Jan 2009 - these boots are made for walking... lets just hope they stay in sight!

[120]

had to do a new thread as the old one just wasn't pleasing my computer!

Evening all. Moosey, hope you had a fantastic day! Hope Ray had an amazing wedding.

Books those clothes look lovely. I desperately need to buy new clothes, but can't get into buying them online. I'm more of a Kings Road gal, myself. Not quite sure why as I know you can get massive bargains online and buy everything else that way.

Tree, glad H is on the nosh.

Apologies, haven't read far back, the two kiddy parties today have wiped me out and now I have to go and do work on the shop. Gah. need sleeeeeeep.

Evening all

Just flying past to say thanks for all the birthday wishes. I am now officially an old biddy!

Well, I have had a fantastic day today. Croissants for breakfast, then presents and cards with the dc's and our closest friend, who stopped the night last night then out to Dovedale to meet more friends and their dc's for a leisurely picnic avec copious amounts of vin (sparkling red Jacobs Creek and Gallo Rose which was over 9% vol!) followed by a long stroll along the river with dcs and dogs and then back to the camper for birthday cake and tea/coffee while all the children played, tig, cricket, catch and poi before heading home whilst listening to retro music at full volume.

Dh decorated the lounge up with banners and balloons and also decorated the interior of the camper with bunting, which was a lovely touch. He gave me a set of my usual facial stuff, (which I never buy myself as its too expensive) plus an IOU for an awesome present when he gets a new job. Ds1 bought me a lovely silver and rose quartz necklace that he chose himself and matches one of my new tops perfectly. Ds2 gave me some of my favourite chocs and dd gave me a book. I have also netted £215 in spends plus a £65 Bravissimo voucher, the biggest box of Thorntons I have ever seen, plus another more sensible sized box of the same chocs, some Green & Blacks, a box of smellies and a dvd and paperback of 'The Princess Bride'. Am feeling very lucky and loved this evening and we are just about to settle down to a late tea of leftover picnic food and more red wine.

Sorry, haven't read everything. Will try to catch up properly tomorrow. Hope everyone is ok and in particular that Tea is feeling happier today.

Oh and CONGRATULATIONS RAY AND NEW DH!!!!!

Love Princess Bride!
{grin] you had a great day Moose Books Nice dress

120 I hate shopping and shopping online freaks me out. The hassle of it all if the piece is really awful or something. The dress from Monsoon I showed earlier will be my first article clothing bought online.

I think DD has had a growth spurt as she's been bumping her head into lots today. lol. Must be tough having to re-navigate your surroundings so much. lol No wonder she's been a miserable cow unhappy little angel this last week.

Inconceivable!

tumbleweed

Clearly, you all had a fulfilling Sunday. We are having lunch at a friends new house. Our DD's are really starting to play together now so we are able to leave them to it and actually visit.

Ciao for now, Bella's

Just for you Chef

[Buttercup kisses the senile King]

The King: What was that for?
Buttercup: Because you have always been so kind to me, and I won't be seeing you again since I'm killing myself once we reach the honeymoon suite.
The King: Won't that be nice. She kissed me

Ooops, missing a lot

Hello to all, I have read all and sending hugs where needed.

Mega weekend here with a friends all-day 30th party yesterday and then DD's birthday party today (yes, bit of an oversight, myself and DH were considerably worse for wear and thoroughly NOT enjoying the volume of a soft-play centre!). All very good and lovely (except Z falling over at the end on the hard floor and bashing his nose and mouth so they bled!). House is a mess though as I feel I have not been here all weekend!

Anyway, happy birthday for yesterday Moose!!!!! Just checked to see if you had a good day as I couldn't get on yesterday, sounds like you did

Oh, final aside.....think Z has packed in the BFing at last. 17 and a bit months, really never thought it would go on this long so wow, relief and sadness I suppose! But, please advise me what the hell I now do if he wakes at night as I used to just inserting a boob

Does Z have a dummy or is he a thumb sucker?

Pat Yeah for BF no more. DD doesn't have a soother or a thumb sucker; probably why she seems to have no intention of stopping.

Nice lunch at friends... be lazy, lazy now though. Well, I washed the car.

Morning! Phew, that was quite a weekend.

Pat, congratualtions. Last time round the sadness lasted about a week, and then a bit of envy when I saw other still doing it, otherwise the relief is far stronger, and the ability to finally drink Negronis. I have been longing for one of those for four years now (was pregnant when DD gave up BF so couldn't then either).

On sleeping front, I'd do at night whatever you do to get him down, as he'll know that signals sleep. With DD we started by reading her to sleep in her bed (shite as you don't want to read in the middle of the night), then it was songs, and now it is a foot massage. I don't mind doing that at night, if necessary, as it is quiet, dark and I get to lie down! So I'd pick something you can cope with.

Fortunately H is a thumb sucker and will already go down without milk (he is often awake once he has finished drinking these days). Think I deserve one like that as DD was hell for 18mo and has only started sleeping through properly in the last 2 months.

Pat -DS has a cup of warm full fat cows milk at bedtime. I tend to just rub his back until he resettles if he wakes in the night but if things aren't looking good I just get him a cup of milk and he soon droops again. Can also confirm the sadness doesn't last long but I do still get the odd pang for the bf days. More to do with DS growing up (newborn lust I call it) than the bf though, just the two go hand in hand. Congratulations on rejoining the dress wearing, wine drinking world - if you ever left!

Busy weekend of parties here too, I know 3 people with their birthday yesterday and a friend gave birth in the early hours so that makes 4... When is 40 weeks before June 14th?? Something in the air?

Talking of which, Happy Birthday Moose, good to hear it was fab and you are not old!

Best attempt warm tea drinking before I get dragged away by waking babies.

hi dog, it's just a thought, but have you put him on those recommended tradespeople websites? There are about three and I know that some of my friends defo use them when they are looking for local people.

Lenni, maybe the June birth thing goes back to the fact that September is the begininning of term, and thus parents have a bit more energy! Would only work for younger siblings though.

meant to say congrats on getting the deposit back though! Clever to use the gas cert. They sound like absolute loons.

Hi all, thanks for suggestions, will try back rubbing and a milk drink I guess. I don't really have a routine as such to settle him. I just give him a big cuddle and drink of milk from cup and he gives everyone a kiss and says night-night. I suppose I do switch his music on before I say goodnight so I could do that in the night?

Tea- he doesn't have a dummy (weird as DD loved hers!) and never sucked his thumb, I have been his soother at night I guess!

Lenni- Nah, never stopped really!! He has only been night-feeding for months really so daytime attire has made no difference.

120- LOL, I definitely have more energy in september!! No idea how Z was concieved in March, its a really busy time at work

Dog- so pleased you got some deposit back. LOL at nip-pinching, Z does that to me now so I guess thats how I knew it was time to call it!

Off out tonight to see SATC2, now here is where I confess I have not seen the first one and just agreed to go with some friends to get out of the house really!

DOG - his parents have now moved to Scotaland, the house he is in is on the market and when sold he'll have to find somewhere else to live. So he's in this pretty empty house apart from a few things on his own.

Pat - no idea, DD had a dummy, DS had his thumb and takes a cheeky bottle of warm cows milk sometimes to calm him if really cross. But yes other ideas and music sound good.

*Scotland

Pat, if he is falling to sleep to music, it is worth trying it in the night (I used the Dr Ferber book and he says it's a sleep association thing). May be worth a try. Switching on some music and going away might be easier to shushing and patting.

Then you could slowly make the music shorter and shorter until it is just a few notes etc so eventually he is just falling asleep on his own in the dark. That way when he wakes up in the night and it is dark and he is alone, he'll just go back to sleep as that is how it was when he went down.

Ferber says that it's the change that freaks us out eg if we go to sleep at night and we have a pillow, if we wake up and the pillow is there we'll shuffle, then go back to sleep. Should we wake up and the pillow is gone, we'll start to look for it, which will wake us up more etc.

Then we'll need to find it again before we can get back to sleep. (for pillow read nipple/book/music/mummy/soother/toy etc). Hope that makes sense. I found it really useful to understand and control DD).

evening tea. had to put it in a different post from my sleep ramble!

120 - my boy sleeps a millions times better being a thumb sucker than DD did with a dummy. Love thumb suckers now, totally converted. To hell with the teeth worries and trying to stop him when older Sleep is soooo good

couldn't agree more tea! Then again... we may retract this when they are buck-toothed at 14 and wearing shiny train tracks which will look gorgeous with greasy hair and acne!

Am of all you bf-free mummies now... no hope of stopping here I fear - I have been 'not offering, not refusing' for MONTHS. Still have wine and beer most evenings though. If I don't get up the duff this month then I will night-wean I suppose, and see if that makes a difference. I guess I am going to have to face the fact one day that he might cry. I will just have to hold his hand through it.

Happy Birthday moosey, sounds like a fab day after all!

pat at satc2 without 1 - I am sure it will stand alone! Are we still on for Thursday? Can't wait!

Loving the frugi stuff, am very of you dog with that outlet store, it sounds ace.

Waves to everyone. Have run out of steam somewhat and am going to bed to read my book.

120 have you seen hkz recently? Do send love.

Didn't think you had Pat, but didn't want to presume well now you can drink more although I never seem to be able to drink much anymore without getting giddy and giving up.

Tired here too - am eating a totally unhealthy diet of far too much sugar and not enough actual food at the moment. I seem to skip every meal and just snack in between. Need to sort myself out so am giving up sugar tomorrow and cutting out caffeine as I'm certain that is affecting my sleep. I'm on a massive sugar/caffeine crash most of the time lately and just keep on topping up. I am also trying to do some more exercise - going to Zumba on Thursday, anyone done that?

Tea - I hope you get something lovely planned for your birthday, you certainly deserve it.

Maybe all these June births are August Bank Holiday weekend conceptions?

Hi mj, with you on the bf free envy! grass is always greener..

yes, hkz probably lurking, but will send love for you. I'm hiding from her until I finally find the bit of sling I borrowed that didn't make it back with the main body. V embarrassed!

DD went to fracture clinic today and turns out the 'fracture' which was described as a small crack in A&E that would take 3-4 weeks to heal is actually a clean break, i.e. a snapped in two collarbone that will take 12-18 months to recover. I'm so angry as I had stopped giving her any calpol this week on advice of our GP who was also told it was a 'green shoots fracture' or something like that and it turns out she is probably still in a lot of pain.