but today started at 5!!! Although I took a leaf out of stormy's book and ignored her for ages, and she did eventually go back to sleep after a lot of whingeing. She's been pretty whingey all day actually, nothing like her usual cheery self so maybe she's going down with something.

Thanks for reassurance. It looks like work are going to start really screwing over part timers anyway, so now is probably a good time to go ft. So fingers crossed. (Anyone fancy officially only working 15hrs a week, but those 15 hours being spread over 5 full days? Means you have to pay a fortune in childcare? We don't care! Means you want to go full time cos you might as well? Nope too late! Only have 6 weeks to sort out childcare arrangements because we've only just got ourselves organised to let you know we're doing this? Tough shit!)

Can you tell I'm really impressed with my employers at the moment?

Right. Bed time. I've decided I'm reducing my getting ready time in the morning. Getting up at 5.30 to leave for work at 7 is ridiculous and exhausting. Although considering dd will be up then anyway I'm not sure why I bothered to change my alarm.

It is so nice to wake up at 5 when you are not working. Not. I think ds is now copying gerrytoddle.

gerry Part timers do get a rough deal don't they. I have to do extra days next week and the week after because of meetings. It is hard to say no. I have clocked up a couple of days toil but it is finding time to take it. Good luck with your job application.

gerry yummy we had a 5.58 start today. DS is back! Ah well It was nice whilst it lasted.
Hope the eco tum is better.
Nowt wrong with itv plonk . We are now home so I may watch it later if I don't go to bed when DS does

Hello everyone else!

BRAT is BRAT not BRATDB for a reason. Those digestives did not serve me well yesterday. Today it has just been plain rice so far. I am dreaming of M and Ms, spiced apple cake, chocolate cookies, cheese, avocado, hummus, a nice crunchy carrot....all things taunting me from the kitchen. Let's hope I never gain weight although with the diet above I surely will

We got our house survey today. That's all I'll say on that matter and move swiftly on. I can see the allure of new builds now.

Yummy I can only imagine what DS was trying to copy! How is your day off? Fun I hope. Sunny here.

Plonk your crotch wrangling comment made me smile a great deal. It must be hard to ignore for boys. It's all out there isn't it. A few posts ago you mentioned your Mum having altered your dress a bit. Have you seen it? What has she added? Do you have a theme or colours decided for your wedding? (Hope it's not aliens....my poorliness meant BBC3 came out to play last night and I watched Don't tell the bride. Moron)

Gerry might the sleep weirdness be about a need to reduce the day naps or configuration of day naps? We are having our first one nap day today. This has been ecotod's choice. She played for 45 mins this morning instead of napping.

Doli how did that bedtime go? You sounded resigned to it being a failure which will usually mean it was a success?

Oh, and Plonky, yurts. It takes us a couple of very long, hard days to get both of them up and kitted out with the stoves and mats and furniture. With the little people around this time I am sure it'll take us a fortnight.

Right, I'd better go and face reality and make some decisions about this fecking survey. It'd be so much easier with a fistful of dairy milk.

Eco would it help if I told you all surveys are completely negative and imply the structure in question won't last the winter? It's so you can't sue them.

Break it down, are there any biggies like subsidence, or a dodgy roof? If not, you're half way there. Other issues, are they fundamental? If yes, but you love the house, get building quotes and negotiate your offer price down accordingly. If no, you're laughing. All properties have a litany of small issues, unless they are new builds, in which case they will have a whole load of snagging issues. But, you probably know all this already so I'll shut up there

As for bed time last night, it took 20 mins of self non-settling chatting in her cot, followed by another 20 mins of me holding her. That btw is an awesome result for the toddle. She must have been tired! We're making progress as the amount of time I can leave her to chat by herself is increasing, before she gets cross.

The diet coke boys are back, removing the pane they broke last time they were here. This is proving more than a little entertaining. I await with trepidation the next minor disaster that is the saga of the roof. PS Gerry, if you ever need an glazing work done PM me. I'll tell you who we used and you can use that information in whatever way you wish

Gerry sleep weirdness... I bet you it's teeth. That's what it always is here!

Speaking of sleep, madam's awake!

Doli you officially had a better bedtime than us last night. It took an hour, we tried everything. Today he has a new tooth. Go figure! Not one that I could see coming through though, so this spate of teething will go on a few more weeks.

Enjoying the view?

Eco I can't believe the DBs didn't work! Maybe try rich tea? I love that you're having tummy issues and are fantasising about food. Survey sounds perplexing. Oh dear!

We have a vague wedding theme : homemade/rustic, with touches of blue. I think my dress is ready, and if it is I'll see it tomorrow. All she's done is shorten it. A mid calf dress wearer I am not, so it's super summery and party frock-ish.

Gerry does that make every part time position a job share? Not great for prospects, no. I hate that part timers don't get the same opportunities and recognition. I couldn't return to my old job pt, and took a major step back. Gits.

Ds did a poonami. This'll be the first since weaning that's not down to a tummy bug. And I am guilty of throwing the vest in the bin.

Now dp is having a go at me because he has run out of ventolin (he uses his inhaler a few times a day at this time of year). To order a repeat he needs to drop his previous slip in (lost it), or go through their 'gateway' online. Apparently it is my fault he doesn't have a gateway id because I never collected one for him. What a douchebag.

Remind me, how many nights until a sleep pattern is a habit? Second night in a row of 20 mins chatting in the cot, followed by a cuddle, and asleep before 9.30pm. I really thinks she might be getting it!

Jinxed it now haven't I?!

Three nights for a habit, I think. And you might not have jinxed it - one day she will start sleeping better, and who's to say that day isn't today?

Fartypants is off to Shirebrook today. I don't know what I'm going to do with all the free time.

Ooh lucky her, Stormy

I'm a bit apprehensive, to be honest. She's never gone that long without seeing me, she's never spent a night away from home, she's being an arse about bedtime at the moment, she's never been in a car for that long, she's going in the new forward facing seat for the first time, and they're setting off at naptime but god knows whether she'll sleep. Still, all of that can be filed under Not My Problem!

She'll be rate Stormy. She's with people she knows and the drive from hull to shitebrook is sufficiently long enough for her to fall asleep, especially as she'll already be tired.

How did the night go Doli?

Our day started with a five. Not too bad because the sun is shining, and I'm baby free tonight. I'm staying at my parents and getting pampered tomorrow I think it might only be the second time dp has looked after ds overnight on his own. Having said that I'm struggling to remember the first time...omg it could be the first time!

A 6! Today started with a 6! 6.30 no less. First time all week, and an uninterrupted night as well. I feel much better for it. Stormy she'll be fine, dd falls asleep just as easily forward facing as she did rear facing.

We're leaving dd for the first time overnight tomorrow. She's done 2 nights without me in the past, but this is the first time without either of us. My sister is coming to stay while we're at a wedding, I can't wait but in a minute in going to start writing instructions for her, need to ensure I don't end up sounding like one of those mothers...

Right, suncream on, off to the park we go. Hope everyone else has weather as gorgeous as we do right now!

Oh, and I've got an interview for that job on Wednesday!

Stormy enjoy your time off, and try not to worry. Fartypants will be just fine. Dolitoddle makes a big show of being absolutely heart broken at being left with anyone other than me... until I'm out of sight. The rat.

Gerry Well done, and good luck! Sun cream and park here too, followed by an epic nap fail. Ah well, last night was a glorious 10.5 hours, so she's allowed to monkey about a bit today.

T'would appear DH has retired. How scary is that?! He's jacking in the world of employment to arse about for a bit and then do this own thing. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about being married to a retiree. It sounds a bit wrinkly knees and Saga holidays

I have just put her in her cot, wide awake, and...... she has gone to sleep

Omg... tonight is proving to be a little out of the ordinary. I'm pregnant !!! Obviously if you know me in RL you don't know this, as it's far too early to tell anyone....

Doli we are for you! Nice work toddle! Two more of those and you know what you've got? A lifetime of evenings ahead of you! Brilliant. I bet you're tentative about relaxing just yet though eh? Don't be! Crack open a bottle and celebrate dh being a soon to be pensioner That's big news Doli. I think that means you'll have a lovely and exciting project on your hands before too long. A hotel perhaps!

Plonky your wedding theme and dress sound plonksome. Lovely. What sort of pampering will you be in for? Let me enjoy it vicariously! My dad's not so hot at pampering me. Unless you count allowing me to take him a cup of tea in bed

Stormy are you in the pub yet?

Gerry congratulations on the interview! And a lovely weekend of novel child free time ahead of you. A good Friday night I suspect? Wine for you too!

Can you believe that each week I spend two whole days packing, travelling and unpacking to and from bloody Bedfordshire? It is insanely stressful I find. Especially when Ecotod is intent on unpacking and then crying when I load the car and try and leave whichever place we're leaving clean and tidy. With a comrade I'd be fine but solo it super sucks. I have vowed not to do it again. I'm staying in Norfolk now until a fecking house materialises down there. Doli no idea what to make of our survey report. Can I email it to
you for some reassurance please? There are some roof and asbestos bits that I find concerning. Can you tell my Friday feeling isn't too chipper? I'm ready for a bloody plate of chorizo and bacon....that's making it worse! BRAT is officially boring now. But no diarrhoea since yesterday so do I have permission to gorge yet? Please.

Oh and first nap refusal is becoming a pattern and I'm finding one nap days very tiresome by four o'clock. Incessant whimpering, moaning and fake crying do your nut in after a while.

Gosh, I need to say something lighthearted so as not to dampen sunny weekend spirits. Er.... I bought a pop fiction book in the charity shop based on a decent review it was given by the times and I am unashamedly absorbed in it. I guess a bit of escapism is fun from time to time.

Mwah! (It's Friday)

Doli what the flippin flip????

doli are you for real?

oh actually, not so much of the How the passage of time makes you forget how to behave responsibly! for you. Caffeine free.....