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

wotta your poor DS. How is he doing now?

Oooooooh yes please Something! CONGRATU FLIPPIN LATIONS!! And to hell with MN - it's over familiar Friday so here's a big old bear hug and I hope there's a large iceberg on your finger...?!

Oh yeah - and we had no nap today, followed by me feeling like that mother in the shop with a toddler flapping about on the floor. Grrrrr. But yay for Something.

Hurrah Something! Many congratulations!

He's fine. Just gone to bed. Think we're the ones still recovering...

I await my invitation Something congratulations lovely, I'm sure you'll make a fantastic Bridezilla. And I can't wait to see the first dance routine!

Wotta yay for perfect vision, boo to peanut allergy! I guess at least now you know, and have the pens. Shame it's peanuts though as they're bloomin delicious and ubiquitous.

Mmm risotto and white Burgundy. Does any better combo exist?

Something Congratulations!!!! . Really happy for you, DH to be and toddlesome.

Wotta omg how scary. So glad he's ok. I have yet to give the toddle any form of nut, because I'm terrified. I must, I know. Good news about the eyes, I'm glad that went well. I'm too chicken to get mine done, so all positive stories are being filed in the motivational do something file.

Donks losing grandparents is so hard .

Ok - who broke the thread?

There! Not broken now.

Congratulations, Something! I'll be cheering on the planning from the sidelines.

Wotta looking on the bright side: now you know DS is allergic, so you're better positioned to keep him safe now? Not much of a silver lining, really. Hope you're having a quiet and stress-free weekend to recover.

Right, I seem to have fallen of the thread. Sorry for the leave of absence! I'm on my phone in the bath and on nights so have a shot memory so sorry for all missed things and wrong information!

Something, huge congratulations, how exciting! I shall look forward to more planning Eco and I are living vicariously through you

Wotta, poor you and DS. Had he had peanuts before? Is he ok now? What a horrible shock. Stormy's right though, you're well prepped with an Epipen and at least know what to look for now, plus he's still young enough that he might grow out of it.

Worse, how are you? Sleeping at all yet? I think you're an absolute legend surviving pregnancy with this little sleep, this much work to do and such a busy Toddle.

That's as far as my memory goes. I'm sure there was more but I can't remember it!

Our holiday for two was lovely but involved a lot of deep and meaningful discussion about the problem with our marriage at the moment and how to go about improving it which was much needed but definitely rained on the holiday spirit! We did manage to get a lot of cocktails in and some books read between the heavy chat though which was nice and ToddleBum wasn't bothered at all about our absence!

Tomorrow is Christmas tree day and I'm definitely feeling the festive spirit, although pesky work definitely gets in the way!

Off not of . Excuse my terrible grammar, I'm knackered!!!

I wonder if we update the thread less these days because we've kind of somewhat mostly found our parenting grooves? Hmm.

Worse did you eat PB when pregnant with dd? Apparently that's a bit of protection against allergy, though I remember the finding all the conflicting advice quite confusing.

yummy you've been very quiet the past week, hope things aren't getting you down too badly. Remember Christmas is just around the corner!

Betty hope the night shift is swift and full of biscuits and tea. OBEM leads me to believe that's how these things work
eco I see you're out of bloody Bedfordshire tonight, woohoo!
any I think we need to give ourselves a ruddy good kick up the collective bottom. I'm rather fond of this thread and don't like it all quiet.
Wotta has ds recovered from the ordeal? How is life without glasses?
Something big love to you and the fam.

I've probably missed someone. Oh I know! Stormy ten four. Allo allo allo. Have you complained heartily to the Man and Fam about the pre Christmas date mix up? Any movement?

Strange weekend here. DH went to That Leeds for a Christmas do (the company that's buying his company, and he needs to keep up appearances etc) and had his bloody drink spiked. Driving license lost but rest of possessions accounted for. He's been very grey and miserable today, quite strange and disconcerting. Weekend feels like a complete non-break. i was hoping to foist the toddler on him today and get more actual work done, but alas, twas all he could do to keep stock still and not barf. I'm going to take the entirely selfish path and write an open letter to Leeds blaming them for my lack of free time and inability to catch up on work due to mismanagement of drugs. I'm not exactly feeling reasonable at the moment. Thankfully he's brighter now he's finally eaten something, and taken up the WHOLE settee all afternoon and evening so I couldn't even sit down. Bloody Leeds. It can do one with That London.

AIBU to tether dh to a peg in the garden to forestall any future drunk-and-vulnerable-when-we're-already-having-a-very-stressful-time-type scenario?

Oh and I've turned DS's cot around so he can no longer get out. Because he's discovered that he can, even when he wakes up in the middle of the night. I don't like finding a confused toddler in the bathroom at 4am.

Donks he had his drinks spiked and consequently lost his licence???? I'd be livid. Who ever did that should face some kind of serious disciplinary at work. He could have caused a serious accident. I'm hopping mad on your behalf here.

As for PB, yes I did eat it, which is why I'm worried, as for the first 10 weeks I didn't so much eat it as eat nothing else. Quite literally. That was my period of hell, which I've bored you all with enough times. I was too stressed to eat, and losing weight fast, so settled on tablespoons of the stuff for the calories, although obviously I wouldn't have done had I had any clue I was pregnant. I'm uneasy as to the effect a diet of 100% peanuts might have had

Betty no, still not sleeping, hence the midnight post. In fact I'd go as far as to say that today I officially had a breakdown. Proper crying screaming melt down, and an evening of such painful contractions DH sent me to bed and we both offered up a little prayer that babax will stay put for at least another few weeks. I can't do this anymore without sleep, I really can't. I am one of life's copers, usually, but I have no cope left. Anyone with any excess fairy sleep dust please send it my way. On the plus side I have now at least got some prescription strength ranitidine, which is 4 times as strong as the otc stuff, so actually works. The other didn't, which was gutting at the time.

Horrible snotty croupy cough and cold here, so the toddle is off her food and feeling very sorry for herself. Poor little thing. It's not holding her back though, as now she's discovered the wonderful world of words there is no stopping her. Repeats everything, the cutest being bebe with a proper french accent for baby, and dwowy for dolly. The dogs are still cats though, or sometimes puppies. I suspect they may always be

Last I heard, exposure to peanuts = good. No exposure means when you come across them later your body doesn't know how to handle them and freaks out. Certainly there are some cultures that eat a lot of peanuts and don't have an epidemic of allergies. All you can do is shrug and hope for the best.

That said, when Fartypants first tried peanut butter, I made sure it was daytime but not rush hour and had my phone on standby all ready to have an ambulance here quickly if needed.

Can't think of anything else to add. Brain asleep, back knackered, ow.

Oh Worse please put your feet up more. Easier said than done I know, but needs must. The cleaners starting this week, no? That'll help. Can you pop DD in nursery for an extra short day so you can relax? Even if only until the babax arrives, just so you can not have painful contractions when you still have 2 months to go!

On the other hand the thought of DD with her gorgeous hair saying 'bebe' is beyond precious. I hope this week is better for all of you, croup sounds awful.

The spiking wasn't done by a colleague. A few of them banded together at midnight and decided to leave the venue and go to a bar. A strange girl who was there on her own attached herself to their group and they couldn't shake her off. DH has a problem in that he will carry on conversations with complete nutters because he doesnt want to be rude, and has no idea how to project Fuck Off vibes. He bought her a drink! And remembers nothing after that. I've told him to log it with the police considering his driving license could be wandering the wilds of the froze North. Sadly I can't do it for him.

Dreamt I was heavily pregnant, gutted to wake up to a "flat" tummy! Uhoh. Wish could stop swinging wildly between satisfaction and broodiness. Ds is slowly adding words to each other but they're not really sentences yet. Last night he wanted me to read The Tiger Who Came To Tea and said "book!" "Cat!" "Tea!" All about 10 seconds apart. I'll tell him to work on his grammar.

Hi all. I am here. I will try to remember peoples posts but warning I am sleep deprived. Ds went to bed at 7pm last night woke 10.30pm and didn't sleep until 3am. He still hasn't gone to bed now. Good news is his vocab is getting better. He repeats things he hears. Today he looked at the kitchen floor and said 'oh no it's wet". He got a wet wipe and wiped the floor and gave the wipe to me to put in the bin.

There's lot to catch up on.

First of all congratulations to something. I love wedding planning.

littled so sorry to hear about your dh. I wonder what the girl's motivation was. Poor man. Hope he feels better soon.

worse eeek you don't have long left. Can I be really annoying and I know I am totally wrong. The sleep deprivation during pregnancy is a boy thing. I went through it and broke down in tears a lot. That is why I started a month early because I really needed. The issue you have is you have a toddler to look after too and she uses up the little energy you have. Have you thought about looking at finding a nanny to help you out or can your mum come over? Dh seems to be quite busy with business projects so you may need extra help.

Sorry for the silence recently work, ds and Christmas preparation got the better of me and I felt odd coming in mid way and having so much to reply back too. I have forgotten what else alwas going to say.

Ah just remembered wotta. That must have been so scary. How is ds now? Ds loves sunflower seeds. As soon as he hit 12mths he was munching them. I have never heard of nut allergies in my culture. It's odd.

My fricking phone display died on Saturday so I am unconnected. I have also been away from home so it's not been ideal but hey, who cares! I have just checked in with you guys on the laptop and bloody hell, you've been having a collective shite time.

Wotta poor bebe! What happened then? I hope you were able to get help quickly and be reassured without too much agonizing waiting. I guess he is totally fine now and that you're getting up to speed with things to look out for etc. And, any interest yet?
Something congratulations my lovely. Worth waiting for! Betty and I would like to know your preliminary wedding fantasies and I would like to know your colour scheme I see from the evilbook that you too have had poorly toddle woes...what's been up?
Worse is it the digestive horror that is keeping you and sleep apart? Maybe a combination of the new drugs, the spare room and an Dream Geni pillow might help? Sending love your way. When was it that DH stops with work?

Thinking of you all and wishing your weeks a merry start/continuation.
I'm just back from Norfolk work. Tired. The ecotod seems to be back in love with milk and has got used to 'just patting' the tree baubles. Can't really think of owt else. Bit spaced after an intense work day and another ahead tomorrow.

And plonk, I forgot, my dear Mum had her drink spiked at a neighbours Christmas eve drinks party about 5 years ago It royally sucks! Sorry you have had a resulting poo day. Have you a nice white on the go? I'm shortly to crack open a fresh Vouvray being as it's been a polite amount of time since my eclair.

Good morning all!

Ds is ill AGAIN! I'm waiting for dm to come and look after ds so that I can go to work. I will be late and have a meeting mid morning so I hope I make it to work on time.

Hope you all have a good day.

Eco what is the secret to just patting the baubles? Fartypants likes to lean in close, laugh at her reflection, then smell the bauble backwards (coating it in a fine spray of snot). And then she sticks Zebra in the tree.

My brother got spiked years ago. Said if he'd taken the drugs deliberately it could have been fun, but spiked is horrid. My sister would concur - she ended up with a slightly fractured skull after her drink was spiked a few years ago. Not fun at all!

yummy I'm putting an immune system for DS on my letter to Father Christmas. This is getting silly. Is it just a side effect of London living and the sheer quantity of germ infested people?

Interesting speech development here: conjunctions! And a wheelchair (in one of her books) is a "gammachair" (grandma chair).

Yummy are we doing lots of deep breathing to alleviate the stress? Sounds like you're a bit snowed under

Stormy I think the constant toddler poorliness is rather due to the first winter at nursery, and quite a mild winter at that. We had a horrific time when I went back to work last year, and I remember WottaTod suffering a lot too.

Eco I love you vouvray and eclair habit. If you're going to sin you may as well do it right!

Betty forgot to say, very pleased you managed to do some relationship maintenance on holiday. It's as good a place as any - I think being away from the pressures of home together is very important.

Worse how's it going today?

Spiked does seem quite nasty. He's showing quite a few symptoms of Come Down Tuesday, as it's recreationally known. Still feeling quite down and can't regulate his body temp properly. God knows what it was. I'm just glad that he's healthy, it could have been so much worse if his system was already compromised through illness. Eco am appalled that someone spiked your dear mother! How awful. When you think of spiking you assume it's something that happens to students.

My deep clean has begun. The cooker hood is vile. From now on I want to only cook on an open barbecue so I'm planning my escape to somewhere hot and sunny.

Ah, so I'm likely to have a watered down springtime version of the perpetual snot machine after Easter? Smashing. I shall look forward to that.

Nothing else to report here, as I have spent the day in my dad's loft, wrestling with packing materials and cursing the Post Office's bias towards flat packages. Why?!

Stands to reason she'll get a few bugs, yes, but if she didn't get them as a toddler she'd only get them at school eventually anyway.

Ugh flatpacking. We're due a flatpack building spree when we move. New dining table and chairs, a bench, desk, bed...bollocks we're not going to be able to sit on anything for ages are we?

Speaking of...it looks like we'll complete this week! We're going to have to purchase an extra week from our landlord so I don't have a nervous breakdown at the prospect of moving out of here by Friday but that gives a nice long overlap to get everywhere spick and span. So excited! Champagne is chilling, natch.

Donks Yay!!!! Hope your landlord is an obliging sort and makes your move less frenetic.

Stormy oh yes... the nursery snot cycle. Enjoy. There are upsides to nursery, the toddle has come on leaps and bounds in confidence since joining, and does all sorts of activities she wouldn't at home, so it's worth it for that alone.

Yummy I'm inclined to agree with you that boy pregnancies suck. Girl pregnancies on the other hand are lovely mellow things that make you glow and feel amazing. I shall have to remember this when the toddle hits her teens and decides to hate her mum, whilst babax adores me and hates his dad. Assuming they conform to the cartoon stereotype that is

As for me, ups and downs. Major up, the GP and the hospital had due to some fairly spectacular miscommunication managed to mess up my thyroid dose again, so that it wasn't raised when it last should have been.... which kind of explains why I have been on my knees of late. Thanks guys.

Downs, the sodding cleaner didn't turn up! Seriously. How hard can it be to find someone to help with the housework, for £15 an hour??? Very hard it would seem. She's not replying to messages either, which leads me to believe my request for references and a copy of her CRB check did not go down well. I'm glad I asked. Surely you'd only freak at that if you were dodgy. Oh and the toddle has tonsilitis again, so isn't eating or sleeping, but is crying and screaming. DH did his saint routine again last night and let me sleep, while he and she paced the boards and probably both wept, for the entire night. I'm not sure either slept, and I daren't ask.

It's not flat packed furniture that was giving me grief. No, it's the way the PO pricing structure takes the size and shape of the package into account. Cue much exasperated muttering and cursing as I try to get every package as flat as possible.

Flatpack furniture does sound hassle-filled too though. Downside to being able to afford new as opposed to charity shop (where the stuff tends to be already built and the only nightmare is transporting the stuff home).

Memory fail. Sure I had more to comment on!