Dec 08 ladies getting re-clackered, with tantrums from toddlers we're sure to be knackered

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Loved your title rubs
Never started a thread before so hope this works...can anybody find it?
hello....

Spot, you have to buy the duvet seperately. You can put any single duvet in it though (which I was going to do, but then I just decided to buy their's, as it comes with 2 x 4 tog duvets that clip together for Winter and then you take one out in Summer. He is pretty happy in his bed - we have been lucky I know, as my friend did the transition at the same age and spent a week listening to screaming and banging on the door and then putting him back in bed when he'd fallen asleep behind the door, but ds on the other hand seems to know it's his bed and goes to sleep on it even if he gets down to play for a bit (but he has only done that one night out of 4 that he's been in it, so fingers crossed it continues!
You might be surprised if you feel like giving it a go - you just have to be strong thats all. The first night was awful but only lasted 40 mins then he was asleep and that's the only crying he's done over it. If mil had been here she would have gone to him after about 2 mins!
Invis - not sure around here as when I was preg with ds we lived somewhere else so that is when I looked into it. I would only want it for the social aspect but I might just join some things for when dd is born. the swimming has been really good and is a great group of local people so I'm sure we'll have a few get togethers over the Summer

Blackout Blind

That's the one Rubes!

SL - have posted on your other thread. We have exactly the same age gap. You'll be fine!

Beans That video is SOOO cute. Oh if only BabyPanda would get a wiggle on and walk!! For a start the endless walking around holding one hand is killing me back...!

Quick question: did we have a vague meet-up plan yet on Monday? If the weather is still this nice (and BBC Weather forecast says it will be) it should be glorious at the Wetlands Centre.

Oh I MUST get a little paddling pool for the garden, that's such a good idea. Where can I get a cheap and cheerful and above all SMALL one?

Re NCT I have a lovely group but I know others who didn't bond so much. We've been on holiday with one couple and are really close to another. But it's pot luck isn't it? A work friend who is due any day now couldn't do the "evening" course ones so just did a one (maybe two?) day thing, and they didn't seem to gel at all as a group, one day just not enough I guess. My lot are incredibly international, we've got one (alas) now in Hong Kong, one who spent 8 months travelling the world with babe in tow ...

Oh, so this chat earlier re Gap. Any Londoners who want to save money, feel free to come Gap shopping with me. I have a 30% discount card which is valid any time ...

Hello ladies. Sorry I went AWOL took the boys to the beach. Was lovely and warm until a freak fog thing rolled in!

I had a really cool NCT group. We did the 2 day thing but the first day was the day of the London bombings so the instructor was late. I don't really remember much from the class and it wasn't very helpful for the birth. Our instructor did a big role play thing on a CS but none of us ended up having one. However we were also very international and very similar to each other so have pretty much all stayed in touch. We are trying to organise a 5th birthday thing in London in July. We also picked up some extras along the way as we went together to baby yoga etc so just pulled in some extras from those groups. We've also been on hols with couple and are going to that couple wedding in June along with others. However, on the 2nd day some of the ladies from the previous group came in with their babies and we still all joke that we are glad we weren't in that group. They were all very yummy mummies and I don't think we would have jelled.

We also loved the mini micro scooter. DS1 has been using it since he was 18 months (ds2 is using it now) and the great thing is if anything breaks on it, like the spring between the front wheels the company replaces it free if you pay the postage. DS1 had always worn a helmet with it though. At times we have considered body armour too as likes going down hills on it (has also attempted stairs!)

avo sorry about the MAP your DH is very naughty. How are you feeling at the mo? I took the 4 pills thing once I didn't get ill but I also didn't get preggers.

Gotta go.....

Hello girls

Sorry for the me me me post, but I've had an awful week. I got tripped up by a 3 y old whilst carrying my own 3 y old on Tuesday and had no way of breaking my fal as I didn't have a free hand. I therefore twisted myself to avoid landing on her and smashed her head on some rails. I smashed my own head too, so we have matching shiners, and have purple bruises all down my arm, hip and leg. I scraped my leg so badly I wrote off a pair of jeans and am generally a bruised and bloody mess. Later th same day M bit through hid tongue -more blood. As a family we are shocking. I've been a tearful heap all week and am working tomorrow. I see now why old dears who have a fall lose confidence and don't leave the house. IT's awful and I'm not even that old.

Normal service will be resumed shortly. Hope you are all well. Lots of love. XXX

Oh sybs that sounds really really awful!! At least nothing is broken. You will be back to normal soon though, promise! Oh but her poor head on those rails, sounds so scary and worrying. Did you have to go to hospital?

Oh Sybil that's awful, you poor thing. Hey one thing I learned from my recent accident was that knocks to the head can cause you to feel really crap and blue after the actual bruises start to go down - so don't worry if you do feel a bit like hiding from the world, it's totally normal, apparently! I didn't know this until doctor friend told me and it sort of made me feel better for feeling crap IYSWIM. Hope you are both healing fast though x

Oh Sybs, my lovely friend that is just horrible!!! Poor you, I was thinking of you just this afternoon. How horribly scary that must have been for you. Who was the other three year old, I bet he/she got a shock too! Has everyone been checked over. I'm so sorry about the jeans too, did they rip? I want to pour you some vino love.

SYBS poor you sounds horrible. Feel better soon. x

Kiwi now I might just have to have a days shopping if you tell me you have discount for Marc Jacobs.

Cute videos everyone.

I have got some awful lumpy rash everywhere. I got scratched by an olive tree and then a hawthorne bush and weirdly when the sun hits my skin I have a horrible itchy lumpy rash everywhere. Veggie do you have any miracle cures??

Thanks for the advice re Gtgrandfatherinlaw. I was upset last night but am somewhat more level headed today.

Hi Sybs, sorry you had such a crap week. Wine and takeaway ? I'm having wine and rice krispie cakes.

Veg was briefly confused by your name change

WG if you are lurking hope the insomnia has improved...

Well I had a lovely week, we went to Clacton too last weekend, Effie and we loved it ! People are sniffy about it but I dont know why, it was clean and the chips and donuts were good...

Re: blackout blinds, we have a Baa Baa blind which sticks on with suckers which is OK and good for travelling but what works best at home is tin foil, it also keeps it cooler as DSs room gets really hot (is 26 degrees right now). Some of my friends got raided by the police, even though they had 2 small kids cos of foil on the window - it was a rented house with a history, apparently !

Rubes I cant believe your DS is in a big boy bed and is doing it so well. We should probably do this, then they could entertain themselves for a while in the morning as well (there are plenty of toys upstairs).

Paddling pools - we have this sand/water pit In my experience, I blow inflatables up, cant be arsed to deflate it, it hangs on the washing line till winter goes manky and gets holes in so one that I can just throw on the floor works better. It doesnt keep the rainwater out though, so you do need to buy new sand every season for the sandpit.

We dont have a scooter, we have a balance bike. DS1 started on it when he was 2 and a bit and I'm so glad he did. He is absoultely brilliant on it and we've gone for bike rides on our own together and it is so small and light I've carried it on the bag of a buggy, into starbucks etc. He has got really good with it and can do some proper off roading and some stunts, and in terms of speed can keep up ! It is definitely going to DS2 next spring and DS1 is upgrading. He takes it to nursery every day at the moment so rides almost every day. SL please look, I know you are a keen biker.

Got to go and mow the lawn, it is so hot here

Oh and Hi Dora, hope your DH is OK...

NjAN ds1 had the wooden version (not as heavy duty). Your DS will convert to a pedal bike easily as it really helped with DS1's balance (that and his mental scooter antics). Your one looks awesome. I know if I showed DH that he would want one for DS2. That price is really good compared to the other ones I've seen.

I second the advice on hard paddling pools. I meant to add earlier the less elaborate the better. When DS1 was small I got sucked in by all the ELC ones and don't get me wrong they were great but they took forever to blow up (we had a pirate ship one that had 7 different sections to blow up), & most years we only used the things twice. Last year we had a simple round three ring one but that was still a faff. We ended up using an ikea plastic underbed storage box because it was big enough for them both to fit but small enough to fill up easily. You can't just stick a hose in and fill because that is flipping cold you have to pop some warm water in too. However, either way hard or blow up they are definitely a must in summer the boys loved them and the larger blow up one we had last year I even got into with them. Will def be putting it out for them this year. I wish I'd kept our birthpool as it is a bit deeper and would have been lovely for a little dip.

That's funny about the people with the foil on the windows getting raided, obv not for them though.

Jam as a rule I don't put anything on skin things that is not prescribed. You sound like you need an antihistamine. Best thing is to pop to the pharmacy tomorrow and get them to have a look at it. They can recommend something to help settle it either to take orally or topically and if it doesn't settle go to your GP.

Oh and jam if you go outside cover up sounds like it might be photosensitive.

Oh speaking of photo sensitive. When we were on the beach there was a guy taking photos of the boys and I kept glaring at him and generally looking a little miffed. So he came over to us and asked if I was unhappy about him taking photos of us, I said definitely yes as they are my children, he apologised and deleted the photos apparently.

Veg, sorry I sound evangelical about that bike but it has a back brake as well which has helped him to learn how to brake (and have the confidence to go fast), as well as do some good skids....I was so chuffed I found it as I love biking myself. Apparently they will buy it back from you when you have finished as well (or trade against the next one).

That bloke sounds very odd, I actively try not to have peope I dont know in my photos...

njan I have had my beady eye on those Islabikes for a while now!! I may have to see if any of my biking friends have one going 2nd hand.

Like the tin foil idea too, the blind we have has suckers, it's really good but his room is really hot. i haven't opened the windows but not sure it would help anyway with the blind up.

That's cool they have the buy back. SL contact the company if they have buy back they must sell them 2nd hand.

sybs Your poor thing. Your accident sounds awful, I do hope that you and your DD are okay - is DH on hand to give you some well deserved TLC?

veggie what an odd man on the beach. I think you were incredibly polite I think I'd have been tempted to shove his camera up his ass!

DS was a little horror in the night just screaming. Maybe teeth but I wonder if he was too hot. He didn't each much yesterday which I put down to the heat, really no nappies or anything . Looks like another beautiful sunny day...think a picnic and a bbq later! Have a lovely day lovely ladies x

Oh Sybs - you poor poor thing. How awful for you. Are you ok? Misery. I really feel for you. And so scary trying to protect your child.

My computer broke yesterday afternoon - was gutted! But is now back up and running - thanks DH! Off to try and buy a rack of ribs for a BBQ tomorrow. Bet everyone else has beat me to it!

Hurry up with breakfast, Whizz!

Off on holiday wahooo!!!
Probably won't post for a week or so. But will see the northern contingent for a meet-up hopefully!

Is the balance bike like the wooden ones you see a lot in Germany, does anyone know? When we had our month in Berlin we saw them everywhere adn are planning to get one for DD for her 2nd birthday. They are lovely!

Jam If I had a discount for Marc Jacobs I would be bankrupt, I suspect

Kiwipanda we have a wooden one andvtheyvare great but the one NJAN has linked to has breaks and is actually cheaper than the good wooden bikes. Our wooden bike was £30 on eBay but it was a little higher than the good ones so he could use it until he was 3.

it is lovely outside but we are having a lazy morning in. It's DS1's first proper formal swimming lesson today at 2 so we are chilling out until then, and then will go to the beach later, hopefully no rolling fogs or paparazzi this time.

Oh summer, have a lovely time!

I've spent a fair bit of the morning in Asda, which was really grim - so busy! Now about to do DD lunch, then bed for her, while I have my lunch and a kip. DH gone for a long bike ride, so won't be back til about 2ish. He left at 7 this morning. I managed to ignore Whizz from 6.45 til 7.30 - I think she went back to sleep while I showered and things - was lovely!!!

Hello ladies. Beach got cancelled because it got a little cloudy, though it's brightened up now. We went to the pool for DS1's lesson and I was going to take DS2 for a dip but all the pools were closed for the lessons. So DS2 & I went shopping instead. I didn't have a pushchair because we rode there but he was so good he walked around holding my hand the whole time. I made such a big fuss of how good he was, which he seemed quite pleased about. Also he walked down 6 steps by himself without holding my hand. I was obviously walking in front of him, I didn't just let him go flying down a set of stairs. Most exciting of all is he now says his brothers nickname, in his own special way of course, but he has a way of referring to AK & it's so cute. He calls him Diy-day, I know not even close but still cute. DS1 loved his lesson and the teacher was quite impressed with him. It's a great class only 5 kids to 2 instructors, no wonder there is such a long waiting list.

I'm soaking in the bath with one of the Lush bath bombs I got for mothers day. DS1 made his signature lasagne (love I can cook) for the boys tea and DH & I are getting Thai takeaway for dinner. Sadly, I'm thinking that this is the life....

Tomorrow we are going to a little amusement park thing that we went to when we came here on holidays. DS1 loves it and wanted to come as soon as we arrived. In fact he thought that's where we were going to be living.

Right time to read a magazine I've had for 2 months.

Enjoy the sun!