October 08 - Got ourselves some crying, talking, sleeping (sometimes!) walking, living dolls.

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Well somebody better start the new thread, so might as well be me!

No stats this time .

oh 50ft, How awful. Can't he prove it was his anyway - did he send away the form? Not much help, but a bit, perhaps. Why do people steal cars?! ugh.

Csws, sounds lovely!! I should look into a sandpit. But we could never leave Q in our garden. He can get out and onto the road eventually -he knows the way!

Aubergenie - I hope you had a nice rest in your garden!

Back to work tomorrow

50ft. God, I would be furious. Not surprised you're annoyed.

Myjob - Have fun! I hope the sun keeps shining for you.

Did you get a bench CSWS? I was really looking forward to sitting in the garden this afternoon, got a coffee and a slice of cake, sat on the bench and fell through. So I got an old directors chair out of the shed and sat on that and all the fabric ripped! time for some new garden furniture I think.

Proving it's his won't help though star if it's not insured.

No aubergenie, we didn't manage to get a bench. The place we went only had a disappointing 4 wooden ones to choose from - one too small, 2 had curvy arms that I didn't find comfortable, and the 4th, whilst the strongest contender, had quite a short depth of seat compared to the others . We'll continue the search this week.
It sounds like you are more in need than us now though! We love the LaFuma recliners that we got last year if you want a recommendation, although they were much cheaper in the Lakeland sale at the end of the season.

The garden centre we were at has a lovely animal bit for the kids to look round, and ds had a lovely time looking at them all. And they got a ride on the miniature railway, and I got a nice slice of carrot cake and a coffee, so a good time was had by all despite the lack of purchasing success.

Oh no! Did you spill your coffee??!
Hmebase have some quite cheap yet sturdy stuff, we got a little bench for the DCs for £25 the other week. They all fit on it and look quite cute!

x-posts with CSWS!
Very re everyone having cake.

As CSWS says, that won't help unfortunately Star. DH is a prize idiot.... but..... he has apparently had an epiphany. Hmmmmm we'll see. Not long to the looooooooong summer break now.

Aubergenie - That happened to me when I was pregnant with DS. I sat on a directors chair and the thing broke. In my case though it was because I was rather round, that is clearly not the case for you!

CSWS - I love it when garden centres have mini zoos! DS's loves going to our local one as it has a huge aquarium area. They have teeny tiny rays (poor things) and Nemo often makes an appearance.

Pepper - No cake here either.....

thanks for all your congratulations. being preggo has just filled me with doubt about my parenting ability all over again. I must try harder to relax!

we haad a lovely weekend, including a bike ride with emma yesterday. my bum aches like a b*stard today though

sorry to hear about the car 50ft, any chance the friend hadn't got round to canceling their insurance yet? i thought my car had been nicked once... turns out i had parked it in the worng place without realising and it had been towed (same diff... i had to pay 160 quid to get it back... robbers!)

I hope you get new seating soon, aubergenie I second pepper's suggestion of homebase. We have some uncomfortable but nice looking and cheap wooden outdoor folding chairs on dh's handmade "patio/deck" in the corner of our garden, but we mostly just sit on the ground/grass... when we can sit.. usually chasing Q lol.

All the cake sounds really delicious.

Ksal - you're a fab mummy to Emma so you will be a fab mummy to 2 children Will you go back to work after number 2?
I had a dream last night that I was 38 weeks pg and just found out and I had a total panic about needing to work but not being able to afford cm fees for 2 dc and yelling at dh for not at least waiting until Q was in full time school.

snack time here, back at work... 5 out of 16 kids missing.

Star, you're very kind to say i am a fab mummy... not so sure myself!

I will have to go back to work unfortunately. Unless DH gets a better paid job.

the only option for non-working would be him... and he seems to like his work whereas i would happily never go back. Also I think he finds it hard enough as it is with me bringing in more money. As it stands his pay on its own wouldn't cover the mortgage and expenses, but mine would.

its going to be very tight though as i am going to have to cover another lot of childcare. But i guess its only until they go to school, then costs will reduce somewhat.

And they should reduce when emma turns 3, right? What happened with that other thing where the gov't was going to give the funding for nursery for 2 yo's as well? How much more than nursery or a cm does private education cost? I can't use my school as a basis to judge because their prices are extraordinarily high. I'm quite sure Q will go here on a bursary, just curious.

Our siutation is similar. I'm the higher earner. However, my salary alone would not cover everything, or, it might but just barely and that would lead to loads of stress and resentment. Also, DH is still in his NQT year so he needs to get a good few years experience under his belt if he wants any sort of a future in teaching... with this career change he made just as Q was conceived!
But... we both love our jobs... well, I love my actual job. DH loves teaching - jsut needs to find the right school for him.
What does your dh do?

they should reduce yes, but i am burying my head in the sand about the logistics of getting two children to childcare in two different places... and can see myself opting for the private nursery school that is on the same site as the day nursery emma currently goes to.

DH works in IT, smart card systems, which i'm sure is fairly transferrable... just depends if he wants to!

Yeah that would be a nightmare going to 2 different places every morning and afternoon.

Since the vast majority of the population at my school is not from the UK and are expats... many are stranded. I was impressed that I had 11 out of 16 today. Lots of teachers stuck. Hopefully this cloud moves soon!

did Q stop coughing star?
Ksal, you'll probably find that your childcare seems daunting to start with and then everyone gets into a routine and as long as you're organised it works ok.
I really really didn't think I'd ever go back with 3, but once I had a plan it's worked out ok. It's not hugely remunerative at the moment though...
But, as evryone tells you constantly once you have a baby (or even a positive test!) Life does get easier...

Hi all, I've been so busy, hope all OK, I've not read above. Got all the camping stuff out of the garage on Sat so am hoping to have an overnight trial this Sat/ Sun.

HMM, you'll have to let me know how you get on... very tempted to get out there, expecially now the weather is picking up

Great news pistachio!! So, does that mean you don't have to travel to London... other than in September? That's great, if so!!

Pepper - No, Q has not stopped coughing. He doesn't do it all the time, just when he's been running around outside for a bit and at night before bedtime and through the night he'll wake a few times and have a coughing fit. He's so used to it now that he doesn't even wake, just falls right back into deep sleep! This has been going on since the first chest infection and throughout bouts of tonsillitis... now he's well in himself, but the cough has never fully recovered. I'm so for him whenit happens because it's very, very chesty/mucousy and the final coughs in the fit are more barking-like Last night he coughed up some of his dinner
Well, that's a long winded answer that you probably really didn't want to know . I'm just really frustrated! I am calling today to get him another appointment with the dr. They couldn't give me one yesterday. I have to call at 8.30am today

I hope the camping goes well, HMM
Ksal, I forgot to ask before - what is your job? You said you'd happily leave it, so curious now!

It's a gorgeous day here but I was cold this morning so I'm wearing boots. and tights with my dress.
I'm so tired!!! I love my job but I want to be back at home with my baby, doing as we please (after housework). I didn't get to finish my morning hoover today! 9 more weeks

Very nice with only 11 kids, though. We're getting a lot done... just will have to catch 5 kids up next week (I hope, if they make it back!).

It seems really cold here too! Still not tempted by camping though.
Went to Praise & Play this morning and there have been a spate of babies over the last few months - 4 since Christmas and one still a bump, and one lady due over Easter had a little girl but hasn't been for a few weeks. It turns out her baby girl was born with a hole in her heart and Downs. They had no idea at all, such a terrible shock, they have an 18 month old same as J already. So sad for them . Looks like a long road ahead.

I just like the floors to be absolutely clean. We have wood/laminate everywhere, no carpets except for under our bed and I don't like bits of dirt, dust, food...etc left on the floors. I like to be able to walk around without getting any dirt on our feet. I try to do just once now per day - morning or evening. I like doing morning so that when we come home after work it's all spotless and tidy and I can relax.
Yeah, I'm a freak.

ooh pistachio - I'm a once a week hooverer too - with occasional dustbustering of really scuzzy bits!! Star won't come to our houses!

Where is Jenwa?