April 2009 - Chapter 4 - Rollin, rollin, rollin............and they are over but the arm is stuck

[PuzzleRocks]

12 Feb: Skiingone: MARIANNA 4lb 4oz
20 Feb: Glaskham: RUBY MARIE 4lb 3oz
04 Mar: Barbarella: ESTELLA, ROSANNA, OTIS
05 Mar: Kazkiss: ISABELLE FLORENCE 4lb 6oz & OLIVER THOMAS 3lb 7oz
15 Mar: Babypringle: OSCAR WILLIAM 7lb 2oz
28 Mar: Claireykitten: VIOLET ROSE 7lb 9oz
31 Mar: Mumblemum: ORSON XERXES
02 Apr: Oddeyes: ELEANOR 9lb 8oz
03 Apr: Bleuravin: MEGAN LILLIAN CONSTANCE
03 Apr: Bumpalump: JACOB 8lb
04 Apr: BabyBolat: KARAHAN 6lb 5oz
05 Apr: Mrsfossil: ISLA LILIAN 7lb 10oz
05 Apr: JumeirahJane: MILLICENT ROSE 5lb 15oz
06 Apr: BoffinMum: FELIX DAVID GORDON 7lb 9oz
08 Apr: girlylala0807 JAMES EUAN
11 Apr: SpringySunshine: GEORGE NATHAN 8lb 15oz
11 Apr: RachelinScotland: CLEMENT JAMES 8lb 14oz
11 Apr: Lou031205: ISLA SOPHIA 7lb 9oz
11 Apr: Electra: ISABELLA CAROLINE 6lb 3oz
11 Apr: AuldAlliance: ALEXANDRE 7lb 6oz
12 Apr: Phdlife: Name TBA GIRL 9lb 3oz
12 Apr: BethDivine: Name TBA GIRL 9lb 9oz
13 Apr: MathsMummy27: AMELIA CHARLOTTE
14 Apr: Purlease: ADAM 9lb 2oz
15 Apr: Juwesm: HUGO GEORGE 9lb 2oz
15 Apr: Bronze: ISAAC JOHN
15 Apr: HeidiT: HEIDI
15 Apr: Kalikaroo: Name TBA BOY 8lb
15 Apr: Minush: ZAFIRAH ROSA 7lb 12oz
15 Apr: FatandFedup: EMILIA ROSE 7lb 6oz
16 Apr: PuzzleRocks: HOLLY ELIZABETH 8lb
16 Apr: Brettgirl: HANNAH GRACE 6lb 15oz
16 Apr: ReallyTired: Name TBA GIRL
17 Apr: DungunGirl: ADEN LEE 9lb 4oz
18 Apr: Staryeyed: Name TBA BOY 7lb 11oz
18 Apr: Dawntigga: SAMUAL 5lb 11oz
20 Apr: LuLuBai: SEBASTIAN 9lb
20 Apr: Swaliswan: BETH 7lb 9oz
21 Apr: Kittycatisgettingfat: GABRIELLA AUDREY BIANCA
21 Apr: B52s: SAM MARTIN 7lb 9oz
21 Apr: Schulte: HAZEL LOIS 7lb 9 oz
21 Apr: Mrsgboring: EDMUND 8lb 12oz
23 Apr: Tristaleejac: LEWIN 8lb 4oz
23 Apr: NuttyTaff: TIAHNA SKYE 8lb 8oz
23 Apr: Purplemonkeydishwasher: ISLA ELIZABETH 8lb 14oz
24 Apr: Soon2befamilyof4: TALIA 7lb 6oz
26 Apr: Carameli: THEO LAURENCE 7lb 6oz
26 Apr: Surprisenumber3: EVIE ANNE 8lb 2oz
26 Apr: Bicnod: OSCAR MATTHEW 8lb 1oz
27 Apr: Lauren61: OLIVER STEPHEN 7lb 7oz
27 Apr: Gingersarah: VERONICA ROISIN 9lb 1oz
30 Apr: MegBusset: ARCHIE 8lb 15oz
01 May: Satheresitting: Name TBA BOY
03 May: Conkertree: Name ANGUS ANDREW 8lbs 8oz
06 May: Frekkles: HARRIS MERLIN 8lb 5.5oz
07 May: TarteTatin: ALBERT JOHN
10 May: Ilovesummer: Name TBA BOY

Does anyone's baby know their name? I keep thinking maybe moo knows her, but then she doesn't turn or look everytime I say it...

Nah, but then he so rarely gets called by it....he'll think his name is Sausage or Mr Monkey Man or Dingleberry Doodlebob....

by the way, is everyone new or have yous changed names?

Name changers r us! Francophile name changers are us, in fact. Juw here!

bleu

Hello lovely people

I got a speeding ticket today . 36.5 mph in a 30 zone I have to go to a 'speeding workshop' in order to avoid having another three points on my licence (already have 6 ) which means finding someone to have Orbit for three hours as it's weekdays only.

Guimauve/bebemoo Orbit is rarely called by his name either - he's either Orbit, or The Baby Brother, or Monkey, or Scrummyyummyoijoijoijoijoijoijoi! Even DS1 calls him The Baby Brother

Guimauve I used to take DS1 to baby singing when he was little. It was fun, and I think he enjoyed it. Got me out of the house, anyway! But as for what we do - it's pretty much eat/nappychange/playmat/sleep/eat/nappychange/shops/sleep/eat/nappychange/go and pick up DS1/sleep/eat/Daddy's home!/bed

We play on the playmat, or on his sheepskin for a change of scene. He watches me have a shower, cook lunch, and hang out washing. We chat. Sometimes we listen to music (scissor sisters today). On days when DS1 is at home, we go to the park, or the library, or to play at DS1's friends' houses.

It's kind of easier and less dull with two, cause there's always something to get out for with the older one, and the younger one just tags along.

Auld your baby book sounds insane - Orbit can roll back to front but not front to back. And he's not 7 months yet! New cot must be exciting, even if it's rubbish having to spend the money. We really DO NOT NEED any more baby stuff, we have all the stuff from DS1, but I still find myself buying things for Orbit. Am coveting new nappies at the moment, but can't do it until I know if he can go back to washables - he has a haemangioma (strawberry birthmark to you and me! ) on his groin and if he gets bad nappy rash it's in danger of ulcerating and scarring. He's had really bad nappy rash lately so it's been back to disposables for a bit, although even that's not shifting it .

More interesting purchase is some of these which look really cute on him - he looks like one of the kids from Fame! And are brilliant for keeping legs warm while nappy is off, to give his bottom lots of air. Will post pic when I have one.

We've got spotty leg-warmers for Moo

So I was eating a cookie today (as one does) and Meg was on my lap and she was whining and I offered her the cookie (not with any true intention of giving it to her!) and she started laughing and opened her mouth I stuck the boob in it which made her frown for a moment and then she took it happily.

It gets easier to feed whilst out when they are older as they are easier to feed in general plus you can give them a biscuit

am in awe of your greengage jam gui [scared of jam emoticon]. but i did serve two types of home made fat free ice cream/sorbet to inlaws this lunchtime. Then they did garden for me - yippee.

Edmund has now had banana, baby rice, apple (just a drop of juice to sweeten the rice plus a bit of commercial apple and plum when he ate all his dinner and screamed for more ) and this evening avocado. That is the stuff for putting weight on babies, I tell you. At least, I hope it works a second time.

Oh and Gui, Edmund weighs less than Hugo - he was 10lb 3 four weeks ago and 10lb 1 last Friday. Hence why we're on day three of weaning and I've already tried to put him up to two meals a day.

E's days are very boring I think. I try to read him a book at least once a day and sing at least once a day but that doesn't always happen. The rest of the time it's feed, sleep, sit on my knee watching big brother, put in sling or down on Bumbo while mummy does the odd chore or nips to the loo, gets jumped on by big brother, scream and shudder in mummys arms. Etc.

x-posts again (takes me ages to type as E asleep on feeding pillow and I'm twisted right round in a back imperilling way)

love the legwarmers - we adore our baby legs (must get them back from my friend). They are brill later on for new walkers too as it stops them from falling over on trailing trouser hems

Guimauve, I've never had vin d'orange, but have had vin de citron which was utterly delicious. Vitally important to get organic, pesticide free fruit, I was told. But that's easier in the UK than in France.

The new cot is exciting in a bad way: I tried to put it up and have failed miserably. It's one with a side that slides up and down, and the bolts for that purpose don't seem to stay in properly. It was 40° here today and I got extremely hot and cross trying to get it sorted before I gave up. Then had to buy a fan for DS1's bedroom, and I couldn't even work out the sodding instructions for putting that together, it was all pictures and no words, and I am a verbal person (I have decided). Felt very crap by the end of the day, as we now have two piles of bits I have not managed to make into the final object.

It is now midnight and I am going to have a shower and get to bed before A wakes up thirsty.
Night night all...

Good morning

Frekkles - My previously good sleeper has woken three times a night for the past four days. She's looking huge though so i'm pretty sure it's just a growth spurt.
I don't have any advice about the insomnia. Do you have anyone who could relieve you for a bit during the day so you could at least lay down for a while, even if you can't sleep?

Is anyone else's baby actively trying to crawl?
It's freaking me out slightly, surely she shouldn't be doing that yet?
[wonders if Holly has been having conversations with Master Bolat]

Gui - Your lunch sounded great. I had a limp ham sandwich. Limp meat. Where's Nutty when you need her?

WFH - I mentioned to DH that we would have to complete the admissions forms next Autumn and he almost cried. I'm not sure who is going to find it harder when Ellen goes to school.

Waves to everyone.

How we all doing then?

EquillibriumRestoredTiggaxx

Guimauve are you ooop norf? Just wondering, tried to mail you but you are unmailable!

OoopNorfTiggaxx

No Tigga, am daaaahn saaaarrrrffffff. I wonder why I am unmailable? Hmmmmmm? Though am not Southerner by birth.

at limp meat. Don't reckon Nutty would have been interested in limp meat. I reckon she prefers her meat firm and juicy.

Yes, where are BB and Master Bolat??

Frekkles - the only thing that works for me when I can't sleep is to give up trying for a while. Get up, read a book, MN etc. Mug of warm milk. Also listening to iPod in bed, especially an audiobook. I hope you are able to get some more sleep soon.

Aha, Bebe, have only just seen your post explaining your name. Not Francophilia then!

Hurrah! BLW book has arrived.

MrsG - Why fat free ice-cream? Why? So, no cream in it? Used to make ice-cream quite a lot, but haven't done any for ages. rarely room in the freezer for the bowl.
The jam was surprisingly easy. Greengages have lots of pectin so setting is not a problem. Have plans for bramble jam also, and possibly a rhubarb and apple effort. Or rhubarb and blackberry. Also an intriguing recipe for tomato, apple and rosemary jam. Hmmm.

Hugo is on his mat, so nearly getting his feet, but not paying enough attention to realise they are right next to his hands!

Auld, I've never seen citrons anywhere over here. Or is it with lemons?

WAAAAAAAAH! Sorry no time to catch up but H has been screaming for the last hour. She's tired but won't sleep. I have tried EVERYTHING. I am so BLOODY fed up.

Guimauve, yes, with lemons. It was really lovely...
(What are citrons?)

I am sooooooooooo pleased you call it "bramble jam".
I once did a translation class here which was attended by a horde of very supercilious English students over in Aix on Erasmus exchanges. They were rubbish at translation, their English grammar and spelling were atrocious, BUT they were convinced they knew best. Actually, as I taught in French I think they thought I was French, and they used to butt in and question my translations, saying, "Actually, we wouldn't say that." I had to bite back a "we? who's we? you, with your dire syntax and language skills? or all native speakers, including myself?". One such incident took place when I referred to brambles as fruit, and they all, without exception, derided that idea, claiming that brambles were thorny bushes, not the fruit that grows thereupon. I began to wonder whether bramble was an old, archaic word, or some Scottish idiom.
You have vindicated me!!

I had an ice cream maker in Réunion. Gave it to a friend when we left and really, really miss it.

Puzzle, Alex lies on his tummy and wildly paddles his arms and legs. I thinkhe is trying to crawl.

I am really cross with DS1, who is going through a silly phase where he refuses to say hello to people, but instead runs away and hides and then jumps out roaring like a tiger. It's bad enough with people we know well, but we just met a lovely old couple at the market, former neighbours, and he refused to say "bonjour" to them, which is really rude in France. I don't know how to deal with this kind of daft yet embarrassing stuff when I am so exhausted and hot.

Schulte, hope she's gone off to sleep at last!

Auld, I believe that calling the fruits brambles is a Scottish thing, and on the whole I call them blackberries, but you see 'bramble jelly' all over the place. It gives it a more 'home-made, fresh-from-the-hedgerow' feel I suppose!

Citrons

Thanks, Guimauve. So I was kind of right, and they were kind of right, I suppose. But they haven't been shopping much, clearly...

Have never tried citrons, are they good? What do you do with them?

DH has just phoned to say his best friend and best friend's girlfriend are going to a concert in the next town tonight. They are leaving their 5 kids with us for the duration of the concert and then they are all staying for the weekend.
I am knackered, the house is a tip, the fridge is empty and it is 39° outside. I can't be arsed with this.
He says he'll come home early from work to deal with them and we'll just get pizzas in. He also says I am wrong to think that it's a problem when DS1 is rude to people; he's only 4 and I shouldn't make an issue out of it.
Sometimes I feel like getting in the car and driving away from it all.

Auld DD1 does this sort of thing too. I blame DH tbh, he has always made her kiss and cuddle people to say hello and goodbye, and now despite being naturally quite gregarious she has rebelled and just says 'goodbye poo-poo'. It really winds him up, which makes her do it even more....sigh......

Oh and I meant to say....virtual support coming your way. Is there any way you can just relax and let the chaos ensue? Easier said than done i know.

Maths, I think I'll just take him at his word and let him deal with the 5 kids. I'll go and hide somewhere with Alex.
I just hope he gets home before they arrive, or else I'll have to manage the 5 plus my two...!
You're right, I should relax.