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!

Ah Tree. Its lovely when they do that.

Dd is actually able to say both her brothers' names, but chooses to call everyone Daddeeeee! (including me ) In fact she ran up to her Grandma (my Mum) in a shop today shouting "Daddeee! Daddeee!" delighted at having found her, then gave her legs a huge bear hug, lol. Quite a few people found that one amusing.

Bookmarking Ladies, as I only got so far as 120 mentioning career change to midwifery. Um, here in BC, there is apparently a real call for midwives. In the area I live in right now has no midwives available until the least farthest date possible away sort of thing. Does that make sense? Anyhow, just a thought. lol

There was talk of LO's and words. M, DD's little friend who we saw last Sunday, (we were visiting her parents obviously)lol, is talking so clearly! She even says DD's name. The eldest of the group is not talking as clearly or learns that quickly as she is. Its so amazing. I can't wait to hear DD talking more. She seems to learn things, do them for a day or two religiously, then drops them, words included. Maybe she's just storing it all up.

DD has been stroppy for the last little while and yesterday morning, DH went off on me about not answering his phone. Total ape shit on me. He was on the toilet and I was putting together DD's. It was barely 10am in the morning; if its that important, they'll call back or at least leave a message. FFS! All day he was as stroppy as DD. He's stroppy today too. What a stroppy bunch my family is right now.

Moose DD was doing that too but now finally she says Mama. I love it, even though its all the time right now.

DS says Mumumumumumumaaa for Mummy/Mama. DD still calls me Mama (after a phase of Mummy came and went) so don't think we'll get Mummy out of DS for a while yet. I like DD calling me Mama, they grow up so fast it's nice to have something left of my baby. DS says DD's name, it was his second word after Mama, he's got his priorities right, keep the women happy. His latest favourite word is Tigger (DD's bear is a Tigger) who he spots everywhere when we are out. For once in my life I am grateful for Disney's world domination to keep DS entertained with Tigger spotting.

HKZ - Great news about J, glad the end of the 1st trimester is in sight too. Hope the MS eases soon. Do you have a 12 week scan where you live? Piccies please if so!

Newborn in the village alert - making me broody. Visiting on Saturday for a proper cuddle so am going to have to hope I'm on my period or something.

Thanks for advice about DD folks, nice to have someone to moan to about it, RL people are being very gentle with her at school and things. She is being a little witch at the moment with me, dressing taking an hour in the morning, plenty of moaning at everything. I think she is getting her own back for me not giving her calpol. The dressing thing is getting me down though, how can it be so hard to get a small child dressed? The whole thing is like a carry on film. Eventually I convince her to put something on and before I've talked her into the next item of clothing she has removed the first one in a diva strop. Argh!

I admire anyone who has it in them to be a midwife. I certainly couldn't do it, too much gore and I'd be telling all the women to get over themselves such is my lack of tact.

Moose - your DD sounds so cute at the moment. Can I swap her for a 3.5yo?

120 - Veggie bacon recipe looks yum, going to give that a whirl later.

Morning

Lol about the dressing diva. Ds1 still does that now - and he's 8! I have honestly never known it take anyone as long to get dressed. The only way we have found round it is to 'time' him to see how fast he can do it. He then does it in record speed to try and beat his personal best.

Thanks for the offer of a swap, but I think I'll give it a miss this time. (Remind me I said that at 4am tomorrow morning! )

Talking of diva style stropping. Ds1 had a humdinger this morning because someone moved his toothbrush and timer. Sheesh! Anyone would think someone had deliberately set out the scupper his tooth-brushing plans and maliciously hidden them (on the floor, in plain sight, directly under the washbasin). He just wouldn't have it that they'd been knocked off accidentally and that set the tone for the rest of the morning. I am soooo pleased he's gone to school.

Dd's favourite word at the moment is 'Pippin' (as in Pippin the dog off Cbeebies). She absolutely loves dogs. Which is nice, as ds1 never really noticed they were there (apparently fairly typical for ASD) and ds2 goes through phases of remembering we have them and loving them for a couple of days then losing interest again, so its nice to finally have someone who's as daft about dogs as I am in the family. She can say all three dogs' names and doesn't even call them Daddeeeee. Funniest is when our lurcher barks at the dogs in the park while he's in the garden and she shouts "

Moose you should go. Can you take something to distract you whilst doing the bus journey, like a book to read to DD or something? I know not everyone is helpful but on the whole I usually get helped on and off the bus when I have a pushchair with me. Other option is to fold it while waiting for the bus and then you just have to lift it on and hold DD's hand, if she is any good at hand holding that is. Best go, meant to be working

P.S. You've reminded me DD used to tell our dogs to be quiet when she was little. She still loves the dogs, in fact both of the DCs do but she has them under control! She bosses them around all the time, I think she is practising for when she gets a husband

morning

there is lots of chat not a speck of tumbleweed anywhere

120 - re a cardy have you looked on next website and debenhams

popped to tesco today now chillin gearing up for aerobics tonite havent been in ages

Hi Tink- good luck at aerobics

Dog- our sports day on friday, I hate it as when they are secondary age they are so bloody competitive. I just feel really sorry for the kids that come last Sports day at pre-school and primary though is always fun!

Lenni- lol at DD being bossy. We don't have dogs but it won't surprise you to know that E is very bossy with mum's dog, and in fact any dog or any man she has ever met
Err, and remember the pact on saturday, won't you wouldn't want to be chasing 3 of them around trying to get them dressed would you?!

Moose- hope you got on the bus in the end.DD sounding very chatty. E was very chatty and forward with words when younger, Z is so relaxed about the whole thing, they couldn't be more different!

DD off sick today, she is actually fine now but was a bit ropey first thing and then vomited up what looked like a load of snotty mucus at 8am (IN the toilet though.......hows that for grown up!!!). No sickness since, just a bad cough, but any excuse for a day off for me.

So far I have done all my thursday houswork ( so I can meet MissJ tomorrow without worrying about washing and cleaning, hurrah!) whilst DD is having a firman sam marathon lying on the sofa, pretending she is still ill so she doesn't have to do anything. Also just booked tickets to see 'Fireman Sam Live' in August.........gawd help us!

Nope, chickened out of going on the bus - again!

Morning/afternoon Dog, Pat and Tink.

Pat, Dd is indeed very chatty. There is no longer such a thing as peace and quiet in our house. Should've expected it though really, as both boys were/are exactly the same.

Hope dd's cough gets better soon. Am very impressed that she was sick in the toilet. Mine never manage that, they are all of the 'freeze and projectile' persuasion.

My house is an absolute tip today and I feel like doing anything but housework. Think I'm feeling narked that it seems the more housework I do, the less everyone else seems to bother, so the quicker it gets messy again iyswim. Its the age old viscious circle that's tough to crack really. The boys are doing better with their own room thanks to a new pocket-money related reward system. Unfortunately they now seem to think its ok to leave all sorts of flotsam and jetson elsewhere all over the rest of the house. Dd is also a one girl wrecking machine and can scatter toys the length and breadth of the house in about two seconds flat. I seem to spend an inordinate amount of my time repeatedly tidying her toys, only to turn round and find them spread to the four corners again.

Sorry, I got interrupted last night and never made it back ... N has got a snotty cold, just enough for an irritating cough that keeps waking him up, poor little man, so it's been a long night!

So pat DD and N can compare snotty mucus tomorrow .

Asleep outside now though, in his buggy. Blazing hot sunshine here, gorgeous and I think it's due to get hotter this week.

Am making butternut squash risotto for lunch, sort of inspired by 120's recipe but mashing it all up and using with risotto. They are roasting at the mo and smell lush.

My tidying up rule is not to touch the toys until DS is in bed. There is just no point, as the moment I start putting them away, he gets them out again. So it just gets worse and worse over the day, and then we blast it after bedtime, only takes 10 mins. My brilliant tidying up tip is to have a plastic box and simply run around putting everything that isn't in it's right place into the box. Then you dump the box forever putting away later.

I used to have that rule with the boys MissJ, but dd seems to have perfected the art of making our living room a health and safety nightmare. I think its because we have such a small space to start with, so when you start trying to navigate a floor strewn with various odds and bods whilst surfing past on a slippy board book, you realise you have to at least tidy a pathway through the middle.

I bought her a beautiful padded/quilted toy basket in Laura Ashley fabric to put her toys in the other day. Unfortunately they don't all fit, so she has a collection of 4 baskets and a mini bookcase in the corner, which always look a mess. We have a lovely shabby chic storage bench in the bay, but she is too little and the lid is way too heavy for her to lift. It was lovely to keep the boys trucks and things in when they were a bit younger, so I'm hoping to do the same when she grows into it. Having open topped baskets is just too much of a temptation for her to empty them all out every five minutes.

Having a family of five, we would need an awfully big box if I were to try your method. I usually just get the place looking decent in time for the boys to come home from school and wreck it all again.

Still, I'll have a beautiful, tidy house when my children are grown and have all flown the nest. I'd bet a pound to a penny that then I'd rather have a messy house and all of them around me creating havoc.

Dd just trapped her hand in the wall side of the dog-gate by opening it as far as it would go whilst holding onto the edge. Oh she did sob. She has two huge purple dents in her fingers. I tried to run them under the cold tap, but she was having none of it, so I smothered them in arnica cream instead and fed her a banana as a distraction. She seemed to have forgotten all about it by the end of the banana, so I think she'll live. [bad Mummy emoticon]

Ooo. Just read some of our December 08 thread. The one with ds2 having pneumonia, dd being breech and Tree talking us all through our previous and forthcoming deliveries.

She was bang on with me as well. Told me that it sounded like I sounded like I had a very acommodating pelvis [hmm[ so barring any problems with baby's position etc once things got going actual delivery would be pretty speedy. I reckon she's got a crystal ball.

Seemed most surreal, reliving all that stuff with dd perched on my knee saying "Ah, Daddeee and showering me with kisses". So odd to think I didn't 'know' her then. Made me well up and go all silly.

Moose Any bus ride I ever took in the UK was an adventure... or at least you can watch someone else having one. lol We grew up in a 3 bedroom ground floor flat... hardly room for flotsam to be laying around. My sisters and I had to always keep our stuff in our rooms and if we didn't want mom in there every fortnight for a 'big clean' which means all sorts of stuff will get tossed and you won't know what's been touched because everything has been touched. lol Right now here though, my usual approach to tidying is to wait as well until DD has a bedtime bath. Occasionally I'll do it before going on afternoon excursions, but usually, toys get kicked off majors thoroughfares until the end of the day.

Dog Daytime bath? I always feel so indulgent when I do that.

DH came home last night and although I was already in bed and asleep, he always kisses me and says he's home. Then he wakes me at 1am by abruptly turning off the light, falls to sleep snoring like mad so I decided to sleep on the couch. Good thing its comfy. I was sort of angry but mostly put off and honestly tried to get out of the house before he got up but DD had a poo just before we left. Then I had to pump up the tires on the stroller. I just couldn't even look at him. He's put my off the last couple of days and although I try to put it aside and assume he has things going on at work but then why should I get the shit. Anyhow. Rant over. We went to the library this morning and had early lunch and now DD is passed out so I'm heading outside to the sun and taking a beer with me.

and [salivating, can't wait for that first sip of a cold one emoticon]

I just had newborn cuddles and wasn't a bit broody

I have a small ice cream tub for tidying, anything that doesn't fit in it I have to put in it's right place straight away otherwise I dump odds and ends of clutter in the tub and it usually gets retrieved out of there eventually when DH realises he does actually need it. There is always a small collection of screws and eleastic bands in there which will never find a home though. I also have rules about what can be left in the kitchen which is our permanent dumping ground, anything other than nursery/school bags has to go away! Someone on MN told me they had removed or filled all the flat empty surfaces in their house and no longer collected junk as result. If only it were that easy. We do the playroom just before bedtime but I do put things away through the day too. I'm obsessed with not losing bits of toys so spend forever matching pieces of things back together.

dog - bath sounds lush, and fab to hear A doing well with his speech.

Moose - I'll come on the bus trip with you one day if you like? Serious offer, pass by your way from
time to time. Love shopping in your neck of the woods. Reminds me of being a student.

I didn't get my PhD funded this year -grrr. Not got enough research training apparently so got to take some research modules off the Masters in Research course and re apply for next year. Not sure what to do. Still got offer of working as a research assistant next year but don't know if I would prefer just to get something regular and permanent now. Need to decide quick.

I'm doing risotto this week MissJ, which 120 recipe? Think I'll do asparagus as in season here (everything late up north!) but love butternut squash recipes.

Off to bed, DH watching shit on TV

Pat - meant to say you made me smile about our bossy girls, their character traits are nowt to do with having high school teachers as mothers of course Poor Z and D don't stand a chance! At least our OHs knew what they were getting themselves into!

Lenni Sorry that your funding didn't come through. The universe clearly sees you doing other things.

Hmm, risotto and asparagus. Mmm. Guess what's on for dinner tomorrow DD? lol

I should have pointed out above that DH's jerk-off behavior comes after twos days of stroppyness.

DD was back to normal today although Mama headed off a melt-down outside the library after she realized it was closed. We went for coffee. We sat at the metal mesh door to the library from the coffee shop and DD was just eyeing it like a hawk, watching the ladies getting ready to open. When it opened, I couldn't get our stuff together fast enough. "Mama, Mama, Mama' she hollered, pointing at the now open passageway. Hilarious. Swimming tomorrow morning. If DH thinks he's getting out of going to the gym because he is being stroppy, he's got another thing coming. lol.
( I love the word stroppy, eh?

Aggh, no hope in hell of catching up this morning. I was in sunny Gloucester yesterday so up early and back late for work, then my mum offered to babysit.

I did a quick skim but will read properly later. Loving all the baby talk they are sooo cute at the moment.

Lenni, MJ means my stuffed butternut squash with sundried tomatoes and mascarpone recipe. I think it would be fab as a risotto. Yum

Tink, thanks for the cardi tips, will look tonight.

Moose, my online shop is Baby Massage Poster. If you/they can club together and let me know what you want, I can do them for £5.50 free post to one address, so that would save about £2 per bib.

trying to post more but H has just run in and is saying 'B B B B' (cbeebies) and then 'nork nork' (pingu)

Have 5 minutes reprieve before my mum goes home (that's the kind of babysitter I like, one that stays overnight and helps you through the hangover the next morning!)

Lenni, sorry to hear about your funding. What sort of job would you go for?

On the talking front, I can really recommend the book 'baby talk'. It tells you about how they learn and gives practical tips about aiding their hearing and diction, without being scary or OTT. I used her techniques on DD and eveyone thinks she is a genius in the talking department, so pretty sure it works and H is speaking just as clearly/early even though most people would say second children (and boys) would normally be slower.

Chef, hope your DH snaps out of it.

eek. run out of time.

Hi all.

Just in bed after nights. H is being dropped off home at 2 so I really need to go to bed. Not remotely sleepy though. Nightmare as Thursday is a harsh day, knackered baby and gym class. Bleurgh.

Will read and catch up tonght, but caught the news about your lack of funding Lenni. Arse.

Also about Moose and trip to town. Hope you get it sorted, my experiences on the bus have been surprisingly good. Should have seen me in London, with 2 tubes and a bus. I was determined to get to Toast I tell ya! It can be quite therapeutic, travelling with pushchars, like a mount everest stlyle achievemnet for mummies.

Kepboard utterly knackered. Plus sleep deprivation = excuse typos!

Afternoon

Feels like its been a long day already. Had 8.30 meeting with ds1's teacher, which went ok. Teacher said she has noticed lots of dyspraxic type problems and feels that its more likely he will end up with a dx of dyspraxia than ASD. (Apparently she has taught a few kids with dyspraxia over the years.) She is going to ask the SENCO if they can speed up having him assessed by an Occupational Therapist. My health visitor has also enquired about this, but we keep missing each other on the phone so I don't know what the outcome was as yet. He is also going to be allowed to read in the waiting area by the office if he is feeling vulnerable or threatened at play/lunch times. So it seemed positive, but will have to see if any of the 'promises' materialise. Judging by how little has been done with his IEP I won't hold my breath.

Have managed to hurt my finger somehow. Its my right-hand ring finger. Noticed it was hurting, but was too busy to think about it really. Then this morning realised I couldn't get my ring off and my middle joint was all swollen. Managed to get the ring off by running it under freezing cold water and using lots of liquid soap, but now its really swollen and black. I can vaguely remember smacking it against something, but can't remember when or how. Flippin hurts though. Dh is convinced I've cracked a bone and wimpy as it might sound, I'm starting to think he's right. Not worth going to A&E for though, as they can't really do anything except strap it up even if it is cracked.

Lenni, sorry you didn't get your funding. Thanks for the offer of accompanying me on the bus, but I really shouldn't be such a wuss. I really need to just do it.

120, I will pass on your url and if there's enough of us wanting to buy will definitely take advantage of your kind postage offer. Thank you. Lol at 'b b b' and 'nork nork'. Dd does the 'bee bee' thing, but she says 'map map' for Pingu (she adores Pingu). We also have 'Nah nah nah nah, ho ho ho' from Gigglebiz!

Tree, I have caught the bus soooo many times over the years with the boys in pushchairs. I know I'm being really daft, but the last couple of times with dd I had such negative experiences (bitchy, moaning grannies and other women with empty buggies that they refused to fold up meaning there was no room for me and dd) that I seem to have developed some sort of hang-up about it. I'm thinking of selling my Baby Jogger City Mini, that I bought for town shopping and getting something more compact. It is compact, but having three wheels makes it a pita to manoeuvre in confined spaces. Was thinking either a Maclaren Volo (am liking the purple one) or maybe even getting a Quicksmart and carring dd and the buggy on and off the bus. I will just have to bite the bullet and do it spontaneously one day so I don't 'think' about it too much.

Had lots of fun yesterday reading over our 'just about to pop' thread from Christmas before last. Boy you and I did some late night chatting back then. Your arrival really livened up the thread, you are such a funny/witty lady.

Nork nork Ladies. LOL.

Moose Fuck em. Moaning grannies, you should see the broads we) have to deal with at the gym. There are two types of people at the gym between 6 and 10; parents who are stealing an hour to exercise and maintain sanity and old folks who come for social aspect, which is fine, but come on, 5 minute rests on the machines between reps! WTF. Really. And either stop gossiping or turn up the hearing aids because we can all hear you, including the poor sod that you are talking about. These old gals are treadmill Nazi's too. lol. They're all pissed that we have such great lives being moms today, fancy strollers, buses, manicures. Well, that's how they see it. I'm only going by what I've overheard when they think that because I have headphones on, it must mean I'm blasting out my eardrums and can't hear anything else. lol

Off to the pool with DD. DH did snap out of it. When he got home last night he was normal again. Maybe cause I bought him some new fancy ramekins. Not as a peace offering though, they were on sale for a dollar! I'd be crazy not to buy them! lol

Talk later.

Thanks Chef. Its one of my biggest challenges in life to overcome my pathetic worrying about what other people think. On a conscious level I really couldn't give a flying one what anyone else thinks about me and mine, but somewhere on a subconscious level it must bother me, because I seem to spend my life treading on eggshells and trying desperately not to upset anyone or have them think bad of me.

I totally hear you on the bitchy granny front. We live in an area where the demographic is a strange split between seemingly thousands of absolutely ancient grouches and a few families with young children - not a good mix. The retired population around here has grown rapidly and outpaced all the other age groups and boy do they think they own the place. I have overheard all the same rants as the ones you mentioned, about not knowing how lucky we are etc etc. Worst was being told I am obviously a lazy woman as I catch the bus into town whereas 'in their day' the walked everywhere. Now I am happy to walk the 2-3 miles into either of the next villages, but negotiating a fast moving main road with no safe crossing places where two pedestrians have been killed in the last couple of years and an absolutely mahoosive hill, just to pop to the shops doesn't scream lazy in my book - it screams sensible and non-suicidal!

I was in town with my Mum the other day and I swear we were almost knocked off our feet by a hoard of grannies who just couldn't wait until we were through the entrance before they pushed their way through. I did actually stop and say something that time. Something along the lines of them being able to learn better manners from the local teenagers and making sure I teach my children never to be as rude and ill mannered as they are.

Glad dh is in a better mood.

I have been thoroughly embarassed whilst doing maths homework with ds1 this evening. Just couldn't get my head around it, whereas he got the right answers in a second. I did get it in the end, but was very at how slow I was compared to him. I fear that where ds1 is concerned, my help with homework is fast becoming surplus to requirements.

morning

mm - you are chatty
re toys -

we have a big loundge so are lucky in regards for space
we have a coffee table with draw and shelf use it to store her toys for dd2s toys
everything goes in. we also have a leather storage stool[thats for dd1s toys]
the rest if dd1s toys live in her bedroon cupboard
dd2 has seperate in loundge elc whizz around garage next to coffee table
happyland sets in happyland box in under stairs cupboard.
small trampoline and elc activity ball table

re chatting
both my girls are noisy and quite boisterous neither of them likes to sit still.
dd2 is particularly active is always on the go
dd2 chats lots and seems to be getting louder every day!!!
she has a big obsession with balls and can say ball, also says - this,mummy,daddy,nana,gor
she is also really into books and points @ eachpic and makes a noise
dd1 is a chatterbox too