Nov '05 Toddlers and their baby brothers and sisters!

[Rodeo]

New thread for our new little bundles

Awwwwww, lovely I think he looks like Daddy! Thanks Nova! But will you stop distracting me I am supposed to be de-cluttering! Have done, so far.....the bookshelves, hmm, not far is it, going to attempt the dvd shelf now, gulp!
Oh after one month after I smugly cancelled my mobile contract to go Pay as you go, Jess got hold of my phone and has pulled it so that the 2 halves are hanging by a wire so I've just embarked on another contract to get a new phone, never mind!
Got questionnaires Diege, will give them to SIL later Right, DVDs.......

Step...away...from...the...DVD...shelf RODEO

Hia all,
Diege yep after the hols would be better
I got the questionairre this morning and posted it back to you this afternoon hope its ok.
Josh is lots better today apart from nappy thrush thanks to all the antibiotics he is on
I had better go as DS is at scouts and i have to pick up his little friend as well!!!
twinkle & Josh

Nova, Gene is gorgeous. Noo look sso grown up.

Hello!
Nova - Gene is so yummy - he is simply gorgeous. Agree with others, Noo looks all grown up, bless!

I watched the 10 kids and counting programme - kept thinking, and sometimes I get stressed with one!? Must have missed the thread on here - see I miss all this goss etc (and in RL) it all happens around me and I don't even realise!?

Still loving the hair, will attempt a photo of it, and try and post it soon!?

Yes, Rodeo, have the week off work this week, so have done an 8 mile walk today with my Dad, DH, Fil, and 2 friends - it was really pleasant actually (despite ending up in a very boggy field at one point up to our ankles in what I hope was mud!!!!?). WE did a circular walk round Honeybourne & Bretferton (which aren't too far away, so that we could leave T with my Mum for the day).

p.s. Rodeo - hope you are feeling ebtter now.

Twinkle - hope Josh is now on the mend, poor lamb.

Oh no - and Diege - croup - nasty, we had that with T in Feb last year - ended up at A&E if you recall, nasty business (specially frightening for a 1st time Mummy like what I was!)

Right, am thinking a quick trawl around the web, then maybe a bath & hairwash - soak my weary muscles!

Speak soon

Brownie
xxx

Evening,
Just got back from a PTA meeting, yawn!
Ooh Brownie, bet you're shattered! Do you ever take T in a backpack on your walks? Got one for J last year and she really enjoys being up there, dp even took her up Thorpe Cloud in it!
Diege, hope your night is easier tonight, is it Libby suffering? Poor thing My MIL is on my back about J's cold, saying 'she's had it for months' Well no she hasn't, she's had maybe one every 6-8 weeks over wingter which drag on a bit, but it hasn't been one continual cold [rolling eyes emoticon] Oh and your right, What was I thinking?! DVD shelf indeed....read Grazia instead
Right despo housewives in a min, must get prepared! Jogging bottoms, blanket, Baileys.....

Good morning girls, We have woken up to snow here!

Nova - Gene is a beautiful little boy and you all look so well. Fantastic pics - ones to be v.proud of!

Diege - Oh no! Do all your kids have it or just the LO? Hope you are getting through it okay. Poor you!

Rodeo - LOL at MIL - such a typical MIL comment, guaranteed we will be the exactly the same if not worse! I watched an episode of Desperate H's the other evening to keep me awake while feeding the LO and i actually enjoyed it although not sure if i enjoyed time on my own with LO relaxing with feet up and telly on or the programme more, hmmm!

Karma - DS1 is the same with non-toy items, his favourite are wires of any kind, mobile phones (think J is the same Rodeo), CDs etc.. On the b/f front am doing fine but have introduced some goat's milk too, mainly during the wee hours when i'm desperate for some more sleep, can't be bothered to express and DH offers to help - can't believe you are still b/f - amazing! Well done.

BB - Change of hairstyle sounds great, sounds like you are pleased with result, well done.

Twinkle - Get better soon Josh! Are you still spending weekends with FIL? Hope all is okay.

Feetheart - Definitely with you on the definition of a good night - was all set to watch Along came Polly (Ben Stiller and Adam Sandler are my fav's) in bed while feeding LO but bathing the two one after the other and all that goes with that ended with me crashing out at 10.15 on bed still fully dressed! Was a long day! Finally got PJ's on a back into bed at 2am.

As DH is working again all weekend he's kindly offered to drive me to my mum's place for the day which will be great. Starting to get a little stir-crazy having been at home with cold weather for a few days - it is a must for me to get out during the day. Have been lucky enough to sleep for up to hours in the afternoon on sofa with both of them - usually they are asleep in pram on return home and then i get on with things (sometimes just going to the loo, having a drink etc..) but the catch up sleep that i usually fight has been most welcome.

Hi GG, L&S, Londoner & Beksmum (hope the latter all okay) and everyone else.

Think this will turn out to be a rather large post - sorry! Better go and get showered quickly.

Hey All - just got in from yoga, and feeling very proud of myself - one more week in this class, then we graduate to "Intermediate" level!! Am thoroughly enjoying it, and really glad I started going, would recommend it to anyone!

Proud Mummy Moment - my little boy has got his picture in one of the local newspapers It is through the nursery, a small piece, about what the nursery did for Mothers Day - titled "Tots give Mums special presents", and Thomas is one of the two children in the photo - how proud!!!! (and possibly sad that I am proud of this? )anyway, he looks gorgeous!

Rodeo - No we currently don't take T with us on the walks, as we don't have a backpack - but it is somethign we are contemplating...Thinking of investing in one before our holidays....what sort do you have? Have looked at some of the LittleLife ones on the itnernet.....

Diege, how's the croup? on the mend now I hope? Have you got a humidifier? (we got one in the end, cos Thomas seems to have a permanent "ruttle" on his chest, and lurches from one cold to another...so know how you feel Rodeo!) But I know that an electric vegetable steamer works just as well and does the job.

Not really much else to report from here really....

Will catch up again tomorrw, and aim to post some more pics on yahoo soon (yeah right, think I;ve been saying that for ages!)

Love to all not mentioned....trust you are all ok....

Brownie
x

Hi all . Thanks for asking after Scarlett (she who has the dreaded croup!)We seem to have turned a corner, with just two nights of the barking seal (how scary is that cough!). Last night better (albeit with some help from mrs.medicaid )so touch wood tonight will be fine. Yes, I remember T and his croup BROWNIE!!! No-where near that level of seriousness thank goodness! And we must see the hair!!!! RODEO:Yes, Grazia def. the best of the two ; have lost track with it over the last few weeks (and haven't bought Heat this week for the first time ever!!!)On a bit of an economy drive, so trying to cut down wherever, but then I get to the stage when I think £1.50 is hardly going to make any difference...
CHACHA: a trip to your mum's will do you good I'm sure; I know what you mean about having to get outside every day. Sometimes I think it's an easy option staying in, and then once in the walls certainly do seem to close in!!
Well, make or break with work today - last part of the pre-restructuring consultations. We've all put some good ideas for alternatives forward, but of course money sadly drives everything, so not holding out a massive degree of hope..
Oh well, at least there's skating on Ice's 'champions of Champions' to look forard to

Diege glad the girls are all feeling a bit better
twinkle

Hi all,
Chacha, just had a look at your pics on Yahoo, they are both gorgeous. You must be so proud. How is Z coping with the newby in the house? I've a friend whose DD1 is the same age as E & she had her DD2 in Jan 07, I couldn't begin to imagine how exhausting it must be. You have my utmost admiration.

Nova, again, just had a peek & Gene is such a cutie, not to mention Noo. She looks like a very happy litte girl. Especially when she's drawing!

Rodeo, sounds like a great combo, Desp HWs, Bailey's & blanket. I do all of the above but with a hot water bottle! What a Northern Wuss I am! MILs, what are they like? It's hard to stay tactful with them sometimes, isn't it?

Diege, HI! Hope the croup doesn't last too long. It's awful when you're all ill together.

Twinkle, good to hear Josh is feeling better.

Feetheart, Know what you mean about wanting another one. Well, for about 2 secs. I have a couple of friends with little babies (2 & 4 months old) & another one is pg so I get my regular top-up of cooing over babies. Couldn't manage one of my own!

Well, I'm currently off work as I'm recovering from an operation. I had a hernia, presumably from lugging her ladyship around! Mind you, not getting too much rest while she's around. Still, I've really enjoyed spending all this time with her. I'm sure she said "Don't do that" when I was changing her nappy today. DP heard it too, it was very clear. We both beamed for ages in a proud parent way. It's funny how we can't wait to hear their first words then, before you know it, you'd wish they'd be quiet for a while!

Bye for now,
Karma

hello,

so good to see you back KM, love your posts, good to hear all is well with you.
Sorry to hear about your poorly S Diege, hoping it passes soon.
rodeo, were you poorly? hope you're okay now.
chacha, well done on settling baby to your milk and dad with goat milk that's brilliant.
hi gg, bb beks,
love to all, nova your pics are great, have a great weekend all.

Hi to all ; dh has taken dds over to his mum's for the afternoon, so a rare child-free/work-free couple of hours!! We're all still suffering from croup-ish virus, though S's cough is sounding much better today . Feeling pretty bleughh, but hey the sun is out, the children are out, and I'm getting my hair done at 2pm!! - starting to feel even better . Good to hear from you LONDONER, how are things with you? Hi KM!!lol at your nappy story ; hope you are feeling bettre after the operation; sounds painful!
Right, better at least show lip servive to the ironing pile, lest dh thinks I've been slacking...

Hi guys!
I've got a child-free hour too! 2 are swimming, 1 is napping
Diege, have a lovely hair appointment I love the feeling of getting mine done, so much so that I often thrust a hairbrush into one of the childrens hands to do my hair. They get bored rather quicky though unfortunately! Good to hear Scarlett's a bit better
Hello Londoner! I was sick, nothing serious, but it coinsided with me going out the night before. So I didn't get much sympathy, dp thought it was a hangover but it wasn't, honest! Actually Bella threw up all over the bathroom on Tues night and I was secretly pleased 'See, there is a bug going round!' How are you and yours?
Karma, hot water bottle, eh? Hadn't thought of that, I'll have to dig mine out for next Weds! Hope you're fully recovered soon
Chacha - What a lovely long post! Good to hear your news, glad everything is going well, have a nice time at your Mum's
Brownie, did yu have a nice week off work? I looked at the Littlelife backpacks too, but TBH they're rather pricey for the amount of times we'd use them, so we got a little lightweight one I got off ebay for about £20 which is great, quite comfy too, I even wear it, which is saying something!
Right, the napping one has woken up, taking B&J to a fundraising disco later, which Bella is v. excited about
Bye! x

Hello!
Enjoy the disco Rodeo!

Right, have got DH to take picture of my new "do" and will try and post it on yahoo later, along with some more interesting photos of T! It's not a flattering photo of me, so please, just look at the hair!!

Rodeo - yes had a nice week off work, even managed to clean the oven yesterday, along with the kitchen! Felt most proud, then needed to sit down!
Have no idea which backpack to go for, have also looked at one without a frame called an Ergo baby carrier...will have a look on some walking sites later. Agree, don't want to spend a fortune, as it will not be used that often, but we do a walk at least once every couple of months, then also at the weekends, and there will be a few walks on our holidays in Wales in August - but not enough to warrant £180....will keep looking

Hope little Gene & Yousaf (sp?) are ok...(not sure I got that right Chacha - sorry, perhpas should just stick to Y from now on!?)

Hope everyone is having fab weekends - have you had anything radical done ot your hair Diege?

Beks - hope you are holding up ok hon...

Love to all
Brownie
x

Hi! isn't it lovely to have the light evenings back after what seems a very long winter? Lovely here, though as I type I can hear raised voices from dds bedroom, so suspect they're not as tired as I told them they should be . Hope everyone had a good weekend - yes, get the piccies on yahoo BROWNIE! Nothing special for mine, just usual roots, higlights, and trim, though I do have a fringe now that I didn;t have on Friday .
Right, remains of a roast dinner to clean away!

evening all,
Diege yep has been lovely here too
so much so that the chickens managed to lay two eggs in the middle of the ornamental bamboo!!!!And the pond is full of frogspawn !!!!
I went to a fab B/feeding conference in coventry yesterday for work, there were some fab international speakers,and we got lunch.What could be better????
well must go and sort pots out.
twinkle

Evening!
Yes, this evening was lovely, but I lost track of time and the children didn't get in bed til 8.30! We've been to Twinlakes in Melton Mowbray today for a belated birthday trip for Joewhich was great fun, but I am so tired now! Have a streaming cold too which isn't helping!
Ooh roast dinner Diege We didn't have time for ours, so it'll be Monday Dinner instead! We had soup and bagettes, although it could have been anything because I've lost my sense of smell and taste, I hate that! Could really do with some choc as well, but what's the point?! Grrrr!
Twinkle, ooh get you! Only joking sounds great, is this part of your training to become a counsellor?
Brownie, I must book our week away soon, with your talk about Wales! Oh and you'll need your backpack for our camping trip remember! Anyway, I'm off to find your pics!

hi there - back to one handed typing!

i have caught up, but sorry if i don't address everyone.

two is proving a bit of a handful, and we've had a lot of tantrums from noo. yawn.

Morning all.

Ella & I are still in our jim-jams & watching cbeebies, what could be better? I don't think we've adjusted to BST yet but it is lovely to have lighter evenings.

Its great to have the broadband back again, I can't believe we were without it since last August! We decided to go with Orange as it seemed like a good deal, only to find they came out worst in Watchdog's survey. Bugger. Anyway, after a few hiccups with the email server we're reasonably happy. We just need to get the USB thingy to make the computers wireless & then we'll be really happy. Then I can upload the photos on my pc to yahoo. Thats if Ella doesn't break the router first. She keeps pulling the ethernet cable out of the laptop then saying "Oh-oh". She keeps signing 'fish' at me so I'll show her the fish on the desktop which was quite sweet initially but it's a bit tedious now!!

Speaking of signing, I can't find the sign for ball. Any clues? I got a new book at the weekend - the Tinytalk one- & its got loads more that the Linda Acredolo one. We're currently learning 'elephant' & 'all gone'. I have to resist the urge to teach her too many at once.

Nova, how are you managing to keep Noo entertained? Are you a bit more relaxed with Gene than you were first time around?

Rodeo, sending some cyber choc your way! Hope your cold ends soon. I bought a copy of Delicious magazine on Saturday cos it had a big free bar of Bendick's dark choc on the front. Ideal for pre-menstrual women.

Twinkle, wow, I'm very at having fresh eggs in your garden. It'll be great fun when the frogs pop out too.

Diege, how's the new fringe? Hope you're not planning to grow it out straight away. That's what I normally do. Actually, I had my hair cut last week & it was awful. I had to go back the next day to get it sorted & the same girl struggled to correct it. Eventually, (after sending pleas telepathically) the boss intervened & did a good job. Made a mental note to book further in advance to avoid getting duff stylist.

Hi to everyone else.

Finally, how good was Lost last night?? OMG I can't wait for next week. Do you think it's true about the box?

Well, really must get dressed now. Its my last week off work so I don't want to waste it. Bye for now

Karma

Morning all! Lovely sunny day here, A asleep, T at pre-school and I've already done some housework so feeling virtuous

Poor you with the tantrums Nova. And poor Noo too, she's got a lot of adjusting to do hasn't she?
We are starting to get some very funny 'tap-dancing' when things aren't going A's way (VERY hard not to laugh!) and he is now able to hold his own with T more often than not, hence the scratches on her face They do play nicely together at times as well though.

Karma - Start dropping bigger hints about Hotel Chocolat Easter egg!!! Never had one but the things I have had are DEVINE.
As for the signing - we draw the shape of a ball in the air with both hands, starting at the top and meeting up again at the bottom (does that make sense?) I think our signs are a bit of a mixture of BSL, Makaton and 'Mummy made it up' but I've found this site useful. Also I was told with T not to limit the number of signs you use once they have the idea, you wouldn't limit the number of spoken words. They are like sponges and soak it all up. Ash's signing vocabulary is almost embarrasingly huge and he can pick up new ones at the rate of 1 or 2 a day sometimes! The only limit is my ability to find out signs for things! You don't know a sign for 'tractor' do you, can't find it anywhere and he LOVES tractors!

All this talk of haircuts is making me wonder. Mine is pretty long now as I've been growing it since T was born but I haven't had a trim for ages. Might make an appointment for me as well as A (who looks like a scarecrow again!) and T. Really need some lessons on what to do with it apart from stick it in a ponytail as well, any ideas anyone??

Twinkle - I'm working on DH to get some chickens. How many have you got and how do you look after them? Bit of a chicken novice here! Really fancy fresh eggs and it might make up a bit for not really being able to get a cat at the moment - a combination of our neighbour who hates cats and the cost of installing a cat-flap (ie a new door or a hole in the wall!)

Brownie - we got a Karrimor backpack from an NCT sale and I love it. Ask BEKS, ChaCha and Londoner as I took A up to London in it when we last met up. Haven't used it much throughout the winter though so I've no idea what he will feel like in it now he's MUCH heavier. Have you had a look on ebay or the small ads in your local paper? They seem to be in our paper quite a bit.
One tip - DON'T feed T anything sticky whilst he's in there unless you want it all over your hair/shoulders From a woman who knows!!

Better go and do some more things before the peace is shattered.
Hello to all I haven't mentioned, hope the sicky ones are better and the sun is shining.

Hi girls,

Just a quickie (she says), DS1 has diarrhea, bad cough and runny nose, must be some kind of bug as his playmate had it earlier last week. I seem to have caught the cold so desperately trying to keep baby away from our germs - not easy! I think a few of you mentioned similar symptoms before, he is totally refusing food other than the odd banana so am filling him up with liquid. Would you suggest i go to the GP (who may only prescribe diaralyte (sp?) like last time) if it persists over 3 days? Poor little man is sooooo grumpy and lack of sleep isn't helping him.

We have now reached the stage where i walk into room/turn round and he is fast asleep lying on floor or in 'his' armchair!! It's really cute, was just thinking while in bathroom yesterday 'little bugger must be up to something' and there he was...flat out bless!!

As they are both asleep (finally) will get a hot drink and a nap. Love to all.

p.s. Feetheart - Am so impressed at A's signing - that's great! Well done! x

[whispering] Evening (I've lost my voice!)
We've just had our 'Monday Dinner' (belated Sunday dinner) so am stuffed and a weeny bit tipsy, although defo not drunk!
Chacha, poor Z. Yes I'd probably take him to the doc if it persists, but these things do drag on don't they! LOL at 'little bugger must be up to something' How cute
Feetheart - I'm amazed at Ash's signing too Fantastic! I so wish I'd've done it but I'm too bloody lazy!
Karma, can I just say, it's lovely to have you back I sent an email to Bob yesterday via Yahoo because I'd noticed she'd left a message on there, we miss you old timers! (Not that your old at all, obv! But YKWIM!) Enjoy your week off work! Oh and PLEASE - NO LOST SPOILERS!!! I'm a very gutted Virgin Media customer so I can't watch that or 24 for a while [sniff] (I really must ring them for a discount!)
Nova, oh poor Noo! Jess is getting quite obstinate too at the moment and is throwing her weight around (all 20lbs of it!). Let her walk on the school run this afternoon and really wish I hadn't! Why is the opposite direction so much more interesting?! Cue major paddy from J when I had the audacity to try to carry her home. Oh dear.
I'm busy with the horses at the mo, their owner went in for her knee op today so for the next few weeks I have 2 horses to ride, muck out and feed everyday, I love it though, they're both lovely
Anyway, have Monday Dinner pots to stick in the dishwasher, speak tomorrow x x x

Hi Rodeo We were also NTL customers, but just for a few channels as we changed most of the package a while back for fabulous Talk Talk

Karma - I often read everyone's news on here and comment to myself hoping to post later in the day but sometimes i forget as is the case with one of your posts. Get Well Soon is what i wanted to say and hope that your getting plenty of rest. Cbeebies does come in v.useful for cuddles up on the sofa at times - Boogie Beebies is the all time favourite here, 'dan dan dan baby' lol.

Off to find out how this lavendar pillow works, feeling crap.

x

Hi all,

Rodeo, its great to be back, thank you! There have been many times when the support of MN were sorely needed, I can tell you. And I promise not to mention Lost again.

Chacha, Not much rest here with Ella, I'm afraid but thanks for your kind words. She can now demand a BF using signs & it's hard to refuse her when she's signing. She looks soooo cute. I actually stopped BFing after my op as I was given some painkillers which weren't suitable for BFing. She stopped pestering me after 2 days which surprised me. I thought it would've taken longer. Along with not picking her up & BFing, I felt like a huge bond had been lost with her & it broke my heart. Once I stopped the painkillers I resumed feeding & it was wonderful. If I'm honest, it was more for my benefit than hers. I'll never BF again after this so I decided to make the most of our time at home together. Ooh, I appear to have rambled on a bit. [blush

Feetheart, thanks for the link, Ive added to my faves. I've tried to find 'tractor' for you & the best I could come up with was one hand is turning the steering wheel (as in car) & the other is trailing behind like a plough, IYSWIM. Ella does that little dance too. I'm biding my time till she does it in the supermarket when I might throw myself on the floor like that woman in the Vick's advert!!!

Hi to everyone else! Time for lunch. x