Jan 09 Summer sun, peachy bums and... toddler tantrums..

[120]

New thread here...

Hi all. Rainy and bleak here, although muggy. hate that.

Good to hear from you DOg, too lol at trout

Morning all

Hi Dog, glad you are enjoying the holidays with the dcs. Yes, I remember well the stage of pregnancy where you become pretty reclusive and can't really be doing with other people's problems - tis only natural and I suppose nature's way of making us focus on our nearest and dearest in preparation for the new arrival.

Tree, we bought lots of ds2's toys on ebay and they are still going strong for dd.

Am a bit sad today actually, as ds2 announced yesterday that we can give his wooden railway and Thomas stuff away because its taking up too much room and he doesn't play with it anymore. I really should shift my butt to get it listed on ebay, as there's hundreds of pounds worth of it built up over the past six years. I'm not really surprised, as its not cool for a six year old to like Thomas and there's a little boy in his class, who quite obviously has ASD, but whose Mum refuses to admit it and he gets teased daily for his Thomas obsession, so it was bound to rub off on ds2 eventually. He loved it so much for so long and everyone associated trains and Thomas with him feels like the end of an era. He was such a lovely, sweet toddler - oh why do they have to grow up?

I was up most of the night last night. First half dd just wouldn't settle and woke up crying every 10-15 minutes, then when she went to sleep my gallbladder and stomach started acting up and I was curled up in agony for the rest of the night. Had to wake dh at 6.00 am to fetch my stomach pills as I can't get to the medicine box with my cast on. Pills still hadn't worked by 8.30, so I double dosed myself, working on the basis that I was initial given that sized dosage when I had the attack last year.

It seems to have settled down a bit now, but I really don't feel at all well. Just about managed to crawl into the kitchen and drag together toast, a banana and a glass of milk each for the dcs' breakfasts and am now curled up on the sofa again. Dd's wet nappy leaked all through her clothes while I was waiting for my pills to work so that I could sit up and change it. Felt like such an awful scummy Mummy when that happened, but I just couldn't move for the pain - it was all I could do to stop myself from screaming through the pain.

Why does this always happen when my Mum is on holiday and dh can't get the day off?

Anyway, dh will be home for lunch in an hour, so he can feed them their sandwiches and change dd's nappy again for me and we will just have to muddle through to 5.30 then. I think I should be okish now the pills are working and should start to feel better bit by bit.

Dog, lol at Isla's first sentence. Sounds like she can handle herself all right. Dd has taken to saying "No! Mine!" to her brothers all the time, even when whatever it is clearly isn't hers. I guess they have to be able to hold their own these third born girls don't they?

Yes I will keep some of the track and a couple of trains for dd as she already has two of his old trains and a small circular track which she loves, but we are talking a pretty serious Thomas The Tank collection here and I don't think she'll ever be into in to the same extent as ds2 was. It currently takes up a huge trunk and two big baskets in the boys room and it will be lovely to get the space back, but it still makes me feel really sad to think of it going.

Your dcs sound like my dogs. We have a clear winner for the top-dog slot and the other two constantly bicker over who comes second, so it can change on a daily basis. Fundamental pack theory.

It must a relief for you I to be developing her speech, but I do understand why it might make you feel a little sad too. Great to hear that A is making good progress too though.

Keep it for dd Moose! DD1 was obsessed with Thomas, and I think is actually looking forward to being able to have a lttle play with it again. In the name of sibling bonding

Thomas is begining to work his charm on dd2 already. She has the train off the aquadraw and no one is allowed to touch it. I'm worried she'll break it as she insists on zooming him along. Must get her somesort of Thomas motorised toddler proof thing.

Lol at Isla. Very very cute.

No sentences here, I think another 'on the slow side' talker. Dd1 was too. SHe has about 10 words, but can't for the life of her remember mouth, and gets nose and ear mixed up. Bless. Her very most cute thing is the 'where's it gone' face. Huge eyes and eyebrows, and hands out, totally hamming it up. She wanders about shaking her head. Very cute.

I'm really glad to hear A is making progress Dog, I know it really worries you.

Dd is very keen on pointing out Thomas wherever we go and has a couple of ds's board books, a musical book and a couple of the trains. Can't help thinking she will never be 'into' as much as ds2 was though. All he ever asked for for birthdays and Christmases was stuff for his Thomas set, from as soon as he could talk right up to last Christmas!

Oh I love the where's it gone face. Dd does that one too, totally hamming it up - just like H.

My boys have voluntarily just gone up to their room to listen to the times table cd I bought ds1 for Christmas. Result! Apparently ds1 thinks its 'funky' and ds2 tells me its 'groovy'. I'm just hoping they start singing the words and inadvertently learn their times tables in the process. [sneaky Mummy emoticon]

Dd has just been having a face pulling competition with me - hilarious. She definitely won. She has really quite impressive gurning abilities.

I've been sitting here trying to reduce the cost of the Tesco shop I'm having delivered for our holiday. I keep remembering more things we'll need though, so every time I get the price down it goes straight back up again. Currently standing at £150 and counting!

'into it' not into as - doh!

Tea - I've replied to your email.

My mum bought me a cool tape as well for timestables.

Thanks Moose, I've read it and replied.

Have you guys seens this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qai6NfkeD7A it creased me up.

thanks for that tea. made me laugh.

Our H is speaking a lot. His longest sentence yet is 'Getup Yoghurt Kitchen Comeon Mummy'. He is also worryingly into watching DVD's and Cbeebies, which his sister hadn't heard of at this age and less into books as a result, which is making me very sad. Constant cries of teletubbies, nork nork, third bird and poobuh (poo bear) can be heard whenever he sees the computer.

I guess we need to get breaks where we can, but I can't help beating myself up about it. I've also given DD no time recently on her numbers and letters, which she loves doing, but just can't seem to find the energy. I've even been feeding them ready meals and saved all the nice organic stuff for us, as I hate making food and then throwing it away when they don't eat it. Don't care about throwing ready meals in the bin.

Sorry bit of a rant but have AF and am feeling knackered and weird. The heat doesn't help much either. Much respect for those of you coping on your own with the kids and Moose you doing it with a cast on and acute tummy ache.

Nice to see you DOG

It's amusing to see Little Cook is so tall in that sketch.

Sorry you're feeling so rubbish 120 I think you give yourself a hard time when you do not reach the perfection you strive for as a mum but I think you're a great mum from what I can tell from here CBeebies from time to time is ok surely? Even though I know you're not a fan of tv. It is educational

God Moose I never said get well soon about your tummy ache! Sorry! Get well soon. I'll never forget that attack I had the night I came home with dd2. You have ,y sympathies.

;lMy total sympathy 120. I know how you are feeling. I just put fresh peas, chef's coleslaw, roast chicken in little bits, fresh orange n front of dd. SHe evntually had a few sucks on a Ella's pouch whilst watching the rcaes
My parenting has gone from no processed anything, minimal refined sugar and 10 min bursts of a dvd twce weekly....to enthused clapping from the car seats at the sight of a macdonalds, and even eating nfront of the tv in the lounge which I never dreamt I'd do. We adults do it all the time .

No idea nor care what is for dinner. I'm so tired I could sleep on this keyboard.

thanks tea and tree.

I just remembered a good trick you can teach them at this age when people are doing the face part naming thing. You teach them nostril. This means when a well meaning adult gets close and starts annoying them by slowing saying 'where is my nose? and where is my cheek?' they just jump right in there with 'nostril', whilst shoving their finger right up the person's nose. Well, it amuses me and stops the IL's from testing my children.

Can't watch the link at the moment as dd is asleep in the swing and she really needs it after last night. Poor thing was wandering round after lunch with her hand in her mouth wailing "teeth, ow ow teeeth!".

I channelled my pain and general pmt grumpiness into being a horrid mummy and making the boys tidy their bedroom. It is now very tidy, but in desperate need of dusting and vacuuming - yeah like that's gonna happen today.

I'm afraid CBeebies has become a permanent background soundtrack in my house since I did my foot it - hence all the "Oh Pippin" etc from dd. She now points at me and shouts "No off!" whenever I press the red button. My Aunt and Uncle have actually installed Sky at the holiday house so we could get it there, but the boys are used to not being able to get a tv reception while we are away and I think I'll keep it that way. I do let them take a couple favourite dvds each though, useful if its throwing it down so we can't get to the beach. Hopefully she will have broken her CBeebies habit by the time we get back.

So ladies, I really neeeed your opinions on shoes for this darn wedding. I started a thread in style yesterday, but to no avail.

Just to remind you this is the dress.

I have chickened out on the Dr Martens front and gone back to the whole metallic gladiators thing and these are the ones I've found that I like, or at least don't hate, but I can't choose between them:

I really like these, as I thought they looked slightly more substantial than some of the others I've seen, but am a bit at the price. I also saw this necklace which I thought might go well with them.

The other pairs I like are:

These, which just kind of grabbed my attention and I thought were a bit different.

and

These, because they sort of tie up with the floral pattern in the dress whilst still being metallic pewter.

OR

Do I just go for a really cheap pair of pewter gladiators like these or these which are infinitely cheaper and realistically it is only one day, isn't it?

Finally

There are these from Monsoon, which are gold rather than platinum, but have platinummy coloured flower petals and again are a bit more floral and well, weddingy.

I really am so crap at all this. Can't make a decision to save my life and I haven't even started to properly look for jewellery and a bag yet.

By the way, I need some more babies/children to paint (promise no one has to accept a finished piece, just need to keep painting regularly as my style is coming on quickly and it really helps doing lots of them. I have a whole week of painting coming up while in Devon so want to print a few out to take with me.)

They need to be a good likeness and good contrast close up shots if possible. And no visible teeth please! If you are still reading and interested, message portait photo's to my FB account. If you want to see what the ones I've done so far look like they are all in my portrait gallery. The paintings are chronological, so you can see me slowly improving and playing with differnt styles.

3rd pair for me, everytme. They would look lovely with jeans on warmer days when the wedding is over. I think they are versatile

The ones with the necklace are a great matching pair. They are not for me, they remind me of a spine or something - but I think they are a bit more edgy and a maybe a bit more 'Moose'. You have an alternative vibe going on, and there is no reason why you shouldn't have it at the wedding, so those might be great. But yes, the priceis a good bit more isn't it.

But they would be uber chic on the school run

The dress is really really cool. Well spotted! I'm crap at clothes shopping online - except for the dc's that is!

moose, I really like the first two with the fern thing going on. Also like the pewter ones. rest don't really do it for me. Think if they are nice and go with the dress you then have a whole outfit for special occasions.

lol tree, xpost. obv v different clothes tastes!

now. do I continue to m'net work, or wisely use the time before the kids come home to go and do a quick spin bike session?

Thanks guys. You have picked my two favourites.

Its my split personality that causes the problem (Gemini you see) half of me is a mix of Cath Kidston, Boden and Laura Ashley and the other half would love to be more alternative and out there, if only she had the balls guts.

Dh is all for the first ones, but then he carries the alternative thing beautifully and would alway choose 'different' over safe.

120, definitely use the time before the kids come home to put your feet up. Its too muggy to spin bike today. Moose may be just a tad jealous of you spin biking, because she can't do any exercise herself.

Do you really think the dress is ok for a wedding? I was thinking of wearing a gorgeous pair of heels to dress it up a bit when I first chose it, now I'm worried it will look a bit too every day and not 'weddingy' enough'.

I think it is perfect. It looks classical without being boring imho.