Three spikes and they're out. Whose teeth will be next?

[Essie3]

Seeing as it's a quiet time...

Hi all

Fungle What an awful day!

I am planning to take the full year off, so hopefully not going back until May next year, but the finances are really suffering, so we'll see. I am very lucky to have family close by and hopefully my mum and mil will each take my two for a day each, then dh will have them on a saturday. I will do 2.5 days a week same as before.

Poppy Its awful isn't it, It took me a long time to get back into the swing of things after having ds, I only went out twice in the first six months, but by the time he was a year we were going for weekend breaks away. I have def made the most of any opportunity since having Mia, Ds is in nursery this am so I have had my eyebrows waxed, been to the supermarket and I am cleaning the house and I only get 2 hours! My friend always used take her lo with her to get her haircut, she used to sit quite happily on her lap until she was well over a year! Neither of mine would ever do that!

Have to get back to cleaning!

ali love the sling, it looks a bit like the one I bought two weeks ago. They are brilliant aren't they, so much easier on your back than the baby bjorn.

With regards to the job, I don't think I will be able to lurk on MN from the office, but might try every now and again at lunchtime if no one is in. I am going back full time and I am sure after a while I will be fine, but at the moment I am utterly devasted at the idea of leaving SJ. It is a new job so I can't really change the start date I don't think. I cried all evening last night...and still feel like crying as I type this . I don't have much choice though as I am the main btread winner however neen's strategy seems appealing.

fungle I have found a nanny (all the good nurseries were full and DH doesn't like the idea of a CM)

sponge my sling is a kari me see comments below.

With regards to my sling, I bought a lycra one and it is quite difficult at time to get SJ in and out. On top of that the lycra rolls on itself at the edges (if that makes sense) which is irriating and it seemed to have stretched already.

oh and I don't sound posh at all...I sound french

puree don't like the firework season either

Sponge, yeah that's what puts me off retraining as a teacher. Not just the year's training (PGCE) but also the fact that it is not a 9-3.15 job with 12 weeks hol a year! So teaching assistant would be far better of course cos it is purely school hours (I think??)

Poppy, my heart goes out to you mate, I know it can be hard. Can you get someone to take DS for a few hours every week to give you a break? You need some time for yourslef. I felt really down on Monday morn cos I was tired after weekend, DH was back at work so I was doing it all alone, my breast pump broke so I had no milk so DTs wouldn't eat breakfast, then my nappies hadn't come cleans and I had three loads more washing to do... I felt crap. It was just one thing after another. I took the DTs in the car to where I work just to get out of the house. It was a loely day and made me feel so much better (and bought a new breast pump too!)

needahand hugs for you ... but sure that you will be ok once you get in swing of it. and nanny is good as its at home.

neenz/katyjo thanks for sympathy and tips..means a lot - half problem has been when tried to make plans have been let down (dh work trip) but did point out to him that is on pain of deaht not to do this in future. Am sure hair cut will make me feel bette rtoo -mine is falling out in spades...

Right that's it - London night out how about Friday 21st November - that gives us three weeks to prepare. Who's up for it?

PS My MacLaren is here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [h grin]

Hi all, just spend a lovely morning in the good mum and baby club in Tooting. Really great club.

Amber meet up sounds good - up for it, but whether I'll be up here (London) on that date is another matter. But Poppy sounds like you need to join us (or at least join Amber if I'm not there!). I know how you feel - it's tiring, frankly boring, and really hard work on top of that.
Also for Poppy - on the hair thing, well, I read up on this when I was pregnant because I have really thin hair anyway and it once all fell out on top after a perm. So I was really concerned about it falling out after having a baby, and I still watch it like a hawk. At the moment I'm feeling ok about mine (and a friend said my hair was looking thick, so that's !) But I was in Boots today and they have special shampoo, conditioner and spray for hair loss, and it's recommended after having a baby. Nearly bought it just in case. Hang on...[concentration]...product. BOGOF and all!

I'm sure there was something else. Iestyn - love him to bits, mind - is really annoying today. Random crying, dummy addiction, bad feeding, sicking up feeds. Grr.

Looking forward to seeing the pram, Amber!

Oh, he's off again!

Didn't get the job - bugger. The other girl got it.

so sorry for you amber I hope an other great part time opportunity will come along again.

afternoon all, was about to feed Isaac but he has fallen asleep on his tummy (whoops)

Sorry you didn't get the job amber but you do have your mclaren, am really looking forward to seeing it as I am desperate to get one but cannot decide which.

Bad mummy moment here as I have actually made Isaac cry - as the London Ladies will testify he is very calm, collected and placcid - but when I was hoovering earlier I hoovered up some of my wool and he screamed and I got proper tears for the first time.

re Slings I have a close baby carrier here which is stretchy but has rings to adjust the tightness once baby is in, I love it, but also have a strip of fabric like a kari me, but for a lot cheaper.

Ohhh, Isaac has woken so will actually feed him now.

aww amberc sorry about the job... and yes barring another trip abroad should be up for it ...

and hair looking better (thanks for tip essie have similar thin hair so falling out is not a godo idea ..esp as dh keeps threatening to buy me a wig )...and lol re iestyn being annoying..know what you mean

has anyone else lo discovered their voice?Edie doesn't stop shouting now ..can't think where seh got it from

ohh hedgehog can recommend either the xt (have one here) or the quest (lighter, doesnt go as flat but super portable -although xt is pretty portable- its also easier to steer one handed)

Hedgehog your strip of fabric - did you just buy it from a fabric shop? Cause looking at slings, they're just a strip of fabric... My sarongs aren't anywhere near long enough, though. I was wondering whether it would be much cheaper to buy a long length of fabric, but we do have a lot of lovely sari shops in this area...

Poppy I'm now really concerned about my hair. It doesn't look a lot thinner, but thinking about it, I'm always picking hairs off myself, Iestyn, the changing mat, the pram. So, er, that would be my hair falling out then? I'm watching it like a hawk now!

Iestyn's sweet pigeon noises have tailed off, but we get high pitched screams and pterodactyl screeches now.

Also, London meet ups - I started a thread here to stop annoying everyone else on here.

ali, I went to private school for a couple of years but didn't have a good experience - not helped by the fact that it was a girls' school and I was a tomboy! When I left the school to go to the local comp my best friend's mum told her she wasn't allowed to see me anymore as she "didn't pay private school fees to have her daughter mixing with state school children"!!!

Think my kids will be going to the local comp!

Rolf, thank you . He's a very special little boy in so many ways .

Essie, I thought Anne Robinson hated Welsh people - was she nice to you?!

As for your frenemy - I think that some people are just bloody miserable regardless of their circumstances. My MIL is one of them - after moaning for years about not being a grandmother she now keeps on going on about the fact that she doesn't see much of A (far too much in my opinion!) and that her other friend has seven grandchildren. Well, I'm so sorry with my disappointing one child . I think your frenemy is sad - and bloody rude to say what she said to you.

poppy, it's not me that doesn't want to be pg again - if I could do it naturally I would be trying now! Sorry you feel down though - I haven't been out much since A was born but, tbh, don't really miss it that much. As long as I keep busy during the day, and have friends round at the weekend I'm happy.

needahand, would you recommend the kari me or not? Or is the ellaroo better?

Neenz, teaching assistant is often less than school hours - some of my teaching assistants used to come in at 9.30am and go at 2.30pm, some used to work mornings only (cos that tends to be when schools do their core subjects that need the most support), etc. Depends on what the schools need. Some work full school hours if the child they're supporting is esp needy.

Amber, so sorry you didn't get the job . I can't make the 21st - it's the NCT boys night out so I'm on babysitting duty.

Thanks for the new thread for London ladies Essie.

Amber - sorry about the job, I hope something else turns up soon.

yes, Ethan has discovered his voice too.

Poppy - sorry to hear you're feeling down, it does get you like that at times. Don't know if it helps but once I had ds1 I started having a mobile hairdresser who would come and do us all in the kitchen!! not quite the relaxing hairdresser experience for me, but much easier with small children.

Hello!
Amber - bad news about the job, but something will come along that suits you better I'm sure. I booked DD1 into nursery before I had a job to go to and had a bit of a panic that nothing would show up, but it did really soon and Im glad I didn't get the earlier ones Yes, shit is a marvolous word isn't it, how can you ban it?? I was banned from using 'bollocks' when DD1 was learning to talk as she kept using it ALL the time, and in the right context too...knock my tower of bricks down..'oh bollocks'!! For those first timers, you will really pick up on what you say a lot when your LO's start to talk. Things you didn't realise you say all the time. I also say 'hey' a lot apparantly. Maclarens are ace, I loved my first one, so light and easy after pushing a big Mamas and yPapas around. Enjoy;)
LOL at the accent/what people sound like talk. It's funny, I think we all have a picture of people in our heads, and voices, like reading a book! I know I do.
My day was heaps better today. DD1 was an angel, as was Isla. Lunch at a freinds house, her kids where a NIGHTMARE though. Poor lady, almost went out to buy her wine there and then, she's got a 3 1/2 yr old and a 2 yr old. Hard work for her. Her DP is crap too.
Isla is teething like crazy, bright red cheeks and shoving anything in her mouth. Anyone got any good teethers? Toy things to bite on?

Sponge at your friend's mum. I'd love to send mine to private school (I went to bog standard comp) but I wouldn't want them to turn out like the up themselves snobs that tend to be turned out by these places. Prob won;t be able to afford it anyway, not with the number of kids I want .

Essie, wouldn't bother with the hair products - they will not work! Your hair gets thicker in pregnancy cos of the hormones and when those hormones go so does the extra hair! So you should end up with same amount as before. My hair is very fine too and it has been falling out loads but there is still loads left! Don't worry about it

Well I am feeling quite smug [don't speak too soon emoticon] cos the DTs were both asleep within 10 mins tonight after putting them down at 7pm. This is the third night of the new bedtime routine and it is def getting better. Esther woke after 10 mins tho, but has now gone back to sleep. They are bound to wake after 45 mins so will have to see what happens then, but so far it has been pretty good. Really want this 7pm bedtime to work and for them not to wake cos have a leaving do for someone I used to work with about 50 miles from here in two weeks and really want to go (have to go, wouldn't miss it) and don't know what we'll do if Dts still need me in evenings.

Ooh, Theo is awake - right on cue (45 mins)!

essie I sympathise.. i have had dogs that moulted less -its everywhere -on edie, on my clothes, on the bed, on the towels etc

thakns for sympathy - had thought about mobile hairdresser deb (had mobile beauty lady before) but mine was quite good today (even on time).

lol at ethan and iestyn - we had gurgling and cackling.. like some sort of pint sized witch today

Didn't mean to offend anyone who went to private school!

Yeah, Esther makes some amazing noises now... she is more vocal than Theo, he is more active (has been rolling over since 19 weeks - Esther still can't roll over at 25 weeks!).

I fed Theo and he went back to sleep. Hope that's him for the night now. Esther keeps waking up, crying but going straight to sleep as long as I am stood by the cot, which is really unlike her. Normally she cries and cries even if I am stood there (cos she wants to be picked up I guess). So is going back to sleep when I am stood there progress? I suppose it could be seen as... I was thinking oh no I don't want her to need me stood here to go back to sleep but actually thinking about it it may be a step forward cos it means she knows she is not going to get picked up now...?

neenzthat is defo progress (am happy when can get edie to sleep like that but mostly she does need picking up to drop off although doesn't take long now)... could she be cold? edie kept murmuring in her sleep til put extra blanket on her

Hiya - yes shite about the job. I am not prepared to compromise even for a part time job and I won't go and work for an arse with the worst reputaation at my company just to get me through the door again (which is what they are now suggesting).

The XT is fab! Took it for a spin and it's practically weightless compared to the Pliko Pramette. The baby seems to have more room now and looked really squished in the M&P which is weird 'cos it's meant to last until they are 3 years old. He looked so cosy in the footmuff too. I have been practicing folding and unfolding it like a big saddo with nothing more interesting in her life.

Luke makes A LOT of noise. He shrieks and screams. He's starting with consonants a bit now N and B as well as the goo goo g and he has discovered blowing raspberries through the drool! I thought he was going through cheeses earlier - camembert, brrrrie and grrruyere (clearly not).

Thanks Poppy, don't think she is cold cos she has a vest, babygro and cardigan on, plus 2.5tog sleeping bag, and the heating is on (tho it is not roasting in her room).

Amber so jealous of Luke making consonant sounds! Been trying to get my two to do dada and mama but they just grin like madmen and maybe let out a shriek. Started blowing raspberries on their bellies a couple of weeks ago and within days Esther was blowing raspberries. I was amazed! I have also been trying to teach her to kiss and she sometimes puts her lips together to kiss when I say 'kisses!' but mostly has her mouth open wide in a massive grin. I am sure Theo can wave as well cos when I wave at him he flaps his arm about but I am not too sure yet (still womder whether it is coincidence but it certainly looks like he is copying me!)