April 2009 - Chapter 3 - Let us round up the stragglers

[PuzzleRocks]

Ta da.

well that's the other thing..cost..
only way around it is just kicking my own butt into gear

bleu, if your dh is suggesting it, go for a cleaner.
I had one when we lived our cushy expat life in the Indian Ocean and it was great during pregnancy and after. Makes all the difference.

Yes Bleu and just stay out of her way while she cleans. Ask friends / neighbours for recommendations, we had a few false starts before we found this one and she's a gem.

Sleeping bags... off to measure ours...

ginger I'm near but not in Lndon, costs me about £250/month for three mornings and one afternoon, which is very competitive.

Hi Nutty - I'm ok thanks, the mastitis is not as bad as the thrush was so that's something!

I too have a cleaner - she is wonderful and I love her. Get a cleaner bleu, seriously, it will change your life. We got ours when I was 6 months pregnant and couldn't be arsed to do housework as well as working full time and growing a baby... I will never let her go. Never. Never ever ever x100000

Omigod I am soooooooooo tired. i need to stop saying it, its really boring and clearly most people are in the same boat - swalisan you poor thing... would bribery and corruption work at your DD1's age?

Gingersarah - I've had DS booked into a nursery since I was 20 weeks pregnant for Jan 2010, but that's because there is only one nursery around here (SW London) that would be open early enough for me or DH to drop Oscar off before going to work(7.30am - gulp). He'll be going 3 full days a week and it will cost about £600 a month, but its an NHS nursery (DH works for a hospital) so cheaper than private nurseries... I believe childminders work out more expensive but not sure how much more... Boo hoo. Can't believe I'll have to go back to work at some point... I've not left O for more than 15 minutes yet... planning a curry out with DH in the next few weeks though so will have to come to terms with the fact that he can survive perfectly well without his mummy...

Oscar can survive perfectly well without his mummy that is, not DH. Although DH can too. What a brave lad.

Oooh Swali I know how you feel. DD1 drives me mad sometimes with her running commentary of absolutely everything and her questions - this morning she was convinced there was something outside when there wasn't and I also had that repeated 'whassat mummy?', like a stuck record. I have also found that (dare I say it?) I love her just a tiny little bit less now dd2 is here - I have much less patience for her. BTW there was an article in the Guardian on Saturday about how a new baby can change the feelings you have for your PFB. Don't know if anyone saw it?

Oh and Swali - Grobag, 45 cm at the widest point at the bottom.

I want a cleaner!
Never ever get on top of anything here anymore. When DSS stays we have 4 kids here, the washing is phenomenal and I have to iron everything because if I don't it just looks awful - please tell me your secrets not to have to iron - and DH needs a shirt every day for work, DS's drop yogurt/paint/mud on their unform every day and me and Evie are regular covered in poo/sick/wee - luvverly!! Then there's the 5 sets of sheets. Just keeping on top of the washing is a work of art but it winds me up if I don't so I get stressed with it all!

Also, I seem to dust one day and it's dusty again the next. I vacuum every day but it looks like it hasn't been done in weeks an hour later. Working from home is proving a bit of a nightmare too as if I wait til DH is home he seems to think I can also look after the DS's while I work

Oh well..we're all happy, healthy, clean and fed (DS's are currently tucking into my banana cake, hee hee)..even if I am about to collapse with exhaustion!

Anyway rant over but yes, I WANT A CLEANER!! How long do you use her for per week?

Schulte - would be interested in that Guardian article. I wouldn't say I love DS's less but I do feel a bit different, am a bit less patient with them but that's probably because I'm so busy.

Oh, goodness, I can't possibly think about childcare yet! Don't make me! The thought of having to leave him with strangers all day, who won't spend every minute of their day with him, horrifies me (as does my grammar). I haven't made any definite decisions as to when exactly I'll be going back to work, how many days etc. There is a nursery at the hospital which, IIRC, is £35 day. Does that sound right? Perhaps I can convince my olds to retire and move to Kent?

Guardian article

My cleaner does 2 hours a week but we have a very small house.

£35 a day for nursery sounds good, much less than I pay here. If it's near your workplace, also good for peace of mind eg. when H is ill - you'll know you can get to him quickly.

Oh and Surprise, when I went back to work after dd1 I had a session with a personal shopper (they are free in most department stores) and asked her to find me nice work clothes that didn't need ironing. She got me some great stuff, and none of it is polyester

Things may change of course when dd1 starts school - I suspect I'll have ironing to do then!

wow thanks Schulte. Certainly makes for some interesting reading. I can totally relate to the fact that your older DC's look so big! I'm sure my DS2 grew 2 ft the night I had Evie, and also grew a massive head!! He always looked so tiny to me previously.

Strangely I actually feel closer than I did before to DS1 now as he is so helpful as he is older and can watch E for me, fetch me things, make DS2 drinks, snacks etc. And he's a good lad. DS2 has started whinging more since E was born, cries easier etc.

We all need to make time for our older DC's me thinks and lots of reassuring hugs and cuddles for them

Schule - didn't mean your DC's personally, just relating to the woman in the Guardian article!

This morning I had a cuddle with dd1 in bed and it felt like I was hugging a grown up woman. Creepy!

The article made me cry a bit, and then all weekend I tried very hard to show dd1 how much I still love her, and I think it worked - we had some lovely mummy and daughter moments.

It made me cry too to be honest Schulte.

So happy for your lovely mummy and daughter moments, that's really nice. I need to stop snapping as much at my DS's and remember that they're still young too.

has anyone come across some decorative (so I can leave them out on the counter in kitchen) dispensers I can use for laundry liquid? I could also use some for the tablets, though canisters are easier to find...

Me! I think I needed to read that.

jojo maman bebe sleeping bag 0-6 months largest part 42cm (abt 16.5inches)

I realise this may sound like a daft question but remember, I am a foreigner : Do you need a muffin form to bake muffins? Or can you bake them in the paper cases instead? I am still trying to use up my cherries!

If you have thicker batter it sometimes works ok without a tray, the paper ones tend to flatten out a bit while baking...so you end up with a flatter muffin.

Meg's been screechy all day.

Mommy needs a break.

bleu I've taken Sam to both mine and the DP's work places and he's a bit stressed so I know where you are coming from! Luckily Daddy is now drowning washing him in the bath

TiredTiggaxx