May Toddlers - still toddling along!

[helsy]

Oi! Over 'ere!

I'm using my sick leave well and have just booked a holiday in Oban - we're going to see Balamory and sea eagles, hopefully.

DS tries to spit out his toothpaste like DD! Hilarious because he just makes his approximation of the noise, doesn't "follow through".
He also plays with all her toys, especially those that say "not for under 3's, as contains small parts". So he loves the Honey Bees game (like kerplunk), Playmobil, Dolphin Basketball (can fit 5 balls in his mouth at once).......
Bozza re: DS being too young for fireworks. When I say that, you can usually read between the lines that we (me and DH) think it's a lot less palaver to leave him at home! Yes, we're probably horrible parents. But it gives DD some much needed Big Girl Time...and he'll be there next year, downing candy floss in one and going round and round in a ladybird.

Oh culottes: I would say YES! I did like those River Island ones very much but I am only 5ft 2" and Trinny and Susannah would say no, even with my lovely wedge heel boots. Oooh, and that's another thread isn't it! (am I revealing the depths of my lurkdom?) I love my wedge heels and agree that they are fashionable this year, although I did wear them last year too when they weren't.
Today I got a gorgeous jacket from Per Una with my birthday money from my mum (not till end Nov but I needed a new coat desperately). AND I had my hair cut so am feeling most foxy.

Whoops. Just seen that you are not much taller. Go with the other girls' advice, ignore me. Oh and to your size 8.

Well Judd the way I was seeing it was that I could get away with them but only with a heel. Where did you get your wedge heel boots? I am still after some. Are they suede or leather? And its only an occasional size 8 depending on the shop....

I know what you mean about juggling two. We are having minor angst about whether we should both go to DD's nursery party because we both went every year when DS was there. But it would mean getting a babysitter for DS. Hmm... DD does the spitting thing too only ends up blowing a raspberry. And plays with lots of small lego, playmobil, matchbox cars etc.

I am so glad you are lurking and posting on Style threads, rather than having a big old life somewhere! I second the culottes with wedge heels thing - sounds fab. Bozza, size 8 and 5'2"? you will look marvellous. I am feeling well but a bit fat, as my bump is not properly showing and I am eating big meals which are. I may be pregnant, but I feel like a man.

LOL at baby Judd peeing hard cash. I found a harvest of apple rings in DD's nappy this morning which she delighted in reporting back to anyone who would listen. 'Poo! Apple RING!'

I keep lurking and being too embarrassed to post too, for fear of seeming too keen!
Susi hope the feeding gets better soon. Ponka sorry to hear you're still feeling sick - I think if anything that's even worse than actually BEING sick. Judd, very impressed by pooing money. We get sweetcorn, usually.

One thing about dd2 is bothering me a bit - probably because it's going on right now - which is that since September, she cries when she goes to bed. It can be two minutes if she's really tired, or twenty if she isn't, but she basically cries herself to sleep. If we go in it makes it worse when we try to leave and lengthens the amount of time she takes to get to sleep, so we leave her. She's a really happy little soul and it breaks my hear to think of her crying herself to sleep. She had stopped, but we went away in August and she's not gone back to that. Am I being too sensitive?
I went out ON MY OWN on Friday1 There was poet on locally I wanted to see and noone would come with me, DH was working (he acts in his spare time - for money!) so I got a babysitter and went. I felt very brave. Used to do it all the time when younger. We're going to see Ross Noble this week, too. It feels like we've finally lifted our heads above the parapet for the first time since dd2 was born. Bozza, dd2 copies dd1 all the time so were constantly having to stop dd1 from doing things because if dd2 does them it will be dangerous, like crawling under the table (dd2 stands up and smashes her head when se does it) and walking down the stairs (no chance!). And she's playing with the sorts of toys we would never have dreamed of giving dd1 because otherwise we have to send dd1 to the playroom which is upstairs and keep dd2 downstairs, or all move upstairs!

blimey Helsy - how does he manage acting in hs spare time? rehearsals must be a stretch! I grudge DH every moment spent doing something 'in his spare time' as it means I'm consigned to another spell 'at work'. Suppose that's a SAHM thing tho.

Sorry about dd's weeping to sleep - I would find that hard as well. Do you think she feels isolated, or is it more as if she doesn't want to miss out on the fun going on elsewhere?

He doesn't rehearse really! . He writes what he performs, so he knows the scripts - he belongs to a group that do murder mysteries, you know where you pay for a three course meal and get a murder thrown in, so to speak. He gets paid for it and doesn't do it very often any more, just to keep in touch with old friends more than anything - it got him through college ten years ago!
Don't know why she cries, it was about 10 - 15 mins tonight. About a due a visit to the HV so I may ask her. She very occasionally comes up with something sensible.

Hello everyone, Remember me???

It has been so long since I posted I've just spent ages reading all the posts I've missed.

So much has happened...

Congrats to SusiS on the arrival of your dd. What's her name?

Spots and Ponka, when are you both due?

Egypt how is it being back at work?

Libb did the house move go ok?

Cat how is your puppy getting on now?

Bozza, Georgina, Twiglett, hello how are things?

And hello to anyone I've missed.

Well, I've been so busy. We had our holiday to Florida in the October holidays. We had a great time, the girls loved it. Dd1, being 8, got more out of it than dd2 but they both had fun. Dd1 loved any rollercoaster that was fast, in the dark, went upside down or any ride that got you wet! Dh enjoyed himself, he wasn't to keen on going but did have a good time.
We'll go back in about 10 years time when dd2 will be able to do all the rides and hopefully by then I'll have passed my driving test and we'll be able to have a villa and a car rather than being in a hotel and being reliant on buses, kind of restricting that way we found.

Dd2 is a monster and getting worse by the day. She has the most awful tantrums if she doesn't get her own way, which usually consists of her hitting her head off the floor But most of the time she is good. She loves to climb, caught her this morning standing on the arm of the computer chair looking out of the living room window, I almost died when I saw her. You want to shout out but you can't because that might cause her to fall, had to sneak up behind her and grab her, she thought that was really funny.

She babbles away constantly, mummy, daddy, keea, granny, baby, pooh as in winnie the pooh. She has loads of animal sounds that she can do. She shakes her head for no, even when she means yes. I thought by now she would have had a lot more words but she's getting there. She said DVD the other day which I thought was good, lol hasn't said it since though I think it was a fluke. She no longer has bottles of milk. When we went on holiday we took a bottle with us so we could give her the one bottle of milk a day that she had at bedtime, but she was always so tired that she just went straight to sleep. So that's it no more bottles and she's quite happy and so are we.

Other news is that I'm an Aunty My brothers girlfriend had a baby boy on October 17th his name is Christian. He's so sweet and I love holding him and giving him cuddles. And the best bit is when he cries I can hand him back Yes, my baby making days are well and truly over. I drive my brother mad though because when he's holding the baby I'm forever saying watch his head, watch his back, I do mean well, honestly. I'm finding it hard to believe that my baby brother is a daddy.

What else can I say, I'm still working, my job share left and I miss her so much. They are interviewing for someone else next week so hopefully I'll get someone nice. For being a job share it's a bit strange as we actually work two days together. I'm changing my days when the new person starts, instead of doing 2 full days and 2 half days I'm going to consolidate all my hours into 3 full days. this will be good for school holidays as I'll have 2 days off to take the girls on day trips etc.
I'm keeping an eye out though for jobs in school offices. I'd love to be able to work in a school office and then have all of the school holidays off to spend with the girls, it would be ideal. Sadly they are few and far between where we stay, but I keep looking just incase.

I'm hoping to sit my driving test before the end of the year, will let you all know when I pass. I'm trying to save up some money to put towards buying a car. I asked my dad if he would buy me one when I pass my test and he said no as he didn't buy my brother and sister a car when they passed. I thought this was a bit mean seeing as I'm the oldest, it should be my birthright, lol But no it wasn't happening so I need to keep saving.

ok going to go now, hope your all still awake after reading all this.

talk to you all again soon
Linnet

Hi Linnet, nice to hear from you! glad you had a good holiday. I am taking driving lessons myself at the moment, at horrendous expense but I am told you cannot survive without the driving thing when you have 2 kids. Seems like you've managed so far! Ponka and I are, funnily enough, due both of us around 5/6 April.

Congrats on becoming an aunty!

Linnet - sounds like you've been busy. My DD says poo too but its the other kind.... "have you done a poo DD?" and she replies "poo" and lifts up her skirt for me to check. Such a considerate child! Occasionally, this is. Sounds like you had a lovely holiday.

Helsy - good on you for going out on your own. We are trying to get to the position of going out a bit more but its still difficult arranging babysitters. We are having a similar problem with DD and the crying at bedtime. If you go and sit in the chair in her bedroom she doesn't cry but nor does she go to sleep (think she's checking we're still there). So if you get any advice from the HV, please post.

wow, its so wonderful to hear from you all. I, too, have been lurking but not posting. it was just today, in the car, that i thought, i wonder if the maybabies thread will die out now. very sad. aaaaaaanyway...

being back at work now and again is ok. good money, but a bit hard on dd, depending on who is looking after her. she goes to my mum, mil the next door neighbour or dh. i really am not working much. just a few days a month, like 4 or 5, but as some of that is half days and it comes upon me at such short notice, it feels like i am on call all the time. i honestly could work every day if i wanted, with this supply agency. they are just in need of so many teachers. they even asked me if i wanted to take a fulltime job for a term after christmas!!! how may times have i told them i can only do a FEW days a month!

dd has been so poorly for about 3 weeks now. ear infection, then thrush from the antibiotics, then a chest infection. bless her. as a result she's gone back to sleeping quite badly. last week was a nightmare. my mum was her and i was working for a few days as well as being up in the night. i dont know how you full and part-timers do it. one day i had to cancel. the supply cancelling! dd wouldnt let me go. she was soooo poorly. bless.

lovely to hear all your news. oh and spots, your cd is an absolute life saver. dd loves it so much. we have it on in the car aaaaaaaaaaaalllllllll the time........grooooaaaan. no, honestly, its great.

So glad to hear that Egypt. We lost ours for ages and only just found it today. Which was sort of good as I had got mightily sick of it in the first place.

Well done juggling work and life, sorry to hear DD has been unwell. hard work.

Went for scan today. DD watched, grumbling, wanting to come up on the bed etc. She was saying 'painting, painting'! - thought the m/wife was painting on my tummy!

Acutally Egypt I manage quite well (do full days Tues - Thurs with about 5 evenings a month on call) until one of the kids is ill and then it all falls down around me. Had a bad time with DS being poorly a lot before half term and DH working away quite a bit made it more difficult. I have to be very organised and keep on top of everyone's diaries. Like DS has been invited to a party next Wednesday and its at 4.30 and DH is working away Tuesday and Wednesday evenings so I can't shift my hours, I've got virtually no holiday left but he can't be the only one in the class who doesn't go. So I have arranged for my SAHM friend to take him but I need to tell the CM, the teacher, remember to send him with party clothes (can't go to party in uniform) and present, and afterwards pick DD up from nursery then go collect him from party. And thats just one small detail next week. I think part of your thing is that there is no pattern - but I suppose supply pays so much better than getting a permanent contract say 1 day a week. My sister is a teacher and she does 3 days a week and has a 9 month old. They were really skint and she was considering doing some supply on her days off in her own school and not happy about it but fortunately her DH won 2K on the lottery so she doesn't have to.

Spots - scan brilliant. When are you due? My friend who has had recurrent miscarriages is now 18 weeks and due 14 April so maybe you are a little before that?

Sounds like the jugglers are having a hard time of it.

I work Mon - Weds but have to find another 4 hours in the week to get me up to 27 hrs a week which is what I'm supposed to do. Sometimes I work Thursday am, sometimes I work in the evening but I find that really hard. Dd2 is booked into nursery on Thursdays so I can work that day if I want to but I'd MUCH rather be with her. She's being gorgeous at the moment, everyone keeps saying what a lovely placid little girl she is. She went to bed just after 8 and - NOT A PEEP! We had a friend babysitting last night and she said she cried for about ten minutes then went quiet. Tonight she lay awake quietly for about 20 minutes whilst Dd1 got ready for bed (very noisily) and then dropped off! They're both about 30 mins later than they would normally be so maybe that's it.
Hope the pregnant people are ok - couldn't imagine being pg with an 18 month old, too old! Egypt, really sorry to hear about dd. Hope she perks up soon - it's wearing isn't it?

Sounds like she might be getting there helsy. I don't want to be too positive and jinx it. DD was bad again tonight. DH says that I let her sleep too late. She woke up at 3.15 and bedtime is 7.30. What do you think?

We went on a mother/daughter trip to Ikea today. She loved it. For the first showroom part I had her just on the reins and she had this little cord urchin hat (like a beret with a brim IYKWIM) on that was a handmedown and everyone was commenting on how cute she looked. Then we shared meatballs and chocolate mousse for lunch and she was busy flirting and baby spotting. Then I put her in a trolley and actually bought some stuff.

not sure bozza. dd slept yesterday, from 230 til 430, went to bed fine at 7 and again today from 130 til a shocking 445 when we woke her! she went to bed fine at 7. i do feel that with dd, she just understands that bedtime is a nice time and not to be traumatised by it any longer. we have been through hellish times with bed and waking, and even now she may wake in the night. but i think its becoming easier the older she gets iykwim. sorry, dont know what to suggest. all i mean is, i dont think daytime naps have a lot to do with it. ours arent always regular or at specific times either. i have changed this and that with naps and timings til i was blue in the face, and it never made any difference.

You see thats what I really don't get Egypt. We are so consistent with bedtime routines although we let her stay up late tonight. She napped from 1.30 to 3.00 in the car/pushchair. Tonight she had the usual bedtime routine but late so was in bed for 7.50 but not quiet/asleep until 8.30. We are very consistent with bath with DS, then teeth, kiss DS, into her sleeping bag, 3 stories, cuddle, say goodnight/quack quack to Beatrix Potter musical duck thing and picture of ducks on wall then into cot with Po and puppy. The only thing we do is alternate who reads to her and if DH is away I send DS off to play after teeth while I see to her. She goes down in her cot OK but then as soon as you leave the room starts to cry. Wonder if it might be the dark?

Suppose its your turn to have an easy time though Egpt really! But I am quite strict and fully prepared to do something about it, especialy because it impacts on DS.

i have a book which ways the lights are best dimmed, so that they can see around themselves/amuse themselves with pictures on the walls, etc. maybe that would help? its obviously that she just doesnt want you to go, so maybe if there was something else to distract her it might help. is there music she likes?

Yes it is obvious I suppose. I was just wondering if it was the dark because we only turn the light off when we put her in the cot and then the landing light is on so that its not properly dark until we pull her door to as we leave.

I'm getting myself a bit concerned because she is going to my Mum and Dad's over night on 3 December and sharing a room with DS as well so am hoping to get her sorted before then.

Bozza - we've put a night light in DS's room just this last couple of weeks because he seemed to wake up and be scared...although was fine going to sleep in the dark. I just vaguely remembered DD waking up in the middle of the night about 21 months and saying "no no" and that was cured by a night light, so I just assumed the same for him and whacked one in!
DH has gone to Barcelona (well he's in Liverpool at the mo but flies early tomorrow) for the week for the Microsoft conference. He's kept bringing out his list of seminars and sighing over it, in a vain attempt to convince me that it is Jolly Hard Work and not just a bit of a doss. He asked DD what present she would like him to bring back for her and she said......"a pig". Mind you, I took her to look round a school last week and when the Head teacher said "Have you seen everything?" , DD replied "Yes I have. I liked the playground and the toilets and I did a lovely wee wee in them". to the power of 10.

at Judd's DD. So funny. Where did you get your night light?

It's just a John Lewis one, looks like a plug protector (one of those you plug in to stop them electrocuting themselves) and came in a pack of 2.

Just wondered because DH got one from B&Q and its not very bright, plus we have an issue that we have furniture in front of all the sockets.

Hello,
were finally on broadband and have a new computer without the mouse in the back keeping the generator going. Its so wonderful to be able to load a page up instantly.
Ive been for my first weekend away this week. I went to scotland for a hen weekend. It was nice to be able to get ready to go out without a little person gouging out my lipstick or trying to put moisturiser on my face 2 minutes after ive put make up on. I did miss her though and had a lovely hug when I got back.
She's a star at the moment although getting cbeebies and dvd obsessed. I try not to le jer watch too much but she follows you round the house with the tv remote and her dvd cover until you get the hint.

Shes talking more and more but I do feel sorry for her on occasions as she says things that I just have no idea what they are. If you ask her 'what' she repeats it but I have to say' i dont know what your saying' poor thing it must be like being in a foreign place for her where no one understands.
Ive blabbed on tonight. Hope everyone is well.