March 2013 - by the time we finish this one we'll be shopping for elf outfits. Eek!

[ecofreckle]

Here we go again then ladies. Plenty more shiny new space to fill up with ramblings :-) Link to last thread

Oh and happy birthday worse! Where have you been taken? Give me clues!

Morning all, and thank you again for all the birthday wishes. I had the best night out, which was helped in knowing the toddle was being well looked after. The nursery team are wonderful. It is so nice not having to explain things like how/when to change a nappy or the trials and tribulations of getting small people to sleep. In fact, they could give me lessons.

Gerry Cau was the destination of choice. Blimey it's good. Or maybe I was just hungry, but their treble cooked chunky chips are something else, and it must be the only place that can serve up a pregnancy friendly well done steak that isn't dry. I haven't eaten that much is years!

Oh and words, pretty much the same level here. Remedial! She can scale Mt Everest though, or so it seems, so I console myself with the fact she is obviously the next great olympian

As for struggling, yup, it's bl**dy tough second time round. I had no clue. I think it's combination of not getting enough sleep, or proper food, having a boy (I really don't think the different hormone balance is suiting me), and the fact the baby sits so much lower. There are times it feels like he is engaged, and I'm about to go into labour at any minute. Seriously. Last night walking up hill to the restaurant the cold air set off such bad Braxton Hicks I had to sit down. I'm only 6 months FFS!!! I get the feeling it's going to get easier though, in part because I've mentally accepted I just can't do everything I could last time.

Ah, she's up. Cool. I've missed her. That's one of the nicest things about a night out.... how nice it is to get home.

Just a quick one because someone wants breakfast:

The poem is by Larkin, local chap, the place we go for lunch is named after him;

Yes, I can only poo at home. I'll regale you all with the saga of the most enormous constipated turf in Germany later.

Gerry tantrums a-mundo are the order of the day. I'm hoping that as language develops they'll gradually abate until we all have perfect 30 year olds who don't ever complain about anything ever. I'm basing this on my being 28 and still feeling prone to an annual tantrum. Usually directed at DH. Actually, they're not annual. Shit. DS's morning tantrum was caused by asking for toast, getting toast and...erm? Toasty bastards.
Suffolk with the animals sounds like a nice half term though, so that's something!

Eco noone else has drawn attention to the fact that you made ten Christmas cakes. Seeing as you're obviously not far away (Grantham?) any chance you could sling one of em round mine this arvo? Belton House is lovely! I've not been in about 10 years, save for a brief delivery when I worked for the Evil Wine Bastards. I recall being told it's where part of Pride and Prejudice (the proper Colin Firth version) was filmed back in t'day.

Worse birthday sounds lovely. I love a triple cooked chip. Yummy! DSis had lots of braxton hicks brought on by hills and chills too, and had them all the way through. Strange though because as I said before, I don't recall having any. Although her boy was about a pound heavier than mine, so maybe that had something to do with it. I suppose they're a reminder to get your feet up as much as possible? Nursery folk are bloody great aren't they? One of DS's says he talks like Manuel (he is doing that continental thing with his H sounds, so horses are HHHHHhhhhchchchors!) and she'd like to take him home. One day I may take her up on that offer.

We're emailing the landlord later to give him our news. I don't know if this constitutes giving notice or simply notifying him of an impending change. So there's that. Given that neither party is in a chain, the property is vacant, the results of the survey will be with us in a week, and the solicitors are already on it with the searches it may be worth serving notice immediately. Or it may not. Because how long's a piece of string?! Also how does one move house with a toddler in tow? Shall I just ship him away to grandma's for the next 6 months?
Oh and I have a 3 hour round trip to collect my (not very sexy) new car from Oop North on Friday. DS will be with me - any tips there too?
Other than these inane musings DH and I have been giving serious consideration to DC2. We're going to put an order in sometime soon, I suspect.

Does the poem start:

They fuck you up, your mum and dad

?

We did Larkin at A-Level. Lovely chap, if a bit of a misery

I love Cau- went there on a v rare mums' night out, the cocktails are great aware that's the wrong thing to say to someone who is 6 months pregnant

Right, now I'm on a computer, let's see what I've missed.

Who, what, or where is Cau? Never heard of it.

That's the poem I was thinking of, Plonk. Managed to avoid studying him, but when I was at uni I spent a lot of time in the Larkin Building (where the English department was housed), and also in the library he used to be librarian of. And I know he did a poem about frogs too, because a few years ago loads of enormous brightly painted frogs appeared all over the place round here as a tribute.

Hang on, eco's in Grantham? That's near enough to me that we get the same local news! Really must double check where everyone lives and then look at a map because I still don't know where bloody Bedfordshire is.

Glad the birthday was good, worse. As for struggling, just goes to show, no two pregnancies are the same. Could be harder with this one even if you didn't have the worselet running you ragged too.

Gerry good to see you back! I'd say enjoy your mother's guilt while you can, but as it will probably last for the rest of your life there's really no rush. We'll all fuck them up in some way or another. At least you're aware, so with a bit of luck it'll only be in minor ways. And I bet you Gerrytod could put Fartypants to shame at something - we may have a lot of words, but in most respects she's average, and in a few (eating springs to mind) she's definitely behind. And her use of smartphones is waaaaaay behind Yummytoddle - we have only just got past the "What happens if I put this in my mouth? Oh cool, Mummy shrieks!" stage.

What else...? Ah yes, public poos. I'm surely not alone in not particularly enjoying pooing when members of the public are the other side of a very flimsy door? On Thursday we started in a pub round the corner, and moved on to a pub up the road, which involved passing my house. So stopped for the loo. It made sense at the time, honestly.

When I was six months pregnant, we went to stay with FIL in Germany for a week. I had that 'fairly pregnant, daren't push in case the baby falls out, getting a bit constipated, bugger' thing going on, and also could never find a moment to go and try to poo, because there was always someone around. After several days I gave up waiting, and locked myself in the loo with a good book. Oh my days it was bad. I vividly remember wondering, if I couldn't even get this poo out, how was I ever going to get a baby out. I shall gloss over the more revolting details, but suffice to say the poo was eventually evacuated (and was in all honestly at least as big as a six month old foetus, if not bigger). Now, I don't know if any of you are familiar with German toilets, but thanks to their fondness for meats of all sorts and historical issues with worms, their toilets are built with a little ledge for the poo to land on, so it can be inspected before it's flushed. This ledge reduces the available space the poo needs to pass through upon being flushed. Naturally, it got stuck. And I'm going to leave the story there, because it doesn't get much better. Worst poo of my entire life (to date, anyway...).

Stormy Cau's a small chain of steak houses. I've not been before, and was very impressed by the quality of the food, cooking, and staff. I had such a lovely evening, and I'm someone who is a bit unimpressed in general by all things restaurant. In fact the worst meal I have ever eaten in my life was at a 3 Michelin starred place in London. It was frankly awful. Soulless atmosphere, snotty staff, stupid got at bits of food arranged artfully on a plate, cunningly interspersed with what looked like smears of snot, and all of it fashionably undercooked. I'd pay money to never have to go there again. No, give me a proper food, properly cooked, a lively buzz, and happy, efficient, helpful staff and I'm happy. gerry I'll have to take your drinks recommendation on trust, as obviously I was on safer stuff. Although I did try a virgin version of something or other. It was vile!!! Cocktails have alcohol in them for a reason.... to distract from the over powering sweetness.

Stormy, the German's have a what? A shelf? Seriously?!!! That's a whole level beyond what I even want to think about so soon after lunch. Grim. I'm so glad I don't live there. I'm so glad you made it through the trauma unscathed!

Ah that poem I know it well, as I am sure do my parents. They did their level best anyway, and they're still trying. Put it this way I have not told them about the hotel. I never will. The fallout would be nuclear. As for me, I'll do my best to just be kind. Sod everything else, kids just need kindness.

My mum and step dad are spectacularly good. The conversations about money from parents always coming with strings? It honestly doesn't apply to my parents. When we got engaged, I was told that I could have whatever the hell I wanted. They said 'even if you want to get married on a beach surrounded by strangers and don't invite us, we'll pay". They honestly think that everything you earn is there to make other people happy. My real dad left when I was 4 months old, but I am stupidly close to him, my step mum, and all 5 of my half brothers and sisters (2 on one side, 1 on the other). My mum and real dad have always demonstrated a united front, never argued. At our wedding, both dad's walked me down the aisle, both gave a speech, and they all danced together. When we had dd, mum and dad both visited, and hugged in a tearful 'didn't we do well' kind of way, despite having been divorced for 27 years. Sounds perfect, and it really nearly is. And yet still, I can identify negative personality traits of mine that I know is because of how I've been raised. That's kind of scary.

Plonky! You're going to order one soon ? Big news! It's so good when a plan comes together and shit starts going your way. If you do it soon you and worse can be up duffed together. With regard to your move and notice, you'll not hand in your notice until you've exchanged will you? An overlap between the two houses will save you from looking like I currently do. Much much more civilised. I would ship ds out for the day before and the day of the move if I were you. It might be nice for him to see his new home with furniture in situ and his bedroom done perhaps? I have two top tips having moved twice in the last two years with a whole heap of shite. 1 leave more time than you think you're going to need to clean your old (and new) place and gather help for this. 2 when you reach the point the night before you move where you think I can't do anymore until tomorrow now, just remember that 'those last few bits' on the day itself will take about five times as long as you imagine.

Worse can you really keep a whole hotel a secret? I am very bad at wanting to talk things through and would struggle with that. And my brain isn't bright enough to cope with the masquerade required! So pleased you had both a great night out and a fabulous feed. That baby boy will be loving that steak right now!

Stormy bloody Bedfordshire is sandwiched to the north of London between Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. It is where people who want to commute to London but can't afford commuter belt live but it's still too expensive for us right now I was near Melton Mowbray because that's where my family reside, that's an hour and a half north of bloody Bedfordshire (or three and a half hours north on a day where the a1 is shut ) And, thanks for the poo story. Epic!

Gerry I'm digging my way out now, thanks for asking. And, Ecotod headbutts the sofa for fun still. That's not copied from us but she still does it. We need to try and remember the mantra about phases passing. It's hard though and it does sound like you have it tough right now. Hoping today has been better?

Plonky and Betty I have no idea about the dogs you mention but did the puppies arrive? I love a good puppy story on a wet Sunday.

Right, as a result of the a1 I'd better get my act together and do the stuff I was expecting to do two hours ago ahead of a restful evening post-cake-bake.

oh, and, as we were in the car from four until half seven Ecotod had to make do with a makeshift 'meal' of passed back rice cake, plain bread, babybel, yoghurt, grapes and a Cadburys chocolate finger. Does that count as a balanced meal? Hope so, we did milk and straight to bed!

Ps. hot tip: never try and feed a toddler yoghurt from the passenger seat. That's for you Plonky as you go and collect your car. Don't do it!

eco toddler on a long journey food message heeded. I've asked my uncle if he can take me on Thursday (provided the car's actually available then!) to collect so I can leave DS at nursery and drive in peace! I can't believe it took you so long to Melton to Bedfordshire. You must've been in a great mood when you got home! The pic on FB of your sister and you with your mountain of ingredients made me smile, looks a great way to spend an evening.

Oh the dc2 order won't be put in until we're reasonably happy with our new home. I don't want to be up duffed and have the ceiling cave in as I haven't the Worse's inner calm. DH is averse to having an Xmas baby so we may not start trying until April I guess, but I'd rather it was sooner . Definitely won't give notice until I've got a vague date from the solicitor. I think the pains I've experienced the last week have been IBS related, and I don't want to find myself completely out of action due to stress. All other tips duly noted, thank you!

Gerry I reckon being able to recognise your own negative traits and link that behaviour to your folks is a very strong sign of a healthy individual indeed. Given that you didn't say 'my parents are batshit (in a bad way) and so am I', I think you're probably doing ok and a very nice person to boot. I recognise a lot of my dad's anger instinct in myself and I despise it. It's getting better with age but I've had to actively work at becoming a calmer person. Thankfully DH balances me out as he's friggin' horizontal.

Worse how on earth are you going to keep it a secret? What are the repercussions likely to be if they ever find out?

I'm pooped. Up with DS at 6.30, began incredibly boring data entry at 9. Obviously DS + paperwork = not much getting done/him watching far too much telly. Oh I did manage to get the ironing done and cook a lovely tea, but have only just finished the goddamn paperwork. You know when a tradesman does a job in your home and they give you a proper receipt and take a pink/yellow copy for their records? I process those records. 887 of them today. Bed now.

Plonky I think I love you. Inner calm? I must tell DH. I do a great line in cope, but I'm not always calm about it

Secrets - easy. They live abroad. They know what I tell them, and what I tell them is strictly on a need to know basis. As for the repercussions, they'd tell everyone, and although most of everyone wouldn't care my dsis would go batshit. She has issues around money. Very odd issues, but it's a MH thing, not a b*tchy thing, which makes it forgivable. My parents seem to operate an unthinking light blue touch paper and stand back policy.

I have another feeding in the car tip to add to Eco's yoghurt one. Milk a very car sick toddler makes. It may be easy, but resist all urge to give ds a bottle. You will regret it I did

Omg is that really the time? I must go to bed. I'll catch up tomorrow - night all, sweet dreams, and no wakes.

Well, you've officially disappeared from my "I'm On" tab so I reckon it's time I say HELLO again.

See, I usually post during quiet times at work as it's easier to write on a computer and easier to lurk on a phone, and with it being half term last week, I've just been a full blown lurker.

plonk I could give you tips on house moving with a baby but the thought of doing it with a toddler frightens me. You can put babies in slings and carriers, and strap them in bouncy seats...can you do that with DS now? otherwise, I suggest finding someone who isn't on househelp duty (because you'll need a LOT of them) and asking them to have him during the day. Depending when your move in date is, I volunteer to be ToddlePlonk-sitter, if necessary!

eco your batch cake baking looked like a lot of fun. Can I also place my order in? We discovered the yoghurt in car issues the other day, too. We gave him a frube and found that it went everywhere other than in his mouth.

gerry nice to see you back again! Your tantrums sound very much like our tantrums. Had one today because I gave him a satsuma but he didn't want that satsuma he wanted a different satsuma but the satsuma he picked had a black bit on it and I dared to accidentally drop it when taking it off him and I took too long peeling the good one and he didn't have enough hands to hold ALL of the segments. I know what you mean about behaviour in schools too. I sometimes truly worry about what culture DS is growing up in but the hitting, throwing, tantrum phase is something they're all going through, and I'm pretty sure they're not learning that from our behaviour

stormy I think I know more about your toilet habits than I do my own.

worse sorry I missed your birthday but I'm so glad you had a lovely time. You definitely deserve it, you hotel hider!

Now, tell me, how does DS know? Last week, he was up very early some mornings then as soon as Saturday and Sunday morning hit when I have DP on hand to help, he slept right through. This morning, when I'm back at work and back on my own with him, he's up at bloody 3am. He came in with us but decided that he couldn't get comfy, for about an hour, and we were both so frustratingly tired that once we'd done the whole nappy/thirsty/hungry/cuddle thing, I had to put him back in his bed and let him cry a little. I hate doing that because it always breaks my heart but thankfully he was clearly tired too as it didn't last long.

Something you are so right. It's like they have a little telepathic gremlin chart going on. On DH's London days, you can pretty much guarantee madam will do everything within her power to resist the afternoon nap, and then the very second she succumbs someone will knock on the door and wake her up.

So today it rained... then it rained some more.... and a bit more... until it finished, by raining. This became boring very quickly, although not as boring as it was when we didn't have any heat, hence stayed wet. I am at least dry, as is the toddle, so that's a bonus. I almost wish I had Eco's cake baking stamina as then we might have done something a little more exciting than a trip to Maplin's to buy a torch to pass the time. I think that's when you know your day is on a hiding to nothing, when an electrical shop is a highlight.

And the big trip, with staff (kind of)... it's not happening. Well not as it was, we're still going, but the toddle is staying. PILs have very kindly offered to toddle, and dog and house sit, which is lovely, if a little crazy of them (they have no clue how much of a handful she is now... and the dogs' aren't much better), but two whole days . I'm going to miss her.

Speaking of handful, I have warned DH about the kitchen table situation, but I'm not sure he took it seriously. Turned his back for the amount of time it took to pick up a clean bib, and dah dah daaaa... there she was, sitting on the table in front of his computer about to add a bit of her own data entry to his spreadsheet. To say he moved fast would be an understatement. The thing that gets me is the speed she can get up there. I swear she's quicker than I would be. If I didn't prefer sitting on a chair that is.

A friend had her second yesterday, little girl, 2 weeks early. That's kind of made things a bit more real for me, as we've been fellow bumpers for the past 6 months. It's funny but I saw her on Saturday, and just knew she'd have the baby that night. Something about her face - it looked different. Does that mean I'll be able to recognise the same in myself? Here's hoping. It'd certainly be convenient. I have a horror of my waters breaking somewhere really embarrassing

Plonky I can identify with your house buying admin pain. We had a mortgage broker here for what felt like hours this afternoon, because our mortgage company will not change anything on your existing mortgage unless you go through a broker. Bizarre. Tedious as well. The number of forms...Arghhh. I could easily have nightmares about the number of forms.

So how's everyone else? Any new words, or actions happening in toddleworld?

Something how dare you disappear for so long, young lady? Thank you for the offer to sit on the toddlersaurus, we may well take you up on it. I do still have his bouncy chair but last time he sat on it was like when you sit in a seat that's too small and keep wearing it once you've stood up. May try for shits n giggles though.

Worse sounds like a wise move, the house/dog/toddle sitters. On your part, not theirs. Oh my broker was fab! She even has a PA down in That London so I have to two people to email inane questions to in the middle of the night, ha! Thing is, we paid her £400 and we have that service, anywhere in the country, for life, so long as we use that particular estate agent. Bargain methinks. She's apparently number 6 among their 400 strong team of brokers, so I think I lucked into a good situation with her. Only thing I've had to think about, besides budget, is the survey. Although the job title she decided I ought to have is marketing manager, which is a bit far fetched...

As we've decided not to hire movers, and instead borrow my dads mega pimped van for about a week were envisaging a lengthy drawn out super stressful affair which may or may not be marriage ending. With this risk in mind we have also roped in all four parents, and about a bajilliion siblings and uncles. It is tradition for me to dine on fish n chips come moving day, so the local plaice (geddit) are going to love me. One thing I'm quite shitting myself over is the possibility of completing while do is away with work. For a week. In Dubai.

I'm having a whale of a time trying to insure my new car. My old insurers decide they like you to be able to view everything online. Great. Except I don't currently have anything insured with them despite having a policy that runs until May. So their online whatsit doesn't like me. And their premium rate lines are out of the call plan I currently have. And we have no landline. And they don't do email correspondence. I just want my fucking no clams! I paid to have it protected so I can save that money elsewhere you barstards. Ahem. Ooh just realised I asked for no clams, so that's obviously my issue.
Meanwhile DS has the worlds shittest cold/cough virus thing, and can't sleep or eat. November is looking like so much fun!

The rain. Oh, the rain! There is no worse time for the heavens to open than 8am on a Monday. Just as 1600 kids are walking into school with no coats or umbrellas. Makes for a stressful day.

Really up and down day today. Got in to the news that a colleague was involved in a serious car accident at the weekend. Seems like it's currently touch and go, head and neck injuries. He's only 24 and such a lovely lad. Waiting game now I guess, but so very sad.

Then my closest work friend told me she's 4 weeks pregnant! So exciting and so jealous, there's so many babies around at the moment. Think we're going to start trying again at Christmas. Need me another one of them squidgy newborns. Took us 2 years last time, but I'm hoping the weight loss will have helped the PCOS, and that having been pregnant once before, my body will have figured out what it's supposed to do and will get on with things this time. My periods are certainly hugely more regular now.

Plonky we've got a fantastic broker as well, and ours is free! Well, to us anyway. Gets his money from the mortgage companies I guess. I didn't ask many questions, but he's great. And apparently there has never been a better time to borrow. We're looking to borrow an extra £50k on top of our mortgage to extend the house, and he's managed some trickery that means it will only increase our monthly repayments by £30... It must be sorcery, there's no other explanation. So I'm spending far more time than I should at the moment imagining what my house will look like when it's actually, wait for it, finished! Day dreaming of kitchen diners, and a playroom. It doesn't get more exciting than that.

Gerry I hope your colleague pulls through I bet there was lots of tea in your staff room yesterday.

Brokers are a bit magic. We went for the lowest possible rate (2.99!) and the product that had that rate ended on the day our offer was accepted. Six days later we had our offer, and our monthly repayments plus life & illness cover plus home and contents insurance = current rent. WTAF.

Why is Plonky posting about brokers at 5.30 you ask? I'm snuggling up with ds and praying he doesn't vom. I've caught his bug, without the cough, and it comes with a very sore throat and thick head. Every time he swallows he gags, and he's just managed 1/2 a fruit pot (first thing he's eaten since yesterday lunchtime). I can't be arsed with vom.

Oh Gerry that's awful! Sending all good vibes .

Also feeling the broker love here, mine got our DIP done on a house which shouldn't really be mortgageable.

Gerry oh no, how awful . I hope there is some better news today.

More baby2 plans - yay! Good luck. You ever know, it might all be plain sailing this time. As a fellow PCOS sufferer, what works for me is regular exercise and eating low GI. When I stick with that regime I have a slightly long but regular cycle and fall pregnant relatively easily. When I lived off sugar I had ovaries like bunches of grapes and periods were decidedly random.

I'm not feeling the broker love I'm afraid. He looked about 12, and the cheapest rate we're looking at is 5 point something , unless we feel like stumping up £9k in fees .

ILs arriving this afternoon. Wish them luck, they are going to need it!!!

Random, not very joined us message ahoy!

Worse it's time for me to leave my baby girl too! The time has come to go to my conference. In the lakes For three nights and days. I'll give you a wave. Good luck to you for the hotel stuff and good luck to your in laws

My ifa ended up not getting us mortgage and we're now going to the ombudsman so no tales of their sorcery from me.

Ecotod now has a few funny things she says. Currently 'sit down', pumpkin and thumb. Not sure why they amuse me but it's lovely to see the exaggerated mouth movements.

Plonky sorry you're poorly love. How did the day pan out?

Gerry How has your day been too? So tragic. One can't possibly get ones head around that sort of shocking news.

And my final pearl is this: how clever are toddlers? How do they know that a cat in the street is a cat just like the myriad of cartoon cats they are presented with in books? When I think about that I just am staggered that they can classify them as the same. Some cartoons/illustrations suck.

And I have a migraine so am feeling very sorry for myself. Am hopeful it's short lived and I can head north tomorrow afternoon.

eco you've reminded me of the dog we passed the other day. Fartypants resists the word dog, and this particular specimen was a bloody weird looking creature. She pointed and exclaimed, "Monkey! Pig! Oink oink!" Looking at it, I could sort of see why.

Also I am always secretly pleased when she correctly identifies my artless scrawls as cat.

Eco and Worse, I hope your loooong journeys go ok, and you enjoy your trips. Am I right in assuming you're both off today?

Eco your question describes perfectly my ponderings lately. I got all philosophical and thought about Plato and the forms . Then I went on Asos and ordered a blanket cape thing.

Our day started early but ds is obviously feeling a bit better. He watched a bit of Winnie the Pooh and demanded "potta!" at 6 am. Presumably this means porridge, and not potty.

Quite tempted to take him to nursery for half a day and see how he gets on, I could do with a rest!!

Ohhhhhh I do like to be beside the seaside....oh I do like to be beside the seaaaaa!

Come on guys, join in, I'm tiddly-om-pom-pomming on my tod here

Good morning, ladies!

Productive day here: just applied for two year old nursery funding. After Easter Fartypants gets to harangue her peers instead of me for fifteen hours a week. Can't wait!

Can we have tales of ridiculous cuteness? Fartypants has learnt the word hug. She's now hugging everything while saying, "Hug! Awww," with the awww being the same noise adults make when cooing over cuteness. She tried it on a goose the other day. I have never seen such a look of sheer malevolence from a bird before.