Belle

I was with them but due to complications near the end had a hospital birth, but they stayed with me. My named midwife was away and I had two others plus had contact with most of the rest of them in the postnatal period. I think they're all excellent, and I feel very lucky that I had them.

Ah thanks Pickle! yes she always looks fab! mine adores her too although he does like to try and break her mp3 player a lot.

Help - anyone go to Little Bubbles and know if it's on today? have lost the bit of paper with term dates on (organised as ever)... thanks!

Agree restless is totally compelling. We shd have a family rm bk group if a) we had more time to read and b) more time to meet up!

if it was me I'd find a way to go with the people you've chosen - would you consider a different church maybe? we were lucky in that the vicar was a friend, and the christening was actually up in St Bride's on Fleet Street. However I'm godmother to my friend's little girl and that was a CofE church in Camberwell - I was christened but could find out if it actually came up whether or not I was? Might be worth ringing round. we were also married in a church despite the fact that my husband wasn't christened (is Jewish). The vicar just didn't care (but that was in Scotland so not much help!). So in my experience it's a case of some vicars being more liberal than others.

no it's at vicar's discretion - our son has three, one of whom is def not baptised. Fortunately the vicar who christened him wasn't bothered.

I recently read American Wife by Curtis Sittenfield, very loosely based on the life of an American First Lady (but not at all a biopic - won't say which First Lady just cos I found it quite fun working it out). It's a beautifully written story, more about the characters than the events although there are several life-shaping events which happen to the protagonist which will stay with you. I'm rubbish at explaining why books are good but I thought this was the best book I've read in several years. ooh - you know who's great for holiday reading - Maggie O Farrell. All her books are fab (and quite moving) - but the latest, The Hand that First Held Mine - is about two different women, in different eras, both mothers, and how thye're connected. I read this on holiday and loved it. I did cry loads though! But in a good way.

haven't seen it but the trailer was enough - The Changeling with Angelina Jolie. Though maybe easier once your kids are older - my mother in law loved it.

those of you who are running - is that just on the pavements or do you go to one of the parks? I always worry about the effect on my joints which creak enough already. Also I am lazy and get totally puffed out after 5 mins of running. But am determined to try something!

lightlady - I can see a need for what you're offering, certainly, and perhaps some might have the means but think quite a few might not? I wonder, is there a way you could offer a clinic style operation (not sure at all how this would work in terms of liability to ignore if it's a rubbish idea) so that the cost was somehow shared - since most people might only need 5 mins of advice anyway?

ooh ryedalema how was first day back?? what happened with the nasty hr situation? sorry different thread! hmm I am slightly concerned that I'll do WW, lose the extra weight but then just putit back on again - no willpower. also was fairly teeny in younger years (which at the time I hated) so think am struggling to accept post baby/thirties body is not what once it was. does your personal trainer take you out running or come to gym with you? have started pilates which I love but know that's gentle toning rather than the aerobic fat busting stuff I should prob do.

to make matters worse, I discovered on my last trip home that my mum (who's recently dieted a bit) now weighs less than me. She's taller and probably a bigger frame than me and it quite stung to hear it! Have made all the obvious diet cuts apart from booze (please no!) so feel am at an impasse. C7 - might look into the online ww option. and yup katsuqueen - 17 mths and counting, can you believe it?!

i've dug out this thread (selfishly) as I remember it being great therapy - and it still is! I'm aghast to find that all this time later am, if anything, heavier than I was when I started this thread - certainly than this time last year - even after cutting out 90% of treats and increasing exercise. So not fair! I think part of it is that as the babies turn into toddlers you're not walking miles pushing a pram anymore. Not that mine is anywhere near out of his buggy but there's a v short time limit of how long he'll be happy to stay in it, so those long walks are over. Other than that not sure why still can't shift the weight, esp as my son can hardly be described as a baby anymore (was v nice in the first year thinking 'he's still a baby, the weight can wait'). pickle - you mentioned weight watchers - is there one in east dulwich?

yeah - what Lochie said, and also think HPsaucey has a point - why not see your GP just to have the chat. I do think that altho, as HP saucey has noted, PND can annoyingly strike late in the day, it doesn't sound so much like it (I had it) to me - but I'm most def not a doctor! but might be worth the chat with a medical professional just for peace of mind? As I think Lochie has made clear and I'm happy to reiterate, there is no shame in medication where needed for this kind of thing. also think there is lots of gd advice above about trying to do less, organise a break etc. And for the record Ryedalema, i think you're a saint! I'm a stay at home mum, just starting to do a bit of freelance but mainly full time mumming, and only one kid at that, and i don't do HALF of what you do! but just goes to show - it's all about what our limits are etc and talking it over with OHs and agreeing what will work. Gd luck Yorkie - we're all supporting you.

that's hilarious (though v much not so at the time I imagine). Mine is def almost pulling his off at the moment, v worryingly (esp as he poos a ridiculous 7 times most days so that would make the odds of an escapee ooh pretty high).

Could you use the analogy of throwing rubbish away - saying it's what his body doesn't need anymore? He must see you chuck stuff in the bin all the time?

1) as has been said before, have a vague idea of budget - I had none at all, not a clue, and was constantly in money stress as a result. 2) don't stress too much about who you're going to share a flat with in the second year- I remember it being a craze to have this sorted by the end of the first term, ridiculous really -and meant loads of awkward extrication later down the line. I do remember our corridor in week two or so saying 'let's all live together!' - thank god that never became a more concrete plan. Loads of people do get together early on and stay together throughout uni (a few beyond, amazingly) - not much you can do to stop this though, if it's what he wants at the time no amount of parental wisdom or otherwise will persuade him otherwise, and why should it really.

yep moccis are great -s uspect Biff do them, and I got mine from Pretty Pregnant on Northcross Rd. We did get some cruiser type shoes when my son was cruising. The lady in the shop encouraged me to get him to go barefoot in the house though. Something to do with stability and growth too I think. One thing - proper shoes for kids are SoOOO expensive! My son's new shoes cost more than mine!

I saw these at the weekend and thought they were fab, could look at them for hours. It would def be good to have some kind of blurb explaining the initiative - James B is that in your remit? And yes, was very sad to notice the bare space where one had been prised off - glad it's being replaced, hope it doesn't keep happening.

yup, def expensive. I guess though, you do get all the office stuff - but then I'm already paying for broadband, phonebill etc at home. I think it also sounds like a good thing for when you have a childcare glitch - ie might mean you make no profit in the short term but if it helps you finish a project or whatever cd be a good solution.

I love the idea of pay as you go childcare - am about to start doing a bit of freelance after being off work since my son was born 17 mths ago so this kind of thing wd be so useful. i might contact them and suggest ED as a poss additional location!

someone said to me when I found out I was having a boy 'they adore their mothers' which was a nice thought too.

Wow littleed family - didn't realise you'd had your baby, congratulations!

We (with help from father in law) used a bit of wood, nailed into the bannister to provide the flat surface you need. In theory you can do it with a Y bracket too but our bannister just didn't work with that. I too found stairgates unbelievably complicated but the above mentioned safetots is quite good for being v specific re measurements etc.

I shout no too but, like your son MG, my little boy just shrieks with delight and does it even more. So now I'm doing as others have suggested and ignoring/not replacing the food/drink he chucks. Trouble is when he's not eaten enough he does then get grumpy mid morning or whatever. I have also tried the 'if you keep throwing that off you won't get strawberries/yoghurt' etc but it doesn't seem to work.