Nov '05 Toddlers!

[Rodeo]

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

Morning! CHACHA, hope you are feeling ok? Sounds like you will be very pleased to reach the end of the pregnancy! Bet you are feeling excited! Same for you too I bet NOVA, though I too remember how great you looked when pregnant in the meet-up photos .
A week on Wednesday sounds great GG - we could maybe meet up in a playbarn in Warrington, or you could come here? I'll just have the two, so a bit more flexible then! There is a good one (Fun2be - think BROWNIE has been before) that might be good, as there's a part for babies too.
TWINKLE - another option for this weds? Maybe playbarn type thing would be easier? Or we could wait till a week on weds and you could see GG too? Options, options!!! I'm here every weds, so don;t mind which way!
Oh and I don't remember who asked but regarding cot to bed transition, I've always left it as late as possible for my three (up to as late as nearly 3). I have introduced a pillow for L's cot though, and at naps she has a quilt rather than sleeping bag. Not sure about sleeping bags in beds, because by the time mine were actually put in beds we had the whole night-time wee thing going on, and they struggle to get themselves out of the bag and into the bathroom with it on iyswim!!!
Ramble, ramble... well today more scripts, but I have dd1 off, so we're off to see 'Arthur and the Invisibles' soon (zzzzz...) Sure it will be great .
Speak later!
Diege.

haha - I certainly don't 'do' pregnancy either, but I must confess I rub my tummy everyday and count my blessings that I'm able to do it at all. The skin on my face is seriously shocking with this one though, have just had to put on an enormous amount of make-up just to look like I've got clear skin. Figure wise I must confess I'm pretty confident that I'll ping back like I did with noo. I really puffed up in the early months (all that choccy!) but it's really sorted itself out now, and I'm all bump.

We're about to be brave and book a holiday for the summer. Nothing too adventurous, probably a week in Ireland. DH seems to think flying with two lo's will be a nightmare so wants to keep the journey as small as poss. Also trying to figure out rooms as it looks like we'd all be in the same one which might be difficult with a 3month old still waking in the night - what have you all done in the past?

Hi Diege - Believe it, am counting the hours, not just the days An afternoon at the cinema sounds like bliss - would love to be doing that today. Hope you both enjoy the time together.
It's been one of those mornings here, DH popped in for 'a quick bite to eat' between lectures and left the stairgate open...I came out of kitchen and had a bit of a fright when i found DS almost at the top stair! Don't know which was more of a picture, my face on seeing him there or his on his good stroke of luck! Fortunately after tantrums and tears he is now asleep, can you hear the silence? Ahhhhh....

Nova - Never thought about the rooms scenario you know - i know that here after the section i'll not want to co-sleep 4 in a bed (maybe later when fully recovered) so i'll be with baby most nights and DH with DS in another room. Maybe for holiday you could get one of those really big rooms (family wing/room) so you're altogether but separate IYSWIM come night time. The type that come with lounge, en-suite, 2/3 beds etc.. Just a thought.

Hi to everyone else, Rodeo, Londoner, Beks, GG, BB, Feetheart, Twinkle, L&S, and everyone else.

BoB's story is certainly a spectacular one. Sophie is the baby that she thought she lost back in... can't count backwards but you know what I mean. The hospital even did a scan and told her she had had a complete miscarriage so she went back on the pill and was having periods and everything. Quite a shock when she went into labour!

As for the hotel question, we just went away and got connecting rooms which worked really well. We've also gotten family suites before and that was good too. I have found that when we've all stayed in the same room it usually works out too. For some reason Rosie never wakes Tobes if he's in the same room, just depends on if your DH can sleep through it, which mine most definitely can.

Chacha, soooo exciting!!

Good Evening Ladies Well, what an eventful day we've had - where to start...

First - went off to Morrisons this morning - where T chewed through one of my handbag straps (my fault, as I told him to play with that rather than chew the trolley chain thing!), anyway....
Went off into town mid morning, with my Mum for a mooch, and drink etc - then noticed T had runny eyes - thought "oh darn it" - could be getting the dreaded pink eye back - so nipped off to Docs to see if I could get some drops "just in case". Well - getting an appointment, or the drops was not a problem - but there was a real old witch of a woman - you just wouldn't believe it (sorry there is a major rant coming on now.....) T has a habit of wanting to climb on little chairs and push them along the floor - which I know can be a trifle annoying - but he's a baby, what can you do!? Well, anyway, after about 20 mins of me running around after him to make sure he didn't get in anyones way, and him having scraped this chair along the lino for at least a good 5 mins, I managed to scoop him up and distract hi with some pictures on the wall, at which point another little boy (a bit older, maybe 5 or 6) started to also drag a chair. Well, this woman (who I might point out had already shot me a few nasty looks) got up and went over to the little boys Mum and told her to get him to stop, cos the noise was too much and hurting her head - if he really wanted to play, could he not do it on the carpet..... Well - I was fuming - 1. because I was becuase it was predominantly T that had caused the noise, yet this poor child got told off; and 2. cos if She had had any experience with Children she would have realised that the noise of the chair was far more preferable than the sure fire screaming that would have ensued....
Well didn't even cut it with me - I was hopping - she was very lucky I didn't say something! I shot her a few glances and as she (finally) went into a Drs room, BUT as she came past me, she muttered "oh for heaven's sake" - (must point out that T was crying at this point, as he was both tired, hungry and I had stopped him from playing on the floor because of her!) I know she had probably had a bad day etcetera, etcetera, etcetera....but it took me ages to calm down

In fact thinking back on it now - I might have been voicing my dislike a little too loud as I do have a tendency to let people know what I think , but I do feel I was justified (sort of!)

Anyway, to cap all of that off - we got home to find the call up for all the next lot of jabs - MMR, and so on (there seems an awful lot on the form!)

Right - Rant now over (sorry - that really was an epic

Hope everything is progressing nicely Chacha - we are off to Wales again this Summer! This time we are off to Carmartehnshire - really looking forward to it!
Nova - thanks for the advice re bed - saw a Mum with 2 girls, both with the LL backpacks on this morning! bizarre! Asked how she got on with them, and she said they were great (although having 2 at once was a bit harder work!) so am DEF going with the LL one! Hoping to get some tomorrow!

Diege - yes I went to Fun2be for one of my goddaughters birthdays - last year! It was quite cool actually!

Tex - had a feeling that that might be the story with Bob - How cool! So, a pink one & a blue one! She is the first of us lot to have the Second after the First Nov baby (iyswim!?) Hope she comes back on soon - specially as she now has 2 Nov babies!!!!

Anyway, after that particularly long post - and stressful day, think I am in need of a nice glass of Rose!!!!!

Brownie

xxxx

It's true Brownie - it's not until you have kids you realise that them making a bit of noise is soooo much more preferable to screaming and crying. I'd like to see her try to get a toddler sitting perfectly still and quiet! We were in a restaurant a few months back and noo was banging the table with a spoon (I did try to stop her by putting my hand underneath the spoon but she still got to the table on the odd occasion). Anyway I hadn't even noticed she was making noise until DH pointed out that we were getting 'looks' from a man seated near us. I thought she was being really well behaved too. I definitly have more understanding and patience with other people's children now (although I've come across a few that could make me rethink my ideas on smacking!).

Had a bit of a set-back finishing noo's room - the armoire I'd ordered is 2 inches too big to fit up the stairs. That means we have to hire some big strong men to come and take it through our neighbours house and lift it up through the back windows. There is a reason I usually order flatpack!

Ah, that is always a slight problem Nova!! At least you've got friendly neighbours, and look on the positive side - 2 big strapping young blokes to oggle at?! (although knowing my luck, they would be old and past it!!)

Children & noise has never really bothered me, it is "naughty" undisciplined children that have always got my goat! and T is definitely not either of those (but he is definitely noisy and impish!! - he just likes to socialise and make Mummy talk to everyone!) Perhaps the witch who had the bad day mistook noise for naughty, and to be fair it was a drs waiting room, so she may have been v. ill (having said that, she had no clue what was wrong with us either - so many of us don't stop to think I guess......) ooh a bit philiosophical there!

Have you caught up with PB yet? It is good! GG you enjoying this one?!

Think someone asked about washing powder? (or was it a dream!) we use Fairy non-bio tablets (and now have the complete set of Free Kipper books !) and either Lenor/comfort Pure or Fairy Softener. Although tbh I don't use softener for Ts clothes (advice from HV when he had v. bad dry skin and so on) they also advised washing powder rather than the liquid stuff!?

Think am gonna wait a while to transfer T into the bed element of the cot...he is such a wriggler in his sleep! Do you use a sleeping bag for Noo? What about pillows? Oh gosh it's all so confusing!

Am soo looking forward to getting the reins though - think he will love it, being able to have the freedom to walk more! (and maybe he will tire himself out and sleep more?! here's hoping hey!)

Right, another epic post - gosh you lot will get sick of me soon!

Which reminds me - thanks for the lovely group hug Nova - it still feels a little weird to have such a "close" set of friends that I haven't met most of!! It sometimes hits me when I am telling a story to someone in RL and then say " oh yes, I know someone who...or one of my friends....." and then I realise that I have to back track and say "off MumsWeb...Group of...friends yadayada and so on!!

Right am really off this time!

B
xxxx

LOL BB Makes a change from my epics! Sorry to hear about grumpy woman, there's always someone isn't there? Speaking of MMR jabs and the like, we haven't received notification yet of ours, am sure it will be scheduled for week after baby is born - great fun!

Nova - Hope they get it moved for you asap - something else done and out the way isn't it?

Anyone on the highchair question?

Dinner's ready.....hurray!

Evening!
Half term chaos has descended again! But firstly.....
Heart attack alert! OMG! at our big news! Congratulations BOB! That's amazing!! Beautiful name Afraid I can't keep my nosy side under control so got to ask a few questions!! Did she really not know? Until labour or what? I thought her baby was due in January - was Sophie a premmie? And did some of you know?! How could you keep in in?! I'm such a blab I would have exploded!! Phew.....
at old bag Brownie! Some people can be sooo grumpy!! Just let it wash over you - I always adopt a vacant expression and gaze into middle distance when things like that happen to me
Nova/Chacha, glad we're of some support to you guys Must reiterate I love your pg news (How many hours to go Chacha?! )
Hi GG - Glad you got out of the car!! Oh poor you, not a biter, have no advice really, one of my friends is going through the same thing with her 2 year old - but what makes it loads worse for her is that she is a child-minder, and the little girl she looks after bears the brunt She just has to keep them apart which is obv extremely difficult!
Tex - great to hear from you! Sorry to hear you've all been poorly - how's little Rosie's allergies now?
How was the cinema Diege?
Just bought a pair of ballet pumps off ebay in consolation for being outbid (grrrr) on a lovely new pair of Bertie boots that had been on my watch list since last week. How annoying! Am after a pair of new knee highs for our girls weekend next week, my sister says there's a few in the sales in town so all is not lost!
Am also reeling from last night's Lost and 24! They are soooo good!!
Right, off for a bath - expecting some crossed posts as I feel I've been here ages! My bottom is numb! x

Hi,

Yeah BB, Nova, agree about peeps low tolerance... it's wonderful in Greece where baby is joyfully greeted with open arms when you're out and about.... best off leaving them to stew and trying not to notice their huffing etc imo. Have discovered fairly recently though that if you sort of smile and shrug your shoulders in a conspiratorial sort of way as in ' what a monkey, what can you do eh' way so as to make the old fart feel involved they usually melt and can't help grinning back, maybe worth a try next time. Found this out after becoming fed up of being so goddamn polite and treading on eggs when out with my kids for years- I changed my mind one day and thought, sod it, what have I got to be so sorry for - really if they're that grumpy let em get on with it.
Nova, good luck with the wardrobe, sounds like a bit of a mission but I'm sure you'll manage and Noo will love the story in years to come.
ChaCha, thinking of you loads and really looking forward to the arrival of your baby.
Beks, you okay?
Rodeo, Diege, hi girls!
GG, glad you escaped from the car okay!
Congratulations BoB! Sophie is beautiful.
Hiya Tex, yes, call me next week or CAT me or something.... mobile is out of action for a few weeks now -would love to meet up yes.
Well, gotta go, cannot believe have actually had some time to myself this evening, wow!(sleep training is working at long long long last, have been getting up every 1, 2 or 3 hours each night for loooong time, only once last night, yipee!).
Night.

Grr, just lost my message, as I was saying.......

x-posts ChaCHa and rodeo,
Yes rodeo, sssssssssooooooo annoying when someone else buys your stuff on eBay isn't it. good luck on finding again.
ChaCHa, don't they do a high/low chair, let me find a link hang on.....
what about this? . It converts to own low chair and table?
Oh and GG, poor you with the biting, used to sit down quietly and hold ds1 facing outwards on my lap gently but firmly when he did this as he hated to be restricted( ie, he would kick and try and bite me while I did it but just ignored as best I could). It calmed him down and me and it did work.....and other child can relax for a bit...good luck.
Right, really night this time...............

Londoner - I feel like I have a tough time if noo wakes up at 5.30 (which hasn't happened for a while, phew), I don't know how you manage with night wakings still. Saying that, I've still got pg insomnia so I'm not getting a full nights rest by any means.

Noo is still in a sleeping bag, mainly because it stops her running around her room, but also because it's very useful if there are leaks in the night - the sleeping bag contains everything. She also has a toddler pillow which she loves. I probably would have waited a bit longer to move her if it wasn't for the new baby, but now that we've done it I'm glad we did it sooner rather than later, and will probably move the new baby into a bed at about the same age.

We also use fairy non-bio for baby clothes.

We've nearly caught up on 24, but haven't started PB yet. We're not too keen on 24 so far, we like shouting at the tv at all the things that are a bit far fetched, and DH hates the Morris character.

Chacha - tried to re-cap on your high chair Q but couldn't see it, think it was about Z being an escapologist?? How about a booster seat on a regular chair? A chair may be harder to tip than a high chair? I sometimes feed noo when she's sat on the kitchen counter, or give her a bowl of something and let her take it to her special place to eat there. I've also been known to sit on the floor with her and feed her there. Bad mummy!

Rodeo, believe me it has not been easy to keep BoB's news in!! Such an exciting story. Yes, Sophie was early and nope, BoB had no idea she was pregnant. She just started having back pains and as it got worse and worse her Mum rang an ambulance and the baby was delivered on the living room floor! And now I've gone and told most of the details . Sorry BoB!! It's just such a terrific story. Sophie is tiny but absolutely fine with big bright eyes and a head full of black hair. Very dangerous seeing her as it makes me so broody.

As for highchairs, we're on our third one because Rosie is a little Houdini. We've ended up with a booster on a regular chair with straps to hold her in and it's working well. Also saves space in the kitchen.

I used Fairy Non-Bio at first but am now using the same Bold bio for all of us. Rosie seems fine with it. Strange she's not more sensitive considering her allergies.

Oh yes Rodeo, forgot to say that there's no change is Rosie's allergies. Still the same though they have confirmed that she's not coeliac which is great news. We're still hopeful that she'll outgrow them in another year or so. Thanks for asking.

Brownie, people can be so insensitive! I recently had some old biddy refer to T and R as 'those dreadful children'. She didn't realise that I was their mum as they were off with DH and had obviously done something to annoy her. Grrrrrr.

Nova, love the wardrobe saga! Where is it now? Just finished Notting Hell, so is it really like that over there?

Hey Londoner, good to hear from you.

Must go to bed now. Half-term is already wearing me out and it's just the first day. Looks like the cinema tomorrow. Diege how was the film? I dread the children's movies. Think it'll be Charlotte's Web tomorrow which will hopefully be bearable as I loved the story as a child. Hope they haven't Disney-fied it with a happy ending.

Nigh night!

Hi all

congrats bob on sophie
Diege will do next week if thats ok as sam & holly are going to a sports thing tommorow!!! let me know what you want to do next week
right must go josh waking up!!
twinkle

Wow! That really is an amazing story of Bobs. I do remember reading something similar a while back, except in this case the lady even had a D&C.

Diege, Whatever you think is best. Soft play place sounds good. I will have to be strict on times though! We need to leave by 1pm to have any hope of missing the rush hour traffic, so will that be OK for you meeting up at lunchtime?

Highcahirs, We didn't reallyuse one at all for Owen, but he did have a high/low chair at my mums. When he was about a year we bought him a lovely little table & chair set which he sat at really nicely. (or we just plonked him in the corner of the settee & fed him there )

Thanks for the biting tips, will give that one a go Londoner.

Hi everyone else. How are you feeling ChaCha? Does it feel very strange that you know exactly when baby's going to be here?

ok, we've just been to see a school and I need to sound out a few things...

School 1
Takes kids from 3 yrs.
We registered noo at 6 months and it looks like we have a pretty good chance of getting a place, although not guaranteed yet.
Is very pristine, bright, clean with good facilities.
Very into organic, healthy menus and even dictate what kids can bring in as snacks.
I do know one local mum who took her dd out due to a falling out with the head mistress.
Good extra curricular activities.
Full of rich kids of a limited cultural mix with no special needs.
Head mistress like an extra from Dynasty.
Classes of 16-18, two classes per year group.
£3,500 per term, established 70yrs ago.

School 2
Takes kids from 3mths, but I would send noo from 2 yrs.
We would def get a place as it's not full.
Bit rough around the edges, not the newest of facilities, although they are currently expanding the premises.
Standard menu, when we were there the kids were having jam tarts for mid morning snack, although this is not the norm we were told.
My local friend sends her kids there and she loves the place.
Some extra curricular activities, but the school is open 50wks of the year.
Mix of cultures and backgrounds, plus one special needs place in each year group.
Classes of 16, on class per year group.
Kids call all teachers by first name, and the head teacher was really nice.
£2,700 per term, only started 7yrs ago so still quite small, but expanding.

My inner snob says school 1, but school 2 is much more like my upbringing. I think noo would get a more rounded view of life in school 2, but I'm worried it wouldn't have the same standards as school 1. My worry with school 1 is that she'd be surrounded by lots of Notting Hill rich kids. I'm quite torn as to which would be better for her. DH a bit put off by the slightly shabbier surroundings of school 2, and is worried thats it's only been going for 7 yrs. Any thoughts?

If it was me, based on what you have said there, I would go for school 2.

How did you feel when youu went into each? Would you be able to speak to any other parents about their views on each school? I would do a couple more visits to each school, and really look at the children. Which ones seem to be having more fun etc? HTH

Nova, do you have a gut instinct about it? I always trust my gut instinct. Also agree with GG about looking at the children at each school and think about whether you would want Noo to be influenced by them. Also think about what's important to you. I really want to be involved with the school so we went to some Christmas and Summer fairs at schools in the area and I checked out the other parents and tried to guage their interest/involvement.

All of those factors helped me choose Toby's school, which Rosie will attend as well. It's not the 'best' school in the area but the children are confident and well-spoken, have a nice relationship with the teachers and the parents are very involved. They had a lovely summer fair whereas the school that so many people are trying to get into here had a dreadful, disorganised Christmas fair and the children seemed much more aggressive and less well-mannered. Later learned that other mums have had trouble with bullying at the 'better' school. Just go with your heart.

Me again!

Just thought, don't discount a school because of the age of the building. Sure, it's nice to have purpose built suites for every subject, but ultimately it's what happens inside that is important, not what the building looks like.

Just a quickie from me as in work. NOVA: school 2 would be my choice (and I really gancy a jam tart now, lol)!, sounds more relaxed, plus if you have concerns about school 1 already,these will linger and linger...
TWINKLE/GG: yep, next week is fine. If we meet at the playbarn, could we say 10.30/11ish if not too early? (thinking selfishly of L's lunch nap and school run!). Could do lunchtime proper, but could then only stay 50 mins or so due to getting bus back up for school pick-up.
TEX: amazing stuff about little Sophie - wow! Let's see some piccies BOB when you get the chance!
Speak later!

Hi girlies,
At work so finding time to post ( never seem to at home).
BoB - thats fab news about Sophie if unexpected!!!Hope all the family are well.

ChaCha- not long now and new one will be here, have you decided on names at all, can we have a sneak preview ?

Nova - Schools are so tricky, you take a risk whatever you do really, you just never know if its going to be the right choice or not. School 2 sounds better to me, as you say there seems to be a bit more of "real life" going on there and Noo will experience thibgs there that she may never be exposed to at school 1 ( plus its cheaper ),

Must must try and post more often but have now been beaten by the arrival of my next lucky person!!!sxxx

10.30/11 ish is perfect Diege. Off to look for directions (need to do it now, no-one has the internet up there, so won't be able to do it next week). DP was a little confused when I told him, "Warringtons miles away ". Duurr!

Have just seen Fun2b has a big blue wiggly slide. Oh no! Sean loves that slide at the softplay place near us, that means you won't see me at all!

It's such a big decision to make. Do you think it matters that school 2 has only been running for 7 years? There's really not that many pupils yet, although they seem confident enough to keep expanding. TBH I have doubts about both schools, but then again they both have good points. DH thought the kids at school 2 were a bit surly today, but we happened to see them when they were being 'told off' after lunch for not tidying away properly. School 1 seemed a lot more ordered, but then again I'm not quite sure if thats really the best way for them to be. I'm really confused, but I suppose I have a little while to think about it....

The wardrobe saga continues - I happened to mention to DH that if it wasn't for the banister it would be able to fit up the stairs (we have a strange little turn right at the top which stops most furniture going up), and he now wants to get a builder in to saw off the top of the banister posts . He's worried we'll trash the neighbours roof and guttering if we try to heave the blasted thing up that way (he does have a point about that). If we go for that option though it'll be at least another couple of weeks before it gets shifted from downstairs as our builder is on holiday. ahhhhhhh!!!!! I just want it where it's supposed to be.

Nova, I don't think it's a bad thing that school 2 has only been going for 7 years. It could mean that they're still fresh and maybe faster to respond to needs and make changes more than a school that's older and more settled into its culture and traditions. Maybe just let it simmer for a while. You do have some time and I'm sure you'll make the right decision. That's not to say you won't second guess yourself a hundred times before Noo actually gets settled somewhere.