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.

Hopefully, I'm duly impressed as well, you should open up a bakery! I'd love to be able to make things like elderflower cordial, which I love, and have never considered making at home. I used to bake bread regularly before Diego was born, but now that I am back at work three days a week, I can't seem to find the time.

I cook a lot of pulses such as lentils, chickpeas and beans. I buy puy lentils, that do not need soaking over night, and soak beans and chickpeas. I find that they make a wonderful, filling substitute for meat, as I try to have several vegetarian days per week. What throws our budget is the fish, which the three of us love.

With lentils, you could try cooking them the spanish way: a thick soup flavoured with slices of chorizo sausage, and bulked up with a bit of green pepper, potato, carrot and leek. This is a staple in this house. I also cook paellas with whatever needs using in the fridge and a bit of paprika and saffron. They are delicious, quick and inexpensive. I bet you would like them.

Digi, it's just a phase, I'm sure. Even Diego, who is a baby who sleeps well and has no problem going to bed is now going through a phase of waking up really early and disturbed nights. And of course you need evenings to yourself, this is human, reasonable and necessary. Have you considered maybe introducing a travel cot by the side of your bed, so that you can slowly move him to his own space? I can't tell you how pleased I am with the arc2 cot that we bought. It's like a little tent, and we have taken it in all our trips, or whenever we stay late at friends. He seems to acknowledge it's his, and likes going into it. Fingers crossed for a peaceful and restful night for you all.

Pacita that sounds yum, what lentils do you put in the soup?

Elderflower cordial embarrassingly easy - will remind you all and post recipe when the blossoms come out! (I will probably get blossom first as am in warm south coast).

T spent 2 hours very happily awake at 4am this morning, crawling all over me while I lay in bed and shushed him (he wouldn't stay in cot). eventually conked out on my arm, which was agony and I was too scared to move it in case he woke again! He did stay asleep till 8:15 though, so am not too dead. Looking forward to DP arriving in a bit though, am a crap single parent!

After reading about all your cooking recently I was motivated to get off my backside and cook despite the opinion of a small person (who was intermittently interested).
Today's products: rabbit pie (in oven), bread pudding (in oven), roasted butternut squash, large apple pie (still to cook), baby apple pie (cooked, and rejected as a foodstuff by baby).
And 2 loads of laundry washed and hung up.

A helped sprinkle cinnamon in the apple pie and shake sugar into it, and tried to steal the raisins from it. Tried to get him to play with some pastry himself but he thought it tasted horrible and chucked it.

I'm very good at using up leftovers so almost the only food waste we have is what A has chucked on the floor too much. I've also enjoyed the fact that being off work during the week means I can acquire reduced meat at the supermarket dirt cheap and freeze it - hence the 2 wild rabbits in the pie! MrNC has pleaded to keep his luxury prepared foods and so far cutting out takeaways when people come round and cooking or getting supermarket meals instead has kept the bills affordable.

Right, time for A's milk. He's had a day of not eating much so hope he'll drink lots so not wake up at 4am screaming for it (definitely hungry as after downing a whole bottle he goes straight back to sleep). The only time he's slept through since Christmas was couple nights ago when he had a pint (yes, a pint) of milk before bed. It was wonderful but then he was horribly constipated all the next day despite having had lots of fruit the day before. No idea if there's a connection...

He's currently obsessed with using an object as a phone (hair clip, ruler, sweet potato...) and says "Hiya. Yeah. Yeah. Rarr!" followed by babble and bye-bye. So hopefully he'll learn some useful words soon!

Oh, get you and your rabbit pie NC . I have never tried rabbit.

Glad last night was a better night for you all Digi. I hope it's the same tonight WRT to speaking to a HV, I personally wouldn't bother, but then the HV's in our area are shite and complete loons. I find it worrying that they are able to give advice to people tbh.

For a change, just popping in briefly. off work today and had fab time with C at whizz kids - she went down the slide all by herself!

Anyway, just wanted to say before it slipped my mind - thanks you to whoever suggested grated carrot into cream cheese. I served it today for lunch and it totally improved the texture - not so cloying. Even I had sandwiches made out of it for lunch with C. tasted fab.
TTFN

Just had a major panic and was in floods of tears over our house completion. Only got the letter from our solicitor today saying how much we owe and how to pay it. It then dawned on me that it takes 4 working days to transfer money and we complete on Wed! So I went into panic mode and was crying about how we wouldn't complete. And I was annoyed at myself for not chasing it up earlier. DH didn't seem at all bothered and I had to make him phone the bank to see if there was anything they can do.

And thankfully there is. Somthing called CHAPS that transfers the money the same day. I'd never heard of it.

But why didn't the solicitor either tell us about theis CHAPs thing we can do or tell us before today how much we owe? I don't think she realises how stressful moving house is or that not everyone knows everything about how it works.

Sorry rant over.

Also impressed by rabbit pie and that you bought the meat from a supermarket. None of the supermarkets round here sell rabbit.

Will have to try these carrot and ceese sandwiches tomorrow I think.

Brrrrr! We're freezing here. It's our turn to have the boiler conk out. There is no hot water and no heating. I have just put diego to bed wearing: long sleeve vest, fleece pyjamas, growbag, towelling cardie, and a blanket on top for good measure.

The thermometer reads 15 degrees. What do you think will happen? I bet you he'll wake up uncomfortable or cold in the middle of the night, so that I have to get up uncomfortable and cold too, while he is interested in playing and I'm falling over with tiredness.

Hopefully I use puy lentils. But Diego also loves red lentils (which is handy as they cook a lot quicker) which taste nice with garlick, cumin and a bayleaf as well as assorted vegetables.

DG, do tell us you had a good night.

debi isn't it your mortgage company that deal with the money transfer on completion? If you're exchanging then you can also order a bankers draft which effectively is a big piece of paper that guarantees same day transfer of large sum of money when you hand it over. Has been ages since we last moved so prob talking bollocks.

Ds slept 8:30-7:20. Amazed.

Tonight fell asleep at 8. Regular time. Dh still had to clamp him to the bed but he didn't cry for as long. Not going away for weekend now. Pleased about that.

Hi Girls
Just catching up, ive been hectic over the last few days.
Thanks for the lovely meal planner, I intend to use alot of it.
Sorry to hear about the sleeping dig I am a co sleeper too and understand the ups and downs. We have a travel cot next to our bed now. Around seven thirty I will go up with baby e and breast feed until he passes out. I then lift him into the travel cot. I then enjoy my evening and go to bed myself about 10 or 11. Baby e sometimes sleeps thru until 6 ish but if he wakes earlier dring the night I lift him up and plug him in and we both go back to sleep.
On the thrush front I got some more creams and a gel off the doc she would not give me what was suggested here , its slowly getting better though.
Have a good weekend. xx

Got Ribyn her first pair of shoes this week. She is a 3F, really dinky. They are pale purple soft leather and have 2 straps. I would post a pic but not sure how to. When we left the shop we had to walk back to the car she was so happy to be in proper shoes. She is very taken with them and plays with them inside the house.

Sleeping is getting a little better, still taking 45 mins at least to get her to sleep but she is consistently going 6 hours or more before getting in our bed. If she wakes before 4 then I feed her sat up so I don't fall asleep then pop her in her cot. If it is after 4 I let her in with us and we sleep till the alarm goes off at 7.30.

Hurrah for the thrush getting better

I've ordered M's first proper outdoor shoes. I really liked the look of some chelsea boots by Timberland but they were £50 , so I got some 1/2 price Geox shoes instead. The Timberlands were lovely, but £50 for a few months?? eek?

It has taken me ages to find some reasonably nice shoes, there are so many twee and horrid ones out there - well in my budget anyway. It also doesn't help living in a town I guess!

lol T Robyn's cute size 3, ds takes a 6 [biffa]

Oh, and another hurrah for Digi's ds sleeping!

Are you spending this weekend packing boxes Debi?! Such a shite job.

Hi all, I've been popping on in the week to catch up but never get to the end of reading and haven't had time to post, but tonight I have some peace and quiet (and procrastination from what I ought to be doing )

DS took his first steps on Monday! Starting so late (15 1/2) months means he's got going quite quickly, just to encourage those of you whose dcs aren't quite there yet.

Yesterday was my friend's funeral. Please can we get through 2010 without burying any more mummy friends? The service was lovely, I only really broke down when there was a powerpoint and her 2 year old dd was dancing to the music and saying 'that's my mummy'. She just had no idea she was at her mum's funeral. But at the same time she was such a blessing in her innocence and zest for life.

I've been reading all about your cooking on here everyone, you put me to shame, especially hopefully, I'm very impressed. Our fridge/freezer has broken so we have to defrost the freezer, which means eating up what's in there, so this week should at least be a cheap one!

Hope the house move goes well debi, it'll be more than worth all the stress
I cuddled an 11 day old baby today. Am officially broody, as if I wasn't already!

that sounds really moving carrie

M's still in the same pair of shoes from September - they're only soft ones but we have little wellies too, sooo sweet!

Oh Carrie that is heartbreaking. How unfair.

We bought Cs 1st pair of shoes just after xmas - she can't walk on her own yet but is nearly running using her little wooden walker - just need her to get confidence. She was so desperate to go outside, so we bought her 'proper' shoes, not cruisers. She will walk but only if holding onto our hands. C is also a 3F (and 2.5F on one foot) so we had no choice as Clarks only sold one pair in that size - black leather patent buckle shoes that flash red when used! £29 though!!!

T has gone from not standing to beginning to cruise in six days! Looks like we may have to invest in some shoes at some point in the not too distant future after all.

We've been surviving almost without a freezer (our fridge has a little one at the bottom, 2 shelves) for about 6 months - we used our energy monitor thingie and it was amazing, the freezer (which is brand new, good energy rating) accounted for 10% of our energy usage! Our energy usage is low, so it would prob be less than 10% for most people, but hey, instant 10% bill reduction for us

Poor M has just been walking ouside in cruising shoes since sept she had already been walking (outside with socks ) for a month but still seemed too small for stiffer shoes, they still fit so she's still in them!

We only have a freezer in our fridge too - it only seeems a problem in nthe summer when it's full of icecream and ice cubes!1

M has learnt to say 'more' - very useful. I wasn't too pleased when she was feeding, there was obviously no more milk so she bit my boob and said more

IMO we nearly got the patent ones with the lights but thy get scuffed easy and the soft leather ones have a sole which comes up at the front to stop scuffs. glad Robyn is not the only one who is dinky.

We have a full size freezer which is often full to bursting, don't know if we couls cope with a teeny one. I try not to work out our energy uses. DS hardly wears clothes so the heating is on all autumn winter and spring and he has a thing for lights being on all the time. Plus he likes to have a hot bath and then a shower to finish. We let him have that as it is just a phase and in a few months will prob try to go a month without bathing.

So, we went to our first Tiny Talk class today. Mac enjoyed it, and I think he'll pick up the signs, but I have a feeling it is something we can do without going to a class. But then of course you don't get the whole social side doing it at home! Maybe I'll go a few more weeks and see what I think after that.

Anyone else got to a baby signing class? What did they think when they first went?

I don't even want to know what our energy usage is The other day I walked into the kitchen and realised the washing machine, dishwasher and tumble dryer were all going at the same time

To be fair I only use the tumble dryer for towels and bedding when it won't dry on the line

ILTMIMI I went to sing&sign for three terms with dd. It was nice social time, but really the classes are to teach and re-inforce the signs (and songs) to the parents, so the real teaching to the kids can be done at home. With ds we've done loads of the songs and he's learned a ton of signs through them. I'm not in touch with anyone I did the classes with is, but it was a nice way to spend a monday morning!

And ponymum you can lock the front wheel of the phil&teds sport . I should charge commission...!

Hello there
I am still hanging in here catching up with the posts.
I am so sorry to hear about the funeral carrie its unbearable to think of .
I have my mil down this week so I am busy entertaing. However, I am hoping I can get some me time at some point to
I love love love love baby shoes. Baby e Size 5 has a cute pair of lacoste trainers, Clakes blue toggle shoes and a real pair of soft fluffy Uggs! . However, the clarks shoes are hand me downs from my ds1 and the trainers where a xmas present from my sister in law.
So to justify myself, I have only brought the Uggs which I have wanted since before I even got pregnant. I figured it was now or never as they are mostly pram shoes and for this weather xx

just getting myself back on the thread. I was trying to have a week off MN, but instead I just didn't post here for a week and posted on random other threads because they don't count .

Will catch up, hope everyone is ok.

Hi all

Just found the thread - been a long time since I was here.

Hope you and the '08 babies are all well. DD is known as The Menace in this house as she manages to get anywhere she's not supposed to go, never ever stops moving and is a real climber.

In terms of nursery she goes to the same one as DS and she loves it. Runs in in the morning and is very rarely upset. What's lovely for me is that she also waits by the gate for me at hometime so she can be the first to see me when I get in. I love picking her up (and DS), it's my favourite part of the day.

She's got lots of words now and they're coming thick and fast - she said shower at the weekend for the first time. She also loves swimming and will not hold on in the pool. She's off after her brother and her daddy.

She's also a total human dustbin. Eats anything and everything and will not let either me or DH sit down and eat without sharing with her.

She's also massively affectionate with her big brother and us. Always giving us kisses and cuddles - all on her terms of course. She loves a bit of rough and tumble too.

She's a huge music fan and loves a dance. Also really loves Waybuloo and ITNG. Lots of fun just before bedtime here.

Hi sunshine Lovely to hear how your getting on with your family. Your daughter sound adorable and clever too! I am still waiting for the first proper word here. I think he sometimes says mama but then does not do it again and I think Ive imagined it.
I can relate to the "massively affection toward big brother" also. It melts my heart the way they interact
Nice to see you back to meg after a detox week from our very specail thread. xx

Oh and I found falefeals . Very nice, I would get them again.
Anyone know where to get a summer cover for my bugaboo chameleon??? I fancy something bright.

Thanks for the welcome mama. It's been that long I wondered if anyone would remember me. I think DD just wants desperately to be like her big bro and that seems to be spurring her on to achieve. They are very similar in the pace of their development though, although DS was never a climber and took a little longer to let go in the pool.