The Nappy Lady

So sorry it hasn't worked out, hope you find a new home for them, that feels 'perfect' very soon. X

I'm asthmatic & have it every year, including 7 & 3 years ago when pregnant. Would speak to your practice nurse if worried - if tricky to get in to see them you could phone & ask for a call back. Xx

Hi, Finally getting around to thinking about this - we have cover for our mortgage should the worst happen to one of us, but I need to sort something out so I am covered if illness leaves me unable to work for any length of time. Would be interested to hear what others have done / which company etc. Feel free to pm me' if you prefer. Thanks.

Trolling guys don't rise to it....

Congrats Ruth....my friend had her 2nd recently & basically did a 'care plan' for her 18 month old, with 3 weeks mapped out & different people volunteered for slots according to availability. Everyone on the plan had a copy so we knew who we would handover to if need be & also landline & mobile numbers. In the end her 18 month old slept through it & her home birth was fast so next morning new baby was greeted by big sister & grandma arrived later that day to help out. With my 2nd my 4 year old went over to a friends for a sleepover once I was in establised labour. They lived across the road so it was all very easy. Very often, though you don't know it full blown labour doesn't kick in until baby 1 is out the way - though not always as Mellors & Sillywoman have both demonstrated! Fab posts, made me' laugh out loud. Sillywoman, I have no idea how you canforgive your mother for that.....you're a saint!

Sillywoman - how did your daughter react to the link you sent her to the Abba song? I always imagine sharing it with my girls one day in the future, but wonder if they will by then just shake their heads and say "Mum you are sooooo soppy" LOL. Had a lovely moment with O (6) the other evening when we were telling her how proud we are of the way she has welcomed her little sister into the family, and in return she told us how much she loves us, and her sister....and that she always wants us 'by her side' and always wants her sister to be 'near her'......ahhhh we know it will all change one of these days, but even so........

>:D< Wondering how I can sneak off to watch this without anyone disturbing me.......

My poor hubby's birthday is on the 7th January......worst of the worst I think as being exactly a week after New Year everyone is a) broke, b) on a detox c) just back at work and fed up about that d) generally worn out from the entire Christmas/New Year thing. I always try to give him a good Birthday present as I know it is important to him, but have had the odd last minute, grab something in the sales panic (and he always knows when I do that)!! I agree very important to give separate presents for both events, unless specifically asked for one BIG pressie instead (which my hubby sometimes does now he's a BIG boy LOL). His name is Giles and when he was little his parents used to have a summer birthday for him on St Giles' Day which worked quite well I think, but wasn't ideal. I think he still felt he missed out compared to his sister. I think you have a few years grace before your son gets old enough to really start to 'feel' that this is an issue. Once that happens it might work to hold a party for him either right at the end of term before school breaks up, or just before it goes back in January as otherwise a lot of his friends are likely to be away visiting relatives etc. I know also that children who have a birthday during school holidays often feel they miss out on doing the taking cup cakes to school and having Happy Birthday sung to them by their class mates, so I would make a point of explaining the situation to his teacher and asking if it can be done as part of the last day before they break up (they often have a party that day anyway so would work well). Hope this helps, I mean really, couldn't you have timed this whole childbirth thing better.....;-) xxxx It is a really tricky one, but as zeban suggests, asking him what he would like once he is old enough is probably the best route.

Hi, this thread might help you; http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?25,575318,575318#msg-575318 Fuzzyboots it the local Sign and Sign lady so if the weblinks she's put in that thread above don't work then you could always send her a private message.... :))

Ah Keef, I just knew you're not as tough as you'd have us all think, come here and have a hug.....!!!!

Or Camberwell....

I'm really pleased we had a 2nd....the just over 4 year age gap is perfect, the girls are really close, despite what is considered a 'big gap'. On Friday night we were talking to our eldest (6) about how brilliant she's been with her sister since day 1 - always loved her, never jealous etc. and she said "I love C, I always want to be near to her"......I just love their relationship. Now at 2 C follows her big sister around and pretty much repeats word for word anything she says, it is so cute. I feel that having a sibling has 'knocked the edges' of our eldest, she's had to learn that she doesn't always come first and has become much more thoughtful and better at sharing. As a parent, I think it is very hard not to spoil an only child, simply because of the nature of the relationship, for us having a 2nd child has been nothing but positive. Good luck, whatever you decide.

Many congrats & welcome to the world baby F! X

I don't feel there is pressure at school to buy gifts. Some do, some don't. Personally, having seen my daughter blossom over the past 3 years, making huge leaps in her learning I want to show the teachers involved my appreciation. What I think this thread shows is that it isn't about the money spent. Christmas is so expensive these days an extra few pounds either way is fairly academic (thinking ?5-?10 for a bottle of wine, flowers, nice Boots gift - 3 for 2! Or a Pannetone). Keef, I do see your point, but I'd be curious to know whether it changes a few years down the line when your daughter starts school. I make that anti Trick or Treat, anti teachers gifts....I'm starting to think you are a grumpy old man (wink).

I love the idea of the adventure playground, but with a just 2 year old suspect I'd spend more time leaping after her to prevent death defying leaps etc rather than sitting chatting!! Doubt I can make 10th/11th - how about 17th/18th or that week in run up to Christmas? Yorkie when do you finish work for the holidays? Molly

Go Snunkie, go Snunkie!!!!! :))

Dullifield, you just made me laugh out loud, nearly sprayed my tea over the desk......images of hormones taking over at office party......:-$

Gina - I had that problem with sizes - had to go for 2-3 year old as smaller ones too small, but 2-3 was pretty big on her in October...already though it is fitting better, and can be worn with wellies without the 12" turn ups! Amazing how fast they grow at this age.....

Highly recommend the Jo Jo ones....my just 2 year old has the pink fleece lined dungarees and wears them over tights plus the welly socks they do and stays very cosy. Also has one of their fleece lined jackets. I think the dungarees plus jacket are more versatile than the all in ones at this age (she had the all in one last year and it was great, especially the fold over cuffs/mittens and feet). I'd say she's fairly average size for age, and they are pretty big on her (2-3 years size)....expect them to fit for atleast 2 winters, and quite possibly until she is 5!! Molly

Ivydale open today, but closing early at 2.30pm, and no after school clubs or activities......

womanofdulwich Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > only 25 children? surely it is 30? 25 in my daughters class WOD, due to a couple of leavers/transfers, and Southwark messing up the allocations in the first place. School was less than pleased as they are paid per child, but have to admit I feel very lucky.

It is also great if you want to go into town without the buggy, say at a weekend with your partner - you sort of need 2 adults - one to carry the bag of bits and bobs you need when on a day out, and one to carry the child in the sling when needed. You can get a bag that fits onto the Ergo if need be, but we don't have it, and if carrying baby in sling plus bag I always end up feeling like a pack horse!! We had a day out in town recently with both girls (6 and 2), and actually our 2 year old toddled happily all day, and only went in the sling for an hours nap over lunch, and at the end of the day when we were trying to move fairly quickly to get back to London Bridge to get the train home. Sooooo nice to be buggy free......

I suspect it is more a primary school thing, and to be honest I don't remember giving teachers presents back when I was at school, except for the odd really special teacher, but it seems quite common now. Wine is usually a winner I think, just feel a bit bad if the teacher doesn't drink, and asking gives it away....but hey, they can always wrap it up and give it away as a present to someone else I guess. Surely spending 6.5 hours a day with about 25 6&7 year old children would be enough to drive anyone to drink??????

Another vote for the Ergo - can use for front or back carry, small to transport when not using (will go in shopping basket of buggy etc.) and I've even managed to sling a 5 year old in it and carry her on my back for a short period. They are brilliant. The Ergo website has good videos showing various ways to carry baby in them.

Just wondering what most of you give? I always seem to end up doing wine or chocolates, wondering whether to also get O to make something this year but now sure whether it is a good idea or not!