Nov 07 - Now they are one they have just begun !

[littleoldme]

Thought it was time for a new thread in honour of first birthdays.

Loopy - I really dont want DD to go to the preschool just yet. I would much rather spend the time with her. She goes to a creche a the gym when I go but it's normally only for 1.5 - 2 hrs and only twice a week maximum. Sometimes she's reluctant to go, other times she goes happily - it all depends on her mood on the day. I really dont need the break and I have no idea about the cost of it. In fact i was not aware that we had to pay at all until my friends pointed it out to me! So am i right in thinking that they dont HAVE to go to preschool and it's just some sort of luxury thing then?? I am quite happy to phone them up and put off her admittance for a few months!

Sorry to hear DD3 is giving you tantrums! Must be tiring for you.

Thanx Loopy. So what do they actually DO at preschool then?

Funnily enough I was just looking at pre-schools!! You are right that they don't have to go to school until Reception year but get funded from the term after their 3rd birthday for 15 hours a week at nursery or preschool (or some childminders) which is normally taken in either 5 mornings or 5 afternoons a week. You can put them in a nursery that is attached to a primary school or keep them in the nursery they have always been in or local preschool.

I am thinking of sending Anabel to preschool for 2 morning a week. There are 2 that are close to me one only takes from 2.5 so that would be May and it costs £6.50 and the other takes from 2 and costs £9.15. I have emailed them both and will see if I can go and have a look. I'm happy to wait until May to start her but she will be fine as she is very outgoing and confident.

I will post a photo on my profile of my delicious new nephews for you to 'sniff' .

Loopy - William doesn'tt ask for feeds any more, but still likes to cuddle a boob if he's having a grump He sticks his hand down my top while he cuddles me and calms down! Since I've stopped he has turned into a snack monster and wants to eat constantly, for his fourth meal today he had a whole bagel with cream cheese and a pot of raisins! My milk was obviously very filling!

RG - since DD and William both went/go to nursery while I'm at work I've never bothered with pre-school. We used the government funded hours at nursery as it runs government funded sessions and it worked out as halving our costs. As of next month I am increasing my hours at work by a full day so William will get an extra day at nursery. There does seem to be an expectation by some primary schools that kids go to pre-school, but I didn't want DD to go as I liked spending time with her, especially as I work 10 hour days when she was at nursery. I don't think it's affected her at school, she has settled in brilliantly, made friends easily and is loving learning things! As for what they do - all the kind of things good childcare providers do: painting, outdoor things, stories.

William had a settling in session in the next room up at nursery today, the 2-3s room. He seemed to love it, but the girls in his current room are quite sad he's moving up! His key person has also moved rooms though so he's got that nice continuity. One who works in the baby room has told me to stop him growing up!

This weather is horrible - I think we're going to be trapped indoors tomorrow so I'll have to think of entertainment!

Thanx for your help/advice on pre-school ladies. Think i am going to hold off for a while. I just dont think she is quite ready for it yet. I'll give her at least another 6 months before i think about it i think. Hopefully the pre-school can defer her place for 6 months or so.

DD isn't very well today. She's been very quiet and cuddly with her Nanna today, as well as a bit shivery too, bless her. She's also been waking up during the night for the last couple of nights. I'm putting it down to teeth (yet again) as she is due her last couple of molars now and has been chewing her fists for the last week or so. Hopefully she'll be a bit more perky tomorrow.

Are you guys using your 2.5 tog sleeping bags yet? DD's still in her 1.0 tog, plus a pair of long PJs but her room is like a sauna until the heating goes off (must get DP to adjust the bloomin' radiator!). As DD was shivering tonight, i put a vest on her under her PJs so hopefully she'll be warm enough.

Anyway, enough of the waffle. Time for an early-ish night.

Yes Anabel loves to strip off!! The thing that really gets me is her taking off her shoes and socks (she usually wears her socks on her hands ) It's quite annoying when we go out and I have to put her socks and shoes back on before getting out of the car or buggy or whatever. She must get cold feet going round the house with bare feet at this time of year.

Blimey Loopy! Your house sounds cold!!

We're on day 3 of poorly DD now. Thankfully she slept through the night last night but was up at bloomin' 5.30am today so i am now feeling uber tired! I can feel it's going to be fun and games today - she has refused to drink her milk (despite asking for it, ggrr), refused to take her medicine and is refusing food - including her favourite biscuit!! Instead she has been just whinging and crying although she has perked up a bit now after i more or less forced 2.5mls of Calprofen into her mouth.

Do you think i should be worried about the lack of eating? She's not exactly drinking loads either - just enough i suppose. Yesterday all she ate was a slice of toast and a handful of grated cheese.

RG - my doc always says not to worry unless they are refusing all fluids. William used to not eat at all when he was poorly, but then he was never a big eater anyway until recently.

William has a 2.5 tog duvet on his bed, but doesn't like sleeping under it, he prefers no blanket at all - such a loveable weirdo!

Hope Ellie is better RG? I worry when Adam eats loads then worry when he eats nothing! I suppose we don't feel like eating much when we are poorly either.

Brrrr your house does sound cold Loopy. I am a complete wimp when it comes to the cold but I don't like to be too hot in bed. Adam chucks his blankets off and it doesn't seem to bother him or affect his sleep. I am thinking of moving him to a proper bed and my friend has just bought an all in one sheet/pillow case/duvet gizmo from the makers of grobags - anyone else tried this?

One downside of stopping BF - hardly reading at all now!

Loopy - Christmas prep coming along nicely, but will think about it properly after tomorrow - my baby is 2 tomorrow! but also

Loopy - we have a woodburner too. It saves us a fortune in fuel bills as it heats the whole house all evening.

Rg - Hope Ellie is on the mend. They seem like such sturdy when well' all boitserous and indestructible. Then when they are ill they turn into such vulnerable little scraps.

Jet - second birthdays already eh. Comes around so quickly! Big Happy Birthdays from us XXX

Tom and Dh were ill last week. T covered our nice new white bathroom in sick - so that was nice.

I'm about to start another round of GCSE marking re-takes this time. A little monotonous but it brings the cash in.

Oh and I've lost just over half a stone and am feeling very pleased with myself. Cue shopping trip involving new jeans tops overdraft ....

How is everyone feeling about the swine flu jab for Dcs ?
Have to say I'm very reticent. It all seems to have been done in such a rush and SF doesn't seem to the problem they thought it was going to be. Unless of course the Gmnt knopw something we don't? The whole thing makes me feel very uneasy.

Righty ho I'm going back to bed.

Hope everyone has good weekend and manages to stay dry X

Thanks LOM - enjoy the marking!! Re swine ful, I was asked if William could be in the drugs trial for the vaccination, but decided against it. I know they have to be tested on someone, but I didn't want it to be William, and I couldn't bear the thought of him having 2 blood tests - selfish I know, but that's my right!

RG - hope Ellie's feeling much better now.

William had his developmental health check this morning and everything was fine until the health visitor measured him and decided that he is too short (he's 80cm) She started talking about growth hormones and paediatriciams and we have to go back in a couple of months. It spoilt my day a bit. I've never been worried before as none of us are hugely tall, and DD is petite, but she seemed to think it was something that needed looking into and said that if it's left until he's 3 it could be too late to do anything about. Just left me feeling really on the one day I should be really .

Hi everyone.

Ellie is much better now, thanx for asking everyone. I was quite worried about her at one point, especially when i took her temp and it was over 39 degrees! Thankfully her temp came down pretty quickly, especially once we'd got downstairs into our [freezing] lounge. She's all back to normal now tho, if not still a little pasty looking.

Jet - Happy birthday William!! 2 already! I have another 2 weeks left of babydom yet as i can still say that my baby is 23 months Cant believe they are questioning William's height tho.

I wont be giving Ellie the swine flu jab either. I really dont think it's necessary as she is a strong and healthy kid and is hardly ever ill.

Loopy - A woodburner sounds nice and cosy! Lucky you! How is DD3 now? Is she getting better now?

LOM - enjoy your marking! Do they pay non-teachy-like people to sit and mark papers? I could do with some extra cash as we are brassick!! Well done on the weight loss too. I am very . I go to the gym 4 times a week and am still not losing any weight. Might have something to do with my tick tho. I keep involuntarily putting my hand to my mouth and alot of the time there's food in my hand! How that happens i'm really not sure!

Have a nice weekend ladies!

Hi girls!

My baby turns 2 tomorrow . This time 2 years ago I wasn't a mummy yet but I was bloody knackered with 2 days of labour under my belt all ready and another 8 hours ahead of me.... Its been a crazy 2 years but I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

I have iced her monkey cake and wrapped her shopping trolley and hobby horse present so we are all ready.

Happy Birthday Anabel! Have a lovely day and enjoy your cake!

RG - glad Ellie is feeling better , it's horrible when they're ill, it makes you feel helpless doesn't it?

I'm going to upload a pic of the creation by DD and me, we are quite proud. It's nearly all gone now though as we had quite a few friends round yesterday for a birthday tea.

Jetgirl I love the train cake!! I have put a photo of the monkey cake on my profile. Party due to start soon and I'm just having a sit down while the birthday girl is napping.

Febes - the monkey is cool! I think it would be apt for William's 3rd birthday! Hope the party was fun.

Loopy - poor you, hope you're all feeling better soon So what do you create for 4th birthdays then?

DD has a suspected UTI, which isn't much fun for her, she hates medicine so we're going to have to bribe her to take each dose! William still won't fall asleep for me unless he has his hand down my top It seems he remembers my boobs fondly, but doesn't know why! I think I'll have to fashion him a boob cuddly toy for Christmas

Hi all and happy birthday to your LOs! Adam's birthday today. He enjoyed it thoroughly but was starting to throw the odd paddy by 7 so he got a quick dunk and into bed! I have uploaded a pic of my smartie cake, I only had wholemeal flour so as my FIL said it will keep everyone regular too! The icing was very sweet so it masked the shredded wheat taste!

Hope all those of you with various ailments feeling better, I have been feeling a bit yuck and popping pills, really looking forward to my day off with Adam tomorrow.

LOL re the boobie soft toy! Adam would like one in the shape of an armpit. Weirdo .

Jet Anabel also likes to sit with her hand down between my boobs. When I am feeding DS she comes up and squeezes my boobs and watches the feeding very closely (about 2 centimeters!)It puts DS off his feed!!

Greedy Glad your birthday celebrations went well. Great smartie cake too!