Fab Feb 2009 bar: toddle on in, grab a pew: mummy's in need of a drink or two...

[dinkystinky]

New thread for us to natter on about our toddling terrors... complete with some virtual booze. Mine's a french martini....

nice to see you rosie

I was wondering about speech too. Although its quite hard because my niece is really advanced.By izzys age she was saying about 50 words. She is now 22 months and has hundreds of words and strings 2-3 words together. she says things like "outside exciting" and "up daddy please" Me and my bro have always compared and it has been fun watching my niece as I can see whats coming up for us next But its hard as izzy only has a handful of words so far. None of them are mama!

I know they are all so different. Izzy took first steps at 10 months and is really into running (ah that is fun!) and climbing.

I must say that I find this age the best so far (I think i say that alot!) I am really enjoying being a mum to Isobella she is a lovely girl.

DINKY poor danny its horrible when they are ill isnt it, but if he has anti b's they usually kick in really quickly. hugs x

Morning all - another shocker of a night here (ended up co-not sleeping with Danny from 3 this morning) but think my body is getting used to not sleeping now which can only be a good thing.

LittleSez - lovely to see you on. Please dont worry aobut Izzy and her speech - all kids develop differently and I bet if you compare Izzy to her cousin at the age of 5 they'll be virtually identical in their language abilities...

Tulips - love that image of A and his big brother. How adorable.

ds1 is in big school today

He has his trial day in Junior Infants to prepare him for september. I'm a nervous wreck waiting to go collect him... I thought this got better with each child but i'm just as nervous this year as i was for dd last year. Bless him, when i asked him what he wanted to wear he just looked at me like i'd gone mad and said 'I have to wear uniform to big school mommy'. I've had to give him one of dd's polo shirts and he found a navy jumper to go with it

Aah bless him. DS1 is desperate to wear a uniform too like the kids in big school do...

Hope his day there goes well.

oh i feel nervous for you too Tulips. i remember that first day feeling so well. i can't believe dd is nearly at the end of reception, i'm already panicking about how i'm going to feel when she has to go to year 1 and they don't have a separate entrance any more!

i hope he's had a brilliant day.

dinky you're a superwoman! hope poor danny is on the mend soon.

littlesez definitely not worth worrying about. ivor has suddenly come on with his talking but still only a few words (and mummy definitely has to be forced!). he seemed to spend a couple of months mastering walking, running, climbing onto anything inappropriate and now that's sorted he's decided to try out making strange noises and words.

sm so cute, ivor is just doing great gig MWAH kisses for us all. and actually comes up to each of us in turn. it's so lovely isn't it. plus if i happen to be strategically lying on the floor (honestly it's not like i'm desperate for affection!) he climbs up for a vertical hug.

they're at a bloody lovely age!

TITS how did DS1's big day at school go?

Dinky poor Danny and poor you - really, really hope you get some kip tonight.

Lilian is saying very little compared with DS at the same age (so hard not to compare isn't it?). She says quack quack and mama (to anyone and everyone ) and possibly 'dank coo' which may or may not be thank you... but that's it at the mo. She is still rubbish at walking preferring to get her little knees dirty. She does do the cutest kisses though - loving that!!

Morning everyone! Hope the school taster day went well tulips. Sam says between 50-100 words but mainly when his big brother isn't around as he can't get a word in then. He strings 2 together at a time but i remember that harry was speaking in nearly full sentences by now so he hasn't been as quick.

Hope your night was ok dinky? I don't know how you manage as I'm struggling to cope with harry's 4.30 starts .

Actually the early starts wouldn't be a problem but he is crap to put to bed, sometimes wakes in the night and is a little shit all day long as he is so tired. Must admit to feeling a little cheated to be kept up by a 3yr old when the baby sleeps 13hrs a night!!!

Anyone elses kids fight like cat and dog btw?

Spotty DS and DD have the same age gap as yours and DS loves to annoy Lilian until she gets fed up and start to wail. It is not so much fighting as constant irritation. DS can't resist poking her in the ribs, tweaking her ears, taking her cup away, even putting his hands around her neck, etc. They do hold hands when they are in their car seats though which is very sweet . He does tell her that she is 'my best Lilian'! Same sleep issues here too - Lilian has been fine from 8 to 8 but DS up twice last night and awake at 5am.......arrrgghhh

Lots going on Ladies! Can?t keep up ? I?m so rubbish at posting. I read everyone?s updates and then run out of time. Luckily I?m at work today so am attempting a mega-post ?.

Lovely to see so many Fab Febbers back on the thread!

Well, we?ve been having a busy time. On Wednesday we had Orlena?s first portage session with a lovely lady from the portage team. I had a really good chat with her and a lot of what she suggests makes sense ? she observed Orlena playing and tried to engage her in some activities/conversations, but true to form O wouldn?t take the bait, even though you could see she wanted to. It was fascinating to see her talk to O whilst signing, and I?ve started incorporating some signs into our daily life (thanks MOS!). From her first observation, she believes O has a temporary ?set of circumstances? that we should be able to overcome, rather than a disorder such as autism/dyspraxia etc. I?ve got lots of tips and things to put into action ? most of what I?ve been doing seems to be the right thing, but I?ve been advised to reduce conversation to short, clear sentences without too many adjectives etc. I?d been going the other way and trying to talk to her as much as possible!! We will be having weekly sessions and the next one is to try to incorporate Sam into play somehow?? could be interesting! He needs no encouragement, but O can?t stand him near her!

After that we went off to Wisley and spent the afternoon there with the NCT girls and had a lovely time.

Yesterday we used our free residents? tickets and went to Chessington World of Adventures. The weather was a bit iffy, but it meant that it was very quiet and we didn?t have to wait for any rides / food etc. The kids loved it, apart from the BubbleWorks ride that scared Sam! We are actually starting to feel like a family having fun when we go out now, rather than just having to endure the day with as few tears from O as possible.

Tulips how was DS after his trial day? Such a big step for them.

Rosie ? I?m with you on the heat. I would never survive anywhere hot, and being pasty pale and interesting freckled being in the hot sun doesn?t agree with me. I am happy with temperature in the early 20?s and some pleasant sunshine. I couldn?t live where my sister does in Maine, where the summers are unbearably hot and humid, and the winters are freezing and snowy.

Calico ? love your DS?s ?my best Lilian? comment. So sweet! Spotty ? I have two fighters here. DD regularly puts the boot in to Sam if he dares some near ? yesterday she tried to bite the top of his head. It doesn?t put him off though and now he?s giving as good as he gets and has learnt that pulling hair is a fun retaliation .

Dinky what a horrible time you are having. Poor Danny ? have the antibiotics kicked in yet? Do you think that maybe his ears could have been causing a few longer term sleep problems? Hopefully you are not too horribly busy at work and are able to swig loads of coffee.

Run out of time now and got some real work to do ? am still chuckling to myself after watching Borat on Film4 last night??. Will catch up with y?ll later!

spotty, my older two are close in age and veer from all out brawling to adoring cuddles and back again every 20 seoconds. Poor A looks on in confusion and steers well clear for the most part

ds1 had a ball at school, he was quite cross he didn't get to stay all day! It's going to be the biggest class in the school for years and year, 13 of them starting in september, but he knows most of them and dd will still be in the junior room as well as all her classmates who he knows too.

spotty, dinky and calico... we could fill a whole other thread about our non-sleeping babies between us! A had a rotten night too... now he has a cough It just never seems to end with him.

OMG! You dropped off my threads and I've missed 2 pages of gossip, not sure I'll remember it all now.

rosie, good to see you again. so sorry to read about DD1 and that she can easily get the treatment she needs in the future. Sorry about your 13 yr old too. My DD1 is 14 today! she has been going on 18 for at least a year
Felt a bit guilty that I wasnt' there but sent a cake (which went down very well apparently) some flowers and choccies from Next (not sure if arrived yet) and got the housemistress to get them in pizza and other snacks for a party last night (was a joint party with a girl whose birthday was yesterday) Seems that the girls had scrabbled together some coins to afford 2 pizzas between them all then the housemistress announced that the pizzas were on me

Dinky so sorry your little man is being a nuisance, you poor thing, you must be knackered. Have to say H has been playing up a bit the last few weeks which is draining. I've just had an hours nap with H after swimming which really wore him out but its not recharged my batteries which are almost dead.

KBN your holiday sounds fabulous. We'd been looking at a family holiday in Cyprus in the summer. DH wanted to get home to the UK for our wedding anniversary but flights a nightmare so we thought we'd meet in Cyprus which is mid-way but the prices are stupide. Rent of a 2 bed apartment is 400 pounds pw which is daft as we rent out our 4 bed house with private pool in Florida for less than that!

STW so glad you had your first meeting ref O and it seemed to go well. Stick with the signing, it does sometimes really help. I finally started a new private lesson with a boy of 11 on Tuesday who has autism and dyspraxia (sp?)So very sad as I think his 'real' age (how do you desribe it without offence?) is around 12 to 18 months. Hope I get get somewhere with him.

SM looks like you are really focused on your studies which is good and very positive.
Sorry you've had to cancel your holiday. Didn't you have to do that last year too? When were you supposed to be going? Is there no way you can afford to do it? Sell your DP or something? We need a MN summer santa, not just a winter one

TITS hope A is ok now after his bumped head. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for your exam result. Will also have the stress of DS1s results late August. He did two exams (whilst full boarding at his poncy sschool as DH calls it) this week and has his final exam next Friday thank god. He is staying on at school for the beginning of the A2 work and work on UCAS statements. They did (accordign to him) say he could now stay til the end but have a weeks confinement to his room but it suits us for him to be back at our UK house the day before we fly back (29th) so he can take delivery of our pork fest from Tescos and then babysit We are due back around 1pm on that day and at 7pm have to be at Barbican as DD1 signing there and can't miss that.

Right, am knackered so going off for a lie down with H in front of crappy cartoons no doubt.

Hope everyone is doing ok?

By the way, has anyone heard from MS? Hope she is ok? Wasn't she starting 'real' work a while ago on top of her baking. If you are lurking, wave from Saudi for you x

STW The bubbleworks made me scream a few years back, and I literally mean a few. I hate theme parks and rides. I am normally the coat holder!
Glad O's session went well, all sounds very positive.
tulips Hope ds's test day at big school went well.
dinky How's D's ear infection? Have you managed to get any sleep yet?

I've just received my course materials, just had a quick flick through it all. Not quie what I expected, seems to be not much reading, but we hall see how it goes, sure it'll be fine once I get into it.

Anyway, just about to put the boys down for a nap now and might look at the stuff a bit closer after half an hours house work.

Just flying through but wanted to say thankyou calico, stw and tulips!!!!!! My two don't sound too unusual now. It is mainly wind up stuff like yours stw but sometimes H can just walk up and punch S for no reason! They do have lots of lovey-dovey moments too though.... I can't keep up with them!

Wayhay SM! Bet it all seems real now?! I've got some course materials to read that I've had for over a week and haven't had chance to look at yet - oh well maybe after all the bathroom cleaning and floor scrubbing......if the boys are still asleep.....

Afternoon all. Rubbish night again last night -but less rubbish than the night before so hopefully there is some form of light at the end of the tunnel. Have today and Monday off work as our nanny is away so at least dont have to use my brain on complicated legal stuff for a few days...

Spotty - Harry might well be acting up as a result of the changes with not so DH in the family unit recently. Hopefully it will pass soon - wishing you luck and fortitude! 4.30 wake ups are no fun whatsoever... Oh and DS1 and Danny are either best of friends, playing beautifully and kissing and hugging each other, or mugging one another, pulling each other's hair (well Danny pulls DS1's and DS1 cries and pushes Danny away). They do make each other giggle in their car seats - bit like Calico's 2 - which is v sweet.

MoS - sounds like your DD1 had a fun birthday. Bet the pizzas went down a storm.

STW - the assessment sounds promising and it sounds like you guys are feeling abit happier and more settled which is great news.

Spotty It used to be that ds1 would just push and hit ds2 and ds2 would cry. Now ds2 just walks up to ds1 and for no reason at all just pushes him and then laughs. The little bully!

My H (can't yet say DH) is at home Dinky. He had a breakdown for several reasons and is seeing a police trauma counsellor through work. I made him move back to his mums for a while and Seek help as I could see he was ill and it seems to have been the kick up the bum he needed to address his problems. I couldn't kick a man when he was down and 'for better for worse, in sickness'......etcetc. he we have a lit of ground to cover though....

Anyhow! Back to children!........mine have been complete ??$>

Cheers Spotty - have to admit I'm sat here with a vat of G&T already, having had to survive shitmaggedon (Danny did a poo at the park this afternoon that took me 10 minutes to clear up - then after dinner did a poo that somehow made it out onto DS1's bean bag and then pooed in the bath he and DS1 were in... aaargh!) this afternoon. Good to hear that things are hopefully moving in the right direction with your H - fingers crossed things will go from strength to strength here for you. Though I maintain that Harry might still be responding to all the stresses you and DH are having in your relationship at the moment and recently...

Love french martinins... in fact, I think we may have some grenadine lurking in a cupboard somewhere and pineapple juice. May need to do some cupboard hunting...

Ahhhh shitmageddon!!!! Know it well!!!!! And therefore doubly good for you for cracking out the g&t's......seems we would be the only virtual alkies tonight ;-)

oh shite, everyone is having a shite time.
H had some very bad poos yesterday, not sure if it is still the ABs that I was taking although I've stopped them now. Thankfully the worst one was when DH was on duty.

spotty hope you are able to sort things out but only for the right reasons, ie not just because of the DC. I've made that mistake before You must do what is right for YOU.

BTW, mines a baileys on ice or a Pimms if warm out.
Speaking of drinks, any talk of summer meet ups yet? coram fields or anywhere else?

Morning. Up at 4am again
jacob gets bad bowel issues on AB's too, he has to go back in nappies if he's on them.

I'm supposed to be going to a little party/gathering later zzzzzzzz

Last day smoking today, tomorrow is the big quit day (again)

Morning. Up at 4am again
jacob gets bad bowel issues on AB's too, he has to go back in nappies if he's on them.

I'm supposed to be going to a little party/gathering later zzzzzzzz

Last day smoking today, tomorrow is the big quit day (again)

Thanks mos, things are being taken very slowly, he seems to be improving daily though and virtually back to his old self. I'm still a bit on guard..... time will tell. I looove both of your drinks although it's not pimms weather at the moment here

Awwwww sorry you had a bad night sm. Good luck with requitting took me 3 goes!!!

I have one extremely clingy baby monkey and one very whingy one this morning - early naps methinks!

Spotty is your DH in 'the job'? I'm ex job. Is the weather crap there then? there was me thinking it was nice. I hope it improves before I'm back on 29th.

H has CMS too today (clingy monkey syndrome) just been to a little birthday party for a one year old and brought him back early as so tired. (him and me!)

SM good luck with the giving up smoking. Get on with your studies to take your mind off it.
When were you supposed to be going on holiday?

I like that - CMS, will use that I think . Yes he's been in 10yrs. CID now. Weathers quite sunny, 18-21 this week but quite nippy and windy. Perfect drying weather so I'm off to peg out an umpteenth load of washing!!!!

spotty... your sleepy vibes made it all the way to Ireland. A slept for 11.5 hours last night! I woke up this morning to find ds1 had climbed in his cot with him and the two of them were rolling around giggling

mos... A was born with CMS! silly me wihing for mommy's boy

good luck with the no smoking SM

have to get organised now, we have yet another christening today, third weekend in a row now. not in the mood but ho hum. No idea what i'll wear either!