Nov '05 Toddlers and their baby brothers and sisters!

[Rodeo]

New thread for our new little bundles

ooo Rodeo, I was thinking of Enthusia too. She must have popped as she wasn't that far behind me...

Helloo!! Lovely day here weather-wise, and my day at home too, so super-nice . RODEO: don't feel guilty about the questionnaires, lol, it was such a favour to ask anyway, and tbh, the next phase of the research project doesn't start until July anyway, so no probs . Love your refs to d horse 1/2 btw . Hmm, yes ENTHUSIA must have had baby by now...I did have her moby no somewhere too..Hope everything is ok .
Right, back to my mega spring clean - note to self, must remember to do toyu cull on my own next time, not with dd2's help...we have a few felt tip lids and a broken bag ; will wait till they are in bed, then the cull can commence! (after The Apprentice of course!)

Hello all
Well, after many weeks of talking about having to close my Brownie waiting list - I have finally done it...and had to turn away a parent tonight...tried to explain taht unless her daughter was 4 or 5, there wouldbe no point (they start when 7) as there would be no way a place would be available for a minimum of 2 years don't think she was happy - but not much else I can do....I am already over subscribed at Brownies (and she asked if we had vacancies!!) and have a waiting list of around 20 girls, most of whom are Brownie age or thereabouts, and not likely to get a place for 12months +!!

T's hayfever seems to be better now (although he hates the allergy syrup!) and his eyes are loads better - thanks everyone for asking! (sound advice on the change of clothes and bath - but tbh, I am too lazy, as the syrup works....bad Mummy....)

Thomas also loves to "sort" things...had some crayons for Easter, and spent loads of time trying to put them back in the container, but couldn't get them all in, so have now put them in a tupperware box. He also likes to scribble/colour a bit, then attempts to eat or chew the crayon! He has the cheekiest grin and smile, and melts my heart!! He sort of says (in his own way) TaTa, Ta, Hiya, There, All gone, Mumma, Dadda, and constantly shakes his head "No" when asked a question (assuming his answer is no that is!) if his answer is yes, he smiles a lot and gets excited!!
He loves raisins, grapes ~ infact all food!!

Chacha - answers to your questions:

1. Weekly shop, approx £40-£60 depending on whether I am buying the expensive items like nappies, washing powder and so on.
2. Organic Box - erm no....don't actually always buy organic from supermarket either - is that bad? It's just so expensive...
3. Depends - usually get clothes from Woolworths, Tescos or Matalan. Also get bought a few bits by doting Grandparents and so on. Also get hand me downs from friends little boy.....and why not I say!!

Right, off to bed to read my book, after a 4am start this morning, am thinking an early night might be in order!!

Hello to everyone - will try and get on again later in the week....

Brownie
xx

Well, started back at pole dancing classes last night and thankfully don't ache too much today. Am starting back at beginner level due to the baby break, so it's not too intense. Spoke to the teacher about what training you need to become a proper teacher and she's going to get me the number of a place where you can get an aerobic instructor qualification in a couple of weekends! Very keen to train up and become a teacher .

Afternoon . Just a quickie form work. Wow BROWNIE, 4am start..was this work or baby-induced?? Making me start to panic now about Brownie places for my own dds - J is 6 in July so we've probably missed the boat! Better get L's name down now!
Wow NOVA pole-dancing classes - sounds extremely hard work, though if I recall don't you have said pole in your own house? Good luck with the aerobics course - think I know the one you mean (I'm qualified myself); just bear in mind it's 4 days contact, but about 40 hours worth of homework (anatomy, nutrition etc..) on week days! (just so you don't get a nasty surprise, not to put you off!) .
Well sent a 'brave' e-mail to the place I applied to the new job, as I've still not heard back. Apparently they're shortlisting next week, so all is not lost!
Speak later!

Afternoon . Just a quickie form work. Wow BROWNIE, 4am start..was this work or baby-induced?? Making me start to panic now about Brownie places for my own dds - J is 6 in July so we've probably missed the boat! Better get L's name down now!
Wow NOVA pole-dancing classes - sounds extremely hard work, though if I recall don't you have said pole in your own house? Good luck with the aerobics course - think I know the one you mean (I'm qualified myself); just bear in mind it's 4 days contact, but about 40 hours worth of homework (anatomy, nutrition etc..) on week days! (just so you don't get a nasty surprise, not to put you off!) .
Well sent a 'brave' e-mail to the place I applied to the new job, as I've still not heard back. Apparently they're shortlisting next week, so all is not lost!
Speak later!

Def up for homework Diege, be good to get the old grey matter working again, and yes I do have a pole at home.

Good for you on the email - will hopefully score you points for enthusiasm.

Shame we don't live closer nova, my friend and I were going to do pole dancing classes at Roko, but were put off by the price. Good luck with the instructor course.

Quick thanks to all for replying to questions I had been considering an organic box for ages but also felt it may be wasteful and sort of defeating the purpose as I wouldn't know what to do with some of the veg - some of which probably wouldn't even know how to pronounce/spell!

Diege - Banoffee pie was a disaster . The only good thing about it was the base and it doesn't take a domestic goddess to crush some digestives and mix with butter. I didn't whip the cream enough and the toffee was still full of sugary bits - needless to say, everyone was delighted with my newfound culinary skills Hope you get the reply you're waiting for, fingers crossed x

Nova - Has having a baby and being bump free made you feel a bit of a 'new you' again? I feel that way at the moment and when you mentioned picking up on the classes again it reminded me of the new lease of life post pregnancy that i felt last year and now again too. Well done Noo on new vocabulary - there'll be no stopping her now! Hope MM is okay.

Beks - Good to hear from you and Ben sounds like he's doing fabulously

Rodeo - Loved your post esp 'Pleh pleh' I ask DS to get his potty when he starts (of course with nappy on and everything) and he sits there for a few mins when he can be bothered and then toddles off. Am hoping he will just get used to it, he's been hiding in corners for months now when he needs to go so thought it would be a good idea. Just wish i could wean him off bottle now - cups are okay in the day but he snatches the LO's top ups at every given opportunity and even rolls his eyes at me when he nabs it!!

Had a horrible time this afternoon, even posted about it i was so upset. Basically after being told not to and moving baby away, DS1 still hit baby over the head with his watering can and it was not a light hit either When baby started wailing i got very upset and smacked him on the hand I hated myself and got really upset, it was just instinct. even worse when he kept trying to cuddle me and stood there with petted lip...ohhhh it was horrible. Never again. Anyway, this will go into another major post (if hasnt already) so better be off.
On a brighter note had fun in the garden afterwards with those big flowers that go round in the wind and a watering can - with DS obviously an dnot on me own.
x

Beeeeeep!! Another ** epic!!! Sorry guys

Oh CHACHA don't feel bad about dd1!! I think that everyone with more than one LO has been in the same situation at some point, and reacted in the same way - I know I have. It's sooo hard knowing how to deal with situations that I so emotionally explosive, so just see it is one of those things that happened, and is over and done with . Have to say reading about your banoffee pie was as good as eating a piece, sounded lovely, even with sugary bits . Oh and err, I think you do have to have some culinary skills to mix butter with digestives (so that's how it's done!)

Morning!
After a blazing day yesterday, today I'm blooming freezing - just had to put the heating back on, brrrr!
Agree with Diege, Chacha, don't give yourself a hard time Jessie got her first slapped leg the other day, a combination of her wriggling out of getting her nappy on for the 10th time and me being tired and crabby. It's not the highlight of parenthood obviously but it does occasionally happen.
Nova, any sign of CP in Noo yet? We're doing the waiting game with Jess too, her cousin who we see most days has been covered in spots since Wednesday! Great news about becoming a PD instructor, wish you were closer!
Diege, good luck with the e-mail!
Well J is toddling about nappy-less after a particularly bad nappy, so better get her in the bath, speak later x

Hey girls,

Good to catch up and hear all news.
ChaCha, so great to hear you're getting on so brilliantly and wow at Z being so aware on the toilet front. Agree it's awful when the lo's hurt eachother, poor you, if it's any consolation I think you sound like such a great mother and feel you'll instinctively sort things out in your own way to limit this type of occurance. Would say that when I look back and regret things one that stands out is my hurrying lo's along when new baby comes. Maybe this is the natural way of helping them cope though who knows, but I wonder if taking the bottle away from Z now might cause you more difficulties? Maybe leave it until you introduce the cup to Y? Also, can Y get into any sort of trouble so you can 'tell him off' - like maybe put him somewhere Z gets told off for being and say gently but firmly 'get down Y, you're not to climb up there' and roll eyes conspiratorially with Z for example? This sort of shared humour over a 'naughty baby' does well in my house and is good for bonding with the older child whilst younger is clueless to being butt of the joke... ? Found Penelope Leach's approach to parenting really helpful when my ds's were babies and toddlers, also Steve Biddulph's 'Raising Boys' helped.
Rodeo, big congrats to your sister, it's so lovely when your siblings find their feet isn't it, esp after such a traumatic time for her just a short while back. Rofl at you and the ring website, have to admit to having a little go with it myself but aren't rings expensive?! Looooove J's 'pluplu' lol!
Diege, well done on the application and follow up email, they'd be lucky to get you.
Good to see you posting again Bob and hear your news, thanks for compliment on E.
Good to see you back Beks.
Stinking colds in the Londoner house atm but soldiering on thanks for asking ChaCha, Diege, Rodeo.
E's favourite pasttime this week is pushing dolls in buggies and still the old favourite of drawing everywhere, thankfully have invested in some 'super washable' pens, he he.

x-posts Rodeo, hi!

Good to see you Londoner, am off to look at those books and totally love the ideas you suggested, am going to try them asap!! Thanks. And thanks Diege too.

Rodeo - Hiyeeeee

Any Londoners up for a meet up? I'd like to make the trip down soon - even just for quick coffee x

Hi Chacha, really glad to help. Meet up would be great btw -count me in please.

Hi everyone Children's partyx 2 here, which will pretty much shape the course of the weekend! Also trying to have a mega tidy-up so that we can (finally!!) get the house on the market. Read one of those corny fridge magnet things while waiting in the PO queue the other day that seems quite fitting - "Tidying up when your children are growing, is like shovelling snow when it's still snowing"

Nice little motto there Diege - I also think that when they're all grown up and moved out, we'll end up wishing we'd spent all that tidying up time with the children instead.

Got my 'thank you for having my baby' present from DH today - a diamond necklace from Tiffanys. I tried on a bracelet first but it was over 4K which was a bit over his budget . It was gorgeus though....

Hello [waves]

Nova - neckalce sounds divine.....ooh Tiffany's just conjurs up exquisiteness in my mind - you are v. lucky lady....

Diege, would get all DDs names down on Brownies waiting lists, that way you won't be disappointed - I always feel bad at not being able to squeeze the girls in, but there's nothing I can do and have to try and be fair.....oh the dilemma!

Well, bizarre thing happened today - we had Thomas's first party invitation a few weeks ago, a little boy from nursery who was goign to be 2. Anyway, we accepted, bought presie and card, and the party was at 2.30 today. We set off and walked to the house, which is quite near us. Anwyay, we were a few minutes late, (about 10), but when we got there, there was no-one there...def right house, but no sign of anyone....so we turned roudn and came home again! Obviously there could have been some emergency or something, and we didn't have the parents number to call, nor did they have ours to phone us...but just thought it a little strange.....Will have to take the present in to nursery with a note next week...

Thomas has a quite bad heat rash at the moment bless him - that coupled with the eczema behind his knees and the hayfever, poor little mite....

HAd girls night out last night, had lots of fun, but gosh Stratford has changed....although lots of extra visitors this weekend, due to Shakespeare's birthday celebrations which go on for the weekend...went to Chicago Rock last night (the best Stratford can do as far as night clubs go..!) and it was absolutely PANTS!! Anyay, a good night was had by all..!

Right, off to watch CSI New York now, whilst dh catches up witht he Superbikes he recorded earlier!

Hello to all not mentioned, hope you are all having lovely weekends....
Off to Bravissimo tomorrow, can't wait! witha couple of friends from work, both of whom also have big boobs...am thinking of having a splurge, need a few new sets, and perhaps a new top, and maybe a bikini.....ooh the list is endless!

Right off to bed now to watch some telly...

xx

LOL at corny fridge magnets!!! I was also standing in a queue in our local hardware shop last week when i saw that one along with one that said 'Mothers of little boys work from son up to son down'... and i couldn't resist and got them both as reminders! Sucker! Good luck with the tidy up Diege, not easy with kids around.

Nova - What a lovely gift for such a blessed occassion, you lucky lady!. I'm sure DH sent me something a long time ago but it got lost in the post LOL!

BB - Glad you had a good night. Hope birthday invite situation was nothing serious.

We have finally emptied the attic of all its junk and have only one wardrobe left now and the bedreaded kitchen drawer. Boys are both wellish, DS1 with usual runny nose and cough and DS2 growing at a fast rate.
Have a good week all x

Going to get in quick as we may have no internet connection for a week or two - switching from NTL to Sky Broadband via re-installing the BT line! Did the BT bit this morning but not sure what happens next, if its anything like switching the cable from NTL to Sky then the answer is 'nothing' We still have the NTL box from about 2 years ago inspite of many attempts to get them to pick it up

Nova - lovely present. DH gave me a necklace as soon as we were left alone with T in the hospital but I'm still waiting for the second time round!
Well done on the pole-dancing. I kept wanting to ask about it but wasn't sure if you had consigned it to the dim and distant pre-baby past!

ChaCha - agree with Londoner that I'm sure you will find a way to balance to needs of both boys. IKWYM about feeling dreadful though. I didn't want to smack my children (no moral high ground thing just me) and have only done it once to T when she was little. I felt so, so awful, all the more so because it was more about me being angry than her doing something dreadful. I swore then that I wouldn't do it again and we now have a very clear 'no hitting' rule in our family. Poor Ash is having to learn this (having finally grasped the 'no biting' rule!) and ended up on the 'naughty step' for the first time yesterday for having an unprovoked go at T - he was distraught

As for your questions:

1. Food shopping - probably about 65-70 a week all in
2. No organic veg box for similar reasons to the others though I buy as much fruit/veg as I can from a great little greengrocers near us
3. Clothing - embarrasingly little probably! We have a load of hand-me-downs for A as all my other friends who have had 2nd ones have had girls. At the moment the count is 6-1!! The rest come from a mixture of Asda, Sainsburys, Tescos, ebay and the charity shop down the road! I reason that they will cost me a lot more in time when they start to want to choose what they wear!!

Brownie - enjoy the Bravissimo trip. I finally got measured last week and to my delight (and probably DH's) 2 babies have added 2 cup sizes Time for serious underwear shopping methinks!
A has developed some excema-type thing on his tumy and the backs of his knees, just as T did at this age. I got some cream from the Chinese herbalist and it seems to be clearing it up quite nicely. With T it disappeared after 2 weeks of using the cream and never came back. Can't really help with the name as its all in Chinese but I could discribe it if you want!

BEKS - lovely to hear from you again and I'm glad that things are starting to settle down. Don't you dare be too hard on yourself about the ADs, you would take painkillers or antibiotics if you needed them without a second thought. I do want to know about amusing side-effects though
Was it you who talked about testosterone surges in little boys? If it was I'd like to know more please. Is that what is going on with Ben?

BoB - lovely to see you post again. I wouldn't be too concerned about the bfing thing, it might have helped with bonding but then again it could just as easily have added to all the things you were trying to cope with and made bonding even harder. Who knows?

That was a bit of a mammoth one
Sorry if I've missed anyone out - Diege, Rodeo, L&Smum, GG, Londoner..............
Hope everyone is well and enjoying the weather - they start building our patio in 2 weeks so the weather will probably change then!

Hope to be back before too long

Morning
Have had good weekend, went out on Saturday night with a few girlfriends (and our local candidate, don't ask!) which was fun, then did a 2 and half hour ride yesterday morning (with slight hangover, ugh), then Asda and them took the children out on a bike ride, had BBQ and was in bed by 9.30!
Hi Feety! We've been getting fed up with ntl (Virgin media) too, was about to cange but dp rang them and our bill has been reduced from £65 per month to £15 - result! So we'll stay with them a little longer!
Chacha - What is it with kitchen drawers?!! Mine is atrocious and never stays tidy, there's allsorts in it - old cheque books, toys, crayons, old takeaway menus, candles, hair bobbles..... and rapidly declining cutlery, I'm not sure where it dissappears, maybe the junk is doing away with it
Brownie, strange about the birthday party, hope you get to find out - let us know too! If it was me I'd just assume that I had got the time or date wrong! Glad you enjoyed your night out too - hangover?
Going to see poorly best friend tomorrow, she's had a cough for ages, but then got another cold and the coughing got worse, she had a coughing fit on Friday and heard something snap. She was in pretty bad pain so got her dad to take her to the doctors and she's snapped one of the tendons that holds her lungs onto the ribs
Have finally re-re-re-booked (!) Jess's MMR for tomorrow, am I the last one to get it sorted again?!
Bye for now x

Evening!

I'll join you on the ADs Beks! GP put me on them on Friday. I'm feeling surprisingly OK, was expecting to be feeling quite sick by now.

Seans rash is excema. It wasn't dry because I've been putting lots of Diprobase on it. He's also been referred back to urology, GP wants them to pull it back(?). Not really sure what that involves. He's in agony bless him most of the time, so I am actively potty training (what am I letting myself in for?), so any tips gratefully received . Then if the op that GP wants doesn't work, then circumcision can be done as soon as he's out of nappies.

Hope everyone is OK.

Hi everyone . Gorgeous day here (but still feels sooo cold to me!!) - hopefully will last for weekend as I have a child-free one!! . Up to York with a friend, staying fri/sat night, back sunday pm. Am really looking forward to the break, but of course have to get everything sorted NOW for what will happen then (birthday present wrapped for Sat party; ballet stuff in bag...) still, will be worth it!!
My sister gave birth to baby no.3 yesterday ; a little girl that I think they are calling Isabella; 8lb 12oz big for the diege family!! Poor Alex had to go to theatre after for 3rd degree tear , and will be staying in hossie for a few days yet. Hope to see them soon
Sounds like you enjoyed yourself at weekend RODEO - who was the local candidate standing for? [nosey emoticon!]Oh and we must live in the same house; our drawer contents are identical!! Can I add to the gloryhole kids' birthday candles, various, metal tapemeasure, various nuts and bolts, superglue, and balloons ; oh and the ever-present 13 amp fuses !!
GG good to hear from you; gosh hope you feel OK on the ADs (you too BEKS), and coping too with S's excema/possible op..have absolutely no potty tips, as I am of let them do it when they are ready (translates as I can't be arsed/have you ever see a school-age child in nappies?? (substitute 'with dummy'/bottle...etc). More 3rd child syndrome than Penelope Leach
Right, best get washing out before L wakes from nap!
Love to all!!!!

Congratualations to your sister Diege. Wow! 8lb 12oz! Have a great weekend away . Enjoy the sleep!

Weather here is gorgeous, although the one drawback with living by the sea is the breeze, which has been pretty strong today, cue me pushing pushchair one handed, while trying to hold my skirt down!

Sean did a wee in the potty today! Probably the only one for the next 6 months! The plan had been to get him out next summer in time for nursery, but he's in a lot of pain, and tbh nappies are making the pain worse.