June 2013; Toddling into our second year!

[BeanCalledPickle]

New thread ladies:-) I think we filled about ten threads when pregnant and this is only our fourth post natally!

Are you in Addis Ababa, Sunny? My boyfriend was there for a wedding a year or so ago and was in some amazingly friendly little B&B type hotel thing...if you go back let me know and I can try find out what it was. I think it was in town....not sure...

I can't wait to see Joe tomorrow morning though I have to say that I think his life with the childminder seems to be a constant stream of fun visits to play and cook and paint classes, much more entertaining than what I offer!

I think it's a rule that whatever anyone else does with your dc always seems much more fun and exciting!
I felt bad yesterday that the only reason we left the house was to walk the dog and didn't do anything else that even came close to fun.

Yes yes to childcare offering more exciting days! Mind you there's a massive difference between looking after toddlers for your day job and looking after them 24/7...

Huzzah cuphat for the weaning That's great. I've still not managed to drop the final feed. DS has been sleeping badly for a couple of wks now (anything between 3 and 6 wakeups, sob). The nights of one lone wake up seem a distant memory. DH has been poorly so I've been doing most wakeups which means I don't have the energy to ditch the final feed. One day!!

Thanks Mrs. Third night tonight and she's been absolutely fine with it. I really can't believe it. I hope your DS's sleep improves soon, hopefully it's teething or something.

DD takes an excited inhale of breath when I ask her if she wants to go for a walk! I don't want to set the standard too high when she's so easily pleased. Other than tots group, one of her favourite outings is to Pets at Home to look at the fish - simple things! She's very easily entertained though, very laid back.

Was down south in Arba Minch Oli but back in Addis last night. my host thought it would be nice to take me back to his yesterday and meet his kids. I have to admit it hurt my heart to see his little ones and not mine.

Normally I get a local SIM card when I go away so DH and I can talk but there's this weird system which makes it difficult for non nationals to do in here. Wifi is too poor for Skype so have been relying on DH sending me pictures on WhatsApp instead. It's just not enough to see a pic of lil though - I want to squish her!

Hi folks its me again.

So its Sunday. I'm meant to be getting my report written so I can focus on other things when I get back to the office.

So clearly I've decided to tackle some Christmas shopping online instead.

What are you getting for your little ones for Christmas? I'm more interested in the smaller items than the big present. I've got that sorted - we got her a toy kitchen to play with. Its all the other things that I'm struggling with.

Generally this kid would be happy with a jigsaw from Oxfam and a dog lead from Pets at Home so really its about creating the magic of Christmas for me this year.....

DS is getting fairly small presents on the whole. He doesn't need a lot, is happy with little (current delight is a claw type hair clip ). So he is getting the Happyland train set (currently on offer with ELC), some books, a play mat/rug which has a road scene on one side and farmyard/countryside on the other, a magnetic fishing game thing. My dad wants to make him a little table and we will get him a little wooden chair to match :)

One of the bonuses of summer birthdays is that developmental toys can be done in 6m increments!

DD is getting Duplo and more books from us (she has absolutely loads but can't get enough of them - she's a bookworm like me).

We are saving the toy kitchen for her birthday.

I've got her a few more 'learning' toys, a ride on thing, a toy market, some paint and brushes, books (the Little Miss / Mr Men sets are on offer at The Book People), Julia Donaldson talking books for the car. Lots of little stuff that add up to a bit. But no single big item.

A happy land zoo and one of those God awful coupe cars that I will inevitably regret. Maybe some small stuff as well. But I know she won't be getting out that car for love nor money so no point. More worried about what she will be buying me:-)

Some good ideas here. A micro scooter (with seat) is gonna be big pressie, and then craft/painting stuff, a sensory box thing, toy tractor and then stocking stuff ( new pjs, couple of books, jigsaws, toy harmonica).

Some things we've asked for from other people are a mini trampoline, Happyland aeroplane and a Toot Toot garage.

She got a couple of ride on things for her birthday (trike and wheelybug which she loves) and we'll also get her a toy kitchen when she's a little older.

I'm convinced I missed the organisational part of being a mum. I know Christmas is fast approaching but haven't even started anything for it yet.....must start

hurrah - join my last minute attack on Amazon Pink bear.

really feeling the drop in income this year. I have 6 nephews and 1 niece to buy for and really struggling to afford my normal budget for them all. I'm going to be labelled Cheap Aunt Sunny aren't I?

Oh Sunny, you won't be cheap aunt! They will be delighted that you thought of them. Lots of people have less spare cash than before. Can you agree a budget with the family? They might appreciate it too!

What are the top tips for pukey toddlers? DS has been sick twice in the last 5hrs. We are camped out on sofa with syringes of water and a tupperware/puke bucket

Sunny, join Baby and Toddler Bargain Bay on Facebook. It alerts you to real bargains on Amazon. Could be helpful.

There's a 5-13 year old version too, called Online Bargains for 5-13 year olds.

Fingers crossed you find something on there.

Just keep as hydrated as possible, I think Mrs. I hope DS is better soon.

Hi all. Just raising my head the other side of the move. All went fairly well, considering the night before DS was up from 1-4am throwing up . He ended up being sick on and off for a week which has been a pain as no preschool, no hanging out with friends and it's been too rainy for much outside (though did force the kids into a walk in the woods in the pouring rain, and similar rainy trip to the playground). Evie was then sick Sun but fortunately just the one night. No tips but by the third time she had got the hang of draping herself over a bucket. First time was her waking up at 1.30 am screaming as she'd been sick everywhere - walls, cot, carpet etc etc.

Otherwise things are good, we're settling into our new house. Unpacked, but finishing off decorating and still have a long to-do list. Only just got internet this morning after 10 days which has been a royal pain.

Am very jealous of the talking babies. E very occasionally will repeat something I say but mainly just content to screech. Still as stubborn/spirited as ever. And now started hitting her brother and me. Still trying to work out what to do about that.

Gosh you're all much nicer than we are to poor Joe - last Xmas we didn't buy him a thing, and nor are we planning to this Xmas as he will be inundated with stuff from cousins and uncles and aunts and grandparents - plenty to be going on with.

He did score a little mini-ferrari (not so classy!) and a properly posh scooter for his birthday so he's much more able these days to take advantage of the fun those offer. And we don't need to get them for him!

Aloha - congrats on surviving the house move and all the illness - gah!

Joe mostly says 'no'. No is the favourite by a long, long way. Oh, and also 'oh no' when he drops something (usually food, deliberately, from his high chair - drives me utterly bonkers). And 'what's that, what's this'.

I finish up in Yorkshire tomorrow so back to staying at home till the next piece of work comes in. I've loved working again, mostly at the thought of the lovely, lovely moulah that I can now invoice for!

Hope all is well with everyone else. 18 month old babies - scary!

18m is scary Oli! But great fun too

We have another non speaker. Well, no words that I can understand anyway. Plenty of toddle babble but it's anyone's guess as to what it is. Anyway, DS is better again thank goodness. Sickness is tough with all the associated limitations.

I am holed up at home with ds, dining room is half plastered, the radiator is off the wall (deliberately) and pipe is leaking, boiler losing pressure constantly. DH will be home in c 3hrs and in the meantime plumber will come at somepoint to save the day. I am getting bored of renovation work at home! I long for a faff free run for a while.

Oh, and I saw something that made me smile today: driving back from getting headlamp fixed on car and saw an elderly couple out for a walk, hand in hand and nattering away to each other. Awww. I hope dh and I are like that in 40 yrs time!

DD shouted what sounded like 'Move!' at a woman blocking the peppers in Sainsbury's today. Mortified isn't the word!

That's very funny! Maybe I should enjoy the babble days while they last

I'm going to look up that fb page, need all the bargains I can get now I'm not earning any money.

Hope your DS is better soon, Mrs.

Glad the move went well, Aloha.

DD is a real chatterbox, she has around 40 words now (yes we're still counting!). She has an amazing memory. But then she's been slower with crawling and walking etc.

Haha, Hungry!

Don't forget it's Black Friday week on Amazon next week. More bargains to be had!

I'm not sure how many words DD has. She comes out with random stuff like 'tick tock' for the clock, but isn't hugely consistent. She thinks we should understand her though! She will ask 'what's this?' if she wants to know something too.

I doubt she's anywhere near 40 words though.

(I sat on my arse til I was 17 months, but talked early, apparently!)

Has anyone got firm Christmas plans yet? We are staying at home, just the 4 of us, for dinner. Not sure what else we are doing though.

I'm in denial Christmas is approaching....

Parents have just got a new oven, I've told them this means V and me will have lunch with them. Had said her dad can see her Christmas Eve. He likes a drink on Christmas and doesn't want to faff around on the day!

Feeling a bit meh about it all today. Silly how some days that happens. Two years ago next week I first found out about his affair. I should have walked away then. Would have been a far easier two years! I know things are far better now, I'm happier, dd is happier and that's everything but for some ridiculous reason I'm questioning everything.

Hope all poorly little ones are feeling better. All new houses are being settled into. And that those that have been away are home and enjoying snuggles again

OH pink you really shouldn't question yourself. He is an arse of the highest order. just read back what you wrote - he doesn't want to see his daughter on Christmas day because it's a faff. Aka he is an asswipe. DH is potentially working in Christmas day and is gutted at the thought of missing out. You made the best decision for you and your daughter. just repeat when you are feeling low 'the man doesn't want to see his daughter on Christmas day'.

on the word front we are slowly progressing. Sadly there is still no 'mummy' - doggy, baa and daddy feature heavily but by far her favourite is 'No'.