The all new and exciting May TODDLERS thread...

[GeorginaA]

... it's May 1st folks...

Hi everybody. Just catching up on everybody's news before I make lunch. DS is fast asleep and DD is watching CBeebies. DS has started walking on his own but also finds is hilarious to fall over on the floor! Hoping that we can get him some shoes soon because DD needs some new ones and we can go over to a Clarks outlet place and deck them both out in last year's fashions at half the price!
Lizzylou - I think I may be closest to you...we are South Manchester/Cheshire depending on whether you are the post office/telephone directory/council

Hi Judd, a short trip round the M60 then!

Where is the Clarks outlet place??? DS is nearly out of his shoes and I am a bit broke at the moment!!!

Hi all,

She gone! My mother has gone! Hurrah!

Linnett- How exciting for you and dd's first shoes very ! Hope she gets over her cold quickly and you get a more restful night.

Prufrock- Georgina is right you have the perfect excuse with the house move. Also happy to he lp you organize if you like. Btw, when things are less hectic i took Kiera to parkside swimming pool yetserday and it has a FAB baby pool, are you up for going sometime?

Georgina- Don;t worry, hopefully i'll speak to you soon

Egypt- I agree with Georgina (again) Push for a referal, at least then your mind is at rest. Don't worry about dd's getting bored with foods quickly. Kiera did the same up until very recently, and still does it sometimes. Yesterday i couldn't get her to eat much at all and the restaurant and we actualy had to order another meal just for her! (which she also didn't eat much of)

Speak to you soon folks xxxxx

Hi Lizzylou - I was thinking of Cheshire Oaks over near Chester (have you ever been to Blue Planet Aquarium? Fab). They've also got a Gap, ELC and other stuff. I vaguely think that they also have a Clarks outlet shop at Freeport in Fleetwood but am not 100% sure on that. I am, however, very aware that they have a Next there!

But Judd do they have a decent range of sizes? I have only ever managed to get DS wellies at the Clarks outlet round here. Granted he has funny shaped feet. Got him some doodles for nursery indoor shoes and had to take them back after a week because they were too tight - remeasured from 8.5G to 9H. Going to get DD re-measured on Friday with her cruising shoes. She is nowhere near walking and has had them a while.

Not much else to report. Had a horrendous week with DD in the night which we put down to teething. Then she slept 12 hours solid last night. Have won a free family photo session for Friday so we're busy discussing what to wear. And will have to go put some more washing on before I go to bed. Am now starting to think about organising our holiday. Not sure what to do with DD and her milk. Any ideas?

BTW I am in West Yorkshire so probably not all that far away from you either lizzylou.

Bozza, what's the matter with your DD and milk? Do you mean having it fresh for her on holidays? Where are you going and staying?
We are going to Tenby (cottage) at the end of June and then to Cornwall mid September with the outlaws. Can't - bally - wait for a holiday!

I woke up this morning with a cold have only just got over a cold a few weeks ago honestly children pick up every bug going then pass it onto the mums and dads, or in my case just the mum, dh never gets sick

hello to all the new people, sorry I missed you out last night.

Dd2 did sleep better last night thank goodness. tonight it was nearly 9pm before she went to bed which is late for her but we had parents evening at the school tonight and she had a nap while we were there. It was late for her to have a nap at 6pm but at least we got to talk to dd1's teacher in peace.

ok, I'm going to bed now with my cold and I'm hoping it will be almost gone by morning as dh is working during the day and I've got dd2 all to myself, I'll be exhausted by 9am at this rate.

bye for now

Hello everyone,

Welcome to all the new people.

Libb - Get well soon

Cat - Are you o.k? A lump on your head doesn't sound too pleasant.

Scarey to read all the MMR talk. I've been burrying my head under the sand, trying to deny it's ever going to happen. You all seem to have decided what you think is best. I don't have a clue yet! What is the reason for waiting until 15 months? Is there research or something that says it's better later? Just curious. I'd better get reading.....

DS is 1 on Saturday and we're having a big party. Everyone's been asking what they can get him so I revisited the big prezzie chat here and suggested some of those, someone's got Tomy eggs, I think someone else is going for the Ball Blaster etc. Cheers for the tips. We also found this cool thing called a Tomy Aqua draw, like an Etcha - Sketch but better. Drawing without the mess.

I'm very excited but busy. I made a tellytubbies cake yesterday, I've been working and have attended 2 weddings in the last week. Consequently, I had no time and the house looks an absolute bombsite. I mean reaaaally bad. I have 25 odd people arriving on Saturday. Yikes!

Jake stood on his own for about 15 seconds this last weekend. We were soooo proud. Of course, I spent the next few days trying to show friends and family what he can do. The conversations went something like this:

Me -"Have you seen what Jake can do?"
{mummy lets go of Jake}
{Jake slumps to the floor in a big heap thinking, "mummy, I'm not a performing monkey"}
Other person sarcastically - "yes, very good"
Me - "He can stand, honest"
Other person "Hmmmm"

He hasn't stood since.

I've found out a really good messy play game recently. You should try it. It's cornflour and water, perfectly harmless to play with and not too messy. You just mix it together in a bowl until it's gloopy and then pour it on a tray. It's so bizarre. It's half liquid that sets when it's still but becomes liquid again when it's stirred or poured. Bizarre stuff. The best thing is if it gets on clothes it dries and you can just brush it right off but yet it's messy and interesting to play with.

Morning everyone,

Ponka- I'm okay, bit nervous about it but not too bad, thanks for asking
MMR- Dp and i made the decision to give Kiera seperate jabs privatly in London, but after loads of research on the web we've changed our minds (well dp more than me)I actualy don't think there's much of a risk, and apparently the bloke who first linked the MMR with autism has said his quote was taken out of context and is now telling everyone to have the combined jab. It's a personal choice though and one i hate having to make!
Congrats on Jakes standing! Kiera hasn't done anything like that, and is still not that keen on pulling herself up at all

Linnett- hope you get better soon!

Bozza and Judd- oooh holidays Don't think we'll be able to go this year but hey ho definatly next year

Love to all
xxxx

Arrggghh my brain! I meant Linnet Get well soon, not Libb! My brain is mush since I had Jake.

Even more spectacularly, I turned up at work today and everyone asked me why I was there. I'd forgotten I'd taken annual leave to prepare for Jake's party! They've let me take it tomorrow instead, luckily

They say it takes a year to regain the IQ you lose from giving birth. I think mine's disappeared completely

perhaps I shouldn't go for a second then?!

yes my IQ is practically nil now. after having lost my car key for a week i found it in the firewood basket. (blame dd for that one).

with the mmr, the guy who started the scare has def been proved wrong yes, in the fact that he was trying to get a patent for his single vaccines at the time....watched lots of nhs type debate videos borrowed from my mil's neighbour who is a nurse. aaaaaaanyway, there's other reasons for the 15 month wait.....you'll have to search about a week ago on this thread, can't remember excatly what it is.

cat, so sorry i didnt mention your head. how are you and what is it - do they know? xxxxxxxxx

we have 25 ish people here on sat too. finally all our hard work in the garden has come to fruition - it's finished!!! maaaaagic. just need a bbq on the go and a few bottles of wine and we're away. (oh, it is supposed to be a one year old's party!)

parents arriving tonight, pils arriving in the morning and other pils arriving on sat. eeek. dh dreading having his mum and dad with his second wife in the same house. if she spoils dd's birthday i WILL be narked

Ooh Cat thinking about you with the head. Hope it all goes OK. Egypt and Ponka try not to stress too much about the birthdays - just enjoy the day.

Judd we are going to Normandy. We are staying in a guest house recently opened by one of dh's golfing mates (but I have banned him from taking his clubs so thats OK). They've only opened this month so I think they will be fairly empty so not concerned about the milk there - sure I can invade the kitchen. But we are stopping in a travel lodge on the way down and a B&B for 2 nights in Poole on the way home. DD tends to want milk early in the morning of get narky and I know travel inns don't have their own restaurant. So do I go for ordinary milk, revert to carton of formula or buy long life?

Also opinions on those travel sickness wrist bands. Do they work? This is for DS btw.

bozza, i'd take cartons of formula.. but then again dd is still on it most of the time. wont hurt for a few days

Hi everone,

Feeling quite upbeat today
Kiera has skipped her morning nap, eaten toast, a toddler meal, 1 peach and 1 ice cream, has learned how to make an oinking sound and has been standing really well for most of the day.
I am covered in sweat, have cleaned the kitchen, smashed a ragu jar, thoroughly cleaned kieras high chair, have done 1 load of washing, hung the dry load up and ironed 2 skirts and kieras dresses.
I am now knackered

Bozza- I agree with Egypt, take the cartons. Having said that would it be easier to use real milk? Could you buy some and maybe store it in the hotels fridge? Kiera has been on real milk since her birthday and is loving it, just a thought Hmmm, not sure about the wrist bands, i've not tried them.

Egypt- They're not sure what the lump is. I'm still waiting for the appointment to have it removed but they're fast tracking oit so hopefully i won't have to wait for much longer! The doc said it's probably just a harmless cyst, but they don't want to take any chances.

Lol Ponka Don't worry i have no brain since i had Kiera. I put two dirty plates in the fridge the other day instead of the dishwasher.

Prufrock i'll send you an email soon about dates i'm free for the meet up.
Did anyone not get the mail? If not CAT me and i'll forward it to you. Ooooh exciting isn't it?

Love to all xxxx

Yes DD has been on cow's milk gradually introduced since 10 months. So thats why I'm not sure if she'd drink the formula again. But its only for first thing in the morning at night we can just grab a pint from a petrol station. If she's hungry enough she will is I suppose the answer.

Cat - impressed with you and Kiera today!

Had row with DH. Have "won" a free family portrait session. I want to do it and he doesn't. We are doing it but he's very begrudging and using it as an excuse to have a go at me whenever possible. Its this afternoon. He thinks I'm being gullible thinking its free. Of course I realise they'll try and sell me more pictures of my cute children and it'll be hard to resist. I'm a 32 yo mother of 2 with a degree in English Language - I can read the small print and didn't come in on the banana boat. Grrr .

Bozza - only 2 thoughts re: milk. Could you take a thermos and pour milk in for the morning? Or just buy a pint last thing and put it in a sink full of cold water until the morning (thinking along the bottle of wine chilling in bidet in Ibiza scenario!)
That is assuming you have any milk money left after spending it all on pictures of your beautiful children

Happy Birthday to your DD, Egypt! Enjoy the day.

yes! buy a thermos!

Thank you Ponka.. after a hectic day, dd enjoyed it eventually. had loads of people around for a bbqm in the wind. cant believe it was so windy after such a hot day yesterday. anyway, better for dd. she was really hot last night and was actually awake until 3am!!! knackered. we slept in her room as pils were in ours, and dh (who was plastered) kept us both awake with his snoring. (in dog house). so, dd in bed asleep and me following soon after.

Ah Egypt glad she had such a nice day.

As for milk am more tempted by sink of cold water than thermos. Will need to buy a pint night before anyway for bedtime bottle so leftovers could go in sink. In fact when DS was baby we used to put his bottle in a cool bag with an ice pack when we went to bed and then by morning it would be room temp and we would just give it it him. Not a newborn btw because I breastfed him for 6 months. But DD will not drink milk at room temp so we've never done it with her.

Photos are at least £150 each(for a very small one) and we have a slight cash flow issue so we will be getting the freebie and no more I'm afraid. So will be a bit sad out of an hour's session and loads of great photos of DS especially but also DD. Going to view on Monday. DH's Grandad died overnight so he's sad but in a way relieved because he's been bed-ridden since Christmas and fed through a tube in his stomach. But you still get upset don't you? Funeral probably Friday and I've got babysitting dilemmas. DH thinks it would be OK to take DD but prefer not to take DS. But my Mum and Dad are on hols, my sis who is on maternity leave is going to London (for some reason) and my friend who I usually ask for favours is having her eyes lasered. What do you think about children and funerals? DS is 4.

Bozza, sorry to hear about that. sounds like it must have been a difficult time for the family. IME, children are quite a good thing at funerals but it does depend on the family. If it's an elderly person, there may well be far more older people there, and one little face is welcomed. Prob. different if there were lots of children, with problems of high jinks... At 4, he will pretty much reliably stay quiet during the sad bits anyway won't he? If you think he'll manage it himself, I'd not worry about taking him.

We had the highlight of the village season yesterday - fundraising coffee morning for Toddler and Baby group. hilarious... the whole tins of tuna in the tombola, cheap custard creams on the table, pensioners clumping the crowds out the way with their bulging handbags at the cake and candy business. So my house is full of cakey leftovers. krispy cakes were slow sellers. but we made over £800 so it was good. I did face painting. Poor DD was with her dad and had to suffer watching me from afar - screaming for me to come and attend - until I advised him to take her far away! My mum came in the after =noon and DD was in full talking mode, copying everything we said. She came out with 'juice', 'cheese', 'bear', 'shoes', 'banana',... loads of stuff, it was amazing. not sure how much she could do spontaneously though.

Egypt glad you had a nice day in the wind. like the picture of your poor blighted sozzled fil snoring away... classic sitcom first birthday moment!

Spots well impressed at your DD and the talking. How clear are her words? DD says "ball" but its more like "beh" which is the same as her word for DS.

Bit unsure about the funeral because I agree a little face can brighten proceedings (but DD will fill that role) but am more concerned about DS himself. Although we have told him that Grandad B has died I'm not sure how much of this he grasps (wasn't at all upset) and seeing the coffin/grave etc might open up a big can of worms. Hmm probably should start a seperate thread about this one.... Wouldn't be lots of children there though, only other child possibly DNephew who is 7 months.

Took kids to a leisure pool this afternoon. DD loved it, got splashed and soaked no problem. So why does she scream in the bath?

dont know what to do with the mmr now after watching horizon. dh suddenly wants them singularly and i think i may too. remind me what you are all doing and why? i have no idea.

Egypt, FWIW we had DD done at 13 months when we got the card through from the HV. We'll do the same with DS.
Spots - am also in awe at your DD's talking. Mind you, as DD didn't speak until 2y8mos....I think I have very low expectations for DS in this area . He did, however, get his first shoes today - size 5 already! They had no boys' first shoes at the outlet place yesterday (clever Bozza! Although we did get DD Doodles and girly white sandals) so I took him to John Lewis today, armed with books, rich tea biscuits and sultanas. He did some pretty impressive walking with one arm held up in the air (like Buzz Lightyear) and I stroked a few beautiful items in the Ladieswear section.

Did dd at 14 months, will be doing ds at 15. (There is a very good reason for that, but I can't remember it exactly. I think it's that one of the components is not as effective in confferring immunity if given before 15 months). And I went to all the trouble to give ds DTaP before the 5 in 1 came out, I think the mercury in the old DTwP was far more dangerous than anything in the MMR (as long as you have no contra-indications)

hello hello!! how's everybody doing?
prufrock, thx for the mail - will disucss it with dp!!! (ehm, re staying over night. would that be at your house or b&b something?)

haven't been on much, i know - but the energy is coming back

we are spending lots of time outside now because ds just loves walking around!!!! and the sooner he can walk the sooner i don't have to carry him around anymore - he is fairly confident with walking on one hand; takes a few steps on his own already, and yesterday he even stood up unaided!! (was in the garden, saw something in the grass, bent over and got up again )
he also loves the interaction with neighbours kids (we've got enough of them 5 boys, 2 girls aged 5-11) and they've been to our place alot lately - seems like we've got interesting toys

talking wise i don't expect anything soon; especially since he's got to learn 2 languages! - but he does understand alot (both languages) and is good with sounds! (brum=car, bup=vogel (he can't say beep ), hoppahoppa=horse (german form of jumpyjumpy)) - but he does say alot 'ja'nein'ess' (=german for 'yes'no'food') - so i am very happy with that!!

and another thing happened: guess dp and i are engaged now grins - every time so far he talked his way out of it; but i said yesterday i don't like having a diff name than the rest of our family; and he agreed and told me just the other night he thought the same!!! wohhheyy, miracle happen! - well, he then grabbed my hand and said 'will have to find out your ringsize then!' i just replied mabye not just now, with being prg and that hot weather my fingers will be triple size - but can't get married just now. well, depends on who we want to come. if lots of family then we'll have to wait till house is sold (money!) if just a few than we could do it next week grins