ktpie, your DH doesn't do father's day? How do you mean?
Spider, no it's £20-30 for our nieces and nephews! £5-10 for other kids. I don't expect other relatives to spend that much though, but they should spend double on the DTs as they would on just one child (but even then I am not really bothered)
We had quite a big party for the DTs' birthday cos we seem to know loads of people now with 2yos (through antenatal classes, church and playgroups) but on Saturday we went to SIL's DS's birthday party and it was just close family and it was lovely cos you could actually sit and have a conversation! The DTs did not appreciate all the other kids who came to their party - they are too young, they just play alongside. But I enjoyed seeing all the parents and I think they enjoyed having their kids entertained for the afternoon. I definitely think a nice quiet day is good - that's what we did when they were 1 and it was great.
ktpie, it took me quite a while to make good friends at playgroup and I think having the DTs helped because it gave me something in common with other DT mums so they have mostly been the ones I got close with. I think you do have to put yourself 'out there' a bit - if you get chatting to someone make sure you chat to them again the week after and then maybe suggest another playgroup you could go to together, or say you are at a loose end Tues/Wed/Thurs etc morn and would they like to come to yours for a brew. It is hard, it's like dating! But there is no rush for J to have friends, they don't really play with other kids at this age anyway - when he goes to nursery next year he'll acquire loads of friends very naturally so don't think you have failed .
E and T have become a little clingly lately too. E saw the CM at playgroup this morn and immediately wanted picking up - I think she thought she was going to the CM's. The CM had 2wks off recently and was back last week, and E seemed a bit timid being dropped off there after the break. No crying really, just a bit clingly before I handed her over. I sat her down with the train set at playgroup and she played with that for ages so that's a definite present for the future (altho I knew that already from all the successes on here!)
Poppy that's hilarious about the star sign thing with France! Is that true? Their implosion has been good value - who'd have thought Nicolas Anelka would have a blow-up and get sent home. He's usually so even-tempered
Thomas train would definitely go down well here - will keep an eye out for that. We have a steam train track nearby and I am sure I have seen ads for Thomas before (before it meant anything to me so I took no notice!).
Deb, it will be interesting to see if DS rings! You assume with boys they will just happily go off on their own, but you never know. You don't want him to miss you too much do you, but a little bit would be nice! Poor DS2, hope he is ok.
Amber, great to hear that bleeding has stopped and you feel sick . That is a very good sign. I had a scan at 10wks and it was an external one - I bet you could get one on the NHS if you asked. How long till then?
T and E have become extremely sweet and extremely hard work in equal measure recently! Sometimes they fight so much - whatever toy E has, T wants, and whatever T wants, E tried to keep hold of as long as possible. When T stops chasing her for a toy she loses interest, and whenever she drops a toy he has been been chasing her for, he loses interest! Today E was sat on a chair at the kitchen table and T tried to push her off - E hung on to the chair so hard that T would have pushed the whole chair over with E on it if I'd not been there to stop him. He sometimes pushes her on the stairs too . But then this morning they were kissing and cuddling each other - saying 'kiss!' and then giving each other a hig and kiss and laughing so hard - until T fell over during a hug and banged his head on the sofa. He wasn't so keen to play kiss then . After their sleep T brought E's helicopter downstairs and gave it to her saying 'Esther, helicopter' cos he knows she loves that helicopter [sweet]. They are also doing that thing where they are beautifully behaved for GPs but then start playing up as soon as I get there. Two-year-olds - who'd have em
Just been watching the Federer game - shame he wasn't knocked out!