Nov '05 Toddlers and their baby brothers and sisters!

[Rodeo]

New thread for our new little bundles

Hi girls, not going to do a proper post as cream crackered, promise to be better soon, have been reading and keeping up just about!

Just on to say GG if you'd rather not go into details about your dp's job on here, give me a call at home or let me know a good time to call you and i'll see if I can help or at least ask a woman who can. Beks

Hello!! Good to hear everyone's news! Hi LONDONER!!! E sounds very sweet, though biro not so good... ; having said that, I now know how to get dd2's biro mark off my handbag!! Thanks RODEO!!
Things sound like they are going well CHACHA!! You sound so organised!!! I think it's so important to have some sort of structure to days with los, even if it's only highly provisional - like the idea of city centre days etc...know what you mean too about putting away the maternity clothes ... nice to be thinking ahead though. Is 3 your ideal, or more?
RODEO: so pleased you mentioned about the faff of 'activities' seeming to take up the whole day!! Feel exactly the same about dd1s ballet sat morns...9.30 start but it might as well be 7am for the shouting/lost kit/panics it provokes!! Felt like a real break at Easter when we didn;t have to go!!
Hi GG - your job sounds fab btw, super-busy BROWNIE (still up for the camping? Rodeo?? ), NOVA, BEKS (SPENT THE £ YET??? )TWINKLE!!! Whoahhh girl, the clomid sounds a bit premature ...it's only been a few months hasn't it?? Love it that you're going for no.4 though, v. inspiring!! . Fancy nExt week or the week after for Lowry?? (wednesdays)??
Well, the job application went off fine, but not heard anything back yet. Have decided that if I don't get this new job, I'll stay where I am and we'll start ttc no.4 (the original plan). So pretty happy to stay where I am, but would take new job if offered/felt right. A bit unsure, as ttc 4 feels right NOW, but think it would be talking the p**s a bit to get pregnant in first few months into a new job(if it happened that quick! - 5 months with dd3). Thinking massively ahead now, what do you think is a decent 'stall' in a new job??? I'd be going back after 4 days a week. Thing is, really like the idea of no.4 being pretty close to L..hmmmm.
Right, a bit of a 'thinking aloud' one there!

Hi Diege! Oh bit of a dilemma, though think it's a sit back and see what happens decision. I would be tempted to stay where I am, and get Mat pay from current work - hit them where it hurts, heehee! How exciting about these no.4's though Oh and please just note I put a 'apparently' in brackets after the biro/hairspray tip Yes to camping too, we'll have to get some dates sorted!
Hello Beks, glad you're with us, hope things are ok your end
Off to take horse no.1 out this afternoon, horse no.2 has pulled something in his fetlock so he's got the week off, still sunny here, though not quite t-shirt weather now!
Speak later x

Thanks Beks, will probably be early evenign Friday if thats OK?

Still got horrible car, mine won't be ready now until at least tomorrow . I really don't feeel safe driving a small car.

OMG! Cooking my dinner - lamb, forgot to close kitchen door & smoke alarm has just gone of. Sean is asleep directly below it, and not a murmur. Big sigh of relief!

Good luck with jobs Diege, whatever you decide.

Hello all!
Been keeping up (just!) but no time to post. Hopefully it will calm down now as normality returns after Easter. Bit sad really as we had a lovely time and now we are into T's last term at pre-school before the dreaded (by me!) BIg School in September.

Must go and wake reluctant children up. Hopefully get on again later.

Hi ya

Nova, hope you got my text, if not thank you, they really cheered me up.

Beks

Hi all!

Beks sorry to hear you sad news, I can really empathise as my grandad has had a couple of close calls recently and it's so hard.
But well done on the win! Did that mean a trip to the toyshop!? lol
Londoner - Lovely to hear your news, You know all our nov. boys will be fighting over E, she's such a sweetheart, lol!?
and I can't thank you enough for visiting us in the crazy days after DD's birth. It was so lovely to have adult conversation and a nice cup of tea! (same goes to tex, and to chacha who sent me a lovely email!)
I'm sorry I didn't post on here around the time, but we had no internet at home, and I couldn't really explain the whole thing to myself, let alone put it down in words. I hope you all understand.
Brownie - I saw a group of brownies out in greenwich the other day and it brought back so many memories of brownie camp holidays in the yorkshire dales etc. You're a brave lady to take on such an army of young girls, lol! I used to adore our brown owl.
Chacha - i'm glad the haircut was good! It's lovely to get that rare time to yourself. You must feel so proud for bfing . I totally ruled it out as I thought it would be too difficult with O to look after too, but somewhat regret that I never even gave it a go. I had big bonding issues at first, and I think this might have helped me reconcile them. nevermind.
Diege - another! thats brilliant. Glad to hear the girls are all well. I have ordered some of those adorable trumpette socks you all went crazy for btw, how can I resist! lol!
Hello to everyone else, L&smum, rodeo,twinkle etc etc.
I'll try and post again later, theres just sooo much to catch up on.

Hello! Hope everyone and LOs are well and enjoying the weekend! It's lovely weather here so will probably be heading out with L to the park, while dh takes dds swimming (phew, glad to get out of that one, feel for you RODEO!!) Sounds like things are going well BOB; know what you mean about BFing; I did exactly the same after dd2 was born, but really enjoyed the bottlefeeding, being a bit of a control freak! .
L is having a really screechy screamy day iykwim, really horrible to listen to, hope she's not incubating something...btw, just realised I missed the last of her jabs (they made a mistake at the clinic over the extra ones - sent out a letter, then changed their minds - twice) Am sorely tempted to forget it now (she's had the MMR - think this relates to the other unpronouncables..)
Right, cup of coffee needed!

hi all

well, poor MiniMan has chicken pox . Have no idea how he picked it up as noo is showing no signs of it, but the poor fella is covered in blisters and will not be put down for more than 5 mins. We'll be keeping an eye on noo for the next two weeks.

BEKS, I did get your text

Anyone else watching Katie & Peter the next chapter?

Got MiniMans passport piccies done on tues and they look nothing like him - lol!

I know you can never say never, but since we've decided to stop at two lo's I've developed a strange obsession with pg ladies . MiniMan had his hearing test on tues and it was in a place that had an ante-natal clinic so I was surrounded by bumps of all shapes and sizes.

Oh no NOVA, thye dreaded pox . Must be super-hard going with a baby too..we found the piriton medicine gave some relief to the itching, more so than the calamine, but not sure if it's ok for babies. At least it's one thing to tick off the list (small comfort I know!). Oh and lol at bump-envy, know exactly what you mean! Think this will always be the case (with me at least) how ever many pregnancies I have
Well, dh just taking the older dds off to the supermarket for lunch/shopping, so just trying to stop L from seeing them out - she gets furious when left out of things, lol! Hope the weather is better where you all are than here!

Hi!
Diege - LOL at L getting cross - J is exactly the same! Particularly bad at the mo as our back garden hasn't currently got a gate so me or dp have to be out with her at all times. So B or J will run out with a ball and she'll toddle after them and get a door slammed in her face, poor thing!
We've been swimming today (not the dreaded lessons!) J's not been for a while and she loved it, shame really as I'm not a fan of swimming! Too cold!
Poor little G Nova, Joe got them as a baby too but not that young. At least he can't itch them but that's little consolation I'm another one who suffers from bump-envy! Though newborns don't have the same effect strangely. Good job really considering I've been sterilised and my uterus is in tatters
Hi Bob! Oh the socks!! Don't give me sock-envy, please!
Did I mention my sister got engaged? Well I've been 'helping' her (well more like confusing matters!) choose her ring - she got it off a fab website where you choose your diamond and setting, here if anyone's interested! I've been playing on it for days!
Better go, have our Sunday dinner on and it's time for the veg to be done. Bye! x

Hi RODEO!!! Glad the swiming went well - not a fan either! Congrats to your sister, wow, how exciting! Any wedding plans? Lol at slammed door; same here too ; L shakes her fists too...I shouldn't laugh...reminds me of that baby off family man ('damn you all!!')
Ultimate dullsville tonight...waiting for someone to collect a dryer off us from freecycle [yawn]

Hey all! Hope everyone is doing well?!

We are doing grand, although the weather has been a bit miserable and dreary here today - but we haven't let that stop us and get us down - oh no!! We have been out to play with my friend and her little girl (who we saw the other week) and she has now had her second baby - last Friday mornign - I know, and she was happy for us to still go over for a few hours this morning!!! Must be the second baby thing - with T I wouldn't have wanted anyone near for at least a month!!!!!

Bob - not sure Brave is the word I'd use ...... Barmy maybe!!!!! But, that said, I love it - otherwise I wouldn't keep doing it, nor would I be contemplating taking 14 of them on camp, along with 174 other Brownies.......!!!!!!!!!!

Right, off to fill in my "matching form" for work - long story - but essentially due to dept restructure, I have to be "matched" to my own job, or another if I prefer.....it's all a load of pants really!

Nova - hope you are doing well, and very sorry to hear that your little man has chicken pox , but as others have said, perhaps best to get it out of the way early,...perhpas Noo is a carrier rather than a getter?? just a wonder, cos i have never had it, but been aroudn loads of people who came out with it a few days after playing with me - actually - maybe that says morea bout me..........!?

Hi (waves) to all not mentioned - GG, Londoner, Chacha, Rodeo, Diege Feetheart, Beks.....

Right, off to swig wine and talk myself up loads on my form!!

Brownie
x

Nova - do you want to come and play? I am on a mission here to get chicken pox over and done with but despite exposure left, right and centre over the last month we have not a spot between us!
Joking aside (though the invite is genuine!) I hope its not too stressful, poor little man and poor you.

Nova, hope MiniMan is coping OK with his spots (love 'MiniMan' btw ). I think I must be a carrier too, as I've never had them, but I found out when Owen had them when I was pg with Sean that I'm immune. Sean has also been in lots of contact with them recently but has stayed spot free.

He does have a rash on his leg though, it's been there a while so has a gp appt, but not 'til next week. Anyone have any ideas on what it could be? It's quite red, but not dry at all, apart from the lumpiness, it feels normal, it doesn't appear to be irritating him either, but it's not clearing up at all.

We've just been out to buy a new pair of trainers for him, and he insisted on havig them on when we got home, and he's now stamping about in them!

Hope you're all OK. S[eak soon xx

Apologies in advance if post is too long, have been catching up daily but no time to write mega post until now:

BB - How is T?s hay fever now? I find that Londoner?s advice works for me when the pollen count is really high, hopefully works for T too. Hope job match goes well.

Londoner - Nice update on E, especially ?habbi? - that made laugh as there is no ?p? in the Arabic language so ?b? is often pronounced in its English place. How is life in the Londoner house?

GG - Hope you are now driving around in own car?beep beep!

Diege - I hope you go for TTC 4, Exciting!!!

BoB - I?m glad you?ve found some time to post again, keep us updated, I?m interested to know how the Los are getting along and of course, how you are!

Rodeo - Congratulations on your sis?s engagement, have you given her a chance to choose a ring yet? How are the horses? What?s your latest?

Nova - Poor miniman L Hope you are okay! I had CP aged 21.

Hi to everyone else, hope you are all doing well.

As for us, seem to be busier now that DS2 is getting bigger, he?s awake for a good part of the day when indoors (sleeps like a log when out in the pram) but thankfully (and thanks to a rather large sized top-up he only wakes once or twice for a feed and am finding that a dream compared to colicky DS1 who just never seemed to settle. Also trying to sleep a bit earlier, have had a few rough nights when DS1 has been teething and have woken to find the bottle teat in DS2?s ear/nose you name it!

Finally found markers, crayons and play dough suitable from 1+, had only been able to find the 3+stuff before so that was good. Playdough gets played with for just a few minutes before he tries to eat it, and he does a good few scribbles with the crayons before trying to arrange them back in the pot for ages?!? They get taken out, put back in, arranged again, taken out?he does the same in Argos and the Clinic with the chairs, keeps arranging them - hmm!

Well, we are still all sat here in our PJ?s, its one of those dreary days, so will go and make a start of making my first banoffi pie and then head to the shops.

Has anyone bought the sandals from clarks for the kids? I've seen a pair for as little as £13 - has a shark or pirate ship on front.

Last but not least, if you wouldn't mind, could you add these answers the end of your posts:

• How much roughly is your supermarket shop per week/month?
• Do you have an organic box delivered?
• How much do you spend on average on the kids clothes?

love to all x

Hi all!
Chacha - You seem to be doing brilliantly, lol at teat in DS's ear, DP has done that before, he thought she was drinking it but it was actually just lodged under her chin.

re your questions
1 - No idea as DP tends to just go after work most evenings, or I pop out and buy things as and when we need them , so probably £40ish pw at the supermarket, then £20ish at boots/local phramacy.
2 - No organic box but we go to the farmers market/borough/greenwich market at the weekends and buy lots there, also the high street market sometimes
3 - On tots clothes not much at all. I buy packs of socks very often ( last time bought 5 identical 3 packs, so hopefully the 'missing sock' thing won't cause so mych trouble, lol), and basics such as vests but they have so much given as gifts that it is rarely neccesary to buy much more. I am fond of a good ebay 'bundle' as you can get so many barely worn things for so little, and also like outlet shops for proper bargains!
I wouldn't want to spend too much as I found with O when he grew out of things I'd be packing/ giving away things he'd never worn or only worn once.

Oh I'm blahting on and now it's time to go out to the clinic, heehee
Hi to everyone! I'll continue later...

ChaCha, good to hear your news.

1. Tesco shop: used to be about £120 a week, but money probs have meant its been cut right down to £50 a week.

1. Organic box: No

1. Childrens clothes: Can't give you a proper figure as I tend to buy as I see something I like. Also we have Gunwharf Quays which is an outlet place so e.g. 3pairs of jeans & 3 T-shirts frm Gap is about £45. Roughly I would say £6 for trousers, £3 for T-shirts. I did splash out last week at Debenhams though, £64, but that was for both. I got 2x trousers (O), 3x Thirts (O), 1x combats (S), 1x T-shirt (S), 1x T-shirt/shorts outfit (S). Also, Sean has all of Owens old clothes.

Hi BoB, x-posts!

Hi! .
GG: rash sounds harmless enough, esp. if it's not bothering him - though of excema first off, but not dry? Hmmm..will have a think.
Hi BOB! Again, good to hear from you! Was thinking about you today in my office - for some reason remembered about the baby clothes you were making; are you still making things?
Good to hear your news CHACHA -banofee pie sounds delish!! Bet you wouldn't have thought you'd be baking with 2 LOs 6 months ago! Re: questions, here goes...

1. Food shop - like BOB dh does nearly all the 'big' food shops - probably spends about £80 a week, then we have 'bits and pieces shops too along the way...so about £120 a week I'd say.
2. Food box: used to get an organic fruit and veggie one, but just meant that I was throwing away organic stuff at the end of the week, rather than normal!
3. Ahem, kid's clothes...you all know this is my passion, and rather guilty obsessive secret life...Bearing in mind I have 3 dds now...well, I sort of buy loads twice a year (Spring/Autumn), probably spending on average, inc. shoes, school uniform etc about £1, 500 twice a year ; there, I've written it!! Phew!, so about 3 grand a year?? Am a sucker for labels though, and love mini-boden (mumsnet cringy) and Oilily. I know it's bad, and I'm trying to stop, but it's my only vice...and it comes out of my wages...and I walk about in rags..

OK, more of a confessional, but it has been quite cathartic . Right, dh back from Nandos with tea (ok, add another £9 to food bill !

Well GP is only 60% sure that miniman has CP, he could have another virus that has caused him to come out in blisters or he could have a mild dose of CP. Either way the GP was happy for him not to have medication for it, and we're still waiting to see if noo comes out in anything in 10-21 days time. CP has been hanging around her nursery so it's very possible...

Found noo using a piece of chalk as a breadstick the other day in her cheese dip . Her latest hobby is ant spotting as they have suddenly invaded the house. And her first word is 'shoe' rapidly followed by no, hiya, mumma, dadda, and yeah. Not sure if it's coincidence but her speech has really come on since we ditched the dummies.

Feetheart - my friend is gutted as she's desperate for her kids to get CP too. Think she wanted to come round so I could rub miniman over them - lol!

Diege - no need to feel bad about the clothes shopping , your girls will thank you for it when they're older and look back on their photos

Chacha - I'm finding miniman a dream too, think he is benefitting from my experience with noo though. I keep waiting for the horrible-ness to kick in but it never does. In answer to your q's:
1: £200 a week approx I have no idea how we spend so much
2: I have thought about getting a box delivered, but would echo what Deige said.
3: Don't spend too much on clothes any more, went a bit mad when noo was little and she grew out of them too quick so learned my lesson. I probably get a set for the season like Diege and then buy anything that takes my fancy when I see it, mainly Gap, H&M, Mothercare, Adams. Maybe £400ish each season, so £800ish over a year?? Miniman is currently living in second hand stuff bought off a MNetter for £50, and a few presents. I've not had to buy him anything new and I have enough to last me until autumn/winter.

ooo this is a bit long...

Hi everyone

Nova - poor little lad with his probable CP but at least if it is that you'll have got it over with. L had them when she was 2 and i'm glad its all done with .

Rodeo - Hi hope you're all ok. You're sis is getting engaged? Last time I saw you they'd split up hadn't they or is this to the new man? Fill me in on the details.

Diege - Get those jabs done...i'll be checking up on you!!

Not a great deal to report from the LS household im afraid, except Laylas buddy has come out in impetigo, hes covered with it so will probably have that to deal with in the next few days!! Lovely.

To answer your questions ChaCha

1 - we spend £90-100 per month on a big shop, I try to menu plan for at least 3 of the weeks and just but fresh stuff etc in between, Oh the joys of being constantly skint!!

2 - No veg box ( want to start growing my own but don't seem to be getting round to it)

3 - Kids clothes, don't spend much at all I would guess a max of about £200 per year on both of them including shoes, grandparents do get a lot though and I tend to ask for clothes for birthdays/christmas.

God i sound like a real skin flint....really need to win the lottery xx

Hi ladies, I think I might finally be back!!!

Nova ahhh poor mini-man hope he's not suffering to much with the rotten lurgy, he seems to small to get such a rotten virus, hope he feels better soon, sending you both {{{hugs}}}

GG really good to talk to you yesterday, I couldn't get hold of my friend today, but will try again tomorrow.

Rodeo, congratulations to your sister on her engagement, will she have you in a bridesmaid frock?

Chacha sounds like you are getting on fab, what's with the cooking woman, you're putting the rest of us to shame!!!
In answer to your q's

1. £140.00 a week approx, would be less if I could have the will power not to buy goodies
2. Don't have organic vegetables, can't really afford them on one wage but there is a good co. locally if I ever get rich!
3. Don't go overly mad on clothes for the boys, better this year as Ben is in school uniform so have kitted him out for about £100ish so far for the summer, haven't bought shoes yet. Tom is hand me down Harry, but I'll probably spend about £75 on him including shoes. Hope that helps.

Right a quick update from us, Tom is just magic, he is really cheeky, very adventurous and an absolute delight, he can say about a 7-8 words, he loves to be outside whenever possible and I'm sure he thinks he's 5!!!

Ben has been a bit of a nightmare recently, but this tends to go in 6 weekly cycles and we are just about to come out the other side of a bad one. He is doing fantastically at school and really enjoys it and I'm very proud of him. He brought home his 1st school photo today and looked very grown up if a tad solemn.

Me, I think things are slowly calming down, although I have finally succumbed to AD's which is something I've been battling against for 5 years, but it has to be said they are making me feel better, although have had some very amusing side affects so far

Hope everyone I haven't had a chance to mention, Londoner, Tex, Bob, Brownie, Diege Twinkle, Feetheart et al are all well and hope to be a more frequent poster from now on Beks

Sorry L&S crossed, posts and missed you off the hello !!

Evening!
Loving the multiple posts, guys!
PMSL at Diege's confessional They do look gorgeous though in their fab matching outfits (PS, thew midwives now have their questionnaires Sorry I'm so lame they've been stuffed behind the pasta jar in the kitchen - everytime I saw them I got a pang of guilt!)
Nova, hope miniman is ok, LOL at your food shopping 'hmm', you need to get down Asda love!And clever Noo with her ant spotting and new words! Jess has started saying 'pleh-pleh' when she fills her nappy - like we can't smell it already!
Hi Beks, glad to hear Ben's doing so well at school, LOL at solemn pic, aww, Joe is the same. Good on you for sorting yourself with ADs too, I hope they kick in for you soon, you've been through a lot! So don't be hard on yourself (That's an order )
And NO! I am not going to be a bridesmaid, but I will be the mother to 2 Jess will be the grubbiest BM going!
Hi L&S! Sister is engaged to her new man (7 months!) so yes we were shocked, but now the shock has passed were v. happy and excited! He is really nice (although dp has said he is just a younger version of my dad! ) Must meet soon, fingers crossed L doesn't get Impetigo!
Chacha, LOL at your huge post! I have to scroll up and down to read it Sorting crayons is good! I have a baby play book somewhere that mentions 'sorting', they love it don't they? Used to buy all those sorts of books when dd1 was born 'Secrets of Happy Children', 'Bringing up Baby', 'Babytalk', 'Child at Play'... and that's just to name a few! I have a secret book buying obsession (I don't even read them!) You reminded me of a moment I had with a couple of friends at playgroup earlier - friend 1 said she'd got some playdough out for her ds this morning, me and friend 2 just looked at her in horror ('Woah, steady on there' I think were my words) - friend 2 said 'Bloody hell Jenny, he goes to nursery for that!' (We are awful mother of 3's though ) In answer to yur questions - 1. £60-£80pw 2. No, considered it but it would go mouldy, and I'd feel the guilt 3. As little as possible, get cheap tops and t-shirts from Asda & H&M, get them 'lived in' gap jeans off ebay, and I never turn away hand-me-downs of anyone!
I aspire to BOB's answers though! (Glad you're still with us )
The horses are v.well, dhorse1 has spent the last few weekends x-countrying, and dhorse2 (the youngster) is busy dressage-ing and he's just gorgeous
This is turning out to be a huge post too, Hello to Brownie and GG, Feety and Londoner [waving] I wonder if Enthusia's had her baby yet? Does anyone know?
Night all x x x