Pickle

Thought I'd share this recipe, kids tucking in enthusiastically as I type so a definite winner (and mine is long gone, I liked it too!). Italian meatballs with parmesan & lemon 450g lean minced beef 25g fresh breadcrumbs garlic clove, crushed 50g parmesan 1 egg yolk 3 tablespoons green pesto grated zest & juice of 1 lemon Mix it all together, don't overmix otherwise meatballs end up too stodgy. Put in the fridge while you get the sauce ready. I made a sauce by frying off some onions & celery, adding garlic, 500ml passata and a tsp of sugar. Bring it to the boil, then plop the raw meatballs into it. Cook in the oven (180C ish) for about 30 minutes. I served it with spaghetti. Yum!

Our first child was in a parent facing pushchair and was an early talker. Second child shoved down the bottom of a Phil 'n' Teds unable to see anything, let alone us. Also an early talker. I don't reckon it makes much difference. Good luck with the MIL, sounds like you might need it!

My cleaner came yesterday, and was told she didn't need to clean the kitchen as I'd already done it (she nearly fainted with shock). Sink remains shiny here, although I don't have baby oil, must get me some of that.

Just wanted to add that I probably would reuse a mattress within our own family - only reason I didn't is that #1 was still sleeping on his when #2 came along. When it's from your own household you know exactly where you stand in terms of it having been sicked on etc.

Two buggies is the norm Karter! For our first we had a Bugaboo (loved it) and a MacLaren which lived in the boot of the car. Bugaboo was great for out and about round ED, loved being able to make him all snuggly in the bassinette part of it, MacLaren great for travelling (plane, bus, tube). We sold the Bugaboo when #2 came along, but our MacLaren is still going strong.

Personally I would always buy new. We have mattresses from Mamas and Papas for both of our children, they have zip off covers and have been excellent (son's one is 4 years old now and still looks good as new).

The recipe we use (that you ate last Monday) is: http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/banana_bread/ P x

Agree totally with all that's been said. I would add that in the first few weeks that they're back at work after paternity leave, to do their utmost to get home as early as possible. Those early days left at home alone during the day with a tiny baby can feel like the longest days in the world, I can still remember the sense of relief I used to feel (and still feel 4 years on) when I heard Mr Pickle's key in the door.

Two things I've learnt this weekend: 1. Having your mother-in-law (with whom relations are, let's say, strained) to stay for the weekend makes cleaning the house suddenly seem very attractive. Excellent distraction technique, every room of the house has had a bit of a clean (generally the room she's not in) 2. A Zhu Zhu hamster makes an ideal cleaning aide. Set if off under the sofa in your kitchen and it will emerge covered in things you never realised were there.

We had a (small) party for our 4 year old this evening at Locale and I can't fault them - 14 of us in total (7 adults, 7 kids) and we were given their separate room to use. Kids were able to run around and play, food came promptly (and really good price for children's meals), and they were happy for us to bring a cake etc. Obviously depends on what you want to do, but for us it was the perfect solution. My son is terrified of bouncy castles!

I use Tesco mainly, Ocado sometimes. Ocado price match, but I do generally think that Tesco is cheaper, and the clubcard points are great - this week's shop was quite expensive due to pending arrival on in-laws (*quick swig of wine*), so I used some of my money off vouchers which seem to add up quite quickly. Theoretically it stops me buying naughty stuff, in practice chocolate magically appears in my online basket.

I always plans my meals in advance and then order my shopping online using the list I've made - makes life much easier. I tend to be a "recipe book" kind of cook, so each week I choose a couple of my books and find recipes from them to suit. I only cook one meal a night, we all eat the same thing (although if occasionally I fancy making something really spicy or not suitable for the kids I fall back on fish fingers, pasta and peas). So, an example, this week I chose my Jamie Oliver book and a random "plan ahead" one I was given, so we're having: italian meatballs with tagliatelle herb & chicken risotto chicken & leek pie with mash slow cooked shoulder of lamb with veg shepherd's pie (using leftovers from lamb shoulder) courgette & chorizo pasta (will give kids fish fingers that night) Last week parmesan pork steaks prawn & tomato pasta bake ham & courgette pasta salmon, couscous & roasted veg "Nana's mince" (don't ask!) chicken & lime spaghetti I always make extra bolognaise sauce and use it as emergency supplies. Similarly if I have a glut of milk I will make a big batch of cheese sauce and freeze it. Planning meals comes naturally due to years of either doing Weightwatchers or being a WW leader! P x

Rucksack is definitely the way to go. Both of my kids (4 and 2.5) carried their own on the flights, with a selection of toys and books, and it was much easier. If you decide you would like to take a Trunki, happy to lend you ours (not a Gruffalo one, just the basic blue one).

We've taken ours as hand luggage to NZ, so they are fine. However I would say that I found it to be a real pain... fine when the kids are cooperating and happy to ride/pull it, but a real nuisance if you end up trying to pull/carry it especially if you have a baby to deal with as well. We ended up leaving ours at home for the most recent flight!

When I was home over Christmas my Mum was talking about how different things were - she said when I was a baby she didn't go to any groups at all until I turned 3 and was old enough to go to Playcentre (which is a drop off, parent run preschool). Apparently she had a couple of friends with babies that she would meet up with for coffee mornings once a fortnight or so, but that was it. By the time she had my sister (who is 10 years younger than me, so still in her 20's) she said there were more playgroups in existence and it was becoming more the "norm" to be out and about with your baby rather than at home. For me, my weekly routine of playgroups, music groups etc. when my children were small was a lifeline - well worth the sacrifice of ironed clothes and a clean sink ;-) *tootles off to clean sink - kids are older now, no excuse*

He is due to start primary school this coming September (the term after he turns 4). Primary school admissions are done via an application process - which for this September's intake closed earlier this week. I'm not sure what the procedure is to submit a late application, hopefully someone else will be able to advise, or perhaps contact Southwark Council.

Other options that often don't have a waiting list are the Bridge Leisure Centre (Sydenham) or Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.

Don't feel bad - enjoy it while your little one is still a baby. I have to be out of the house for a school run these days, forces me to get dressed (although I may try out the trendy pj's and Ugg Boots look one morning and see if anyone notices!)

That website is hilarious, but weirdly attractive and makes a lot of sense. Makes me realise that I'm more organised than I think (I always lay our clothes out for the next day before bedtime, and always get myself fully dressed/hair done etc. before coming downstairs in the morning). And the smell of cleaning products at 8am together with an unusually shiny sink is making me feel like I've achieved something today ;-)

I wouldn't worry too much, I think most kids go through this phase at one point or another. In terms of eating vegetables in their true form, my son and daughter both have likes and dislikes so I tend to cater for them (i.e., give son broccoli and daughter asparagus). I pack my bolognaise sauce full of veges that they won't eat if they see them (courgette in particular) and they happily tuck into soups which are made from everything I have in my fridge at the time - as long as they have toast to break into little pieces and throw in, to then "fish" out with their spoons! Daughter will eat peas if told they're little green sweets, son went through a broccoli dislike phase but now loves it as we've got him pretending that they're trees and he's a lumberjack... Good luck x

Snowboarder - my daughter had worked out how to get out of a grobag by the time she was a year old!

pebbles Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > When new friends come > over i make sure it looks tidy but my regular > friends know exactly what i'm like. :)) This makes me laugh, as I spent the morning having a massive toy tidy/clear out based on the fact that your place looked so organised yesterday. I've been duped!

Yes, I've got that book - quite an entertaining read!

Magic Moments is ?10 per session - drop off at 9:45am and pick up at 12.15pm.

Having spent 15 minutes earlier unscrewing the card reader part of the ELC cash register to remove all the coins which had been posted into it, I've just caught my darling daughter putting them all back in again. I give up.