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?

Happy Birthday for tomorrow thread babies!

I hope the parties go well. They will, despite ;ac of decs. Save them for a lovely playdate/grand BBQ in the summer.

Moose - kicking ass on the cleaning there lady! Hope you get done what you want to tomorrow. Well done on resisting futher purchases.

I am thinking of keeping dd1 home tomorrow. She just looks so so so so so so so so tired and like she has PMT almost.
She was needing a poo all day, finally produced the haggis tonight. It made her late for bed though, she missed a good hour of sleep. I can't bear the thought of her getting more and more tired and glum at school

How did you get on Gumps?

Lenni - how are you and dh after snow antics?

More snow today - it seems to snow every day here now! I think we'll be hiring a car for DH if it carries on! His car is still stuck at his parents house 4 miles away in the nearest village where it has been since December 17th! Madness.

Really looking forward to DS's birthday tomorrow - had settling in session at nursery today, went really well so massive relief.

Higgos? What is this I'm missing out on Tree, you lead me astray! Talking of which I must email you about nappy.

Moose - you are so motivated, I really must be a better housewife at some point. I'll add it to my new year's resolutions.

Hi Pat, its so frustrating when you get a day off from work and can't get anything done at home.

Apparently our boys are back at school tomorrow - just have to keep everything crossed it doesn't snow again overnight. Forecast looks ok. It was a blanket LEA policy so all the schools in the borough were closed regardless.

My party stuff seems to be getting delivered ok, but my nappy delivery is now 3 days late and we are starting to get dangerously low. (We use Moltex and you can't buy eco disposables anywhere around here, except Sainsbury's own, which are useless.)

for your Aunt. I have made sure dh has taken a blanket and flask of tea with him every time he's gone out in the car since it started snowing. (Comes from our experience of being stuck on the M6 for four hours in a blizzard when we lived in Lancashire. We had to cuddle the dogs for warmth! lol) Glad your car came through its ordeal unscathed.

Tree, I have been known to keep my boys off for a much needed duvet day in the past. They are still so little in reception year, I think as their Mums we know when they need a break and certainly with my boys I've found a day off to recharge their batteries could prevent them needing several days off later on. The reception teachers at our school always said they would rather we kept them off if we felt they needed it, as they simply don't have the resources to care properly for children who are feeling ill or low and they want the children to associate school with being happy not sad and wanting to be with Mum.

Happy birthday tomorrow boys. Hope its a lovely day for babes and Mums alike.

Has anyone heard from Dog? Is she ok?

Lenni, I'm not usually motivated at all. I usually sit fretting about what needs to be done rather than actually doing anything.

I think having about 35 people coming to our house over two days next week has been a major kick up the you-know-what for me and left me with no choice but to get on with it.

Glad ds was ok at nursery.

tree, poor dd1... most of the schools here appear to be closed tomorrow - is this not true where you are?

lenni and pat - birthdays will be lovely with or without decorations, after all the small boys don't know decorations are in order i can't believe they are one! but c is less like a baby every day - she is even changing body shape now: more toddler, less baby. it's probably all the dashing around after the poor unfortunate cats

lenni - sorry about dh's driving incident - dp had one today when she was trying to take my mum home, rolled into the back of a car at a junction near our house. no harm done but a big fright for everyone involved - the roads are like glass here, and there's effing snow everywhere. i'm very much of the snow is okay in pictures mindset, myself, so am proper fed up with it

am proper fed up all around, really - probably snow induced. am going to see if tea will improve matters...

Oh yes Lenni - do email. What is it you are borrowing? A magic-all? WIll package it up tomorrow.

pat, not lenni, with the car-troubled dh, i mean

Poor you stripey. Awful feeling dark. Pah.

Some schools closed yesterday, but I think most opened today. It's not so bad now, we had the big stuff you are all getting at the weekend.
It's frozen to the ground now though so walking is an act of maddness.

Happy Birthday Boys!

Just come back from the school run and needed a coffee to defrost. Stupidly put a birth programme on the tv and sat here sobbing my heart out. This time last year Lenni and Pat, that was you.

Can't believe how far we have all come in the past year. Seeing those tiny babies on the telly and then looking at dd cruising round the living room seemed really surreal.

House seems really quiet without the boys this morning. I am never satisfied, I complain when they're at home unexpectedly and miss them like crazy when they're not here. Dd seems to be being extra sweet and cute this morning, which isn't helping my motivation to get on with the cleaning.

My plan for becoming a better housewife:

1. Starts with a declutter and deep clean of every room so that I have a good foundation to start from.

1. Then I think I'll set up some sort of routine of things I do every day, week and month and actually write it on a planner, so that I can keep on top of things.

1. I also want to get back into batch cooking and baking as it frees up so much time during the week.

1. Finally I want to make sure I stay on top of the paperwork as it has all gone to pot since I blew up the shredder when I was pregnant with dd. I know I have to deal with it as it comes in or it just disappears into various piles. Its horrific how much paperwork we get from the school, despite signing up for electronic Parentmail instead.

Not sure whether or not it will work, but am hopeful, as the deep clean needs to be done before dd's party anyway, so it seems like a good time to start.

Right, had better switch this off now, or I'll never get anything done.

mm - good plans glad boys back @ school

dd1 off school again today - her school is down a contry lane so too dangerous in all the ice!!!! we have still got 6 inches here
we have been out again in it great fun
hubby has managed to get in eventually ok

having aq quiet one today will prob go back out in the snow soon

exciting how some babies are one
bracken is one on thew 19th so not long
cant wait to get her party bits in post

Afternoon everyone...they have finally decided to shut our school (now it's stopped snowing ) So am off until Monday hooray so am just getting some work together to ignore do tomorrow.
Happy birthday Z and D! Hope you have a lovely day and enjoy your parties x

Happy Birthday Z and D!!

Gawd a year! I'd cut and paste your posts to say you are in labour, and to say you are back. But my hormones can't take it!

Hey all, Decorations and stuff came at 12.05pm. talk about cutting it fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Still My big boy is one and had lots of fun!

Back later, got some tutoring to do.

p.s Moose Zach was born at 11.50pm so I guess he is officially not one yet and I was not officially in labour till 10pm (got to the hospital about 10.45!!).

Wow Pat!

Hi everyone.... Massive HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the babies that I've missed... I just can't believe we are one year on.

Haven't had a moment to catch up on the thread, have actually worked 72 hours in 6 days so am about to collapse.... but wanted to tell you that I am starring in the DR tonight, asking VJ if he is a twitcher... Anyway it's in the first 5 mins so you don't need to stay up late but I am sure you all have better things to do in any case.

All great fun but super hard work and am barely managing to grab 5 mins to express, so thank god for constant night feeding . N went sledging today, gutted I missed it . Hope you are all staying cosy and warm and not having to work. I think I am doing enough hours for all of us!

Happy birthday D and Z. I hope they had lovely days but are knackered out and fast asleep and sleep until way past 7
Pat good news the decs came. Did you have time to put them up?
Moose so great to see adults that have gone through the things our little ones experiencing and have come out the otherside well. You sound so positive at the moment which is great.
S is a little happier in himself but still vomiting and refusing milk. Also clings to me for the first 2 hours he is awake and goes mad if I dare touch him on the floor. Serious flash backs to how hard it used to be. Its funny Tree but most of it is a blur for me. I think coping and getting through it was all I could focus on and haven't commited a lot to memeory. However I do feel sad for him and us that we all went through it but so glad that he is usually a happy little thing despite it. I hate pumping medicine into him every day though but the consultant was fantastic and made me put it all into perspective. She has told me to call her back in 2 weeks to discuss his progress and whether he is ready to introduce some dairy. I think I will but some calcium drops tomorrow as other than broccoil and orange juice can't get it in him. Do soya products have much calcium in does anyone know?
Freezing in here and off to watch the wire. Really enjoying it but the language is so bad and I am not normally that bothered. They said the c word twice last night

Oh MissJ that is soooooooo exciting!!!
i am loving it by the way and even converting dh. It must be such a fun job.
Do you know the eeeeeeeeight thirty two guy? It is one of my favourite things about it!

Evening all. Freezing here! Happy Birthday to Z&D. Need to sort out the party for H but still waiting to work out what the numbers are going to be. Mums are crap at RSVP'ing!

Gumps - I dunno really. I hope assume H is getting all she needs in her prescription foulula formula. It tastes so bad it must be good for her.
I know what you mean about a blur. I can't remember nice times particulary. Just worry and screaming and sitting with a sleeping child wondering when it would start again. Hence being so fed up I guess.

Wow, MissJ! A real live telly person in our midst.

Love the plan Moose - go forth and clean. Then come here and do it. Still have Christmas decs up and laundry/crap/shoes/laundry everywhere. It's a bit grim really. Might see if MIL will take the 2 out on sat so I can crack on with mn with DH and make a difference.

I find holidays produce unnacceptable amounts of laundry, now dd1 is at school. DH wears overalls, so I am used to a friday night scholiform wash and nothing much for dh. Suddenly I am hit with 14 days worth of cloth! Scary!

Gumps -the Wire is ACE!! I am seriously obsessed with it (ok, mostly Omar but how great is 'The Bunk', he is hilarious) by far the best thing that was ever on tv, ever!! Does S have bread or is he gluten free? I think soya stuff does have calcium added but would need to check.
Yep decorations got put up in time, no thanks to DH (who was hiding working upsatirs until 1.15pm) but completely thanks to me who was running around like a blue-arsed fly, decorating, cooking and blowing up balloons like a multi-tasking superhero!

DC's exhausted and in bed by 6.30pm. Z has been a bit off-colour today. Don't know if he was just shell-shocked by the whole thing or sickening for something. Poor little man made a great effort when everyone here then flaked out afterwards!
DD has been hell-on-earth today and I am dreading a whole day with her tomorrow (Z at nursery but her playgroup still closed)
Kids enjoyed tresure-hunt in playroom, pass-the-parcel, musical bumps and 'pullita' (bit like pinata). Didn't have any batteries for my bubble machine but never mind, they didn't notice!
I am so pleased that so many friends made such an effort to get here, really touched and feeling quite emotional
Loads of food left though! Not doing wonders for my diet......

HZ- we are off till monday too, am really worried about my Y11 now who have an exam next week and are blatantly not doing revision but just having fun sledging and the like!

MissJ - I am listening tonight!!! thought I heard you on yesterdays show but maybe not!

120- I just rang everyone in the end, mind you, you have about a million people coming so maybe not practical!

Stripey- sorry about your DP's incident. DH still a bit shaken up by the whole thing but he did drive today and feels a lot better.

Tree- bit that I don't have a 'labour' bit on the thread. Joined late (for my sins) when Z was a few weeks old. Gutted to not have shared my contractions with you guys! It was all very quick and straightforward though (popped out in two pushes into the 'only just filled up in time' birthing pool') so no major gory details missed, just in shock for weeks that he was a boy!! How silly, couldn't imagine being without my little man now I do love him to bits!

Aw Pat. Don't be sad. I for one am too emotional to ever go and read those January posts anyway. Besides, it's mostly me moaning that I can't sleep, and me and Moose talking till 4am about SPD and baby clothes Who else had insomnia - I think 4littlefeet as was?

Party sounds mint. I just heard our Godparents will prob come across [4 hour journey and a precious weekend off work afterll] for H's do. So am with you on the touched and emotional. Hope wee man sleeps off his party, maybe just overstimulated. That is always our excuse for any frown that may cross our children's faces.

So I don't watch BB, but have in the past. Is that you asking questions MissJ? HOw cool is that!!

I'm sorry to post and run, has been a hectic but fun day and I know have a massive box of accounts to file so that accountant can collect them tomorrow. How it came to tomorrow being last day to get them there in time for tax return I don't know - this year has been crazy.

Pat - I am you don't have a labour bit either - DS was born half an hour from now 1 year ago. I'll go and find my posts in a minute. So pleased that decs arrived and Z had a lovely day.

MissJ - I am v v excited! Must get tv commandeered in time.

Gumps/Tree - I feel for both of you, it is so so hard when they are ill or awkward or both. It will get easier though and if you can see them through this you'll be supermums forever.

Ah well, Tree. Best laid plans and all that. It would seem dd has an aversion to me doing anything other than scrubbing walls and ceilings. She has been a nightmare today, constantly wanting to be picked up and seemingly hungry all the time. So needless to say I didn't get half as much done as I wanted/intended. I did manage to put away a mahoosive Tesco delivery which involved sorting out my kitchen cupboards (I only have 3) and washing all the baking implements, cake decorating stuff and spare cups and glasses when I discovered mould had crept into the bottom of the backboards.

I know what you mean about laundry. Holidays are a nightmare, especially when they wear one outfit all day and then go out to visit relatives and have to get changed into their best clothes or decide to go out and play in the garden and come back in covered in either snow, mud or both.

My washing pile is most definitely of monster proportions at the moment, not helped by my tumble drier being on the fritz and taking a whole day to dry one load. Dh spent hours fiddling with it last night, only to declare the thermostats dead (again). Then bizarrely, when I decided I would have a go and see if it at least got some of the water out this evening, the darn thing worked perfectly (after dh went and forked out 20 quid on new thermostats at lunchtime ). I reckon its gremlins as we have also managed to kill the tv and burn out the steamer all in the space of a fortnight! (Although thinking about it, that would be the two weeks that dh was in charge of the house while I was really depressed poorly! )

Gumps, weirdly, I do feel quite positive, which is odd, because I really hit the bottom over Christmas and was sure I couldn't find my own way out of the black hole. I guess once you've hit the bottom there's only one way to go. Not having time to sit and wallow down is helping too, although I am feeling it today - exhausted isn't the word and my poor ribs feel like I've gone several rounds with Frank Bruno. Definitely worth it when I look I my shiny clean walls though.

Pat, fantastic that the decorations arrived in the nick of time and the party went well. Sorry Z isn't feeling very well, hope he's better tomorrow.

Ok, this is taking me back watching celeb BB. About now I think I was starting to feel 'pushy' all of a sudden and decided to walk up and down the landing. I was soon to be seen leaning over the side of the bed making animal noises, waking DH from his 'snooze' who then sprang into action and called the midwife. One frantic change out of my Pj's and dash in the ice to the hospital later and......voila! 10cms!!!

Yuck to laundry!!!

Lenni, glad D had a good day, hope you don't burn the midnight oil with those accounts.

MissJ- I am SO EXCITED, just made DH watch too