August 2008 - I wish it could be Christmas every day, with the TV rows and the ILs you'd like to slay-ay-ay.

[steaknife]

Hmm might be a bit early for a festive thread title but thought we could get in the mood.

None of that tasteful two colour decoration scheme in my tent - oh no. The gawdier the better.

Did I hear my name spoken in vain? Seems a few folks are touchy about my daily Christmas tick-tock. Just wish I could be the organized individual for which they spoke.

I have purchase a few pressies. The first set for my Dad & his wife. That was because they were here last night to do Christmas early since there headed back to Hawaii. The second one is for my Secret Santa. I must get that in the mail!! The third one, purchased yesterday, is the girls' Santa gift, that big red kitchen pushed on us by Sazzles. You know we must keep up with the Jones!! Then finally the fourth set of pressies, purchased today, are for family members arriving Saturday. Goodness knows who else that leaves. I'll just wait till somebody calls and says they're headed in this direction.

This is so not "organized" shopping.

Dizzy I like they way you shop but to be honest I shop like Sazzles. I hate buying for others because I see so much for me that I know no one else will consider getting me. With that I'll apologize to my Secret Santa; I want to keep what you're getting.

Oh and...I don't allow DH to do pressie purchases, not even for pants he will be wearing. One year I got a jewelry box and an electric can opener. See.

Wishing all a restful evening.

Dizzy thanks for the offer. I have run out of the ones I bought when in the UK and can get them here but they are $40 a box (about 17 pounds) . I can always get MIL to bring some with her at Christmas if she has room in her case with all the other crap I've asked her to bringpressies she'll no doubt be bringing for DS.

I am really struggling to keep DS in his Antilop - does anyone have a recommendation for a booster seat?

DH doesn't really buy presents for his family just gives money to his sister who then buys them all for him! He does buy for me though and the last few have come in nice turquoise boxes (he's not very original but hey I'm not complaining)! To make it easier for him I even had my ears pierced recently after years of not really being fussed!

Northern ladies and Sazzles of course! Will be in Leeds area from 27 March to 6 April 2010 (DB's wedding on 5 April) so if any of you are around and about then that would be lovely.

Morning ladies.
HP hope DD's day was fab
miamla I think I'm going to have to say no I won't be at the sleepover. I just have no money it's a double b*er because my birthday is looking like it's going to be a pile of crap again this year. No night out, and no presents either. Dp 'doesn't have time'. he didn't have time last year either. His comment? 'I didn't realise it was all about expensive presents' It's not about spending a lot of money, it's about the thought, and actually taking a bit of your precious time to get SOMETHING for the day. (or am I being unreasonable?) I'm thinking I'm not buying him a birthday pressie next year.

TS, pmsl at electric can opener.

I'd love to be at the sleepover or the Leeds meet ... As it is I'm trying to work out how easy it will be to back out of a sisters and cousins night out on Saturday. Broke and reluctant to leave dd2 who has taken to sighing loudly if she sees daddy in the middle of the night.

Also I have tons of work to do. The man I sent that vast document to didn't even wait 24 hours before sending a long list of pointless amendments.

Dd2's molars are still driving her a bit crazy.
But I have all the children's Christmas presents bought. Living too far from a city to do 'popping in' shopping, and having my mum driving over in two weeks time has meant a lot of online shopping out of my English savings

(It wasn't me clogging the road to Newry VG ) How is DS finding his new school after a bit more of a chance to settle in?

QOD - that is rubbish.
Why don't you ask him to spend a week's 'drink' money on a present instead.

Dh is very good at picking presents, but a lot of them have been a book or cd when money has been tight.

Birthdays are important.

QoD definitely NBU, how much time does it take to find something you'd like on Amazon or make you a card ffs? I haven't forgotten you trawling round Bluewater while heavily pregnant, on the search for his present last year. He needs to know that if he hasn't got time to make the mother of his child feel special on her birthday, he's a pretty poor sort of man.

Thanks ladies.
I'm increasingly feeling like a work widow. From conversation last night it is clear that he is choosing to do the hours he does in order to improve his career prospects. I now feel like S and I are being sacrificed on the altar of his career. He was NEVER this career oriented before he got this fecking job.
And he really isn't getting the idea that it's about feeling special on your birthday.
I might be reading more into it than is there, but I am starting to worry about what the future is going to be like if he carries on this way.

Well, the whole work situation is even more reason why he should take time out to make you feel special and cherished.

Maybe you should organise yourself a night out with friends and inform him that he will be parenting solo on X night from Y time to Z time...then leave him to it In fact, stay out all night and go shopping the next day.

QoD I don't think you are BU either on the present front. On the work front though I know it is only really since DS arrived that my DH has had a change in attitude as he wasn't really bothered about his career before either now I think it is the added responsibility that is pushing him on as he wants to be sure that we are provided for as I'm working but only part time and if we have another DC it is likely I'll be a SAHM. Not sure if that makes sense and it is tough getting the balance right and of course prioritising your family in the right way IYSWIM.

I know what you mean Snot. I think that is probably the reason here too. It just sucks that he's letting work take over his life completely, and I'm starting to feel like he just doesn't care about me the way he used to.
Yes I know he wants to make sure we're provided for. But is that more important than actually having a life with us?

Could you have a bit of a summit with him about where you are or what you are going. Focussing on what you want life to be like in 10 years time is an excellent trick.

We did this when ds was small and we lost our bearings a bit. Seven years later, life very closely resembles the ideal we wanted even though it seemed impossible at the time.

As to the money issue, can you both note down every penny you spend and on what for the next few weeks? We do this every now and again - it's a bit like a financial version of Saz's Food Focus thing - and it really helps you to spot where money is leaking, and decide on what you want to prioritise to free money up.

I think it can be easy for men to get caught up in the whole provider thing. I was obsessive about my career when I had one too as it happens. But kingofdreams needs to make sure his priorities are right.

My excuse for doing this rather than one of a hundred jobs is that the floors have been mopped and I don't want to break my legs walking on them.

Well I have spent 5hrs in bed today by myself, don't think I caught up on any of the sleep I lost last night but some good rest there anyway. Am going to have to try some Calpol on him tonight just to try and knock him out for a few solid hours.

Oh QoD so sad to hear you're headed for another birthday blues this year. Why don't you make him pay for your ticket to Miamla's on Sat, look after S for the night and we'll make that your birthday celebration? Give him a taste of how valuable you are even if just as childcare. I am also willing to bet he wouldn't hesitate to spend the money on a jolly weekend away for himself.

Snot Have you got the straps tied in a knot at the back on your antelope? Stops the buckles slipping loose. I am planning to get one of the wooden Ikea with a removeable t-bar in front when Kurt seems to get too big for his antilop.

One of my mum's internet gang has won a competition to get her first novel published, we are jumping about with excitement. She is dyslexic, has OCD, zero confidence and is extremely reclusive so the gang have all promised to chauffeur/escort her for any public appearance stuff. Aren't internet gangs wonderful things ? So I'm starting my plugging a year early for a certain scifi novel - ideal Xmas gift for next year.

hots calanders arrived today and they're great - hope you managed to get yours done

hi all else - manic here but will try to catch up later

qod i know you;re in kent -are you anywhere nar bluewater? I am going there sat in the daytime and if you could get there/nearish i could drive you back here and to miamla's and hopefully back again on sunday (though would be later on after church etc when dh is around for the dc). have a think......

Evening all

Sorry to hear your DP is being an arse again Queenie . Birthdays are special in my book and you deserve to be made a fuss of. I would cancel any Christmas / birthday presents for him until he gets the message

Dizzy glad you like the calendars. I got my order in with 50 minutes to spare, phew, so at least that is something towards Christmas. Think I might send DH out into the forests to Homebase at the weekend for the tree, although it will be outside in a bucket until (hopefully) 18th December

Snot gotcha for the northern meetup

to everyone else, sorry, I do read it all but my brain is fried after a rubbish night last night which included DD coming in with me at 11.15pm after an hour of getting up every 5 minutes and crying then DS was awake at 4am, then DD awake again at 5.30am so I am barely functioning and off to bed in a little while. Plus I have somehow managed to agree to turn DD's bed into a four-poster with sparkly curtains an a hopefully not vain effort to keep her in her bed.

DS sobbing heart-brokenly again , think it's going to be a long night... better get to bed in a minute then.

Night all

Eventful day here.

DD fell down the stairs this morning, lots of tears and yelling but seemed fine.
At lunchtime gave herself a fat lip when the kitchen drawer flew out too fast for her.
And at six o'clock threw up her dinner all over the very hungry caterpillar.

One call to NHS direct and two and a half hours later and Dr says it is defo just a bug and nothing to do with the fall.

I have just had final confirmation of this as as soon as we got home I was sick to.

should have read...

...two and ahalf hours in A and E later....

I haven't been on the phone to NHS direct for that long.