October 2007 - these little piggies are growing up fast!

[alicet]

Ok so a pretty boring thread title but thought we needed some distance from the last one!

Choc - can't believe that woman was so rude to you about the escalator - it's not as though there was anything you could have done. Anya loves escalators too and it's probably only a matter of time before she does exactly the same thing as Dareh. Toddlers do daft things all the time, don't be too hard on yourself - they have to learn from experience. How are you feeling now? Love 'cutty' - can't imagine what that is!

Anya's playing similar games to Alex - she's very particular about where I should sit and what I can do, and is very cross if I get it wrong. But if I get it right I get a big round of applause and a "well done mummy!"

I'm waiting for my 3rd thing to go wrong this week - I had a flat tyre yesterday, and a smashed birdbath this morning. Not sure how that happened, it's a very heavy concrete one but something pushed it over in the night . The lovely weather has made up for it this weekend though, hope it stays like this for a bit longer.

Dareh is just like Anya in that respect. Very particular about how things should be done. Things have to go in a certain place etc etc. Back at work yesterday and he cried, I felt so sad but he was very sweet when I came home. He said he missed me and that I was very pretty!

Trying to put escalator woman out of my head. I am way to over sensitive about these things. I also find it very hard to forgive myself if I make a mistake. Something I need to fix as I end up beating myself up about things for ages, far longer than others would.

Hope there is no third thing WW&JC! Maybe it will be the weather turning rubbish, it has here.

Rubbish weather here too :-(

After Alexs' utter enjoyment of the company of his cousins and other children on holiday Dh and I have decided to find him a nursery
So,Alex and I went to have a look at a nursery school yesterday..it is the council run one that few people from our village use as it is on a council estate and is an old 1950s' building in need of decoration (not as smart as the 3 closer private nurseries), but one of the teachers from the village primary school that I have Alexs' name down for told me that most of her collegues have sent their children there because of the excellence of the teaching, and the ofsted report is very good and unlike the private nurseries, it has almost no stff turnover (most teachers are former primary school teachers who have small children themselves and job share so they have more time for their families)it opens for school terms and not school holidays so you are not having to pay to keep your place over Christmas etc... and if I put him in their 'kidz club' (the under 3's private side of the school)he is guaranteed his free place in the nursery school proper in January. Though the school is closed atm the (sadly retiring)headmistress met me there and spent nearly 2 hours showing me round and letting Alex play with all the equipment (I was soooo impressed with the art work that was still up from last term...they had been studying Monet and their watercolur attempts at reproducung his lilies were amazing!!...Alex was more impressed with the computers). She was fabulous, if her replacement and the rest of the staff have only half her energy and enthusiasm Alex will be in fabulous hands. I have applied for 2x2hour sessions (Weds and Fri afternoons)to start with in September raising to 3 afternoons in January....as you can gather, I have mixed feelings about him going [over protective mother emoticon]but do think he needs the company of other children and some adult imput from more than his parents and grandparents....ho hum.

oops forgot to say WWAJC I hope the 3rd thing doesn't happen too or os something very minor. I rember your bird bath and cant think what could have possibly knocked it over ...thank heavens it happened during the night and not when Anya was in the garden [eek]

Crikey...I killed the thread

I'm here finding it difficult to find the time to catch up properly although am reading...

Struggling with sleep a bit at the moment, seems totally random, good night followed by bad night then a good one and so on

Last night we were up just about every hour as he has a cold and couldn't breathe properly through his nose. I'm so tired I feel a bit dizzy

I really am thinking of you all and hoping to catch up very soon!

Choc - awww at Dareh missing you and saying you were pretty.

FT - nursery sounds wonderful, perfect for Alex. I am sure he will love it as much as Anya loves hers, and I bet you come to treasure those few hours to yourself!

Dal - do hope Miles recovers a bit and you get some sleep tonight.

Inzi - wow it sounds like you are ready to go. Fingers crossed it happens this weekend then.

We only had one day of nice weather - don't be too jealous!

Bird bath must have been destroyed by a cat or a fox I think. No 3rd thing went wrong though so that's ok .

Injections are going ok - we saw the consultant yesterday and he's doubled the dose now she's used to them. That does seem to hurt Anya more - she's complained the last couple of nights. If it doesn't improve over the next few days I might talk to the nurse about getting a more concentrated version so she can go back to the same amount of fluid. Either that or I might have to double up to two chocolate buttons .

Inzi So excited for you!! Hope the birth goes smoothly and we can hear all about just how gorgeous George really is!! Keeping fingers crossed that it happens this weekend for you!! xxx

WWAJC Hope that Anya adjusts quickly to the new dosage. I think that 2 chocolate buttons are DEFINITELY in order!!

Floria The nursery sounds wonderful! Hopefully Alex will be very happy there. I am officially back to work on September 10th, but have to go in for training on Monday. Not looking forward to it at all!! As a result, the babies also start their first half-day of nursery on Monday!! Sofia will love being back (she used to go there while I was pg with Marco), and Marco will do fine with his sister there. I am starting them with 2 half days next week, then 2 full days the week after, then full time after that. Hopefully easing them in will help adjust them to their new routines.

Choc Have to agree with everyone else.... the escalator woman was a COW!! It really drives me nuts when people who have no knowlege of whats going on, feel they have to put their 2 cents worth in! I wouldnt give her another thought. I probably would have been holding myself back from giving her a tongue lashing!

TMI ALERT You wouldn't believe what happened to me today... I usually take the babies into the shower with DH and I in the morning (its quicker than a bath and our shower is HUGE). So after getting out of the shower, we towel ourselves off, then take the babies out. So after getting out this morning, All of a sudden Sofia started screaming. We looked in to find that Marco had pood in the shower, stepped in it, had fallen, and was now covered in poo (including his face)!! I started gagging at once!! Especially when DH started questioning whether he had tried to eat the poo, or just wiped it on his face!! Ugggghhhhhhh!!! All this in the time that it took me to wrap a towel around myself! Needless to say, DH got back in the shower, rewashed Marco, and rewashed the shower (maid had come the day before). What a great start to the day!!

So my girlfriend, who is also a co-worker, called me about a job that will be posted soon in the same department where she works. Its perfect for me! Mon-Fri, 8:30am to 4:30pm, with school holidays off. She has offered to help me through the interview process, as well as put in a good word for me. I was so down when I didn't get the last job I interviewed for, but am realizing that maybe it happened for a reason. This job would work even better with my childcare and family life, and is a 2-3 year contract as well. Keep your fingers crossed for me ladies!!

Marking my place as I lost you all!!

Have skimmed but not got chance to reply properly(will I ever??) but just wanna say Good Luck to Inzi!!! Keep us posted. Will be back when I get chance, so much washing, sorting, cleaning, sleeping to do!

BB4 - fingers crossed for the job, sounds perfect for you. When's the interview likely to be? pmsl at Marco in the shower - well done at getting dh to wash it off!

Anya was better tonight with her injection - tried sitting her differently so I wasn't so restricted - usually she sits on my knee so I can keep her still but it does mean that the angle's not quite right for actually doing the injection. Tonight I let her sit on the bed - she was much happier and it was much easier for me, I do have to trust her not to move though, she has to keep her leg motionless for about 10-12 secs. She's very brave .

I caught an old episode of Outnumbered the other night. There was a bit where the dad (Pete?) is explaining to Karen that everything is made out of atoms. She asks 'everything? Am I made out of atoms?' 'Yes' 'Are shadows? What about dreams? Are atoms made out of atoms?' 'Erm.....' It was a very scary glimpse into our not-too-distant future!

WWAJC; fab that Anya is being such a brave and good girl, you have every right to be proud of her, what a little star she is! Definately deserves 2 chocolates!
LOL at 'Outnumbered'..I rarely get chance to see it but just love it...I cant wait to see that episode now...and ,yes, I never watch but think "oh no!!! that's going to be me outsmarted by the infant!"(as if it isn't already..Alex plays me like Paganini played violin )

NC; Have you stopped galivanting yet?

BB4; Rofl at the shower incident!!!! Typical for a bloke to ask the unthinkable ..well done for getting Dh to clean up, mine would have reacted like both you and Sophia (ie screamed and boaked!)I soooooooo hope the new job interview goes perfectly that job sounds just perfect...fingers crossed and positive vibes wnging their way across the pond from this very moment...in the mean time I hope Sophia and Marco settle easily in nursery and your return to work isn't as bad as you anticipate.

Dal;i hope Miles starts stringing a few of his good nights together for you soon.

Inzi;enjoy these last few days of Jane being an only child. Like NC, I'm thinking of you, and glad to hear that your Mum is keeping a close eye on you ..you havent said how everyone else is for a while, I hope they are all doing well and you can relax and enjoy your gorgeous new bundle of joy.Wishing you a smooth and easy delivery, whenever he decides to make his appearance.

Hello to Choc, Muppet, Alice and everyone else...and HerJazz, if you are around, how are you doing? how long have you got to go now?

Trying out a new nickname - thought it was time for a change, and it might suit my renewed enthusiasm for writing big lists of things that need to be organised (without actually organising any of them of course ).

Well I can't put it off any longer, I now have a deadline for potty training. Anya is moving up to the preschool class at her nursery when she turns 3, as long as her taster sessions go ok, and they've asked that she be out of nappies by then if possible.

So 6 weeks and counting then. Need to have a think about a suitable start date

Well hello ladies!
Sorry for not posting recently, I have been lurking and reading to keep up to date, and I hope you are all well.

Choc ? hope you are over the escalator incident now. How rude are some people? As if you weren?t feeling bad enough already...
Floria ? the nursery sounds great. Trying to decide still where to send DS in Jan ? am thinking of going to look at some other local places in September, to see what?s around. I?d happily keep him at his childminders, but she doesn?t qualify for the free place money
Dal ? hope Miles is over his cold now, and you?ve got some sleep again
Inzi ? not long now ? how very exciting! We will be waiting to hear all the news and to see some pics of baby George. Bet Jane will love being a big sister
WWAJC/QueenofLists ? how are the injections going now? Have you had to up the dose to two choc buttons? I also like to write lists ? it?s a source of great amusement to DH. Oh, and I had the box set of series one & two of outnumbered for Xmas, they are so funny ? I am dreading the endless questions, at the moment I just get completely bossed around (my FIL calls DS ?the foreman?....)
BabyBlue ? keeping my fingers crossed for you about the job. And that you don?t get a repeat of the shower incident again...
*NC& ? did you enjoy your hols?
Hello to everyone else as well!

So, the news from strawberrylace towers ? have been given voluntary redundancy from work, which I?m both pleased and scared about. Will finish about the end of Oct when I start my maternity leave, and will never go back! Decided that with 3 under 4s it was going to be difficult to juggle (and pay for) childcare with a demanding management job on a part time basis. I've tried it with just one DC, and don't think it's given us a great quality of life, so I?m going to set up my own freelance business (I hope!) ready to start work next year when my statutory maternity pay ends ? eek! Or I may decide to retrain, or just work at evenings and weekends to bring in a bit of extra money. It?s going to be strange, as I?ve worked where I am for 9 years now, so this is a really major change in so many ways.

I have also finally started potty training DS, and he is doing really well so far ? only on day 3 and we?ve had no accidents today, even ventured out to an indoor play barn ? long may this last! I really have to get it done now, as I don?t want to be changing 3 lots of nappies come November.

Now going to look at more pushchairs on line to see what might be good for the twins. Take care everyone x

Hi Ladies, really haven't got time to reply to everyone again but just popping on to wave
I have had an unexpected childcare offer from my mum so since 5pm I have been alone and am...washing carpets/sorting out/decorating bedrooms. DD1 is having my double bed as I ordered a King the other day-bargain (I hope) at less than £50, so having tro sort her room and also put a new border up in Shannon's room, then need to sort mine tomorrow when bed comes.

FT-Not yet, we go to France on Sat till the 4th

Am going to bed now as I'm shattered, love to all xx

Strawberry Glad to hear you are ok with the redundancy. What kind of freelance business are you planning to start? How have you been feeling lately? How far along now? Good luck on the potty training!

NC Glad to hear all is well with you. Sounds like you made the most of your time alone and got alot of things done. I think I would be really lazy if ever someone wisked away my DCs for the afternoon! LOL. I am actually looking forward to the younger 2 being in daycare, just to give me a few moments peace. Are you redecorating or just getting new beds?

So its 2 more weeks of mat leave left for me and its back to work! :( Yesterday I had to go in and recertify my weapon training. 8 hours of rolling around on the floor doing defensive tactics and firearm training. I was sooooo nervous that my stomach was in knots all day! If I didn't pass, I would not be allowed to return to work! I haven't had to recertify in 4 years because of the pregnancies (its yearly otherwise). But I did pass... have the achy muscles and bruises to prove it!! So thats one course done. 3 more to go before I return, then one shortly after.

So while I was on course, Sofia and Marco had their first half day at nursery! (FB pics up soon) Marco did wonderfully! Sofia cried for a couple of minutes after she realized DH was gone. When I went to pick them up, no one wanted to leave!! Thats a good sign! Marco looked so sweet with his back-pack on! Was almost as big as him!

Sorry for the me post, but also need to have a short rant! I have a few items up on our local version of ebay, including 2 large cans of baby formula. So I got a call from this girl offering me more than what I asked, if I could bring the formula to her. She does not live close by, and does not drive, and I want this formula gone before it expires, so I agreed to meet her at a shopping mall close to her house. DH and I figured we could do a little shopping while we were there. So we packed all 4 DCs into the car, drove 1/2 hour in traffic to get to the mall, hustled all DCs into the mall, and waited for 2 HOURS for this girl to show. DH called her and she said she was on her way. When he tried her again, she did not pick up her phone anymore! He sat at the meeting point the whole time, while I walked around the stores with the DCs to keep them from getting bored. Thank goodness Marco slept the whole time. What a waste of my time, gas, and patience! Never again will I go out of my way to be nice like this! I went home and sent her a stern email! LOL... took everything in me not to tell her to go to hell!!! OK... rant over!

Time to go feed Marco his cereal. He had a late nap, so he will be up at least after 10pm tonight. Sigh.... Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the last weeks of summer. Will do a proper post when I get a chance. xxx

Quick hellp here as I am back at work so struggling with tirdness etc.

Inzi not long now - so exciting!!!!

I am not feeling as sick as I was but am very, very stressed at the moment. We've been trying to get an extension and our neighbour has been making a fuss because she has a path to her garden that runs down the side of where we want to build. It's just an access path made of gray paving slabs but she's written a big letter to the council about the appearance of her stupid path and also about how many parking spaces we have. Really upset about it as we are basically desperate. Can't afford to move so this is our only chance.

Babyblue can't believe that formula woman! I hate people like that. So selfish.

Need to catch up with everyone else - will try to get on before bed.

Strawberry - so far I've kept to just one chocolate button. She still says it hurts but it can't be too bad because she's quite happy to have the injection and the chocolate button makes it better afterwards. Great news on the voluntary redundancy - it sounds as though that's a better plan for you, and you can be so much more flexible with your own business. Well done too on the potty training.

NC - did you get all your sorting/decorating etc done? Sounds like a lot to do in one evening - I'd have been flaked out in front of the tv .

BB4 - weapons training?!? I've missed/forgotten what you do for a living . Well done on passing. Glad Marco and Sofia settled in ok at nursery - do they get to see each other while they're there? at the ebay woman - how inconsiderate - have you had any reply from her?

Choc - sorry you're stressed - how long before you get a decision from the council?

Talking of potty training - I showed Anya her potty training sticker chart tonight. She promptly beetled off and did a big wee in her potty, and then another one an hour later when I wasn't even in the room! Fingers crossed this is going to be very straightforward. Tomorrow she's at nursery and then my parents so we'll see how we get on.

No idea, I think we are in for the long haul on this one.

Sounds like everyone is doing so well with potty traning. Dareh is ok at home but not out and about and he still has accidents. I am not sending him to nursary though so I don't have the pressure of a deadline.

Hope you are getting some sleep Dalry.

Good news on the redundancy, I really think working less is the way forward for everyone! Time is something you just can't put money on. I really want to go part time when the baby is born.

Warning rant ahead:

I don't know if you guys remember my sister in law but I had an incident with her this weekend which I am still reeling from. We are still sorting through my Dad's things and one my my brother's (I have three) had said right from the start he would love to have my Dad's Scotland caps (he played water polo for Scotland - they are like badges you would put on a coat so I don't know why they are called caps). He had many memories of going through them with my Dad. As the rest of us didn't really remember them we were more than happy for him to have them. I did take a little plain one to put in my wallet as did the yougest brother. Brother who is married to sil said he didn't want one but later texted to say he did. Went round he chose one but then sil took the pile off me and proceeded to pick out the nicest ones for herself! Big argument then takes place between her and my brother who insisted he only wanted one the rest were to go to my other brother but she was having none of it. So I said I was really uncomfortable with what was happening and thought they should really go to the brother who wanted them and had memories of them. She still wouldn't stop. It was so horrible. For her it was more important to have something pretty on her wall than to listen to the children who had lost their Dad and to let the brother who wanted his Dad's things to have them.

I was so upset. I felt like she was trampling all over our grief. Really unpleasant.

Rant over.

Bedtime for me!

Hi All

choc sorry to hear you had a horrible experience with the escalator. Can't believe how rude some people can be.
Even more shocked at your SIL behaviour. For some people it is all about material things. I hope she ended up giving it to your brother.

floria Good luck with the nursery for Alex. I must say I thought I would never leave Aaliyah in one but she loved her 2 afternoon sessions. From September she will attend 4 mornings. We only just realised that her "best friend" will no longer be at the nursery. She starts school in September and helped alot when Aaliyah started nursery first because they were at the same childminder. I remembered that childminder mentioned that she will start school and asked her on Monday. She then said that she will no longer have the little girl and maybe only future school holidays. I hope she is okay when pre-school starts because she talks about "My best friend, Amy" all day.

Dal I saw on fb your updates about Mile's sleeping. I remember with Aaliyah I used to let her sleep with me when she was sick but not next to me more over my tummy. Like sideways. Meaning she is almost upright over my tummy, raised and therefore breathing properly. We then got sleep as well. If she stayed in her cot I dont think I would have fallen asleep at all. Hope all is much better now.

WWAJC Hope Anya has adjusted to the increased dose. At least she is happy with 2 buttons. I hope that is not 2 packets because Aaliyah is bad like that. Loves chocolate. I used to be a chocoholic but lost it when I was expecting her so now takes it in moderation. However her dad is pretty bad. Just noticed the change of name so will try and use it but good luck with the potty training. I sent Aaliyah whole last term with a nappy. No one said anything just told them my life is way too busy to stress her out. Luckily childminder would change her before dropping her off and most times when i picked her up 2.5 hours later she was dry. If she looks ready start if not dont. Legally she doesnt have to be out of nappies.

strawberry Nice to hear you sound postive about redundancy. Sometimes things like this happen for a reason. What are you looking into doing? Well done on potty training and hope it stays dry.

babyblue pmsl at poo + shower incident. I probably would have reacted the same. Luckily havent had any accidents like that yet.
Good Luck with the job interview and hours seems perfect. Its not everyday something comes across that fits with family and childcare. How inconsiderate of the ebay lady. Leave her very bad feedback

Inzi Good luck and hope we see an update re George soon.

Nothing much happening my side. Just been feeling really lazy and tired. With August being such a crappy month I hardly done anything. Am aneamic as well but it does not look like the iron tablets are helping.

Had our first booking appointment yesterday and we will have 12 week scan on 9th September. According to midwife because of wound reopening after birth and taking 5 months to close I will definitely be under a consultant. Will most definitely be advised for an elective c-section and if so it will be done at 39 weeks. So if my calculations are correct I am due 18th March and she said c-section will probably be 11th March. I am thinking therefore on definitely maybe finishing first term until Feb and to talk to my tutor asap re what my options will be for returning.

Aaliyah is getting cheekier by the day. Comes out with sayings that I still dont believe she is capable of saying. I do feel a little like I am neglecting her. But bless her. She is looking forward to the baby all day. But suddenly started putting her dolls under her clothes or ours and then play doctor. When she pull it out she says " Its a sister". And checks my tummy with her stethoscope. No idea where she got all this from. As we havent had any checkups like that yet.

Eva I missed that you were pregnant - congratulations!! Funny that she thinks she is getting a sister, Dareh is convinced it will be a little brother. He mainly just presses my belly and tells me it's squidgy which is not so good for the self esteem!

My sil did not get the caps she wanted. There was no way in hell I was letting her have them over my brother. If it had been my other brother, her DH who had really wanted them it would have been a different story, we would have waited until we were all together to decide, but he didn't even want them. She stropped off to the kitchen and he told me just to take them and I got out of there asap!

choc dont worry. I mentioned it somewhere near end of July just after I found out because I really needed to tell someone and did not want to tell the family yet.

Before she used to say a baby brother. So now I just leave it. I think it will boy. Everyone in my immediate family and hubby's have girls as first borns and boys 2nd. It will be really strange if I am the odd one out lol because I had my girl first. Deep down I actually see myself with 2 girls. So will have to wait and see.

Oh I dont have a bump yet just a fat stomach and Aaliyah sings "fatty fatty boom boom" which she finds hilarious.

SIL's. dont let me get started on them. I'm glad that she didnt get away with it

How far along are you now and do you guys know what you having yet

I am 18 weeks. They don't tell you what you are having in the area where I live so I don't know. I think I will have a boy too although everyone else thinks it is a girl. I am like you, see myself with two boys. I would secretly love a little girl but I am also scared of having one. I don't think I would be a good mother to a girl, think I would pass on my insecurities.

I am due 25th Jan. What about you?

Hi again ladies, still short on time as Shannon has only just got home! Done loads of decorating in the past 3 days but not quite finished, never mind, will do when I get back. DD1 home tomorrow from camp, have really missed both the kids. Have also been to docs today and it turns out I've had a prolapse. :(

Choc-Silly Cow SIL, I would have slapped her!

WWaJC-Glad Anya seems to be getting more used to the jabs.

BB4-Grrr @ ebay women, what a cheeky cow, it makes you want to never do anything nice for people. Well done for passing your weapons training.

Strawberry-It's probaby a blessing that you've got voluntary redundancy, you're going to have your hands full.

Hi to everyone else, sorry I haven't got any more time. Feel really rubbish for some reason, like flu, early night for me I think.