Jan '07 part 25: Tell our families that they may take our social lives, but they'll never take our FRREEEEEDOMMMMM!

[2Happy]

Now paint your face blue, and stick your tongue out at the world - end especially the half-wit-mid-life-crisis-lacking-common-sense-PMT-suffering-eejits we otherwise call men.

eandh, ratbunny, susie, UD - this one's for you

Wilkie - we have had one of those 'never ending' days too I was really strugglingt o even look remotley interested by 2pm, oh well they enjoyed their mcdonalds happy meal lunch poor little J

Mums of older kids, can I pick your brains please??
I have to decide re: nursery for ds1. Currently he goes to playgroup 2 mornings a week, but is about to go on one afternoon for the rest of the term.
I must confess, I hadn't given a moment's thought to nursery etc untilt he childminder brought the subject up. Come September, ds1 would be due to go to nursery 5 mornings a week, and that would be him for 2 years until school. His 3rd birthday is in a couple of weeks, so he is young for his year. CM felt he is too young to go to nursery - she thinks it is quite regimented and doesn't really like the people who run it (and I've heard bad stories about bullying at that school). She suggested keeping him at playgroup for another 6 months, and then going to nursery. This means he'll be a bit more mature (and more able to sit in one place for more than 5 minutes), but will remain with his peers. But it does have one risk: nursery places are first come, first served, so if there's none left in january he would not be able to go to nursery until the following year and would fall a year behind his peers.
I feel they start making kids follow curriculums far too young, and I think at only just 3, he should be allowed to just keep playing. His cousin, who's a year older and in nursery, can do his letters and speak some spanish ffs. What happened to childhood?? Or am I being a middle class lentil weaver?!
I also think dh and I have to decide what we're doing in the next couple of years - if we move into my parents' house or if we stay here, because that alters where he'd go to school, so would affect nursery applications too. Agh, it's supposed to be easier living in the arse end of nowhere, no pressure on school places etc..!

he doesn't have to go to nursery at all 2happy....he coudl stay at the CMs until he started school if you wanted.

Why not split the 2. Do a day at nursery and a day at the CM....

Although TBH if I;d heard bad things about teh place I wouldn't send him there. I'd just stay with the CM until I found a diff nursery and thought he was ready.

Coudl be difficult living where you do though....

I'm sure that wasn't any help at all!!

2Happy - what LTH said. He doesn't have to go and I wouldn't send him if you've heard bad reports. Just my opinion though.

Don't forget the sweepstake if you wanna enter!

Wilkie I need to send you money and I cannot copy and paste but I predict

7lb 10oz

THE GREAT BABY VINO SWEEPSTAKE
Wilkie 8lb 3oz
EandH 8lb 8oz
Laughalot 7lb 10oz

2happy - lth has summed it up, Ellies preschool is fab and she loves going and the emphasis is very much on 'play' not 'curriculum' but its amazing what she has picked up by playing there (they have lots of guests like policeman,vets etc and every fortnight lady from local music school comes with different instruments etc)

She started when she was 2.6 as she was bored at home and I was on maternity leave, she will have done 2.5 years there before she goes to school because she is a September baby she'll literally be 5 the day she starts school (which incedntally her preschool are happy about as they and I dont think she'd be ready to go this September or January (her primary school that we want her to go to has 2 intakes a year)

Is there no other local preschool/nurseries he could go to (lots of people we know go to different nurseries/preschools that arent linked to the primary school they are going to/get allocated a space at)

Hattie already has a place at preschool to start next September 09 (ie she takes Ellies space when she leaves) only 2 mornings a week till she gets her goverment funded sessions

Have you and DH decided when you are going to make the decision re moving yet? I cant beleive I have to apply for E's primary school place this year ( sob when did she grow up so fast )

THE GREAT BABY VINO SWEEPSTAKE
Wilkie 8lb 3oz
EandH 8lb 8oz
Laughalot 7lb 10oz
LTH 8lb 11oz

Uploaded some new photos on profile BTW.
WARNING theres a spider photo on there too (for another thread) incase anyone is a scaredy cat.

I'll be thinking of MN even as I find out the weight of the baby when it arrives!

Fingers crossed I may sell my pliko today - third time lucky. After 2 bidders on ebay messed me about and no MN interest I listed it again yesterday on ebay and have ended up (naughtily) selling it privately offline. When the money shows in my account later I will send it off and be done with it. Hurah! My phil and teds should arrive this week.

Came down this morning to find Ellen asleep on the floor in front of her chest of drawers, not even alongside the bed! Not sure what happened there.

I am planning on E staying at nursery until school cos her nursery does funded sessions and likelihood is that I will be working fulltime anyway. Baby will be there too.

Got tons of work to do this week so better plod on.

Loved mylazy day yesterdat. E just played and DH went to buy a new oven/hob package where the hob came free. Its coming on sat and being fitted. There was only a single oven with integral grill when we moved in and for me thats no use. Plus the grill was USELESS and the hob was all scratched. The hob we got free is only basic but I am excited about the oven. The only downside is that it now means the first thing I will use the oven for is making wedding cakes for one of my friends. Pressure!!!!!! I have to make them on sunday cos wedding is following friday and they are sponge based so I have to marzipan on monday, ice on weds then she collects on weds night/thurs am to decorate with ribbon etc the day before the wedding. Mum has already made the fruit tier for the bottom. It was a favour not something I usually do and I am rather nervous now .

Apprentice tonight yipeee

I may have to make a practice cake for myself first to check the oven out!

Morning.
Back from our long weekend in wee bonny Scooootland (that was my best Scottish accent just for 2H).
I am pleased to announce I may have my husband back (let's watch this space). He achieved his marathon in under 3 hours - no more ridiculaous weekly training sessions hurrahhhhhhhhhh! - and has run the 1025th fastest marathon by anyone this year (good stat eh? Dont think they'll be calling him up for the Olympics thouhg).
LO was surprisingly good during the tedious journey and slept most of the way.

Am now waiting for window men to come as we're having new windows and doors today (it's v wet here). Started to clean this morning, but then thought is it worth it if it's going to get so dusty lster on. But the house is such a tip. HAve filed away all lo's 12 - 18 mth clothes and got the next size all out and ready. Am trawling through her toys now (well obviously not now as I'm slightly distracted by MN ) as my dsis brought shed loads over for her, so am trying to work out what to put away for the next lo and what to keep out for her now. My dsis brought over some awful tinny sounding electric type things which lo loves - evil dsis.

Vino - please let me know if you need any cake tasters. Nom nom! How much did E weigh btw?

LTH I love your photos. G is such a cutie (but you knew that). Was slightly distracted by that spider though....

2H if I was unsure about the nursery I wouldn't sesnd the lo. It's our hols in 3 weeks btw. Any day best for meeting up? Was Kat going to come too?

Wilkie hope today is more exciting for you. How's J's lip?

Eah freezing here today. I could really do with snuggling in front of your new fire. With a hot chocolate. And some of Vino's ginger cake. Ahh.....

PCF how are the boys today? Does HF&M make you feel unwell? I have heard of it but know nothing about it.

Rat you sound so sorted. Much respect.

Ok, off to play with some toys. Will probably be back later (if my internet connection stays. It has so been pi$$ing me off this morning, but that's another story)

Hi everyone!
Just a quickie, I've posted new photos up to show DJ's new hair cut.
Am sooo exhausted, have had approximately 4 hours sleep a night for the last 4 nights. Last 2 night have been spent on the floor of Dj's room. He will not stop crying. Even after milk/nappy change/calpol/nurofen/bonjela. These evil teeth are killing me!
Plus, he has started shouting "car, car, choo choo, beep beep" out really loud. Sometimes when he is asleep and sometime when he wants me to give him a certain (Rory the racing car) toy. Its doing my head in!
Hope you are all well.
I've been put on a permanent 16 hour contract at work!! Finally. Hopefully this will make us get more tax credits.
Was caught out bitching at work last week (not big or clever, but the girl is a weirdo) and got my knuckles rapped, but obviously didn't matter too much as then my manager gave me my new contract!
Nothing else to say, apart from 4 days to go till our holiday!!!!
Have got DJ 1 x all in one swim suit, 1 x 2 piece and 1 spare bottoms. Do you think that will be enough? I can't decide.

Evening

Lizz - he looks so grown up , whoops about the bitching, I do that at work thankfully because I have my own office I keep door shut and I sit facing door (it has galss panel) so I can see if anyone is coming in

Vin - glad you had a lovely weekend, glad DH and ellen had a good time. Good luck with the cake making

Why can't I see the photos LIzz

Hes been abit up and down tbh.

Hes' either happy happy happy or inconsolable.

I think its the lack of sleep catching up with him rather then anything else now. He did sleep well last night but when you're that little a few bad nights knocks them sideways, doesn't it?

He had a big dinner for the 1st time since he's been ill so hopefully he'll last the night again.

I've taken teh spider photo off my profile now, incase any one wants to know...

Lizz I think DJ looks just like you!!

Freddie's hair is JUST like DJ's before photo. I'm too much of a chicken to cut it though, and I do think it's kind of cute

Just watched the Apprentice. Am I allowed to say who got fired? Well, I'll just say AT LAST. He was ridiculous.

DP and I just booked a trip to Paris for my birthday at the end of next week! We're just going for 1 night, as we've never been away from F before. CAN'T WAIT.

Shimmer - Paris sounds fab. I'd LOVE a weekend away from 5am starts, stroppy tantrums and food fights! (& thats just DP!) Have a great time.
We are hoping to get a weekend away in October to Alton Towers for DP's birthday!
Wilkie - I've updated my mumsnet mates names list now. I don't know, everyone keeps changing their names & there are too many freaks on this site (not this thread - obviously!) for me to keep profile photos open to all iykwim.
Its wet and cold here, which is annoying as I have lots of washing to do prior to my, ahem, HOLIDAY! Right, must get my arse in gear.
Laters! x

ps - does anyone know what UD is calling herself at the moment? I can't update her name as shes changed it again.
Has anyone seen her on here? Hope shes ok.

ps. I HATE the tweenies. Please tell me I am not the only one. They do my head in with their stupid voices. Imagine, graduating from some posh drama college and ending up as a Tweenie. Hah.

Susie - Hope you are ok, and that you have got someone in RL you can meet up with/talk to. Big Hugs x

I have watched tweenies about 4 times and then banned it, Ellie used to cry at it (although she did love the fimbles) and Hattie never really gets a chance to watch 'baby' tv as Ellie normally has lazytown/dora/roary/wow wow wuzby (hate that one) on

Not sure re urbans name have been on a thread with her recently though

Ahem ahem your holiday, can't possibly discuss it because I am to

Shimmer - Paris sounds lovely, whose having F? (nice to 'see' you btw did you work things out with dp?)

LIZZ you are meant to be getting arse into gear not lurking

Have just uploaded a few photos of my boy. Haven't put any up for ages. He definately doesn't need a haircut yet though.

Lizz - pics are lovely and he looks so cool with his hair cut!

I cant see any wilkie

Had the inlaws here all weekend as they came up to look after Luke and Ruth while we went to a wedding on sun. Had a lovely time, especially as I really didnt want to go but it is a close friend so suppose was always going to love it. The groom made everyone cry with his speech and the actual wedding was lovely too.

MIL seemed really well and positive despite everything so it was nice to see her and make sure she was not just pretending on the phone.

2happy- I REALLY didnt want Luke to go to preschool/nursary until he was at least 3 as he is very young in the year too (end of July) and I just thought that it was silly when he was perfectly happy at home with me and I could do more than a nursary could do with him. Even had a big argument with my MIL about it. I agree that teaching children as young as they are is rediculous and I have read that it can be bad for them as they 'burn out' early. In some countries (think scandinavian ones but not sure) they dont start structured leaning until 7 and by the time they are 10 they are way ahead of our 10yos!

As LTH and EAH said, not sure if it is an option for you but could he go to a different one? We have quite a lot of choice here and I chose one that is not a preschool but a playgroup (although is ofteaded like a preschool) as they didnt seem interested in 'teaching' the kids only letting them play and if they leaned something, then it was their onw choice. They dont sit down and learn at any point and if they dont wan tto do what everyone is doing then they can do something else (within reason!)

My mum works in a preschool and she says that they are not supposed to do 'work' and all activities should be child lead. So no 'projects' and work sheets.

I have found that Luke is getting bored with me at home though. We go to toddler groups and meet up with other children, but he is just desperate to play with other children all the time. So I have given in and he starts in 2 weeks 2 mornings a week. Then he gets his free places from sept but he will only go 4 mornings a week instead of 5. When we went to visit, he loved it and just ran off whhile we talked to the lady. Then went in a strop when we had to leave! It seemed lovely and all the kids were having a whale of a time.

Just checking though, isnt your ds1 slightly older than Luke? Wont he only have one year at preschool/nursary then start in sept 09 like Luke?

Sorry to ramble on for so long, but it has all been on my mind for ages as I really didnt want him to go while he was still 2, but I suppose all children are different. He seems so ready and as everyone always thinks he is 4-5 rather than nearly 2, I figure it will help him to get a bit more self control and better social skills even if all he does is go and play with the cars and bikes like he does at home and the toddler groups!

Schools are so hard to decide though arent they! I mean, I actually found myself thinking about what secondry school he would go to when deciding on a preschool! I mean he is still 2 ffs!!!

ratbunny- How could he mess you about like that! Sounds like you have a great mum to help you so hope you get yourself sorted and he leaves you to do it.

Pink- Glad all was ok.

Sorry, cant rem anyone else. Hope all the teething/ill los are doing better. xxx