May 2008 bubbas: Walking, Talking (& climbing!) Little Monkeys

[monkeysmama]

Thought we deserved a new thread

Oh God thanks for that link sho, I got all hopeful thinking I might qualify for M.A. but I'd have to work 26 weeks to qualify and as I don't start for another month then the most I'll be able to work is 25. I want to cry. So close!

Feel free to rant away HM, you are perfectly entitled to feel the way you do.

I'l second the 'thank goodness for sleepbags!', they are the only reason that dd is still in her cot at night. When playing in the day she quite often shouts me to let me know that she has climbed in to her cot, she can also get out and has sneaked up behind me a few times 'BOO!'. Once she has figured out how to get out whilst in the bag we'l change her over to a bed. Hopefully we have a while yet.

HM how are things with the potty training? DD has started to tell me when she wants her nappy changed. She had her nappy off last night before going gor her bath, she grabbed herself and started jumping up&down. She got to the bathroom quick enough but not to the potty(we'v kept one in there for the last month or so), the bath mat got it instead.

I thought Avatar was great! Although it did make me feel ashamed to be human, you will know what I mean when you see it.

cross post
thats a shame baiyu sorry

DD2 can climb out even in her sleeping bag .

FFS.

Baiyu - DON'T give up on the MA as you are so close.

You just need to do SOME paid work for 1 week in the next 4 to qualify. You will still get the higher amount of money - you only need to work 13 weeks to get that amount of money.

Let me dig out all the details and I'll post them here for you.

Just checked - you need to have worked 26 weeks plus over a 66 week period and earned, on average, over £30 per week.

But, you only have to 'prove' your earnings for 13 weeks.

So, basically, you need paid employment for 1 week plus within the next month... It might be worth phoning a few agencies and seeing if anyone is looking for short term help (PG friendly obviously!)

AFAIK, it does need to be paid work (though this might be worth checking) but it would be worth checking to see if charity shop work would count?

Thanks HM, I've been thinking alomg the same lines. I think it'd have to be 2 weeks work, as maybe I'd not want to work the week of my due date! There's a bar nearby that might need someone, I'd rather not as I feel crap and tired in the evenings but I could stick it for a little while I'm sure. I do already volunteer for a charity but I'd be surprised if that counted, hmm.

Lovely to see you back on here GW and thanks for keeping schtum!

Just bought a p&t buggy on ebay for a bit more that I meant to, oops! And now DH has to drive to Swindon to get it! Our current buggy barely moves it's so trashed I just can't wait any longer! Feel silly as I just missed one yesterday for lots less Someone tell me I've made a good investment please!

You have, Baiyu, I swear by my P&T!! It switches from a single to a double buggy in seconds. But, ask the seller if the wheels have been protected against punctures... if they haven't you need to use this gunk stuff on them.. synthetic snake skin apparently (I have loads of it - I can send you some). They are terrible for getting punctures otherwise.

I have a cocoon for the new born - happy to post it to you if you are interested? Plus the sun and rain covers for the cocoon.

SOOOO exciting!!!

Re. Maternity allowance... You can also be self employed... Not sure if this is an option for you. I know a couple of the girls on here are self employed or are considering it... Is that an option here?

I've had a lovely night tonight - I have my nanny share come and look after the kids for a few hours so I can escape to the gym Heaven!

have calmed down after my little rant yesterday - though DH's mum has called me today and said she can't look after the kids on Friday for me (I'm getting a new car and really didn't want to take the kids to the dealership) ho hum. they will have to come with me and I didn't get one half decent picture of Haribo at his show today, even though he was a super star and did all of his skills brilliantly [proud ummy emoticon]. I did get lots of him dashing about looking happy so they will have to do - along with my memories!

best go, hope you are all well!

Mitchell - Can't believe how well you are getting through your coursework! I have another assignment to do and am struggling to find the motivation!!

HM x

Oh, sho - potty training downstairs is going well. We don't have a potty - we have a step and a little seat on the loo. Haribo loves going in there, then flush the chain and wash his hands (he is so funny - he has to wash his hands after I've changed his nappy every time!!!)

But, upstairs,.... Hmmm... not so good He just peed on the floor tonight before his bath and didn't even TRY to tell me or to use the potty

Haribo has been in a bed for the last week, but is in his cot tonight, because the nanny was looking after him. He's gone straight to sleep but I wonder if he'll wake up in the night???

Night all! HM x

Thanks Hm this one comes with a cocoon (a selling point, oops again!) but I would absolutely love the cocoon covers and some wheel gunk if you can honestly spare them? Very happy to pay you postage etc!

Really glad you got some time to yourself! I went out on Sunday night to the pub! First time in what feels like ever, certainly in the last 6 months! Sipped one very tiny glass of red with the cycle home as an excuse - both girls I was out with work with DH and are friendly with my new boss, small town!

Only got chased by one ned on my bike [need to move to a nicer part of town emoticon!]

Yep lucky DS got out of his cot in his sleeping bag too! We had him in his super deep travel cot for months after that. The bed has been good for us actually, he's still in a sleeping bag so could waddle to the door but doesn't bother as he knows it's shut tight! (with baby monitor on)

Very at the LOs who can get out of a cot in their bags! Little monkeys

BWC you're right, means they often land head first! Ha, just spoke to person I bought buggy from, she has 4 LOs and is selling because she's about to have twins! My word, I cannot imagine! DH very set that 2 will be enough.

Just lost a long post , will try and post again later.

Baiyu I was born and bred in Swindon .

Please don't flame me for this, but OMG, I am so relieved to be back at work today. DD2 is driving me potty!! She is so destructive, throwing everything, including a wooden puzzle that hit my head . I am struggling to cope with her at the moment, and I'm ashamed to admit it tbh .

Last night I nearly lost it with them both. They are crap at trying any new foods, i.e. they won't. I tried including it on DD1's reward chart, as she responds well to that. I know it sounds ridiculous, but they won't eat pizza!! I wanted them to try it cos I'm sure they'd like it if they would just bloody try it!! DD1 chose which one she wanted in the supermarket and was excitedly telling everyone at school she was having pizza for dinner, then after I heated it up, she wouldn't even try one mouthful. Neither did DD2. It came at the end of 5 hard days with them both and my fecking shoulder is playing up again (I'm always grumpy when I'm in pain) so I just ended up really shouting at them both , and they had no dinner. I then turned around to see DD2 drawing all over the kitchen table. DD1 never did stuff like this. I just flipped. I couldn't stop shouting at them. It was awful and I really hated myself last night and this morning. I couldn't sleep thinking about what a crap mother I can be sometimes.

DH didn't help matters by telling me I was out of order .

He doesn't get it, he says..."why are you bothered if they eat pizza or not"...it's not pizza per se....it's ANY NEW FOOD!!!!! It drives me crazy! I find it embarassing when we go to friends for lunch or dinner and they won't eat what's on offer. I just want them to try new food.

ARGGGGHHHHHH!

Sorry. Rant over.

Avatar was very good BTW .

LM xx

LM I find DS2 is a lot more naughty than DS1 was. He was actually pushing me today when I was trying to put his shoes on saying 'push', and I have to keep a close eye on him around smaller people.

As I have said before we are using the naughty step and putting him outside the room, much earlier than we ever did with DS1

My DS1 won't eat peas, sweetcorn, baked beans, grapes, anything with a skin, although at nursery they do make them try things so he will have a minute bite and then say he doesn't like it.

DS2 is a human dustbin at the moment so no chance of him not trying anything!

It will pass and because one was doing it the other will follow suit.

I have fun today looking for an outfit for a murder mystery evening on Sat. I only found out last night what I need so I had to find a 1940s dress. Needless to say it was tricky keeping DS2 from all the clothes, after he screamed to be let out for ages I finally released him and he played hide in the clothes, not great in a vintage clothes shop .

I finally got something and took them to a soft play/cafe. And booked DS2's brithday party there. It was a really nice place so thought just get on with it!

Also had a architect round today to talk about putting in more surgeries/rehashing the house. He came up with something we'd not thought of so looking forward to seeing some plans when he's been and measured up.

Hope I have a busier day tomorrow. Was well pissed off on Tuesday when they cancelled my morning because my boss's nurse was ill. I understand I was the quietist, but they just left me a message saying they wouldn't need me. And then in the afternoon I had a gap from 2.30 to 4.30. Did get to start my new book though, bought Invictus since I probably won't get to the cinema.

Oh, Lucky, I think all kids are like that. Haribo has this thing (it actually makes me laugh which possibly doesn't help matters!) of gagging BEFORE the offending food has actually touched his lips or before he could possibly have tasted it. Icecream is his worst one (He dislikes very hot or cold food). He wretches before he could POSSIBLY know what it is. Makes me laugh every time. He acts like fresh fruit which hasn't been pureed is POISON!!

Just an idea, but maybe taking them out for pizza would be better - maybe with some friends who you know do eat it. I only say that because my SIL's kids didn't eat pizza, until they saw Haribo tucking into it (he is 2 years younger than them) and there was definite peer pressure. I also found it amazing how well Haribo would feed himself when around other children (at that time, he would sit, gawping at me - waiting for me to feed him!! )

I def. think that, when your DH / DP disagrees with you, it makes it a million times worse.. well, it does for me! It really irks me when he tells me what's best / right for the kids... I'm like: AND WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU 90% OF THE TIME???? I know that's not really helpful, but I KNOW my kids and, realistically, he doesn't.. Not like I do.

BWC - try Joules for a 40s inspired dress... They have a big 40s theme going at the mo and you might well find a tea dress sort of thing there.

This is going to sound odd to most of you, but I actually feel much more confident with the kids now. I have been SM to DSD2 since she was about a year old and I put up with ALOT of tantrums, so I'm finding haribo's behaviour perfectly normal, IYSWIM. Though it bugs the life out of me that, when talking to our nanny, he speaks but when talking to me, I get this high pitched wailing!!!

I'm (once again!) in a bad mood tonight. Haribo's passport has 'gone missing' This is NOT the sort of thing you just lose, but it has simply vanished.

It's bugging the life out of me, because SOMEONE must know where it is, it didn't just sprout legs and walk.... but DH simply thinks I have to move on and get a new one... GAH!!! Getting a replacement passport is SOOOOO much hassle!!!

Right, off to bed,

LM - Hope you enjoy work!!

HM x

Feeling much better after watching Supernanny last night!!!!

Hey girls

Back from a lovely long weekend in Paris.

Was planning longer post but dd wants to go down for her nap and is shouting that it has to be right now so gotta run.....

Check back in later.

Hope all ok. Bayiu how exciting getting a double buggy!

MM

Forgot supernanny was on!

HM We have tried the taking them out for pizza thing previously....no different .

Sorry, just a quickie, off to work

LM x

Quick question for ebay experts - if part of what I've bought is broken (the buggy hood) and something is missing that was in the listings (mudguards) and we payed cash on uplift, do we have any recourse? They're claiming that since DH had a quick look at it that it was fine when he picked it up so even if they took a return we'd have to pay for broken bits?! The hood was snapped in too and wedged inside the cocoon Any thoughts? I've sent very polite e-mails and had rude replies Thank you x

Oh, Baiyu, sorry to hear that... I'm afraid I don't think you have much recourse.

If you'd paid by Paypal, they would fight your corner and almost always side with the buyer (one reason I don't sell much on Ebay any more!).

the only other thing you could do is open a dispute with Ebay but as you picked it up, I can't see there is much you can do.

Have another look at the photos in the listing and see if you can see the damage?

The only other thing you can do is leave negative feedback (they cannot do the same to you - sellers can no longer leave negative feedback (IN fact, I don't think sellers can leave feedback at all, but I might be wrong on that)). it's not much but might make you feel better.

Sorry

There were 5 photos and the hood isn't on in any of them Thanks for your help. I'm now seriously out of pocket and with a broken buggy, I hate feeling that you can't trust anyone but god I feel like a mug.

Baiyu that is awful....definitley contact ebay, they are really good. Keep any emails, esp if rude. This is very wrong, and they shouldn't get away with it. They have obviously been quite sneaky but hiding the hood in the cocoon.

HM is right that if you had paid by paypal you would have more support, but I think you should def contact ebay and explain the situation. They unfortunatley may say that as your DH checked it that you don't have anything you can do, but it's worth a try.

What is their feedback rating like, has this happened before to them?

At least you can leave a really damning negative feedback if nothing else....something along the lines of...

'Parts of the buggy broken or missing and seller very rude when contacted...DO NOT BUY FROM THIS SELLER!!!'

Bastards! (Bloody swindon scum )

Hope you've all had a nice V day. DH at work all day so it was church and then a kids party for me, but I am just cooking him roasted butternutsquash with smokey bacon, sage and chestnuts.............

LM xx