April 2009 - Episode 10 - Christmas time!! we can all drink wine, while children gurgle nursery rhymes, with logs in their nappies, and pee by the tree fun will be had by baby and me!!

[SantasNutts]

here we go then Merry Christmas One and all!! xxxxx

AA, that's some hellish sleeping you're having. Hope DS1 feels better soon and gets back to normal. Are you getting anywhere with A's night feeds?

Very of your down sarf meetup. I, for my part am going to my work's do on Friday. I realised last night that I'm as hairy as a chimp. So I've dug out the epilator and done my legs. FUCK it hurts! And I now have childbirth to compare it to... Happily I fit into my pre-pregnancy frock. Thankyou breastfeeding , because I am too tight sensible to buy a new one.

Little A is making crawling movements and has many new teeth. So he currently surfs around the room like a wee shark looking for things to bite . He's going through such a lovely stage at the moment and I want to stay home from work and cuddle him all day.

Boo, I really wanted the snow to settle.

Bicnod - How was Wimbledon? I can't face Kingston this close to Christmas.

Wriggly - Sounds perfect (save for a thunder faced MIL).
[wistfully imagines having a log fire to curl up in front of. with a good book. in an EMPTY house]

King - Well done on the driving lesson. It will get easier.

Gui - I would die for some of your homemade crap. You put me to shame.

Auld - I hope you are snoring right now.
I am very relaxed about getting outside help. Unfortunately no one wants to scrub my loo for a cup of tea and a chat.

Zulu - Are they any good? Do they pluck or cut?

Gui - I just read your list again, aloud to DH, and I absolutely am bowled over. Your lucky, lucky friends and relatives! Mine are getting a crappy little bag of fudge.

Shit syntax. Sorry.

Thanks Puzzle!

[aw shucks emoticon]

Though possibly once you'd tasted the piccalilli, you might change your mind! I don't think I've ever had it, so I don't know what it's meant to taste like - it just looks nice! Ditto panforte. When I've made the other baskets, I shall post photos in order to show off some more bring Christmas cheer.

Gui you're amazing. I am not making anything for Christmas.

DD1 still coughing so have to keep her at home again

Hazel resists any attempts to do controlled crying - well in fact we're not even doing CC, we're just leaving her to scream in the hope that she'll go back to sleep at some point. Well she doesn't. She's so stubborn, she just cried from 4.30 to 6.30 this morning. DH and I ended up shouting at each other Surely it MUST work at some point? Thinking about starting a support thread for mums who are doing CC!

Oh Bicnod - Hersham. Anyone here know anything about Hersham and what's it like as a place to live?

ITS FRIDAY TOMMOROW!!!!!!! YAY!!!!! PISSUP MEET UP TIME!!!

Oh god... if tonight goes as badly as last night, I won't have any energy to go out tomorrow

Oh Feirer - fingers crossed for a better night for you tonight. It would be such a shame if you couldn't go. Have got fingers crossed that a Christmas miracle will allow WFH and King to attend - I need to party vicariously through you lot!

It would be madness, would it not, to fully decorate the tree, without testing any of the lights? I've put five sets of lights on, but don't know where extension lead is to test them, so leaving that for DH when he gets home. It will be bad enough if I have to remove any of the lights before the baubles are on, let alone afterwards!!! But I really want to do baubles!

Hello all,

Am feeling quite spritely considering that Iris has woken at 11 pm for at least 2hours 2 nights in a row. Last night there was a power cut so when DP shouted helpfully offered that we should go into the living room there was no chance I was letting her in there in the pitch black so in bed it was with patting, rubbing, shushing, rocking, wriggling,rolling, pulling of hair and shouting...that was just from me!! !!

DP then woke up late as the alarm didn't go off. He put the main light on the bedroom waking all of us up and making a really loud phone call to work....thanks for that!!

Ah well, at least he is on lates from now on and I can tell him to do it himself try rocking her.

This too will pass.

BTW, did anyone else find the troll hunt thread last night, v. funny!!

I did it! Twas only a single line, am happy and am feeling such a load of worry lifted. Still not totally certain i guess, as was early and an evening test but am relieved for now. Thanks for the support ladies.
Gui am so impressed with your baskets. Out of interst how much did it cost you per basket?

Well done Oddeyes! I hope it's the right result!

As for the cost of the baskets - I have no idea anymore! It started off as a cheap option (e.g. foraged elderberries and old jam jars) and then spiralled out of control (new jars, baskets, ribbon, cellophane, labels, ingredients, including absolutely bucket-loads of sugar!) I bought quite a lot of chocolate, dried fruit, some booze for Xmas cake/ pudding/ mincemeat etc using a stockpile of Nectar points, so that was £70 'free'. They certainly weren't as cheap as I'd hoped, but I still think we've definitely spent less than if we'd just bought the usual sort of presents for family! I'd usually get my Mom and Dad a present each, probably would have spent £30-40 each, and this year they're just getting the basket between them (plus a photo calendar from Hugo!). Same for DB&SIL etc, so I think it must be a fair saving. If you were to factor in the labour though..... let's just say it's lucky I like pottering in the kitchen!

Someone please come and take these beasties away.

Well done oddeyes... are you ok about the result? x x

Gui - thank you SO MUCH for the storch - it arrived this morning and I used it to walk across St Pancras station this afternoon when O had a hissy fit and didn't want to be in his pushchair anymore. I need to practice a bit more at getting the tension right and the rings in the right place but it is already a LOT better than the baba sling I borrowed from my sis - doesn't pull on my neck at all. Plus it makes me look like a full on hippy chick

Fei - poor you - hope tonight is better x x x

...but I will not hear any talk of you not coming tomorrow night.

Even if tonight is a write off (I know it will be for me as O is teething like he has never teethed before) you will feel rejuvinated for an evening out and it doesn't have to be a late one. Plus I'd be very very sad and cry if you didn't come - no pressure then

As we seem to be stalking BA here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/879548-to-think-being-able-to-drive-is-KEY-skill-for

StillNotQuiteGettingThisTiggaxx

Fei I'm looking at it this way. Primary schools are there to teach the basics and social interaction. I can cope with any crappyness they may have. His secondary education may involve me finding much better paid employment to get him into a good private school.

Gui if you'd sent me a lovely basket like that I'd probably have cried. I think that's lovely. You've made it with your heart and that's worth sooo very much.

Xmas do was ok - food was hot and average!

Baby Elfy Sam has today been a Grumpy Gus. He has yet more snot and 2 of his teeth are still just coming out. I am shattered.

Had this conversation with Robin:

Robin: I hate my job, I'm going to take 3 months of next year and do what you are doing.

Me: You can't cope one day a week what, makes you think you can cope full time you muppet. And if anyone gets to take 3 months off next year when he's more fun than he's been for the first bloody 8 months it's me! You don't get to swan off to bloody work every day missing all the relatively boring and knackering stuff then come in at the end when the fun stuff starts to happen!

Now the above was half joking but am still quite !

Anyone else quite teary at the moment? It might have something to do with the fact I've been watching YouTube promo's that without fail make me blub like a girl.

StickingToHerGunsTiggaxx

King - Was that the "chev" thread?

Fei - You have to come. Even if it's for a short while. I hope you get some sleep tonight.

Tigga - I'm crossing my fingers that they can go to my old school when they are older. It's one of the best grammars in the country, 5 minutes away, and FREE!

Hi ladies how are all of you?

I've a million things to do. But I've got the blues. And I'm alone and for once Moo's cut out early...so I'm even more alone.
Dh has managed to go to 3 different Christmas parties and has made me miss the one I wanted go to with my old work friends.
So tell me some good happy things...

Hello

OddEyes hope that one line is the right result - at least you know now.

Gui your baskets sound fab. You've just reminded me that I haven't bought DP anything from Orbit yet, or taken DS1 shopping to buy something for DP. Darn Christmas gets complicated as they get older.

Bauble glad you have been converted to the way of the Storch I had Orbit in mine at the swimming pool the other day (not actually in the pool, you understand) and the girl on reception said 'oh, I love your sling. It's so.....cultural' ?

Tigga you keep Robin in line - none of this swooping on the good stuff and shirking the nappies/teething/crying stuff. Typical Dad behaviour

Sadly the Christmas miracle will not allow me to be at the meetup tomorrow - I went out last night for my ante natal class meet up (also at Strada, must be a fashion or something ) and Orbit screamed for an hour and half while I was out. I just don't think me being so far away from him would be a good idea, he just wouldn't settle for DP and in the end he just screamed himself to sleep .

Haven't tried the formula, either, as have been feeling too hungover tired all day.

So my mum has to have an ultrasound on her liver, it's definitely something liver related but could be her gall bladder or a blocked bile duct. Worst case scenario it could be a growth on the liver, but we're not thinking about that right now. Ultrasound will happen before Christmas so we should have something definite soon.

DP missed DS1's nativity due to breaking down on M4 in Wales. Also is that it seems to be the clutch which has gone, and the garage can't look at it until the New Year. So we're going to have to hire a car for a few days until we go away for Christmas.

On the plus side, I took Orbit to Aqua for lunch yesterday (sadly not Hotel du Vin, Nutty - I do love that place, used to get taken there for posh business dinners back in the distant past when I had a career) and he behaved beautifully, only smeared yogurt at one end of the table and flirted madly with the woman having a business lunch at the table opposite. Also ate a lot of salmon and tomatoes.

Now feel completely exhausted, please god let Orbit sleep well tonight. Last night when I got home both boys were in bed with DP, as DS1 had a bad dream where he dreamed he was a crab.

Yup, Puzzle, it was the Chev thread...i haven't giggled so much in ages, then the power went out and had to deal with a teething screaming baby for hours on end.

BTW, is it me or is there another bout of teething going on??

I think that the chances of me meeting up with you guys is about as likely as it not be snowing right now...

Someone mentioned a meet up for birthdays...that sounds good....babies or no babies i'd like to meet you all...pictures on FB please!

We have snow!!! Hurrah! It's only a sprinkling, but it is actual snow, not heavy frost. Snow is great as long as you can stay in admiring it from the comfort and warmth of the house, or play it in wrapped up warm and return to comfort and warmth of house. Not so much fun if you are trying to get somewhere on the M4 (or M2, or indeed any of those Ms). I am sending DH off to work with big blanket in the car, plus emergency rations etc in case of (highly unlikely) drastic worsening of conditions.

Bicnod - glad the Storch suits you! I must have the wrong shaped shoulders or summink. It is very lovely, and cultural, and I was a little sad it didn't work out between us, but my relationship with my lovely new mei tai is blossoming beautifully! It is double-sided, with a more manly sort of a pattern for DH, and flowery side for me, with a big pocket on each side and a toy loop. I heart it. It is very easy to use, though not quite as snug and warm as the Calin Bleu (which is odd as they are generally the ones touted as being coolest for summer!).

Brekky time. More later.

WFH - LOL at DS1 dreaming he was a crab . Also LOL at cultural - love it. Sad you can't make tonight but there's no way I'd be going out either if DH couldn't settle O. Am thinking about you and your mum x x

King - blimey... power cut and baby, not a great combo... poor you.

Gui - yay for snow I'm getting a mei tai as well I'm turning into MrsG - I figure the storch is perfect for short walks/taking in the bottom of the buggy for emergency hissy fit moments and the mei tai will be good for prearranged slinging (possibly out the window if this teething continues).

It's snowing again here... just started... and it's so pretty. Oh please please please let us have a white Christmas... how amazing would that be for our babes first one?

Good news on the sleep front: O slept from 11.30pm til 7.00am! I woke up at 6.20am and had to go and check he was still alive I hope he does it again tonight.

Everhopefulbutprettyconvinceditwon'thappentwonightsinarowbicnod x x

Bebe - how are you this morning? x x x