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

Yummy the daily bed time battle must be so hard I hope he grows to love his bed soon. My mum put up with me not sleeping through until I was two (she's a real actual Saint) and is of the opinion that some kids need to grow into going to bed, but that all come round to it eventually. I hope ds does this soon!

Stormy it's just ever increasing vocab. When making dinner he watched me grate the carrots, chop the onion and celery and fry it all off the break up a sausage and cook that. The staring was intense so I popped him up on the stool and said stir it. Showed him how and he kept saying "stir...stir...stir" every time he moved the spoon. I gave him a taste of the pomegranate molasses (secret ingredient that makes everything tasty) and he was hooked, got very precious over the dinner that he made.

Mind you, he still doesn't put two words together yet. Except "get down", for which he means "get up"

Ever increasing vocab is awesome, Plonkidonk! Especially when they come out with a new one and you can't work out where on earth they picked it up from.

We also have increasing bossiness. Which is cute, but I suspect should possibly not be smiled at lest she be encouraged.

I'm on my phone and feeding the toddler porridge so apologies to those I will clearly forget to reply to.

worse I forgot to mention, you aren't the only crazy brave one, sil will gave two under 18 months soon. As well as being in the midst of a £50k extension where the builders have gone bankrupt and they can't afford to carry on with anyone new. Christmas with no roof or plumbing for them

Speaking of, the whole family has gone over to see whether they can make it somewhat livable while I've arranged a play date with one of my BFs and her newborn. What can a toddle and a newborn do in this rubbish weather?

Progress on the playstation! Thanks for all your advice and agreement that he's a bugger! Yesterday he requested a night just us with no ps4 and that's what we had. I told him I don't like it and he didn't like hearing it but hopefully he'll come round. He's very feisty and snaps before taking time to think about it. I usually get a decent conversation out of him a couple hours later. And I can't shove him in the loft with it, I watch nowtv on it while the toddle naps, so need it too

And now I've completely forgot everything you've all said so sorry that this is a very me me me post

Ooh, hope all those who had troubling nights managed to get sweet dreams for a lengthy time!

Another self settle, and this time no wake! . I can't quite believe just how easy and relaxing evening are when this happens. Somewhere in my head I should be sitting in a dark room waiting for a small person to stop throwing toys at me and complaining, and go the fuck to sleep.

Sometimes I read everyone's posts and feel like I live in a different universe. Donks ds watches you cook? Calmly? Just watches? . The toddle doesn't just watch anything, she has to run the show, and if I stood her in front of the cooker we'd both be in A&E within minutes. She's seriously hyper. They've noticed it at nursery as well. All the other toddles will sit down, and play with toys. DD never sits down. She is always on her feet, incredibly busy. The upside of this is she can be quite useful. I have a very cute video of her sweeping out the garage. Actually properly sweeping rubbish into a pile with a full sized yard brush. Anything DH can do she can do better . Sometimes though, I really do wish she'd sit down. For five minutes even.

Something what did you find for a toddle and a newborn to do in rubbish weather? I have a feeling this is information that could be invaluable to me in the near future. February is renowned for bad weather. I could well be spending a lot of time indoors going quietly crazy

And good luck to your SIL who has got a whole heap of stress on her plate right now. 2 under 18 months sounds incredibly tough, and without a roof? i don't even want to think about that.

Stormy your poor SIL, I'm worried for her. MH issue, broken relationship, having to move out of what has been her home and potentially 'losing' her dd for most of the week too? I can't help but worry for her. I'm sure your DB will look after her, but god, I'd not cope if that was me. But relationships break down, and people have to move on. It's just life I guess.

And boast away about dd's linguistic abilities. She's a little star! My toddle is linguistically rubbish but streaks ahead of her peers when it comes to strength and mobility so I'll boast about that instead . Although there are times when I'd rather speech was her thing. Usually when she is doing a bit of furniture moving, or escapology.

I really really want some hot milk now, but it always gives me killer reflux and has me up half the night. Dilemma.

Task for next week, buying some baby stuff, and a bednest co-sleeper cot thingie. I'm convinced this one will be early, which is providing some incentive to get organised.

Worse I think mamas and papas have a sale on at the moment. I can't be sure on what as I only skimmed their mail shot before deleting it, but I know the bigger stores sell the cosleepers.
Your dd sounds completely adorable, despite the whirling dervish-ness. Ds likes to have a good go with the sweeping brush on the patio but sadly is more intent with trying to eat showing me the stones from our border. It's amazing how early they develop such strong personalities. I have no experience with other kids, in fact the only child I know reasonably well is the Toddlething, and I always expect him to be like ds. Because they're a similar size? So it's lovely to see two very different boys, and hear of all the toddles on here too.

Speaking of, how was today, Something? The weather wasn't too bad, though I'd put money on you taking over all things baby and letting dos occupy himself with toys and Disney! Very pleased to hear of progress made re PS4. It's really tough, but your dp is a good chap and I know he wouldn't want to be unfair to you.

Wotta how are things? Dare you stick your lovely head above the parapet?

Stormy how are DB and littlest niece? I know what Worse means about feeling sad for DSIL, but on the other hand... Selfish of me to say really, because I never lived with her, but I know what he bipolar carousel entails. And I know that sometimes you have to be tough and make the difficult decisions for someone, because they're in a pit, or need to come full cycle to see what's gone wrong. My not-anymore-friend suffers a particular strain of pride and lack of gratitude that makes her condition extra unmanageable. Sometimes her behaviour/attitude was attributable to her condition, but there was an awful lot of her just being her. It's tough to cut the strings but it's probably a lot tougher to not get fatigued and depressed by it in the long term. She sounds like she needs a lot of help, and I hope she gets it.

As for the cooking...well. We have a small step from idea because I'm not very tall and can't reach the top shelves in the cupboards. DS has taken to dragging it around and using it to cause general mayhem. He stood on it to watch he make pesto p, did a little dance when the blender was on, tasted the pesto and ate lots of it. So I thought I was on to something, and let him have a hand in making his own food. He's already burnt himself on the kettle (despite my pleas to STOOOOOP) so understands the concept of hot, which I use daily to my advantage. The sauce was pretty much done when I let him take part, so I was able to clear all extraneous equipment like knives away. I hope to get him in the garden with me planting sunflowers and a few edible bits in the spring in a similar kind of way.

Last night turned into a nightmare. I don't know what happened. Woke at 1am, and cried and cried and cried until well past 5am. I haven't actually been to sleep, at all. Killer reflux kicked in and put paid to that idea. Ugh.

worse? Sounds like you need it. It's awful when they just scream and scream but nothing seems to be wrong.

Would post more, but we're running late today. Only woke up an hour ago. Ain't gonna be no nap today!

Worse as its Sunday is there any hope of dh taking over so you can rest? Feel very sorry for all of you x

Donks he's done just that! The man is a saint. Sometimes. He was up half the night too, so is feeling every bit as rough as I am right now.

Stormy I totally agree with everything Donks says about bipolar. I feel just as sorry for your DB, his life can't be easy. MH conditions are really hard on family and friends, not least because one of the main symptoms is the sufferer thinks everyone else is at fault, and they are just fine, but unless they are critical enough to be sectioned there is absolutely nothing you can do to help them.

Time to think about lunch. Frozen ready meals for us, and frozen fish pie for the toddle. Anything more complex than that is beyond me today!

worse I bet DH isn't feeling quite as rough as you - he may not have had much kip but at least he's not pregnant too!

Re: SIL, she's found a new house, dirt cheap and not too far away. They've worked out a 50/50 schedule that suits them both. She's happy for him to claim the tax credits (cos she earns too much for 'em but he doesn't now he's part time). Which reminds me, the income cut off for free nursery hours at two is higher than his new wage, so that'll be a saving in a year. Anyway, so far it's all amicable and all about littlest niece's best interests. Just hoping it stays that way!

Also, I started my last pack of pills the other day. Had agreed to go on the pill until Christmas. Haven't yet reminded the man of this...

Re White Post Farm - Christmas Eve or possibly Christmas Eve Eve look like the only possibilities. Thoughts, Plonk, Something? Eco and Betty, you were both thinking of coming too, right?

Hi all, I'll be back later with a proper catch up post but before I forget you ever asked Stormy I'm working Christmas Eve Eve and on Christmas Eve have to do the food shop and sort and stock the house for a party tea late afternoon. Hmmm.

I'm going to be really irritating and refuse to commit either way until I know what's going on with my house. I may well be homeless by then...

But in case I'm not I'm happy for a meet up on Christmas Eve Eve. Shame Betty has to work then, so if eco is unavailable we could call a rain check on wpf and head elsewhere? If I'm suitably housed Id be happy to host tea and biscuits at mine.

Worse you poor thing. Hope you made it through the day relatively unscathed.

Met up with my cousins today and one is expecting her second in May. I don't want another but it's the first time I felt a little because her DH is away most of the time (driving fast cars round and round, all over the world...) and I thought 'if she can do it maybe I could?'. Hmmmmmm.

Any is your cousin married to a racing car driver?

I am all for leaving WPF until it's warm and just doing tea and biscuits. Have had to give the man firm instructions to make some plans, dammit, because it's only three weeks away!

Haha ok, that sounds sensible to me. Hopefully we'll have the keys in a fortnight and I can start thinking about what biscuits to make. Cock bitches will be made, obvs.

We have yet to discover a biscuit Fartypants doesn't like, so whatever takes your fancy, Plonk.

Just put the Christmas tree up. The man is being grumpy and Scroogelike, but at least he joined me in epic battle against the fairy lights. Now awaiting the end of naptime to see what DD thinks of it.

worse I'm afraid that what we did with a toddler and a newborn won't be much help as it just involved eating lunch and shopping. Not very exciting so I hope you find more fun things to do when you have two!

He had that newborn smell and made those noises they make when drinking milk, and he has a squishy double chin and chunky legs. And he just slept. The whole time.

I'm on board with Christmas eve eve biscuits potentially in Plonkidonk's new house I might even make some Christmas tree ones!!!

The decs are going up tonight. DP wore me down. It's still too early for me, personally but I've been grinching about everybody having them up in November for so long that now it's December, I have no fight left in me. So gosh darn it, I'll put the Frank Sinatra Christmas album on, eat my advent chocolate and dance around the living room wearing tinsel!!

Ooh any, you're wobbling! That must have come as a surprise. How you feel now having slept on it?

Worse, I hope you've slept on it now too. Slept on anything. With ear plugs in an one of those complex snake up duff pillows. How does everything feel this evening? Is madam asleep? Any idea what caused last night's ructions? There is generally no identifiable reason here when that happens and it's so bloody frustrating.

Betty! Welcome home (are you back?). And how was your trip? How did daughter and dog cope?

Plonkydonkey where you at with streamlining your junk and packing? Completion date ahoy? I am bummed that Christmas eve eve is my family Christmas day this year so I shall be stocking opening, Turkey booking and merry making that day. The day before though, Monday, we could hook up to make farty pants some cock bitches?

How did I miss Any's wobbles?! Oooh!!! We all get them, but please do tell us if when you decide to act on them!

Eco provided I am in my new house by then you are most certainly welcome to visit and indulge in some cock bitches therein. Despite assurances from the sellers agent that all ducks were in a row, there are actually several enquiry shaped ducks still to be returned. I did this for a bit then got some boxes out and carried on. Then, with half my lounge boxed up and the spare room well and truly culled, I decided to start reading a bizarre and enlightening book called The Life-Chaning Magic of Tidying. So with the remainder of my possessions I must now ask them in turn if they bring me joy, and jettison the misery bringers from my life, and therefore not bring years of shit into my new home. We're still holding out for a completion date to be agreed, and are thoroughly preparing ourselves to exchange and complete on the same day. My very thorough conveyancer will hate this, but I already get the impression I am the bane of her existence

How are you doing anyway young lady? You sound very busy at the moment, if facebook is anything to go by. But it all looks like good busy, except rice at dinner time.

I'm now in the strange situation of having my mother over for showers while her boilers on the blink. Surely it's supposed to be the one way round? On the other hand feeling very grateful that this Christmas dh and I actually get to see each other. Thanks to working opposite hours as postie (up at 4am during the Christmas period, bed at 9) and booze slinger (up at, ahem, 8.30, only getting home at 9) we were ships in the night for several years running. But not this year! This Christmas will be frantic and mad and will be celebrated with lashings of roast lamb and boooooze.

Premature post ejaculation.

So my tether became a wholly charted territory today. Poor Ecotod has stinking cold and chesty cough which makes anyone grotty but she has been fairly seriously cowbag shaped today bless her snot covered socks. Not keen on eating. Very keen on launching food in my direction. Not keen on compliance. Not keen on very minor events such as having to leave other children's toys behind when leaving their house (we had near an hour of crying afterwards with snotty snivelling 'ball ball ball' with real tears of sadness). No to boob milk for the first time ever I think. Rainbow are you around? Do you or anyone else know much about nursing strike? I am lead to believe that self weaning prior to age two is pretty rare. She arches into banana pose and shouts no. I did put my top back down and just give her a cuddle earlier and she then turned her head to my chest, looked at me, said 'more' and had a brief go. Contrary Mary. I am pre menstrual also. This did not for a happy day make. I'm licking my wounds in the bath now. How silly in the grand scheme. Bah!

I am not pretending to be southern. I gave her a cuddle. I didn't 'I give'. Sorry Stormy and
Plonk.

Eco oh no, not snot . Crossing my fingers it clears soon. As for weaning, I have no clue, but I can imagine sucking is pretty difficult and unpleasant when you can't breathe through your nose. The toddle used to go on milk strike when she was tiny and snotty.

Any my experience of planning babies is if you over think it you would never do it! On a logical rational level pretty much everything about babies is off putting, and everything about having two is even more off putting. This is something that occasionally keeps me awake at night along with babax kicking my ribs and reflux burning my throat. It's only when they arrive and you realise just how much you love them that the whole thing seems like a sensible life plan.

Speaking of babax, the snuz-pod has now been purchased. It had better be worth it as it was f-ing expensive . Brands huh. I really do object to paying for brands. I even tried to find some boy baby grows, all my newborn stuff being either pink or pretty much destroyed from over washing, but the best I could find was generic white. So babax will be dressed entirely in generic white for the first three months of his life! Babys-r-us may be the best place for baby stuff locally, but its stock isn't particularly inspiring.

As for the toddle the source of her upset has been identified. Constipation. She just will not drink enough unless we give her a bottle, and on nursery mornings they only give her a beaker. I've asked them to give her both going forward, as I can't deal with many more nights like that, and nor can she. She's fine now though, and slept 12 hours last night. Thankfully!

Something, lunch and shopping you say? It will be a long time before I dare to try that with two, and only one of me. If I remember correctly early days last time I only got to eat if I had a newborn latched on. Bit awkward when you are also trying to feed a toddle, and yourself, and I don't even want to think about the complication of getting a double buggy round a shop. This is a challenge I will obviously have to face, but ugh.

Donks good luck with getting completion tied down. It always takes three times as long as it should. Solicitors are evil. Apologies to any on this thread who obviously aren't.... but the rest of the profession. Evil I say!

Whooping cough vaccine first thing, then a cleaner coming round to 'assess' us , and the couple's ante-natal class tonight. That for me is a very busy day on the social front. Usually I don't speak to anyone!

Oh I had a cute story to add... only I forgot. Toddles, they obviously take notice of more than we credit them for. Yesterday when we got back from the shops the toddle was insistent that it was her job to untie DH's shoe laces and take his shoes off at the door. So far so useful. The bit that surprised me was she then went to the pile selection of shoes inside the door and picked up his slippers... had obvious seconds thoughts and stopped and looked at all the other shoes, before deciding yes, the slippers were the right ones. Back she toddled and managed to put the correct slipper on each foot for him. It take a bit of thought to work out that outdoor shoes come off, and indoor slippers go on when you get home!

Yay for sleep, worse!

eco any other days you can manage? We're likely not heading back north until the Saturday.

Fartypants loves the tree. Pointed, grinned, and said, "Wow!" many times. She has also learnt the word cross, and will now tell me when she's cross!

We were supposed to be going to toddler group today, but someone didn't wake up until 9am...

Argh, can't do Christmas Eve eve! The man finally made arrangements with his mother. We're going Wednesday, back Saturday. Which basically limits us to Boxing Day.