January 2009 - New year, new buns in various ovens and time for our not so little ones to turn one!

[SherryMerryLennipillar]

Happy 2010 everyone! Cast your mind back to this time last year... [soppy]

Too much wine - excuse for thread title should it be shite rubbish when I read it tomorrow. Thought it was time to wave goodbye to the festive one, although perhaps we should have waited for epiphany?

Oh Books, poor dd. My niece suffered really badly with croup. They used to put the kettle on and keep it boiling in their downstairs toilet room as it was small and easy to fill up with steam. You must be so worried about her. Hope she is better really soon.

My boys have had those spy pens a few times, they love them.

So far the theme for the party is going to be based around the party bags being stolen by a double agent and the 'agents' having to do a treasure hunt following clues (hopefully around the garden, weather permitting) to find them. They will also have to uncover the identity of the double agent in the process.

They will get Top-secret invitations along with some top-secret info, such as a cipher sheet so that they can decode their codename and password. On arrival they will have to say the password to get in. They will then be fingerprinted and given a secret agent id badge and a Secret Agent Toolkit which will contain their disguise (black sunglasses, fedora type black hat and black tie) a magnifying glass, notepad, pencil, spy pen and another copy of the cipher sheet (there will be more, possibly some puzzles to keep them busy if there is any downtime, but I haven't ironed out the details yet). Am toying with the idea of doing a mini secret agent training camp next with an obstacle course, puzzle to solve etc

I've seen so many different games online that its hard to choose which ones to do. Ones I like are identifying local places from aerial/google earth pictures. 'Defuse the Bomb' (using a petty cash type box with an alarm clock inside it). Hide 6 or so keys around the place, each with a tag attached with the clue to find the next key. Then they have solve the clues to find and test the keys before the time is up. If they do manage to unlock it it is full of sweets or some other type of party favour

Finally, of course there will be the main treasure hunt, which will be on a larger scale and lead to their party bags and a special treat each to take home (not sure what this will be yet, possibly some cool spy type gadget such as a recording pen or fingerprinting kit).

Its sounding ok in theory. All I have to do now is decide where I'm holding it and find a way to make it all happen without me having a nervous breakdown. Then a week later do it all again with pirates instead of secret agents!

TREE! Missed ya girl. Good to have you back on board.

Gota go. The dd can't really play in here and it's getting on her nerves. She keeps saying 'can we play together' which gives me several feelings. Mostly to do with guilt and shuddering. Bad mammma! I'm not very good at playing.

hi

books - you go on nct website to get details

mm - party sounds great

Books, I'm so sorry to hear about poor little dd, you must have been so frightened. What a complete nightmare with the chemists as well. You really could do without all that hassle, Lord knows its stressful enough when your little one is that poorly without the so-called professionals letting you down.

Hope she has a good night now that the steroids and inhaler have kicked in and that you manage to get some decent sleep in as well.

I don't think we are a million miles away from you are we, so if there's anything I can do please don't hesitate to ask. I don't think you accept CATs do you? If not, you can always post on here, as I tend to check it fairly regularly. Alternatively, if you do accept CATs, let me know and I can give you my mobile number. ((hugs))

Books- grrrrrrrrrrrrr at the chemist, like I said, I never have good experiences there. I have been known to stand there for a good ten minutes with a wailing baby, waving a prescription around whilst they serve all and sundry around me. Hope she is ok tonight and you all get some rest. You sound like you are doing everything helpful.

Blimey moose- giving out your number now....what would DH say????. Only joking, that is truly lovely of you!
Your party sounds fab, so organised. I will say it again. Start a bleeding business woman, you would rock!!!

Yay to Tree!! Boo, to frazzled cable.

I went to see my friends 3 week old baby today and although he was about 9lb something he felt like holding nothing when I cuddled him and rocked him!!! Very broody now, quick, remind me of the horror of newborns (errr actually, I have one that wakes 3 times a night demanding boob already so not missing much)

DD= spawn of the devil this weekend. I feel really bad but her whole box of Polly Pocket went in the shed at 5.30pm tonight, crisis point has been reached!!! Methinks the return of the pasta jar is nigh......

Books - Poor DD. I hope she is feeling better soon.

at Moose getting all casual. Party sounds totally fab - and do you know what, I think you are sounding more confident by the day, are you feeling a little better?

Pat - I feel your pain on the DD front, and the DS waking front too. DS currently full to the brim with snot and waking about every 20 minutes. And I'm still doing the VAT return, it will be a looooooong night. Noooooo, don't go getting broody on me, I'm standing united with you on the not having any more front, no breaking ranks allowed!!!

HKZ - Am also thinking of you - hope there is news soon.

Best get back to the grindstone.

Dog - If you are lurking I hope the op went well and you are okay, big hugs.

P.S. We have 65 posts left on this thread... hint hint.

Evening Pat and Lenni.

Pat, must be something in the air, ds1 has been a total nightmare all weekend. Well actually, all last week if I think about it. We have been racking our brains to see if he could have accidentally eaten some gluten as his digestive troubles are back along with some very AS behaviour and LOTS of meltdowns of both the explosive and tearful variety. (Great weekend for dh to be away overnight.) Anyway, I won't bore you with it anymore, just wanted to say - I too feel your pain.

I was also really broody when I met my new Great Nephew last week. Oooh that lovely soft newborn skin, milky smell and little mewing noises - but 4 dc's? Absolutely not, never, no-way, no-how - 3 is more than enough for me (I am in awe of Dog).

Lenni, hmm, I have good days and bad days at the moment. I'm definitely not in the pit right now, but having to work very hard at keeping my chin up. I'm finding keeping myself busy is helping, but its tough going when dd is teething, dh is being an a*rse and ds1 is being - well ds1 really! Still, I'm focussing on and working towards Spring when I can get out walking every morning again as that always lifts me right up.

I have just been sat for almost an hour and a half filling out forms for the boys' school. Parents' evening, parental contributions, learning support reviews, various fundraising events and a host of party invitations. I am sat here under a sea of paperwork and envelopes. I'm sure my parents never had to do all this.

Vat return done, tick.

DS woken at least 4 times already though, and I'm on a adrenaline rush from madly trying to submit that before midnight, so not going to get to sleep easily. Gah.

DD a complete nightmare at the moment - butter wouldn't melt when she's with GPs, and she's not too bad for her Dad, although has him wrapped around her little finger. But for me - argh! Nightmare. TBH I do have to do all of the discipline/saying no/general nagging. We do need to strike a more even balance on that front.

Teeth - hmm, maybe we'll have teeth tomorrow, thank you Moose, I never thought of teeth, just snot. He must be due some since only got 6.

Will reply to rest of your post tomorrow Moose, not ignoring you, just suddenly very tired...

Teeth here too. sorry still no time to catch up. Books, really hope DD is ok, sounds like it has been horribly frightening. Hope you are getting some rest.

Pat and HZ glad you like them. Pat I need you to FB me your address please, then I can get him ready for his new home.

H was so cute this morning, when we were putting his coat on for nursery, he started waving and saying bye bye. I love this age. He does have a tendency to smell damply hamsterish when I first get him up in the morning. A bit wet straw, and a bit something else. Only a mother could love that smell!

morning

have swimming lesson with dd2 this morning

she held her bottle herself today she has never done this before
sttod lots on her own yest is very close to walking now
she is so active doiesnt stop moving allday!!!

books - thats ok what a stressful day you had poor thing

teeth here 2 brackens four top ones all started coming through together about a week ago they are all more or less through.
bracken waves 2 is so cute

tink omg all four. at the same time????

H only has 1 1/2 at the bottom and I think he is now getting a top one. possibly. or just being grumpy.

Lenni, well done with the VAT return. I wasn't expecting a reply last night, its ok.

Tink, dd started getting her four top teeth a couple of weeks ago as well. She cut her canine teeth first and the incisors are still trying, so she looks like a little vampire.

120, ah for waving and saying bye bye, dd only waves for Daddy. I know what you mean, I think this is such a cute age, dd is such at cutie at the moment its painful!

Books, glad the meds helped dd last night and you both got some sleep. Dd also has a thing about hitting my laptop with whatever she has in her hand at the time, but her absolute favourite is Daddy's huge shiney one with the light up keyboard - usually when he's in the middle of designing something intricate.

My offer still stands if you need any help by the way, but I'm not that brave really, I always think mobiles are fairly anonymous and its easier to give out a mobile number than the home one, as you can see who it is before you answer it. I find texting beautifully impersonal as well. [anti-social Moose emoticon]

Dh is going to set himself up on facebook as he needs it for work, apparently . I think it will be a fairly basic, very limited page, but I will be able to use that rather than setting up my own.

Dog, any news? Hope you're ok.

My news: dd took two unaided steps last night - she was after Daddy's laptop!

He, he, he, I seem to be using your emotion quota 120. Well, I wouldn't want it to go to waste.

Mmm just had the most yummy cold donut for breakfast . Hi everyone. Am super that the post I wrote yesterday never made it to the thread... okay, mainly because it appears I only previewed it and never actually pressed send . Anyway, nothing ground-breaking, but was just catching up really.

Come on Moose, you've got to have your OWN fb page - with no identifying features of course - then you can look at all our yummy baby pictures and we can ogle yours. No offence, but I for one will not making 'friends' with an unknown man who may or may not be your husband on facebook - it doesn't work like that. If he needs one for work, then so do you - full-time mummy work!

books poor DD - my Mum was just telling me about croup and was wondering if it had gone away these days, but apparently not ... DS had the same awful breathing when he had the asthma attack last week, with the sucking in at the ribs, really scary. Amazing how quickly the steroids work though - makes you realise how lucky we are to have modern medicine on our side in times like that. Despite the best efforts of pharmacists .

Lenni and pat, welcome to my world... Last night I actually dared to look at the clock each time he woke for a feed, and it was approx every 90 minutes... he is not eating any regular food (maybe a couple of bites) in the day as he's still quite down with this chest infection, so I feel too bad to refuse, but once he's better, the all-night mummy diner is shutting up shop! OH is going to take over night-time duties. Yes, I may actually one day soon have onewholenight undisturbed... I won't know what to do with myself.

Crazy busy week. I had forgotten that OH works every single day . It's been wonderful to spend so much time with N again but after 10 days straight let's just say the novelty is wearing off . Would love a day at work! Just one...

So who's coming to the meet-up? Lenni are you coming? We can take the babies for a long walk in their buggies to get them to sleep after lunch so that we don't have to rush off this time. Can't wait to see all the yummy babies again!

tink wow, that's a lot of teeth!

120 at damp hamsterish! I know exactly what you mean!

Actually, I think I've already said before, I wouldn't be asking to join your fb group, as I wouldn't expect anyone to want me to have access to all your photos without a direct reciprocal arrangement. I do know how facebook works. I just choose not to have a page of my own.

Using dh's page would just mean that other's could contact me via facebook should they so wish.

we enjoyed swimming

it is freezing outside glad to be in the warm!!

hi mm,miss j.

books so glad she is on the mend bless her

Oh Moose didn't mean to offend you with my facebook comment - I always thought you wanted a fb page but your DH was the one saying no because of privacy issues.. Sorry for misunderstanding

Don't worry about it MissJ, I'm not offended. Just didn't want you to think I'm some sort of weirdo that wants to see pics of other people's dc's but not share pics of my own. I totally get why you wouldn't want to befriend an unknown man, but to be honest that's what I don't like about facebook etc, even if I set up my own 'dummy page' you wouldn't really know who I was really either, hence me not thinking it fair to join the group.

I don't really want a fb page myself and for the most part agree with dh on the photo sharing issue, but I still get frustrated sometimes when that effectively cuts me out of lots of loops with friends etc. It bothers me that dh and I will have to either opt in to this social networking malarky soon or else make a final conscious decision to stay cut off from an awful lot of people. Increasing numbers of our friends now communicate with each other almost exclusively through fb and we seem to get missed out because they have to make the effort to phone or email us directly or because they forget we are not on their 'friends' list.

I decided to post some pics of my guys on my profile last month (just for my mn friends) partly because so many people had said they would love to see some and partly because I felt I should give something back to those of you that have shared photos with me in the past. I only put them up for a while though as I don't want them resident online iyswim.

Dh is definitely more hard line than me about this stuff, but I am more paranoid. All in all a hopeless combination.

Phew, glad I didn't offend you I do understand your stance... I think most of us worry about who is looking at photos of our DCs, and I am always careful to make sure it's 'friends only', but have made mistakes before and had them pointed out (thanks again Books I think!)...It was just so lovely to see photos of your beautiful DCs, so please do post some more when you feel like it.

Am not allowed downstairs because N will only eat dinner if I am not in the room ... went to bed with him this afternoon and actually read my book (eat, love, pray or whatever it's called) while he bf and slept! Why have I never done that before?