Mellors

How exciting :))

Too many to mention, including one recent incident that required the whole of Beckenham Spa training pool to have to be emptied *shudder*. Also, recently on a No 12 bus in Camberwell "Mummy, WHY does that man have such silly hair?" (He was a Rasta).

My beastly children dropped one of my library novels in the bath the other day. I dried it out and shamefacedly took it back to Dulwich. The chap couldn't have been nicer. He said they normally charge you (the price of the book is on the system), but he just let me off. Try smiling sweetly?!

Ocado here as well (having just got too annoyed by Tesco and Sainsbury). 1 hour slots, invariably helpful, never substitute, Tesco price match. I also often only order the day before and can always get a slot. I have the annual pass so I get as many free deliveries as I like, with a minimum ?40 order.

If you think you might get made redundant and have to bring a claim then check your household insurance. They often cover personal legal expenses including employment claims, and you would only pay the small excess. If its not covered, upgrade it quickly before you get any first letters etc. You won't get legal aid, although your employer might have to pay your costs if they lose.

No. Had about 3/4 of them with both children, as well as all the reflexology, acupuncture etc etc. Nothing shifted them and they both came out at 42 weeks of their own accord.

Do unions still exist? Happened to me earlier this year, ave every sympathy - it was really stressful (although I am now glad to have seen the back of them!). Keep a note of all emails/discussions/correspondence in case you need to go to a Tribunal.

Hmm, others will probably be able to give you a more "professional" view on this. All I can say is that I had the same thing with my son (who is also "spirited!"). He was quite hysterical every day, and started to have some really sad behavioural traits after only a couple of weeks. I couldn't bear it and I took him out (and have subsequently settled him really well in a new nursery that he loves). It was an easier option for me though as I was at home on maternity leave at the time. Good luck with whatever you decide, I know how utterly awful it is x

I think I've managed to explain to my 3 year old boy about the pending arrival of baby No 3, but have a question - how on earth do you get him to accept that a) no, it might not be a brother and there's nothing I can do about it (he already has a little sister, much to his annoyance) and b) if it is a new sister I can't really swap it for a cat (although if anyone our there fancies the swap, then please PM me!). I wasmn't going to find out the sex, but think I might have to just so I can confront the potential sister horror at this stage rather than leaving it until the baby is born?!

One of mine suffers from recurrent croup (similar lung infection thingy - absolutely terrifying) and we've been down there a few times in a horrible rush, and I have to say the children's A&E at King's have been marvellous. Hurray for them (although boo for you Fuschia, you must be exhasusted).

Re cloth/stains - you use a nappy liner in them which catches the poo and you flush it down the toilet - not much should get on the nappy itself, and if it does a bit of sun bleaches them out. Not a problem I've had, and I've never had leaks through two birth to potty cloth babies either.

I was in the midwifery until at St T's for No 1, and, for the brief time I was in there, it was great. They won't let you in there is you are VBAC or have any other complications/interventions/want an epidural though, so probably not applicable for lots of people on this thread. It was also ridiculously busy when I was there (they turned me away twice and only finally let me in when I was 9cm dilated and about to give birth in the waiting room!).

If its anything like the mums meet up groups they do ;-) Actually at the playgroups I go to I have to say that the childminders/nannies always seem very involved with their charges, more so than I am half the time with my kids lol. I wonder if they are less exhausted than me and therefore more interactive?! I think it must depend on who you employ though. I think ?5 - ?6.50 is the going rate (?40 - ?50 for an 8 hour day).

Anyone know when they normally see you for your booking in appt?

I love this one. It clamps to any table (so doesn't matter what the height), its easy to clean, and you can take it with you when you;re our or on hols: http://www.johnlewis.com/230675414/Product.aspx?source=14798 I wish they had invented them when mine were littler! Once they are out of that and no longer needing to be strapped in I really like the Tripp Trapp chairs. They are expensive but they adjust height so they can use them for years and year. A good investment.

I'm too mean to use disposables, so for onece have nowt to say on the matter :)

I don't think you can buy a private room at Kings? You know my story, but what I would say as well is you are much more likely to fight for what you want anyway in a second birth. 1st time I was kind of letting people tell me what to do and believing them/being weedy about my options. I took no sh*t second time and it was much better! Experience is worth lots.

I loved the cinema when preggers. When I went on maternity leave I used to go in the afternoons on my own, heaven. I went into labour when watching Pan's Labryinth at Brixton Ritzy one afternoon, and had contractions in the aisle every 15 mins or so, but refused to leave till it had finished :)

Yes! I got litres of the stuff on prescription....

I can't believe I didn't recognise it as teething sooner! No 1 must have managed without it. You are all marvellous as ever - dispatched husband to Sainsbos pharmacy last night for baby Nurofen, and finally got a decent nights sleep. Poor little love has even been pointing at her mouth and saying its "ouchy". Doh! I'm going to stick with drugs until it passes - she is like a different child today, thank Christ.

Soft play in Peckham is good - they are in with everyone else, but then you go upstairs to a separate room for tea. Ours enjoyed it as it was somewhere they already knew, so it didn't freak them out. This year for the 4th birthdays we're going to JAGS - they provide a bouncy castle, loads of play equipment etc, and then a room upstairs for tea. Up to 20 kids is ?125, or 30 is ?135 (we share it between 3 mums to save costs!). Anything to save you having to clear up yourself in my opinion :)

I have every sympathy. Seems like they're doing the rounds, my husbands Ridgeback was stolen a couple of weeks ago as well. I suggest checking Gumtree/Ebay?

Has anyone else been through a 2+ year old teething. You would think I would know this as she is child No 2, but I honestly can't remember No 1 doing it. I'm just wondering if it could be this - she has all the symptoms I'd recognise in a baby - hot, red cheeks, chewing, disturbed sleep (annoyingly!), foul temper, sore bum? I thought she was just being a horrid 2 year old lol. Any advice welcome.

The best thing I did, and would definitely do again was to go for a posh Treatment Day just as I was about to pop - pregnancy massage, manicure, pedicure, haircut - the works. I was a few days overdue at the time (much to the consternation of the staff!) and it was the last time I felt human or vaguely groomed for months and months. It was also nice to at least have beautifully painted toe nails when in the throes of labour!

Little pleasures for me: - Sit and read a book in silence - Go for a wee alone and savour it - Drink a whole, hot cup of coffee/tea - Have a long telephone conversation without being interrupted 20 times - have a nice relaxed haircut - buy, and read, a Sunday newspaper - get up when YOU want, not when some small being yells at you - get on public transport (not all that easy with a little 'un - the tube is pretty out of the question for ages) - enjoy a walk together at your own speed - drive with your own music on I'm sure there are lots more! Its all marvellous though, congratulations :)