June 2008: birthdays, bunting and bumps make mummy a little bit tired!

[pureeandpearls]

Bring it on!!!

Hiya, have been trying to keep up with you all, but no time to post.

Poppy, I think it was you who asked, interview was yesterday. It went ok - they want to see me and one other candidate again for a second interview, but it won't be until the first week in August. Still, it went quite well, and even though I was whinging about having to do a presentation - and they gave me a copywriting assessment! Gah! - it was actually quite energising. I did stare at the screen for the first 10 minutes willing my brain cells to kick in, and eventually managed to write something passable.

B got his first shoes earlier this week as he's well and truly on his feet now. I did laugh at the pic taken in Clarks - 'My First Shoes' - you can't even see his feet in them, the girl didn't seem to know how to use the camera!

Thanks for all the comments about sleep stuff. I would love to move B into the other room, but it's really not possible. It's tiny, there is a bed in there (slept in a lot by DP these days) and it's used as an office - we have no space to move anything out of it, so we're just going to have to put up with it for now. We have a sofa bed in the living room though, so I might try a sleep in there and see if that helps.

I have been reading all your comments, but I can't remember who said what, so hope I'm not offending anyone by not posting in reply.

Amber, well done on the holiday, how did you manage to get such a good deal (and free ice cream)?! It sounds wonderful.

I have been packing - the amount of stuff is obscene.... And I have barely put in any clothes yet!

By the way, has anyone had any experience of giving Piriton to 1 year olds? It's one of the meds now only for 6 year olds and upwards, but I wanted to get some for B - he has eczema, and he's scratching. (If it helps him sleep, that will be a bonus of course!). DP tried to get some today but the pharmacist wouldn't sell it. The Piriton website even has dosing info for 1-2 year olds on it and says it's suitable for 1 year and up!

Can't keep up - essie sorry you are having a bad time. Sponge think you have right to keep thi
fa in perspective although no epidural no joke!! Rolf I do think you are a sAint and lol at Ali holiday description ( we get sneaky blackberry looking and dh has been genuinely poorly on last few holidays - not convinced he didn't have swine flu in south Africa as certainly was more than usual man flu).
Neenz glad work going ok- totally agree about it making days at home more special.
Amber you deserve holiday after your nursing although I am with Ali and miss edie or dh if not with me so haven't got to vabysitter or creche yet ( can see deb and Rolf scoffing at me with my pfb).
Had some interesting nappies today which I think are jab aftermath. Edie now having complete j lo level meltdowns about changing or getting dressed - any tips?

Anyone else going to watch true blood tonight? I am undecided but it's meant to be good

Feeling very chuffed today. This morning S was causing mayhem so I started telling the 'dear zoo' story (without the book) and S scurried over to the other side of the room, got the dear zoo book and brought it to me. [ridiculously proud].

Whinegums I hadn't realised you were going for an interview, fingers crossed for you.

Sponge, realised I never replied to your comments about HV and SS - I don't think I can even start on it, I'd fill up the thread.

Thanks for sympathy on headache last night. I'm still feeling rubbish, with various symptoms. Suspect they're all related so really must go and get checked out.

Sorry, have forgotten all the other posts. Was there a link to ambers hols. Am very jealous of all the holidays, we're not getting away this year. Is it too early to start researching holdidays for next year so I've got something to look forward to?

whinegums Fraser got prescribed piriton during chicken pox, it's not available for the wee ones for the same reason as medised I think so it should be safe. The GP was a bit annoyed i was asking for a prescription and kept saying "but don't you have some at home?" and looking at DS1 (who's only three) but I insisted she give me a prescription as I would be going into the chemist with both boys and inventing an imaginary 6 year old didn' sound so plausible...

of to bed, DH back from Norway today and I'm exhausted. It's so nice to have him home!

Poppy - Thea wriggles away when I change her nappy and she has just started doing an awful ear-splitting shriek at any opportunity. I try to give her something to play with so I can clean her up but she's wise to that now.

Love the "mild flu"

Neenz well done to your DH . I love the way you are so proud of him - he's v lucky . You don't need to a reg charity for JustGiving. People who are doing charity fundraising set up accounts on it. I guess anyone can set up an account, so you search for Joe Bloggs or whatever, but when money is paid it has to go a reg charity.

Sponge Thea pulls my hair all the time. It never really stopped falling out so really can't take being yanked at as well. She grabs clumps of it and gets her fingers all tangled up in it, especially when I'm feeding her.

Whinegums good luck with the job.

I am very tired and a bit run down, and am sitting in a messy kitchen that I'm too tired to clear up. I hate coming downstairs in the morning to a mess and I'm cross that DH has gone upstairs because he's "been working all day" . He's had really early starts all week so he's probably fallen asleep.
grouch grouch grouch

I love the holiday descriptions - really made me giggle! Mark does conference calls and work all through the holiday but that's his job so I can't complain. I do miss Luke when he goes to creche and most often get him early but I do love having some free time to sit in the sun (as opposed to under an umbrella).

Whinegums - luke has benedryl as he is atopic but it's not on prescription. I have to lie to the chemist. We were advised to give it to him by the allergy doctor. Interview sounds like it went really well! I didn't get any kind of deal on the holiday - it's just a special offer they are giving away. Here's the place hotel I guess it's still fairy pricey even with the deal but we never go out or anything at home so we spend the extra on a luxury holiday.

BDQ - the book thing is really clever! I've just about got Luke to fetch his stuffed animal when I ask where it is but it has taken ages. One cute thing Luke does do is that he has learned to brush his stuffed animal after havingwatched me do it. He takes him out to the kitchen by his tail and then sits on his own on the floor and brushes it. So sweet

Rolf - I did hours of cleaning today because our cleaner is sick. Wer have two viewings tomorow so I couldn't put it off. Got quite into it in the end which was very surprising - mark came home to find me polishing taps!

Neenz - you might be right about the gift aid - just had a look on justgiving and it's not clear.

Essie - hope things feel better today hun. By the way - don't let iestyn bite you now he has a top tooth - it really hurts!!

Hi everyone, busy here so not much time to chat when the boys re off school, running them to tennis lessons, doing the kitchen etc etc... Good news is we have guests, bad news is that we can't use their dishwasher any more so we have no dishwasher - I believe it is the end of the world I would buy one tomorrow, NIgel (VERY money cautious) is still trying to fix it - it broke down on June 14th!!!, as we might be moving and it would be a waste of money! I will leave it one more day then go on strike.

Just time to vouch for poor Ali's DH's MILD flu, he made a recovery to play tennis with Nigel.

perhaps it was like that illness a lot of men get which only lasts 24 hours - seems to always occur when they need to do something. Once you have done it for them, they magically get better!

Deb that is pants about dishwasher. Rolf maybe it's a girl thing? Have posted asking for advice as she is really kicking off now ( nanny wouldn't change her yesterday afternoon as was worried neighbours would think the worse as she was so upset). Toys not working ..
Nice day here but bit tired as edie up for an hour in night wanted to see her daddy and seems to have a bit of an upset tummy which may be injections or teeth.

Poppy, you have to use the pinning technique! Yes they scream but they cannot move and you get the nappy changed and the clothes on no problem

Eventually they give up struggling

Dishwasher Debs, what's one of those! Good luck with getting a new one and let me know how as maybe I can use the technique on DH so we could get one (but then what would I do with my days?)

The DH on holiday stories made me glad to have a non high flying DH, he hardly ever leaves work after 5, never brings work home, gets lots of holiday and if they ring him up when he is on holiday he just tells them to ring someone else. But then as a down side his salary reflect this, hence we are skint and foreign holidays are things that happen to other people. We may be able to go camping in the peak district this summer, so effectively just driving an hour or so down the road with a tent, but at the moment the house needs loads of money (and DH's time) spent on it so we might not even manage that.
That sounds a bit grumbly but it's not, we are happy, just a little poor!

BDQ - I'm very impressed with S and his book fetching skills.
Are you feeling any better?

J woke up last night just as we were getting to sleep and was inconsolable, as we tried to hold him he was arching over backwards and screaming, eventually after about 45 mins my lovely singing managed to calm him down enough to give him some calpol (he is the only person on earth to appreciate my singing voice) and more singing got him back to sleep and he was fine then. Does this sound like teething? He has had a very sore bum today as well. Maybe the first tooth will make an appearance!

Whinegums - sounds like the interview went well. I hate interviews.

Sponge - I had similar feelings when I read the SF leaflet, getting swine flu is not a nice idea but what really fills me with dread is being turned away from short staffed maternity units when in labour.

Ktpie - how do you cope without a dishwasher

No dishwasher here either (unless you count DH) but I think one would transform our evenings.

ktpie I'm a wee bit better thanks. I'll spare you all the details but I'm really starting to think my various symptoms are mirena coil related which really sucks.

Hope everyone is well . S not been sleeping brilliantly this week and has been in our bed the last four nights. He sounds in real need of comfort and will only settle when snuggled close to me, so it's kinda hard to refuse. Hope he gets over it soon though.

poppy did you watch true blood? I didn't but have it on sky plus tomorrow and hoping it's a reeat of the first one.

Hiya. BDQ/Ktpie - I didn't really mention the interview, cos I'm being very pessimistic - don't like saying I didn't get it afterwards.

I am finally packed and ready to go on holiday! We're heading to the airport in a couple of hours, so I'll wish you all a good week and I'll catch up when I'm back.

BDQ, I didn't get back to your FB message, but what you suggested was fine I think. Again, I'll catch up when I'm back, and hopefully see you and S soon - and Viva too I hope.

Debs - we've never had one, there are only 3 of us so I guess that makes it easier, if there were many more then I think I would be demanding one!

BDQ - it's sweet when they are all snuggly, apart from the screaming I kind of liked it when J liked my singing the other night.

Whinegums - enjoy your holiday!

Ok, I'm fed up being fed up about nit going on holiday this year so I'm going to start planning one fir next year because we'll definitely be going on one.

So, any suggestions for a top destination for holiday with a two year old? deb you get to link to your place again. I might even start a thread. We def thinking about some kind of self catered villa/appt type thing rather than a family room in a hotel so we have plenty of space for S. Ooh, cheered up just thinking about it!

Whinegums have a fab time and hope to see you when you're back!

Loving the man-flu/holiday descriptions. My dh is also a nightmare for conference calls on holiday, and I have in the past threatened to divorce him and cite his blackberry as the third party. He has now resorted to sneaking off so he can check up with work, or pretending to go to the toilet with it!

The 'mild flu' is so like a man though. It's like the time my dad insisted he didn't have flu, he had 'influenza', which is worse. However much we insisted, he wouldn't admit that it was the sane thing.

Sybil I love that about your dad!

It's very cheering to know that other DH's are the same about holidays. I get quite wound up about it and it's nice to know I'm not alone

My brother and his family were round today. DD1 was so excited to see them, and talked all about what a great time she was going to have with her cousin, but when they got here she insisted on hitting her . Just when I think she's outgrowing being such a monkey, she shows me that she's got some more left.

Check out this website. It's had me shaking with laughter:
www.ispn.org.uk/index.php

LOL Rolf! I'm blessed with quite a few post-nominals here, none spurious, but one amusing - I'm an M.Stud.
Well, I'm on holiday and mumsnetting! Mainly because Rolf's description of pre-holiday husband behaviour is similar to mine (barristers, eh?). Mine does the following.

1. Says 'must go on holiday, when shall we go'.
2. Date is chosen, destination is left - 'let's see closer to the time'.
3. Week before he announces that because we hadn't confirmed and now he has a 3-day trial booked for the very same week.
4. A second week is chosen, and I make him take the time out of the diary.
5. The day before departure, we choose a destination and attempt to book it.
6. The night before, DH stays in the office until 12ish and gets a taxi home.
7. On the morning he gets up extra early to finish off work and throws things in the suitcase 10 minutes before the taxi comes...

To be fair, things are different this time. We booked a place through Baby Friendly Bolt Holes at the beginning of last week, but he has brought work and is working right now. But there was a holiday Incident. We were all set to stay at our lovely B&B in Sussex, when they phoned on Friday to say that their children had swine flu (it's following us around!) and that they were in quarantine, and named a nearby hotel instead. We arrived today; the hotel is ok but not the same as the lovely B&B, and so we phoned the original B&B and we're going there, swine flu or not, tomorrow. It's a longer story than that. The village - Alfriston - is lovely (but oddly unreal in a weirdly perfect chocolate box way!) but Iestyn has already exploded out of one nappy. He's in disposables, due to the teething diarrhoea! He has one tooth out on the top gum now so the other will follow shortly hopefully. (Was it neenz who commented on the speed? This happened before - teething is quite uneventful here, including sleeping through, but we do get the diarrhoea. My mum and I were always really sceptical about the whole teething&diarrhoea business, but Iestyn has disproved us.) So, yeah, we'll take our chances with swine flu on the basis that they're more child friendly. (It's unlikely to be swine flu, apparently - it's the general diagnosis for all illnesses at the moment, and the children seemed to have a 24 hour thing and are fine now.)
Is Luke all better now, Amber? Iestyn never did develop anything, so for all his titchyness, he's very robust!

Luke's fine now Essie - back at nursery and being very cute

how titchy is Iestyn now essie? we weighed C this week when she went for her jabs and she was 18lb 10 oz (about 8.5kg) I was really hoping she was going to have hit the 9kg mark... We had friends round for lunch today and their 6 month old was heavier than my little fairy!

The holiday stories have had me giggling away in the corner, and love the post nominals Rolf , I wish I got a pay rise for each letter I've had to gain after my name, so many exams!

whinegums have a great holiday!

Whinegums, I pmsl at the Clark's story - didn't even get the shoes on the pic!!

sponge, mmm, difficult one isn't it, cos DH did so well to 'win' his case at the Court of Appeal but at the end of the day the guy is a drug dealer. But what he did didn't warrant 6yrs 8m according to the case law so it is right that he got a year off.

Rolf, I am proud of DH, is that wrong or something you just get over after a few years? DH doesn't have that much confidence yet in the crown court but I think he is most probably brilliant .

I feel quite lucky now about DH's pre-holiday routine - it just involves him working like a dog in the days leading up to the holiday. Sometimes a few phone calls while we are away but nothing too major. lol at naming the Blackberry as the 3rd party.

Am I the only one not reading to my LOs yet? Whenever I try they just try to eat the book and tbh with the two of them it takes all my effort just to get them fed, bathed and in bed never mind trying to give each of them a story too. I think when they are happy to sit together and me read one I will do it, but is it a case of getting them used to it?

I have gone and done it again - posted on a blw thread lol www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/792389-in-being-the-only-person-who-thinks-that-baby-le d It hasn't turned into much a ruck tho actually!

Hi all, long weekend so too tired to post much - only to say to Essie, I know Alfriston really well! It's down the road from my parents and we quite often go there for a wander round, some tea and cake and the obligatory visit to Steamer Trading for me to spend money on tat essential items for the kitchen!

Hi to everyone else x

Neenz I wasn't being sarky, I really do think it's lovely that you're so proud of him . And quite rightly, too - appearing in the CA is a big deal. I'm very proud of my DH, too, but we go in for manly punches on the shoulder . So your way is such a contrast and v endearing.

Isn't the post-nominals thing great? (snurk at M. Stud). I especially like this quote:

"Knowledge may give weight, but accomplishments give lustre, and many more people see than weigh."

• Herodotus (FISPN) 484 BC - 425 BC