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

980 replies

pureeandpearls · 17/06/2009 12:42

Bring it on!!!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
pleasechange · 30/07/2009 08:10

haha viva that is very funny!

abdnhiker · 30/07/2009 10:00

whinegums Fraser has his MMR on the 10th too. I just want to get it over with! Your holiday sounds fabulous.

ktpie I?m impressed you?re camping while pregnant ? I was only ever pregnant over the winter months so never did that but I was such a wuss about being pregnant and feeling lousy that I doubt I?d be motivated.

neenz Fraser is completely manipulating DH at the moment, lying on the floor and writhing like he?s in pain to get what he wants. I finally convinced DH to ignore him and he was amazed to watch Fraser give up after a couple minutes, get up, and start happily playing. It?s easier when their older and try to manipulate you with words rather than emotions.

BDQ can you tell your DS that the TV is broken? Turn it off at the wall and let him try to turn it on himself? I had DS1 convinced that I was too stupid to work the TV for a while. (I am only marginally smart enough around fancy electronic things so it wasn?t that much of a stretch). Now DS1 can work the TV himself though so I have had to use another approach.

sybil It took me a bit to realize you?d meant to type SAHM instead of sham the first time. I think that?s my unconscious kicking in, I feel like a bit of a failure with the whole leaving work thing. I should be able to manage, but I?m not coping?

My boss has now suggested I talk to his daughter about her becoming a childminder for my kids (she has two of her own, a 6 yr old and a 1 yr old and is a social worker who?s on a career break). This is pretty farcical really.

I just worked three full days in a row though and didn?t enjoy it at all, getting home thirty minutes before bedtime. I missed them, the house was a disaster (DH was in charge although we hired a babysitter to help him so he could get some work done as well), and the entire evening felt panicked. I?m sure it?d go better if we had to do it on a regular basis though.

neenz you mentioned that ?if it weren't for the union you AND the person with four years seniority might be earning 25% less? Unfortunately our union, when faced with a total budget for everyone?s raise, chose to push for the maximum uplift to the top of the salary bands rather than raising the bottom. They said the bottom doesn?t need as much of a lift as we get large raises anyways, but that doesn?t take into account the fact that we need to live on our salaries for the 6 years before we get to the top. I?m on considerably less than someone who was in my position 5 years ago. So that?s why I?m anti-union? I?m sure other unions are a bit more effective.

allnew it does seem to be the woman doesn?t it? A colleague told me yesterday that he took every other Friday afternoon off to babysit. I was very tempted to ask how on earth he could consider himself to be babysitting his own child.

Essie3 · 30/07/2009 10:27

Hi all, bit panicked here so a brief one.
The reason for the panic - Iestyn had a bit of a cry but settled within 10 minutes last night, yayy! He also slept from 8.45 to 9am so I've only just got in, hence the panic. (Thanks for the comment on the other thread, AH!) Viva and BDQ you're both studying - might need to quiz you lots about this. My OU issues aren't quite resolved, but I do need to talk things through with others who are studying and you two have babies of the same age...

AH why are work so desperate for you to stay, and offering CMs all the time? (I may have missed something here.)

Oh, not really managing to answer everyone. Back when I've done some work...sorry!

abdnhiker · 30/07/2009 11:39

Essie My boss wants me to stay because recruiting someone else with my qualifications will be a nightmare. There's not many PhDs in my field and we're now paying less than the going rate for a post doc for a starting salary so they are struggling to fill posts at the moment. It's flattering that he thinks highly of my work - but I just got off the phone with DH and he said no way! I'd end up working tons of extra hours and his daughter would end up doing extra hours of childcare because my boss had a deadline... It'd be far too easy for him to arrange.

What a good sleep for I, I hope you slept in too...

poppy34 · 30/07/2009 18:40

Yay for iestyn. Ah think you are doing well to stick to your guns ESP re the childminder.
No dummies here but edie always quick to swipe them although not sure what to do with them.
Had lovely lunch with very glam looking purée today - we were able to relax whilst those around us had to deal with kids.
Deb how is the cream cheese knee cure? How is stefan and have other boys caught it?
Viva any studying while you work is the pits so hats off for doing it with a baby.

DebInAustria · 30/07/2009 19:29

knee a little better thanks, don't know if it was down to the cheese!! Stefan not so rashy and nothing on T or E yet. No time to chat we have 2 viewings !!! 1st is tomorrow at 10.00 am and the next on Saturday at midday in the middle of changeover, 10 out and 13 in, so we're a little busy to say the least. Also trying to decide on a holiday. We have 2 clear weeks and we can get back to UK for 8 days for £8 total ( no taxes), can you believe that BUT our family lives in Scunthorpe, Norwich and Blackpool, can't possibly do all 3 in 8 days. I want to come back because mil has been ill but I know that if we don't drive to see my dad he'll be p'd off, and selfishly I don't want to come back because I was planning for us to go to Italy in those 2 weeks for a proper holiday. AARGH, why are decisions never easy?

abdnhiker · 30/07/2009 20:21

deb fingers crossed! and I'd vote for italy (selfish me!)

I'm so glad I didn't kill the thread permanently today! Where was everyone?

Amberc · 30/07/2009 20:33

Hello!!! I feel like I haven't posted for an age but I'm sure it's only actually a few days or so. I have tried to cath up with 7 pages but not easy so I am going to just start again from here. So We have sold the flat to a cash buyer who has already put down 10 grand in escrow and can't wait for us to bugger off. We did lie and say we had somewhere else to go and we may have to be out in a month and we have nowhere!! I have been looking at houses and really there are none on the market at the mo - maybe people are fed up of not getting any viewings like us - we were going to take it off the market in August. I am now looking at rentals in Canary Wharf (fecking expensive but really cool!!!).

No action on TTC still although I did get a smiley face on my ovulation wee stick so I think something is happening! Only lasted one day though and meant to last two but thats one day more than usual. (good luck Neenz - brave lady!! Imagine if you got more twins!!)

Luke is being horrid at the moment. He has not been happy for days and is a miserable git most of the time. Can't blame teething - no signs. He has got a little bit of a runny nose but nothing bad. To me he seems bored. Does that sound weird or does anyone else ever feel like that?

Anyway - I need a bath - I haven't washed my hair for 5 days and you could fry an egg on it!

Hello to everyone I haven't mentioned as I would be writing war and peace :-)

DebInAustria · 30/07/2009 20:36

Thanks Abdn, that's what I want to hear!!I think it's because it's such a bargain that we're tempted

Sorry to hear about your job troubles and the pressure from your boss

pleasechange · 30/07/2009 20:40

amber that's great news about the flat

bored - yes, A frequently gets bored. He is extremely active and when he's hemmed in somewhere (highchair, pram), he goes crazy wanting to get out. Gets really bored towards the end of a meal and shouts to get down (god knows what he'll be like when he can talk!)

neenztwinz · 30/07/2009 21:09

It's never easy pleasing family Deb. Do what you want to do - Italy!

Abdn, it must be nice that you are so valued - could that mean you could go back there in future? I always felt if I left my job they'd have me back cos I am just so good . Know what you mean about the union, it is impossible to please everyone, the higher paid get annoyed when the lower paid always get the best deals and vice versa. Never easy! The union comes into its own when you have a dispute like Sponge's where you need representation and some back-up. I've had £2,000 from one dispute and a £1,500pa pay rise from another thanks to the union . But lots of people at my work are very disillusioned with the union due to various things .

Amber, yay for your flat sale, that is brilliant. You can look for something else at your leisure if you find somewhere to rent for 6mths. And you can be a cash buyer - lucky you. Not sure about babies being bored - my two always have each other, I suppose it is the same for those who have older siblings too. My two love to wrestle, it is so cute! I sometimes find putting them in their high chairs for a snack does the trick when they get whingy.

Well I am off on hols camping on Saturday - not too sure about the weather . Was feeling quite apprehensive but I am sure it will be ok

Essie3 · 30/07/2009 21:31

Day 6 in the Settling House.
Iestyn settled for me, without a bf tonight, but it took a good half hour. Still, not bad (but I am feeling good about life due to my lie in this morning!!). I'm concerned I was Doing It All Wrong though. He wanted to be cuddled, and screamed if I put him down. So I cuddled, then put him down. After 5 reps of this he was willing to lie down quietly if I was in the room.
My reasoning was...his little routine is all upset due to me withdrawing that feed, so I'll cuddle him at bedtime until things settle down. Any opinions, anyone? I'm all alone doing this and would value any pats on the back/smacked wrists.

Amber great news about the flat! And yay to your plans of moving (further) south of the river. We must go back to that soft play place - Iestyn was the happiest person on earth on that merry go round and I carry that little image in my head! - and perhaps we could also tempt puree... (Poppy where are you based? I can't remember! I think everyone else are the wrong side of London.)

Deb I'd do Italy...in the long run, you could argue that it's cheaper because all that travelling in UK would cost you plenty, and Italy is close to you. Besides, once you're back here you can do weekend trips to visit family and everyone will be happy. But Italy would be a big job.

Neenz where are you off to on Saturday? Must tempt you my way! I have a secret yearning to run a B&B and love having people to stay but only for breakfast!

Having stress fom my PILs at the moment. MIL has suddenly realised that Iestyn doesn't get any English normally. Tim got quizzed on this one - he speaks Welsh with Iestyn as much as he can, because it's his chance to improve his Welsh in a fun and easy way. They're 'terrified' they won't be able to communicate with him. (And right now? Are they not communicating because he doesn't speak English now? He doesn't speak any language at the moment!) This annoys me quite a lot...

bitofadramaqueen · 30/07/2009 21:40

Quick post as iPod nearly dead.

Feeling v pleased as done all the downstairs weekly housework so a lot less to do at the weekend.

Essie - re bedtime, if it's working for you then it's the right thing! Sounds pretty sensible to me. Sorry the PILs giving you stress. Although, while I can't speak any language, I guess they start to understand words long before they start to speak. Someone at work is teaching her child to speak two languages at the same time (he's about 6 months older than ours) and she said it was really tough to start with.

Hello to everyone else!

bitofadramaqueen · 30/07/2009 21:42

Sorry essie, I was just thinking out loud, not backing your PILs!

Essie3 · 30/07/2009 21:51

Yay about the housework BDQ!
V. good point about understanding - Iestyn does, a lot, but in Welsh - although who knows, maybe English too or maybe it's just white noise? We'll never know. (I'm actually not bringing him up to be bilingual, and he's not getting 2 languages, only one; but he will be bilingual - it just happens. I won't bore everyone with it!) Anyway, the thing with my PILs is that they have this big issue with 'communicating', but to them, this 'communicating' has to be done in English. Which isn't the case. Iestyn is non-verbal (understands, yes, but no speaking) but they don't feel they can't communicate with him at the moment. It's a very narrow view of communicating. There are also Underlying Issues, of course...

bitofadramaqueen · 30/07/2009 22:45

You've not persuaded the PILs to learn Welsh then? Sorry, should know better to assume you'd be actively bringing I up to be bilingual.

Anyone else really fed up with this summer's tv? I've not really picked up on anything new that's decent. Really hope there's some decent new drama out in the autumn!

abdnhiker · 31/07/2009 08:18

essie it seems very unreasonable that your PILs would want I to be learning English right off the bat - he'll pick it up so quickly once he's a bit older. My godson is German and 20 months old and I don't feel like I can't communicate with him. I speak in English, he natters in German. In fact when they were visiting for a week I could see him learning English from me almost instantly. If your PILs want to spend time cuddling and playing with him then he'll pick up the language so fast that they are just being silly. For another example, my best friend is French Canadian and she was brought up speaking french in the house until she was 10, at which point her father switched to English as that's his second language and French is his third (he's Lebanese). Their household is amazing, they switch languages almost mid-sentance. Being truly bilingual is a wonderful gift and since Iestyn will easily be fluent in English (thank you mass media) then it really makes sense to ensure that his first language is Welsh.

pureeandpearls · 31/07/2009 08:55

Well said Abdn,

Neenz- hope you have a good hol. We're off to Jersey tomorrow morning and assuming I remember to get the dog to kennels and do all the packing and find all the paperwork today then it should be great

On which note- Debs, go to Italy. With two viewings you'll be back in the UK soon enough and can see everyone all the time. Much harder proposition to take three/four boys to Italy from here. Plus agree with Essie that it will be a false economy- my parents always spent much more on family visits in the UK, even though we stayed with relatives, than on other holidays. And it never felt like aholiday for them. Glad the knee is responding to the cheese-therapy.

Essie- if it works for you then you are doing the right thing (talking about huggy-settling!) Plus with kids you should only battle one thing at a time and you have just dropped a feed. I'm always up for soft play.

"Great Job" BDQ(said in slightly patronising American accent) on housework. Teasing because I am envious- our house looks like a tip.

Amber- your house news keeps getting better if it's a cash buyer. Although I think you should look for houses to rent in the area you want to move too so you can get used to the new location, find out where all the coffee shops are, possibly meet up with toddlypearls on a regular basis [cackles!] LMAO at hair too....

Oh and for the record, Poppy looked much more glamorous than me. I was meeting a friend for drinks after work who is a TV producer so was going for a slightky cool mum look (that and trying to hide the ridiculously large bump from people at work).

Did I miss anyone? Probably. Sorry, ad hello [waves]

OP posts:
Amberc · 31/07/2009 10:05

I have no idea about the settling to bed issue as I'm lucky that L goes to bed with no hassle (just wakes up early instead). The breast feed is for comfort really isn't it? So cuddling for comfort is probably the next best thing - maybe with a dummy (eeek - am I allowed to say that?!).

Yes yes yes - let's go to soft play again - it was fun! I also need to toughen Luke up as I saw a boy push him yesterday at nursery and Luke just started crying (although clearly I wanted to go in and push the little boy!!)

Luke is another one who has no words yet. He understands everything though as will bring me the thing I ask for from another room (like Mr bear or car or Mr Sausage - don't ask!) There is a man at work who came over from Germany. He had a little 2 year old boy (who was so cute you could eat him). The boy could speak no english at all and now about a year on is completely fluent. I must say they did put him in a special school with english as a second language lessons but he probably would have learned anyway.

Debs - I f you go to italy will you please try and fit me in your luggage?

Puree - Mark doesn't want to rent in SE London he wants to rent in Canary wharf (which is good for me!!). We are thinking about building a house from scratch now!!

Neenz - I saw the pics on FB of you on your night out - super glam!

DebInAustria · 31/07/2009 10:31

Italy is it!!!!

Waiting for the viewing, ....... be back later

DebInAustria · 31/07/2009 10:32

oops should have read, Italy it is

DebInAustria · 31/07/2009 12:38

2nd viewing on Monday!!!!

pureeandpearls · 31/07/2009 12:41

Debs- that's great news. Best you take that trip to Italy now!!!

OP posts:
abdnhiker · 31/07/2009 13:48

fingers crossed even tighter for you Deb - that's fantastic news.

I'm off to pick up my mom and grandfather from the train station (we're so mid-atlantic, my mom is called mom but I'm mum to my boys, and my Dad used to call my grandma mum too...) so I probably wont be around as much for the next week.

All you London ladies make me want to go to London to visit - some huge annual June 2008 reunion/meet up or something when the kids are two...

Amberc · 31/07/2009 14:27

Oh Aberdeen - wouldn't that be a fabulous idea!!!