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[BonzoDoodah]

Hi All
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thanks mrsb - though I never realised just how low my bump actually is - it loks like a fake one that's dropped to the wrong place

jw does K like cream cheese? spinach & brocolli are fairly high in calcium and easy to hide (taste wise) in it as a sauce over pasta. It makes a fab messy finger food dinner

I make the boys yoghurt lollies which go down a storm too. You use a made up jelly mixture - before it's set, and mixed with an equal amount of yoghurt - so you don't get horrid ice crystals and you can get away with plain yoghurt as the jelly flavours it.

Oh Wow iris you looked amazing....and not a hint of Dot Cotton about your hair!! The food looked pretty damm fine too although the picture of the beef looks like an abstract painting...spent about 5 mins trying to work out what was what! That's my Tues eve viewing planned then

mrsb that is good news about D....Oh I lOVE that pic of him chewing the table! And yep - he is definately Daddy's little boy isn't he?

jw have a slice of lemon drizzle cake. Ooooo, I didn't know you can freeze it too! Sounds like you had a lovely day with the family and brill news about the sitting up. Wow - she's going to be overtaking Verity - who still won't crawl forward (backwards yes!) and won't roll! I find that making something like a shepherds pie - or chilli (non hot) and slathering yoghurt or creme fraiche on it adds the calories/fat. Plus it makes it a bit sweeter - more tempting

So - here are some pics:

Firstly Peter Barlow??? No it's DP's brother!!

Iris thrilled with Peter Barlow looky likey

And DP's gorgeous cousin and rather lovely looking beau! Ah - she gave Iris the huge pendant she was wearing - we've had to prize it off her neck and hang it up where she can see it - even wore it to Costco...bless

May have to hit bed soon - 5.45am start this morning...grrrr

neddie glad you had DP over this weekend.

Iris love the yoghurt lolly tips - going to try that tomorrow! Oh and there is always the jelly and carnation milk whipped up and made into mousse...MMMmmmmmmm....feels thighs swelling at the thought of all the calories!

Iris got there before me with the yoghurt lollies - only mine are a slattern's version which is to buy those yeo valley organic ones in tubes and stick them in the freezer. Then cut off top of packet and voila, a frozen yoghurt stick! That's what mine have for pudding in the summer. I second cream cheese as a good way of getting calcium down their necks too - mine liked it on pasta or as a 'dip' for carrotsticks or rice cakes.

Hope to see some pics soon (not on FB - far too modern for me)

Mrsb good news about sleeping. D must be filling up his tum v well

And yay to K sitting up JW. Makes life easier once you can sit them somewhere and know they're not going to slump.

Excellent ideas ladies. Mucho thankies. I do actually have the Frubes in the fridge for DSS's lunchbox so shall freeze one tomorrow and see if madam will accept it. Cream cheese...yep. Another fab idea. Going to try these out on her tomorrow so fingers crossed. Now I come to think about it, I've tasted the jars and I don't really blame her for not taking it.

Gosh JJ he does bear a passing resemblance to Mr Barlow! Great to hear that Iris is already blagging jewellery. It'll be make up next, then mummy's bags, shoes........

I also need to add that none of mine or my DH's family look as glam as yours. We're more like Shameless or the Munsters.

ermintrude I thought I was a Luddite but you beat me hands down with your FB comment !

Just seen this article on DM website. Apparently we're all doomed as bad mothers

hmmm.. well I am fairly sure Mr D feels no stress whatsoever at being separated from us - not if the big grin on his face when we arrive at nursery is anything to go by....

mrsb I think that article was written by some baby guru (man of course) who is probably seen as some nutcase radical in his field. I shouldn't worry about it, not that you will.

I've got K's name down for a baby signing class after talking to floria about the one she takes A to. It's the same company that does it. The first thing out of DH's and my older children's mouths was 'but she's not deaf' and 'won't it delay her speach?'. Well it's 'I know' to the first and apparently it helps them speak earlier as they don't get frustrated at not being able to communicate. I do hope she likes it.

I remembered to put the Frubes in the freezer so I'm going to try her with those later this morning and I'll pick up some cream cheese too It must be lovely to have all these full fat foods offered to you. I wish I could have some.

Endured the final chapter of The Apprentice last night. DH was glued to it. Sad that Margaret is leaving as I really liked her. Fabulously eccentric that she's off to do her Masters in papryology (sp?) Nick looks like an extra from The Death Star

I'm off to Costco later and that's probably the highlight of my day although I am going to have to pass on my favourite lemon drizzle cake - so of yours JJ. I'm meeting floria tomorrow though and really looking forward to seeing her and A

Btw JJ did you sort out your outdoor play toys for the girls?

2 years? Yeah, I don't think so. At least not with the current maternity leave policy! Also seems to reference night time sleeping only in terms of sleeping together, but what about napping? Am I suppose to lie down with baby every time it goes to sleep? Cuz, yeah, just not going to happen!!

tee I meant to add to previous post, are you and DH singing 'It's the Final Countdown' yet? You should have made yourself a little advent type calendar with baby faces inside it or pregnant bumps and then on the Thursday window it's got a baby's face in it

Obviously too much time on my hands as you can see............

tee by day they should be strapped to you like you work in a paddy field.

If you're reading this onehitwonder hope all goes well for you today and let us know how things go and what flavour you have!

Oh yeah, Good Luck onehit! Do let us know!

I never thought of the advent calendar JW.

And I knew I needed a baby sling...

Also, my brother and SIL taught both of their kids sign language (at least their version of it) and I do think it helped a lot. And its bull that it delays speech.

Definitely doing some nesting today. Yesterdays nesting scheduled done in by lack of sleep.

Have a good day all!

I so love the Daily Mail. It's a real shame when the active birth brigade - who I think have done some sterling work against the medical control of birth - seem to be all about controlling women after the birth. They always have such a middle-class focus as well - how many perfectly well-balanced working-class kids grew up in a household where mum had to work? And come to think of it, how many people with serious mental health problems were brought up in environments where their mother never worked? Tis such tosh to generalise. Like baby D, my DC thrived on nursery, loved family time and are happy at school. The quality of attention and the reassurance that mummy and daddy will always take you home after a day of playing are what counts.

JW I know I sound Luddite - but in fact I'm technically v clued-up and have always been the one, at work and home, to set up the wireless networks, install new motherboards etc. But I've drawn a line under social networking sites, not because I can't work them out but because I'm an old curmudgeon . If I get an email requesting my friendship on FB I send one back saying can't we just carry on being friends in RL? Let's email! Or send pigeons! But I shall never twitter. I think I know too many pretentious bloggers, that's the trouble.

JJ what glamorous young people those are! An evening spent with them would definitely send me face-down in the lemon drizzle. Hmm, I might make one of those today, I keep feeling like baking. I should be nesting but instead I keep doing things which make even more mess .

School run, see youse later

I don't know ermintrude I think the baby will require Lemon Drizzle cake. ::nods::

morning all. We've had a lovely late morning chez iris . Neither DS woke until 8 which is just as well as I've woken up with DS2's cold in full force. His is improving though thankfully, so we're all bright and breezy and still in pjs A slob day is called for methinks.

jw I love the idea of your advent calendar (bet you could market that!)

ermintrude - I totally agree it's the quality of care that counts - as has been scientifically proven! and I know I read that in an article a few months back. It's very annoying that the media can't help but send parents on a guilt trip whatever choices they make. But, in all fairness, they cherry pick the juicy bits of any article for effect so are hardly likely to present balancing arguments are they.

Morning all. Hahaha we'll join you iris in the not waking till late brigade...girls slept a whole TWELVE hours

Off to playgroup - will pop by later x

Well, come on ladies. It is the daily mail at the end of the day. They're not gonna promote anything that wouldn't look out of place in the 19th century. By rights we should all be wearing bustles and give up voting

JJ ah I like it when a plan comes together and finally the girls are in sync and sleeping through. And wow! 12 hours. Excellent

iris a duvet day sounds good to me although I don't have much hope of getting one in the near future. If I'm not up at my usual time then DSS is hounding me as that wouldn't fit into his routine

Off to the shops for nothing exciting but it's nice and sunny here with a good gusty wind. Excellent drying day

Aarrgh! Am single mother for a fortnight. DH has gone to Vancouver for a conference. Plus have two young Spanish students arriving at the weekend for a month (they come every year, and are lovely and will be pretty low-maintenance), so I'll be looking after 5 children alone for a week, and gestating a sixth. Not to mention the dog, guinea pigs and chickens. What fun!

oh duchesses what a lot on your plate!!

having the morning off as we have a courier delivering some fabby stuff and I didn't want to miss it.

Have just been reading Liz Jones' piece in the DM about her lifelong anorexia.
it's very sad - she is very dysfunctional.

Yeah I saw that mrsb Can't imagine how horrid it must be.

Duchesse lordy! You can't even get the gin out

What fabby stuff you got coming today mrsb? Come on, I'm ready and willing to be led astray

jw this
this
and this

D has far too many toys now..

oooh those are lovely mrsb!! duchesse - that's going to be a fun 2 weeks I don't think! Hope you've got DC briefed/bribed to help you

jw I've always fancied trying the corset/bustle look (but not the lifestyle I hasten to add - unless I could have a big houe and loads of servants )

Oh wow - Duchesse - that's Bonkers! So much on your plate...MMmmm, Vancouver eh? Lucky old so-and-so Well, you're a much better woman than me!

Iris I fancy the lifestyle where you flop onto your chaise lounge, hand on your forehead and whimper "I can't go on" and while someone takes the children so you can lie back and relax while someone comes and soothes your brow I feel that's the way the modern day Daily Mail lady needs to go!

mrsb they look gorgeous - get them - go on, musical instruments are never a waste of money.

jw enjoy the shops. I took the rest of the lemon drizzle to playgroup - I couldn't face the temptation!

Gosh - the elections weren't good were they..eek! BNP and the rise of the centre right too. Mmmm, me thinks that our current left-wing government have clearly not been taking the underclass/sink estate population seriously. rubs chin quizzicaly

Iris, they are being good, but child 1 is in the middle of GCSEs, and requiring a fair amount of tlc/ support/ gorgonzola and the right sort of bread. We moved all the bedrooms around yesterday in anticipation of the Spanish kids coming, but child 3 refused to sleep alone in the spare bedroom on the grounds that it was too big- she spent the night on the single bed still in our room still left in our room from the days when they used to creep in the in muddle of the night.

I am rather hoping to repaint her room with its peeling paintwork some time this week before the Spanish kids get here, and subtly shift her over the summer into the spare room so that her room can sneakily become the nursery, hoping that she will get used to the wide open spaces in the spare bedroom before we want to move the baby out of ours. Failing that, we are supposed to be extending the house within the year, so she would get a new and slightly re-sited room.

jj- I made him stay the extra week! I figured that he needed a break- he usually hotfoots back after a conference, but since his office is paying for the air ticket, it seemed silly to waste a holiday opp. It's not like I can fly at this stage, and all the children are still at school (some in the midst of exams!), so it was his only opportunity to get away before the baby's born.