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

[Dalrymps]

Psst over here!

Well done Alex for signing!

Morning ladies,

Muppet - Sorry about the photo, glad it's just about salvagable.

Sorry the dog is being such a pita too. Our dog is a bit of a pest also, she had only ever done a poo in the house once since we had her, until the other day... Rememeber me saying we got Dylans room ready, well, it was all clean, dh had hoovered it twice to make sure it wasn't dusty. Dh was at work and I wenr out to walk in to town with sil, dh got back from work about 2 hours later and she had done poo's all over the clean carpet in Dylans room, like maltesters dh said . We were very annoyed with her and dh had to scrub it loads to get the brown stains out . She also spends A LOT of time either chewing her paws or licking her bum, they're her 2 favourite hobbies and i'm forever telling her to stop it cause she makes her paws really sore and leaves a wet patch werever she has licked her bum . Hope that makes you feel a little better anyway.

Stefka - I'm so sorry you're struggling financially. I know what it's like to live off your credit card, I did it at uni but I don't know what it's like doing that with a lo to look after too. It must be very worrying and stressfull for you . Are there any temping agencies where you live? Maybe dh can get something short term to keep you ticking over? Hope this passes quickly for you and you're back on your feet soon.

Floria - forgot to say, that very exciting about Alex signing .

Dylan has been getting up on his knees a lot lately, he can commando crawl but i'm hoping he's gonna start 'proper' crawling soon. Yesterday he was rocking on his knees and moved one leg forward before collapsing

He calls, back later x

LLL yes Dal is right - we said about £5 for secret santa.

Mine sorry to hear you struggled. I went back in May and am only just feeling like I know what I'm doing and I'm enjoying it. DOn't know if that will make you feel better or worse - I also got back into it a lot quicker last time. Good luck

Muppet sorry to hear about the pic - at least it's salvagable!

WWAJC thanks for that link! It looks great! Adam also loves to be chased! chuckles his heart out as I chase him accross the landing before his bath!

Stefka sorry to hear you're struggling financially. I am very lucky to not really know what that feels like so can only imagine and it's scary. If it's any consolation try not to worry about Dareh's birthday. He will be just as happy with a couple of loo rolls and some wrapping paper and will be none the wiser. Or wrap up some of the toys he already has - he will love unwrapping them and you can take the pics to show him when he is bigger so he wouldn't have to know you didn't get him anything. Good luck xxx

And hello to everyone else! Franticaly posting to try and keep up to date but a load of jobs to do while the boys sleep so will have to fly now sorry!!!!!

Yes I am lucky that Dareh will be none the wiser. It's more upsetting for me really. Who doesn't want to spoil their baby on their first birthday.

I have a job application in process. Waiting to hear if I get an interview. I so badly need to get this job. I just hope not too many people have applied and that they will see me and that I can do well in the interview and actually be successful for once. Don't think I will hear until next week though.

Oh stefka, I'm crossing everything for you to get this job. You can only do your best.

Mine - How was work today?

Stefka - can you make anything? Sell it on ebay? Can you take in ironing (can be done with lo, no childcare instant money) cleaning? Can you tutor? Dog walking? Avon lady/pampered chef/ann summers lady? Sorry If you've thought of these already x
Am hoping you'll get an interview and kick ass...

Stefka;Dearly hope the job works out and dhs luck changes soon. Being self employed I have been close to the edge financially a few times in the past and was incredibly fortunate that my family was good enough to help me through the rough patches, I always paid them back eventually when the work came in but my only dependants were the dogs so I didnt have the same pressures on me as you do...I do sympathise and hope things change for you soon.

...Alex is waking..I'll try to get back...

I am lucky in many ways as I know if we the worst comes to the worst my family will rally round. Really don't want to get into that though! Oddly DH is very calm about it - it's like the worst has happened now and he has finally relaxed.

I am hoping to pick up some freelance work and have been trying to start some classes myself but having issues getting clearance on those. I really want a teaching job though because if I don't get back in the profession this year I think I will struggle. I am on the supply list too so hopefully something will come up out of all that!

Good luck Stefka, I hope you can sort things out soon xx

Mine - sorry you are hating work but just think, I bet Eren in having a great time. Its a big thing to go back to work after a year off, so just give yourself a bit of time to get back into the swing of things. {{BIG HUGS}} x

Didnt get back last night (obviously)and not got much time today. Just wanted to ask Mine if things are getting any easier at all? and..Muppet; It is really unusual, in fact positively wierd that he will mark his bed and lay in it, new born pups, blind and barely able to crawl, all move away from the nest to urinate and defacate...I can only think of three scenarios where a dog would do such a thing either he has been confined to bed longer than he could hold his bladder and so has been "taught" to lay in a wet bed (as has sometimes happened with hand reared pups), he is seriously dominant and wants to smell stronger (and bigger)than other dogs (is he neutered?)or he has some form of brain damage ...one of my Dobies was a bit oxygen deprived at birth and was difficult to house train..all I can say is whatever the cause patience will eventually pay off, good luck.
Off to do some birthday pressie shopping now...c u all later

Well, I've snuck on while my year 10s are watching a film (relevant, honest!) ... thanks for not cussing!

Stefka - have you tried approaching any local private schools? They wouldn't be on the county list ... Am really sorry to hear that things are not great financially.

Right, have to go ... year 10 beckons!

I had two interviews with private schools recently. I so badly wanted the jobs but the competition was tough and I don't interview very well. Anyway didn't get them although I thought one was a bit dodgy as he asked about how I was going to manage as a young mum which I thought was an inappropriate question! Keeping my eyes on TES obviously. My subject isn't in demand though and there are a lot of out of work teachers at the moment in general. It would be so amazing if I could get this job. Even though it is only temporary it would get me back in the profession. I guess what will be will be and all that but I am not sure my confidence can cope with another job rejection.

Taking Dareh to the dr this morning as he doesn't seem well. He had a cold and last night he was sick and this morning his nappies are bad. Could it be teething do you think? Going to get him checked just to be safe anyway.

Have fun with year ten - don't you love it when you can just stick a movie on for a bit!

Floria - he's neutered but is becoming more dominant over our older black lab...He has always urinated in his bed and then sat in it. We saw a behaviourist who was as equally baffled as you! She suggested taking him to the vets to check him over who said he was fine. He's had a cage in the past that he was only shut in over night + whenever we were out (not a lot) we stopped using it to see if he would use the little open bed we have, which he does but has now transferred the urinating into that. (I've just come back into the study after a visitor has just left and both he and Dex were shut in the study and he has urinated so I'll have to change the bedding. The visitor was here just over an hour and I let the dogs out before he arrived)) The behaviourist asked how he urinated which he does by cocking his leg and aiming as high as he can (unlike our black lab who 'wees like girl' as dh puts it) apparently this is due to hierarchy and status as the higher the wee, the more dominant the dog. This would certainly fit in with your dominance theory plus it also fits with the type of dog he is.

I spoke to dh about your ideas and he has agreed that confining him to an area would be a good idea. We are buying a gate for the kitchen and will confine them both to just the kitchen, utility and garden. We are moving their beds into the utility room so they still have a space that's theirs. I'm just a little worried that he won't like being shut away and will fuss to be let out but like anything, it's worth a try.

Stan is a very neurotic dog in that he gets quite anxious when dh and I are out. Dh is going to be late tonight and I know that Stan will do laps of the house, barking gently, looking out of the windows and generally fussing at every car that comes down the road. He won't relax until dh is in. He is also very restless when people walk past the house, fussing and barking to an extreme extent. He will also literally rip to shreds a toy in an almost manic way until nothing is left.

I do like your idea of a treadmill -this would be perfect for him!! He swims in our little stream but I will start taking him to the park with the lake at least once a week as he loves to swim and is very confident in the water.

On the plus side he is a very playful dog who likes to bring you tennis balls for you to throw and he is certainly a better retriever than our Black lab! He always comes back when you call him.
Due to his 'habits' he smells terrible though!

..i do have a picture of Stan as a puppy on my profile if anyone fancies a look!

Just a quickie lovely ladies...

Stefka good luck with your interview honey. WIll have everything crossed! Hope too that Dareh is OK - may well be teething as it seems to be affecting Adam like that

Mine hope your week is getting better. It is really hard going back after being off for so long but it DOES get easier - honest!

Hello others!

Well I have had a great day. My consultant is away on holiday and rather than cancel his operating list as he would have done a month or so ago it was still on. Nothing too difficult but it was a really great thing for my confidence that he trusted me to just get on with it and also that i managed just fine! I am getting some of my enthusiasm for my job back which is great - see Mine it doesn't take too long!

On the down side Adam hasn't been sleeping too well this week - he is teething and has a cold and was up twice last night. Fingers crossed for a better one tonight...

thanks everyone for your support.

I truly hate it. Its too stressful, demanding, the commute is tiring and i'm just exhausted by the time i get home. To top it off, i have caught a cold from the dirty commuters! I haven;t had a single sniffle since i have been on maternity leave, but 3 days back and bam.... i get the lurges

I;m certainly not of the mindset of some mums that relish their time at work for adult conversation and stimulating their minds. I'd rather spend all day playing with Eren.

At least its friday tomorrow!!

I must now go back and read the thread properly and catch up on your gossip!!

Hi ladies

Just a quickie from me too. I haven't had time to read anything, just hope it's going ok for everybody as our LOs approach one (are any of them one already??)

Have I missed the birthday pressie thing?

I think of you all often, just not finding time at the moment to read the thread, let alone post on it. Now that time at work means time away from Huw, I am making better use of it that I did when I was pregnant.

We're all well down here in Swansea. It was even hot today - making up for the so-called summer. Teaching has started for me, so busy times at work. Eve is back in school and loving it. Huw seems well settled at the childminder. His current favourite things are pointing and standing. He races up the stairs. He nuzzles and hugs has big toy lion - it's the cutest thing .

We're in the process of re-organising the house ready for him to move into his own room. Utter chaos everywhere, but we now have a study downstairs, in which dh and I have a desk each. I treated myself to a gorgeous Danish 60s rosewood one with some money I inherited from my grandmother. Am chuffed to bits with it. Looking forward to working at home whenever possible.

I miss you ladies you know. Will try to do a bit of catching up.

Do let me know about the birthday present thing. I know I'll only have myself to blame if I'm too late.

A x

Just popping in to say we have had one of those days..I did a long post to muppet about Stanley (cute pic) and the computer shut down!
Then Alex wouldnt eat his breakfast except the yoghurt followed by a long bf and then threw the whole lot up over me, himself, the settee, the carpet and the dog! He has been crabby all day, (TMI alert)used his potty at lunchtime and while I was emptying it managed to further empty his bowels all over the bathroom floor. He has been sick a further 3 times this evening after getting a little dinner down himand has just wanted to be cuddled all evening, not his usual up to mischief, impish self at all .... I just hope he is ok by tomorrow, we are supposed to be going to a little pals 1st birthday party
Hope everyone else is ok...I'll try to get back tomorrow night

OK so a couple of you have missed the birthday pressie thing - if you email me (or if more than a couple of you do) then I am sure we can sort something out!

I am on [email protected]

Apricotle lovely to hear from you by the way! Adam also loves standing and pointing and has a dog that he nuzzles into. Super cute!

I've dipped my toes back into the thread - too damned tired to get back to everyone, but two things in my mind:

Crochet - can you put me on the secret santa list please?

Stefka - have you seen the fantastic rocking moose at ikea? (doh moment, here, I was thinking they were trikes, but they're not they're rocking mooses!) And they may be for slighlty older kids, but they are cute as hell and a lot cheaper than similar htings elsewhere. We're gonna get one for H.

Did anything ever come of the planned trip to Bristol Zoo? I'll be mad if I missed it. Let's do it soon. Go on, let's. The babies are old enough to really enjoy looking at the animals now. What d'ya reckon?

Nighty night!

Not seen that no Apricot - love Ikea though so any excuse to go!! Mind you it's a dangerous place Ikea - I always come out with all this crap that I never intended to buy.

Your study sounds lovely. One day I would like a house with a study - and a utility room so I didn't have t have washing all over the house all the time!

Hope today is better for you Mine - hang in there.