ok, grab a red bull as this may be an epic post...
christmas in scotland:
the night before we left I was wondering why we were bothering as we had 3 suitcases worth of packing for only 5 days (and I'd already sent a box up ahead with nappies, milk, etc).
The train journey was fine, apart from miniman only sleeping for about 20mins of it, and spending the rest of the time mauling me. Noo got a bit irritable for the last 20 mins, but she hadn't had her nap on the train.
Met our driver at the atation and he told us that although he'd brought the car seats we'd requested he had no idea how to fit them in the car (). They'd also brought a rearward facing baby one for miniman which I thankfuly managed to squeeze him into, and noo's was set for a smaller child and I couldn't work out how to adjust the straps so she wasn't in very securely. I was really narked about this, but they both slept the whole journey to the hotel, which was good.
It was dark by the time we arrived but you could tell that everything was beautiful and white because of the deep frost. I nearly fall over holding miniman as it's so icey.
The next morning when we opened the curtains it looked like the picture on a christmas card
DH and I get to have 3 nights out at dinner in the hotel (we were in a self catering cottage on site as they don't allow children to stay in the house), although 2 of those were with his parents and brother. Christmas eve we get a babysitter whose first words were 'sorry I don't speak English' . I point up the stairs and say there are two children sleeping, then run out the door praying they don't wake up! When we get back from dinner I ask if they were ok - she doesn't understand me!!
Christmas day we had a lovely time opening presents before lunch, although I did warn everyone that as soon as noo opened her main present she would want nothing else, and sure enough we had turkey to the backdrop of a Simpsons talking car
We did some walking, drinking, eating far too much good food, noo did some slipping on ice, some sheep got out of their field and came right up to the cottage, and it was all lovely. The train journey home was also good and a woman opposite us said how lovely the children had been as we were getting up to get off (proud mummy emoticon).
Then we had one day back in London were noo got to open all the presents we couldn't take up with us, and we went for lunch with friends. Oh, and BIL broke up with the girlfriend he'd taken up to Scotland for the family christmas and that he'd been with for about 7 years .
Then it was off to our new house on the coast. Friends joined us the day after and I wasa little nervous as we'd previously only really spent small amounts of time with them (you know, parties and bbq's), and now it was going to be at least 48 hours living in the same house. I needn't have worried as it was great, although it was interesting to see how different their parenting methods were . One couple have a nearly 3 year old and he was great at playing with noo, but was a nightmare at bedtime. It took the both of them an hour to get him to sleep initially, then he would wake several times more in the night and finally he'd sleep until about 8.30am The other coupe have a 5 year old and he was just weird, a really solitary child who wouldn't really join in with anything and they would let him stay up until really late watching tv by himself as we were all having dinner then they'd take him up to bed. Both couples said they felt sorry for us that noo and miniman are ealr risers (well noo is about 7ish which I wouldn't say is particularly early) but I can certainly say that I'm glad I have my children and not theirs! My friend with the bad sleeper was shocked that I managed to get both children into bed by myself in half an hour, and called me a smug bitch (we have the kind of relationship where that is acceptable) and I have to admit - I was!
NYE was fun but I was coming down with laryngitus (sp?) so sounded like a 60 a day smoker, and everyone was generally a bit knackered so we only lasted til about 1 ish and didn't even get round to getting out sing star and guitar hero that DH had bought for the PS3.
New years day we went to the local panto (Aladin starring Mark Little) which was pretty poor, but noo loved. It was far too long and noo only made it to the interval as she was desparate for her nap, although miniman slept through most of it so he was a happy chappy. I'm going to try and take noo to more theatre based stuff this year.
We had a few more days on the coast after our friends had left, one of which DH wanted to spend going for a walk and having lunch in one of the beach cafes. We said to noo we were going out and she said 'no beach, no beach' so I said we should go back to the house but DH insisted she'd enjoy it when we got going. She spent the whole journey there whinging and being carried by DH, then she really played about in the cafe and I ended up having to carry miniman home as noo wanted to sleep in the buggy (we'd ony taken the single out). So the next time noo says she doesn't want to go out I really hope DH listens to her.
So we got back on friday and have been trying to get everything settled into a normal routine again. Miniman has really developed in the christmas break and iis at the funny stage where he's not quite crawling, but if you put him down and do something when you turn back he'll be over the other side of the room and you've got no idea how he got there. Noo is having issues with two of her bottom teeth coming through at the same time. Only the canines to go after this and I think we're there. I can't wait to have it over and done with, these ones are causing her lots of grief and seem to be really slow at coming through.
Twinkle, congratulations on baby 4 and 5, how lovely. Are you putting the P&T back on ebay now? If you want good double/triple buggy I can recommend Mountain Buggy. We have a single terrain for our house on the coast and it's fab. They are very pricey but you can pick them up on ebay if you keep a look out. I think I bid on about 4 before I managed to win one.
Chacha, boo to grotty ms I really don't know how you do it with ds1 and 2 to look after as well. Is there a friend/family member that you could ask to clean your house for you? I'd do it if one of my friends asked, don't be shy now..
BTKs, well done on the weight loss, and to your DH for not smoking . My DH is making noises about getting a personal trainer again (rolls eyes). He always lasts a couple of months then get 'busy' .
Diege, I'm with you on wanting to lose a stone this year. I'd managed to lose 4lbs before christmas then put it all back on by overindulging. At least I know I can do it when I put my mind to it. I'll be happy with half a stone to begin with but if I work hard at the pole I should be able to drop further. Last night I was hanging upside down by one leg .
Londoner, sympathies on 'stuff', I really hope noo and miniman don't get DH's hoarding gene. I like everything to have a place and purpose whereas DH just puts things down on any (and every) surface and leaves them there. I did put everything he needed to sort through in a bag, but then the bag sat there for about a year. Then he just put it in our storage lock up, gahhhhhhh.
Think that's enough for now, hi to Brownie, Rodeo, L&Smum, GG and anyone else I've forgotten.