Nov '05 Toddlers!

[Rodeo]

W3ll 1'm sur3 m0s7 0f 7h3m w1ll b3 dur1n9 7h1s 7hr3ad!

Forgot to add - the scan was great, lo is growing nicely, approx 4lb 10oz at the mo with a nice head of hair. I don't get the results of the bloods until next week, so fingers crossed on that one. Feel like I'm going to get stretch marks with this one, my tummy is sooooo itchy.

Hi girls,

Good to see some posts and read some updates, really made me smile and LOL More please!

Nova - Lovely to hear of baby's progress in the womb, I'm happy to hear that and hope that the duration of this PG passes with ease and quickly for you Not really that much of a gap between us - exciting!

Rodeo - Thanks for milk info. DH will hopefully post an announcement but i'll tell you the night before and just keep you in 'suspenders' as my dear dad would say until then Today has been so tiring, what an absolute effort to bath and dress Zed - needed a sleep and rest afterwards am hoping my poorly mum makes a quick recovery this week!

Feetheart - {just love that name}, how does Ash like the TTs? I was really pleased with his pack that came through last week (T-shirt/bag/CD etc..) think it's really worth the effort of the long trek to attend.

socket man on the loose x

Helloo! Gosh Chacha can't believe that you are having a baby - next week!!!! Very excited now!

Nova - thanks for the heat mat hint - have been and got one from John Lewis Today1 Fab!! and it was in the sale - yay!!

Whilst there, T did quite a lot of walking - and I put him in one of those ride in car things, and he loved it (well, until he had to get out, then a small tantrum ensued!)

He also has a new pair of shoes - the ones with the lights in the heels! they are sooooo cute!!!! And he seems to really like them - am now on the hunt for some decent reins of some description, so that I can encourage him to walk and explore, but not run off (without breaking my back leaning down all the time)....anyone else thinking of using reins?

Diege - hope the marking is going ok and that your work stuff has sorted itself out now.

Hope all others are well, off to finish interweb-surfing then off to settle down to telly watching with a glass of rose!

Brownie
xx

Hi girls,

Well, didn't get to the toddler group, running too late, so went to park instead. Was really really nice to get out and about and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air after 2 weeks stuck in the sick house. And Bets ate loads of bread and butter and even drank some cows milk from a sucky bottle [faint], although she did a really pooey nappy which covered everything even down to her shoes ( "shuz ..... oh no!") when we got home, woah!
Nova, ROFL at your post. But that's fantastic! Would love to see her in action with her floor cloth and cushion plumping, can you stick a movie on Yahoo? Am v.impressed, mine are masters of messiness - you are blessed. Although have to admit as Bets will rob the botty wipes I had her cleaning down the kitchen cupboards yesterday, she did a good job too..... So sweet about the Zoo visit, which was the best animal? Oh, and great to get your update info on the scan, wow that's amazing, makes is more real when you start talking about the baby's weight.
ChaCha, forgot to say, yes Bets squeals with delight when the other kids come home, and when ds1 comes home she just walks towards him with her arms in the air and makes loud noises until he picks her up, and then they have a hug for ages and she just sits on his hip while I make him a cuppa and we catch up, is lovely. Well done with the milk btw, that must be great. Lovely to read about you loving to wash and blow dry Zed's hair, so sweet. Hope your dh didn't return too late and you get a good nights rest.
Hi rodeo, thanks for the well wish this a.m. How're you guys?
Hi BB, can't believe T has the shoes with lights in , bet he can't believe it!
Hi Feetheart, GG, Beks-you okay?, Diege dude? ....et al. Night.x

Evening!
Just a quickie, before bed - getting a bit Homer Simpson about bed 'mmmmm, bed...' at the mo!
Londoner, bleugh at the nappy explosion! When it goes up their back is the worst, what to do?! I always try to roll inwards and whip off but usually ends in a disaster like poo in hair! Just disgusting! Aw at E's reaction to ds1 Jess loves me to chase B & J on the way home from school and she stretches forward to try and grab them, which they let her.... sometimes!
Nova, oooh so glad you're going to try and catch up! My sister says she's far too behind now to try so she's going to wait for the box set - the let-down! Lovely scan news too, wow at a full head of hair! What colour will it be I wonder? Dark? You're dark aren't you?
Brownie, aw cute shoes! I tried to use a wrist strap on Joe but he hated it! He's just sit on the floor, while the elasticated strap just got longer. Was a pain too because he was a toddler who would just run at top speed towards open space!
Chacha - hope you're having a well earned rest after your mega day
Hello Feety! LOL at Ash's pointy finger!
Twinkle - You and me both with the housework love! Doesn't help with my washer and tumble drier being in the freezing cold downstairs toilet-cum-washroom!
Hello to GG & Beks - How are things?
And Diege - WHERE ARE YOU? AND YES I AM SHOUTING!
Off to watch the rest of Nip/Tuck, it's the one with Rosie O'Donnell and it looks quite funny. Not that I'm a telly addict or anything x

Brownie - you should have had a look in JL for reins. I've got these from there and think they look a bit nicer than the trad ones. BTW I know the link isn't to JL but I couldn't find them online as in a hurry. ATM noo is like a dog in a muzzle with them and struggles to get them off, but I must start getting her used to them as she was very happy to walk around the zoo on sunday - just in the opposite direction to the way we wanted to go!

Good morning girls,

Hi Rodeo - Diege hasn't posted for a few days has she? Probably up to the eyeballs in marking - hope that's all anyway. How's everything with you? My washer/dryer doesn't seem to be drying very well at the moment, i still have to air everything - i never used to but got told this by both grandmothers as they were given DS's clothes for bedtime 'They've got to be aired you know love...' ahem!
Anyway speaking of which, can i be really domesticatedly boring and ask which washing detergents you all use? For the first 6months i used ecover for DS's clothes and then normal stuff, liked the smell of my friend's laundry so have switched to Fairy which seems fine only can't use the dosing ball in the washer/dryer so have just tried the powder and is okay...oh dear, i'm obviously about to pop and am stuck at home - sorry, feel free not to reply At least i'm not raving about the lenor lavendar for sheets....

Brownie - T's shoes sound really cool - bet he loves them! Funny you should mention reins as i was following what i could of the reins (faux pas) thread on the Parenting Category and was interested to read all the different views. My mum actually bought DS a pair last week when she had taken him out and said he loved the freedom of being able to toddle around the mall - only setback was when he lay himself down on the floor and wouldn't get back up! I'm not sure what to think of them (mum bought a very colourful pair) asked DH if he'd like to use them just a few days ago and he looked at me in disgust saying 'he's not a dog you know!' so very varied views in our home. Personally, i think they're a great idea - I don't see my DS as being the 'hold mummy's hand' type at all, safety first i say. What's everyone else's view?

Londoner - Your DS will be a great dad sure, lots of experience and how lovely making his tea while he cuddles J - awwwww!

Well, DH came home late last night and took DS to bed and that was that - don't see that much of him, i really, really miss him so much sometimes Oh well! Will go and get lunch on x

Hi girls,

ChaCha, aww at missing your dh, I so know where you're coming from. Once your new baby arrives and you know where you are I reckon you'll find a way. I think these weeks leading up to the birth of a baby are the most difficult times going physically, emotionally, financially, you name it. The anticipation can reach immense proportions ime with everything geared towards 'once the baby is here' etc. Having said that - once the babe is here I think the dynamics change and you start to feel you can forge ahead again. The best way to get time together, I reckon, is to get out of the house funnily enough. Even a short trip to the local park en famille (although not shopping trips - imo they can be worse than staying at home!) can give you and dp time together to take stock and look at eachother and laugh together as there are no jobs staring you both in the face, no decisions etc. That's what we do when things reach break point here. Please excuse my ramblings and I hope you and dh get some quality time together soon.
Beksmum I wonder if you can help me here? I have a choice of my local hospital - Queen Elizabeth, Woolwich - and one which I'm hoping you're familiar with - Princess Royal University Hospital - for an appt for me and wonder if you would recommend the PRU? I really have strong doubts about my local but know nothing of the other, do you know what it's like there? Thanks. Hope you're okay btw?
Right, off to get on iykwim, hope everyone out enjoying gorgeous day.

We are definitely a reins family here.
Used them for T for a while until she got the idea of holding hands, then just used the threat of them!
A has been using them for ages it seems. He's quite happy in them (as was T) though does have a tendency to sit down and examine the surface he is supposed to be walking on

LOL at your description Nova, it is like taking an errant puppy with you for a while and you do tend to get tangled up a lot.
Brownie - try wide open spaces to start with!!
Glad Noo liked the zoo. We are only 20mins from Whipsnade and have an annual pass (best purchase to date!) Its great to just go for a walk on a sunny day or to escape people putting flooring in the hall like we did on Friday! Keep having to find/make up new animal signs though - lemur anyone?

Poorly day here today. T has been in bed all day with a high temp (no other signs yet though chicken pox is making the rounds again) She has just slept all day, doesn't even want me to read to her
A and I are just stir crazy so have made up an assault course using furniture, cushions and leftover packs of laminate!!
ChaCha - he loves Tumble Tots (see above!) We have been going since he was 11mths (to the walking-2 group) and he is still one of the youngest.

Hi feetheart, lol at 'the threat of reins' working wonders, that's v.funny image, can picture you looking at T mock stern with reins in your hand lol. Oh no not Chicken Pox! Mind you, I always think oh no but then feel glad that it's time to get it over and done with and then you know you'll never have to deal with it again......... unless you keep having more kids like me. Good luck, know lots of people who found Chicken Pox a breeze if a bit boring being in quarantine for a couple of weeks, but you sound like you'd cope with that no probs what with your indoor assault course action, where do you get the energy from woman? Maybe a bit ahead of things here but I can recommend Calamine lotion for the spots and Piriton Syrup is meant to really help with the itching and redness of spots too.
Have had a GRRRRRRRRRR stressful day here, don't ask, teenagers hrmph, teethy babies, dh long hours etceteraaaaaa, have mental image of myself as the lion at beginning of film credits, RARRRRRR (no not Tony the Tiger Beks), right, thanks for that and sorry and hope you have a good night lovely ladies.

Evening
Feety - Hope Tess is ok, how lovely to be able to see monkeys though whenever the mood takes you! Our nearest is Twycross which is mainly monkeys and they are fab (even though dp grumbles about not liking zoos!)
Chacha - I use yellow Lenor! Along with Asda's own non-bio liquid (it's the only detergent I've found that hasn't got a strong smell) I never use Daz or Bold - I'm sure it's just bleach in disguise - but then I had a nasty reaction to one of them when I was a child (my skin came off )
I like all the reins points of view too - I'll have to hunt out that thread! I always remember reading that from the ages of 1 & 2 a child isn't programmed to walk purposely from A to B, they just walk towards things they like or they just walk for the sake of walking and come across points of interest on their travels
Londoner - Hope things are ok, no need to divulge, but just to let you know we're thinking of you
Ooh before I go, just want to say thank you Chacha for planning to let us all know the night before the big day, that's really kind You know we'd all be worried sick if you vanished!
Night x

Oh Londoner, poor you (although your etceteraaaaa did make me laugh!), to make you feel better my days been hectic too (escapee horses I had to catch on my own, mad dash to toddler group, late for PTA meeting, waiting 40 minutes for ds's haircut with v. grizzly baby) Good job I've no wine in tonight, it would be gone!
Oh and my SIL threatens my nephew with the reins but calls it 'the naughty strap' I hope she never uses that term in public, they'll be calling social services on her!

Must tell you what Joe did today too.....
Was in the hairdressers, which didn't seem too busy so sat down to wait, as it happens their was 2 sons with dads who all wanted an hair cut and 2 older men. Joe was getting impatient and Jess was just plain fed up and there were 2 more men to go til our turn. Joe said 'Is it me next?' I said 'No, there's that man and that man first' To which he replied 'That man?! Hahaha, he hasn't got any hair!!' OMG I couldn't even look at this man, just managed a hushed growly 'Oh just sit down!'

Hi I am reading & keeping up honest girls, just no time to post at the moment, things still very up in the air here.

Londoner in answer to your question, I think the PRU is a pretty good hospital all in all, thankfully i haven't had the need for it very often! it is certainly very popular for maternity being one of those new pick your hosptial type thingies - sorry the word escapes me I have a couple of friends who work there and they like it, it's clean or cleaner than most, it's new and the services I've used have been great eg blood tests, maternity, my dads eye etc. I vote you come to the PRU and then you can come back to mine for coffee and cake and I get to see you guys as we haven't met up for ages Hope that helps plus ha ha at Tony the Tiger, you know me so well

Chacha how lovely, can't believe you'll have a new baby next week, I'm so excited for you, find my thoughts wandering to you quite a lot at the moment. If I don't get on again, all the Beks clan wish you lots of luck, a speedy, well planned, delivery and a healthy, happy baby, plus lots of love of course to you your dh and Zayn your gorgeous big brother to be

Rodeo at Joe, don't you just love them at this age. Am loving your posts at the moment, they make me lol.

Hello and love to all those I haven't had a chance to mention, I had just popped on quickly to read while dh popped outside for a ciggie, so better give him back his toys now before he has a tantrum Hope to be back on more regularly next week as my mum & dad will be here so can sneak off for five minutes ata time again Beks

Hiya

Yes me again, I am still around. Have just moved house (well November) and have been without internet for one reason or another. Also things been a bit weird here!

Anyway before I start a bit of a round up and moan I am sending a big wave to everyone. Hope the pgs are going well ChaCha and Nova oh and anyone else now.....

Well, where do I start. I am due in April, so not long now and DH has been away every week since the new year. Have gone through a bit of a crappy time, very emotional and have just found out I am anaemic and bloody hell do those Iron tablets make a difference, I feel like a new woman. Have had a cold/infection for 6 weeks and things just been getting on top of me. The two saving graces have been my mum and my friend who have offered heaps of help! Anyway, the reason I am telling you all this (not just to moan) is that it now looks as if we may be moving again with DH's job and this time it looks like Manchester and VERY soon, ie, he may be working there before baby is born, and I am quite scared!!!! I am finding the idea of coping with Sam and new bub on my own in a new place with no support network quite intimidating and could really do with some advice, own stories etc. I know I will cope (I will have to) but I am just worried. Sorry to come on and offer up my problems straight away but you have always been there for me in the past!

Right problem off my chest, feel a bit lighter!

As for Sam he is great, has also had cold/infection for 6 weeks so has had a hard time but we are both now on antibiotics and getting better. He is running all over the place now, climbing anything in sight and is fascinated by anything with buttons to press. He isn't talking yet, just lots of da da da, but have been hoping it is just because he has been concentrating on his mobility. We do use signing tho which has been great. He has a few tantrums but they are getting less now, although we did go through a rather horrible time of head banging and biting when frustrated or tired.

I myself am ok, baby is growing well and is off the scale for length and leg and arm length, my sonographer was speechless at the 22 week scan and checked each measurement 4 times trying to shave off points of a mm to try and make it fit on the scale!!!!!!! The head circumference was average though, thank goodness. We are planning a home birth and are now quite excited as well as scared!

Well that's about all I can manage now as the house is calling, I have a few hours break this am to do things so better get on.

Hope you are all well. Sorry it has been so long since my last post.

Speak soon

Enthusia

Hi all,

Rodeo rofl @ your posts, really enjoyed reading those, how toe-curling about J's baldy comment. Thanks so much for your support last night.
Oh and @ reins, I ditched using those when I kept ending up with twirling, hang-gliding toddlers to carry around lol.
Beks, thanks for coming on, and your advice was so valuable thanks so have gone for PRU. Would love to take you up on your offer of coffee and cake [yum], thank you, but am thinking it might be imposs as don't know yet how I'll get there/ if I can take the baby with etc. I would love to if I can but if not would love to meet up anyway. You sound so busy atm, 1 1/2 stone lost , but give me a call or email me if you get a chance for a park run or would like to come here for coffee break.
Wow Enthusia, great to hear from you. OMG though, life @ break neck speed, no time to catch your breath I think. If anyone can manage you can, you always seem capable of doing about 3 million things at once when I read your posts, tearing round the country in your car with little Sam in the back. I always get a mental image of you as an overview of a map with your car going up the country, down the country, left, right iyswim. Where are your family based, if you have them?
Right, thanks again guys, off to shop for dh b.day pressie before that snow arrives.........

My neighbours must be thinkin WTF!!??

I'm sat in my car becuase Sean is asleep and I couldn't bear to wake him up.

Will post properly when it's a little comfier!

GG - I sat in the park for an hour a few weeks ago, freezing my butt off because noo had fallen asleep in the buggy and I couldn't bear to wake her up. The things we do....

Hellooo!!!! Just wanted to pop in and say hello - am submerged under the weight of 259 A-level scripts but the end is near, and then I can get back to Mumsnet! Hi to all, and I will catch up when I can take a breath!

Diege Hellooooooooooo!

Hello everyone,

Londoner - Thanks for your usual words of wisdom, I really appreciate it Sometimes hindsight can be a wonderful thing and hopefully soon when we're somewhat settled I'll be able to arrange some quality time with DH outdoors. I think that a mixture of colds/viruses/pregnancy/tiredness/weather has kept me home for longer than i'd like to stay in and days can often seem long and never ending. By the time DH returns home we are both pretty much shattered but there's bath/bedtime still to be had and before you know it the night is gone!
Roll on quality time!!!

Feetheart - Great idea on making Ash's own assault course! Bet that was fun. Maybe i'll try this tomorrow, i don't think i'll brave the snow to get to TTs somehow.

Rodeo - Thanks for reply! (I love the purple lenor btw just for the linen but i won't go into that now) and of course i'll be telling you the planned date, only keeping it till the night before as NO-ONE, other than grandparents know in RL and who knows who might be lurking just waiting to find out all my news! He he!!
WMSL (i'm being polite) at the 'naughty strap' and Mr.Baldy encounter at hairdresser Gave me a good old laugh!! Thanks for that.

Beks - Is good to see you post, you're a busy bee these days, hope you're taking care of yourself though. Thank you for the good wishes, really appreciate that, hopefully i'll be on MN for most of next week (Rodeo - you've guessed it now haven't you, lol) and we'll speak again, who knows when i'll be posting after that!! Good to hear your folks will be with you, it makes all the difference i think even if just to have 5 minutes headspace. Enjoy it and take care till then.

GG - You're not still in the car are you!!?

Diege - Just as i thought...red pen syndrome!

Enthusia - Welcome back, sorry to hear you've both been poorly but hope you're now on the mend and that everything goes well for you all. Agree with Londoner on your impressive capabilities, you'll be fine

Well guys, enjoy tomorrow's snow, am sure i'll be watching it again in the twilight hours while everyone here snores on.

x

Ladies, can I please ask you, what did your baby eat/drink today and was it a typical day? Am intrigued to know It would be really helpful if you find the time, following on from the milk drinking poll. Here's what Bets ate today, taking into account she wakes up every 2-3 hours at night for milk/comfort/teething:

Breakfast: small bowl porridge & jam ; bf
{play in the park then in pushchair round the shops}
Lunch: Butter croissant and a satsuma
{1 hour nap}
snacks during day: 5oz of cows milk in a bottle; breadstick & lots of grapes; slices of cheese and ham
tea: refused meat & rice but ate broccoli and more grapes.
{playing around then bathtime}
bf then bed.

Average day on the food front I reckon apart from the cows milk which was a very pleasing first.
Feel pretty vulnerable writing all that down in a post actually, hope it's okay. Thanks.

Hi ChaCha, x-posts. Gosh, sounds like you and dh are both working so hard, lucky Z and new LO I'm saying.. Oh , and I swear by Fairy Automatic Powder, whiter whites and soft evey time.

I sound so precious about the food, I'm not really just overtired and losing perspective and ever so slightly desperate tbh, really understand if you don't respond to that one! Right, night all.

Hi! Having a sneaky break ..knew I wouldn't last! Have had a quick scan of everyone's news . LOL RODEO at hairdressers saga - do you think the baldy man heard? Feeling excited for next week CHACHA - our first 'sibling' iyswim!!! Lol NOVA and GG at waiting it out while los sleep - did it myself today,though made sure buggy was in hall as sooo cold! LONDONER, phew, sounds pretty hectic at yours - if I were you I'd be roaring it out all the time - think how well you do get through things - not just your own, but help us all out too! Well deserved pack-on-back I think!
Oh regarding food for L today...at home (ie, not nursery). 7am: bottle of cow's milk; 8am: weetabix ( a few spoons, then refused), banana, piece of fruit loaf; a few dried apricots (the sugary ones they try to flog as healthy, but have more sugar than sweets . Lunch (11.30ish)rice, beef thingy...can you tell it's out of a jar...went down well anyway! Yogurt for pudd, juice to drink. 2.15 bottle of milk. 3.30 fruit loaf again, some white choccy buttons, baby biscottis, juice. 5pm: tuna-mayo sandwiches, fruit and custard for pud.
6pm, bottle of milk (refused).
I try and make main meal at lunch, and always have last bottle as 'filler' in case she's peckish. Hope this helps? Have to say, some days she eats very little, other days anything in front of her.
Oh and hi to ENTHUSIA!!! Good to hear from you. Yah!! about Manchester - me and TWINKLE are just around the corner!
Right, scripts!!!