MAY BABIES 2004 GIRLS - LOOK HERE PLEASE!!!!!

[Egypt]

Sorry to do this, but for some reason I can't get into our old thread! Have tried for days, internet explorer bans me and shuts me down!!! Can you all convert to this one please?!! pretty please?

Brilliant. Thanks so much, Helsy. I have CATted you. That's a great idea to have a swimming party. DS would have loved that if there were anything like that round here. He wants to go to an aquarium for the day for his. We are taking his two best friends (one without her parents because her Mum will have just had twins). I'm not quite sure how it's going to work yet. Think we might take a picnic.

Oooh. Black tie dinner, Bozza. Sounds lovely. Have you got a nice dress? How many are you having for DD's party? It sounds like she has tons of friends.

Sounds like you have cracked the potty training then, Pepper. 4 days is fantastic. I think we were at least 2 weeks before things hit home properly.

hi all just a quickie before i get stuck into packing. leaving tonight at 11pm, so thats 4pm with you guys. am absolutely shattered and feel like i've stepped off a plane already. dd2 was awake from 3pm last night and didnt really go back to sleep for more than half an hour at a time. then dd1 woke at 5 wanting a top on and to sleep on the floor. no sooner had i put her back into bed when she called again for some water. i felt her and she was burning hot so out came the calpol. if she is sick on this trip i will be readt to lie down and give up.

anyway, bugs are gone yes helsy, thank you. thank god.

good luck with the potty training, that sounds excellent progress! worth waiting.

oh, and yes, dh is coming too. i couldnt do it on my own. we are being thrifty and ony taking baby's car seat and quinny zapp frame. getting dd a new car seat in the uk so only have to bring it back. have to try and take next to nothing in the suitcases as dd's bday will be on 28th and celebrated at all 3 sets of grandparents. oh blimey

off to pack....

Good grief - I don't know what kind of impression I am giving on here of our busy, popular family. It is really not like that. Honestly DH and I have not been out together this year, but now twice in 6 days.

egypt glad that DH is on the trip too. Hope it goes well. I would imagine that DD2 can just be cuddled and fed, but DD1 will be a bit of a challenge, but surely DH's job? PR sounds like he is trained now. helsy I hope your DH starts to feel better soon, that sounds quite unpleasant.

We are having DD's party on the 20th as well although her birthday is the 15th. I have invited 20 (yes mad I know) children to her party but that includes her, DS, and two cousins. I have finally this year sacked most of the older children of my friends who I met when DS was born. The place is meant to be for under 6s so I didn't want to have 5 6yo boys running around knocking the smaller children over. I felt a bit bad doing it, but I think the others will be grateful because it means they can do the same thing. I put the invitations in nursery last Wednesday and have so far only had replies from the DDs of my two close friends.

I have bought a black dress with beading from TKMaxx for £40. I tried on a lot of strapless ones, but all the fat under my arms poked out of the top, so this one has spaghetti straps and is more flattering.

I booked the day off for DD's birthday on Tuesday and asked her what she wanted to do. She said she wanted to go to nursery. So I have decided to still have the day off and only send DD to nursery from 9-3 or so, so it will mean I can take DS to school and she will have time to open her presents beforehand.

Hope you had a nice evening out, Bozza. You do always sound like you have a nice busy life from your posts

So you're here for a fair while then, Egypt if you are still here on the 28th. That's really nice for you. Hopefully your parents can help you get a bit of a rest and a break.

We had a cracking day on Saturday. We got DS a Mile for Maude T-shirt to wear and even before he had done the walk he said, "Mummy, can I keep this on forever because I am very proud". For someone who generally complains to be carried if he walks for longer than a minute, I'm really not sure what happened. He walked the whole thing with a smile on his face and just a couple of comments about being tired but we kept putting a coin in his purse "for the babies" every so often to spur him on and I didn't even need to resort to playing one, two, three, Weeeeeeeee never mind the final resort of bribary with chocolate. DS2 insisted on walking some of it, too. We had a picnic there too with a lovely Mnetter who I have wanted to meet for some time.

Hello Ponka, well done. I was in Nott on Saturday but we arrived at about 12 and I had a pass out so just went shopping - Zara for girls' clothes, lunch all by myself in Delilah, lovely!
Bozza, have both your "dos" been?
We booked to see The Feeling in June, but DH says we're too old and all the young people will laugh at us, although I bought the tickets as a treat for him! He's feeling better but still has headaches so I've told him to go back to the GP for a check-up in case the infection is still there.
Dd2's party is now starting to look busy - 16 children coming. We're getting her a sandtable thingy. Our local school is talking about starting a preschool in September so I'm going to talk to them this week, see how far ahead they are with the plans.

Well done to your DSs Ponka - that sounds lovely. Helsy we went out on Saturday night and the next do is on Friday. I am a bit miserable with a cold/sore throat etc and a DD who has decided that hitting the grand old age of 3 means she can start shouting me in the night. I was up with her 3x last night and the same the night before. Last night there must have been an owl in a tree in the churchyard that was quite loud but that can only explain 1 out of 6 instances.

We are on princess cake number two today. I could go into production. DD changed her mind about wanting to go to nursery when she had opened her mound of presents. So I have sent a cake into nursery today. I will need to produce another one for Sunday for the party.

DS was very good - I was quite proud of him. He was all excited about wrapping her present ( a princess lunch box and a pink power ranger) and writing her card.

Dd2's party on Sunday! We bought her a water and sand table from the ELC today - got 20% off as it was the only pink one left and didn't have a box. Pleased I asked for a discount, even if it dd embarrass DH! I think Sunday may be hard work as there are a number of - how shall I put it - high maintenance toddlers coming (including mine ). Enjoy your parties this weekend, anyone who's having one!

How did it go helsy? DD's was Sunday and went very well. DD was very hyper beforehand. It was quite hard to button up her dress when she was jumping up and down. I got loads of compliments on her princess cake (lots of people thought I had ordered it, not made it) I was quite surprised because not really my forte.

I have another nephew, my sister gave birth in the early hours. I would love to go see him but can't sort it today, but am going to try to take the afternoon off tomorrow.

Ponka I got the email with your walk pictures on. The DSs look so sweet - LOL at DS1 with the serious face.

I hope the party went O.K, Helsy. Glad your DD's did, Bozza.

Congrats on your new little nephew. This week has also been a really big week for baby news for us here, too. My friend had her twins by section on the 18th, 2 little girls. Both good weights for twins. I have a bad cough so I haven't been to see them yet but I think it's nearly gone so probably over the next few days. I also heard on Saturday that I will be an Auntie for the first time. DH's brother's girlfriend is pregnant. The baby is due in December.

DSs 'party' is on the bank holiday Monday. I'm so busy at the moment, I was going to just buy a cake until I asked him what he wanted and he said, "A white round one like Lukey's please with the Tombliboos and a Pinky- Ponk (from in the Night Garden) and some trees on it and a number 3". Hmmm. Right. Nothing too specific then

Yes, ponka, I am sure you can grab one just like that off the shelf in sainsbo's. It is lovely being an auntie, I had both my children first but now I have 3 nephews.

Glad the twins arrived safe and well. My nephew was 7 lb 10 which you might think was a good weight until you know that his big brother was 9 lb 10, so a full 2 pounds lighter. DH being a bit arsey about me going today although to be fair to him he has got over it and I still have a thread on the go about it. DD is trying to insist that we take the baby her tatty maclaren triumph (so only suitable from 6mo) because she doesn't need it now that she is a big girl (ie 3).

How did things go, yesterday? I went off in search of the thread and had a read. I think you did the right thing going. It's important to show your support for her. Your DH will get over it.

LOL at you checking up on me ponka. It was fine. I think she was pleased that we went. She was quite upbeat ie the reality of two hasn't set in yet! She had quite an easy birth so was feeling better than she did late pregnancy. I remember prufrock on here saying how much better she felt when she had her DS than having bump and toddler, while I was still pg with DD. The children were both very interested in the baby and both got to hold him. You can tell he is not a PFB. But he is gorgeous, of course.

Had a bit of fallout with them tonight both being very tired. Although DS was in bed for 8.30 and DD for 9 (because she slept in the car from about 4 until 5) but they need their sleep - DS always has and DD has pretty much dropped her nap. Did you read the bit I added on today about having a row with DH when I got back?

V. quiet round here. Egypt are you making the most of babysitters and out on the razz? I am earning myself lots of brownie points and have got my friend's DS and DD sleeping over. The girls went to sleep at about 8.15 and the boys at about 9. That is late for my two (DD didn't have a nap yesterday), so I expect grumpy children tomorrow.

So did you have grumpy children?

I've been so busy this last week, what with DSs birthday that I've not really had time to come on and say hello. My two are tired at the moment because we've been a bit out of routine with celebrations. In fact, on Tuesday, some friends of mine came round to give DS his present and after opening it and complaining he was tired, we were chatting and he was playing in the next room. He just popped his head round the door and said, "Night night everyone, you have a talk Mummy. I'm going for a little sleep". He promptly walked upstairs by himself, got into bed, put his nightime musical star on and fell asleep. That has NEVER EVER happened before! The last few days though, we've had a lot of tired tantrums.

We've been having problems at night recently. He has decided that he no longer wants to wear a nappy because it's itching him and he does get excema around his nappy and elsewhere so I don't blame him. If we manage to persuade him to wear one, we generally find that he has taken it off through the night. The problem is that I don't think he's ready. He pretty much has an accident every night, even though we get him up for a wee just before we go to bed. Does anyone have any tips? I was wondering about trying him with a cotton nappy to see if it is more comfortable. My mum keeps talking about me wearing cotton training pants when I was little but I don't know if such a thing still exists.

DS's birthday was the bank holiday Monday and he had told us he wanted to go to Birmingham Sealife Centre so off we went with him and 5 other under 3s (including DS2) and 8 adults. It was sooooo busy. We had a good time but I was very jumpy about keeping an eye on them all (we had 3 because we also took my friends DD to give her a chance to have just the twins on their own). He got some lovely presents and they all behaved very well all day.

That sounds a lovely day out ponka. We have just got back from our trip to Windsor (well we got back yesterday). The children were grumpy. They are the type who really need their sleep, especially DS. We had an awful first night in the hotel, sleepwise. The room had a double bed and a double sofa bed and you know what they can be like. I lay there hearing rustling continuously for about 20 mins, so I got up and whispered to DS "are you awake" and he said "I'm trying to sleep but DD keeps kicking me". I groped around for DD in the dark and she had managed to kick her way round a full 180 degrees. So not only was she kicking him, but in the face. So I sent DS to sleep with DH and got in with DD. DD is awful in bed, really restless and insists on being really close even though it was red hot in the room.

After that I put the sofa bed away, the mattress on the floor, a pillow down the middle, and made the DC sleep across it so they were further away from each other. Worked much better. Had an amusing incident when DH and I were playing scrabble and DD started singing an excerpt from "horsie, horsie" in her sleep.

That sounds nice, Bozza. Apart from the sleeping in the same room part. Your DD sounds so cute singing in her sleep, though. I'm just popping in to say that I might not be around very much over the next month. I've been given a really great cake decorating opportunity with a deadline of mid July and I don't want to blow it so I'll be working hard on that. If you see me on here you have my permission to kick me up the backside to go and get on with it! So erm, what I should do now is go and get on with it. What I'm going to end up doing is watching big brother {sigh}

I forgot to tell you what DS said that made us laugh at the sealife centre:

"Oh look Daddy, there's an octupus. It's got 8 testicles"

See you all soon. x

hi all
we're back!
did check up on you whilst i was in the uk but didnt get round to posting.
all was fine. execpt travelling from norwich to blackburn - 4+ hours with 2 children on my own......another story..

we are knacked now though, dd1 is going through the same jetlag probs as last time, ie bed early, waking for a couple of hours in the night, but i am so tired too, i let her sleep in til 1130 this morning!!! so am gong to suffer tonight again. bless, i just thought she needed her sleep. like me! dd2 has been great though. she sleeps forever if you just lie her close to you so thats ok.

Nice to hear from you egypt. Did you enjoy your trip? I bet the girls were spoilt. I have had a bit of a rubbish day driving around in the rain and getting diverted because of floods and stuck in traffic jams with two children at tea time. Still that is nothing to such a long flight.

Hope the cake is coming on ok ponka.

Hello everybody. I've just checked, and I don't think I've posted here since April so I thought I should have a quick go. DS is now 3 (of course). As last year, I planned a bouncy castle party in the garden and, as last year, it rained! So we had icing biscuits, stickers, dancing, general uncontrolled mayhem in the house. I also just invited ones of DS's age - 5 girls 1 boy - and 1 older sibling to act cool and toss hair with DD and then join in surreptitiously!
We are now on Weeing Standing Up which he learnt at preschool from the older boys. Luckily he has been taught well and his aim appears to be excellent. This morning, I had a moment of ponciness and took him to The Lowry in Salford to do a dance class! It was music and movement led by a young, very bendy girl who had spent many hours lengthening her ribcage and toe pointing. DS LOVED it and happily ran round with all the little girls being a flying saucer, as tall as a tree etc. etc. etc.
We've had our summer holiday whcih was fab, but sad now it's over. We went to the Vendee in France on a keycamp holiday (mobile home). It was marvellous in every respect - beaches, swimming pools, food. Children also loved the kids' club in the evening, so we tended to put them in there (all they seemed to do was watch The Lion King in French!) whilst we sat out by the pool and drank wine (one night a little too much - cue much hilarity as MUMMY had to be pushed back to the mobile maison in DS's buggy ). That's going to come back and haunt me in DD's "What I did on holiday" story, isn't it?
Right, I must dash. DH has just appeared with a bottle of wine. But I will be back, as I've finally clicked the Watch button!
Have a lovely weekend everybody.

Gosh Judd I am . Are you very petite to be in a pushchair? I might have to rethink our proposed Blackpool meetup in light of these revelations. Actually your holiday sounds fantastic. I have considered the Vendee in the past. How did you travel? We are going to the Camargue (south of France in the middle) in August. I am a bit worried about DD's porcelain skin and also her overall sweatiness.

She is on her first sleep over tonight. I hope she is OK. DS also sleeping over - brother and sister team to take them on and it is a return date. DH went playing golf at 4 so I went to the gym and had a quiet evening, oh and some red wine.

And when DS is drawing what he did at the weekend/holiday he usually draws a huge tv screen. This is a bit annoying because he genuinely only watches TV once or twice a week at most. In fact the last thing he watched was a couple of episodes of Thomas last Saturday lunchtime. So he probably drew a tv despite the fact that he went to a birthday party and to my sisters and to my parents and played football and etc.

So your DS still watches Thomas? That makes me feel better about DD still sitting quite happily in front of CBeebies.
Am on huge post-goliday diest, DS had Harry Ramsdens today....and I had jacket potato with coottage gheese. Felt muchos proud of myself.
We flew from Manchester (rtaxi to airport -we're only about 10 mins away) and then car hire from Rennes. We only managed it money-wise becuase we saved our Tesco vouchers and did Avis. It owuld have been £350 otherwise. ALso - very important- Book People Roald Dahl CD set. Children sat quiet and transfixed to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for a good hour.
Am only about 5ft. Tres short arse. DS (and probably DD) will tower over me in years to come and pat my head in Benny Hill Style.
DS is huygely sweaty 0 expecially if he has had a bad dream (usually involving zebras - too much Madagascar video. I know nobody excpeting very kind grandparents (on IL side) who would take on our two over night, so am very jealous (and incapable of doing face) of your overnighters.

Hello - another one not posting on here enough .

All the birthdays went fine, I take it? We had a party at the local under-eights pool which everyone except dd2 enjoyed. No pictures of her smiling, and she only went in the water about ten minutes before we had to get out. She did ask for a swimming party, by the way, but she wasn't feeling particularly well.

We had a sneaky night in Birmingham without children last week - we have two a year. Love it. "Budget boutique" hotel, comedy club, dinner I can eat hot without having to chop up someeone else's first, and the ability to hold DH's hand! Seems like a long time ago already, though.

at the France holidays - we're on a v tight budget this year so it's camping in the UK. Still, looking forward to a week in Cornwall the day school holidays start.

Judd, I think I'd break anything less than a hefty wheelbarrow were I to be carried in it at the moment.

Our local school - the one dd1 goes to - are setting up a preschool from Jan. Not sure whether to send dd2 because of work arrangements but they're going to give us more information about how it would work in September.

Dd2 is starting to recognise letters but can't write them, although she has a go - Is this about what your children are doing? I can't remember from last time!

DD can write a 'c' helsy which is the initial letter of her name. But it can be at any conceivable angle. She is also very proud of her kisses which are coming on well - the x variety that is.

DS very much likes his comfort zone, judd. I don't think he would watch Thomas if he had a school mate around, and he says it is for DD. DD is extremely silly about tv and buries her face at such mild things as madagascar, cars, etc. I also think he likes things like that when he is feeling tired.

This is the first time my friend has had both children and I have had hers last month. She has had DS loads including the night DD had to spend in hospital. Otherwise it is grandparents for us but I don't like to ask too often because they have other grandchildren too. Because the girls go dancing at 9.30 and her DH works Saturdays she has dropped the boys here and I can tell DS is exhausted, teary at trivial things so when DD comes back and his friend goes I am hoping for a nap from both of them.

Hello,

Both dds are currently downstairs having watched In the Night Garden, I've had a rubbish day at work so DH is leaving me alone for a bit.
Bozza, it's nice if you have friends who can reciprocate isn't it?
I'm only working three days a week at the moment. Off to York next week for a conference - not looking forward to being away from the girls, although I do like York - and I've offered to run a training session at the conference (fool!), so I'm a bit nervous too.
Dd2 is now showing an interest in counting. She did a little workbook in a toddlers' magazine with me at the weekend and really enjoyed getting the stars.
Egypt are you settled back in now?