March 08: We're about to get our first little sister or brother!

[turtle23]

Thought I'd start a new thread as as soon as evie pops we're bound to fill it hugely and some of us have phones to work with!

Is anyone out there? Quiet here at the moment.

I have my uni christmas party tonight and my company one on Friday so am boozy party-tastic this week, much excitement. Then next week I have nice lunches with clients and am going to see Basement Jaxx on Thu, Pogues on Fri and Miley Cyrus on Sat (don't ask, I'm taking my little sisters!)and big lunch with my friends on the Sunday. I even have a new frock that I lurve and makes my look thinner than I really am - result. I love this time of year!

Essays in, last lecture tonight, I made it through the first term alive. Hurrah! Have you broken up for christmas yet Ff?

Come on ladies, wake up, I'm bored at work and am making it my weeks mission to revive this thread.

Oh and a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to turtle for Friday, have you got any plans? Stupid question probably, plans are impossible with tiny babies! Hope you manage to do something nice one way or another.

am keeping up but remotely as working stoopid hours at the mo, xmas party tomorrow but been too busy to sort out anything to wear Don't even know if i'll be out of work in time to go home & change into anything less work-y.

turtle, so sorry your other half is a total arse, you're rising above it magnificently but he really is never going to grow up

Merry, well done on the Messiah & all the dosh you raised, can you be mine & jfly's chief fundraiser now?
Hello everyone else -anyone want to write my xmas cards for me?

Oh, btw, bird in work who didn't phone in when she was off sick, took a week off with stomach bug, back in for a week & 1/2 then took another 3 days off with another stomach bug, had a whole morning off at no notice on monday for the "gasman" and is apparently getting this Monday off for BT or Sky installation.
Meanwhile me & another on the team have been working 12hr days. Boss has been informed.

Ok...I'll delurk as well.
Have already forgotten what I was going to write in replies...something about DP working too hard and Ewe with essays... You know I mean to reply properly, don't you?
Had first night this week where Pascal didn't wake up. I feel like a bad mummy as two nights ago he screamed for three hours and I didn't realise til the morning it was down to huge excema outbreak being really itchy. He has a chest infection and just had a viral rash as well. It has been an interesting few days/nights chez turtle.
I am quite openly looking for praise here and not ashamed of it- have got xmas tree and decs all up, done all shopping including stocking for DH fuckwit and have done internet shopping to arrive to make meals that are all planned out. And have hired help to have kids on xmas eve while I cook. Yay me!
It is indeed my birthday tomorrow, but have decided that if I don't celebrate it that I wont be that much closer to forty. Same principle as other people's biscuits not having calories, right?

Ah well, if you insist .

Turtle, you are marvellous. You're more organised that I am, and I have just the one child (and a worryingly low maintenance one at that). You should definitely be celebrating on Friday - it's not about age, it's about everything you've achieved since your last birthday. And I believe I have not been shy in sharing my thoughts on your H in the past - needless to say, my opinion has not changed.

Ewe, your up-coming week sounds fab! I broke up yesterday, hoorah! Exams in January though, boo. One of the whippersnappers on my course yesterday told me in all seriousness that she thought she'd be able to take Christmas Day and New Year's Day off from studying as long as she put in six hours every other day, then asked me if that was my plan too...
Ewe, I feel we deserve some sort of end of term drunk the bar dry extravaganza. On that note - Merry and I discussed the idea of a new year meet up for us all when I had to drop out of the mn party. [ bitter emoticon] - what do you all think?

DP, work sounds horrible. Let hair down properly at party.

All as usual here. Ff has worked out that the emergency bribery fruit chocolate buttons live in the fridge, so has taken to leading Bloke or I there by the hand and jumping up and down pointing at the fridge door. Have spent a week basking in the brilliance of my Christmas present for Bloke - Peter Kay tickets - and it has only now occured to me that I still have a pile of presents to buy.

And drink the bar dry I did I am so glad I am not working from home today!

turtle - you are fantastic and coping admirably with everything and you're bloody hosting Christmas! Amazing!

Oooh Peter Kay tickets, very jealous! I think I have pretty much done all my shopping now. Jan meet up sounds good, with or without babies?

DP stop working so bloody hard and sack that jobsworth who is taking all that time off - try and enjoy your party at least! Think of the drinks as payment for all your overtime

wanders by. drops:

andrew lincoln is a dad at ds1's nursery

candy pour les yeux, om nom nom

Oh he IS lovely. I think I need to move!

Wow! I love him. V good celeb spot.

I think maybe both kinds of meet up would be good. A wholesome mid-week, mid-day educational day out with babas, and then a wine soaked dinner for grown-ups on a Friday eve?

Am such a bad procrastinator.
Ff is at nursery as we had a spare day to use because she couldn't go in when she had the eye bogeys, and Bloke has a model around so has turned the living room into a studio. I am meant to be finishing the online present foraging, starting to organise my revision, and finishing off an editing job. Instead, I have spent an hour reading old status updates on FB.

Oh hello there!

Sorry for being so crap. As some of you on FB will know, I have been very busy with projects galore! And now my recipe book is finished and off to the printers. I'm quite pleased with it and I've been able to flog 40 copies so far!

If you'd like to buy a copy, just let me know. It's £10 and features 20 family-friendly recipes with colour photos. It's dead posh.

Sorry I haven't been able to comment on everything, but I hope everyone is happily gearing up for Christmas and getting festive. We have a wedding this weekend (boo) so that's shopping out for me. I haven't bought one gift or sent any cards! Yikes! I had such high hopes. Sigh.

Am definitely up for meet up of all kinds in Jan so let's get cracking!

Mmmmmmmmmmm Andrew Lincoln... Dont mention that stoopid polar bear then LOL. Wonder if that p!sses him off!

Yes, I still lurk on here.

Love you Turtle - ur such a legend and pure inspiration x o x

Para Stick around will ya? How are you?

Can I just scream and rant a little? Don't feel you have to read/comment, just need to get it out!

ARRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Soon to be XP went out last night to a mutual friends party whilst me and DD stayed over at a friends house. We had quite a few issues last week when he stayed out overnight so I asked him to promise me that he would come home and he said he would. Got a call at 11:45pm, wants to stay out, doesn't care that it's letting me down etc etc. I am so fucking done with him, getting through Christmas (if I can last that long) and then he is going to be out of my life as much as is feasible when you have a small child together. DD has been sick twice this morning and I have been sick once so had to come home really early from friends. Was supposed to be having a nice Christmassy family day today, getting Christmas tree, wrapping gifts and so on but no more. Yet another weekend ruined.

Rant over.

Like the idea of both types of meet up, just let me know poss dates. For daytime stuff I am free on Mon, Tue and Thu, work other days.

PFT- Thanks..god to see you!
Ewe-Ah, men. I think perhaps you and I deserve to go on holiday somewhere lush and tropical without the kids and leave THEM at home to look after children. What a twat. Why do men think it's ok to behave like teenagers? Big hug and hope you feel better soon.
NOTE TO MOTHERS OF BOYS- we must not let this happen with our offspring. I am trying daily to make P tidy and to respect others. Sigh.

GOOD to see you, even

Hello all, i shouldnt really be on here so this will be brief and im sorry if i dont acknowledge posts above but am reading and much commiseration for selfish partners/ex partners and sick children

Am dying under the strain of uni work, have just completed the 'major project' (deadline 2 weeks ago) am now to complete 'self evaluating essay' (wtf i def dont want to evaluate myself atm) deadline wed and then 'essay on brain structure' (think mine may have fallen out my ear by then) deadline wed

I blame my wg gp, who said "oh no not giarda" then 4 weeks later admitted it was so we had 8 weeks of illness (kids on metronizadole not fun, i cant be prescribed it as i hallucinate ), dh signed off work for 4, which he has still not been paid for fully.....its like drowning in treacle, so that explains the missed project deadline

Love to meet up in nmew year, im sure you wont comment on my weight gain (dh looses nearly 2 stone with giardia and fits in long forgotten cool clothes now, i however appear to be piling it on) and huge dark circles under my eyes, which im sure will be the subject of many a converstion in the festive times

Littleducks- You poor thing. Something really does need to be done about doctors in this country. And totally sympathise with the metronizadole..it's evil stuff. Hadn't realised that that's what they gave me for my stitches infection with T and made the mistake of having a small alcoholic drink to celebrate coming home...THAT was fun.
I hope that things settle down for you soon. Am in awe of anyone who can manage coursework as well as children. I can't even manage to turn cbeebies off.

Why is it that I am in a permanent state of panic about being a bad mother at the moment? Had convinced myself that T wasn't gaining weight despite the new ROLLS of fat on his legs and under his chin. Turns out he has gained 40 ounces in 29 days. I am truly insane. I know that children make you worry, but I have lost confidence in even the smallest thing.

Does anyone know if it's just too awful to start going to the gym 4 weeks post-partum? I think I need some exercise...wibble wobble...

NO GYM!!! not until you have had your 6 (or 8 they changed it here) week check up. If you want to do something for you figure be sure to keep up your pelvic floor exercises. If you need some time to relax, go and have a coffee and a piece of cake, of if you really must a smoothie or something healthy.

The coursework and kids thing is a bit of a joke, ds was sitting on my bed peering at my typing as i wrote my essay at 11.30pm last night eating raisins, as he was teething and after fooling me by going down to bed at 7pm he was well and truely up again.

To happier topics, what are all the babies toddlers getting for xmas?

I must admit to buying ds a minin micro scooter for his birthday already as he loves dds, scooters but i wanted one with tilted wheels and no steering so its more stable, i did only buy it as there was a jojo maman bebe code at 20% off on here. Dont know what dh will say when its delivered !!!

ew, ewe. sorry to hear you are subject to eternal youthitis as well. grow up, mr ex-ewe.

ds2 is getting:

his brother's too small metal like a bike thing
a jack in the box monkey thing
a car transporter lorry
some animal links game thingy
and a couple of stocking fillers

if the order ever turns up. argh! it's from letterbox, has over 200 quid of stuff in it including 2 birthday presents i need at the weekend. they say they are holding it to wait for a personalised watch for ds1. this was 3 weeks ago. i'm just off to read the t&c and hope to ring in a bit and demand delivery of non-personalised stuff now. so turtle, i'm over getting anxious about child related stuff, it fades at some stage, promise. have moved on to being a harridan with nhs staff and shop staff i'm afraid.

Much sympathy to those coping with selfish boys men. Bloke has his moments, but since a particularly spectacular meltdown in which I told him that I COULD NOT continue to go to law school, take on freelance work, look after Ff AND be married to him unless he was more helpful, he has actually been very good. Not just with the helpfulness, but with appreciating how hard I work, which I think was what was bugging me more.

Sickness sounds horrid, Littleducks, not to mention having to cope with college deadlines. Your essay writing while DS observes sounds like effective multi-tasking though - studenting and parenting at the same time. Let me know if you want to meet up soon - Ff and I would very much like to play with you and DS (and maybe DD?)again soon.

As far as London meet ups go - I have exams in the middle of January, so can we pick a date after the 15th please? [mememe selfish emoticon]

Had planned frugal Christmas, and had purchased lovely wooden xylophone, clothes and books, but then Bloke and I had separate attacks from the Useless-Yet-Large-And-Expensive-Tat Fairy... He bought a £60 teepee from Habitat for Ff, which is great, and she will love, but will take up loads of space and will be ruined by dogs getting into it by New Year. I bought Upsy Daisy's Bed , because, even though it is hideously overpriced plastic which will terrify Boydog, she goes into raptures whenever Upsy Daisy is chased by it on ITNG.
Sigh.
And to make it worse, she is getting loads more shite toys from her grandparents, and as we are spending Christmas in Wales we are probably not going to have room in the car to bring it all back...

sympathies to all with arseholes in their life, be it exes, relatives, gps or people holding xmas pressies to ransom!
hello stranger!

E will be getting far too much for pressies. From us (& my parents as they're paying me for bits I've got on their behalf)...
a small keyboard, not a plastic thingy, more a teenagers one. Want him to stay off my expensive one.
a cuddle-me nighttime iggle piggle & a big wooden ninkynonk, ITNG books, more books, yet more books, and some pop up fabric castle with its own king, queen, jester and dragon wot I found in Bremen.
And a big ho-ho-ho singing dog.

That's before we add in the piles from DH's family and our friends. Running out of space for things, when all he's interested in are toy cars & a folding solid plastic measuring stick.

I love my boy - getting to predict when he has a tantrum most of the time, and love how he can happily amuse himself for ages with a book or the contents of the kitchen cupboards. Not so enamoured of his climbing onto the cooker & playing with the gas hob, but love how he comes up to us with a book, holds it out and says "thank you" for us to read it to him [proud 1st time mum] Favourite words are car, big car, mummybigcar, thankyou, byebye, goggy (dog), mummydaddy, nana, bumpy, two. Don't count ta and juice as he's only said that at nursery.

I now return you to your normal programming.

oh, am I completely mad to be venturing into London on Saturday with DH. And DS?
Going to a dogs trust meetup for a couple of hours at Harefield, then considering a booksigning a friend of ours is doing near Holborn.
As we haven't been near London since I conceived, how do you manage with tubes n stuff - we're thinking of just carrying E when he gets tired/around large metal fast objects than can crush/kill rather than taking a pushchair, don't know how manageable that will be?

its not fun but it is manageable (i normally do it with both mine and no help and thats my verdict) if you are both going you should be fine, i would take a buggy though, an umbrella fold one if you can borrow it then you can fold it up on trains/escalators etc if necessary

Or a backcarrier? i cant stand the things as its feels like my back is breaking but if you could swap over maybe that would work?

Then if you get delayed or whatever ds will have his own space to nap or you can contain a flailing (sp????) tantrum

take the buggy, gives a nice exclusion zone/feeling of safety for the little ones i think. people are helpful here though occassinally you have to ask for help. just go slow and let the headdowner types head off first everywhere. go up escalators first drag buggy onto lower step with you facing down, waft of end easily.

re: meet up am planning to do a day at king's place behind king's cross on 16th jan. there's a free 12-3pm thing in the foyer of people making music, said to be good for kids. then a workshop for grown ups 3-6pm then a concert 7.30. round the corner is the canal museum, entrance 3 quid with toddler friendly rummagey bits for 30 minutes or more amusement.

i'm going to get dh to bring boys to the 12-3pm bit then do rest with a mate or two as an early birthday present to self.

Hope everyone is well? or at least on the mend?
In a way I'm kind of envious of those of you doing coursework, this christmas I feel I've had a serious attack of housefrau-itis, culminating this morning in 'making' a gingerbread moomin house for DS to decorate. And then stressing THAT THERE AREN'T ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY. if I wasn't going back to work in March I dread to think of what I would be getting up to by August.
DD has got a toy kitchen from Vertbaudet for christmas plus a few pots and pans and a cute ice-cream sundae set to go in it as her main present, and then bits and bobs of books, colouring stuff etc. DS went shopping with DH for a present for her and had his heart set on a colourful stripy dress (your guess is as good as mine?) but came back for some random reason with a pair of pyjamas in 18-24 months. I didn't slap DH round the head but that has to be more useless even than the presents he normally buys me.

ITS SNOWING!!!!!!!!!

Snow here too - very exciting! DD at nursery, hope she has had a chance to get out and play in it!

DD is also getting the vertbaudet play kitchen for Christmas, along with Charlie and Lola book set, upsy daisy and bed, umbrella stroller from ELC, pots and pans and a shopping trolley! Spolit little madam she will be. Grandparents are getting her a baby piano .

I feel like I am about to come down with a cold, popping zinc and vit c like it is gooing out of fashion. Out for next three nights in a row, I CAN'T BE ILL!!!