Dec 08 Mums - Terrible twos already? Tears, tantrums, tiaras and tractors - and the rest!

[Beans33]

Hope this is better - sorry all!

Jj: what about coram's fields? And there's a nice veggie cafe place (health food shop, takeaway and a few table in the street) not far off. For the cafe, from Russell Sq tube out of the station, right, cross the road and up the road with a godawful concrete shopping centre on the right (it also has a giraffe and a waitrose). Keep going and the veggie shop place is on the right. I used to go all the time with ds1 as he loved the mild veggie curries.

Road itself is on the left. Can't remember road name bur shop is Alara? Not far from Coram's fields at all.

JJ - you can walk to coram fields from kings cross, no probs. effie- i really like that centre! especially after it has been renovated. it also has a carluccios. yum!

The Brunswick center is great I met friends for lunch did some shopping then met other friends for coffee, didn't have to leave our little area, then went to Coram fields.

If it's wet the british museum is great lots of room for DD to run around while you look at the exhibits. DS2 loved it kept running to one glass cabinet pointing wildly then something else would catch his eye and off he would go to that. There is always the British library...

Hot toddys with scotch and a quick dunk of a tea bag taken twice a day is all I ever have for a cold.

hi guys.
Have come on to actually do a little work as it's back to work for me tomorrow so need to prepare some stuff, but thought I'd nip on and say 'hi'
I was lying awake last night thinking about daisy! Did she say she was going away? Not seen her for ages on here but I have a shocking memory for keeping track of what everyone is up to. And have we lost lal and kayz? And dora are you around? Hope your family are managing ok.
right must press on. Back later xxx

Oooh yes we went to Corams fields once before with dd's godmother and her little girl, bizarrely it was the day of a big primary school country dancing fest?! It would be great now that she's on her feet, definitely give that a look if the weather's right. And have been to the shopping place too, in fact I bought a frying pan splatter screen from there [random factoid] As I recall there's a fab chocolate shop [drool]

Hope everyone's enjoying the sunshine today this morning we went to a lady's house who organises a local babysitting circle (hurrah!) and dd loved running around a new garden, plus as there was food she had a cupcake in one hand a flapjack in the other the whole time, child heaven

JJ second what Veggie said, DD loves the British Museum and we usually lunch at Hummus Bros after! There's the park/square bit of Russell Square nearby too if you want some outdoor play space. Should know more as I work in kings cross but my mind is currently blank!

DH on the mend I think and DD much less grumpy today too. Hope that continues tomorrow!

Hello again

Sorry for silence - we are a bit scrambled as DH is Irish so we keep booking flights home for him and then having them cancelled. We have now given up on flying (although we do have more flights from Liverpool booked for next w/e [hmmm]where my family are. All very stressful.

This w/e was my best friend's wdding down in Devon so we have driven for a total of 8 hours in the last 2 days with our 2 little friends in the car, been woken at 5 45 am both mornings by dd2 (who tends to pick her moments well!) and ended up taking the girls to 6pm Mass today in their wedding outfits (which they insisted on wearing, well, DD1 insisted on them wearing) clutching their dollies (also in wedding outfits......) where they both proceeded to behave the worst we have ever seen in Mass. Brilliant!

Anyway - you have all been very busy! No input on the waxing, although glad to see I am not the only person who has never had it done!

Sybil - i think you are doing very well on the thumb sucking. I sucked mine for ages and eventually was ordered to stop at 13 by the dentist which was pretty brutal so I think getting it out of the way at 3 is definitely the way forward.

Sorry Dora do you mean your DH is in Ireland or he is Irish and needs to go home? It's all a bit of a nightmare this volcano business. Apparently some of the airlines are testing out flying low, all sounds a bit dodge to me, i've told DH to stick with his bus and train thing. Dora can you catch a ferry? I have stopped trying to ring my airline for now I think their phone system in dying and their website is still dead. I've decided not to bother with rebooking to go to Budapest when DH goes for his reschedualled course at the end of April. I've decided to save the money and buy a new coffee machine instead as our seems to be dying.

DS2 is really driving me crazy he is better today and slept much better today but he keeps getting really screamy and whiney. I think he is getting more aware and wanting to ask for stuff or tell me he wants something but obviously can't because he hasn't got the words yet. He points wildly and screams and carrys on until I manage to work out what he wants. DS1 was never like this, I don't know if I just read him better or if he just didn't get so angry if I couldn't work him out.

I wander how Lady is going with her MIL. Was she texting Urbane? I think Daisy was going away, but I might be wrong.

Sorry Veggie - he is here at the moment and trying to get back to Ireland!

We are trying to book ferries for next w/e from Liverpool again but we can't book Sat or Sun from the ferry company (Fri and Tue are OK for some reason) so a bit worried they have all gone. I am hoping the ash blows away by then, but the timing just couldn't be worse for us .

Hello,
Veggie thanks so much for the cup suggestion. He hurled it across the room 1st attempt then 2nd attempt he screamed when he saw me coming with it then would only have a couple of sips without the lid then 3rd attempt was fine when he realised the soft Nuby was not coming back! Now he loves the cup and so do I

Swimming lesson #1 was great - he loved it and giggled the whole time. I had the day off (obviously) so we then took the Mt bikes along the towpath to the pub (only about 3 miles each way) but he loves the bike however not so much being strapped in a high chair at the pub so we didn't stop long!

Had a lovely afternoon with Lady, Mr and Babylady today! DS had a major meltdown as he was tired, would not nap out and about of course and would not be confined to well, anywhere really, whilst the impeccabely well behaved babyLady looked on in horror, but once he was allowed to roam the beer garden he was happy again Had a peek at their lovely house and we are very

Dora hope he can gets back there soon - I've heard mixed things about what the weather and airports are going to do but it's going to be chaos when it all opens up again.

I hope Urbane is ok too

Hope you get something sorted Dora.

Rubes: great news on the cup.

Trace: lovely to hear from you. How are things going?

Veggie: ds2 gets frustrated with communication, but then ds1 was the same and worse. I think the beginnings of independence at this age are liberated and intensely annoying for our babes - they can only go so far and us silly adults STILL can't understand simple directions!

Well, I'm in a Bournemouth hotel having consumed mountains of Chinese food and very nice too. Better get some sleep - an early start tomorrow.

This is just a quick sneaky catch up at the mo and not comprehensive! DP has gone to work and I am loitering in bed with DD as I know MIL is awake.

Thanks so much for all the lovely birthday wishes. I caught up with some good friends whilst in town and then came back Friday night for a lovely supper with DP. Felt very tired though and was asleep by 10 on my birthday night - unheard of for me! Maybe I've been overdoing it (not unheard of for me, obviously)

Sorry about your DH's difficulties in getting home, Veg. And you, Dora.

Hope the conference in sunny Bournemouth goes well, Effie. Never been though I have been to Weymouth, which I find very jolly.

Great to see you all for our last minute lunch yesterday, Rubes! (Her DS wasn't half as bad as she is making out - he is a lovely little chap who is understandably puzzled when he can't roam far and wide. I'm so glad you liked the house as well - MIL is a bit down on it and it's so demoralising, so it was lovely to have some positivity.

JJ, I have two brill London for Babies books, I will check them out for you and post later.

Kiwi, I don't want to sound like an old codger but I do think this is a hugely tricky age for babies (and parents) as, mainly, they can only communicate annoyance/frustration. Please, please don't be hard on yourself. Oh and DD has only recently taken to soft toys. She prefers small ones which she can actually cuddle.

Many congrats, Modern! Great news! I am amazed you saw me on the October thread as I have only posted on there about twice. I, er, haven't really clicked with anyone on there

Missing girls - Daisy was definitely on hols and I did text Urbane last Weds but no reply as yet...

Aubi - Brazilian - too painful for me but I am a notorious weed. However, a combination of hair removal cream, a mirror and assiduous shaving can achieve almost the same effect...

PD, glad the screening was clear - that must really put your mind at rest.

MIL arrived last night (came over two hours earlier than she'd said she would so we were out with the Rubes family and she was waiting for us on the drive - said she couldn't call as she couldn't work her new mobile phone and managed to bring me down in the first hour by telling me I needed a job and making it perfectly clear she thought I was barking to have written a book without selling it first. She always says this crap when DP is out of the room or earshot. I am no shrinking violet but I find it hard to handle as it is all said with a smile, in a quavery voice. There's more, but I won't bore you. Think it's going to be a long few days to Wednesday

Lady - don't worry mil will be eating her words when she see's it finished! Wed will be here in no time.
DS just slept until 910am!!! that beer garden roaming really wore him out! He's just had breakfast now - full bowl of weetbix and banana!

Off to the park with 3 lil one's and their Mum's today so hopefully a nice lay in for me tomorrow again

By eck ladies I had a hell of a time trying to find you!! Yes I have been away for a few days and have also had no t'internet for over a week, and my phone is rubbish for posting on MN.

I hope you are all well, and so are the little ones. I have missed you all

Things here been a bit dire tbh! DH has been spying on me, caught him checking my phone etc I've lost count of the number of arguments we have had in the past 3 weeks, so much so that I did consider us seperating this weekend. I know that makes me the bitch of bitches considering all he's been through. But some of his behaviour has just been too much(and I could fill a thread on it). And then to top it off DD broke her arm last week. Well, according to the registrar in A & E she had but at fracture clinic on Friday the Dr said it wasn't broke but left the cast on for another week. I am now concerned that if the 2nd Dr has it wrong and the cast comes off and she injures herself again, I am going to have been in A & E twice in 3 weeks with a small child and a recurring injury (over thinking it I know!!). The 2nd Dr was not as qualified as the first, hence my concern.

Right have no hope of catching up but will try and hopefully be back on later.

Oh Daisy - you poor thing - that's no fun at all. I'm so sorry. I hope you're ok. Thinking of you. It's so hard when you can't see a way out of it, but hang on in there - you do seem to be. And you're so strong, you can get through it. Maybe try for a weekend away or something?

Lady - your MIL sounds like a total witch - grrrr. I would struggle to be civil, but you do have to be, don't you? Total nightmare! Poor you.

All well here. Had a lovely weekend in Winchester. Then got back yesterday lunchtime and the 2 of us just played in the garden. It was really nice and relaxed and got on pretty well with DH. More so than usual anyway! Unfortunately he didn't like the house that I did down in Streatham Hill. I suppose in some ways that's not a bad thing as it was v expensive. But I'd sort of started picturing us living there etc! He really liked the house, but not the busy road it was on. Anyway - got loads of estate agents on the case, so am keeping fingers crossed!

Right, must get DD up after her 20 mins kip. Got swimming this pm, so she just has a quick refresher sleep in the morning and a longer one at 2.30!

xx

Weetbix rubs? Where did you get that?

Lady I can't help thinking that while I would love to hear you have headbutted this women, I think gritting your teeth and smiling sweetly might be the way forward. She is clearly trying desperately for a rise out of you & i think your method of not giving her that is def the best revenge. Oh & don't they have a book club on here can't we suggest your book on it when it comes out to boost sales, not that will need boosting. Also I'm not putting down your book and you pitching abilities but isn't it a bit harder to sell a book before it's written if you don't have a name as a novel writer. Does she know your in publishing? It's bit like when my mum gives me information on looking after sick children and child development. I have had to remind on several occasions that I'm a paediatric nurse!

Poor DH is really missing us he has rung 6 times already 'just to say hello'

DS2 stayed asleep until 11pm then woke and screamed on & off & carried on until 1am. His main annoyance seemed to be going to bed. He seemed quite cross that I refused to walk him around the house all night so he could sleep over my shoulder. How very inconsiderate of me. I managed to get him into bed by letting him watch 'up' on my itouch while I dozed next to him. Then when it finshed I said that's it,took it away and ge kicked and screamed for 10 mins before finally falling asleep. The nice thing is he slept through until the alarm at 7am. However I now have him over my shoulder again as he is refusing to go down for his nap on the bed. He is shattered I'm hoping to get him either onto the couch or in the pushchair. I think I need to start dressing him in the bathroom as I think he gets a bit upset before bed & maybe doing that negative association thing, so maybe just bed for storytime and milk.

I've just bought a new coffee maker I'm getting jack of our old one so I got a new Delonghi one off amazon it looks a bit bigger and hopefully the steam heater thing will last a bit longer. Currently it takes forever to get a coffee because it heats up let's about 10 mls of water through or 10secs of frother time then loses heat.

Right I think he's asleep I've managed to sit on the sofa so let's see if I can put him down. It's taken me ages to type this as DH has been calling and this one has been screeching.

Fingers crossed I get him down as I need a wee and another coffee.

Gosh Daisy that's all a bit hard. Glad you found us by the way. In view of the 2 difference opinions I would demand that the consultant in the fracture clinic and a consultant radiologist (if the consultant in the fracture clinic isn't a radiologist isn't one) look at the next xray before they remove the cast. Rubs' DH might have a better idea but Xrays are tricky and not always cut & dried. To be read they depend completely on the experience and eyesite of the interpretor. That's my a radiologist would prob be best or the orthopeadic consultant who is prob the one in the fracture clinic. I think it was a but stupid of this doctor who is either ther registrar or the SHO, to express this to you, without himself getting a second opinion. I think it's around this time of year that the reg's & SHO swap to new specialities. Generally they are good but if this one is newly moved to this area he may not be as experienced at Reading xrays as the person who did it in A&E. Don't worry about the repetitive A&E presentation they look at cases individually for child protection, multiple presentations do get flagged up on the system but if the reasons are credible (small children break themselves on a regular basis) and you came to A&E in a timely manner it's usually dismissed.

Just wanted to dash on and say to Daisy that that all sounds awful - I think your DH is very down on himself and the world at the mo, and feeling insecure and irrational, and you are definitely taking the brunt of it again. I really hope things improve. As to your DD, what a mare. If you do have to go to A&E again you can explain how the doctors didn't agree - surely it's documented.

Wanted to visit my Dad on Saturday but I couldn't - he has a chest infection (the crushed vertebrae is thoracic so prob not surprising) and just felt too rough. I was really sad as I wanted to see him. He STILL hasn't had his bone scan. My sister can only tell me that it's the realities of her NHS Trust (ie she thinks the scan should be urgent they are not treating it as such, for money reasons not clinical ones)

Oh Daisy you poor thing sounds like a really rough couple of weeks. And your poor little DD too. Hope she's not in pain from it? Dr KiwiPanda (University of Sweets, 2008) prescribes her some chocolate buttons

Hope everyone enjoyed the lovely sunshine yesterday. We went to a baptism (what, incidentally, is the difference between abaptism and a christening? I was bought up athetist - though technically I'm Jewish I suppose - and my dad even banned us from attending Harvest Festival at our CoE Primary School so I know NOTHING of these things). DD loved trashing the Church baby area though and was disruptive in Church, which made her Grandad very proud

DD currently sleeping in teh pushchair in the garden. Ahhh the bliss of half an hour on the internet with a cuppa!

Kiwi a baptism is usually done on an older person who is old enough to decide for themselves that they want to repent and be a Christian (there is a little more to it). They proclaim they're intention to be baptised. They do some bible study then they get baptised, fully emersed in water as a public symbol that they are now a believer. Well that's how it's done in my family's religion. We don't have christianing so will have to get someone else to field that one I just know it's done on babies.

Lady I feel a bit bad I knew your dad was bedridden and on painkillers and in pain in that general area but didn't advise on getting him to do some deep breathing & cough exercises. Anyhoo, when he's better get him just a couple of times a day or whenever he thinks to, to stand up straight and take a nice deep breath, or maybe three, not forced just nice and deep. Then also a couple of coughs. This just opens up the alveoli deep in his lungs and flushes out anything that could breed germs, very simple but really effective. In fact I'm surprised they didn't get a physio to go through that with him. Do you know a huge percentage of over 80's die within a year of hip surgery from pneumonia, yet a simple breathing exercise could help prevent it.

Gosh I know some really boring facts.

Do you know, Veggie, they haven't even told my Dad or StepMum which vertebrae it is (there are 12 thoracic as you know), and worse, they gave him no instructions on what to do or what to expect, or even any regime for the medication. So thanks for that, I will tell him, it sounds like a good tip. Although he is supposed to be resting, he can just about make it to the garden and sit out for a little time now and then, but he gets tired very quickly.

Dora hope you get all your transport sorted as well. On the one hand it's lovely to have quiet skies, but on the other so many people are being disrupted, and I'm not sure if the extra car travel is more or less damaging than all the planes (any scientist types hazard a guess?!)

Lady sending you strength vibes. What is it with in-laws and arriving early, last time mine were down they came by train from Stansted about an hour and a half earlier than we were expecting them so dd and I were in town, got a phone call from DH saying they're stood on the doorstep (bearing in mind this was December) and where are we? Suggested they could go to a coffee shop nearby and wait til we got home, when I arrived home half an hour later they were still stood there shivering and looking baleful. Ignore the quavery voice, she's probably doing it for effect

daisy poor you, your dh has had a bad time but there's no excuse for spying on you. Really sorry to hear it's got so bad lately. It's definitely worth getting a consultant to check dd's arm before the plaster comes off.

Lady also sending vibes to your dad, veggie and her brilliant advice to the rescue again. Does her have a health visitor who can pop in and tell him more about the medication?

Well this morning I felt like the least effort-ful mum ever... went to baby signing class (so bound to be full of over-achieving middle class types in the first place ) and one of the babies has her first birthday in a few weeks. The mum has already done several tries of the cake she's making, doing her own fondant icing of course, and is taking several days off work to prepare the house, make bunting etc. I thought that by making dd a chcolate cake and putting a '1' in icing sugar I was doing quite a lot! Also she's potty training the little girl, "Wilhemina* hasn't had a poo in her nappy for quite a few weeks now"?! One of the other mums asked me how it was going with training dd, I just looked flabbergasted and said "Erm, we're not going to start trying til the summer".

I know I shouldn't enter into the whole competitive mum thing but I was thinking to myself "Well I didn't make dd bunting for her birthday but she could walk by now and your little girl can't so ner".

*not her real name

JJ she's clearly just ubercompetitive and showing off to party (adult) guests - no 1 year old is going to care!! Serve her right if her child turns it's nose up and signs "I want Tesco budget cake" right in her snooty middle class face ..

Veggie I thought baptisms were for older peopletoo, that's why I was a bit confused about a baby being baptised - and thought that was just a christening.. Not that it's keeping me up at night or anything...

Off to have DD weighed for the first time in about 4 months this afternoon. I expect I'll regret it wheni get the usual "oo isn't she little" HV talk...

Cripes, JJ - that's hideous. And, I have to say, a total bloody waste of time! Why on earth would you bother with all that faff for a 1st birthday party when the baby's never going to remember? We did have a bday party for Whizz for her 1st, but it was an excuse for us to have our Xmas drinks party - only thing people had to have to come was a small baby, which they did - then we all had a good old natter while the nippers played around by our ankles and stuffed themselves silly on Sainsburys ready-made cakes and we hade mince pies and vino. Lovely! No bunting, no icing, no decorations - except Xmas ones already up! And we forgot to get the cakes out for the candle blowing til nearly everyone had left!!!

Gosh, I haven't had DD weighed since September last year. I'm crap! BUT when she had her rash, she was weighed at the hospital and had gone from 60th centile to 20th. Which scared me. So I'm not going til she's eaten more pies! !

Just got back from swimming, which Whizz loves. At the end when we were getting out of the pool, she gave the teacher a kiss! V sweet and a bit embarrassing - she's a proper little sucker!!