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

[Plonkysaurus]

Ta da!

I'd love to see our kids side by side, Plonk. Mine would look like a midget and yours like a giant. Fartypants is barely into 12-18 yet! American vests, and tops from wherever, are the only 12-18 she wears so far. Looking like she'll still be in 9-12 trousers when she graduates...

Uh oh! We are already in 18-24mths and a couple of tshirts are 2-3yrs. I blame clothing industry for making small clothes. Ds is not particularly big but his belly can grow when he eats.

i did put the midnight dose of antibiotics in his milk but overestimated how much he would drink so will offer less milk this time to make sure he gets all of it. I will probably disguise it in his baby juice for the day time doses. Thank you wise marchers as ever.

doli i had anaseed tea during pregnancy. That was the only drink i could have.

I had the funny taste thing on and off from second tri. Found chocolate and sometimes dairy exacerbated so I was better on black tea or tea with a slice of lemon than milky. Also loved hot water with lemon and a slice of fresh ginger with some honey. (Great cold remedy and ok with the nausea).

We also had the ttc baby number 2 talk recently and I changed my mind from wanting to try in December 2016 to now wanting to start trying December 2015. So, DS will be 3.5. It may still seem like a long way off but for someone who wanted a 5 year gap, it certainly seems to be shrinking.

In my first trimester, all I could eat was cucumber. I wish I'd had ridiculous, unreasonable cravings. I never went off tea, thankfully. I also used to nap on my lunchbreak as it was during Summer and the students who went to uni where I worked were off so I got to sneak into their common room and curl up on the sofa.

12-18 month clothes are starting to become short on DS. I have to keep tugging his tshirts down or people will think he's wearing crop tops!

Home births do sound quite blissful. SIL had a home birth and she looked so calm when we went round an hour after. However, having decided that I'll have a c-section next time, and after DS's birth, I will definitely be planning to go to a hospital.

We got our new little puppy on Monday. He's GORGEOUS! He's so good with DS too. They chase each other up and down the garden, and it's so lovely now to have regular little walks as a family because he's still too tiny for big walks But now I live with three stinky boys. DS definitely needs a little sister soon...

eco hope you feel better soon - that sounds really grim. And yes to homebirths and having your own fridge to hand. It was bliss and definitely calm. It was actually very surreal to be two in our own bed and then a few short hours later three! I am always puzzled by how they can serve such poor quality food in a hospital, all processed high sugar and salt rubbish. I was particularly shocked at the quality on the children's ward which should surely be a priority.

Clothes wise we are in 12-18 months so I think DD is pretty average. We are wearing ordinary vests now though so DD can pull down her nappy and trousers when using the potty without our help. It makes her look so grown up!

I still find idea of more children pretty scary and trying to conceive number 3 probably not going to happen as I value my freedom and the financial ease we have now which would go if we had another. But happy to live vicariously through those who do. My SIL had a baby recently so get plenty of newborn snuggles. I recently realised that the only thing I would be sad about if we don't have any more is never being pregnant or giving birth again which I loved - don't think I would be sad about not having another child so conclusion is clear as not wanting more!

Funnily enough, rainbow, that's exactly why DD still wears vests! As soon as it comes off she shoves her hand straight down her nappy.

I can't wait to ditch vests. In fact when he grows out of what he's currently got, that's it, no more poppered vests.

There, I've just decided it.

plonk you power crazy lady!!

Felt dreadful throughout the vast majority of my pregnancy which is the main reason we aren't trying yet. Can't imagine how I dragged myself through work every day feeling so bad- imagine doing that with a toddle to look after too!! Hoping we'll think about it soonish though- which is new in the last few weeks. DS is just so gorgeous at the moment.

yummy hope toddle yum better ASAP.
doli hope the copious amounts of peanut butter get those energy levels soaring!

eco hope you're ok. What's the deal with the yurts? I'm confused. How's the moving going dare I ask?

Hope everyone well. It's Wednesday!!

I got the job! I'll be back later with more info but I'm just off for a run where's my halo?

Go Gerry!

Congratulations gerry!

Dh and ds is asleep and im enjoying some me time. im going to bash dh if he doesn't do night duty tonight

I love those pop up vests. It keeps the nappy firmly in place.

Wahey!

Go Gerry!

Gerry Yay!!!!!!! Brilliant!!!

Well, for all of you planning a future mini, may I just remind you that your overwhelming feeling on achieving your goal will be omfg how will I cope?! Because that's kind of where I am at now. A wee tiny voice at the back of my head is reminding me that at 37 weeks last time round, my hips gave way and I couldn't actually walk. So negotiating that stage this time round with a 2 stone toddle in tow could be a tad interesting. However I have coped my way out of more troublesome corners before so I'm sure it will be a breeze! Nothing to it. I'll just strap her to the back of the dog or something.

Me, I like vests. They are so much nicer under a skirt than those fancy frilly pants that seem to be de rigeur for the fashionable toddlette. Skirt, nappy and no pants in comparison is a combination considered at one's peril. There are just too many possible negative outcomes with that one. i guess there's always the good old fall back of trousers, but they're just so hot in this weather. Ah the dilemmas I face each day can you tell I need to get out more?

Big day tomorrow. Dolitoddle's first day back at nursery after 3 months off. I'm hoping she'll not recognise the place. I am certain they won't recognise her. Isn't scary how fast they all change. It seems like just yesterday she was a small bald pumpkin of a baby, and now she is a whole small person with opinions and everything. I'll miss her, but it's only for the morning, so hopefully not too much. I might also get something productive done.

Ah, the self settle appears to have failed tonight. I need to investigate the squawks. It would appear she only self settles on the nights when I have back up in the form of DH!

Thanks everyone! I'm a strange mixture of very happy and really quite sad. As of September I will be working full time. But I will be doing a job I enjoy, that feels so much more worthwhile, and all those holidays mean that I'll still get time with just us girls, which is really important to me. DH and I had a very scary and real conversation this evening about how, when we've finished having babies (so in theory after 3 unless we win the lottery), it really will probably make more sense for me to work, and him to be, if not a SAHD, then at least the 'main caregiver'. Because he just doesn't have the earning potential, and whilst money's not everything, I like nice things, and I like to live in a nice house, and I want to know that one day I'll be able to go on holiday.

I know this is 2014, and that all of that is fine. But I always thought I'd work hard for a few years, then stay at home and be a full time mum. It's just taking a while to readjust.

All this talk of babies doesn't half make me broody though. Doli, I hate to break it to you, but I got toast :) I had a student midwife hanging around, and she really didn't have much to do, so she went on a mission and found me some. It was cold, but I'd given birth 4 hours previously, then had been to theatre, had an epidural, been in for 2 hours whilst they were trying to tug my placenta out without as much as a cup of tea. So I really didn't care! And yes I must admit that every time I think about Gerrytoddle mark 2, I tell myself that as I will be at least 4 st lighter I absolutely WILL NOT be on crutches from 29 weeks. Even though being overweight is only a very small factor in spd as proven by Doli who is my physical polar opposite

Back to the job. Some issues to be ironed out. Like they want me to do my new role (head of year) alongside my current role (head of subject). Which is completely bonkers, and I will only agree to if it comes with A LOT more money. But the new role is definitely mine, so that's the main thing.

Night all!

Gerry, if you do head of year and head of department you're not going to have time to make any more babies! How's the paperwork these days? I remember when my dad was HoD when I was at primary school. We saw him at breakfast and teatime, and popped into his study to say goodnight, and that's about it. Put me right off teaching.

How about shorts doli? There's lots around and DS looks super cute in them.
Well done gerry!

Gerry I think you earned your toast. Next time round though I'm packing sandwiches

There are an awful lot of SAHDs round these ere parts, our builder is one of them. The fact he works 9.30am to just before 3pm might give some clue as to why our building projects seem interminable! I'm sure you'll manage to fit in more DCs. Didn't Nicola Horrick manage 5 or something?!

Just dropped the toddle at nursery, and she wailed . Broke my heart. Plus I had to drive the tank. I hate the tank. Aside from the fact it is a tank, and by definition unlikeable, it is almost impossible to drive it down a narrow high street, at rush hour, when there are road works, school buses, parking on both sides of the road and randomly stopped delivery trucks. How I didn't hit anyone I really don't know I may have clipped the kerb and possibly a wing mirror

Right, 3 hours off, so I plan to cook something, swim, do the washing, tidy, and generally fill my time or else I will worry about the poor sad little toddle

Shattered shorts. Of course! Duh

Doli she'll be just fine! FWIW DS has been going to nursery for 7 months, and until a few weeks ago, still cried every morning. He stopped the moment I left the building, apparently. They do this. They're wily.

I am wearing shorts today. I strolled into work and my mother asked "are those your shorts?" Give that woman a prize.

Gerry it must be a bit of a startling realisation, knowing you're not set to be a SAHM. I would maximise whatever mat leave you can get, take as looo-hooo-ooooong as you can get and love every minute. And with clever age gapping you can work it so that DH never has to actually stop work, he could just be PT? Either way, I wouldn't let it rule you. Cos you're well good . How's the running going? That halo must be really shiny.

Man I am huuungry. My belly's growling. And so far I've had porridge, granola, an apple, and a handful of cherries. Is this a side effect of gym-ing?

Get some protein down you, Plonk. It fills you up for longer.

I'd love to. Sadly I'm nowhere near a kitchen. Or any food. The bastards!

No use for today then, but maybe try to get more protein in tomorrow's breakfast. I usually have frankfurters for breakfast (mmm, meaty goodness). I cook two, Fartypants nicks half of one. Keeps me going from 8am breakfast until lunch about noon, by which point my tummy is just starting to rumble.

That's a good idea Stormy, thanks. If I were at home I'd have scrambled some eggs by now and nibbled on some cheese.

God I'm hungry.

I want an omelette now. Gah, thanks plonk I'm hungreh too! I've only had breakfast biscuits today though. Roll on lunchtime.

Are we all embracing legs today? I rocked up at work with bare legs in my skirt. No tights today!

doli DS STILL cries when we drop him off with CM and he's been going twice a week since he was 9 months!

Ooh, and congrats on the job gerry