<< lays out tiny nappies and babygros >> For TYG and SKYTV

[largeginandtonic]

Mornin!

M can neither walk nor say anything much except usefully 'tree'.I wish she would hurry up with the walking at least.She is very heavy and is at the annoying stage where she doesnt want to be carried but where she can only crawl so say if we are in the park and it is wet she cant be put down as she would get filthy so Im stuck wrestling with her IYSWIM.(Obv I give in, set her down and she gets covered in muck and filth and then cries all the way home because she is covered in muck and filth but still)
She cruises along and has started standing up on her own for a bit before sitting down, so surely it cant be long now?

L has worked out she can get out of her own bed now (it has taken her 10 months to realise this) so now bed time is a lengthy process of her getting in bed, staying there 10 mins then getting out, us putting her back in ad finitum.Last night I left her a bit when she got up.She lined all her toys up very straightly on the landing, took her PJ's off and got some of my shoes out of the wardrobe and tucked them up in her bed.Then she shouted me because she was cold.That said yesterday was the first day in approx a year that she didnt have a tantrum all day.She was lovely all day.It was quite weird

Have been catching up... PJ and TMAM..Much love to you both.

I read an interview with Gwyneth Paltrow the other day and she she said her doula had told her it takes two years to really get back to normal after having a baby-hormonally, and also in terms of body image (you need two years to accept the changes and work on anything you arent happy with, everyhting for me), getting used to leaving the baby at times (as baby gets more independent), not feel so exhausted, be able to think about other things so you can get back in your social loops etc.I dont like GP much, and frankly with all her cashingo I dare say she's got 10 nannies and a personal trainer and what not which will all help, but I did think that made sense really.(Of course I screwed my road to recovery up after L by having M which seems to have set me back 10 years or so )
I feel very different after having dd's.And I think part of my wobble recently has been about kind of surrendering to the fact that I will never be what I was like before I had them again, and that I was entirely happy about that.I need to be happy with the life I have rather than yearn for the life I had IYSWIM, and find practical ways of doing that.For example, I still get pretty when our friends are out having a lovely 20 something time without us.But I cant do it anymore as I have the girls and also, even when im out with them, part of me is at home, as im worried about how I'll feel in the morning et al.So now I go out more with my Mum friends who get that, and save the really wild nights up for very special occasions.I am trying to accept that life is ruddy hard work at the mo, with the two tinies(I know nothing compared to others on here, but enough for me to cope with realistically at the mo), work and what not, but have to believe that will get better..

With the sex thing PJ..I think hald the prob is that when you've not done it in a while, but you still know each other very well as 'friends' IYSWIM, it can be really embarassing to go back to being lovers and you become nervous about looking silly should you make the first move.I had this with DH after L, less so after M.I still have it to a degree re trying anything a bit more say avant garde in the bedroom .Think the only way through it is to drink till you lose your inhibitions a bit (not so much you pass out/vom which will spoil the moment)
Recall the OC where Seth slept with Summer for the first time.She was embarrased because she was a virgin and he expected her to be experienced when she wasnt.He was embarassed because he was a virgin and worried he would be rubbish.It didnt go very well till they admitted it to each other, had a few shandies and went to it.As you know I find the OC a very useful tool in navigating modern life, and it might work here.(Sorry to t'others for veering off into teen telly talk)

I will be up North for two days ater Aug BH, if anyone fancies a wee meet up..Charley, Abby, PJ?In Derbyshire so dont mind doing Nottingham, Manchester, Derby, Sheffield.Have car, will travel...

Just posting quickly. Have added some piccies to facebook and can't sit on the PC seat for much longer!

All going well here - surprisingly in fact -everyone said an elective c/s would be different to the emergency one and they weren't wrong! It has been a very different experience and so far Lewis is fitting in very well with lots of sleep and 3 hourly feeds so I can't complain.

C is a real handful though - not naughty just into everything!

C has now gone for a sleep so I am off for a sit down with feet up.

Thanks very much AM for the pressie - you shouldn't have but it is lovely.

Very cute pictures Sky! Glad the pressie arrived

Am very cold today and cant seem to get motivated. Have so much to do today as well.
Going to a party tonight and have some friends staying as well as my sister who is babysitting. Need to make the beds and then make sure i have some clean bedding as dh's Grandad is coming tomorrow and staying the night. Honestly i have never changed the beds this often! We are also attempting to empty some of the boxes and try and get the house upstraight. Dh is going to get some pictures on the walls so it looks a bit more homely.

Am gutted that i didnt go down to meet CAQL. I did speak to her this am and she said that they had had to relocate it to Christchurch which was just too far for us to go especially as we are going out at 6pm.

PJ hope you got on okay last night. Definitely worth my weight in gold chocolate.

Jam have posted on your other thread hope she is getting better. Yes definitely was LG&T

Scoot Glad you had a good time on hols . PJ and I have been trying to get something sorted re meetup but dates are a mare. I am around BH week as DCs nursery shut also have car can travel to the areas you mentioned. Or you could pop in for a cup of tea and a slice of cake. Prob shop bought though as baking not my forte.

Thank goodness I am not the only BBer TSM

LG&T definitely it was them not us.

AM have a good meet up with the Jaffa biffas thank you for your facebook help

SKY well done you enjoy your sit down with your feet up hope chocolate is involved you know you need those calories if you are feeding a baby.

Hello Elki and SOH

Will try to get this facebook thing mastered thank you for all your advice.

Have updated on other thread but it looks a bit more positive today.

Thanks all.

Morning all!
Hope you are all ok. We had a lovely day out in London yesterday despite the atrocious weather! We had a wander down by the river in the morning while it was fine and then went to Giraffe for lunch. We had a fantastic meal there and would definitely go back with the kids. It seemed a very popular place with families. We had a mooch around the shops in the afternoon and then had afternoon tea at Claridges which was lovely. We try to go every year and it is always lovely. Guess what I found at London Bridge station? A KK stall!! I was so excited, dh thought I had gone mad. We only bought one each but it was gorgeous, I had the chocolate dreamcake doughnut and I can still remember the taste now!
We did have a hairy end to the day. We had booked all our train tickets in advance and had to get back to St Pancras for 8pm. We got as far as Baker Street and there were signs everywhere saying Kings Cross was closed due to a fire alert so we couldn't get there by tube. After a lot of stress, a bus, and running for 10 minutes in torrential rain in heels, we finally made it with a couple of minutes to spare. It was the most exercise I had done in a while and not great after umpteen sandwiches, cream scones and fancy cakes!!!
Now dh has taken the kids out to McDonalds so I can pack for Center Parcs.

Where is everyone .
We're off to CP tomorrow so won't be around until Friday night at earliest.
Byeeeeee xxx

Have a great week Abby..
We are off to Gran Canaria tomorrow too, back next Tues..

Hope everyone is OK..PJ/TMAM especially-will be thinking of you..

See you all when I get back..

God- 4 hours on a plane with my pair.I beg of you.

Glad things are picking up Jam. Hope baby Megan is okay and your sis is coping.

Hope you have good holidays Abbylou and Scoot. See you when you get back.

I love CP, went for a spa session with DH a few weeks ago and it was lovely. Hope you have good weather Abby and can manage a bit of you & DH time.

Good luck with the flying Scoot, you will be fine. DH doesn't fly - we honeymooned in Suffolk.

Well we have moved the cats in today. They seem to be okay but have put them in one room to start off with. Does anyone now how you do this butter on the paws thing and whether it works.

Hi everyone,

Scoot, Abbey have a fab holdiay.

Scoot sounds like a holiday with my family I too am braving a bikini on holiday got help my fellow sunbather.

SKY great photos of your new addition.

AM did you get your pics on the wall?

Charley no advice about cats when we had them and moved house we just kept them indoors for a bit thought the butter on paws things was an old wives tale.

So saw my DSIS yesterday and the very beautiful Megan. First off they got her weight wrong. SIS and her DP have been busy telling everyone 9lb odds only for us to go in yesterday and go she cant possibley be 9lbs looked at her red book and they did not read the conversion chart properly and she is actually 7lb 5ish. DOH Anyway she is out of neo natal and with sis she has the most horrible looking bruises on her head from the ventouse and then forceps. The BF is sort of happening she is favouring one side but I reckon thats cause of the bruises etc. SIS is a little concerned that she is not taking to it but its very difficult to try and offer advice as I felt a bit like she didnt want to hear it. I fear I am becomming a BF militant. She does seem to be wafting her boob near Megan's face but not really bringing her in close enough am sure though with a bit of tweeking and hopefully help from the midwifes she will get the hang of it. As I was very proud when I entered the cubicle and saw her feeding away fantastically and SIS is suffering no pain while latching on or feeding. So on the whole a fab outcome.

Phew that was long off for a lie down.

Abby and Scoot have fun! Think of us as you sun yourselevs I so need a holiday.

Jam i am so glad your sis is ok and little Megan is back with her, hopefully she will get some help with the BF. The baby will probably be in a bit of pain still, it might be worth seeing an osteopath as soon as possible so sort out the positioning.

Quite a weight difference that lol.

I have an exciting day ahead, Beau has his MMR and Hugo his pre school jabs. Do i get B jabbed first or Hugs

I am speaking to the twins Dad first re schooling i need him to commit to picking them up each day or to doing 3 full days study with them so they can be home schooled. I know he is going ponce out and not be helpful, he is very wishy washy and airy fairy. I am going to point out he is NOT working and has never contributed financially so needs to put in some of the domestic help. It is so monumentally unfair he gets to have lots of fun with them at the weekends and when he choses while i am left with the domesticity and finding the pennies for food/housing/car/fuel etc...

It has got to stop. I have noidea how to go about it really. I was going to start a thread asking for advice last night but was too knackered. He will be here soon so no time this morning.

< goes off to make Millionaires shortbread to calm jangled nerves >

LG&T, you do know that if you move here, I'll home school them. I'm not entirely thick. I have a degree (first class, honours and everthing), an MA and an MSc. J and S will know everything they ever needed to know about European Literature and Library of Congress Cataloguing rules. And er lentil weaving. I include that for free. Seriously, I do hope the talks go well. I sincerely think that telling him what needs to happen is the order of the day. B jabbed first I think. Easier to distract afterwards.

Jam fab news for your sister. Mathilda had a headache for weeks and would only feed on one side. We had to use the rugby hold on the other side so her head was facing the same way iyswim. Turned out that she couldn't turn her head the other way. She was stuck for 6 hours of pushing and the ventouse left a nasty tear (could see her skull) over her ear on that side. It took 3 sessions of cranial osteopathy to get her to be able to move her head freely. Has your sister tried lying the baby on her tummy face down and letting her find the nipple herself. It encourages instinctive feeding for both of them. Better than wafting a nipple in Megan's face. Sounds like she's doing brilliantly. Does she MN? Ooh little babies.

Charleymouse if you don't add me on fb in the next 24hrs I'm going to reveal details about you on there. It will not be pretty.

Jam glad your sis and niece are doing ok, I know what you mean about feeling militant you so want to help but they think you are interfering when you are just helping. Hope you get the message across and she manages to get things going, second the cranial osteopathy suggestion, have heard only good things about it. I thought the butter was an old wives tale but when I rang the vets to get the girls checked over before the move the receptionist siad that is what she recommended and had done with hers. Maybe it just gives them something to sit and do lick butter off their paws or traipse greasy feet all over your new floors Think will just gradually let them explore the house. Charley took ages to get out of her transport box once we arrived and has retreated to her cat house; whereas Holly is most indignant and shouted at me all the way to the new house and this morning when I went to check the tray and food supplies.

LG&T good luck with the jabs, I disagree with SOH (don't tell her) I would go Hugs first in case B got upset and put him off; then again if B is very brave then H would have to be as well, hmm don't know suggest you flip a coin - very scientific me. Hopefully you can get the twins Dad to commit to something. Still no luck in getting them into a local school?

Please no SOH, ok have just confirmed you, thank-you. When I try to add details it asks for comfirmation does that mean I am hassling you all again and filling your inboxes up with emails. What is all this wall business about as well?

PJ are you there oh shoot no you are off on Mondays aren't you? We need to know if your fish supper got you in the mood?

Oh god DH got a running machine for his birthday. I told DH I did not approve of DD going on it but yesterday she was on it and he switched it off saying G was in the way so she could not have it on. I put G in his play pen and told him to put it back on for her as I did not want her to take it out on G. I went to mop the stairs and DH went on the computer in the same room as DD but fading the other direction. Cue loud screaming as DD got her fingers stuck in it. Got her in the kitchen sat on my knee when he turned on me and said I knew this would happen that is why I switched it off. How I stopped from swinging for him I do not know, she was crying her eyes out and he wants to point the finger. She has a blister on 2 fingers like a friction burn but is okay. She is very lucky it could have been much worse. I have told him he shouldn't use G as a reason for her not being able to do things as it will cause resentment but he always forgets.

Thank you to everyone for being my Facebok friends. I have to keep referring to Aprils list of who is who(thank-you April), it is weird seeing proper names for people and thinking ooh yeah that suits you.

I'm back, it's better for the moment. I think I have some hormonal issues as my AF is due, maybe I will go and see someone, maybe not.

Anyhoo, I don't have much time to post today, I just wanted to say happy holidays to scootini and Abby. I will happily do 4 hours stretch on a plane with 2 toddlers in return for spending a couple of days alone with a 6 year old dd with attitude.

LG&T, I'm confused, I thought the twins dad lived in Plymouth?? I can't believe he doesn't help out financially, that is a shocker Would you really want him to help home school them, is he capable of it? Good luck with the jabs, ds1 went first, then got a lollipop. J was very upset to hear him cry though!

SOH, consider dd and ds1 booked onto a plane heading in your direction as we speak. Your offer of home schooling does including boarding, not so?

Scoot & Abby i hope you both have fantastic holidays See you when you return.

Good luck with the schooling chat with exp. I would get B jabbed first i think. Lucky you what a fun day

Pics didnt go up but i did manage to unpack all the boxes in J & E's rooms and they both look all nice now. J has a lovely bookcase with another unit on its way from GLTC and E has her bookcase/unit with cuddlies on in and a toy basket also on its way with J's stuff. Just our room and study to go.

Had a house full this weekend! Went out on Sat night to a friends 40th birhtday party and had two girls stop the night and then about 2hrs after they left dh's grandad and his wife came to stay the night. Did a lovely (even though i do say it myself) roast lamb with all the trimmings followed by all butter shortbread cases filled with creme patisserie and raspberries (all ingredients bought and i just put it together. They went at about 10am and i am now on a clean up mission before taking kids to nursery at 1pm.

Am off to Reading shopping with a friend and can walk past the KK shop if anyone wants me to get some to pop in the post.... Will be leaving here at 1.30 so if you want some just post i and i will collect.

Oh forgot to say great news on your niece JAM.

Would love some April but feel awfully cheeky asking you to go to all the bother. Also will I get addicted and have to move down south?

How do I get you my addy I tried to email a reply to your facebook message but the adress came up as no reply. So here is my work address therefore no sharing with DH required. 113 Charles Street, Sheffield, S1 2ND. Although when I just asked for the building postcode I have got a few requests from colleagues. Shall I paypal you for them? That would probably be the easiest. Let me know how much it comes to.

Oooh so excited about KKs. Would you like me to swap you with some lovely lardy up north goodys such as Eccles cakes, Chorley cakes, Bakewell pudding or Parkin?

PS April do not tell PJ. We were supposed to be getting some for our mini meet; date to be decided. We seem to keep missing each other and I do not want to get into trouble.

Sorry TMAM in my excitement over KKs I forgot to say good morning. Glad things are a bit better. it is always a bit of a rollercoaster isn't it. I had forgotten how your hormones can play havoc with you until last week when AF showed itself. I was a really snappy cow and totally unreasonable (according to DH).

Well done on getting the house sorted and being a domestic goddess April. Last night was the first proper meal I have cooked in the new house. I used the hob microwave and grill/oven all for one meal. It is so nice having my appliances working. All I need now is the sink plumbing in. I am sure I am going to pour something down the sink into the cupboard underneath. Also I moved my pans yesterday and will have to get some new ones as they don't work on my induction hob. They have to be magnetic and I did not check before packing them and carting them about. DOH.

I still have to move Gs furniture and the washing machine as well which is a real PITA as it needs strong men people and a van.

CM, how many would you like? they come in boxes of 12 for about £8

Hello everyone! I'm doing ok today. Not too much excitement.

LG&T--do H first he'll get over it faster and won't be as needy. I'll be doing that in two weeks as Mateo has his three year checkup and Cruz has his 15 month checkup.

Also you exp is legally obligated to take of the children financially, no? If he doesn't pony up and help get lawyers involved and take him for all he's worth. Either that or get N's military friends to go and beat the living crap out of him. Either way you win.

Hi AM have rung and left a message on your voicemail a box of 12 sounds great cheers.

Morning MKG glad you are okay.

Ooh thanks AM oops nearly put your name in then. Hope you had a lovely time shopping. Am so exited about the KKs. Am so excited I may have to tell DH but then that will mean sharing. Do you think a box of 12 is too many for one person to eat?
Ooh [rubbing hands and mouth watering in anticipation emoticon]

Can you tell I have been busy again today?