May '09 - We've had our first tooth!!

[Grumpyoldcaaaaaaaa]

Here we are, in honour of baby O and the first tooth through.

Potty training.....here kids can go to Ecole Maternelle (nursery at the school, so free) from the age of 2, provided they're potty trained. They seem to be much more pushy with it here, DD1 was maybe 2.5, DD2 was nearly 4 but she is alarmingly lazy about stuff like that. We did rewards but she just wasn't bothered .

I can see the lure of free and educational child-care might persuade you to try it earlier

Vis-a-vie my 'busy' day. Well yes, but really it's stuff I like doing (bar the ironing but am starting to hate it less). And yes belgian I do re-organise my beloved closet of lineness every time .

No chutny or jam made though - that's tomorrow. The jam will be made with peaches grown next door. An actual peach tree with actual peaches, makes me squeeeee a lot. They are funny little grey peaches but taste unreal. And of course the chutney will utilise the glut of tomatoes and courgettes (and the chillies my friend has given me). I feel all brisk and housewifely and efficient, must buy one of these, as they appear to be all the rage in my village, they sell them at the markets along with those truly enormous pants

"chutny"?

Dandy I sometimes think that my ideal holiday would be me, alone, in a library, with a 24 hour bar. I haven't read a book in over a month . I normally read several a week, but I just don't have the concentration at the moment. I find I'm having to re-read pages as I just haven't taken anything in. I managed 2 pages of Alan Titchmarsh How to Grow Vegetables (which my mum brought out for me) before I hurled it across the room .

There is a little library at the mum & child group I went to and it has an English section with lots of 'holiday reads'. I'm tempted, as it may actually ease my brain back into it.

Have you had your fiction published btw?

grumpylol at the housecoat.. maybe you could try it as your halloween costume! Very fetching

what is lovely about the housecoat grumpy and does make me is that it shows life in your town is very quiet.. traditional.. charming and all thatnmore

I just wanted to share something funny DD said yesterday. We were talking with her about when she might move out of home (I'm relieved that she thought she would have moved out before she is 25 which was my first guess). I said we would be able to come and visit her house. And she said in a matter of fact voice, "yes, but only if you aren't dead by then" .

pula LOL at your DD. Where do they get their comedy material from??
dandy have confirmed you as a friend on FB. Will also be starting again on the "diet". I've been upping the exercise levels to try and compensate for the cookies and wine. I'd much rather do that than give them up but on that basis I would have to run for about 5 hours a day to erase the wine and cookie calories!

R is so full of cold at the mo, poor little man. He has phlegmn on his chest so has big coughing fits every now and again. He brings it up but swallows it back down again so I'm not sure how he's going to get rid of it. Other than that, he's still his normal smiley little self so I'm not worried about him. But just coz you all have babies, would you take him to GPs if not better by tomorrow? Not sure what they can do for a cold and chesty cough.

Morning all.

grumpy Love the housecoat. What fetching colour that particular one was too. I did notice they seemed quite popular still in France. My grandma used to have one which she put on as soon as someone arrived in her shop. I still don't quite understand why she never did it the other way around.

pula Children can be so funny sometimes. Especially my dd1 can come out with some gems. Ds likes to think things through a little bit more.

weight loss I have no idea how much I weigh at the moment as my scales are still in the old house, but since moving here the weight has dropped off. Not sure why, but I think less snacking has something to do with it. All my size 14 skirts which were tight at the end of august are now far too big.

We're having a bit of an easy moring here today and then this afternoon will be busy again. Dd1 has got a b'day party to go to and after we've got to go to a yacht club somewhere to pick dh up from his rowing adventure. I imagine he'll be a little bit drunk by then, because I'll be fairly late there due to the b'day party.

Anyway. Got to go now and get ready for the afternoon.

Hee hee, DD just came out with another one- she was helping DH make lunch, and i said she was little cook and DH was big cook. Then i said Sam must be tiny cook, and she said "yes, and you must be ginormous cook"

Pula your DD is coming out with some gems!

Thanks Grumpy - Mums, eh? It was mostly to do with when I went to see the dressmaker for my wedding dress the other day - had to go with 'the undies' on - so I squeezed into this new corsety thing, making my boobs all 'up top' iykwim - had it on over my black leggings (remember the lovely period has returned) so had the suspender straps all hanging down.... looked a bit Madonna-y. Anyway, twas a bit interesting trying to drive in all this clobber, all the boning made me sit up very upright, and all Mum could say was, hmmm, you clearly need to lose more weight, don't you. You aren't trying very hard, are you, moan, moan, moan. And Fi, you're right, waif-like she is NOT. Naggy old moo.

We've been to CHURCH this morning!! Our Banns were being read. Felt very grown up. Some old geezer said M looked like a lovely little boy. She was wearing a dress! Hm. Anyway, dp's bro is here now and we are having a BBQ! Except I am currently 'studying'.....

Dandy I know what you mean about holidays not being the same. I managed to read the sum total of 1 chapter of my book and DH said numerous times 'This is no holiday'. I guess now days having DH with me for a week sharing the childcare and having no real housework to do and no garden or DIY is all the hoilday we will be getting for a few years. I can't wait until we go to SA and NZ and are able to off load on the grandparents and head off for a weekend. Won't be for a good long time yet.

FF I bought some ready made FF for DS so that I can go out next week without worrying. I have been out for the evening about 5 or 6 times without DS so far and he has been fine but he has been feeding to sleep for a while now and just screams if left. Its horrible to listen to so I've decided to just let him feed to sleep for an easier life. DD was so much better at sleeping than this little monkey. Anyway I refuse to express this time and don't need to as I'm not going back to work till next year at least so if DH needs to give him something he will try the FF. Do you think he should give it in a sipper cup or bottle???

Are you getting married in bondage gear saus?

Oh and I think 'Naggy Old Moo' could easily be an alter-ego of mine

Afternoon everyone. Thanks for your support about the crap GP. I am going to complain (again - I'm already a trouble maker for complaining about the 6 week check.) I'm at the surgery tomorrow anyway as I think I now have shingles, which are owch-y and knackered-old-hag-y.

Saus at your Mum. Nice and supportive then

Grumpy very impressed with your Nigella-ness.

Pula LOL at DD comments.

Dandy I am in awe in your fantastic-ness in getting over all of that awful stuff and ending up in such a great place in your life. I just can't imagine how I would cope with such a set of circumstances.

Belgian at weight-loss. I aspire to be a size 14, but that won't happen at the moment as I am comfort eating because I am feeling ill and sorry for myself.

Holidays IKWYM about it not being a break / holiday when going away with DC. The funny thing is that when I do go away from them, all I do is talk about them and miss them loads. I have to admit that when the DDs were smaller we went on holidays with kids clubs so we could get a break, but now we have to go during school holidays there is no way we can afford that kind of holiday anymore.

Was X Factor good last night? I missed it as was freezing camping in a field last night. Last camp of the season I think, and perhaps next year it will be in a new caravan

Sausage Sorry about that. Just wanted to make it clear that WHO don't say add powder to cold water. Anyway. you're mum sounds like a nightmare. Some comments you can do without. I'm laughing at the Madonna image.

Dandy You are right about holidays. We haven't had a holiday without an extra pair of adult hands since the dc were born. My sister has a new fella now, so is unlikely to come away with us again. When they get older, it does get easier. They start to play with each other.

Tummum Oh no! Where are the spots? Hope you aren't too bad with it. Shingles is horrible.

Hi All,
Another quick post while I finish cooking tea - first time I've ever boiled a ham

Sorry to hear about the shingles tum someone I know got it a while back and was given some cream a bit like the stuff you put on cold sores. The spots were gone really quickly. Hope yours do too.

saus don't listen to your Mum. You had a baby 4 months ago ffs, so who cares if you need to lose weight (which I'm sure you don't btw)

dandy couldn't let your story re ovarian cancer go unresponded. I am in total awe of you, you are such a positive person on here, I had no idea.

Well its a bit of a sad day in the runningmonkey household. We have decided reluctantly to sell our campervan We both know its the right thing to do as we're unlikely to do any more touring hols so are going to buy a really good tent instead. Still a bit tho as we have loved having him and went on our honeymoon in him last year. Ah well, the cash is going to come in handy!

Right best go finish up tea before DH gets in with A.

Later ladies xx

Oooooh runningmonkey I love cooking ham.

Tummum I'm so sorry to hear about the shingles. You're not having much luck are you with colds and swine flu and now this. I think you need some chocolate.

sausage I've also been laughing at the madonna image but I'm shocked by your mother's comments.

I went to yoga this morning and really enjoyed it. I'm getting bendier! Had a swim after it and I've done just over 2 miles this week, so on target. I'm going to try DS2 at their creche on Tuesday so I can go to something called stability ball. I'm sure he'll be fine but it feels such a big step!

Fi how is the potty training going?

Oh and Grumpy my grandmother used to have a housecoat. If you're a bit handy with the needle, perhaps you could run some up in a funky fabric and create a stir?

grumpy should then give us the pattern for said funky housecoats and we should all have one.

My Mum has gone quiet today. Maybe she is feeling guilty. However, not sure how I am going to sit through my wedding reception meal thingy (hardly a 'breakfast' at 6 in the evening!) strapped in to bone-y corset thing whilst wolfing down, you guessed it, sausages and mash. Seriously. Madonna.... hmm.... 'Like a Virgin' I ain't, that's for sure. Fnar. Not quite bondage stuff, though, Grumpy, although I did try on some Agent Provocateur stuff in Selfridges the other week. More tacky than tasteful, I felt, and the daft girl helping me actually broke the zip whilst doing up the thingy as my flab was squelching out everywhere. Good job it was her, it was nearly £200 - although why I was trying it on in the first place I do NOT know.

Thanks Jennster - knew you meant that, have just been in a huff for the last few days

God my research is sooooooooooooo boring

Hi everyone :-) catching up on x factor and both dc's now asleep. Gah i'm cream crackered tonight. I had a bad nights sleep (nothing to do with G) tossed and turned on and off for some reason

tummum oh no shingles :-( I hope they're not too itchy and go quickly too.

potty encouragement tactics seem to be working llare i've managed to get ds to like running about with no nappy on.. he now sits and has a wee when he needs to go without me reminding him. we had to go and see my dad this afternoon and i gave him the choice of wearing a nappy under his trousers or pants and take his potty with us. he said he wanted to wear pants (this morning he burst into tears at the gentle suggestion) so off we went in the car with G, no nappy on ds, his potty and a change of clothes. he had a couple of accidents at grandpa's but then asked to do a wee on his potty I should have taken more clothes and found i'd none of his nappies in the changing bag.. so he had to come home in his t-shirt and one of g's nappies!! he was keen to wear pants to bed but thought it was a bit soon. he got tons of wee stickers on his reward chart which was v exciting for us all. i'm so proud of him and he looks so cute in his little pants too

FiBTS I'm really not looking forward to potty training ds. He is the only one in his age group not attempting it, but he just isn't ready, but was only 2 in July. He is very excited at the prospect of wearing his 'Buzz Buyme' or 'And beyond' (Buzz Lightyear) pants though. He once wore them over his pyjamas and nappy one night.

sausage with a few glasses of fizzy at the reception your underwear will be forgotten.. until the end of the night when your dh is too sozzled to help you out of your dress and you end up wriggling like a contorsionist to slip into something more comfortable! lol

jennster that's so cute :-) ds would love buzz pants too i'm sure.. the ones he had on today were disney cars ones. he is also the last of his pals to start showing signs & even be potty trained. he was 3 last month.

Fibythesea Well done DS for his good potty day. Its sounds like he is ready now!!