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!

Dog, we had a second hand Urban Detour double off ebay when my two boys were little. I loved it. It was so light and easy to push.

Dd is the same, still tiny and babylike. She also tends to sleep in her buggy and needs to be reclined or she ends up in a crumpled heap.

Have you thought about a Petite Star Zia? Some people swear by them and they are cheaper than the BabyJogger.

Tea. I think its timed me out as one day it just wasn't there anymore.

Ah, Dog I hear you on the name association thing. I threw a hissy fit when my parent's named my little sister because her middle name is the same as a girl that used to pick on me at junior school. Nice enough name, just can't get past the negative association.

I feel so sorry for you with the spd. Sounds like you are doing too much though. You need to take it easier or it will only get worse.

I like Roman for a girl but only because I love Anne Rice and the Mayfair Witch Chronicles, one of the lead characters' name is Roman and I thought it was pretty cool. For a girl. For a boy, take it or leave it. But I'm stuck on Henry and am not willing to listen to any other boy names. lol

dog we have old urban detour single if you want it, courier cost only? But front wheel is a bit wonky. Would only need someone good to bend it.

can't type now as N asleep in our room but waves to all.

We have a Quinney and I love it! It was $600 but so worth every penny with all the places off road. Honestly, I can't seem to find it online but you might be able to see it here
I did see this commercial for it and am blushing a bit. I'm I that target market? EEK. NO No no... I got the buggy because it was so damn practical around our multi-trail neighbour and not because it is a pretty sweet ride and I'm am uber cool domestic goddess living in new suburbia... It isn't a funny commercial like the Swagger Wagon ones. www.youtube.com/v/RL3BxhsJij8

I think we've discovered what the word we couldn't understand from DD that would make her mental, "Bai-ee-dee" means something about ' I want'. It really encompasses a lot of pointing and then freaking out when she doesn't get what she is pointing at. The word bubbles came flying out of her mouth yesterday and she hasn't shut that one off yet.

Morning Chef

Oh yes the word 'bubbles' dd loves the way that one trips off the tongue. Its disaster if we happen to spot a bottle of bubbles when we are shopping though. Cue much loud shouting of 'BUBBLES, BUBBLES, NO-NO-NO, BUBBLES'. Honestly the girl is obsessed with them. We also get it at bathtime when she creates tidal waves (mostly over me) in an attempt to make bubbles. Unfortunately her bath stuff doesn't foam - but she borrowed some of her brothers Halos 'n Horns once when hers had run out and we've never heard the end of it.

Well I have had an upsetting morning. Ds1 is off the scale with his autistic behaviour this morning. There was just no reaching him. Everything had to be repeated 6 or 7 times, then he had meltdowns because he didn't want sun lotion on (we get that most mornings tbh) then he zoned out and poured a cup of water all over the kitchen floor and then on the way to school he was just not there, didn't hear us when we spoke to him and had this completely expressionless face. As we approached the school he looked up at me and said, "Too noisy, all that noise. My head hurts." Then when we finally got into the playground he walked over to his friends, but just sort of stood there behind them staring at the sun shining off his plastic folder. He looked so odd, just standing there all limp and not joining in.

Dh stayed with him while I took ds2 to the other playground and he said he seemed to snap out of it after a he'd been standing with them for a while and then was chatting and smiling with them as usual. He did speak to the teacher and she said there is a headache virus going around the class, so maybe that's it. Perhaps if his head hurts any other sensory stuff eg noisy children and having to make the effort to interact socially is too much for him. I just wish I'd realised sooner as I would have kept him home.

I'm also really cross with myself for not realising what was going on earlier. I was in full on school run rush mode - not helped by having to iron two uniforms and a pe kit this morning as well as making the lunches and I shouted at him a couple of times for not getting ready/eating his breakfast etc. I should have realised when he curled up on the sofa and retreated into a book, as that's what he does to shut off the world when he can't cope.

Sorry to go on, I just feel wretched about it this morning. I walked round to take ds2 fighting tears, with a huge knot in my stomach and then ended up crying on dh before he went to work. Am premenstrual too, so I'm sure that's not helping.

We were also given some information from the SENCO via his teacher yesterday about dyspraxia and autism and school. The teacher said after reading the autism stuff she made quite a few connections to how Patrick is at school. I think this threw me a little as I usually get the 'he's fine and you're just a fussy mother' look from them when I bring ASD up. I know he has ASD in my heart, but its always a kick in the stomach when someone else says they've noticed it, as he presents so normally to the majority of people. Its good that she's recognised it though and might actually help her/the school to handle him more appropriately.

Sorry to go on. Needed to let it out. Tried calling my sister and she's not around till 10.30 and my Mum is away at the moment, so noone to sound off to.

Sorry, back to the thread.

Is it a Quinny Buzz with the gas lift Chef? Loads of them around here - they were the pushchair to have at our school last year - that is if you didn't want to spend a grand on a flippin Buggaboo.

I nearly bought a Quinny Speedy (y? sp?) but was sold on the easy fold of the BabyJogger in the end. There's a mum at the school with a Speedy. She's on baby number three and it still looks as good as new.

mm - sorry for bad morning

hi dog

name wise i luv roman but i do like unusual names
also like xavier and alfie
girls names sound luvly luv india

Oh arse I typed a full reply and the power shorted out breaking the internet link. Tut!

So - DOG, I like Roman but I can't see a 20 or 30 year old called it. Ifyswim?

Moose, ((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))) for your hard day. I'd do and feel exactly the same if that is any consolation. Hopefully a nice lunch and maybe lots of fluids will help if it is a headache.

Busy here, playhouse having a little window put in. t's fine, but I had something larger in mind
Fantasy shopping at Cath Kidston sale [crap] adn Laura Ashley sale [good]. I might have to give in to spotty cutlery from LA, and some flowery outdoor lights...oh and some lanterns.....maybe some lilac and fushia beakers.....

Thanks Tree.

I've calmed down now, but feel so tired today and have such a low mood in general. Probably just the PMT.

I neeeeeed chocolate, but have successfully not snacked all week. Those flippin' Thorntons are still calling me from the fridge - I can't tell you how much willpower it has taken not to open the box. Its only the thought of looking horrible, old and fat next to all those skinny youngsters at that blooming wedding that's keeping me on the straight and narrow.

I'm not even doing a full on sugar detox, as am still eating carbs, and I'm still finding it so much harder this time round.

I know I always feel worse before I feel better, so hopefully I will start feeling the benefits soon. Probably chose a bad week to start, what with pmt, school/ds stress, the heat and dd waking at night with her teeth (think its her molars).

Still, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger - so onward and upward I suppose.

I tried to do a bit of retail therapy this morning. Thought spending some of my birthday money might help cheery me up, but couldn't find anything I wanted to buy. I am badly in need of some summer skirts and dresses, (literally had to peel my jeans off when I got back from walking yesterday) but they all seem either too short (I have horrible knees) or too low or too strappy. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Moose ((((HUGS))))) for your morning. Don't beat yourself up about not noticing DS1 having a morning because you were clearly in the thick of it with everything. Nice too that you have someone who is in your corner about ASD and maybe now the wheels to getting him on track are on the track. We have a virus going around here too where a headache is a big factor. DD is getting better fast thank goodness but two of her friends are really having a hard time with it. I know its because DD is with me all day and not daycare. We are very lucky in that. You are a great mom and doing a great job, but step away from the snack cupboard, (says while stuffing another cookie in her mouth... well, in my defense, they are oatmeal and raisin...)

Well I did something today that was completely out of the ordinary. DD was pissing around on the boob before morning nap so I just put her down in bed. That's it, I said, you are on your own. (I'm feeling a little testy today too). She went off to sleep, eventually. I could hear her playing with her animals and then she must of just dropped off because there is no noise coming from her room. Hmm. Could be something new here.

Ah. I found my stroller here I love all the Quinney's and was hoping to get the small one for travel because ours is not so good for traveling. Plus, when you go to the city with this thing, people give you dirty looks, like you're taking up too much road or something because they aren't watching where they are going and walk into it. Come on! How can you miss this beast! lol

evening all, been sooo busy here. Moose, sorry you are feeling shite about it... you are usually so on top of his feelings and dealing with them, do be gentle on yourself. Hope he is feeling better.

evening chef - congrats on the no-boob sleep!

Tree am avoiding your links and chat of amazing items. Need to refurb myself before tanyone else gets a lookin!

Tea, sorry if I came across a bit short last night - had the in-laws here.

In the evenings, after DD goes down (anywhere from 7 until 9.30), I eat, do the blog or research new recipes, clear my work inbox, do my webshop re-ordering, orders and correspondance, finish the weekend papers or a bit of my current book, then flop around 10.30. Bit of m'net if there is time. FB a bit if I don't want to read. That is without tyding or washing up (DP does the washing up and the flat is a pit very messy.

On the DD sleep issue, I'm not really sure what to do. She is 3.1. If she has a nap of even forty minutes, she is a nightmare to get down and it can take up to an hour from 8 onwards. If we do it earlier, she wakes up around 5am and won't re-settle. If she doesn't have a nap she starts being clumsy, naughty, unreasonable and sometimes hysterical from around 4, and tonight she actually fell asleep as we were undressing her for the bath at 7. Literally zonko before I could get the dress over her head! Has anyone else suffered this?

meant to say about names. I had Xavier, Sophia and India on my lists too. Sadly with the Roman thing, I knew a bad'n, which always slightly colours things.

Other names I listed:

Olive, Robin, Fuschia and Tabitha for girls

Luke, Varden, Felix, Hugh and Oberon for boys

dog it's only a single though - do you still want it? You would be most welcome. Let me know.
Sorry, no time to catch up properly but hopefully back later. Brownies in oven!

Well my DD is almost 3 and you are describing her to a T, if she has a nap she doesn't go to sleep at night until 9pm, just mucks about in her bed, she also becomes very tricky once tired in afternoon. Sadly I confess CBeebies is the only answer for me. But I know you don't have a tv do you? Someone else wiser than me will have a better plan, my other option is stickers, painting or play dough but I prefer tv late afternoon

And a very solid black out blind and clock to show when its time to get up to her.

But you're not alone it's such a tricky time, they're not quite ready to drop the final nap but need to. DD is now napping every other day, and I limit it to a short one just after lunch, then I tire her out by going out afterwards to the park or something.

Wish I could help you 120, I'd be in my zone, harking back to being a PA again. Love stuff like that.

Hi all

I can't enter into a conversation about babies as sleep. Sorry It's too stressfull tbh. I thought H would never sleep tonight, but has just gone off.

It's very very very testing. Dh and I have been sniping at each other all evening, in between nearly falling asleep trying to settle her.

DOg, I had a Jane. Like my single, a powertrak. Bloody briliant, I could push itwith one finger, that was with a 5 yo and a 1 yo in! Quite cheap on ebay,and the carseat is lovely on the pushchair, the bubba is really high up and close to you - just under the handle.

Gotta go pack. My hair is greasy but so can't face dealing with it. Tomorrow, this whole weekend in fact, is shaoing up to a full on sob your heart out with frustration and tiredness nightmare. Which is a shame as I am a) lucky enough to be going to dd1's little fair, and 2) lucky enough not to be working and able to go to see Goddaughter, even if it is only for a morning.

Sigh. Roll on Monday!! 2 Nights starting Thurs but that's ok.

Tree, really sorry to hear the sleep is so stressful. DD was a nightmare from when I weaned her until around 2 1/2. Once it got to 5 we both got more and more tense, knowing one, or both of us, were in for around 2 hours of misery.

Very reassuring to hear that we aren't the only ones grappling with the sleep issues. At least it shows that it is developmentally normal. I think I'm going to continue with the naps, as otherwise she is such a lovely girl in the afternoons, just cheeky at bedtime and I can always let her read in bed while I have supper.

morning

Morning ladies.

SLEEP Well, H sounds very like N - I have now lost the ability to spend an hour or more getting him off to sleep, and so now I just wait until I know he is tired, and take him up then. Sadly that's not usually until around 10pm. So he sleeps from 10pm-8am (when I say 'sleep' I mean those are his night-time hours - there are plenty of boob breaks in those hours). I used to think that having an evening to myself was critical, but now I just don't care. He hangs out with us and is generally lovely company. Still naps up to 2 hours in the middle of the day, and I am sure if I cut it right down I could get him to sleep at 8pm, but I can't deal with 6am wake-ups. I really have stopped caring about the whole sleep thing. I just don't get it, I don't understand why he doesn't just drop off peacefully and stay asleep, but as long as he doesn't seem tired and grumpy, I think we're doing okay.

You know, my SIL was telling me about her dilemma about where to send her DS to school - she said when you are worrying about their education, it really puts all the baby stuff like sleep, weaning etc, into perspective... but I guess it's always the way. Easy to look back and see it in perspective, but at the time it's huge, and especially when you are sleep-deprived.

Anyway, hugs and coffee to all those struggling with sleep!

Off to look at CK sale now - naughty tree.

Thanks 120, and missJ. missJ - Sounds like our house! H has always been thus, so we are totally used to it. I just so totally envy those who just put their babies to bed, and they sleep , and then they wake up and it's morning. I'd be a different woman! Maybe
Life would be so much easier! I am also developing an envy for those with a dp around in the morning/evening for school run and afterschool time.

But then on other hand I am bloody lucky in a million ways. DH is is fact a total star and mucks in 100%. My babes are healthy, if crap at sleeping, eating and pooing, and my house is free of big bad illness.

So no realy problems - hence the worry about sleep and money

It's my manic day today. Am far to tired to do it! Have done builders merchant and B&Q, shoping for the trp, overnight and tomorow done. Sort of packed. Need to finish packing, load up and shower in 2 hours.

H is just drifting nto a deep sleep before I try move her, then I need to get in my starting blocks.

A very happy thing is that she ate a finger of toast and half a fruit puree pot. Plus 3 spoons of wheatabx at breakfast. This is a huge deal for H, who might have one spoon usually. She asked for it too, 'num-nums, num-nums' which is exactly what her big sis used to say and very very sweet.

I may have had a midnight shopping acciden t at the white company. I cannot confirm or deny. Cashmere/cotton all in one, which dd2 lived in all winter. £20. Whatyagonnado? May have been a few other bits......that baby sale is good Am hankering after a white woodern childs bench and seat pad for the girls, for the playroom balcony thing How slly does that sound????

Bit at CK sale. There is a few quid of a few things, but nothng really signficant. Nothing I want anyhow. Could have been very tempted by the cardigans, but I need to try on really. Big boobies! Lot sat the Laura Ashley sale. I tried a dress on that I really want. I dunno where I'd wear it and it was well snug. But still......maybe they will do an extra 20% of sale prices or something? That would seriously tempt me!

Morning folks

Wasn't on last night as major problems with ds1 continue. Him and his best friend were set upon by 11! Yes 11, boys from their year at school yesterday morning. They were both obviously upset by it, but apparently ds was totally distraught and crying from break at 10.30 to lunch at 12.30. They managed to break free from the fight and run to the teachers (who hadn't noticed a huge fight invoving 13 children going on in the playground ) and were taken inside to their class teacher, who involved the teacher from the other class as most of the boys were from her class. They were all told off (shouted at) and told they would miss lunch time play as the other boys basically told a huge pack of lies about what really happened. Apparently ds was inconsolable and when I picked him up he was in a right straight - distraught is not the word!

Dh and I were obviously furious and rang his best friends mum (who incidentally is a Governor) and she his friend had confirmed his version of events. She also told us some other gossip about some truly awful things that have happened to her ds2 (6) in the playground over the past year and said there is a real problem with quite a few of the new children that have come in since the new head took over. (He basically opened the doors of what was a nice, but a bit disorganised village school to every Tom, Dick and Harry as he wanted to bump the numbers up to keep the school dual intake and get funding and there are a now a lot of children with serious problems at the school. Apparently the teachers are up in arms about it already and are gathering evidence against some of the y2 bullies in the hope of excluding them.

Last night was very upsetting and distressing. Dh was furious and ranting, especially as we had spoken to ds's teacher in the morning telling her he was vulnerable and spacey and would probably need extra help and support and time to sit quietly and read.

Dh has written a very strong letter to the head, detailing all the incidents that have happened this year, since we had a meeting with him supposedly to deal with all this. He also did a list of all the times we have spoken to the teacher about things and the fact that we only had a meeting with the teacher about these bullies last Thursday fgs. He also pointed out that there is a culture of bullying and violence in the school that needs serious measures to sort it out, as it has been escalating over the past two years (suscpiciously since he took over ).

I wanted to keep ds1 off today, but it is non-school uniform and he wants to wear the tshirt of his favourite nintendo game that dh made for him. He also said he didn't want to leave his best friend on his own.

So the letter was dropped at the office first thing, complete with dh's mobile number. I assume as I haven't heard anything, the head hasn't called him yet.

and breathe .....

Didn't want to stay home and brood this morning, so did a walk to the next village, bought tonnes of salad stuff and cottage cheese etc.

Did about 3.5 miles in all and found it a lot easier today, so either I am getting fitter or the heat played a big factor the other day. There is a hill about 3/4 of the way home that is a real killer - it doesn't look anything, but its soooo long and has absolutely no shade. Today I managed the hill a lot easier than the last couple of times, so maybe I am starting to shape up a bit.

Also, I have lost 5 lb since Monday morning! Probably mostly water - but hey, considering I have pmt, there is a huge box of chocs in the fridge and I have had a really sh**ty week I'm happy with that. Twas a great motivator for me to shift my lardy ass and go walking this morning. Need to lose another 2 lbs next week, always feel much more motivated when I've lost half a stone.