May 07 - The Terriffic Twos. (No harm in being optimistic, I say.)

[twelveyeargap]

Morning ladies. Sorry I have been AWOL. You'd think with DH having been at home for a full month that I'd have had time for MN. Actually no, if any of you have ever had a DH at home for a full month you'd know exactly why I haven't had time. Get your mind out of the gutter Gin, it's not that.

Thought I'd start a new thread since MKG's lovely girl arrived such a long time ago!

April, am very sorry about your friend. How sad.

Have only had a skim through I'm afraid, but Scoot; you obviously have the patience of a saint dealing with all those tantrums, so I think you'd make a great driving instructor. Is it really what you want to do or are you trying to think of jobs to fit in with family life? Is it a reaction to the current job do you think?

Congratulations on the wedding plans SKY.

Belated birthday greetings to everyone I've missed and happy birthday in advance to all the rest. Seriously, if I go off to find the birthday thread it might be weeks before I get back!

LG&T, is there any way you can channel B's energy into activity? A gets quite naughty when she's bored or hasn't been "out". "Out" can just mean the garden and "out" means she doesn't sound so loud to me, thus killing two birds with one stone. I'm wondering if you being (understandably) afraid to leave the house with him is actually making things worse? Something like a trampoline in the garden could be great because all the bouncing up and down would use up tons of energy and wear him out, whilst also being "fun" for him and "quiet" for you.
Also, re B's nappy rash. Remember A had a hideous rash that needed anti-biotics etc? Well it went away and then was back a couple of weeks later. I thought it couldn't possibly be teeth again as she seems to have all her teeth. Took her off milk and hey presto, the rash was gone in 18 hours. Plus her soft, foul-smelling poos have turned into normal firm not-awful smelling poos. She's fine with butter or the occasional bit of cheese, but any more lactose sets her off. I wonder could B have a similar problem? A's excema also got worse on milk and is now clearing up. I think it's probably temporary, she had a similar problem last year, but for now she's on rice milk or the Lactofree products when I can get hold of them.

I was at the doctor on Weds to get my Mirena removed and replaced with a copper coil to see if my libido would come back. GP couldn't "find" the Mirena. I have to go for a scan to find it, then to a family planning clinic to have it removed if they do find it. She said it's probably just lost, rather than come out, but it's kind of put me off using coils altogether now.

DH still not redundant yet. It's been a month since he was put "at risk". He's seeing HR today and I suspect this will be the final meeting and they actually sack him. His manager admitted they were hiring new people for the desk, but not for "his role", which is just a load of crap. You can't make a position redundant on the basis you want to hire someone "more senior". That's just a staff upgrade. Hopefully they'll make a settlement offer today, otherwise he'll have to appeal and start sending solicitors letters. However, he's had loads of interviews, lots of callbacks and good feedback.

Hey all - did everyone have a good day today? we finally had some good weather here, which was a relief. All that rain was beginning to drive me nuts.

AM - clever Ella!! Glad that DH is back on track now with the support sessions. Totally understand your frustration - I would be the same.

LG&T - congrats to your BF and I agree that you're been such a good friend helping out like that.

M&M - wow! Three kids through the airport and all the way home - very impressive!!!

Gotta go now but just wanted to say hi and hope you all have a good weekend!

Sun sun sun here too Creena, not much good when you are sat on the M5 though Bugger it.

MamaG nearly hounded out of MN, did anyone see? You were there Red thank goodness. I love MamaG.

PINK this is for you, i bought B a readybed to go at the bottom of my bed. This is for himcto go in to when he plods in to my room in the night. I plan toput him in it and move him towards the door, hall, downstairs, outside next door... eventually

Will it work?!!!! Ha.

B, DS5 aka, the one who broke Gin. Really, a ready bed in your room? We'll make an attachment parent out of you yet. The hippies will win. It's a good idea. Let's face it, he's going to get up regardless and this way you might stand a chance of avoiding the half an hour hand flap and plaintive 'juuuiiiccce' wails as he crawls into your bed.

MamaG-gate ridiculous. Left a nasty taste in the mouth. Cod spoke a lot of sense did you notice?

TMAM, I felt the shift in the cosmos when you left the country. England shifted, shed a tear and resettled in a slightly diminished state. Thank you for your help yesterday, was in a right old flap. LG&T, I couldn't get onto livejournal. Can you imagine? I mean I couldn't post. I was a state. Tis alright now though.

Going to bake today, undecided what but flapjack or something easy that M can smear all over the house while I'm absorbed with heating the oven to an appropriate temperature. Church first. Anglican hand wringing for the spiritually incontinent. Or me. Assuming they allow washed up Buddhists into their inner sanctum. Went orthodox last week which was colourful but no hymns. Christianity is a mixed bag I find.

Everyone here, knows everyone here is thinking about
Somebody else
It's best if we all keep it under our heads
I couldn't tell, if anyone here was feeling
The way I do

Round and round and round my head this morning. Great song but my internal radio's stuck.

Where is everybody?

Cleaning fecking carpets. I HATE potty training.

You are mad btw. Lovely but barking

No shoes yet then?

My friend has asked for the next instalment if you are at a loss

I need to get up and showered, the girl will not go back to sleep. I can NOT leave her with B. Bugger.

I need a secure room to put him in, padded obv for the ensuing tantrum.

Someone watch her for me? Ta. I could aim the web cam and take my phone, text when you see the psycho approach. Apols for any flashing of wet body as i run from the shower to drag him off.

Ready...

Roffle. You need M there, she would smother Bluebell with love while you were gone.

You are feckin kidding me right? Your pseudo cousin did not struggle on through dyslexia and terrible conjecture to actually read any of it? I'm going to smother you. And not with love. Next bit on its way. Oh lordy, you're going to tell Sailor Joe aren't you. Can't wait for his next vice lecture.

I don't have £6 to spend on shoes, never mind £60. Three weeks of child benefit aka food shopping money. DH would divorce me if I spent it on shoes. And those DMs you linked for littlies, gah, I wish.

Something has clicked here re potty training. No accidents since the meet. Clean, dry, day, night. Please God let that be it. I was Vanish and mop lady for far too long.

Did you find those library books? Or my perfume and deodorant? And our cool bag? What else might I have left at yours? Send me ds4 and dd1. You staying put for a while if I send you a parcel? Did bf name her new ds?

Hi all. We got back from Spain last Wednesday and I've finally caught up with the washing!! We had a lovely time and the weather was v hot. The kids had a ball on the beach and in the sea and pool. C got stung by a jellyfish on the first day and we were worried it might put him off but he was very upset when the lifeguard told him he couldn't go in the sea for an hour!!
LGT I sympathise - we too are in the throes of potty training! We started on Saturday and over the weekend she has had absolutely no clue. However today she has done one poo and all her wees in the potty bar one which of course was the biggest one! I hate doing this, especially when it's raining and you can't go out in the garden!!

Am having a massive BF wobble. Started a thread about how L wouldnt settle on Sat took some formula then went to sleep. Decided that all was ok and would continue after being told that I should start also offering boob at mealtimes too. Did this yesterday and he wasnt interested.

Basically been wondering about BF for a few weeks now the constant on and off never really sure whether he is taking on enough milk etcetcetc........

Crap crap crap! Kind of want my body back want nice underwear again but I know I will feel so guilty after promising myself I would feed until 1yr after barely getting to 5 mths with Archie.

Can someone wave a magic wand and make the decision for me.

On to other matters. LG&T how exciting but ruddy scary for your best friend have they a name yet?

TMAM glad to hear you got home ok. I have done several flights with children on my own tis never fun but well done you.

Mrs JB how is J?

Hi Abbey, gladyou enjoyed your hols.

Jam - its a horrid time isn't it. I wish I hadn't given up with Lewis now at 8 months. I had really wanted to feed for a year - but for all the reasons you listed - and I thought I was going back to work - I gave up. I would say keep going if you can - but don't beat yourself up if you can't.

Lewis had another party yesterday and I am knackered today. It has taken me until 11am to get the house straight and put all the party stuff away.

Don't mention potty training - Callum seems to have forgotten what the potty is for - or at least he prefers to jump in the puddles he makes and splash it about!!

Jam love don't torment yourself, it's not a trial you are meant to enjoy it. Don't feel bad if you think it's time to stop. Have you started weaning or is he still too wee - I can't remember? Perhaps keep with the bf until you wean he might sleep better then anyway? Mine always slept better from 6 mth on, nothing to do with the weaning mind, I just think they got the hang of it then.

Sounds like a lovely holiday abby.

Pass the girl here - dd will happily look after her.

How come I can't read instalments oh novelist one? How do I find you on that site??

We have no power all day mon, wed fri. This means I don't have much water in the house and no hot water. We are also on water rationing. Kenya is in crisis - a drought and potentially a huge issue of food insecurity. Just the right time to be buying a house here then.

Am I the only one too lazy not potty training just now?

Nappy back on. He did a wee on the window sill ffs!!

I wish I wasn't. R has done two more wees on the floor now. I thought she's had a breakthrough today but it seems I was premature. Both kids are driving me insane already. C's behaviour has gone wappy recently, he used to be such a good boy, the envy of all my friends. I don't know whether he's worried about starting schol but I suspect it's more that he had become a very gib fish at Nursery and probably needs some time being the little new one again. R is just so fiesty it is unreal, her terrible twos are truly, truly terrible. We've just had a massive shouty moment with me yelling and both kids screaming back. It's just such a shock to me to see my lovely, kind well-behaved boy turning into a brat before my eyes. R has always been hard work but seems to be worse then ever.
Jam don't beat yourself up about bf. In my humble opinion you've done very well to keep going as long as you have. I failed miserbaly to feed either of mine so you owe them nothing.

No way Jose! No potty training here. He does take his nappy off all the time and runs around but the potty is just a hat. The one time he did a wee on the potty he stuck 2 fingers up at us and ran away laughing.

Thanks for the support am just at a cross roads with it all. The sleeping has gone to shit again up for an hour crying last night. He is on 3 meals a day now TMAM really thought we had cracked it all a few wks again. But then it come back to bite me on the arse.

SKY PMSL at C peeing on the windowsill.

FFS, typed a massive post and then dd appeared with her pointy stick of doom, aimed at the delete button.

Jam, can't remember exactly what I said. Something about have you considered mix feeding, reassurance that willingness to take formula is not linked to ability to remove milk from breast, question about sore gums perhaps, apologies that we can't make the decision for you, confirmation that every feed you have offered this far has done wonders, giving you permission to stop if this is what you need, something about sleep going out the window during big developmental milestones ie pulling up, crawling, standing blah blah. I went on a bit. Was all just a big waffly cuddle.

TMAM, tis not my novel on there. It's discussions circa knitting patterns. LG&T, you have been farking warned.

All the ed faces on the Penisgate thread would be judging me a plenty could they hear what's happening here.

M: I'm growing bigger and bigger every day
Me: Yes darling
M: I be big as you one day
Me: Yes darling
M: And I will have a baby in my tummy
Me: Will you now?
M: Yes her come out of my 'gina and her called Flora
Me: Lovely, will Flora have a daddy?
M: Yes you
Me: I don't think that will work
M: Yes, you need grow a big big willy

pause

... just like daddy.

So, not just 'ginas and willies, but transgender incestual parenting too.

She is obsessed with anatomical differences.

Oh how i miss that little girl Now she is gifted. Yes i have found deoderant and a Charlie and Lola book. Cool bag too. I will post to you asap.

Sod the food money you need SHOES. You could probably lick them, i bet they even taste nice.

Sky hahahaha at wee on the window sill I'm not laughing honest, sympathy coming your way.

Jam the bf issue... i am fed up of feeding too, she faffs and looks around while i am doing it. I am not bothered in the slightest by how much she is getting, she is obv growing. She has tea and a few bits and pieces in the day but i found if i gave her 2 meals her bf went right down and she fed loads at night. She was not ready for that as she still needed all the calories in the milk.

BUT this morning when we were lying in bed (all 3 of us ) she latched on by crawling across my tummy and up. It was so sweet. I got to see her little face all upright as she fed.

Jury out i think. Sorry no help was i

TMAM is it making you doubt your move? What a nightmare situation. Stay away from the potty i'm tellin ya, tis hell.

Abby is R back in nappies too? B will not put one on,i am doooooomed.

Sooooooooo dh is coming home, just for a week. I am ridiculously excited. I have cleaned the house and must now tackle my fatty self. I can't wait

No she's not back in nappies. She won't put one on either but I'm seriously doubting whether she is actually ready for pants though. She's gone for a sleep now and it's such a relief. That sounds awful doesn't it? I put her in a pull up for her sleep. I can't be doing with washing bedding as well as carpets, floors and clothes.

You bloody dare Gin.

Perfume and buster book still missing. Holler if you find them.

I'm watching you...

Have found perfume too. Just tidied the boy's room, bearing in mind there are 4 of them in there it was hellish. Looks good now though.

Why they had your perume i will never know, i suspect it was B wandering round with it. I had a squirt now i smell like you

I'd offer to sit on your hands too, but well, you know.

Don't worry about posting all the stuff back, shove it in a corner somewhere and I'll collect it next time. Or you could come here. It's the library books that I'm worried about!

I smell of virginal purity you know.

Bin the deodorant actually. It was rubbish. Seriously, have replaced anyway.

Stop distracting me, have yarns to weave.

I give up. I've seriously had enough of this. She will walk around with a bare bum forever! She woke from a nap and her pull up was dry so lots and lots of praise. Put her on the potty as I knew she would want one. Lots and lots of protestation and screaming. She sat there for 5 minutes and did nothing. As soon as we got downstairs she sat and did it all over the carpet. I'm afraid to say I lost it this time.

Abby . She's not ready. It's just making you both miserable and the potty a battleground.

Perhaps try again in a couple of weeks?