June09: First birthdays coming up, we're on the move!

[June2009]

Happy Mother's day Juners ;)

evening all

gauchita, what a nightmare journey home, hope you get your flight this evening. Good to hear M is taking it all in her stride

MrsMcJnr, potty training, wow, how's it going? See, there is a huge benefit to having marble floors now! How's A getting on with her sleep, is the ncss having any effect?

tee, lovely to see you Did they find out what caused the lump in the end? Hope you don't have a long wait for a new date. A sounds like he is doing well, I think some of our los are more mobile than others but I think they're all keen to be on their feet. I think the big news recently is that snow is pregnant and has just had her first scan, it's bought a lot of memories back for all of us, along with more than just a little broodiness Skies and skillbo are getting married, skies has just moved as well. There have been a few mil dramas too. I think that's about it, still have a crap memory so have probably forgotten something major

june, C is a real cutie, how gorgeous is that photo I wasn't sure if I was going to watch the junior apprentice but I quite enjoyed it, what did you think? I can't remember the girls name, the one with the vintage clothes market stall, it was hard to think of her as a 16 year old, she came over as so grown up.

E still has glue ear, so his hearing still isn't great but it's not too bad, so we'll be back again in a couple of months for another check up. Dh has fractured his wrist, he thought he was still young enough and fit enough to play football . . . . . . . so ho will be off work for a week until he's been back to the hospital, he's not a happy bunny. He's told anyone who's asked that I hit him with a big stick, well, he'll do what he's told next time won't he

waves to all

june, crossed posts takes me ages to do these posts, have to keep going to grab E in one of his many missions to fling himself off something or eat something horrid or start a punch up with dd3, the list goes on and of course a much better round up than I managed! I was thinking oooh yes, I'd forgotten that

hi girls,
sorry I have been AWOL. Getting started in the new job, proofing importants documents and boy my brain is struggling. Had a big teleconference and I just waffled on and on. Mental note- must be more concise next week! Actually, should use that advice for my verbose MN postings.

Lovely to see tee here again. June and bigcar have done fantastic recaps!

Morning sickness a bit worse this week, more so in the evening, but mainly just so knackered. Injections are to stop clotting, did this through A's pregnancy and we got a good result so hoping the same this time.12 week scan booked.A Saturday appt so DH could come- very progressive of the NHS!

2 nights away next week with work.A off to the GPs and will have a great time playing with the dogs and helping his GPs in the garden.

bigcar A is like E, now cruising everywhere, climbing on things and loves sitting on our printer . It does have lots of lovely drawers to open and shut and buttons to push. Bugger about the glue ear and your DH!Broken wrist, what a pain!

june that photo of C is gorgeous!Did you find somewhere for a haircut? I love the link you sent, we saw them in JL. ATM we use one of those big flexible plastic tubs. So impressed with C's signing. I have signed at A for months with no results except a smile!

gauchita NYC wow!!Is it volcanic ash or strikes that have you stateside? So glad you out of BA and away from MIL. Brilliant that M is being such a star! Have fun and good luck getting home

mrsmc good to see you back. How you doing? Sleep still awful?I feel for you. A has been a shocker again after being unwell and I think of you as I am getting up 4-5 times a night. Maybe A will settle down now so many teeth are through? I have no helpful suggestions, but I have had to start sleep training again with A.

strawberry how you doing?Hoping the sunshine helping.

choccie how are the pesky neighbours

tee Great to hear how well A doing. Hope the surgery re-scheduled very soon.

Hi everyone else. DH has dinner ready- what a good man
Happy weekend

Snow - CONGRATULATIONS!!! That is wonderful re baby 2!! The first trimester is pretty tough, isn't it? Off your food, tired but can't tell anyone. Ah, I remember it well!

We are TTC for baby 2, so hope to have some happy news soon. But don't want to obsess, either.

Gauchita - your MIL sounds horrible, and quite stupid as you are hardly likely to be returning in a hurry, are you?! So sorry that you crossed the world to feel attacked, that is just terrible. No doubt she has the relationships she deserves (ie people try and avoid her). Hope you enjoy your time in NYC!

MrsMcJnr - hope MIL is able to babysit one/both of your DCs every day so you can either get time completely to yourself or just enjoy some one-on-one w whichever DC is lucky enough to have you to themselves. Read your earlier post about your DH hitting you and throwing a strop. What a bloody fool he is, destroying the most wonderful thing in his life (your relationship / family life).

Sam - oh, poor you! Hope the extra time helps you reconcile yourself to going back to work.

BigCar - congrats on the shiny wheels!

Very impressed w all the babies' progress! Delie can't speak, clap, wave or sign - not the best communicator. She does respond to us, but seems to want to point and say "dat", which isn't that helpful. She is cruising and taking little steps every now and then, so think the proper walking isn't far away!

Choccie ? thanks for your support , I too feel that I am worthy of my husband?s respect but I think men sometimes just don?t get how much we actually do. Things have been fine since the episode; he is so weird like that! Sorry to hear that you have been feeling low, any better now? Terribly sad about your friend?s baby too how do you live your life after something like that happens? I just don?t know where people find the strength. Nice to be the one whose house the kids want to come to I am hoping that that will be the way it is for us when they are teens! Hope your DH gets to spend more time at home soon I?m like you, if I don?t have my shower before DH gets up and out in the morning I can forget it until the kids are down in the afternoon or for the night!

June ? hi MIL did her best to help with the kids but she found them exhausting and Aaliyah is SO clingy. Our nights have been worse than ever. She has been up every 30 mins until midnight and then up for hours after. I just don?t get it when is this going to end?? I am reading a good book at the mo, though it is sad ?here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extremely_Loud_and_Incredibly_Close it is? Aaliyah often sleeps with her bottom in the air; DS did/does too ? funny babies! C?s hair is gorgeous, don?t cut it! Fabulous summary by the way

Gauchita ? you poor thing all that travel and upheaval to be treated like that hope you get safely home soon sorry to hear that Mila had a temperature, hope she is doing much better now. Sounds like your MIL was a nightmare, poor you as for the attack on you, how awful [anger]. Glad you have had some fun things to do Xavier?s name is on the provisional list for a nursery place, now have to wait until 24/5 to see if he got one, fingers crossed!!

Snow ? hope A is feeling much better now and that your MS is not too bad. I was particularly bad at night with Aaliyah. Wonder if you are having a girl this time. Will you find out? DH wasn?t able to take any time off work so it was MIL and me most of the time, it was fine and I felt mean for letting the little things get to me but they did still we survived 10 days the kids are going to be a nightmare now though as they have got out of the habit of playing alone MIL has taken the buggy board home, let?s hope she gets it right this time. So glad you heard the heart beat and can start the injections, hope you don?t have too much bruising from them (I have two patches of bruises still, I don?t think they will go away). Congrats on the new job! Busy lady!

Bigcar ? thanks for the offer of help with the buggy board SIL is coming over in July so hopefully she can bring the right one, am still so disappointed like E, Aaliyah has taken a few steps and stands alone for a few moments, don?t think it will be long before she walks! What has happened to my baby!? DS has really been incredible with the potty training. Since last Monday we have only put nappies on him for naps and at night and he has really had very few accidents. He managed soft play and toddler group without any accidents, I am frankly amazed. He is so proud of himself if there is something in the potty! Sometimes I worry he is straining too hard to achieve something. Aaliyah?s sleep has gone down hill again I can?t remember when I last had a night without her in my bed. She has 4 molars coming through at the mo and a horrible cold/hay fever (not really sure which) so poor thing is suffering but so am I!! Now that MIL has gone I am planning to move her to her own room but I think it will be a nightmare and I?ll be in there most of the night Your poor DH, mine can?t play football at the mo as he is waiting for a knee op. Apparently he will need month to recuperate

Strawberry ? sorry to here that you are still affected by the PND, hope something comes up which means you can be a SAHM if that?s what you want. Can you work from home? I am trying to think of something I can do at home online. I looked into selling cards and books but neither would work for me from here

Hey Tee must have been horrible getting yourself all ready and then the surgery not happening, hope you get re-scheduled soon so you can put it all behind you.

Bunny ? lovely to see you

My Dad has gone back to the UK for an op (he has a tumour in his prostate and they are removing it) thank goodness he got back ok. I couldn?t believe it when our airport closed due to the ash. He and my Mum will probably be away for a few weeks. Can?t wait to have him safely home hopefully in time for Aaliyah?s birthday.

Hello again! Two days in a row!!

I forgot to say yesterday, A has 6 teeth!

And I am not going back to my job. Instead I have started my own company and I'm freelancing for my former employer's as a graphic artist and looking for at least one more client. I am trying to find A a part time nursery place but so far, no luck. I only want him to go 2 half days a week and none are being that flexible with time or price. So I'm still looking.

Congrats snow!! I am not joining in in the broody club, though. A will be an only!

mrsmcjnr did you say your husband hit you? Sorry, but I'd be out of there. That one is non-negotiable. You hit me, or my child, I'm out the door.

Tee The nurseries will only do full-time? wow, that is harsh (not to mention expensive!) I've never come across that before. C is going 2 mornings a week (3 this week) and it's keeping me sane with the workload, I found it really really hard to work around naps and come evening I'm too knackered, we do an hour or so around 7 or 8pm with dh when babe's just gone to bed but after that I can't.

Did you see the catch-up posts for you from bigcar and me?

C's been up since 6am and I was really looking forward to hitting the shops EARLY with dh and dd but then fil called to say he was "popping by shortly" half an hour ago. Dh didn't say no cause fil just had an operation and we haven't seen him in a couple of weeks, he did tell him to come soon as we're going away but seeing that fil's gf lives an hour away from here that's my plan out of the window . I told dh I'm not happy again. . ffs. We were going to have lunch somewhere!

It just demoralises me that this keeps happening.

I did see the catch up, thanks june!

The one day care I have spoken to will only take him at a minimum of 2.5 days for £140!! 5 days is only £5 more! I am off to see another one this week which I am hoping will be more flexible.

If it isn't, then he'll stay at home with me and I'll manage, some how, to work around his schedule.

The nurseries around here are roughly £70 a day and you can do half days for around £35-40). I'm in london though, everything seems to be that little bit more expensive than anywhere else here!
I was originally looking to see if someone local had an au-pair who would look after C. for a couple of afternoons or mornings or a few hours in her spare time. (but never actually met anyone who has an au-pair, then realised you'd have to be an employer etc which makes it more complicated).

So this pm when fil finally turned up I had to endure his tirades about mil, while dh went to hide upstairs put the baby to sleep. I told dh he has to check with me before he says it's ok to "pop in" or else I am going to loose it.

Anyway we managed to get away and do a fair bit of shopping this pm and had dinner at wagamama (yummy chilli squid!), I'm happy ;)

sorry to change the subject ladies but any thoughts on what you are going to get your baby for his/her first birthday present? I haven't a clue what to get Aaliyah [smm]

just a quick post but my goodness june and tee at the price of nursery. we pay 40/day. A starts in 2 weeks doing 2 mornings a week. Have just booked a flying visit to oz- 5 days- for a friend's wedding.
mrsmc we are buying A a block trolley. his GP are getting him a swing. I have bought a friend's LO one of those push along wooden ducks with the feet that make a great noise.
bunny and choccie thanks for the congrats!tis v exciting
june glad the shopping worked out ok and you got a yummy dinner.
gauchita are you on your way home?
bigcar Hope that with DH home, you might be getting a chance for a bit of a break? How is E's walking?
have a good sunday everyone!

Hi all!

Snow, glad you found a good price for A's nursery. I'm not 100% sure what prices up here are like but I'd guess they're a bit cheaper than in London? Those are nice pressies! When will you be going to OZ? Glad to hear things are going well on the injection front, hope MS gives you a rest soon.

June, sorry to hear about FIL's out-of-the-blue visit, esp. when you had plans for the 3 of you. I know for some people it may sound bossy or mean when we say we told our DH's how things should be in the future wrt PIL but the thing is it's too hard otherwise, isn't it? I completely understand what you mean/are going through. Oh, that was a great summary IMO

Tee, well done A on the teeth front M has only two at the bottom, not fully out yet I'm at those nurseries not being flexible enough so as to accept A half days or in a part-time basis. Another one here who works from home, it's not easy but you work around it. In any case, you can keep looking for a good nursery in the meantime and then if things get too hectic with work you can re-assess the situation, right? Glad to hear you didn't have to go back to your job and congrats on setting up your own company

Mrsmc, we were thinking of getting M a tricycle, one of those that can be used from 9 months till 3 years as they can be modified to fit the LOs. We're not sure, though, as both that and the pram won't fit in the boot Oh well... She loves banging on things so a tool box might be a good idea as well Fingers crossed for X here!

Bunny, nice to hear from you! Fingers crossed for you here on the TTC front. I guess D is about to start walking then M's also cruising but no steps on her own yet.

Bigcar, when's E's birthday? I'm pretty sure it's near 26th 27th 28th 29th

Hi to all Juners!

Right, finally at home. We got here yesterday morning. Basically the bloody ash cloud had messed up other people's flights so many flights in Atl were overbooked, as people started re-routing.

To make matters worse, it wasn't something I had eaten, it's definitely a stomach bug as yesterday I was still with temperature on and off and toilet trips. Maybe I caught M's bug? Don't know. I'm a bit better this morning, so hopefully it's going away.

So, after 4 days, a re-route to JFK and a 4-hour delay once we boarded the plane to Man (I know, my thoughts exactly) we arrived home.

It was the worst trip ever, I'm so knackered both physically and emotionally I just want to forget it all. DH told his dad we were not going back to visit in the foreseeable future, which of course he didn't like but understood as he saw how bad things were.

Right, DH is at the supermarket getting food and I have to unpack so I'd better go. One of the few positive things of the trip was I got to bring the dish-set we got for our wedding I loved it and had only used it for 6 months so I'm happy

Have a lovely Sunday, ladies!

Waves!!!

Welcome home Gauchita, hope you feel much better soon. Ride on toys are getting A's vote just now too!

Great pressies June. DS got a brick trolley from my parents for his 1st but it topples when the bricks are taken out and A has alreayd had a bumped head with it, bad design!

A has taken a few steps this weekend and can stand alone for a few seconds now - won't be long!

heya, welcome back gauchita! I'm glad you're here, so sorry it was so awful for you. You must be completely drained, take it easy this week if you can.
I hope you managed to unpack everything, it's nice whne the house is tidy and back to normal iyswim. I usually leave all the luggages in the corridor until all the stuff is tidy and the clothes are washed and dried and back in the cupboard. (the washing machine is downstairs in the kitchen, it just makes sense instead of taking everything up, then back down, then up again)

mrsmc we've seen these in a shop and really want to get that for C's bday.
Did you feed all these people you had round for A's christening?
I'm now really confused about what to do for the bday party. Dh wants to cook bbq for 30 ppl which is a lovely idea but I was thinking about doing something much less complicated and i am panicking at the idea of having to organise it all. It woud be all right if we had someone to look after the baby on the day and someone to help with the drinks and clearing up, and someone to help with preparations...
I suggested we get some already-made food (like pretty sandwiches or canapes or sushi or some kind of finger food) or even just leave it as just cake but dh doesn't agree. .

We let C. loose with the push-along walker today and she was trying to run which was funny. She couldn't quite do it on her own but it really feels like it won't be long]
She wants me to "walk" her everywhere, no more sitting which is quite disconcerting!

I hope this party business doesn't keep me awake tonight, I'm knackered.
dh let me have a "lie-in" until... 8am this morning. LOL.
I pointed out that it doesn't qualify as a lie-in especially since I did not actually manage to get any sleep because babe was in our bed for most of that time.
Still, I enjoyed it!

better get to bed now, take care!

morning all

snow, E also lokes sitting on our printer, I've moved it over the weekend, don't think he's too impressed! Have you got far to go for work? Sounds hectic, hope the ms isn't too bad while you're away. Still just a few steps at a time from E, he's getting more and more confident so I think he'll be off soon.

bunny, fingers crossed for you on the ttc front D will be doing all that soon enough, E does the pointing and dat thing, like you say, doesn't always mean a lot, he was pointing at the blank wall yesterday

MrsMcJnr, do you think it's just the teeth coming through stopping A sleeping, have you moved her yet? X is doing great with the potty training, ds1 took aaaaggggeeeessss before he got the hang of it. E has one of these it's a bit more stable. Some of the soft bodied dolls and buggies are from 12 months, as soon as they are walking they're a great pressie.

tee, congrats on the business start up but at the nursery fees and lack of flexibility. Dd1 went to a day nursery for a few years, it cost me £110 per week, ok it was rather a long time ago but still! What about a childminder?

june, what a pain, can fully understand you wanting dh to check first about visitors, especially when they just want to have a moan. Those weeliebugs are great aren't they, it's one of the few things we haven't got amongst all the other junk, I don't think they work too great on carpet.

gauchita, welcome home must be such a relief! Such a shame mil has put you off going back for a while Es birthday is the 28th, but we have ds1s first on the 19th, the big 10 for him this year. I can't believe how fast this past year has gone, E is so grown up now, still pretty attached to his thumb and muslin

waves to all

Good morning mummies!

Welcome home gauchita. Sorry the trip wasn't better.

mrsmcj my mother is getting A a ride thing when she gets here and we aren't really planning on getting him anything, because I know my family and am surprised boxes haven't already been arriving. So my parents will be here for A's first and my inlaws are coming as well.

That was just one nursery, everyone. I still have two more I am going to visit and see how much they are and if they are more flexible about time and cost. If not, I'll figure something out. Like keeping him with me!

oh I love those wheelie bug toys!Bought one for my niece for her 1st birthday. We have carpet so not sure it would go so well?

Packing for work, off to Belgium for three days.Getting v excited and nervous about the return to work. Wish me luck girls! Longest I have left A is 20hrs and now I am going for 3 days. Any tips???
tee good luck with nursery hunting
bigcar that vtech walker is v cute
june we doing a bbq for 20 or so. God help us if it rains (tiny 2 bed flat!)
mrsmc go A with the walking. Maybe she might tire herself out and start sleeping?Can only hope!
strawberry you hanging in there?come let us know how you doing
gauchita how is the unpacking?Off to Oz in June, after A's birthday. Trike sounds like a lovely idea. I also love those wooden balance bikes for when they are a little older. I must learn to do links.
Hi to everyone!
Right, must get on with packing, A currently chatting himself off to sleep in the cot.

Ladies I need you to distract me. I am feeling a bit jittery. My Dad went under the knife this morning to have his prostate removed due to a tumour and my Mum told me that he was expected to come round by 4pm but I haven?t heard a thing yet and am getting upset. I have texted my Mum (op was in London) and have texted both of my sisters (both in the UK) to see if they have heard anything but no one is getting back to me

oh mrsmc , you must be so stressed. Perhaps he is still in recovery and they are waiting for him to get back to the ward?
Why don't you ring the hospital, find out what ward he is on and speak with the ward sister. Put your mind at ease. They might be strict with mobile use?
Thinking of you.

June ? those lady bugs are so cute, have seen them before A would love one of those I am sure. Yes, I did cater for lots at the Christening did chillis and curries I think (can?t even remember now!) I want her birthday to be smaller but it looks like we?ll have 14 kids ? and lots of those are older siblings so they?ll need entertainment plus the parents. In my opinion BBQs are too hard with lots of people, better to have big pots of easy to keep warm/heat up stuff. I bought some balloons, plates, a banner and party bags for A?s birthday today. My sister sells Phoenix cards and I am going to order the gorgeous cupcake paper chains and colour in hats for the older children. I think I might also get a bookmark for the party bags instead of sweets; I shall be v unpopular with the kids. Must admit the first ting I do when DS gets a party bag is remove all the boiled and flump type sweets, and the chewing gum (he is 2 FGS!). I don?t mind him having chocolate in moderation but the rest is pure sugar.

Bigcar ? haven?t moved A yet, have been procrastinating. That baby walker is very similar to the one DD has been given. She adores it. She looks like Maka Paka Baby buggy is a great idea! I am so proud of my DS and his potty training but was furious today as he went to the zoo with friends (with 3 changes of clothes and a potty) and came home in a nappy must have been demoralizing for him. He?d had one small accident and that was it. Still I should be grateful (and am) that they took him to the zoo.

Tee ? sounds like it will be quite a party for Adam?s 1st!

Snow ? enjoy the peace and get some sleep when you are away!

Just heard from my Mum, Dad is fine but there were complications so the op took longer than expected. Am angry with DH, he has been ice cold all night when I have been so worried and then when Mum called on Skype he kept shouting to turn it down. Sometimes I really don?t know who this man is, I don?t recognise him

mrsmc glad your dad is ok.As to your DH, I think I would like to borrow the big stick bigcar has and use it. He has been such an arse for some time and I wish you had better support.

MrsMcJnr, your dh needs a firm kick up the arse, sorry but you deserve better. You need your share of ((((hugs)))) at the moment and more than just a little compassion. I hope your dad is doing ok and the complication was nothing significant in the end, it must be awful being so far away from him. Is he having any other threatment or is it just the op?

and I will happily lend out my big stick

Hi all!

Mrsmc, glad to hear your dad is fine, you must have been so worried (((hug))) it's terrible when you're so far away, isn't it? Your DH's attitude is not on at all, I really don't know what to say... What happened to that assessment you were doing of him a while ago (bipolar disorder)? Your DS is doing a fantastic job, well done him! I guess your friends maybe didn't know how to handle that well and thought a nappy was the safest way to go?

Snow, enjoy the trip. How exciting!! Away and on an assignment! If I remember correctly you said A was staying with GPs? He'll have a great time and will be spoilt rotten

June, it's occasions like these when I crave for a house with a garden I'd LOVE to have a BBQ for M's bday! I know what you mean re. organising something for a lot of people, though. It takes a lot of energy and time and the latter is always scarce Not done unpacking due to this stomach virus, which has knocked me out badly. DH is helping lots, fortunately, but he also has a lot of work so it'll be slowly but surely, I guess

Bigcar, M has that walker and she adores it. I had to take the front off as she couldn't make her mind up as to what she wanted to do: walk or play with it Not long for DS's 10th birthday, then I honestly cannot believe it's been a year!

Tee, good luck with the other two nurseries!

Hi to all Juners!

Right, I had to go to the doctor today as it was my 4th day of constant toilet trips + BFing + period so in my book the numbers didn't look too well. I felt very lethargic this morning and at noon I called DH as I felt too weak. They gave me some medication but basically just told me to wait, drink lots and eat what I fancy. Let's hope it goes away soon, I'm disappearing girls! Between the stress of the trip and this I've lost so much weight I don't look healthy

I started looking at things for M's bday today. As I said before I'm dying for a garden party (well, not an English garden party . You know what I mean) THere's not much time now so I must get organised.

Do you think we could recap all baby Juners' birthdays? I'll start.

M's on 14th June.

Hope you have a restful night, ladies!

Waves!

REALLY quick post from me...

Gauchita - welcome back to Ol Blighty! Don't blame you for not rushing back, your in laws are appalling. Absolutely unbelievable. Delie's birthday is the same as M's!

MrsMcJnr - definitely time to use the big stick on your DH.

Re 1st birthday presents, Delie is getting Lego DUPLO, some Bunnykins crockery, a ride on thingy (haven't chosen yet) and prob some building blocks. Am sure she needs more new toys but haven't seen anything that I thought "yes, that's just right". Will keep looking!

Have to run, but waving madly as I scamper off!