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

[LilySwalLoosHerTurkeyBaster]

Where did 2 years go ????

Right have read up whilst the partners are in a meeting.

Lily - that is brilliant about the rota. My gran had a stroke before Christmas and has 14 (yes 1 4) children and countless grandchildren but most of us live too far away to contirbute anything other than weekend visits every now and then.

E birthday was great thanks for all the bday wishes.

Went ILs on the saturday, but everyone was at work except MIL and FIL which was much nicer actually. SIL who is SAHM and never goes anywhere except to her mums house said she couldnt come as she had cooking and cleaning to do. Other SIL text DH on Monday to say they wanted to do a cake on Wednesday evening which would have invloved him going to work all day, picking the kids up and then going there on a school night in snow with no car...... luckily he just said forget it. They didnt even give him any of his presents when we went there. Ok rant over there.

My lot came round on the Sunday and we had a great day and then 2 of S friends from nursery (one of them has a little 2.5 yr old brother) came round and I had 5 boys under the age of 5 ransacking the house.

Now onto planning a proper party (on request) for DS1 - apparantly all BEn 10.

Ange - I second what everyone else has said.

JKS - glad H seems to be doing well and you are quite an incredible neightbour. I hope we can live somewhere with a community spirit one of these days Camden really isnt the most sociable.

Hi MM, Gingme, Hollyoaks (happy bday), LaT, Simps and everyone

Hello - had 16 week MW appointment today. All is looking well and we heard the heartbeat. . I am now crazy to know if it is a boy or a girl. We find out on Valentine's day, I think.

I have to be off as I am supposed to be sorting photos.

The bumbo sounds like a good idea. My HV said something to me that I have found very useful at her developmental check ( I know). SHe asked me if she was being wilfull etc and I sadi yes, and she replied, 'That's good. That's what they're supposed to do.' I often think it as am am folding a screaming child in half and wrestling her into the pushchair.

THe light buggy thing is working out well BTW. She walked all the way home and the pushchair wasn't a nuisance at all. She was totally exhausted halfway up our hill but refused to give in and go in the pushchair. Good girl! She knows her own mind, as usual. .

Right. Photos.

LaT I am with you and your HV on the wilful being good thing - with the insecurities around Nathan's brain damage everything that's normal is good - including his first scrap with another boy over a car a few months ago . Another thing that's normal!

Gingeme - G is getting so grown up with pre-sch & a big boys bed!! And well done E on dry nights
(don't you have a landline? to ring mobile i mean, hope you've found it by now!)

LaT - i CBA with getting my haircut too often but i do need to do it more often than i do, soon in fact, lots of split ends like Filly (though i must say her hair looks fine )
Really want your sickness to go away so you get to enjoy being pg. (is this likely to be your last or are you thinking of more? )
So glad your appt went well, that heartbeat is so reassuring isn't it?

Lily - so for your Nan re her rings. Rota is a good plan though. Has your snow melted today? most of ours has thank goodness.

Madmouse - love the painting pics Glad N is eating so well, one thing not to worry about! H is really not into food at the mo, very strange for him.
Deep breath and remember willful is good!! (I'm not hearing you moan about him am I.....?!?!?!!! ) Don't stress about the house ok??

Holly - glad scan went well, always a relief to get these things out of the way. We didn't find out for either DS, plan on not finding out in the future too, though i couldn't stop guessing!

Filly - no thoughts really re T screaming, prob teeth though. hope you feel better soon too.
Our plans for H's birthday involve T & I choosing a cake in Waitrose the day before and sticking a 2 candle in it to sing to, and Dh taking the day off. That's it!

Mixed - thanks i'm not really, we should have looked after the elderly lady a lot more since her DH died last year but time flies and life gets in the way. But generally our bit of our road looks out for other people, if not everyone.
Your SILs sound nutty!

Um, think that's everyone, sorry if i missed you!

All going fine here, i'm very tired, as usual by this point in the week, but DH is home and i bought some Tesco finest food for dinner, yum.
Going to take H to playgroup tomorrow, first time in aaages

Hi all

Sorry not been on for ages

Am moving home tomorrow!!!

Bad news is I have swine flu so totally wiped out

Both Dcs had it for all of one day

I am still ill over a wk later

Gingeme - M starting playgroup 2 mornings a wk in Feb

Hi to everyone else!!!

forgot to say good news about swine flu is I have lost over half a stone with zero effort

poor you Simps. But - you'll be glad to get home and back to normal/routine I expect. Am a bit freaked out - over the past week or so DS has stayed in his own bed all night after many weeks of disruption. Tends to wake up briefly a couple of times still but can be easily resettled. May it continue.

ooh hair, LaT. My hair is an absolute disgrace ATM, I just scrape it back for work & hope for the best. Every 8 weeks could be a compromise?

Well madmouse A does the same occasionally & it makes me feel very ineffectual at discipline if he laughs at me when I try to tell them off, sometimes find it hard not to giggle myself .

Been at work today instead of Mon but have no answer yet as to increasing hours.

Am expecting my dad tomorrow to crash at ours overnight - been doing some hardcore hiking in the Lakes. He runs up to 40 miles a week now he's retired. He's incredibly fit and puts me to shame.

hello everyone else.

Morning..

first things first ANGE wow to your dad, good on him. i need to start running again.

LOL JKS at nutty SILs that sounds like a good description. Leave them to it.

Hello to all.

Morning all , freezing rain falling here
Thought yeah may finally get ny car back. Walking down to it with dc was horrendous , the parts where the snow has melted is like greased glass. L was crying as she kept slipping Watched a big 4x4 come down the hill sideways and a taxi trying to get up pirouette
So my car is still at the bottom and i just had to carry my shopping back up again!!

Ange great news on the sleeping through

Simps bet you glad to be going home , glad you on the mend too!!

Mixedm glad you had good birthday for E!

JKS i was hoping to get to toddler group too this am. Not been yet since xmas and M is watching far too much Peppa pig but this weather is still stopping us going out.

LaT glad the scan went well What a lovely date for next one!

Mmouse hope today is a bit better for you. We at willfull stage too !

Filly hope you feeling better today!

Gingeme that is my fear about putting the girls in together. L loves her sleep much more than M , and she is very very ratty if she doesn't get her full 12 hours!

Hollyoaks glad your scan went qwell too.

Should hopefully be getting tickets for cinema today. We are going Sunday am but will need to get another ticket as the family tickets are for 4 , as per usual!!
Just picked up the new Peppa dvd in Tesco for M , think may leave her pres at that tbh. We have way too many toys !!
Going out this evening for a Tapas with dp which should be nice , as long as babysitter can get here

Hi all

Just been out to buy Nathan's birthday present - there's a photo on my fb profile. It's a Matchbox fire engine and it is bigger than him!! We saw it in Tesco together and he was stroking it with dreamy eyes and cried when we walked away. we can't wait to see him with it, in fact we are planning his birthday accordingly. His actual birthday is on a Monday but giving him his present then packing him off to his childminder 10 mins later or when he comes back and then expecting him to eat and go to bed within the hour seems tantamount to child abuse. So we've settled on the sunday before - after church

Will also invite a few friends for tea and train shaped cake.

Am better today thanks Lily. Had a few things bothering me including work - due back on 1 March but hearing from the full time manager that a) she's leaving on that day and b) it's mess, financial disaster and chaos. Office may close before I go back. But only realised when receiving huge telling off from close friend yesterday that I had told myself I was ok BECAUSE I am due back at work and that I am putting too much pressure on myself to get ready because i feel I need to. Had me in tears but feel better now I have it straight in my head. Have dh's blessing to resign if they expect me to go back in the mess as described and I am applying for a new job. Need to remember not completely better yet

Oh snow is melting in the rain here compacting it into some strange icey stuff, but it will be gone soon - Lily bet you can't wait for it to go your end.

Hi to all - sorry for ramble x

You do need to remember that madmouse, no giant steps yet . Sometimes I feel so much better, "Look at me, I can do anything" then something stressful happens, even if just a little thing at work, and I'm still not dealing with it as well as I should be. I am lucky that I had a phased return to work & am only back to full cover duties and flexi time as of next week.

MM - lol @ your description of 'child abuse' but know exactly what you mean. Anyway, you will get so much more enjoyment out of N's pleasure if you have all of Sunday afternoon to take photos and watch I can only echo what Ange said about small steps....its so easy to over-estimate how much we can take on, and so important to be realistic about what is manageable and most important Be kind to yourself!

JKS - once again, I am just so happy (and impressed by) H's progress, despite the poor eating. Has he had any noticeable fits or anything since the hospital or is it starting to feel like all those sleepless nights in GOSH might have been worth it? Thanks for being so nice about my hair, but I recall I was wearing a hat when I saw you!

Ange - hurrah for the sleeping

Simpson - so glad your house is finished and poo to the pig flu...hope you and the dcs finish getting better quickly once you're back in your own space...and please post pics of the new kitchen and bathroom on your profile

Mixedmama - we always knew your ILs were nutters, but glad to hear dh is standing his ground more

Lily - the icy hill sounds like a total nightmare...so sorry you're still having to deal with that - fingers crossed it will clear up soon. Enjoy the cinema - there was an interesting discussion on Radio 4 earlier today about whether venues needed to update their definition of 'family' to being more than 2+2.

Gingeme - love the idea of you and dh doing the (cheaper!) food shopping with no children in tow! Quite too

Our snow is finally clearing up, thank goodness, so can get out and about (and to work!) again. Still feeling utterly shattered, sciatica back in full force and quite sick-y, and wondering when the nice bit is going to kick in since I'm already 18.5 weeks! Tamara is being deeply wilful and difficult here too, but being able to ignore her and focus on whatever ds is doing does make it easier to handle. I especially hate the mornings, as she has started having tantrums half-way through getting dressed every day - no apparent reason, it isn't the choice of clothes, she just gets really cross about getting dressed Not a nice way to start the morning...

Hope you all have lovely weekends

Nathan is having a walking frame!!! The try-out session with the company rep was a roaring success and everyone was amazed at how Nathan just took off in the thing and walked over to daddy as if he had done it a thousand times, calm and confident and VERY happy - made me all tearful to see him walk and grin and be so happy to be walking by himself.

We chose bright blue for him. Now just an 8 week wait which will go far too slowly!

We will have to get rid of the coffee table and expect dents in everything else but heck not complaining!!

That sounds great Madmouse. I'm glad you had a happy day.

Madmouse - can't wait to see pics or video of Nathan charging about

Woo hoo I am home!!!

Still feeling decidedly rough but always better to be ill in your own house

LaT - so glad scan went well

JKS - glad H seems to be doing well. How was toddler group??

Filly - M being very wilful atm too I feel your pain!!

Hi to everyone else, will be back later am off to make a start on programmes I sky plussed while at my mum's

Hi everyone

Simps - bad luck re swine flu, hope you all recover asap then you know you've had it and don't have to worry about it!!
Hope home is F A B!!!
Toddler group was fine, he found the play rooms overwhelming but snack time on my lap lots of fun
He also went with FIL & T to Dads group this morning x 2.

Ange - great news about DS staying in bed! Your Dad sounds v fit, mine is too, i'm a confirmed couch potato

Lily - yet another thing i've been worrying about another child taking us out of the 'norm' for family stuff.
Have you managed to get your car home yet???

Filly - i have found the BabyBjorn! can post if you send your add through FB?
(and i'm sure you took your hat off at some point!!)

H hasn't had anything seizure-like since the op
So definitely worth all the grey hairs & worry lines!!

Madmouse - yey for walking frame

So, H carrying on with good stuff, has learnt to hold onto the side of the kitchen gate and step over the bar.
Is having long naps after lunch (4hours-ish) but obv needs them as he's sleeping all night and not getting up until we get him up about 8am.
If it was just him i might actually get enough sleep!

So, who's pg on here then and what are the EDDS? i have lost track!
Lucky
Filly
LaT
anyone else?

mm thats great about N walking frame

JKS also great news on H he is making great strides Yes car came back today x 1000 and the snow is almost gone!!!

Just collected M peppa birthday cake and got her a peppa helium balloon which she loves. Off to see the wiggles tom am and then il's are coming up in the aft! May do the same as you MM and have her birthday tom when we have more time.

Lucky, sorry meant to do this yesterday!

LaTrucha - DD1 1st Jan (Sabela) 2 Already
Housemum - DD3 3 Jan (Amelie) 2 Already
Gingeme - DS5 10 Jan (George) 2 Already
Mixedmama - DS2 11 Jan (Ediz) 2 AlreayY
LuckySalem DD1 16th Jan (Aaliyah) Happy 2nd Birthday! (for yesterday)
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)

Lily - hope you are having a good 'birthday' with M

Happy Birthday to M and A!

MM - brilliant news about the frame... will also look aouton FB for a vid.

JKS - so pleased about H. Wish I could get DH t go to dads group but he funny about those things, however now the chidren are older he is much more willing to get involved and doesnt moa half as much, think we have turned a corner.

They have all gone off to ILs today, have just finished prepping all the dinner for next week and ade some fab soup that E loves and it is pure veggies and also zero points from a WW persepctive so win wiin.

I am due on this weekend but no sign so far so fingers crossed I can join the list of expectants.

Right off to have a cuppa tea before i hit the books. Have a lovely day everyone.

Hi all

New name - time for a change - everything else has...

It's madmouse btw

Great name change willsurvive
How are you feeling Simpson? A bit better I hope. My Dads realy poorly with a cough and cold at the moment. Popped into him today with some paracetamol and milk. Will pop in again in the week.
Wish I could be added to the expecting list JKS had a real wobbly moment yesterday when we put the cot and changing table down. George looks tiny in his new big bed. My rl friend is expecting again too and another friends ds celebrated his 1st birthday in Thurs. I miss my baby but in a way Im glad hes grown up enough to go to pre school etc.
Great news about DH mixedmamma DH is pretty hands on with playgroups and stuff. Not sure if he would go on his own though
Nicky6 any news on our meet up? Ive been keeping the 17th clear as much as I can with it being half term
We bought a new fish tank yesterday. The guy told us to run it with the new filter for 5 days with no fish in. Its great and has an alien in it and the scene is planets. George has dipped his fingers in a couple of times though just hope he doesnt try fishing when our fish are in it...
DH went to pick a bed guard up today from an Ebay seller. Its on Georges bed now and he leapt straight on saying 'bed, bed'
Right off to make some dinner now. xx

Happy Birthday Martha!

LaTrucha - DD1 1st Jan (Sabela) 2 Years Old
Housemum - DD3 3 Jan (Amelie) 2 Years Old
Gingeme - DS5 10 Jan (George) 2 Years Old
Mixedmama - DS2 11 Jan (Ediz) 2 Years Old
LuckySalem DD1 16th Jan (Aaliyah) 2 Years Old
Lilyloo DD2 18th Jan (Martha) Happy 2nd Birthday!
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)

Gingeme - for you thinking about another one, and you will have those moments at certain 'milestone' stages i expect, whenever you have the last one doing something for the last time, though sometimes in a good way, like the last nappy change

Good luck with the fish tank!
We are adopting a tortoise from some neighbours who are moving to Jersey for a few years, well if the teenage son & his granny who are staying behind don't want to keep it. Could be interesting for the boys.

Simps - how are you & how is the house?

Mixedmama - good luck! when will you test???!
DH & T love going to the dads group, they do games and activities that mums would frown on i suspect
Have to persuade him to take both on his own next time (as he had FIL to lend a hand this time)

All good here, T off at pre-sch, H playing and dancing to music
and he's definitely waving
though only hello rather than goodbye

meant to be a 'jobs' morning so best get my farm done then get off here!

Happy Birthday Martha

Feeling much better here thanks

And loving my new bathroom

Not much happening today

Just catching up on washing etc.....

Happy Birthday Martha - hope you had/have a really lovely day with her Lily

And belated Happy Birthday Aaliyah (Where has Lucky disappeared to...must be the new dog keeping her busy!)

Gingeme - at the pangs but lol @ you for thinking about babies...you were so emphatically finished about 6 months ago!! Glad George is so excited about his bed...we really need to sort out something for Tamara soon.

Willsurive/madmouse - good name change, I think. Loved the idea of Nathan zooming around on his blue frame...how exciting for all of you

JKS - it just keeps on getting better Leave the jobs and just enjoy H dancing and having fun - you both deserve it If you're really ok with me borrowing the BB I'll fb you my address nearer the time, unless we manage another meetup between now and then (still got 6 months!!)

I'm due mid-June (yeah, right...based on previous, that'll be sometime towards the 20th-ish!)

LaT is due end June (30th, I think - so based on her previous she'll probably have the baby around the same time as me!)

Lucky - April, I think

Holly is also expecting sometime in June I think.

MixedMama - hurrah for going for 3! Will keep fingers crossed for you

Simpson...I want pictures of the new house!! Get them up on your profile I bet the dcs are loving being at home?