radical cross stitch, theological debate, Easter bunnies, changing bags,and a baby brother...it must be June 08!

[spongebrainbigpants]

Welcome to our new thread .

The eyes are much better, thanks . I decided to abandon the house yesterday (and today, too). It's just too noisy and unpleasant. I had my blood test then called the hairdresser on the off-chance they had a slot, and I was able to get it cut and coloured for the first time in ages. The hairdresser was really nice and sensitive about it falling out. I had my eyebrows done on the way to school, too, so feel much better. The stuff from the GP seems to have helped, too, although it made me fall asleep.

The happyland village is something else I have failed to get Thea . Any Sybil your hamster hell must surely be a sign of maternal love.
Going glad DS's tooth was ok. It sounds as though your DDs cutting their own hair would be more of a problem than mine! She coloured herself orange the night before DS1's first communion!

I love toy kitchens! We have a wooden sink and cooker, (you all know about the plastic embargo!). They live in the girls' bedroom and are used frequently enough to be here to stay.

Thea has banged the same bit of her forehead 3 times in 5 days! She walked into a low table at a coffee shop on Friday and got a huge bump. She fell over on a gravel path and got a cut on top of her bump. And this morning a sibling hit her with a box. The poor little thing looks a mess. She's screaming all the time, which is driving me bonkers. It's her way of saying, well, anything.

I went to the debenhams site and it's undergoing maintenance . That'll teach me! Probably for the best. He's already getting the happy land farm and airport as well as the little people zoo from family so that's more than enough little plastic world stuff for any 18 month old. You'll all let me know if you see it come back into stock though

Deb shame you missed out though - have you tried phoning up, see if any stores near your family have any stock?

Sorry to hear about Thea Rolf. Poor wee thing. Sympathies on the screaming though. S was very whiny and crying all day on Saturday and I shouted at him . Well, sort of, he was in the next room. Felt bloody awful about it afterwards though, and for several days afterwards.

Sybil, that's rubbish re the hamsters. If I see any merchandise when out and about I'll pick something up for you. Hope J feels better soon.

Deb the car you're getting for Ethan looks fab!

I so can't wait for Christmas. (So I can stop buying presents, if nothing else!). I've bought some card making stuff so I can make some christmas cards with S for family. It'll be messy but fun (hopefully).

Eating has been a bit better here over the last day or two. Have completely given up trying to get him in his high chair for tea though. He tends to mooch about the kitchen then come to the table periodically for a spoonful of food (a bit like a puppy). But if he eats I'm happy! Had a terrible night last night though - bit like yours from the other night Essie. DH brought him into bed with us so lots of tossing and turning and no sleep for anyone.

Oh, can I have thoughts on drums (apart from 'don't do it' )!

plastic or wooden ?

Deb there were loads at our Debenhams - can I help out at all? BDQ I want the farm - but Iestyn already has the little people zoo! It's his favourite. Wooden every time, btw.

Rolf did you get a dramatic haircut? Sorry that Thea's been in the wars though.

BDQ we got Iestyn to eat loads tonight - by letting him watch telly... He's not right today, though. He was quite upset this morning for no known reason; then this evening he was in a bad mood from when I picked him up until I gave him cheese. But at bedtime he was really really clingy with me (DH was here) and wouldn't even let us put a nappy on him; he just wanted to be held really really tight. He's got nappy rash and so I gave him a dose of calpol.

Deb I wonder if it is the same programme? I was joking because Tecwyn is just so weird - it's a Welsh programme, with a real life woman and a small tractor friend. DON'T laugh people.

Essie thanks for that in advance. No hurry though, I know you have a lot on. My friend is only embarrassed to speak Cantonese to her DS in public. Fine at home. I guess that she came to the UK from Hong Kong to go to boarding school and has spent all of the last 20 years being "British" if that makes any sense at all. I think she also feels a bit funny about speaking Cantonese when her English husband is there because he can't understand what she is saying to the baby. He is supportive of her though.

lol at the Real Life Welsh Tractor Lady!!

BDQ wooden. We have the wooden one. Much nicer noise, too.

I gave in a looked at the Debenhams website, but too late.

The haircut isn't dramatic but the colour is a bit too dark. I'm hoping it fades a bit after a few washes. The huge advantage of waiting 8 months for a haircut, though, is that I'm very easily pleased! It's far too grey now to get away with it. Even the boys noticed straightaway, and DS1 said that I look less tired and frazzled and nicer .

deb Fraser's not getting Happyland Village - Ds1 never played with that sort of toy and Fraser's not showing interest either. He likes balls, cars, and stuff animals (which he calls babies). he might get this as he and DS1 fight over the red car we have.

We got this play kitchen last year and it's not used nearly as much as I'd hoped - only when friends are over and start playing with it. It lives in Fraser's room because our playroom's too teeny.

BDQ drums! get this one. It sounds lovely and is not too loud and has been a favourite here.

Rolf I really need a haircut too, it's been 11 months here although I trim it myself. THe problem is that I do not trust
hairdressers...

Spurred on by Spider yesterday I have just done finger painting with Ethan . My conclusion - I didn't pay our CM in the UK enough as she did arty things with them every day from a much younger age than this. The result is too heavy to move off the table - Ethan liked the quantity over quality approach!

Happyland village - we don't really need one, he will still develop just fine without!! Just like a bargain!Might get Mum to look out for one!

Rolf, glad you're sounding more positive

BDQ - we have that wooden drum, it's a nice sound, much better than the real drum kit the boys have - we must have been mad! Ethan loves them, will have to try and put the video on Youtube

Essie - obviously not the same programme! Ours is just little red tractor dubbed into German.

Sorry about the hamster messages yesterday. I think I may have got slightly hysterical I spent an hour on a website this morning and I think I may have got a house (whispers furtively) My f5 finger is killing me from all the refreshing as the site crashed roughly every 5 seconds but fingers crossed.

J escaped out of his cot last night. He wedged his armpits over the top and wriggled up the bars with him feet until he overbalanced and fell out head first. I just managed to catch him before he hit the (wooden) floor with his head, but now I am paranoid about leaving him in the cot on his own. Anyone ever heard of anything you can put over the cot to stop this? Otherwise I am going to have to take the sides off before he breaks his neck and then he'll never stay in it. Sigh.

Deb/Spider, I am very impressed with craft work. I did try finger painting with J once but he hates having dirty fingers and screamed the whole time. When we do finger food we have to clean his hand throughout the meal or he gets upset. Its very odd!

Glad to hear you are feeling better Rolf.

Waves to everyone else...

LOL Sybil (in a kind way!) at your hamster exploits... But at J's climbing - I always did wonder what I'd do if Iestyn started doing that. (Iestyn is a climber, but he's luckily very short.) Is he too little to be in a 'bed'? I really have no idea, but I couldn't sleep the day Iestyn learnt to stand up until I'd lowered the cot level (in case he stood up in the cot and fell out).
I've heard of children who hate having stickiness on them and I've also heard it referred to as a 'problem'. Personally, I don't think it's a problem at all - I hate sticky fingers on me or anyone else, so it's just cleanliness. Iestyn isn't keen on sticky hands either, but I haven't really tested it (I obviously wipe immediately due to my own 'problem' with stickiness...) But I really can't see negative aspects there except maybe they won't have a career as finger painters. So what?

Lovely link Abdn - and so sweet, Fraser calling soft toys 'babies'! Iestyn doesn't like soft toys but does like cars and animals. It's animals all the way here. Annoyingly his surname is Petts...

Back to work now. I'm a bit stressed because of stuff that needs to be done but also totally unmotivated to start anything. And the weather is foul. The Straits are so rough they look like a jacuzzi.

Hello everyone!

The ILs have gone home now, they have done a great job helping us decorate but I am worn out now, so is J, he is having a long nap. We still have quite a bit to do but we have managed to get about a months worth of work for me and DH done in 2 days.

I really should do some Christmas shopping at some point I guess. J's main present this year is hopefully a balance bike that one of DHs friends is giving us as his son is getting a proper bike for Christmas. Bit at his main present being a free hand me down, plus we aren't sure if they are passing it on before or after Christmas (if they do at all, hope so). Also it may be a little advanced for him for a while. I'll get him some other bits and bobs to open but feel a bit reluctant to get a lot as I know his GPs will shower him with more stuff than we can fit in our house when we see them. I'm such a stingy gift giver!

J has no happyland things (poor neglected boy), and I think he would like a kitchen but as we are already over run by toys I'm not keen on getting something so big.

On the weight thing I haven't had J weighed for ages and I'm noticing now that he seems slimmer than he was, I think it is from running around all the time. Most of the time he eats well so I'm not too worried. He was a bit picky last night but he has a cold and was having trouble breathing and eating so fair enough.

Sybil - good luck with the hamsters!

I'm sure there was loads of other stuff I wanted to reply to but I think I'm going to have to go and have a nap instead!

You see AH, getting the kitchen and it not being played with is exactly what is holding me back at the moment. Having said that, whenever we go to playgroup he heads straight for the play kitchen and stays there. A letterbox toyshop has just opened here. It is lovely. I am more exciting about the prospect of TK Maxx opening 5 mins walk from my house though

Deb very impressed that I inspired you. I only did the potatoes because I had to for playgroup. Just got back from a different playgroup and we did fruit printing. P got properly into it for the first time.

I like clean hands too. My first words were "All gone" complete with dramatic wiping of hands apparently. This is why I was getting edgy as the paint was getting messier this afternoon.

A friend has just emailed me thisarticle. One for mothers of boys everywhere.

Sybil, at around this age Stefan started to throw himself out of his cot, even wearing a sleeping bag. I resorted to putting him in the travel cot with fabric sides and he couldn't get out of that. At 2 yrs he went in a bed, with a stairgate on the door for when he realised he could get out of the bed!

at the article Spider.

Ktpie - how great to have your inlaws to help out with the decorating. I wouldn't feel bad about the Christmas present, mine have had 2nd hand presents when they didn't know any better and we even got away with one last year for ds1.

Morning All, am I the first today?

Following on from sticking the remote behind the radiator, P has upped the stakes in his bid to destroy all the tech in this house. He has just put a dent in the tweeter of DH's massive speakers. DH is not going to be happy . The speakers still sound ok to me, but then I could never see the point of big speakers in the first place.

Waiting in for a new microwave to be delivered. Not much else going on.

Yes you're the first - it's so quiet these days!
Beware of the microwave, Spider - you might want to ensure it makes it onto the worktop before P gets his hands on it...

Good point Essie

I'm here, but J is still very vomity and grizzly. Its all very hard work here at the moment. He can't eat/sleep properly because of the coughing and I have bags I could put my tesco shop in.

Maybe P is trying to tell you something Spider, maybe he thinks the speakers are a little ott too!

Sorry J is still poorly sybil. I hope he's on the mend soon (for both your sakes!).

I was in town today and couldn't resist popping into debenhams, just 'for a wee browse'... Didn't get past the entrance to the shop - happyland village set bought and sitting under my desk at work . DH could see that it was a bargain but not too keen I think. I'm under strict instructions to put it away till next year sometime.

ktpie I wouldn't feel bad about the present at all! That's brilliant getting such a great present. He wont know the difference at all. I'd quite happily give S stuff second hand as presents if we got any handed down to us. No-one's offered though (although most people I know have just one child or much older children so are hanging on to things to use them again or have long ago cleared out the toddler stuff).

Loved the article spider - I did think of deb and her 3 boys!!! I thought it a shame the writer talked about being 'horrified' when a girl seemed so much more advanced than her son. Worried I could understand but horrified seemed more about her than her DS.

Spider what kind of paint did you use for the potato printing? Is any one kind better?

Gawd, I hadn't realised I had become resident potato printing guru . TBH I just used the paint that the toddler group has, which I assume is bog standard poster paint. A tip though from my Mum (former reception teacher) is for fruit printing (not potatoes this time) water the paint down a bit so that the grain and pattern of the fruit shows up. Works especially well if using citrus fruit. Can I just reassure you all that I am not doing painting at home, only on other peoples'
property.

Sybil the speakers are certainly taller than P. I have been out for lunch and forgotten about the speaker until I read your post. Groan...

Also Sybil, sorry to hear that you are having such a hard week. Can you get a break over the weekend at all? Almost impossible with 3 I suppose.

BDQ more temptation is coming your way here

Spider, I had seen the pirate ship, but the happy land village was already a little world type set already so I'm going to be good!