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Dec 08 it's time for sippy, tippy and doidy cups (& wee sticks!?!)

996 replies

Veggiemummy · 17/07/2009 16:50

sorry could think of much and these where discuss on last page.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
daisydora · 04/08/2009 11:26

kiwi thanks for that. DD used to get really horrid nappies off AB's so the live yoghurt sounds good.

Right still not done any ironing, bloody MN

TheInvisibleHand · 04/08/2009 12:36

kiwi - that's what the professionals are for ! Never got the hang of those ultrasounds...

LadyThompson · 04/08/2009 12:54

Hello you lot,

I went to Cornwall on Friday and whilst I was back on Sunday night, I have been trying to do some work! (We went to visit the wife of DP's best friend, who died suddenly at the end of January, and it was all terribly sad - she is on her own, miles from family, with a 2yo and a 4yo...) My gosh, this weather is gloomy. It's starting to feel pretty autumnal around here. It just feels like the shortest summer ever. I like all the seasons, as it happens, but the first summer I have had off since university and it's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it one

Daisy - you just mind you hang on to that pram! Glad you don't have to go in for that 6 wks...any thoughts on where you might go for a hol? Les tosseurs at my work are still dicking me about - it's really getting me down. But I can't chuck my toys out of the pram in the way I'd like to as it won't help my cause. I need to find another day job, I think. But it's hardly a good time, recession wise or from the point of view of having a small child to consider...

Veggie - thank you so much for the loan of the dvd - have good hols! We aren't off anywhere until last two weeks of Nov and money is a problem, so heaven knows where we will end up.

JJ - I had to smile at your DD thinking the night is a good time to enjoy her new found standing technique. The house we are (supposed) to be buying is a different gaff to the one you were probably thinking of, which fell through - it is in a village rather than a small town, and has a decent size garden. We were outbid on it a while ago then the other couple dropped out as they were frightened off by the survey, so we were back in. Our survey was ok (and our surveyor is a right old woman). However, it seems to have stalled so I am worried, as the other couple have changed their minds and want it again. We need to exchange asap but the solicitors (not ours) are being slow, so I am hoping it's not sinister....

Effie - I am impressed at your self-sufficiency. I am rubbish at that although DP plays at it. We will go brambling though - there will be tons of blackberries round here. He is growing tomatoes, peppers and aubergines on the roof terrace but only the tommies are looking like a good bet at the moment. DP picks wild garlic which grows on the banks of the streams nearby, but I don't eat it as I have an overactive imagination and the thought of dead sheep, liver flukes and other assorted stream-based horrors fill me with dread.

Sybil (and Verso) - I have never heard of Hever Castle, where is it? We go to Blenheim sometimes. I like those sorts of places. I can let my delusions of grandeur have the run of the marbled halls

Arti - oooh, let me know when C has her baby! I hope it all goes brilliantly for her. Any progress on the house front? Location, Location, Location is back on Wed. I seem to remember you are a fellow Kirstie lover?

Kayz - I do sympathise about being the only one who makes the decisions. I get a bit weary of doing all the planning, coming up with the ideas and generally being the motor of the family myself.

And PMK - yes, well, DP was brilliant when DD was first born and did it all. Now, he is most adept at doing things but I invariably have to ask - which I don't like. It would be nice if he took the initiative more (I suppose he does with nappies sometimes). But I generally I feel like I don't want to be moaning and criticising all the time, so it's easier not to say. It's hard, isn't it, to strike a balance between speaking your mind (my natural state) and constantly carping on (which is antisocial, even if justified). So you are not moving nr Maidenhead any more? I am glad if you prefer the Nth Surrey place but I will be disappointed not to have Reading meet ups! Go on, have a bbq! (And ask me ) Great about the tooth. DD had two on the bottom come in almost together, but there haven't been any new ones for ages.

Hello Kiwipanda. Much like Daisy's DS, my DD was due Dec 3 and was born by cs on 25 Nov. She can sit up but certainly can't crawl or stand. She loathes tummy time but is such a happy, easy if rather lazy little baby.

I watched that show on Channel 4 last week about well off families sponsoring very poor families. I wondered if it might be an uncomfortable watch, but I found it genuinely uplifting and it really made me count my blessings. I will be tuning in again, it's a series.

artichokes · 04/08/2009 14:00

Just a quickie. We no longer have a nanny. Seven weeks of sole care of two kids before the new nanny starts. Arrrggghhhhhh! DD1 is currently running round sticking her tummy out and shouting "Mummy, you are Fffffff" and then just before she completes the word "fat" she changes to "fab" then laughs manically. I suppose I should be pleased she is working on her phonics but I wish she would practice some other way!! She has also decided that she wants a Russian Doll cake for her third birthday. In her head there will be a cake inside a cake inside a cake and each one wil be doll shaped and decorated with sweets. Oh dear. I can barely bake a fairy cake. Must get practicing.

Welcome to Kiwi. My DD2 (18/12) keeps grabbing her ears too. I took her to the doctor as she is grouchy as well but he said its just a sign of teething . She has two teeth already but I guess the third is one the way. She is sitting as well but can't weight bare when standing.

Nice to have you back PMK and LadyT. And yes I love Location, Location, Location. Can't wait. I will get my thrills vicariously through it as we have removed our house from the market until DD1 gets into the local school. Dull, dull, dull - but sensible.

traceface · 04/08/2009 15:22

Hello!
Sorry it's been a while...I spent a few days at my parents' house being spoiled .

Welcome Kiwi - I'm sure you'll soon feel well and truly sucked into the group! Glad your dd is doing well after her frightening start. My dd1 was early and didn't try to start sitting up until 9 months. DD2 is now sitting (born 11/12) and has over the weekend done her first crawl - only 2 'steps' but very exciting all the same!

Arti - aaghhhh at your nannylessness - the idea of a russian doll cake is fabulous. Lucy would LOVE that! Could you make an extra one and get it shipped to us please?!

Daisy your poor little one Hope the ABs work quickly for him.

For all your comments during my not-so-good time last week - a huge THANK YOU! I really appreciated all your support and practical tips (Zoe esp.). And Veggie you're right about me needing to think about what I actually want. Last night I fed her at 10.30 then when she woke at 3.30 dh went to her and just patted her in the cot. SHe yelled for 20 mins, went quiet, dh sneezed, she yelled for another 15 mins then zonked until 6.15. I was in the kitchen, fingers in ears, making cuppa, checking email...anything to stop me going in and undermining everything dh was doing...and I guess it worked because she fell asleep without the boob. She didn't even seem hungry when she woke up this morningm so I'm happy that I'm not starving her - she's just got used to her cuddly feeds in the night. We're planning to stick at it and hopefully the crying will reduce over the next few nights. Thanks arti for telling me about your bad one. Actually after leaving her to dh, when she woke up this morning she was full of smiles and I said to dh "we've not broken her!" - It was a real relief to see that despite 35 mins of tears, she was still my adorable girl in the morning and she didn't hold it against us

On our anniversary we went out in the evening for a Chinese and got back at 9.55, and Phoebe woke up at 10.05 having been asleep the whole time we were out. Phew!

Well I've accepted the new job and handed in my notice for my current one. The only problem is I need an extra day's child care now and the nursery she's booked into for her other days can't help . They are totally booked up so now I'm stuck. Not too worried though - I feel quite peaceful about it that something will come up... Got 5 weeks to get it sorted!

ok better go and do a tonne of washing (why does 4 nights away generate so much more washing than 4 nights at home?)

LadyThompson · 04/08/2009 15:24

A Russian doll cake! Wowzers. Your DD1 has very sophisticated taste, Arti. I wonder if such a cake is possible. Could you give her a regular cake and buy her a Russian doll? I have one but they are all Russian presidents instead of dolls. It is not a very uplifting plaything.

I have been watching The Box of Delights on dvd. Anyone remember it? For the less geriatric girls on here, it was a festive children's drama from 1984, adapted from the John Masefield book. I KNOW it's not Christmas but with the rain battering against the windows, I just felt in the mood. I bought it for DP a couple of years ago, he loved it and one of the little girl actresses turned out to be a solicitor he now works with. You can imagine the scene. "I am sure that's Flora P from Swindle, Sue and Bangup Solicitors." "Don't be ridiculous! It's just some random little girl from the 1980s."

Daisy, I hope your DH is ok about the surgery tomorrow...I think I'd be nervous if I was in his position!

Right, MUST do work now. Have had a headache and felt sickly all day, I am hoping it will all fade off soon. My Mum has been terribly sick with SF, she really did get it badly.

LadyThompson · 04/08/2009 15:28

Cross posted with you, Trace. Glad to hear you sounding positive and extra glad that you had your night out.

I know what you mean about the good advice on here. I do sometimes think about printing bits off and filing it in ring binders for my next child, who is destined never to sleep a jot. I know I will want it all to refer to.

Right - spot of work.

pmk1 · 04/08/2009 15:46

Lady - yes won't be near the M'head train but I think it's only about a 40 min train ride on a different line once I get to the station which is just under 2 miles away, so still entirely do-able! of course you're invited to any such bbq's! By the way, does your dp have any contacts for jobs in the area by the way? Dbil will qualify soon and will also be unemployed come Sept at the end of contract, and would like to stay in the area. Just thought i'd ask as you never know!
Arti that dd of yours sounds smart! (not about the 'f' comment, but about the Russian doll cake! Can't wait to see photos after you pull that one off!
Love Location, L, L here too... very frustrating when renting though we would love it if the house we rent went on the market - tons of potential....
Must go across to the shop now.

pmk1 · 04/08/2009 15:48

oh, and that is - love it if it went on the market only if offered to us first and we could afford it that is!

KiwiPanda · 04/08/2009 16:33

LadyThompson I noticed you plan to go brambling - I've just been and around my way they are on top form now! I fill our freezer up with them as well so that we have nice berries for crumbles and pies in winter. I would have got tonnes but DD was in the BabyBjorn and kept attempting to grab thorny branches.

I am going out tonight with my NCT pals for a meal out (DH staying home with DD). Really looking forward to it, we've been out a few times the two of us but this is the first girls night out I've had since, ooo, about 1648...

LadyThompson · 04/08/2009 17:15

Ach, KiwiP, they are very green in Oxfordshire still. Probably cos the sun never bloody shines. Enjoy your night out.

PMK - is your DBil a solicitor or baby barrister? If a barrister like DP, can't help, as there's all that getting into chambers malarkey; but if a solicitor specialising in crime, we might be able to think of a few people he may at least approach. If you email me the details I will ask DP and see what we can do.

pmk1 · 04/08/2009 17:38

aah lady he's a solicitor - wants to do litigation I believe - prob not worth an email with his details?

is the meetup still on? Kiwi - can you make a london meetup there is a link somewhere? Enjoy your night out!

LadyThompson · 04/08/2009 17:43

We know tons of solicitors but they are all in crime...

I am about to find London meet up link so will paste it in a sec....

LadyThompson · 04/08/2009 17:47

London meet up link

Oh, and PMK, he is very wise to get into litigation. Crime is generally legal aid work and much like crime itself, it doesn't pay

SummerLightning · 04/08/2009 19:32

Argh, I am behind, can't catch up, but hello all!

Hopefully going to come to the London meet up!
Was away what feels like most of last week at my friend in Raynes Park (sorry pmk, it was last minute as my friend had childcare issues and had to take holiday off at the last minute, so I didn't get chance to contact you! sounds like you were busy with your friend visiting). Braved public transport to get there which I feel very proud of!

Oh I know what else I was going to say - Bettys in York (or was it the one in Harrogate, is there one there?) is one of the few places I have felt uncomfortable breast feeding. It just didn't seem very child friendly with lots of straight laced looking old people who seemed to have "what are those scruffy young people with a baby doing in HERE?" looks on their faces. So personally I wouldn't recommend it with kids, but it may just be my paranoia!

kiwipanda welcome! And enjoy your night out.

jj on the cup thing, DS tries with a cup, he gets it in his mouth but he hasn't figured to tip it up yet. So if it's full he gets some (so does his front), if not he doesn't.

Also sitting, kiwi my DS (born Xmas Day, deep joy) is crap at sitting as well, he also prefers being on his front and crawling. He's started pulling himself up too (today found him standing in fireplace, which has hard stone edges, yikes!), and I think he does this from his knees, not from sitting, though I didn't see him doing it!!

Oh I have booked a holiday on my own! Was persuaded by DH that as he had a snowboarding long weekend in March that I am to have a long weekend mountain biking. It's only a month away and I am not really fit enough to survive it yet, so am going to have to get exercising. But am very excited, though am a bit worried about the breast feeding. I am hoping he will have cut down by then and that I will be able to express in the mornings and evenings and it will be ok.

Is there a new series of Location Location on? missed where you started talking about it?

JollyBear · 04/08/2009 20:11

Hello,

arti Good luck with the russian doll cake! How are you at sugarcraft?! You could make a basic sponge in a large tray and cut a russian doll shape I suppose. It might not be what DD is expecting though! I think even Jane Asher would struggle with a cake within a cake, within a cake.

trace Good to see you back. Really glad to hear that P coped OK with not BFing in the night. Long may it continue!

ladyT When we bought our house the solicitors were just terribly slow on both sides. We were scared that the vendors were dropping out and they were worried we were going to! The vendors eventually got in touch with us and a quick chat with them got most things sorted. I wanted to get both solicitors and bang their heads together for making it all so stressful!

effie I meant to say before that if you have lots of damsons, Delia has a really good recipe for damson chutney. 'tis yummy, I made it a few years ago when someone gave me a huge bag of them.

SL I think you assumed correctly with the clientele at Bettys!

kiwi We are doing BLW mainly. DD has weetabix and yogurt with squished fruit in it off a spoon occasionally but that is about it. She has mainly shredded wheat for breakfast as she can eat that herself . We went to a wedding at the weekend and she ate so well there. There was hardly anything on the floor too, I was very pleased as it often looks like a foodfight has taken place at home. She had 8 mimi ricecakes with hummus, a melon starter, corn on the cob, a banana, a bread roll, some steamed carrots and 2 goodies gingerbread men .

All veggies talk of butterscotch G&B made me add some to my tesco order, only 99p at the moment ladies - stock up on the official thread chocolate!!

daisydora · 04/08/2009 20:16

Help...my ears are bleeding with DH going on and on about his vasectomy tomorrow!

"Do you realise what I am prepared to go through for you?" says DH

"Yes" Says I, "I've had two c-sections, I kind of get the pain thing"

jolly order me a bar of G&B me thinks I'm going to need it.......

sybilfaulty · 04/08/2009 20:26

Honestly Daisy, these men are such wimps! A vasectomy is a few minutes under a local rather than an hour and a half having a big op in your tummy with only a horse needle in your back for company. There will be bruising and tenderness in the area for a bit but it's hardly like pooing a melon which the poor vaginal birth ladies do.

My DH said he'd have it done but since i have my super whizzy coil he's gone strangely quiet on me.

Bar of G and B over here please!

pmk1 · 04/08/2009 20:30

Lady bummer your dp's only in the crime circles

Summer! Welcome back but naughty girl for not calling!! I was quite busy as you say from Wed-Sat though, so you're off the hook!

Lol Sybil - agreed!!

daisydora · 04/08/2009 20:32

He had no choice really. I get high BP on the pill, can't have a coil as I need two (one for each womb).

His leaflet says you may need paracetemol for the pain, I doubt it will be as bad as he is making out but he will milk it for all its worth...he is male after all

notjustanumber · 04/08/2009 20:45

Hi Kiwi LadyT, Box of Delights, how lovely ! One of my happiest childhood memories is when that was on one Xmas, and every day we would watch it and then mum would call us for dinner when it ended and we go into the dining room and she would have set the table all christmassy and we would eat by candlelight. Wonderful Is it very dated now ? I seem to remember it had very jazzy special effects for the day...

Exciting news here (for me). DS2 slept through the night last night - 7:30 til 5:45. Amazing. Basically after another mad travelling weekend I simply could not be arsed to put up the travel cot in our bedroom, so evicted him into his own bedroom/cot, and the last 2 nights he has slept really well. Just goes to show it was probably my slovenly rolling round and snoring that was waking him. I miss him but am glad to have some more rest, I feel very encouraged. Is WG around ? I wonder how she is getting on....

Hang on, conversation just now with DH as follows.

Him - SO how does washing the nappies work ?
Me - you put them in the washing machine on the rinse cycle.
Him - Where are they ?
Me - By the washing machine, as always.
Him - So what do I do now ?
Me - Put them on the rinse cycle.
Him - What, extra rinse ?
Me - No, the rinse cycle, it says rinse on it.
Him - What, on the dial, is it obvious, what does it say ?
Me - Yes, it says "rinse" on the dial!

I seriously think he does this kind of thing to amuse me....

Thanks for sharing sibling rivalry anecdotes, it makes me feel better. It brings up a whole range of emotions when your little ones fight.

with regard to developemnt, DS2 sits well and commando crawls in circles and rolls but little else. He is a happy watcher, not much of a doer, so far....

LadyThompson · 04/08/2009 20:47

Hello Summer, was wonderin' where you were. Location x 3 begins tomorrow night, that's all, and I am in a state of mild excitement DP can't stand it, though, so I will have him whinging over the top of it.

I say, I think you are lucky your DH has agreed, Daisy (don't tell him I said that of course ) - DP will never have one and has told me so on numerous occasions

Jolly, thanks for the house sale story with the happy ending. You are right, I am probably being paranoid. My own sol is hit-hot so I've no worries on that score - but no hope of speaking to vendors (two members of the same family, one of whom forced a sale and indeed pursued the matter through the courts)...I have just got to hold my nerve and whistle 'Que sera, sera'.

Syb, I have been too scared to have the coil before. I wonder if I can pluck up the courage.

I see Zoe Ball is pregnant again and it has apparently taken her five years to have another child as she has polycystic ovaries (like me). Oh dear. If I allow myself another year to get thin (at this snail's pace) and then start trying, if it takes me five years I will be 42 by the time I have it and possibly menopausal. Oh dear!

LadyThompson · 04/08/2009 20:51

Hello NJAN - well, it is a little dated, but still charming nonetheless. I love the music...Loving your Christmas memory, that sounds lovely...and huzzah for the good night!

Any more takers for London meet up? Arti, WG? Invis, I realise you will be at work.

I wish everyone could come, it would be so nice to meet EVERYONE.

daisydora · 04/08/2009 20:53

I know I am lucky ladyt but I would never tell DH...well maybe tomorrow night when he is suffering

He is seen as something of a hero amongst my friends who want no more children, their OH's are too scared to have it done....

LadyThompson · 04/08/2009 20:53

Ooh and Oli and Spot and Pingu. And tons of others

Turnip is on hols, I know.