Oct 2007; This little piggie had loads of roast beef and ^This^ little piggie would have none of it!

[Dalrymps]

Psst over here!

Crap, I fogot the ^ things don't work in titles. Oh well!

hI ALL, JUST POSTING QUICKLY AS i'VE GOT TO DASH TO THE DENTIST'S AND i WANT TO FIND YOU ALL LATER

oh pants, the caps lock was on!
xxx

Hi all,

Floria I am so sorry it has been a difficult week and sorry to hear about your loss. I hope you are taking good care of yourself.

I am a crap mum today - Dareh fell down the stairs! He doesn't crawl yet so I had nipped up the stairs and in the mean time he had climbed up two steps. I popped my head round the corner just to see him trying to get back down - head first. Needless to say we had an extra breast feed today! Rubbish mum!

Trying to find work as we are in trouble financially. Living off the credit card which is not nice and very scary. It's hard though as I don't know what we can do about childcare as the work I do is freelance and often evenings weekends and my DH is also self employed and works odd shifts.

Hey Dal sorry about the result but the time wasn't right for you. Oddly I took a test the other day too as I keep feeling sick and it was negative. I am totally not ready for another baby but I did feel a bit disappointed!

Just to find you all later

Sun is out now, go figure Oh and Ben had a lovely 2 hour sleep this afternoon which has been nice

Also just to add me to the thread....

Dal - I'm with you on the eating thing - remember that you go to the HV on the advice of the dietician - if it's stressing you out, then don't do it!

Where food is concerned, just remember that their growth has slowed a lot by now - they're no longer piling on the weight, and so their appetites drop as a consequence.

Also, even if they don't eat a lot of finger food, it still doesn't matter, as the finger food will be more satisfying than than purees (I've said it before, but would you eat 2 apples + 2 bananas in a sitting without feeling "fruited out"? No? But you'd happily drink it in a smoothie! )

I concur with what muppetgirl has said (she always says what I want to say, but in a far more intelligent way! ) - and remind you that we're all here for you to rant!

Well, work has been fine this week - I've taken 2 classes of our NQT as he really struggled with them last year: and they've been delightful! (My reputation obviously precedes me! )

The strangest thing? I'm actually less tired than I was during the summer holidays!

Right, off for tea and choir ... love and hugs to all!

Hi all, seem to hardly manage a minute to read the posts let alone post! Just wanted to say Dal that Rory has barely been gaining weight for ages, and has dropped way down the centiles, but, maybe as he's my 3rd, I am taking the decision not to worry as he is a very happy, healthy boy who is very active, sleeps well and does all the right things. He mostly eats our food chopped up, or feeds himself on things that he seems to like, or if we are out I give him jars. He eats very different amounts from meal to meal, but still has 3 or 4 bf each day. Often he refuses breakfast, but will then eat a few yoghurts or some bagel later in the morning. I am getting him weighed monthly ( when I remember) but more to see when he can move into the next car seat . Please don't beat yourself up about it. Having had picky eaters in the family I find that the less time that you have spent preparing the food, the lower your stress and angst will be. I still remember the time my girls reduced me to tears by pretending to vomit up a "children's chilli" that I had spent ages making I don't do that now and I just offer Rory what we are having, and if he doesn't like it I try him with bits and pieces from the fridge, or a yoghurt. You are doing great and Dylan will be fine.
Hello to all the rest of you. I share in the nightmare nappy changes, many bumps and bruises and near misses as he makes a dive for the top of the stairs!

I went to get Ben weighed today and he has only put on 3 ounces in the last 6 weeks, my HV said its nothing to worry about and she was amazed he hadn't lost weight because she says they tend to round about now because they are so much more active.

Just posting to find you all ...Hi!!!![waves madly]...glad you liked my title suggestion Dal..now I'm off to bed..got a long day of packing ahead tomorrow...night all!!!

Morning all,

Muppet - Hope the dentists went ok. That reminds me, I must book myself in for a check up, haven't been for years

Stefka - Sorry Dareh fell down the stairs. You're not a crap mum though, they always suddenly do things we didn't know they could do and catching us out. In fact, I run up the stairs for things quite a lot when Dylan is downstairs and this has just reminded me I need to get stairgates!

So sorry you are struggling financially, I apprieciate how worrying this can be. We are just about getting by on the minimum possible but are happy to do this if it means we have Dylan. If we couldn't get by I would have to work evenings though. Any idea what kind of wrk you're looking for? Do you get tax credits cause if you're earning less now than you were last year they change your payment to be based on this year immediately. I'm sure you'll find something and like everything else this difficult phase in your life will pass ((((hugs)))).

LLL - good that Ben had a 2 hours sleep, nice rest for him and you!

Crochet - Glad that work is going well and you're actually less tired!

Thanks for the advice re feeling more satisfied with finger food than purees, does make sense now I think about it. I have to admit I ind of want to go see the hv once a month cause I like to know for myself what he weighs but I could do without all the questions!

Katsh - thanks for the advice, nice to know i'm not the only one with such a picky eater. I know what you mean about getting them weighed so you know when they can go in to the next car seat we've already bought Dylans cause the one we wanted was on a really good offer at mothercare (still is I think - maxi cosi Priory XP reduced from £145 to £95!) so i'm impatiently waiting for him to grow in to it now. He's jsut over 7kg at the mo though bea while yet!

LLL - thats good the Ben has gained weight at a time he's expected to have lost it or not gained at all. He sounds like he's doing really well

Floria - Hi! Have fun on holiday

Well, I got my AF this morning so guess the test was definately right! I don't mind, I can follow my original plan of trying to get in to shape first before ttc. I've got 4 months, gonna try to go to the Gym at least 3 times a week/go running with dh, how much do you think I can lose?

Off to get my stinky self in the bath, back soon x

Hi all!

Floria, I am very sorry again for your loss and for its anniversary. As someone else rightly said, Alex isn't a substitute, however fulfilling and amazing he is, for Robyn. There cant be replacement babies like that. But try to take comfort from him anyway - and his incredible advancedness (am expecting him to recite poetry soon!!!).

Stefka, I'm a bit lazy about that sort of thing so it's likely to happen to me too eventually. Glad he was okay and he scored extra milk for his efforts!!!

Dal, sorry about the negative test. I know it would have been an unscheduled pregnancy but I understand the disappointment. And good luck with the eating!

Muppet, ditto with the dentist... I need to go.

Here, well, sleep has improved a lot!!! Hurrah, and with no sleep training needed. She even slept through last night till 5 am! Usually she's up a few times before but last night was a v good night.

We had another nursery induction session yesterday and again she refused to sleep, but played well and ate lots (they said again she ate 'most' of her savoury food and gobbled all her sweet stuff - surprise surprise!!!). It's very hard leaving her, but actually it wasn't as awful as I thought - mind you was only for 2 hours. She's doing 3 mornings there next week...

Hope you're all okay and hello everyone else, especially Katsh!

Choc - Excellent news on the sleep front, long may it continue

Hi all
Dentist wasn't that bad and teeth are nice and white now

Ollie has loved his three mornings of school and wants to go tomorrow! I'll remind him of this in years to come when he has revision and exams...

Had Darren to day and had to go straight to school to pick Ollie up in shorts and sweaty top. My hair was soaking wet and I was freezing. I didn't have time to shower so I must have smelled but they were all too polite to say anything.
Ollie asked me to give him some 'music lessons' as he saw a boy playing the piano at school and was very impressed. I'm going to give it a try and see how he goes. It'll be good to start playing again. He mentioned today he wanted to play the 'cello' like me and wants to have a go on my 'cello (currently at my dads as is far to expensive to risk having in the same house as Ollie, Henry and Ollie's mates!) He needs to grow a bit for the 'cello but the piano is fine.

Dal - you're not pregnant I still wonder who'll be the first....

Choc -WOOOHHOOOOO on Rebecca's sleep she is fab x

Stefka - sorry the financial situation is not great xx

Crochet - glad ou enjoyed your holiday and I hope work isn't too stressful with your NQT

Hi Muppet!

quick question - does anyone have a recommendation for a forward facing carseat suitable from 9 months? wont need to be moved in and out of the car very often. Thanks!

Choc, I don't know that much about the car seats but we just got a maxi cosi priory xp from mothercare for £95, reduced from £145! I understand which give it a good report for safety and that maxi cosi is a good make. It comes on a base and you can recline it a bit for them to sleep. Not a very girly colour though, just black and beige.

If you're not bothered about getting the one thats on offer though they do the same one in some lovely girly designs too

Oh and WOW on the sleep front, fingers crossed it continues!

Muppet - glad Ollie has enjoyed school

Dylan's eating is going ok sice my rant, he has had a fromage frais for breakfast today, phili on toast and raspberry desert pot for lunch and my corned beef pie and the rest of his raspberry desert for tea He doesn't eat massive amounts but he's eating so thats what matters I guess!

Hi to everyone I haven't mentioned

Hey all,

on my own on a Friday night - sad or what - ah well.

Anyways want to ask your opinion on a situation I am in.

I am a qualified teacher but only just completed my probabtion year as I was pregnant during it. I did not get a job (going to interviews pregnant and sick is not good!) but I wasn't worried as I was about to give birth. I have since been trying to get work for this year and failing miserably. There are very few jobs out there and I only want part time which really limits me.

So I started to look for freelance stuff and something came up which is relativly local but the ours are odd. It's Monday day and evening, wed and thrus eve. I applied but I am considering withdrawing my application for the following reasons:

I have a course on Thursdays and run a youth theatre on wed so would have to give them both up.
It's an awkward time - childcare will be difficult. My husband sometimes works nights so he can't definitely do it.
A possible teaching job has come up and I would rather do that because it will be day time and it will mean I go up the pay scale and be contributing to pension as well as being back in the game so to speak (schools do not like it if you are out of it as I have already discovered!).

But - it's a job. And I can't guarantee that this teaching job will come good.

What do you guys think?

Bought a stair gate -ouch those things are expensive!!!!!!!

hi all, just making sure i can find you when i get chance to read and post!

All packed ready for the off early tomorrow

Thanks for the understanding about my depression early this week..it helps just mentionioning it here...Dh doesnt like to talk about Robyn as if all the remembered pain will go away if we dont say her name or wonder if she would have been as lively as her brother ( he cant "fix" it so doesnt want to discuss it..and heaven forbid, if we did discuss her I might try to talk him into trying for another!)Thank heavens for you wonderful ladies and your understanding.

Choc; we got a Maxi Cosi Tobi and just love it, worth every penny it is so immovable once in the car, and we dont use the isofix because we need to transfer it from one car to the other a lot. Well done R on the sleep front..please will she teach Alex?

J20; good to see you back , hope all is well in the East

Stefka; I cant really comment about what job to go for (I'd go for both and cherry pick the one I really wanted but I have always been in a business that works that way), I'll leave that to the other qualified teachers here who understand the system to advise you properly, but I just wanted to say I hope the right job for you comes up soon. good luck whichever one you go for.

Right, early start tomorrow (6 hr journey[aargh emoticon]) I'll see you all next week.
Take care, all of you and no one do anything exciting until I'm back!! Byeee!

well my sil gets married this afternoon and the weather is just horrible not looking forward to getting myself and the boys in and out of the car in this weather whilst trying not to look like a drowned rat. It rained non stop all day yesterday and all night and its still going strong this morning. I'm off out soon to get my hair done, hardly seems worth the effort at the moment.

oh well, I'm sure it will still be a fab day, I just feel sorry for her because the photos will be crap too and her poor dress

What a shame - the weather is rotten! Hope she can find somewhere nice inside for pics.

Floria I think it is really hard for men to talk about these things. My DH is the same when it comes to talking about feelings. He doesn't get that sometimes you just want to talk something through and have someone hear you. He thinks I am asking him to do something about it and gets cross because he can't.

With the job thing - one will interview next week and school based one not for a few weeks which is why I can't just wait and see which one I get. I am still in two minds. On the one hand I think the first job is just too impractical but at the same time it is a nice wee job and a nice company and it is a job! I might just write them and withdraw but say that I would love to work with them in the future or something. Hard to know what to do - wish I could see into the future! The school I spoke to sounded positive and were keen for me to apply but that doesn't mean a thing really as it might not work out.

Hi Stefka I would say where do you want to be job wise in the future? Do you want to get into teaching for a career in the classroom and a school or are you more of a freelance type person? My friend is in the middle of a law degree and she was in the local PCT doing admin type stuff and a job came up in restorical justice. It has odd hours, she's a single mum but it was more where she wants to be in the future so she decided to go for it. (She got it!) It does sound like from what you say the classroom based job would be better for you in terms of childcare, pension and prospects following a secure career path which is a huge consideration but also it would be a safe job in terms that you would never be made redundant which you may do with a smaller company. In this current financial climate this is a consideration as you don?t want to get started and ?stop? again.

If you're not sure this school job is the right one for you after interview then why not join up with a supply agency and do the rounds. You get to sample schools from the inside and hear all the gossip from the comfort of the staffroom sofa. I did this for a year in my 4th year at Uni (we were technically qualified teachers as we'd completed our final teaching practice although we had our final year of our curriculum subject to go iyswim. This has since been changed as OFSTED didn?t like it but we were very lucky to be able to work, gain experience and earn money for our last year) Yes, supply can be crap -I met the only child I have ever been unnerved by whilst teaching but it did create some very good contacts. You could then hear about PPA jobs from the inside which are fab part-time jobs to get. My last job was a PPA job for 2 ½ days teaching music throughout the school plus a couple of other curriculum lessons. It was a breeze as the Headteacher was happy to let me do my own thing so long as he got a Carol concert, nativity and activities during the year.

Floria ? So sorry for your sad memories. I don?t think you?ll ever stop wondering and remembering and maybe that?s a good thing as Robyn was here albeit for a short time and a part of your life. My dh is the same in terms of wanting to ?fix? things when I am unhappy. I remember May 28th as that?s when my miscarriage was due although I do understand your situation is far more heartbreaking. Did you mark the day with anything? Remember I mentioned about having a piece of jewellery of my friend?s birthstone, could this be a way of keeping Robyn with you. You could ask dh to find you a nice piece of jewellery using Robyn?s birthstone for you as this would give him something to focus on and actually ?do? something for you that?s quite positive. x

LLL - Am keeping my fingers crossed for your SIL though I don't hold out much hope I'm sure they'll have a lovely time anyway!

LLL - Oh no, what an awful day As stefka says though, they may be able to find somewhere nice inside for the pics and i'm sure that, apart from the weather they'll have a great day

Floria - Have a great time . My dh sometimes used to want to 'fix things' when I was down too but I think you just have to explain to them exactly iyswim for eg; I just said to dh 'I don't want you to do anything, I just want you to hold me and listen to me and be there'. He's much more likely to just hug me and comfort me these days as he knows thats what I usually want . So sorry once again for your loss, feel free to talk about it here with us in whatever way you want, anytime.

Muppet - Hi! You're so good at giving advice and helping people when they're feeling down/stressed etc I really think you should be some kind of life coach!

Stefka - I'm not really sure what to advise you about the job?! I understand it is a predicament as the interviews are one after the other and you need money at the moment. I can only say that if it were me I would probably want the teaching one as it would fit in to your life more practically and be more secure for the future as you say. I do understand though that you can't really just 'pick' one but thats the one i'd want.

My internet suddenly stopped working this morning I didn't know what to do with myself and was panicking that everyone would wonder where i'd gone!

I called bt tech help and they said the broadband was working so it must be a problem with the laptop connecting to it. Anyway, I shut it down and restarted it and it's working now, thank god!

It's so blustery and rainy here, makes me feel all cosy indoors though. Gonna go join the gym later so I can get some of this fat off!

Hi to everyone i'v missed, hope you're all having a nice day

I am already on the supply list where I live but they say there is not much happening right now. I would only ever get general supply because there isn't enough demand in my subject unfortunately. It's much better for me to get back into teaching because the longer I am out of it the harder it is going to be. This job is only temporary until May but at least it would get me back in the profession. The school job would be better for me because I think if I don't get back into a school soon I might never do it. There is no guarantee that I will get that job though. Things shouldn't be so complicated!!!

I've been to the hairdressers and....

Had fringe cut in I have been in two minds about it for months and months but finally decided to go for it. A bit mad on my part considering the wedding and photos but I really like it phew! bloody good job, not sure what I was thinking having it done today of all days but luckily it turned out well

Stefka - You sound like you know what you want, fingers crossed you get it.

LLL - Wow, you'll have to upload a pic later, I want to see! Have a lovely time