AUGUST 2008 - One year on and you would think we would all be getting some sleep by now!

[oopsacoconut]

New thread!

Thanks CC

Did you manage to only get the bookcase or did you end up with a yellow bag full of tealights and nicky nacky noos?

Steaky DS had built-in entertainment with DD but that's all he gets, and I never took her to babygroup either. I tried, I really did but I couldn't bear it There's nowt wrong with letting them get bored find their own entertainment.

Feeling windswept and knackered after a walk out to the nearest village for the annual Kite Festival. There were some fab professional kites there and loads of rank amateurs getting strings tangled (including us ) and generally having a ball My lovely DD walked the mile there and back with hardly a whimper. I think we will all be asleep early tonight!

Steaky, I'm doing WAY less (i think) with Reese than DD1. We still have a good time together just "hanging out". I probably go the extra step to name everthing I touch or ask funny questions or sounds, etc. But she helps out with the sweeping (by dragging her blanket around and spreading what I've swept up). She naps during my big messy jobs. The laundry is a thrill because it's fresh and warm. She can help scrub the tub (and does her best attempt to climb in..head first). We go out shopping during which time I talk to her the entire time telling her what we are doing, asking her option about what to buy, pointing out nifty things. She's just another element to my day. I don't really go out of my way to CHANGE my day because of her. Although I did change my life (career) for the two of them.

You guys have all made me feel a lot better about the fact that DS generally just hangs out with me/us and doesn't do much 'stuff'. We go to the local play session when he's awake for it, the little swingpark sometimes, plus seeing friends with babies and the occasional trip to the soft play centre, but mostly we just chill in the house or go to the shops/town etc. I've been feeling really guilty about the fact that, because I haven't got my driving license yet, I can't take him to interesting places during the day. But then I think 'well, he's 1. He's got a loving mum and dad and plenty of toys, a few mates nearby and two cats to chase - I'm sure he's enjoying himself most of the time'.

At the moment he is enjoying an impromptu soft play session on our living room floor with the naked sofa cushions

Plus, he always seems completely nonplussed by the park and the play session. He just sits there, looking around, especially if there are other kids there. DP and I are quite diffident people so I guess he's just being our son

Thanks folks.

DD enjoys babygroup much more than I do, but I go with my friend's lil sis who has a DS the same age as Iz. Usually she just races off and grabs toys from the other children. I go to meet people.

DD can show me her head and her toes and this afternoon we have been roaring. We say RRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRR to you all.

home made soft play - good idea, at the moment DD thinks I am the soft play.

Steaky that's awesome! RRROOOAAARRRR backatcha. DH yesterday taught Reese to say "TOUCH DOWN!" and throw both arms up in the air (the touch down sign). Children are so impressionable. LOL!!

Yeah Cyteen, I think playgrounds and the like are quite scary to the little mites. Consider their size and their experience. It's overwhelming to enter such a HUGE space...they're left thinking WHAT and do more looking around than playing.

I think I'm being laughed at over on a baby name thread. A lady asked if Tinsley was a good girl name. I love it having almost named dd1 that (she's Kinsley instead for those NOT on fb). I posted before reading the other posts and someone else commented about that it sounds AMERICAN POPISH. Oh well! Seeing as I'm American I guess that's halfway true.

oh lordy am SO SO SO tired, am old and tired and old and cannot cope with a night out anymore but reason of being too old and tired

just popping on to say hi, sorry for absence and not likely to get a moment till about Wed as working 7-5 tomorrow, meeting tomorrow night and working on Tues too - thinking of you all though

and am going to bed in about 10 minutes as had night out on Fri, day in Edinburgh yesterday, Billy Connolly last night and an all agency water training exercise today - pooped

Evening

Successful day here, DH has built my shoe cabinet out of a recycled sheet of MDF which was in the hall along with all our other shite and i got 3 lined baskets for £15 to go on top to hold hats, scarves, gloves. I just need to spray primer and paint it and it will be just lovely

All our 19 ebay items sold for a grand total of £327 . Just need to put the other 30 items on now

steaky did you get your bed for £1? Re: entertainment, i take them to playgroup and NCT coffee on Mon, swimming and signing on Weds and go for a fair few walks if the weather is nice. If not, we go visiting, shopping, playing in the garden, to the PYO (and playpark), zoo, creche at the gym etc. I do all this though as DD1 is like a caged animal if at home for more than 2hrs, so it is really to save my sanity than being a great parent . Oh, and i do NOT DO soft play as they make me like

I have been on the cusp of booking a train to Sheffield today but bottled it with having to negotiate a tram. These are alien concepts to a country bumpkin like me

miamla your day sounds lovely but that your knee is still giving you jip. Are you having intensive physio?

Also very sorry for those of you whose DH's have different ideas of the 'ideal' family . no1 i must say that your DH does not
have a leg to stand on if no3 pops up

Oh and i did LOLOL at 'Good Grief Charlie Brown it's only TALKING since the deed was done. GGRRRRR!!!'

You flipping wuss Sazz get that ticket booked and someone will meet you at the station I have never been on a Sheffield tram before either but surely it can't be that complicated...

Hopefully back in a bit, just entertaining Dsis

Actually i have a glass of red on the go, so most likely i will get all gung ho and go and do it. Just don't want to end up doing 6hrs travelling for 2hr meet aka miamla and sambo at Bristol Zoo

Hi All

Steaky - DD and I do sing and sign on Mondays, Breastfeeding cafe on wednesdays and swimming on Fridays the other days we pootle and go on massive walks/do shopping/go out for babychinnos. I like her having 2 days at home just to be and learn to play by herself.

I seem to have spent alot of time sleeping this weekend Yesterday I got up early, had a nap for a few hours in the afternoon and was alseep by 9.30. Today I got up with DD at 6, swapped with DH at 7.30 slept until 9.30, had a nap with DD for 2 hours at 1 and am ready for bed already! It took only 1 night of the crying/patting/shushing to get DD to drop the 3am wake which is fantastic. SO I am getting a fair amount during the night too.

DD is being very adorable at the moment she climbs on my lap pulls my t-shirt down lisses me and says (in a very loud voice) 'booooob, no no no, ni nite'

BRB DH needs computer

Argh, still trying to catch up.

Friday had amazing 4hrs at pebbly New Forest beach and playground with the kids and friends. Gorgeous weather and views, could see both ends of the Isle of Wight!

Saturday I went to brilliant clothes swap party and 3 course meal for bargain price of £5!!!! Got trousers and skirt for me and 3piece baby outfit for DH's new niece who'se due this week.

This afternoon at Marwell zoo with DH and same friends from Friday. DD much more confident than last time we went but v tired and upset at closing time. DS1 spent much time lounging in a big basket swing ignoring various other kids climbing all about him!

Can you tell I have perked up and don't have the thyroid issue I was worried about? Think it was just viral gloom heralding the tonsilitis I had last week.

No1 If you can find a top with a v-front hem you are on to a winner for tummy-kindness. My most flattering top has a v neck and v-front hem with funny 3-way gathering between the boobs concealed by a diamond applique thing. Sounds awful but it makes it kind of regency-looking and it just hangs perfectly. In fact, I'd love to get someone to make a pattern from it and make me a long dress version of it. Any volunteers?

Right, off to finish the last 3 pages...

back to where I was......

Lisses should read Kisses. She also has an amazing comprehension of what we are saying and will nod ernestly when she agrees or wants what we are offering and has a very sweet nooo ooo when she doesn't agree.

Sazzles - when your DH is done building shoe racks send him over please as I am now bored looking for one that DH approves of.

Buckets - your weekend sounds great.

HP - Sorry to hear about your chat with DH.

Hi to everyone else - off to catch-up and see what my brain retains so I can comment.

Glad to hear your mojo is back buckets

oops you design it, send it over and DH will make it..........maybe . Seriously, what are you looking for as i have seen every shoe rack from Sydney to Mumbai so may be able to help narrow something down

Sazz - if he knew what he wanted it would be easier to find it!

Cyteen Kurt had tortellini the other day but kept choking as he was trying to swallow it whole! I had to cut them in half in the end.

VG Well done DS1's dad! You must have a v good relationship with him, have never heard seen you slag him off once!

HP you've still got time, he might change his mind once you're out of the whole baby zone. I know it's hard once your brain and hormones get together on this misson though and he does need to understand that you might not be fully in control of yourself 1 week in 4 (and this is where condoms come in because he is the one that doesn't want a baby). I remember bawling my eyes out Valentines day 2007 because I'd somehow convinced myself that DH was going to change his mind and say 'let's make a baby'. He did not. But some months later he did say 'maybe in a few years'. And thank God for that because baby#3 came along by surprise that November!

Steaky LOL at 'doing stuff.' Seems I only ever get to make eye contact with Kurt at nappy changes! TBH it'll be another year or so before they're really good company, then we'll all be much more inspired. We do one music toddler group a week and once he can walk I want to take him to a toddler dance group cause he is such a little groover. But he is quite happy playing with shoes or containers by himself for half an hour at a time.

Good luck tomorrow Miamla

Bra fact: if you try on a backsize smaller, you have to go up a cupsize. Also there is some difference (forget what exactly) between black and white bras because of dye/bleach. Ask your bra lady.

WRT bedtimes, we get up at 7am on schooldays so Kurt is down between 6.30-7pm. He might wake up earlier than that but gets ignored til the alarm. The big two are supposed to be in bed by 7pm but it's starting to become PJs and story at 7pm now they have discovered other channels than CBeebies.

been feeling a bit weepy tonight but had a chat with dp and that's helped. i'm pretty scared about tomorrow, having the op, leaving DS overnight, sorting out transport to and from hospital blah blah blah
i'm really hoping i won't need to have a 'carer' to pick me up, hoping just to jump in a taxi but i guess we'll see. mum's looking after ds so if someone does have to pick me up, i'll have to wait til dp's home. actually, does anyone know if they can actually prevent me from leaving? i know its for my own benefit to have someone to watch me after having an anesthetic but i'd much rather just get back home to DS

oh and can't remember who asked but no, not having any physio yet. i've chased and got nowhere with it so far. not even sure if my referral has been written, let alone processed

ps fb-ers... new video of DS and DP on fb. They were both being very sweet and giggley so thought it might spread a smile

been to pub with dh

am a bit tipsy

night night ladies

miamla praying all goes well for you tomorrow

me and ds1 have conjunctivits - does that constitute a day off work?