January 2008 Shiny New Year Toddlers - Happy 2nd birthday to us!!

[LilySwalLoosHerTurkeyBaster]

Where did 2 years go ????

building work has started and my house is a total tip

ATM the floor is up in bathroom ready to put new floor down and old bath, loo, sink and floor dumped in front garden awaiting skip

M been very good but has been enteriained by TV all day

My mum is coming to pick us up once J has finshed school and we will all stay at my mum's for as long as it takes...

HI all,

Thanks for feedback on names. I'll definitely 'use' you guys again! Really, we want something, like Sabela, which is unusual in Spanish and English, just to be fair all round so Silvia doesn't really fit but we do both like it which is a bonus after all the argy-bargy last time round.

I totally give up on the baby names section on here. On the last thread I read the OP was asking if a certain list of names was unusual and everyone wrote back saying, 'Oh no, not at all.' Or pretty nuch. There were names like Caius, Lettice and Ianthe. I really don't know if I am living in a parallell universe but these do seem pretty unusual to me!

Just got home from a pretty miserable trip out with Sabela. It was aprtly my own fault because we were later then we should be. BUT it does seem to me that every time I take her out to the swings / library / playgroup and no matter how much I prepare her for the fact we have to leave and why and tempting her with her favourite lunch or a play with Papa she ALWAYS screams when we leave.

It's gettine me down.

I have explained in a very basic way that if she cries when we go to the swings, for example, we won't go any more but it's no good. She DOES understand this because she wanted to go to the swings today and I said we couldn't because she had already cried leavng the library and she did stop squawking for them.

Is this normal and what do I DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO and bear it?

Simpson - Sabela would watch TV 24/7 if I let her. I wouldn't worry about one day. I hope you get a bathroom floor by the end of the day.

Ange - I like Elena too but my Mum's name was Elaine and she hated it, and my MIL's sister, to whom she doesn't speak, is called this so I think I'd get shot!

Nicky - I hope Noah doesn't get it and you're all on the mend soon. Has DH got Tamiflu? I imagine it was too late for you and Charlie to get it, but we found it really helped DH recover faster.

Lilyloo- what are you putting in the party bags?

Filly - night away sounds lovely. Sigh. When is your 20 week scan? It can't be long now. Mine's mid February. I can't really believe it. How's the morning sickness. Cross fingers I haven't been sick for three days now

Gingeme - that sounds like a lovely day. I remember Highgate woods very fondly! Sorry you didn't get your girl. Do you mind now?

Anyone heard from JKS?

MrsMc! Mixedmama! Where are you?

LaT - you need to make an appearance on the Due in June thread sometime, you know Don't worry about the tears....rememeber "this too shall pass" . More helpfully, I find a 5-minute warning ("we're leaving soon, so what do you want to do before we go?") followed by a 2-min warning ("do you want to go on the swings/slide/climbing frame one last time before we leave?") followed by a 30-second warning ("ok everyone, last bit of xxxx before we go"), followed by a very firm "right, everyone say goodbye to the park and see you soon, time to go home for lunch" and firmly just leaving (disentangling said small child from climbing frame as necessary and ignoring howls), works quite well over time. Effectively a combination of a) giving lots of repeated advance notice and b) sticking to your guns in terms of actually leaving when you say (so no, "ok, just 5 more mins then" when faced with tears/tantrum) works quite well. At 2 they can understand the concept of agreeing not to do something in advance, like scream when leaving, but they just can't control themselves in the situation cos everything feels very immediate emotionally.

It does get better by about 2.5/3....mostly...

Gingeme - i don't know about the boys, but the gp wouldn't give me my SF jab because I was a bit 'under the weather'. maybe worth calling to check?

LaT - my scan is 5th Feb

No Lat I dont mind having all boys at all ha no realy I dont.
Yes filly I shall ring my gp and see what they say. Thanks . DH has got a realy bad habit of when we are out, like yesterday, he says 'right we are going now' and goes. If no one follows hell say ' right bye' and walks off leaving child screaming after him I did actualy have a go at him about it yesterday.

Filly - that is EXACTLY what I do (which is reassuring). Do I just carry on until it stops?

Nobody else's child seems to scream, but usually they are a bit older. I guess most people feel like this at some point.

Anyone who's good at money, could you have a look here please?

LaT - just keep going with it...Sabela will get the hang of it eventually and give up. DS (4 and a bit and at 'big school' already) will still do the jutting-out-sulky-lip thing and a bit of a wobble when made to stop doing something he really wants, even after years of knowing that there's no bloody point and we won't be staying if I say we're leaving. So just take a deep breathe, keep at it, stay calm and it will get better. Eventually

More dilemmas -

I have just washed DHs USB unit in his trousers. Is this his fault for leaving it in or mine for not checking? Damn, damn.

....almost certainly his, LaT. At least 99% of the blame has to lie with the person who failed to empty their pockets before sticking something in the wash...

phew. He's still going to be cross.

OMG! It still works. He may never have to know.....

Oh! Housemum - Did I see Amelie's birthday card on Ceebeebies on the 3rd? I think so

LaT USB thingies are pretty sturdy!! We have a simple rule - if dh puts it in the washing basket it is his fault, if I snatch it off his chair it is mine

Filly - I keep meaning to join the thread but feel the need to lurk a little first, and I haven't even got that far yet.

Oh hell, maybe I should just jump in and get to know everyone that way.

yes dh got tamiflu so hoepfully wont be long before we are all a bit better.

My problem at the moment is nto leaving places but bedtime. charlie who has gone to bed from 3 months quite happily til morning cries and wont sleep unless i stay in room, plus loads of excuses like need a drink of water, need to blow my nose, i need a huggle, sit on the chair and huggle me properly, pat my back etc etc all very well but no good when i have to put Noah to sleep too, otherwise he is left screaming downstairs when dh at work or like now dh cant go near him.

anyway i assume it will pass in time. Noah almost slept through last night - that would make a difference to my tired levels!!!!

hope everyone well

Evening all

Ange - sounds like you had a fab time
I vote against spelling quirks tbh as having to explain spellings of naes all your life gets a bit tedious, but that's prob just me!

Nicky - poor you Glad you and C starting to recover, hope Dh does too soon and that N avoids it.

Filly - hi H is doing much better every day, thanks!
Sorry to hear about the tears but glad the 2 nights away were good here too!
T was fine, very excited to see us both, but equally excited by all the presents the hosp gave him!

{Oh and I will put the 17th in my diary and see how things are nearer the time if that's ok?)

Gingeme - normally they say to any jabs with a cold, but depends on the cold, a small sniffle you could/should prob go ahead IMO. up to you though.
What are you going to see???
Yesterday sounds fab

Lily - you must be sick of snow by now! We had enough to turn the ground white for this morning and more promised Hope you get everything done though.

Simps - glad the work has started, just hope it doesn't take toooo long!

LaT - i'm here!
Sounds like you are doing the right thing already, warnings, warnings work (mostly) here too. Stops them feeling totally out of control.
(Oh and he was totally his fault!)

G - i'm always reminding DH that he has to warn T when things he might not like are going to happen. He gets most of the meltdowns (and T hardly has any) cos he forgets.

So, today, H:

• blowing raspberries
• shaking his head for 'no' (well and for 'yes' sometimes too, but hey...)
• def understanding some stuff, e.g. I held out my hands to him offering to pick him up, he looked at me and shook his head, then went back to chewing his toys
• lots of smiling & laughing, esp when being tickled
• lots of signing for food, some for drink too
• getting better at walking every day (a bit wobbly and think he's lost confidence a bit)

• a 2hr nap after lunch, normal or what?!

Oops, sorry Housemum

LaTrucha - DD1 1st Jan (Sabela) 2 Already
Housemum - DD3 3 Jan (Amelie) Belated Happy 2nd Birthday!
Gingeme - DS5 10 Jan (George)
Mixedmama - DS2 11 Jan (Ediz)
LuckySalem DD1 16th Jan (Aaliyah)
Lilyloo DD2 18th Jan (Martha)
JKS DS2 21st Jan (Henry)
Nicky DD1 23rd Jan (Charlie)
MrsMcJnr DS1 24th Jan (Xavier)
Bluebell82/Rubysmom - DD1 (Ruby)
Filly DD1 29th Jan (Tamara)
Simpson DD1 29th Jan (Molly)
Angechica DS1 29th Jan (Alek)
Madmouse DS1 1st Feb (Nathan)

Oh & Nicky - i clearly remember a stage when i would settle T in bed, then go and bf H, then T would start crying (gate on his door), so i would put H down (he would start crying), settle T, then come back to H, carry on feeding him, T would start crying.....ad nauseaum!

IT WILL PASS

GULP

am glad to hear that H is making such good progress JKS.

Back to work tomorrow - yuk! Better try and have early night to get back into swing of things.

Am havings some thoughts about asking to do 4 days a week when I go back in tomorrow. Since the support supposed to be materialising for my role keeps disappearing. Jobshare did not work out ... the other person left. My temp is being fired (was found to be playing soitaire all day and doing no work ). If I up my hours we will be better off immediately and also if I get to go on maternity leave in the next year or so (hopeful emoticon)....

A happy birthday to Sabela and Amelie x x

JKS - no problem re letting us know nearer the time. 17th feb is looking best bet. i think somewhere central ish is probably best for everyone so will start looking for somewhere.

is everyone happy to meet 10.30 ish have lunch there then leave in time for everyone to get back for school pick ups?

all a bit better here, noah went through without eating although woke at 1 with a bit of wind.
charlie so much better today she even ate fish and chips. dh much better too.

actually she even went to bed without screaming episode despite saying mummy no I told you to stay here as I said goodnight and left!!. In car to doctors today she told me to drive carefully and slowly and i told her that of course i would and she replied good listening mummy well done - mmm how my words come back to haunt me eh !

Lol nicky yes they do dont they. I was listening to David telling Edward off while I was washing up 'if you dont stop I will count to three!'
Glad you are all feeling a bit better and it sounds like a real break through with bed time. Keep up the good work.
JKS we have decided to go for the jabs on Friday. They only have the sniffles. We can only be sent home again and re scheduled. Wow things sound just brill with H. I bet T realy missed you all.
Good luck at work Ange.
LaT did he ever know?
It is snowing here. Dreading school run tomorrow. We are supposed to be going to Smyths to get Georges car too. Just hope the roads are ok. Bloody snow

Just popping in to see how you are all doing for snow ?
We still snowed in yawwwwwnnnnn very bored emotion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dc's school shut again today , had text off head asking if anyone could try and help clear snow near school so he could try and open tom!
So may have to attempt to drive tom
dp was sent home yesterday on his way to work as it was so bad.
Not looking good for L party on Sat but don't really want to delay it as it will run into M's then. Also haven't been able to confirm if those from school can still make it so may end up paying £8.99 per head for kids who can't come.....have to confirm numbers tom!

Lily - i forget are you in Lancs?Leics? you must be fed up up of it all by now.
Bit at the head asking for help but at the same time, a fab idea, might as well all help out. Hope the party plans work out.

We are finally get some snow now, don't think it's heavy enough to do anything though, yet anyway.

H doing really well, a friend came round today and she was so amazed.

He's started saying 'Bababababa' & sort of jiggling/dancing & happy in the baby walker for ages pootling around (dug it out to give us all a break, us from following him around and him from being hovered over as he's still unsteady on his feet).
All good.
And went down for his nap no probs too.