Sept 08: last year they were cute little bundles that smelt of milk and vanilla, but now they've been replaced with a babyzilla!

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

A new thread for us as the last one was running low.

Sorry to hear that D&S

Heres the cupcake recipe I promised you all about a centruy ago
Recipe;
120g plain flour
140g caster sugar
1.5 tsp baking powder... See More
3 tbsp unsalted butter
120mls milk
1 egg
.5 tbsp vanilla extract (which I didnt use as I didnt have any!!)
Method;
Preheat oven to gas mark 3 (170 degrees) Put flour, sugar, baking poweder, salt and butter in a bowl and beat until combined. Gradually pour in the milk and add the egg and beat until smooth. Bake for 20-25 mins.
There. Thats it. Topping is just buttercream.
Enjoy

book marking while I try to catch up...

bookmarking - went to London with the 2 kids over the weekend and then back to work and am knackered.

Bookmarking as just arrived back from Cyprus. I have just skimmed thru briefly and I am so sorry to hear your news digi How are you??? Virtual hug on its way. xx

caught up.

Hugs digi life is rubbish sometimes isn't it. Hope things work out better soon.

Fingers crossed for you too D&S, I still can't get over how shocking the admissions process is. The local council have obviously messed up big time in their estimating how many children would need a school place and should surely be doing something about it.

Shocked too Carrie that you weren't told the nursery is closing, hope you get somewhere next week when the schools are back.

We've just had a week up North. A few days in The Borders with dh's auntie, uncle, cousin and sister. Then a wedding in Glasgow and then a few days at my Granny's in The Lake District. Had great weather and a really good week. DS2 has learned a new word 'chocolate' which he now demands after every meal but despite seeing hundreds of sheep every day he still calls them cows in a very excited voice when he sees them!

I hosted Pampered Chef party before we went away and all the stuff came today, I was very excited until I remembered most of it isn't mine. Wonder if everyone will notice f they never get their stuff!

I'm sitting out enjoying the sun at the moment while ds1 is playing in the neighbours garden and ds2 is sleeping. Sure I should be doing something useful but can't be arsed!

Just popping in. So very sorry digi

C was an absolute bugger this morning and I really shouted at her and then felt crap. She didn't really deserve it and I'm premenstrual. I was just rushing to get us out of the door.

I also want to discuss another baby with DP. He doesn't see how we can afford the maternity leave and he's got a point. We'll need to save about £10k for me to take 9 months off. After having C, I just can't see how I can put a baby into nursery at 6 months old (I get between 50 and 100% of salary for the first 6 months), which is dooable- it was easier when C was 10 months. Sometimes it's crap being the main earner

thanks ladies.

DS is doing his very best to remind me how incredibly lucky I am to have him. He's been amazing all week. Coming out with new words, playing independently in the garden. And falling asleep magnificently quickly last night when I had to do bath & bedtime by myself (normally DH's job) while friend waited downstairs with a bottle of wine.

DH is currently stuck in Italy due to the airport closures. Hoping he makes it back in time for a wedding we have to go to tomorrow.

Didn't get the HCG results today, but it's pretty obvious it's going/gone. Although boobs still feeling heavy and leaking milk. Bit odd that one. Hoping this passes as quickly as the last one did.

IOM We'll only re-do the financial calculations once we get the next BFP. We're actually hoping to pay off as many of our debts as possible this year so there's less pressure for when I (fingers crossed one day) go on ML. It helps massively that my mum is our main source of childcare.

Glad the sun's been out this week. Has definitely helped, I've even done a bit of gardening. Very therapeutic.

DG I'm so so sorry
Hugs, wine and chocolate coming your way.

IMO is there any mileage in your DP taking a few months off (or being a stay at home dad) once your 6 months are up?

I'm going for my blood test first thing tomorrow - this is to see if I ovulate. I've got the letter inviting me for my scan to see if I've got ovarian cysts, but its on what will be day 2 of my cycle. Guess I ought to ring them coz surely the cysts will be around ovulation time? I'm now in the two week wait, and I've got the cramping pain that suggests the cysts/endo are back

hopefully is back on line and back on fb so hopefully (ha ha) we'll see her on here soon. Nothing from splish for a while

Sorry to hear your news Digi. What an absolute shitter

Your ds sounds like he knows he needs to help his mummy out this week. They have an uncanny ability to know how we're feeling.

Fingers crossed your dh gets home for tomorrow.

DS is finally back to his oldself today - albeit one that tires a bit quickers than normal. His appetite is most certainly back. He keeps running to the kitchen and pointing at the cupboards. As he wasn't showing any interest in food I was wasn't offering him very much, so he took the initiative today

hello all, remember me? have been coming and going but never time to post properly, busy with work, especially as DH was made redundant 6 months ago so I have been trying to do more work (supply at school) which isnt ideal. never mind...

anyway, just wanted to say to D&S that at my school 2 years ago there were approx 8 children in catchment not offered a place (2x30place receptions classes) and they all appealed and the decision was that all would be offered a place and they added extra funding (about 1/2 a teacher with some extra on the schools part too) to make up for the 34 size classes! So it can happen... Cant believe they will leave you without a place for september, that seems shocking

Will try to cathc up and post some more soon!

digi hope your dh gets back. So sorry you are going through this x

Hello! We're finally back online, and all present and correct. New house is lovely, have had a very productive couple of weeks offline getting the raised beds in for vegetables and thrilling bits like that.

DG so sorry to hear your crap news. Hope it's all over relatively quickly and not too awful.

Still no BFP here, which is getting a bit sad, but I'm crossing fingers for this month. It's a bit tedious thinking that I 'should' be 4 months pregnant and I'm not at all pregnant, but I'm keeping relatively optimistic (although if it doesn't happen this month I will not be impressed).

I can also report that Splish is alive and well, having bumped into her in town yesterday, randomly. Hopefully she'll be coming to visit our new place soon along with her lovely DDs.

hello hopefully and plusonemore

Fingers crossed for your dh digi, they just said on the news that there won't be any flights till at least 1pm tomorrow so that doesn't sound too good.

The pictures of the volcano on the news are awesome though.

sorry digi I'm keeping my fingers crossed that your DH gets back.

Welcome back Hopefully I visited your blog so we knew that you were alive and moved. I hope that you're all settled in.

IMO when I had DD1 there was only 6 months mat leave and in many ways it's EASIER leaving a baby at that age as they've not got to the separation anxiety stage.

Is it possible to reduce Charlotte's nursey during that time which will save you money to put towards more time off?

M was very sweet in London, but hard work climbing on EVERYTHING. She's picking up new words everyday and I can't keep up.

we need to start thinking of new thread names by the way!!

Digi so sorry you're going through this.

Plusonemore thanks for that. Did a lot of research the other day and found lots of stuff about the known school capacity problems in my area going back over the last 10 years! Also found stuff around the increase in births in 2006 and the council's projections. Hopefully my FOI request will come through soon so I can compare the two to prove mis-management.

I also read through the whole of the admissions code - how sad is that?

Hello everyone

ello Ladies

It's good to see you Plusone and Hopefully.

Good to hear Splish is well. When is her holiday?

Oh and anyone that is planning on growing stuff this year there is a free seeds scheme from the BBC at the moment and mine arrived today. 5 free packets of seeds - result!

hello ladies,

digi, really sad to hear your news. I hope the skies have returned your DH by now.

Hopefully, nice to see you back!

D&S, i hope you are seeing progress with the schools. Foxie seemed to have quite a few relevant tips.

The latest news from me is that we lost the house we wanted (desperately) as someone else's offer has been accepted (we are still not under offer ourselves).

The property game is a cruel one. And I'm rubbish at playing it.

Ahh sorry to hear about the house pacita.

I was just wondering if anyone elses child is not talking. Not even a word like mama. Ds2 is 19 months in a week. He has variety of screetches to get what he wants but is mostly completely mute. If I ask him what any animal does its always eowwwww (is this a word?) it doesnt matter if its a cat or dog.I am wondering if I need to do anything about it?? I think ds1 is very vocal so it could be a bit too much for ds2. Do you think I should wait a while longer. He is quite a big lad so people are expecting him to talk and he is still young i suppose . Gosh i am worrying now.

Hi Mama - I believe 2nd ones often talk later as the first talk for them. Have you had your 18 month check yet? 'Cos you could mention it then. I think it's quite normal though

Hi mama. My DS is a first child and he does not utter a word. He babbles in a very convincing way, and people think he's speaking a foreign language, but the truth is that it's his own personal language (not particularly useful for communicating). Having said that, he understands everything, so I've not been too worried. Should I be too?

And ninja do all children have an 18 month check up? No one has offered us one!

We are off to see more houses tomorrow. Problem is, the one we wanted has put the stakes very high. Sob.

Good luck toay with house hunting Pacita your ds certainly sounds like mine . I too know he understands everything.
I will phone tomorrow and ask for a 18 month check anyway as no one has offered us one either [hmm}
Glorious sun shinny day. xx

mama Toby is 19 months next week and he doesnt really talk yet either...he says dada and mama and yeah but thats about it. He babbles in his own little language and we are never left in any doubt as to what he wants!!!!

AFAIK, at this age, its more about comprehension...ie. does ds understand you? Can he hear you properly? If you ask him to do something (like get his coat etc) does he understand and do it? Thats far more important than talking at this stage in development.

My ds1 did not talk until he was 2.5 so not going to worry til then!!!

pacita We are in the same position as you House on market but no offers yet. Got another viewing tomorrow. Everything is SO expensive...have seen 2 more houses I want to view so we will see. Good luck x

Went to dsis b day party last night....karaoke.....oh dear oh dear oh dear

....oh and ds1 (age 6) now has the vocab of a 10-11 year old and never shuts up!!!