March 2009 - The crawling / walking / talking race is on . . .

[jollyjoanne]

the new thread for March 09 mummies

Hey Boobz Well done you, you sound like you are coping remarkably! I am always a mess in the first few weeks with mine as they have all been total gannets and I haven't been able to do anything but feed them. The fact you made it to the park is admirable!

I hope you will stay with us when you move to Sudan?

Thanks for the good wishes. It just seems to have been a phase where it's all I hear and yes I'm the same, terrified of anything taking me from the kids.

Well I finished my last concert last night (4 in a week - phew!) and I am pretty damn exhausted, esp as it conicided with the new job. But I have a break from all that for a couple of months so I am looking forward to the rest.

My house is a tip tho and looks sorely neglected (Which it has been) so I should get my arse in gear. Nick was howling most of last night with another molar breaking through and DD2 is still having the screaming hour long tantrums by day or the night terrors at night. Sigh. I long for the teenage years....

Hi guys!

Boobz - congratulations and well done for getting on with it on your own. Sounds like you have a lot on your plate - is there any way you could book your Childminder for a few hours every day so you can have a proper rest and not just catching up with housework?

Slick, I know what you mean re cancer. Over the last year or two I've had two friends diagnosed with cancer and three very close friends having miscarriages. It's awful, but I guess knowing people who have awful things happen to them doesn't make it any more or less likely to hapen to you, just more aware that it can and does happen. Iyswim....

Melissa is properly walking now but still getting herself filthy having discovered she can go behind the shed in the garden. I was frantic with worry the first time she did it as I didn't know where she was. She thought it was hilarious of course and now does it every time we go out there. I hope the novelty wears off soon

we've had a couple of tantrums here, tho nothing like what dd1 had during her third year, so I'm bracing myself for what's to come...!

Morning Miss Yes it's a nightmare when you suddenly can't find them and the fear rockets - is horrible but I think happens to every parent at some point eh?

I know, I need to think more positively re: the serious illness front - I guess lately, it has just felt like it was closing in as it seemed to be everywhere. I would think more positively but I think being brought up with annoyingly superstitious parents where they have tended to err on the side of caution in case it all goes wrong has given me the wrong attitude and now I'm quite pissed off as actually, I think on the whole I feel like a positive person, but have this feeling that I can't be completely or it will come back and bite me on the ass. How crap is that? I think I need to work on that....

Anyway, the tantrums continue here but all DD2 - still not getting sleep with both the wee ones and now they both have gunky eyes. All hail the start of a day at nursery. NOT!

On a positive note Nick seems to be taking more steps every day and I could actually be at the point of going to get him some shoes! But as my car has been in the garage for 11 days waiting for a sodding part from Japan, and we live in the sticks, that isn't going to happen any time soon.

Hope everyone (who is actually around??) is having a good day.

Wish me luck girls - am accompanying my guitar student in his grade three exam today. It's the first time I've ever entered a student before and I think I'm more nervous than he is!

Am surfing mumsnet to calm me down

Just reread that and it sounds wrong - or am I just potty minded

Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Oooof! Yip, you have to be careful what you write these days!

Missmode, by now too late but hope it went well! Have entered and accompanied loads of students, and it's hard in there to keep calm and collected and act like encouragement itself when you're more nervous than them. But generaly examiner are great at - or have been so far - at making pupils feel at ease.

Slick. I hear what you say about cancer, it's tough. I guess I haven't really thought about something like that happening to me, denial? We don't even have life insurance. One of our friends collapsed at her dd's playgroup, she contratced a rare illness called trnasverse myelitis, and now she is paralysed from the waist down, forever. Her dd is 2, it is too horrible to contemplate, actually. They wanted loads of kids. On a more positive note, I try to remind myself of this when I feel really fedup with lo, puts a lot of things in perspective.

Ben is not walking, he's already running! He's such a stroing boy, and he's actually adapting quite well to the nursery. He still cries when I drop him off, but apparently quickly stops. He is amazingly cute, he now roars like a lion and buzzes at a bee, and has suddenly fallen in love with his Timmy toy, who must go everywhere. Still not sleeing through (re: fedup!!!) although he wakes for a v short time. I am thinking that I'll go the sleep training route this holiday, will keep you posted.

Isn't the weather amazing!!!!

Hey Mdavza - Am just about to go to bed - work tomorrow. Sorry to hear about your friend, that's just horrible.
Life is so cruel sometimes. And it always seems to be the nice people...

On a note about roaring like a lion, Nicholas likes to sing "Peppa Pig" and then snorts. Is v. cute. (his middle sister watches it). But he snorts out the way, not in. Ace.

Well there was a hairbrush in the garden and a bus in the bath at 9am, I think G's got to the 'perverse toddler' stage without toddling!

And my job is vulnerable to redundancy for the second time in 2 years! The joys of public sector....

Lau Hope you manage to keep your job.

Nick got his first pair of shoes yesterday - cried the whole time his feet were getting measured and anytime the lady went near him. His little big sister was the same, but she's not so bad now. (I mean when she was a baby).

He's also had an industrial hair cut as it was just OUT OF CONTROL! I took the clippers to it with a number 7 and he just looks like a different child! He looks like a little boy! A haircut and a pair of shoes, I can send him out to work now... Must get some photos on.

I did something v. funny at work today - it was like being in a film or something but you had to be there. I automatically went into the toilets that I normally go to but on a different floor. When I went in, one of the cubicles was occupied, but there were around 5 so I chose one three doors down. Had a wee and heard someone else coming in and going into the cubicle next to me. I opened the door and the large mirror facing me showed a MAN in each cubicle, both having a pee, with the doors open. My first thought was, "What are they doing in here?" My second thought was. OMG! I'm in the MENS toilets. Shit!" And I shut my door again. I stood there with my hand over my mouth trying not to laugh and then waited for them to go. When they did, I thought, how am I going to get out of here without someone seeing me. When I made a break for it, there were three men outside having a blether and one of them clocked me. I just quickly disappeared round the corridor. I will no doubt have a reputation for getting up to something dodgy in the 'Mens'. He probably saw the men coming out first then me. Oh God. Thank God it's a big building. Bet my cards marked.

Thanks slick! I do get fed up with all this public sector fat cats crap in the papers, so annoying! (and untrue).

We had to do the same to G's hair, he looked a proper Welsh thug according to DH!

Slick Haaaaahaha! Or they might think you're a raging feminist who's making a point about equality. Why don't they close their doors? Men's toilets are these secret chambers, I tell you. Ben has lovely blonde curls and I just refuse to cut it, he gets a shorter fringe every now and then but he has fine hair so it's not a big deal.

Lau I have not been able to get a permanent or even full time job the past 3 years so I hear what you're saying. We're still waiting to hear about my dh's job in Edinburgh, might know end of this months because they have to advertise it for a long time to make sure nobody in the EU can do it better...If he doesn;t get it we might have to either move down to England again or maybe even to USA. So a big deal.

Where is everybody? I'm on holiday now but have time, at last, to be on here. I wonder how meep is, and missmode and boobz. On a moany note, we're keeping sleep diary for a week and then we might go the sleep training route. He sleeps through every now and then, but for the past two night have been awake for over and hour each night. I sometimes get so angry, or tearful (depends on the time of month) and ust not sure it will get better on its own. It has in the past but now it has been going on and on for almost 3 months. And I feel silly to still be moaning about it. He did nap for almost 3 hours the past 2 days, but that has never had much of an influence on his night sleep. Moan finished.

We play a lot of hide and seek, and we love his screeching with laughter. He is such a happy baby, I cannot stop cuddling him! And I am soooo broody, cannot believe it. Hormones are powerful stuff.

I'm about! Was at a wedding in Wales, and no internet.

Diolch mdav (my new Welsh word, means thanks) for not throwing something at me, I should be grateful for being employed at the moment! I'm setting up some new Net businesses though to try to stem the possible future pain.

Hey guys, I'm still here!

Mdav, I got the result for my guitar grade 3 student... and he passed!!! Am so proud of him, he only picked up a guitar about 10 months ago, so a grade 3 pass is such an achievement Sorry to hear you lo is keeping you up at night, that really sucks. We're having a fair few disturbances with DD1 (3.8) who's started getting nightmares all of a sudden, but Melissa (thank god) is more or less sleeping through (though never past 6.30am so a lie in is out of the question. Sigh...). Hope your dh gets his job in Edinburgh.

Likewise Lau, hope you hang on to your job. But good luck with your business too - isn't it in CV advice and careers? Could be good in this climate!

Melissa has a big lump on her forehead, poor thing. Was picking her up from the childminders today, we were chatting and took our eyes off her for a couple of secs, next thing we know she's tumbled down three steps into the back garden, landing on her face. Poor love. She's so much more adventurous than DD1 was, I probably should be a bit more diligent in keeping an eye on her...

Ooh, I've just realised I can say on here (because nobody knows me in rl and we're keeping it hush for now) that dp and I have finally decided to 'go legit' and tie the knot!! We've never been that into weddings so never considered it before, but I was getting a bit sick of calling him my boyfriend when we've got a mortgage, two kids and are approaching our forties. It just seems increasingly inappropriate to say 'boyfriend' and 'girlfriend'. Plus I think our parents would be pleased. So we're going to have a very small private ceremony with just immediate family followed by a slap up dinner. Who said romance was dead?

Yayyy! Congrats Miss I love weddings, me. But I'm an old romantic - although DH has slowly tried to beat it out of me over the last 14 years, but deep down I love all that stuff.

Any word on DH's job Mdavza?

I'm waiting at to hear if my temp position will go permanent. I've lots of positive feedback and lots of heavy hints that it will, but WE SHALL SEE. I can't take anything for granted in this climate.

We have been having a HORRENDOUS time with our two LO's. Nick, the wee scone, has been soooooo ill this week with teething molars, he's had a rash all over (doc thought was Chicken pox starting but it has faded now) and he has had blisters/ulcers in his mouth. Urgh, the poor wee thing. Three nights ago he screamed CONSTANTLY from 7.15pm right through to 4.45am it was awful. We couldn't do anything for him. At the same time we had periods of DD2 screaming so I was stuck in a screaming sandwich. Then similar but not so constant last night. I've had to work the last couple of days with 1.5 hours sleep! And the thing is, we had been getting bugger all in the run up to that night as with one or the other they were either crying in the evening or at night. We have started waking DD2 15 mins before we think her night terror will start (and taking her to the toilet as an excuse) and I have to say, she hasn't had one the last couple of nights - that's what is recommended. But need to persevere. I think Nick would sleep if he weren't in so much pain. He is looking better today, but he was a bit shakey when he was walking - I think he was still trying to get his strength back. It's the illest he's been so far.

Poor wee thing. It's that blooming Thursday at the nursery - I know they have to pick things up, but still....

So I sympathise with you all who are struggling on the sleep front.

Er, and by the way. What the f*ck is this weather all about?? We haven't had the scorching temps you guys have had the last couple of weeks, but this is taking the piss! It's more like March!

Good memory miss! Yes that's right, but looking to branch it out a bit, as you said, current climate etc etc!

Apparently setting up another job around your main job is called 'five to nineing'....

Heh - that's what I do - except my full time job is the kids so my other job is more eight to midnighting

Slick - hope the sleep is improving

Hi all, bit of shameless advertising!

I've entered DH for a competition to win 365 nights in hotels over the next 5 years as respite for caring for DS1. You can vote here:
www.greatestholiday.radissonblu.com/isabel-robson/981063/

up to once a day and the competition ends in 7 days so please do! I moan about DH on occasions but he really is an A* dad and could do with the break....

congratulations Miss, on two points!!!

Slick how awful for your family, and I do sympathise too, as we have had a run of bad nights with DD2...i put it down to 6 new teeth erupting, then a bad cold, but after a couple of nights with odd crying I took her to local A&E (Sunday), and she had an ear infection as well. How bad did I feel....still she is on the mend now, though still not sleeping well, even in our bed.

News here in brief: we have moved to a house in Sydney's Hills area, renting for a year. It is bigger than the flat we had in Beckenham, and it has a pool in the back garden. Our shipment of belongings arrived last Tuesday, two months after we saw it leave our home. We had been "camping" in this unfurnished house for about 3 weeks, and we were so cold as well. While we would like to think we are not materialistic, it is still nice to have our own stuff again.

The day it all arrived was also the 3 boys first day at their new school, so an emotional day for me....they seem to be settling OK, but of course the routines are slightly different, for me too.

Boobz, how are your relocation plans going? It must be tough to be doing so much on your own. I have found this our most exhausting move yet, I have lost weight, but will soon regain it now that we are more settled!!!!

xx

Hi Kanga - thanks for thinking of me, especially amongst your own big move!

Life here has been pretty tough, I won't lie. DH left over 4 weeks ago, so it's been me and the girls on our own for a while now, and I certainly have a lot more respect for single mothers now! We had to move out of our own house a few days after DH left, for remedial works needed due to the building works in the next door property (basically they bodged a basement conversion, leaving our house with almighty cracks everywhere), and since we need the house to be shipshape for renting, we needed to do these works straight away, even though it left me homeless with a 2 week old and a 15 month old. What was supposed to take 2 weeks, is now turning into over 4, and I have been sleeping at family and friends with the kids ever since. Not easy not being in your own home when looking after 2 little ones, but we're managing. Move back in on Wednesday, thank god, and then it's all systems go to get ready for the big move on Aug 21st (passport applications, vaccinations, medical clearances, finding tenants for house, all the financial and tax stuff involved in moving abroad, buying all the stuff we will need that you can't get in Sudan, esp for the kids, as well as leaving party, christening for 2, selling the car, redirection of mail, setting up Connie's CTF, packing up the house, doing the garden for renters, repairs to house, getting gas certificate and so on and so on... the list is endless!) What's worse, this has all fallen into my lap as DH is away, so I feel like I have 2 full time jobs, looking after the kids and organising this move.

Still, I like a challenge and we're getting there! Connie is growing like a weed, and Penelope doesn't seem to have been too affected by DH leaving or all this moving around and sleeping on people's sofas...

I shall definitely not be doing it like this again though (heavily pregnant with a toddler and about to move half way across the world... we're waiting a while before #3!)

Sorry, that was a me me me post. Just exhausted.

Glad to hear you are settling in Kanga - and glad to hear your stuff has arrived! That's one of my biggest worries, not having our things for so long. Still, it has to be easier than the past 4 weeks (and still 3 to go before DH arrives to ship off us to Khartoum!)

Keep going, keep going...

x

We got a private nursery place for G at the 11th hour! (Literally, it was the day before school broke up) Not cheap, £560 a month for 5 mornings 8.00-12.30, but he's settled in beautifully after just 2 days, is babbling more and even took 2 steps yesterday, we are delighted!

In other G news, the poor mite is cutting 6 teeth AT ONCE... no sleep in the laumiere household at the moment!

Hi to all in the big great silence that this thread has become! It's because we're all dashing madly after our toddlers, hehe

All is fine here, sleeping still poor but I've sort of made peace with it. I'm now working full time, which is nice financially but I miss Ben a lot, and he me. We'll survive, this is only til Dec. He's become such a little boy, absolutely cute, and he knows exactly how to wrap me round his little finger. He is saying many words already, in his babyish way, and seems to understand almost everything I say to him. Has become more moany of late, and has actually had a bashing-hands-and-feet-lying-on-the-floor tantrum, which I found hillarious! (and didnt give in to, btw)

Miss, congratualtions on all your news! Wooonderful!

Boobz, good luck, it sunds rough and tough, i wouldnt have had the guts for it.

Slick, weather is nice, hey? I was at the Edinburgh Book Fetsival yesterday and I thought, maybe Slick is here and I won;t even recognise her.

Stay well, everybodyx

I'm still here! G is starting the tantrums too and (finally) started walking a moth ago.... right after we had him referred to the paediatrician! I swear he knew.

As my work is getting very pressured at the moment (public sector, 25-40% cuts) I've started a cupcake company to decompress: www.subversivecupcakes.co.uk

I'm still doing the proofing and writing too at www.wordchef.co.ukso look me up there if I'm not here!

Only two posts in August!! Must be a good summer there in UK...

Is any one about, older children back to school etc?

Is Boobz in Africa now? Did all go to plan in the end?

Is work OK Laumiere?

Anyone expecting again? Not me, never again...I had a bad dream the other day that I was pregnant again...

Our boys are ok at school, dd2 is OK, she is over the ear infections, running about, having tantrums, saying "daddy" (grrrrrr).

I have taken the two dds to a playgroup, they spent the first session entirely at the playdough, so they must have missed it.

ps we haven't moved thread yet have we?
xx