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

[spongebrainbigpants]

Welcome to our new thread .

I would go to bed spider, given how early your gorgeous little boy likes to rise in the morning!

Waves to viva and the central belt crew . Am tired and grumpy after spending an age tonight ballsing up peppermint creams - a sweet so simple, children make them!

Have completely forgotten all of today's posts apart from Bessie's Nessa style intro of new name .

Viva, all that journeying makes your Christmas sound very precarious! Is the M74 involved? Have friends who've driven up from London today but have been stuck on M74 for hours! Take flasks of hot drinks! And blankets. And more chocolate than you can imagine eating. And maybe a nip of brandy

Spider - you've got it all wrong - you're supposed to do that on Christmas eve when you can't possible get any replacements bits - it all adds to the stress excitement of Christmas!!

sponge - I got confused I thought the real Santa had come on our thread - he normally manages the journey OK

BDQ - could you just buy some tomorrow and sprinkle icing sugar on them?

Going2 - Las Vegas did my head in!!! We stayed in the Excaliber, great room, but at least a 20 min walk from our room to daylight. I know everyone seems to love it, but it just didn't do it for me. But glad we went. Loved Venice beach though, wanna go back there. Did your parcel arrive yet?

at KT waddling. My Mum had a wonderful old kenwood chef too, wish I still had it. I was meant to be making pavlova for xmas but without a food mixer of some sort, I've put my foot down. I'm thinking of making a gingerbread house 2m though.

We used to have a strap on our changing mat too - not a posh one like Essie, but a DIY one made out of a £2 shop baby harness. It was great for a bit but there is no way we'd be able to use it now. We now just change on the floor (or grass outside) which seems to make for less of a fight.

Sybil - I'm also FB friends with Essie, my first name is A.L.I.X. (without the full stops obciously ). Look forward to seeing you, sort of.

Amber - 1am delivery! I'm loving the new photos of Luke and his new haircut on FB, he looks lovely but so grown up. Good luck with the IVF!

Actually really did LOL at the idea of Amber using Sponge (the MN member) to wipe up snot. Luckily I rarely need to wipe Ry's snot, he does a v good job of wiping it himself on whatever I may be wearing or our new couch or our bedsheets or even up into his hair. Lovely.

Sleigh - I am so loving the reindeer food.

DH currently wrapping all Ry's pressies whilst I MN. I love my DH!

Spider - Ry loves the kitchen you're giving P. It used to be at his playgroup. Despite the size of this town, it has an amazing toy library for just $30 (£15) a year we can take out 3 toys a week for Ry. One of those toys can be a big onem, ie: the toy kitchen or a toy car, etc. The best thing is that it is run by my SIL so we can get whatever we want and there's only 10 other members. We were going to get Ry a car for xmas, but there really is no point now... I do get the dettol out every time we get something though.

BDQ - I ballsed up fudge the other day and was so disappointed, DH loves fudge and it was meant to be a suprise. Did make hokey pokey/honeycombe and choc chip cookies yday though so he's quite happy. I've turned all Puree style domestic goddess since getting here! Cookies, cakes, bread, even lemon curd (can't bear to see all the lemons on the trees going to waste).

Had a terribly sick little boy here last night. He couldn't even keep water down. Woke up fine this morning but it really was horrid.

Discovered Chuggington is on every morning here = one happy little boy. We have ITNG every other day too. Caved in and bought an interactive Iggle Piggle today. Was gutted not to be able to find a Tickle Me Elmo anywhere, not sure whether that was for Ryder or me.

Deb I had been trying to put off kitchen construction till the last minute but DH is being v organised this week. Sponge, I went to bed at half midnight, DH was only on step 32 at that stage. Anyway, it is finished now and it is lovely, nowhere to keep it though whilst the tree is up.

PP wow lemons in your garden. I assume you are on the north island?

Am I the only one who sniggered in a crude way at mention of the "mumsnet member Sponge"?

I am enjoying the MN bejewelled blitz tournaments at the moment. (deb, whinegums, libralady and josie) That was until a mate of DH's started playing and instantly topped my leader board with a score of 295k (competitive, moi?). Looking at the MN thread for FB gaming addicts some people are getting 400k on BB. How is that possible?

PP Lemons in your garden sound wonderful! The toy library sound fab too, a friend of mine runs one( I think she runs it) in NZ - her name is Sonia would be funny if it's the same one!

Parcel still not turned up it was loaded back onto the van yesterday at 4pm but no sign of it here.
A mum didn't collect DD1 to take her to her brownie carol concert yesterday which was annoying. DD2 has an ear infection, it only hurt slighly on monday and yesterday started oozing - she doesn't have anymore pain and is well in herself so doesn't need any antibiotics but I have a prescription just incase.

I like the look of the strap down change mat but think we would have tantrums here if I tried that. Have had some success with changing him on the floor before but now I'm not sure that if I could get into the right position I could reach past bump to actually change him, would probably end up with poo all down my front.

Amber - congrats on being unemployed! at your 1am delivery!

Happy birthday Debs! Glad your MIL made it in time. We seem to have been given lots of reindeer food so have bags of it all over the place.

Viva - hope the travelling all goes well today.

Sponge - at being stranded in a nursery with loads of kids!

PP - know what you mean about Las Vegas, I spent one evening there and that was plenty.

Spider - kitchen sounds great.

Goingto - how annoying about the parcel.

We survived our trip to Tescos yesterday, was busy but not too bad, we only had a few things to get anyhow. Now just a trip to the farm shops tomorrow to get the fresh stuff and we are sorted. We've even wrapped the presents. This is definitely the most organised I've ever been at Christmas. Just got to hang up the Christmas cards somewhere. DH finishes work today at lunch time and is off until after the new year.

Santa came down our street last night on his sleigh, we waved at him from a bedroom window, J was very excited.

Hello hello. Ok, here's my central belt hangin' with BQW and Glasvegas homies shout out to all wave. There. Did you like it?

PP - good to hear from you, I like reading your updates on FB in a slightly way of course!

Sodding bastarding fecking weather. I was supposed to be going to pick my ma up yesterday and come back with her today for Christmas (you'll all remember she won't get on a bus/train to travel the 170 miles to see us, not even when B was born). Anyway, that's all gone tits up. I did consider going today and coming back tomorrow, but DP wasn't too keen on that, and neither am I really. So we're on the last plan, which is for DP to go down tomorrow and come straight back with her.

Apart from that, I'm feeling quite festive (although still longing for our old pre-B Christmases in the sun). Did all the food shopping yesterday, but then went back for even more today (madness I know, all the shops are open on Boxing Day). I have some more pressies to wrap and general tidying up - down to the last two boxes to unpack downstairs - there's still more upstairs unfortunately.

Nursery had a little Christmas party yesterday with Santa and songs and pressies. Very sweet. All the kids got a copy of Dear Santa - like Dear Zoo, except Santa-themed. Why change a winning formula??

I want a Kenwood Chef too! Or a new food processor at least. Philips have a new range out, it looks nice, but it's eye-wateringly expensive.

I have to say I'm being most lazy this year, I haven't made any festive treats, and I've bought mostly ready made things rather than making my own as usual. I have even bought custard and cake for the trifle rather than making them, and a birthday cake for my mum, who helpfully has her birthday on Christmas Day. So not just one present to buy for the person who's the most difficult in the world to buy for, but two.

Right, I'm going to get on with the chores whilst I've got peace and quiet - B at nursery, DP has had to go to work in a meeting. Hope everyone gets to where they need to be, guests arrive, food turns up etc etc etc etc etc.

Viva I live in Herts, and near to Luton airport. The roads are really appalling here still. Hope they get there ok.

PP I completely ballsed up hokeypokey both times I tried to make it. My mumis due any second to help us make mincepies so hopefully that will be more successful.

Thanks for the Birthday wishes - I am soooo tired today, could be my grand old age of 41, or the fact that I got a Wii fit for my birthday and have been trying it out or probably it's the fact that darling Ethan was awake for about 4 hours in the night, didn't seem to be ill, had to resort to medication in the end before he was evicted from our bed forever!!This morning he's managed 1 hour sleep and is so grumpy still, so he's in bed now but is showing no signs of giving in. We're all off for a meal tonight - could be fun with a stroppy tired toddler!

Hope all your families get to you for Christmas and all poorly babies get better soon.

Very impressed with all the baking - it has never occurred to me to make mince pies etc, although I don't even like them so that is probably why. No wonder I find Christmas so easy.

MIL has bought T and E a kitchen for Christmas, hope it's not as hard to put together as yours Spider.

PP, I am fine thanks, just tired - I feel shattered most nights after putting the twins to bed, not helped by having to do bathtime on my own quite a few times over the last few weeks cos DH has been on Christmas dos (inc last night). But as long as I get a decent night's sleep I don't feel too bad.

T was bad again last night, wouldn't settle, kept going to sleep but then waking up 30 mins later and wanting me to sit with him, so I gave him 2.5ml medised at 9.30pm and he slept till 6.30am . He has a terrible snotty cough so I think the medised helps dry it all up for a bit. I brought him into our bed at 6.30am which is a very rare occurrance (only cos he usually just wants to get up and run about) but he lay on me nearly crushing me for an hour. Every time I tried to ease him off me onto the bed he woke up and scrambled back onto my chest

I am at work today and CM is on hols so my mum has got the DTs, but my little sis is 35 weeks PG (second baby) and she thinks she is in labour . Her DH is at sea at the moment, not due back till Jan 20 (six days before baby is due) so my mum has gone to the hospital with her, leaving my dad in charge of the DTs. He has four kids so I am sure he can manage but I dread to think what they will make of him, they don't really know him that well and have never been alone with him!

Hope all goes OK for your sister Neenz and also for your Dad

Thanks Deb, just spoke to my sister and she is at the hospital with another of my sisters and she says she doesn't think she'll be having the baby. I think she is just panicking because she is on her own with a 2yo (cos her DH is at sea). She went in at the weekend with pains. They said she is having labour pains but not in labour. They are monitoring her.

I did this video of the DTs yesterday for the multiples thread, in case anyone is interested in seeing how cute they are [proud]! It is only a minute long. T is full of a cold so looks a bit puffy and red-eyed tho

Neenz hope your sister is ok and little one manages to stay put.

J is still improving. He even managed some cheese on toast today. Talking of not very varied diets, should I point out that J has had cheese on tomato puree on toast practically every day for the past year! We are branching out to soft cheese sandwiches and tuna sandwiches as well though (when not ill) honest!

Sorry Deb, I must have missed that it was your birthday. Hope you had a great day, and that E sleeps better for you tonight.

Happy birthday Deb!! Sorry, I missed that too before (must have x-posted). Enjoy your meal, hope E behaves. They are monkeys aren't they. I love it that it took four hours to medicate him. I get the Calpol out as soon as they wake in the night . It is rare that they wake to be fair, so I just always reckon it must be pain/cold/cough etc. They are always struggling with some illness or other at the moment.

My sister has been sent home, they think she has a kidney infection not labour pains. So thank goodness Sidney is not making an appearance (that is going to be his real name btw, it's not just her pet name for her bump )

Evening all! Sorry, have been lurking mostly while not having much time to post.

Many happy returns to you Deb.

Glad your sister isn't in labour Neenz. We're the opposite when it comes to medication - if S wakes in the night it never occurs to us that he could be poorly! He's got a pretty rotten cold at the moment too, but some of that snuffle balm stuff and olbas oil seems to be doing the trick at night just now. Fingers crossed it stays that way over Christmas!

Lots of snow here today - I made it into work ok, but lots of nursery staff didn't so we all had to about turn. Am a bit miffed because it means that I dont have any holiday spare this year so will have to deduct a day from next year or take it unpaid. What's the etiquette on nursery fees during snow days? We've paid for a day obviously but he was only there for an hour! The snow day could have been fun if I hadn't been miffed about work and if S hadn't been in a cranky overtired clingy mood all day. No nap .

Other than that, not much to report. Busy trying to get housework etc done in time for Christmas.

I'm {fgrin] at your cheap Christmas shop btw Neenz! We've easily spent more than double what we usually do and we're out Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Our shop included lots of booze, treats and baking stuff as well as a pretty expensive trip to Edinburgh's most famous butchers for some lovely food for over the festive season.

I'm knackered so am off in search of a glass of wine to unwind before bed. Apologies for lack of messages to everyone else. Sends secret hand singles to the central scotland crew and wishes for good health to poorly babies.

Happy birthday Deb

BDQ I'm stingy with medicine as well! It takes ages for it to occur to me.

Sybil I'm glad J is improving. Thea doesn't eat much either. I think she's cutting some canines as she's feeding lots and is sleeping really badly.

Neenz glad your sister isn't in labour but a kidney infection must be pretty horrid for her. I think Sidney is a good name, but I've come across more females than males (younger generation anyway).

Our turkey arrived today, and it's just started snowing so I'm glad everything is here. I need to get a few bits I forgot, but if I don't manage it it won't really matter. I've still got loads of wrapping to do though. I should be doing it now but I'm knackered. I wanted to sit down and watch crap tv but we are having problems with our signal since the digital switchover.

The only thing missing is DH . He went out to a work lunch and I haven't heard from him since. He's not answering his phone and I don't know where he is. He doesn't have his key so he'll have to wake me up to let him in. We're in the middle of a very stupid row and I can't decide whether to be even crosser with him, or realise that actually I would be quite sad if he didn't come home!

Hope he turns up soon Rolf!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes. Had a lovely meal and it was on the house as well as it's the place we always recommend to our guests so that was even better. Ethan was quite good if I kept adding tomato sauce to his food. He insisted on taking his shoes off as that's a big thing here - school, playgroup etc.. so he obviously he thought, I'm staying , I should take my shoes off!!

Just finished wrapping all the boys presents, so I'm feeling very smug as I'm usually up very late on Christmas eve doing it and then the boys get up very early!

Glad your sister's OK Neenz

Deb sorry I forgot to wish you a happy birthday. Glad you had a nice day. Welldone on the wrapping. I have a couple left to do.

Rolf has your DH appeared yet? Hope he is ok.

We are currently wondering whether DH's parents are going to be able to make it from the North East today. They had lots of snow and have had another two inches overnight. If they don't set out today I think they will try tomorrow when it is meant to be warmer and the roads should be alot quieter.

Ok, have a v happy Christmas everyone in case I don't post again today.

He got home about 2am. I know that because he phoned me and asked me to let him in . Thea slept horribly (again) and I have a sore throat and tickly cough that kept me awake. We still have loads of wrapping to do so we'll be up late tonight. DS2 couldn't sleep last night as he was so excited about the snow. He came downstairs at about 10pm to ask if he could go outside, so he went out in his PJs and bare feet and danced around!

at 2am Rolf. How annoying that he didn't take his key! DH was out 'for a few drinks after work' on Tues and came in at midnight . I was pretty annoyed - I'd rather he was just realistic about what he was doing rather than saying he'll 'be a bit late' and then come in at 12. I was only annoyed cos I can't go out and get pissed. I am feeling really rough today, I think the ms is starting. It is good in a way cos it is always reassuring to feel sick, but it is not nice (just need to eat all the time to stop feeling sick). I nearly spewed changing T's nappy this morn.

I was pretty surprised at the amount of snow we had overnight, I thought it had finished. My Dh's brother and wife and two kids are supposed to be travelling up from Bicester today but she has mastitis and feels awful (4wo baby) so they are maybe going to travel tonight or tomorrow. It is a 3.5hr drive - not great. I hope they make it.

BDQ, I would expect to not have to pay for the snow day at nursery, but not sure what the usual situation is.

Sounds like you had a lovely birthday, Deb. Can't beat a free meal!

I am not always plying my two with Calpol btw - they very rarely wake in the night

Did everyone miss my video? www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFvOoaSNmfg

My dad survived looking after the Dts yesterday - the house looked like a bomb had hit when I got home though

Happy belated birthday deb.

essie just spotted you on the hilarious xmas thread. .

BDQ you shouldn't have to pay for snow days - we never did.

It's snowing here - but both boys and myself are running low fevers and are generally feeling low... I hope we're cheerier tomorrow. Fraser's back to sleep for a second nap and we're off to the neighbours for dinner in a few minutes - will have to look at hte video later neenz.

Merry Christmas everyone!