November 2014 - the one where they test boundaries.

[MrsAukerman]

New thread ladies. Jump on board.

We saw the In The Night Garden live show today. Well, that was a hour of my life I will never get back! I can't stand In The Night Garden when it's onTV, and the show is just like an extended episode of the TV programme, but you have to watch rather than look at MN or whatever like I do when it's on TV, and you are in a big room with many other screeching kids. To be fair, it is very well done and DDs enjoyed it.

We put DD2 to bed in her 'big girl bed' for the first time. She looks very tiny in it (it's a full size single bed) and lonely as she has no interest in any cuddly toys sleeping with her and throws them out. She also refused all my attempts to get her used to a duvet and pillow while in the cot so who knows how tonight will go. She wouldn't sleep on the pillow but wouldn't let me take it away either so is lying right near the edge, but we put the cot mattress and a spare duvet by the side of the bed for a soft landing when she falls out.

Happy stick a swimming noodle under sheet to prevent falkiung out, need to get ds2 a single he keeps hitting the side on cot bed although its as a bed, ds1 went straight from cot to single no problem.

Ds2 experienced his first bday party yesterday where he knew what it was next door eldest was 4 and they had one of these party bus things come (nothing like the vengaboys song!) They are bloody expensive for whgat they are. Google M88 party bus that's one they had a d that's a cheap one! The boys loved it though.

Playdate went OK yesterday embarrassing to discover your toddler whacks when he doesn't get his own way!! (Ds1 was soooooo easy) It occurred to me we now need to return this favour, so much easier with first and needing to make mummy friends or which I have one v good mummy friend from ds1 and a few I get on with. I guess could always make more friends from ds2.

We booked a holiday last night. We are going next Friday! It is nearish Peppa Pig world and very near the seaside. Between now and then I have 2 days when I am not at work in which to wash clothes, iron, pack and clean the house as in-laws will be coming round to feed the cats, and I will have DDs at home on those days. I will need a holiday to recover from the stress of getting ready for the holiday! And both DDs will sleep in the same room on holiday which has the potential to mean very little sleep for anyone. Hopefully this turns out much better than it sounds!

We took boys to Legoland this weekend its an amazing place so big though def need 2 days there both loved it.

I now have a bloody cold and feel like crap on a non work day with both at home and a mountain washing

Did you do 2 days eastmids? I'd really like to go!! Sucks to feel rubbish today though. Hope there's still nap time and you can put your feet up!

We went to London Aquarium on Saturday and it was awful, the train was packed, London was packed, the aquarium was mostly spent queuing and trying to push DD to the front of crowds so she could see. It was like being on a conveyor belt and so cramped. And not cheap. Yesterday was more of a win when we took DD punting, she loved handfeeding the ducks, trailing hands in the river. A picnic by a meadow full of cows. Really undid the previous days damage :)

We did lady it was excellent stayed at a hotel in Woking 😁

Ohh, the Legoland and punting! More things to add to the list. I haven't taken DD on punting so far because I wasn't sure how she would react, whether she would be scared to get in the boat or would try to get herself into the water. But maybe the time has come now to give it a go.

We went to Countryfile live event last weekend. Went on Friday to avoid the worst of the crowds. It turned out to be a good day out, something to do for everybody. And we actually spent there from the opening to closing, I was knackered at the end of the day with all the walking around! Will be looking going to this event next year probably as well.

Oops I fell off the thread. Look at you all with your day trips! None for us, we're skint!

But DS is in nursery 5 days a week so doesn't mind. Last weekend all he wanted to do was watch Fireman Sam on Netflix. New obsession. And of course we limit it which causes WW3.

Then I made the mistake of buying him Fireman Sam pyjamas in Dunnes. Big mistake. We have to wash and dry them every day cos he refuses all others. And worse, he refuses to take them off. It's currently half past 8 and he's still wearing them! Very tiresome.

We're also having problems with his nappy. He's refusing to be toilet trained but also refusing to change his nappy. Big battles. I don't mind the toilet training thing, if he's not ready thats fine. But let me change your fecking nappy!

anna what about pulls up with fireman sam stickers on? Bribery and distraction in one foul swoop!

I'm all about the budget day out. My company has a punt which we can have for free one day of the year each and we took sandwiches. So cost us about a fiver including the bus, for a bloody brilliant day versus the aquarium which cost us nearly £100 and was utterly shite.

So, new challenge, kind of funny kind of disturbing so you are my only audience for it. DD is OBSESSED with The Incredibles, she'd watch it 24 hours a day if she could and last night she was trying to reenact a scene from it with me at bed time, but it was a scene where the 2 main characters passionately kiss! (well as passionate as a cartoon can be). She kept repeating the lines and lunging for me open mouthed. I kept trying to tell her that kissing like that was only for grown ups and mummies and daddies (sorry LGBQT community, I'll have to cross that bridge later). but she just kept laughing and doing it again. It was so hard not to laugh as well!!

We do have some Lightening McQueen (other obsession) pull ups but don't use them yet.

I think it's less about the nappies and more about poo containment. He seems very anxious about taking it off. For example yesterday the only way we could get him in the bath was if he kept his nappy on because he was scared he would poo in the bath. Eventually of course it fell off and he needed a lot of reassurance that we would put one in again soon.

I wonder if he thinks poo just falls out of your bottom? We have done a lot of work around poo, we got the book Everybody Poos, and we let him watch us poo and flush etc etc.

But there's obviously a big difference between understanding everybody poos and accepting himself pooing. He won't even countenance sitting on the toddler seat on the toilet. "I not like it"

I really don't want to fuck this up cos my cousin is having a horrendous time with her 3.5 yr old who is withholding and has now become impacted and has developed a fissure.

DD isn't too interested into potty either. We have tried princess pull ups, which she thinks are fairies and gets excited, but then DD simply treats them as any other nappy and we end up with horrid leaks. The potty with music and so on and on. She would briefly have an interest and then looses it. At least she wants more than ever that we change her nappy, she actually asks sometimes to do it. So that's a small progress here.

Entertainment wise she is now hooked on the boss baby. Every time she gets hold of her tablet, it's the baby boss. She just seems to come across some new cartoons from time to time.

No inkling of potty training here and nursery don't seem in any hurry with it so not rushing

On another note wore maxi dress to work (I have recently got a bit of a tum little sensitive about it had some blood tests etc to see why rapid weight gain n only on stomach) N in a meeting a colleague who I haven't seen for a while and was my line manager v briefly (not the nicest of people) gestures with her hand a bump motion n loud whispers across table "are you having another"!!!!!! I was mortified and just said " no just a little rounder thazn when I last saw you " and she just said oh sorry I just thought.

Ffs you dont ever ever ask if someone is pregnant even if they obviously are you wait to be told.

DD2 now doesn't go to sleep until after 10 despite probably not napping today (my dad looked after DDs while I was at work and he doesn't handover much information about the day) and regularly falls out of bed despite the swimming noodle (DH says our sheets are not tight enough?). Sleeping in a bed is not going so well. Toilet training isn't going anywhere. I plan to do that after the holiday but am working 6 shifts in 8 days in my supposedly part-time job when we get back so might not have the time or energy. We go on holiday tomorrow, I got home from work just before 10 and ironed, better go and pack!

Happy the sheet does have to be pretty tight over the noodle

We stopped naps although sometimes he falls asleep wherever if tired.

During night we still on occasion end up with him in our bed

Happy how about using bed shield? DD's bed has it on one side (and bookcase on the other) and so far she hasn't ended up on the floor. Although there was one morning when she was very close to the edge on the end of the bed.

Potty training began today after a big wee yesterday afternoon rewarded with choc button so in pants and day at home, unbelievably successful had one wee accident and start off poo made him finish off on potty, had more were on potty and a large poo, he holds well goes 2.5-3hrs, we even had trip out to ducks for an hr with no accidents.

Bag packed for nursery with many spare pants n shorts worried as Loo's are out the room door across landing into the bathroom which is fine but if he needs to go he only knows as its coming, hopefully the 2hrly toileting they do will catch him at right time.

Ds1 nursery had Loo's off the room like a door within the room which led to cubicles so instant easy access and children helped themselves whereas ds2 nursery they have to be taken (high handles on doors obviously).

Its my one downside of the nursery really

So yesterday at nursery 6 lots wet clothes no potty use DH did drop off n collect so today I did drop off (DH got the tummy bug doing rounds) And took ds2 potty with us and told them take him every 90mins don't ask him he won't know and don't rely on him to say as its too much for him to ask an aduklt and wait to be taken once he needs to go and hety presto no wet pants today all done on potty.

I was shocked I needed to tell them assumed they took them all at least 2hrly when they do the nappy changes especially as the set up is bathroom on landing shared with pre school room so through 2 doors.

So hopeful we will continue like that he was upset they didn't give him stickers because I have been doing a sticker and choc button so will send stickers tomorrow as well

eastmids I'm really surprised by that? How has he got on since then?

Today is dd's last day at the childminder. Have got them a plant ant some Moet. Haven't told DP, he said they should buy us a present

Lady yesterday one poo accident and actually theory had left him nearly 3jrs so prob why, wakes up with dry pull up in morning and does first wee on potty. He is doing excellent seeing as a fortnight ago he had no Interest.

Ds1 having a laser tag party on Sunday he is 7 next Fri so entertaining ds2 who will want to join in avoid any toilet accidents could be fun.

Lady hope last day at cm goes OK, I think when ds1 left his cm we brought a small token gift and when he left nursery (he did 2days of each) I brought nothing as the preschool room had been crap and proved me right when they didn't say bjy good luck at school or anything when he left.

Ladydolly you are very generous after all the sh... she did. I would leave Moet to celebrate end of the childminder

We had a lovely week by the sea in Hampshire. DD2 declared Peppa Pig world to be her "best day ever ever" despite being stung by a wasp who wanted the ice cream she had dripped down her face. Most days she didn't have a nap and bedtime didn't take such a ridiculously long time on those days, so we are reluctantly thinking of giving up naps in the hope she will go to sleep before 9.30 more regularly. It turned out that my in-laws had 2 bed safety rails but DH hadn't asked to borrow them until the last minute, he ended up having to drive over to his parents to get them before driving to the south coast. They were successful so we are keeping one to use on her bed at home. She was obviously glad to be back at home in her own room with blackout blinds last night as she slept until 8.30 this morning. Now to battle through the massive pile of washing. Starting toilet training today doesn't seem like such a good idea when most clothes need washing already...

Happy every time we go away for a short break or tell DD we are going on holiday, she claps her hands that we are going to Peppa Pig world. That's how much she liked it there!

Week ago I did a massive sort out of DD toys. Gave the nursery two bags of toys in good condition, throw out a big bin bag of not so good ones, rearranged the remaining over different storage and suddenly there was nice, free space in her room. Amazing! Now I am quite worried about her birthday and Christmas coming, it will be back to being all crammed and messy. So I started to think about giving her experience present for birthday, which could be some Christmas related event. Lapland UK looks quite nice, but the cost is quite steep. We will have to book a hotel for it as well since it's about 1,5-2hrs drive for us. All together it might end up costing like going to the real Lapland. And I wonder if she will be old enough to appreciate it all to make the money's worth?

Strawberry have you thought about asking family for gift vouchers for days out or annual membership.

Last yr my dad brought us a restaurant giftcard which we used at pizza express with a money off voucher so free lunch out.

My SIL got us a days out buy a gift voucher so we log in choose our day out and all paid for we have yet to use it keep forgetting she put £30 in with it too.

I once got my sister her partner n 2 children at the time £50 theatre vouchers as knew she was desperate to take kids to panto so she used them for that.

Happy glad you had good week away we have never been to peppa pig world despite family in Sussex inc Worthing which isn't a million miles away.

We are looking at legoland again before end season so beg sept really hoping my mum n sister n her 4 kids will be able to meet us there for a day but we will do the weekend and have one day on our own.

Potty training going well all wee on potty today inc while out, one turd in pants thankfully solid so bunged in loo and not a mark in pants if I am honest my plan is yo bin any overly poopy pants.

Ds1 birthday party tommorow laser tag with 20 7yr olds runtimes, expecting few wee accidents from ds2 as we will be busy and distracted.

Potty training wasn't hugely successful. DD2 drinks so little despite encouragement that she only weed once between 10am when she got dressed and put her pants on and 6.30pm when she got undressed. That wee was half on the floor before I quickly sat her on potty. I'm not sure why I am bothering this weekend, as she won't be ready to wear pants to in-laws' house on Monday or to nursery on Tuesday and Wednesday or to go out with my mum on Thursday (working about 50 hours this week in my part-time job). Nursery are probably used to dealing with it but it is not fair on my In-laws or their carpets.

strawberry would she sit through a theatre show at Christmas time? Something like The Snowman or a Julia Donaldson book are often on round here. Last year we went to see a stage adaptation of Raymond Briggs' The Bear and DD2 loved it. Someone could give her tickets as a Christmas present. As DD2 will be 3 so we will have to pay for her to go to places that 2 year olds are free entry, I want to get a family season ticket to a very local (like 5 minutes walk) wildlife park with small soft play in the cafe, but I'm not sure DDs will appreciate it as a Christmas present even though they enjoy going there.
On holiday they were watching a children's TV channel that had adverts (we only have CBeebies at home). DD1 announced that she wanted almost everything that was advertised for Christmas. I asked DD2 what she would like for Christmas, hoping for birthday present ideas, and she said a sensory room, presumably like they have at nursery! Today DD1 was writing a Christmas list (!) and asked DD2 what she wanted. DD2 replied 'cake!'

Great ideas about experience gifts! My family probably won't have much idea about them since they are not living in the UK, but that definitely could be something we suggest if DH family ask what to get her. However, I think the most guilty last year with the amount of present was myself. I somehow completely ignored that it wouldn't be just us to get her presents and we were drowning in them by the end of December. I have just booked Christmas at Peppa Pig World as a present from us for DD birthday. DH will look to book an accommodation and we will make it a weekend away. She will get couple of small presents, but this will be the main one. I think apart from keeping things taking up the space, DD will enjoy it much more that another set of lego or something.