December 2006 drag yourselves over here!

[Indith]

Oooops no room to link to old thread!

Lol at AQ forgetting that she is pg Sure the madness will pass. And don't worry about my chocolate supply, I live round the corner from Tesco

Jabber I think you should pop ds in the post and I'll sned him on holiday with all my clibing friends, they do similarly dangerous stunts on a larger scale. He'd have a ball

Thanks Eli looks like we´ll be needng them ` it´s still raining - arrgh am fast running out of entertainment ideas

Great news about DD2!!

Sorry Eli - just re-read your post properly - DOH! Hope there´s something that can be done to ease it, its so horrible for LOs to feel like that when they are lying down and so frustrating when there´s not much you can do to help Big rainy hugs

AQ - I'm sure that is the hardest part of having 2 (or more). I was thinking about it myself last night when we were on about the 12th bedtime story... you just couldn't do some things the same if you had more than one, but I'm sure they more than make up for it with what they'll gain from each other. Plus my siblings are my closest friends when times are hard.

I think we all know how to parent our children better than strangers in service stations too

Sorry to hear about DD2 being poorly Elibean but pleased there is improvement. Come on summer!

I won't be around next week now, sadly, but we must get together next term. Will start to hassle you in a couple of weeks.

I am immune to the histrionics of my DCs these days . lol at jabber's DS checking to see you've noticed. Just like DD2. And she's very good at throwing herself prostrate on the floor. She'll either end up on the stage or in a convent.

So sorry to hear about your DH's health Jabber. My grandfather had polio as a child and lived with the repercussions. He was lame his whole life and I am sure he suffered immensely though he never complained. Typical member of the stiff upper lip war generation. I hope your DH gets some help.

We just got back from another stay at one of those luxury hotels. Feel a bit sheepish mentioning it. Have to say it wasn't as good as the 1st one but still a fantastic break and the DCs had a ball.

bebespain, it is AWFUL when it rains all day isn't it? It's not just them, I'm dying to get out of the house!

eli, i do hope you have a good supply of g&b in the house to prepare for the nights hugs

lennied, of course the boys are wonderful together and ds1 seems quite happy now after the trauma of the early months - they were in the bath last night having a cuddle and ds1 said 'we love each other don't we mummy?'. Couldn't reply as throat all lumpy.

castles of not 1 but 2 stays in hotels! But then I have just had stay of my own, so...

AQ, I dont, but only because its all been eaten (including two large chocolate coins with Eiffel Towers on them that were supposed to be for dd1's friends )

BTW, how are you feeling these days, physically? Is the tiredness any better? Its brilliant the boys are so good together now/already, bodes well for #3...I have to admit the dds are much more fond, and do play together at times, but I still spend a lot of time saying 'gently, gently'.

Jabber, I'm so sorry, I missed the bit about your dh....my MIL had polio as a young adult, but she was lucky and had very little effects in later life. How are things now?

dd2 had an hour's impossible breathing/coughing/throwing up mucous around 11pm, but then did well (with Medised - she coughs herself silly without it) the rest of the night, barring a quick slug of water when coughing at 5am. And she let dh do the quick slug of water, which is a good sign - she's been very very clingy all week, with me.

Castles, do, please, remind me and lets meet up when term starts - ours starts on Monday, in fact, but YKWIM. The hotel sounds great, glad you enjoyed it - the more luxury the better, methinks!

Knew I'd forgotten the first thing I was going to post - Bebespain, thanks for the hugs, and hope the vibes worked: we've just had a big thunderstorm but the sun is back, so am sending more

Eli, I ate half the boys' easter chocs as well as one of my sister's! If it's in the house, it's an open target....

The ds's are really fab together, given it's 3 years rather than 2 I am v.v.lucky! I think ds2 will be missing his brother so much come sept (as I will). ds1 of course spends a lot of time saying Eli, Eli! (ds2's nickname). I am feeling waaaay more energetic and positive, twas all hormones. Can't wait for scan in 12 days time and hope I might find out the sex then too as will be 16 weeks. Got to think about triple test I guess too, I've refused before but that bit older this time.

Hey Eli your vibes worked It did stop raining and we had a lovely time in the he park DS was so happy and brought me etra stones and twigs and even some bottle tops today to celebrate!

AQ - I know just what you mean I have been climbing the walls all week too! It makes for a very long day, doesn´t it.

Hi everyone, DH took this morning off so we could take the DDs out an have some quality time. We went shopping and got DD1 a new rug (with hopscotch on) for her bedroom to go with her new midsleeper bed All went a bit pearshaped as mid-morning they both had a fever so we came home and they slept all afternoon!

Anyway,

Hi bebespain
AQ - I have 2 yrs 9 months between mine and they adore each other. This last month or so they've really started playing together.
Eli - I hope DD is improving.

Here are Babysteps Day 5. By now you should be cleaning your sink, wearing shoes, writing down little jobs that need doing and being positive I wont post any babysteps over the weekend but we'll resume on Monday

Thanks FGS - only thing I'm not doing is the shoes but have made myself a nice list and am feeling a bit more in control of things.

I never knew that 2 years was a good age gap, I thought more than 2 was good and less than 2 was good but 2 wasn't good.

Bebespain - am glad you enjoyed your day. I love playing outdoors with DD now. We mainly collect stones and twigs. She likes to have a cup and fill it with stones and empty it again. If only the weather was nicer...

We went swimming again today, she still hasn't taken to it. Am going to persist and take her every week. Any ideas on how to get her to enjoy it more?

Bebespain, you make me feel so powerful [simper] Glad you got some sun!

FGS, hope the dds are well (enough to enjoy hop/toddle scotch) fast. I've noticed my two playing together this past month too, especially in the bath - gives me a glimpse of good times ahead. And dd1 is suddenly, and passionately, interested in her 'baby' (doll) for the first time.

Lennied, how about taking a ball to the pool? We found props helped a lot with dd1, balls, 'noodles', watering cans etc. She sort of forgot to be nervous, IYSWIM. The other thing that made a big difference with her was being warm enough, either having a warm pool or a wet suit thingy. dd2, OTOH, loves water of any description and would fling herself happily into an ice bath - not recommended, in her state

I think we've turned a corner - still needs the Medised, but is not gasping for breath or sweating with the effort of breathing tonight. Looks like this time the ABs were a good call.

Hi FGS - oooh your morning sounds lovely, good on your DH! Shame about the fevers though, hope its passed...

Dreamt I was pregnant last night , I am definitely not but it was sooo realistic! I personally think 2.9 is a really nice age gap FGS but I´m no expert, me being an only child!

Thanks LenniED! It´s made such a difference since DS has been walking and we´ve been able to play together in the park, he loves it so much and never wants to get back in his stroller. I love seeing DS pick up all his little "treasures", shame we get the odd cigarette butt!

With all the rain this week it´s really made me appreciate the good weather we usually get. I am actually very homesick but at least the climate is good! Suppose there´s at least one advantage to living in Spain

Eli - you just made me LOL. Glad to be of service
Maybe next time I´ll ask for some lottery winning vibes or something similar, is that alright!?

Eli, glad to hear that DD2 seems to be turning a corner.

Shame about your day out, FGS. How are you feeling?

AQ, I'm very excited about your scan. I'm going to be pregnant vicariously through you and Sacha (saves me going through it again )

Had a couple of fantastic days with DD1. She had 3 friends over yesterday for cakes and crafts. They are the 'quiet' ones in her class, but boy can the 4 of them make some noise! I was exhausted by the end of the 4 hours, and ready for a large glass of wine!

Today we went to see Spiderwick Chronicles - the first film I've been to for at least 2 years! Then I was meant to buy an outfit for a couple of interviews I have coming up, but instead bought things for the DDs. Never mind, I'm sure no one really notices what interviewees wear ... do they?

I think I've got a blocked duct again. My right breast is incredibly tender. Honestly, I thought these things didn't happen at this stage. Must dig my comb and breastpump out again.

We've been pretty lucky with our two getting along having a 3+ year gap between them. Ds1 will tell anyone that he loves Mommy and Daddy but loves ds2 the most! They are both downstairs building a "yellow submarine" out of legos with dh, lol. (Dh, as you can tell, is of the sixties generation)

eli, glad dd2 has turned the corner.

Indith, I meant to congratulate you on finding a reception hall. Weddings are wonderful but oh, so stressful to plan!

bebespain, would send sunny vibes but all is wet here. Guess we'll be getting plenty of May flowers as the saying goes.

bp, we saw spiderwick chronicles when my nephew was in town. I liked it - it appeals to the Harry Potter loving side of me

castles, I wonder how your grandmother dealt with it as your grandfather got older. Dh told me about it when we were dating but things have gone downhill so much more quickly than I imagined It's been hard to come to grips with the fact that he's never going to be really well. I'm just hoping for something that manages the pain better. I keep semi-joking that at least one of us needs to leave the clinic Monday with better drugs...

Jabber - the post-polio symptoms sound very difficult. Is pain relief the only thing that can be done?

Oh Jabber that is a pity. Also wonder if drugs is the only thing to help DH? My GF was always lame and had other disabilities but it never stopped him (he was an army doctor very active in WW2, later a pathologist and always very sporty). He was always thin (but that is probably just genetics). They got a stair lift (you sit on) as he got older but I can't think of anything else that happened. I know he used to get frustrated and I guess my GM bore the brunt of it, as you undoubtedly must

Feeling really sad today as my friend died (expected but still) and I just can't imagine a world without someone who seemed so alive.

Hey ho, keep looking at my DCs and thinking how lucky I am. DD2 is really starting to 'talk'. I'm amazed as DS was so slow. Maybe there was a mix-up at the hosptial

Castles I'm so sorry, thinking of you.

Jabber too, though am at the yellow submarine! Bet your dh loves the lego more than the boys do. Over Easter BIL spent a LOT of time "playing" duplo with ds

Loving the tales of pottering about the park collecting treasures I may have to cave in and get some soft cruising shoes or something, seem like such a waste of money [tight Yorkshire git emotion] but we are "walking" everywhere around the house at the moment, seems unfair not to let him when playing on the swings, and there is too much broken glass and stuff to let him walk in booties!

Lennied for swimming as well as toys, does your pool do any baby sessions? There is one near me that has a rhyme time in the pool, singing and moving in the water with lots of nursery rhymes, actions and splashing then usually a relaxing song then free play session and they get loads of toys out.

Thinking of you Castles - it's something we can never really prepare for.

Indith, I'm holding off on the shoes as well. DD2 is walking about in her soft leather shoes, and I will wait until she's walking independently before investing in those invisibly gold-plated, diamond-encrusted Clarks shoes.

I don't even have soft ones! All ds has are socks and a couple of MIL knitted pairs of booties!

Castles - I hope you are ok, it is hard when someone goes. I always think to myself that if I love the person and remember them, they are alive in my heart and mind and not gone forever.

No shoes is much better for his feet Indith. We caved in early on the shoes, but I now know to have her measured in Clarks (to check her current shoes still fit ) and then buy elsewhere. I bought a pair of boys boots from Next which are fantastic for outdoors, almost like proper leather walking boots. We do have a Clarks pair of pink girly shoes too, but she only wears them shopping and now I do my groceries online they virtually live in the draw. Girls shoes are so impractical when you are tiny, no coverage to keep the cold or rain out and made of ridiculously hard to clean material . She doesn't know that girls don't do mud or cold rainy days does she! And I don't want her to know either.

I think I am going to try a toddler session at the pool - I think I need some ideas and would be good to meet some more Mums. I have gelled really well with a few local Mums but most of their kids are a few months younger than DD (still babies rather than toddlers, although I'm sure the gap will seem much narrower pretty soon) or they have siblings a lot older who are a bit rough for her yet. No one tells you whilst pregnant that you will need a whole new social life for yourself and one for your child too!

Jabber, I hope things go well for you at the clinic. My experience of these situations is the more you pester the better treatment you get.

((Castles)) I'm so sorry. You described it very well, I know just what you mean...and 'expected' never really takes feelings into account, does it? Hugs to you, hope you're ok...xxx

Sorry to be awol again, dd2 - having slept much better - is coughing horribly, crying a lot, and grabbing her face as if it hurts today. No idea if its a new one on top of old, old bug come back stronger, or teeth. No temp, but definitely something up and won't let go of me...this is getting old, eh?!

Castles - must be very hard for you

Castles - sorry to hear about your friend

Funny about the shoes as I too held off for a long as possible much to my MIL´s horror. They put babies in shoes as soon as they´re born here. I find it most odd but slightly amusing, epecially seeing week old babies wearing full blown leather boots

LenniED - you´re right about needing a whole new social life when you have a baby.I never realised!
I am getting desperate to meet new mums here but its so hard. Anyway I´m taking DS to a "music and rhythm" class tomorrow. Its just as much for me as it is for him if I´m honest as I am hoping I´ll get to know some other mummies - fingers crossed!