December 2006 - Stairgates and cupboard locks at the ready!

[MARGOsBeenPlayingWithMyNooNoo]

Couldn't think of anything contraversial!

LenniEd, you maybe need to spend a few years in Northern Canada to knock that love of winter out of you. I do still need a certain quota of snow annually, and being snowed in once a year is a necessity for my well-being, but prolonged cold, snow, icicles hanging off your scarf, men with icicles on mustaches and eyebrows, your nose sticking together when you try to blow it, only being able to see 2 square inches of flesh on people outside ..... no thanks

Thanks for the link Lennied- it was very funny, I'm glad you're feeling better! I'm still hoping for a stretch of sunny but not too hot weather. (grr at wishing winter was here )

How was the show Eli?

The photos were lovely Indith, I must post some more too.

DD2 is feeling much better, I've got smiles out of her today!

Thanks for the kind thoughts everyone. Have just skim read. Glad you had a lovely holiday Elibean. Hope your DD is better Margo. The tale of your neighbour is heart-breaking BP. They are lucky to have you as a friend.

I set off on the long journey to my Grandma's funeral yesterday only for the train to break down and become stranded. I called my mum to help me out and she refused. She was en route to same funeral and nearby in car but told me it was out of her way. It was my grandmother and her ex (of 25 years) MIL. So I returned to Portsmouth to pick up the DCs from my MIL and missed the funeral. I feel totally heartbroken. As you know I cancelled my holiday to be there - that is how important it was to me. It is the final straw (I think) with my mother. I am already estranged from my father and eldest brother for reasons that baffle me. All I ever wanted was for them to love me back.

We got the dates wrong for the Scotland and are going up on 18th (thanks so much for all the suggestions - you are lovely). We found a lodge which is expensive(!) but I don't want to stay in a flea pit with kids

Oh, Castles I'm so sorry you missed the funeral. What a bizarre way for your mother to behave. Am very on your behalf. I hope that you manage(d) to find a way to say goodbye in your own way, and I know that your grandmother would have been overwhelmed at how hard you tried to get there.

Castle - You poor thing. But you must understand that your Grandma will know you loved her, and she will know the effort you made. I am estranged from a parent. I know how hard it can be, but at the same time it can be a relief. x

Castles I'm so sorry, I hope you've been able to take a little quiet time and say goodbye yourself. On a similar sort of theme my mum couldn't make the funeral of the husband of her oldest friend, himself an old family friend but she knew what the reading was going to be so at the time of the funeral she found a quiet spot and read it to herself.

You will have a wonderful timne with your family in Scotland though, a very well earned holiday.

Lol at all the cravings lennied. I have been wondering the same thing with them, last time when I was doing all of 2 modules at uni so not much work and had all the time in the world to relax and eat properly and take it easy I really didn't have any but this time I do get urges to eat something. My iron levels were not so low as to need serious attention but I am finding I need to watch my diet else I slip back into tiredness mode. Yesterday I was shattered after a couple of shattered days, smelled frying onions which set of the urge for a steak sarnie. Didn't manage it but am off wedding shoe shopping in Newcastle tomorrow and there is a cafe there does a very good one..........

Actually Lenni do you find you can quash the cravings but they won't go away until satisfied even if it takes a couple of days?

Glad dd is feeling better Margo.

Castles - I'm really sorry to hear that you missed the funeral. Like others have said I am sure your Gran would have appreciated your efforts. I hope you enjoy your holiday and the DCs do too.

I have a lot of issues with my Mum and whilst we aren't estranged I keep my distance and often feel like it would be a relief not to have her in my life, as dreadful as that sounds. I know exactly what you mean about wanting to be loved back - it breaks my heart so often when I look at DD playing with DH or giving big hugs and kisses and realise what my Mum passed up on. That said I have also found it easier since I've had my own family, I do feel like I belong now where as I never really did before DD arrived.

Indith - I didn't have any cravings really with DD either. And no there is no avoiding them this time. I always used to think why on earth would people actually eat coal/brick dust/all the other horrible things you hear of, but I can totally understand now. The liquorice one has really got me and I am craving fish like mad when I don't even normally eat it (am vegi) so I'm sure that is something to do with the iron.

Aw Castles - how unfair. You don't deserve this kind of luck. I'm glad you're able to go on holiday.

Castles I can't begin to imagine how you felt, sat on that train. I hope you find your own, special time and place to say goodbye to your granny...whether its in your own kitchen or the wilds of Scotland or anywhere inbetween. Its one loss on top of another, because of your mother's response, isn't it? I'm so sorry.

Margo, it went well thanks - very sweet. But she's utterly exhausted, I think all that high energy, learning, keeping up with bigger kids etc has done her in!

How's your dd tonight?

she's fine - isn't it funny what you miss when your los are ill? DD2 likes me to sing songs and she stares me out when I try to discipline her (I end up cracking a smile). I've been enjoying her smiles today.

Everyone else okay?

Morning all.

I'm fine. Spent the whole weekend looking for a holiday only to realise we really cant aford one. We are going to have a few days out at legoland, paultons park etc instead.

This thread is quite interesting.

I spotted that one, EV, found it most refreshing...

Glad dd is smiling again, Margo

Castles, I'm so sorry you missed the funeral and how sad of your mum to behave like that. I'm glad you've got a holiday sorted as you well and truly need it. I hope dh providing lots of support for you at the moment. Hugs...

I've posted a couple of photos on FB (lovely to see some new ones on there, what gorgeous kids we all have!) including one of indith's ds & ds2 playing (although I don't think it does justice to Indith's ds).

Thanks everyone you are so kind I'm going to head up to Shropshire one weekend on my own and visit the spot where her ashes are scattered, along with my grandfather. My uncle sent me a copy of the eulogy. That helped. Amazing what you learn about them after they have departed as well!

It helps IYKWIM to know I'm not the only one who has parent trouble/is estranged. Get what you mean so much EV about the relief bit. It feels that way with my father. His choice. Sad though.

I also posted some piccies on FB AQ. (Incidentally I woke up in a panic wondering if you had gone into labour this morning - what am I like eh?! Pleased to see you on here anyway). You look fantastic btw.

DD2 is getting more and more headstrong by the day. I'm hoping she gets over it nice and young and is a really dull teenager

I don't know what planet my DH lives on. He regularly 'forgets' to make sure DD1 brushes her teeth in the morning (she never does unless you sit and watch her), I don't think he's ever brushed DD2's teeth. He takes them to nursery 3 mornings a week and they go looking like tinkers How can he forget such simple things? I'm terrified DD2 is going to have awful teeth like DD1, and not brushing them will only increase the risks. Grrrr

(And, I picked DD1 up from nursery the other day and she was wearing my Silver Jubilee T-shirt. Genuine 100% nylon circa 1976. FFS)

On another subject, DD2 has suddenly become very attached to her dummy. DD1 never had a dummy (PFB and all that), and DD2 only started using one a few months ago when she had that run of mouth ulcers. Is it OK for her to sleep with one (it falls out, obviously), and is it really that bad for her?

Sorry but lol @ your DH BP.

Castles - whereabouts in Shropshire?

We are just back from McDonalds as I couldnt be bothered to make dinner Both DDs are in awe of the Happy Meal toy. Like an ipod thing that plays 30 seconds of the sugarbabes!

BP, FWIW, my dh is cr@p at remembering tooth brushing or hair brushing with either dd. He does it well when I remind him to, but will he do it unprompted? Never.

(actually, I did, recently, just to exchange messages with one or two people including an ex - very, very ex, I was 17 - boyfriend I recently re-bumped into)

(with dh )

Castles, sounds like a very good plan, and at least you'll get to have a goodbye thats about you and your granny, rather than various other members of the family - IYSWIM. Good on you.

Can I have some sympathy? i have cystitis and it is soooooore. Got ABs from Dr today as over counter stuff didnt work.

Sympathy EV. I used to get it really badly until I had two operations.

It's Shrewsbury in Shropshire btw.

lol at the Silver Jubilee t-shirt BP. That is the sort of thing DD1 will do given half the chance.
I don't think dummy's do much harm. DD1 was very attached to hers until she was 3 and she seems ok. Teeth, speech fine. Dress sense

at dress sense. dd1 and I get on quite well as long as I don't interfere with her dressing herself in the mornings, but sometimes I can't stop myself...

EV, sympathies - I had it horribly in my late teens and early 20s, and spent nights crying on the bathroom floor. Horrid. Hope it gets better v soon - have you tried a spoonfull of bicarb in water? Don't do too often (changes acidity of blood and stresses heart if you overdo!) but once every few hours can really help the pain, along with drinking loads.

Lots if sympathy EV. Drinking loads used to work for me too - I used to drink 7/8 pints of water one after the other so I could get through a shift at work without being in agony. I used to have to use the loo about 30 times though - used to get a few raised eyebrows! Not sure how healthy that amount of fluid is either?? Cranberry juice meant to be good too - reduces acidity??

DD suddenly attached to her dummy too. Think it has started now she is getting more and more willful. Only previously had it for naps (according to my dentist when sleeping its meant to be fine as long as orthodontic ones) and car journeys - which she still hates - but now asks for it when she is grotchety. I don't let her have it but of course DH, MIL and FIL do when any of them have her.

We are both crap at toothbrushing, fortunately DD asks to have them brushed about 20 times a day - useful for something!

ouch EV, sympathy from here too.

I think the worm has moved house, currently feels as though he is in my bottom

Tired today, ds woke at 3 (bloody canines, number 2 is at huge hole in gum stage, am throwing lots of tooth growing vibes at it to hurry it up) then dp was up at 5.30 or something to go to London and didn't close the bathroom door properly so the stupidly sensitive fire alarm went off. I swear this house is like being abck in student halls for fire alarms.

Still attempting to find a bra for the wedding, if anyone has any suggestions at all that would be wonderful. So far have tried on everything JOhn Lewis had to offer and various ones from Figleaves including this one in a million different sizes but it won't quite fit properly. Am now a 36D, or at least I am in an EmmaJane nursing bra. Am wearing the nursing bras from the early weeks of ds being born.....if they are that size now how huge are they going to be by the end of pg and then when milk comes in?! Having visions of not being able to stand straight due to hugely inflated norks.....