The One Where We Have BIRTHDAYS!!!!!!!!!!

[VictorianSqualor]

07 March: Ashton, a fourth child for gemprincess, 5lb 13oz @ 34+6
09 March: Ted, a second DS for Daftmoo, 7lb 14oz @ 36+0
21 March: George William, a first baby for KnitterintheNW, 7lb 2.5oz @ 37+3
25 March: Olivia, a second baby for TheMaskedPoster, 7lb 2oz @ 38+4
28 March: Pablo, a third baby and first DS for vacaloca, 7lb 14oz @ 39+4
28 March: Matteo Alexander, a first baby for Gangle @ 38+0 (?)
30 March: A baby girl, a second child for PortAndLemon, 8lb 15oz @ 39+5
02 April: Jak, a baby boy for rainbowdays, 9lb @ 39+1
02 April: A baby boy, a second child for bunyanvillas, 6lb 14oz @ 37+5
02April: Struan, a baby boy for Donnabels, 6lbs 15oz
02 April: A baby boy for mummyofaprincess @39 weeks
03 April: A baby girl for PippiCalzelunghe @38+2weeks
03 April: Aeryn Daisy, a baby girl for Denny185, 9lb 8oz @ 39+3
03 April: Benjamin, a baby boy for Micegg, 8lb 3oz @ 39+4
03 April: Roelof Grové, a first DS for SalLikesCoffee, 7lb 5oz @ 38+5
03 April: A baby boy for siikibam, 6lb 8.5oz @39+1wks
04 April: Matilda, a baby girl for AprilsFoolsBaby 7lb @
05 April: Ellis, a baby girl for MadameOvary, 9lb 12oz @ 40+6
06 April: Henry Peter, a baby boy for Sheds, 7lb 130z @ 40+4
07 April: Sebastian George, a fourth DS for Peachy, 8lb 4oz @ 41+1
07 April: Jack, a first baby for ThePFJ, 7lb 5.5oz @ 41+1
07 April: Lexie Bea, a fourth baby for babywhiting, 8lb 1oz @ 39+4
08 April: Alasdair, a second DS for bunnyrabbit, 8lb 5.5oz @ 40+3
08 April: James Samuel, a third baby for honeybee10, 6lb 7oz @ 37+2
09 April: Zara Mia Martin, a first baby for V1KK1M, 7lb 10oz @ 41+0
09 April: Jasmine, a baby gilr for Niceychops
11 April: Kyran for rdk, 7lb 13oz @ 38+3weeks
11 April: Sebastian James, a second baby for Fleecy, 10lb 2oz @ 40+4
11 April: A baby girl, a first baby for CeylonSapphire, 7lb 12oz @ 41+1
11th April: Florence, a baby girl for LouMoose
12 April: Maya Alice, a first baby for egyptianprincess, 8lb 15.5oz @ 40+3
12 April: Sophia Viviana, a second DD for AussieDivaonaBreak, 6lb 12oz @ 39+3
15 April: Alexander Oliver, a third baby for VictorianSqualor, 10lb 3oz @ 41+0
16 April: Ailish, a first baby for Mollyfloss, 6lb 11oz @ 40+3
16 April: A baby girl, a second baby for elfsmummy, 7lb 13oz @ 41+1
16 April: Zoe, a baby girl, a first baby for ToastAddict, 6lb 10oz @ 39+3
16 April: Jasmin, a baby girl, a first baby for Eggandketchup, 9lb 3oz @ 41+4
17 April: A baby boy for paranoidmumy, 8lb 9oz @ 41+4
17 April: A baby boy, a second son for lorisparkle, 7lb 12.5oz @ 41+6
17 April: Benedict, first baby for LadyBee 9 lb 3oz @ 41 +2
18 April: Millie Grace Jessamy, a baby girl for scorpio1 8lb 9oz @ 41
18 April: Cameron, a second baby for munchkinmum @ 39+5
19 April: Oliver Michael, first baby for bashboid, 7 lb 4 oz at 41 +3
20 April: Samuel, a first baby for Velbels. 8lb15oz at 41+1weeks.
20 April: Angharad Mai, 8lb 4oz, 40+6, first for 7monthsplus
20 April: Emilia, 7lb15oz, a first baby for SuzeM, 40+6
20 April: A baby girl for SushiMama
21 April: Eve, a second baby for OMaLittle, 8lb 4oz @ 39+3
21 April: A second DD for Monmoo
22 April: Sam, a second son for Soph73 @ 40+0
22 April: Molly, a first baby for EllieG, 8lb 8oz? @ 40+5
22 April: Daisy, second baby for AttilaTheHan @ 40 +3
22 April: Zoe Olivia, second daughter for Piccallilli2 7lb 1oz @42+1
22 April: A second DD for blinks.
23 April: Jessica Elizabeth, first baby for BabyBratt @ 40+1 7lb 12oz.
24 April: A baby girl, a second daughter for christmaspixie, 9lb 2oz @ 40+6/41+5
24 April: Miya Jade, baby girl for ShelleySare at 39+4
25 April: Amelie, a first baby for Dondons, 9lb, 41+3 (i think!)
25 April: Aisha, a second baby for Jaq39 7lb 14oz @ 41+4
26 April: Hope Olivia, a second dd for northeastmummy, 7lb 11oz at 41 .
26 April: Gabriel, a third child for Bainmarie @ 41+5
26 April: Eli Michael, a baby boy for LittleMissTurquoise, 7lb 15.5oz @ 40+5
27 April: a baby girl for Ayomi, 6lb 1oz @ 41+0
28 April: Jacob Andrew, a 2nd DS for Kaybeeand2boys, 8lb 4oz @ 41+5
29 April: Thomas Henry, a 2nd DS for TLSM, 7lb 8oz 40+3
30 April: Harry Samuel, a fourth ds for Chipmonkey, 9lb 5oz @ 39+2
30 April: Ellie, a baby girl for Annamama
30 April: A second DD for luckymummy74
01 May: Sophie May, a baby grl for Annieroo, 6lb 5oz @ 41+4
01 May: Euan George, a baby boy for Jenniejennie, 8lb @ 40+4
02 May: Robyn Olivia, a baby girl for soph28, 8lb 1oz @ 42+1
05 May: Nora Martina, a first baby for Eva07, 7lb 8oz @ 41+2
05 May: A baby boy for Beeper, 8lb 10oz @ 41+0
05 May: Gabriella Summer, a first baby for MommyHasAHeadache, 8lb 4oz @ 40+6
06 May: Wilf, 8lb 60z for bigbadmom @ 41+6
07 May: James Andrew, a second ds for Moominsmummy, 8lb 13oz @ 41+5
08 May: Ellie Isabella, a first baby for Carey87, 7 lb 8oz @ 42+1
08 May: Robin David, a 2nd baby for Woollymummy, 8lb 11 oz @ 41+3
09 May: 4 kittens for scorpio's cat!
10 May: Astrid Mary, a second dd for TheShipsCat, 8lb 8oz @ 42+0

Aerym

Roelof

and best wishes to those other babies we haven't seen for a bit.

Bas was bought a wheelybug from John Lweis today, he seemed to get it quite quickly in store so decided it was worth it, party (really is only family thopugh) Sunday but Tuesday nowt much, might take him to the bear factory and get a bear

Happy Birthday Roelof & Aeryn!

I'm off thai boxing later, even though im totally tired, got no sleep last night, found it mega hard to go to sleep and then when i did Mimi woke up.

Also, as you know, DH is away - 2 people, (one his friend!) have asked if i want any weekend company iyswim..... i didn't realise it's all fair game nowadays

DH is havingthe best time, says its 38c there today. He is watching some fights there tonight. He loves it!

Happy Birthday Roelof and Aeryn!!!

Sorry to hear about your car Peachy - some people are such aholes. And horrible that he scared you and your DC. Hope the police really have a go at him.

Love the bear factory idea Peach - might steal that idea for Gigi!

Ahggghh - Gigi having a moment - gotto go! be back later...

PS - LadyBee - don't go please!!!! Love reading your posts!

Police think he was drunk- surprise

Never mind, no doubt they'llput the willies up him.

The bear factory have got a gorgeous lamb ATM which will follow the general farmyard birthday theme so DS1 is going to tape a message fro that, thenw we're getting ice creams for all after (DH will be asleep so i'm taking a big bet and taking all of them but to a Mall so no cars to pull ds3 out from under LOL)

DS3 was spoiled rotten at school today for his alst day, gifts and a massive a card with all the kids drawings of themselves in. Taking him new uniform shopping next week.

Right got to go and make the cake for a bunny cake now.

Happy birthday, Aeryn!!

Thanks SO much for the birthday wishes, everyone! We had a lovely day. Except for me coming home later than hoped (3pm, urgh - but thanks for your post VS, makes me feel a little better about it!), it really was a perfect day.

Dh picked me up at station (he worked from home today), went to pick up R and then went to toy superstore to try out trikes! So he picked his own first birthday present (poor sod!), and we came home for his party.

We decided to just do it as "us", but felt as the nanny was such an integral part of his life now, and clearly loves him to bits, she should be there too. While I was at work, dh got all the food etc ready and packed out, and then while we were on the way back from the shop with R, the nanny has decorated the room for him as a surprise! It was the nicest thing anyone could do, she used her own money (and refused a refund when we tried to insist) to buy "Happy 1st Birthday" banners that she put up, bought him a huge big "1" inflatable balloon with a photo frame with his pic in (she asked for a passport photo), and the whole floor full of balloons. She doesn't have much money, so I'm so touched by this.

She's still young and learning things, but the fact that she cares more than makes up for it.

Uhm, sorry for really long post - I might try and blame a sugar rush (but it's probably just me feeling really chatty lately...)

Peachy, what an idiot?! Hope he gets hit by lightning . Disclaimer: Just wishing for smoking hair, not death.

TheShipsCat, haha, don't worry, we weren't convinced on that for June, even though it is somewhere we'd eventually like to visit! I am however REALLY jealous that, at some stage of your life, you were a travel writer! [jealous] That is my ideal job - well, would have been pre-ds. The fact that I don't have any writing talent a slight hindrance.

Ooh, I like this offer - you're going to regret it so much. Promise I'll try not to bug you every single day too often.

Ok, my favourite places so far:

For culture/history:
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Petra, Jordan
Killing Fields, Cambodia
China (Great Wall wasn't a favourite - loved the Giant Budha near Leshan though)

Nature:
Halong Bay, Vietnam
Wadi Rum, Jordan
Vesuvius (well, any volcano really)
Karoo / Boland, Western Cape - South Africa (then, I am biased)
Blue Lagoon, Crete
Lake District

Cities:
Hanoi
Cape Town
Chania, Crete
Venice
Edinburgh
Amsterdam (waffles, how could I not?)
Shopping: Hate shopping in shops, love souks and proper local markets.

Places I didn't really like (dh adored them though, but as this is my list ):
Rome (didn't hate, just not a favourite)
Prague (again, don't know what's wrong with me)
Berlin
New York (I know ) Did like San Fran and the West Coast, though. Adored Carmel.

Uhm, I'm getting carried away.

Clearly I love Asia, but worried about Malaria.

I think if I had to put it in one sentence (hmm yes, I should probably have warned you, this is my favourite thing in the world - excl dh and R of course):

Love:
Food, experiencing local culture, nature (to look, not do - am lazy) / big things (mountains, lakes, volcanoes)

Hate:
Tacky tourism, tour groups. Dh's (not very helpful comment, but he's got the bruise now, so might as well add) comment: Other people, apparently.

Sorry, wasn't one sentence. Am stepping away now, I promise!

Ideas? Thanks, this was fun anyway - am off to look at travel pics.

Uhm, sorry, looks even worse than feared.

Hi Sal - Happy Birthday R!
Glad you had a lovely day. What a sweet nanny.

That's a good list. Cool choices! I suppose it all depends how far you want to go. India looks like a big gap on your travels ... but maybe R is still a bit too young for that.

How about Morocco for somewhere near(ish) by, interesting, good food and with a desert (for the nature loving side of you!) to explore? I think you could probably even camp there

I'll have a proper think for you!
Have a nice weekend if I don't pop in before Monday

Happy Birthdays to -

Jak
bunyanvillas DS
Struan
mummyofaprincess DS
PippiCalzelunghe DD
Benjamin
siikibam DS

And especially AERYN AND ROELOF! Sal - your nanny sounds lovely. And thanks so much for the sponsorship!

My bloody 'puter has been on the fritz - I go away for 2 days and find Ladybee has gone! Ladybee! Come backkkkkkkkk [calls into the void]

All OK ish here - nursery still very very hard when leave her, but she is crying for less time and getting happier when there. She cries earlier and earlier now - used to be when I left her, and now it's as I go in . But today her keyworker had taken some digital pics of her smiling and having fun on a rocking horse thing to show to me, so that was good. She is starting to know her keyworker better, and she is lovely and gives her loads of cuddles, and so she has someone to go to when she needs one.

Have bought Molly a little mothercare trike for her birthday but she hasn't seen it yet, so don't tell her. Is [[http://www.mothercare.com/Mothercare-Touring-Trike-Multi/dp/B000M4XP8S/sr=1-6/qid=1238795348/ref=s r16/276-5604815-7071422?_encoding=UTF8&m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&n=72420031&mcb=core here]

Poo I mean here

Hello TSC! Thanks, really appreciate it.

I've wondered about India before, but think I got it in my head that it'll be too dangerous (as in picking up illnesses) with a baby. I do realise that this is ridiculous (or rather, can probably be applied to all my other choices anyway), but that's the one thing that keeps putting me off. Stupid really, I should get over it I guess. Might wait until he's a little bit older or I've got a little more sense, whichever comes first.

Morocco. Hmm, that's a good idea. We've been to Marrakech (again pre-ds), and I liked it. Found some of the markets and restaurants / cafes slightly more touristy than my other favourites, but then again, with a baby that's probably a benefit now. I've always wanted to go to the more mountainous areas of Morocco and desert, having only seen Marrakech, and it's not that far, so easily doable. It looks amazing and very special. Good suggestion, thanks! Hehe about the camping. You just watch, one day I'll be tough!

Ooh Ellie, love it! So what will you pay me if I keep quiet?

So glad to hear about nursery, that's great.

My pleasure re sponsorship. Sorry I took so long, I'm a bit slow dealing with my Book List Of Urgent Things sometimes, I was worried you'd have completed it by the time I do it!

I miss Ladybee. I don't think her rl should interfere with us now, do you??? Really inconsiderate, if you ask me. Come back, you've proven you can walk away. Now prove you can come back.

Sorry, will stop now. Miss you though!

PS: As do I all the other previous-regular-posters. Maybe do time-share with Ladybee? We need an evening shift poster, else I've got no-one to talk to about stuff important things. Except Friday nights apparently, today's been great!

Huruph, was wondering when you'd notice me... (oo loving the new easter emoticons!)

Don't you EVER sleep? DH has just said to me 'They're up very late! They should be in bed these Mums shouldn't they? Is 20 past 11!'

I am up SO SO late for me. Not sure quite what to do with myself. Is no good, friday or no friday, I have to sleep.

Ladybee is being very selfish depriving us of her company, i vote we go round to her house and picket it or something similar. Am going to make some placards in the morning.

'Night sal and anyone else out there!

Hehehe. I'll drag myself off to bed now too then, if you want to be like that! Night Ellie and any other non-sleepers! x

Sal i have a RL friend who has been to India alot - she MNs too, amybe she will tell you more on here if i ask?

Oh yes, please Scorpio, I'd really appreciate it.

How are you feeling today? Did you get any more sleep?

Wow, lots of chat last night! You girls were up late

Sal - I was also thinking of Turkey or Greece for you - good with babies, interesting, lots to see historically and beaches. I think you are right, India is a bit too much for a baby. We used to live there, and it'll be a while before we take the dds, much as I'd love to. It's just a bit too dangerous for them, I think.

DH has gone over to his mum's old house as we inherited her car. Going to be a sad weekend, I think.

Oh TSC, thinking of your family this weekend. Hope your dh's ok.

Yes, Turkey and Greece - don't know why I didn't think of that. Have been to Athens, but no further mainland Greece, and have been to Istanbul, which I loved - should have included that in favourites, actually. Going to read up about it some more and get myself all overexcited on Lonely Planet threads now! Except for Istanbul or Athens (to be honest, I'm even tempted to do Istanbul again, even if I normally try not to repeat), any cities/areas you'd recommend? Or do you suggest travelling around? Car/train/bus? Thanks!

Not sure if this link will work, but my favourite Istanbul photo. Hmm, maybe I should do a repeat visit, having just looked at the pics, it was great.

And thought this was funny, hehe.

one year ago today. How the times flies!

Gmpf, and I was skinnier then... It's not good, is it?

It won't let me see the pics, for some reason.

OK - Turkey then. Have you been to Ephesus? Very interesting, lovely area, near the beach too. We have stayed here before which was perfect. Beautiful village (Sirince), with a sweet market and lovely, baby friendly restaurants and people (dd1 went when she was about 1.3). It was perfect. If hot.(And fantastic breakfasts provided on a beautiful terrace). Fly into Ismir and hire a car.

Ah, maybe it's because it's facebook? Not sure, but doesn't matter, nothing too interesting, just strange things (like weird signs) that I find funny. I suspect I'm a bit strange in that.

Your link looks absolutely amazing. Never mind what other places I still want to go to, I'm definitely going here too. Think I'll book it as a surprise birthday gift for dh. Thank you so much, this is brilliant! Do you think a long weekend (say flying out Friday morning, returning Monday evening) would be ok, or would this be too short? Am thinking late May or else late July if doing this as a long weekend. What do you think?

Ephesus is amazing!!

It looks perfect - my kind of holiday! Have you been, Scorpio? If not, wanna come with ?

I need to go out and stop browsing internet, it's so beautiful outside.