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

[spongebrainbigpants]

Welcome to our new thread .

Amber, I was just thinking this morning about my sister being so clever - she was a 5am riser as well, nothing my parents did ever got her to sleep longer!

But the bright point was that she was so clever that by the time she was about two she was getting herself up and making her own breakfast! I will ask my mum exactly what age it was but they just used to leave a bowl of cereal out for her, and she would get up, pour her own milk and turn the TV on .

So perhaps your early starts with Luke will come to an end sooner rather than later

5:45 today so not too bad (very relieved!).

Amber Fraser is doing the same things as Luke although he things all birds are called geese (if he sees one he yells "geese!") and has a few other confused ideas. Fraser's really come on in the past month and I think partially it's because he's gotten really into books. I don't think DS1 was doing this at 17 months but then it's all a bit of a blur.

It's nice out here today so we're going on a bike ride (DS1) and buggy ride (F) this morning. Life is so much easier when the weather's good. I'm settling in to being a SAHM now although I've had to back out of a couple things like my NCT group. They always do things that include lunch etc. and now that I'm not making anything, we can't afford it unless it is something that's really good for the boys (we still swim on Thursday mornings). It's not a real loss as I've always had mixed feelings about the group and we've never been able to participate in everything because of costs (nights out etc.)

Although I'm going to start having to keep the boys out of the house all day one day a week as DH has a new bit of contract work that he needs to do from home (or the library in town? There's just nowhere in the village to go). But this work pays a bit more so I'll be able to afford lunch out those days. This work is wonderful news too as DH does his work through a limited company and it's important for tax reasons that he doesn't resemble an employee. Up until now he's only worked for one client so we were worried.

Oops, sorry Debs, meant to say enjoy playgroup! The DTs saw a life-size model santa at playgroup last week and weren't too fussed. I don't think we'll be making any special trips anywhere to see santa but if we come across him somewhere random I suppose I'll give him a go!

T seems a bit better this morning, I was scared we would have a terrible night because he woke up once at 9pm when I gave him Nurofen, and then when we went to bed at 11 I heard him coughing and he had a bit of a cry, but her settled himself and then I had to wake him at 8.15 this morning. After a day on the ABs today I am sure he will be feeling much better.

Not sure if I mentioned this, but DH noticed on Saturday that T was shivering and had cold hands, and wanted to take him up to A&E. I said there was nothing wrong with him . Just goes to show sometimes mum's instinct isn't always right!

Oh Neenz poor Theo - hope he's better today. I was the same as your sister - very bright as a kiddie. It's all gone to shit now so hope the same doesn't happen to Luke!

Aberdeen - Luke the same - ther are two kinds of feathered creature - 'duck' and 'bird' for everything else but all birds go 'Wack Wack' no matter what kind! Good news about DH's new job!

I desperately need to go on a diet. Am going to try to do online weightwatchers but from experience I know it's not going to work as I need the motivation of public humiliation at the weigh ins! Losing weight will help with my fertility issues too. You'd think that would be motivation but I keep thinking of mince pies!

Sponge - that is really sweet about A!

Amber - I'm impressed at Luke's knowledge of ITNG!

Neenz - poor Theo! Hope he improves soon.

Debs- how did playgroup go?

AH - know what you mean about not being able to afford too many lunches.
Bike ride sounds good, I'm really missing doing that sort of thing at the moment, couldn't sleep the other night and I was actually thinking how nice it will be to start running again once I've had this baby, crazy!

Amber - Paul McKennas diet is the only one that ever worked for me, and quickly, I lost half a stone in 6 weeks! But you have to be in the right frame of mind for it, my Mum had no success at all trying it.

I made one of these last night and have put lavender inside it, it was quite easy so I think I will make some more as pressies, of course this means I might need to go out and get some more wool! I like theseas well and have a few jam jars kicking around that have lost their lids so might have a go at them.

I have a very whingy boy here, he was doing a new type of loud screaming earlier as well.

By the way do you like the new Christmas name?

Oh by the way - I found a great way for Luke to eat veggies (which he is not partial to at all). I steamed some asparagus, brocolli and carrot batons and then dipped them in flour, egg and breadcrumbs and very quickly fried them until the breadcrumbs were crisp. Bingo - he ate the lot!

ktpie love the new name - I got corks really cheaply from a health food shop, not as much fun as procuring them from wine bottles, but quicker!

ITNG C is a big fan, and can identify all the characters, as well as singing daisy when she appears and shouting mimimi when the pontipines appear - not sure if that makes her extremely clever, more likely I should stop putting on the TV for a bit of peace and quiet at tea time!

right, it's my birthday, so I'm off to have a nice lunch and see my grandparents. have a lovely day everybody x

Hi everyone. Loving the new Christmas names. I'm not very good at thinking of Christmas names - I was bitofasnowqueen last Christmas (which whinegums kindly thought of for me) so I suspect I'll be going with that again this year!

Enjoying hearing about all the clever babies. I think S is very clever - he already knows how to do full on tantrums and he's not even two ! Still not much in the way of words here although his understanding of what we say seems pretty good. i.e. if you tell him to get his shoes or whatever. He also gets really excited when we arrive at Jo Jingles on a Monday when he sees the sign outside the hall. However, this week the sign wasn't there so he started getting excited but then looked confused when no sign. I'm very envious of all the talking toddlers though, and have to remind myself that he's one of the youngest on here and that they all do different things at different stages.

How are everyone's tantrums btw? S is getting progressively worse - every nappy change, getting him dressed or getting him undressed is a nightmare. Apart from breakfast he'll not sit down for a meal and in fact we tried his booster chair instead of the highchair at breakfast this morning and he went bonkers!

I'm very impressed with all the 'making stuff' ktpie, viva* and others. I'd love to do more crafty stuff. I was quite into art etc when I was younger but never really carried on with anything. I'm just really hoping I can persuade S to enjoy crafty things as he gets older as I'd quite enjoy making things with him. I loved making Christmas cards with him this year - more than he did I think

Abdn good news about your DH. Although the upside of it being difficult to prove that you're not an employee is quite handy if the company don't treat you well - if you can build employee rights it can be useful . It must be tough trying to keep the boys occupied when the weather is rubbish. I find it hard one day a week and that's even after we've spent the morning at Jo Jingles!

Deb how did you get on at playgroup? We're definitely going to try and see Santa somewhere. There was one on the street the other day outside a Christmas tree place and S was squealing with delight.

Rolf don't be bashful about posting about T! S doesn't routinely point to facial features. They're all a marvel in their own way!

Well, I should get back to work. Big wave to everyone I haven't mentioned!

ktpie love the Christmas name! That woman's craft blog makes me feel very uncreative - talk about wholesome utopia!

Amber know what you mean about the weight thing. I veer between needing public humiliation and needing lots of adoration .

Neenz poor Theo. I hope the abs do the trick for him.

Abdn great about your DH's work and that you're happy being a SAHM. I know it's a big transition for you.

Deb all the Xmas shopping done? I'm v impressed!

Sponge that's so sweet about A with M,

Going We have the same experience on Christmas eve. Last year we were frantically wrapping, hidden in the attic, when DS1 appeared and was really upset. He mentioned only the other day about how his Father Christmas presents were wrapped in the same paper that DH and I were using . I must be more organised this year and make sure I use different paper for the Father Christmas presents.

Viva that korknisse is so cute. You lot are so clever at making things.

Those sodding mugs. We have 3. DS1 has done a football-themed one for his teacher (who likes football), DS2 has done a volcano one for his teacher, which in its generous use of brown and red brings to mind a cholera epidemic. DD1 has done a horrible smear on hers that doesn't look sweet or anything, just grubby. 21 left...My craft ideas are always a disaster as I am so horribly bad at it!

I went back to my GP today. Having white coat syndrome and holding off going for ages and ages means a ridiculously long list of niggly things to deal with. I have come away with 4 referrels . My thyroid was just about ok and she thinks the hair loss might be alopecia . I'm seeing a dermatologist to check out my scalp. I'm seeing a vascular surgeon about my varicose veins. Someone else about my tummy, and back to the leaky lady clinic about my sneeze problem .

Neenz Hope T is feeling better now, the antibiotics do tend to kick in quite quickly. DS1 had a febrile convulsion from a high temperature and he started off by being all shaky/twitchy - then he became unconscious and stopped breathing. But, (and this was the point I was getting around to!) my gp said not to worry about them shivering if they have a high temperature. Its better to strip them off and have them sleep in a vest when their temp is high as it helps to lower their ambient (SP?) temperature, rather than wrap up a shivery baby and raise the temp even further. Does that make sense?

KTmincepie (great name!) the fried veg is a great idea. Unfortunately J is quite an underachiever in the teeth department and finds breadcrumbed things really difficult to bite through. I will store it away for later though!

Its really cold here. DH is still working away (3 weeks now) and I miss being able to put my cold feet on him. Today I bought two sets of flannel pj's from La senza (on sale, 2 for £20, previously they were £30 each). I will be wrapped up and cosy tonight!

Rolf - x-posted, but do let us know if they give any good advice from the leaky lady clinc. You are not alone in your 'sneeze' issues

I'll let you know Sybil. I am reassured that you posted - as soon as I hit "post" I thought - maybe I've shared too much! That febrile convulsion sounds v scary.

My DH is away a lot at the moment as well, although a few days a week rather than a big chunk. I'm finding myself dreaming about flannel PJs and electric blankets! Our room is so cold at the moment. No curtains. No carpet, no wallpaper and freshly-plastered walls. And the contents of the children's bedrooms are stuffed in there as well. It's really grotty!

quick note to add my name to Rolf and sybils list. It's fine unless I go running so I've stopped running and am pretending it's because I need new shoes....

Grr! Just lost a big post.

Well it had nothing interesting in really, just that I am doing my pelvic floors as we speak!

And I definitely get the not going to lunch thing, you really have to prioritise. And if you don't really enjoy it that much... Sometimes I wonder how other people afford it (these same people who say they can't afford to give up work ). Fab news about your DH's work!

Also, I have made a couple of really good friends from playgroup and we are even going on a Christmas night out (suggested by me and they were up for it). So thank you to everyone who encouraged me to keep plugging away to make new friends... it has really worked . I feel really happy at the moment and I am even struggling to fit everyone in who I want to see!

Happy birthday Viva!

Happy Birthday Viva! hope you had a lovely day.

Hi guys, and happy birthday viva .

Been busy on here today so can't keep up - soooo tired (sorry, you're probably all bored of hearing that now! ), as Michael has been awake SEVEN AND A HALF HOURS! Didn't sleep from 11.30am til 6pm, and even though I was with friends he wouldn't be held by anyone else but me .

Ho hum . . .

Me too on the pelvic floor btw . If I have a full bladder and then sneeze . . . ohmigod .

As for A being a lovely big brother, he is most of the time, although today I came into the lounge (had only been out for 30 secs!) to find him sitting on M's head! I pulled him off and told him 'no' and looked at him sternly and he turned round and looked at me, wagged his finger repeatedly and said "no, no, no"!!!! God knows where he got that from cos I've never wagged my finger at anyone - must be a nursery thing!

Had a possible piece of good news today - met a woman through one of my NCT friends who is pg with No 1, a Y5 teacher at a local school and looking to go back to work in Sept on a parttime basis so needs a job share - have told her I would be v interested! Trying not to get too excited about it, but it would be sooo perfect - I could even walk to school!

On that subject, Rolf I love your mugs idea - one of my kids painted an Arsenal mug for a xmas pressie for me about 5 years ago and I still use it . I always loved the home made pressies - I have quite a few xmas decs that kids made me too and I still hang them on my tree and could tell you the name of every child who gave them to me. Special memories .

Oh, AH, the sling hasn't arrived yet . Is it registered post? We'll obviously replace it if it's been lost in the mail .

Happy Birthday Viva

Playgroup went OK, but Ethan did cry at St Nik - he is a bit weird though!!

Rolf - not all the shopping done - just the boys and Nigel!Nothing for the family in the UK!

sorry too many posts to respond to personally

Happy Birthday Viva!

BDQ - I was impressed at your card making!
Tantrums here are getting worse as well. He does naughty things and looks out for a reaction as well.

Rolf - I'm sure the mugs are better than you think.

I'm another one with a weak pelvic floor!

Neenz - sounds like you have a busy social calendar!

Sponge - hope this means a good nights sleep for you.

Has anyone taken their toddlers to the dentist yet? We got a reminder through the other day and me and J are both booked in for next week, little apprehensive about how we are going to get him to sit and open his mouth , at least there are only 2 teeth (still) to look at!

Only two teeth? Awwww . Last time I went to dentist's I asked him when I should bring the kids and he said just bring them at next check-up, they'll be about 2.5 then. He said at first it's just about getting them used to going (but with a year or so between appts that seems a bit daft!)

Happy birthday Viva!

That is very sweet about the Christmas decs, Sponge, and exciting about the possible job. Have you red the Baby Whisperer book? It gave me a lot of good tips about reading signs of tiredness and putting them down to sleep before they get overtired - mine were always very receptive to nodding off, which is probably why it worked so well - not sure how it works on a baby who is not that keen on napping! But mabe worth a try? Fingers crossed for a good night (and no we are not bored of you saying you are tired - it is to be expected, we'd all be a bit if M was sleeping through!)

I am happy cos City got through to semi-final of Carling Cup tonight. It's the first semi they have been in since I started supporting them (21 years ago!). But we have drawn Manchester United so it is going to be tough! The closer you get to a final the worse it is to get knocked out... Utd have been to loads of finals in the last 21 years so I really hope they are not up for it as much as us! A bit scared about how some of our more moronic fans will deal with it too - there will be two evening kick-offs so drinking galore and who knows what

sponge I didn't send it registered - I'm sure it'll turn up in the next day or two - Royal Mail are so unreliable at the moment but stuff seems to arrive eventually. And you wouldn't have to replace it since we'll probably never need it again ourselves

ktpie - Fraser's been to the dentist but just because DS1 was going too. He wouldn't open his mouth until i turned him upside down and tickled him.

Ds has been to the dentist three times now as I just take him along with his sisters. The third time was only a month after the second becasue I thought he had tooth decay which thankfully it was not!

Hi there

The briefest of brief hellos from me. Sorry that I have been crap lately. Between work and kids, I don't seem to be finding enough time. But others of you can so that's no excuse!

All fine with C and D. D's finally started walking!

Off to catch up with you guys.

x UDC