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

Something I have no idea how you didn't throw a mega strop at DP. Unless, of course, you did. It's a really tough one to tackle. My PS4 addicted housemate (such is his status when he behaves with such selfishness) gets a very cold shoulder whenever his pulls that sort of stunt. I have learnt, however, that it's usually down to some kind of stress. DH doesn't have adequate coping mechanisms to deal with anxieties at home or work, and apparently killing things on a telly is as good as anything else - except talking. Talking about things like - why does he think it's ok to dominate family space like that? Is he incapable of making small sacrifices until DS is tucked up in bed? I know he's a lovely man, and I know he's capable of being a generous partner, so what's up? Everyone needs cave time, but everyone also has to live together. Maybe if he's so wound up he should decamp to the loft with his PS4?

Yummy oh dear hope work's not too shitty. We have no tree plans at present and are living vicariously through others.
13 hours I know! I woke up and punched the air. To de-phlegm a toddler I recommend lots of Peppa Pig, warm drinks (hot cock is a fave here), cuddles and generous applications of Snufflebabe.

Ooh, we're one search return away from a contract! Solicitor has now received all enquiries. I can't wait to read about the enhanced version of the hopefully not untreated collapsed perfectly safe mine entries in pissing distance of the back garden.

Blowing a nurse

Blowing nurses and hot cocks? I go away for a day and the thread descends into pure filth!

I'm still guffawing about donkey's typo. Ha ha ha. She's admitted it now. She loves it

Worse what did you cook? inspire us with your batchy tales. I did three ish years of dh doing the breakfast show and getting up rudely early but I had never thought about normal people enduring the early alarm/early shower/early kettle boil too. Maybe that's why everyone on my train was grumpy: they'd missed the hardcore train. I am now safely on a return train. I escaped unscathed. But I feel so flippin grubby, bumpkinilicious and dowdy. Thank heavens I'm off to hair dresser tonight. I need a new coat. That might help too. My outfit today is reasonable but in to report that the final flourish of gore tex with toddler footprints on it doesn't work very nicely. And I just ate stinky barbecue beef hula hoops so all in all feeling dreadfully unattractive! Good job I didn't bump into evil ex who works within spitting distance of today's conference location; I must be devastatingly gorgeous if I bump into him

Something do you want to know what I think about your man's PlayStation stuff to get a barometer of feeling? If not don't read on. I would shout the hell at him once the toddle was safely away. But I am feisty in love. I get annoyed if there's too much phone gazing around Ecotod (I do do this so am not perfect of course) let alone violent visuals going down in the background. I'm sure ds doesn't care one jot and happily goes about his own business but it's just a bit rubbish really. We can't spend all our toddle's waking hours entertaining them and they have to learn to occupy themselves alongside us but in my made up rule book there are some tandem activities that are no goes. But I am pretty hardline and suspect I represent a pole view among us. I do agree with donkey (not about hot cocks) when she said we all need time and space to retreat away from toddle world. Perhaps if his thing is PlayStation he should set up a gaming area elsewhere in the house.

Yummy and Wotta tell us a bit more about what's been going on. to you for these trying times.

I'd best away. My stop is next. So much quicker than when I lived in Norfolk. I don't even need a wee yet.

eco rest assured it's no typo, ds really does say cock! Waiting for him to say cock bitch, but alas, he continues to disappoint on the unintended swears front.
Totally with you on the things you don't do with a toddler in the vicinity. Swearing, violent gaming and, sadly, fondling all number in the things to do once one has withdrawn from toddleworld.

I can't imagine getting from That London to the Shire and not needing a wee! What luxury! I feel like a right inferior bumpkin whenever I venture south of Burton on Trent, my 2012 H&M parka is so off trend it's unreal.

Eco what did I cook.... well fish pie of course. If I'm going to batch anything in quantity it has to be something that will not be rejected. Ever. The alternative is too depressing. Although that said, she's pretty good these days, and tends not to reject anything unless she is ill. She even likes veg (sorry Donks). Less keen on fruit though if that makes you feel any better!

Ah the London dress code, I remember it well. I used to be groomed too, many moons ago, when my weekends were my own and I could spend them finding wonderful stuff for peanuts in sales. Now shopping is either on-line, or in a hurry, and the results are tragic to say the least. My NCT group has two commuter mums. They ooze style, even on their days off. They scare me but I'd secretly like to be them

Damn, unfinished post alert. The toddle is out of the bath and I'm on shift while DH sorts out yet more hotel admin. The bank it would appear want every document ever produced with our names on (or so it seems), in triplicate, and signed in blood. They are pi55ing me right off... although I can't really complain given DH is doing the leg work.

Well good things- we have photos of the house. And should have draft details yesterday shortly.

We have a new washing machine (hurray!).

The plumber has fixed the broken toilet flush valve and broken tap.

Things we're not thinking about - the plumber changed the sink taps and then couldn't do the bath cos that is some random fixing never used on baths and nothing fits. So now our taps don't match.

We've had to buy a new washing machine.

We still don't have our car back with its new engine. (But are still driving the courtesy car so assume they haven't sold it) .

Dh is getting really stressed about where we're going too move to and isn't taking comments about that being premature since we don't yet have details very well.

I am massively behind at work as I missed my late night earlier this week to give blood.

I am having laser eye surgery next Thursday and am shitting myself about the procedure. I've always been really squeamish about my eyes...

Down in one and off to bed methinks...

littled thank you for the snufflebabe recommendation. I never even heard of it and feel so bad I let ds suffer with his awful cold. I will definitely stock up tomorrow.

wotta you really do have a lot going on. I know a couple of people who have had laser eye surgery with great success so I hope that is some reassurance for you.

something I forgot to say I agree with you being annoyed by your dp playing violent games in front of ds. It is amazing how much children pick up on things by observation alone.

Yummy how's DS this morning? Snufflebabe is good stuff, it's a gentle version of Vicks. Don't feel bad! How can you use something if you don't know about it?

Wotta I'd like to offer you a great big Donkey hug, and a cuppa. Laser eye surgery sounds scarier than it is, according to a few people I know who've had it done. My mum had one eye done a few years ago and felt instantly better. I once had to train a new starter at the wine shop who'd had it done the day before! His eyes were quite bloodshot but he said it didn't hurt, the hardest part of the procedure was staying still.

I hate white goods. We've bankrupted ourselves buying the things we need for the new house but needs must. I hope you manage to progress through the process quickly from here on, especially now the photos have been done.

Worse uuuugh lenders. And never mind the London dress code, I feel frumpy in Nottingham

I need to go and buy some wellies if I'm ever to leave the house again, but I'm terrified of going to the shops on Black Friday. Can just imagine me finding the perfect pair and then some bulldozer of a human swooping down on me and snatching them off me, then punching me in the face. In Sainsburys. While I'm holding bananas.

And DS did it again! Slept 6.45-8.20. Who do I thank?

Thank Morpheus, Plonkidonk. Always seemed the most appropriate to me.

for Wotta. I have nothing sensible to add, knowing nothing about house buying, but am keeping fingers crossed that the process will somehow become less stressful.

One less person to buy a Christmas present for - SIL is now ex-SIL.

If we're picking pop culture gods, I'd plump for Aslan.

Oh dear, is this the SIL that was somewhat struggling with the new baby? Hope your bro's ok.

Not that Morpheus, the other one! Yes, it is the one who was struggling. DB seems more relieved to be stepping off the bipolar roundabout than anything else.

Oooohhhhh. Morpheus. I see. I bloody should considering my degree subject! And that the Metamorphosis is my favourite classical text.

The bi-polar roundabout is seriously hard work, I don't blame him. The friend I fell out with in May is bipolar. I've known her since we were 12 and it's always the same pattern of behaviour with her, and she'll never change. When she finally called time on the friendship I honestly felt a weight had been lifted, and presume DB feels the same?

I suspect so. He just wants a quiet life, really, and bipolar doesn't for too well with that. Particularly when the sufferer keeps deciding they're fine so stopping meds.

You have both lost me with morpheus. Is it in literature?

stormy I really hope exsil does not mess with your db's contact with the baby.

I have yet to pop to the local shops for the miracle snugglebabe. Ds woke at 8am but was still tired. He has gone back to sleep now so I am hoping we can go out when he wakes. I think he is recovering from the worst flu he has had since he was born. I am going to steal stormy's name idea of plonkidonk.

Never came across Morpheus during my education, despite the A Level in Classics. Obviously Greek from the name. God of dreams, I think - wrapped in the arms of Morpheus = asleep and dreaming. Also appeared in The Matrix.

I hope she doesn't puss about with contact too. But it wouldn't surprise me if she did. Also wouldn't be surprised if DB pushes for residency. But we shall see.

Yep, God of dreams, but Roman not Greek. The Roman gods were way better God im such a dork sometimes.

If she can't be trusted to stay on her medication then I hope DB does get residency. Bipolar but on meds = manageable but still tough. Bipolar and on/off meds? Impossible. My friend learnt that the hard way when her first born was removed - and even she admits it was the right decision at the time.

Stormy how's your SIL coping day to day at the moment? Will she be able to manage her dd on her own? Living with someone with a severe MH issue like bipolar is very very difficult, but you do have to remember that at some level it is the illness not the person acting. I have a close family member with paranoid schizophrenia, and they are awful to be around when they are off their meds. Really rude, cruel and upsetting. I struggle at times to deal with it, but the behaviour isn't them, it's their illness. I can totally understand why your DB can't cope any more. Is he in touch with her GP? A relationship break up is tough for even the most robust, so if she's in a vulnerable phase it could tip her over. She'll need support, especially if she is primary carer for a small child.

Not flu yummy , how miserable for you. We haven't experienced that yet. Are toddles eligible for the flu vacc? Isn't there a nasal spray version for small children? Should I be doing something about this?

Something the very existence of the playstation would wind me up, before we even get onto violent games in front of a toddler. I'm not entirely convinced I'd have a measured rational reaction to that one. We all need an outlet in our downtime, but I'm of the opinion that particular one should be reserved for toddle free time.

Wotta have more and my sympathy. You sound like you have a lot on, and a lot of stress with it. Good luck with the eye surgery. My mum had it done and now has excellent distance vision. Her near vision is shot though, making her a liability around the house. When she stays she insists on washing up. Won't take no for an answer. As she can't see dirt this means smearing some dirt off dirty plates, and smearing more dirt onto less dirty plates. Everything ends up uniformly dirty, and back in the cupboards. Drives me potty, but I still thank her for helping! I'm guessing that is an aged related downside though, so unless you are in your 70s you shouldn't have to worry!

Eco how're things back on planet ordinary after your exciting trip away? I need an exciting trip away. I'm getting a bit bored around the house to be honest. I also desperately need a cleaner, especially given I've offered our coach house to a friend's parents for the week, adding several hours onto my already ridiculous cleaning schedule. Why are cleaners so hard to find? It's impossible. I have someone coming round on Tues, who charges £15phr, and sounds normal, which is a start. The last woman who turned up quoted me a price that averaged out at £30phr ??? I'm not mean, but that stuck me as just rude.

Did someone mention xmas trees? We're not getting one. The toddle would definitely try to climb it. She's completely bonkers like that. Maybe next year, if she's learnt the phrase 'get down... NOW'

I dunno how she's coping day to day, because she doesn't really speak to me. I wouldn't have called her the primary carer either - he does all nursery pick ups and drop offs, doctor's appointments, baby groups... He's just gone part time to look after her, the family home is his... Probably in littlest niece's interests for DB to be the RP, for the stability and continuity.

I'm hopeful the Christmas tree won't be too much of a nightmare. At my dad's totally not childproof house Fartypants has learnt very quickly what she can and can't touch, so we might persuade her to leave it alone. We'll find out on Monday!

Stormy I hope it all works out somehow, and it does sound like your DB is best placed to be the RP. The family home isn't his though, not in the eyes of the law. It's a marital asset. He probably should get legal advice and definitely speak to her GP if he has concerns. The more he has on record, the better. I do feel for her though, it's going to be tough.

I am sitting here slightly stunned as after 3 months of sitting with the toddle for anything up to 2 hours every night to get her to sleep, she has finally remembered the art of the self settle. I put her in her cot 15 minutes ago with her toys, and the musical seahorse nightlight thingie. Flushed the loo as advised by DH! She likes the sound of the cistern filling . Came downstairs... and all is quiet. I think she might actually be asleep. I could cry with relief. I had visions of two dcs screaming at me, for hours, every night, while I rushed between the two of them, and quietly had a breakdown.

Tempted fate didn't I! She woke with trapped wind about 5 minutes after my last post and it's taken me until now to get her back to sleep. It could be worse though. At least I'm not the one with the sore stomach.

And that's still well within the 2 hour window, Worse!

I feel like ds has made one of those massive mental leaps in the last few days. He's eating well (the sausage pasta with hidden veg went down a treat), sleeping properly (the disappearance of the daytime nap seems to be a blessing in disguise) and trying to say lots of new words very suddenly.
I decided to get him involved with cooking dinner tonight. Brave! He stood on a stool in front of the stove, me behind him holding the pan handle and his other hand while he stirred the sauce. He loved it! Must get him a pinny.

worse you did better than me. I am still trying to settle ds.

I feel almost embarrassed to admit that Fartypants has been out for the count since 7pm. I wish there was a trick to it that I could share!

Not a marital asset, worse, as they're not actually married (SIL is just convenient shorthand). But things appear to be being amicable, which is good.

I'm glad more of the toddles are astounding with their linguistic abilities. I felt horribly like I was boasting when DD started really going for the talking, but really it was just so exciting and cool. I want everyone to experience that awesomeness.