Fab Feb 2009 - 9 months in, 9 months out, now they're sitting, standing and crawling about

[TheHAUNTEDHouseofMirth]

Here we go again!

You know you want one really.

Hope Dinky had a lovely birthday, and hi to all.

We got an absolutely wonderful play kitchen for both DSs a couple of months ago for absolutely nothing via Freecycle - I was so excited for DS1 when the woman giving it away said we could have it. It includes a huge collection of toy food and all sorts of stuff, it clearly isn't brand new but someone built up a whole collection.

We need to get C a few toys that we can point out to D are C's - I really like Swampy's idea on this actually! I don't know what we'll get them but it will probably be bits and pieces. I worked out the other day that they have about 5 sets of grandparent people to buy stuff for them due to rather complicated family history and lots of divorces - my mum and her dh, my dad and his dp, my stepdad and his dw, my stepmother and her dp, and my dp's mum (and her sister).

Welcome chickandduck - when was your DS1 born? There's quite a few of us with two sons on this thread, actually, with various age gaps.

back to square one on ivor presents...showed dp the train thingy and he wondered where i'd lost my mind! it isn't the sort of thing i'd normally get and yadda yadda so a lovely wooden toy it will be. he's getting a nice new car seat tomorrow anyway, can't that be an early christmas present?! big porker is far too big for his other seat now.

and i think i spy a tooth coming at last!

Mr T is only 8.2kg so I'm hoping to keep him in his car seat a while longer. Is anyone else considering a rear facing car seat again for the next stage? I've been looking at this

KBN Brio also have some really nice wooden toys. I'm going to get Mr T one of these

THOM, all mine are so much happier facing forwards that i'm personally not a fan of the rear facing ones. A has been in the bigger car seat for about a month now as i'm more than confidant in his head control in case of an accident and the baby seat was becoming unworkable... far too difficult to get him in and out of in the car and too heavy to take in and out of the car with him n it. the forward facing seat we have is very cosy and snug and reclines

dd got her cast off! [DANCES JIG] you can't even tell where the break was on the x-rays it's healed so well

we bought a dining table today and got a great deal on it so all in all it's been a very good day

that's really lovely thom. i'm also going for a circus with soft toys that make appropriate sounds as you put them in and out.

didn't know about rearfacing seats at this age still and i've ordered the new one so too late now. have you seen that seat that doesn't have a harness but a great big cushion that goes over their stomach? kiddy infinity pro, came top in the Which? report but there seem to be a fair few instances of kids slipping out...but it's ok if that happens the manufacturers will send you a bigger cushion!

Hurrah on DD's cast being off and leg fully healed Pink - great news!

KBN - does I have a wooden blocks trolley? If not, totally recommend that as a possible future xmas/birthday present for him - DS1 loved his from a really young age and once he'd mastered pushing it around, started using it as his first scooter. Wow re I already having a new carseat - Danny is being crammed into his rearward facing one as long as possible. DS1 was a vommer when rearward facing so we stuck it out as long as poss then moved him to forward facing and all our carsickness problems ended. Danny doesnt seem to suffer from carsickness though but does get rather bored staring at a carseat back on long journeys.

Wow at those of you who are all prepared for xmas - have bought nothing at all yet so must get my skates on. DS1 will be getting a ben 10 watch which he has been asking for for months now - Danny will probably be getting a pair of slippers to chew on as he seems to have developed a chewing shoe fettish and it became his favourite trick on holiday to crawl around with a slipper in mouth like a puppy

hurrah for fully healed daughters. i bet she's thrilled.

hope your holiday ended well and your journey home was beter than your outward one dinky.

BRT Yay re dd and cast. Finally
KBN/Dinky We have a brick trolley for Luke. ds1 loves it! A friend of mine gave it to us and it says Alex on the front, but I decorated it with dinosaur stickers.
Not that Luke is even close to walking.
Her did crawl backwards the other day........

am sitting in my office with what look like paint splattered trousers. it is of course I's breakfast which i thought i'd avoided but in the better light of the office realise i clearly didn't.

hello all, finally have time to catch up

rosie had a look at page 1 of your thread. How shocking for you and Milo, so glad he is better now. Will have a proper look in a min and if still 'active' will verbally abuse any witches who have given you a hard time. Stuck up cows, I bet they never give their kids quavers and fruit shoots

dinky belated birthday wishes and glad you had a nice holiday.

LBB sorry you were 'pissed off' with Tescos

BRT glad DD's cast is finally off and all healed. What a relief.

who asked about teeth? H is still a gummy bear

welcome to ducky (sorry can't remember full name and too lazy to go back a page)

Been keeping busy here with DC1 and 2 out for their visit. Thank god they went back to the UK on Sunday and life/the house is getting back to normal.
Signing day today, two classes down, one to go and then I'm helping to host a 'festive shopping evening' from 7pm to 9pm in one of our clubhouses. A group of us have got together and are selling christmas cards, paper and pressies etc. Hopefully it will do well, I'm selling lots of stuff and proceeds to GOSH.

Right, off to read other thread. take care x

rosie just read the whole of your thread now and what a cow postal sounds.

BTW, what is a wheelybug?

Just lost a really long post so apologies for lack of chat! Wanted to ask y'all a question (well, those with older DC's). I had HV visit yesteday (for DD 2.4) who agreed that she does have some "quirky" traits and wants to observe her in nursery, i.e. around other children, and also to test her hearing in case there's something there tht's making her hypersensitive to certain things. Has anyone had anything like this? I know I can post in Behaviour topic, but thought I'd ask you lot first! The childminder also thinks she's a bit "different" . I keep wandering onto the internet and worrying she could be on the spectrum.... There's always something to worry about!

How are you all anyway?

MOS a wheelybug is a ride on toy that moves in all directions with a sort of padded seat, and is shaped like a ladybird/bee/cow etc.

We also just moved Sam's carseat to forward facing and he loves it!! Shrieked with delight and kicked his legs the whole journey!

KBN - LOL at the breakfast - I looked at my shoes on the train and discovered a splodge of porridge on each toe .

Off now back to work. Still shattered from the party we went to on Saturday night (where I pulled!!!). Never again. Just got no energy. Oh well. Catch you later!

Hello all
MOS thanks for your support on that thread she really upset me tbh at the time as i was all fraught and upset at what had happened, nearly got really personal (which isnt like me at all) but managed to step back a bit thanks to the advice on here. I think there have been quite a few posters who didnt use straps before around supermarkets and do now so i am glad i started that thread in the end. Lol @ H being a gummy bear, make the most of it - Milo's speciality is nipping us all with his 8 teeth (and it really bloody well hurts!)

He is doing great though, Bless him. He is his normal self and scooting about everywhere in his walker. Still has a bubble of fluid on his forehead/top of his head and this is where i assume the fracture is. They didnt want to see him again so i have no idea if this is normal or not especially as it happened a week ago, might just see if it goes by the end of the week and if not take him along to the GP and see what they say - he is fine in himself though am glad to say.

STW try not to google anything! I used to do that and it just made me more worried, hope all is well with your DD though and that she is fine. My DD2 was a bit like that, had funny little character traits and did things at different times to other babies/toddlers but she is 14 now and conforms beautifully to the angsty teen format

BRT congrats on your new dining table, i am as we really need a new one and are moving in just a few weeks but think its going to be a bit too tight to be able to buy one just yet. Glad DD has her cast off too, she will want to give it a good scratch no doubt!

Bloody developers are a proper PITA. Still wont give us a completion date but say it should be first or second week in Dec, have got hold of some boxes yesterday though and started to pack everything up - i hate moving but am v excited about our new house and the extra space we will have

Dinky so glad you had a great time, hope you are all rested and relaxed and ready for the onslaught of Christmas! I will think about getting Milo one of those trolleys to push bricks around in too as my DD's all had one (the same one) and loved it.

rosie, don't let the bitches get you down. I had some nasty cow attack me personally on a thread a month or so ago and that really got to me, even though I was only giving advice on an area which I knew about. Still don't know why the old cow attacked me like that and it reallky got to me.

STW, please try not to worry about DD. Am wondering what you mean by 'quirky'? When DS1 (now 16) was around 2 to 3 years old he was VERY quirky. He used to trash his bedroom and do all sorts of very odd, and sometimes nasty things. He was eventually referred to a child pyschologist (sp?) who said that he was behaving like that as he was very bright and was frustrated and he suggested we think carefully about putting him in the local state school that had 36+ in reception. Hence him going to a private school and getting a scholarship and subsequently doing well in his GCSEs. It may well be a similar situation with your DD. Please don't automatically think negative thoughts. Hope you get things checked out ok with her and try not to worry.

Thank god its our Friday today, am worn out. Had 3 x signing classes yesterday then the festive shopping evening. I made SR1,400 which is around £233 and I reckon around £150 of that was clear profit. We also made £280 for charity, GOSH and Help for Heroes so a worthwhile evening even though knackered.

STW... both my older two have odd tendancies, i was sort of expecting it though as i'm dyspaxic.

dd had selective mutism, she's a bit better now but still won't speak to strangers, even doctors and teachers with us there telling her it's ok. She started talking to he teacher in school after a month which for her was good. She also seems to have trouble with social boundaries... like monday in the hospital; she went over to a bench and sat down (i was standing with the buggy) and sidled right up to a woman sitting there... right up to her so she was sitting touching her... but wouldn't speak to her She tends to be very OTT with affection with her friends and us too and has no middle ground between manic humour and disinterest. And then there's the wetting.

ds1 is dyspraxic i think... he can't walk across a room without falling over, has issues with noise and colour and is completely uninterested in playing with other kids for the most part.... he interpretes normal play as them being mean to him he can't pedal (he's 3.3) and still draws by scrawling on the page.

Both are absurdly tactile, they have to touch everything, fondle their food with their hands, are very destructive, don't take instruction well.... the list goes on.

I haven't brought either of them to the docs though as tbh i don't feel having a dx would be an advantage (i'd get flamed for saying that in SN i think). I know their issues and can help them with coping mechanisms, after all i survived school and life relatively unscathed and i never had a dx... i only realised as an adult that all my issues were dyspraxia. I think a label can do more harm than good in relatively mild cases like theirs.

rosie... i hope those developers get a move on, it'd be great if you were settled by christmas. Glad Milo is on the mend, i'm sure the fluid bubble is nothing to worry about but no harm asking the doc if it lingers.

katie... we've all been there, at least it's food on your trousers and not puke all down you top or snot on your shoulder.... trousers aren't as obvious when trying to appear professional at work

Good on you MOS for raising so much money for charity. Dont know where you find the energy to do all the stuff you do over there!

Rosie - fingers crossed the developers sort themselves out. Good to hear Milo is doing well - I agree with BRT, probably nothing to worry about but if doesnt go down over next few days would be worth seeing your GP.

KBN - I've had that with trousers before. Now I only give Danny toast in the morning and fruit and stand well back

STW/Z - please try not to worry about what HV said. As MOS and BRT have said, kids are so different behaviourally for all kinds of reasons - and 2 is a difficult age anyway as they're still trying to sort out their place in the world and how to socialise and its all v confusing for them.

Sorry had no time to reply just off to meeting but tnx for your replies re DD. BRT a lot of what you say rings true! Will check in tonight and reply properly! Right, run run run....

I want a wheelybug! Wonder if they do them in KSA? sounds fab. Bought DD a lovely dolls house from ELC (in saudi) for Christmas but not got much for H. That sounds perfect

STW like I said earlier, try not to worry and over anaylise (sp?) everything DD does.

Ref baby food, I guess thats the good thing about going out in public in Saudi, you just chuck your (large) black number on over your clothes to cover the puke!

BTW, very excited, have just booked a trip for myself and DH (and of course G & H) to go to Dubai in a few weekends time for DH's birthday (its only just over an hours flight) We kept saying we couldn't afford/justify it but I thought, what the hell, we've had a bad few months and a lot of stress so we are going. Have already told kids we are not going away anywhere in the summer so this will be our little break

STW I know I've only met O twice, but I wouldn't have thought there was anything 'different' in that way. There is a girl at our playgroup who is a bit older than J and O but I have always said I think she is autistic to some level. They are now just getting her tested etc (she's 3) but I wouldn't put O in the same place as this girl or anywhere close.
I hope you get answers and reassurance soon. x
mos Good for you, you guys def need a break.

Luke is on Jacob's rocking giraffe thingy. he loves it, he is going a bit crazy on it and looks as though he is about to go flying. J is singing see-saw see-saw to him.

Ah LBB that's cute!

MOS am at your Dubai trip! Sounds like you deserve it though - all that fundraising and classes - fantastic stuff.

Rosie - ouch! at Milo's teeth - hope his bump is going down, poor little fella.

Thanks for all the words re DD. I know she's still v young etc but she's just so, well, different to kids her age. I know that's not a bad thing but.... I really just need some guidance on how to deal with the (many) things she seems to find distressing. I looked on the Dyspraxia Foundation website and she has many of the characteristics, but I know that doesn't mean anything. BRT it's good to know that you do learn how to cope with their various "quirks" and that's just what i need to do. Am certainly not pushing for any testing or diagnosis.

I've just been to a Hula class! It's run by the same lady that used to do our BuggyFit classes and a few of the same mums go. I don't remember hula hooping being so hard, but I think I'm going to be a bit bruised in the morning around my hips and ankles!! I could only do the basic movement - none of the "helicoptering" or "lassoing" that everyone else was doing! A good hour of fun thoough, so will give it another shot next week.

Work is pretty manic at the moment - and I'm not going to be very popular because I need to ask for lots of time off over christmas as the nursery is closed from 22 Dec to 3 Jan . I only have 2 days holiday left this year so will have to ask for some unpaid leave .

Anyway, off for a quick shower now, then bed. My farvourite time of the day. Well, second favourite after going to get Sam out of his cot in the mornings !

Everyone ok???

I'm around STW/Z - just not much to say so have been lurking.

Great news on your trip to Dubai MOS - sounds lovely and definitely a well deserved break.

LBB - that is so cute about your boys. I love it when my 2 are playing together and I'm positive that DS1 is Danny's favourite person in the whole world. I got little headbands with reindeer antlers for them earlier this week (in an attempt to get some photos for xmas present tags to family) and they were so cute playing together with them.

Its my little sister's 30th birthday tomorrow so we're doing a birthday brunch near our house for her and she's got a drinks do in the evening which we're hoping to go to too (MIL has kindly offered to babysit) - though Danny's sleeping went to pot again last night so we'll see how he is today before deciding on whether or not we'll go to the evening thing. I rather suspect the 9 month growth spurt is starting....

That's lovely Dinky! I can never get O anywhere near Sam, let alone photograph them together so no christmas snaps for us!

Hope you do manage to get out for your little sis's birthday bash tomorrow. So there's a significant growth spurt around 9 months then? That might explain Sam's insatiable appetite at the moment . His current favourite food is a handful of Cheerios on his highchair tray - he shovels them in at lightning speed and starts shrieking as soon as he sees the box!

I'm off to the BBC Good Food show with some friends tomorrow - which means I won;t see the DC's much this weekend.

Just had an unrecoverable disk error on the document I'm working on so am off out to stomp around in frustration until someone comes to recover it - otherwise I know what I'll be doing for the rest of the weekend!

Hello

Am just saying hello and doing a quick scan to catch up. Hope everyone is all well!! Can't believe has flown and it is 9mths on, 9mths off - the circle is complete. I have started getting rid of my baby stuff and maternity clothes. DD is turning into a proper little girl with a feisty little personality to match!

Hope work went ok swampster. I went back part-time in mid Sept. It's hard but at least it makes you adore your time with the littlers. I am full of enthusiasm for it and love hanging out when I'm not at work.

MG x